Thursday, June 30, 2016

Quick Link:Keeping Your Characters Compelling Beyond the First Draft

Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web. Are you one of those people who starts off a rough draft so excited about your characters and your story, only to plow through to the end and find that it has lost its charm? We should start a club together. Sometimes […]

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5 Common Home Repairs

There are certain home repairs that are unavoidable over time and every homeowner will eventually face them. In this short post we’ll discuss some common home repairs, including: holes in walls, sticky doors, stuck sliding windows, creaky floorboards and roof problems.

Image Source: Flickr.com

Image Source: Flickr.com

Below are 5 common home repairs:

Holes in Walls
Holes in walls are nearly unavoidable, even if you’re only renting. However, unless you’ve done plowed a car through it, you can fix most holes pretty cheaply. The simplest holes to fix are going to be screw or nail holes from hanging everything from pictures to TVs. For holes like these, you’ll want to clean the area of any debris and wipe down the wall. Use a putty knife to press some spackle into the wall and let it dry. Once it’s done, use some fine grain sandpaper to sand it down until it’s nice and flat. Depending on how seamless you need it to be and what color you your walls are, you may need to apply a coat of paint.
Larger holes can be a bit trickier. If a doorknob or fist went through the wall, you’ll need to cut out a rectangular section of the drywall surrounding the hole. Then, cut a piece of drywall from some scraps (or whole pieces you can buy at a hardware store).  Source: LifeHacker

Sticky Doors
Sticking or binding doors can sometimes cause squeaks because they put extra pressure on the hinges. Hinges can also get noisy when they begin to oxidize. If your door hinges announce anyone entering or leaving the room, you might be able to silence them with a little lubricant. First, cover the area under the door with a cloth and then apply penetrating oil to the hinges. Be sparing at first. After applying a few drops, open and close the door to work lubricant into the moving parts of the hinge. Give it a couple of minutes, and try opening and closing the door one more time. If there’s still a squeak, apply a few more drops and go through the process again. Source: HowStuffWorks

Stuck Sliding Windows
A little silicone spray lubricant (sold at hardware stores) will grease the skids. Spray it onto a rag, then wipe along the tracks, whether they’re metal, wood, or plastic. Source: RealSimple

Creaky Floorboards
Floorboards can creak either because their fastening screws have come loose, or because they’ve swollen and now rub against each other. Once you’ve found the problem, it’s easy to fix. If a floorboard covers an area of pipes or cables, fixing it with a screw instead of a nail will allow easy access. Source: HouseBeautiful

Roof Problems
The roof of your home may contain old or damaged shingles and improper flashing due to rain. The overall structure of the roof may be affected because of improperly installed collar ties and ridge beam supports. Source: HandymanProfessional

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114



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Twitter Media: The first night of free agency updated to the minute



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Jamal Crawford on Free Agency 2016: "This is Christmas"

Los Angeles Clippers’ Jamal Crawford joins NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick to break down free agency.

As a player, Crawford has a unique perspective on where guys might go and what the market is for other players. They discuss Kevin Durant’s situation and how Durant will be talking to Crawford’s team.

They break down some of the younger players and Crawford gives his list of guys he’d pursue if he was a general manager.

Then they talk about how Crawford, a free agent himself, stays in playing shape even in his late 30s. They also talk about other guys, in particular Dwyane Wade, who is in Crawford’s age bracket and how he might fit in with the Miami Heat’s plans.



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Happy Fourth of July!

Here’s hoping you have an excellent Fourth of July weekend. We’ll be taking the rest of the week off to spend time with people that don’t annoy us. Be safe and have a great holiday weekend!

Shown above: Bodum Fyrkat Picnic Charcoal Grill, $68.50. Also available directly from Bodum.

Shown below: Litho Hammock: American Pride, $80.75

Litho Hammock, American Pride



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A systematic review about nothing

Water

There’s dubious content in PubMed that you won’t find unless you look for it, or stumble across it inadvertently. It’s the entire field of alternative medicine which is abstrated and complied along with the actual medical literature. In this world, the impossible is accepted as fact, and journal articles focus on the medical equivalent of counting angels on pinheads. I’ve been trying to avoid blogging about alternative medicine practices like homeopathy lately because the practice itself is a scientific dead end. There is no emerging evidence or interesting research to describe, because there is no science to build on. But research on homeopathy is interesting if one wants to understand how placebo effects can appear to be real. Importantly, research and clinical trials of homeopathy allow us to see the underlying (baseline) challenges, flaws and biases in evaluating real medicine more clearly. Today I want to review a newly published systematic review of adverse effects attributed to homeopathy. The casual reader might not see the the multiple problems with this type of research. But once you understand the basis of homeopathy, the conclusion that one can draw is quite different that the authors’ conclusions. And if inert sugar pills can appear to have medicinal effects, and even adverse effects, then we can better adjust for these biases when we’re studying actual medicine. 

