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Androids can love! Easy, pleasant melody with elements of futurism. In the style of British indie bands. Well suited for commercial computers, smart phones and other high-tech equipment.
Like this track? We still have some fine hits!
Offer to audition:
High School - Sales Leader! Composition in the style of pop-punk.
Funny Man – Cheerful positive melody.
The Pursuit of Happiness – This is a corporate miracle!
Little Happiness – Lovely light melody ukulele.
Indie Dance – It's just a dance anthem!
Superhero Trailer – Do you like music from the blockbuster? This is one of them.


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The Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program Estimator is a tool you can use to help you determine the value of your sick leave credits at the time of retirement. There are two programs that determine the value of your sick leave credits at retirement. The Accumulated Sick Leave Conversion Credit Program (ASLCC) and the Supplemental Health Insurance Conversion Credit Program (SHICC).
The ASLCC program allows employees to convert sick leave to pay for health insurance at retirement, as well as in other situations such as death, layoff or termination with 20 years of service. Under this program, accumulated sick leave is multiplied by the employee's highest basic pay rate in a qualifying position and converted to credits to pay for State Group Health Insurance in retirement (or in the other instances listed above).
The SHICC program allows employees who have at least 15 years of continuous state service to earn sick leave credits in addition to those provided by the ASLCC program. Eligible employees earn up to 52 supplemental credits/year for years 1-24 of service and up to 104 supplemental credits/year for years 25 and beyond. Note: the number of supplemental credits provided may not exceed the actual number of sick leave credit hours an employee has accumulated.
This estimator will:
- Use your date of birth and your spouse's date of birth to determine when you become eligible for lower health insurance premiums based on Medicare eligibility.
- Use your expected annual increase in health insurance premiums to determine how long your health insurance premiums will last in retirement.
- Project how many hours of sick leave you will earn (and use) between today and your retirement date.
- Project your annual salary if you choose to enter your estimated annual salary increase.
The estimator does not provide an official estimate of the value of your sick leave credits and does not guarantee future benefits. The actual value of your sick leave credits at the time of termination/retirement will be based on your highest basic pay rate in state/UW System employment, your accumulated sick leave balance, your years of adjusted continuous state/UW System service and applicable laws, compensation plans and collective bargaining agreements in effect at your termination of employment. If you work in a protective occupation, you earn supplemental sick leave credits at a different rate so this estimator will not be accurate for you.
*Chrome and Firefox are the preferred browsers.
You will need the following information before you can estimate the value of your sick leave credits:
- Your estimated retirement date
- Your current sick leave balance
- Your continuous service date – this is typically your first day of state or UW System employment in a position that both earned sick leave and was covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System. This date is adjusted for any breaks in employment. If you do not know this date, please contact your human resources office.
- If University Staff, your current and/or expected highest basic pay rate
- If Faculty, Academic Staff or Limited Appointee, your current and/or expected highest annual salary (this is your annual base salary and does not include overloads, summer pay or any additional pay)
- The name of your current health plan and/or the name of the health plan that you expect to have in retirement
- Note: The basic pay rate for ASLCC purposes is the highest hourly rate when in a state/UW System position eligible to accrue sick leave. For a pay rate to be used in the calculation, an employee must have earned sick leave eligibility for conversion at that pay rate.
last updated: 12/29/2017
Go to the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program Estimator
Chrome and Firefox are the preferred browsers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Cooperation between Noncanonical Ras Network Mutations in Cancer
Edward C Stites, Paul C Trampont, Lisa B Haney, Scott F Walk, Kodi S Ravichandran
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/004846
Cancer develops after the acquisition of a collection of mutations that together create the cancer phenotype. How collections of mutations work together within a cell, and whether there is selection for certain combinations of mutations, are not well understood. Using a Ras signaling network mathematical model we tested potential synergistic combinations within the Ras network. Intriguingly, our modeling, including a computational random mutagenesis approach, and subsequent experiments revealed that mutations of the tumor suppressor gene NF1 can amplify the effects of mutations in multiple other components of the Ras pathway, including weakly activating, noncanonical, Ras mutants. Since conventional wisdom holds that mutations within the same pathway do not co-occur, it was surprising that modeling and experiments both suggested a functional benefit for co-occurring Ras pathway mutations. Furthermore, we analyzed >3900 sequenced cancer specimens from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and we uncovered an increased rate of co-occurrence between mutations the model predicted could display synergy. Overall, these data suggest that selective combinations of Ras pathway mutations could serve the role of cancer driver. More generally, this work presents a mechanism by which the context created by one mutation influences the evolutionary trajectories of cancer development, and this work suggests that mutations that result in network instability may promote cancer in a manner analogous to genomic instability.


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Ready to show your support for Wofford? Everything you need to know to make a financial contribution to the college is right here!
Endowed funds open the door for deserving young men and women to receive a Wofford education. Learn how you can create these opportunities for future generations of Wofford students.
You can support Wofford with a gift that costs nothing during your lifetime, yet still benefits you and your loved ones. Learn more about gift planning opportunities and join the Benjamin Wofford Society.


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This is a make-it-yourself planisphere designed to show where Kepler is pointing. Learners can use it to locate exoplanets around stars in the night sky. It comes with two wheels: one with coordinate grid for plotting additional exoplanet stars and... (View More) one without grid that is easier to read; and two holders for varying latitudes (one for 30°-50° and one for 50°-70°). The product is updated approximately annually to incorporate improvements and any newly discovered planets orbiting naked eye stars. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per student
This article describes an approach designed to decrease math anxiety and teach students about the use of mathematical symbols simplifying radicals. A deck of cards is used in a demonstration, and a problem set using real life examples to master the... (View More) use of radicals is included. This resource is from PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science - a collection of brief examples created by scientists and engineers showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes have real world applications. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students


