STFU
Flagrant 1: Unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent.
Flagrant 2: Unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.
Rick Fox said it on NBA TV, when you’re THIS good, beating up on you is all anyone has left if they hope to compete. So when someone looks into their bag of tricks and the only options staring back are flagrant fouls or lint, flagrant fouls become “necessary contact.” I suppose this is the only explanation for the muggings LeBron has had to endure this year. When interpreting the flagrant foul rules, it seems referees have determined that Rick Fox is correct; these forms of contact ARE necessary and so they promptly swallow their whistles. The real wonder isn’t that LeBron has grown frustrated, it’s how anyone could criticize him – or any other player – for being…. well…. human.
I know LeBron makes it nearly impossible for anyone to see him as human when the things he does on that court are so…. well…. superhuman. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, he is just that. And as such, he is subject to such pesky things as emotions. One can only accept so much without responding. LeBron showed us his frustration when he committed that uncharacteristic flagrant foul on Carlos Boozer. He didn’t argue. He knew what he had done. He accepted his consequence. He told us of his frustration when he responded to a reporter’s question by saying “…it’s been happening all year. I’ve been able to keep my cool and try to tell Spo, ‘Let’s not worry about it too much,’ but it is getting to me a little bit.” So when Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge opined that LeBron’s complaints were “embarrassing,” Miami’s own Pat Riley shot back “(Ainge) needs to shut the f— up and manage his own team.”
What does this mean for LeBron? Or more to the point, what does this mean for the rest of the NBA? Two words: bad news.
How did LeBron respond to flagrant fouls from Taj Gibson and Kirk Heinrich and the Chicago loss? 36 points on 65% shooting and 7 of 10 (including 6 in a row) from beyond the arc in a 108-89 rout of the New Orleans Hornets two nights later. This response reminded me of the way Dwyane Wade answered a bloody lip from the Knicks on February 28, 2009. Great players don’t complain, they respond.
Chicago ended Miami’s streak at 27 and players and fans can say all they want about the streak not mattering, that it’s all about rings in June, but I’m not buying it. That’s just so much rhetoric like “It’s not whether you win or lose. It’s how you play the game.” It does matter. Why else keep score? Why else keep records? So it’s not that it doesn’t matter, it does. It’s more that we move on to things that matter more…. like rings in June. Actually, the most important thing that happened that evening wasn’t the end of a streak; it may well have been the awakening of a beast.
But if you’re still dwelling on the number 27, here are some top ten numbers as of 4/2/13 that may matter even more.
57-15
Heat record when they clinched top seed in the conference
1
Heat ranking based on offensive efficiency
2
Heat ranking based on point differential
8
Heat ranking based on defensive efficiency
56.0
LeBron shooting percentage, min 10 attempts per game – 2nd best in the league
26.9
LeBron points per game – 4th best in the league
1.7
LeBron steals per game – 9th best in the league
52.1
Wade shooting percentage, min 10 attempts per game – 8th best in the league
21.3
Wade points per game – 8th best in the league
1.8
Wade steals per game – 5th best in the league
53.5
Bosh shooting percentage, min 10 attempts per game – 5th best in the league
43.2
Shane Battier 3-point shooting percentage, min 2 attempts per game – 6th best in the league
42.2
Ray Allen 3-point shooting percentage, min 2 attempts per game – 10th best in the league
However, awakening the beast is not enough. Miami must be prepared to win when it REALLY counts. The most important thing for the Heat right now is to stay healthy and rested as they approach the post season.
Miami will face the four playoff teams remaining on their schedule at home where they are tied for a league best record with only 3 losses. The other five games on their schedule are against teams with a combined record of 115-250. That’s an average record of 23-50. They will face a Milwaukee team that beat them 104-85 in December and who will very likely be their first round opponent. This game could prove to be way more important for the Bucks than it will be to Miami as Milwaukee attempts to climb out of the 8th spot and a first round exit courtesy of the Heat. So, having something of significance to play for, the Bucs may prove tough that night. Having said that, Miami may be fighting San Antonio for league top seed honors (a bit of a long shot now that Miami has swept the Spurs series and are 3.5 games up on them) and there’s always the desire to send a message to a probable first round opponent. But my guess is that the message has already been sent and a healthy and rested Lebron, Wade, and Bosh are way more of a priority than one more home game in the Finals.
So, regarding all that noise about Lebron venting his frustration or Danny Ainge’s comments, I’ll simply leave you with this final thought from the honorable Mr. Riley: STFU!
Air Condition Vs. Ceiling Fan: Which is More Energy Efficient?
It’s hot in here! South Florida residents live in paradise which also exposes them to extremely hot temperatures throughout the year. Homeowners often wonder how to stay cool and keep their electric bill as low as possible. There is an ongoing debate whether it’s more efficient to run the air conditioner or use the ceiling fan. The following information will help clear up the mystery.
The Secret Formula Revealed
Set your air conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees while you are at home
Turn your ceiling fan on medium or high
Set the ceiling fan so the blades circulate counter-clockwise
Turn the air conditioner thermostat to 82 degrees when you leave home
Turn the ceiling fan off when you leave home
Keep in mind that you can save about 5% with every one degree you increase in temperature.
Air Conditioner vs. Ceiling Fan
Instead of trying to choose between using the air conditioner or the ceiling fan, focus on using them both. Allowing both options to work together to keep your home cool will help to lower your electric bill. If you try the secret formula mentioned above and your electric bill doesn’t show any signs of decreasing have your air conditioner inspected for problems.
Factors to Consider
The estimated amount of money you save every month will depend on a variety of factors such as the one’s listed below.
The amount is costs to run your air conditioner – Homes come in a variety of different sizes. The air conditioner model and amount of energy it needs to work properly depends on the size of your home. Make sure your air conditioner is best suited to cool your home. Some homes might have an air conditioner that is not efficient for the size of the home. Consult with a professional to assure you have the right model.
