text:
Worldwide Hardware:
4: WiiU - 52,424 (-61%)
5: Wii - 43,104 (-47%)
Worldwide Software:
1: (PS3) Call of Duty: Black Ops II 117,420
2: (X360) Call of Duty: Black Ops II 111,749
3: (3DS) Animal Crossing: New Leaf 84,506
4: (X360) Halo 4 76,578
5: (X360) Anarchy Reigns 71,798
6: (PS3) FIFA Soccer 13 71,785
7: (Wii) Just Dance 4 70,665
8: (X360) Far Cry 3 66,391
9: (PS3) Far Cry 3 63,126
10: (3DS) New Super Mario Bros. 2 58,926
Everything went down this week. The 3Ds is still at the top of the charts congrats to Nintendo. On the other hand the Vita and the Wii U need some serious games ASAP! ;)
And the PS3 still hitting that 40,000 average lead over the 360 every week. It's going to be interesting to see if Ni-No-Kuni creates any spikes in America and Europe. It's more likely to in Europe if anywhere though, but of course we are going to have to wait until February for that. That month I believe we see Sly too ... ? By the end of February the overall gap should be around 1.3 million. I called Oct/Nov for the catch up, but it could actually be sooner.
edit: Ah, so it might be just shy of 1.3 million by the end of February. GOWA comes out in March too, so that should be a very interesting month.
Sly comes out in March Sadly. But they do have Ni No Kuni in the first week of February and a lot of third party titles throughout the month.
I just noticed that GOWA comes out that month too. Jesus, we could be looking at a late June catchup and a million lead by Christmas. I'd expect a 360 price drop at some point during this deluge of exclusives but I've got a feeling that Sony will instantly match it.
Ah, I forgot about Gears. That might shrink the overall average weekly sales lead but it won't completely off set it because of Japan and Europe. You're right though, it might be later than June then. But I HAVE mentioned the price drop and I reckon Sony will just match it.
Has the 12GB PS3 released in America yet? I was certain it hadn't. If Sony just release the 12GB and match the lowest price of the 360 that will stem any major momentum for the 360, even if it is still slightly more expensive because they'll also probably offer 90 days of PS+ and boast 12 free games on the boxes.
I don't think you can discount a sales surge for the 360, I agree, but I think it's more likely for the PS3 because of the amount of exclusives coming out for the system this year. And we're not talking about any old exclusives either. GOWA is surely going to sell consoles and TLOU could be a huge system seller Worldwide. Where as, Gears usually sells systems mainly in America.
And that's without any major activity at the moment.
""Gears is historically a bigger seller"" ...barely.
God of War is a pretty big seller, so the Gears spike may only MATCH the PS3, but not a chance against all of PS3 exclusives. Not globally.
I think the White PS3 Bundle coming out on January 27th will give it a sales boost, MGR: Revengeance should also give it a boost in Japan next month at the very least
1.3million gap is less than that now. This vgchartz. They have been under tracking PS3 numbers for some time now.
@Gribble and Godchild:
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time comes out February 5 in North America (same day as Dead Space 3) and March 27 in Europe (the day after Bioshock Infinite).
all 4 ps3 exclusives OWNS GEARS OF WAR JUDGEMENT IN THE US pre order chart and now STFU
to prove the fact that ps3 exclusives owns the 360 in 2013
"""Gears is historically a bigger seller. """
gears of war J pre orders 68,677
god of war A pre orders 156,420
and both are coming in the same month
while at it
ni no kuni pre orders 92,217
the last of us pre orders 96,590
sly cooper pre orders 79,159
i keep read how gears of war J will outsell every ps3 exclusive
yet i see 4 ps3 exclusives have more pre order than gears
which you guys used to brag about it alot
i do know that pre orders don't reflect the overall sales of games
i never pre order my self
but xbox fanboys used to brag alot about that
where are you now ??!!
Haha i swear the people on this site care more about which system is ahead more than the execs at Microsoft or Sony do. Idk why people can't just enjoy and support good gaming on all systems.
These preorder numbers are really low, I'm sure god of war:a will sell a lot more than just 150,000 copies day 1, same with the other games. Why do people preorder anyway? If you want the game on day 1, just go to th store that day and buy one, its not like there will be a shortage.
Of course everything is down. Next-gen rumors are in full swing, the day after Christmas sales are over and it's the middle of January, and the consoles are cheap enough that most of the people that wanted them have them.
Wii U's weak post-launch is probably going to keep them in a bad place for a while. Hopefully they get 3rd party support up in the next 1-2 year(s).
It's got plenty of support.
The problem was, they were old games. Now they'll be new game launched at or close to it of the other versions.
