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With leadership change, morale improves, stability returns to Sound Community Services
New London - Ten weeks after the departure of its executive director amid reports of questionable agency practices and patient care issues, Sound Community Services remains under the scrutiny of state mental health officials, but with tangible signs of progress.
"We expect to be closely monitoring Sound for some time and we expect progress to continue to occur in increments," Mary Mason, spokeswoman for the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, said in an e-mail message Friday.
Department staff are meeting with the agency's leaders weekly to keep tabs on progress toward goals agreed upon by the department, Sound's board of directors and the new leadership, she said.
The agency, the region's largest provider of outpatient psychiatric services for adults, lifted a moratorium on new patients as of June 1 that had been in place since the winter, Mason said.
Sound now has three full-time medical staff members to fill and administer prescriptions, ending a backlog of patients who previously had been unable to get timely appointments or establish an ongoing relationship with a doctor, said Dr. Stephen Vance, executive director of outpatient services at the agency since April 1.
"There's consistency there now," said Gino DeMaio, executive director of operations and administration.
DeMaio, Vance and two other administrators - Lance Niles, corporate compliance and client rights officer, and Jessica DeFlumer-Trapp, director of programs and operations - are now leading the agency as a team, said Jane Cable, board chairwoman. Cable said the board this month approved a fiscal 2014 budget of about $8.6 million after a thorough "unpacking" of the current budget. Most of the private, nonprofit agency's revenues come from state and federal grants and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
The team took over after the departure of Executive Director Gail Lawson on April 16. Last week, two administrators closely allied with Lawson - Chief Informatics Officer Christopher Bish and Chief Financial Officer Cindy Kirchhoff - also left. Cable declined to discuss their departures. Attempts to reach Kirchhoff and Bish for comment were unsuccessful.
State audit
In March, The Day reported that Lawson, Bish and Kirchhoff charged more than $220,000 worth of airline, hotel, restaurant and retail charges to agency credit cards over an 18-month period. The three were involved in another company being run within the agency that provided consulting services to other nonprofits on medical records systems.
An examination of the agency's financial records by the state auditors of public accounts is not yet complete, state auditor John Gerogosian said this week. Mason said the state mental health agency cannot comment on the propriety of the expenses incurred by Lawson, Bish and Kirchhoff until the auditors issue a final report.
"If ... any improprieties are identified, DMHAS will take immediate necessary steps to ensure that taxpayer funds are used appropriately and clients are provided with the highest quality care," Mason said.
DeFlumer-Trapp also said the agency would not comment until the audit is complete. During an interview this week, Cable and the members of the leadership team sais they preferred to talk about the "forward-focused" agenda.
Vance said that after Lawson's departure, "there was this huge release of joy and creativity" among the staff.
The agency also has continued moving forward on a plan to consolidate services. Earlier this month, the Oasis Center, a social and educational center for clients, moved from Bank Street into the agency building at 21 Montauk Ave., site of its administrative offices and other services. By January, the outpatient clinic also is expected to move into that building from its current State Street location.
The agency also has improved it relationship with the community, rejoining regional meetings of mental health service providers, Mason said. Jennifer Gross, associate director of the Eastern Regional Mental Health Board, an independent agency that evaluates psychiatric services, said relationships between Sound and other agencies had been "strained" but the new leadership "is committed to establishing partnerships" and is working to establish a "collaborative culture."
Both Gross and Mason said positive steps have been taken to rebuild staff morale after an unusually high turnover rate. The morale and turnover issues came to light last summer after a group of former employees made public a letter to the board of directors urging action. About 130 employees work for Sound Community Services.
Now, Gross said, "staff morale is way up."
Mason said staff have received training about their operating budgets and are meeting with the leadership team "to identify other areas that might improve staff morale."
"They're here, they're committed and they believe in what they do," DeMaio said. In addition to counseling and psychiatric care for about 700 outpatients, Sound also provides case management services for about 180 people, supportive housing for about 40 clients and outreach to about a dozen homeless clients.
Board responsibilities
Information obtained by The Day through a Freedom of Information request indicates that the state took an active role both in urging the board to take actions that led to Lawson's departure, and in helping Sound to rebuild.
In an April 26 email message, Cheryl Jacques, executive director of the Southeastern Mental Health Authority, a division of DMHAS, stated that Sound leadership told her "they have had little information about the fiscal side of their operations ... programs have never reviewed their operating budgets..." DMHAS then provided the service of a financial official "so that this part of the operations can become more functional," she wrote.
Jacques attended the May 20 meeting of the Sound board, receiving thanks for her "candor and support" from Niles in a May 22 email message. Mason, the DMHAS spokeswoman, said Friday that Southeastern Mental Health Authority leaders met recently with Sound's board and ... "expressed our commitment to work with the new leadership structure."
Gross said she is hopeful that board members now have a better understanding of their responsibilities. During the months of turmoil, she said, "they were reluctant to step forward and take action in the face of complaints."
Cable, however, said the board is "excellent," noting that they stayed in the voluntary posts despite difficult issues. The 12-member board has had a few recent departures for reasons unrelated to those issues, she said.
"Nobody left as a result of that," she said.
The leadership team will remain in place for the foreseeable future, she said, with no one person serving as the "chief" administrator. That will provide a system of "checks and balances," Niles said.
DeMaio said the past 2½ months have been challenging, but he and the rest of the team feel gratified at what's been accomplished.
"It's been a whirlwind," he said. "We're wiped out, but in a good way."
Mental health agency expects improvement in wake of leadership changes
New leadership in place at troubled Sound Community Services
State places Sound Community Services on 'immediate monitoring'
Fitch's Amara Robinson: from broken back to all-state cheerleader
2Wives, No Anchor owner faces federal narcotics, money laundering charges
Environmentalists, regulators push for Green New Deal for Connecticut


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Dear Star Wars Boba Fett Prototype Armor Figure Requestor:We have received your redemption request for the Boba Fett Prototype Armor collectable figure - thank you! This promotion was extremely popular - so much so that Hasbro has to make for figures to fulfill all of the orders. As such, there will be a delay in receiving your figure(s). Your order is scheduled to ship on July 20, 20102.If you'd like to cancel your order, you may do so and receive a prompt refund by calling Hasbro's toll-free customer service number (800) 327-8264 no later than June 30, 2012. Customer service hours are M-TH 8:30am - 5:00pm, Fr 8:30am - 12:30pm. If we do not hear from you by June 30, 2012, your item will be shipped. Please DO NOT call the toll-free number unless you want to cancel your order. We than you for your patience and want to emphasize that all orders will be fulfilled unless cancelled. We apologize for the delay.
Page created in 0.173 seconds with 19 queries.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tag Archives: sumo
South Korea to Japan or Busan to Osaka.
**STOP PRESS Mako gave birth to a baby girl this morning – congratulations the Harper's!!** We had to accept defeat in our quest to be secure a Russian visa. The Trans-Siberian dream was put on hold for a later adventure. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged bullet train, busan, dotonburi, ferry busan to osaka, gamcheon village, glico man, jagalchi fish market, japan, ktx, ktx train, osaka, round the world, sashimi, south korea, sumo, sumo in osaka, sushi, travel Leave a comment


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Airdate: 2001-Jan-13
Episode summary:
The Generation Game is a British game show produced by the BBC in which four teams of two people from the same family, but different generations, competed to win priz...
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Welcome to Our Michael Kors Outlet! Designer Michael Kors handbags are really the must-have! Carry the Michael Kors Rhinestone Logo Accessories and choose the favorite color as you like!
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View video of Sherp ATV Demonstration
and Resulting Damage Visible the Following Year:
Analysis of Party Positions on ATV Management
Trails Only Yukon Association – has worked with the parties to provide Yukon voters with as clear a picture as possible of what those parties will do regarding ATV management in our wilderness if elected on November 7, 2016. Through a series of newspaper ads we have shone a light on what the various politicians have done in the past – and what they are now promising to do in the future. This is our analysis of their plans and promises along with a mark for their efforts.
[Whitehorse Star November 2, 2016 ]
Voters should know the position of each political party regarding access to the hinterland by off-road vehicles (ORVs), say representatives of the Trails Only Yukon Association.
Click on the links below to view the Questions for Candidates and the MLA Report card.
Question #1
If elected, will you support and promote a proactive approach or a complaints-driven process for managing ATV's in the Yukon wilderness?
Question #2
If elected, will you support and promote a comprehensive plan for the whole territory or a piecemeal plan covering just the already damaged areas?
Question #3
If elected, will you support and promote the mandatory registration of all ATV's in the Yukon?
Question #4
If elected, will you support and promote the enactment of necessary legislation and regulations to effectively manage ATV's in the Yukon wilderness within the first 24 months of a new government mandate?


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Tag Archives: Record Store Day
Jack White Announces Solo Album
Record Store Day, Saturday April 20
Record Store Day: Jack White goes public with his vinyl fetish
By Alex Baker
This Saturday, April 20 has been officially proclaimed as International Record Store Day. Music fans everywhere are encouraged to close down their iTunes, Pandora and Spotify apps, and visit their local record shop to hunt down some vinyl. To help ensure the occasion's success, indie-garage rock guitar hero Jack White has been named as the official ambassador for the… Read More
Acoustic Guitar Guide
Subscribe Now and get a special bonus gift "The Ultimate Guide to Acoustic Guitars"


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By Matthew Heimer
If you want to retire at age 50, it probably helps to register a major professional success at the age of 26. Movie director Steven Soderbergh attained the latter feat in 1989, with the release of the critically adored and popular "sex, lies, and videotape," and now he's aiming for the former.
Having directed more than two dozen feature films in the last 25 years, including the "Ocean's" trilogy, "Out of Sight," and "Contagion," Soderbergh explains to the Wall Street Journal's Don Steinberg that he's through making movies, or at least movies for theatrical release. "If I wanted to make something again, I think it would be either long-form TV or something that really isn't designed to be seen outside of a museum," Soderbergh says, somewhat ominously, "something that functions more like a Matthew Barney piece than it does like a traditional movie."
Soderbergh has publicly mulled retirement before, in 2011, but this time it appears to be serious. His presumably final films will be "Side Effects," which opens in theaters next week, and the Liberace biopic "Behind the Candelabra"—with Michael Douglas as Liberace, for heaven's sake—which will run on HBO in May.