The level your home is insulated – Insulation is essential to keep your home cool. Upgrade the insulation if necessary.
The temperature of the thermostat – You have control over the thermostat. The higher the temperature the better for your power bill.
The ceiling fan is created to complement the air conditioner. Always keep in mind that a ceiling fan will not lower the temperature in the room, but the air conditioner does. Carefully coordinating the use of both will guide you to savings on your electric bill.
My name is Kent Crook, owner and President of Miami Electric Masters. Let me share with you what my company is all about, particularly if you’re looking for electrical services. From the beginning, I established a company culture that places the highest value on customer service. What does that mean to you? It means that our fully licensed and insured all-star team of service personnel are highly trained—but that training doesn’t stop. Each employee undergoes ongoing hours of training to keep our skills on the cutting edge. When they visit your home or business, they want you to give you a sense of comfort in knowing that your electrical needs are being addressed in a way far above industry standards. I often show up on the job site because I take personal interest in each assignment and in fostering a productive relationship with each customer. I make sure that our trucks are stocked with thousands of parts, so that you won’t have to hear the phrase, “Well, we have to order this part. It will take several days to get back to you.” I put my name on what my staff does in serving you, including same-day service and emergency service on a 24/7 basis. Incidentally, you can find in our web site MiamiElectricMasters.com our Code of Ethics. Each employee must subscribe to and follow the listed elements in this Code, which assures you of quality service that is more than a motto or slogan.
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Aloft Miami Dadeland Ribbon Cutting
Following the completion of a property-wide transformation of the Miami Dadeland hotel, the property celebrated the grand opening of the Aloft Miami Dadeland with an official ribbon cutting.
Source: www.hospitalitynet.org
A $38.5 Million Penthouse is Priciest Listing on Miami’s Fisher Island – Mansion Global
A penthouse on Miami’s Fisher Island—one of the country’s wealthiest zip codes—is on the market for $38.5 million, making it the island’s most expensive listing, according to listing agent Pablo Alfaro of Douglas Elliman.
The residence is the largest of three penthouses at the ultra-luxe condominium Palazzo del Sol, the first new construction on Fisher Island since 2007. The building was finished earlier this year.
The penthouse first sold to an unidentified buyer for $35 million in February of 2015, setting a price record for the island. It returned to the market for $3.5 million more on Aug. 2. It is unclear why the owner is selling. More at source: www.mansionglobal.com
Your Insurance Company Won’t Insure You If You Have One Of These 3 Electrical Panels
The electrical panel is often one of the last things homeowners pay attention to. Most homes still have the original panel installed since the 1970’s. As long as it works, why should you care right? Wrong. You might get a nasty surprise when you are seeking home insurance. Most insurance companies refuse to insure homeowners that have the flowing three electrical panels in their home.
Zinsco or Zinsco-Sylvania
Zinsco electrical panels, also known as Zinsco-Sylvania, were installed in homes built in the 1970’s across North America. Homes across America started experiencing the following issues with the panels that lead to a halt in production.
Corrosion of the bus bar
Aluminum components were found in the panel
The panel was conducting power while the breakers were switched off
The bus bar and breaker connection were not solid
Some homes still have this panel installed. Electricians recommend immediate replacement.
Federal Pacific Electric Panels
Most homes built between the 1950’s and 1980’s had Federal Pacific Electric Panels installed. These panels were a popular choice for designer and home builders. They seemed to work perfectly in the beginning. However, after a few years, they would overheat, short circuit and cause house fires. Class action lawsuits revealed the Federal Pacific Electric Company had violated the Consumer Fraud Act because they purposefully distributed circuit breakers that did not meet standards.
Fuse Panels
Homes today are built with circuit breakers instead of fuse panels. This is mostly due to the high demand for electricity needed for all of the modern day conveniences. The number of fuses compared to the high demand of electricity in modern homes is insufficient. This means some homeowners that have fuse panels often install fuses too large for the wires. This is a potential fire hazard.
Insurance agencies don’t want to pay out tons of claims for any reason. They have learned over the years that Zinsco, Zinsco-Sylvania, Federal Pacific Electric and Fuse panels have been the cause of house fires. This specific reason causes insurance agencies to reject homeowners. This forces homeowners to replace the dangerous electric panels.
If you are planning to purchase a home it is wise to check the type of electrical panel before making a decision. Keep in mind that most banks will not offer you a loan unless the house is properly insured. An old circuit breaker can halt your dreams of owning a home quickly. If you plan to sell your house that has an old panel, this can also cause an issue and deter buyers. Contact an electrician today to make sure your home has a safe electric panel installed.
My name is Kent Crook, owner and President of Miami Electric Masters. Let me share with you what my company is all about, particularly if you’re looking for electrical services. From the beginning, I established a company culture that places the highest value on customer service. What does that mean to you? It means that our fully licensed and insured all-star team of service personnel are highly trained—but that training doesn’t stop. Each employee undergoes ongoing hours of training to keep our skills on the cutting edge. When they visit your home or business, they want you to give you a sense of comfort in knowing that your electrical needs are being addressed in a way far above industry standards. I often show up on the job site because I take personal interest in each assignment and in fostering a productive relationship with each customer. I make sure that our trucks are stocked with thousands of parts, so that you won’t have to hear the phrase, “Well, we have to order this part. It will take several days to get back to you.” I put my name on what my staff does in serving you, including same-day service and emergency service on a 24/7 basis. Incidentally, you can find in our web site MiamiElectricMasters.com our Code of Ethics. Each employee must subscribe to and follow the listed elements in this Code, which assures you of quality service that is more than a motto or slogan.
Read More