text:
Cyprus banks to stay closed until Thursday
• Eurogroup to hold emergency meeting at 6.30pm
• Cyprus parliamentary vote delayed to Tuesday 4pm
• Germany applauds Cyprus bailout deal
• Russia's Putin attacks Cyprus bailout plan
• FTSE 100 falls 1.5pc as Cyprus bailout triggers share sell-off
21.48 Cyprus state TV reports that revised deposit tax would exempt savers with deposits under €20,000.
20.38 The EuroGroup has released an official statement. It recommends that Cyprus eases terms on small depositors, reaffirms the importance of deposit guarantees under €100,000, maintains that Cyprus must stick to the €5.8bn goal and asserts that the deposit levy is "one off" measure.
20.24 The EuroGroup has decided to give Cyprus more flexibility over the bank levy, a Greek finance ministry source has told Reuters.
The EuroGroup has agreed that depositors with less than €100,000 should be protected, the official said.
20.16 Cyprus should raise €5.8bn from bank levy, according to sources.
19.28 Greek-based Antenna TV is now reporting that Mr Anastasiades will tell the Eurogroup that he doesn't have enough backing in parliament to pass the bill.
19.26 Oh dear, it looks like there won't even be a first hurdle:
19.06 The plot thickens.
Cyprus's Democratic Party, or DIKO, will vote against the savings levy, according to state-run TV station CYBC.
The party which has eight seats in parliament, supported president Anastasiades at this year's elections. He needs 29 votes to pass the law through. His DISI party only has 20 seats.
Akel with 19 seats, and Edek with 5 seats, have already indicated they will oppose the bill.
That only leaves the Green party, with one seat, EUROKO, with two seats, and one independent candidate who are yet to show their hands.
Even so, you do the math.
18.42 Still no news from that eurozone finance ministers meeting (see 14.34).
Meanwhile, even the US Treasury Department has issued a statement on Cyprus. It said:
The Treasury Department is monitoring the situation in Cyprus closely, and Secretary Jacob Lew has been speaking with his European counterparts. It is important that Cyprus and its euro-area partners work to resolve the situation in a way that is responsible and fair and ensures financial stability.
18.31 Should EU policymakers be concerned that their decision on Cyprus could set a dangerous precedent? According to analysts at Jefferies, the answer is a resounding yes:
As the chart below highlights, at seven times multiple, the Cypriot banking system is one of the largest in the euro area relative to GDP. Bank deposits from non-MFIs stood at €68.4bn in January, of which €42.8bn was from domestic residents, €4.8bn from other euro area residents and €20.8bn was from the rest of the world.
The mood has clearly changed in Europe compared to when the Greek saga first began to unfold, with credible debt sustainability being a prerequisite and bail-ins as opposed to bail-outs being the preferred method of operations. But what is also plainly obvious to anyone observing the current mess is that what should really worry European policy-makers is not the €5.6bn in money which is being saved in Cyprus, but the €2754bn of deposits in the Spanish banking system, of which €182bn comes from deposits outside the euro area. The latter becomes particularly vulnerable after these latest developments, especially as we already went through this type of experience in early 2011 and 2012, when there were large outflows of foreign deposits from Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian banks, and corresponding large inflows into Germany.
17.45 How does the EU solve a problem like Maria? Maria Fekter, Austria's finance minister, who has been known to annoy a politician or two with her verbal diarrhoea, has said that the savings levy on Cyprus deposits does not offer a long term solution. At a lecture in Vienna, she said:
What happened on the weekend was a loss of trust ...maybe we shouldn't have discussed for 10, but for 16 hours and we would have arrived at a better solution.
17.31 Here's another chance to see Greg Clark addressing the Commons earlier today:
16.57 European markets have closed with small losses.
The FTSE 100 sild 0.49pc, the DAX fell 0.4pc, the French CAC index dropped 0.48pc, while the IBEX in Madrid and MIB in Milan posted the greatest falls, down 1.29pc and 0.85pc respectively.
16.47 Our Middle East correspondent Robert Tait reports on the demonstrations against the bailout in Nicosia.
Real anger at a noisy and feisty demonstration in Cyprus's normally staid little capital, Nicosia. Around two thousand people came out on Green Monday - a keenly observed religious holiday in Cyprus' Orthodox calendar - to demonstrate their anger at the terms of the EU bail out agreement. Anti-EU sentiment was much in evidence, as was feeling against the German government of Angela Merkel. "Europe is For Its People: Not For Germany" read a banner held up by a group of women, who were keen to stress that their anger was not aimed at the German people.
Marina Maleni, 46, an administrator in the Cyprus state theatre, summed up the feeling of many when she told The Daily Telegraph: "Europe has been such a disappointment."
Overriding the anger over the plans to impose a levy on bank was the common belief that Cyprus was being singled out and its independence crushed. "It feels like an invasion," one woman said.
Cypriots show their palms reading "No" during a protest against an EU bailout deal outside the parliament in Nicosia this afternoon. Credit: AFP
16.38 The Commons has since moved on to press regulation, on which you can find live updates from James Kirkup on @jameskirkup. Returning to Cyprus, here's a different take on the misfortune or otherwise of Cypriot savers:
16.16 Mr Clark is refusing to criticise the Cypriot government for agreeing to the bank levy, despite numerous challenges from MPs over why he is not outraged by the plan. Instead he says he is scandalised the situation was allowed to arise.
16.10 Mr Clark is in 'wait and see' mode on how the compensation of UK troops will play out.
16.02 Mr Clark says British nationals in other eurozone countries should not fear for their deposits. He told MPs:
The ECB has said the situation in Cyprus is unique and a study of the situation in Cyprus would confirm that.
16.02 Mr Clark has said British pensioners living in Cyprus can opt to switch the bank account their pension is paid into.
15.50 Mr Clark cannot put a figure on how much it will cost the UK taxpayer to compensate the 3,000 UK troops and support staff based in Cyprus, with deposits held in the island's banks.
15.47 Financial Secretary to the Treasury Greg Clark is up in the Commons, taking questions. Here's James Kirkup on the latest:
In the House of Commons, Greg Clark, the City minister, is briefing MPs about Cyprus.
He seems worryingly unsighted on the precise detail of the Cyprus levy: in discussing precise details, he using the phrase "it has been reported that", which generally indicates that HMG is relying on media reports.
Otherwise, he repeats the weekend's assurances that UK Service personnel will be protected from any losses.
The Government will update MPs often, Mr Clark says. "This is a worrying situation not only for the people of Cyprus but for many of our constituents. "
Chris Leslie, Labour's Treasury spokesman, warns that the Cyprus "bail in" poses a threat to the entire European banking system. "The market reaction today may be only the beginning of the fallout."
15.35 Bruno Waterfield in Brussels has reported that Britain had no advance warning of the plan to raid the deposits of Cyprus savers, despite the many expats involved. An official told him:
We were nformed same time as other non-eurozone countries: when the deal was announced by the Eurogroup.
Eurogroup meetings and their outcomes are usually formally presented to all EU finance ministers at the following Ecofin meeting.
Of course, there was no following Ecofin meeting.
15.29 The Cypriot central bank has confirmed the island's banks will remain closed until Thursday,. By the time they re-open, depositors will have been unable to access their accounts for nearly a week.
15.27 We await a Commons statement on the Cyprus bank levy fromt he UK Treasury, due at 3.30pm. Our Deputy Political Editor James Kirkup will be reporting from Westminster.
15.11 AP has reported that Cyprus' banks are to stay closed until Thursday, citing a central bank official. Banks were originally meant to re-open tomorrow after today's (scheduled) bank holiday.
15.05 Matina Stevis at the Wall Street Journal has reported that Cyprus MPs are likely to have a new proposal ready by 6.30pm this evening - in time to be considered by for eurozone finance ministers at their emergency call.
15.00 Earlier (13.15) we flagged up Ambrose's comment piece on the contagion risk to other eurozone periphery countries, in which he said the Cyprus bank deposit levy has "more or less thrown Portugal under a bus", since it is likely to need a second bailout and can no longer be sure of the safety of its banks' depositors. However the head of the Portuguese Banking Association has been quick to put paid to such fears, contrasting the two countries' financial systems. In a statement to Reuters, Fernando Faria de Oliveira said:
It is absurd to make any kind of comparison with the Portuguese banking system, which is solvent, has been well-capitalised and has comfortable liquidity levels.
14.34 An emergency video conference call between the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers on possible changes to the savings levy is set for 6.30pm this evening.
14.24 The poiltically charged situation in Cyprus has spurred Greek ministers into action too, according to Greece's ekathimerini. Despite it being a national holiday in Greece, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has planned a string of meetings with his coalition partners and top ministers. His schedule includes discussions with Antonis Manitakis, interior minister, on civil service job cuts - an issue which caused talks with Athens' international credtiors to stall last week, delaying the payout of its next tranche of bailout cash.
Antonis Samaras, Greek prime minister
14.02 As mentioned earlier (09.57) there are reports that Gazprom, the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company, could restructure Cyprus's debt to prevent it having to get a bailout. The interest could have something to do with the the recent discovery of gas deposits near the island which amount to more gas than Cyprus could use in over a century, and which it hopes to begin exporting by 2018, potentially meeting a major part of the EU's annual demand.
Cyprus announced the discovery of a field containing between 5 and 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas - worth between €18.5bn and €29.5bn - under the Mediterranean Sea in 2011 but Turkey disputes its drilling rights.
Reports suggest that Israel has even displayed an interest in buying electricity worth up to $1.0 billion a year "to have an alternative energy solution".