Homeopathy: the voodoo doll of medicine

Among all the forms of alternative medicine, homeopathy is the most implausible of them all.  Homeopathy is based on the idea that “like cures like”,  in that a small dose of what causes a symptom can actually cure that symptom. Like-cures-like is simply sympathetic magic,  a per-scientific belief that was first described by anthropologist Sir James George Frazer in his 1890 book, The Golden Bough. In the book, Fraser outlines the two components of sympathetic magic:

If we analyse the principles of thought on which magic is based, they will probably be found to resolve themselves into two: first, that like produces like, or that an effect resembles its cause; and, second, that things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other at a distance after the physical contact has been severed. The former principle may be called the Law of Similarity, the latter the Law of Contact or Contagion.

I’ve discussed the “Law of Contagion” before, which underlies our current preoccupations with pseudoscientific ideas such as “detox” and “eating clean“. Sympathetic magic is the entire basis for the homeopathic belief system:

  • Like-cures-Like: a substance that causes a symptom is diluted to treat that same symptom. Any substance is thought to be an effective remedy if it’s diluted enough: cancer, boar testicles, crude oil, oxygen, skim milk even  vacuum cleaner dust or moonlight. Deciding which substances will cure which symptoms is determined by a process called a “proving” which is equally without any scientific basis. (Here are homeopathic provings for the Berlin Wall remedy and also sunlight reflected off the planet Saturn, to give you an example of the science underlying this practice.
  • Water has a memory: the more you dilute the substance, the more powerful its effect, even when there mathematically won’t be one molecule remaining. And when I say dilute, I mean dilute. The 30C “potency” is common – that’s a dilution of 10-60.  You would have to give two billion doses of homeopathy per second, to six billion people, for 4 billion years, to deliver a single molecule of the original material. The result is that most homeopathic remedies are completely inert. Whether bottled as a liquid or dripped onto lactose tablets, they are a pure placebo.

The Growth of Homeopathy: Dilutions of Grandeur

Samuel Hahnemann invented the practice of  homeopathy in the early 1800’s. Hahnemann attempted to position homeopathy as a separate and more effective form of medicine compared to conventional medical practices. Given homeopathy is an elaborate placebo system, homeopathy probably was safer than medical practice at the time, which was still based around the idea of the four humors. Eventually, germ theory emerged, ideas of humors disappeared, as did the elements of vitalism and magic, and medicine slowly turned towards a scientific model based on objective observations. Alternative medicine practices like homeopathy have never progressed or evolved from their vitalistic roots. And how could they? They are not based on a scientific standard, so actual scientific evidence has no bearing on the belief in its efficacy.

Despite the implausibility of homeopathy, it has enjoyed modest popularity since its invention, with a resurgence in the past few decades as an “alternative” medicine system that is marketed and “gentle” and “more holistic” that evil Big Pharma with its harsh chemicals. It goes without saying that if homeopathy works in the way envisioned by Hahnemann and homeopaths believe, than the rest of medicine cannot. And that’s exactly what the evidence shows. Rigorous clinical trials confirm what basic science predicts: homeopathy’s effects are placebo effects. While there are plenty of clinical trials that show homeopathy is associated with positive clinical effects, they are always small, poorly controlled, and often biased. The two most comprehensive reviews of the evidence are the 2010 Evidence Check from the United Kingdom’s House of Commons Science and Technology Committee and the 2014 Australian National Health and Medical Research Council review, the latter of which made the following conclusion:

Based on the assessment of the evidence of effectiveness of homeopathy, NHMRC concludes that there are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective.
Homeopathy should not be used to treat health conditions that are chronic, serious, or could become serious. People who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which there is good evidence for safety and effectiveness. People who are considering whether to use homeopathy should first get advice from a registered health practitioner. Those who use homeopathy should tell their health practitioner and should keep taking any prescribed treatments. The National Health and Medical Research Council expects that the Australian public will be offered treatments and therapies based on the best available evidence.

Adverse Effects from Sugar Pills?

Accepting that sugar pills have no medicinal effects, you might understandably be curious how there could possibly be adverse effects from homeopathy. But homeopathy can harm in different ways:

It’s the last category where most of harms occur from homeopathy. Edzard Ernt, discussing his systematic review of the risks of homeopathy noted:

So, how can a therapy that usually relies on nothing more than placebos cause harm? Many of the patients that experienced harm did so because the use of homeopathy meant that effective treatments were given too late or not at all. In our book TRICK OR TREATMENT, we describe the case of a homeopath who collaborated with my research team while conducting a clinical trial of homeopathy; before the trial had been completed, she died of cancer simply because she self-treated it with homeopathy and thus lost valuable time for proper therapy which might have saved her life. I have said it often and I say it again: if used as an alternative to an effective cure, even the most “harmless” treatment can become life-threatening.

In other cases, adverse effects can occur when remedies are not highly diluted. Most but not all homeopathic remedies are devoid of active molecules. Homeopaths prescribe treatments like arsenic and other highly poisonous substances; if such a remedy is not administered in a much diluted form, it can easily kill whoever is unfortunate enough to take it.

How sugar pills can appear to help (or harm)

Homeopathy can also appear to cause harms which are not due to the remedy itself. Homeopaths have noted that patients may do worse before they appear to improve after starting homeopathic remedies. This is termed an “aggravation” and homeopaths assure us it is normal. From one homeopath’s website,

An aggravation is the temporary appearance of new symptoms, or a temporary intensification of existing symptoms, following a dose of a homeopathic remedy. Aggravations are harmless, usually mild, and short-lived. They sometimes occur following the first dose of a remedy as part of the initial rebalancing effect, or when the remedy has been taken more often than needed, or if the person is unusually sensitive to that particular remedy.