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Student Health Services is located at 1003 E. Cass St.
Please use the form below to submit your non-emergency comments or questions. For emergency contacts, please see Important Numbers.
Campus Address:
1003 E. Cass St.
Mailing Address:
Albion College
Student Health Services
611 E. Porter Street
Albion, MI 49224
Non-emergency phone: 517/629-0220


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As my first 16-week cycle through the "Narrative Group" draws to a close next Monday I've been reflecting on what it has meant to me over the past four months.
It has been a powerful experience, both in listening to the stories of others and in sharing some of my own. I have found out that it is one thing to write a story and quite another to read it aloud to a group! All feedback is framed constructively, so that wasn't the surprise. It was the release of emotions that came from reading out loud which was somewhat unexpected. Of course, given the subject group, and our shared experiences, it was reasonable to expect that there would be emotional occasions but the surprise came as I heard myself read touching stories which had, until then, lived mostly in my head and heart.
Another surprise was that, quite often, HIV was not one of the main characters, i.e. subjects, of our stories. The topics were general enough that we were able to explore our inner selves as deeply as we felt comfortable – HIV or otherwise.
I have already signed up for the next round and look forward to seeing where it takes me.
Here's a reprint of a poster advertising the next group:
Narrative Group
A group opportunity for individuals living with HIV/AIDS who share an interest in writing and the discussion of writing.
Learning how to write your own stories and sharing them with others living with HIV in a confidential setting may foster creative problem-solving and allow you to find a greater sense of meaning as you navigate your illness and its impact on your life.
Allan Peterkin and Julie Hann provide psychotherapy in the Clinic for HIV Related Concerns (at Mount Sinai Hospital). Both have an interest in how writing and sharing narratives impact health.
If you are interested in joining this group speak with your therapist or, if you would like more information, please call:
Allan Peterkin (416)586-3204
Julie Hann (416)586-4559
Space is limited to 12 people.
A time limited group for men and women living with HIV/AIDS.
Next Session Sept.-Dec. 2004 Monday afternoons 2:00-3:30 pm
The Clinic for HIV Related Concerns
Mount Sinai Hospital
600 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5


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"Finally, a printing company whose rates are reasonable and who deliver when they say they will..."
PrintWeb Caribbean Ltd. ("PrintWeb") is a modern Caribbean printing house based in Barbados and established by the Nation Corporation in 2008, with the vision of delivering high quality print solutions, both locally and regionally... read more »
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click on any of the contacts below to view the individual's contact information.
Call us: 1246 (434-6719)
Silver posters
View our entire portfolio
PrintWeb Caribbean Ltd. Fontabelle St. Michael Barbados
Ricardo BelgravePhone: 246-434-6719 Email: email@example.com
© 2009 Print Web Caribbean Limited. Privacy Statement | Terms of Use


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To launch its new set-top box, Amazon turned to actor Gary Busey, who, in in a quirky promotional video, makes this declaration: "It's frustrating when things don't listen — especially high-tech things."
The clip cuts to a Roku streaming player, which, of course, doesn't work that well — this being a promo for Amazon — setting up the actor\'s punchline: 'This new Amazon Fire TV listens to me and does exactly what I say."
Amazon Fire TV, the company's first hardware product since it rolled out the Kindle Fire tablet three years ago, is entering an increasingly competitive arena featuring such products as Roku, Apple\'s Apple TV and Google Inc.'s Chromecast.
Should those incumbent players worry? Not really, according to Forrester analyst Jim Nail, who says that, based on an examination of the device itself, Amazon Fire TV "is kind of a run-of-the-mill, undifferentiated offering compared to those other guys."
"Technology stuff has nothing to do with it," he told MarketWatch.
But Amazon Fire TV could have a potential advantage, he said: Amazon's reach.
"What Amazon has that certainly Roku and even Google don't have are the customer relationships and the credit-card numbers of those tens of millions of people who shop with them already."
If Amazon customers, especially those who already subscribe to the e-commerce giant's streaming service, "are going to pick a device out of that group," Nail said, they'll likely pick Amazon Fire TV "because you're already watching those videos."
But outside of those customers, he said, "there's nothing compelling to pick this box over those other boxes."
Still, it may be wise for Amazon to join this burgeoning party. After all, the market is still small for Internet-dedicated TV-set-top boxes, making up only 8% of the U.S. TV market, according to Forrester data.
"That,\" said nail, \"means each device has low-single-digit penetration.\"
— Ben Pimentel
Follow Ben on Twitter @benpimentel
Related stories:
U.S. IPO market has started 2014 stringer than any year since 2000
Amazon to allow customer returns via lockers
Google splits into GOOG and GOOGL


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Central Connecticut was named the Northeast Conference winner of the "Pack the House"challenge for the 2011-12 season. This marks the second consecutive year that the Blue Devils have represented the NEC among the NCAA's "Pack the House" Champions. Both years the Blue Devils were able to draw crowds of more than 1,700 to historic Detrick Gymnasium.
Central was one of 32 conference winners in the NCAA Division I "Pack the House" Challenge. "Pack the House" is a national effort in which conferences and institutions compete to build attendance. NCAA Division I women's basketball marketing staffs selected a home game and designated that date as a "Pack the House" game with the goal of setting an attendance record. One winner from each of the 32 conferences and one from a group of independent institutions are chosen each year, with the selections being based on marketing plan creativity and attendance criteria. The NCAA will award prizes and donate $500 to the nonprofit organization of each winning institution's choice.
And with 153 institutions participating in the effort this year, attracting more than 431,000 fans, pack the house, they did.
A crowd of 1,746 packed Detrick Gym for Central's November 30, game against Holy Cross. The Blue Devils used 38 second half points to win, 63-54, over the Crusaders. Junior Jaclyn Babe led all players with 24 points in the game.
The Blue Devils previous "Pack the House" victory was the result of 1,824 fans packing Detrick Gym for the 2010-11 season opener against Hartford. Central earned a 46-41 victory in that game.
For the second straight year, the Blue Devils' $500 donation to charity will go to the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain.
Events at Army, Baylor, Canisius, Delaware, Georgia, Green Bay, Kansas State, Maryland Eastern Shore, Navy, Sacramento State and Stanford produced sell-out crowds. Sixty-nine programs surpassed their single-game attendance highs from last year.
"In the fifth year of this initiative, we are pleased to see the continued increase in attendance, excitement and exposure for our women's basketball programs," said Greg Christopher, chair of the Division I Women's Basketball Committee and director of athletics at Bowling Green State University. "The year-in and year-out success of Pack the House is a direct tribute to the commitment level put forth by the personnel at each campus. These efforts continue to help grow the game."
The ideas to market the games were as diverse as the membership itself.
At Central, for example, students were able to win an Apple iPod, which was raffeled off at half time. Also, the dorm with the highest attendance at the game received a free pizza party. The final step of Central's plan was inviting our corporate sponsors to attend and support the "Pack the House" Challenge.
"I am extremely pleased that we have been selected as the NEC's "Pack the House" Champion for the second consecutive year," said Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "It says a great deal about the job our marketing staff does and the support that we get from Blue Devil fans on campus and in the community. As a department, going forward, we will look to remain on the front line in the advancement of women's collegiate athletics through programs like "Pack the House".
Winners of the 2011-12 NCAA "Pack the House" Challenge are:
America East – Vermont
Atlantic Coast – Virginia
Atlantic Sun – Florida Gulf Coast
Atlantic 10 – Massachusetts
Big East – Marquette
Big Sky –Sacramento State
Big South – Winthrop
Big Ten – Iowa
Big 12 – Kansas State
Big West – Long Beach State
Colonial – Delaware
Conference USA – Memphis
Great West – New Jersey Institute
Horizon – Green Bay
Ivy – Pennsylvania
Metro Atlantic – Canisius
Mid-American – Central Michigan
Mid-Eastern – Morgan State
Missouri Valley – Missouri State
Mountain West – Air Force
Northeast – Central Connecticut State
Ohio Valley – Did Not Participate
Pacific-12 – California
Patriot – Bucknell
Southeastern – Kentucky
Southern – Georgia Southern
Southland – Sam Houston State
SWAC – Southern University
Summit – Oral Roberts
Sun Belt – South Alabama
West Coast – Portland
WAC – Louisiana Tech
Independents – Longwood
California- Pacific 12


