With the Miami Heat only a win away from winning their second championship in franchise history, it's already a good time to look forward to next season.

The promises from LeBron James for multiple championships could be a reality, but LBJ and the Heat will find out quickly that repeating will be awfully difficult and Miami won't be the favorites to win the 2013 NBA championship.

There's no doubting that the Heat will be a top contender for next year's title, but they have a lot going against them heading into next season.

For one, in the past 10 years there has been only one repeat champion, the Los Angeles Lakers accomplished the feat by winning the 2009 and 2010 crowns.

Then there is the makeup of the team.

Dwyane Wade will turn 31 in January of next season and his body has been taking a beating. Wade missed 17 regular season games in 2012 with a variety of different injuries and has been shooting the ball very poorly as of late.

If Wade's body continues to betray him and he loses even the slightest bit of explosiveness, he's not a good enough shooter to be that difference maker as the No. 2 scoring option in the Miami offense.

Next, it's very unlikely that this team improves much during the offseason.

Miami is already way over the salary cap for next season, with over $78 million already on the books for next season.

Depth has always been a question for the Heat. Can the likes of Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and company really be counted on next season?

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NBA Finals 2012: Why LeBron and Miami Heat Won't Be Title Favorites Next Year

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS Art Yerian carefully cradled the speckled beige object in his rubber-gloved hands, recognizing it as a rare and precious possibility.

He slid it slowly down into a bright stream of light.

"You see that air sack,'' he said, as the high-intensity egg candler lit up the large egg making it appear to glow in the dark.

Then he carefully did the same thing with the second egg. "There's an air sack on that one also,'' he said. "You can see that there's some kind of embryo.''

While not proof that the eggs were viable, it was enough to give hope that, in about three weeks, there may be new additions to the population of endangered whooping cranes, America's tallest bird.

And these additions would be the first ever conceived at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Federal and state officials said they did not know of any captive whooping cranes in Florida that have produced viable eggs.

Billy Brooks, a recovery biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said he was hopeful but realistic about the Homosassa Springs eggs. The crane experts worry that these will be infertile.

But if the eggs are fertile, Brooks said, they are likely bound for one of the whooping crane reintroduction or research programs based out of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland.

Chicks would mean that the Homosassa park's resident whooping cranes, Peepers and Levi, were not only serving their fellow cranes as an educational display, but they were also contributing more directly to the species' survival.

"It's a good thing, a really good thing,'' said Yerian, the park's manager. He will candle the eggs every several days until it can be determined for sure whether embryos are growing inside.

Excerpt from:
Captive whooping crane eggs offer hope for endangered species

Readmore: Local, News, Upstate Cancer Center, Jobs, Cancer Patients, Cancer Treatment, Syracuse Upstate Cancer Center, Steel Beams, Syracuse, Tons of Steel Beams, Construction, Employ, Central New York Neighbors

Upstate Cancer Center Completed Projection Fall, 2013

SYRACUSE -- Construction crews are hard at work installing 550 tons of steel beams at thenew Upstate CancerCenter, laying framework for the $50 million dollar project.

When it's complete, the 5-story building will serve adults and children living with cancer, and house out-patient treatments all in one place. There will be a rooftop garden, meditation rooms, and a family resource center --all additions that will help the center better serve Central New York neighbors.

Right now, the center is scattered around campus in different places. The new center will make treatment easier for patients and their doctors.

"We're going to have radiation, chemotherapy, surgical consultation all located in one building, so the doctors can be together to talk to patients, groups of patients about the best way to treat the cancer which all can be done in one location," says Leslie Kaman, Medical Director of the Upstate Cancer Center.

The target date for completion is fall of 2013.

The beams started to arrive on site Monday. Crews will work to continue installing them throughout the summer. This is the second phase of construction.

"Finally, it's going to get more exciting. People are going to begin to see this beautiful new building take shape," says Kohman.

The construction will employ about 300 people.

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Laying the Beams, Building Blocks to Upstate Cancer Center

By Bloomberg News - 2012-06-20T06:04:23Z

China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. (762), the countrys second-biggest wireless carrier, will cut the price of its cheapest smartphones by 30 percent to about $110 in an effort to expand its market share as user growth slows.

China Unicom will introduce smartphones costing less than 700 yuan in China in the near future, after great success with models priced at less than 1,000 yuan ($157), President Lu Yimin told the GSMA Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai today.

For the mass market we launched a series of promotions with 1,000-renminbi smartphones from 2010 to 2011, Lu said. In 2012, we will continue promotion measures.

