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We are certified with the most recognized trust mark in the Nordic countries, Trygg e-handel, which is managed by the Swedish Digital Commerce association.
All parcels are delivered by Bring or one of their external partners. The shipping charge is 7,90 € for orders of less than 100 €. We cover the cost of shipping for orders exceeding 100 €.
Hööks is happy to refund any items within 60 days, sale items 14 days. Please contact customer service if you would like to return an item.
Free shipping for order over 100 €
A saddle stuffed with wool, or synthetic wool can need re-stuffing after a period of use. The stuffing settles and can also be affected by the rider's seat and the horse's anatomy.
Saddle makers usually state that a saddle needs checking after 6-12 months.


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Click anywhere in this box to find out all the details and pricing...
The methodology, implementation and interface are kept simple to insure that the focus is on managing projects rather than learning a new system.
To learn more, read the complete overview. As a synopsis, once a project is created, tasks are assigned to team members who are solely responsible for that task. Each member can, in turn, convert the task to a sub-project to break it down to more detailed steps or for delegating to an extended team.
An integral part to the system is email notification. Each team member as well as the project manager has great flexibility in controlling the flow of email. The team can receive a list of outstanding and upcoming tasks as often as daily. Project managers can receive notification of task completion as well as other task management duties.
Become an iTeamwork member. It's completely free for everyone to use. We want to hear what you think about iTeamwork. Please use the feedback form to let us know how we are doing.
Thank you to all our licensed customers for supporting our efforts. You have discovered that iTeamwork.com provides a solid foundation for project management that is highly customizable. We have spent many hours in understanding your requirements and making enhancements tailored to your specific business.
As a result of this feedback, we have compiled some important features that will be available to all licensed users. We currently have no plans to enhance the free version in order to provide more value for licensed customers and thus support our development efforts to add even more features. We will keep you posted on this site as to these developments.
January 8, 2003 Project Notes
The ability to add notes to tasks has become a popular feature. With this release, it is
now possible to add notes tied to the project. When adding a new project or modifying an
existing project, notes can be added. Project notes are intended to be general information
that the team can use regardless of task.
This release also includes various bug fixes and broader support for the display of notes.
Specifically, in the My Open Tasks and Tasks Assigned to Others views.
October 30, 2002 Project Templates and Inactive Projects
iTeamwork.com has been updated with a couple new features that work hand in hand.
Both features are evident when creating new projects. Projects can be created
by copying tasks from any other project that you have created or currently manage.
Due dates for tasks are computed relative to the due date set for the new project...
(more on this item)
June 5, 2002 Task Completed - Notes
iTeamwork has been upgraded to support the ability to add notes to tasks.
When adding new tasks, a new area is provided to add a note to the task upon its initial creation.
More descriptive text related to the task can be entered there as the first note associated with the task...
(more on this item)
April 8, 2002 Task Completed - Percentage Complete
Team members that have been assigned a task can now maintain a percentage completion
value to assist project managers with better visibility on a project's status...
(more on this item)
March 30, 2002 iTeamwork Offers Hosting Options
iTeamwork.com allows you to use this service free of charge,
but now gives you the option to host the software on your own
internal web server or have iTeamwork host a private version on our servers.
These options have been created based on the feedback of our users as well
as the need to create avenues to generate revenue in order to continue
making enhancements.
Installing the software on your own web server gives you the ultimate in
security. All aspects of managing the server are under your control.
There is no compelling reason to have us host a private version. If you are
a business and are realizing benefit from using iTeamwork, we ask that you
consider purchasing a license in order to support our efforts. A private
version does isolate your data from everyone else and allows you to control
when you upgrade.
Click here to find out more, download the software or place your order.
You can now view your complete list of projects using a tree view that shows
the relationship between projects and sub-projects. This presents a more
visual representation of your project hierarchy to provide a better sense
of how the complete project is organized and delegated...
(more on this item)
February 11, 2002 Task Completed - Manage Team Members
iTeamwork.com has a new, much-requested feature, to manage team members. Managing Team Members
will allow you to add team members without having to assign them a task, remove team members,
copy a team from one project to another and also have the ability to change various permission
settings for each team member... (more on this item)
February 4, 2002 Task Completed - iTeamwork gets a face lift
More than just cosmetics, this "new look" improves on navigation to provide an even more intuitive experience. Generally, the changes were kept to a minimum to create a new software base that will allow for the addition of new features more easily. One minor change, for example, is that the main Projects view separates Active Projects from Completed Projects... (more on this item)

subset: commoncrawl


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PHOENIX -- An interim director will take over the embattled Phoenix VA Health Care System on Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced. Steve Young will oversee delivery of health care to an estimated 85,000 veterans and an operating budget of about $500 million. The move comes as the Phoenix VA tries to restore its reputation while it is under investigation for possible patient deaths. In recent weeks, critics of the VA system have alleged that administrators in Phoenix kept an off-the-books list to conceal long wait times as 40 veterans died waiting to get an appointment.
Director Sharon Helman and two other employees were placed on administrative leave May 1. Young has been the director of the Salt Lake City VA Health Care System since June 2009. He also served as the interim medical director at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago from February 2011 to June 2011. Before taking that position, Young was the deputy network director for the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network in Florida. The claims are the latest to emerge as VA hospitals around the country struggle to handle the huge volume of patients who need medical attention, including aging vets and a newer influx from wars over the last decade. In the past year, VA facilities in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Washington state have been linked to delays in patient care or poor oversight. Government investigators reported this month that employees at a veterans medical clinic in Fort Collins, Colorado, were instructed to falsify records to make it appear as though patients were getting appointments close to the day requested. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is scheduled to testify next week before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on care across the VA. Shinseki announced this week he has ordered an audit of access to care at all VA medical centers. Meanwhile, many have called for his resignation. U.S. Sen. John McCain, who held a forum Friday with veterans, stopped short of demanding Shinseki step down. "I would like to see Secretary Shinseki in his capacity appearing before Congress and the American people saying what went on," said McCain, a veteran who served in Vietnam.


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The Atomic Mover XCruise Skintec is a shorter, broader more stable skin ski for leisure skiers.
100% Mohair skins deliver a strong grip and fast glide in all snow conditions.
The Xcruise profile for our wider, shorter Mover Xcruise skis.
Light, stable and tough. Densolite is produced in Atomic's own facilities and comes in three variations. SDS camber construction keeps kick zone high in the glide phase for no friction. Then easy to compress in the kick phase for full energy into the kick.
If you're new to touring or back to the sport after a break, the Atomic Mover XCruise Skintec is a little wider and shorter than the Mover Skintec – so it's easy to turn and easy to snow plow to control your speed. But it still performs really well so you won't get left behind! It's a Skintec ski so no need for kick-waxing. Instead jump on the ski and the Mohair grip zone will give you a perfect kick and glide in all snow conditions and temperatures. If you want to change your skins it's easy to do it yourself: we offer a universal skin (pre-set on the ski) and a grip skin with better grip properties.