People need to remember back to when the PS3/360 were new. They TOO didn't get 3rd party support for many games because the devs didn't want to make a version where it was only possible to sell it to a scant crowd. That's the problem with ALL new consoles.
Same thing will happen to PS4/720 you watch. Many devs will keep making games for PS3/360 and won't put out a PS4/720 version.
It's funny how people forget this and assume when a game doesn't come out for Wii U it's for some other reason. It isn't. They want to make money and making a game for a console that only has a couple million units sold doesn't work for every dev.
Once the number of units sold increases, those devs start making them on those systems...or they fade away with the increased costs of making more elaborate games. Which happened alot as many devs that made games on PS2/xbox simply couldn't afford to make games on PS3/360 and faded away.
Same will happen here.
Crysis 2 did not make money. Crytek needs Crysis 3 to make money.
GTA V is a game that's been in development for years...meaning they had it half finished before Wii U dev kits came out.
So the devs that CAN make them on Wii U either already have or will be soon. Just a few more months of games already in the pipeline won't.
The ones that can't, will focus making games on 360/PS3 until the Wii U/PS4/720 sell enough consoles to make it worthwhile and profitable to put out a game.
If SONY were doing this well, their stock wouldn't be downgraded, but it is.
You guys will believe anything.
Their game division has been profiting for months (maybe years), but they're a multi-division conglomerate that makes TVs, computers, phones, movies, etc. Even if one division is profitable it's still possible for the company to lose money (via the other sectors). Sony's mobile and TV divisions aren't doing so well these days, but that could change.
So yes, the PS3 (and by extension SCE) are doing well.
Sony's credit rating has been rated "junk", meaning their bonds aren't worth shit:
Because of that Sony had to sell a building to fund their gakai acquisition and some much needed cash to stave off any additional losses that might come. Especially with the next generation looming around, there will be heavy losses.
Sony's stock is the lowest it has been since practically forever. Sony's hurting and their situation is deteriorating fast as their brand is taking a beating.
Yes, Sony is in a financial situation but they are far from dead. No amount of doom and gloom (not to mention inaccurate fallacies) is going to make them die any faster.
Their restructuring is meant to help them recover in the long run.
Maybe you didn't read that part, right? You were too busy looking into the negative aspect of the article.
The Wii U is certainly hurting for games as the first four months of the year looks extremely scarce in the also software department for Nintendo's new system. Sales have also decreased considerably for the Wii U as well. With next-gen consoles looming in the shadows I expect Nintendo to drop their current price point of the Wii U as we draw closer to the 3rd Qtr of the year.
Who the hell is buying all these 3DS?
Congrats Nintendo!
why people keep submitting these bullcrap VGchartz?
So we can have something to discuss other than just the games that are coming out and the rumored specs of next Gen hardware.
If you don't want to talk about the rumored hardware/game sales, you can always skip the article and not click on it (Not trying to come off rude).
ps3 wins again
If you're talking consoles. At least Vita is outselling the PSP I guess.
Still can't help but talk about that console you hate, huh?
Trolls sure are interesting.
It'll be interesting to see how the upcoming game releases will affect sales. Ni no Kuni is out now, and there are plenty of other big name titles, like God of War and Sly on the horizon for PS3. And of course, the 360 has Gears. I have to laugh, though, at the people that say Gears will equal or surpass all the sales of the PS3 exclusives, because I feel fairly certain that the last Gears and GOW games are pretty even.
Difference between you an me hicken is that I own both a 360 and PS3 so guess what, I get to play all the exclusives I want on both consoles.
As for your comment re: the games are coming...I'm confused as vita owners claim they are already here. Your comment also echos 2011 about how can anyone not buy a vita given what's being released in 2012...and look how that turned out.
If I'm a troll then what in hell does that make you?
Please, just stop. You're embarrassing yourself.
It's cute to see when VGChartz matters.
PS3 is doing really well these days.I am guessing their killer line up has something to do with it.They have a ton of games coming this year which will definitely boast sales .What is funny is people trying to deny it.The PS3 is doing pretty good only second to the 3DS.Deal with it.Why are you trying so hard to deny it? First they sell more consoles the the 360 and now are beating them worldwide.People say that doesn't matter but it matters to Sony's pockets and potential PS4 owners.
You can't have it both ways. VGChartz still shows the PS3 1.6 million units behind the 360. So you can't go by that fishy report that projects the PS3 has outsold the 360 and go by VGChartz weekly numbers as well because they contradict each other.
Judging by the disagrees they CAN have it both ways lol.
"Collectively, we estimate that total retail game sales in these 5 countries account for around 70% of the Global market."