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What Do Theses and Dissertations Look Like?
As you embark upon this important element of your academic career, you should be aware of what a dissertation or thesis looks like. After all, how can you write a dissertation chapter if you've never read one before? Advisers often focus on the content of your dissertation or thesis since this is the culmination of a stage of your academic career and as such should showcase your writing, research, and critical thinking skills-but the form of a dissertation or thesis is tougher to teach.
In every discipline there are expectations as to what a dissertation or thesis should include and how it should be formatted. Even though as a writer you have control over how to explain your ideas and how to organize them within the text, scholars in your field have agreed upon how a dissertation/thesis should be organized, what certain chapters you should include, or how many chapters (minimum) a dissertation or thesis should have, and how those are formatted, just as an example. This is where seeing and reading what other writers within your discipline and department have done will be helpful-and you should do this sooner rather than later.
- Start by asking your adviser if he/she has any suggestions of dissertations or theses you should look at. They may suggest you look at the writings of an ex-advisee or a certain literature review article in a journal, for example.
- After speaking to your adviser, if you want to look at other examples, you can seek either a reference librarian or a subject librarian to find other dissertations or theses in your subject area. Find out more about how to access dissertations and theses via KU Libraries.
- Read the dissertations/theses for content but also for form.
- Think about how the project as a whole is organized as well as how the individual chapters are organized.
- Moreover, take notes about elements of the project that stand out to you: use of tables, inclusion of photographs, striking introductions, chapter titles.
Reading not just for content but also for form will help you understand better how to put together your dissertation or thesis.
Revised: 07/2012


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Quick Links
- Report
- Introduction
- Accomplishments & Initiatives
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
- Development of the FY11-15 Capital Investment Plan
- Affordability & Fiscal Responsibility
- Aggregate FY11-15 Capital Investment Plan
- Capital Investments by Investment Category
- Appendix A - Debt Affordability Analysis
- Appendix B - Bond Bills
- Appendix C - Project Listing (xls)
- Appendix D - Project Descriptions (pdf)
- Plan by Investment
- Plan by Capital Agency
- Plan by Beneficiary Agency
- Downloads
Affordability and Fiscal Responsibility
Because the capital program is funded primarily through bond proceeds, the total size of the capital program is determined primarily by the amount of debt the Commonwealth can afford to issue. Since FY91, A&F has established what is known as the "bond cap" to limit annual bond issuance in support of the capital program to affordable levels. For the fourth consecutive year, the Patrick-Murray Administration engaged in a rigorous analysis of the state's outstanding debt within affordable levels. Based on this analysis, the Administration has established the FY11 bond cap at $1.625 billion, $1.75 billion for FY12, $1.875 billion for FY13, $2.0 billion for FY14 and $2.125 billion for FY15. A complete description of the Administration's debt affordability analysis and policy is attached as Appendix A.
In summary, the Administration takes a fiscally responsible approach to setting the annual bond cap, analyzing the Commonwealth's capacity for debt issuance from the point of view of affordability. Specifically, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) sets annual constraints on both the size of the bond cap and its future rate of growth.
For purposes of its analysis of existing payment obligations, A&F takes into account not only debt service on general obligation bonds, but also debt service on certain special obligations, contract assistance obligations and certain capital lease payments. Although the accelerated bridge program is being carried out in addition to the regular capital program in order to achieve savings from avoided cost inflation and deferred maintenance and to achieve the other objectives of the program, the debt service resulting from the bridge program is also taken into account within the 8% limit under the debt affordability analysis. (See description of the Accelerated Bridge Program, below.)
A&F also takes a conservative approach to projecting future budgeted revenues, basing its growth estimate on the lesser of 3% or the actual compound annual growth rate of the Commonwealth's revenues over the last ten years – which included both economic booms and downturns. A&F models future debt issuance using fiscally conservative assumptions about interest rates, maturities, dates of issuance and market conditions.
Based on this analytic approach, A&F has projected that the Commonwealth will have the capacity to accommodate steady increases in the bond cap over the next four years – albeit at lower base levels than originally planned due to economic conditions – while maintaining the percentage of the Commonwealth's budgeted revenues needed to pay debt service during that period below 8%.
The Patrick-Murray Administration intends to limit the total amount of virtually all future bond-funded capital projects to the bond cap. As described in Appendix A, however, there are certain, limited circumstances in which the Administration plans to undertake borrowing outside the bond cap when there is a sound policy justification for doing so. For example, there are certain projects for which a dedicated stream of new, project-related revenues can be identified to support debt service costs related to those projects.
The debt affordability analysis methodology is based on the Commonwealth's current available financing resources and mechanisms; changes in financing structures and resources in the future may impact how A&F examines the administrative bond cap and the state's capacity for additional borrowing. The Administration plans to revisit the debt capacity and affordability analysis every year, revising its estimates for future years by taking into account fluctuations in interest rates, budgeted revenues, and other changes impacting the Commonwealth's debt capacity. In addition, the Administration will annually assess the appropriateness of the methodology and constraints for establishing the bond cap described above.
top of page


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An iPhone as Big as a 1980s Cellphone?
Technology usually gets smaller and lighter as the years go by, so why is Apple reportedly exploring going bigger with a new iPhone? MarketWatch's Quentin Fottrell explains.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... was it says that technology should be getting smaller and lighter ... as the years go by ... so last smartphones getting bigger ... I'm Quentin for trial for MarketWatch ... Apple is reportedly exploring making bigger ... five times ... reminiscent of those big clunky of noxious pansies to see ... that Wall Street types used back in the nineteen eighties ... by the bigger ... well more people are watching ... videos on our smartphones and also playing more of the year games in fact forty percent of smartphone owners ... the play games on their phones ... another thirty eight percent ... a watching videos on their smartphones ... forty percent of those are watching old movies ... were of course however ... bigger phones means more advertising real estate for those companies to sell you more our sons ... they get any bigger you may not be able to put them in your pockets ... so it's back to


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April 29, 2012
Romance in the Forest
17 comments:
SUCH a pretty outfit! you look beautiful! and i adore the new dress and earrings... :)ReplyDelete
have a lovely saturday!
Amazing! love the dress the shoes and the accessories! I love dresses they are so feminine and comfy.ReplyDelete
Ce dragut arati ! Cerceii & bratara sunt extrem de tari :* Si in a 2a poza ai iesit asaaaaa de bine >:D<ReplyDelete
Beautiful pictures!Love this look!So romantic!ReplyDelete
You are like a true vision, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhReplyDelete
brilliant dress! looks very cool and the bracelets are yummy! :DReplyDelete
Very nice dress!ReplyDelete
Ador rochia asta si cerceii sunt superbi, sa ii porti cu multa placere!ReplyDelete
Thank you darlings for your words! :DReplyDelete
the dress is perrrrfeeect! the perfect sundress! and it's so nice with those pointy flats, you look just lovely!ReplyDelete
Such a cute and wonderful dress! I love love love the look:DReplyDelete
Love the dress, so feminine, simple, fluid <3ReplyDelete
p.s: ai un award de la mine, pup :*
Wonderful dress! It suits you simply amazing! :DReplyDelete
Prettyful dress! You look so good in all the photos!ReplyDelete
Check out my monthly giveaway's on my blog (this month's prize - Astor Rouge Couture Lipstick):
Love this! You're so gorgeous!ReplyDelete
- WhitneyMay 11, 2012 at 1:21 AM
I adore this outfit!! The dress is impeccable! :DReplyDelete
This outfit is so feminine, yet sophisticated. I adore it a lot :)ReplyDelete
Olivia Yuen


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Catholics do tend to get uncomfortable during Lent: meatless Fridays, more time on the knees and going without coffee, beer, chocolate and the like. This, in turn, makes life more uncomfortable at times for everyone else. (Just aiding people on the path to holiness of course!) But how uncomfortable do you get with service?
Naturally, people gravitate toward volunteer activities they enjoy or are particularly skilled at. And people do a lot of good, grace-filled work in this way. But, here's a thought: This week, try taking your volunteerism "to the fringes," not necessarily in terms of location, but in terms of you. Try something that makes you uncomfortable. Maybe that means serving the homeless on the street. Maybe visiting a hospital or nursing home. Maybe spending time caring for kids, even if they sometimes drive you crazy.
Let God stretch you, move you and work through you. As Pope Francis told youth at World Youth Day (applies to everyone of course): "Go, do not be afraid, and serve."
Need ideas? Check out this book review about "Mercy in the City," a witty, honest book about Lent and the corporal works of mercy.
Each week during Lent I am sharing a quick tip on each of the three disciplines of the season: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. So tune in throughout the coming weeks for more ideas! We've hit the halfway point with Laetare Sunday, so keep it up!
Jennifer Rey is the web editor of Our Sunday Visitor Publishing.
Copyright © 1996-2019 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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Description:HP TFT5110R 1U Rackmount Flat Panel Color Monitor* Rails not includedPart Number(s)
HP Part# 281683-B21
Overview:The TFT5110R is the first generation 1U retractable TFT flat panel monitor. It provides a full 15 viewing screen when needed and tucks away in only 1U of rack space when not being used. The product has been designed to allow a switchbox to mount behind it on the rails - further maximizing rack space.


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There have been some issues with Amazon, so just a heads up - the launch of the Kickstarter is fairly likely to be delayed. Hopefully not more than a week while we get things worked out.
In game news, we've got some interesting changes to the spawn mechanics in place again, so if you're on the most recent version, you'll notice you might have to change your strategies up. Zombies now spawn based on the buildings that surround their area, instead of in a perfect circle around the center of town, so that's something to keep in mind.
Finally, update your repo locations! We've moved the official repo over to the CleverRaven group so we can have multiple developers with admin rights. If you're linking to the old repo, you'll want to update those links now.