China Unicom declined 3.9 percent to HK$10.40 as of 1:52 p.m. in Hong Kong trading, poised for its biggest drop since June 4.

Lu didnt provide a more specific timeframe for selling the cheaper smartphones. China Unicom currently offers handsets from Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. (000063) costing less than 1,000 yuan each.

The Beijing-based company has introduced 235 smartphones since starting 3G service in 2009, Lu said.

The carrier added 2.73 million users to its third- generation, or 3G, service last month, China Unicom said yesterday. That was fewer than the 2.92 million additions in April, and was the lowest monthly gain since September.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Edmond Lococo in Beijing at elococo@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Tighe at mtighe4@bloomberg.net

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China Unicom to Reduce Cheapest Smartphone Prices by 30%

You know, somewhere deep down inside of me, I thought, "A homecoming is exactly what Tim Lincecum needs to turn things around." The San Francisco Giants had been hitting the ball better and playing better defense; perhaps they would yield enough support for Lincecum in his return to Seattle, WA on June 16. And for a moment, it looked as if the Giants' 4-2 lead would hold up, but alas it did not.

Regardless, the start was supposed to be the one where Lincecum could rebound in an environment he was most comfortable in. It was supposed to be the fix of all fixes and in the end Lincecum would have returned to his normal self.

If I measured Lincecum's start against the Seattle Mariners from the beginning of the second inning to the end of the fourth, then I could say he did a fantastic job. But unfortunately, I have to throw in the first, fifth, and part of the sixth inning to complete the entire story; a story that was not a happy homecoming.

Lincecum was probably very happy to be home and have a chance to turn things around in a setting that was comfortable for him. He stated that there weren't any extra nerves or anything of the sort; it apparently was just a case of what has happened to Lincecum during his struggles this season.

As far as I'm concerned, if you haven't started to panic about Lincecum yet, now would be an appropriate time to do so. While it seems he should be on the rise and looking to redeem his season so far, the only things that are rising are his ERA (6.19), runs allowed (53) - after allowing just 66 all of last season - and his losses (8). Lincecum is also used to being at the head of the pack when it comes to leading the league in categories, something that he still does; just not in a positive way anymore. In the three rising categories, Lincecum leads the league in each.

Again, I'm not sure what it is about Lincecum that needs to be corrected, but I think that skipping his next start is going to be the best option the Giants have at this point. He's getting inside of his own head or there is a mechanical flaw that appears in select innings - I'm not sure which is more feasible at this point. Whatever it is though, some extra time to work through it may do wonders for Lincecum.

Food for thought: Is Lincecum missing a start an option in your mind to give him some extra time to work through things mechanically? Or is Lincecum's issue a mental one that he needs to be worked through during games? (Just to give you some background, when Lincecum pitches this year, the Giants are 2-12.)

David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where fresh content is posted daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions - all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, "Not knowing any better". Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.

You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp

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Originally posted here:
San Francisco Giants’ Tim Lincecum Falters in Homecoming: Fan Reaction

By Robin Wander

The Anderson Collection at Stanford University has reached another on-schedule milestone in the trek toward beginning construction this summer and opening its doors in 2014. The Stanford Board of Trustees approved Ennead Architects' building design at their meeting this week.

The Anderson Collection is one of the largest and most outstanding private collections of post-World War II American art in the world. The collection has been built over the last 50 years by Bay Area residents Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson, affectionately known as "Hunk" and "Moo," and by their daughter, Mary Patricia Anderson Pence, affectionately known as "Putter."

The trustees also took a step forward with the McMurtry building for the Department of Art and Art History. Renderings for that project are anticipated before the end of the month.

"The building for the Anderson Collection at Stanford University and the McMurtry building are magnificent, much-needed additions to this campus," said Leslie Hume, chair of the Board of Trustees, in December. "Like the Cantor Arts Center and Bing Concert Hall, they make tangible Stanford's commitment to the arts and the central role of the arts in a liberal education. As you arrive on campus and enter this wonderful arts district, you will know immediately that the arts are important to Stanford."

Renderings of the Anderson building reveal contemporary design that contributes to the distinct architectural character of the Stanford arts district. A clerestory roof element crowns a substantial rectilinear building mass that houses the second level galleries.

The sculptural gallery provides a variety of ceiling heights and scaled spaces. An open glass lobby and grand stair to the main gallery level provides a welcoming and dynamic entrance into the two-story venue.

The distinguished tripartite building is a testament to the transformative gift of artwork from the Andersons, a gift that stands to advance arts education and contribute significantly to the cultural landscape.