5 - USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan
VGChartz does not track the world, it omits areas that are considered Sony territory which is why Sony are always undertracked.
Official numbers should be released soon so lets just wait for them.
3DS still beasting. I'd like to see how march affects Nintendo and Sony. They have their big guns coming around the same time
PS vita is really selling like crap if you believe the numbers in that chart.
The Vita, compared to the other handheld consoles is selling like crap, but the Wii U is selling like crap compared to the other home consoles. So, both of them are selling like crap.
But 3ds makes up for that. Nintendo is profiting off of 3ds and sony isn't profiting off vita hardware yet. PS Vita should be doing much better. The thing needs software bad.
@ Belking
The same can be said about the Wii U. The Wii U is the first console Nintendo is selling at a loss and based on their current sales numbers and lack of forecasted titles the system keeps Nintendo in the red. While the 3DS is selling quite well, it is not helping Nintendo to break even in the hardware department. As Nintendo has stated, while they currently lose money with the sale of each Wii U, the sale of every two Wii U games helps them to break even, unfortunately the lack Wii U game purchases have also not help Nintendo. The PS Vita itself has not turned a profit for Sony, however Sony is in a much better position as the PS3 hardware sales, software sales both physical and digital via PSN in addition to Playstation Plus all bring in a considerable profit for Sony. This is one of the main reasons why Sony has refused to reduce the Vita price point.
If I made that argument in reverse, wouldn't you be asking me why I brought up Vita sales to compare to Wii U sales?
Both platforms could be selling faster. A lot faster. Though I would argue the Wii U is at least doing moderately better. It's not exactly like the two are neck and neck.
Belking, if Sony isn't making a profit off of the Vita...they they REALLY need to drop it.
Seriously, do any of you trolls know what you're talking about? Or are you using big words and 'facts' that make little to no sense for the sake of it?
I believe the PS3 is making a profit and that makes up for the Vita. Then you have the Memory Card sales that make a profit for Sony which is needed to play games on the Vita. So, I think when you factor in the memory card sales with the Vita, the Vita is making a profit for Sony.
There is software available. I just think the price of the 3DS is hurting the sales of the Vita. So, yes the price of the Vita needs to come down. I have always said it and I will continue to say it, how well do you think the Vita would have done last year if Nintendo didn't drop the price of the 3DS? I think it would have done better. If Sony had the room they would have dropped the price, but they didn't drop the price and now we have Plus on the Vita to make up for it.
The Vita gets new games all the time. Games are NOT the problem. Trust me. There are more than enough games to play on the Vita. Earth Defense Force 2017 has over 100 hours of gameplay. More if you want to run through it multiple times and unlock more weapons. (Hundreds of weapons, by the way...)
I'm also still addicted to Little Big Planet and PSASBR. New characters come in a couple of weeks with a new stage, as well. The Vita HAS games. People don't know about the system and they don't want to pay $250, despite the fact that they'll pay $400 for an iPod for their five year-old. Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, and filing taxes are great for about five minutes.
Give a man a fish... -_-
I love how ps3 gamers brag about hiw great their exclusives are yet cod franchise rules them all as you can see. I also love how they say the 360 is a "fps" shooter console but guess what.... yeah the best selling franchise this gen for ps3 is cod. Loool. So much for the ps3 has the best exclusives crap since the sales tell a different story about how they do compard to second party
When you talk, you need to come from both sides and not just one. COD sells well on both the PS3 and 360.
Call of Duty is the highest selling on the 360 (If omit Kinect adventures) as well. According to VGchartz (Take as you will) 8 out of the 10 best selling games on the 360 are First Person Shooters. Grand theft Auto and Kinect Adventures, take up the other two spots.
On the PS3, there are only 6 First Person Shooters in the top ten best selling games. Grand Theft Auto, Fifa, Uncharted and Gran Turismo 5 take up the other 4 spots. As you can see, PS3 gamers have a little more diversity in their life.
If you go into the top 20, the 360 has 14 (11, if you omit the Gears Series, since its third person) shooters. The PS3 has 10 (7, if you omit Uncharted 2, 3 and RE5) shooters. As you can see PS3 gamers have a more diverse library than 360 users.
I know you will need to take into consideration of the sales of each game to come to a real conclusion of the diversity argument, but this is what I can come up with using VGchartz top 10, 20 charts.
u do realize there was no major ps exclusive other then a fighting game come out when cod did dont u? and u do know psn sells digital copys off psn that cant be tracked by any1? yeaaaaa................
