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Subscribe to Cases that cite 209 U. S. 365U.S. Supreme Court
Richardson v. Shaw, 209 U.S. 365 (1908)
Richardson v. Shaw
No. 122
Argued January 17, 20, 1908
Decided April 6, 1908
While a broker who carries stocks for a customer on margin may not be strictly a pledgee at common law, he is essentially a pledgee and not the owner of the stock. Markham v. Jaudon, 41 N.Y. 235, approved. Neither the right of the broker to repledge stock carried on margin for a customer nor his right to sell such stock for his protection when the margin is exhausted alters the relation of the parties, is inconsistent with the customer's ownership, or converts the broker into the owner of the stock. chanrobles.com-red
A certificate of stock is not the property itself, but the evidence of the property in the shares, and, as one share of stock is not different in kind or quality from every other share of the same issue and company, the return of a different certificate, or the right to substitute one certificate for another of the same number of shares, is not a material change in the property right held by the broker for his customer.
A broker who turns over to a customer, upon demand and payment of advances, stock which he is carrying on margin for that customer, or certificates for an equal number of shares, does not make the customer a preferred creditor within the meaning of § 60a of the Bankrupt Law; in the absence of fraud or preferential transfer the broker has the right to continue to use his estate for the redemption of pledged stocks in order to comply with the valid demand of a customer for stocks carried for him on margin.
A payment by the broker to a customer on account of excess margins to which the customer is entitled and which is taken into consideration when the account is finally closed held, under the circumstances of this case, not to be a preferential payment within the meaning of 60a of the Bankrupt Law.
147 F.6d 9 affirmed.
The facts are stated in the opinion. chanrobles.com-red
MR. JUSTICE DAY delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case comes here upon a writ of certiorari to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The petitioner, Richardson, brought suit in the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York as trustee in bankruptcy of J. Francis Brown, against John M. Shaw and Alexander Davidson, respondents, to recover certain alleged preferences.
Brown, the bankrupt, was a stockbroker transacting business in Boston. The respondents, John M. Shaw and Alexander Davidson, were partners and stockbrokers, transacting business in New York as John M. Shaw & Company, and, as customers of Brown, they transacted business with him on speculative account for the purchase and sale of stocks on margin. The account was carried on in Brown's books in the name of "Royal B. Young, Attorney," as agent of Shaw & Company.
The transactions between Brown and Shaw & Company were carried on for several months, from February to June, 1903. A debit and credit account was opened February 10, when Shaw & Company deposited with Brown $500 as margin, which was credited to them on the account, and Brown purchased for them certain securities at a cost of $3,987.50, which was charged to them on the account.
By agreement between the parties it was understood and agreed that all securities carried in the account or deposited to secure the same might be carried in Brown's general loans and might be sold or bought at public or private sale, without notice, if Brown deemed such sale or purchase necessary for his protection. On the accounts rendered by Brown, the following memorandum was printed:
"It is understood and agreed that all securities carried in this account or deposited to secure the same may be carried in our general loans and may be sold or bought at public or private sale, without notice, when such sale or purchase is deemed necessary by us for our protection. "
Until the account was closed, on June 26, 1903, Shaw & Company from time to time paid to Brown various other sums of money as margins, which were credited to them. They also transferred to him various securities as margins in place of cash. They were charged with interest upon the gross amount of the purchase price, and credited with interest upon the margins they had deposited with Brown. If at any time the total amount of margins in securities or money exceeded ten percent, they had the right to withdraw the excess. Brown was at no time left with a margin less than ten percent. Shaw & Company kept a "liberal margin," at times rising to twenty-three and a half percent
According to the agreement, the securities carried in this account or deposited to secure the same might be carried in Brown's general loans, and such securities were so pledged by him, and Young, as agent of Shaw & Company, was informed of the fact. The stocks were figured at the market price every day and statements rendered to Young.
The bankrupt, Brown, transacted much of his general business with Brown, Riley & Company, of Boston. He pledged his general securities with that company.
On June 24, 1903, Young, the agent of Shaw & Company, as above stated, learned of Brown's precarious financial condition, and demanded payment of $5,000 cash from Brown's agent, Fletcher. At that time the margins already paid by Shaw & Company exceeded the agreed ten percent, and Fletcher returned to them $5,000 of such margin.
On the following day, June 25, Young demanded a final settlement from Brown. At that time, Brown was insolvent within the meaning of the Bankrupt Law, and had been for the two preceding months. On June 26, the liquidation of this account was effected as follows: Brown, the bankrupt, indorsed to Brown, Riley & Company a note of $5,000, made by one of his debtors, and gave them a check for $1,200, thereby increasing his margin on the general loan, and agreed that $10,664.13 should be charged against his margin and credited chanrobles.com-red
to Shaw & Company, and a check was given by them, through the Beacon Trust Company, to the order of Brown, Riley & Company, for $34,919.62, and the securities to the value of $45,583.75 were turned over to them. None of the certificates of stock which Brown delivered to Shaw & Company were the identical certificates which they had delivered to Brown as margin. Two certain bonds, known as the "Shannon bonds," had been deposited with Brown.
Among the creditors (customers) of Brown on the final day of settlement there were a number of general customers upon transactions in purchase and sale of stocks by Brown as broker, similar to the transactions in the purchase and sale of stocks by Brown as broker for Shaw & Company.
On July 27, 1903, Brown made an assignment, and was adjudicated a bankrupt within four months, and petitioner in this case, Henry Arnold Richardson, was elected trustee.
It was conceded by plaintiff's counsel that it was the custom of the market to deliver shares from broker to customer of the same amount without regard to whether they were the identical shares received.
This suit was brought to recover the $5,000 paid to Shaw & Company June 24, 1903, which sum, it is alleged, was paid to them as excessive margins, and, it is alleged, enabled them to obtain a preference as one of the creditors of Brown. The second cause of action in the suit states that Shaw & Company are indebted to Brown's estate in the sum of $10,664.13, being the amount he transferred for their benefit, as above set forth.
At the close of the plaintiff's case, he requested to go to the jury upon the issue of defendants' knowledge of Brown's insolvency. The court held that no preference was shown, and directed a verdict for defendants. The judgment was affirmed. 147 F.6d 9, 665.
The ground on which the counsel for the petitioner predicates the alleged preferences in this case is that, when the stockbroker Brown was approached for the settlement of the transactions chanrobles.com-red
with Shaw & Company, being insolvent and dealing with several customers, as to each of whom he had pledged the stocks carried for them, and, under the understanding of the parties, being under obligation to each of them to redeem the stocks from the loan for which they were pledged, this obligation created a right of demanding the pledged stocks and securities on the part of each of the customers, which put the broker in the debtor class and the customers into the creditor class, so that, if the broker used his assets to carry out such obligation to a particular customer, whereby the latter was able to redeem his stock from such pledge upon payment only of the amount of his indebtedness to the broker, with the result that the broker could not carry out similar obligations to other customers in like situation, a preference is created under § 60 of the Bankrupt Act, and this, says the learned counsel in his brief, under any theory concerning the relation of broker and customer, is "the main proposition upon which we hang our appeal."
This case therefore requires an examination of the relations of customer and broker under the circumstances disclosed in this record; at least, so far as it is necessary to determine the question of preference in bankruptcy upon which the case turns. There has been much discussion upon this subject in the courts of the Union. The leading case, and one most frequently cited and followed, is Markham v. Jaudon, 41 N.Y. 235 -- a case which was argued by eminent counsel and held over a term for consideration. The opinion in the case is by Chief Judge Hunt, afterwards Mr. Justice Hunt of this Court. He summarized the conclusions of the court as follows:
"The broker undertakes and agrees:"
"1. At once to buy for the customer the stocks indicated."
"2. To advance all the money required for the purchase beyond the ten percent furnished by the customer."
"3. To carry or hold such stocks for the benefit of the customer so long as the margin of ten percent is kept good, or
until notice is given by either party that the transaction must be closed. An appreciation in the value of the stocks is the gain of the customer, and not of the broker."
"4. At all times to have, in his name and under his control, ready for delivery, the shares purchased, or an equal amount of other shares of the same stock."
"5. To deliver such shares to the customer when required by him, upon the receipt of the advances and commissions accruing to the broker; or,"
"6. To sell such shares, upon the order of the customer, upon payment of the like sums to him, and account to the customer for the proceeds of such sale."
"Under this contract the customer undertakes--"
"1. To pay a margin of ten percent on the current market value of the shares."
"2. To keep good such margin according to the fluctuations of the market."
"3. To take the shares so purchased on his order whenever required by the broker, and to pay the difference between the percentage advanced by him and the amount paid therefor by the broker."
"The position of the broker is two-fold. Upon the order of the customer, he purchases the shares of stocks desired by him. This is a clear act of agency. To complete the purchase, he advances from his own funds, for the benefit of the customer, ninety percent of the purchase money. Quite as clearly he does not, in this, act as an agent, but assumes a new position. He also holds or carries the stock for the benefit of the purchaser until a sale is made by the order of the purchaser or upon his own action. In thus holding or carrying, he stands also upon a different ground from that of a broker or agent whose office is simply to buy and sell. To advance money for the purchase, and to hold and carry stocks, is not the act of a broker as such. In so doing, he enters upon a new duty, obtains other rights, and is subject to additional responsibilities. . . . In my judgment, the contract between the parties to this action
was, in spirit and in effect, if not technically and in form, a contract of pledge."
The case had been approved in other cases in New York, some of which are: Stewart v. Drake, 16 N.Y. 449; Stenton v. Jerome, 54 N.Y. 480; Baker v. Drake, 66 N.Y. 518; Gruman v. Smith, 81 N.Y. 25; Gillett v. Whiting, 120 N.Y. 402; Content v. Banner, 184 N.Y. 121; Douglas v. Carpenter, 17 App.Div. 329. And approved in other states: Cashman v. Root, 89 Cal. 373; Brewster v. Van Liew, 119 Ill. 554; Gilpin v. Howell, 5 Pa. 41; Wynkoop v. Seal, 64 Pa. 361; Esser v. Linderman, 71 Pa. 76.
The subject was fully considered in a case which leaves nothing to be added to the discussion, Skiff v. Stoddard, 63 Conn.198, in which the conclusions in Markham v. Jaudon were adopted and approved. These views have been very generally accepted as settled law by the text writers on the subject. 1 Dos Passos on Stockbrokers (2d ed.) 179-200; Jones, Pledges, § 496; Mechem, Agency, § 936.
Mr. Jones, in his Work on Pledges, § 496, summarizes the law as follows:
"The broker acts in a threefold relation: first, in purchasing the stock, he is an agent; then, in advancing money for the purchase, he becomes a creditor, and finally, in holding the stock to secure the advances made, he becomes a pledgee of it. It does not matter that the actual possession of the stock was never in the customer. The form of a delivery of the stock to the customer, and a redelivery by him to the broker, would have constituted a strict, formal pledge. But this delivery and redelivery would leave the parties in precisely the same situation they are in when, waiving this formality, the broker retains the certificates as security for the advances."
In Dos Passos on Stockbrokers at page 114, the author says:
"Upon the whole, while it must be conceded that there are apparently some incongruous features in the relation, there seems to be neither difficulty nor hardship in holding that a stockbroker is a pledgee, for, although it is true that he may advance all or the greater part of the
money embraced in the speculation, if he acts honestly, faithfully, and prudently, the entire risk is upon the client. . . . To introduce a different rule would give opportunities for sharp practices and frauds, which the law should not invite."
The rule thus established by the courts of the state where such transactions are the most numerous, and which has long been adopted and generally followed as a settled rule of law, should not be lightly disturbed, and an examination of the cases and the principles upon which they rest leads us to the conclusion that in no just sense can the broker be held to be the owner of the shares of stock which he purchases and carries for his customer. While we recognize that the courts of Massachusetts have reached a different conclusion, and hold that the broker is the owner, carrying the shares upon a conditional contract of sale, and, while entertaining the greatest respect for the Supreme Judicial Court of that state, we cannot accept its conclusion as to the relation of broker and customer under the circumstances developed in this case. We say this, recognizing the difficulties which can be pointed out in the application of either rule.
At the inception of the contract, it is the customer who wishes to purchase stocks, and he procures the broker to buy on his account. As was said by Mr. Justice Bradley, speaking for the Court in Galigher v. Jones, 129 U. S. 193, 129 U. S. 198, a broker is but an agent and is bound to follow the directions of his principal, or give notice that he declines the agency.