But there is a much simpler and obvious explanation for the homeopathic aggravation. Consider an example of a someone that wants something to help with mild but chronic pain, like osteoarthritis.  In the diagram below I’ve illustrated how someone might report pain on a visual analog score over time. You can see that there’s always some pain, but its intensity changes day-to-day.

Fictional Visual Analog Score

Imagine the patient has a surge of pain at t1 and then decided to take a homeopathic remedy. Suddenly the pain appears have been alleviated. This might be attributed to the homeopathy. But what if the patient had waited until t2 to start the homeopathy? There were two pain episodes in the period that follows, though not as bad as the period around t1. This might be described as a “homeopathic aggravation”, as the symptoms appeared to worsen. What the patient doesn’t know is if the homeopathic remedy had any effect at all on the natural fluctuation in the pain. The only way to understand if homeopathy has an effect would be to compare it to placebo in a randomized controlled trial.

There’s also the potential for any intervention to induce nocebo effect, where a substance with no biological effect appears to cause negative effects. Commonly observed in randomized controlled trials with real drugs, it’s only differences from the placebo arm that are considered to be meaningful adverse effects. Yet it can be remarkable how many adverse effects (some of which may be felt to be serious) might be observed in the placebo arm.

What do we know about homeopathy? We know enough

With all this background in mind, let’s now look at the paper, entitled, Adverse effects of homeopathy, what do we know? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Its author is Trine Stub, and the paper is published in the CAM journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine. The objective of the paper was to investigate how adverse effects and aggravations from homeopathy were reported in the literature, to classify the reports according to commonly-accepted criteria, and finally, to compare the risks for patients compared to controls.

1129 RCTs were initially identified. After screening and filtering, 41 RCTs with 6,055 patients were included. Of the 41 trials, only 68% reported adverse effects. More than two third of these events was classified as “minor” and one third as moderate and severe/significant. Adverse effects were physician or patient-reported and in 3 trials, causality was discussed. Five RCTs specifically reported “aggravations”. As per the paper,

Homeopathic aggravations were reported as worsening of the patients’ symptoms, such as exacerbation of allergy, asthma, eczema, headache and hot flushes.

In terms of frequency of adverse effects and aggravations, the following was noted:

  • Homeopathy versus overall control : An overall comparison was made between homeopathy and control. Thirty-nine trials (5.902 participants) made this comparison and no significant difference was found between
    homeopathy and control (426/2947 versus 264/2955), with OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.14
  • Homeopathy versus placebo: A comparison was made between homeopathy and placebo. Thirty-one trials (4,836 participants) made this comparison and no significant difference was found between homeopathy and placebo.
  • Homeopathy versus conventional medicine: There was no significant difference between homeopathy and conventional medicine in a meta-analysis of five trials (43/355 versus 71/401), with OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.1.21.

Conclusion: Placebo versus Placebo?

The authors of they systematic review conclude:

Adverse effects including the concept of homeopathic aggravations are commonly reported in trials. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the proportion of patients experiencing adverse effects to be similar for patients randomized to homeopathic treatment compared to patients randomized to placebo and conventional medicine.

The question they has a much more obvious answer. Sugar pills are going to be associated with adverse events because of the natural history of any condition, and the tendency to given credit for improvement (or blame for negative effects) to the treatment chosen. The review’s findings are exactly what we would expect if we were giving patients sugar pills. There is no such thing as a “homeopathic aggravation” any more than homeopathy can induce a real adverse effect. This systematic review confirms that homeopathy holds the dubious position as the air guitar of medicine.

Homeopathy photo via flickr user Angel Torres used under a CC licence.



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The NBA players with the most Twitter followers



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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Quick Link: Creating Setting and Subtext in Your Fiction

Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web. Great Stories have depth and evoke emotion in the reader. One way of adding depth and emotional connection is by creating setting and subtext in your writing. Mary Buckham, on Writers Digest, has a brilliant article on how to achieve this. ~ […]

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4 Tips for Cleaning Roller Blinds

Cleaning methods for your roller blinds depend largely on the material that your blinds are made of. Here’s how to keep your roller blinds looking their best.

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 4 tips for cleaning roller blinds:

Checking
It is important that you follow the care instructions of the blinds, to ensure that you are washing your blinds in a way that won’t damage them.