Think tank Open Europe has produced a useful analysis on the importance of gas to Cyprus' economic future, which you can read here.
13.33 US markets have just opened, and the Dow is down just 0.64pc, while the S&P 500 has slipped 0.16pc - an altogether more muted reaction than the European opening (see 08.02) following a market calmdown (see 12.45) this side of the Atlantic.
13.25 Our Brussels correspondent Bruno Waterfield reports that EU Commissioner for the single market, Michel Barnier, believes that big depositors should have taken the hit on the Cypriot "levy" on savings, according to sources close to the French EU official.
That is code from the French European Commissioner for the Russian depositors who have substantial holdings in Cypriot banks rather than the British expats whose savings are caught up in the crisis.
"Barnier would like the one-off levy to be weighted so the burden is on large depositors," said the source.
As commissioner for the single market, Mr Barnier is the watchdog over the EU's "deposit guarantee scheme", legislation which protects up to €100,000 of savings if a bank goes bust but in the Cyprus case, say sources close to him, it does not apply.
Officials are billing the Cypriot hit on savers as a "fiscal measure" rather than a bail-in, haircut or loss inflicted on depositors in order to wriggle around the EU deposit guarantee law.
The point is made that Cypriot banks are deposit based, meaning that depositors are the only people to go to for a cash raid, given that the sovereign state in Cyprus cannot underwrite its banks.
Cypriot banks account for 55 per cent of the economy, their debts run to 800 per cent of Cyprus' GDP – this is a risk unlike any other eurozone country, officials argue.
If the two main banks in Cyprus go bust then the state goes bust too, meaning depositors would lose everything anyway is the case made in Brussels.
"This measure is not necessary for any other country, Cyprus is completely unique in this regard," said the official.
Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for the single market
13.15 Ambrose Evans-Pritchard has argued that the Cyprus bailout will come back to haunt the EMU.
The danger may not be immediate but if the economies of Portugal, Spain, and Italy languish through this year in deep slump with no green shoots of recovery starting to sprout in the second half – as many fear – this new dispensation will be tested. The fatal precedent of haircuts for depositors will start to matter a great deal. Hell hath no fury like a saver robbed.
Read his full blog post here.
13.01 Cyprus has rebuffed Wolfgang Schaeuble, German finance minister, for claiming it turned down the idea of a 40pc levy on accounts in excess of €100,000 to avoid charging depositors with less than that, according to Greek news website ekathimerini. A Cyprus government spokesman said President Nicos Anastasiades "categorically denies he was ever given the option of exemption of guaranteed depostis, i.e. deposits up to €100,000."
12.55 The Eurogroup of eurozone finance minisers are reportedly holding a video conference later today to thrash out possible revisions to the bailout deal. So far France has indicated its willingness to rework the deal, according Reuters, who quoted a source close to President Francois Hollande as saying:
It is a decision that will be made among 17 eurozone members and the ECB but the signals we have sent at this stage are that that is okay by us.
12.45 A quick look at lunctime markets which are all still in the red but have regained some of their earlier losses.
FTSE 100 in London is down 0.7pc, CAC in Paris is down 1.9pc, the DAX in Frankfurt is down 1pc, while the IBEX in Madrid and the FTSE MIB in Milan are both down 2.1pc.
The pictures of traders on the IG Group trading floor in London this morning say it all.
12.26 Although Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has played down his government's role in hitting Cyrpus' depositors, there's no hiding the fact that it will prove a vote-winner in the eurozone's biggest economy. Our Berlin correspondent Jeevan Vasagar reports how the measures won praise across the political spectrum in Germany.
12.19 To put the bailout into context, it's worth noting that Cyprus is second only to Italy on the amount of money deposited in banks as a proportion of national income, at just under 120pc of GDP.
Source: Reuters
12.10 Meanwhile, European bank shares have taken a more-than-2pc tumble amid fears the Cyprus bailout could usher in a new era where bank deposits are no longer sacrosanct.
The sector as a whole has slumped 2.3pc, with RBS shares suffering the deepest falls, down 5.1pc. Shares in Barclays fell 4.7pc, Lloyds stock slid 2.8pc and Standard Chartered shares dropped 2.5pc. Speaking to Reuters, a French bank executive said:
The Cyprus proposal is really worrying. It creates a precedent that means other countries may potentially soak depositors in the future.
If you're a small depositor in Cyprus, you'll tell youself that it would have been better to keep your money under the carpet than in a bank. And if you're a Greek, a Spaniard or an Italian, well, you'll tell yourself that you might be next.
It's frankly irresponsible.
12.06 Returning to the markets now where gold prices saw their steepest gain in more than a month, rising more than 1pc to $1,604 per ounce. Read our full story here.
Gold prices shot up on Monday morning. Source: Bloomberg
11.54 Here are more snaps of the gathering protest outside the Cypriot parliament buildings in Nicosia, courtesy of Reuters.
And here is president Nicos Anastasiades arriving at the scene.
11.49 ECB Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny, speaking on Austrian radio, said the eurozone periphery nations have "nothing to fear" from the Cyprus bailout, since the island's unique circumstances - a banking system that makes up an above-average proportion of national output and a particularly high share of foreign depositors - make it a special case.
Ewald Nowotny, Austrian central bank governor and member of the ECB governing council
11.40 And now Reuters is reporting that the vote has been postponed until Tuesday at 4pm GMT, citing Yiannakis Omirou, the speaker of the Cyprus parliament.
11.36 We just reported (11.08) that the Cypriot government is looking at introducing a tax-free threshold of €20,000. But some politicians are determined to go further than that. According to French news agency AFP, Michalis Sarris, Cypriot finance minister and Panicos Demetriades, the central Bank governor separately told parliament that they were looking to see a tax-free threshold for savings up to €100,000, and ramping up the charge on deposits larger than this. Mr Sarris said that of the €67bn euros in deposits, €30bn represent savings held in accounts of less than €100,000. Mr Demetriades told parilament:
I suggest we work on the numbers again, if we don't we will be unable to rebuild trust among depositors because we have broken our contract with them.
He assured parliamentarians that if the law is passed, the ECB will hold an emergency meeting aimed at injecting extra liquidity into Cyprus banks to stabilise them against a possible rush on accounts, adding "There will be a large outflow but we will deal with it."
Meanwhile, Mr Sarris said there had been a change of stance from Cyprus' troika of international lenders. He said:
Together with the Central bank we are discussing the reconfiguration of rates which are close to zero for €100,000.
11.22 In Cypriot capital Nicosia protestors have gathered outside the government buildings as MPs frantically look to tweak the terms of the bailout to protect small deposit holders. Meanwhile Spanish Twitter users have adopted the hashtag #SomosChipre, meaning 'We are Cyprus', in a statement of solidarity.
A Cypriot man holds a banner against the EU bailout deal and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's call for Cyprus to follow economic reforms outside the parliament building in Nicosia. Credit: AFP
11.08 Reuters has just reported that the Cypriot government is considering a tax-free threshold of €20,000, with the 6.7pc levy kicking in for deposits between €20,000 and €100,000, and a 9.9pc charge thereafter.
11.01 Vincent Forest, Cyprus analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit, believes there is a serious risk of contagion to the rest of so-called 'Club Med' of peripheral eurozone countries.
The decisions taken during the weekend in Cyprus are far more interesting for what they tell us about the mindset of decision makers in Europe than on the Cypriot situation. Given the small size of the Cypriot economy, there was little choice but to impose some losses for the Cypriot bail-out to be viable, the main question was who should bear them? The Cypriot bail-out is similar to its predecessors in that most of the cost is borne by the population.
Although it is a tax and not a default, the essential message sent to the markets and the population is that a bail-out poses some risks to the depositors. If depositors in Cyprus and across Europe fear for their deposits, there is a risk that these depositors will withdraw their money en masse, which constitutes the first step of a bank run. There is a serious risk of contagion to other peripheral eurozone countries, most likely via loss of confidence and increased volatility in financial markets.
Although not our central forecast, the risk of a bank run spreading across the eurozone has increased, which would be hardly stoppable and have extremely detrimental consequences.
10.38 Rumours are swirling around Twitter that Cyprus' parliamentary vote on the bailout could be delayed until as late as Friday.
10.37 Earlier we reported that Russia may look to extend its €2.5bn loan to Cyprus. Now there are reports the finance minister is looking into restructuring the debt.
10.21 Reuters has reported that Cyprus is mulling a tax-free threshold for smaller bank deposits, citing an unnamed government source, who said that while the terms may stay the same, things could change by the time final legislation is submitted to parliament this afternoon. According to the source:
There is an attempt to mitigate the burden on smaller depositors, with a zero tax rate.
10.18 Yiannis Mouzakis, who blogs as The Prodigal Geek, has provided a breakdown of the Cypriot parliament, and concluded that the 'Yes' vote could range between 27 and 30, depending on the vagaries of the smaller parties. He notes that one of the president's MPs is hot-footing his way back from Argentina to participate in the crucial vote. Here is the Cypriot Parliament by numbers:
Cypriot Parliament: 56 seats
Anastasiades party ΔΗΣΥ (DISI): 20 seats
ΔΗΚΟ (DIKO) (coalition party): 8
Greens: 1
Independent: 1
No matter what today's outcome, Cyprus' banking system will not be the same ever again. If Germany's intention was to reduce the size of it – closer to the eurozone average – they managed to achieve that with a masterful stroke in just one weekend.
Deposits flight combined with the sale of the Greek operations will probably leave the Cypriot banking system half the size it was on Friday night, even left with one systemic bank after restructuring.
