Strasburg strikes out 11 Mets in Nats' win

By HOWIE RUMBERG

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 4:01 p.m. ET July 25, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) - Stephen Strasburg gave a sneaky grin and a confident "yeah" when asked whether he was being more aggressive on the mound. He knew what the question was in reference to, and he appeared to have been waiting five days to answer it.

After the righty's previous start, manager Davey Johnsons said, "He really doesn't know who he is at times." Strasburg knew who he was Wednesday all right:

Dominant.

The 24-year-old ace struck out 11 in seven innings, Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa hit consecutive homers and the Washington Nationals completed a sweep of the free-falling New York Mets with a 5-2 victory.

"Once the lights are on and you're facing another team, you want to go out there to make your stuff really dirty," Strasburg said. "It's something where I think when I take a step back and relax and let it happen instead of forcing the issue it helps out."

Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer for a second straight day, and Espinosa doubled and scored on one of the Mets' two errors in the Nationals' fifth win in a row. The team with the NL's best record (58-39) has won seven of 10.

Johnson said Strasburg "doesn't trust his stuff" after he gave up four runs in the sixth inning of his prior start - the game in which the Braves rallied in the rain from a 9-0 deficit to beat the Nationals 11-10 in 11 innings. Strasburg was in command this time.

Strasburg (11-4) struck out five in a row and gave up four hits in matching his career best for innings, done seven times.

"That's him, that's the way he should pitch. He was very pitch efficient from the get-go. He went right after guys," Johnson said. "He's still learning how to pitch in this league. ... He's still a work in progress."

Ike Davis homered for New York in the finale of an 0-6 homestand.

"Since they kicked me out of town, I like coming in for the sweep," Johnson said of being fired by the Mets in 1990.

The Mets' 1-11 slide after the All-Star break is approaching their record for futility to start the second half. The only team worse in club history was its first. The 1962 Mets won just one of their first 15 games and set a record for losses with a 40-120 record.

"We're going to get through it. You will see a different team in the next 10 days, the next two weeks," manager Terry Collins said. "We're through making excuses."

After the game, the Mets called up catcher Rob Johnson from Triple-A Buffalo and sent down catcher Mike Nickeas. Johnson was Matt Harvey's batterymate in Buffalo, and the team's top prospect is set to make his major league debut Thursday in Arizona.

These Mets went into the All-Star break 46-40 and optimistic they would compete for one of two NL wild-card spots. But injuries to ace Johan Santana and Dillon Gee and an offense that has stalled has New York fading fast. The Mets have lost 12 games in a span of 13 for first time since 2004.

Facing Strasburg didn't help the slump.

Other than allowing Davis' blistering line drive into the right field stands on the first pitch of the second inning and Daniel Murphy's single in the next at-bat, Strasburg allowed only Josh Thole's ground-rule double in the fifth and Jordany Valdespin's single in the sixth.

Strasburg reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season and seventh of his young career, striking out David Wright three times. On the last K, a frustrated Wright tossed all his equipment.

Wright grounded out with runners on second and third against reliever Drew Storen to end the eighth. The Mets had scored a run on Valdespin's grounder after walking the bases loaded.

"Losing is one thing,' Wright said. "the way that we're going about it right now is unacceptable."

Tyler Clippard, the Nationals' fifth reliever, pitched a perfect ninth for his 18 save in 20 chances since taking over the closer role in May.

Strasaburg reached 97 mph on the scoreboard radar, and had at least one strikeout in each inning but the second. He fanned five in a row beginning with Valdespin to start the third.

His command was "perfect," catcher Sandy Leon said. "Today was perfect."

The big right-hander has 25 Ks in 18 innings against the Mets in his career.

Starting for Santana, Jeremy Hefner (1-4) labored through six innings, but gave the Mets a chance by working out of several jams. He gave up six hits and three runs - two earned - in his fourth big league start. Hefner struck out seven and walked two.

Heffner put runners on in each inning but the fifth. Morse led off the second with an opposite field drive into the lower deck in right. Espinosa then pulled one halfway up the overhanging upper deck in right field to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Davis quickly got a run back in the bottom half with his 16th homer.