MW3 best selling game on the 360 so shut up it's the same thing on the ps3 but in 2013 u only have gears and the pre orders of gears is horrible god of war pre orders in the US surpasses gears even NI NO KUNI has more pre orders than gears and sly cooper also and don't forget that THE LAST OF US is coming on may and it has more pre orders than GEARS OF WAR
and this link to prove that i'm not lying
Lol just because theres more preorders, doesnt mean they will sell more.
Ive seen almost the exact same comment from 2 other people. Quite annoying imo.
That is the difference. Without multiplayer shooters Xbox has nothing.
That's really why the few games you have do sell well, because there isn't anything else to choose from.
If all I had was CoD I would find a new hobby.
old ds beats ps vita. Vita is flop
And you, as a gamer, should be sad about it
Best handheld hardware ever made. Needs key games.
Sony should try and get Mine craft etc on it.
2013 is going to be a wonderful year for the core gaming community... Numbers are on the low most likely due to the holiday money running out... That and people might be saving up for nx gen.. We all know its coming very soon.. Plus, theres MANY great titles to look forward to so software sales may spike
SONY PS3 Is Unstoppable
Err, a victory for who exactly? Certainly not for you.
I've said it before, I'll say it again; first place doesn't matter, success does. And right now the big three are all finding success. The 3DS is killing, the PS3 is now outselling the 360 and the 360 is making some nice numbers six years past its launch date DESPITE the first two facts.
Ha makes me laugh claiming victory at the end if a generation lol saddo's
Lets face it the ps3 is no better or worse than the 360
For me its more of a multimedia unit than a games machine
Looks like PS3 will have slightly higher total sales than 360 by the end of the gen, but they pretty much tied which is a win win for MS and a win for Sony.
Wii U is currently in trouble; however, I'm sure things will pick up once a AAA game finally releases.
Starcraft 2 HOTS is the most preorderd exclusive. I can't wait for the game but how many people actually have bought this retail. The numbers must be real scary when you add in digital sales.
Comments like "OMG PS3 just outsold 360 flawless victory fatality BBQ" just make me sad.
Let's see the total numbers (yeah, it's vgchartz, but let's assume it's AT LEAST a little bit reliable).
PS3 is at 72.2 mln, 360 is at 73.8 mln.
We're SIX YEARS in this gen, almost seven. Do you know what that means?
That means that there's no winner between Sony or Microsoft. Yeah, the 360 came first, and the PS3 costed a hell lot of money when it came out, but... in six years, i think we're reaching the line of saturation in selling. 1.6 mln compared to 70 mln is nothing.
If there's a commercial winner in this gen, Nintendo would be that. It just blown out every competitor, and I think it was obvious even in 2007.
Where you start is not as important as where you finish. So I guess giving up and losing a game in the fourth quarter doesn't make any difference, since you were winning for the first three.
Comparing a Wii to a PS3 is like comparing a Corvette to an Accord, more people have an Accord because its efficient, dependable, and kid friendly, but you won't see them revving up beside the Corvette ;)
Your argument is valid, but that's not my point of view.
I didn't say Wii won, Nintendo did. Wii sure is a different home console than its competitors, and that was a risky move for Nintendo, but they saw it right.
The idea and its innovation were part of its success.
I mean, MS and Sony could have moved in the same way, if only they were enough sassy.
I'm talking about COMMERCIAL success, of course. Nobody's saying Wii's the best current-gen home console.
And about 360 vs PS3, I don't think MS won every battle since 2007... it sure did on the first/first two years.
Things started to get different in 2009, with Uncharted 2.
Animal Crossing is still 3rd on the game list after 10 weeks and only being out in Japan.
2mil+ sold in 10 weeks...
just in japan...
Japan sure loves their animal crossing....
I love my PS3 but I do think Sony needs to chuck the Vita out the window. They had a chance to take over the pocket gaming market with the PSP, but now they are trying to compete with phones for on the go pocket gaming and it's not going to work.
The games are AAA and very immersing which makes it nearly impossible to play anywhere but inside. Try starting up a game of Uncharted anywhere but your house, it is almost impossible if you want to play seriously.


text:
How 3-D Printing Will Change Our Lives
The technology could change how we do everything from packing for trips to what's made in our kitchens
EARLIER THIS YEAR, a hapless penguin at the Warsaw Zoo lost his lower beak, either in a fall or a fight, and there were concerns that the bird might starve to death because the damage left him unable to eat. Omni3D, a Polish 3-D printer firm, came to the rescue, offering to produce a new beak—based on a dead penguin's, to get an idea of the dimensions—from materials including nylon.
According to Rozi Mikołajczak, a spokesperson for the Poznan-based firm, this is the first time in Europe (and only the second time in the world) that a bird's beak has been reconstructed using 3-D technology. Unsure which material would be best for the penguin, they created three for the zoo to find a match. Modeling the beaks was time consuming: it took two weeks to complete them. As luck would have it, the penguin's beak started to grow back so there was no need for the manufactured one, but this inspirational exercise illustrates how 3-D printing is crossing frontiers all the time, opening up new possibilities.