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Gavin2 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 360 designs submitted by 104 freelance designers.
Grundi Tours
We are an escorted premium, luxury escorted gay tour company based in Australia.
Our company, Grundi, is to become a brand name with multiple businesses coming off of the main brand. The first of those brands is Grundi Tours. It is important to us that we maintain the same logo of "Grundi" throughout all of our companies. The next brand will be "Grundiwear" which will be a male underwear and swimwear shop.
We are a youthful, energetic and "sexy" company that wants that image and feeling to come across. We endeavour to provide an exciting environment for our clients to meet, mingle and discover the world together. We are a risk taking and edgy business that prides itself on amazing customer experiences with local and professional knowledge.
We want to stand out from the crowd and be a market leader in what we do. Conservative and safe is not us and our website which is being developed now is mainly comprised of full screen images that are captivating to the eye and invoke passion and excitement for travel.
We are a web based business that will be using the logo on our website and on brochures that will be printed. We will also be putting ads in magazines and printed material.
Some words to describe us are: edgy, funky, exciting, youthful, passionate, adventurous, risky, explorers, premium, luxury, tour company, travel just to name a few.
The gay traveller and his or her friends. Our tours around the world are designed to provide an exciting environment for the gay traveller to explore the world with friends.
Our audience is primarily the professional male and female between the ages of 18 and 40. They like to travel, socialize in large groups and enjoying premium products and experiences.
Our audience will be couples, friends and single individuals wanting to travel and explore the world with like-minded people.
Many of our tours revolve around parties and events, so we are looking for people who enjoy a good party and being others.
They are adventurous, youthful, full of life and like boutique and premium travel products.
They also have money to spend as our tours are premium, luxury tours.
We have no requirement other than the fact that we want the "Grundi" aspect of "Grundi Tours" to be a design and brand logo that we can use in the future for other companies. The closest thing to what we mean is like Richard Branson's "Virgin" logo that is used in all of his businesses.
Attached are a shots of our website in the process of being developed.
Please feel free to use your creativity as this is what we are looking for. You guys are the experts!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text: I got my first Lemania incoming first time I had some thing I could post here. It's a Italian issued deck watch not much info except a few that sold at auction and one posted at the German military watch forum even there not much there. I do know it has a Lemania 1520 movement. Any one know more info like year used and what it was used for I was thinking navigation. A few of the sellers photo's. Most I seen at auction house sites are missing the mounting outer case. Any one got more info on these ?


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Illini big test for Huskers' struggling defense
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — What once looked like a cushy October schedule for Nebraska might have become more of a challenge.The way the Cornhuskers' defense has performed through four games surely has Illinois thinking it could steal a win at Memorial Stadium on Saturday and end its 14-game Big Ten losing streak.Nebraska (3-1) is 107th nationally in total defense and no higher than 75th in any major category. Illinois (3-1) has displayed a versatile offense that's averaging almost 480 yards a game under first-year coordinator Bill Cubit and fourth-year starting quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase."It makes things difficult on defenses just because one play we can be in a five-wide set throwing the ball around," Scheelhaase said, "and the next play we can have three tight ends and two backs in the game, kind of pounding the ball."The Huskers allowed 465 yards to FCS South Dakota State in their last game and used their bye week to shore up deficiencies ranging from missed tackles to attitude.Coach Bo Pelini said he still sees potential in his defense. "You don't build it in a day," he said.But his patience has been tested after watching Wyoming amass more than 600 yards in a three-point Nebraska win, the Huskers blow an 18-point lead and lose by 20 to UCLA and South Dakota State's Zach Zenner gash his way to 202 yards.No one expects a low-scoring game. Illinois' defense has been as bad as Nebraska's, and the Huskers' offense is churning out almost 500 yards a game.Nebraska will start Tommy Armstrong Jr. at quarterback for the second straight game as Taylor Martinez recovers from a nagging injury to his left big toe. Armstrong was sharp against South Dakota State, but the stakes are now higher for the redshirt freshman.The Huskers came into the season picked to battle Michigan for a spot in the Big Ten championship game. The October stretch — at home against Illinois and on the road against both Purdue and Minnesota — was expected to be a warm-up for bigger games in November.Michigan's recent struggles and Nebraska's defensive problems have created a wide-open race in the Legends Division."I think we can beat any football team that we line up against," Pelini said. "I also understand that there are a lot of football teams out there that can beat up on us if we don't take care of us."Here are five things to know as Illinois and Nebraska start Big Ten play:HUSKERS IN BIG TEN: Since it started Big Ten play in 2011, Nebraska has won 12 of 16 regular-season conference games. Penn State and Michigan also are 12-4 over that stretch. No one else has won more than 10. The Huskers go into Saturday's game on a six-game regular-season conference win streak.THAT AWFUL STREAK: Last year, Illinois' 14-game conference losing streak was a hot topic among fans and media. Scheelhaase said he and his teammates have tuned out that talk this year."All we know is we're a 3-1 football team right now headed into conference play, getting to play a team that won their (division) last year."NEBRASKA LINEUP CHANGES: David Santos has bumped Josh Banderas from the starting middle linebacker's job. Corey Cooper has locked up one safety spot, but Pelini didn't name a starter at the other. Harvey Jackson struggled against South Dakota State and has been pushed by LeRoy Alexander, Andrew Green and Charles Jackson.RUNNER AND RECEIVER: While Cubit is credited with helping revive Scheelhaase's career, running back Jason Ferguson also has benefited. Ferguson has rushed 30 times for 196 yards, and he's the Illini's leading receiver with 12 catches for 262 yards.PROTECTING THE QB: Nebraska has allowed just two sacks in four games for a nation-best average of .50. That's a huge improvement from last year, when the Huskers ranked 105th in sacks allowed after giving up 35 in 14 games (2.5 average)."It's a huge emphasis," offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles said. "Those two sacks still bother us because we want to have zero sacks."___Associated Press Writer David Mercer in Champaign, Ill., contributed to this report.


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Code: SD-LBF-NOTE
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On Our Radar: When the Company's Charged With a Crime
The Facebook job board is here, bringing a new source of revenue for the company and ushering in a new era of online recruiting, reports The Journal. So far, user reviews have been mixed. –Leslie Kwoh
How can a company be charged with a felony? The WSJ Law Blog breaks down the BP settlement of charges stemming from the Deepwater Horizon spill. The rap sheet includes neglect, misconduct, violations of the Clean Water and Migratory Bird Treaty acts and more. —Melissa Korn
Lifehacker asks a good one: How can I turn my mess of ideas into something, you know, useful? Suggestions include signing up for Evernote, mind-mapping and prioritization. —Nikki Waller
Goldman Sachs has just named 266 managing directors — slightly up from last year — that coveted title that brings prestige and lots of money, like $500,000 in annual salary and bonuses, according to The Journal. –Leslie Kwoh
And finally…
How working parents can find that elusive 25th hour of the day, via Forbes. — Rachel Emma Silverman


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Let our Travel Guide lead you on an adventure along the Rideau Heritage Route. Wind your way through charming communities, historic sites and spectacular recreation areas from Kingston to Ottawa.
Click on the icons below to view our Online Travel Guide.
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To order one or more copies of the Rideau Heritage Route Travel Guide, the Rideau Heritage Route - 1000 Islands & St. Lawrence Seaway Map or Boating East magazine, please complete this order form and e-mail it to email@example.com
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Check out our Rideau Heritage Route paddling itinerary. Choose from 1 to 10 days from Kingston to Ottawa along the historic Rideau waterway. Paddling tips, portages, accommodations, sights along the route and more!
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The post-apocalypse cyclist
One of my friends is a survivalist. He stocked up on canned goods and other non-perishable foods thinking that the end of civilization is near. And he's asking me questions about what bicycle to use after the world devolves into chaos.
It's a given that sooner or later our civilization will collapse. I lie awake nights thinking about it, and rather than dwell on the admittedly slim chance of nuclear war, a meteor impact, or an invasion of aliens from outer space, I prefer to think about the very real possibility of a zombie apocalypse. Some may scoff, but when you consider that there's probably a grad student somewhere thinking that a zombie chicken would be really funny, working out a survival plan is in our best interests.
Popular culture has given us a few road signs to follow toward Armageddon. I'm thinking about movies like "Sean of the Dead". If you look carefully in the background, zombies are everywhere well before the protagonist becomes aware of them. They're shambling to work and back or waiting in the queue for the bus.
It's true. They're already with us. As evidence, I give you my teenage son and his buddies. They all exhibit slack-jawed empty stares with their ear buds in place as they send endless text messages or play video games. They listen to factory noises and insist that it's music. Communication is through grunts, hand gestures, and a painfully bored expression. Their diet consists of prodigious amounts of snack food, microwaved cheeseburgers, and energy drinks. It's only a matter of time until their conversion is complete. One night they'll run out of Cheetos and switch over to eating brains. I keep my bedroom door locked.
"28 Days Later" should be taken as a cautionary tale about the dangers posed by fast moving zombies. They could run without fatigue due to lactic acid build up in their muscles. So a bicycle would be an essential survival tool. Some would think that a mountain bike would be best for escaping a slavering zombie horde, but I have another suggestion. Any decent commuter bike will accelerate and corner faster than a mountain bike, and since it's most likely to be needed in an urban area, good pavement will be available.
But please don't wait until the menace is nearly upon you, with teeth trying to bite your arm. Get a commuter bike and start training now, this very day, and if you use it to go to work and back, you'll develop those critical skills that can save your life when the zombies attack. Many drivers are zombies already. They just don't know it. You'll be ready when they turn. And if you hear a car emitting a thumpa-thumpa-thumpa loud enough to rattle the windows in nearby buildings, that's probably my son or one of his friends. Try to distract them with a bag of Cheetos, and then sprint as if your life depended on it. It's worked for me.
Labels: bicycling humor, zombies