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To mark the first year of the Reputation Rules: The Blog, we are publishing our list of the Top Ten Reputational Crises of 2011. The idea is to not just look back on these events, but also to draw some general lessons from these cases. There are many more that could have been added (Olympus, Johnson & Johnson, SC Johnson, German Federal President Christian Wulff, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the Governator, and many more), but here are the ones that made the list.
- News Corp.
What started out as a sordid story about hacking into voicemail accounts and other personal information has turned to an annus horribilis engulfing not only the Murdoch media empire, but also the British government and Scotland Yard: a British Watergate. After a year full of arrests, resignations and investigations, News Corporation and the Murdoch family are facing the biggest crises in their history. The BSkyB acquisition had to be abandoned and shares have plummeted. James Murdoch, the company's likely heir apparent, is now in the crosshairs of government investigations to determine whether he knew more about wide-spread hacking than originally admitted. Observers have called his position "untenable" and the investigations having reached a "tipping point."
Nobody knows where the crisis will end. But it's already offering a few lessons.
First, newspapers and media companies are especially bad at managing reputational crises. This is not only illustrated by the News Corp. crises but other cases such as the Jayson Blair scandal at the New York Times or "Memogate" at CBS' 60 Minutes. Operating in an intensely politicized atmosphere in their daily lives, news organizations typically interpret any criticism immediately as another politically motivated act and miss the underlying business issue—a crisis that threatens competence and integrity, which are the pillars of news organizations. The response is often defensiveness, which further erodes trust.
Second, good governance structures pay off in a crisis. Ineffective boards or ill-placed personal loyalties are a problem in good times; in bad times they are a disaster.
Third, dormant issues can very quickly become life-threatening crises as public perception tends to change rapidly. One of the striking aspects of the News Corp. scandal is that the allegations of hacking into voicemail messages and private accounts and bribing police officers were ongoing for years. But the dynamics dramatically changed when the reports related to Milly Dowler (and other similar cases such as murder victims or soldiers killed in action) surfaced in early July. The horrific case of Milly Dowler and her family immediately triggered reactions of sympathy for the victims and disgust and outrage for the new villains: News of the World, News Corp. and Rupert Murdoch.
Fourth, once a company loses public opinion, politicians will adjust, turning from friends to enemies in a heartbeat. At that stage politicians and public officials need to save their own skin amidst allegations of inaction or complicity.
For more details and commentary, see my blog post "The British Watergate" as well as my appearance on BBC's The Hub.
- TEPCO and the Japanese Government
Whenever disaster strikes, companies and governments are not only criticized for their immediate handling of the crisis, but also their ability to reassure the public. Maintaining trust during a crisis is just as important as solving the crisis at an operational level. Both TEPCO and the Japanese government were criticized for lack of transparency and timely release of information.
What also became apparent is that leaders are not only in the spotlight for their current conduct. Indeed, their preceding actions (or inaction) too come under heavy scrutiny. TEPCO's history of safety violations quickly took center stage, while the Japanese government was criticized for lack of oversight and a too cozy relationship with the nuclear power industry.
For an early assessment of the Japanese crisis, see my video interview with the Kellogg School of Management.
Next we have two crises involving universities.
- Penn State
The revolting details of the Penn State case have dominated U.S. headlines over the last months. While the future of the protagonists in this sordid tale is now decided in the courts there are important lessons here for any business, but especially for universities and other non-profits.
First, "crimes of omission", i.e. looking the other way, not acting forcefully or simply the lack of appropriate processes are unacceptable in today's business environment. An organization's reputation critically depends on the decisions of its people, including what they neglect to do. Lack of awareness, missing processes, or confusion over values is deadly. No institution can simply count on its members to "do the right thing".
Second, universities (and other non-profits) are especially at risk when those entrusted to them are victimized. While for-profit companies are typically thought of as being competent—but not necessarily caring—nonprofits are seen as being caring, but not always competent. These perceptions are considered a given; they are "table-stakes". Losing them threatens the very core of the institution.
Finally, sage words on the reputational risk of universities from a somewhat unlikely source: a rating agency. In its evaluation of Penn State's credit rating, Moody's Investors Service stated the following:
"Higher education is first and foremost a business that is driven by reputation…Student demand, the attraction of faculty, and the ability to draw donations are all based on reputation."
- Politicians and Plagiarism
Our first German crisis takes us to an unlikely domain: doctorates for politicians. Many German politicians have obtained doctorates, frequently in the social sciences, history or law. Last year saw a wave of plagiarism allegations against German politicians. The most prominent casualty was the German defense minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (above), who not only lost his "Dr." designation but also had to resign from the German government and (perhaps temporarily) exit political life.
The scandal also heralds a subtle shift in the control over scientific expertise and quality. The initial charges and evidence were the result of a crowdsourcing effort on a Wiki called "Guttenplag". Guttenberg's degree-granting university (the University of Bayreuth) found itself first on the back foot, but then stated that the minister had "extensively violated academic standards and intentionally cheated."
Our next two crises illustrate the risks of brand-driven strategies: you live by the brand, you die by the brand!
Crises can come from anywhere, and just when you think you've seen it all there comes an example that is truly jaw-dropping. Such is the case of the German insurer Hamburg-Mannheimer, now part of ERGO, which itself is owned by the insurance giant Munich Re, which counts Warren Buffett as an investor. A staple of German advertising lore, it featured a long running advertising campaign featuring a conservative insurance agent "Herr Kaiser" and his trademark greeting, "Nice to see you." Overall, it presented a reliable, if a little boring image of stability and personal attention.
Boring no more. After its acquisition, ERGO engaged in an aggressive advertising campaign with goals of defining itself as a consumer brand with a focus on trust, clarity, and transparency. In May 2011, however, the German press discovered and reported that Hamburg-Mannheimer had organized an "incentive trip" for its 100 best salesmen in 2007. The company had rented the famous Gellert Baths—an art deco spa in Budapest, Hungary—and hired about 20 prostitutes. The prostitutes wore color coded wrist bands to indicate which men (ranked by sales performance) were allowed to have sex with them. (Prostitution is legal in Hungary and Germany).
A few weeks later, the German press reported that during 2005-06 the company had overcharged 70,000 customers nearly $234 million for the so-called "Riester-Rente", a state-subsidized retirement product. Subsequent reports suggested that errors may have been known to the company as early as October 2005. In addition, sales representatives allegedly had advised clients with existing life insurance policies to switch to accidental insurance policies. This resulted in higher commissions for sales representatives, but was frequently not in the financial interest of the customer.
The initial company response was slow and defensive, despite the fact that the company knew this was coming – a rare luxury in a reputational crisis. Three weeks after the initial report, and after intense pressure on the CEO, ERGO outlines new processes including the creation of a whistle-blowing hotline and the appointment of an external body to monitor operations and conduct regular compliance audits. The company also outlined its plan to create new guidelines for incentive schemes.
One of the more interesting aspects of the ERGO crisis was the apparent mismatch between brand positioning (a focus on trust and transparency) with an aggressive sales culture. Reputational ambition needs to be connected with reality on the ground. Otherwise, the next crisis is just around the corner.
See also my case study in the Financial Times
6. Netflix
It was a horrible year for Reed Hastings, Netflix's CEO and Fortune's 2010 "Business Person of the Year." The stock is down almost 2/3 for the year, currently trading at about $69 per share after having reached $300 per share earlier this year. A calamitous change in its pricing model, followed by the "Qwickster" disaster, lead to a mass exit of subscribers. Netflix now expects a loss for 2012 and the web is suddenlyfull of "Netflix haters".
This is a stunning fall from grace, but it illustrates a broader point. Brands are now largely about trust, but trust is fragile. When trust is violated (or perceived to be violated), trust quickly turns to betrayal, and passionate support to rage. Add to that the difficulty of operating in a (social) media environment with less and less control over the message customers receive, and this new brand fragility is not an exception, but a common risk that needs to be managed.
The next two crises have their roots in severe problems of governance (we could have added News Corp. to that list). Well-functioning governance structures are critical during a crises, and here they are the trigger for the crisis.
- HP's Board
A year after the controversial ouster of CEO Mark Hurd, HP's board again made negative headlines, this time for its dismissal of Léo Apotheker, less than a year after his appointment and after endorsing his strategy for transforming HP. Again there were reports of leaks by board members and deep divisions within, leading CNN Money–among many others–to ask: "Is HP's board the worst ever?"
A year of corruption allegations, investigations, resignations, and the highly controversial reelection of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, all on the heels of a heavily criticized selection process for the World Cups of 2018 (to Russia) and 2022 (to Qatar). Blatter then had to apologize for controversial comments on racism in soccer, reigniting calls for his resignation and thorough governance reform.
We typically do not think of sports governing institutions as bodies in need of reputation management, but not only are their responsibilities broad (they determine rules, collect dues, negotiate TV and advertising contracts, sponsor local development initiatives, etc.), they are entrusted with ensuring the integrity of the game, and its history.
- The U.S. Government
The reputation of countries is measured in different ways, bond ratings being only one of them. The U.S. political system has had a rough year. As the country watches another example of Congressional brinkmanship, many observers ask themselves how it could have come this far. There are many explanations for the ongoing inability of the U.S. political system to come to decisions, from the surge of the Tea Party to positioning for the 2012 Presidential Election. But down-to-the wire budget negotiations are nothing new to the U.S. political landscape. The worst consequences are mostly avoided, but sometimes bad outcomes result, as in the 1995 shutdown of the federal government. As a consequence, passports and visas were left unprocessed, national parks were closed, and veteran services curtailed.
Through its extensive set of checks and balances, the U.S. Constitution was designed to force policy makers into these bargaining situations. The need to find common ground between the president and the chambers of Congress would ensure moderate policies with broader support. Other democracies, such as Great Britain, lack this structure, as parliamentary democracies encourage unity between the executive and its supporting majority in parliament. There are pros and cons to each structure. A British Prime Minister can make far-reaching decisions without periods of extensive bargaining. This was last seen in the austerity measures passed in October 2010, which implemented far more radical cuts in the UK budget than discussed in the current U.S. debate. On the other hand, the possibility of radical change can lead to highly disruptive policy changes as different parties assume power, as seen in the waves of nationalization and de-nationalization of British industry in the 70s and 80s.
Such inefficient policy shifts are far less likely in a system of checks and balances, but in addition to the usual bargaining shenanigans known from any negotiations, there are unintended consequences that make the current situation particularly severe. In a paper with Roger Myerson, the 2007 Nobel laureate in Economics, we have argued that a system of checks and balance can create incentives for Congress to create inefficient decision structures. The argument goes as follows: in a bargaining situation each chamber wants to get the best deal for its members and their constituents. By creating internal veto players, such as powerful party leaders and committee chairs that need to sign off on any deal, the chamber can secure a better outcome for itself.
The problem is that having more players that need to agree makes a deal less likely. The consequences are fewer agreements and an inability to pass tough policies and gridlock. What can be done?
First, anything that creates bonds across chambers will be a positive step, whether these are joint committees or strong personal relationships. Second, voters that hold members of Congress accountable for failure change the incentives to engage in intransigent behavior. Third, moving from a system where all chambers have to agree with the president to one where only one chamber needs to sign off would create incentives to remove internal hurdles and lead to more efficient bargaining while maintaining the quintessential features of checks and balances.
For more, see my blog post "Checks and Balances and the Debt Ceiling Crisis".
- The Republican Candidates
This year's installation of the demolition derby known as the U.S. primaries demonstrated the limits of managing reputational crises. Even the short-lived popularity of Herman Cain's "9-9-9" tax proposal could not overcome ongoing allegations of sexual harassment and adulterous affairs, and feeble attempts of humor could not save Perry from his "senior moment".
For my take on how Herman Cain and Rick Perry handled gaffes during their campaigns, please see the Huffington Post's "Perry, Cain manage crises with humor, defiance".


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The Mets begin an eight-game road trip tonight in Florida in a classic pitcher's duel: Johan Santana vs. Josh Johnson.
Something has to break because both pitchers dominate the opposition, with Santana 6-1 with a 1.66 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins. Johnson is not the type of pitcher a team in a hitting funk likes to face. He is 7-1 against the Mets, including 4-0 with a 2.14 ERA in five home starts against them.
The Mets' lone victory over Johnson came Opening Day at Citi Field. The Marlins, however, won the next two games of that series.
The Mets need to get Jose Reyes going. Reyes is mired in a season-long slump, which hasn't been helped by the move to third in the batting order. Reyes is batting .228 with a .283 on-base percentage. He is hitting .242 since being moved out of the leadoff spot.
Clearly, he's not performing well hitting third. He's trying to do too much with the ball. He's better off going back to first where he's more comfortable. Hitting is all about comfort, and Reyes looks uncomfortable at the plate. He's reaching for pitches and is swinging with more of an uppercut than he has in the past.
However, manager Jerry Manuel is insistent on leaving Reyes third in the order ahead of Jason Bay. Manuel's theory is Bay will see more fastballs with Reyes on ahead of him. The problem is Reyes isn't on much these days. And, Bay only has one homer on the season, so where he has benefitted I'm not sure.
Here's tonight's lineup:
Angel Pagan, CF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Jose Reyes, SS
Jason Bay, LF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Rod Barajas, C
Johan Santana, LP
NOTE: I have my class tonight and won't be home until nine. Hope to see you then.