The dividends on the securities belong to the customer. The customer pays interest upon the purchase price, and is credited with interest upon the margins deposited. He has the right at any time to withdraw his excess over ten percent deposited as margin with the broker. Upon settlement of the account, he receives the securities. In this case, the broker assumed to pledge the stocks not because he was the owner thereof, but because, by the terms of the contract, printed upon every statement of account, he obtained the right from the customer to pledge the securities upon general loans, and in like chanrobles.com-red
manner he secured the privilege of selling when necessary for his protection.
The risk of the venture is entirely upon the customer. He profits if it succeeds; he loses if it fails. The broker gets out of the transaction, when closed in accordance with the understanding of the parties, his commission and interest upon the advances, and nothing else. That such was the arrangement between the parties is shown in the testimony of the broker's agent, who testified: "If these stocks carried for J.M. Shaw & Company made a profit, that profit belongs to Shaw & Company over and above what he owed us."
When Young, the agent of Shaw & Company, demanded the stocks, their right of ownership in them was recognized, and, while pledged, they were under the control of the broker, were promptly redeemed, and turned over to the customer. Consistently with the terms of the contract, as understood by both parties, the broker could not have declined to thus redeem and turn over the stock, and, when adjudicated a bankrupt, his trustee had no better rights, in the absence of fraud or preferential transfer, than the bankrupt himself. Security Warehousing Co. v. Hand, 206 U. S. 415, 206 U. S. 423; Thompson v. Fairbanks, 196 U. S. 516, 196 U. S. 526; Humphrey v. Tatman, 198 U. S. 91; York Mfg. Co. v. Cassell, 201 U. S. 344, 201 U. S. 352.
It is objected to this view of the relation of customer and broker that the broker was not obliged to return the very stocks pledged, but might substitute other certificates for those received by him, and that this is inconsistent with ownership on the part of the customer, and shows a proprietary interest of the broker in the shares; but this contention loses sight of the fact that the certificate of shares of stock is not the property itself, it is but the evidence of property in the shares. The certificate, as the term implies, but certifies the ownership of the property and rights in the corporation represented by the number of shares named.
A certificate of the same number of shares, although printed upon different paper and bearing a different number, represents chanrobles.com-red
precisely the same kind and value of property as does another certificate for a like number of shares of stock in the same corporation. It is a misconception of the nature of the certificate to say that a return of a different certificate or the right to substitute one certificate for another is a material change in the property right held by the broker for the customer. Horton v. Morgan, 19 N.Y. 170; Taussig v. Hart, 28 N.Y. 425; Skiff v. Stoddard, 63 Conn. 198, 218. As was said by the Court of Appeals of New York in Caswell v. Putnam, 120 N.Y. 153, 157,
"one share of stock is not different in kind or value from every other share of the same issue and company. They are unlike distinct articles of personal property which differ in kind and value, such as a horse, wagon, or harness. The stock has no earmark which distinguishes one share from another, so as to give it any additional value or importance; like grain of a uniform quality, one bushel is of the same kind and value as another."
Nor is the right to repledge inconsistent with ownership of the stock in the customer. Skiff v. Stoddard, 63 Conn. 216, 219; Ogden v. Lathrop, 65 N.Y. 158. It was obtained in the present case by a contract specifically made, and did not affect the right of the customer, upon settlement of the accounts, to require of the broker the redemption of the shares and their return in kind.
It is true that the right to sell for the broker's protection, which was not exercised in this case, presents more difficulty, and is one of the incongruities in the recognition of ownership in the customer; nevertheless it does not change the essential relations of the parties, and certainly does not convert the broker into what he never intended to be and for which he assumes no risk, and takes no responsibility in the purchase and carrying of shares of stock.
The broker cannot be converted into an owner without a perversion of the understanding of the parties, as was pertinently observed in the very able discussion already referred to in Skiff v. Stoddard, 63 Conn. 216:
"So long as the
interpretation of the contract preserves as its distinctive feature the principal proposition that the customer purchases merely the right to have delivery to him in the future at his option, of stocks or securities at the price of the day of the agreement, and its corollary that the customer derives no right, title, or interest in the stocks or securities until final performance, the difficulties in the way of harmonizing the situation are bound to exist. The fundamental difficulty grows out of the necessary attempt in some way to transform the customer, who enjoys all the incidents and assumes all the risks of ownership, into a person who in fact has no right, title, or interest, and to create out of the broker, who enjoys none of the incidents of ownership, and assumes not a particle of its responsibility, a person clothed with a full title and an absolute ownership."
We reach the conclusion, therefore, that, although the broker may not be strictly a pledgee, as understood at common law, he is essentially a pledgee, and not the owner, of the stock, and turning it over upon demand to the customer does not create the relation of a preferred creditor within the meaning of the Bankrupt Law.
We cannot consent to the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the insolvency of the broker at once converts every customer having the right to demand pledged stocks into a creditor who becomes a preferred creditor when the contract with him is kept and the stocks are redeemed and turned over to him.
In the absence of fraud or preferential transfer to a creditor, the broker had a right to continue to use his estate for the redemption of the pledged stocks. As this Court said in @ 85 U. S. 340:
"There is nothing in the Bankrupt Act, either in its language or object, which prevents an insolvent from dealing with his property, selling or exchanging it for other property at any time before proceedings in bankruptcy are taken by or against him, provided such dealings be conducted without any purpose
to defraud or delay his creditors or give preference to anyone, and does not impair the value of his estate. An insolvent is not bound, in the misfortune of his insolvency, to abandon all dealing with his property; his creditors can only complain if he waste his estate or give preference in its disposition to one over another. His dealing will stand if it leave his estate in as good plight and condition as previously."
The Bankrupt Act, in § 60a, provides:
"A person shall be deemed to have given a preference if, being insolvent, he has, within four months before the filing of the petition, or after the filing of the petition and before the adjudication, procured or suffered a judgment to be entered against himself in favor of any person, or made a transfer of any of his property, and the effect of the enforcement of such judgment or transfer will be to enable any one of his creditors to obtain a greater percentage of his debt than any other of such creditors of the same class."
A creditor is defined to include anyone who owns a demand or claim provable in bankruptcy. Sec. 1, sub. 9, Bankruptcy Act 1898, 3 U.S.Comp.St. 3419. It is essential, therefore, in order to set aside the alleged preference, that Shaw & Company, at the time of the transfer, should have stood in the relation of creditor to the bankrupt. Of course, if the New York rule based upon Markham v. Jaudon is correct, and the broker was the pledgee of the customer's stock, there can be no question that, in redeeming these stocks for the purpose of satisfying the pledge, no preferential transfer under the Bankruptcy Act resulted.
In our view, we think no different result is reached, so far as a preference in bankruptcy is concerned, if the Massachusetts cases could be taken to lay down the correct rule of the relations between broker and customer.
That rule is said to have its origin in Wood v. Hayes, 15 Gray, 375, decided in 1860, in which the opinion, though by Chief Justice Shaw, is very brief. It was therein held that the broker was a holder of the shares upon conditional contract chanrobles.com-red
to deliver them to the customer upon the payment of so much money, and, until the money was paid, the right to have performance did not accrue.
In Covell v. Lound, 135 Mass. 41, the right of the broker was considered after the customer had refused to pay the necessary margin, and after the customer had requested the broker to do the best he could for him and to sell the stock at the broker's board without notice, and it was held that, under such circumstances the broker was not liable for conversion.
In Weston v. Jordan, 168 Mass. 401, the question was as to the relation between customer and broker after the broker had parted with the shares after repeated demands by the customer and refusal by the broker to deliver the shares, and it was held that a valid cause of action arose in favor of the customer, whether for breach of contract or for conversion it matters not.
In Chase v. Boston, 180 Mass. 459, the opinion is by Chief Justice Holmes, and the question directly decided is whether a broker who held shares of stock in his own name, and which he carried for his customer on margin, was required to pay a city tax upon the value. It was held that he was. In that case, the learned justice said:
"No doubt, whichever view be taken, there will be anomalies, and no doubt it is possible to read into either a sufficient number of implied understandings to make it consistent with itself. Purchases on margin certainly retain some of the characteristics of ordinary single purchases by an gent, out of which they grew. The broker buys and is expected to buy stock from third persons to the amount of the order. Rothschild v. Brookman, 5 Bligh (N.R.) 165; Taussig v. Hart, 58 N.Y. 425. He charges his customer a commission. He credits him with dividends and charges him with assessments on stock. However the transaction is closed, the profit or loss is the customer's. But none of these features is decisive."
And while the rule dating back to the decision of Chief Justice Shaw in 15 Gray was recognized as the law of Massachusetts, chanrobles.com-red
there is nothing in the case decisive of the question now before us.
The case most relied upon as showing the preference is Weston v. Jordan, supra. It was held in that case that Wheatland, the broker (Weston was his assignee in insolvency) had become a debtor to the customer Jordan, having parted with the control of the shares and substituting none others for them after repeated demands for them by the customer. And it was held that, when the insolvent broker went into the street and bought that kind of stocks with his own money, and the customer took the stocks, knowing of such purchase, the transaction amounted to a preference, and in course of the discussion, Mr. Justice Allen, referring to the contention of counsel that the Massachusetts rule should be reconsidered in view of the rules adopted in New York and other states, said:
"The defendant seeks to have these decisions reconsidered; but the facts of the present case do not call for such reconsideration of the general doctrine. Even if, at the outset, Jordan were to be deemed a pledgor and Wheatland a pledgee of the shares, that relation was changed by what happened afterwards. . . . After Wheatland had parted with the control of the shares, and after repeated demands for them by Jordan and refusals by Wheatland to deliver them, Jordan had a valid ground of action against Wheatland, either for breach of contract or for a conversion, it matters not which."
The facts in the present case are entirely different from those disclosed in the case just cited. In the present case, there was no demand for the return of the stocks which was refused by the broker; but, recognizing the obligation of the contract, when the stocks were demanded the broker proceeded to redeem them from the pledge which he had made of them under the right given by the contract between the parties, and turned them over to the customer. In such case, the relation of debtor and creditor did not arise as it might upon the refusal, as in Weston v. Jordan, to turn over the stocks upon demand. chanrobles.com-red
After an examination of the Massachusetts cases, Judge Lowell held in In re Swift, 105 F.4d 3, while following the Massachusetts rule as between broker and customer, that no cause of action arose until after demand by the customer. And the same view was taken in the same case upon review in the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in an opinion by Judge Putnam, 112 F.3d 5. While both courts held that, under the law as defined in the Massachusetts cases, bankruptcy excused demand, they held that the customer did not become a creditor upon insolvency, but only after demand and refusal or its equivalent.
How then stood the parties at the time of the demand for the return of these shares of stock? They were held upon a contract which required the broker, upon demand, to turn over the shares purchased, or similar shares, to the customer upon payment of advancements, interest, and commissions. These stocks were redeemed and turned over to him; as a consequence, the relation of debtor and creditor as between the broker and customer did not arise.
Upon the principles heretofore discussed, we think the payment of the $5,000 on June 24 was not a preferential payment to a creditor. The customer had demanded settlement, the broker had paid the $5,000, and on the following day this sum was taken into account in settling the account before turning over to the customer the stock belonging to him, according to the understanding of the parties.
We find no error in the judgment of the court of appeals, and the same is
If I had been left to decide this case alone, I should have adhered to the opinion which, upon authority and conviction, I helped to enforce in another place. I have submitted a memorandum of the reasons that prevailed in my mind to my brethren, and, as it has not convinced them, I presume that chanrobles.com-red
I am wrong. I suppose that it is possible to say that, after a purchase of stock is announced to a customer, he becomes an equitable tenant in common of all the stock of that kind in the broker's hands; that the broker's powers of disposition, extensive as they are, are subject to the duty to keep stock enough on hand to satisfy his customers' claims, and that the nature of the stock identifies the fund as fully as a grain elevator identifies the grain for which receipts are out. It would seem to follow that the customer would have a right to demand his stock of the trustee himself, as well as to receive it from the bankrupt, on paying whatever remained to be paid. A just deference to the views of my brethren prevents my dissenting from the conclusion reached, although I cannot but feel a lingering doubt.