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The Xbox 360 has been a failure in Japan, which is strange when you consider how much it dominates the North American market, as well as parts of Europe. The console is unlikely to cross the two million sold mark in Japan (which is how much the original Xbox sold there), and has been soundly outsold by its competitors in the form of Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3. It continues to see terrible sales, and many stores in Japan carry neither the console or games for the console today in 2013.
simply because Sony and Nintendo got in their way, you can't handle the top consoles
especially since they are sold in their own territory
this video explains why?
Because japanese people are not dumb and like good quality products. That simple.
And not everyone cares enough about Halo, Gears or having to pay to play online.
Sometimes it's just not worth the extra purchase when most of your gaming needs are already met with a PlayStation and Nintendo system.
It isn't "strange that Xbox was successful on NA but not Japan", not if you understand world cultures and how they differ. The PS3's messaging was much strong in Japan and Europe, however the UK and US were extremely put off by some of the messaging which didn't translate properly from Japanese with the translators, and of course they sought out to destroy Sony at every turn upon release of the PS3.
The 360, on the other hand, had nothing Japanese people were interested in, and much of Europe found the overly testosterone fueled target market to be off-putting, so of course the 360 didn't fare as well. It's all about your messaging and your target markets. It's extremely difficult to be all things to all people, especially when you have fierce competition, and it's what has plagued both the PS3 and 360 this generation.
Keiji put it right on the spot, nationalism!
Does american cars sell well in Japan? Short answer, NO!
How does american cars sell in China? Yes, very well! That is because the chinese are still upset at the japanese occupation.
Simply put, if there is no competitor then the Japanese will pick american product, see Windows and iPhone. If there are, then they will generally choose their own stuff, unless it has significant brand name value attach to it i.e. prestigious.
Apple iPhones are like that, they commend a certain oh, ah and cost a bundle.
Yes, Japanese people are shallow too and do buy overpriced, low quality products as well as long as it has a brand name on it.
They often flood the US, mostly the factory outlets scouring for deals on brand name emblazoned products too.
See, we humans aren't that different in different parts of the world!
it sold more than the 1st xbox so does that still count as a fail?
Whatever the speculative reason may be, the overall growth of the xbox brand is significant. Before xbox, I would always see PS referenced in movies and tv but then again, those shoes/movies were most likely produced by sony pictures. Nothing wrong with a little free advertising.
But since xbox and most importantly, the 360, I have been seeing the 360 in tv shows and movies. Could it be MS paid the studios to use their product or could it just be a sign of the times in popular culture? I mean that is what "popular" culture is about. What is popular at the time.
One thing is certain though, from a collectors POV the obscurity of JP only titles for the 360 make them more $$ and sought after. I just recently picked up DoDonPachi Resurrection for the 360. That game was never released domestically in the US but it was in EU and JP and it is a very good game that plays on US systems. I recommend it for any serious SHMUP fan.
Here's the same report on a Japanese game site which people can use google translate if they want to read what real Japanese gamers have to say in the comment section below the report:
Basically disagreeing with Inafune on the patriotic claim, and listed why they just simply didn't buy a worse product.
Most of them listed things such as:
Issue of trust due to Microsoft's lack of and how fast it stopped support for Japan on the original Xbox;
Failure rate, RROD added to the untrustworthiness of the already bad Xbox brand;
360 was also known for scratching up disks and bad support;
Having to constantly pay for online for something that is free on PS3, yet support on content is lacking compared to the west;
Constantly paying for online does not suit the majority of the gaming audience in Japan ie students;
Having to over pay for expensive proprietary add-ons like harddrives and HD-DVD drive;
Lack of games of interest;
A few RPG's were good but the support soon stopped just like the original Xbox, as predicted;
Bonus of Blu-ray and future proofing;
All the exclusives eventually went to PS3 and had more content;
Kinect doesn't work in 90% of Japanese homes;
Don't blame this on patriotism at a country full of iphones and foreign products, you simply made a worse product;
Over 300 comments there and going
"360 was also known for scratching up disks"
LOOL I remember I was in GameStop and this guy in line in front of me had his COD MW3 disc and the was a hugely engraved ring around the disc, and I laughed :P
Having to pay for expensive proprietary add-ons like harddrives.
Have you seen the add-ons for Vita?
That reason is a joke.
The reality is that the Japanese people are supportive of Sony because of the support Sony gave the nation after WWII. It's wasn't selling long before Kinect. It had a bunch of JRPGs. And the PS3 was not future proof. Future proof, one of the dumbest notions ever applied to a consoles. That's why there won't be a PS4 right?
You are right on all those merits, the Japanese tend to buy the superior product...
...I'm still confused why they went with the 3DS but that's another point.
Also, love your name, Dir en Grey is amazing...Vulgar is a great album.
I think the fallout from rrod really hurt the 360's reputation in Europe and Japan, and rightly so. It still amazes me that the unit sold as well as it did in the US despite the high failure rates. Whatever happened to all those lawsuits over rrod? When people sued Sony for removing Linux support, that was all over the news. I remember there were a number of lawsuits worldwide regarding rrod and disk scratching issues, but I have no idea if these were settled, tossed out or still ongoing. Anyone know?
As I recall the Vita didn't have great sales in Japan until the recent price cut, which bundled a memory card into the package. So yeah, that excuse is perfectly valid, and one used here in the states as well for the Vita and Xbox, at least when the Xbox first released it was a big deal, no one mentions it anymore though.
I agree with all points except with the first because the original Xbox made it only a little more than half a million. 360 passed it, but only reached less than 2 million after all this years.
Well, I believe Microsoft did the right thing in stopping Japanese support, because Japan wasn't buying their consoles, very few games sold well, but still didn't help them to keep up, even Kinect flopped there. So they focused all their marketing muscle on the U.S. & EU, and succeeded.
I believe the problem has nothing to do with them being an American company by looking at the success Apple achieve there. I think it has more to do with Microsoft as a whole, could be wrong, who knows, just my 2 cents.
I agree. Japan has no interest in xbox for the same reasons i barely have interest in them. And those are the reasons
Actually, Xbox 360 did ok in the beginning because of JRPGs and whatnot, but support was quickly dropped.
And not everyone cares enough about Halo, Gears or paying for online to buy an extra systems when all, if not most, of your gaming needs are already met with a PlayStation and Nintendo system.
PS3 was future proof because it received and continues to receive support throughout. Blu-ray also helped.
Future proof implies that it will always be on the leading edge. It was behind PCs a year later just like the 360. Unless you have a case that will be upgradable, it isn't future proof. If formats come out that it can't play, it's not future proof. No technology is future proof. The PS3 can't play 8k video. There's another thing that makes it not future proof.
In comparison with the Xbox 360 ya moron. Not PC.
Because they are smarter than most Americans? Lol
japan is a home market for other 2
they are big into handheld
they are still big into arcades
they don't like to buy products that have issues like xbox360 had for first few years with RROD
paying for online
same 3-4 game franchises as exclusives throughout the console cycle
Because The Xbox 360, its games, and its tastes, are simply built around American culture.
Which is odd, because as American as I am, the 360 is actually last on my list of consoles.
Given how Sony and Nintendo have had amazingly strong showings in prior generations- despite not being very "American"- I'd say that has very little to do with it.
Instead, it's build quality, game variety, and support factor that determined why the other consoles were so successful elsewhere, and why the 360 WASN'T. To be honest, I'm amazed and rather saddened by just how willing my fellow Americans are/were to eat up the 360. They didn't put up much of a fight when it came to holding Microsoft accountable.
It didn't address the market. MS put out piles of cash to lure JP devs to the system, tried to get them to make games for it, but they didn't actually do anything to identify the brand towards the Japanese gamer.
Japanese simply don't care for an American console and it isn't like the PS3 did better. It is clear the Japanese as a whole have transitioned to handheld games so I don't expect any console that isn't a 3DS to do well
People need to seriously get over this notion that Japan hates 'american item'.
Japanese people love American things, especially when American clothing companies open up (and iPods/ iPhones are really popular here too).
MS just failed to aggressively address the market with expectations high for both Sony and Nintendo.
Adding to your examples, whenever I ask any of my students (I'm a teacher in Japan) to name their favorite restaurant, McDonald's is far and away the most common answer.
The American flag and British Union Jack are huge fashion points over here. You'll see them on shirts, hats, handbags...it's as if you were in the US or Europe.
Every country has a touch of xenophobia and nationalism here and there, but really, this notion that Japan stays away from foreign products is simply not true.
i come to expect that way of thinking from most of my fellow americans, and that's really sad imo. majority of us just need to get over ourselves.
japan didnt buy 360 because it have interesting games that were gear towards their market. did microsoft really think shooters were going to be real big in japan?
what happened to support it with rpgs they like, after LO i really can't think of one other rpg after FF13 that was released on the console over there.
since you live and teach there, get to witness first hand how the culture is what do you make of majority of these comments here mostly from our American fellows stating otherwise?
the way the keep spouting incorrect facts is simply mind boggling. its pretty clear that Microsoft hasn't done the right things to actually do better in Japan.
if Japanese people only buy Japanese products why didn't they buy the Vita from the off? did people believe they would simply buy it because its from Sony?
I said an American console not American products. MS did provide games that cator to the market it just didn't penetrate the first time because of alot of issues. The machine was too big for the first Xbox in small homes. The second was the controller itself was too big and then they came out with the S controller. Hell MS has a Japan devision that is run by a Japanese CEO for that devision and the games that are their are the same ones released for the PS3. They simply choose the Wii and PS3 over the 360 as they chose the PS2 and Gamecube over the Xbox.
Still Japan is not as big as it was years ago for consoles and proof is how the industry in that country has moved on to handhelds to where even the native consoles are struggling which we see on a weekly basis. So arguing over the weakness of Japan for Xbox really doesn't change the fact that this company saw success with those Japan studios outside the country so it was still important to get relations with developers established.
I think it has nothing to do with it being an American product, since Apple is doing very good in the country. I think it has to do with Microsoft as a whole. The weak sales of the Surface, & both failed attempts with both game consoles, Kinect & Zune is pretty evident the Japanese doesn't like Microsoft.
They proved with the 360 they can be successful outside of Japan, but problem is Japan is a market that it's too hard to ignore despite having a small population compared to Europe & America, time will tell thought, but I'm not expecting Microsoft to support Japan much after 2 failed attempts in the gaming business.
lack of Japanese style games.
Xbox 360 utterly dominated the STG and RPG genres this gen, as well as having loads of Japanese exclusives - so no.
You're saying it had more than PS3.....in Japan?
I didn't say that, however it could well be the case - would be interesting to see a study produced.
X360 dominated RPG genre this gen and having loads of japanese exclusive? Really?
Than why it doesn't have Disgaea, Valkyria Chronicles, Tales of Graces & Xillia, Persona, Kingdom Hearts, Yakuza, Ni no Kuni, or Atelier series?
Even some 360 exclusive such as Tales of Vesperia, Star Ocean 4, or Steins;Gate are not exclusive anymore.
Yup, there's a list for Xbox 360 too, as I'm sure you well know.
Are you saying it didn't have loads of Japanese exclusives? I mentioned STGs as well. Fighting games.. action games.. got lists?
If you asking me about the list, i already provide them in my 1st post. Butttt, i DON'T see your exclusive list to proved your post that "360 utterly dominated RPG genre this gen, as well as having load of japanese exclusive".
And i donno about exclusive action games for 360 in japan. But if fighting games, 360 sure don't get Jojo's Bizzare Adventure All Star and BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma in japan (and US).
Btw, what is STG? You mean Real Time Strategic game such as Starcraft or Shogun Total War?