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Hello all!
I was wondering if any of you have had hands on work with Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration server, better known as ISA? I'm supposed to be implementing this in about 3 weeks at one of my client's places and I have yet to really get my hands dirty in it. Basically, I'm looking to have ISA do bandwidth throttling, bandwidth monitoring, minor intrustion detection, firewalling, proxying, the whole shebang (or #! for you perl lovers). So any tips or advice you could give me from experience with ISA would be greatly appreciated!


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CANASERAGA � Canaseraga School principal Michael Gill this week called negative testimony about the Common Core curriculum at an December forum inaccurate.
Gill said the Dec. 5 hearing in Corning "was a far-from-accurate depiction of the condition of education in our area" and "insulting."
The principal said he "was very disappointed" that so "many un-truths were shared with significantly false characterizations."
More than 150 parents and teachers attended the gathering that minority members of the State Assembly Education Committee sponsored. The committee held a dozen meetings with parents and educators from Long Island to Corning, Jamestown and Buffalo.
"For instance," he said, "the novel that was quoted (during testimony) and drew gasps about unambiguous adult content was actually from suggested texts in Southwestern States, not from New York State." Educational officials from those western states were responsible for the explicit content in those books, Gill said in an on-line interview.
"Information (at the hearing) about Special Education and the Common Core also was completely inaccurate and, frankly, insulting," he said.
More than 40 teachers and parents, a local state senator and two area assemblymen unanimously criticized the mandated curriculum. A Long Island assemblymen on the committee has introduced legislation to un-commit New York State from participation in the Common Core Curriculum. At the latest count, 30 assemblymen from around the state, including Assemblymen Chris Friend (R, Big Flats) and Phil Palmesano (R-C-I, Corning), have co-sponsored the proposal.
Gill noted another misconception that anti-curriculum activists associate with Common Core: "That teachers are required to read lessons like scripts is a complete misinterpretation of the truth.
"I have seen a lot of negative information published but it is not proportional to the positive feelings about Common Core among families, teachers and students. The negativity is definitely not classroom reality at Canaseraga and in my social circles," the principal said.
Gill said "The saddest point for me about the Corning forum was when a person disparaged our students and my children's ability to learn specifically about first-grade world geography and history. That is inaccurate and insulting," he said. "Students at the Canaseraga Central School first grade are very proud of their learning.
"Yet these inaccurate comments get quoted and put into headlines," he said.
The principal said "families and some close friends say they are reluctant to speak out about the positives they are seeing in their children's (Common Core) learning because of all the negativity in news media and on social networks. In fact, I have been told they are afraid of the bullying behaviors they have seen and the potential backlash from these small but very vocal groups.
"If this was perpetrated in Canaseraga school, those anti-curriculum activists might actually be in violation on the new Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)," he said.
DASA training and intervention in school harassment, bullying, cyber bullying and discrimination is part of the New York State legislation.
Arkport Board of Education President Stephen P. Hoyt said earlier this fall he thought anti-Common Core activists are a vocal minority.
Gill continued "Canaseraga teachers and administrators see many positive results in our students from these higher Common Core standards. Our students are demonstrating incredible learning in these classes. Canaseraga hard-working and successful teachers deserve recognition for their efforts. We are seeing (at Canaseraga) educational gains through the predictable pain of any change," Gill said.
In a related issue, Canaseraga Superintendent Kelly Houck said recently that State Education Department staff need "to supply educational materials much sooner in the school year so teachers and paraprofessionals will have time to examine curriculum guides prior to using them with students." Some of the Common Core curriculum materials arrived months after school started in September.
While the public debate continues, neither Common Core supporters nor anti-Common Core activists disagree with the stated goals of a rigorous curriculum to prepare New York State high school graduates for careers and college.


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TITLE THAILAND Guide To Travel Thailand
Krabi Villas offers a hand-picked selection of luxury serviced properties in Krabi for short term vacation rental. Our service combine more than 20 years international experience in the five stat hospitallity industry with the warmth and charm of Thailand and the Thai people.
We pride ourselves on being flexible and discreet: we can cater for everything from a low key honeymoon to a grand family reunion or birthday celebration. And our villas are the best in Krabi, each with private swimming pool and top of the range facilities. A personal concierge can assist with tours and excursions so you can easily explore the sights, including the world famous Krabi islands.
Our website offers instant booking and secure online payment by credit card or PayPal, with "real person" follow-up to ensure we can prepare the best conditions for your stay. When you book your Krabi holiday with us, you can expect a smooth and hassle-free process, as well as unerring personal attention to any special needs and requirements your party may have.
No. of units : 15
Check in : 14:00
Check out : 12:00
High Season : November - April
Low Season : May - October


