Tag Archive: lead

June 13th, 2011
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Mid-Season Nl Playoff Predictions

By Jay Nault

As we round into the second half of the 2006 season, many fans begin to look ahead in hopes that their team can either catch fire or hold their lead and qualify for the postseason. In the National League, it appears that the postseason picture is beginning to take shape. One team is all but cemented in its place, another has history on its side and the rest have different factors in their favor that will aid in their quest to play into October.

NL East Winner:

New York Mets

Why they’ll win the division:

In short, the Mets will win the division because they’ve simply dominated it so far in 2006. As of this writing, they hold a 12-game lead on the second-place Phillies and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. They have very good pitching, timely hitting and a team “chasing” them that isn’t showing many signs of life. The only word of caution that needs to be heeded by the Mets is that sometimes teams that “coast” into the postseason can be surprised in the first round of the playoffs, especially if they meet a team that’s been battling to qualify. Regardless, the Mets have time to worry about that possibility.

NL Central Winner:

St. Louis Cardinals

Why they’ll win the division:

The Cardinals are going to win the NL Central for a few reasons. First, they have the best team, and in a 162-game season, there are very few anomalies that can play above their heads for that long. Second, they’re getting hot at the right time, winning seven in a row as of this writing, while their “competition,” the Reds, continue to fade after a hot start. The Cardinals also have slightly better pitching and hitting than their divisional competition. The Cardinals won’t clinch too early, but they will clinch.

NL West Winner:

San Diego Padres

Why they’ll win the division:

The Padres not only have history on their side, but they’ll also be pushed throughout the season. The Padres have never failed to qualify for the postseason after leading the division at the All Star break, which is where they are in 2006. They also play in a mediocre division where no team is a threat to go off on a tear in the second half. However, their lead is slim, and the Dodgers will remain within striking distance through the rest of the season, forcing the Padres to keep the pedal to the metal through the last week of the season.

Wild Card:

Los Angeles Dodgers

Why they’ll win the Wild Card race:

The Dodgers will qualify for the postseason more because of what their competition doesn’t have than what the Dodgers bring to the table. The Reds, who currently lead in the Wild Card standings, have a tough second-half schedule and lack the consistent pitching needed to hold their lead. The Phillies, Brewers and Astros are too inconsistent and/or inexperienced in general to mount serious challenges, and the Dodgers will continue to press the Padres for the NL West crown as that division will remain competitive throughout the season.

This is how things should shape up in 2006, and the next time we revisit this subject, we’ll analyze how the rest of the postseason will unfold.

About the Author: By Jay Nault sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells aa href=”http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>baseball tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ , concert tickets, theater tickets and more. Please link to this site when using this article.

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March 15th, 2011
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How Lead Crystal Is Made

By Bonnie Spring

Composition

Lead crystal glass is made from a mixture of sand, potash and lead oxide. The type of lead crystal glass is determined by a British specification (BS 3828: 1964) for each type. Lead crystal glass contains a minimum lead oxide content of 24% and is produced primarily for its beauty of appearance. Full lead crystal glass contains higher amounts of lead oxide usually not less than 30%. This higher content of lead oxide enhances the beauty of the item but it is more costly to manufacture.

The Glass Workshop

The workshop where the lead crystal glass making is done is an interesting scene. Workers are stationed in groups around the furnace where the glass is melted. Each group is known as a “chair” and consists of 4 or 5 persons: The “workman”, who is the principal, two who are known as “foot maker” and “servitor” – and one or two boys who are employed in what we would call “gofer” positions. A certain part of the work is assigned to each member of the group, according to the design of the item on which the “chair” is making.

Any lead crystal figurine or other piece begins as a ball of molten glass. This ball is drawn from the pot on the end of a blow-iron, which is a steel tube about 4 ft. long. It is constantly rotated in order to distribute the glass evenly. The molten glass is rolled on a polished iron table to smooth the surface. The glassworker now blows through the tube and the hot glass forms into a hollow sphere. By turning, tilting and swinging the molten glass on the tube the shape begins to develop. The glass is further created as the iron is rolled up and down on the arms of the glassmaker’s chair. Few tools are used in this process – a steel pincers, calipers, shears, wooden measuring sticks and clappers. Once a stem and foot are added to the piece being made it is transferred for further working to steel rod called a pontil, the end of which it is attached by a blob of hot glass. The glass is re-melting before excessive glass is sheared away from the item being made and any final touches are given. The still glowing article is cracked off the rod, dropped into a carrying case and transported to a “lehr” or annealing oven.

Annealing

The annealing oven is a long chamber through which the glass is slowly carried, passing little by little from a high temperature to the ambient temperature of the workshop. This is necessary because the glass could cool too rapidly and shatter the item being created. When removed from the lehr, each article undergoes an examination for any defects. An instrument utilizing polarized light is used to reveal any imperfect annealing.

Cutting

Cutting is one of the more critical processes and calls for a very high degree of skill. Cutting is done by holding the lead crystal figurine against the edge of a revolving cutting wheel. The glass is carefully guided to produce some of the lovely and complex patterns that are possible. The number of patterns is infinite and in combination creates some beautiful effects. The pattern which has been designated on the glass “blank” by specially trained workers, is first roughly cut by the carborundum wheel. The glass is now ready for polishing.

Polishing

Polishing is done by placing the glass into a vat containing a mixture of hydrofluoric and sulphuric acid for about a minute. It is then thoroughly rinsed and the glass transforms into sparkling pieces of crystal.

This is the process that virtually any piece of lead crystal glass goes through before it becomes a beautiful piece of art. Throughout the years little in the process has changed.

About the Author: Bonnie Spring is writer and administrator for aa href=”http://Kbkgifts.com” title=”http://Kbkgifts.com” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>http://Kbkgifts.com, where you can find beautiful crystal.

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