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4148.0 - Employment in Sport and Recreation, Australia, August 2011
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/11/2012 Final
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MAIN FEATURES The tables show the number and selected characteristics, such as sex, age, state of usual residence, Indigenous status, industry, industry sector, hours of work and income of persons in Australia employed in a sport or physical recreation occupation as their main job at the time of the 2011 Census.
Information on terms used in this publication can be found in the Explanatory Notes. More detailed information on the classifications used in the Census is available in the Census Dictionary, 2011 (cat. no. 2901.0). Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window. |

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First Listen: DJ Koze, 'Amygdala'
DJ Koze, 'Amygdala'
Audio for this feature is no longer available.
Stefan Kozalla, a.k.a. DJ Koze, isn't shy about foregrounding his personality — a rare trait for a techno producer. The cover of the Hamburg DJ's new album, Amygdala, has Koze hamming it up atop a caribou, decked out in a smock and motorcycle helmet, all set against psychedelic pink hills.
That would certainly be apropos, because Caribou's Dan Snaith is one of the many collaborators on this gleefully original album. Matthew Dear, Apparat and Rhye's Milosh also ride shotgun. The stylistic contrasts don't get in the way of the album's cohesion: Koze's sensibility runs things behind the scenes while his friends take turns on the warped stage. Caribou's "Track ID Anyone" is neatly divisible into its creators' signature styles: the clean minimal-techno backbone harassed by streaking animal noises is surely Koze's, while the quizzical clumps of marimba notes are Caribou's. The song's flaccid main riff is a bass line played backwards and transformed into a struggling organ in the process. It sounds like a meeting point between the two, though the effect — off-kilter and yet perfectly suited to the groove and melody — is distinctly Koze's.
On their own, DJ Koze's solo productions form a mini-album within Amygdala, devolving gorgeously from the tracky "RoyalAsscherCut," whose bullet-time samples sound like The Field gone deep house, to the fragmented smooth-jazz guitar collage of "Don't Lose My Mind." But as willful and weirdly constructed as it may appear on close inspection, his music simply feels right.


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It's been almost one year to the the day since I last posted, and honestly, my head is still reeling a bit from all the changes in my life since then. It's finally starting to settle into a "new normal", so I feel comfortable sharing a bit here again.
Authenticity. It's a concept I've been thinking a lot about recently. I've always striven to live an authentic life, one true to my belief system and morals. I've always been a bit of a non-conformist, at least according to society's definition of normal, but I thought that my life was authentic and true to what I felt was important. And while that may have been true for me, that wasn't true for my husband. He was living a double life, hiding an addiction that, once revealed, shattered our marriage. Sexual addiction isn't the party it sounds like.
While many things in my life feel like a struggle right now, especially work, in most ways I feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I've lost so much in the past year: my marriage, my career (by my own choice; I had decided to stay home with the kidlets), the life I thought I had, and the dreams I thought we shared. But I've also gained. I'm now free from a relationship that had damaged my self-worth and skewed my perceptions. I'm free from trying to live up to someone else's expectations. I'm free to be the me I was always a bit afraid to be.
God often provides blessings that come disguised as tragedies. This is one of them.