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An unprecedented trend has been raised in Vienna, the capital city of Austria, by either the bold panda logo on indicators in the hotel, hundreds of different shapes of panda dolls in the conference room, or widespread Sichuan tourism resource demonstration in the hotel, the latest promotion video of Sichuan tourism products, and Sichuan tourism represented by giant panda.
On the morning of July 26 local time, "Panda Going Globally • Beautiful China" Sichuan Tourism Promotion Activity came into Hilton Vienna Hotel to bring excellent Sichuan tourism promotion and the latest tourism lines and products to local tourism industrial counterparts and travel enthusiasts. The main purpose of this promotion is to promote the travel lines and tourism resources of Sichuan and expand the tourism cooperation between Sichuan and Austria.
Counsel-Director of Sichuan Tourism Development Committee Mr. Chen Jialin made a speech at the promotion while Sichuan tourism marketing group gave a wonderful Sichuan tourism introduction. Chinese Political Counselor in Vienna Ms. Ding Yazhen, Director of Vienna Tourism Bureau Ms. Sonja Ishak, President of European Automobile Manufacturers' Association Mr. Xia Weiping, and representatives of Vienna tourism industry and media attended this activity.
During the promotion, China-HK Travel Agency introduced the featured tourism cultural experience of Sichuan Ganzizhou Region and the urban and surrounding cultural scenic areas of Chengdu and Air China Vienna Representative Office introduced its flight routes between Europe and Chengdu respectively.
Austrian travel agencies such as Sonny Travel Agency, Universal Travel Agency and Bikey Travel Agency and Chinese travel agencies such as China International Travel Service in Sichuan Province, Chengdu Anyi Tour International Travel Agency, Chengdu China International Travel Service and Chengdu Global International Travel Agency signed cooperation framework agreement on tourism. Participants together witnessed the sign of the agreement.
According to the agreement, contracting parties will co-promote the in-depth cooperation between Sichuan and Vienna in terms of tourism as well as the bilateral tourism development including strengthening regional tourism development, cooperation potential discussion and information exchange to realize information sharing in the field of tourism. Chinese travel agencies will conduct relevant advertising and hold related promotion activities in Austria to lay foundation for their propaganda and promotion while Austrian counterparts actively promote relevant tourism resource and products to local Austrian visitors and continuously improve the degree of recognition and identification. Chinese enterprises will provide rewards to Austrian enterprises as per the target incentive measures confirmed by both sides.
The event attracted the attention of overseas and Chinese media such as OUSHI1983, Representative Office of China Economic Daily in Austria, Overseas Chinese Media, Austrian Paper, and Kurier Paper.
In the afternoon, Sichuan Hotel in Vienna also held a promotion activity of "Trip of Sichuan Cuisine "with unique Sichuan flavor. World well-known Sichuan cuisine renews the interest of Austrians in Sichuan.
Address on Sichuan Tourism (Vienna) Promotion Conference
Mr. Chen Jialin, Counsel-Director of Sichuan Tourism Development Committee
July 26, 2017
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Good morning!
Firstly, on behalf of Sichuan Tourism Development Committee of China, I would like extend my warm welcome to all guests attending today's "Panda Going Globally • Beautiful China " Sichuan Promotion Conference and express my sincere thanks to all walks of life of Austria that care Sichuan's development.
Sichuan, located at the east of Mt. Himalayas of Tibet Plateau, is the doorway of western China. With an area of 48.6 square kilometers and a population of over 82 million, it boasts the reputation of "Land of Abundance". It is the hometown of panda. Eighty percent of more than 1,500 wild pandas all over the world live there.
"Sichuan, More Than Pandas". Besides panda, Sichuan also has a long history and brilliant culture. With five world heritage sites including Jiuzhaigou Valley, Huanglong, Dujiangyan, Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt. Emei as well as 12 national 5A tourist attractions, it has beautiful natural sceneries. Moreover, it has the Sanxingdui Culture with a history of 4,500 years as well as Jinsha Site with a history of 3,500 years. The gold foil pattern of "solar divine bird" unearthed in Jinsha Site is the identification of Chinese cultural heritage. Chengdu is reputed as "city of cuisine" by UNESCO. Being as one of ten great famous cuisines in China, Sichuan cuisine is well received in the whole world. Sichuan is very much suitable for touring and leisure owing to its unique tourism resources.
Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, is the center of science and technology, trade and commerce, and finance as well as the hub of transportation and communication in southwestern China. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the fourth aviation hub and the fourth city in China to implement the policy of 72-hour visa-free transit in China. Its flight routes cover important cities in North American, Europe, Middle East, Oceania and Asia and have direct flights to 95 foreign cities (regions). China-Europe Train schedule reaches 460, ranking top in China. Along with the implementation of inbound tourism preferential policies, its annual tourists surpass three million.
Now, Sichuan has been getting closer and closer with the rest countries in the world and has become one of the most attractive destinations in western China. At present, it has established economic and trade relationship with over 210 countries and regions. There are 321 of Fortune 500 enterprises in Sichuan and 16 countries including US have set up consulates in Sichuan. The exchange between Sichuan and Austria has grown with time. In particular, the exchange and cooperation in terms of tourism has become a new highlight of bilateral relationship. Currently, it is the time of Sichuan Province to accelerate the construction of economic strong province as well as world major tourism destination, which creates a good prospect for bilateral exchange and cooperation. This September, 22nd United Nations World Tourism Organization General Meeting will be held in Chengdu and the 4th Sichuan International Tourism Trade Fair will be held in Leshan City of Sichuan Province, which creates important opportunity for Sichuan and Austria to deepen exchange and cooperation especially in the field of tourism. We sincerely invite relevant Austrian departments and enterprises to attend these events so as to boost the bilateral exchange and cooperation into a higher level.
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends, Sichuan is a hot land with vigor and hopes. We expect that more Austrian entrepreneurs can come to Sichuan to invest and more visitors to travel. As the old Chinese goes, "Beautiful China, Beautiful Sichuan". We sincerely welcome all of you and your family and friends come to Sichuan to enjoy the beautiful mountains and rivers in Sichuan and experience the brilliant ancient Shu culture.
Thank you!
Media Contact
Company Name: Tsichuan
Contact Person: Mark
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 028-86702855
Country: China
Website: http://www.scta.gov.cn/sclyj/xccx/


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Kent English Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Kent English Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Turkey View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message ArgofotoJoined: 28 Aug 2012Posts: 61Location: Philadelphia Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:49 am Post subject: Kent English Hi, I am looking to become an EFL teacher in the future. Currently, I do local private tutoring and participate in English conversation clubs and volunteer at the local library. I am hoping to get my CELTA abroad. I met someone recently whom I may tutor in the future. She is a professor, and recommended me to check out Kent English. I was wondering if anyone has had personal experience with them and what they thought of it. Also, what are the requirements (CELTA, BA?) to work for them? They have their own teaching certification program, but frankly I would rather have a CELTA for obvious reasons. I did a search for Kent and the latest info appears to be over a year old, so any recent experiences are much appreciated! Back to top dudeteacherJoined: 27 Feb 2010Posts: 173 Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject: I have no recent info for you. However, I left Turkey in 2010. During my six odd years there, the few times I heard anything about Kent, it was overwhelmingly positive. I had an interview with them years ago. I declined because although I was given a good rate per class, there was no guarantee of hours (even a minimum) and no rent allowance. Sorry I couldn't offer something more recent. Dude Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Turkey All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


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Helps you organize, create, and import projects into Family Tree Maker. Once you have a project to work on, Plan shows you the status of your projects, the tasks are left uncompleted, and the last person you were working on. It is the initial workspace each time you start up Family Tree Maker.
Copyright © 2010 by H R Worthington


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Updated 2016
Newcastle upon Tyne – as it's known to the overly-formal types – is another English city that travelers had written off as bleak, industrial, and depressing a decade or two ago, but things have changed. Newcastle has dusted itself off and is now a very trendy city for young people in England. It's still known for its over-the-top ability to throw a party, but there is more here to do than just tip back pint after pint in the local pub.
What To Do
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is housed in what used to be a grain store. It's now one of England's best modern art museums, but it also has a movie theater, a restaurant, and a bar amidst its performance space and exhibition areas. If you are more interested in the drink than the art you can check out one of Newcastle's famous pub neighborhoods. The most famous place is around the Bigg Market, but a group of trendy places can also now be found in the Diamond Strip near the train station.
For a bit of history you can check out the remains of the Roman fort at Segedunum, which is where this city began in the 2nd Century A.D. You can also visit the Castle Keep as well as the Castle Garth, which is the new castle that gave the city its name.
Of course you can't leave town without drinking a pint of Newcastle in the town that gave the beer it's name.
Read: Escape London During the Olympics & Explore the Northeast.
Getting There
If you are already in England you can easily get to Newcastle by train. The journey from London takes about 3 hours and the trains leave about twice an hour. If you are coming from elsewhere you can book a flight into Newcastle International Airport (code: NCL). The airport is close to the city and is on the Metro line so it's fast and easy to get to the center. As Newcastle is not a major airport of long haul flights you should check prices on flights into London and then take the train from there. You can book train tickets more cheaply if you book in advance.
Where To Stay
Newcastle is not a huge city so the accommodations are not overly spread out. But it pays to check your location if you'll be participating in the infamous nightlife here since you don't want to have to cross town after a long night of boozing. There are a few hostels in Newcastle and quite a few hotels in Newcastle as well.


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Blueberry Peach Crisp
I'm a sucker for pies, crisps and cobblers. There's something about eating a hot gooey crisp with a cold scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt cream that really does it for me!!
Xagave was kind enough to send me some agave nectar, a natural low calorie sweetener along with a cookbook which features many great recipes and a chart on how to convert your existing recipes. It saves 30%-50% of calories over sugar and honey, it's certified organic, and is low glycemic. I used it in this fruit crisp to replace most of the sugar and it was sweet and delicious. I can't wait to experiment with it some more!
Blueberry Peach Crisp
For the Filling:
- 5 yellow peaches, pitted and sliced
- 1 cup blueberries, about 6 oz
- 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup agave nectar
For the Topping:
- 1 cup Quaker quick oats
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, not packed
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup half stick butter, melted
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine peaches, blueberries, agave nectar, lemon juice and zest in large bowl. Sprinkle with cornstarch. Toss until fruit is coated.
- Place fruit in an ungreased pie dish. Mix remaining ingredients. Sprinkle over fruit.
- Bake about 40 minutes or until topping is golden brown and fruit is tender.
- Serve with a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt.