Cannot see a smooth transition period without some form of capital controls.
By the time the dust settles, the Cypriot economy will sink and PIMCO's adverse scenario will materialise. Many people did their best to make this a reality.
10.05 Thomas Pascoe has branded the Cyprus bailout a "disgraceful precedent" in his blog.
The principle that there is no division between your private property and communal property which may be appropriated by the government whenever it sees fit is an outrageous one in any system other than Communism. The idea that a government which has chronically misspent may order the banks to close and deduct a sum of its choosing from a person's balance before allowing it to re-open is beyond parody.
10.02 The Bank of Cyprus UK has released an official statement assuring its depositors will be unaffected, since it is a UK bank.
09.57 Breaking: Russian energy giant Gazprom has offered Cyprus an alternative to the Troika bailout in exchange for exploration rights for natural gas in the island, according to reports in the Greek media. Broadcaster Sigma TV reported that the company submitted a proposal to the office of Nicos Anastasiades, Cyprus' president, on Sunday evening. However Mr Anstasiades is not willing to discuss the Russian's offer according to Newsit who cited an anonymous source close to the President. It quoted the anonymous source as saying: "The president is not going to discuss this plan because he wants a solution that will come from the EU."
09.51 Dow Jones and Wall Street Journal reporter Matina Stevis reports on a Cypriot MP's reaction to the bail out deal:
Credit: AFP
09.41 Reuters editor-at-large Hugo Dixon foresees contagion hitting Italy harder than elsewhere.
09.39 Reuters has produced a neat graphic showing how the depositor levy on uninsured deposits (those above €100,000) would be affected by bringing down the tax on so-called 'insured' deposits - those under €100,000. Play with it here.
Source: Reuters
09.30 We should expect news around 2pm on how the Cypriot parliament votes on the terms of the bailout, according to reports.
09.24 Earlier (07.43) we reported German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble's claim that his government was not the driving force behind the depositor levy. But according to Greek journalist Efthimia Efthimiou, this is far from the whole story.
09.16 The initial shock has subsided on the European markets, though they are still weighed subdued. The FSTE 100 is now down 0.8pc, while Spain's IBEX and Italy's MIB are still suffering the most, down 1.92pc and 2.2pc respectively.
09.12 The Telegraph's Diplomatic Correspondent Alex Spillius explains how Cyprus was brought to its knees.
Throughout the past decade, Cyprus gained a reputation as a centre for money-laundering. Among those booming numbers of foreign visitors were thousands of Russians, attracted by political connections with Moscow that went back decades, a shared Orthodox faith, and a banking sector that not only didn't ask too many questions, but commonly pays interest rates of six per cent and upwards.
Over the past decade, many such Russians settled in Cyprus or bought second homes. The city of Limassol, the financial centre, became known as "Lima-grad": it now boasts expensive boutiques for Muscovites, rental firms offering Porsches rather than Fiat Pandas, and three Russian-language newspapers.
Like Monaco, then, Cyprus has become something of a sunny place for shady people. "There are girls with legs that go on forever and men who insist on wearing sunglasses throughout the gloomy Cypriot winter," says Smith. "They have vulgar villas, which cause a lot of consternation – blocking other people's views and so on – but they tend to throw their money around and get their way."
It is estimated that some 20 billion of the 70 billion euros on deposit in Cyprus – a country of only 800,000 people – belongs to Russians. Those deposits helped the banking sector grow beyond all reason, just like in Iceland. By 2011, the IMF reported that the assets of Cypriot banks were equivalent to 835 per cent of annual national income. Some of that was down to investment by foreign-owned banks, but most was Cypriot.
Read his whole piece here.
09.05 Earlier (08.26) we mentioned Russia's potential role in supporting Cyprus' banks, with Mr Putin branding the bailout "unfair" and "dangerous". However Russia's deputy finance minister Anton Shatalov has come out in support of the bailout, saying the plan is fair if it is imposed on interest earned on deposits. He also stoked controversy by saying he did not pity Russian businessmen, adding "I think they will not like it." Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, he said:
A minimum tax rate of 7pc on the deposit and 10pc as a maximum, this is of course, big, if it is approved like this.
A possible option that has been widely reported suggests a possibility of implementing a 10pc levy on the interest rate earned on the deposits.
If that were to happen, that would not be that horrible and it would be absolutely fair.
08.53 The US dollar is not the only "safe haven" asset enjoying a boost from Cypriot bailout fears. Jitters sent gold back above $1,600 for the first time this month, while government bond yields of northern and southern European countries dramatically diverged, as is evident from the Bloomberg snapshot below.
The cost of borrowing for the UK, Germany and France has fallen sharply while Italian, Portuguese and Greek bond yields shot up. Source: Bloomberg
08.43 Cypriot officials are denying rumours that the government will institute an impromptu bank holiday on Tuesday should today's parliamentary vote block the bailout, according to Greek journalist Efthimia Efthimiou.
08.26 There are hopes that Russia, where many citizens hold significant bank deposits in Cyprus, will play a key role in rehabilitating the island's struggling banks. EU officials say they expect Russia to extend a €2.5bn loan to the debt-stricken government by five years until 2021, though no decision has yet been reached. Russian investors are also expected to get involved in recapitalising Cypriot banks. Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, has reportedly spoken out against the Cypriot bailout, branding it "unfair, unprofessional and dangerous". Russian banks had about $12 billion placed with Cypriot banks and corporate deposits amounted to $19 billion at the end of 2012, according to Moody's rating agency.
08.19 Returning to the currency markets, where the euro has fallen the most in 14 months against the US dollar, sliding 1.3pc to $1.2913 at 07.50am after dropping as much as 1.5pc. The 17-nation common currency also declined by the most in three weeks against the Japanese yen, down 1.8pc to 122.36 yen after falling a much as 2.8pc.
08.17 Think tank Open Europe has published a table on the different levy rates which Cyprus could charge do raise the 5.8bn the proposed plan aims to generate.
08.12 Ian Cowie, our head of personal finance, has contrasted the Cypriot "smash and grab" bailout with Britain's "slow motion bank robbery" in his blog.
Outrage about the Cyprus banks euro tax bail-out should not be allowed to obscure the fact that millions of savers in British banks have already lost much more of the real value or purchasing power of their money to prop up financial institutions closer to home.
So savers of all descriptions are paying a high price for the Bank of England's strategy of maintaining negative real interest rates. Sadly for the millions of victims of this slow-motion bank robbery in Britain, it remains too complex to explain on the front page or in TV bulletins and so much more coverage will be given to a relatively small scale smash and grab with fewer victims in Cyprus.
08.06 The Telegraph's Brussels correspondent Bruno Waterfield reports that the Cypriot government wants to revise the terms of the bailout so that depositors holding up to €100,000 are charged 3pc, those with deposits between €100,000 and €500,000 face a 10pc levy and those with the largest deposits, more than €500,000, take the biggest hit at 15pc.
08.02 European markets have just opened to plummeting stock prices across the board. The FTSE 100 slumped 1.5pc, while the IBEX in Madrid tumbled 2.85pc and the MIB in Milan slid 2.78pc in early trading. Germany's DAX fell 1.4pc.
07.55 There are suggestions that the Cyprus bailout could leave small savers alone if it charged those with deposits of more than €100,000 15.4pc.
07.43 Wolfgang Schauble, German finance minister, has played down his government's influence over the bailout, saying that Berlin would have respected the EU bank deposit guarantee on small savers' insured deposits, but that the Cypriot government, the European Commission and European Central Bank decided against it. Speaking in an interview on German broadcaster ARD on Sunday, he said:
It was the position of the German government and the International Monetary Fund that we must get a considerable part of the funds that are necessary for restructuring the banks from the banks owners and creditors - that means the investors.
But we would obviously have respected the deposit guarantee for accounts up to 100,000. But those who did not want a bail-in were the Cypriot government, also the European Commission and the ECB, they decided on this solution and they now must explain this to the Cypriot people.
Wolfgang Schauble, German finance minister
07.32 Mats Persson, Director of think tank Open Europe, warns in his blog that today's vote in the Cypriot parliament could result in the eurozone's first departure. While he concedes that the bailout is worse than "letting Cyprus sink and leave the euro", he says it is "in a league of its own", amounting to Cypriot depositors falling victim to the forthcoming German election in September.
This will be a nail-biter. The parties which supported Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades only hold 28 out of 56 MP, so not a majority. Yesterday, Anastasiades issued a stark warning: accept the bailout deal or face "a complete collapse with a possible exit from the euro". Given the huge stakes, I reckon that MPs will approve the deal, but it could be close – current voting arithmetic suggests 30 in favour and 26 against, but this is incredibly fluid. Even if the parliament does reject the package, there could still be room for further negotiation.
07.24 Benedict Brogan, The Telegraph's Deputy Editor, argues that the Cypriot bailout has "potentially dire" consequences for Chancellor George Osborne and his Budget.
He was praying for not another crisis from across the Channel. The news from a small island may force him to revise what he has to say yet further, and could blow apart what recovery there might have been, with political consequences for the Tories, David Cameron, and him.
Read his whole blog entry here.
07.06 More analysts are chiming in with the warning that depositors across the peripheral euro area countries will feel threatened by the Cyprus bailout deal. Lars Seier Christensen, the chief executive of Denmark's Saxo Bank, wrote:
If you can do this once, you can do it again.
While Mohamed El-Erian, the chief executive of Pimco, the world's largest bond investor, said:
In Europe, it [the Cyprus bail-out] could well undermine the recent tranquil behaviour of depositors and creditors in other vulnerable European economies – in particular Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Despite assurances from European officials that Cyprus is 'exceptional' and the measures are 'unique', this weekend's actions have increased the risk premium.