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What are Chris Riddell's qualifications to talk about technology? What are the awards that Chris Riddell has won? I cannot seem to find ...
Twitter rolls out headlines feature to give tweets more context
The tool will 'surface the stories behind a tweet,' the company said
Twitter has announced a new feature designed to give people a better sense of the context behind the site's characteristically short, 140-character tweets.
The feature is called "related headlines," and it will appear starting Monday as a section within tweets that have been embedded on outside websites. The section will contain lists and links to websites where the tweet was embedded, "making it easier to discover stories that provide more context," Twitter software engineer Brian Wallerstein said in a Monday blog post.
The related headlines section will also appear on a tweet's permalink page, such as within this tweet posted by Hillary Clinton.
The tool, Twitter says, is aimed at surfacing the stories behind a tweet. The company had been testing it for some time before announcing it Monday.
To illustrate how the feature works, a Twitter spokeswoman pointed to the Clinton tweet, which was the first posted by the former secretary of state this past June. The tweet is a bit obtuse -- "Thanks for the inspiration @ASmith83 & @Sllambe -- I'll take it from here," it said.
But under related headlines, there are dozens of links to news articles sporting headlines such as "Hillary Clinton joins Twitter," or "Hillary Clinton starts tweeting," giving a better sense of the tweet's significance.
Twitter cites National Basketball Association center Jason Collins as another example. When Collins became the first NBA player to publicly come out as gay, the news traveled quickly across the social network, Twitter said. As news outlets like ESPN and MSNBC reported the story, they embedded the athlete's tweet while providing additional context that was not available on Twitter, the company said.
The related headlines feature is one tool built on top of Twitter's recently expanded Cards program. The social network announced the changes in April as a way to make tweets more interactive and give developers more ways to embed other types of content into tweets such as mobile app download links, photo galleries and product listings.
Twitter first rolled out its Cards feature in June 2012.
Twitter's related headlines tool could improve the company's ability to compete against Facebook, which has released several new features of its own in recent months aimed at making the site more public. Facebook announced an embed feature last month, to let people insert their posts on Facebook into outside websites. But that tool currently does not offer a related headlines function similar to Twitter's.
Zach Miners covers social networking, search and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow Zach on Twitter at @zachminers. Zach's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com


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Heem, Jan Davidsz. de (1606-83/84). Dutch still-life painter. He was born at Utrecht and his rare early pictures are in the style of Balthasar van der Ast, who taught him there. Later he worked in Leiden and showed that he had studied the restrained and simple works of the Haarlem still-life artists Claesz. and Heda. In 1636 he moved to Antwerp, became a citizen of that city in 1637, and spent most of his very productive life there. The paintings he did in Flanders are the ones for which he is most renowned and are very different in spirit from his earlier works: splendid flower pieces and large compositions of exquisitely laid tables which breathe all the opulent exuberance of Flemish Baroque painting. His work formed a link between the Dutch and Flemish still-life traditions and he is claimed by both schools. He came from a large family of painters and his many followers in Flanders and Holland included his son Cornelis (1631-95).
Photographs by Carol Gerten-Jackson.


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ConservativeHome's new regular selection of recent Tory appearances on Radio 4's Today programme.
Monday 6th September - Immigration minister Damian Green discussed immigration policy in respect of the number of student visa being issued.
Tuesday 7th September - Michael Fallon from the Treasury Select Committee analysed the faults with the PAYE system
Thursday 9th September - Science minister David Willetts discussed the Government's approach to the funding of science
Friday 10th September
Saturday 11th September
ConservativeHome's new regular selection of recent Tory appearances on Radio 4's Today programme.
(1) On Thursday 19th August Universities minister, David Willetts, talked to Evan Davis about this year's A level results and the merits of making it harder for people to achieve high-end grades (4 minutes, 6 seconds).
(2) On Friday 20th August Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson talked to Jim Naughtie about dissident Irish terrorist groups and insisted that the government will not engage with them until they end violence (interview starts at 2 minutes, 55 seconds in the 10 minutes, 38 seconds feature). He also talked more generally about Coalition policy in the province.
(3) On Saturday 21st August Tim Montgomerie of ConservativeHome talked to Jim Naughtie about Iain Duncan Smith's welfare reform agenda. Tim's contribution is followed by an interview with former Labour Cabinet minister David Blunkett (8 minutes, 44 seconds).
(4) On Monday 23rd August Local Government Minister Bob Neill explains why Eric Pickles decided to close the high-spending Audit Commission (Mr Neill starts speaking at 4 minutes, 46 seconds in to this 12 minutes, 6 seconds package).
(5) On Wednesday 25th August the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mark Hoban defended the fairness of the Budget during an interview with Justin Webb (4 minutes, 29 seconds).
(6) On Friday 27th August Education Secretary Michael Gove said that banding by ability "has a role to play" in schools in England after Barnardo's called for schools to be required to take pupils from a range of academic abilities.
(6) On Saturday 28th August International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell discussed whether the UK's international aid effort strikes the right balance between prevention of crises and the alleviation of their effects. (2 minutes and 10 seconds into the audio)
Osborne wants bank shares for the many and not just the few
Sep 18, 2013 1:32:22 PMTheresa May: It's not for the Government to tell women what to wear
Sep 18, 2013 10:15:58 AMWATCH: Boris tells Labour London Assembly member Andrew Dismore to "Get Stuffed"
Sep 12, 2013 7:47:54 PMThe economy is "turning a corner", says George Osborne
Sep 9, 2013 7:05:27 PMDavid Cameron: "A political settlement is the only way to a stable, inclusive and democratic Syria"
Sep 9, 2013 7:04:07 PMThere's "no simple solution" to the A&E situation, argues Anna Soubry
Sep 8, 2013 6:19:15 PMThe G20 discussions about Syria were "heavy going", says Hague
Sep 8, 2013 6:16:50 PMCameron's patriotic speech set to music, courtesy of Guido
Sep 6, 2013 5:30:02 PMIDS: "I lost faith in the ability of the civil servants to be able manage this programme"
Sep 5, 2013 5:52:19 PM Sep 2, 2013 6:30:44 PMlas vegas air conditioning on Schools minister Nick Gibb congratulates students on their A Level results
donate toys on Cameron has created path to "full renegotiation" of UK's EU relationship, claims Bill Cash MP
Rabink on Cameron: French nuclear deal will create 1500 jobs
Rabink on When did you last buy a hot pasty, Mr Osborne?
Dipak das on Lord Bates returns to Britain after completing over 6 million steps for the Walk for Truce campaign
BODYBUTTER on Fears grow that Lib Dems will veto boundary changes if Tories veto elected House of Lords
BODYBUTTER on Fears grow that Lib Dems will veto boundary changes if Tories veto elected House of Lords
BrightestPersonality on Bernard Jenkin MP fears the "political elite" may - yet again - deny the people a vote on EU
logo design uk on Cameron has created path to "full renegotiation" of UK's EU relationship, claims Bill Cash MP
Chris Menzies on Boris Johnson: "The sooner that we find a way of getting Mr Qatada to Jordan... the better"


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Kritz and Shabalov Lead NE Masters |
By Jennifer Shahade | |
August 16, 2007 | |
German GM Leonid Kritz and U.S. Champion Alexander Shabalov lead the New England Masters (August 13-17) in Peabody, Massachusetts with 4/5 each. You can follow the final four rounds live on monroi.com. Shabalov almost lost to a determined Eugene Perelshteyn (who happens to be a good friend of Kritz's) in round four, but Shabalov defended the pawn down rook ending well. W 994 Shabalov defeated Josh Friedel in a better endgame that came out of an exchange Ruy. 998 Kritz's biggest win so far was against Justin Sarkar. The final position was actually a draw, because Black can simply hold on with Kg7 or a5. White cannot capture the d4 pawn or Black will invade from behind and actually win! For instance, 36...Kg7 37.Kf4 Kf6 38.Ke4 Kg5 39.Kxd4? Kf4 40.Kc5 Ke3 41.d4 Kd2 42.d5 Kxc2 etc. 997 James Critelli's (2262)performance is also worth noting. After a slow start of .5/2, Critell won three games in a row including victories over David Pruess (2422) and Daniel Rensch (2400). Against Daniel Rensch, he played a main line Najdorf and ended up with most of the play. Note that 28...Bg5 was an important in between move. If Black had just taken the pawn on c4 immediately, White would get too much play on the c-file as compenstion. 995 New England Masters Standings after five rounds 1-2- GM Alexander Shabalov and GM Leonid Kritz- 4/5 3-7- GM Eugene Perelshteyn, IM Lev Milman, IM Justin Sarkar, IM Dean Ippolito, FM James Critelli- 3.5/5 Complete Standings Photo Gallery by Betsy Dynako IM Justin Sarkar Ray Robson IM David Pruess San Francisco Mechanics' members Sam Shankland and Josh Friedel WFM Elizabeth Vicary |


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TechRadar Verdict
The best migration tool for your PC
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Free upgrade
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Not enough advice
Why you can trust TechRadar
While Windows Vista's built-in Easy Transfer Wizard handles files and settings with ease, it can't transfer entire programs from your old PC to your new one. Sure, you can set things up manually, but you may lose settings - and what happens if you've mislaid the program discs? PCmover 3.0 is the answer.
In the past PCmover suffered from its all-or-nothing approach: aside from a few settings, all you got to choose was which drives and user account settings to transfer. Now, though, you can select which folders, file types and programs you want to migrate, too.
Better still, existing PCmover users don't have to pay a penny to upgrade: just check for updates after installing the program to get the latest version.
You've got three choices when it comes to how you transfer from one PC to another. The first two are direct connections via an existing network or special USB transfer cable, while the third involves using an external drive - typically an external hard drive. The fastest method is the USB transfer cable, as long as it's a USB2 cable connected to USB2 ports.
The third option uses real-world moving-van references - so you either use an external drive or burn to CD/DVD to "load" your data. Once that's done, insert the first disc or attach the drive to your new PC, where the contents are then "unloaded". Whichever method you choose, give yourself a few hours for the transfer to take place.
How it works
PCmover is first installed on your new computer, where a snapshot file is taken that will aid you in the migration process. You then switch to your old PC and install the program there: it's at this point you need to enter your serial number because the program is tied to your old PC rather than your new one. You can migrate from here to an unlimited number of computers (such as a laptop and desktop PC).
You'll be warned early on that PCmover has no means of determining whether or not the programs on your old PC will be compatible with your new PC. In addition, anti-virus and anti-spyware software isn't transferred by default, so if you're running 2000 or XP use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to guide you.
The wizard guides you in choosing which user accounts, files, settings and programs are to be transferred. The snapshot enables you to map these to your new PC, or see which programs have already been installed.
In practice
The wizard is pretty easy to follow and once your choices are made the transfer begins, directly or indirectly depending on your chosen transfer method.
The process works fairly smoothly: to prevent any compatibility problems affecting you at startup, all migrated programs that are set to start with Windows are disabled by default and you use the StartUp This application to re-enable those programs you're confident will work correctly. If you make a mistake or don't like what you've done, you can undo all your changes simply and seamlessly.
Some niggles remain, though, the main one being the lack of advice regarding program compatibility. Yet the ability to transfer programs helps PCmover 3.0 stand apart from the free solutions bundled with Windows XP and Vista, making it an attractive proposition for anyone upgrading to a new PC.
Tech.co.uk was the former name of TechRadar.com. Its staff were at the forefront of the digital publishing revolution, and spearheaded the move to bring consumer technology journalism to its natural home – online. Many of the current TechRadar staff started life a Tech.co.uk staff writer, covering everything from the emerging smartphone market to the evolving market of personal computers. Think of it as the building blocks of the TechRadar you love today.