Ennead partners Richard Olcott and Timothy Hartung lead the design team. They describe how the design positions exhibition spaces on the second floor below an undulating ceiling: "The gentle slope of the ceiling and the continuous translucent clerestory at the perimeter of the building bring diffused natural light into the galleries from above. A grand, shallow central staircase will serve as an extension of the gallery walls, allowing visitors to view art as they gradually ascend from the lobby to the main galleries above."

The 33,327-square-foot building has been carefully sited in order to complement the Cantor Arts Center and surrounding landscape and to encourage physical connections between the two venues.

Read more from the original source:
Anderson Collection at Stanford University to be displayed in an elegant new home

13-06-2012 09:38 The Nightingale House is special for its massive size, privacy, and unusual history. Located at the tip of Warwick Neck, this stately family mansion is set back from the road, amid lush trees, a sloping lawn, and an elegant circular driveway. Built in the 1790s, the original structure was a square, three story farmhouse, done in the post and beam style. But one hundred years later, a Victorian addition was built, adding six rooms onto the front of the house. The home is rumored to once have been a child's country club before the Warwick Country Club was established. Despite these historic roots, 35 Westford Avenue has been extensively updated. The kitchen is brand new and features granite countertops, stainless appliances and a banquette, or "breakfast nook". But the historic charm lives on in details like the intricate wainscoting, moldings, mantels, and beautiful staircases. The living, family, and dining rooms all have fireplaces, and a four season room overlooks the backyard. The space currently used as a game room has a private bathroom and walk-out, and would make an ideal first floor master or in-law suite. There are three suites on the second floor. The master has large windows, a fireplace, a sumptuous bath, a private deck, and an attached space that could be used as an office or changing room. There are three additional bedrooms on the third floor, as well as a full bath, a second family room, and a studio. A staircase leads up to a widows walk, which offers ...

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35 Westford - Video

June 14, 2012 - Pioneer League (PL) Missoula Osprey MISSOULA, MONT - The Missoula Osprey, in conjunction with the Arizona Diamondbacks, have announced the addition of 11 more players to the 2012 Osprey roster, including a pair of projected starting pitchers and a corner infielder from the Northwest.

Jake Lamb, the D-backs 6th-round pick in this month's MLB Draft, will be among the players headed to Missoula. In three seasons at the University of Washington, Lamb hit .326 with 10 home runs and 88 RBIs, and earned Honorable Mention All-Pac 12 honors this past spring while leading the Huskies in games played, doubles, RBI, walks, on-base average and slugging percentage. Lamb was originally drafted in the 38th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2009 MLB Draft.

Joining Lamb in the infield will be middle infielder Pedro Ruiz, who will share second base and shortstop duties with John Leonard, and Jesus Abreu, who played in the Arizona Rookie League in 2011.

The outfield gets some added depth with the addition of Hawai'I native Breland Almadova. A multi-sport athlete in high school, he chose to play baseball at the University of Hawai'I, and played well in his two seasons as a mainstay in the Rainbows' lineup. As expected from a multi-sport athlete, Almadova has shown exceptional athleticism during the mini-camp in Arizona. His father played football at Hawai'i.

Also coming to Missoula is catcher Yosbel Guiterrez, who will be playing his first season of baseball stateside after spending his first two summers in the Dominican Summer League. Guiterrez, who hit .235 with seven doubles and four triples in just over 50 career starts behind the plate, has impressed the D-backs during the grind that is Extended Spring Training.

"He has a ton of energy, he's always smiling and keeping everyone positive and loose," said Bell of Guiterrez. "He has opened some eyes over the past few months."

In addition to the position player additions, six more pitchers were named to the Missoula roster today, including two who will be in the mix for the starting rotation. Right-hander Ross Gerdeman and left-hander Andrew Barbosa are expected to be among the starters used by Osprey pitching coach Gil Heredia this season.

Gerdeman has already had a taste of game action away from Extended Spring this season, making a spot start for Class A Advanced Visalia last month. A 35th round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, Gerdeman was 4-2 with a 3.64 ERA in the Arizona League last season. Over his last three starts in 2011, Gerdeman allowed just five runs in 20 innings pitched (2.25 ERA) while posting the win in each outing. Gerdeman, a product of Fort Jennings, Ohio, pitched three seasons for Bowling Green State University, primarily out of the bullpen, making 20 appearances in each season in a Falcon uniform.