Joachim Fels, the chief economist at Morgan Stanley in London, described the levy on bank deposits as:
A worrying precedent with potentially systemic consequences if depositors in other periphery countries fear a similar treatment in the future.
06.58 European banks could suffer credit rating downgrades over the turmoil in Cyprus, according to Moody's. The ratings agency said the decision is negative for depositors in Europe and marks a significant step towards limiting systemic support for bank creditors in the region.
Credit ratings for banks across Europe could be hit by the Cyprus bailout, according to Moody's.
06.55 Jim Antos, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Mizuho Securities Asia, has warned the move could bring about a profound shift in savers' behaviour across Europe. He told Bloomberg:
From the social planning point of view and the idea of keeping depositor confidence in general, this is a terrible precedent to set.
People in Europe are probably going to think hard about how much money they should put in a tin can and bury in the back yard.
06.51 There are reports the Cypriot government will instate another bank holiday on Tuesday should today's parliamentary vote fail to approve the deal.
People queue to use an ATM machine outside of a Laiki Bank branch in Cyprus. Many rushed to cooperative banks after learning that the terms of a bailout deal includes a one-time levy on bank deposits.
06.47 While the Cyprus bailout is relatively small, the "levy could have wide-ranging repercussions on eurozone bank deposits in other peripheral countries, despite Cyprus... being labelled as 'unique'" Credit Agricole said. A political deadlock in Italy also weighed on euro sentiment with doubts about talks aimed at forming a government, it added.
There is little to suggest a deal is in the offing with the risk skewed towards protracted negotiations and fresh elections.
06.45 Although the bailout plan has not yet been voted through by the Cypriot parliament, analysts predict market chaos on Monday.
David Baran, co-CEO of asset manager Symphony Partners, told Dow Jones Newswires:
Even though the bailout of Cyprus (and subsequent levy on Cypriot bank deposits) will be put to a vote, the situation could very well lead to a selloff in the euro and a more risk-off investor stance globally.
But given the expectations of the new Bank of Japan leadership, the euro is likely to fall more against the dollar than against the yen.
Japanese equities, despite their recent rise, are nowhere near their all-time highs as are US stocks.
06.37 However David Cumming, Standard Life's UK head of equities, has told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, that he did not expect there to be contagion as a result of the Cyprus deal. He added:
I don't see the impact from this [in markets] lasting for more than a few days.
06.30 In the currency markets, investors fled to the US dollar, which strengthened 0.7pc against a basket of the major world currencies, in favour of the euro, which slid to a three-week low against the US currency of $1.28888.
The euro is set to fall sharply against a basket of major global currencies on Monday morning. Source: Bloomberg
Meanwhile, investors are set to flee to the 'safe'haven' US dollar. Source: Bloomberg
06.17 Stocks and commodities fell sharply in Asia overnight, with the Nikkei in Japan slumping 2.71pc and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropping 2.12pc. European and US equity markets are all set to open down. FTSE 100 futures are down 1.93pc, and elsewhere in Europe the CAC is forecast to open down 0.74pc, the German DAX down 0.16pc, Madrid's IBEX down 0.56pc and the MIB in Milan down 0.32pc. US markets are braced for a beating too. Dow Jones futures are down 1pc, while the S&P 500 is set to open down 1.35pc from Friday's close.
Asian markets - the first to react to news of the bailout - fell steeply overnight
06.00 Good morning. Investors across the world have been spooked by a radical bailout plan for Cyprus involving a raid on bank deposits held in the nation's banks, a plan Nicos Anastasiades, the island's president, has described as "painful" but "necessary". The proposal to impose an "up front one-off stability levy applicable to resident and non-resident depositors" has sparked chaos in Cyprus, where politicians are working to avoid a run on the banks after ATMs were depleted within hours of the announcement on Saturday morning, and anger across the EU. The tax is planned as a 9.9pc raid on deposits of more than €100,000 and 6.7pc on all other deposits.
The Cypriot bailout follows those for Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Spanish banks, and it is the first one that dips into people's savings to finance a bailout. Analysts worry the move could roil international markets and jeopardize Europe's fragile economies.
Reports emerged on Sunday evening of eleventh-hour measures by the Cypriot government - who are due to vote on the measures later today - to soften the blow on smaller savers, involving a less punishing, 3pc levy on deposits worth less than €100,000, and revising the charge on anything above that up to 12.5pc.


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RingCentral Professional
Recorded Greetings
Professionally recorded greetings establish your brand and enhance your company image.
Feature benefits:
The polished sound of your success
- Add sophistication to your system menus, employee voicemail greetings, and directories.
- Customize extensions for departments and individuals with their own selection of music and messages.
- Choose from a wide range of voice talent, including fluency in Spanish, French and Italian languages.
Deliver helpful information during messages on hold
- Keep callers engaged by answering frequently asked questions, such as giving directions to your company locations.
- Announce new products, services, and special events and make your marketing projects more impactful.
- Retain more on-hold callers with a selection of 500 music tracks and insert breaks with reassuring voice updates and customized messages.
Voice recording specialists help you every step of the way
- RingCentral has a partnership with Snap Recordings. They offer a variety of packages and it's easy to create your messages and go live with recordings in 7-10 days.
- Visit www.snaprecordings/ringcentral/ anytime and begin the simple and fun 3-step process of bringing your recordings to life.
- Select from over 80 prominent voice performers. Write your custom scripts and simply download them when they're recorded.
- It's easy to upload your professionally recorded greetings and packages start as low as $50.


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Is it just me, or has time been flying by at Concorde speeds the past couple of months? Every time I turn around, it seems like another week has gone by, and the post I just wrote is now an ancient internet relic. And just now I'm realizing I almost didn't write anything at all this week! (I also notice I seem to have had this Tuesday thing going. You probably thought I planned it that way. I'm willing to let you keep believing that.) So it's time for a new post. And why not make it a cigar review post?
The cigars I smoked for this review I knew very little about while I was smoking them. The sum of my knowledge regarding these smokes was the "Primos" part of the name, and a sense of gratitude to Tex Cigars for sending them to me. According to some schools of thought, that may make for a more honest review. Of course, I messed all that up by doing a little research. The Primos Habana Criollo Rosado is a bundled cigar put out by Los Blancos. According to the website, the cigar is on the fuller side of medium, and full of subtle nuances that "the discerning palate will enjoy." Discerning palate? Hey, that's me! (Isn't it?) But enough of what the folks in the Los Blancos marketing department think of the cigar, let's see what I think.
Cigar Stats:
Size: 6 x 52 (toro)
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru
Smoking Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Beverage: Water
Price: ~$2.50 (buy 'em here)
The Pre-Smoke
As you would expect from the name, the cigar does have a bit of a reddish look to the wrapper. But when I took a closer look, I noticed some interesting things. A couple of small spots with a greenish hue and the darkened imprints of the binder veins in the wrapper. On one cigar, these darkened vein-rubbings kinda looked to me like Kanji. (Which you gotta admit is kind of cool.)
And if you think I'm crazy to liken the darker spots in the cigars wrapper to Kanji, just wait until I tell you about the band. It looks to be full of Masonic symbols! (OK, I admit it, I went to see National Treasure last night, and I'm convinced that an elaborate set of obscure clues will lead me to untold riches, beginning with this cigar band.) Well, almost. Instead of a square forming a 'V', you have swords. And then there's the five hands clasping together in a star shape over a scroll of paper. Hey, this can mean only one thing: Los Blancos are the super secret descendants of the Knights Templar. But before I embark on an tale of international intrigue, I better finish this review.
The scent of the wrapper was a light sweet barnyard that became richer and more chocolatey at the foot. After testing and finding the cigar to be pretty consistently firm, I clipped the cigar with my flamboyantly-red (and increasingly dull) Xikar to take a cold taste. I tasted a rich dark chocolate.
The Burn
In the three cigars I smoked for this review, I found a fairly consistent burn scenario. The cigar starts off burning even, but starts to lose the plot a bit by the latter point of the second third. Generally speaking, one side burns faster toward the end of the second third, and requires a bit of correction. But once corrected, the rest of the cigar burns a bit more evenly.
In two of the three sticks, the draw was irreproachable. As for the third, it started off tighter than I prefer, but loosened into an acceptable draw. Even at it's tightest, it wasn't bad enough that for a minute I considered tossing it out. It was only a slight irritation.
The Flavor
The cigars opened up with a earthy, nutty couple of puffs before becoming woodier and spicier in flavor. The spiced didn't last long though, and shorty I was tasting toffee, caramel and sweet coffee. In one cigar, I noted that it tasted very much like brown sugar. These sweet flavors carried the cigar through the first third.
In the second third the cigar became creamier, and I detected at different intervals more brown sugar, berries, cinnamon and a sweet grain flavor that I've been trying to name for a while now. Having toured a brewery or two in my time, I think it reminds me of some of the grains used to make beer, because every time I taste this sweet grain flavor, I immediately think of beer. (Either that, or I need to join AA pretty soon.)
Some of the sweetness and the vegetal and grainy flavors remained in the final third. I also noted some chocolate as the body picked up a bit. But by the final third, I had the distinct impression that the show was over, and smoking the last half of the last third was like sitting in crowded parking lot after the game waiting to get out. Well, that's probably over stating it a bit. I didn't find the final third to be unpleasant, it was just obvious that the magic was gone.