text:
Ashes and Granite. Destruction and Reconstruction in the Spanish Civil War and its Aftermath
Olivia Muñoz-Rojas
Eastbourne, Sussex Academic Press, 2011, ISBN: 9781845194369; 272pp.; Price: £65.00
University of Cambridge
Date accessed: 24 February, 2024
At least three factors go towards explaining why the destruction of Spanish cities during the Civil War (1936–9) and the subsequent reconstruction efforts have long been overlooked and under-studied. First, the monstrous scale of destruction wrought by the Second World War on European cities pulled horrified gazes away from Spain and made the violence suffered there seem to shrink to insignificant proportions by comparison. Second, the post-war period in Spain was marked by varying degrees of isolationism during which the country was alternately ignored, kept out of the Marshall plan, or used as a convenient ally (i.e. location for US military bases) in a progressively tense Cold War. Finally, the forceful and influential rhetoric of the Franco regime reiterated, through state-controlled media and propaganda campaigns, the achievements of reconstruction while ignoring the stark realities faced by Spaniards trying to survive among the ruins of lives, cities, and communities.
Another possible explanation for the lack of substantial research on the destruction and reconstruction of Spain during the war and ensuing dictatorship is hinted at in the author's preface. Here she indicates that courses towards her degree in politics from Madrid's Complutense University included those in 'Spanish political history [that] ended with the Spanish Civil War in 1939, and in Spanish contemporary politics [that] began in 1975' (p. xxiv). The presence of this absence, the 36-year blip so conveniently ignored, had led her to conclude that little of interest or importance must have happened during that period. In Ashes and Granite, Dr Muñoz-Rojas plunges into the underwritten period, piecing together the narratives of three case studies of cities and their destruction and reconstruction experiences. By so doing, Olivia Muñoz-Rojas makes an important contribution to reversing this situation by participating in an effort led largely by Paul Preston, most recently in his publication The Spanish Holocaust (1), to pay due attention to the Spanish conflict and its aftermath. A detailed examination of this era is of the utmost significance not only because of the extreme levels of violence and destruction but also because of the long-term impact of this period in Spanish history, the consequences of which continue to hang over Spain like that deadly swinging pendulum in Edgar Allan Poe's story.
As indicated by the author, several parts of the book were previously published in journals, and as chapters in edited volumes. Here these texts have been elaborated upon, and new ones added. Originally trained as a political scientist, Dr Muñoz-Rojas now brings together interests in areas that include sociology, urban studies, and architecture. This interdisciplinarity is in evidence in Ashes and Granite as the author explores the stories of construction, destruction, and reconstruction of specific structures in: Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona. The case studies are very well illustrated with over 70 black and white images including photographs, maps, and reconstruction plans drawn from various municipal archives and a wide range of contemporary newspapers and publications. Thanks to the author's work in finding and including these images, the reader is able to see the effects of the war on existing structures as well as those of the subsequent reconstruction.
Two recent volumes edited by Casar Pinazo and Esteban Chapapría, and Colorado Castellary, dedicated to cultural heritage in Spain during the war and post-war, include case studies on the reconstruction of architecture in Aragón, Cataluña and Valencia, as well as more general assessments of the process as a whole.(2) Dr Muñoz-Rojas' case studies both complement and contrast with these. She wisely selected to explore the capitals of three important regions that had different experiences of the war and post-war: Castile, the Basque Country and Catalonia respectively. And, her decision to focus on different types of structures in each city — a building in Madrid, bridges in Bilbao, and an old Cathedral neighbourhood in Barcelona— adds a further dimension of texture to the case studies and her to analysis.
A constant issue in the Franco reconstruction is the vast chasm between rhetoric and reality. It is a gap that comes into evidence in all three of the case studies addressed in this book. In the first case, that of Madrid's military barracks known as the Cuartel de la Montaña, the grandiose plans for a Falangist stronghold never materialised. What we see here is how a particular building became a symbolic site as a result of having been the scene of a significant set of events during the war. The ruins of the building, thus imbued with meaning, became a focus of attention during the first stages of post-war reconstruction planning. What is fascinating about the story of this site is the ways in which it illustrates how the balance of power within the regime came to determine what symbolic sites eventually made it from the drawing board into reality. As Dr Muñoz-Rojas writes: 'In the end, the Franco regime was as successful in abandoning the Falange's dreams of grandiose, imperial post-war Madrid as it was of burying the uncomfortable memory of the Falangists' early defeat…' (p. 79).
The second case study, that of Bilbao's bridges, is especially important as it presents an instance in which the destruction in question was carried out by the retreating Basque-Republican forces. This fact was rhetorically exploited by the regime which fabricated false accusations of similar acts being the cause of the destruction in other Basque towns, notably Gernika. Together with this manipulation of events, what stands out in the reconstruction of Bilbao's bridges are the contradictions between propagandistic rhetoric about rupture and renewal and reality, in which a degree of continuity was maintained. Here, the official discourse focused on discrediting the previous regime and highlighting differences from it, while in practice it maintained the construction contracts, with the original constructors, which had been in place before the war.
The case study of Barcelona illustrates the selective nature of Franco's reconstruction; here Dr Muñoz-Rojas shows how the Roman military belt was given preference over the Cathedral neighbourhood, Barri de la Catedral, a part of the old city that has its origins in the Middle Ages. In other instances throughout Spain we see Gothic architecture and the austere styles of the Middle Ages given preference over later styles – as in the Baroque choirs removed from church interiors during the Franco period in order to return them to their 'original' forms and 'authentic' atmospheres.(3) In Barcelona, we also see how the destruction was used as a pretext to put into effect plans already drawn up before the war to modernize and open up the old city centre. These two dynamics: the construction of a new vision of Spain by carefully selecting what heritage sites to conserve, or not; and the taking advantage of war-time destruction to put into place a programme of urban regeneration and urbanization, are present throughout Spain's reconstruction, as well as other European post-war reconstruction experiences.(4)
Muñoz-Rojas takes the city as the focal point, and what emerges clearly from her case studies is the story of an attempt to materialize an imposed authority; a process identified by Richard Sennett: 'The work of authority has a goal: to convert power into images of strength. In doing this work, people often search for images that are clear and simple'.(5) What is less clear is the author's analysis of whether this attempt was more or less successful in the post-war reconstruction of Spain.
The author has evidently been influenced by the work of Richard Sennett. A reflection of his work on order and disorder in the city (6), and on authority (7) might have allowed for a further level of analysis of the dynamics at play in Franco-period attempts to reshape Spanish cities. Similarly, a consideration of the scholarly research on memory and the city (8) could have permitted the author to reflect on how the dimension of memory, so important in contemporary Spain, relates (or not) to the cities presented in this volume. It would have been welcome to see the discussion opened out in the final chapter to include a reflection of how the theories and observations of critics such as Sennett, Sudjic, and, Foucault, for instance, compare with and could be applied to the Spanish experience. Deyan Sudjic in particular has explored how 'the architecture of the state' has been used in contemporary conflicts – notably by the Republics of the former Yugoslavia in the run up to the wars of the 1990s and subsequently. In his Edifice Complex (9), Sudjic dedicates a chapter to 'landscapes of power' in which he discusses how both democratic and totalitarian leaders have used architecture strategically in order to make a public statement about their ability to control events and show how through the sheer power of will they are able to give shape to the world.(10) 'State architecture', he writes 'is successful when it is able rapidly to take on the quality of inevitability'.(11) Was this the case in Spain? It would appear that yes, there are many examples that indicate to some extent it was successful in Spain: that the imposition of Escorial-style architecture, the hierarchical structuring of town centres, the differentiation of building materials used for 'noble' buildings or for those intended to house the working classes did acquire a quality of inevitability. Similarly, it would have been interesting to have included a reflection on Foucault's understanding of power and space (12), for despite the rhetoric of unity Spain's reconstruction shows what Foucault termed 'dividing practices'.(13)
At the centre of this book is a reflection on urbanism and politics; how urban planning and development are taken on in a post-war scenario. The author dedicates enough time to discussing the construction of the various sites studied that the subtitle of the book would have been equally accurate had it included this term. Some of the most intriguing points made by Dr Muñoz-Rojas are her remarks suggesting how the Spanish experience relates to other European ones. For instance, her mention of how the financial models developed for the Spanish reconstruction were informed by the post-First World War systems adopted by Italy (p. 27) is very suggestive, as are the brief glimpses offered at a comparison with post-Second World War reconstruction in Europe. Developing this comparative approach further in the final section of the book would have allowed for a broader understanding of how this Spanish experience fits within a wider picture, a scope which then would also have enabled the author to reflect on which of the dynamics that she observed were particular to Spain; perhaps this could be a subject for a future book or article.
Ashes and Granite clearly reveals the contradictory dynamics often present in post-war reconstructions and especially that of trying to draw on tradition while at the same time taking advantage of destruction to modernise. It also makes apparent a major gap that often arises between ambitious plans for reconstruction and the realities of post-war situations in which resources are limited, power balances delicate, and urgent demands numerous. Dr Muñoz-Rojas has pulled together a variety of primary resources from a wide range of municipal archives to delineate a compelling image of the post-war reconstruction of Spanish cities. She shows how the Franco regime's vision of the 'new' Spain, and its corresponding reconstruction practices, evolved in direct response to its shifting allegiances with other countries. And, through the empirical material of the three cases studied, she demonstrates how crucial the symbolic dimension was to post-war reconstruction policies: alternating between layering symbolism, accentuating selective meanings, revealing old content, or imposing new interpretations. With Ashes and Granite Dr Muñoz-Rojas offers an important contribution to writing the story of this period in Spain's troubled past.
- Paul Preston, The Spanish Holocaust: Inquisition and Extermination in Twentieth-Century Spain (London, 2012).Back to (1)
- Bajo el Signo de la Victoria. La Conservación del Patrimonio Durante el Primer Franquismo (1936–1958), ed. José Ignacio Casar Pinazo and Julián Esteban Chapapría (Valencia, 2008); Patrimonio, Guerra Civil y Posguerra, ed. Arturo Colorado Castellary (Madrid, 2010).Back to (2)
- Bajo el Signo de la Victoria, ed. Pinazo and Chapapría.Back to (3)
- Dacia Viejo-Rose, Reconstructing Spain: Cultural heritage and memory after Civil War(Eastbourne, 2011).Back to (4)
- Richard Sennett, Authority (London, 1988), p. 165.Back to (5)
- Richard Sennett, The Uses of Disorder. Personal Identity and City Life (London, 1970).Back to (6)
- Sennett, Authority.Back to (7)
- Memory Culture and the Contemporary City, ed. Staiger, Uta, Henriette Steiner and Andrew Webber (Basingstoke , 2009).Back to (8)
- Devan Sudjic, The Edifice Complex. (London, 2011 (1st ed. 2005)).Back to (9)
- Ibid., pp. 64–88.Back to (10)
- Ibid., pp. 64–88.Back to (11)
- Michel Foucault, 'Space, knowledge, and power', in The Foucault Reader, ed. Paul Rabinow (New York, NY, 1982), pp. 239–56.Back to (12)
- Michel Foucault, 'The subject and power', Critical Inquiry, 8 (Summer 1982).Back to (13)