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Difference between revisions of "Vientiane"
Revision as of 23:38, 27 November 2007
Vientiane (ວຽງຈັນ Wieng Chan) is the capital of Laos.
Compared to the hectic, bustling capitals in other Southeast Asia countries, Vientiane's deliciously relaxing atmosphere makes it feel like the small town it is. After you're done the round of temples, the best thing to do here is wander down to one of the riverside beer gardens, kick back with a cold Beerlao - the Lao national beer - and watch the sun set over the Mekong.
Settled since at least 1000 AD, Vientiane became the capital of the kingdom of Lan Xang ("million elephants") in 1545. Ransacked in 1828 by the Siamese, Vientiane sprung back in time to be again named the capital of the protectorate of Laos by the French, a position it kept after independence (1953) and after the communists took over in 1975. Today Vientiane is the largest city in Laos, with an estimated population of 200,000 in the city itself and some 700,000 in Vientiane Prefecture.
Vientiane is stretched out on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River. From the river bank inland, the main roads running parallel to the river are Thanon Fa Ngum, Thanon Setthathirat and Thanon Samsenthai. The central district, Chantabuli, contains most of Vientiane's government offices, hotels and restaurants. Vientiane's widest boulevard, Thanon Lan Xang, runs from the Presidential Palace (now used for government offices and for state receptions) to the northeast around Patuxai, the Victory Gate, towards Pha That Luang, the That Luang Stupa, the most important religious monument in Laos.
Where there are signs displaying street names (by no means everywhere...) these are bilingual Lao and French. The Lao word "thanon" on these signs is translated by "rue", "avenue" or "boulevard", in many cases without any apparent logic. Therefore the Lao word "thanon" is used throughout this article.
Since 2006 a major road upgrading project has been going on in the town center and out of it up to way past the airport in the west and the Friendship Bridge in the east. Financed by the Japanese government and planned and overseen by japanese engineers, the project is nearing completion (September 2007). Gone are the hazards presented by missing drainage gully covers, sidewalks upturned by tree roots, and even the smell from the gullies is no longer very noticeable. Almost no trees have been cut - amazing!. In downtown Vientiane the through roads Thanons Setthathirat and Samsenthai and the side roads connecting them and down to the river now have sealed surfaces and decent street lighting, and a one-way traffic regime is in place (but not the police enforcing it), and parking regulations have also been introduced. Of course, it is still anarchy on the roads. Foreigners beware: markings for pedestrian crossings have been painted on the new roads, but the local drivers regard them as decoration. Don't rely on them!
Note: do not rely on the Google Earth view of Vientiane for locating the sights: many locations put there by well-meaning users (the "Google Earth Community") are clearly in the wrong place, not just a block or so away but some even in a wrong part of the town!
Get in
By plane
Vientiane's Wattay Airport is 4 km west of the city. International services are quite limited, but this is slowly changing.
There are direct international flights to/from:
Lao Airlines flies to five domestic destinations (three to five flights daily to Luang Prabang; once or twice daily to Pakse, four times per week to Houei Sai and Oudomxay, and six times per week to Xieng Khuang (winter timetable 2007/08).
Many hotels offer a pickup service from the airport, or you can take a jumbo or taxi for US$6. (Rides to the airport should be cheaper.)
Visas are available on arrival at the airport, and the fee is US$30. Until recently these were only for 14 days, however, 30 day visas are now being issued on arrival. There is a US$10 departure tax for international flights.
From Bangkok many visitors choose to fly into Udon Thani in Thailand instead, and cross the border by bus, as this domestic flight is considerably cheaper than a direct international flight to Vientiane. There is a direct shuttle from Udon Thani airport to the Thai/Lao border at Nong Khai (about 50km away), and there are also direct cross-border bus services from Udon Thani (the city, not the airport!) to Vientiane. This option (flight plus bus transfers and immigration clearance at 2 points) takes at least 2 hours longer than a direct Bangkok to Vientiane flight. Attention: Thai Airways flies from Don Muang, the old Bangkok airport, and Thai Air Asia from Suvarnabhumi, the new Bangkok airport, to Udon Thani.
By train
Plans to connect Vientiane to the Thai railway network remained just plans for a long time, so for now the railhead remains at Nong Khai, on the Thai side of the Friendship Bridge. However, early 2007 work was begun on the construction of an extension across the bridge to the Lao side of the bridge (to be completed 2008 or 2009) - ultimately the line will be extended to Vientiane itself.
Until the rail connection with Laos is completed rail travellers must take a tuk-tuk from Nong Khai station to the Thai border post at the bridge, cross the bridge by shuttle bus to the Lao border post, and from there make their way to Vientiane (some 16km) by taxi, tuk-tuk or bus.
By road
From Thailand
The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Saphan Mittaphap) from Nong Khai, Thailand is the most common means of entry. The bridge cannot be crossed on foot or by bicycle, but there are frequent 20 baht shuttle buses just past Thai immigration. Bicycles can be carried on buses in the cargo compartment.
Direct buses to/from Nong Khai (30 baht) and Udon Thani (80 baht) arrive and depart from the Talat Sao bus terminal. These are cheap, comfortable, hassle-free and popular, so book ahead or arrive early. Note: these buses are not an option if you plan to obtain a Lao visa on arrival at the bridge - the bus will not wait long enough.
Lao visas are available on arrival (until recently, only 15 day, but as of July 2006, this has increased to 30 days) and the official fee is US$35 for most EU or English speaking nations (India is US$40, Afghanistan US$42; countries not specially mentioned: US$30). There is a surcharge of US$1 outside working hours and on weekends. The fee is considerably higher if paid with Thai baht (about US$9 more at current exchange rates), so bring clean US$ notes. A passport photo is also required, however an extra 40 baht or US$1 can usually be paid if you're unable to provide one (they'll use a photocopy of your passport). A 10 baht "entry fee" is charged once through, though walking straight past this desk seems not to be difficult.
Once through immigration, you can take a jumbo (posted price 150 baht, easy to bargain down to 100 baht or less for immediate departure with only one passenger) or taxi (200 baht) to any destination in the city. Shared jumbos are cheaper and local buses to Talat Sao cheapest of all, but signage is nonexistent and you may be in for a wait. You should be able to negotiate to a good deal less than 50 baht/person if you're prepared to share (and possibly wait). It's about 20km from the bridge to Vientiane; allow at least 30 minutes.
When arriving via the Friendship Bridge, you might like to visit the Buddha Park sculpture garden before going on to Vientiane, and save yourself a return trip back past the border crossing later. The same local bus that connects the Morning Market and the Friendship Bridge checkpoint also continues on to Buddha Park.
Going the opposite way, asking around the bus station for Friendship Bridge is effective. There are no immigration fees when exiting Laos via the Bridge, except at weekends when a token 2500 kip "overtime charge" applies.
Tickets from Vientiane to Udon Thani can only be bought from the Talat Sao bus station on the day itself for 22,000 kip.
From Vietnam
A direct bus from Hanoi will take at least 20 hours (despite what the travel agents might say) and should cost about US$15-20.
From elsewhere in Laos
Buses to destinations in Vientiane Prefecture depart from the Talat Sao bus terminal, just east of the Morning Market. There is an informative schedule and schematic diagram of the bus piers painted on the central building, which is where you can also buy in tickets.
The Southern Bus Terminal, used by all buses going south (including VIP), is quite far from town leaving you at the mercy of the taxi bullies. Note that if you buy a ticket in town you should be able to get a free ride to the terminal.
The Northern Bus Terminal, somewhat north-west of the city center, is where all buses to the north start.
Get around
Getting around Vientiane is generally easy, as the traffic is far less murderous than in larger Southeast Asian cities like Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. Street signage is, however, rather lacking so a good map comes in handy. Maps are available at bookshops and some minimarts. Many storefronts feature full mailing addresses in Roman letters, and these are often the best way to determine the street one is walking. People navigate using landmarks, so name the nearest embassy or hotel to where you want to go.
Vientiane's rainwater drainage system, which also takes care of "grey water" from baths, sinks, laundry etc consists of gullies on the roadside, usually covered by concrete slabs. These slabs are sometimes damaged and very precariously balanced, or even missing altogether; people rapidly learn to take care before stepping on anything that looks like a slab! Waste from toilets is or should be collected in septic tanks (at every house), but those gullies can nevertheless smell abominably.
By taxi
Vientiane has a small fleet of genuine taxis retired from Bangkok, usually found lurking at the Friendship Bridge, the airport or in front of large hotels. Fares are set by bargaining, so figure on around US$0.50 per km or US$20-40 to hire one for the day, depending on car type and distance.
By tuk-tuk or jumbo
Tuk-tuks and their bigger cousins jumbos are ubiquitous in Vientiane. To charter a tuk-tuk/jumbo, agree on the fare in advance; short hops within the city shouldn't cost more than 5000 kip, although as a tourist you may have difficulty bargaining to less than US$1 (10000K). All the tuk-tuk drivers carry a fare card for popular destinations but these fares are a bit inflated and a little negotiation is recommended. Share jumbos running on set routes, eg. Th Lan Xang to Pha That Luang, charge a fixed 1000K.
By bus
Minibuses connect the center to the suburban districts, but are not particularly useful for tourists, with the possible exception of the bus to the Friendship Bridge. The main terminal is on the east side of Talat Sao.
By bike
Bicycles are perhaps the best way to get around the city. Most guest houses and hotels can arrange bike rental for around US$2 per day. Although the city's flat terrain makes for good biking, one-way streets can be difficult to identify.
Despite the poor standard of local driving, cycling is fairly safe in the city because the traffic is quite slow (maybe because of the condition of the roads). But take extra care when the roads are wet, because many are unsurfaced (even in the city center), and they can be muddy and slippery - innocent-looking puddles sometimes conceal deep potholes.
On foot
The city center can be quite comfortably covered on foot, at least in the cool season. Pha That Luang, however, is 4 km away from the center and thus a bit of a hike. Out of the city center there are few footpaths so walking can be uncomfortable.
Temples and Stupas
Some temples (indicated below) charge an entry fee of 2000/5000K for Lao/foreigners and are open 08:00-16:00, with a 12:00-13:00 lunch break. The monks of those that don't charge a fee will be grateful for a small donation in the box.
There are many more temples all over the town, but it must be said that if you are out to admire temples Luang Prabang is the place to go, not Vientiane.
Apart from exploring the city itself there are several worthwile trips into the surrounding countryside on offer. Some can be done independently, some are offered by commercial agencies. Within one to two hours from Vientiane you can go kayaking, wild-water rafting, trekking through nature parks, etc.
A reputable agency organising adventure tours and eco-tourism is Green Discovery Laos in Thanon Setthathirat next to Kop Chei Deu.
The local people love to go picnicking at some of the rivers or on the shores of Nam Ngum Lake, about 90km from Vientiane. There are floating restaurants along the lake shore; their specialty is fish fresh from the lake. Cruises among the lake's islands can be booked here, which makes for a relaxing couple of hours. Just inquire at your guest house/hotel or at any travel agency (where they will then try to sell their tours).
Hurting legs and backs from a day roaming the city? Go for a traditional Lao massage. There are lots of massage places all over the town, from "holes in the wall" to upscale establishments. Prices range from US$3-6/hour, more for the truly luxurious spa-like places where you will really be pampered (for instance Papaya Spa, on a road parallel to the river facing Xieng Veh temple about 2km from the city center).
All these establishments are 100% aboveboard and legitimate: this is not Bangkok! Your masseur or masseuse will be grateful for a tip. The staff will be happy if you have the decency to take a shower before you go there. They won't say anything to your face, but smelly foreigners make their job less than pleasant.
The locals have only disdain for those (backpackers) that walk the street in almost beach attire. Please dress decently, however attractive a torso you (think) you have.
The local currency is the kip (LAK) which comes in notes of 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 kip. The exchange rate is about 9600 kip to the US Dollar (September 2007).
Banks and exchange offices are located throughout the city center. Phongsavanh Bank, with its distinctive gold elephants, is Vientiane's newest bank and operates a currency exchange until about 16:30 on weekdays, and for shorter hours on weekends. They charge a 1% fee. It is located on Thanon Samsenthai, the same road as the national museum and cultural hall, a few hundred meters in the opposite direction of Talat Sao. BCEL's (Lao Bank for Foreign Trade) main foreign exchange counter is located on the corner of Thanon Fa Ngum (the river promenade) and Thanon Pangkham, charges no commission, and has longer opening hours than most local banks. Other banks in the city have exchange facilities too, including two or three booths of BCEL within Talat Sao.
ATMs can now be found throughout the city, but are notorious for their unreliability (mainly because their stock of kip gets exhausted in the course of the day). Withdrawals are limited to 1,000,000 kip per transaction (a bit more than 100 USD); however, you may make up to three of these in one day. Of course, if your own bank charges a fee for each withdrawal, this will add up!
Thai baht and US$ are almost universally accepted at stores and restaurants; some places also accept Euros. In some restaurants the bill will state the amount in kip and US$, baht or Euro or any combination of these. The Government tries to persuade its people to always use only kip, but at the same time its own offices and institutions will gladly accept US$ or even bill their services in US$.
Credit cards are accepted by travel agencies and in better restaurants and shops, but many charge a 3% fee, take it or leave it...
Places to go shopping:
There are many restaurants in Vientiane. They offer a wide selection of cuisines, from Chinese specialities to Tex-Mex. More restaurants are opened all the time, but many are there for just a few months before they go under; a few are successful and stay and may even flourish. It's a question of offering something special, either in the way of the food served, or the atmosphere, or the friendly and competent service. The following is only a small selection.
A selection of more "sophisticated" eateries follows:
Vientiane has a few bars/clubs, but there's no shortage of places for a quiet Beerlao. In particular, the Mekong shoreline is packed with near-identical but pleasant bamboo-and-thatch beer gardens offering cold beer and spicy snacks.
There are two clubs near the Novotel hotel:
Note that everything is supposed to close down before midnight before the start of the unofficial curfew, although clubs generally stay open until 1-1.30am. The most notable exception is the extremely popular Don Chan Palace Hotel Nightclub which is open until 4am on the weekend.
Now that the closing time is more strictly enforced (December 2006), the popularity of the bowling alley has increased again, as it is open and serving customers for 24 hours a day.
There are numerous places to stay in Vientiane, from very basic guest houses with dormitory-type rooms to comfortable upscale boutique hotels, with prices from very moderate to mid-range and higher. In recent years many new establishments have opened, but mid-2007 the Government announced plans to restrict the number of new permits: they wish to concentrate on quality rather than quantity. The days that anyone could convert their home to a guest house and partake of the boom seem to be over.
It should always be possible to find accommodation here without bothering to book in advance; in fact, the only time there has been something of a room shortage in Vientiane in recent years was in November 2004 when the city hosted an ASEAN summit. Anyway, if such an event should happen again the authorities may well close the border for tourists, as they did in 2004. Normally, just get into the town center (for instance the Nam Phu square) and start looking around along Thanon Setthathirat and its side streets. You'll find something within minutes.
Room rates may vary depending on the season: high season is something like October through April or May; low season June through September.
Some places insist on an early nightly curfew and lock the front door without giving you a key. If you wish to enjoy the nightlife (what there is of it), make sure that you will be able to stay out and, more importantly, get in again.
The Lao Hotel and Restaurant Association has an extensive list of hotels in Vientiane. The following is just a small selection.
Many more guest houses all over downtown Vientiane - too many to even begin listing them all. Walk in and ask!
Internet cafes are ubiquitous in Vientiane, particularly along Thanon Samsenthai and the east end of Thanon Setthathirat. The going rate as of September 2007 is 100K/minute, usually charged in 10 minute increments.
Stay healthy
The city's waterworks are called Nam PaPaa, which means "water without fishes". Yes, the fishes have been removed but not everything else. Don't drink the tap water - stick to the bottled water available everywhere.
Mosquito-borne diseases
Vientiane is free from malaria, but dengue is a real threat, especially during the rainy season. Take the necessary precautions against mosquito bites by wearing DEET repellent - available to purchase at any minimart.
Stray dogs
Some of them can be vicious. If you're bitten see a doctor. Even if you've had a rabies vaccination before your trip: you will still need a booster jab.
Don't follow the example of the locals who will bathe in anything that looks like water. There is a real risk of picking up parasites! Swimming in public pools is okay. There is one in a kind of garden setting on Thanon Sok Paluang, and another, not in such a nice setting, on the road by the Stadium.
Hotel pools are also safe. Some hotels with pools that you can use for a fee if you're not staying there: Novotel, Lao Plaza, Lane Xang - and there are more. Recommended: the Sunday brunch at the Novotel at c. US$ 10 including use of the pool.
In Vientiane
Vientiane's hospitals are a far cry from those in the West or even in Thailand. Mahosot and Setthathirat Hospitals can treat common conditions but for anything more serious you're better off heading to Thailand (see below) where there are good private hospitals with USA or Europe trained doctors.
For emergency dental treatment it's also best to go to Thailand; in Vientiane's dental clinics they seem to resort to tooth extractions a bit too easily.
Mahosot Hospital is on the river (go to their "International Clinic" where you pay more and get more personal service, but from the same doctors that work in the hospital itself); Setthathirat Hospital is away from downtown on the Thai-Lao Road.
In Thailand
Recommended hospitals close to Vientiane are:
Stay safe
Vientiane is a fairly safe city in terms of crime. However, bag snatching from guests sitting in front of cafes is becoming more common. Bags in the baskets of (rented) bicycles or mopeds, even when moving along, are also far from safe. Do not leave a bag in an accessible position. If your bag is snatched, immediately start shouting: the perpetrators rely on tourists reacting by silently trying to chase them without alerting the numerous police boxes. The thieves are often drug addicts.
Probably a bigger hazard than crime is the missing sewer covers on sidewalks. Additionally, there are many loose flagstones that will tip if stepped on. Tread carefully and exercise extreme caution at night.
A "secret" Lao law says that foreigners cannot have sexual relations with Lao women other than their spouses. The penalty, if caught, is US$500 for first time, though as the text of the law is not available, may be much more (the US embassy says $5000); the foreigner may be jailed or deported and the Lao woman may find herself in jail - and that is really the last place anyone would want to be here. If you take a girl to your room and she robs you this law makes it almost impossible to obtain assistance from the police. Bar tenders are happy to provide stories of angry tourists confronting girls in the same bars they picked them up the night before! Anyway, many hotels do not allow foreigners to take girls to their rooms, as it is officially prohibited. Those that do allow it must have some financial arrangement with the local police - this is Laos where the only thing more powerful than the Law is money.