If Yes, i've never heard that 360 got Starcraft / Shogun Total War game in japan...
You don't see my list because I haven't sat and compiled one! As I say, it would make an interesting study. Your RPG one looks a little strange, though. Kingdom Hearts? Persona?
It's bizarre to me that people think the Xbox 360 didn't have loads of Japanese exclusives, that's really all I can say.
STG means shootemups, by the way. Lookemup!
i think it's called games, no exclusives can only take you so far.
Exclusives that don't sell can only take you so far too. Look at Sony's credit rating. It's junk bond for a reason. Wasted money on some of those exclusives is part of it.
Because one of the only two profitable divisions at Sony are the reason it is junk. The other is cell phones.
Go read the news and stop feeding us garbage.
Yes, gaming is profitable again. But it wasn't for a long time. So remember the news. And the losses on those exclusives hasn't stopped. I'm sure Battle Royale and Twisted Metal lost money. Just because other things in gaming made a profit doesn't mean everything did. And things that lose money don't help Sony in their current situation. Which I'm sure you know because you read the news.
WTH? These exclusives that "don't sell" has taken Sony so far to fund yet 2 another new exclusive IPs so what the hell should I (or anyone) care if they sell according to YOUR personal expectations as long as Sony sees the value in them?
Sony runs a for profit business. You can disagree all you want. But Sony is a financially struggling company that is selling assets and making cuts throughout the company. If you believe they can afford to take unnecessary losses you and the other disagreers are kidding yourselves.
That is why Zipper was closed. Kaz and Howard Stringer have said they need to change and they are making those changes. Like dropping the Cell and going with a x86 processor. Losing millions on exclusives that only a handful of fans will buy is terrible business sense. Only a fool could support it. Sony has barely avoided bankruptcy. And junk bond status is not the as easy as some of you seem to think it is.
It means Sony will basically be treated like a broke-ass poor person when they need money. High interest rates if they can even get a loan or credit line. And Sony needs those things. Everything they do needs to work. Every game that goes out of the door needs to create a profit. They can't afford to make anymore mistakes. If they continue to do so this argument will be moot because they will be in bankruptcy and you will see it really hit the fan. There will be no doubt how bad off Sony is.
Many agree with Roshi, but his comment says it all. Only two of five divisions made a profit. And neither made a huge profit. People need to wake up to reality, Sony is an extremely bad off company. I do believe the PS4 will go a long way in making major profits in gaming again, but overall, the company could still go through major changes in the near future.
Because the Japanese are a very proud race who only buy quality hardware.
Also games games and more games.
You mean they wouldn't buy a $249.99 machine so that they can stand directly in front of a camera for the soul purpose of punching fruit? :0
Why pick just Japan when the rest of the world neglected it too?
Wouldn't the better question be why did America support it?
Because it's America...
The Xbox is cheaper...
America likes cheap things...it also has name brand recognition...after being out for a year early.
Cheap and Recognizable...and it plays first and third person shooters...Americans can't ask for more.
@ Mustang....
There's a reason why the Wii outsold this generation...
Actually there's 2.
1. Old people...family men and women
2. Children
Take away those...and see how many units would have been sold...I'm sure it would be drastically different.
Because its murican!...Nah truth is, people bought it because it came out first and yes alot of my fellow Americans are impatient..Then they don't take into account much other than the lower initial price point it had vs the ps3.
People didn't simply buy it because it came out first. Please see the history of Dreamcast and tell me again how simply first guarantees success.
Or how after a year the Wii and PS3 release and the Wii still outsells both consoles when it wasn't released first. Come on people.
now, no one enjoys a story of microsofts failures more than myself, but i have to give them a small amount of credit and admit that there was very little they could ever have done in order to gain ground on the JP market. Japanese culture is just a lot different from regions like EU and the US. were a lot alike in the sense that we prefer "quality before brand name". we adopt whatever comes out if we think its best for us: thats why some people in those regions bought PS3s, and some bought 360.
but in japan....the culture is just so ethnocentric. theyre mentality is a lot more stubborn than ours. theyre a lot slower to adopt things based on the name the product has on it. there is no way in a million years that an american game console was going to see success in japan. not because that console was any better or worse than its Japanese counterparts. but because the people in japan just dont want anything to do with what isnt japanese.
there was a short time during this gen where microsoft had a stronghold on some solid jrpgs. they definitely did make an effort at some point to make a small dent in the JP market, but it just didnt pay off. though i do think the ps3 is the better of the two consoles overall, microsofts struggles did not come from the fact that they built an inferior machine. they were simply dealing with a culture thats a lot more stubborn to adopt.
Don't talk sense around here, no one wants to know.
In reply to your "but because the people in japan just dont want anything to do with what isnt japanese. ":
Apple's ipod (American product) dominates over Sony's walkman there in Japan. Even though the walkman have better sound quality, longer battery life and shorter charge time, it also costs about $50 more for the equivalent model and the service loses to the easy accessibility of mp3 on i-tunes and Amazon for ipods.
Amazon is another American company that is beating Japan's Rakuten for an online retail store.
There are tons and tons of examples of non-Japanese products out selling the Japanese counter parts there, and pretty much debunks your prejudiced statement.
Even you admit you think PS3 is the better of the two products, so why would you think you are the only one who can fairly judge a product, but not so just because they are Japanese?
Sounds like you are prejudiced towards them more then anything else.
Wow, youre an idiot. theyre people you moron. not nationalist robots. of course there are several examples of products from all around the world that have infiltrated japanese culture. but to deny that japanese culture is an EXTREMELY difficult one to influence and introduce foreign goods to is really naive.
im honestly not even interested in addressing your finger pointing argument beyond that. Take an anthropology course.
Because there are alot of lollipop mother fuckers here. That's why.
In all honesty ms doesnt really know their own identity in the game industry because they just focus on whatever brings in the most money. The only thing that I can kind of credit them with is making online console gaming where it is today but other then that they arent a great company when it comes to creating their own franchise games like sony & nintendo. They just have the money to do all the talking for them which really is the only reason they are still around or they wouldve been gone after the 1st xbox.
No games of interest, as well as other things
This again? Really. We get it. Japan didn't care about the original Xbox, they didn't care about the 360, and they won't care about the third Xbox. No point of going through this again.
all these fake reasons are so silly. let's stop dancing around the truth. the Microsoft Xbox didn't do anything in Japan because the Japanese understands that supporting foreign products deports Japanese dollars to that foreign country instead of keeping it home (unlike my simple minded American brothers and sisters) they never gave the Xbox 1 a chance and the excuses they gave for why not is because the console was black, too bulky, and it didn't fit or match anything in their Japanese living rooms which was all bull. do I say this? because the ps3 just mimicked everything that the xbox1 was (minus the the ease of development) and then the Xbox 360 was clearly better than the ps3 on most if not every level. it had the games, perfect online support,and the hardware to back it. the ps3 had an extremely slow start with the games and the Xbox was hitting the world with a phenomenal list of games. the Xbox 360 gave us first person shooters, a bunch of rpg's, sports, racers and much more. the American Xbox brand will never have a chance in japan because its not a Japanese product. now that's the real reason. I just wish to Japanese would stop lying about the reason for not supporting the American console. and the sad part about it is the way Americans actually believe these bs lies (I guess that makes them right when they call us stupid and inferior)
Bill , Mr gates is that you ? You can drop the charadenow ... Wow lol at your prpoganda .. 360 was and is a piece of shit how many did you buy? I own one but im afraid to use it 2 years old and sounds like a hamster wheel ... Also iphone says hi ... Japanese people will buy anything thats proven quality ... You think they all have Sony tvs and phones too ill bet lol .
you are so clueless. the system had its issues but every system has issues. the Xbox 360 has the rrod, the ps3 had the yrd, and the Nintendo Wii DCD drive stopped working. now granted, I'll admit the the rrod was the worst of them all because of how long the issue went on, but everyone has to admit that it truly was the complete console for games as well as social connectivity and till this day its the closest to PC's and arcades we will ever have. Microsoft gives the gamers hits after hits, unlike the ps3. the ps3 has a buttload of exclusive games and less than a hand full of good ones that actually sale. drakes uncharted and maybe little big planet. everything else bombs. that's why I honestly can't understand why they keep making the kill zone games. its like they are trying to make it something that it will never be (a halo and a call of duty). but they miss the mark every time. not because its a really bad game ,but because whenever a kill zone game releases, everything that it can or will ever do ,will have already have been done which in turn makes the game seem stale and not important (kind of like a kid that tries too hard to be like the cool kids). and when it comes to 3rd party titles the Xbox 360 always out sales the ps3 2 or 3 copies to the ps3's 1. plus the Xbox 360 will always get exclusive doc for all of the top games. so for a person with eyes and a brain to say that the Xbox 360 was a failure is either a PlayStation fanboy or crazy (which is normally the same in the world of PlayStation). and as for the iPhone, by Japan supporting the iPhone they in turn was still supporting japan, because the majority of the parts in the iPhone was all made by Japanese developers and also made in Japan (can you say Samsung???) so make no mistake aboutthis situation. the Japanese only support what will keep money in Japan. Americans are the only idiots that don't do this. this is just one of the many reasons why america is in the financial troubles that its in.
Not to sound like an ass but thanks for making us Americans look bad... You do realize Japan buys plenty of products from the U.S. right? (We obviously buy more from them though) It's just their own opinion of which console they want to buy and they prefer the PS3 man. I prefer both consoles plus PC because I enjoy playing whatever I like, even though most people on this website will say it's because I'm American and like to spend money haha
no they don't. where did you get a joke like thwt? the only thing American the Japanese will support without hesitation is our music. and as far as making Americans look bad, they do that all by themselves without me shinning the spotlight on the flaws. the truth always hurts, so don't blame me for mentioning the elephant in the room. you may dance around the truth and the clear obvious, but I don't and never will. I'm a realist and I call a duck a duck and a spade a spade. Japan had no reason to not support weather of the Xbox consoles at all. especially the Xbox 360. Microsoft did everything right while bending over backwards to please and cater to the japanese market. they had a killer line of rpg's, they made the system white (which they claim that the black was intimidating), they game them ungodly amounts of price cuts (something that the strong supporting Americas didn't even get), they even in listed a lot of help and support of most if not all of the Japanese developers for their help. so Microsoft did everything right, but still got the bad end of the deal. but only in Japan. there is no real excuse for that but the one I stated earlier which is 100% accurate. Its an american made product which will take money from the country and the Japanese are smart enough to support their own unless its something that their own doesn't or cannot supply. the PlayStation 3 is doing everything that the Xbox is doing but the PlayStation 3 sales for doing the something. not something better, but the same exact thing. hmmmm??? where is this not questionable? PlayStation has been copying Microsoft this whole generation and have underachieved at every duplicate, but in Japan is being praised for the very something that they disregarded Microsoft for doing. wow.
another reason is japanese people hate it when you have to pay twice just playing online heck most of the global consumer does too. only in america that the consumer is more forgiving for letting them rob of their hard earn cash more than twice and still praising the said company/publisher
I'm not forgiving and i definitely do not "praise" a company, but thanks for the stereotype. Just making yourself look like a douche along with the people who agree with you.
A garbage console just like the first one. Stop kidding yourselves Xbox fans. It will never surpass the massive libraries that both Sony and Nintendo's consoles have to offer. Both in quality and quantity.