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Digital Production
The Gnomon Workshop offers the most comprehensive set of Digital Production tutorials anywhere. The broad scope of the tutorials contained in this section range from foundational understanding of the software tools all the way to the professional application of these tools and concepts used by artists working in the film and game industries.
Entertainment Design
The Gnomon Workshop is widely regarded as the global leader in training tutorials for the designer working in the entertainment industry. With tutorials ranging from foundational drawing and design concepts to process tutorials from some of the top concept and character designers in the world, there is surely something here to inspire.
As the tattoo industry has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years, the need training in this field has also grown. In these video tutorials, some of the top tattoo artists in the world share their techniques and their take on the art of tattoo. The tutorials range from absolute beginner level to advanced color and blending techniques used by some of the world's best.
The Gnomon Workshop offers professional training on most of the software applications used in today's digital pipelines. There are foundational titles to introduce users to the software and tools, as well as advanced production titles that discuss application tools and processes vital to the production of digital assets and media.
Professional Training for Artists
The Gnomon Workshop seeks out the most highly-regarded traditional and digital artists and technicians currently working in the entertainment and design industries. Our instructors have shared their practices working at such top studios as Pixar, ILM, Blizzard, and many more.Instructor GalleriesInstructor Interviews
In Designing a Modular Environment using Unreal, Environment Artist Brian Recktenwald guides you through his workflow for creating a subway environment with some supernatural elements. In breaking down the scene, Brian takes you through his entire creation process of reference gathering, modeling modular blockouts & assets in 3ds Max, testing blockouts in Unreal, texturing in Substance Designer, final modeling, uv's, and rendering in V-ray Next. He also covers photogrammetry techniques using Reality Capture, organic modeling in ZBrush and final scene assembly, lighting, and post processing. For those looking to create efficient environments, using a few objects to imply detailed complexity, this tutorial provides invaluable tips and techniques.
Duration: 180 Minutes
Format: HD 1920x1080
Brian Recktenwald began his career in games as an Environment Artist at LucasArts on The Force Unleashed and sequels, then moving on to become Environment Art Lead for the Star Wars 1313 project at Lucasfilm. In 2013, Brian joined Naughty Dog to work on the highly acclaimed Uncharted series with a focus on modeling and scene assembly. He has worked in the games industry for over ten years and specializes in modeling, texturing, surfacing, and lighting.
I've been in the games industry for 17 years, and Brian is one of those rare talents you come across once in your career. He is by far, one of the very best environment artists in the industry. He consistently puts in extra time to make sure the work he turns in is beyond what you expected in terms of quality and polish. When we started Star Wars 1313, the environment artists pipeline was dramatically changed. They needed to produce assets to a quality level only seen in films, but on a very tight deadline. Brian set the high bar on what was expected and made sure his entire team delivered. He is an exceptional artist and a true professional.
Brian is the most naturally gifted and creative artist I have ever had the chance to work with. His work at LucasArts has been nothing short of spectacular - and his ability complete work from concept to finish demonstrates just how much of a creative visionary Brian has become. Working with Brian to develop the environment art pipeline was one of the best working relationships a software engineer could hope for, as Brian was eager to work closely with both myself and other engineers to get the best tools and workflows possible. As ILM R&D began building a stronger cross-divisional working relationship with LucasArts, Brian was one of the artists at the forefront of working with our group. Brian's creative vision was often seen as the absolute 'high-bar' of what could be achieved - and it was always a personal pleasure to see what incredible and captivating work Brian was doing even with our very early prototypes.
Brian is a very nice and pleasant guy to work with. He is the Lead Artist for SW1313. His talent is matched only by his great attitude and his amicable nature. He is one of the most passionate and hard-working artists I have had to pleasure of working with on many titles. Brian is always proactive and comes up with new and innovative ideas to push workflows to new levels. He is able to take on tools that were still in a prototype stage of development and churn out some truly eye-popping levels that made everyone on our team proud. He is one of the rare artists that packs both an exceptional artistic eye for game design and all aspects of art production including modeling, texturing, lighting and animation.
Try a Class on Campus
Gnomon specializes in computer graphics education for careers in the entertainment industry.


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Here's what Wikipedia looks like as a map
There is a lot of data housed in the servers that power Wikipedia.org — about 40GB worth of data, to be exact. With 1.5 million articles, it has reached a point where it's almost impossible to grasp the entire scope of the site anymore. That is, unless you present all that data in a captivating visual representation. Such was the project of one Olivier Beauchesne.
Beauchesne decided to spend a few days of his life combing through the entire unfiltered repository of Wikipedia articles, and figured out how to present the information in a way that had never been done before — on a map. He took the roughly 400,000 articles that were geocoded and then broke them up into different categories to see exactly how different regions of the world were represented in the online encyclopedia. For example, if you look at the geocoded information on articles about football and basketball, they almost exclusively point to the United States. Topics that focus on things like Hindu or Islam, however, are more concentrated around India and the Middle East.
The "Spanish" map
Articles about airports, airplanes, and passengers, on the other hand, light up virtually ever corner of the planet, with North America receiving only a slightly, albeit expected, larger emphasis.
The various topics were not chosen at random, but rather by an algorithm called Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), which organizes large amounts of conversational text into topics that can be organized. The geocoded information was then mapped using a variety of tools, mostly Unix-based.
When you look at each individual topic, it comes across as rather underwhelming and not all that surprising. When you step back and look at the bigger picture, though, it really illuminates the fact that Wikipedia is a truly global collaboration. It would be difficult to find any other online platform where the involvement and activity among users is so widespread and universal. A full slideshow of the different maps can be seen on Beauchesne's blog.


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GE profit tops estimates as industrial growth beats finance
Bloomberg News
General Electric Co. reported higher fourth-quarter profit than analysts estimated as across-the-board growth in industrial businesses surpassed gains in finance.
Adjusted profit from continuing operations rose 13 percent to $4.67 billion, or 44 cents a share, Fairfield-based GE said Friday in a statement. That topped an average projection from analysts of 43 cents.
Emerging-market gains fueled the aviation and health-care businesses, which drove industrial performance and helped build a record $210 billion order backlog. That validated CEO Jeffrey Immelt's strategy of focusing on manufacturing, valued more highly by investors, while shrinking the finance unit after the global credit crisis.
"You see the slow but steady transition to industrial leadership to drive GE's growth," Nick Heymann, an analyst at William Blair in New York, said in an interview on Bloomberg TV with Tom Keene. "Order growth, while it slowed, didn't stall and you continue to see better pricing."
Earnings at GE Aviation, the world's largest maker of jet engines, climbed 22 percent to $1.04 billion, and industrial profit advanced 12 percent. At GE Capital, the finance unit that specializes in lending to small and medium-size companies, profit increased 9 percent to $1.81 billion in the quarter.
Shrinking finance
Immelt continued to make progress on his pledge to shrink Norwalk-based GE Capital's balance sheet and reduce its contribution to earnings. The unit's ending net investment, a measure of its assets, declined to $419 billion as of Dec. 31, an 18 percent decline since January 2009.
GE rose 74 cents to $22.04 in trading Friday. Its stock previously climbed 17.2 percent last year compared with a 13.4 percent gain for the Standard & Poor's 500 index.
Including pension expenses and other items, GE's fourth-quarter net income climbed 8 percent to $4.01 billion, or 38 cents a share, from $3.73 billion, or 35 cents, a year earlier.
Total sales climbed 4 percent to $39.3 billion in the quarter. Excluding the effects of foreign exchange and declining demand for wind turbines with an expiring U.S. tax credit, industrial orders rose 7 percent, the company said.
GE overcame a year-end slump that deepened as President Barack Obama and his opponents in Congress negotiated to avoid $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes. Organic sales growth of 4 percent slipped from an 8 percent gain in the third quarter.
Margins Expand
Profit margins at GE's industrial businesses, which also include oil and gas equipment, widened 1.2 percentage points in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, GE said in the statement. They expanded 0.3 percentage point overall in 2012, matching the company's forecast.
Full-year profit advanced 8 percent to $16.1 billion, or $1.52 per share, on $147.4 billion in sales, which were little changed.
"We ended the year with a strong quarter despite the mixed global economic environment," Immelt said in the statement. "The outlook for developed markets remains uncertain, but we are seeing growth in China and the resource-rich countries."


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Available on this site, we have a wide variety of greaseless spray lubricants, quality fragrance scents and highly effective spore killing mildewcides, as well as industrial strength deodorizers.
See what our products have to offer by browsing our 'uses' pages above.
Our customers range from enthusiasts to field proffesionals alike. Our fan base is growing rapidly as more people discover the benefits of superior product formulations and the unmatched results.
Don't forget to check out our customer reviews!
All of our products are avilable here online. However, most of our Protexall and Rogers Consumer Products are also available in thousands of brand name stores nationwide.
To find a location near you contact us directly for more information.


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Recent Posts
Tag Archives: waterloo
Bailey's Local Foods
Every Friday from May until October there's a hidden gem tucked away in the back of the First United Church in Waterloo. Bailey's Local Foods. I found Bailey's when I was searching for a CSA to get my veggies from … Continue reading
Posted in CSA, Spotlight Tagged bailey's local foods, community supported agriculture, cooking, csa, easy, food, kitchener, kw local food, local eating, ontario, recipes, spotlight, waterloo Leave a comment


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Cancer evolution simulation identifies possible principles underlying intratumor heterogeneity
Atsushi Niida, Satoshi Ito, Georg Tremmel, Seiya Imoto, Ryutaro Uchi, Yusuke Takahashi, Yusuke Takahashi, Koshi Mimori, Satoru Miyano
Cancer arises from accumulation of somatic mutations and accompanying evolutionary selection for growth advantage. During the evolutionary process, an ancestor clone branches into multiple clones, yielding intratumor heterogeneity. However, principles underlying intratumor heterogeneity have been poorly understood. Here, to explore the principles, we built a cellular automaton model, termed the BEP model, which can reproduce the branching cancer evolution in silico. We then extensively searched for conditions leading to high intratumor heterogeneity by performing simulations with various parameter settings on a supercomputer. Our result suggests that multiple driver genes of moderate strength can shape subclonal structures by positive natural selection. Moreover, we found that high mutation rate and a stem cell hierarchy can contribute to extremely high intratumor heterogeneity, which is characterized by fractal patterns, through neutral evolution. Collectively, This study identified the possible principles underlying intratumor heterogeneity, which provide novel insights into the origin of cancer robustness and evolvability.