Ms. Mikołajczak, for one, believes it will become a mainstream technology in the long term. "20 years ago, if you heard the Internet would be in each house, it would have been incredible, but now we can't live without Wi-Fi," she says. "In 10 years' time, 3-D printing will be everywhere; it will be our everyday reality."
Here's a roundup of 3-D objects being printed in the world of arts, fashion, cars, travel, even food.
Tasteful printing▲
Might we one day have a 3-D food printer in each home instead of a microwave? A Barcelona-based firm's Foodini "Food Printer" helps with time-consuming tasks such as forming dough into breadsticks and making ravioli. The "cook" prepares the fresh ingredients using a blender, food processor or by hand, loads them into the printer's "food capsules" and watches as it prints the chosen recipe. It is even possible to make quiche layers with this machine, which is due to be launched in 2015. €1,000 (expected) naturalmachines.com
Explosive technology▲
An Aston Martin DB5 is rare enough that it would be a shame to blow it to pieces for a film. That's why the producers of the James Bond film "Skyfall" turned to 3-D printing to do the trick. British firm Propshop used Voxeljet's 3-D printers to create one-third-scale models of the highly coveted automobile. Assembled like real cars, each of the three models required roughly 200 different parts to be created and to allow the doors and hoods to open and close. Could this be the car enthusiast's collector's item of the future?
Pack light▲ ▼
Worried about being over the luggage weight limit as you set off on your summer break? Finnish artist Janne Kyttanen, creative director of 3-D Systems, has created clothes that can be sent as digital information, to be printed at your destination. The idea of printing all your holiday outfits may still be at the artistic stage but the reality is definitely on the horizon, and the first of Kyttanen's "lost luggage" designs are available: $1,999 for a "drape dress" atcubify.com, where you'll also find his Mashup printed shoes ($1,479).
Hats on▲
Going to the races? Then bring your own 3D-printed hat. 3-D technology and fashion can blend together well too. Earlier this summer, milliner Gabriela Ligenza created a hat for those going to Royal Ascot. Wrapped around the crown and the base, the hat features the lines of a poem by British poet and racing enthusiast Henry Birtles. From £1,700; gabrielaligenza.com
Doodle in the air▲ ▼
Now there is a clever little hand-held device that will let you doodle objects in thin air. The Lix 3-D printing pen melts, then cools a thin stream of opaque plastic, allowing the user to build free-standing structures. Simply attach the power cable to the pen, insert a filament of the plastic material, wait a minute while the nozzle heats up—then doodle away. This is a handy tool for creating fashion prototypes, such as T-shirts, artistic jewelry, sculpture or whatever your imagination can conceive. £85; lixpen.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
USCSA College Racing
Saturday, January 7 - Sunday, January 8, 2017
Crystal Mountain welcomes the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association and their student athletes for a weekend of competitive racing. In excess of 150 colleges from coast to coast, the USCSA fields some 4,200 men and women, alpine, Nordic, freestyle and snowboard athletes in over 300 race events annually.
Time: 10am
Location: Thor
Share this event:
All Events »


text:
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Multi monitor support has been in OS X for ages too.
The article was referring to multi monitor handling of fullscreened apps. In OS X, if you fullscreen an app, it will spawn a new space (virtual desktop) and fill the screen in that space. It's a neat window management shortcut for devices with small screens (laptops) since you can quickly swipe between spaces in OS X. On my MacBook Air, I always fullscreen a terminal window so that it's always just a couple of swipes (or keystrokes) away.
However, with a multi monitor setup, fullscreening an app will cause the app to take over the current monitor, leaving the other monitors with nothing on them. One could argue that a user with multiple monitors doesn't really need to fullscreen an app since they have enough screen real estate to play with. Maximizing an app should be plenty enough. However, this behaviour is broken, and should be fixed.
Edited 2013-04-30 16:49 UTC


text:
< Amanda Knox Does Interview
Apr 19, 2013 06:46
Category: General News
Category: General News
Two Men Rescued From Columbia River
UMATILLA, Ore. (AP) — Rescue boats from the Umatilla County, Ore., sheriff's office and a rural fire district responded to pluck two fishermen out of the Columbia River near Umatilla after their boat sank. The East Oregonian reports the fishermen were brothers who were both wearing life jackets. The men were rescued after they floated for about 15 minutes yesterday morning.


