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The flash and bang of the explosion of the cooling tower at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex provided a theatrical coda to a week in which the isolated nation partially declared its nuclear efforts and the United States, in response, took initial steps to remove the North from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The squat 60-foot tower, the most visible symbol of the complex where North Korea has been producing weapons-grade plutonium, was toppled in an event documented by networks from each of the countries participating in six-nation talks with the North. CNN, Japan's NHK network, South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corp., and Chinese and Russian national networks were to have broadcast the explosion live – but videotaped shots of the tower tumbling in a cloud of smoke were shown several hours later.
South Korea's ruling Grand National Party and the opposition United Democratic Party agreed on the significance of the declaration. A spokesman for the conservative GNP called the declaration and demolition together "a historic day," while a spokesman for the liberal opposition called these events "a step on the road to peace.
Despite the dramatic gesture, however, analysts here remain skeptical as to whether the measures will have much long-range impact on progress toward denuclearizing the Korean peninsula.
"I am not impressed," says Kim Tae Woo, a senior fellow at the Korean Institute of Defense Analyses, affiliated with the Defense Ministry. "What the US is doing is for political effect. The declaration is becoming a political game. Both nations [the US and North Korea] are doing political negotiations."
North Korea "still has a minimal nuclear deterrent," says Mr. Kim. "North Korea will keep it to the last moment" – that is, after extracting a vast infusion of aid and concessions beyond removal from the US list of nations sponsoring terrorism and removal of US economic sanctions as promised by President Bush.
"Destruction of the tower is a symbolic event," says Lim Dong Won, architect of South Korea's efforts at reconciliation with North Korea during the presidency of Kim Dae Jung, whose Sunshine policy set the pattern of a decade of dialog with North Korea before the election of the conservative Lee Myung Bak in December. "It provides a good picture."
Still, Mr. Lim, author of a new book on his role in bringing about dialog with North Korea, predicts that President Lee will back down from the hard-line policy that he set toward North Korea after his inauguration in February.
"Inter-Korean relations have been frozen," says Lim. "I hope this can be melted soon."
Lim predicts Mr. Lee "will come up with more realistic measures" in the aftermath of North Korea's delivery of a declaration of its activities at Yongbyon, where North Korea has fabricated at least six nuclear warheads in recent years. "Shutting down the nuclear facilities has been finished," he says.
The declaration, Lim notes, sets the stage for another round of six-party talks coming up next week in Beijing at which negotiators will move to "the next step for dismantling the nuclear facilities."
At the same time, he believes that American and North Korean negotiators have already "decided to negotiate secretly and separately from the declaration" the issues of North Korea's program for developing nuclear warheads with enriched uranium and proliferation elsewhere, including the site in Syria that was bombed by Israeli planes last September.
But among Koreans there is a tendency to dismiss the explosion of the cooling tower at the Yongbyon complex 60 miles north of Pyongyang as a distraction for international television networks, with attention focusing instead on the standoff between the government and dissidents challenging policemen blockading the main avenue to the Blue House complex of President Lee Myung Bak.
"They couldn't care less about North Korea," says Shim Jae Hoon, long-time analyst and commentator here. "No one is watching."
Protests continued Friday over a revised deal to import beef from the US. Korea's four other networks provided running commentary on the tower's destruction in between normal programming and video showing protesters in Seoul battling police in front of police buses lined up to stop them. [Editor's note: The original version cited the wrong number of Korean networks.]
Protesters in the downtown area persist in demanding President Lee's resignation in the eighth week of demonstrations provoked by the beef agreement. Protesters say a revised deal, which bars the import of beef from cattle more than 30 months old, represents a political compromise and are demanding reinstatement of the ban on beef imports imposed in late 2003 after discovery of mad cow disease in an American cow.
Hard-core activists have been intensifying their protest after the government formally legalized sale of US beef and customs officials began inspecting and approval for sale several thousand tons of imports already in cold storage.
The demonstrations have turned ugly, with protesters attacking a reporter for the conservative Chosun Ilbo, Korea's biggest paper. A row of police buses blockaded access to the paper while protesters gathered to denounce it for critical commentaries.
Although the numbers involved in demonstrations has declined markedly in recent days, several thousand protesters carry on nightly in the face of appeals from President Lee and Prime Minister Han Seung Soo to call off their crusade.
Video footage has shown scores of protesters pulling at ropes attached to police buses, attempting to move them out of the way, while police fired water cannon at them. The hulks of several burned-out buses litter the street, attesting to the ferocity of the nightly confrontations.
"It's not about the beef," says commentator Shim Jae Hoon. "Beef is just the cover issue. People out there feel they've been unfairly treated."
Demonstrators complain of a wide range of problems, most of them focusing on the elitist style of a government seen as favoring the chaebol, or conglomerates, that dominate the economy while ignoring the needs of middle- and working-class people increasingly concerned about jobs and income.
Mr. Shim notes the appointment by Lee of a number of wealthy people to his cabinet, all of whose members have offered their resignation. "People feel they've been short-traded," he says. "They feel Korean leaders have not respected the law. The general perception is those who run the new government are themselves scofflaws, defying the law."


text:
Welcome to the website for Mr Michael Wareing, MBBS BSc, FRCS(ORL-HNS), Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon.
Michael Wareing is a London based Consultant Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Surgeon. He has an NHS practice which is based at St Bartholomew's & The Royal London Hospitals, where he has also been the Head of the ENT Department in 2 separate spells, 2003-9 and 2012-14. His private practice is based at The London Clinic where he has a fully equipped consulting suite at 145 Harley Street. Mr Wareing has over 25 years experience as a doctor and has been a consultant since 2000. He offers expertise in all aspects of General ENT as well as supraspecialist knowledge in Ear & Skull Base Surgery, Voice Disorders, Dizziness & Tinnitus, Sinus Disease and Children's Ear Problems. He has concentrated his private practice in one place to ensure the very best continuity of care for all his patients.
We hope you find the information on this website helpful.
"ENT has fascinated me since medical school. It allows me to meet and treat patients of all ages and from all walks of life. The successful treatment of ENT conditions improves people's quality and enjoyment of life. I feel privileged to act as both physician and surgeon in modern ENT"
Michael Wareing
GMC no: 3282272

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
I'm getting the feeling that this site has outlived itself. I count less than 5 regular visitors, even if I include myself. That is not a lot, especially considering that we have nearly 200 registered users (after removing all the spammers).
I admit I've been way too active in the last few weeks, so it almost looks as if I'm just talking to myself here. I'm not happy about this situation, but I guess it's simply the evidence of the current situation: there are very, very few users left! I don't like to consider what this means.


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It's Britney Spears' world, and we're just living in it.
The "Pretty Girls" singer will receive the Millennium Award at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. The special award acknowledges an artist's outstanding career achievements and influence in the music industry. Only Beyonce and Whitney Houston share the same distinction, having won in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Spears will also perform a medley of her biggest hits on May 22.
Spears has won six Billboard Music Awards in the past: New Artist of the Year (1999), Female Artist of the Year (1999), Female Albums Artist of the Year (1999), Female Singles Artist of the Year (1999), Albums Artist of the Year (2000) and Hot Dance Sales Single of the Year (2004). In 2000, she also received a special award for the largest first week sales ever for a female artist. Since 1999's "... Baby One More Time," six of Spears' eight studio albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
U.S. & World
The pop star – known for hits like "Oops!...I did It Again," "I'm a Slave 4 U," "Me Against the Music (feat. Madonna)," "Gimme More," "Womanizer" and "Hold It Against Me" – is doing a residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Spears is also hard at work one her ninth studio album. "Honestly, I'm just particular with this record," she said in V magazine's 100th anniversary issue. "It's my baby, and so I really want it done right. I would much rather have it be completely how I want it to be, whether that takes another year for me to do, or two months. I have no idea at this point. But I just know that the direction I'm going in is so good. It's the best thing I've done in a long time. I'm proud of the work, and it's very different; it's not what you would think at all. But I'm not rushing anything."
Spears, 34, reiterated, "I just want it to be done right, so that my fans will truly appreciate it."
The Billboard Music Awards will air live from Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on May 22 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. Ludacris and Ciara will co-host the show, with scheduled performances by Justin Bieber, DNCE, The Go-Go's, Nick Jonas with Tove Lo, Demi Lovato, Shawn Mendes and Pink.
2015 Billboard Music Awards Red Carpet Arrivals


text: Event details September 10, 2022 3:00 pm 6114 Francis Ave, Cleveland, OH 44127 - In the Spot (216) 429-2922 The free Food and Clothing Giveway will be held at The Spot on the campus of EBC 10am to Noon * In the Spot Everyone is welcomed. Save Event to Calendar Save to iCalendar Save to Google Calendar Save to Outlook Save to Outlook Online Save to Yahoo! Calendar