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Sunday, December 16, 2007
Wendy Venturini Answers Your NASCAR TV Questions
A big thank you to Wendy Venturini for taking some time out of her busy off-season schedule to answer some Daly Planet reader mail.
Below are the questions you submitted, and her answers. At the bottom of the story is a link for your comments. Here we go:
Q - Stricklinfan wants to know about your work on DirecTV's Hot Pass. Can you reflect back on being the first female NASCAR play-by-play announcer? Is this a role you see yourself pursuing in the future?
A - Stricklinfan, thanks for recognizing my work on DirecTV. I never set a specific goal to be the first female play-by-play announcer, it just kind of happened.I always wanted to be known as a hard worker dedicated to motorsports no matter what role I have in television.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity in the booth this past season thanks to my boss at DirecTV, Chris Long. I'm glad I made a small mark in history, but there's much more I feel I need to learn. If my career takes me to the booth, then so be it. I just keep doing what I know, and learning from my peers.
Q - Lou from NY wondered about your Real Deal segments. Do you or a Producer decide who the Real Deal subject will be?
A - Lou, we have a production meeting every Monday morning after race weekends. It's everyone who works behind the scenes and they let me participate, otherwise they would decide RD subjects without me! We do these on Monday mornings, despite the late Sunday races, so the production crew can get the ball rolling on that week's production elements. We are all allowed to give out thoughts and opinions on all the different elements of the RaceDay show.
Sometimes, there are ten ideas on the table for that week's RD and sometimes there is silence. It all depends on that week's relevant stories and also how tired everyone is from traveling! We try really hard as a team to keep our Real Deal segments very timely so planning in advance doesn't work for this segment. We agree on two or three choices and then it is left in the hands of our Producer, John Morris. He is responsible for lining up the logistics of the interview, which can be very frustrating when it comes to driver availability.
Q - Tammy from PA asks about those "grid interviews" on RaceDay. Do you have to set them up in advance, or do they just happen?
A - Tammy, that is a great question. Our SPEED Channel boss, Hunter Nickell, would probably also like to know the real answer to that one! We are very prepared as a production team and always try to book interviews in advance, however, it never works out perfectly.
I usually have the same Field Producer on Sundays, Becky Blankenship. If anyone has seen me in the garage during RaceDay, you have probably seen Becky too. She and I coordinate where we are headed toward the end of the show. Sometimes they are booked guests, but other times I literally bump into people I feel like talking to on pit road.
SPEED VP Frank Wilson and RaceDay Producer Ted Laukaitis have given me a lot of freedom on those grid walks. It's more difficult than one would think to talk to the camera and look for potential guests in your peripheral vision at the same time. This is the most challenging and fun time of the show for me...IF it goes well. I am truly my own worst critic!
Q - Racefan1 wants to know when you do the Real Deal interviews? They seem to be very time sensitive. Do you do them, and then travel right to the track for the next race?
A - Racefan1, that is what I am most proud of on the RD interviews, the ability as a TV production team to keep them so timely. We always shoot the week the interview airs, and I always do the interviews myself. Our special effects are not that good!
As I mentioned, we come up with our ideas "back at the shop" on Mondays. The interviews take place by Tuesday or Wednesday where I am asking questions usually at a shop or the home of a driver. Our Producer, John Morris, will prep the interview on Thursday and then edit it in Charlotte on Friday.
I leave for the track on Thursday, so I don't get to see the finished product until the tape arrives at the track on Saturday. That is my favorite time at the track on Saturdays, when the tape arrives and I can finally see all of the pre-produced elements for the Sunday RaceDay show.
Q - Matt in NYC wants to know if it's weird working ARCA races where your brother is racing? Do the TV guys keep you out of his pit? How do those pit assignments work?
A - Thanks Matt, I like to address this question as often as possible. I consider it a unique situation that mom gets to watch both of her kids work in one race!
Much to the disbelief of some ARCA viewers, I often choose not to cover my brother's pit to cause less controversy. TV producers have never forced me one way or the other. Pit assignments are picked among the pit reporters themselves for the ARCA races. I consider it an easier day when I wind-up with Billy's pit, because no studying is needed for that team! But, sometimes it just does not work out that way.
Q - GS in CA wants to know what advice you would give a young person who wants to pursue a career in TV, either behind or in-front of the camera?
A - One word...internships! Do as many as possible while in college, even if you don't get credit. Most colleges have programs in media or television production, get involved in the college TV station if they have one.
Keep beating on the doors of the local TV station and TV production companies to let you do something to gain experience. Experience is invaluable in the TV industry. Before college, I would suggest working on public speaking. I was heavily involved in public speaking competitions in high school, and became very comfortable addressing large crowds. I think that helped a lot in my career today!
Q - Franna in TX asks that out of all the interviews you have done, was there one that really made an impression on you and stands-out?
A - Franna, I have been fortunate enough to interview some veteran drivers really rich in NASCAR history. But, quite honestly my favorite interview was with Bobby Hamilton Sr. at his home in Nashville before he lost is battle with neck cancer. Take away the cameras and crew surrounding us that day, and it was one of the most moving conversations I have ever had. He spoke words that still remain with me today.
Q - GlenC1 asks if there are still people in the garage area who do not respect a female reporter as much as a male?
A - Glen, even if they think that, they haven't treated me as such. I can't speak for every female reporter in the garage area, but I never feel inferior to the male pit reporters. I feel that as a young professional, I get the respect I deserve.
The more years in the garage, the more respect you will get. I'm not leaving to go and cover other sports, NASCAR is my home and I'm staying as long as I can. I think a lot of people in the garage know my sincere passion for this sport and that speaks volumes in itself.
Q - Kevin wonders what is the favorite part of your TV responsibilities for any of the shows or races on which you appear? Once you tell us, why is it so?
A - Wow, Kevin...that is a tough question! I really can't choose my favorite but I will give you my top three:
1 - Covering Victory Lane: I am not the best story-teller, but I try to make the fan feel that they are right there with us. I love to witness the celebration of the team and the drivers. It's the reason we race.
2 - Just talking! Sometimes, I can't believe they pay me to talk about racing. I probably shouldn't say that. There is a lot of research, homework and memorizing but it's worth it. The more you learn, the easier it is to communicate on TV. I feel fortunate that I am one of the people who get to bring those stories from the garage to the fans sitting at home. My grid walks are not always the most professional "walk and talks," but they are the true me!
3 - The travel. It is my favorite...and least favorite. It's hard to explain.
Q - Ann in AZ wanted to know if your college studies in psychology helped with your interviewing skills?
A - Ann, it may be the most beneficial degree I am using! My Communications degree was so broad-based. The psychology courses really help me to be a better communicator, especially reading my subject's body language. I react to how my subject is feeling.
Without sounding boring, I can tell what kind of mood a certain driver is in by their body language on any particular day. I'm learning when I need to bring more to the table and when I just need to sit back and listen. It all depends on the driver, the day, and their mood. Also, I may use it to my advantage when I need a specific answer. I may ask the same question two different ways. I always try to make sure my subject is comfortable with me before an interview. I definitely put those psychology studies to good use!
Q - Andypandy asks who in the garage area do you like to goof around with when you are doing an interview and who do you have a good relationship with?
A - Andy, Carl Edwards and I get along nicely both on and off-air. He was driving in the Craftsman Truck Series the same year I was pit reporting there. We both moved over to NEXTEL Cup at the same time, so we have seen each other succeed in our own respective fields.
I always joke with Tony Stewart on and off-the-air because he is an easy target, however...he will get you back!
Matt Kenseth and I get along well. Before Matt was racing full-time, he was building chassis for a Midwestern company where my dad was a customer. Technically, Matt built some of my dad's ARCA chassis years ago. I like Matt's sense of humor, but not many people understand it.
Q - Ritchie wants to know if you ever lost your cool with a NASCAR personality either on or off-the-air?
A - Sorry to disappoint you Ritchie, but I don't really get hot under the collar. I'm a pretty easy-going person. I have had some driver's PR reps lose their cool with me and I have taken the brunt of their ridiculous outbursts. It's actually embarrassing...for them! I've learned not to take it personally because the outbursts have never been a result of my own actions. I just happen to be "the TV face" in the garage.
Q - Mr. Bean wants to know when you were growing up, did you have a role model outside of your family?
A - Within our racing community, Benny Parsons was a huge inspiration for me. When I was fifteen years old, he encouraged me to pursue a job in NASCAR TV because there weren't many females who had been raised in the sport and wanted to make a TV career out of it like I did. I didn't want to race, so I figured the best option would be motorsports television!
Outside of racing and my family, I admire Barbara Walters. She is classic "old-school" and made history by being the first female evening news anchor in 1974. She is 78 years-old, has accomplished so much, and is still involved in some of the highest-rated programs on TV. She is known for "personality journalism," often eliciting emotional answers while still asking the tough questions. She opened doors and pushed the limits in a male-dominated news industry. In the TV news world, she went where no woman had gone before. I admire her for that.
Q - Vince from MI wants to know what a typical race day is like for you from the time you wake-up until the time you leave the track?
A - Are you an early riser, Vince? My hotel wake-up call is always 4:30AM on Sundays. I have the same routine, doing my own make-up and hair, and packing my suitcase on race morning.
The TV crews arrive before the Cup garage opens. I receive my RaceDay format from my producer on Saturday evening. I spend the first part of my Sunday morning marking my show format and making notes for myself. We don't use scripts or teleprompters on RaceDay, what you see is what you get with our guys. It makes for fun live TV.
Our production meeting takes place in the TV compound around 8AM. Imagine a "double wide" trailer filled with our producer, field producers, and all of the announcers. I have a hard time calling any of us "talent!"
Right after the SPEED meeting, I head into a DirecTV meeting. After that, I touch-up my make-up, gather my show notes and clothing for later, and head into the track.I suit-up with my "very fashionable" RF wireless audio pack, and go into the garage for the start of the show. Then, it's two hours of fun on RaceDay.
Here is a secret that most people do not know. As we are signing-off on RaceDay, I have people helping me with my "switch" from SPEED to DirecTV. I do a quick wardrobe change with pre-planned layers of clothing and then put on the DirecTV wireless RF pack for Hot Pass. It is about a two minute "turn-over" and I go right into talking on Hot Pass.
I cover Hot Pass until the checkered flag and then it's a race out of the track. I fly home on Racing Logistics, a chartered flight for the race teams. We take off around 8 or 9PM depending on the race, and usually land around 11PM. I usually walk into my home around midnight. It's a long day, but I love my job!
Q - Shawnna in OKC wants to know how you communicate and work with the other TV network personalities that are on pit road?
A - Shawnna, when it's the Fox Network, it's like our own family. We all communicate and work around each other very well. It gets more complicated when the other networks are covering the race. My Pit Producer, Mark Smith, communicates with the ESPN Pit Producer to compare driver interviews and make sure they don't overlap. On the reporter side, Jamie Little and I are very courteous to each other. I have my set of unwritten rules where I try to avoid walking into another network's shot. I think it's tacky. It seemed to work well this season.
Q - Slithybill says your "pit walk" through the field at Bristol was fantastic TV. He wonders what aspects of your behind-the-camera work have helped you now that you are in front of it?
A - Thanks SB, that was the most fun "pit walk" of the whole season. The hype of Bristol night racing can't be repeated every weekend. I am sure my experiences have helped me in more ways than even I realize. More often than not, I just throw the typical "stiff" TV image out the window. I become more of a producer walking down pit road giving fans a show-and-tell of what I see. It's a great concept by SPEED, and they let me have free reign on that part of the show. It's a lot of fun!
Q - Finally, Jill in FL wants to know how you spend the off-season? Do you stay home after all that travel, or go on vacation somewhere?
A - Well, Jill check-out my website (click here) for the full story! I usually head to the Caribbean at the end of the season to "detox" from the loud and hectic lives we have on the road.
This off-season was very memorable in my personal life as I got married on Wednesday, December 5th! I have literally just returned from my honeymoon and jumped back into work by answering questions for The Daly Planet readers!
Thanks again to Wendy Venturini for making us a priority and taking the time to give us some great answers. I hope that her remarks gave you a greater understanding and appreciation for the "NASCAR TV world" and the issues and struggles of working on the NEXTEL Cup trail.
I think they also told us a lot about her character. I know you all join me in congratulating her on her recent marriage. This TV personality interview series will continue through January of 2008.
The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers of this article. To add your comment, simply click on the COMMENTS button below, and then follow the instructions. Please read the rules for posting on the right side of the main page before adding your comment. Thanks again for taking the time to stop by.
Note: A surprise guest who will be taking your questions will be announced on Monday, December 17th at 8PM Eastern Time. This will be a special Christmas gift to readers of The Daly Planet, and an opportunity not to be missed by any NASCAR TV fan.
27 comments:
- Anonymous said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- December 16, 2007 at 4:53 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 4:53PM,
Please drop me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com when you have a moment. Thanks.
- December 16, 2007 at 4:56 PM
- Anonymous said...
Wendy, thank you for your answers.
JD, for a future Q&A, do you think it would be interesting to have technical person, such as the director of NASCAR on FOX answer questions? After all, many of the issues we discussed here had to do with the broadcast director or were technically related.
- December 16, 2007 at 5:49 PM
- Anonymous said...
Thanks to Wendy for the time and effort involved. These Q&A columns have helped a lot of us with our "withdrawal" and it is appreciated. :)
- December 16, 2007 at 5:55 PM
- Anonymous said...
Wendy - thanks for your answers. When I see you on tv I always think you seem like someone who loves their work, and would be a great person just to sit down and talk with. Thank you (and JD) so much for giving us the opportunity to do just that.
- December 16, 2007 at 6:12 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 5:49PM,
This is the first off-season for The Daly Planet and we are taking it one interview at a time.
If we continue to have this level of quality from both the person being interviewed and the readers, I think almost anything is possible for the future.
- December 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM
- TexasRaceLady said...
Congratulations on your marriage. May you have many, many happy years together.
Thank you for your time in answering our questions. I feel as if you've given me a bit of yourself.
I saw the interview you did with Bobby --- it touched me greatly. He will be missed.
- December 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM
- Newracefan said...
Wendy, Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions. They went a long way in helping me understand how everything happens. They reinforced that you are what I see every weekend; a respected and respectful member of the Nascar family. Congratulations on your recent marriage and keep up the fantastic work.
- December 16, 2007 at 7:59 PM
- Charlie said...
Thanks Wendy for taking the time to answers questions from the Daly Planet. You did GOOD.
Upper Peninsula of MI
- December 16, 2007 at 8:04 PM
- Anonymous said...
Thank you Wendy for taking the time to answer our questions. And thank you JD for the forum to do this.
Kingston, NY
- December 16, 2007 at 8:35 PM
- Sophia said...
Thanks Wendy for taking the time to answer the questions here after your honeymoon! Congratulations for a happy marriage.
I also can see that from reading your responses to the questions, you are as genuine as you appear to be on TV. I loved your comments on Bobby Hamilton. There was something about his tough guy exterior, but vulnerable side that always struck me as very poignant. I am sorry he lost his battle with cancer but glad his interview left such an impression.
I look forward to seeing you on SPEED/Fox this year.
- December 16, 2007 at 11:15 PM
- Anonymous said...
Thank you Wendy for all of the detailed answers, especially the interesting background of how you go through the very long race day. Your hair and makeup always look so pretty and professional - I figured you had someone there to do that for you with all of the other racing prep you have to do. You truly do it all!
It's such a joy to see someone who truly enjoys their job and is so good at it.
Good luck to you next season and congratulations on your marriage.
- December 17, 2007 at 12:07 AM
- Anonymous said...
Two words, Class Act!
You have now become my favorite NASCAR TV personality :)
Thanks Wendy! You are amazing!
- December 17, 2007 at 2:36 AM
- Anonymous said...
As far as racing commentators go, Wendy is the female Allen Bestwick, no WAIT, Allen is the male Wendy. She needs to be moved to the booth for the broadcasts. More knowledgeable than most, plus she has better hair than Bestwick or Weber! Go Wendy!
- December 17, 2007 at 6:36 AM
- Anonymous said...
Thank you, Wendy.
IMO, you're the second-best reporter covering Nascar (and when you have Dick Bergren's experience you'll be the best like he is).
I particularly love the Real Deal and the grid walk. You seem to have a way of being able to ask tough questions with respect that gets answers no one else can.
Congratulations on your marriage. I hope that you'll have a long and satisfying career in Nascar because you do such an excellent job of making it seem like we TV viewers are right there at the track.
- December 17, 2007 at 7:25 AM
- Anonymous said...
JD, this was a great article, and I enjoyed getting to know more about what goes on for a reporter like Wendy.
- December 17, 2007 at 10:06 AM
- Unknown said...
This is a very neat opportunity John has established, and I thank Wendy, Steve, and whoever John has lined up to do these Q&A's, they're really a treat to read!
- December 17, 2007 at 10:38 AM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
I have a "big fish" coming up on Monday, and the mailbox will only be open for twenty-four hours, so don't forget to check back on Monday night after 8PM or Tuesday.
- December 17, 2007 at 10:47 AM
- Anonymous said...
Wendy have you ever thought about working in the broadcast booth for ESPN nascar races? I think you would be an asset for the cup races that's for sure! Thanks for your indepth answers too.
- December 17, 2007 at 10:52 AM
- Anonymous said...
Thanks for taking time to answer questions the fans always think about and seldom hear directly from media personalties. Speaking of personalties...GO GIRL!! You are the best, your smile, energy, and the respect to everyone you interview brings out the class act you really are.
I have listned to about everyone on Hot Pass and without question your my favorite and hear is why. You are on top of the race and drivers, when a driver communicates with the Crew Chief or anyone else via radio you never talk over who is speaking, as it just really annoys me to deal with the egos of some of these guys that keep talking over the driver etc. so everyone hears there voice. Whats up with that?
I can say this with all the sub standard personalties on broadcasting these days one thing I do look forward to next year is the way you take the sport to a new level. Keep in mind its not just the drivers whom fans love and look forward to watching and listening to.
Keep up the good work (-:
Michigan Mike
ps congratulations on your marriage and "Merry Christams".
- December 17, 2007 at 11:50 AM
- slithybill said...
Thanks for answering our questions. Congratulations on your marriage! Looking forward to seeing you on RaceDay in 2008. SPEED needs to show an expanded version of the Real Deal on Monday nights!
- December 17, 2007 at 1:58 PM
- Anonymous said...
I think that Ms Venturini is one of the brightest aspects of the Racing Industry as far as knowledge and broadcasting.... it is great to see people who enjoy there jobs and realize the specialty invovled with it.... keep up the good work WV and may you and your family have a holiday offseason...
- December 17, 2007 at 2:56 PM
- stricklinfan82 said...
Thank you for your participation. I love your positive attitude and the genuine passion you have for this sport, and I'm certainly glad to hear you aren't planning on going anywhere else!
Another great job of making this possible.
- December 17, 2007 at 3:03 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Tonight at 8PM...I hope you are sitting down with both feet on the floor. I think we might have finally arrived.
- December 17, 2007 at 3:16 PM
- Unknown said...
Just fantastic Wendy. Loved the detailed answers you gave and your passion for the sport shines through. We already knew it was in your blood but it's still nice to have it validated by reading your comments.
- December 17, 2007 at 6:19 PM
- Anonymous said...
Wendy demonstrates that personality and knowledge makes her one of the best. I look forward to seeing each of her spots. Her pit-road coverage is always the best. She needs more exposure. In the world of "dumb and dumber" she is a great and refresing change and evertime she is there, the coverage will be professional and accurate.
- December 18, 2007 at 9:16 AM
- Vince said...
Thanks again Wendy for taking time off from your busy schedule to answer a few of our questions. I enjoyed all of your answers. I feel like we've gotten to know you even better. You've always seemed like a "genuine" person to me. Not like some of the TV personalities we have to put up with who are only collecting a pay check and don't really care about what they are covering.
I predict a bright future for you in what ever you choose to do. Congrats again on your marriage and I hope you have a happy (and quiet) holiday.
Vince from MI
- December 18, 2007 at 6:35 PM