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From GENE LOGSDON
Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Recently I was invited to a most unusual gathering. The event was not officially called a "Conference On Advanced Economic Trends" but if it had been held at a university, it would surely have been given a high-sounding name like that. Instead it was held on a working farm and was called "Our Garlic Festival."
The farm is Jandy's, after its owners, Andy Reinhart and Jan Dawson. They make their living growing and selling vegetables from less than two acres of their little farm, mostly at the farmer's market in nearby Bellefountaine, Ohio. Locally Jan and Andy are revered organic garden farmers. One look at their crops will tell anyone who knows anything about organic gardening just how remarkably skilled they are at their craft. Sometimes a head of their bibb lettuce barely fits into a bushel basket. They don't need to have organic certification. Their customers know that if Jan and Andy say its organic, rest assured that it is organic. They don't sell commodities; they sell the fruit of their dedicated way of life, drops of their sweat and blood.
Keep reading at OrganicToBe→


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New York, NY, Dec. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments today announced the distribution declarations for the following CurrencyShares® exchange traded products: CurrencyShares® Australian Dollar Trust (NYSE: FXA), CurrencyShares® Canadian Dollar Trust (NYSE: FXC) and CurrencyShares® Swedish Krona Trust (NYSE: FXS).
|NYSE Ticker
|Fund Name
|Declaration Date
|Ex-dividend Date
|Record Date
|Payable Date/Share
|CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust
|CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust
|CurrencyShares Swedish Krona Trust
Distributions are made to shareholders on a pro-rata basis (in accordance with the number of shares that are owned) only in the event that the interest earned by the Trust exceeds the sum of the sponsor's fee for the prior month plus other Trust expenses, if any. There is no guarantee that distributions will be made on a monthly basis.
CurrencyShares® offer investors and institutions a convenient and cost-effective method of gaining investment benefits similar to that of holding foreign currencies, including potential diversification and hedging benefits. More details about the products are available at www.currencyshares.com.
About Guggenheim Investments
Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management division of Guggenheim Partners ("Guggenheim"), which consists of investment managers with approximately $137 billion in combined total assets1. Collectively, Guggenheim Investments has a long, distinguished history of serving institutional investors, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices and financial intermediaries. Guggenheim Investments offers clients a wide range of differentiated capabilities built on a proven commitment to investment excellence. Guggenheim Investments has offices in Chicago, New York City and Santa Monica, along with a global network of offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
1 The total asset figure is as of 9.30.2012 and includes $9.56B of leverage for Assets Under Management and $0.83B of leverage for Serviced Assets. Total assets include assets from Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC ("GPIM", formerly known as Guggenheim Partners Asset Management, LLC; GPIM assets also include all assets from Guggenheim Investment Management, LLC which were transferred as of 06.30.2012), Guggenheim Funds and its affiliated entities, and some business units including Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, Guggenheim Aviation, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Transparent Value Advisors, LLC, and Guggenheim Partners India Management. Values from some funds are based upon prior periods.
Shares of each CurrencyShares Trust may not be suitable for all investors . The value of the shares of each CurrencyShares Trust relates directly to the value of the foreign currency held by the particular Trust. This creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the price of the applicable foreign currency. Accordingly, a decline in the price of that currency will have an adverse effect on the value of the shares of the particular CurrencyShares Trust. Factors that may have the effect of causing a decline in the price of a foreign currency include national debt levels and trade deficits, domestic and foreign inflation rates, domestic and foreign interest rates, investment and trading activities of institutions and global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. Shares of each CurrencyShares Trust can be bought and sold through a broker; as such, investors may be required to pay brokerage commissions in connection with a purchase or sale. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for the shares of any CurrencyShares Trust will develop or be maintained. For a more complete discussion of risk factors applicable to each CurrencyShares Trust, carefully read the particular Trust's prospectus. TheCurrencyShares® Australian Dollar (FXA) Trust, CurrencyShares® Canadian Dollar (FXC) Trust and CurrencyShares® Swedish Krona (FXS) Trust (each a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts") has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offerings to which this communication relates. Before you invest in the shares of a Trust, you should read the prospectus in the registration statement and other documents the Trust has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Trust and its offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may click the links above or the Trust will arrange to send you its prospectus if you request it by calling toll-free 800.820.0888.
The CurrencyShares Trusts are distributed by Rydex Distributors, LLC. Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners ("GP"), which includes Security Investors, LLC ("SI"). Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC ("GSP"), the Sponsor for the CurrencyShares Trusts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SI. Rydex Distributors, LLC, is affiliated with GP, SI and GSP.
Not FDIC Insured - No Bank Guarantee -May Lose Value.
CONTACT: Jeaneen Pisarra 917.386.0387 email@example.com Source: Guggenheim Investments


