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DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have already found a replacement for Xavier Avery.
Outfielder Trayvon Robinson has agreed to terms on a minor league deal with the Tigers, according to a source close to the subject.
Robinson, 27, is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo this weekend.
Robinson, a center fielder, essentially fills the spot vacated by Avery, who was released by the Tigers on Thursday after he exercised an opt-out in his contract.
A former 10th-round pick of the Dodgers in 2005, Robinson has not been added to Detroit's 40-man roster and is considered to be organizational depth.
Robinson signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in April, and hit .256 with a .357 on-base percentage at Triple-A Reno before being released June 22.
Robinson made his major league debut in 2011 and batted .215 spanning 288 at-bats with the Seattle Mariners. He hasn't appeared in the majors since 2012, spending the last two seasons in the Orioles, Dodgers and Padres farm systems.
Outfielder Jeff McVaney was promoted to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday to fill Avery's vacancy in Triple-A Toledo. But an additional outfielder was needed after the Mud Hens placed Tyler Collins on the 7-day disabled list with a mild ankle sprain.
After disappointing Wall Street in five of the six previous quarters, the Hewlett-Packard Company reported financial results today that exceeded analysts' estimates.
But beyond the bottom line, there was little to celebrate in Hewlett-Packard's fiscal third quarter. New orders grew just 1 percent from the corresponding quarter a year earlier. In addition, company officials said further revamping efforts would probably result in a charge of about $100 million in the fourth quarter.
Hewlett-Packard, based in Palo Alto, Calif., said cost controls and strong financial management had helped strengthen earnings in a difficult business climate. The company also said that it remained cautious about future performance because of the continued financial turmoil in Asia, as well as concerns about economies in Eastern Europe, Latin America and the United States.
Still, shares of Hewlett-Packard rose sharply late today. The company reported its results after the regular close of the New York Stock Exchange, but its shares moved higher in late composite trading to close at $55.25, up $2.50.
''They had great expense control, but we're not out of the woods yet,'' said Steven Milunovich, an analyst with Merrill Lynch, With year-to-year order growth of just 1 percent, ''the risk is you have another weak fourth quarter,'' he said.
For its third quarter, which ended on July 31, Hewlett-Packard earned $621 million, or 58 cents a fully diluted share, compared with $617 million, or 58 cents a diluted share, in the quarter a year earlier. Per-share earnings reflect an increase in the number of shares outstanding, to 1.08 billion from 1.06 billion. Revenue grew 5 percent, to $11 billion.
While earnings were essentially flat, Wall Street analysts had expected Hewlett-Packard to earn 54 cents a share, according to First Call, an investment research company that tracks analysts' estimates.
Mr. Milunovich, the Merrill Lynch analyst, said the company's revenue actually came in a bit below his expectations, but that costs rose far less and the company had unusually high ''other'' income, including interest, which accounted for most of the 4-cent-a-share difference.
Hewlett-Packard officials said that Asia remained very weak, with no improvement in sight, and that pricing pressures in the United States market for personal computers and printers had eroded earnings as well. They said the company took a less aggressive stance on personal computer pricing than in the second quarter, with the result that it lost some potential sales, but the PC unit returned to profitability.
On a more positive note, Mr. Wayman said operating expenses grew just 4 percent in the quarter, compared with 18 percent in the second quarter, and 13 percent in the year-earlier period.
Currency effects, temporary plant closings, reduced hiring and the drop in the company's stock price, which reduces the cost of stock appreciation rights, all contributed to the improved operating-cost performance, he said. The company cut its temporary work force by 1,000 in the quarter, compared with an increase of 2,700 in the third quarter of fiscal 1997.
Hewlett-Packard said orders for the quarter were $10.5 billion, a 1 percent increase over last year's third quarter. Orders in the United States grew 4 percent, to $5 billion, while orders from outside the United States were down 1 percent, at $5.4 billion. In Europe, orders were $3.3 billion, up 6 percent in dollars and 10 percent in local currency. In the Asia-Pacific region, orders declined 19 percent in dollars and were down 6 percent in local currency.