text:
Hilary Swank, Jean-Claude Van Damme Party With Accused Torturer
Celebs celebrated at ceremony on controversial Chechen president's birthday.
Oct. 7, 2011 -- Two-time Oscar winning actor Hilary Swank and action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme may have played some nefarious characters in their time, but according to human rights groups, it was a real-life villain who happily welcomed the two celebrities to a big bash in Chechnya this week.
Both Swank and Van Damme, along with violinist Vanessa Mae, jetted off to the Chechen capital of Grozny Wednesday to attend a celebration that coincided with the thirty-fifth birthday of Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, the man accused of ordering the abductions and deaths of rebel figures and having personally -- and enthusiastically -- participated in torture.
Van Damme appeared on stage where he performed some martial arts moves before giving a speech in which he yelled, "I love you, Mr. Kadyrov," according to a BBC report.
Swank was seen smiling at other performances as she sat in the audience in a report by Euronews.
"Really, truly, for me this was a great honor to learn more about you and your country and what you're building," Swank said when she took the stage. "And happy birthday, Mr. President."
The festival featured a massive fireworks show, highly orchestrated acrobatic performances and none other than Kadyrov himself showing off some traditional dance moves.
Mae reportedly received $500,000 for her performance and when Kadyrov was asked where the money came from, he laughed and said "Allah gives it to us." It was unclear if Swank and Van Damme were paid for their attendance.
Kadyrov, appointed president of the Chechen republic in February 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been the target of rights groups for years for allegedly directing intimidation, torture and murder of Chechen rebels and opposition figures in a brutal campaign to suppress the violent insurgency in Chechnya headed by Islamic terrorist Doku Umarov.
Ahead of the festivities -- which Kadyrov said were not for his birthday but an annual celebration for the city -- the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) sent a letter to Swank and Van Damme along with several other stars reportedly asked to attend the event, including Shakira, Eva Mendes and Kevin Costner.
"Chechnya continues to constitute a situation where serious violations of human rights are continuously committed by the Chechen authorities... Mr. Kadyrov's policy promotes the state of constant fear among the population and political opponents," the letter says. "Attending such an event on invitation of Mr. Kadyrov would disregard the seriousness of the situation with regards to his authoritarian ruling and the violation of fundamental human rights in the Chechen Republic. Therefore, we urge you not to attend the aforementioned event."
Shakira, Mendes and Costner did not reportedly appear at the event, and Shakira tweeted that she had never been booked to perform there at all. Representatives for Van Damme and Swank did not return requests for comment on this report.
Chechen President Accused of Directing Torture, Murder
While he was prime minister of Chechnya in 2006, Kadyrov was accused by Human Rights Watch of running secret detention and torture facilities "throughout Chechnya".
In 2008, he made "explicit threats" to burn down the houses belonging to families whose sons joined the Chechen insurgency, according to a U.S. State Department report on human rights abuses. Soon after, an "arson campaign" began in Chechnya.
The same year, Austrian lawyers working on behalf of the ECCHR filed a complaint against Kadyrov on charges of widespread torture. Key to their case was the eyewitness testimony of Umar Israilov, a former bodyguard of Kadyrov's who said that not only did he watch Kadyrov torturing others, but said he was personally subjected to electric shock at Kadyrov's hands. Kadyrov laughed while torturing him, Israilov said according to the ECCHR.
After escaping to Austria and going to the ECCHR, Israilov told the group he and his family had been threatened by a man claiming to have been sent by Kadyrov. In January 2009, Israilov was shot dead in the streets of Vienna, after which Austrian police said "circumstantial evidence" linked Kadyrov to the killings. Kadyrov denied all responsibility for the crime.
Just a few months after Israilov's murder, police in the United Arab Emirates said they believed a close associate of Kadyrov's to be involved in the murder of a former Chechen general who had fallen out with Kadyrov, according to the New York Times.
"We remain gravely concerned... about the extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances committed with impunity by the forces of Chechen President Kadyrov and others," Michael H. Posner, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor said during a visit to Washington, D.C., in March.
Most recently, Chechen media loyal to the rebel insurgency, Turkish press and the families of the victims have linked Kadyrov and Russian intelligence to the killings of three rebel Chechen militants in Istanbul last month, alleging one of the men involved in the assassinations was a close associate of Kadyrov's. A spokesperson at the Russian embassy in the U.S. told ABC News after the murders that the allegation the Russian government was involved was "pure speculation".
In addition to alleged political crimes, in 2009 Kadyrov defended the murder of seven women, saying they deserved to die in the honor killings for their "loose morals," according to Russian press.
"If a woman runs around and if a man runs around with her, both of them are killed," Kadyrov told reporters at the time.
Officials in the Russian embassy in the U.S. and officials based in Grozny did not immediately return requests for comment on this report.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
Become a Plus author by joining our writing competition. Besides the fame and glory of seeing your article published in Plus, you could win an iPod and other goodies, too!
posted by Plus @ 3:25 PM
Become a Plus author by joining our writing competition. Besides the fame and glory of seeing your article published in Plus, you could win an iPod and other goodies, too!
posted by Plus @ 3:25 PM
Chuck Gill caught the space bug as a child when watching Alan Shepherd launch into space. Since then he's worked as a US Air Force navigator, a satellite operator, and in the US intelligence service. These days he's busy reducing carbon emissions and preparing London for the 2012 Olympics. Plus went to see him to find out more about his career. This podcast accompanies the career interview from issue 48 of Plus.
Labels: podcast
posted by Plus @ 3:29 PM
Peter Markowich is a mathematician who likes to take pictures. At first his two interest seemed completely separate to him, but then he realised that behind every picture there is a mathematical story to tell. Plus went to see him to find out more, and ended up with an introduction to partial differential equations. This podcast accompanies the article Universal pictures.
Labels: podcast
posted by Plus @ 3:23 PM
The biggest physics experiment ever — the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) — is due to start on September the 10th. The LHC is a particle accelerator. It's a 27km underground tunnel located near Geneva at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN). Protons will be sent racing through the tunnel on collision course with each other, and scientists hope that the remains of these collisions will answer some of the biggest secrets of the Universe.
Watch this space for more information. Meanwhile, you can find out more in the Plus articles
posted by Plus @ 10:26 AM
And one of Plus's old employees (me) has the lucky privileges of working at CERN. Its a busy time here as you might imagine.
Hi Steve. That's exciting!!!! Get in touch with Plus at email@example.com to catch up!
And here we are thinking that there are no better jobs than working with Plus!
Steve's blog is Steve at Cern.
The Channel 4 programme Countdown has started the search to find an arithmetician for the new series in 2009.
If you are a number-cruncher yourself, you could be just what they're looking for. Find out how to apply on their website. You don't have to be female and you don't have to have been on telly before, but you do need to have a way with numbers and lots of charisma. The closing date for applications is the 19th of September.
posted by Plus @ 11:03 AM
"but you do need to have a way with numbers and lots of charisma"
Why, when Carol had neither?
Zipf's law arose out of an analysis of language by linguist George Kingsley Zipf, who theorised that given a large body of language (that is, a long book — or every word uttered by Plus employees during the day), the frequency of each word is close to inversely proportional to its rank in the frequency table. We thought we would test this out on Plus. What does this imply about how we use language and how it evolved?
Labels: Latest news
posted by westius @ 3:54 PM
Is it really a mystery? I have at least one idea off the top of my head.
Since one of the ways you can construct power law distributed networks (competitive scale networks) is through growth/decay rules (e.g. the next added link will have the highest probability of connecting to the node with the higher degree or existing connections) and thinking a little about how language evolves by adopting and abandoning words, it seems likely that words frequency could follow a power law because they are added to and removed from over time with a similar set of rules (at some level).
The only question is what exactly do such network nodes and their degrees map to?
Nodes seems map to words or perhaps the idea represented by the word or word-sound or word-ideas. If the nodes map to ideas then there is also a link to memes and various mind-external scale-free structures.
Nodal degree seems to related to usage of the word - either simply the frequency of usage or something deeper that results in that frequency.