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My finger has been hovering over the "order" button for Laura Mercier's High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye ($28) since the first introduction. Laura Mercier's Flawless Face includes some excellent concealers. Who are we kidding, she really excels in that department. I have under eye circles, as well as other areas that I usually cover so that I can wear a lightweight foundation. I waited to buy until I could see the colors in person, and I'm still not entirely sure that I chose the right shade. This post is an overview of the formula, but the jury's still out on the color shades. I ultimately bought shade 1.5 for my MAC NC15/ Chanel Cameo/Ivoire skin tone. My skin leans warm and fair, and I chose shade 1.5 as an excellent match to the rest of my face. I almost added shade 2.5, a medium warm shade, and will likely pick that one up on my next trip in.
I did a few in-house tries with this. After I got used to the formula, I worn this concealer for three days–once entirely alone, a second time over moisturizer (Shiseido) with Giorgio Armani Master Color Corrector in 02 Orange ($39), and a third time using the moisturizer, Armani Color Corrector combined with Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion ($24) using the method described here. I did not try using this with a powder over the top. Because of my travel schedule, these three days spanned dry, warm weather in Northern California, and slightly more humid, temperate temperatures on the East Coast.
The concealer is described as follows by the line: "This formula features honey and vitamin E to protect against environmental stressors, and fruit acid to nourish and calm skin." My thoughts are as follows–first, you need far, far less of this product that you would imagine. The tiniest tiniest bit is too much. It took me a few tries to get used to the high level of pigment in this formula, before I could wear it outside for the day. During my first try, I used the same amount as I would use for Lancome Effacernes, That was way, way too much–honestly, I could have covered my entire face with that small amount. To say "a little goes a long way" really understates the situation.
Straight from the tube, the texture feels a bit dry and thick especially if you are used to Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Straight out of the tube, using too much of the product looks like this:
So, don't use this much! After the product is warm and blended, it really does come to life. This product really did not fade at all on me throughout the day. In fact, I've never used a concealer that holds its coverage as long as this one does. Using an under eye primer for longevity did not deliver any advantages–I'm going to skip that step next time.
The product's skin care ingredients–while not affirmatively moisturizing–did make my under eye area appear flattened (meaning non-puffy) and slightly more youthful throughout the day. Mind, this is not (and does not claim to be) an anti-aging skincare serum. Still, the skin in my under eye area just looked better, and it kept that look throughout the entire day. Unlike the Nars concealer, however, the Laura Mercier does not feel as affirmatively moisturizing. I'd advise a good separate moisturizer when using this product.
The one curious and consistent problem I had was ever-so-slight creasing (whether using a moisturizer or not). Having said that, the overall coverage was still excellent even after sweeping away the creasing. This stuff just does not give up–it's relentless. Here's a picture with the product buffed and blended:
Finally, although this covers beautifully, I think that my slightly blue under eye circles really do need a touch of color correction. The area looked much better on the days I wore the Armani Master Color Corrector underneath the product. I may be able to solve this another way–by trying a slightly deeper shade of the Laura Mercier's High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye. Speaking just for me, sometimes going a bit deeper helps erase those blue tones as well as a corrector. That's the reason that I'm going back and forth on the shades.
Ingredient list (click to enlarge):
Overall, I'm pleased with Laura Mercier's latest offering. I'm going to keep playing with the product to see whether a powder may help the slight creasing issue that I have. The texture is a bit surprising, very pigmented and highly tenacious. Absolutely worth a look.
Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macys.
This post constinas affiliate links, For more information, see About Cafe Makeup.
11 Responses to "My Thoughts: Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye"
Thanks so much for this superb post. I am searching for a good under eye concealer for years and trying different things out. I am using Dior Hydra BB at the moment, which I like in terms of moisturizing but I don't find it especially long lasting. I might try to get this one and mix them for a mixed effect. Which shade in Armani Maestro Corrector are you using?
Sounds like a great product, thanks for sharing!
Thanks – LM sent me $25 off for my birthday and I was considering this (as well as a few more shades of their Gel lipstick – which is FABULOUS). I think I'll pull the trigger…I may have to use a corrector as well, but I've got the same Armani that you mention.
This sounds fantastic but not to sure how well it would work on me though i have dry skin so i dont want it looking weird
Like you, I've found that going deeper in shade is a good idea. My undereye circles are bluish, so that means a deeper shade leaning peach. If I use the right shade, there is no need for a corrector, thus no need to layer, thus less chances of creasing. I don't aim to completely erase anymore, most people have a natural darkness in the undereye area, and I'm going for a look that reads "natural". Thanks for this post! Going to check this product out. I'm always game for a good concealer 😀
Dang it! I was all set to click checkout on this one til I saw Castor Oil. Why does everyone ruin a product with that stuff!? Gah!
Such a great review – I have a really dry eye area so this probably wouldn't work out too well for me!
I am still looking for my holy grail concealer. I must try this one!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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Head coach: Rhonda Hardcastle
Classification: 5A Jeffco
2011 recap: The Lady Rebels placed seventh in the league. Lexie Cox was the team's only individual to go to state. She took first in the all-around in league and tied for sixth at state. She took second on the vault and third on the floor exercise.
Athletes to watch: Kellie Sorensen, Sr., bars; Breezy Coyne, Jr., all-around; Audra Dominguez, Soph., all-around
Season opener: Aug. 31, vs. Pomona (quad meet), 5:30 p.m.
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Small business sentiment soared to a 12-year high in December, as business owners looked forward to much better business conditions. » Read More
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In one state, you can end up in jail for up to six months for selling baked goods. Inside the world of small business regulations.
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A whopping 60% of small-biz owners plan to vote in the election. They want their voices heard in Washington. A survey reveals their top pick.
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Small brewers, like Half Full in Connecticut, are seeing big growth, and that means thousands of new jobs for the industry over the next few years.
If you need someone to stand in line for you at the passport office, online chore market place "TaskRabbit" can help you. The app has a new feature - it will confirm within five minutes, reports CNBC's Kate Rogers.
U.S. small business confidence declined further in February as concerns about sales growth and profits hurt capital spending and hiring plans.
TaskRabbit CEO Leah Busque also talks about balancing growth with background checks on workers.
In a unique Detroit housing program, select lenders are offering guaranteed second mortgages as a way to make up for appraisal gaps.
The skills gained in the military are helping veterans succeed in cybersecurity.
A convenience store owner who had his bank account seized under an IRS policy meant to target drug dealers and money launderers will be repaid in full.
A dairy farmer and a convenience store owner are working to get back their cash they say was wrongfully seized by the IRS years ago.
Linda Mallers, a Wisconsin mother of four, tells CNBC how she turned a P.T.A fundraiser into a business that helps local farmers.


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Message Board
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Talk about the novels, new and used books that Young has written!
Author Young's Book Reviews
When Freddy's dad disappears, he becomes the head of the family. He moves to town and tries to find a job, eventually working at a bar and doing odd jobs for the town's wealthy in order to make ends meet. Freddy eventually saves up enough money to move his mother and the rest of his family to town, where she sews, does laundry, and sells cake to make more money. Freddy meets a girl and gets his first girlfriend, and also deal with his picky and some...