text:
John Ashcroft
Attorney General
This and other publications and products of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice can be found on the World Wide Web at the following site:
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
Comments regarding this Research for Practice may be e-mailed to email@example.com or sent by postal mail to LTL Program Manager, National Institute of Justice, 810 Seventh Street N.W., Washington, DC 20531.
About This report:
This report presents the findings from two recent unpublished NIJ-funded studies that used different methodologies to test pepper spray's safety and effectiveness. One study looked at officer and suspect injuries in three North Carolina police jurisdictions before and after pepper spray was introduced. The other examined the deaths of 63 suspects held in custody after pepper spray was used in their arrest.
What did the researchers find?
- The North Carolina study found that the number of injuries to police officers and suspects declined after pepper spray was introduced. Complaints that the police used excessive force also declined.
- The study of in-custody deaths concluded that pepper spray contributed to death in two of the 63 cases, both involving people with asthma. In the other cases, the researcher concluded that death was caused by the arrestee's drug use, disease, positional asphyxia, or a combination of these factors.
What were the studies' limitations?
- In the North Carolina study, procedures for identifying officer and suspect injuries differed considerably from agency to agency and within each agency over time, which limited the extent of the conclusions that could be drawn.
- The number of in-custody deaths in which pepper spray was used in the arrest process is very low, which makes identification of trends difficult.
- Each arrest situation is unique; it is virtually impossible to collect enough nearly identical arrest scenarios with and without pepper spray in the field to conduct a quantitative study.
Who should read these studies?
Law enforcement policymakers and practitioners, defense and prosecution attorneys involved in pepper spray cases, and medical examiners.
The Effectiveness and Safety of Pepper Spray
Pepper spray, or oleoresin capsicum (OC), is used by law enforcement and corrections agencies across the United States to help subdue and arrest dangerous, combative, violent, or uncooperative subjects in a wide variety of scenarios. Though generally assumed to be safe and effective, the consequences of the use of OC, as with any use of force, can never be predicted with certainty. The need for reassurance on these points remains. This Research for Practice summarizes the results of two unpublished NIJ-funded studies on the safety and effectiveness of pepper spray in real-life arrests and compares them with previous studies. The goal: to expand the scope of knowledge on this complex subject.
One study looked at officer and subject injuries in three North Carolina police jurisdictions before and after pepper spray was introduced. The other examined 63 incidents nationwide in which people were sprayed with OC in the arrest process and later died in custody.
The North Carolina study found that the number of injuries to police officers and suspects decreased after pepper spray was introduced. Complaints that the police used excessive force also declined.
The study of in-custody deaths, which follows a similar study conducted in 1994,[1] concluded that exposure to pepper spray was a contributing cause of death in 2 of the 63 fatalities, and both cases involved people with asthma. In the other 61 cases, death was judged to have resulted from the arrestee's use of drugs, disease, positional asphyxiation (which may occur when subjects are placed in a prone position, typically handcuffed behind the back, in which breathing becomes more difficult), or a combination of these factors.
These findings complement those of another recent experiment that used healthy volunteers who inhaled pepper spray and were then placed in a sitting position or handcuffed in a prone position. The volunteers exhibited no breathing difficulties in either position.
The North Carolina study
Claims of pepper spray's effectiveness were tested in a 2-year study conducted by a multidisciplinary team of investigators at the University of North Carolina's Injury Prevention Research Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This research sought to assess whether the introduction of pepper spray had reduced the number of
- Injuries to police officers from assaults.
- Injuries to suspects from police use of force.
- Excessive force complaints against the police.
The records of three North Carolina police departments--the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (SHP)--were compared for the periods before and after the introduction of pepper spray by each agency. SHP was the first of the three to introduce pepper spray in January 1993. WSPD and CMPD followed suit in April 1993 and January 1995, respectively.
Data sources
Officer injuries. All information on the use of force by Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers (including injuries to officers and suspects) came from the CMPD Use of Force Database. Information on in-juries to Winston-Salem officers and suspects was taken from the Injury Database, 1990-1998. Information on State Highway Patrol officer injuries came from their Worker's Compensation and Medical Only Claims files. Records in which the injury resulted from a motor vehicle crash or actions unrelated to an arrest were excluded. Researchers applied statistical methods to determine whether observed declines in the number of injuries after the introduction of pepper spray were significant enough to be attributed to its use.
Injuries to suspects. Suspect injury data were available from the Charlotte- Mecklenburg and Winston-Salem police departments. No information was available for injuries to suspects arrested by the State Highway Patrol.
Excessive force complaints. Although data on excessive force complaints were collected from all sites, only the State Highway Patrol had data going back far enough to analyze statistically.