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Murphy breaks with Obama on Syria uprising
GREENWICH -- Chris Murphy and Rand Paul don't exactly come to mind as U.S. senators with a knack for finding common ground.
But when it comes to rendering aid to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Connecticut's junior Democratic senator said Wednesday that he has more in common with his GOP colleague and the Tea Party darling from Kentucky than the man in the Oval Office.
Murphy recently co-sponsored a bill introduced by Paul that would block the U.S. from direct or indirect involvement in what he fears will become an all-out civil war in Syria.
"I know that it's strange to see a first-term senator challenge the president," Murphy said. "I worry that we are on the verge of repeating the mistakes of the past. I worry that putting arms in the hands of the rebels will make the situation worse, not better."
Murphy voiced his misgivings on President Barack Obama's strategy in Syria during the weekly meeting of the Retired Men's Association of Greenwich, his third visit to town since taking office in January.
Previously elected to three terms in the U.S. House, where he represented the 5th District, Murphy staked out his positions on student loan debt and his support for a comprehensive immigration reform bill before taking questions from the retiree group at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich.
Murphy, who will turn 40 next month, bemoaned the cost of college tuition and said he favors a 3.5 percent fixed interest rate on subsidized student loans rather than a floating rate that could balloon to 7 percent or 8 percent.
A Williams College graduate who holds a law degree from UConn, Murphy said student loan debt has surpassed credit card debt and is bankrupting many Americans.
"I am caught in the middle," said Murphy, who is from Cheshire. "I am technically the poorest of 100 members of the United States Senate."
Some audience members, at least one in a seersucker blazer and another in Nantucket red shorts, chuckled as Murphy also reminded them that he is the youngest member of the Senate.
"Neither of those are high bars," he said alluding to his personal finances and age.
Greenwich is the hometown of Murphy foe and professional wrestling matriarch Linda McMahon, who spent $50 million of her fortune on her second unsuccessful bid in 2012. A contingent of Murphy loyalists in the audience praised the freshman senator for surviving the grueling contest and said that the playing field needs to be leveled for candidates of disparate means.
Murphy, who is not up for re-election until 2018, said he favors a taxpayer-funded campaign model like in Connecticut for candidates who meet certain benchmarks.
"I think we should get private fundraising completely out of politics," he said.
In an interview with Hearst Connecticut Newspapers afterward, Murphy weighed in on the international manhunt for Edward Snowden, a former U.S. spy agency contractor accused of leaking top secret information about domestic surveillance programs.
"I want this guy brought to justice," Murphy said. "I do not want to live in a world where a 29-year-old government contractor can decide for himself what information is classified and what information is not."


text:
Virginia is for Outdoor Lovers
#VAoutdoorsHit the Trails
#VAoutdoorsRide the Spearhead Trails
#VAoutdoorsWaterfall Hikes
Take one drive through the state and it is plain to see: Virginia is one of the most beautiful places in the world. To truly experience this natural beauty, you have to get out of the car and explore. If you're chasing new adventures in the great outdoors, Virginia is the perfect place to get your heart racing. With such variety and beauty abound, it's hard not to create a new historic outdoor moment on each trip. This is why Virginia is for Outdoor Lovers.
Find out what's going on around Virginia. Subscribe to the Virginia eNewsletter.


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This Thanksgiving I did something a little different; I went to Canada to see family. Although they had already had their feast last month, it was really nice to have the time with them. Sister was a little under the weather and hasn't been sleeping well lately. I think there is a lot going on with her since the hysterectomy to reduce her risk for ovarian cancer. As a BRCA carrier she has taken steps to address her risks for breast and other cancers due to the gene mutation. I have to say I worry about her.
I also got to see my niece and her new baby. Nicole also tested positive for the BRCA II gene mutation and having her babies in her twenties is something we have heard can help reduce her risk. More importantly, once she has had all her children she can turn her efforts to other ways to prevent breast cancer from developing. Her baby girl is a treasure and the real highlight of my trip. We are all so blessed by this baby's arrival. Nicole was only a few years old herself when she fought her battle with cancer. We thank God every day that she beat leukemia.
Cancer is something that will always be looming around my family. We are living and thriving in spite of it and do not intend to let it hinder our progress. It just all seems so unfair, but I have lived long enough (50 years now) to know that not many people have a fair go of it in life all of the time. We may not be able to control cancer in our family, but we have committed to fighting it full force and united. We don't intend to let it beat us. Family holidays like Thanksgiving, whether I celebrate in Canada or the United States, remind me what I am fighting for. Family is what we are all fighting for in this battle against breast cancer.


text: Welcome to Wilson J. Ong Studios where you will find unique artworks painted in a traditional classical manner. You will view works that are sensitively quiet and peaceful, while others are contemporary and thought provoking. The subjects will vary from simple still lifes to complex compositions. Light, shadow and personal experiences are common tools to my work.


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Sebastian lives in Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina [1]. He first became a member back in 1998 when he found out about the AAVSO from a local astronomy club. He is an active observer and data-miner.
Sebastian has been a visual observer since high school, but his interest in astronomy started several years before that, when he watched Carl Sagan's Cosmos on TV. He started reading astronomy books where he learned that some stars varied in brightness, and that encouraged him to try to detect those changes visually.
Before getting actively involved with VSOing, he studied Communication Science, but then he realized it wasn't his passion. He worked as a collector of money for a local hospital for several years to make ends meet.
During his first years observing (1994-2000), he developed a method to improve the accuracy of his visual estimates, by taking the color of the variable and comparison stars into account and using mainly direct vision.
His first serious project, which started back in the 90's, was making a list of all the stars visible to the naked eye (well, at least from Buenos Aires, which means mag. 5.2 or so) with their correct V-magnitudes. It was in the framework of this project that, in the year 2000, he visually discovered delta Vel's and delta Sco's variability. Since then, eclipsing binaries and Be stars have been his favourites (so it is not surprising that he's currently working with DPVs, Double Periodic Variables, B stars with circumbinary disks and orbital variability including eclipses sometimes!).
Sebastian took up data-mining research after the ASAS-3 database [2] was launched. From 2002 to 2010 you could find him working in the streets during the day and devoted to astronomy at night, analysing data, observing, and helping as a volunteer in the VSX team, Sequence Team and the Mentor Program.
In 2009, he received the AAVSO Director's Award (along with Patrick Wils) "in recognition of his unique ability to achieve high precision visual estimates and his mentoring of others to help them reach their visual observing potential, and of his contributions to reviewing submissions to the International Variable Star Index (VSX) [3] and guiding observers through the submission process"
He started working for the AAVSO in 2011 as an external consultant. Currently his tasks are mainly related to VSX work and translations for the Spanish language AAVSO community. He is cleaning up VSX to get rid of the thousands of duplicate entries created by the import of several different datasets to populate the original database. He revises and updates the available information and corrects wrong identifications. He prepares new lists of variable stars to import them to VSX. He adds new objects published in alert pages. He's also one of the VSX moderators, reviewing the new stars or revisions that people submit to VSX and helping them in the submission process whenever there is a problem. He is in charge of the AAVSO Mentor program [4]. He also helps the Sequence Team with some southern sequences from time to time and solving some identification problems that the team members may find. He is in charge of the AAVSO Spanish Forum [5], where observers from Latin America and Spain are encouraged to participate.
When he's not doing something related to astronomy (and he's not sleeping) you may find him in some gothic/symphonic metal fest or listening to Within Temptation [6]. Besides music, he likes going to the cinema and his favourite sport is paddle, which is basically similar to tennis but with walls. Once a year you may find him playing paddle at the Valle Grande Star Party with AAVSO Past President Jaime García (well, Jaime doesn't play, he's too busy organizing the event!).
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina
[2] http://www.astrouw.edu.pl/asas/?page=main
[3] http://www.aavso.org/vsx/index.php
[4] https://www.aavso.org/mentor-program
[5] http://www.aavso.org/forums/foro-de-discusi%C3%B3n-de-aavso-en-espa%C3%B1ol
[6] http://www.within-temptation.com/
[7] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/vsx
[8] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/staff
[9] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/spanish
[10] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/hq-staff
[11] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/headquarters-staff
[12] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/employees
[13] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/consultant