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Jmg buildingservices&landscape gardeningCertificate of Excellence 2019
About JMG building services and landscape gardening We have over 20 years of experience in ground work and landscape gardening and building services and our aim is to put our 20 year experience into your home so you can have a good experience using our services
REM THE BUILDERCertificate of Excellence 2019
REM THE BUILDER is a well-established company working in Walton;Liverpool and the surrounding area. Having completed many successful projects, we have the experience and the expertise needed to realise the construction or renovation project of your dreams! We're a general contractor, and we work closely with projects' owners to ensure their wishes are taken into account. We can also advise on alternative solutions that could be less costly and take less time to complete without compromising quality. REM THE BUILDER is not just about bricks and mortar. We're very much aware that we're building our customers' future. REM THE BUILDER has experience in a wide range of construction projects. Want to build a conservatory, remodel your bathroom or have solar panels installed? Contact us to get an estimate today.
Allforone&oneforallCertificate of Excellence 2019
We are local,friendly,and very well known for our quality of work and value for money. We put pride and knowledge into every job we do from a tap washer to a major re build with AllForOne&OneForAll you know you're in professional hands every time. * Built on Recommendation,Trust & Commitment * Real reviews from real people * We don't do it for the money * 100% satisfaction guaranteed * Fully insured * Years of experience * We are also part of the safe trader scheme backed by lancashire county council and trading standards * All major credit & debit card payments * Rubbercover specialists * Pointing specialists * Roofing specialists * Gutter specialists * Cctv supplied and installed /Install only / Supply only * Domestic cleaning ( commercial ,regular & one off cleans, carpet cleaning, office cleaning, steam cleaning, oven cleans, friendly lady staff With on site photo ID and full company uniform. DBS checked (formally known as CRB ) YOU NAME IT WE DO IT
Your Home Property ServicesCertificate of Excellence 2019
Your Home Property Services offer a range of services to meet many needs for your property.
JK Plumbing & Heating
bartvan TRANSPORT SERVICES
Window Wizards
ACM Laminate Floors
CDS Flooring Studio
We are fast growing business, who provides all aspects of flooring including: Carpet, Laminate, solid wood flooring, vinyl, LVT (camero, Karndean and LG) and artificial grass. We will come out to the area that will need measuring so we can have a look at the area and make sure the measurements are accurate (we can also bring samples to you for you to look at when requested), once we have the measurements and you have chosen your floor we can then get the quote written up. Once the quote has been agreed we will then book you in to get your flooring started. When you get booked in to have your fooring fitted we ask for a 50 percent deposit and the rest on completion.
Removal King Property Support Services
As your dedicated property support services team we provide many aspects of property maintenance, designed to make your property ownership experience as simple and stress free as possible. We cover a range of services to a professional standard, aimed at local businesses and our number one priority is our clients' needs and preferences. We work with clients' of all sizes and no matter how minor the problem may seem, we can ensure a hassle free experience from start to finish. From internal and external repair work, to waste removals and clearances, we guarantee full customer satisfaction at affordable prices and flexibility. We work in close partnership with local estate agents and landlords, providing a professional service that covers all aspects of property support services. We aim to remove the stress and worry of owning a property, so you, as a home owner can focus on making a profit. We provide the following services: Waste Removals & Clearances We are fully licensed to remove all forms of waste, which means it is all removed and disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 60% of the waste we remove is recycled, which means it avoids ending up in landfill sites. Also, our prices are far more cost effective than hiring a skip and all the work is done for you! Construction & Joinery We cover many aspects of construction and joinery work. From bricklaying and fencing, to plumbing and electrics. All work is undergone by our professional team, who, combined, have over 10 years experience in the construction industry. Cleaning We offer end and start of tenancy cleans as well as weekly and bi-weekly cleans. We also offer deep cleans, oven cleans and after build cleans. We as a team are dedicated to ensuring the cleanliness of your property, at an affordable price, whilst removing the potential stress. And much, much more.
Walsh Aerial & Satellite Services
Level Best Building Services
Cleaning Angels YorkshireCertificate of Excellence 2019
Cleaning Angels are Yorkshires leading bespoke cleaning service. We cover every type of cleaning from domestic to commercial *carpet cleaning *jet washing *gardening *steam cleaning *one off deep cleans *end of tenancy cleans *builders cleans *rubbish removal *after/pre event cleaning
Cavity Wall Help
D K JOINERY - Wirral
Clark & Sons Removals & Storage
M roocroft fencing and groundwork Ltd
lingard & lomax joinery ltd
JJ Builders and ContractorsCertificate of Excellence 2019
We are young, fresh and quickly progressing general builder company offering first class builder, renovations, refurbishment and much more throughout Liverpool and beyond! We are Polish builders and designer team with 10 years UK experience. • Renovations • Extensions • Loft & Garage Conversions • Flat or House Conversion • Bathrooms & Kitchens • Roofing • Plastering • Dry lining, • Decorating, • Tiling • Ceilings • Plumbing • Boilers • Painting & decorating • Electrical work • Chimney work (roof work, flat roofs, pitched roofs) • Renovations and refurbishments • Design and planning • Structural alterations • New bathrooms and kitchens (design and installation) • Paving driveways and patios We work within a radius of 75 miles from Liverpool. We also aim to be as eco-friendly as possible, recycling where we can, using sustainable materials, and limiting CO2 emissions. We don't just stop at building work, having a team of reliable and highly skilled North West based plumbers, electricians, plasterers and other craftsman means we have the necessary team and resource available needed to undertake a wide array of projects. You can rest assured that all our Liverpool based team are not only friendly but more importantly they hold the relevant safety certificates as well. So whether you are looking for a new central heating systems or a boiler to be serviced, JJ Builders and Contractors will be happy to advise and deliver. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries about our services Endorsements available for request.
a2b removals
DG Locksmith
GB Plastering & Maintenance
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Kwikshift Removals and Storage LtdCertificate of Excellence 2019
Wolf Landscapes
Ozone Property MaintenanceCertificate of Excellence 2019
Hi, my name is James, I am the owner/operator of 'Ozone Property Maintenance' Franchise. I offer a friendly reliable service with competitive pricing. As I am the owner of the business, I take great pride in providing satisfaction to my customers. Im not happy until my customers are happy , total peace of mind.
Lambs Decorating Services
Lambs Decorating Services Provides A* service in your home. we cover all aspects of plastering and painting and decorating, both internal and external work. free quotes too
Holts property maintenanceCertificate of Excellence 2019
We are a family business with over ten years experience in the building trade,the company is managed by Mr D.Holt *Time served plasterer, *Fully qualified in plastering, *NVQ level 3 diploma, *CITB CSCS certificate *Worked on new housing developments & house refurbishments, *Worked with many roofing, plastering & dry ling company's. We pride ourselves on our high quality work no matter how big or small, from whole house renovations to patch work.You can rest assured all work carried out will be to our very high standards, in a friendly clean fast and tidy manner and all work will be guaranteed on completion of work customer satisfaction is are aim,In our work we take pride,quality is what we provide. Here at Holts Property Maintenance we cover many types of general building work internal and external including, *General building work, *Plastering-skimming-dry lining damp courses-fibrous work- ceiling roses-cornices- repairs-patch work, *Rendering-plain face-pebble dash- k-rend-Tyrolean, *All pointing, *Painting-internal & external, *Roofing-re slates-re tiles- flat roofs-torch on felt-rubber cover leaks repaired-all lead work- stacks pointed-ridge tiles bedded & pointed, *Upvc gutters-fascias boards soffits downpipes-gutter cleaning-repairs Most building work undertaken, just ask for more details. We specialise in most modern building materials including, Coloured monocouche Render i.e -K-rend-Webber etc, -Rubber Cover- flat roofs -and many more For further details or a free estimate please contact Mr D .Holt vie Phone - 07542 744966 Email - email@example.com Or facebook via private message https://www.facebook.com/Holts87 Twitter https://twitter.com/Holts_property
CB Building & Joinery Ltd
Used Conservatories A.K ltd
Floor Restore
A local family run business offering a complete floor cleaning & restoration services. Including;- Floor sanding & refinishing Floor polishing & tile cleaning Carpet deep cleaning Stone floor cleaning We are not 'self trained' in fact we are proud to say we have attended industry recognised training. We are also proud to say that setting us apart from the rest we have all been vetted to the Management level & UKSV which is an expensive and intensive process, allowing us to offer a bespoke, professional & confidential service. We may not beat everyone on price but we take pride in building a reputation with our customers for professionalism and high standards of workmanship. Find out more on our website or social media www.floorrestore.co.uk Facebook, Instagram & Twitter Tel: 0800 193 3711
WSB tree care and Landscaping ServicesCertificate of Excellence 2019
We are a Family Run Business With Over 60 years Of Experience We are Polite and clean i we wish to meet all your needs
Pepe Painter Decorator Altrincham
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JGW Plastering ServicesCertificate of Excellence 2019
Time served plasterer with over 20 years experience in many aspects of plastering both internal and external. Includes: - overboard and - float and set - dot and dab - cover arted and artexing - rendering and pebble - and much more. Clean, tidy and turns up on time.
sunshine blinds
PS Plastering
Fix Up Look Sharp
I am professional, punctual and take pride in my work. I specialise in the assembly of IKEA products. I have been in the industry for 9 years and I use all that experience to achieve the highest level of finish. I have the right tools for the jobs and also offer a great customer experience. Feel free to contact me with any questions, Ryan
Alan Marsden Decorators
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Nationally-known comedian Willie P. Richardson will perform a benefit concert beginning at noon on Saturday October 5, 2013, at the Appleby Sand Mercantile-Cafe', 6530 FM 2609 in Nacogdoches. The cafe's owners, Angela and Kevin Bradford, will provide hot dogs and drinks at no charge.
The event will benefit lifetime East Texas residents, Norman and Lill Johnson.
Norman retired in 2001 from radio broadcasting upon being diagnosed with spinal degenerative arthritis. Now a resident of Willowbrook Nursing Center, he also suffers from vascular dementia, arterial sclerosis and arrhythmia, among other health problems.
Norman's wife, Lill, lives separately in their downtown Nacogdoches home. She staves off negativity regarding her diagnosed Crohn's disease by focusing on her art. However, she lost her job not too long ago and has recently filed for disability.
"They've always been really community-minded people and have done everything under the sun to help," said David Stallings, benefit organizer and owner of Landmark Productions of Nacogdoches. "I just knew that they were in need of some help. They have helped so many people and causes here in Nacogdoches County, I thought it would be a good idea to try to help them."
The list of Norman's accomplishments are extensive. He built his life's career around entertainment, having performed at the East Texas Yamboree, hosted the Beaumont television show Talent Time Twelve and a talk radio show through KSFA in Nacogdoches called The Norman Johnson Show. Quite possibly more than anything, he is known as the "World's First Elvis Impersonator." In what spare time he had, he served in many volunteer roles in the community.
"Norman really helped Make-A-Wish get started here in Nacogdoches County," Stallings said. "He helped so many families and children. He was also named Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce back in 2000."
For close to two decades, Norman served as president of the Nacogdoches Adult Learning Center. He was a founder of the Nacogdoches Community Coalition, where he served as executive vice-president, and served on the board of directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast for 15 years.
"I worked with him back in 1971 and '72 at a radio station down in Diboll — country radio KSPL," Stallings said. "We have been friends ever since. He has emceed for me for a number of country concerts. We have been friends forever."
Lill's track list, though somewhat smaller than her husband's, is just as illustrious.
A descendant of the Davidson and Sleet families — early Nacogdoches settlers — Lill can trace her ancestry back to Sam Houston and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. She has worked with several doctors in town as well as retained membership with the Nacogdoches Business and Professional Women's Club, and the Citizen's Police Academy.
Donations will be accepted throughout the event and 100 percent of all the money given will go toward the Johnson family.
"There is no charge and no obligation for anyone to give anything," Stallings said. "Just show support for them."
Comedian Willie P. Richardson will perform his comedy concert from noon until 1:15pm. Richardson's recordings have been aired on thousands of radio stations throughout the world, including SiriusXM Satellite Radio. More than 1.25 million of his CDs have been sold since 1996 and he has appeared in hundreds of live concerts over the years, including a stint in Branson, Missouri, working with The Platters. He was named "Comedian of the Year" at the annual Cammy Awards Show in Myrtle Beach, SC, in 2000 and is proud of the fact that his humor is clean and is acceptable to all audiences and age groups. Richardson will provide free autographed photos to those in attendance.
For those not able to attend, but wishing to support the family, send checks made out to Norman and Lill Johnson, P.O. Box 630955, Nacogdoches, Texas 75963.
Story written by Christine Broussard - The Daily Sentinel - Nacogdoches, TX