Speaking of the body, I'd say that this cigar is pretty solidly medium in body, but I hesitate to say medium-full as shown on the official website. But of course, I'm an intentionally slow smoker. Faster smokers may find that the added speed brings the cigar into the medium-full range.
The Price
Who can complain about a two and a half buck stick? Thomas Marshal (who should be portrayed in a movie by William H. Macy), Woodrow Wilson's Vice President famously said, "what this country needs is a good five-cent cigar." With inflation taken into consideration, I think we have a candidate for the title here in the Primos Habana Criollo Rosado! (Did I just give away the verdict?)
The Verdict
As the saying goes, this cigar is a bargain at twice the price. It definitely exceeded my expectations of a bundled cigar, and I can see why Jarrod from Tex Cigars started carrying them. To paraphrase what he told me, he smoked one, and without even knowing what it was or who make it, he knew he had to carry it. Good call, sez I. Anyway, I owe them a big thanks for sending the cigars my way to review, and ask that if you're interested in trying these out for yourself that you consider buying them from my friends over at Tex Cigars!
And don't be afraid to let me know what you think of them! From time to time, readers leave mini reviews in the comments, and I welcome that!
Liked It: Yes
Buy It Again: Yes
Recommend It: Yes
The Cigar In Action
Here like one of them new-fangled movin' picture things is the cigar in action.
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New College Facilities
Access into the New College is restricted by card access.
Reception is open from Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays), 9.00am to 5.00pm. On weekends and after hours, a Residential Advisor is on call to assist. Residential Advisors are undergraduate student residents on a rotating roster.
Main Common Room and Meeting Rooms
The Main Common Room is air conditioned and installed with a data projector, sound system and screen. In addition there are data projectors, screens, lectern, white boards and other presentation aids. Seating and tables can be configured to suit your needs.
The café offers meals, beverages and snacks outside of the regular cafeteria meal times. It is an informal area for eating and relaxation with tables, chairs, lounges and cable television.
Bed linen, towels and soap are supplied and there is weekly housekeeping.
On each floor there are laundries with a sink for hand washing, clothes drying racks and coin operated washing machines and dryers. Ironing facilities are available in each group.
Telephone and internet access
Each room has a telephone and there is no cost to receive calls but payment is required for outgoing calls. Casual guests are unable to have internet access.
Office services
Postage stamps can be purchased and faxes can be sent from the Reception office.
Games room
There is a billiard table and table tennis table and a lounge area for watching cable television.
A grand piano in the Main Common Room is available for a fee and there is also an upright piano.
Disabled access
A ramp provides wheelchair access into the College and there is lift access to all floors. The double ensuite rooms have bathrooms with disabled access and there are additional wheelchair accessible bathrooms on Level 4.


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When it comes to infants and children, basic nutrition choices have a lifetime impact on overall health and are key for satisfactory growth and avoidance of deficiency states. Adequate nutrition helps in the prevention of acute and chronic illnesses; maximizes physical and mental potential and provides reserves for stress. During infancy, it's all about milk, whether breast milk, formula or a combination of the two. Breast milk and formulas contain enough nutrients needed by babies in the first year of life. Around 4 -6 months of age, most babies can start consuming solid foods like iron-fortified cereal, mashed fruits and vegetables, and pureed meats. As you introduce more foods, keep in mind that a healthy amount of fat is important for the babies' brain and nerve developments – unless advised by your doctor for particular health reasons, low-fat options can be avoided.
The feeling of ease between infant and mother is essential to successful infant feeding. When mom can establish a comfortable, satisfying feeding practice, the result is usually emotional well-being of both the mother and infant. Remember that mom's feelings are readily transmitted to the baby and greatly influence the emotional setting in which feeding takes place. Hence, a tense, anxious, and emotionally labile mother is more likely to develop a difficult feeding relationship with her baby. It's helpful if she receives appropriate guidance and support from an empathetic family member, friend or physician.
Immediately after birth, the infant can safely tolerate feedings to ensure a smooth transition from fetal to extrauterine life, to promote maternal- infant bonding and prevent hypoglycemia and electrolyte imbalances. It is critical that your infant receives enough fluids so he will not develop dehydration. Moms who wish to initiate breastfeeding in the delivery room are definitely encouraged to do so. Subsequent feedings either by breastfeeding or bottle feeding are given every 3-4 hours a day and at night. That's a lot of eating! This is based on the time it takes for the infant's stomach to empty and varies from 1-4 hours. Do not expect your baby's feeding schedule to be consistent immediately after birth. However, by the end of the first month, 90% of babies will establish a more regular feeding schedule. Majority of healthy formula-fed infants will want 6-9 feedings per day by the end of the first week of life. Some babies are satisfied with every four hour feedings, while others who have a faster gastric emptying time will want to eat every 2-3 hours. Interestingly, most breast-fed babies get hungry quicker and require more frequent feedings with shorter intervals. This just reinforces the fact that individual feeding needs vary and one infants' feeding would not be expected to fit the pattern of another. The best parameter of successful infant feeding is weight gain by the time the baby reaches the second week of life.
Infants cry for various reasons and babies do not need to be fed every time they cry. Usually, sick babies are not interested in feeding and if an infant refuses food, this should act as a red flag to see your pediatrician. If your baby is constantly waking up every 1-2 hours, he may not be receiving enough milk at each feeding or be suffering from infantile colic. This can be addressed during your doctor's visit and may involve discussions about formula choice and feeding practices. It is important to know that babies cry for reasons other than hunger. Some may just need to be picked up and held, others may continue to cry even after feeding so it's important to carefully evaluate your infant's health and behavior for other potential causes of distress. Try to discourage the habit of frequent small feedings, holding and feeding to pacify crying as he may become too reliant on you to calm him.
The post-partum period is oftentimes a period of much anxiety and insecurity for first-time parents who may be overwhelmed by the responsibilities that comes with having a new baby. The questions are endless: Am I feeding her enough? Is she having diarrhea? Should I switch formulas? The list goes on and on. This is why anticipatory guidance sessions should be scheduled between you and your pediatrician. During each office visit, your doctor is already tracking your baby's weight gain and monitoring whether her weight is steadily increasing. Normally, babies in the first four months of life gain 1 ½ lbs-2 lbs per month and grow 1-1 ½ inches. By the time he is a year old, he would have tripled his birth weight. Breastfed babies also tend to be chubbier than formula-fed babies in the early months of life however they become leaner by nine months to one year of age.
Parents need to understand the goal of infant's "self- regulation." Once the infant establishes a regular feeding schedule, other family members are able to resume their normal daily routine with minimal disruptions. It doesn't take long to achieve the confidence and calm of an experienced parent. Your baby will give you enough signals and clues as to how she likes to be treated, talked to, held and comforted. This very special bond, once established will guide you through this challenging stage and the next.
All information contained in this blog and on our web site(s) should be independently verified by you by a medical professional of your own choosing and you should always conduct your own research and due diligence before making any decision related to the subject matter of this blog or our web site.
Dr. Pearl Cenon
A pediatrician in private practice in New Jersey for over 15 years, Dr. Cenon (we like to call her Dr. Pearl) also has two children of her own. Dr. Pearl's husband, Kevin McDonough is also a pediatrician and they work together. She writes basic posts about topics that interest many parents, from skin care and nutrition to seasonal issues, such as allergies and colds. Her kind, approachable tone in each blog post will have you looking forward to the next one.


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Dry skin fixes: how to make your moisturiser work overtime
Image via MECCA Maxima.
As if having to layer our tights and covering our outfit every day with an oversized coat and scarf wasn't enough, the colder months also bring with it autumn skin - a cruel condition that leaves us with dry hands, chapped lips and a dull complexion. It can be irritating and painful, and often, our moisturisers that we rely so heavily on just don't cut it! We're slathering it on morning and night, only to head outside and watch our skin dry up right before our very eyes once again.
If your face and body moisturisers aren't doing their job (and you wish for the days of your bronzed, plump summer skin) try out these top tips to help your creams and lotions work overtime. We've also included a few of our favourite cult moisturisers that you can stock up on before winter really hits.
Get the most out of products with these top tips:
- It's all in the timing... Make a habit of applying your moisturisers fresh out of the shower, when your skin is still warm. This will help your skin drink in the moisturiser much more effectively, and it will last longer too.
- While we love to lather our body in moisturising lotions when we're feeling dry, it's important to be a little more delicate with our face. Rather than rubbing it into the skin, apply it in dollops and pat into the skin across the main areas of the face. You'll find your skin will feel much more supple this way, and your makeup will glide on a lot smoother!
- Invest in a pair of moisture gloves, which are lined with oils and vitamins to combat dry, flaky hands. Take it one step further with an overnight treatment, by coating your hands in moisturiser, popping on the gloves and leaving them overnight!
- Regular exfoliation is key! Every three or four days, treat yourself to an all-over body scrub (and a lighter exfoliation on your face too). In winter, dead skin cells can pile up on our skin - that's the dryness you're feeling! - and it can act as a barrier to moisturiser reaching the deeper levels of your skin.
- If you need something a little more heavy duty, introduce a luxe face mask into your autumn routine. There are hundreds out there that are all targeted towards different skin concerns! We love to apply a face mask at night, and rub the leftover product into our skin while we sleep.
Pictured: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief from David Jones, Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol, LUSH Cosmetics Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask, Frank Body Cherry Bomb Lip Scrub from MECCA Maxima, The Body Shop Dead Sea Salt Scrub, Glam Glow Thirsty Mud Hydrating Treatment from MECCA Maxima, [Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 from David Jones, Herbivore Citrine Body Oil from Sephora, The Body Shop Moisture Gloves.