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A manhunt continued Thursday for the man who kidnapped baseball matriarch Violet R. Ripken, as Aberdeen police released a surveillance video image of a suspect and several law-enforcement agencies joined the small-town force in the search.
But even as investigators held out hope for a break in the case, they acknowledged that the bizarre circumstances could make it more difficult to crack. Ripken, 74, was abducted from her garage Tuesday morning and disappeared for a day before being returned unharmed, according to police, who say they have not determined a motive.
A video image released Thursday shows a man police are calling a suspect, wearing an orange baseball cap and a white dress shirt as he stands in what appears to be a place of business. The suspect was described as a white man in his mid-30s to mid-40s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. He has short brown hair and wore glasses, police said.
The kidnapper is armed and should be considered dangerous, police said.
"It puts a face out there," Aberdeen police Lt. Fred Budnick said of the video. "We're hoping someone recognizes the guy and we hope it will be a turning point in the investigation."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely, who heads the Baltimore field office that is assisting in the investigation, said video surveillance photos can be significant assets to an investigation. "We stand a much better chance of catching the subject," he said.
But he also said there may not be a "quick turnaround."
Authorities describe a harrowing 24 hours for Ripken, wife of late Orioles manager Cal Ripken Sr. and the mother of Cal Ripken Jr. and Billy Ripken. The kidnapper tied up Vi Ripken and drove her around Central Maryland in her own vehicle before she was returned in the car to her neighborhood early Wednesday.
Police also released an image of Ripken's vehicle, a 1998 Lincoln Town Car, which was discovered by a neighbor near the 400 block of Clover St.
Police revealed little else about the case, including where the surveillance video was taken. No ransom was believed to be involved, according to police, and a neighbor said Vi Ripken indicated that her famous last name never came up during the abduction.
Fred Ripken, another son of Vi Ripken, visited Aberdeen police headquarters Thursday. He said he was there to provide a statement to police and declined to comment further as he climbed into the driver's seat of a green Chevrolet pickup. Other family members would not comment beyond a statement issued Wednesday, expressing relief at Vi Ripken's return and thanking the police working the case.
The circumstances of Ripken's abduction and return home have puzzled many observers. McFeely said the crime was unusual for investigators as well.
"This is not something we see," he said. "Hopefully there are forensics that might come out of the vehicle that might be a clue. That's the sort of stuff they're dwelling on right now. But it's not going to be a quick victory."
Budnick said the Aberdeen Police Department handles a range of crimes, but violence is rare for the sleepy Harford County city. Murders occur about once a year — sometimes less frequently. In his 32 years on the force, he said, he couldn't recall a kidnapping at gunpoint.
"I've been around long enough to know that this is highly unusual," Budnick said.
Still, Budnick said the department is well equipped to handle the case. He said the agency has a canine unit, bike patrols, criminal investigators, crime-scene experts and a SWAT team, among other police resources. He added that the agency has the help of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland State Police and the FBI.
A neighbor, Erik Snyder, said Wednesday that he had alerted police to Ripken, who waved a white sweater out the driver's-seat window about 6 a.m. that morning. Police, stationed at the back of Ripken's house, were setting up barricades to section off the streets near her home of 46 years. Snyder said Ripken's car was out of the officers' line of sight.
"At that point in time we weren't sure what we were dealing with," Budnick said.
Mike Hudson, who lives across the street from Ripken with his daughter and mother, called the incident "shocking." Hudson said police came to his home and asked a few questions.
Hudson said he tried to imagine if it had been his daughter in Ripken's situation. He believes his mother will want to get some sort of alarm or security system after this incident.
"When you know somebody, it makes it a little more real," he said.
City Councilman Bruce Garner said what happened to Ripken doesn't necessarily reflect on the residents' safety. "I think we are in real good shape," he said of the city's crime prevention efforts.
City Councilwoman Ruth Elliott, a former schoolmate of Ripken's, said she was relieved Ripken was not harmed.
"You have all kinds of people in this world. You don't know what your next-door neighbor might be," Elliott said. "It can happen anywhere. I was alarmed that it happened here, but I know what the real world is. It's nothing any locality can do to prevent it beforehand. It's just the way it is."
"We will find him," Elliott added. "We will get him."
Latest Latest
Baltimore Sun reporter Mary Gail Hare, and Marissa Gallo and Bryna Zumer of The Aegis contributed to this article.


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Relay For Life has been rescheduled for this Friday May 29, at Janssen Park in Mena, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The final Relay planning meeting will be "bank night" at Union Bank in Mena on Thursday, May 28 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Team captains will bring their contributions to the bank and will receive T-shirts for their team members.
Richie Owens, Relay Entertainment Chair noted that he has lined up an impressive variety of musical entertainment for Friday night including Seventh Wave, Richie Owens and Six Mile Creek, Nick Charleton and Shed West, Katie Beth Head, GTX Fire Fall Down, and Katie Fox.
A special luminary ceremony will take place at 9 p.m. that will recognize cancer survivors and remember fallen victims of cancer. In addition, DJ Double Down will be hosting karaoke from 10 p.m. until midnight.
Beginning at midnight there will be theme laps around the park designed for the participants to have fun and to keep them up during the night as they continue their Relay For Life.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life® is about celebration, remembrance, and hope. Participants honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to those who have lost their lives to the disease, and raise money to help fight cancer.
The event is open to the public at no charge. More than 25 teams with hundreds of members are participating and the teams will be providing refreshments, food, games and fun all through the night as they walk in a variety of themed walks around Janssen Park and raise money for cancer research.
Make sure to be at Janssen park Friday evening for a great evening of entertainment, and to support a great cause.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
May 29
Posted by Richard Lawry at 1:07 PM 0 comments
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Gillon McLachlan.Gillon McLachlan's journey to the AFL's top job can be charted back to the day some 18 months ago that he sat opposite his old boss Andrew Demetriou with his head in his hands unable to speak.
Demetriou too chose to say nothing and says now that the silence seemed to last five minutes but in reality was more like two.
"Say something," McLachlan finally implored, "just say anything."
It was a Monday morning in the spring of 2012 and McLachlan knew that D-Day had arrived. The NRL had offered him the role of chief executive and the opportunity to oversee the restructured NRL under a newly appointed commission.
Key members of McLachlan's wider family believed he should take the plunge and take the job after so many years as the AFL's unofficial and later official No. 2.
Although Demetriou was clearly closer to the end of his reign rather than the beginning, he had set no departure date and McLachlan had received no guarantees.
The man who on Wednesday officially became the AFL's fourth CEO was genuinely torn between two codes.
Finally, Demetriou spoke and instructed McLachlan to imagine a wintry Saturday afternoon scenario where his beloved University Blues would no longer be an option, let alone the MCG, but rather McLachlan would be travelling to Sydney's west to watch Penrith take on Wests Tigers.
The son of the Pascoe Vale fish and chip shop owner told the South Australian former polo playing silver tail that McLachlan, ironically, was more connected to, and passionate about, grassroots community football than Demetriou. He reminded him of his personal mantra that job satisfaction and success required passion.
McLachlan would not confirm on Wednesday that the Panthers-Wests Tigers' scenario had swayed him, but it is accepted fact among his colleagues that immediately after Demetriou had invoked that image, McLachlan stood and stated he had reached his decision.
The relieved AFL chairman, Mike Fitzpatrick – mindful of just how formidable a foe McLachlan would have proved to the AFL's expansion strategies – granted him a pay rise, but again no guarantees. Soon afterwards, McLachlan was handed the poisoned chalice of the Melbourne tanking investigation and then, more recently, the Essendon drugs scandal – two messy and damaging sagas that harmed his reputation and that of the AFL.
While the job appeared destined to go to McLachlan – he confirmed he would have left the competition had he missed out – he had been genuinely stressed in recent weeks as the AFL Commission completed its executive search. Two others ultimately presented for the job – Richmond boss Brendon Gale and Geelong chief Brian Cook, who was also a candidate 11 years ago when Demetriou was appointed.
Both club chiefs knew they were outsiders but last week did not waste their hour-long presentations, challenging the AFL board as to the problems confronting the game and delivering the odd home truth. Fitzpatrick called both on Tuesday night to tell them they had missed out, but would not confirm McLachlan had won the job.
Fitzpatrick had told McLachlan 24 hours earlier that the position was his.
Demetriou, who would have been shattered had McLachlan been overlooked, was at his local vet on Monday night with his injured cat when he called McLachlan to congratulate him.
On Tuesday morning, Fitzpatrick and his new CEO finalised McLachlan's new contract. Cook and Gale messaged their congratulations to McLachlan early on Wednesday.
Demetriou will remain to oversee the final and still contentious details of the AFL's official attempt to close the ever-widening gap between the rich and poor clubs and leave after the Australian Football Hall of Fame presentation on June 4.
He stood at the back of the room during Wednesday's announcement, looking every bit the proud elder brother. Two of McLachlan's three younger brothers – Hamish and Will – stood nearby.
McLachlan promised he would remain accountable to football fans, the game's community, its clubs and its players. He said he had a clear direction of where the game needed to go and indicated he had a clear strategy for some cultural change, specifying a more diverse AFL hierarchy was a priority.
But his appointment was a recognition of his already formidable achievements as the game's long-time strategist and unofficial heavy lifter, along with the fact that the AFL did not see the need for radical change.
While Fitzpatrick attempted to deny a dearth of quality external candidates, the fact his commission only interviewed three very familiar football faces would indicate a strong show of faith in the Australian game's own backyard.
GILLON McLACHLAN ON…
His background of more than 240 matches in amateur and country football
"I have had my share of cold showers and freezing committee meetings."
On a night grand final
"My simple answer on that one is I like a day grand final."
On leaving the AFL should he not have been made CEO
"I think the reality is I would have had to have left. The short answer is yes. I think everyone understands and accepts that. That wouldn't have been in a fit of pique, that's just a reality."
On the AFL buying Etihad Stadium early
"They are very aware that we would like to buy it. They are very aware that we think we are the only possible buyer. But we are a way (off) on price at the moment. It's not that sufficiently an imperative to pay the wrong price."
On fears going to matches has become too expensive
"We will be addressing the cost of going to the football. Cost is more than just ticketing. It is ticketing charges, it is food and beverage, it is the total cost."
On Tasmania
"My vision for Tasmania is that we have a one-state approach. That means the north and the south working together to come in behind one team. Whether that's possible, it's a very challenging proposition but … Tasmanians ultimately need to become one team and that's an aspiration."
On his role in brokering a deal with Essendon
"With respect to me specifically, I am sure there was some skin taken off me. There was skin taken off a lot of people. It was an incredibly tough period… We ended up in a position that I don't think was edifying for a lot of people and it certainly wasn't great for the game."
On the future of the centre bounce
"I am not making a guarantee about anything, but I like the centre bounce."
1986-1993 Alan Schwab
1994-1996 Ross Oakley
1996-2003 Wayne Jackson
2003-2014 Andrew Demetriou
From 2014 Gillon McLachlan
This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on 苏州美甲美睫培训学校.