Espinosa doubled and scored in the fourth when he broke for home on Leon's soft grounder to Davis, who fielded the ball on the grass in front of first base. Davis' throw was on the mark but cacther Josh Thole could not hold onto the throw to tag the sliding Espinosa. Thole was given an error and the Nationals led 3-1.

La Roche hit a long drive to right field in the seventh off Tim Byrdak an out after Bryce Harper walked for a 5-1 lead.

NOTES: Mets closer Frank Francisco (knee) allowed one run and three hits in two-thirds of an inning during a rehabilitation appearance with Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday. ... Nationals OF Jayson Werth (broken wrist) played five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. He went 0 for 3. ... Washington is 9-3 against New York this season.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Marlins fans deserve a lot better

HBT: Jeff Loria gets a sweetheart stadium, gets fans' hopes up, then in 3 months sells off much of the team, including Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers. Why even root for this team?

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48323872/ns/sports-baseball/

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Relief for Mitumba Traders as Tax Cut is Implemented | pesatalk.com

Image sourced from: fashionprojects.org

Mitumba traders?demonstration outside the treasury yesterday seems to have had the desired effect, as directive to reduce import duty on second hand clothes will take effect immediately and be backdated from June 25. What this means is goods imported on 25^th June 2012 going forward will enjoy the new tax rates.

This latest national budget had lowered duty on imported second hand clothes to KES 1.1 million on a 20 foot container from KES 1.9 million. This was aimed at creating jobs for the youth who had initially been forced to close their businesses after duty on second hand clothes increased to KES 1.9 million plus encourage importation of second hard clothes.

Mitumba demonstrators wanted to know why it was taking too long to implement the duty reduction directive considering the fact that the directive to increase duty on second hand clothes took effect almost immediately.

Finance Minister Njeru Githae said he had directed KRA to revert to the lower charge per container of imported second hand clothes.

As posted in the Standard, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General John Njiraini said, ?Goods that were imported on June 25 going forward will enjoy the new tax rates? Any trader importing second hand clothes will now enjoy the new tax rates? The directive to lower taxes was from the government and as a commission ours is to implement the directive.?

Reduction of duty on second hand clothes has in the recent past?received?sharp criticism from various stake holders as Kenya Footwear Manufacturers Association expressed dissatisfaction with the move. The association?s secretary Simon Ng?ang?a said the reduction of imported duty is greatly affecting their business. He claimed that the sector has become a major employer with 100,000 direct jobs across the value chain and another 80,000 indirect jobs in the supply of accessories and services both in the formal and informal sectors.

Source: http://pesatalk.com/2012/07/relief-for-mitumba-traders-as-tax-cut-is-implemented/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=relief-for-mitumba-traders-as-tax-cut-is-implemented

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Small Investments Pay Off Big With Green Energy

Small Investments Pay Off Big With Green Energy

Author : Georgeson Maves ??

Submitted : 2012-07-23????Word Count : 720????Popularity: ??Not Rated

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If you can, check into windows for your home that are energy-efficient. Windows with a better seal will reduce your energy bills, keep road noise out of your house, and limit window condensation.

Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Throwing away batteries can result in serious environmental damage. Using rechargeable batteries saves you money on batteries and reduces their environmental impact. Rechargeable batteries will end up saving you hundreds of bucks over their lifetime.

You can cut your energy consumption by a lot if you just cut back on the electricity you use. Unplug appliances whenever you are not going to be using them for awhile. Try turning off the TV and lights when they're not in use. This simple tip will save you money as well.

Your green living journey can start with major home improvements, or it can start with something as easy as using light bulbs that are energy-efficient. Several small projects that you can easily do yourself can add up to saving a lot of energy, with the bonus of saving money on your utility bills. Choose one of these small projects and get started right now!

You can increase the energy efficiency of your home with proper weatherization procedures. You can seal ducts, add in insulation, and put in new windows and cooling systems that are energy efficient so that you can reduce the energy it takes to operate your home. By making these changes, you will make your home more energy-efficient, thereby, saving money on your utility bills.