  • If the care label indicates that you can wash the blinds (plastic/vinyl blinds), or your blinds are very dirty, you can thoroughly clean the blinds in a bathtub.
  • If the care label indicates that the roller blinds cannot be washed, you’ll need to spot clean them, meaning you’ll only clean the spots that are visibly dirty. Source: wikiHow

Removing
Remove the rolled up blind from the mounting hardware. I’m sliding a knife behind the bracket to release it. This is a Level or blind and they can be removed in a SNAP! (they’re 12 yrs old btw)
Be sure to remove the roller mechanism if you can. You want to safeguard it from the water to avoid damage. Source: SnapGuide

Vacuuming
If your roller blinds will not stand up to being washed, you’ll need to spot clean them. This is where you only clean the bits that are visibly dirty.  You can start by vacuuming your blinds as outlined above to remove most of the surface dust and dirt. Source: HomeImprovementPages

Washing
Use the brush attachment on the vacuum to gently brush over the surface and vacuum away any loose dirt, dead bugs, etc. Next, fill the bathtub about half full of warm water.
Add some laundry detergent to the water and mix together until a few suds begin to form on the surface. If the blinds are white, a small amount of bleach can be added to the water as well.
Next, carefully lay the blinds in the tub. If the blinds are long, it is okay to loosely layer them in an accordion fashion. Allow them to soak in the soapy water for a couple of hours.
Next, start at one end of the blinds and gently wipe them back and forth with a soft cloth or sponge. This will help remove any remaining dirt and/or stains. For tough stains, scrub them gently with an old toothbrush. Drain the sudsy water from the tub.
Fill with clean water and rinse the blinds. Repeat until all of the soap is removed. If soap residue remains on the blinds, it will act as a magnet quickly collecting dirt and dust.
If a partner is available to assist, the blinds can be held up and rinsed with a shower sprayer for quicker soap removal. Lay the blinds over a drying rack or outside on a clothesline until they are completely dried. Attach them back onto the roller and reinstall them over the window. Source: HowToCleanStuff

For more tips, don’t hesitate to contact us here:

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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4 Tips to Intensify the Benefits of Saunas

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Saunas are used throughout the world for their health benefits. Below are some tips to intensify the benefits of saunas – read on!

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Drink Plenty of Water
Drink 8 to 16 ounces of water before going inside the sauna room, holistic physician Lawrence Wilson recommends in “Sauna Therapy.” During the sauna bath, the body produces a therapeutic sweat that eliminates heavy metals and toxic chemicals, Wilson says. Sauna enthusiasts say that the body can lose about a pint of water during a 20-minute sauna session. Source: LiveStrong

Exercise First
Exercise prior to entering the sauna. Since the sauna promotes circulation of the flow of blood through the body, this will help you recover from joint and muscle soreness from your workout. Plan your use of the sauna on days you rest from exercise. While beneficial in conjunction with exercise, it is claimed that a session of 15-20 minutes will give you a workout equivalent to a brisk walk of 1-2 hours. This is due to an increase in your heart rate which is similar to that which occurs during a brisk walk.  Source: wikiHow

Choose the Right Temperature
The temperature you create inside the sauna is very important in achieving the most beneficial sauna session. Studies show that it’s best to heat the sauna to a temperature between 176 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit. This way, you will feel comfortable inside the sauna, you will not overwhelm your body with too much heat, and you will benefit from all the good effects of the sauna. Source: AllWomenSites

Alternate Temperatures
After about 15 minutes, you better step out of sauna room to cool down your body in air. It is better to jump into a cold pool or lake. Experts say that shocking your body with hot and cold in succession increases the effects of sauna detoxification and increase the blood circulation in your body.
You need not to get your body chilled. When you start feeling cold, you better come back to the sauna room and stay there until you start sweating again. You have to repeat this heating and cooling of your body three to four times for best results. Just be sure not to exceed 45 minutes in total in the sauna room.
When you are finished, cool yourself with fresh air, not cold water, to settle your body temperature. Take a cold bath afterwards to remove any dead skin cells. Source: StepByStep

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 4 Tips to Intensify the Benefits of Saunas appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.



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3 Ways to Strengthen Your Doors

There are many precautions you can take to boost your home security and ensure that your home is safer. In this short post we’ll cover 3 simple and effective ways to strengthen your doors, including: reinforcing the strike plate, improving the locks and securing your door hinges.

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Reinforcing the Strike Plate
To further reinforce the doorjamb, install a new plate in place of the old lip strike plate that serves the doorknob lockset. Attach it with 3-in. screws. Make sure the screwheads seat flush with the face of the strike plate. We used No. 8 x 3-in. screws. No. 10 x 3-in. screws (used for the deadbolt plate) were too large. Remember to angle the screws back slightly to be sure to catch the framing (Figure A). Again, you may have to chisel a slightly larger mortise and predrill to drive the screws.
Remove the lockset’s lip strike plate and 3/4-in. screws. Predrill and attach a new plate with No. 8 x 3-in. screws that are angled in slightly to catch the stud. Predrill with a 1/8-in. bit. Source: FamilyHandyman

Improving the Locks
In a significant percentage of burglaries, the criminal enters the victim’s home through an unlocked door. Even the strongest locks in the world are useless if you don’t use them. Lock all exterior doors whenever you go out – even if you’ll just be gone a few minutes.
Install deadbolt locks. With the exception of sliding doors, all exterior doors should have a deadbolt lock in addition to the lock built into the doorknob. The deadbolt should be high quality (grade 1 or 2, solid metal with no exposed screws on the exterior), with a throw bolt (the bolt that comes out of the door) at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The lock should be properly installed. Many homes have lower quality deadbolts or throw bolts less than 1 inch (2.5 cm). These must be replaced.
Install a dead-lock. Adding an additional lock will provide extra security when you are home. The dead-lock, sometimes called an ‘exit-only deadbolt’ is a deadbolt that does not have an external key. It may be clearly visible on the door from the outside, but it cannot be broken into without destroying the door, frame, or lock itself. While this security won’t help directly when you aren’t home, its visibility may discourage an intruder from trying the door. Source: wikiHow