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How to help your teen build confidenceSeptember 26, 2017
By Jessica Vician
Building confidence isn't easy—even as adults we must to pick ourselves up and remember why we're awesome. Sometimes it takes a reminder from a friend, other times it's the perspective of what we've accomplished that gives us confidence.
That perspective isn't as accessible for a teenager, who has just started figuring a little bit of life out, but it's important that they start to build confidence to help them succeed in their next life adventure—college.
When your child goes to college, they won't have you or their high school friends to prop them up. They'll be alone, for maybe the first time ever, and need to learn how to harness motivation to go to class and study and summon confidence to make new friends and make good decisions.
How can you help them build this confidence now, while they're in high school? Extracurricular activities are a great first step for three reasons.
- Social
Your teenager will meet people they might not otherwise interact with through these activities. By finding an activity that they're interested in, they will make new friends who share the same interests. That skill will accompany them to college when it's time to make new friends and try new activities.
- Academic
YDuring meetings or activities, your teen will build skills that they might not build in the classroom. From teamwork to finding an outlet for creativity to developing leadership skills, your child can become a better student because of the skills they develop in extracurricular activities.
- Prepare for College
Colleges and universities seek well-rounded students who have demonstrated a strong academic record and participate in extracurricular activities. The extra work shows a dedication outside of school and that the student can still earn good grades while doing something outside of the classroom.
If your teenager is initially hesitant to join clubs or other extracurricular activities, remind them how important they are for college applications. If they are looking forward to going away to school, the motivation to boost their chances of getting into their school of choice should encourage them to join one or two organizations. As your teen participates more frequently, they will build those skills and in turn, build confidence.


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Welcome to JC AUTO!
At JC AUTO, we are all things automotive! From new and used auto and truck parts, to full service and collision repair, JC's can handle your problem, no matter how big or small.
JC AUTO & TRUCK PARTS has over 30 acres of late model auto and truck parts, both foriegn and domestic. Need delivery? JC's delivers to repair shops and collision repair centers within 200 miles of our facility. What about new and aftermarket parts? We carry a large selection of surplus oem sheet metal, as well as aftermarket crash parts too! Let one of our five sales staff take care of your needs!
JC PARTS CITY AUTO PARTS is a full line auto parts store. We carry one of the largest inventories of auto and truck parts and supplies in the area. Parts City stocks a large select of remanufactured engines and transmissions too. JC handled a vast inventory of Paint & Body products, and is an exclusive distributor of Akzo Nobel refinishing products. If your shop needs delivery, we can get it there! JC Parts City utilizes the same distribution system as our used parts store.
JC AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR is a full service repair center. We offer a wide variety of services, from tune ups to brake jobs and engine and transmission replacement too. We have all of the latest equipment to diagnose your car or trucks problem. JC Automotive offers four wheel alignment and tire replacement also.
JC COLLISION REPAIR offers complete collision repair. We have the most update equipment to restore you car or truck to pre accident condition. JC has been fixing cars since 1960 and take great pride in our quality repair work. Wether you need a minor scratch fixed or full frame straightening, we can handle it. We work with all major insurance comanies to help settle your claim as fast and easy as possible!


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By Matt Passantino
Walking into Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, I knew Elaine Stritch by name only. In terms of her work, I really did not know much outside of her recurring role as Alec Baldwin's mother on 30 Rock. That is the reason I went to the film – to learn about a legend in the entertainment business. The documentary, which clocks in at a breezy 80 minutes, covers a wide range of material and really spotlights the outspoken comedian and Broadway star.
To tell you much about what I learned about Stritch would do a disservice. Watching documentaries are often as entertaining as they are educational and if you happen to see Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me – and you should – you will learn about the early life of this unique starlet, her career from the beginning to present day and her struggles out of the spotlight.
Again, that is all in 80 minutes.
What stands out about this documentary is it highlights Stritch's thirst for the spotlight and passion for what she does. As a public figure, Stritch is known as abrasive and never afraid to speak her mind. As an individual, we find a hardworking and passionate creative who consistently tries to improve her craft. The documentary was shot when Stritch was 86 going on 87 (she is now 89).
What is inspiring about Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me is it perfectly captures Stritch's refusal to quit an industry that is often unfriendly to anyone over a certain age.
There is a lot of humor in the documentary, but it is perfectly coupled with poignant realism. Stritch confronts age head on while she is still trying to perform shows. Even in her weakest moments, she is usually sharper than anyone 50 years her junior.
While the documentary offers a glimpse into Stritch's life, it makes the best of the short runtime. It never plays as a highlight of all of the crass things Stritch has said over her career, even though there is plenty to go on. This is an examination of a fearless woman who loves what she does and will continue to do so until she says she's done for good.
Matt is a senior at the College at Brockport. You can follow all his movie musings on Twitter at @MattPassantino and his blog, passantinomovies.tumblr.com.


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Church Guy necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 34 diseños de 12 diseñadores freelance.
We have a logo but need to create a web site for a new church that is starting up in North Carolina. The church is hip, cool, and well ... Vintage.
Vintage Church
a timeless message for all generations
Desired Color Scheme:
Blue greyish-blue and yellow
Desired Style:
weathered look
Accepted File Formats:
Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
This is a new church that is starting up:
Here is our logo:
hi-res version:
As an example, we like this site:
We want to have similar navigation and buttons on the right.
Use the headings on that example site above for now. We'll change them after the we receive the design files.
We like the "weathered look" and would like to incorporate that in the site. The color scheme is that blue in vintage, along with the yellow ("a timeless message for all generations")
We're not going to fix the height of the design, like on the design above, so we need some kind of edge that can repeat vertically (which can be tough to do with the weathered look, but you're up to the challenge, right!?)
Get creative! Roll with it! Give me an excuse to use two exclamation points!!
Looking forward to see what you guys can come up with. Thanks ahead of time.