text:
Hamas says now in 'open war' with Israel, promises 'gates of hell'
As Israel launched a full-scale attack on Gaza with frequent sounds of rockets still being heard in Gaza - killing 13 and injuring over 100 - Hamas vowed to avenge the Israeli strike and the assassination of its military leader Ahmed Jabari.
FOLLOW LIVE UPDATESHamas stated it will carry out a revenge plan on Israel by sending in suicide bombers and declaring a state of open war. The commander's assassination has "opened the gates of hell," the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, were quoted by AFP as saying."The occupation committed a dangerous crime and crossed all the red lines, which is considered a declaration of war," he said in a statement. Hamas vowed to "continue the path of resistance."Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an immediate Arab League meeting in response to Wednesday's attack.Mosques across Gaza were packed with mourners vowing revenge. The streets outside the hospital where Jabari's body was taken were filled with thousands of angry Palestinians chanting "retaliation" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight." Among the mourners outside the Shifa hospital in Gaza City were armed men firing into the air.Gaza's Health Minister Dr. Mufeed Mkhallalati said a total of 10 people were killed, including Jabari. Fourty five people are reported injured, 10 of them are in critical condition. An 11-month-old and a 6-year-old girl were among the dead.Six rockets were fired from Gaza toward Beersheba following the airstrike on Wednesday evening, Israel's Army Radio reported. One rocket hit a shopping center in the city, while there were other media reports that a vehicle was struck in the attack. No casualties were reported.The Israeli Press Office said"The Iron Dome missile defense system has thus far intercepted 15 rockets fired at Israel."Hamas said no tactic would be left off of the table following the strike."The resistance's options are now open and they include suicide attacks and quality attacks in Israel cities," Ynet cites top Hammas commander Ismail al-Ashkar as saying.Hamas spokesman Khalil Al Haya vowed its Zionist enemy would "pay a price for this cowardly assassination.""The assassination of this great leader Amhed Al-Jaabary clearly confirms that we are still in the heart of resistance with the Israeli enemy; the Zionist enemy knows nothing but the language of killing and blood; our battle with the enemy is an open battle; God willing, this battle will end with Palestine and Jerusalem liberated. They should wait for our action, not words," RT Arabic cites him as saying. Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said the assassination will not "break the will of our people, nor weaken our resistance," Al-Rishq wrote on his Facebook page, Al Ahram reported.He added that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is using the "war crime" to appear tough on national security as part of his reelection bid, though his plan could backfire.Israel will hold a general election on January 22. Residents in southern Israel have been severely critical of his conservative government's handling of rocket strikes in recent weeks. On Wednesday night Netanyahu said that no country in the world would accept a situation in which rockets were being fired at its citizens, and neither would Israel.Fatah's former chief negotiator Saeb Erekat disagreed with the Israeli PM's justification for the operation, saying "this exposes that Israel has an agenda for war but not for peace" on Twitter."We hold Israel responsible for the consequences that this new act of aggression would bring to the region," he continued.The US State department released a statment saying it stands behind Israel's right to "self-defense", but "we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties."Egypt's foreign ministry released a statement calling on Israel to stop its strikes on Gaza Strip immediately.The Muslim Brotherhood controlled government says it "will not allow the Palestinians to be subjected to Israeli aggression," the Jerusalem Post cites him as saying.Egypt recalled its ambassador in Tel-Aviv back to Cairo in response to the start of Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza. Cairo has also requested an emergency meeting before the United Nations Security Council. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) killed Jabari in an airstrike on his car in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Israel's TV Channel 2 says his son also died in the missile attack. There are also reports that Raed al-Atar, the commander of Hamas's southern division, was also killed.The attack comes as the first step in the expanding Israeli operation which could see IDF troops on the ground in the Gaza Strip.Israeli Air Force strikes reportedly hit at least 20 rocket-launching pads belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, "seriously damaging their long-range missile capabilities," an Israeli military spokesman said. IDF tank fire also struck targets in Gaza. The IDF said it was willing to initiate a ground operation in Gaza to eliminate any further sources of rocket fire."All options are on the table. If necessary, the IDF (army) is ready to initiate a ground operation in Gaza," the IDF said on its official Twitter account.Jabari, who was deputy commander of Hamas's military wing, is the most senior Hamas official to be assassinated since Israel's sweeping 2008 military operation in Gaza which resulted in the death of some 1,800 Palestinians. In reponse to the targeted assassination, the IDF characterized Jabari as a "man with a lot of blood on his hands."In the run up to the operation on Wednesday, seven Palestinians had been killed in retaliatory Israel strikes to missile strikes originating in Gaza.