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The Lab tests proficient, affordable AV suites suited for people working from home
According to a recent CDW Government study, 41 percent of federal employees say they often work from home or telecommute. That figure is up 19 percent from the same time last year. And with a 91 percent overall job satisfaction rating for telecommuters, as opposed to 80 percent for nontelecommuters, it's no wonder these figures keep rising. However, despite the increase in telecommuting, the same CDW report states that 53 percent of federal information technology professionals feel that information security is the primary downside for telecommuting.
Reviewer's choice: Avast There delivers great AV protection for the perfect price
AVG 9.0's antivirus is effective and free, but somewhat clunky
Norton AntiVirus 2010 is easy to install, though a bit harder to use
Trend Micro's antivirus has good features in an outdated interface
Reviewer's choice: McAfee Antivirus Plus balances advanced features and ease of use
For the last four years, I have worked exclusively from home as a tech manager whose responsibilities include handling sensitive and private data. One of the challenges we have concerning information security in telecommuting is that, more often than not, a telecommuter's own computer can run circles around the work-issued desktop or laptop PC, giving the telecommuter strong incentive to crunch data on an unauthorized machine. Another threat is that friends and family might have access to your work or home PC. But they ordinarily would be unable to access your agency's office space, let alone your agency's network.
The convergence between this increase in telecommuting and the dangers of working at home has blurred the lines between corporate security and home security software. As a result, many companies and agencies that are strong proponents of telework now require telecommuters to use robust home security software and password-protect and encrypt their home networks.
Selecting the best consumer antivirus suite for telecommuters is an arduous task because, at home, we don't have the luxury of our network admins blocking our home computer's ability to travel to certain sites on the Internet or blocking the use of our PC's USB ports.
With these issues in mind, we tested five of the latest consumer security suites to determine the best overall candidate for a telecommuting environment. Although performance is paramount when conducting a review, in this case, all of our participants stopped every bug we ran into online and every bit of malware we could throw at it in the lab.
Given equal performance in stopping threats, we rated as the best security suite the one that delivers its performance in the easiest manner and most logical interface. We deducted points for programs that are intrusive and demand your "OK" every time you perform a function. We also looked for solutions that didn't break the bank to purchase or to renew each year. We gave kudos to companies that offer multiyear renewals for a discount or, better yet, that offer free versions of their antivirus platforms. Finally, we paid attention to feature sets such as the ability to uncover malware in a cloud environment before it reaches your hard drive, or the ability to customize your antivirus suite to do things like shut down your computer after scans.
In terms of the telecommuting features, we looked for programs that are compatible with other forms of security software, including the embedded features found in most operating systems, such as the built-in Windows firewall. We think it's important for users to be able to choose their security functions, so security suites in this roundup were given extra points if they didn't annoy the user who chose to use the embedded operating system firewall over the suite's firewall or didn't mind having another third-party company run the spam filter element of the protection suite.
What's Not Included
One thing that differentiates this antivirus roundup from many others is that we do not test scan rates on a hard drive, for three reasons. First, most programs now give you the ability to scan your PC when you're not using it, even if your PC is hibernating or on standby. Second, the ability of all modern antivirus tools to scan only the files that have either changed in structure or are new make all antivirus tool scans similar in speed. Finally, why rush something that is so important to your data, your work and your life? I often compare an antivirus scan to the physical your doctor gives you once a year. Would you rather go to a doctor who's fast or one who's accurate?
Several vendors give organizations the option to extend their solutions to home users who telecommute. For example, Sophos provides the option of extending its Sophos Endpoint Security and Data Protection license to agency users who work from home. Sophos does not sell to the consumer market, but it does extend its proactive protection to both the agency and its employees. This protection fully supports management over the Internet or virtual private network via the Sophos Remote Management System.
Sophos also supports a variety of methods of providing centralized updates, which can be hosted for both internal and external clients through formats including HTTP, Universal Naming Convention, Server Message Block and Advanced Function Presentation. These formats apply to home use installations, and updates are delivered through the standard Sophos Update Manager. However, because Sophos was not technically what we were looking for in terms of this review, it was not compared to the others here.
In the United States, the most well-known free antivirus program is AVG Technologies' AVG Antivirus 9.0. But that's about to change. Winning its first Reviewer's Choice is Avast There by ALWIL Software of the Czech Republic. Avast has spread through viral marketing and good word of mouth to become a dominant player among free antivirus solutions, mostly because it protects your computer just as well as an expensive solution does, but also because it's easy to install, use and pay for.
In a nutshell, everything about this program is terrific. It's very unobtrusive yet quick to catch, quarantine and remove any bug we could find online or throw at it in the lab. And easy-to-access features, such as Real-Time Shields, which demonstrates the program monitoring your computer on an X-Y graph as you perform operations or surf the Web, add a peace-of-mind element to this antivirus tool.
The use of a high-end graphical user interface and well-positioned 3-D graphics make Avast a much cleaner and easier-to-use solution than most of the other participants in this roundup, particularly AVG.
And new performance enhancements that look at virus detection from a unique angle make Avast a leader among its competitors in this roundup. For example, if a file is electronically signed by a trusted publisher, Avast won't scan it. And Avast remembers scanned files so it will not rescan old files unless it detects changes in their makeup or structure. Since the company maintains its own list of more than 50,000 safe applications, scanning time is further reduced.
A multithreaded design enables the software to scan individual processes, not just files, and split between many threads using all available CPU processor cores in order to scan at a more efficient rate. This program architecture increases the efficiency of scanning large files because now these large files are not solely assigned to a single core processor. This feature is particularly beneficial to telecommuters because viruses are typically spread within layers of old files, which is how they trick detectors. The multithread design makes malware detection faster and more secure when switching files from a work to home PC environment.
Avast has a new code emulator that acts as a virus buffer, taking suspicious executable code discovered during scanning and emulating it in an isolated environment. This code emulator also uses dynamic translation for both generic unpacking and in the heuristics engine, making this process a lot faster than the basic engine emulator.
With strong protection engines and features such as the wake-up for scan, which lets users schedule scans during PC sleeping or hibernation cycles, Avast establishes itself as one of the best antivirus solutions in the review.
ALWIL Software, www.avast.com
Avast There 5.0
Performance: AFeatures: AEase of Use: AValue: APrice: FreePros: Free; won't rescan the same files unless they change; can look at suspicious files in a virtual environment.Cons: Nothing significant.
Although Avast outperformed AVG in this roundup, it doesn't mean that AVG is a poor choice for antivirus protection, especially for teleworkers. AVG offers some features that apply specifically to that work environment. Most notably, AVG gives you the choice of tailoring the solution to protect either a static home PC or a mobile work computer.
The interface of the AVG console is still less easy to use and more outdated when compared to Avast, but it's still simple enough for you to find the basic features, such as running an update or scanning your PC. When the software finds a bug, it handles it effectively, although it doesn't provide you with as much data or feedback as the other competitors in this roundup. As a result, you might be left wondering whether you really got the virus removed.
Another negative to the program was its constant intrusions. It seemed as though every move I made caused the program to interrupt my execution to inform me of what I had initiated, such as opening a Web portal.
Despite these drawbacks, the software scans well and fast and has some neat features such as Active Surf-Shield, which is a toolbar at the top of your Web portal that scans each site you go to for malware to ensure you're always protected. The only drawback is that the toolbar comes with a Yahoo search engine portal, which I never use and which seems to clutter the window and take up a lot of space.
AVG does gain a big advantage over many of its competitors by offering identity theft protection, essentially blocking any activity to your data that seems suspicious. By protecting your computer at the data level from theft, AVG is a taking a huge step in the right direction in terms of thinking about the telecommuter's need to protect sensitive data first and foremost.
AVG offers a scanning optimization feature that searches the Windows and Program file folders, where it saves the information on the current structure of key operating files into a centralized file called checksum. Your key files are then only scanned when the software notices change in the checksum file. The time we saved was considerable, but you have to perform an initial full-system scan, which can take more than 30 minutes to complete.
The heart of the AVG program is the Resident Shield, which gives your computer continuous protection by scanning every single file that is being opened, saved or copied. Resident Shield also guards the system areas of the computer. If a virus launches on your hard drive, Resident Shield stops the operation currently being performed by a virus and does not allow the virus to activate. Resident Shield also removes the threat.
Despite minor drawbacks, AVG does a good job of protecting your computer, and since its free, it's hard to justify paying money for comparable protection.
AVG Technologies, www.avg.com
Performance: AFeatures: BEase of Use: BValue: APrice: FreePros: Free; quick scanning; watches for identity theft.Cons: Interface getting a little dated, not enough antivirus feedback.
Among the antivirus tools we tested, Norton has made by far the most changes from the previous version of its antivirus platform, most notably in the look and feel of the product. It has the most modern interface in the review, although that isn't always a good thing. But before I get to what I didn't like about the new look, let me mention what did work in Norton 2010.
Norton had the easiest install in the roundup. It was literally one click, and it only took about two minutes to get it up and running. Priced at $39 per year for protection, Norton's new features make it worth every penny if you are a techie or a heavy Internet user. One of the most common ways to get a virus is to jump to a site from a search engine as you navigate the Internet. With Norton 2010, an easy-to-see color coding of red or green makes it easy for you to avoid Web sites with potential malware waiting to install on your computer.
Another important feature with Norton 2010 is its ability to centrally store, encrypt and control any log-on info or even credit card data that you commonly use on the Internet, including the ability to safely transfer your personal Web data to a USB drive for use on a separate machine using a second version of Norton 2010. For telecommuting users, this can save time and your data, particularly as you transfer personal files from your work PC to your home PC.