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Vikram Pandit, who steered Citigroup through the 2008 financial crisis and the choppy years that followed, abruptly left the bank on Tuesday, stepping down as CEO and as a director.
The move shocked Wall Street, and Citigroup offered no explanation. There had been no hint of the departure Monday, when the bank discussed its strong third-quarter earnings in lengthy calls with analysts and reporters.
A second top executive resigned as part of the shake-up: President and Chief Operating Officer John Havens, who was also CEO of Citi's Institutional Client Group, which serves global companies, banks and governments.
Pandit was replaced immediately by Michael Corbat, 52, a Citigroup lifer who had been CEO of its Europe, Middle East and Africa division. Corbat joined the bank in 1983, just after graduating from Harvard.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the departures followed a clash between Pandit and the company's board over strategy and business performance, including at the group run by Havens.
In a conference call late Tuesday with financial analysts and reporters, Corbat and Citigroup chairman Michael O'Neill remained vague about the sudden change.
"What happened is that Vikram submitted his resignation and we accepted it," O'Neill said more than once. Corbat said the changes do not reflect any desire to change Citigroup's strategic direction.
Analysts suspected there was more to the story. Pandit's departure from the board is a clear indication that "this was a complete and unexpected break" between Pandit, 55, and Citi directors, said Chris Whalen, a bank analyst and senior managing director of Tangent Capital Partners in New York.
"This shows how dysfunctional this organization is, to have this event unfold this way," Whalen said. "They should have told us yesterday, unless they didn't know."
If Pandit's disagreements with the board were recent, his trouble with shareholders had been brewing far longer. They rejected his 2011 pay package in a non-binding vote this spring.
Since joining the bank in December 2007, Pandit has made at least $56.4 million, according to data compiled for The Associated Press by Equilar, an executive pay research firm.
That includes salary, bonuses, benefits and perks and stock awards. Pandit also made about $165 million from a buyout of his ownership stake in Old Lane Partners, a hedge fund he founded that was acquired by Citi.
Many shareholders were also frustrated by Pandit's failure to boost Citigroup's stock price, which was decimated during the 2008 financial crisis and remains far below where it was when Pandit took over.
The day Pandit was named CEO, Citi's stock closed at $332.30, after adjusting for a reverse stock split last year that reduced the number of shares in circulation. It closed Tuesday at $37.25, up 59 cents for the day.
Citi's stock has mainly kept up with its peers over the last year, but its longer-term record is dismal. It's by far the worst-performing major bank stock over the past five years, having lost 91 percent of its value, versus a 6 percent gain for Wells Fargo and a 2 percent gain for JPMorgan Chase.
Still, on Monday, Citigroup's stock rose to its highest level since April after the bank said it beat analysts' expectations in the third quarter.
In a call with financial analysts that lasted an hour and 40 minutes, and a shorter call with reporters, no one asked bank executives how long Pandit planned to stay, or whether there was a succession plan in place.
During his five-year tenure, Pandit slimmed the bank by selling businesses, sought and then repaid multiple federal bailouts, and helped right its balance sheet after billions in losses on bad mortgage investments made before he took the helm. It was a sharp departure from his predecessors, empire-builders with a hunger for big acquisitions.
Today, Citi is the country's third-largest bank, with $1.9 trillion in assets. It trails only JPMorgan, with $2.3 trillion, and Bank of America, with $2.1 trillion.
Yet the scars of the financial crisis have continued to plague Pandit and the bank he led, and will confront Corbat as he takes over.
Pandit was appointed CEO in December 2007, a period when the crisis was smoldering but had yet to engulf Wall Street. Some in government believed the bank was too slow to address its problems as they emerged in those months before the global financial system froze up in September 2008.
Among Wall Street banks, Citigroup was perhaps the closest to the center of the financial crisis. It participated in every step of the assembly line that transformed shoddy mortgages into complex investments and seeded them through the world financial system. When the housing market turned in 2007, Citigroup's fingerprints were all over the toxic loans it had originated, bundled and resold.
By the time Pandit took charge, Citigroup was considered the weakest of the Wall Street banks. Its stronger peers were forced to take billions in bailout money in October 2008 to divert attention from Citigroup, which needed the money to survive.
Citigroup was the only mega-bank, aside from Bank of America, to receive more than one round of taxpayer bailout money. It received a total of $45 billion in direct cash infusions in three separate transactions. The bank also benefited from billions more in government subsidies and guarantees against losses on bad investments.
As the crisis erupted in September 2008, Pandit suffered a bruising embarrassment. His bank announced it would buy the bulk of Wachovia, which was being crushed by lousy, complex mortgage investments. Citi would get a fire-sale price and emerge from the crisis a rescuer, rather than a victim.
But four days later, Wells Fargo charged in with another offer. It elbowed Citi out of the way and won the approval of shareholders and regulators.
Citi survived those critical months, but its reputation was tattered. In March 2009, as the crisis raged, President Barack Obama ordered the Treasury Department to consider breaking up Citigroup and removing its executives, according to a behind-the-scenes book about the crisis published last year by journalist Ron Suskind.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner ignored Obama's request, according to Suskind's account. Geithner and the White House have disputed his version of events.
Pandit had another powerful opponent in Sheila Bair, an influential bank regulator who ran the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. during the crisis. Bair wanted the government to fire Pandit after the taxpayer bailouts and government guarantees. Geithner disagreed, and Pandit kept his job.
In an interview with CNBC after Pandit's departure was announced, Bair said Citigroup has lacked "a clear strategic direction and focus" under Pandit, and said shareholders have been unhappy.
She said that the bank would benefit from a CEO like Corbat with commercial banking experience, as opposed to Pandit's background in investment banking, and that the move would be beneficial for shareholders.
In a book published last month, Bair said Pandit had been installed as CEO by Robert Rubin, a former treasury secretary who was the bank's chairman at the time, "to clean up the mess at Citi."
"I thought he had been a poor choice," Bair wrote.
Pandit nursed the bank back to annual profitability in 2010. But Citigroup's troubles continued, even after the Treasury Department sold the last of its stake late that year.
Its stock price plunged 44 percent in 2011. So far in 2012, it has recovered about half that loss.
In March, Citigroup surprised observers by failing an annual financial checkup administered by the Federal Reserve, its main regulator. The Fed refused to let Citi raise its dividend because it said the bank, unlike its peers, did not have enough capital to pay shareholders and still withstand a financial crisis worse than 2008.
Investors voiced their frustration by voting this spring to reject Pandit's pay package for 2011, which was valued at $15 million – roughly in line with most of his counterparts – and included an additional $10 million in retention pay due to him in 2013 if he stayed on as CEO. Pandit received none of the retention money, a bank spokeswoman said.
He had accepted a token $1 in compensation in 2010. In 2008, Pandit's compensation package was valued at $38.2 million.
It was the first time shareholders dinged a Wall Street bank under a provision of the 2010 financial overhaul law that gives them a non-binding vote on executive pay.
Last month, Citigroup received much less money than it had hoped for when it sold its share of the retail brokerage Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. The bad estimate forced Citigroup to take a heavy write-down.
Along with Bank of America, it is the only mega-bank still paying its shareholders only a token penny dividend each quarter.
Still, said Daniel Alpert, managing partner at the New York investment bank Westwood Capital LLC, Pandit did "pretty much all he can do to turn the bank around."
He said it will be hard for big banks to boost their share prices because of intense pressure from regulators to simplify their businesses. Since the financial crisis, the government's financial watchdogs have encouraged banks like Citigroup to become more manageable by eliminating non-essential business lines and focusing on their strengths. Pandit strived to do that, but some investors wondered if he had run out of tricks.
"There is some meaning to `quit while you're ahead,"' Alpert said, noting that it's harder for executives to win massive pay packages when a company's stock is flat-lining.
CNBC reported that Pandit said in an interview that he had been thinking about leaving Citigroup for some time and that it was his idea to leave.
After the company's earnings release Monday, it was clear that the company was performing well and had stabilized, Pandit said, according to CNBC. He said he called O'Neill, the chairman, after the analyst call and told him he wanted to leave.
Pandit said the board was ready for this and that the way the situation was handled shows that the company is organized.
Asked whether there were any "bombs" in the horizon, he said, "I would not be leaving if I didn't feel that this company was in good shape," according to CNBC.
Both Pandit and Corbat sent memos to Citi's 262,000 employees early Tuesday. Pandit did not say why he was leaving, but gave the impression that he felt he had completed a mission.
"There is nothing better than our third quarter earnings announcement to demonstrate definitively that we have turned this company around," he wrote.
Corbat said he was humbled and excited, calling himself "a true believer in this company." He praised Pandit for leading Citi "back to its roots as a bank."
Corbat also noted the challenges ahead – "regulatory, legislative and economic changes around the world present headwinds as we redefine our relationships with all of our stakeholders."
Gerard Cassidy, a banking analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said he thinks the change of guard will mean more businesses getting sold and more cost-cutting. O'Neill, the chairman, was famous for slashing expenses when he ran Bank of Hawaii Corp.
Other analysts speculated the bank may place less emphasis on Wall Street trading and helping companies sell stocks and bonds to the public, the so-called capital markets businesses in which Pandit had expertise. Instead, the focus could shift to traditional commercial banking, like lending to businesses and consumers, especially overseas.
Corbat will receive an annual base salary of $1.5 million and regular bonuses, Citigroup said Tuesday in a public filing.
Pandit joined Citigroup in 2007 when his hedge fund was acquired by the bank. He quickly rose to CEO in December 2007. Earlier, he had ascended to head of investment banking at Morgan Stanley before leaving in 2005 to form the hedge fund.
A native of India, Pandit attended Columbia University at 16 and completed a bachelor's degree in three years. He earned a doctorate in finance in 1986.
He is a naturalized citizen, and lives in New York with his wife and two children.
AP Business Writers Christina Rexrode, Bernard Condon and Joseph Pisani in New York contributed to this report.
Daniel Wagner can be reached at www.twitter.com/wagnerreports .
Vikram Pandit
By The Associated Press
NAME: Vikram Pandit
BORN: Jan. 14, 1957, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
EDUCATION: In 1973, Pandit began study at Columbia University at age 16. Three years later, he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, and the year after that a master's. In 1986 he received a Ph.D. in finance.
CAREER: Pandit joined Morgan Stanley as an associate in 1983. Seven years later, he was named head of Morgan Stanley's U.S. stock business. In 2000, he was named head of investment banking. In 2005 he left Morgan Stanley and a year later helped found a hedge fund, Old Lane. Citigroup bought the fund in April 2007 and fast-tracked him to replace Charles Prince as CEO in December of that year. After leading Citi through the financial crisis of 2008 and the tumultuous years that followed, Pandit resigned as CEO in October 2012.
FAMILY: Lives in New York City with his wife and two children.


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This issue only applies to unstyled input fields that draw with the normal system backgrounds. If you are in complete control of the content you are displaying, you can work around it by adding a style to your field. For example, changing the background color or adding a border.
Since some applications are not in control of all of the content they display with HTMLViewer, there exists a more drastic workaround. Real Studio 2011r4 contains a hidden preference that controls what version of the system your application will appear to be linked against. The flag can be changed by executing this Terminal command while the IDE is quit:
defaults write com.realsoftware.realstudio "Mac SDK Version" -string "10.6"It an be undone by executing the following while the IDE is quit:
defaults delete com.realsoftware.realstudio "Mac SDK Version"
We do not support the use of this flag and recommend against using it unless you absolutely must. It is a global setting that applies to all projects compiled in the IDE while it is set. If you do use this, test your applications intensively.