Spending a little more on green appliances and electronics generally pays off over time. Even though green technology may be costlier, it pays off in the long run when you see cheaper utility bills. It will also pay off in the long run for the environment.

Replace your older appliances with the newer, energy-efficient ones that have Energy Star ratings. To receive an Energy Star rating from the government, appliances must meet minimum efficiency standards, unlike the non-rated appliances you may currently own. Fridges and freezers with the rating use at least 20% less energy, dishwashers use 40% less, and washing machines use at least half the energy of non-rated models.

There are active and passive options for solar energy systems. Passive power is used immediately and is cheaper, but active power has the ability to store energy for later use. Active systems are what you would normally think of when you think of solar--PV cells, mechanical parts, and storage devices. Passive solar power is simply making use of the sun to keep thermal energy in your walls so you can heat your home.

A lot of people think about utilizing green energy; however, there are very few who make an effort to figure out how to incorporate it into their lives. This article gave lots of ideas to begin with, so you can live green for very little money and time.

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Source: http://www.homebiznow4u.com/portal/Article/64228/111/Small-Investments-Pay-Off-Big-With-Green-Energy.html

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You Didn?t Build It Either, Fauxcahontas (Powerlineblog)

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Obama to Host Intimate Chicago Birthday Bash | NBC Chicago

As President Barack Obama?s birthday nears so does the upcoming election, and Obama isn?t wasting any time.

The president returns to Chicago on Aug. 12 for three intimate fundraising parties, including a sit-down birthday dinner at the family's Kenwood home with just 50 to 75 guests, according to Crain?s Chicago Business.

An email sent out by First Lady Michelle Obama in mid-July teased the much more lax birthday celebration than last year?s Aragon Ballroom blowout.

The dinner will be followed by a reception with 150 to 200 guests at neighbor and friend Marty Nesbitt?s home for $5,000 per person, Crain's Shia Kapos reports.

Finally, the dessert portion of this travelling bash will be served at the home of Barbara Bowman, who recently hosted the Obama?s during her granddaughter?s wedding, starting at $1,000. Entrance fees to the sweet finale will start at $1,000, Crain?s reports.

It's quite a switch from last year's gala for which donors paid between $50 and $35,800, the legal maximum, to attend. It's not clear what the party festivities will include but the first lady's email made it sound far more low-key.
?

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Obama-Chicago-Birthday-Fundraiser-163562406.html

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California home invasion leaves 4 dead

Max Whittaker/Reuters

Sacramento Police investigators gather evidence at the scene of a gang-related shooting in Sacramento, California.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Shooting erupted after a gunman entered a Sacramento home in a late-night assault - leaving four people dead, one critically wounded, and investigators trying to pin down a motive.

Officers who responded to reports of gunfire at the home found three men and one woman dead, police spokeswoman Officer Michelle Gigante said Sunday. She said the intruder shot and killed three people before being killed by someone in the house.

"At first we're thinking this was a home invasion. At this point we don't know what it was. We don't believe it was a random act. We believe it was gang related," Gigante said. "It's still early. At this point we're trying to figure out what happened."

Su Vang, who often acts as a spokesman for the Hmong community in Sacramento, said the dead included a husband and wife, and their son was the one who confronted and killed the assailant. He said the husband was known in the Hmong community as a shaman, or faith healer.

There were no signs of forced entry, but the gunman entered the home late Saturday night and fatally shot the male and female residents, then shot two guests in the home, one of them fatally, Gigante said.

Another resident was in a back room of the home.

"He hears all this, he comes out and they exchange fire, the suspect is killed at the scene," Gigante said. "We're pretty confident we've got our shooter, and he's deceased."

Police were not releasing names, but the dead woman and two of the dead men were in their 50s, while one of the dead men was in his mid-20s, she said. She did not have an age on the surviving guest. The resident who killed the suspect was not injured, she said; she would not release his age.

Deputy coroners removed the last two bodies from the single-story, eggshell blue home Sunday evening. Crime scene investigators were observed carrying a half-dozen rifles from the home and putting them in a police van.