Securing Door Hinges
The hinges of a door are an essential part of the door that connects the door to the jamb. Most residential doors have hinges that are inward facing, because the door opens up inwards. Most of these standard residential doors can withstand attacks against the hinges of the door because burglars and intruders cannot gain access to them. However, not all doors work in the same fashion. For doors that open outwards, the hinges are usually placed on either the left or right of the doors exterior and this they are easily accessible by whoever is on the outside. If the hinges on your door are compromised, it will be relatively easy for burglars to knock your door of the hinges and gain entry to your home.
The hinges of your door can be secured by using safety studs, corrugated pins, and by using setscrews in your hinges. These are all minor additions to your hinges, which will go a long way to help strengthen your door and keep your family safe. The additions are simple and effective but because of how important the hinges are to the door, it is best to make sure that nothing goes awry and that your doors are made as secure as possible. Source: SafeWise

 

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith
555 W. Hastings St
L21A
Vancouver BC V6B 4N4
(604) 259-2953



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Free Agency 2016: The top players available



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NBA Free Agency 2016: Centers

While Dwight Howard gets little love, he remains an impact player when healthy. Along with Andre Drummond and Hassan Whiteside, he should be the most coveted guy of a very deep 2016 free agent center class.

POINT GUARDS / SHOOTING GUARDS / SMALL FORWARDS / POWER FORWARDS / CENTERS

Restricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Detroit
16.2 ppg, 14.8 rpg

Always had the tools to become a dominant big man in the NBA. He started to live up to that potential in 2015-16. Absolutely needs to improve free-throw shooting, though.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $3,272,090
Career Earnings: $10,659,171
Unrestricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Miami
14.2 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.7 bpg

Obviously, his 2014-15 performance was no fluke as he averaged a double-double again. Will dunk and block anything around the basket. Some questions about his focus.

Agent: Sean Kennedy
2015/16 Earnings: $981,348
Career Earnings: $3,254,555
Player Option / Center / 6-11 / Team: Houston
13.7 ppg, 11.8 rpg

He may no longer be the impact player he once was, but teams will be lining up for his services if he opts out of his contract with the Rockets.

Agent: Perry Rogers
2015/16 Earnings: $22,359,364
Career Earnings: $167,085,587
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Charlotte
12.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg

The low-post maestro has made eight figures for almost a decade. Can that streak continue with his numbers declining?

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $13,500,000
Career Earnings: $112,685,952
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Chicago
4.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg

Really rough year for the Bulls' big man. First he lost his starting job, then got injured.

Agent: Bill Duffy
2015/16 Earnings: $13,400,000
Career Earnings: $70,015,096
Player Option / Center / 6-9 / Team: Toronto
5.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg

His value skyrocketed in the playoffs with terrific rebounding and defense. At age 23, still untapped potential there.

Agent: BJ Armstrong
2015/16 Earnings: $2,814,000
Career Earnings: $15,543,278
Restricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Golden State
7.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg

Not much of a weapon offensively, but makes an impact on the defensive end with a big body and great athleticism. Somebody is going offer him crazy money.

Agent: Bill Duffy
2015/16 Earnings: $2,008,748
Career Earnings: $3,200,760
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Dallas
8.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg

Frustrates opponents with his physical play and does all those little things that help teams win. A fan favorite in every city he's played.

Agent: Jim Tanner
2015/16 Earnings: $5,200,000
Career Earnings: $51,586,977
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Indiana
9.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg

Underrated big man that specializes in dirty work. Has yet to cash in big in the NBA and it could happen for him in 2016.

Agent: Bouna Ndiaye
2015/16 Earnings: $4,000,000
Career Earnings: $19,789,796
Restricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Houston
6.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg

Big body, nice hook shot and capable three-point sniper. Not much of a rebounder. Back problems will scare some teams away.

Agent: BJ Armstrong
2015/16 Earnings: $2,288,205
Career Earnings: $6,648,365
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Golden State
7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Was one of the best bench players in the NBA last season. Regressed some this year. 

Agent: Andy Miller
2015/16 Earnings: $3,815,500
Career Earnings: $22,868,595
Unrestricted / Center / 7-1 / Team: Cleveland
6.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg

A space-eater that was a fantastic fit in Cleveland last season. Not so effective this year while dealing with physical problems.

Agent: Andy Miller
2015/16 Earnings: $4,950,000
Career Earnings: $24,051,421
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Washington
9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg

Nice offensive player that takes high-percentage shots. Rebounding the ball is certainly not a strength.

Agent: Bill Duffy
2015/16 Earnings: $13,000,000
Career Earnings: $122,748,529
Unrestricted / Center / 7-2 / Team: LA Lakers
5.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg

At his best, he was a devastating defensive force with the ability to do some damage offensively. We have not seen his best version lately, though. Has had a rough time adjusting to small-ball era.