With all the extra protection features and a robust detection and prevention engine, Norton was one of this review's most effective antivirus tools in keeping our test systems safe from malware and bugs.
Unfortunately, the redesign of the interface, although sleek and modern, left us scratching our heads. One of the most difficult things to do in user interface design is find the balance between providing features that appeal to advanced and tech-savvy users and presenting an interface simple enough to be universal. In 2010, Norton has erred on the side of the advanced users. The cluttered and complex interface took me several minutes to figure out, and I kept overlooking some of the basic features, such as a scan or update.
These interface issues in the new design of Norton 2010 preclude us from giving it a Reviewer's Choice designation in this roundup, but new features, including its much improved scanning speeds, make this program ideal for any telecommuter not easily intimidated by high-tech interfaces.
Symantec, www.symantec.com
Norton AntiVirus 2010
Performance: AFeatures: A+Ease of Use: B+Value: BPrice: $39 per yearPros: Protects personal information; easiest to install; good Web protection. Cons: Interface is modern but confusing.
The user interface of latest version of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro is almost the direct opposite of Norton 2010. It's simple to use and makes it easy to find the main features of the antivirus portion of the product, but the graphics and feel of the product are outdated.
An easy-to-use "Overview" tab lets you perform the two most common features, scanning or updating the antivirus engine, and tabs below let you navigate to other features, such as the Internet and e-mail sections, where the spam engine controls are, or the firewall section. All of these features perform well, but we experienced problems accessing some of the features because the outdated interface eventually cluttered some of the bells and whistles of this security suite.
We also recommend you save money by using the plain $39 Trend Micro antivirus as opposed to the $69 Internet security suite and use a free or less expensive third-party spam engine and operating system-embedded firewall, since we saw no difference in performance between these options.
Despite these drawbacks, Trend Micro Internet Security Pro has some impressive capabilities that are very appealing to the telecommuting environment. A Wi-Fi Adviser verifies whether a hot spot is legitimate and identifies safe hot spots, allowing you to avoid twin attacks, in which a user masquerades as a hot spot to steal your data.
A proactive intrusion feature protects your computer from unauthorized changes to your operating system and important programs. More important, an enhanced parental control feature provides both machine-based and user-based policy creation, which can be very appealing to network administrators. Also, custom and predesigned URL filtering, combined with Internet access by time of day or day of week, let you limit the sites you or your guests visit.
Trend Micro's antivirus suite has some of the best features for a teleworker. Unfortunately, the outdated interface makes it hard to use and therefore hard to justify the higher price tag. It does a good job of protecting your system, but you'll have an easier time with another product.
Trend Micro, www.trendmicro.com
Trend Micro Internet Security Pro
Performance: AFeatures: A-Ease of Use: B-Value: B-Price: $39 per year for base package, $69 for full suitePros: Can identify real or spoofed wireless hot spots; locks down critical parts of the OS.Cons: Very dated user interface; full suite is not worth the extra $30.
McAfee has by far the best overall solution in the roundup for paid antivirus software. The install was effortless and quick, the scanning was fast and nonintrusive, and the user interface hits a balance between high-tech and user-friendly that we rarely if ever find in antivirus suites.
On a single window, you can see the latest status of your computer and each feature at your disposal. A well-designed sequence of drop boxes lets you explore your features in greater detail, which includes virus and spyware protection, e-mail and Web protection, data protection, home network protection, and PC optimization. The best part of this design is that the simple task of moving your cursor over the drop-down menu will tell you whether you are protected or missing a step in your security.
Under PC optimization, McAfee includes a program called QuickClean that lets you improve your PC's performance by giving you quick access to files you can safely erase, such as old ActiveX programs. The home network feature centralizes the security of all PCs running McAfee on your network. Finally, Shredder is a program in the data protection drop-down menu that lets you permanently erase sensitive files.
The bread and butter of the McAfee antivirus program are the Web and e-mail and virus and spyware protection drop-down boxes. The virus and spyware boxes are basic and similar to the programs in the rest of the review, in that they scan your computer in real-time and monitor for system changes. The Web and e-mail protection, on the other hand, offers a robust firewall and a site adviser that provides Web site ratings to ensure you never stumble on a dangerous site.
With McAfee's top-of-the-line total solution priced at $39, it's no wonder it merits a Reviewer's Choice designation.
McAfee, www.mcafee.com
McAfee Antivirus Plus
Performance: AFeatures: AEase of Use: AValue: APrice: $39 per yearPros: Best user interface; can also optimize a PC; can permanently delete files; firewall and anti-spyware scanner included.
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ITSO, avast develops security solutions for companies as well as home users .... and yes the free version is used over 100 mio users. BUT avast is not open source. Far from it.
William in Prague, I did not mean any disrespect to the Czech's. I have actually visited Prague a couple of time. It is a beautiful city, and the food is fabulous. I should have said "... how can we really trust AV software from outside the U.S., especially open source" It is your first line of defense, you need to be very certain of its trustworthiness. Would you expect computer users in Estonia to trust Kaspersky AV from Moscow?
datgrl & ITSO, do you even know where the Czech Republic is?
Czechs are the inventors of contact lenses, Semtex (explosive), pilsner-style beer, and the lightning rod (simultaneous with Ben Franklin's work)... and a Czech scientist is known as the "father of genetics."
the people of its neighboring Slovak Republic invented the parachute, the wireless telegraph, and the Dobro guitar.
many great American inventions were by Slavic immigrants from all Central & East European countries.
you're both very misinformed, and that kind of ignorance is just plain sad.
I think you just saved the best 'til last. I know there's some free items out there to somewhat challenge McAfee, but when it comes to security (both personal and work) I still have to stay with a leader. I'll be looking for an OpenSource competitor in the near future -- then you might see me switch.
datgrl is absolutely right, only an idiot would trust open source software from the Czech Republic. Even if you really had the ability to read AND FULLY UNDERSTAND very line of code, how can you trust the updated software and virus signature files, that they might push to your system next week? The recent bad DAT file from McAfee was just a minor example of the havoc, it could cause. What if it was intentional, malicious and clandestine?
Do you really expect this Czech AV to catch the 'alwil-trojan', they sent you with last night's update?
Your security software (AV, VPN, SSH, VNC and Firewall) must be completely TRUSTWORTHY! I would not use a simple text editor from Czech Republic.
As a linux user (85%), I believe in the promise of open source software. But vetting software downloaded from the web is VERY difficult. We don't allow randomly downloaded programs on our office network OR TELEWORKER'S HOME PCs
When I work from home I use a PC dedicated to the purpose. The entire system is encrypted to protect against theft. All of the software has been validated. And the firewall only allows connections to a trusted list of .gov and related contractor's websites. (I cannot use that system to casually surf the net.)
If you're trusting your system's security to dubious source's on the net, you might as well might as well use routers and firewalls with hidden backdoors install at the factory in China.....Oh wait!!!
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This text is part of Parks' Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.
Bay Terrace Playground is named for the surrounding neighborhood of the same name. The earliest known inhabitants of Bay Terrace were the Matinecock Native Americans, a tribe of the Algonquin nation. The tribal name Matinecock, meaning "hilly country," described the surrounding landscape, an area that may have been given to the tribe by the neighboring Lenapes.


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Jonny Greenwood Gossip
Jonny Greenwood gossip, latest news, photos, and video.
Thom, Jonny, and Joaquin
Bauer, Splash
Paparazzi photos of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood to end the month! Radiohead plays two shows in Newark tonight and tomorrow. Here they are walking around New York enjoying their down time. Joaquin Phoenix meanwhile was in LA yesterday, shooting his new movie at the beach. It's a Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze project. Full Story
Radiohead & red jeans
I really like the red jeans on Thom Yorke. But I would take Thom Yorke to bed with or without them. This is Radiohead performing in Tampa last night. They're in Atlanta tonight. The closest they come to me is Seattle on April 9. So that's what Jacek and I are doing instead of Coachella. Just me or is Coachella a giant eyeroll?Back to Thom - I am all over that greying beard. Full Story


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Indiana is making steady progress toward reducing emissions
of pollutants from industry, motor vehicles and other
activities that contribute to the formation of ground
level ozone in Lake and Porter counties.
Cars and light-duty trucks contribute 30 - 50 percent
of the pollutants that cause harmful ground-level ozone
and also contribute significantly to the amount of air
toxics and particulate matter in the environment. The
Clean Air Car Check program identifies vehicles that emit
harmful pollutants and once repaired, those vehicles'
performance and fuel economy are improved, as is the air
we breathe. Properly maintained vehicles also result in
less contamination being released into the groundwater.
Clean Air Car Check stations are open:
Clean Air Car Check will be CLOSED
the following State Holidays in 2019:
Avoid the Rush!
Vehicles can be inspected beginning in October of the
year before they are due to be tested. There is no need
to wait for a notice to arrive in the mail, just bring
in your vehicle prior to its registration expiration.
Most passenger vehicle registrations expire on the 7th,
14th, 21st and 28th days during the months of February
through December. The days leading up to these deadlines
are typically very busy times at Clean Air Car Check stations.
Avoid the busiest days of the month to reduce your wait
time. Corporate fleet vehicles expire January 31st, so
the end of January can also be very busy at our testing
The Clean Air Car Check customer service hotline can
provide estimated wait times for each station if you phone
first. Call 1.888.240.1684 before you head to the testing


text:
sfsb needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
2 winners were selected from 53 designs submitted by 10 freelance designers.