Hewlett-Packard officials said their goal for revenue growth was in the mid- to high teens, but that this performance was not possible until world markets stabilized.
Most Americans throw out a pound of food every single day. Here are five things you can do to redirect that waste in useful and environmentally friendly ways.
One-third of the food we grow is wasted every year. That adds up to 1.3 billion tons of food thrown in landfills around the world. And that food, instead of feeding hungry people, sits in landfills and slowly releases methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times as potent as carbon dioxide in trapping atmospheric heat.
And food is wasted at every level of the food-distribution pyramid: Farmers don’t harvest misshapen yet perfectly tasty vegetables; truckers’ loads are rejected by stores; and spoiled produce ends up in trash cans around the globe.
Some individuals and organizations are now fighting these trends. Here are five ways to combat food waste at every level.
Americans throw out about a pound of food every single day. And, somewhat surprisingly, the higher quality your diet, the more food you are likely to waste. That’s because health-promoting vegetables and fruits also require substantial resources to bring to the market.
Composting is a simple solution to fight food waste. Whether it’s apple peels or egg shells, composting offers a use for food scraps that would otherwise sit in a landfill. Composting speeds up the natural decay of organic waste and creates a nutrient-rich soil great for gardens. Cities across the country offer compost collectives where people can learn the basics of composting. Many composting organizations pick up scraps and offer drop-off locations for food waste. Cities like Seattle, Denver and San Francisco all have curbside compost pickup and other cities are following their lead.
Another easy hobby: making jam, pickles and preservatives. Jamming and pickling are simple strategies to use nearly spoiled produce. Cucumbers about to go bad? Try pickling them. Or maybe a few apples are past their prime — try turning them into apple sauce.
The National Center for Home Food Preservation is a good resource for how to make jams, jellies and preservatives.
People tend to buy the prettiest peaches and the most vibrant peppers, leaving their “ugly” brethren behind. So companies like Imperfect Produce and Hungry Harvest are changing the norms about what food should look like.
Hungry Harvest is an “ugly” food subscription service. They purchase unsellable produce directly from farmers at low cost. The company then ships it to customers in a weekly subscription box. The customers save money, the food ends up in bellies and the farmers make a profit from what might have otherwise gone to waste.
Imperfect Produce offers its produce at a 30 percent markdown.
“Hopefully it’s a pipeline to get as much of that food as possible out of that field and into people’s fridges across the country,” says Imperfect Produce CEO, Ben Simon.
Grocery stores have the final say when produce is dropped off. If the bananas are overripe or the tomatoes too small, then the produce might be rejected. Truckers are on tight schedules, so they don’t have many options on what to do with unwanted food. Sometimes the simplest solution is to drop it in a dump, but that’s usually associated with landfill fees, not to mention a terrible environmental impact.
Food Drop, a pilot initiative by the Indy Hunger Network, is intervening. Food Dump reaches truckers before the truckers reach the dump. By pairing truckers up with the nearest food banks, they save the truckers’ time and money, cut back on food waste and provide people in need with fresh food.
In the five-month pilot, the initiative saved 87,000 pounds of food. The programming is now expanding across the entire state of Indiana.
Other organizations have similar programs. Food Cowboy has a hotline where truckers, caterers and events can offer leftover food to charities in need.
Technology is becoming a popular tool in fighting food waste. Everything from mobile apps to software can be used to track and reduce waste.
Copia, a technology company focused on food recovery, works with cafeterias, caterers and other business to redistribute food to food banks. Copia redirects about 60,000 pounds of food each month.
“We’re a tech-enabled logistics company, like Uber, that matches people who have excess edible food with people who need it,” says Copia’s CEO, Komal Ahmad.
Copia’s software analytics can also help businesses understand where there’s consistent surplus, so that they can adjust their orders. So far Copia has recovered a million pounds of produce and served over 900,000 meals.
Several organizations are kick-starting movements to change policies around food distribution and waste on local and national levels.
The Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard University is an opportunity for students to use legal and policy tools to interact and effect change within the environmental, economic and health sectors of our food systems. Students work with individuals and communities to help them understand and improve their food systems, as well as help shape food-waste legislation.
Gluttony, greed, and disrespect for our earth and the food it provides,... well, that's a chunk of what's causing our problems. We're spoiled, and the food is going rotten. I know many folks who hardly ever finish what's on their plate. All that goes onto the pile of entitled wasters who have little thought to the billions of people who would love to taste just a morsel of their scrapes. We've lost our perspective regarding planning. What, Who, How, When, Where, and Cost. All these are questions we need to analyze when our food source is a business plan. If so many people weren't bent on becoming millionaires, we'd have a better shot at making reasonable decisions. As it is these days, too many are just orchestrating their goals around a huge payoff. And those without a decent diet are left without even the scraps from the tables of those who dish it up but can't eat it all.
All good ideas. It is a horrible how much food we throw away while people, even here in our own cities go hungry. As for composting, even in the small city in canada I moved from 5 years ago we had a bin from the garbage company supplied that was specifically for compost materials. They even gave you a small can for under your kitchen sink.
While we are really looking forward to the release of Assassin’s Creed Unity later this year, some interesting details have already emerged on the following game, Assassin’s Creed 6.
We now know that the franchise is an annual release, with Ubisoft Montreal having been in charge of most of the recent releases on console. This is set to change however, as Ubisoft has announced that for Assassin’s Creed 6, a new developer team will be in charge.
Ubisoft Montreal will move away from the project, while Ubisoft Quebec will step in. This is a new team that Ubisoft has recently set up, pumping in $28 million to get the team fully operational.
Ubisoft has said that the Montreal team will continue to lead other Ubisoft projects, but for now it is time for the Quebec team to shine and this will be good news for gamers we think in terms of a fresh looking Assassin’s Creed 6 after Unity.
The next game is due out in October and will be set in Paris during the French revolution. Is this a good move by Ubisoft in your opinion?
This will please those that are not happy about having an annual release – it will also be interesting to see just how different AC6 can look with a new developer in charge, compared to Ubisoft Montreal who usually handle the games.
Give us your reaction to this – is it a big positive for you?
Submitted by WBRi on Fri, 11/11/2016 - 11:50.
As rupee 500 and rupee 1,000 notes stand banned in India, the nation is hopping crazy over prime minister Narendra Modi's latest move to rout out the malice of black money.
Bollywood which at one time was one of the biggest facilitator of black money, with producers dealing a lot in cash, stands in support of the PM today. With corporate culture having entered the film industry, the tables have long turned in the favour of clean money in Bollywood.
Submitted by WBRi on Fri, 11/11/2016 - 11:45.
Submitted by WBRi on Tue, 11/08/2016 - 11:19.
Karan Johar has thrown a hint of just how much fun Season 5 of Koffee with Karan promises to be while Parineeti Chopra and Aditya Roy Kapur just shot for an episode of Koffee with Karan Season 5 that will begin tomorrow at 9 PM on Star World and Star World HD. Please find more details below!
Submitted by WBRi on Wed, 11/02/2016 - 11:16.
The music launch of Kuheli turned out to be a gala event as the cast and crew along with the music team of the film attended the event in a popular mall in Kolkata.
The cast in attendance comprised of lead pair Indrasish and Pujarini along with versatile actor Kaushik Sen. Veteran acting power house Barun Chanda were also present at the music launch.
The spotlight of the event was on the music team which is composed of Music Director Mainakk and Dolon and the singers namely Kinjal, Timir and Ujjayini.
Submitted by WBRi on Mon, 10/31/2016 - 11:03.
Kunal Kapoor who plays a Kalaripayattu warrior in Jayaraj's trilingual period drama, Veeram, set in 13th century Kerala, reveals that it would take him nearly four hours to get ready for the shoot.
Submitted by WBRi on Fri, 10/21/2016 - 11:50.