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Thursday, July 12, 2012
Vitiligo Treatment
Although very few doctors will know or tell you about it (there is too much money involved in conventional treatment methods), you can actually cure yourself of vitiligo at home using only herbal and vitamin supplements, combined with some dietary and lifestyle changes.
Indeed in the past, a number of doctors and scientists had reported such successes in medical journals, but this research is now kept hidden by the pharmaceutical industry.
For the first time ever, this research has been dug up and used to compile a comprehensive step-by-step guide on exactly what you need to do to naturally and safely cure yourself of vitiligo in just a few weeks – without any medications or surgical interventions.
Click Here for more info
Posted by Krazy Binz at 10:24 AM
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Acai Berry Free Trial
Here is an offer you can't refuse.
You must have known the benefits of the Acai Berry Diet.
Well, the folks at acaiberrydieting.com are so certain of the efficacy of their product they are giving you a free one month trial of their product.
Here's some info about acai berry.
The acai berry has been widely used for hundreds of years by Central and Southern America peoples, yet they have just been introduced to the United States recently.
The Acai berry product can help to eliminate high cholesterol, cleanse your system, and could possibly help your system defend against cancer according to some reports but more studies are needed. But what is proven is the acai berry contains one of the highest antioxidant contents known.
If you are earnest about losing unwanted fat, you can not afford to not try out Acai weight-loss supplements. Men and women have been proven to burn off as much as twenty pounds simply by detoxification, and that is only the starting point! The majority of individuals who use Acai berry record noticing a big improvement in their energy level soon after beginning the Acai berry weight loss plan.
Are you fed up of skin imperfections and reduced energy levels? Let Acai berry and weight-loss dietary supplements relieve these types of problems while you lose pounds easily and quickly. According to some reports, it also decrease your chance of many forms of cancer simply by consuming regular health supplements which include this super fruit.
If you are not certain concerning the safeness or results of the acai berry and weight-loss health supplements, put your mind at rest. Remember, however, not all dietary supplements are developed equally. If the acai berries are not freeze-dried soon after picking, they are of little or no benefit as vitamin supplements.
Before you purchase, find out what portion of the health supplement consists of the actual acai berry. Certain producers may try to use only a small amount of this super fruit as feasible and still claim to possess products made of the acai berry. Never get these kinds of health supplements from companies that you just really don't trust.
In addition to helping to decrease cholesterol levels as well as increase energy levels, the acai berry and weight reduction products furthermore have a substantial amount of anti-oxidants. Experts have realized that these kinds of chemical substances are significant in preventing cardiac arrest along with other blood circulation issues. Moreover, vitamin antioxidants help to prevent chemicals recognized as free radicals, which often cause your entire body and skin to age quicker.
After attempting all the available supplements and discovering zero success, are you willing to try out Acai weight-loss dietary supplements? There is nothing at all to forfeit with the exception of all of the actual fat you have been striving to eliminate, and also you will get several health and wellbeing.
For more information about Acai Berry or to claim your free trial visit: www.acaiberrydieting.com
Posted by Krazy Binz at 2:27 AM
Labels: Acai Berry, Free Trial
Friday, May 25, 2012
Have Healthy Food When You Are Out
Eating out doesn't mean that you have to be eating unhealthy food all the time.
There are different varieties of food, from which you can choose the menu of your convenience.
When you are eating out, choose high protein, low fat food. Have fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grains and steamed food, instead of fried food that contain high calories.
Make use of an indoor or outdoor grill, or bake your food in the oven without all the extra oil.
Watch out for large portion sizes too. It is better to share your appetizers with your friend who is with you.
* Have sandwich with lettuce and tomato instead of a cheese burger. Avoid mayonnaise as much as possible.
* Avoid drinks like soda, juices and energy drinks and replace them with water and low-fat milk.
* Eat eggs. They contain more proteins and vitamins.
* Avoid pizzas and burgers that contain butter and cheese. Instead have whole-grain bread.
* Avoid starch and added fats like potatoes, rice, pasta, French fries and grilled non-veg items.
* Avoid mayo and sauce as much as possible and replace them with salad and mustard.
These tips will help you eat healthier when you are away from home!
For more weight loss tips visit http://dotties.net/10-weight-loss-program-tips.html
Posted by Krazy Binz at 3:08 AM
Labels: Weight Loss Tips
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Nasal Polyps – Nasal Polyposis
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
What is going on in the body?
The nose acts as a filter, removing over 80% of particles in the air. A variety of agents entering the nose can cause inflammation. These agents include pollens, mold spores, animal dander, dust mites, dust, and dirt. Nasal polyps are the result of long-term, untreated nasal inflammation. Rarely, the polyps may protrude through the nostrils.What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Many disorders can lead to nasal polyps, including:- asthma, a disease of the airways that is the most common cause
- chronic allergies
- sinusitis, particularly sinus infections cause by a fungus
- cystic fibrosis, a congenital disease that affects the airways
- sensitivity to aspirin
- structural abnormalities of the nose
Symptoms & Signs
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
Most people with polyps already have sinus and nasal problems. The symptoms of nasal polyps are related to those illnesses. These include:- nasal blockage
- chronic facial pain or headache
- excessive nasal secretions
- impaired sense of smell
- excessive post nasal drip, with nasal secretions going down the back of the throat
- chronic cough
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the condition diagnosed?
Large nasal polyps are easy for the healthcare provider to see during a nasal exam with a special instrument. CT scans can clarify the extent of the underlying problem. Usually, nasal polyps are present in both sides of the nose.If a polyp only appears on one side, it may be a tumor. In this case, a biopsy is needed to check for cancer.
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the condition?
Prevention involves proper control of the underlying problem. A person with chronic bacterial sinusitis needs to take the appropriate antibiotics. If there are structural abnormalities within the nose, they can be corrected surgically.What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Untreated nasal polyps cause blockage of sinus drainage. If this occurs, chronic sinusitis can develop. Expanding mucus buildup can put pressure on the nerves that control eye movement and vision. This creates double vision or other visual impairments. In addition, mucus buildup can eventually lead to displacement of the eyeball in its socket. Sense of smell may become lost and asthma may become more difficult to manage.What are the risks to others?
There are no risks to others, as the polyps are not contagious.Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the condition?
Polyps can usually be reduced with long-term nasal steroid therapy and management of the underlying disorder. If an individual continues to have symptoms despite medical therapy, surgery may be recommended.What are the side effects of the treatments?
Side effects are specific to the medications used. In the case of surgery, hemorrhage, infection, and injury to eye structures may rarely occur.What happens after treatment for the condition?
The symptoms usually subside after medical treatment. However, new polyps often develop, especially in people with asthma. Children with cystic fibrosis usually continue to have difficulties with polyps.How is the condition monitored?
One of the earliest symptoms of polyp recurrence is the loss of sense of smell. If this occurs, a person should seek medical attention. Because recurrence is common, regular medical follow-up helps to determine the rate of regrowth and what type of therapy may be necessary. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.Click Here For More Information About Nasal Polyps Treatment
Author:Mark Loury, MDDate Written:
Editor:Planko, Christa, MA
Edit Date:04/19/00
Reviewer:Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
Date Reviewed:08/20/0
Source: Nasal Polyps Treatment
Posted by Krazy Binz at 12:10 PM


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Exam Profile: Cisco 640-916 DCICT
The DCICT 640-916 exam completes the two-exam journey to the Cisco CCNA Data Center certification. This article reviews the history of the Cisco Data Center certifications, putting the CCNA Data Center in context. It then discusses one of the biggest differences between the Cisco Data Center certs and other tracks: the fact that the cert includes both networking and computing content. The rest of the article focuses on the CCNA Data Center certification, the DCICT exam in particular, and how to prepare for that exam.
History of Cisco Data Center Certifications
Networking has been an important part of Data Centers for almost the entire history of Information Technology (IT). The earliest computer networks connected user terminals and printers to the applications running in the Data Center. Over time, the details of what makes up a Data Center have progressed tremendously, and networking's role has progressed as well—in both importance and complexity.
Data Centers have been transformed by virtualization and cloud computing. Today's virtualized Data Centers allow applications to move between server OS instances; server instances (virtual machines) can move to new server hardware, whether in the same Data Center or another; and server resources (CPUs, RAM, etc.) may be reallocated to the needs of the virtual machines (VMs). Storage, formerly sitting on a disk drive inside a physical server, now sits on a storage area network (SAN), providing great flexibility. To make all these Data Center features work, network technology has progressed to add networking features unique to the needs of Data Centers.
Cisco has long been the leading company in traditional networking, but also has established a leadership position in storage networking and a highly competitive position in server computing technologies. Cisco began offering SAN products in the early 2000s, helping to lead the transition from separate SANs to converged products that support both storage and more traditional networking with Ethernet LANs. Cisco also launched its Unified Computing System (UCS) family of products in 2009: server hardware built with virtualization in mind, with an eye toward easier integration with the storage and networking features required in every Data Center. (In June 2014, Cisco UCS also achieved the #1 market position in the x86 Blade server market.)
The tremendous growth in Data Center technology over the previous decade has led to a much greater need for skilled engineers with a skillset geared toward Data Centers. Cisco actually offered a CCIE Storage certification for those early years of its SAN products. Then, in 2012, Cisco morphed CCIE SAN into CCIE Data Center, and added the CCNA Data Center and CCNP Data Center certifications. The result: A traditional complete certification track for Cisco Data Center technology.


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New evidence supports the link between genetic factors and certain adverse events related to smallpox vaccination. The study, published in the July 15th issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, may have implications for predicting adverse events from other live vaccines.
Immunization against infectious agents has been one of the greatest successes of modern medicine, and the eradication of smallpox from the world is considered by some to be the crowning event of the 20th century. However, immunization with live virus particles, as in the smallpox vaccine, can sometimes cause reactions that range from fatigue to serious illness.
In recent studies testing the safety and potency of stored smallpox vaccine, which uses live vaccinia virus, some individuals developed fevers. The authors of the study, Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD, and colleagues at Washington University, St. Louis University, and The Emmes Corporation, hypothesized that people who develop fever after vaccination may have genetically determined differences in their immune responses compared to those who do not. They studied 346 individuals who had participated in previous smallpox vaccination trials, 94 of whom developed fevers after vaccination. The authors analyzed 19 gene clusters (called haplotypes) linked to the body's response to viral infections.
The new study identified a total of eight haplotypes in four different genes that were associated with altered susceptibility to fever after vaccination. It is the first study to show that fever after smallpox vaccination is associated with specific gene clusters in the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene complex on chromosome 2 and the interleukin-18 gene on chromosome 11. The interleukins, and especially the IL-1 gene complex, are groups of molecules associated with inflammation and immune responses. The IL-1 gene complex, and especially the IL-1A gene, was the site most significantly associated with different risks of fever.
"Vaccines are the safest and most effective way to prevent a number of very important childhood and adult diseases," Dr. Stanley remarked. "Our work is designed to identify ways we might make vaccines even more acceptable in the future by discovering ways to further reduce the chance of minor adverse events."
In an accompanying editorial, James E. Crowe Jr., MD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, echoes Dr. Stanley's sentiments that the findings represent an important preliminary step in understanding the variations in host responses to vaccines, and notes that further studies will need to replicate these findings, and to test other vaccines. Both Drs. Stanley and Crowe mention that the results may have important implications when it comes to the future goal of identifying individuals at risk for fever before they are given a specific vaccination. Crowe writes, "The long-term goal is to determine genetic features that could be determined prior to vaccination, allowing practitioners to modulate the vaccination plan according to risk. This type of practice, the goal of personalized predictive medicine, appears closer in feasibility than ever given the pace of genetic testing."
Story Source:
Materials provided by Infectious Diseases Society of America. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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A woman whose exterior ear was removed during her fight with cancer has grown a replacement ear made from starter-tissue harvested from her rib, which was cultured and scaffolded on her arm. Once the ear was ripe, it was removed from her arm and affixed to the side of her head.
"I thought of this exact strategy many years before and really was looking for the right patient to try it on," said renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Patrick Byrne.
Byrne used cartilage from Walters' ribs to stitch together a new ear matching her right ear. He then implanted it under the skin of her forearm, where it grew for months.
..Byrne later surgically attached the ear and its blood vessels. Then surgery Tuesday added shape and detail to the ear.
Hopkins Doctors Grow New Ear On Woman's Arm
(via /.)
(Image: Johns Hopkins)


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New University of Montana Family Medical Residency Program [AUDIO]
At a press conference on Friday, University of Montana officials introduced the Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana, which just received approval by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education.
The program was approved by the Board of Regents in 2011. University of Montana President Royce Engstrom says the purpose of the program is to provide residency opportunities for medical school graduates.
Interim Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship David Forbes said 'providing health care is a team sport', in that students from several different scientific and medical disciplines will be able to collaborate on a variety of subjects regarding public health.
Director of Family Residency Dr. Ned Vasquez said Montana is rapidly approaching a critical juncture in health care, one of which is our rapidly aging population, and that there is a significant shortage of family practice physicians. He said 11 counties in Montana have no physicians whatsoever, so the new residency program will help provide more access to health care.
Friday, October 19th Press Conference at the University of Montana