Agent: David Falk
2015/16 Earnings: $15,514,031
Career Earnings: $65,776,378
Restricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Milwaukee
5.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg

Not as good as brother Mason, but quite a presence on the defensive end too.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $2,109,293
Career Earnings: $5,473,973
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Miami
5.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Still producing at a good rate offensively, but he will not give you much on the other side of the court.

Agent: Happy Walters
2015/16 Earnings: $1,499,187
Career Earnings: $167,683,566
Restricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Boston Celtics
6.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg

Pretty efficient big man on both ends off the court. Could be a quality backup center for some teams.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $2,616,975
Career Earnings: $7,517,295
Player Option / Center / 6-11 / Team: LA Clippers
5.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg

Really big body. Nice rebounder. Did better than expected coming off the bench for the Clippers.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $1,100,602
Career Earnings: $8,939,686
Restricted / Center / 7-3 / Team: San Antonio
5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg

A giant with pretty nice mobility and skills. Incredibly effective in limited playing time with the Spurs.

Agent: Jeff Austin
2015/16 Earnings: $1,200,000
Career Earnings: $1,200,000
Restricted / Center / 7-1 / Team: Portland
8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Young big with nice three-point shooting skills. May be looking at a short-term deal as he recovers from a serious shoulder injury.

Agent: Aaron Mintz
2015/16 Earnings: $3,075,879
Career Earnings: $9,742,479
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Phoenix
8.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg

Played real well under Jeff Hornacek, not so well for Earl Watson. A lot of teams can use a big who can shoot like that.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $1,035,000
Career Earnings: $3,238,299
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Golden State
2.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Hustle player who has lost a step. Durability typically an issue with him.

Agent: Dan Fegan
2015/16 Earnings: $10,158,574
Career Earnings: $72,290,413
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: New York
3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg

The personable French big man underachieved in DC, then New York. Does he care enough?

Agent: Rich Paul
2015/16 Earnings: $2,814,000
Career Earnings: $14,514,886
Unrestricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)

Made the All-Euroleague 2nd Team this season. This might be the right time to return to the NBA. Although it feels he's been around for a long time, he's still just 26.

Agent: Bill Duffy
2015/16 Earnings: $0
Career Earnings: $13,673,791
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Real Madrid (Spain)

A superstar in Spain, where he won the league and cup titles with Real Madrid. Although undersized, a good defensive presence.

Agent: Emilio Duran
2015/16 Earnings: $0
Career Earnings: $4,567,500
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Memphis
3.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg

Was a serviceable player for a depleted Memphis team late in the 2015-16. Surprisingly athletic for his age.

Agent: Steve Heumann
2015/16 Earnings: $5,000,000
Career Earnings: $36,955,442
Unrestricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Portland
2.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg

Barely got off the bench last season. At 34, will he get another opportunity in the NBA?

Agent: Rob Pelinka
2015/16 Earnings: $5,000,000
Career Earnings: $86,527,368
Restricted / Center / 6-11 / Team: Orlando
4.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg

Not much of a scores, but could play a role as a rim protector for a bunch of NBA teams.

Agent: Michael Silverman
2015/16 Earnings: $947,276
Career Earnings: $1,763,758
Unrestricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Baskonia (Spain)

The MVP of the Spanish League last season. Has a big body and very nice shooting touch. Slow and unathletic too.

Agent: Konstantinos Papadakis
2015/16 Earnings: $0
Career Earnings: $0
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Brooklyn
6.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Joined the Nets on 10-day contracts late in the year and stayed for the remainder of the season. As usual, he grabbed rebounds at a good rate when given minutes.

Agent: Brian Elfus
2015/16 Earnings: $161,633
Career Earnings: $1,076,876
Unrestricted / Center / 6-9 / Team: LA Clippers
1.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg

Pretty big body. Has played small roles for Blazers, Pacers, Spurs and Clippers.

Agent: Mitch Frankel
2015/16 Earnings: $251,890
Career Earnings: $7,288,228
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: New Orleans
2.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg

A revered figure everywhere he's been. Just not a productive NBA player anymore.

Agent: Thaddeus Foucher
2015/16 Earnings: $1,499,187
Career Earnings: $57,255,279
Unrestricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: Memphis
3.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Has been in and out of the league for the last year. Very long and athletic (for his age).

Agent: Todd Ramasar
2015/16 Earnings: $615,906
Career Earnings: $13,070,433
Unrestricted / Center / 6-9 / Team: LA Lakers
3.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Showed promise his first year in the NBA, but didn't get many opportunities his sophomore season.

Agent: Michael Lelchitski
2015/16 Earnings: $845,059
Career Earnings: $1,352,395
Unrestricted / Center / 6-8 / Team: FC Barcelona (Spain)

A dominant physical presence in Europe. Not as much in the NBA.

Agent: Alex Saratsis
2015/16 Earnings: $1,015,421
Career Earnings: $3,500,052
Unrestricted / Center / 7-0 / Team: LA Lakers
3.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg

The only one aside from Kobe Bryant to play for the Lakers the last four years. Not much, though.

Agent: Keith Kreiter
2015/16 Earnings: $981,358
Career Earnings: $3,159,077
Unrestricted / Center / 6-9 / Team: Philadelphia
4.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg

This may be it for the veteran power forward, who signed with the Sixers a few months ago to mentor the team's young talent.