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The year 1996 was a great one for Nike. The brand spent millions on its Summer Olympics campaign, plastering Atlanta with ads and erecting a majestic Nike building to overlook Olympic Park.
Then, in an epic climax, American sprinter Michael Johnson broke a world record, crossing the finish line with a gleaming pair of golden Nikes strapped to his feet. He was later featured on the cover of Time magazine with those sneakers draped around his neck, along with his two gold medals.
Too bad Reebok spent $20 million to be the Games' official sportswear sponsor.
Nike's marketing victory proved an embarrassment for both Reebok and the event's organizers. The incident prompted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to clamp down on ambush marketing and ever since then such incidents have been kept to a minimum.
But that's all about to change. With London 2012 being heralded as the first truly "social" Games, this year's official Olympic sponsors are more vulnerable than ever.
The business of sponsorships
The London Olympics are expected to be the most regulated Games ever in terms of protecting brand sponsors, and a major reason for that is the proliferation of social media.
Sponsorship is big business. The IOC has already raised $957 million from the Olympic Partner programme (TOP), which is the organization's second-largest money-maker after broadcasting rights.
TOP includes 11 worldwide brand sponsors on its roster, each of which enjoys exclusive marketing rights for the duration of the four-year Olympic term. Another 14 brands are affiliated as official supporters and partners of the 2012 Olympic Games and are given similar privileges, including product category exclusivity.
The promise of sponsorship rights protection was one of the central reasons London won the bid for the Summer Games. The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act, passed in the U.K. Parliament in 2006, allows for "brand exclusion zones" to be set up across the city for the duration of the Games.
Extending one kilometre around venues, the zones prevent any brands that aren't sponsors from displaying ads or logos.
The strong measures have stirred up controversy. McCann Worldgroup attorney Marina Palomba told BusinessWeek, "it's the most draconian law so far in advance of an Olympic Games ever."
When sponsorship meets social
Making matters more complicated are the online restrictions. According to ticket purchase terms and conditions, fans could be punished for taking photos or videos at the events and uploading them onto public sites. Access to wireless networks might also be restricted, as well as the size of cameras spectators can use.
The IOC's social media guidelines [PDF] also stipulate that athletes are not allowed to comment on the performances of their competitors, nor are they "permitted to promote any brand, product or service within a posting, blog or tweet or otherwise any social media platforms or on any websites." Unless, of course, that brand is a sponsor.
In other words, Michael Phelps will be out of luck if he wants to tweet about the Subway sandwich that propelled him to victory. Too bad he didn't eat a Big Mac instead.
These rules may have been easy to enforce four years ago (back then the IOC didn't even bother with a social media policy), but with nearly a billion people on Facebook, 140 million on Twitter and 18 percent of the world owning smartphones (not to mention netbooks and tablets), the IOC's efforts may be too little too late.
Brand exclusion: Helpful or harmful?
Nevertheless, the IOC remains enthusiastic about the engagement opportunities that social networks offer sponsors and fans.
The committee has created the Olympic Athletes' Hub where fans can follow the online lives of their favourite sports stars. It funnels content from the various social media feeds of Olympic athletes into one platform, making monitoring easier for everyone – including the IOC, of course.
Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 organizing committee, told The Guardian that the need for regulation to prevent ambush marketing is more pressing than ever.
Of course, regulating and monitoring virtual spaces will be more of a challenge than at the physical venues. IOC Head of Social Media Alex Huot warns that mechanisms are in place in case of online copyright infringement but acknowledges the impossibility of monitoring every tweet and webpage.
"We don't police but we're working closely with all the platforms to make sure the trademark and (internet protocol) rights are respected," he told The Guardian.
Is sponsorship worth it?
With social media making it easier than ever for unofficial brands to piggyback off the success of international events, it stands to be asked: Are sponsorships even worth it anymore?
A 2010 case study published in the Journal of Managing and Marketing Research found that sponsor-event fit and brand equity were the most important factors when measuring the long-term financial success of brand sponsors, and that so long as those factors are in place, sports sponsorship remains lucrative.
That's especially true for high-profile international events like the Olympics, which have long been considered the Holy Grail for brands. The event tends to have a "halo effect" and brand sponsors bask in those good-vibes associations.
But as Mary Lou Costa argues in a 2011 Marketing Week article, the halo effect can go both ways: People often assume popular brands are affiliated with international events.
And with social media making it easier to spread content, non-affiliated brands have the potential to practise online ambush marketing.
Meanwhile, the Olympics and their sponsors are getting a bad rap for the very regulations meant to protect them.
When tickets went on sale for London, Visa was the only method of payment available, causing a media uproar. Then, the company replaced the 27 existing cash machines at the main Olympic venue with 8 of its own, subsequently facing allegations that Visa is intentionally starving the venue of cash.
So how does one measure the value of building brand equity through sponsorships against the potential bad press that results from strict protections? One way is through dollars.
Local sponsor Adidas hopes to make more than $156 million in U.K. sales from the deal. Those earnings alone might be worth the investment.
But just like in 1996, main rival Nike is hoping to upset Adidas' strategy with a plan of its own. The brand has opened a giant concept store at a shopping centre near the main venue, which nearly 70 percent of ticket holders are expected to pass through on their way to an event.
Nike has also found a clever way of bypassing the online restrictions with their #MakeItCount campaign, which pulls off the balancing act of referencing the Games without actually mentioning them.
The result? According to a study by BrandWatch, Nike is outpacing Adidas as the apparel brand most associated with London 2012.
Finally, in a recent online poll, The Guardian asked responders to vote whether Olympic sponsors should be protected with strict laws: 91 percent voted "No."
So let the games begin and may the best brand win.


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Headlamps / Lanterns
Headlamps / Lanterns
Shop Products
- Trail Running Essentials
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- Packs
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- Headlamps / Lanterns
- Tents / Bivys
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Max Distance
Tech Features
- AAA Batteries
- AA Batteries
- Power Level Meter
- Programmable Memory
- Rechargeable
- Red LED
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- Waterproof
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Ideal Uses
€30.00Now featuring a 250-lumen beam and a lighter, smaller, tighter waterproof body with an updated user interface, the Cosmo 250 can handle everything from your evening bike commute to that weekend backpacking trip.
€50.00The Sprint 225 is our smallest and lightest rechargeable light, built specifically for pre-dawn/post-sunset runs.
€45.00A tiny package that has a rechargeable punch, the Iota is the smallest and lightest rechargeable light, powering fast morning training sessions and evening hikes before beers.
€20.00Strong enough for any mountain pursuit and compact enough for backup or emergency use, the new Astro 175 boasts a powerful beam at 175 lumens, yet is simple, sleek and affordable.
€22.00A kids' headlamp that's feature-packed and incredibly easy to use, the Wiz gives kids the lighting they need to explore the outdoors.
€60.00A revolutionary waterproof and USB-rechargeable headlamp that also runs on standard AAA batteries, the Revolt is a full-featured, hybrid-power headlamp that doles out a whopping 300 lumens of light.
€80.00Designed for everyday pre-dawn/post-sunset use, the USB-rechargeable Sprinter, now with 200 lumens of power, is ready for any trail in any weather.
€40.00Our award-winning, full-featured waterproof headlamp is now lighter, brighter, and smaller. The new Spot 325 features a more compact design, updated user interface, and improved multi-faceted optical lens design that not only saves battery life but also provides a powerful 325 lumens of light, making it the perfect light for pre-work dawn patrols, after-dark trail runs and climbing days that don't always fit into 9 to 5.
€27.00Our lightest, smallest, most compact headlamp with a waterproof body and full feature-set, the new SpotLite 160 is the perfect headlamp for ultralight, pre-dawn or post-dusk action, plus it's small and discrete enough to hide away in your "essentials bag."
€100.00Our brightest, most powerful headlamp for professionals and adventurers who demand high-output lighting, the redesigned Icon headlamp features a striking 500-lumens of power, waterproof construction and a removable, balanced battery pack.
€55.00The new Storm375 is still the burly, fully-sealed waterproof and dustproof headlamp built for rugged adventures, only now it's brighter, easier to use, and housed in a more compact body. Featuring a more compact design, updated user interface, and a multi-faceted optical lens design that saves battery life and provides 375 lumens of powerful light, the Storm375 is ready for any mountain mission.
Regular Price €30.00 Sale Price €21.00Now featuring a 225-lumen beam and a lighter, smaller, tighter waterproof body with an updated user interface, the Cosmo225 can handle everything from your evening bike commute to that weekend backpacking trip.
€30.00A super-compact, incredibly versatile strobe light that goes just about anywhere, the lightweight Stride easily attaches to your existing headlamp strap for urban running visibility, and also functions as a stand-alone headlamp or on packs, bikes or dogs for on-the-go illumination.
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€30.00A pocket-sized version of our popular Voyager, the Orbit is a bright, ultra-lightweight lantern crossed with a powerful flashlight—making it perfect for trekking or backpacking where shaving grams is crucial.
€40.00We crossed a 140-lumen lantern with a 50-lumen flashlight to get the unique, ultra-versatile Voyager.
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€40.00The versatile ReMoji provides bright and simple lighting performance inspired by the original Moji Lantern, with a USB-rechargeable design and a magnetic backing that easily sticks inside your van.
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€15.00Rechargeable NiMH batteries for use with ReVolt Technology.
€50.00A spare rechargeable that equips you with extra battery life and a charge out power source.
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Rays Need to Wipe the Tarnish Off Their "Golden Arms"
Coming into the 2012 Major League Baseball season I do not think there was anyone connected with the game who had any major concerns about the Tampa Bay Rays starting pitching or their overhauled Bullpen. Most proclaimed them to be a pitching staff that was a year older, but considerably wiser beyond their years. From the only over 30 member of the starting rotation James Shields to rookie Matt Moore, the Rays were definitely a young staff to be wary of this season.
But how reality can change. How quickly things can go sideways, produce holes and show the Rays have a few situations, and not all of them have immediate solutions. Things looked up quickly for the Rays "Golden Arms" after sweeping the 2011 American League East champs, the New York Yankees at home. Quickly people were singing the praises of this young bunch of hurlers who seemed to have the midas touch, the "Golden Arms" moniker seem appropriate. Even after a hiccup of only winning one of three against the favored Detroit Tigers, the Rays seemed destine to head into the land of the Lobster and chowder with confidence and a chance.
Suddenly over a 3-game spread the Rays starters looked vulnerable, giving up extra base smashes that usually find a glove, or produce outs. Even though pitches were being placed perfectly in their quadrants, bats met ball almost like they knew it was going to be delivered there, without much sweat or guessing. Instantly eyes and fingers began to watch these Red Sox for clues or suggestions of a more clandestine reasoning for the Rays sudden fall from pitching grace. In an instant the once mystical Rays seemed bewildered and confused as speculation ran rampant that their secret formula had been deciphered and pilfered producing 3 straight dizzying losses to their divisional rival Boston.
The Rays seemed plagued by an aspiration more towards mediocrity than their acclaimed meteoric prediction. In a flash the Rays tumbled from the grace of promise to fall 0-3 and closer to the .500 mark before their ace, James Shields delivered them from the folly of losing all 4 contests to these Bostonians. Some say the difference was a change of habit, a visual game of hide and go seek where Rays catcher Jose Molina would do his best impression of hiding the corner and seeking the calls on the outside corners. Even if the strike zone did gain a few inches, it went both ways, but it did give Shields and the Rays a fighting chance.
You want to dissect the Rays starting staff and look for a fundamental reasoning for the Boston meltdown, but you will not find it. Tongues wagged that Moore was tipping off his pitches, but the same game outcome and hit barrage beset veteran hurler David Price and 2011 Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson. How could a staff that stifled the Yankees less than a week before suddenly fall flat against a divisional rival they had winning history against in their ballpark. It is not like the Rays came into Boston complacent or sporting a superior record, somewhere the dike developed a leak and not until Shields hit the hill did it get plugged with success.
Some might contribute this strange quandary to the fact of a plethora of afternoon contests on this road trip, but that is the easy answer. The hard answer is this young staff is still maturing at times and can be vulnerable. The real answer is Hellickson and Moore have the abilities to shut down any American League offense, but if their control ticks even an inch off the plate, the Home Plate Umpire might not give that extra inch. That comes with experience and knowing which Umpire might be open to balls skipping the corners and who runs a tight strike zone. Worst thing is on any given night that variable could change without warning or hint.
We all know already if Shields and Price have the motors revving and are on point, only they can cost themselves a victory. Worst thing that could happen to the Rays is one of these two going down, or experiencing even a short span of wildness or ability to sit guys down via the outside corner called third strike. There is a gap between the experience levels of these two and the duo of Hellboy and M&M. Not even sure the tallest member of the silent assassins, Jeff Niemann can put himself into that middle ground at times. Even though the 6'9" Niemann can show the skills of an ace during his streaks, when he is off his game, weird things happen. You might consider Niemann a liability compared to the other 4 starters on this team, but when he is in his groove and popping balls into the strike zone, he looks more like a #3 starter than the back end option at #5.
The Rays starters just have to wipe the tarnish off their "Golden Arms" and again show the wealth and worth of their abilities to get the Rays close games that their offense can overcome and post wins. The Boston series was a debacle by any sense of the word, but this Toronto series might be the true test for the Rays starters. If they can harness themselves and post a winning edge in this first series in Canada, it could be a great launching pad into their home stand and again having people feel "golden" about this starting staff.