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JoJo Simmons Gives His Rick Ross Impersonation "The Monkey 50 Cent" + Ant Reynolds Does Pimpin Curly Impersonation!
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"Invisible Ink is a powerful tool for anyone who wants to become a better screenwriter. With elegance and precision, Brian McDonald uses his deep understanding of story and character to pass on essential truths about dramatic writing. Ignore him at your peril." —Jim Taylor (Academy Award?- winning screenwriter of Sideways and Election)
Monday, January 22, 2007
Please Don't Kill The Animals
In the last couple of years, several animated films have used animals as major characters. Now I am told by my friends in that business that the studios are looking to buck this trend. They feel that the audience is growing tired of watching animals. I find this baffling. Animal stories did not emerge in the world with the advent of computer-generated animation, and will be with us long after we have moved on to some new technique.
We cannot help but see ourselves in the behavior and habits of animals. How many times have you heard someone say about his or her dog, "He thinks he's a person"? (A more accurate statement might be, "I think my dog is a person.")
People constantly equate human and animal behaviors; they always have. It would not be out of the ordinary to hear a person say of someone, "That guy really squirrels away his money." In fact, here is a short list of such sayings:
• Those guys live like pigs
• She watched me like a hawk
• Men are dogs
• Those guys are really butting heads
• She eats like a bird
• He's stubborn as a mule
• She needs to come out of her shell
• Those two go at it like a couple of rabbits
• He's a leech
Creative people have used animals in storytelling for all of human history. The ancient Greeks believed that by observing the way a beehive was organized and following that model you could have a perfect society.
Many tribal peoples believe that one has an animal spirit guide and by following that animal's lead one might have an easier time at life. Tribal people also believe that we have an animal side to our natures, what Carl Jung calls a "bush soul." So, not only do we see ourselves in animals, but also we see the animal within ourselves.
But why do we use animals in stories, particularly? Because it is a way to look at ourselves with a little distance.
One of my favorite storytellers, Aesop, used animal stories to illuminate the nature of human beings. If the story of the Tortoise and the Hare were merely what the title suggests few would remember the story. No, this is a story about people -- people "dressed" for the story like a Tortoise and a Hare -- but people nonetheless.
In the American South, during the time of slavery, the slaves told stories of the clever Brer (Brother) Rabbit. These were not stories of rabbits, foxes and bears, but stories about people designed to help them survive their cruel circumstances, stories about slaves outwitting their masters to get what they needed.
George Orwell's book Animal Farm uses that distance to reveal how people in power can abuse that power. And Art Spiegelman's brilliant graphic novel Maus uses cats as Nazis and mice as Jews to give the reader just enough emotional distance to see a Holocaust story through fresh eyes.
Less seriously, Daffy Duck provides the distance necessary to notice our greedy natures and laugh at ourselves.
If using animals to tell stories is just a trend, then it is a trend that stretches back to the beginning of time. Maybe Hollywood needs to realize that the animals in their films did not write the stories they are telling. If people are tired of those, then it is not the animals that are to blame.
4 comments:
- benton jew said...
Great post about a very useful storytelling device! A lot of stories can't be told in any other way. That "distance" you spoke of allows the viewer to be less judgemental about a character's behavior because they are animals. It's a great device that allows you to create a broader interpretation of a character without being saddled within the confines of being "realistic"
It's kind of a shame that the shortsightedness of some Hollywood execs may hinder the use of an extremely effective storytelling device. I'm guessing that a lot of this attitude comes from the confusion over a bunch of similarly themed animal movies over the past few years. "Antz" vs. "A Bug's Life", "A Shark Tale" vs. "Finding Nemo", "Madagascar" vs. "Wild Life", "Over The Hedge" vs. "Open Season" --and the list goes on. I think a lot of this was intentional-- perhaps execs trying to create confusion between films to dillute the popularity of another. Perhaps it's a bit of oneupsmanship like "my hippo movie is better than your hippo movie" or something--who knows? Sounds kind of cynical, but that's Hollywood.
- Jeff Pidgeon said...
I think it's primarily the quality of the animated animal films that's hurting things, and tempting this conclusion. Of course, the two biggest grossers in animation are animal films, but I guess that won't be remembered until the next one hits.
This happens a lot. If a certain type of film doesn't make money, then the genre's declared 'dead' until it hits again. It's happened to the musical (until Chicago), the western (until Unforgiven), the science-fiction film (until Star Wars), and it's happening to hand-drawn animation right now.
- Jamie Baker said...
Yeah, it's true. The only Genre of films that is immune from this kind of knee-jerk analysis is Badly Made Movies.
- Brian McD said...
I'm not sure when it happened, but somehow the idea of the quality of a film has gone out the window. The reason films fail is blamed on everything but the actual quality of the film itself. It's always, "People like are tired of animals". Or, "Westerns are out". Or whatever. Or, "the film was released at the wrong time, it's really a summer movie and they released it at Christmas.
Let me ask you something? Have you EVER in your life seen a great film and not told your friends to see because it was released at the wrong time of the year?
Here is a little formula I worked out for Hollywood: Make a great film and people will see it. (This is almost always true)
A good film (a good story well-told) trumps genre. It's crazy but it's true. I'm old enough to remember who went to see the first Star Wars film – everybody. Not just kids. Not just sci-fi geeks, not just people dressed as Jawas . Not just comic book nerds – everybody.
Tell a good story. Those four words are the key to the kingdom, but Hollywood is deaf and cannot hear them.


text: Opaque thigh highs with sequin poison apple bow top accent.PLEASE NOTE: Due to the popularity of this item it may take an additional 4 day for processing of this item. 2 Day shipping will not expedite this only the shipping time. For more information please see our Store Policy. Store Policy Style: clothing-hosiery-1m-6121white This item is FINAL SALE and is not eligible for return or exchanges.


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Dallas County is the fastest growing county in Iowa, ranking 14th in the nation in growth among counties according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Dallas County is the fastest growing county in Iowa, ranking 14th in the nation in growth among counties according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Dallas County grew by 8.8% since the 2010 census and added 5,382 residents for a total population of 71,967. The new estimates show 68 of Iowa's counties losing population since 2010. 31 counties have gained residents since the 2010 census.
The latest Census Bureau release also includes information about births, deaths, and migration in Iowa and its counties. Between 2010 and 2012, Iowa gained 9,269 residents from other nations and lost 3,274 residents to other states for a net migration of 5,995. Births outnumbered deaths by 22,494. Among counties, 17 counties experienced more people moving in than moving out and 41 counties recorded more births than deaths since the 2010 census.
Gary Krob, coordinator of the Iowa Library Service's State Data Center program, says that the current estimates show that Iowa's population growth continues to be the strongest in its metropolitan areas. "Of the 31 counties in our state that experienced population growth, 88.4% of that growth occurred in seven counties. Those seven counties were Polk, Dallas, Johnson, Linn, Scott, Story, and Dubuque."
The new county population estimates, rankings, and components are on the Iowa Library Services-State Data Center web site at http://www.iowadatacenter.org.
These new estimates from the Census Bureau are based on administrative data for births and deaths and estimates of migration since the 2010 census. Caution is urged in making year-to-year comparisons of population estimates. When the Census Bureau releases new estimates for the current year it also revises estimates for previous years in the decade.
The U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program prepared the latest population estimates in partnership with the Federal-State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates. The State Data Center is part of Iowa Library Services and is a member of the Federal-State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates.


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figure 1: AT&T has made some changes to benefit customers out of enlightened self-interest.
In news that should please anyone on AT&T, and if you have an iPhone, odds are good that this is you, AT&T is making consumer-friendly changes to how they do things. First, AT&T announced that they will begin pro-rating termination fees. The longer you stay on in your contract, the less of a fee you'll have to pay. They also announced that they will not require a new contract for a simple change of service. Both are welcome changes.
Odds are good that this change of heart is due to the Senate commerce committee holding those hearings, and T-Mobile's lawsuit problems -- AT&T probably doesn't want to get into the same legal hot water that T-Mobile is currently in.


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Thank you. I have an addiction to paper. LOVE
You are hereForums › Digital Scrapbooking › Freebies › FREEBIES PU: Brandi White Designs
FREEBIES PU: Brandi White Designs
Beautiful papers!
Sorry, these are expired!
Nice papers, Brandi!
Thank you for sharing the vibrant papers! I love the colors as well as the textures.
Sorry, this one isn't available anymore.
Love that plaid paper, Brandi - going to go d/l - tyvm!
Hi y'all - I just wanted to bump this to let everyone know that everything on my site labeled '2013 Collection' is going away as a freebie as of 4/30/13, to be put in my store. So grab them now!! I'll also have a blog train freebie on the 1st, and a few more freebie things this weekend for NSD.
love them thank u.
Brandi You do wonderful things thanks
Thank you
Thanks! Off to check them out!
Love your collection!! The colors are amazing. Thank you!
Love your collection!! The colors are amazing. Thank you!
Super fun! Those flowers are intense, in a good way!
Thank you Brandi - your papers are so nice, they almost look like handmade paper!! Love the detail
I tried to post a reply a couple of days ago and my browser crashed and I forgot to come back... anyway I just wanted to say I really like those flowers... very nice... thank you for the freebie!
I just wanted to make a quick note that my website is down off and on for the next few days, because I'm transferring it to a different, more reliable, webhost. Because of that, these freebie links might be broken off and on! I apologize for that.
I do have a new one up in my store at MyMemories. It coordinates with some of my older 2013 Collection items (most of which are no longer available). If I'm not supposed to link to the store, please let me know and I'll edit this out!
Thank you for sharing.
These are fantastic. Thanks.
love the flower bows, is that a action or die cut?
Sara, I'm not sure which ones you mean, but I don't usually use actions. I don't like the way they turn out, in most cases.
Thanks for the journal cards


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The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 264, Ed. 1, Friday, November 6, 1885
Description: Daily newspaper (except Sunday) from San Antonio, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: November 6, 1885
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: UNT Libraries