Agent: Danielle Cantor
2015/16 Earnings: $890,693
Career Earnings: $168,229,324
Unrestricted / Center / 6-10 / Team: Oklahoma City
1.6 ppg, 0.8 rpg

The respected veteran big man is probably done with the NBA.

Agent: Mike Higgins
2015/16 Earnings: $352,749
Career Earnings: $65,514,967


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NBA Free Agency 2016: Power Forwards

Al Horford and Pau Gasol could be the top free agents on the move this offseason.

POINT GUARDS / SHOOTING GUARDS / SMALL FORWARDS / POWER FORWARDS / CENTERS

Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Atlanta
15.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg

There's little flash to his game, but still a high-quality big man in the Eastern Conference. Mr. Efficiency.

Agent: Jason Glushon
2015/16 Earnings: $12,000,000
Career Earnings: $77,525,017
Player Option / Power Forward / 7-0 / Team: Chicago
16.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg

Could be looking at his last big deal in the NBA. Has made clear he's OK with being underpaid as long as he can get another shot at the title. Probably not happening in Chicago.

Agent: Steve Heumann
2015/16 Earnings: $7,448,760
Career Earnings: $171,151,156
Player Option / Power Forward / 7-0 / Team: Dallas
18.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg

WIll reportedly opt out of his contract and sign a two-year deal with the Mavericks, the only NBA team he's known.

Agent: Holger Geschwindner
2015/16 Earnings: $8,333,333
Career Earnings: $220,371,801
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: New Orleans
17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg

A prototypical stretch four. Scored a lot and made threes at a better rate this season.

Agent: Jeff Austin
2015/16 Earnings: $8,500,000
Career Earnings: $40,195,961
Restricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Boston
10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg

Strong, smart and skilled player with questionable conditioning. Played well enough to warrant pretty fine offers.

Agent: David Falk
2015/16 Earnings: $2,269,260
Career Earnings: $6,366,420
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-7 / Team: Washington
7.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg

The personable Dudley became one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA this season.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $4,250,000
Career Earnings: $27,068,028
Restricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Houston
8.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Regressed this year, which is something that can be said about a bunch of other Rocket players.

Agent: Thaddeus Foucher
2015/16 Earnings: $2,489,529
Career Earnings: $7,145,050
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Phoenix
12.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg

The Bosnian forward has a quick trigger that many teams could use.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $5,500,000
Career Earnings: $15,187,150
Team Option / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Orlando
10.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg

The Magic have to make a decision on the smooth Turkish forward, who averaged double figures in scoring for the fifth year in a row.

Agent: Andy Miller
2015/16 Earnings: $7,900,000
Career Earnings: $39,624,471
Restricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Dallas
5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Athletic big man with good rebounding skills and untapped potential. Pretty productive in limited playing time.

Agent: Mike George
2015/16 Earnings: $845,059
Career Earnings: $1,352,395
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Indiana
8.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg

Adequate post defender who will not try to do too much on the offensive end.

Agent: Kevin Bradbury
2015/16 Earnings: $4,000,000
Career Earnings: $28,204,687
Player Option / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: San Antonio
7.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg

One of the most respected players in the NBA. Took a minimum deal in order to have a real shot at the title in San Antonio.

Agent: Jeff Austin
2015/16 Earnings: $1,499,187
Career Earnings: $89,167,605
Player Option / Power Forward / 6-8 / Team: LA Lakers
7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Solid big man who plays within his limits and takes high-percentage shots. May not have the appetite to stay in a rebuilding situation surrounded by young kids.

Agent: Tony Dutt
2015/16 Earnings: $3,000,000
Career Earnings: $37,259,850
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Dallas
7.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg

Skilled veteran who didn't get much burn in Boston, but finished the season on a much stronger note in Dallas.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $17,120,776
Career Earnings: $93,189,384
Player Option / Power Forward / 6-8 / Team: New York
9.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg

Very good at running and jumping. Game is not as polished as you would expect at this point.

Agent: Rob Pelinka
2015/16 Earnings: $4,400,000
Career Earnings: $25,298,924
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Toronto
8.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg

Can't run or jump, but the footwork is still very good.

Agent: George Bass
2015/16 Earnings: $2,900,000
Career Earnings: $60,152,186
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Houston
6.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg

Josh Smith in Houston (Part II) did not go well at all.

Agent: Brian Dyke
2015/16 Earnings: $15,499,187
Career Earnings: $94,863,899
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-8 / Team: Utah
5.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 apg

Energetic and undersized power forward with good rebounding instincts. Doesn't have much of a perimeter game.

Agent: Andy Miller
2015/16 Earnings: $4,775,000
Career Earnings: $16,010,580
Restricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Orlando
6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg

Sweet shooting touch makes him a legit offensive threat. Not a very physical presence in the paint, though.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $2,380,593
Career Earnings: $6,826,593
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 7-0 / Team: Orlando
7.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg

Much better at hitting mid-range shots than he is at rebounding the ball.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $4,300,000
Career Earnings: $21,244,993
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 7-0 / Team: Fenerbahce (Turkey)

Bombed in the States, went back to Europe and looked dominant. Can he pull an Ilyasova and return to the NBA as a productive player?