Celebrity fashion designer Richa Ranawat recently unveiled an amazing new Indo Western collection that has been named as “WeDesi” by her fashion line “StyleInn” based in Mumbai.
These designs bring the best of two worlds together with sophisticated cuts from the west that are embellished with unique zardosi work from the east.
Submitted by WBRi on Fri, 10/21/2016 - 11:41.
The teaser of Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dear Zindagi is out revealing the wonderful camaraderie shared between the vivacious Alia Bhatt and superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Written & Directed by Gauri Shinde, the film is jointly produced by Gauri Khan, Karan Johar and Gauri Shinde under the banners of Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions, and Hope Productions respectively.
Deepika being international icon takes a fashion statement from love dose lady Urvashi Rautela..Cant Believe it!!!!
Submitted by WBRi on Fri, 10/21/2016 - 11:38.
Fear haunts Sonarika Bhadoria post-midnight!
Submitted by WBRi on Wed, 10/05/2016 - 12:13.
Surprising as it may sound but it seems there is some mystery around this damsel in distress. Every day as soon as the evening goes beyondmidnight, this babe starts behaving rather mysteriously. Not sure what is up to her or the time but something creepy seems to be in store. One would have to wait and watch this horror romance SAANSEIN - THE LAST BREATH that releases on the 11th November 2016 to find out the truth that will surprise everyone. But until that time, we can catch a glimpse of the trailer that launches on the 5th of October. May be a hint or two to keep one glued to the mystery until the 11th!
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. FIX, +0.00% a leading provider of mechanical services including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, piping and controls, announces that it has scheduled its quarterly conference call and webcast for Friday, February 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss fourth quarter 2018 financial results. The results will be released after the market closes on Thursday, February 21, 2019.
To participate in the call, dial 1-888-339-2688 fifteen minutes before the conference call begins and enter 55116829 as the conference passcode. The call and the slide presentation to accompany the remarks can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com under the Investors tab after results are released.
On the next business day following the call, a replay of the entire call will be available on the Company’s website.
Comfort Systems USA [®] is a premier provider of business solutions addressing workplace comfort, with 128 locations in 114 cities around the nation. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MIGUEL REVERIEGO. STYLED BY JESSICA DIEHL.
For our July cover story, West Coast senior editor Krista Smith took a hike in Los Angeles with Shailene Woodley, where the actress pointed out all the wild greenery they could eat, picked up bits of litter, ran into several friends, and joked about barging into George Clooney’s house. Here are some of the highlights of their conversation that didn’t make it into the magazine.
Who Is Buying Votes at the Lebanon Election?
This is the second part in an on-scene series direct from the Lebanon election.
Beirut, Lebanon: Sat, May 5, 2018- On this lovely morning here on the coast of the Mediterranean there is not a cloud in the sky. In less than twenty-four hours voting will begin. However, on this day before the election, a howling wind is blowing from the south making the thousands of posters, banners and building-sized placards that feature the faces of the scores of potential Lebanese parliamentarians dance and sway wildly above the throngs of tomorrows voters.
But this wind, one that just yesterday seemed to bring the promise of a new future for Lebanon, will it be an ill wind that instead dashes this attempt at populist democratic reform, one cast from nine years of progress, onto the rocks of US-backed history?
Judging from the past twelve hours on the streets of Beirut, there is suddenly strong pause for concern. Someone is buying votes!
And just about everyone knows it.
Prior to arriving in the wee hours of this morning, this reporter had checked the newspaper offerings in the three airports transited for features on this very important election. In the New York Times, London Times, UK Independent, Financial Times, their Friday-before-the-election editions included not so much as a mention. In the English language papers of Turkey to the north, neither the Daily News or the Daily Sabah had a similar omission.
It’s now 7 PM on this Saturday and the bars are closing; unheard of in this town known for its vibrant nightlife that routinely parties to 4 AM even on a Sunday. It has been nine years since this nation’s last election and the Lebanese government wants everyone sober enough tomorrow to make it to the voting booth. So, if you want a drink only a restaurant can legally serve alcohol; hopefully on a full stomach.