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ITNM 4.1 installation package has db2 embedded. DB2 Enterprise Server 10.1 can be installed as part of ITNM 4.1 installation process.
If you use default settings, ITNM 4.1 will install OMNIBus , ITNM core, TIP and DB2 configure auto-start for those components... Auto-start works for all components except DB2, which result in ncp_model and a number of key components fail to start:
To fix this issue, if the operating system is Redhat 5, the latest fixpack for DB2 10.1 should be applied..At the time of writing, the latest fixpack for 10.1 is FP3... Download links can be found below:
when installing the fixpack, use $NCHOME/platform/linux2x86/db2 as base install directory for db2...
if the operating system is Redhat 6, on top of the fixpack of DB2, following instructions should be followed:
Hope this helps...


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Prosecutors Should Not Be Allowed to Fabricate Evidence
In 1977, county attorney David Richter and assistant county attorney Joseph Hrvol worked side by side with police to investigate and "solve" the notorious murder of a former police officer in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The prosecutors fabricated evidence and used it to charge and convict Curtis McGhee and Terry Harrington, sending them to prison for 25 years.
After the convictions were overturned for prosecutorial misconduct, McGhee and Harrington sued the county and prosecutors. The defendants in that civil suit invoked the absolute immunity generally afforded prosecutors to try to escape liability. After the Eighth Circuit ruled against them, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case.
On Friday, Cato joined the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the ACLU on a brief supporting the men unjustly imprisoned. We argue that prosecutors should be responsible for their role in manufacturing a false "case," just as police officers would be under the same circumstances. As the Court has held, prosecutors enjoy absolute immunity only during the prosecutorial phase of a case, not its investigatory phase. Were prosecutors to receive absolute immunity here, citizens would have no protection from or recourse against prosecutors who frame the innocent by fabricating evidence and then using that evidence to convict them.
To read Cato's brief in the case of Pottawattamie County v. McGhee, see here.


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Iranian Grand Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi urges compulsory hijab
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
"The enemies try to defeat Islam by undermining Hijab and thus fostering corruption in Islamic countries," according to Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi. Makarem-Shirazi was addressing the Hijab Dialogue Group where he also expressed effusive support for the Iranian police force which enforces Islamic morality. He also wants to extend the hijab to all Islamic countries.
In the past Makarem-Shirazi has given reasons for the mandatory hijab. He has blamed improper hijab for "destruction of families and increase in rate of divorce and crime," on a page on his own website. He believes that in order for the government to "not resort to force for this problem," people have to be responsible themselves. He also expressed disappointment at mass media rowdyism.
Makarem-Shirazi's view on the necessity of hijab for preservation of marriage has been echoed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well. He has said,"you will realize that all Islamic laws and injunctions are directed at safeguarding the marital bond. Hijab is for this, it means not displaying your bodies for others, not to appear in public without proper, decent clothing, not to stimulate certain motives improperly and unlawfully, so that all and every such attractions are only reserved for your own loving partner in life."
Like all Islamic fundamentalists, Makarem-Shirazi is a strong proponent of literal or near-literal interpretation of Islamic laws. With respect to the hijab, Islamic fundamentalists back up all their positions with sharia and Islamic jurisprudence sources.
Imam Jaffer Sadiq has said, "Modesty is the symbol of faith and whoever has no modesty (Hijab), has no religion." There are only a tiny minority of Islamic clerics who don't second compulsory hijab in Iran, like Hojatoleslam Sayyed Hussein Khomeini who has said, "I am personally in favor of the hijab, but not like this. The hijab is a personal issue. If a woman wants, she may [wear it], and if she doesn't [want it], she may [refuse it]." His grandfather, Imam Khomeini fiercely defended the compulsory hijab and wrote, "With the slogans of freedom and equality, they promoted the culture of nakedness and libertinism, in the process making use of the most draconian of despotic measures as seen in Riza Khan's policy of forcing women to remove their Islamic veils (kashf-i hijab)." Reza Pahlavi was a secularist like his contemporary Ataturk.
As a member of Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, Makarem-Shirazi proposes judges to Iran's Islamic courts.
- "Promotion of Hijab Urged" — Iranian Quran News Agency, May 23, 2007
- Press Release: Naser Makarem Shirazi. "Statements by His holiness supporting action by Disciplinary Forces for encounter with improper veil (Hejab)" — Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, May 3, 2007
- "Khomeini's grandson: Oust Iran clerics" — Jerusalem Post, June 14, 2006
External links
- Why is Hijab Necessary ? - from the Baab e Ilm Islamic Institute.
- THE POSITION OF WOMEN FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF IMAM KHOMEINI (May Allah grant him peace) Publisher: The Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works (translated in 2001)
- Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom (Persian)


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More Resources
American Pregnancy Association (http://americanpregnancy.org/)
Beyond Morning Sickness (www.BeyondMorningSickness.com)
Pregnancy Sickness Support (www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/)
You may still have questions after reading our site, or you may want to do more online research on your own. We have listed additional resources with information related to hyperemesis, as well as other topics that may help you. Places to find definitions of medical terms or review medical research studies are also listed for your reference.
New books by women who have survived HG have been added as well.
We also have two extra pages of non-research related links:
- Shopping Online - lists online stores to help you shop from home
- Pregnancy & Parenting - lists helpful resources with information on everything from morning sickness, birth, breastfeeding, high-need children, and fun, to safety and nutrition
Hyperemesis Books:
|Mama Has Hyperemesis Gravidarum (But Only For A While) by Ashli McCall
A book that is specifically written for the children who endure HG by watching their mommy's suffer. From the author of Beyond Morning Sickness, Ashli McCall has written this wonderful book about explaining HG to your children. Order your's today! We have limited quantities and they are going fast!
|Beyond Morning Sickness: Battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum by Ashli McCall
Beyond Morning Sickness is a convenient source of helpful information for those suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum and for the people who care for them. The book consists of medical information and personal stories.
|The Proving Grounds by Barbara Mangini
The Proving Grounds is a masterpiece of suspense and suffering, and instructive education framed by inspiration and a spirit of courage. The Proving Grounds is fiction inspired by author Barbara Mangini's true story of her own battle with the pregnancy-related illness Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).
|Body Mutiny: Surviving Nine Months of Extreme Morning Sickness by Jenna Schmitt
In a powerful mix of poetry and prose, she takes you through 40 harrowing weeks of a hyperemesis pregnancy.
|The Good, The Bad, The Blessing by Camilla Harris-Butler
Designed to give anyone that is willing to read a birds eye view of her experience with pregnancy. From a positive pregnancy test, to a severe rare morning sickness, and realizing post-partum depression, this book will intertwine you into the depths of her struggle and how she coped and overcame Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
|Morning Sickness 24/7: Fifty Ways to Help Cope With Hyperemesis Gravidarum by Tabby L. Silcott
Morning Sickness 24/7 provides the reader with 50 strategies to help cope with this illness. It brings hope and insight to help conquer the fight against HG. Testimonies from true HG survivors are included to help bring support and validation to the mother's experience. Tips for the caregiver can also be found to bring guidance to those family members and friends who feel helpless while watching their loved one suffer.
|Managing Morning Sickness: A Survival Guide for Pregnant Women by Miriam Erick
No More Morning Sickness was the first book devoted solely to helping women understand and counteract the effects of this ailment. Based on the author's work with thousands of women, this new edition presents a decade's worth of information and experience that makes it the most up-to-date resource in the field. Included are remedies, nutritional guidelines, and recipes.
|Surviving Miscarriages (My Journey to Wholeness) by Sharron Thomas
This book looks into breaking my personal silence of surviving 4 miscarriages and 6 heartwrenching pregnancies. I hope through my words you will be encouraged to journey into your own healing from loss.
Why do we link over to Amazon.com?
A small portion of your sale at Amazon.com will be given to the HER Foundation, when you link over to their site from ours. This donation will be used to fund future research on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Thanks for helping others with HG!
Updated on: Sep. 08, 2014