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SEE PHOTOS - Locations included on the tour
A new free iPhone app providing visitors with a guided tour of Dublin's galleries, museums, historic buildings and cultural centers through video, photographs, interviews and behind the scenes footage has gone live.
Senator David Norris, a hopeful for Ireland's next presidency, spoke at the launch of the virtual trail in Trinity College. He said, "The trail is fantastic because it combines creativity, imagination and new technology which together brings collections alive to everyone."
The virtual trail is an initiative of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust. A number of technology firms based in the Digital Hub were also involved in the apps development.
Grainne Millar, the head of cultural development at the trust, said it was the first program of its kind. She added that the trail could grow audiences in participating venues as much as 20 percent.
She said, "The culture trail opens up a whole new experience for locals and tourists and provides a great opportunity to encourage greater use of our attractions at a time of scarce resources."
The app is available from the iPhone app store at www.dublinculturetrail.ie.
The venues featured in the trail include:
1. Irish Museum of Modern Art
2. National Museum of Ireland – Collins' Barracks
3. Christ Church Cathedral
4. Chester Beatty Library
5. City Hall
6. Projects Arts Center
7. National Photographic Archive
8. Meeting House Square
9. Temple Bar Gallery and Studios
10. Graphic Studio Gallery
11. Trinity College Dublin
12. National Museum of Ireland – The Natural History Museum
13. The Irish Traditional Music Archive
14. Dublin City Gallery – The Hugh Lane
15. James Joyce Center
SEE PHOTOS - Locations included on the tour


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As first noted over at Awful Announcing, things got a bit awkward yesterday at the tail end of the 3 p.m. SportsCenter on ESPNNEWS when Steve Weissman joked that there was flirting between fellow anchor Sage Steele and Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, who was doing the Bristol media tour Tuesday.
"I'm married," muttered Steele as a look of discomfort came over her face. Maybe Weissman pushed the wrong button—though, really, that's probably not a joke anybody should make—but here's the Steele interview with Welker (with some edits to Welker's responses for brevity) so you can make the call:
When playful SportsCenter anchor banter turns awkward [Awful Announcing]