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A great week of training. Since school is out, I am able to sleep late and nap in the afternoons, which makes these big mileage training weeks manageable. Grindstone's date (October 3-4) is perfect in terms of training in the summer---much more doable for my schedule than training in the busy spring for a summer 100!
This week called for around 70 miles with two long runs back-to-back, a tempo run and the rest at my 100-miler pace (very easy, HR in the 120s and below).
Monday, July 7: am: 8 miles on dirt road with 30 seconds hard, 30 seconds easy x 15.
pm: 5 miles easy on rocky trail, kept HR in 120s and below.
Tuesday, July 8: 5 miles on rolling road, easy. Followed this with 30 minutes lifting, focusing on upper body and core.
Wednesday, July 9: AM: 9 miles with Bill Potts, with 4 miles at 7:10-7:20 pace (this is my tempo pace)with about 3300 feet of climb! We ran this on very hilly dirt roads and the last one was done on a gradual climb up O-Hill, a knarly "hill" we like to train on near UVA. This workout was very tough and I took a good long nap in the pm...ah! I also drank 20 ounces of First Endurance Cappuccino recovery drink. It always makes a HUGE difference in how I recover from these hard workouts.
PM: 4 miles easy on a new section of the Rivanna Trail near Fairview Swim Club and Dunlora.
Thursday, July 10:After my daughter's very late swim meet last night, I slept in and lifted in the pm, focusing on legs (lunges and squats on a balance board) and core.
Friday, July 11: 16.5 miles on hilly dirt roads out in White Hall, a gorgeous area known for its rolling hills and lovely horse farms. This is our fave long run because we run mostly on dirt, cross Fox Mountain in the middle of the run, and see hardly any cars the entire way. Bill's GPS reported that we had close to 4,000 feet of climb. It took us 2:18, averaging 8:22 pace for the run and my HR stayed in the 140 bpm range.
Saturday, July 12: Our first training run on the Grindstone course!!! Quatro and I joined Marc Griffin for 15 miles (miles 5-21 of the race), climbing Elliott's Knob during the first 1.5 hours of the run. After checking out the gorgeous (though hazy) views from the Knob, we proceeded north on the North Mountain Trail. This was rocky, overgrown, and a bit technical for my taste, but soon it became awesome, runnable single track down to the intersection at Dry Branch Gap. From there we climbed up Crawford Mountain and this was BRUTAL. Very steep, progressively harder climbs for 2.6 miles, which took us an hour to complete. Quatro, who is not running Grindstone, just shook his head and mumbled something about this course being MUCH harder than Massanutten and "what are you people thinking???!" We then dropped down onto the Chimney Hollow Trail for the next 3.5 miles, which was more runnable singletrack with lovely views of the Deerfield Valley below. We crossed Rte 250 and climbed another mile or so on the Dowell's Draft trail to the fire road intersection where we left Q's car. Total time on trail: 4.5 hours for 15 miles, in the heat of the day (12:30-5:00pm). I think we climbed at least 5,000 feet, probably more.
Q had a full finish line aid station in his car, complete with chairs, fresh fruit, sandwiches, alco-pop, beer, and soda. Very nice...thanks, Q-Bob. It was also fun to run with Marc and commiserate together about what we will encounter during the first 20 miles and last 20 miles of the Gstone race! This was a big wake-up call for my training plan...gotta climb, climb, climb and descend. Repeat many times.
It was good to see this section in the daylight (we will run in the dark twice) and, though daunting, it was very motivating for me as I enter into a really tough portion of my summer training: 70-80 mpw in hot and humid conditions. I felt great today which gave me a lot of confidence that I am training properly and handling the big mileage well.
Sunday, July 13: Easy, easy 8 miles on the flat section of the Rivanna Trail with Jack (my awesome Aussie).
A BIG shout out to our VHTRC Hardrock 100 finishers Mike Dobies, John Dewalt (age 72), Keith Knipling, Greg Loomis, Steve Pero, Howard Cohen and Sean Andrish. Wooo-hooo! I am looking forward to reading reports on Steve's, Greg's and Keith's blogs. Congratulations!!!
And finally, best of luck to Kerry Owens, Susie Spangler and the other VHTRC folks running the Vermont 100 next weekend. From looking at the entrants list, it appears that many of the fast folks who had entered WS are now racing VT. In addition, Jeff Washburn, who suffered a stroke last fall, is entered. Go Jeff!
Welcome to my blog and the place where I will post my photos and musings from my life as an ultrarunner. My nickname "Shining" was given to me by a group of very special students after I finished my first 100-miler, the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100. They were the inspiration that enabled me to finish this awesome race, and I try to live each day with a "shining" attitude!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
2 comments:
- run4daysbill said...
Wowzer! Another great training week. Good job!
Looking forward to some Trayfoot on Saturday and Wild Oak on Sunday, if that's still what you want to do. If repeats at The Priest make more sense (climb, climb, climb, descend), I'd be totally cool with a Priest-Priest too. - July 14, 2008 at 10:52 AM
- I am a runner. "We are what we repeatedly do" said...
Guess I better get on the train.... Keep me in the loop of upcoming runs.
- July 17, 2008 at 2:32 PM
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TechRadar Verdict
- +
Fantastic 4.7-inch display
- +
Beefy hardware makes for a fast phone
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Jelly Bean upgrade on the way
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32GB of storage plus microSD expansion
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Highly customizable widgets and home screens
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AT&T bloatware
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Unreliable contacts app
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Average microphone quality
Why you can trust TechRadar
LG has long been a player in the world of consumer electronics, making everything from televisions to air conditioners. Up until recently, its strategy in the smartphone world was to undercut the competition on price, with devices like the 4G-ready LG Spectrum, or niche devices like the stylish world phone the LG Prada. However, its LG's flagship line of Optimus phones have earned the attention of consumers and carriers worldwide, especially after the LG Optimus 4X HD, with its capable quad-core processor.
Now LG, aka Lucky Goldstar, has unleashed the LG Optimus G. With a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich OS, 32 GB of storage, a high-resolution display and enough memory to choke a mid-range handset (a whopping 2GB, to be exact), it's built to take advantage of the high data speeds available on AT&T and Sprint's growing 4G networks.
However, the two carrier versions of the LG Optimus G were not created equal. Not only do both phones come packed with carrier-specific apps (some useful, some irksome bloatware), the bodies of the two phones are physically different, and the Sprint handset sports a 13-megapixel camera, while the AT&T model has a more standard 8-megapixel.
The reasons for the discrepancies between the two versions of the LG Optimus G are unclear, but are likely related to the relationships between the carriers and LG. This review will focus on the LG Optimus G for AT&T. Look for our full review of the LG Optimus G (Sprint) early next week.
We don't know why the two versions of the LG Optimus G are so distinct, or if the Optimus name is meant to recall everyone's favorite leader of the Autobots. What we do know is that with this powerful 4G handset, LG is transforming itself into a major competitor in the smartphone arena.
The Optimus G is the best phone LG has ever produced, but is it a true contender among other powerful, big-screened handsets supported by AT&T? Phones like the HTC One X or the Samsung Galaxy S3? Let's find out.
The LG Optimus G for AT&T (model number LG-E970) is big and rectangular, to the point where it feels like a tablet that was shrunk down to fit in your pocket. Other than the fact that it doesn't come in white, it bears a heavy resemblance to the LG Optimus 4X HD. It's a slab of black plastic with right-angled edges and a spacious 4.7-inch screen, measuring 5.15 inch x 2.82 inch x 0.33 inch (130.8 x 71.6 x 8.4 mm) in total.
The overall body of the LG Optimus G may be Gorilla Glass but it sure feels like plastic. Smooth, durable, seamless plastic, but plastic nonetheless. Running a finger across the screen to the the edge of the bezel, you can hardly feel any gap between the two. It has a slick feel in the hand that helps to offset the inherent awkwardness of a such a large handset.
It's big, but surprisingly thin. Being only 0.33 inches thick adds to its overall slickness. The relatively thin design of the body is owed to a completely sealed design. Other than a little hatch for a microSD and SIM card, there's no getting into this device without a screwdriver. That means the G's 2100mAh battery is not removable. That's more than can be said for the Sprint version of the handset, which has no removable SIM or microSD expansion slot.
The sides of the Optimus G are rounded, but the backside is completely flat, unlike the Samsung Galaxy S3 or HTC One X, which have slightly bubbled rears. This makes the G feel even more like a slab of technology.
It's slick but not slippery. Thankfully, the polycarbonate body is just grippy enough that it won't fly out of your palm. While we generally prefer phones with aluminum bodies, like the Droid Razr M or the iPhone 5, the Optimus G is not unappealing to the touch. It's a nice combination of smooth but easy to hold on to.
The LG Optimus G's power button is located on the upper right side, with the volume rocker set slightly lower on the left side. On the AT&T version of the phone, the power button serves as notification light, glowing red like a coal when you've got an alert. You can choose what triggers this alert, be it new email, missed calls, text message, calendar event and more. Of course, these alerts also show up on the lock screen, and on the Sprint handset that's the only place they show up, since it lacks this power button light.
The two carrier versions of the LG Optimus G are in an unusual position, in that they're different from each other both physically and internally. As we mentioned, the LG Optimus G for AT&T measures 5.15" x 2.82" x 0.33" (130.8 x 71.6 x 8.4 mm). The Sprint version (model number LG-LS970) is 5.19" x 2.71" x 0.33" (131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm). The essential specs like processor and memory are the same, though.