In what appears to be a form of Gerrymandering, when the voters return home to vote, many travelling over a hundred miles to do so, they must vote from a set list of candidates specific to their region. This would appear to be a violation of the Lebanese constitution that allows for universal suffrage and will restrict these voters from voting for more favorable candidates within the party of their choice, but not on their ballot. Despite the excitement of tomorrows historic election, many are quite unhappy about this limited choice that certainly affects their decision at the ballot box.
These separate ballots will be divided across the nation- similar to US congresspersons- by population. This means that Beirut, the largest city, has three different districts and three different ballots. The smaller cites have only one and in the rural areas of many small towns and villages, their ballots are apportioned to a set region.
One hundred and twenty-eight candidates will be elected tomorrow- the entire parliament. This has never before happened and is just as unusual in other worldwide elections where the election cycle is split instead- as in the US- to every two, four or six years. This makes this election all the more important since, post-election, it is these same parliamentarians that will subsequently elect the new Prime Minister, the very powerful three-member Cabinet and the President. Hence the stakes for this election have never been higher and this election will see a wholesale and long-lasting change in influence.
In an attempt to level the playing field for all candidates, all of them are currently under a national gag order that began this morning and will be enforced until the election is over and the results are in. None may, in this period, speak with any Radio, TV, Internet, or newspaper news source. Additionally, any manipulation by virtue of misleading advanced polling data has been restricted making the outcome an unknown to the voter and a further encouragement to get out and vote.
Everyone interviewed, without exception, views the many Hizbullah candidates as the status quo that will prevail. The only question is the final tally of seats. Hizbullah’s growing power has been achieved in the past by it creating various coalition alliances such as the March 7 or March 14 coalitions of many years ago. So the question is not whether Hizbullah will retain power, but whether it may achieve an actual majority.
While there are many other candidates in opposition to Hizbullah, they are aligned with either the Christian, Alawite, Sunni, Druze religious factions. These have previously failed to garner significant support since they have done very little, compared to Hizbullah, to bring real societal change to Lebanon. They also have repeatedly done nothing to defend their country in the three previous wars of incursion by Israel, while the people of Lebanon and Hizbullah have fought side-by-side. This memory applied at the ballot box to the horrors of war past and will have many voters discounting religious affiliations in favor of the national defence. These concerns have given current Minister of the Interior (which manages the police and domestic security), Mouhad Al Mashouk, perceived front-runner status for many who are looking beyond the Hizbullah offerings.
Mashouk may have trouble with this since the Shia candidate, retired Colonel Ali Al Shaer is featuring his own defensive track record as a reason for votes.
The image of Saad Hariri, son of venerated Rafik Hariri, is so prevalent by itself, and alongside those of the many candidates, that one would think he was running for election. His image and presence of support for these candidates are designed to hopefully bring him to power again via parliamentary vote. There is no doubt that he is riding the coattails of his father in a similar fashion to Justin Trudeau despite his brief resignation and defection to Saudi Arabia. This is not lost on the voters, but strangely many believe he has a chance since most have forgiven him for his treason.
Western Desperation: Who is Buying All Those Opposition Votes?
What does not bode well for a peaceful and long-lasting result of this election is that some of the opposition candidates are paying for votes. This reporter spoke with five different voters who all told the same story: The going price in South of Lebanon is $800 and the mortita for Beirut is as high as $2000…plus airfare!!
One woman voter spoke of her anguished conversation with her parents who wanted her to change her vote and had admitted to her that they had been given $1000 each for their votes. Another bar patron informed this reporter that, due to the requirement of voting in the district of one’s birth, opposition candidates were going to be bused in from across Lebanon since Beirut is the plum of this election, having far the most seats to win. One bartender spoke with disgust about an opposition staff member visiting his bar- not an hour before- and offering he and other patrons $1000 per vote.
Worse, yet another taxi driver spoke of his parents being contacted in Canada with an offer of airfare and $2000 per vote to come to Lebanon on Sunday.

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