Officer injuries. In Charlotte, monthly counts of injured officers declined steadily from 1991 to 1998 (see exhibit 1). This decline began before pepper spray was introduced and continued at roughly the same rate afterward. Before pepper spray was introduced in Winston-Salem, there were two upward trends in monthly counts of officers injured, the first ending in August 1991 and the second in December 1992. After pepper spray was introduced, officer injuries declined, followed by an increase, then a relatively stable period of low counts beginning in December 1995 (see exhibit 2).
The monthly count of injured State Highway Patrol officers, however, shows a substantial decline that corresponds with the implementation of pepper spray. In 1992, 87 officers were injured, whereas only 58 were injured in 1993, a 33- percent decline over a 1-year period (see exhibit 3).
Suspect injuries. Monthly counts of suspects injured by CMPD officers began falling after the introduction of pepper spray (see exhibit 4). In Winston-Salem, on the other hand, monthly counts of suspects injured by WSPD officers had already been declining before pepper spray was introduced (see exhibit 5).
Excessive force complaints. Ninety-four excessive force complaints were filed against State Highway Patrol officers from 1975 to 1998, peaking in 1992--the year before pepper spray was issued. Complaints dropped sharply after the introduction of pepper spray (see exhibit 6).
Thus, the data suggest relationships between the use of pepper spray and declines in the number of State High-way Patrol officer injuries, suspect injuries in Charlotte, and excessive use-of-force complaints against SHP officers. Although pepper spray could have contributed to declines in officer injuries in Charlotte and Winston-Salem and suspect injuries in Winston-Salem, the available data were not sufficient to support those claims. A 1998 study, however, indicated that the introduction of pepper spray reduced the number of assaults on police significantly in the Baltimore County (Maryland) Police Department.[2]
Study limitations. Due to differences among the study's data sources, only a limited number of conclusions could be drawn. The procedure for identifying officer and suspect injuries differed considerably from agency to agency and within each agency over time. The availability of data at each site differed, depending on the level of computer use and the sophistication of programming and software. The systems in place at the State Highway Patrol and in Winston-Salem in the early 1990s required officers to describe the circumstances leading up to injuries. Thus, determination of the number of injuries depended on the officer's recall of the incident and the degree of detail in his narrative report.
Moreover, injuries captured in one system might have been overlooked in others. The State Highway Patrol included only those injuries for which officers had filed Worker's Compensation claims, whereas cases identified in Winston-Salem and Charlotte were not limited to those requiring medical attention or loss of work.
The in-custody deaths study
Early on, as pepper spray use began to spread, questions arose as to its safety, especially after several exposed arrestees died in custody. A professor of forensic sciences and pathology at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, recently conducted a study of 73 cases of in-custody deaths following pepper spray use to determine the role, if any, played by pepper spray.
For each case, the author collected reports from law enforcement sources, emergency medical technicians, emergency room personnel, coroners and medical examiners, and toxicologists. Analysis of police reports of the confrontation was combined with the more quantifiable autopsy findings and, finally, with numerically precise toxicological data. The author believes that information from each of these sources is necessary to have the maximum confidence in the cause of death.
The author did not always agree with the cause of death listed by the autopsy surgeon or medicolegal officer. In some of these cases, he had more or different information than was available to the certifying official at the time an opinion was given on the cause of death.
Classifying the cases
Of the 73 reported cases of in-custody deaths allegedly involving pepper spray, 10 were excluded from the study. Three cases were excluded because investigation showed that pepper spray had not been used. Another seven were excluded because insufficient details were included in the case reports.
The remaining 63 cases were broken down into four subsets (see exhibit 7):
- Clear cut--cases in which the cause of death was clear and well-founded.
- Combined effects--cases in which the cause of death could be attributed to two or more factors working together.
- Outliers--cases that defied categorization.
- Asthma--cases in which compromised air passages to the lungs were found at autopsy.
- Clear-cut cases. In 12 of the 23 cases included in the clear-cut category, drugs alone were determined to be the cause of death.
In another four cases, death was attributed to drugs and heart disease. In the remaining seven cases, the author attributed death to positional asphyxia, which can occur when subjects are placed in a position in which they cannot use the muscles that move air in and out of their lungs. When a subject is made to lie face down, hands cuffed behind, pressure on the abdomen forces the abdominal contents up against the diaphragm, making it harder to breathe. This situation is exacerbated when the subject is obese. Weights applied to the back, such as an arresting officer placing his weight on the subject's shoulder-blade area, also interfere with a suspect's ability to breathe (in one case reported in this study, a sofa was placed on the subject to help control him). Pepper spray was ruled out as a direct or contributing cause in all of these deaths.