We are a new kind of professional organisation for people with a comprehensive grasp of both the technical and social sides of creating a healthy sustainable society, and those who can influence others to take intelligent and caring responsibility for the commons.
Inspirational reading on 'Tripple Bottom Line' at Wikipedia - Our objective is whole business system change, as its all interlinked.
Catalysing a viable society
Desired Color Scheme:
Any saturated, bold as long as they have a 'corporate feel' (not muted).
Desired Style:
We have no preconceived ideas as to specific style, elements or colour, so show us what youÂ've got! Of course, the logo needs to be representative of the organisation and what it stands for: Circles represent unity(?); abstracts of pixles or pieces...
Accepted File Formats:
PSD all layers and JPG
Society For Sustainable Business is a Not For Profit membership association. The members we aim to attract include: business leaders, management consultants, educators, futurists, sustainability and CSR experts, environmental scientists, academics, renewable energy manufacturers, organic farmers, ethical investment specialists, insurance companies, politicians and media people.
MISSION: Our times call for rapid change to an ecologically viable and healthy society, and business must take the lead. We are a multi-disciplinary professional association to support business and community leadership for catalysing the change.
Ecological and social issues of our time call for significant changes in business practices.
We demand a rigorous, thoughtful answer to the question: 'What will it take to evolve a viable society in the long run?'
We emphasise the need for whole system change around positive values and are committed to successfully catalysing this shift.
We integrate technical, social and psychological aspects of becoming sustainable
We see the society becoming the kind of organisation that motivates creation of a sustainable society in the business arena.
And, like others, we recognise that technical changes are crucially important.
This contest was originally listed in multiple categories:
- Logo Design
- Stationery Design
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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I have yet another food item that I do believe you will all enjoy, but this time the object is going to be a decorative cake. Up next, I will show you "how to draw a wedding cake", step by step. Wedding cakes are as you know an absolute necessity as much as a wedding dress and tuxedo is to a bride and groom. If you are looking to maybe make a cake with a bride and groom on top, you can find tutorials on both individuals in the people section. You can choose to make them full size, or you can shrink the concept of both figures and create a whole new design. Wedding cakes can be drawn to look like anything. You can draw a single tier cake, or make an extravagant cake that has more than four tiers. No matter what type of concept you want to go with, I'm sure that you have fun drawing a wedding cake like the one you see here. I have to go right now, but I will be back in a jiff. So try and stay tuned in to see what else I have in store for all of you. Peace people!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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New Hunter
Greetings all. I am starting my very first attempt at making a Mandalorian armor kit. It's not going to be based on any particular individual, but I would like to get the details right, so my first question is what color is raw beskar'gam. Is it the silver we see in the movies or would it be black like the iron it is? Just trying to get my starting colors set up.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.


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Analysis: Former Ambassador on What's Next for U.S., Syria
Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Richard Murphy joins the News Hub to discusses Obama's address to the nation on Syria and possible next steps. Photo: AP
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... the world's policeman ... terrible things happen across the globe ... Standard is beyond our means to write the whole ... but when ... with modest effort and risk ... we can stop children from being gassed to death ... and thereby make our own children safer over the long run ... I believe we should act ... that was President Brock Obama addressing the will the nation last night that is trained to deal with the conflict in Syria ... welcome to the new iPad into Wednesday morning and Sara Murray ... president Obama says still pursuing diplomatic solution to try to get Syria to turn over it can collect at ... least the possibility of a military strike on the table ... in cases this session fail ... he's also asking Congress to delay a vote on whether to authorize military action ... of the present appeared poised to reuse and skepticism from lawmakers and a war weary public ... meanwhile Secretary of State John Kerry will meet tomorrow with his Russian counterpart in Geneva to continue talks ... joining us now is former U S and Assyria Richard Murphy thank you very much for joining us ... so first anyone he just give me your take on the top of whether the president's anything you know what kind of big take away what ... do you know the people who didn't use the new loan is something to disapprove trust ... but it was a summary you for has been coming of the bits and pieces ... it hopes new ... year something more ... so more of the facts that has led ... us to the conclusion milk which can be cheery and regime was responsible ... but to ... zoo basically was a good ... exposition of ... how we reached a decision and ... that we are ... ready to go with the diplomatic solution if it's possible ... that this the fact that sets us up for kind of a tricky path going forward we are talking about this diplomatic solution in fact I bet ... the house that with the US to talk alot about what's at play there ... it ... will ... do with coming ... immediately to a crunch with the Russian children ... with the two including the resumption ... consequence is that the if ... the Syrian ... government does not move ahead ... as a decision would be ... in the will be consequences unrest is not a fan of this this will benefit all it teaches you the difficult and themselves says something but to ... when you are ... getting some would-be disarm you don't use force against them ... well ... the only ... reason we got to the point we did was because obviously the Syrians were persuaded ... that's more than some American tribe its way around ... but the threat ... the move ... under ... all the sudden the government which ... had never acknowledged it has ... nuclear used chemical weapons ... says juniors who didn't it was going to move ... I welcome the nation's spectrum control and destruction of their stuff so ... things been moving very rapidly ... but the sequester that lingers ... in Washington and all the capital ... can they be trusted to know more click here ... with the agreed plan ... what was it was at the present was to last NEC's Ryland's images and basically children being gas in ... him I'm it's like it's right to appeal to the American public that this is important we do need to be prepared to strike ... and he felt that really resonates of Americans they don't know that a lot of people are going home an idea looking outpacing TBD and Isn't Watching You know what the actual effects of a chemical attack ... the views were horrible ... but to agree and think that the ... the public ... is not ... no it's nothing supportive of the few that we had to move ... why should we invest why should we be the world's policeman or movie ... hesitation she jokes about the American role of come up again ... as we seem to be ... getting ready ... to be involved militarily in the assurances ... that would be limited involvement with the strike ... didn't raise the percentage than the public that was ready to supportive ... for the Congress and just I mean the tree canopy are crafting a resolution if they can try to cop that this diplomatically that ... this is a tough thing to do just the right to say that when ... you were to send people into Syria over to figure out where these chemical weapons stockpiles are reduced to around him up and take care you want ... still it to you the deal room where do you get sixty separate sites ... with chemical weapons ... and chemical stocks ... you have a team who ... was going on inside two years civil war ... and ... you're expected ... to international inspectors won't be free to move around to several inspect control ... and started construction process which is going to take years in any case ... it's a it's a big


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Eriksson's first season in Boston just didn't come together the way anyone had hoped, for the most part.
MIDDLETON — Loui Eriksson bought right into the talk when he was traded to the Bruins 13 months ago. The two-way forward was said to be the perfect fit for Claude Julien's team with his two-way style, and the winger thought so too. He still does.
Eriksson's first season in Boston just didn't come together the way anyone had hoped, for the most part. There was learning a new system, which was different from what he was used to, and adapting to the pressure of the Boston market. Not to mention those concussions less than seven weeks apart in the first half of the season.
"I thought it would be a little easier to adjust to everything. It took some time," Eriksson said Monday, speaking at former teammate Shawn Thornton's charity golf tournament at Ferncroft Country Club. "Definitely wasn't easy to get those concussions too."
The overall numbers for Eriksson were far from what general manager Peter Chiarelli envisioned when he made Eriksson the centerpiece return in the Tyler Seguin trade. Eriksson compiled 10 goals and 27 assists in 61 games. Prior to the 2013 lockout season, Eriksson had three straight seasons of at least 71 points.
It was a disjointed season, one in which Eriksson didn't find his rhythm until March while playing on the third line with Carl Soderberg against opponents' lesser defensemen.
"After the Olympics, I felt better and learned the system a little better, and in the playoffs, I felt really good," Eriksson said. "So it's definitely nice to play one season and I'm really looking forward to the next chapter."
As are the Bruins.
Jarome Iginla is gone to the Rocky Mountains, leaving a gaping 30-goal hole on the top line. Eriksson will get first dibs on filling in as the No. 1 right wing. It's a role the 29-year-old played for years with the Stars, and one the Bruins would be boosted by him taking to.
Without a right-hand shot to take Iginla's shifts, the lefty Eriksson is the only veteran capable of filling such big skates. Eriksson — with four 25-goal seasons, including 36 in 2008-09 — has shown he can produce against top defensemen, and the Bruins will need him to.
"It was a difficult transition for him, and then he got hurt," president Cam Neely said in May. "We think he can be a better player, he's proven to be a better player, and that's our expectation, that he can be a better player."
This summer was spent by Eriksson with those thoughts in mind. He says this summer "has been really big, getting in shape," and he changed his workout routine.
"A little bit, a little more quickness and get a little bit faster," he said. "That's something I've been working on. It's still a few weeks left until everything starts, so you have some time to get in better shape."
Near the end of the season, Eriksson played two games with new prospective linemates Milan Lucic and David Krejci as Iginla got a rest. In one of those games, Eriksson had four assists.
"It's definitely two great players to play with," Eriksson said. "I played a few games with them last season, so it was nice. We'll see when preseason starts, maybe practice together a little bit and we'll see how things work out."
While Eriksson could remain on the third line, a spot he took so well to next to Soderberg, all signs point to him taking on a bigger role in his second season in Boston.
"I think I can bring a bit more," Eriksson said. "I really want to show everyone that I can play really good."
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text: Was the original call a voice call or strictly a hang up when you answered. If there was no voice, sounds like something simpler like a trojan or some kinda remote access that someone has compromised the system with. Using your own modem to dial your cel #. Is your cel # on your computer? Who knows your cel #? Anyone one you might know that could be after a little revenge or mischevious acts on you?