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For many of us, the experience of feeling like an outcast, or being bullied, was all too common in our youth. A recent study by The Center for Disease Control states that nearly 30 percent – an estimated 13 million- of school aged students have experienced bullying in their lives. Worse yet, 64 percent of those being bullied did not report it. It's a problem that schools and communities struggle with every day and with no easy answers. But that doesn't stop an artist like Jess Godwin from trying to help victims of bullying through her love of music.
It all started when she began interacting with a teenage girl on social media. "Three years ago, I got to know a 15-year-old fan from Virginia through Twitter." Godwin says, "She struggled a lot in school, and it all came out through her tweets. Even though I had never met her, my heart continually broke for this young woman. In the past year or so, she picked up the guitar and started taking lessons. Fast forward to today....she is now playing her own shows and has her own set of friends outside of school through the open mic she goes to. I was so inspired by her and the fact that she was able to find a way out through music."
This would lead to Godwin writing the lyrics to "Greater >Than", an inspirational song that will have its music video debut at The Mayne Stage (1328 Morse Ave.) this weekend. In addition to the screening of "Greater > Than" a number of the young ladies who appear in the video will be performing.
When asked why she decided to put these youths – ages 8 to 15 - in the video, Godwin replies, "I've been working with kids for the past ten years, and I absolutely love them. I decided it was finally time to become a better role model for the kids I work with. I'm in the middle of a transition in my life where I want to make what I do a little less about me and a little more about them. I had such a blast in previous shoots, so I thought it would be fun to involve a bunch of kids and give them that experience!"
Moira, an aspiring singer/actor who appears in the video, took the message of "Greater > Than" to heart. "I relate to the message of the song; it is something I strongly believe in." she says. "I really think it's important for girls to be told that they are greater than the negative things that people say or do. Girls should be proud of who they are. "
Lucy, another performer who attends the Actor's Training Center in Wilmette, hopes that young folk who hear the song gain a sense of hope. "I hope that people will learn from this song that the arts offer a creative outlet and a positive escape from being bullied" she says.
Lily, who wants to be a professional singer and who auditioned for the video after hearing about the subject matter, offers advice for victims of bullying. "Well, from my experiences, I have to say that you need to push through and ignore what they say. But that doesn't mean to just forget. It means to learn from your experiences and be strong and yourself."
The video is directed by Jessica Redish who Godwin has known from her work in theater. "She is a musical theater director and choreographer." Godwin says. "Jessica and I did a few projects together, and last year she directed me as Catherine in "Pippin" at the Music Theatre Co. in Highland Park. She approached me about wanting to do a music video, and I brought the story of the young fan to the table with an earlier edit of "Greater>Than."
Once the partnership was formed, the call went out to young performers who would be more of the focus of the video. This would be a new experience for Godwin. "In the other video shoots, there was definitely a focus - may I say obsession? - on how I looked in the shots. I was also really focused on being "actory", and "getting in character", and giving the camera a good performance. This time around, I was so busy running around, hanging out with the kids, and talking to the parents, that I had to trust stylist and wardrobe wiz Cathy Nathan - who also styled at least three looks for EVERY girl in that video - to make sure I wasn't running around with mismatched socks on. I had so much fun reveling in the joy and excitement of the girls that I kept forgetting I was supposed to be in the shots! In all honesty, it felt more like youth group or a retreat than a music video shoot."
Moira agrees, "I have made so many great friendships through this project and I'm looking forward to being with them in the days and years ahead. I love the performing arts, so after the song and video are released at Mayne Stage, I hope to continue working with them and in this field, whether it be acting, dancing, or singing, and meeting great people along the way."
All these talented young women hope that victims of bullying find strength in the song and in themselves. "I hope that when people hear the song they will feel empowered to overcome their obstacles and be themselves. " Lily offers, "That it doesn't matter what people say, it's how you feel and who you are that counts."
"I would tell other young people who are being bullied not to stand by and let it happen, "Lucy adds, "But to find an outlet in the arts, and understand that they are "Greater Than" allowing themselves to be bullied."
And what of the young woman who inspired the song? She will also be in attendance at the show, and will be performing on stage. The experience is sure to be a powerful one for everyone involved.
A testament to the power of music and the arts being greater than the power of a bully.
Greater>Than Music Video Release
Jess Godwin
June 29
$10, $15 reserved
6:30 doors, 8PM opener
With Marirose Weldon and Funky Hot Grits
Mayne Stage
1328 Morse Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Click HERE to purchase tickets.


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hey...........I am back with a giveaway after a long time!
I happened to meet this delightful etsy seller who is on a crusade to fight breast cancer by donating 50% of her sales towards research on breast cancer!..........................how noble is that!
Meet Shannon from Bashfulowl................
This is something I would buy!
One of her bestest creations is the Shoot Down Breast Cancer Necklace which she is giving away to one lucky reader......................I VERY VERY strongly urge you to check out her shop here & show her some love & if possible buy this too as 50% of it is going towards breast cancer research!!
To enter the giveaway-please leave a separate comment for each entry!
# Follow THIS blog & leave a comment
# Go to Shannon's SHOP & tell me what is your fav item!
# Follow Shannon on FB here & leave a comment telling her Arm Candy sent you!
# Follow me on FB & leave a comment
**Extra Entries**
# Follow me on twitter & leave me a message
# Tweet this giveaway & leave a link
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I will randomly choose a winner in a week's time & announce on Tuesday evening.................so have fun :)


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R. J. Snell is an associate professor of philosophy and director of the philosophy program at Eastern University in Philadelphia. From 2003 to 2008, he served on the philosophy faculty at North Park University in Chicago, as well as directing their Honors program. He holds a Ph.D. from Marquette University, a M.A. from Boston College, and an undergraduate degree from Liberty University. Snell is author of Through a Glass Darkly: Bernard Lonergan and Richard Rorty on Knowing without a God's-Eye View (Marquette UP, 2006), and has presented numerous papers at conferences such as those of the Evangelical Theological Society. Current writing projects include the problem of boredom in contemporary culture, the new natural law theory, and a phenomenological account of Christian Education. Snell hails from Canada. He is married to Amy, and the two have three young children.
© 2018 Geneva College | All rights reserved


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8135 Coxs Drive #411
Portage, Michigan 49002
8135 Coxs Drive #411 Portage, Michigan 49002
$10 / sq. ft.0 USD
Square Footage46,424
For Lease - Office space at below market rates. Suites available from 200 SF. Centrally located in Portage near Centre St and Portage Rd. Warehouse space w/truck access available. Owner will renovate suites for qualified tenants.
Full Features
Lot Size: 8 acres - 348,480 square feet
Built: 1951
Parking Spaces: 150
Cooling System: Central
Stories: 2.00
Roof: Built Up Stone
Ceiling Height: 12
Potential Use: Office
Zoning: L-1 Light Indus
Additional Information: Barrier Free
Rentable Square Feet: 870
Building Square Feet: 46,424
Office Square Feet: 46,424
Taxes & Assessments
Taxes: $0
Listing Office: Callander Commercial
Disclaimer: The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program of SWMRIC, LLC. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than @properties are marked with the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
Nearby Public Transportation
No Nearby Public Transportation Found


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Since the Schaulager building is closed for the rest of the year due to enhancement work, the institution decided to put up a "Schaulager Satellite" right in the middle of Messeplatz to keep its presence during Art Basel.
The overall form of the HdM-design "Satellite" makes obvious geometric references to the main Schaulager building. The distorted triangle is composed of two indentations similar to the one on the Schaulager facade, acting as two welcoming sides facing the two main access directions of Messeplatz. These two sides are combined in a very smart way to form a distinct gesture that looks as if it comes out from the Messe Hall 2, and diminishes at one sharp corner pointing into Messeplatz. Underneath the big triangle are several little houses with gable roofs – obvious instances of the Schaulager gatehouse. But compared to the ingenious recreation of the indentation, these scattered volumes seem a bit like just kitschy mimicry.
The datum between the two parts introduces a clear dichotomy. Structurally, it's supporting vs. supported; and programmatically, it's public functions (reception, bookstore, food stand) vs. core exhibition. The material choice follows the division: soft perforated PVC foil above and rough OSB below. But the white paint on the outside of the OSB houses seems to take a step back and undermine the otherwise sharper contrast. There is also one exceptional small house: the video room. One may argue that it's a black box so it's different from the display above. But I still think it goes against the conceptual clarity.
After several visits, I decided that this pavilion is one of the most difficult-to-photograph buildings I've seen in recent years. In the camera viewfinder, you see lines flying around in different angles. You can't judge what's perpendicular and what's vertical any more. The strange form is completely anti-compositional. It's not meant to create beautiful pictures. But all the funny angles work together magically and make the space very interesting.
Following the stair/auditorium that flips down like a spaceship, one arrives at the upper galleries around a triangular opening. There are several videos playing at the same time. In order to balance the acoustic environment, the walls are made of molton fabric – a material often used for theatre curtains. This smart material choice also results in a soft and monolithic interior surface. Very cozy.
In terms of exhibition, I found the "sourcebook" curation concept very interesting. Instead of featuring "real art," the galleries show the making of art in a series of "shop windows." The objects on display include the four red balls John Baldessari tossed in his pictures, the shoes Matthew Barney used to stamp the petroleum-jelly footsteps onto the floor, a rare leftover from the paper model Thomas Demand built for his photographs, plaster models and negative moulds from Katharina Fritsch, props and costumes from Cindy Sherman, a model of Monika Sosnowska's monumental sculpture 1:1, and of course, a wooden model of the Schaulager building by HdM.
|Thomas Ruff's 3D photographs
|Clockwise from top left: Herzog & de Meuron, Peter Fischli & David Weiss; Katharina Fritsch; Matthew Barney, Paul Chan; Cindy Sherman, Thomas Demand, John Baldessari