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ISLAMABAD: Gunmen burst into a court in a busy shopping area in the heart of Pakistan's capital, killing at least 11 people in a bomb and gun attack likely to shatter any prospect of meaningful peace talks with insurgents.
The Pakistani Taliban, who have declared a month-long ceasefire to pursue peace talks with the government, immediately distanced themselves from the attack as well as a separate blast on the Afghan border which killed two soldiers.
An explosion reverberated in central Islamabad just after 9 a.m., followed by bursts of gunfire. Police said at least 30 were wounded. A judge was among those killed.
"There was a blast, then there was a lot of gunfire. Gunmen were spraying bullets at everyone," said Faisal Ali, a businessman who witnessed the attack.
Even as the Taliban declared willingness to talk peace, almost daily attacks have continued around Pakistan in past weeks, showing that the central Taliban leadership is not entirely in control of its operations.
"We have already declared a ceasefire for a month and we stand by our promise," a Taliban spokesman said.
Bomb attacks are rare in Islamabad, the leafy and hilly seat of Pakistan's government.
The judge, Rafaqat Awan, was killed on the spot. He had rejected a petition last year to file a murder case against former President Perzez Musharraf over his order to storm a hardline mosque in Islamabad in 2007.
Many radical Islamists hold a grudge against Musharraf over the storming in which more than 100 people were killed, and any official seen as obstructing their fight for justice is likely to be on their hit list.
During Monday's attack, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the courtroom where a hearing had just started, police said.
Two other attackers were killed in the ensuing gun fight with police. Police said gunmen fired at random targets in the area after the initial explosion.
Shortly afterwards, police blocked entry and exit points to the area, a maze of narrow, dusty streets lined with one-room shops and offices.
Commandos in camouflage knocked on doors and secured street corners as they combed the area for more militants. Police secured the area an hour later and the market resumed normal operations.
At the court, broken glass and charred human remains littered the site of the blast at the F8 market area as residents and police rushed around in bloodstained clothes.
A severed leg lay atop the rubble. Pools of blood and severed body parts were scattered on the floor of several offices.
"There is one policeman among the dead," local police station head constable Mohammad Yousaf said.
"We also have unconfirmed reports that two lawyers have died."
The Taliban, a fragmented group consisting of dozens of smaller bands of militants, said at the weekend they would observe a one-month ceasefire to try to revive peace talks and called on all groups to observe it.
Talks broke down last month after a series of attacks and counter-attacks by the army and insurgents.
Observers say striking a deal with the central leadership would not stop the violence because many fridge militant groups operate independently from the central Taliban command.
The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting to bring down the Pakistani state, are allied with, but separate from, the Afghan Taliban.
The Afghan Taliban are fighting to expel foreign forces from Afghanistan and do not fight Pakistani security forces.