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Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, original name in full Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, byname Kate, (born January 9, 1982, Reading, Berkshire, England), consort (2011– ) of Prince William, duke of Cambridge and second in line to the British throne.
Catherine was the eldest of three children of Michael and Carole Middleton; her siblings were Philippa (Pippa) and James. Her parents met while working as flight attendants at British Airways, and in 1987 they founded a mail-order business selling supplies for children's parties. The success of that venture, along with a family inheritance, allowed them to send Catherine to a prep school and then to the prestigious Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England. At Marlborough, Catherine (then called Kate) was known as a serious levelheaded student, excelling in both athletics—she captained the school field hockey team—and academics.
In 2001 Kate went on to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she met Prince William, a fellow first-year art history student who was second in line (after his father, Charles) to the British throne. The two began dating, though their relationship was not made public until they were photographed together vacationing in Switzerland in 2004. Despite the frequent intrusions of the paparazzi, Kate attempted to maintain a private life. After graduating from St. Andrews in 2005, she briefly worked as an accessories buyer for a clothing retailer, and she later assumed various roles at her parents' company while also performing a host of charity work.


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Rays Friday Nights offer T-shirts,Fireworks and Fun
In the last few years the Rays have slowly made their weekend series a fun time to attend Rays games. They have made every Sunday afternoon contest a "St. Petersburg Times Family Fun Day" where a family of four can get a reduced price on their seats, Rays food, and also treat their kids to an increasing number of kid-related events prior to the game along Leftfield and Rightfield Streets, or watching their kids running the bases after the Rays game. The Rays have succeeded in making Sunday a "red-letter" Rays family day destination where everyone in the family can come and enjoy the game, plus take in all the Rays entertainment options. Then the Rays widened their eyesight towards increasing their Saturday night game crowds by bringing in popular musical acts to perform post-game, and these "Hess Express/Rays Saturday Night Concert Series" events became an instant hit with baseball and music lovers. And even with first 5 of 10 bands coming to Tropicana Field including acts like Hall and Oates, ZZ Top, Nelly, The Go-Go's, John Fogerty the events will again pack the stadium to the rafters during Rays weekend game series that used to zap Rays attendance figures.
Some of us already know about the indoor fireworks display that will explode among the backdrop of the off-white Teflon dome starting 5 minutes after the final out of every Rays Friday night game. But there are more things that will be offered to show that the Rays organization appreciate their loyal and new Rays fans, and will try and expand your total Rays experience this season. But the firework show will only be one of the visual elements the Rays will be trying to use to enticing more Rays fans to attends more games in 2010.
By offering a exciting alternative to the usual Friday night activities of going to the movies, or outdoor events and the occasional rainy Friday nights, the Rays will also offer their fans 13 different Rays collectable T-shirts before every Rays Friday night game. And the Rays will get into the "giving" rhythm fast with their first T-shirt promoting the Rays new blue alternative jersey T-shirt during their first Home Series of the season on April 9th when the first 10,000 Rays fans wearing Rays gear, will be rewarded prior to the Rays first weekend series against their divisional rivals, the New York Yankees.
The Rays will also have more than a few player specific T-shirts featuring some of your favorite Rays star players, plus a special edition ,very modern styled black T-shirt designed by Rays Opening Day starting pitcher, James Shields that will offer a interesting one-of-a-kind design. Most Rays fans have seen for themselves during Shield's outside the ballpark appearances that he is a huge fan of the fashionable black T-shirt, and produced his version in coordination with the Rays that will pop with style and have everyday fashion in mind.
The James Shields inspired T-shirt will surely be a instant hit among the young Rays fans who attend any of the schools within the Tampa Bay area, and anyone of any age will love sporting this great personally inspired T-shirt while they are out and about before, during and after Rays games. And those fans who bring their cowbells to the Trop every game have not been forgotten and should be happy as the Rays will also give out an exclusive "More Cowbell" T-shirt during their Friday night T-shirt giveaways.
The cowbell has become a necessary element while attending a Rays game, and the team wanted to show their appreciation to those loyal fans who strike Latin Percussion cowbells, or the Rays-issued smaller versions over the last few years.
The Rays have begun to show their cards to become a more casual Friday night entertainment destination for Rays fans. The Rays have shown extreme success with their Saturday and Sunday promotions, and now will tackle the elusive Friday night crowd hoping they will consider baseball, fireworks and free giveaways as a viable option. But with offering entertainment both on and off the field, the Rays are headed in the right direction.
With the Tampa Bay sports dollar getting thinner with the local economic pressures, the Rays hope that their offering to the Rays Republic will show that they understand, and want to give you the most for your hard earned dollars in 2010. With a great Rays product on the field and the extra curricular activities before and after games, the Rays have made the right moves to make their Friday night Rays games an instant red letter date circled on a lot of home calendars all around Tampa Bay. I know I will be there…Will you?
12 Comments
Hey! Thanks for plugging MORE COWBELL, bud! Oh, wait, strange coincidence…I'm dumb.
Seriously, I posted about this Friday night stunt a while ago and stand by my feeling that good teams shouldn't have to be gimmicky. It is a shame that the Rays are trying to create a Club Trop atmosphere when they should be creating a baseball atmosphere. But sometimes you gotta have a little Bill Veeck in ya to get the fans to come, I guess.
Regardless, I know I'll be there each Friday night to get my t-shirt (I'm looking forward to the MORE COWBELL shirt, of course!) and catch the indoor fireworks show–never have seen one of them before. Does that make me a hypocrite? Oh yeah…
Under two weeks to go. I'm gettin' the shakes! Good stuff!
Right now I will take gimmicks, dancing chicken or even a monkey that does the rumba if that will get more people into the stands.
I actually like the idea of making a night of baseball and extra added bonuses like a band or a DJ.
Most people will say there is always Ferg's, but then again….Doing something different for one night is a good thing every once in a while.
People forget that in the first few years….A Veeck did work for the Rays.
Anyways, the last time they did indoor fireworks was before the game and even with the exhaust fans on the North-side of the Trop at full power, there was a haze in the dome even after the game.
Rays Renegade
Fireworks inside the Trop? Can that possibly be a good idea? I would think it will end up being very LOUD!
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
Since the Trop is a larger venue than a few that do the pyrotechnics during conterts, it is safe and totally loud!
But the team that does the indoor fireworks does have the experience from doing it before and might have a less powder sequence now so the stadium will not feel so….well burnt by the end of it all.
I guess we will not know "officially" until April 9th when he do it the first time with the Yankees in town.
Rays Renegade
Yeah, the chick apparel has really taken off the last few years. I will admit to owning a few of the Allysa Milano styles even thought it makes me cringe a bit. Some of them are kinda cute though. A few years back, the Phils were selling T-shirts that said, "Future Mrs. Utley." After he got hitched, they took them off the shelves…made me giggle ;o)
Sometimes it is funny what teams will do like that, but if a guy is a 2-time All Star and single…..could be worse….
Well, not really unless he is a groupie groper.
I am looking forward to seeing the James Sheild's inspired T-shirt…I always see him wearing a black Motorherad T-shirt most days.
Rays Renegade
The Veeck tie-in is brilliant. Nothin gets fannies in the stands like sustained competiveness though. Everything else is lipstick on a pig. My fingers are crossed for your stadium aspirations. All I've heard all week up here is how Selig's panel is soley concentrating on breaking up the Yanks/RedSox or moving Tampa out of the division.
Good Luck this year Double R!
I will be totally honest here….I am not scared of the Yankees or Red Sox, never have been…never will be.
We done more with what we have than both of those teams combined..period,
The competitve team is one the field, but with today's announcement that unemployment has hit pre-1020's levels ( 13.5 %), the Sports doallr is getting smaller and thinner.
My tickets are paid for, and I will be there not matter what…you can count on that.
Rays Renegade
The T's are definitely a good idea, but maybe they should get a little help from MLBlogs in promoting the Rays or do you just have to have a 'charming' personality to get that kind of promotion…
Outside the Phillies Looking In
MLBlogs is a offshoot of MLB Advanced Media, which does a tons of promotion online and in game publications.
And we are not considered a "major" player". Remember two weeks ago we held the front page of MLBlogs.com for a day, while a Red Sox blogger had their picture on the front page for a week.
I accept we are second class citiziens to some people, but to me, the Rays and their fans are "First Class" all the way.
We just work with the cards we have been dealt in life….And I feel like we have a nice Ace-high Full House.
Rays Renegade
Funny thing is I have three women clawing me for those woman-cut T-shirts already.
By what I am hearing, they are going to be great items to wear at the ballpark, plus have a great feminine quality to them in the styling and the lettering….which is lobg past due.
Good thing is….we got only a week to wait now!
Rays Renegade