Barbosa has a reputation of getting batters out - in three seasons at South Florida, the 36th round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft posted a 15-10 mark, with a 2.01 career ERA and 281 strikeouts in 191 1/3 career innings pitched, and held opponents to a .217 batting average. The Puerto Rico native - who was drafted twice prior by the San Francisco Giants - was a walk-on at USF before becoming a weekend starter by the end of his first season.

The Osprey bullpen is bolstered by left-hander Mike Blake - who, like Lamb, is a Washington state native - and right-handers Cody Geyer, Chase Stevens and Justin Thompson. Geyer is considered by the D-backs brass to have plenty of potential, possessing a lively fastball in the mid-90s and a good curveball. Geyer was mainly a position player until he attended junior college at Walters State Community College - the same school that produced current Osprey first baseman Kyle Koeneman and former Osprey infielder Jake Elmore (2008). In Geyer was 3-2 in 23 appearances between the Arizona League and Yakima, with a 7.09 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings pitched.

Link:
Lamb Among 11 Additions to 2012 Osprey Roster

Sorry, Burn Notice fans. Fiona will not be getting out of prison anytime soon. Series creator and executive producer Matt Nix is just having too much fun.

"We don't get her out in the first episode. We don't get her out in the second episode and we don't get her out in the third episode," Nix tells TVGuide.com with a laugh. (It is too late for a spoiler alert?) "It's fun just to see Fiona in prison. Obviously, she's not an average prisoner, and prison is not a safe place to be. She's got her own set of challenges and her own set of characters."

Character Chatter: Join in the conversation with other Burn Notice fans

Yes, it's goodbye designer duds and hello orange jumpsuit when the new season of Burn Notice premieres on Thursday at 9/8c on USA. Season 6 picks up right after Fi (Gabrielle Anwar) turned herself into the authorities for bombing the British Consulate to stop Anson (Jere Burns) from blackmailing Michael (Jeffrey Donovan). "It's not like anything we've done before to have an entire story line that takes place separately from the main story line," Nix says. "Obviously, there are still some interactions and everybody's concerned with her being in prison and trying to deal with that situation."

This includes Michael, who obviously won't take Fiona's decision lightly, as seen in this exclusive sneak peek:

"It also gives us an interesting place to start the season, because Michael very nearly compromised himself completely for the sake of getting Fiona out of prison," Nix says. "Going into this season, he really wants to get her back, but that is not an easy thing."

Exclusive: Burn Notice asks fans to vote on Season 6's new main titles

Michael's season-long quest to break his jailbird love free means less time for clients of the week and a larger step away from procedural, stand-alone episodes for the action drama. "This year is going to be a lot more serialized, a lot bigger because everything is impacting the main characters directly," Nix says. "I think everybody was feeling the same thing, between us and the network. For better or for worse, it's a whole new ball game this year."

Nix says the move has been a goal of his, and with the series about to hit 99 episodes at the end of Season 6, the timing finally felt right. "At a certain point you realize, 'We've now done all the possible variations on this kind of story. What can I do now that's exciting and interesting and feels fresh?'" he says. "The answer, for me, is that it has to do more with the main characters, the specifics of their situation and their emotional lives. Those things can be fresh and different in all sorts of ways because it's not all driven by the client."

Excerpt from:
Burn Notice Boss Matt Nix: "It's a Whole New Ball Game This Year"

22-year-old Marlene Bruhaug is an international student from Norway studying at UNC Charlotte. Photo/ Scarlett Newman

22-year old Marlene Bruhaug is one of the new additions to the Interantional student family at UNC Charlotte. Bruhaug is from Narvik, Norway and is here for the spring semester.

When she returns to Norway next year for her final year of school she plans to work in the shipping industry.

According to Bruhaug, the biggest differences between Norway and the U.S. are the food and the people.

People here in America are more welcoming than in Norway. Not that we arent welcoming and friendly, we are just a lot more reserved, said Bruhaug.

She went along to add that an American perk is cheaper nightlife.

In her spare time she likes to ski, play soccer and hang out with her friends. She loves to be around her friends whether it be watching a movie or going out on the town.

This is her first time in America so she was eager to see if her expectations of it matched up with reality.

Ive seen a lot of American movies and TV shows so I had an idea on how it would be, but I didnt know for sure. The first week is usually orientation where you get to know the other international students, you learn about the culture, the school and the city you are in. Its a busy week with a lot of things happening, but its really fun!

Bruhaug expresses her love of the people in America and gushes that Americans are so easy to talk to and to get along with but is not pleased with the public transportation.

Excerpt from:
Abroad in America: a Norweigan Niner profile