As investigators worked Sunday, more than a dozen people gathered just outside of the crime scene tape that cordoned off the home and the entire block of the residential neighborhood of one-story homes.

Television news trucks were parked nearby, while reporters looked on and children rode their bicycles and played in nearby yards.

Authorities still hadn't released the names of the victims, but neighbor Mai Thao, who previously lived on the same block, said she knew the victims.

"They're really nice people," she said. "They're always quiet and looked really happy."

She said she had seen them tending to the flowers and vegetables that could be seen growing in the front yard of the home. The shades were drawn, and wind chimes swayed from the front porch.

Neighbors said they hadn't heard the shootings, though one said his nephew heard what he thought were fireworks and didn't pay attention until police began arriving.

The surviving victim remained in critical but stable condition Sunday, Gigante said, but she declined to provide additional details.

Police were asking members of the public who may have information about the shooting to contact them.

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Golly, Did Italy Really Give Legal Status to 12 Million Illegal Aliens ...

If you take a quick look at the bottom of the figure below you may come to the conclusion that Italy has legalized 12,170,000 illegal aliens.

That's a very large number, particularly in the context of that nation's population of 60,500,000 or so, and the estimates that we have 11 to 12 million illegal aliens in the United States, with a population more than five times that of Italy.

But if you look a little more closely at the figure (and some more-migration writers should have done this, too) you will see that while Italy has had more legalizations than any other nation in Europe, the number shown is 12,17,000. That is clearly wrong.

Either the zero to the right of the seven has been dropped which would make that corrected number 12,170,000, or, more likely, the comma after the two should have been after the one, so that corrected number would be 1,217,000.

What makes this error so arresting is that it has been published at least three times over the last three years, the last two times by the lushly funded Migration Policy Institute, the establishmentarian think tank of the more-migration people. With a fund balance of $7,452,930 at the end of its fiscal year 2009 and eight staffers making more than $100,000 a year, the organization probably could afford a proofreader. (The fiscal data are from the MPI's IRS Form 990, which is a matter of public record.)

The figure with the 12,17,000 legalizations apparently first appeared in a book published by Amsterdam University Press in 2009; its name and the name of its authors appear at the bottom of the figure.

Next, in December of last year, MPI re-published the figure, as shown, in an article titled "Regularizations in the European Union: The Contentious Policy Tool", and then earlier this month the same figure, with the same error, appeared as an illustration to another MPI article, "Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States and Europe: The Use of Legalization/Regularization as a Policy Tool".

The links were working at the time this blog was filed, but MPI may have changed things thereafter.

The misplaced legalization beneficiaries in Italy, or the wandering comma, to one side, the MPI article had some interesting data on the subject. For example, the United States granted legal status to more people than all the European legalizations put together through its various legalizations, notably IRCA in the 1980s. The article does not make this point but it shows 3,760,618 U.S. legalizations in 1986 through 2009, as compared with 3,244,382 in Europe in the years 1996-2007.

MPI uses a definition of U.S. legalizations that excludes some activities that I would characterize as legalizations, so I think the number they use for the United States is smaller than it should be. (Granting legal status on an ongoing basis to certain illegal alien juveniles in the hands of American court systems and calling them special immigrants is one such class that I would include that they do not.)

The article also divides legalization beneficiaries into three subheadings: general legalization, such as those receiving benefits from the mainline IRCA program of 1986; registry fillers, those saying simply that they had been in the United States in illegal status for a very long time; and special groups, such as those in the Chinese Student Protection Act of October 9, 1992.

As one who first studied overseas legalization efforts in the 1970s (under relatively tiny grants from the Ford Foundation and the German Marshall Fund), I found the current work of special interest, notably the finding ? again illustrated by the figure ? that the nations of southern Europe have been much more generous in these programs than their more prosperous neighbors in northern Europe.

One wonders if there is any cause-and-effect relationship between the open-door amnesty policies of Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal, at the bottom end of the figure, and the financial problems that those four economies ? particularly Greece ? are encountering, problems that are less severe for many of the countries higher on the figure, such as Germany, the U.K., and Sweden.

MPI does not speculate about such things.

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