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Perryville: Bunnies, fairies, artists at Les Yeux
All eyes were on Les Yeux du Monde December 2 as the art gallery celebrated the publication of Lincoln Perry's Charlottesville, a coffee table book published by The University of Virginia Press. The book features the painter's offbeat take on UVA and Charlottesville as well as an essay and interview by his wife, writer Ann Beattie.
Unfortunately, the books hadn't arrived in time for the planned signing (they're being hand-bound in Hong Kong), but that didn't stop Charlottesville notables from coming out to pay their respects to the famous couple. Besides, Perry's most recent collection of work, Rabbits and Fairies, was on display, and there was plenty of beer and wine.
Perry is perhaps best known locally for Student's Progress, his mural in the lobby of Old Cabell Hall, but it was his provocative series of small paintings narrating John Updike's novel Rabbit Run that had eyes popping at Les Yeux.
Often compared to Poussin and de Chirico, Perry's pieces almost always tell a story about the people in them. However, like the best of his wife's fiction, the point of the story is often open to interpretation.
This time the two artists have turned their attention on Charlottesville to create a unique vision of our city not found in guidebooks. The crowd that showed up for the opening could have walked straight out of Perry's paintings or Beattie's stories.
Anne Beattie and Lincoln Perry celebrate the publication of their first book together.
UVA president John Casteen and wife, Betsy, enjoy Perry's Rabbits and Fairies .
Nancy and Chuck Beretz flank Les Yeux director Lyn Bolen Warren.
UVA Press director of marketing, Mark Saunders, with his brainchild
Retired UVA history professor Paul Gaston and his wife, Mary, with former student, Charlottesville Mayor David Brown
Online mag Archipelago editor and publisher Katherine McNamara with Jamie Ross


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Iowa CDL Practice Test: Class A - Test 4 2020(From the 2020 Iowa CDL Handbook)
|Number of tests:
|Number of questions:
|Passing score:
Directions: When applying for this license, applicants must pass a 50-question test. And applicants must score 80% to pass the test. The following questions are based on the details provided in the Iowa Commercial Driver Handbook. Endorsements that may be used with a Class A CDL include Hazardous Materials, Passenger, Double and Triples, HazMat and Tanker, Air Brakes and School bus. If you need additional information, please contact your local DMV office. You can find your nearest DMV office at Iowa DMV locations.
1. When you are transporting cargo, you should inspect your cargo within the first ___ miles.
2. For what offense are you able to bypass a commercial motor vehicle disqualification?
3. What is an easy way to check for ice on the road?
4. Where is the braking mechanism located?
5. The _______ can be used to slow the vehicle while you are driving down a hill.
6. Why is rough acceleration ill-advised when pulling a trailer?
7. Which of the following should you check when inspecting the engine compartment?
8. What is a front brake limiting valve?


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Lindenwood University's Third Annual Invitational History Bowl will conclude on live television Sunday night with a rematch between Fort Zumwalt West High School in O'Fallon and Bayless High School, which won the competition last year, in South St. Louis County.
The final round will air at 7 p.m. on Lindenwood's high-definition television station, LUTV, channel 989 on Charter Communications' digital tier. It will also stream live on the Internet at www.lindenwood.edu/lutv. Simply click on "Watch LUTV Live Now."
The competition started Saturday, Nov. 7, with eight teams. In addition to the two finalists, they included Webster Groves High School, Fort Zumwalt North High School (O'Fallon), Francis Howell Central High School (St. Charles), New Life Christian School (North St. Louis County), Metro High School (St. Louis), and Orchard Farm High School.
Presented in traditional history bowl format, all rounds were played on Nov. 7 and have been airing at 7 p.m. nightly on LUTV and on the web. The competition is broadcast from the Emerson Black Box Theater in Lindenwood's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts.
Team members answer questions on American and world history, political science and geography, compiled by Lindenwood history tutors. Lindenwood History Professor Jeffrey Smith is the competition's host and moderator.
The Bayless team consists of Travis Koons, Andy Breihan (both of which competed last year), and James Murphy; the team coach is Jeremy Gibbs. The Zumwalt West team includes Robert Foster, Abby Genet (who have both participated in all three LU History Bowls), and Austin Henke. It is coached by John Conway.
All participating students are offered scholarships to Lindenwood with increasing value for students whose teams advance farther into the competition.


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Tuna with peppery tomatoes & potatoes
Sweet peppers make a great addition to grilled meats and fish. A great al fresco meal with fresh flavours
Nutrition and extra info
- veg only
- Easily halved
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal371
- fat11g
- saturates2g
- carbs31g
- sugars11g
- fibre4g
- protein40g
- salt0.48g
- 4 tuna steaks
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- few thyme sprigs
This popular herb grows in Europe, especially the Mediterranean, and is a member of the mint…
- 500g bag new potato, sliced about 1cm thick
New potatoesn-ew po-tate-oes
New potatoes have thin, wispy skins and a crisp, waxy texture. They are young potatoes and…
- 2 red peppers, cut into large chunks
- 1 red onion, cut into eighths
- 1 green chilli, deseeded and chopped
- 400g can cherry tomato
Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7 and put in a roasting tin to heat up. Put the tuna in a shallow dish with half the oil, two-thirds of the garlic and leaves from 1 sprig of thyme. Leave to marinate while you cook the veg.
Put the potatoes, peppers, onion and chilli into the roasting tin with the remaining oil, toss to coat, then roast for 20 mins. The potatoes should be tender or very nearly there. If not, give them another 5 mins (the cooking time can depend on the variety of potato). Add the remaining garlic and thyme to the pan, let them sizzle, stir in the tomatoes, then cook for 5 mins more until the sauce has reduced a little. Season to taste.
With a few mins to go, heat a griddle or frying pan, wipe most of the garlic marinade off the fish with kitchen paper, season, then sear for 1 min each side for medium or longer if you prefer. Serve on top of the veg.