Agent: Aleksander Raskovic
2015/16 Earnings: $0
Career Earnings: $9,700,920
Player Option / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Brooklyn
4.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Brooklyn was the fifth team in four seasons for him. Probably changing destination again this summer.

Agent: Brian Elfus
2015/16 Earnings: $981,348
Career Earnings: $11,560,788
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Atlanta
6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg

The chiseled big man is shooting three pointers now, although he's not making them at a good rate.

Agent: Jason Ranne
2015/16 Earnings: $4,440,000
Career Earnings: $53,200,233
Player Option / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Denver
7.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Always a good mid-range shooter, Arthur is hitting the three consistently now too.

Agent: Jerry Hicks
2015/16 Earnings: $2,814,000
Career Earnings: $17,687,488
Player Option / Power Forward / 6-7 / Team: Sacramento
5.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Yet another player who has added a three-point shot to his (limited) offensive repertoire lately.

Agent: Michael Silverman
2015/16 Earnings: $981,348
Career Earnings: $3,350,463
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Washington
5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg

Didn't get many opportunities to hit the court in Denver and Washington, but produced when he did.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $5,583,413
Career Earnings: $26,757,300
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-11 / Team: Toronto
3.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg

Was finally part of good teams (first Golden State, then Toronto), but didn't get much burn in either place.

Agent: Leon Rose
2015/16 Earnings: $6,752,729
Career Earnings: $32,793,023
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-8 / Team: Detroit
5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Solid locker room guy who's made a living in the NBA out of effort and three-point shooting. Barely shoots twos anymore.

Agent: Larry Fox
2015/16 Earnings: $3,000,000
Career Earnings: $12,818,060
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Fenerbahce (Turkey)

Put up terrific number for Euroleague runner-up Fenerbahce. Will make a lot of money in Europe if he stays over there.

Agent: Michael Silverman
2015/16 Earnings: $0
Career Earnings: $15,335,512
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Charlotte
2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg

The very physical Hansbrough comes off a season with career lows in major statistical categories.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $1,185,784
Career Earnings: $16,746,078
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 0-0 / Team: LA Clippers
3.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg

Has some value as a defender. Will give you almost nothing on the offensive end.

Agent: Darren Matsubara
2015/16 Earnings: $1,270,964
Career Earnings: $22,384,925
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Toronto
5.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg

Up and down NBA career. Looked out of shape with the Raptors this season.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $2,500,000
Career Earnings: $12,952,806
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Brooklyn
4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg

Former D-League star has potential as a defensive player in the NBA.

Agent: Joel Bell
2015/16 Earnings: $525,093
Career Earnings: $1,472,369
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-11 / Team: Dallas
5.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Highlight of the year was messing with Russell Westbrook's pre-game dancing routine.

Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2015/16 Earnings: $1,499,187
Career Earnings: $51,577,806
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Milwaukee
2.4 ppg, 0.5 rpg

Phenomenal shooter with no other apparent skill. Played very little last season.

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $3,758,017
Career Earnings: $16,342,755
Team Option / Power Forward / 6-11 / Team: Atlanta
3.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Mid-range shooting is sharp. Solid rebounder. A fan favorite in Atlanta.

Agent: Sean Kennedy
2015/16 Earnings: $947,276
Career Earnings: $1,763,758
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: San Antonio
2.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg

Was limited to just 206 minutes in 2015-16. Done in San Antonio after 10 years in the Spur paradise?

Agent: Kenny Grant
2015/16 Earnings: $1,499,187
Career Earnings: $30,128,334
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-8 / Team: Miami
1.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg

May stay in Miami thanks to his locker room leadership. There was not much in terms of on-court contribution lately.

Agent: Henry Thomas
2015/16 Earnings: $2,854,940
Career Earnings: $52,503,917
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Golden State
2.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg

Has not played much in the NBA so far, but who can blame him with so much talent around on his team?

Agent: Jim Tanner
2015/16 Earnings: $845,059
Career Earnings: $1,012,181
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-11 / Team: LA Lakers
4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg

Has shot 33.7 and 36.9 percent the last two years. May have to look at offers from foreign teams.

Agent: Jeff Austin
2015/16 Earnings: $1,724,250
Career Earnings: $3,374,250
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: New York
1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Will there be a 11th NBA team for him?

Agent: Mark Bartelstein
2015/16 Earnings: $1,700,000
Career Earnings: $10,362,830
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-11 / Team: Philadelphia
3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg

Can he parlay that terrific athleticism into another NBA contract?

Agent: Andy Miller
2015/16 Earnings: $339,762
Career Earnings: $401,538
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-9 / Team: Sydney Kings (Australia)

Announced his retirement, then signed with a team in Australia. Perhaps the All Harrington Experience is still not over.

Agent: Byron Irvin
2015/16 Earnings: $0
Career Earnings: $90,319,819
Unrestricted / Power Forward / 6-10 / Team: Sacramento
1.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg

Has played more minutes in the D-League than the NBA the last two years.

Agent: Chris Patrick
2015/16 Earnings: $845,059
Career Earnings: $1,352,395


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