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Google Android Head Andy Rubin on Steve Jobs, Google Music and Moto: The Full AsiaD Interview (Video)
Today, we start posting the full videos from the recent AsiaD conference, which took place in Hong Kong earlier in October.
Over the next two weeks, we're going to follow the schedule of the actual event, starting with the opening-night speaker, Google Android head Andy Rubin.
In this wide-ranging onstage interview with Walt Mossberg, Rubin talks about an array of mobile topics, including: Ice Cream Sandwich, which is Android 4.0; Google's launch of the new Galaxy Nexus, the next-generation lead device, with its partner Samsung; Google's upcoming music store; the integration to its pending acquisition of Motorola; and the impact of Apple's Steve Jobs on technology.
And there's a lot more from Rubin, so click away:


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Small Nile bracelet bag
Small Nile wristlet in smooth & suede calfskin
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Wristlet in smooth & suede calfskin Carry: long shoulder, cross-body & hand carry - Roomy compartment - Magnet closure - Internal phone flat pocket in suede calfskin - External back flat pocket - Adjustable & removable leather strap - Bracelet hanging on the front for an elegant hand carry - Brass finishing - Refined beige suede calfskin lining Comes with a dust bag - Width: 19.5 cm / 7.7" - Height: 16 cm / 6.3" - Depth: 6.5 cm / 2.6" - Wide strap length min: 50 cm / 19.7" - Wide strap length max: 58 cm / 22.8" This handbag is made of top-grain leather. The grain side was sanded to provide the leather with its velvet-like finish. Depending on the degree of finishing, this technique may produce a leather called nubuck or velvet leather. This material is fragile, particularly with respect to colours. Respect care instructions on the leaflet. Colour: biscotti beige Item code: CHC17US301HEU268
The small Nile wristlet is a compact version of this season's statement accessory, featuring striking brass bracelets for an elegant hand carry and jewellery effect. Crafted from smooth and suede calfskin, the wristlet features masculine details in the sleek top line and equestrian allure. The striking articulated bracelets bring a bold feminine twist to this compact day-to-evening handbag. The Maison's distinctive saddle silhouette is contoured by a studded leather strip in continuity with the adjustable and removable leather strap. The Nile can be worn long shoulder, cross-body or carried in the hand.
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DETROIT – With the dust, meaning snow, finally settled, Wings general manager Ken Holland felt the Winter Classic was a complete success.
"I thought it was incredible," Holland said in a phone interview Thursday. "The Big House is a tremendous facility to hold one of these events, just like Joe Louis Arena. There aren't many bad seats in the house. It's a great theatre type of setting."
Detroit lost to its Original Six rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2 in a shootout.
The game was played in a steady snow fall.
"The snow reminded me of when we played on the lake when we were kids and we'd have to stop and shovel the snow," Holland said. "It was an incredible day, a very memorable day.
"It was an unbelievably positive experience for many people," Holland continued. "It was cold, but there was such energy in that stadium. Everyone knew they were being involved in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It turned out to be an incredibly positive day for our team and for our fans."
Of the five previous Winter Classics, the Wings were the first host to have games played at two different venues – Michigan Stadium and Comerica Park.
Comerica Park hosted two alumni games, an American Hockey League game, two Ontario Hockey League games and numerous other games and events the two weeks leading up to the Winter Classic.
"I like to think we did things that future cities hosting these games can build on, with the Winter Festival experience," Holland said. "It was a special couple of weeks in Detroit."
The announced attendance for the Winter Classic was 105,491.
"We had 105,000 people who braved the elements," Holland said. "It would be awesome to host another one of these Winter Classics somewhere down the line.
"A guy texted from Chicago and said it was surreal watching it on TV," Holland added.
If the announced attendance is accurate it will be a world record, breaking the old mark of 104,173 that was also set at Michigan Stadium for The Big Chill at The Big House in 2010.
"We know we sold 105,000-plus tickets," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said following the game. "We also suspected there were some no shows because we heard stories of people taking more than two and half hours to get here from downtown Detroit because of the road conditions and it was at least during the second period 13-degrees with the wind chill of a minus-1 so I don't know if we set the official Guinness attendance record, but I know we set our own record because this was the most well attended game that we've ever had. Based on tickets sold we should have, but again, since people were still arriving in the second period it's hard to know."
Holland feels if the demand is there the outdoor games are here to stay.
"At the end of the day, if the demand is there by fans it'll happen," Holland said.


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"In The Buffalo Soldier, Bohjalian proves once again that he's a master novelist." –The Boston Globe
"Bohjalian plunges [his characters] into a dramatic situation so powerful that even their quiet voices cannot fail to be heard. . . .The Buffalo Soldier is imbued with hope and the possibility for redemption." –The Washington Post
"Bohjalian gives us fine-grained detail and beautifully observed domestic psychology." –The Los Angeles Times
"Beautifully wrought. . . . A moving account of personal strength and the joy of belonging." –San Francisco Chronicle
"If it's captivating literature you're after, The Buffalo Soldier earns a solid A." –Entertainment Weekly


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Along with that new car smell, potential auto buyers may smell something else when they walk in the showroom these days: fear in the air.
With Toyota reeling from a series of recalls and other brands desperate to gain market share after a disastrous year for sales, savvy shoppers could discover new bargaining power.
A.J. Perisho sensed the desperation recently as he trolled lots for a new ride near his home in Davenport, Iowa.
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Perisho ultimately got what he called "a really good deal" on a 2009 Hummer H3 but said he was was stunned by the ultra-pushy tactics he encountered in the process.
One Iowa dealer tried to squeeze Perisho by claiming, "We need to have this done before noon," while another lugged out the ancient pitch: "If I show you a way, will you buy this car today?"
"It is just brutal," said Perisho, who said his job as head of a sales management training firm makes him aware of sales games and gimmicks. Auto retailers, he concluded, "are trying to shove stuff down our throats even faster, and they care less about the consumer."
Aute salesmen have always been known as a pushy bunch, but industry analysts agree there is a sense of blood in the water after a month that has seen Toyota halt sales of many of its most popular models, shifting market share to General Motors and Ford, among others.
"We definitely concur with that sense of desperation," said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, the Irvine-Calif. vehicle valuation company. "But I see it in a positive way [for consumers]. I hate to pick on Toyota because they're caught in a one-two punch of the market being down and having to rebuild their brand. But all the brands are having to act more responsibly in catering to consumer needs.
"When [customers] tell dealers, 'Well, I guess this isn't going to work out' and start to stand up, there is now more resistance [from dealers] to their leaving," Bell added. "Salespeople are saying, 'What can we do? What can we do?' Whereas when you used to press them hard for a deal, they'd let you walk because they figured somebody else was strolling right in behind you."
Toyota's problems grew this week the world's biggest carmaker announced a global recall of 437,000 hybrid vehicles — including its flagship Prius model — to fix braking problems. A brand once identified with dependable cars, trucks and SUVs now has recalled more than 8.5 million defective vehicles since October. Providing yet another opening for U.S. makers, Toyota's Japanese rival Honda recalled 950,000 vehicles this week for airbag problems.
Many Toyota lots are stuck with a glut of stock as the value of their vehicles drops. According to Kelley Blue Book, bargain hunters seeking a 2010 Prius can now negotiate down to near the dealer invoice price, about $1,500 less than the suggested retail price. Used Toyotas could depreciate 4 to 5 percent on average by the time the recall issue subsides, Kelley projects.
Meanwhile, if you're looking to trade in a model that competes directly with one of Toyota's recalled brands — like the Honda Accord or Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Toyota Camry, or the Honda Civic or Chevy Cobalt vs. the Toyota Corolla — your vehicle has likely gained value, Kelley projects.
Toyota's troubles have, in effect, revved the bargaining power of many car buyers, Bell contends.
"My sense is that the situation has emboldened non-Toyota dealers to make deals that support and benefit their own brands. In the case of Ford and GM dealers, that also means additional incentive funding to help conquest current Toyota owners," Bell said. "I think the balance of power has shifted."
The generally soft market is also helping consumers.
Richmond, Va., attorney Ian Titley said he found Honda salespeople in his area to be "very interested in negotiating price" when, in late December, he helped his mother swap her used Honda CR-V for a 2010 version.
"She stopped by the Honda dealer ... and they gave her an offer on her car which she felt was too low, so she exchanged phone numbers and left," Titley said. The dealer called her back the next day and offered $1,000 more for her car to close the deal.
"I've bought a few Hondas in the past," he added, "and I have never found Honda dealers [willing to haggle]. So this was new."
Still, the tough market conditions also have spurred high employee turnover rates at many dealerships, further ruffling the consumer experience, some buyers have noticed.
Just north of Washington, D.C., Ali Allage recently scoured several car lots for an Audi A4 Avant — a station wagon for his wife. When he and his wife stepped onto a car lot in Silver Spring, Md., they were greeted by a salesman whom they immediately sized up as a novice.
"Basically, this guy was acting out a chapter from the how-to-be-the-cheesiest-car-salesperson handbook," Allage said. "He would compliment my wife and me on a consistent basis on how good we looked in the car. He did the 'good cop, bad cop' routine when it came to dealing on the price. ... Also he exaggerated on certain specifications," like saying the car got more than 30 miles per gallon when the Allages knew the number was really 26.
"After the sales manager saw what he was doing, he actually stepped in to take over the deal and was very apologetic about it," Allage said.
At Kelley Blue Book, Bell agreed that auto sales staffs have been stripped by hard times.
"A good salesperson is a bit like a hired assassin," Bell said. "They just go brand to brand, to whoever has the hot product or the hot program. ... So you can't trust getting that full docket of (buying) opportunities when you deal with a salesperson because, chances are, he's only been working there a week and a half."
Though car analysts like Bell have long preached that consumers do their homework before entering a car lot, he added that such online research is vital "more so now." He cited three pieces of information with which all auto buyers should arm themselves: their credit score, what kind of financing plans are available via their lender, and the various incentive programs being offered by car makers.
And the one number no consumer ever should tell a car salesperson? The monthly car payment they can afford.
"That's the worst thing you can say. That's just what the dealer wants to hear," Bell said. "Because they go off and build a [computer] program that magically gets you to that monthly payment over six years with a $2,000 down payment but at an interest rate which is higher than you're qualified for. They get you to feel like you've done a great job. Meanwhile, they've boxed you into an interest rate which can be bested if you go to your bank or credit union."