Combined effects. In these cases, drugs and disease combined with the confrontational situation to such a degree that it was impossible to isolate a single cause of death. In 23 cases, death was attributed to a combination of the confrontational situation and drugs. In five cases, death was attributed to the confrontational situation and the effects of disease. In another four cases, all three factors contributed to death. Again, pepper spray was ruled out as a cause or contributing factor in these deaths.
Outlier cases. Other weapons or health issues were involved in the deaths and were likely the main cause of death.
Asthma. In the two cases involving asthma, death was attributed to the disease. In one case, details of the confrontation with law enforcement were not available, but the autopsy found signs of preexisting asthma, and the medical examiner certified the death as asthma precipitated by the use of pepper spray. In the other case, signs of asthma were not found, but the autopsy revealed airway damage that could have made the subject susceptible to bronchial spasms triggered by inhaled pepper spray. The autopsy surgeon listed OC and disease as the cause of death.
Pepper spray was used more times in this case than in any other, but according to police officers, it was ineffective. The subject, who was obese, was handcuffed behind his back and placed in a face-down position when being transported. The difficulty of breathing in this position may have been compounded by the damage already done to his airways. In this case, the confrontational situation could have caused or contributed to death.
Was pepper spray the cause of death?
For pepper spray to cause death, it would have to make breathing difficult by closing or narrowing the bronchial tubes. The subject would have to struggle to both inhale and exhale. These effects would be noticeable shortly after the application of pepper spray. Yet, except for the two cases in which the subjects were classified as asthmatics, comments regarding breathing (other than "ceased breathing") were found in only five case reports, none of which referred to a struggle to breathe. In none of these cases did death immediately follow pepper spray application. For these reasons, the study concluded that pepper spray was not the direct or sole cause of death in these five cases.
Lessons and observations
In addition to concluding that pepper spray did not cause or contribute to death in 61 out of 63 cases, the author viewed pepper spray as a relatively innocuous force option, ranking at the low end of the "escalation of force" scale. Although pepper spray was reported by arresting officers to be effective in only 20 percent of the cases studied, all confrontations examined in the present study were distinguished by the fact that they ended in the subject's death.
A 1999 study that examined 690 incidents of pepper spray use concluded that pepper spray was effective 85 percent of the time, according to the broadest definition of the term "effectiveness."[3] None of the arrestees in these incidents died in custody. Other studies have reported lower and higher effectiveness rates, but effectiveness is a subjective term and its definition varies across studies. The 1999 study found that the effectiveness rate reported by officers was significantly reduced when subjects exposed to pepper spray appeared to be on drugs (about 13 percent of the incidents). In the in-custody death study, toxicological data showed that 39 of 63 subjects (62 percent) had some level of drugs in their body. This apparent large difference in drug use and varying interpretations of what constitutes effectiveness may explain some of the differences in effectiveness rates reported in the two studies.
The current study also concluded that, despite some skepticism as to its existence,[4] positional asphyxia is real and can (and does) cause death. Although pepper spray was not found to be effective in any of the cases of positional asphyxia examined in this study, its precise role in these cases could not be determined. The results of a recent experiment that tested the effect of pepper spray on drug-free, healthy volunteers, by itself and when combined with positional restraint, are discussed below.
Pepper spray and positional restraint
In another study, medical researchers at the University of California-San Diego measured the effects of pepper spray on breathing and other health parameters, particularly when combined with positional restraint.[5] Subjects (34 recruits from a law enforcement training academy) were exposed to pepper spray and a placebo spray and then placed in a sitting position or handcuffed in the "hogtie" or "hobble" position.
The study found that pepper spray inhalation alone does not pose a significant risk for respiratory compromise or asphyxiation, even when combined with positional restraint. Researchers found no evidence that OC exposure resulted in any additional change in respiratory function in the restraint position. In both the OC and placebo groups, pulmonary function was restricted in the restraint position, but measurements remained within the normal range. Moreover, there were no statistical differences between the OC and placebo groups relative to these declines.
Pepper spray did, however, result in an increase in blood pressure of 10 to 15 percent, perhaps due to the discomfort and pain associated with it. The clinical implications of this finding are unknown.
This study had several limitations:
- Conditions that occur in the field are impossible to replicate in the laboratory.
- The effects of prolonged sprays and repeated exposures were not studied.
- All of the subjects were cadets at the local police academy and were generally healthy.
- Subjects wore goggles to reduce pepper spray exposure to the eyes, which causes irritation and pain. (The purpose of the study was to measure acute effects of inhalation).
- Restrained subjects were placed on a medical examination table rather than on a hard surface, as often occurs in the field.
- The study did not investigate the long-term effects of pepper spray exposure or the potential for complications from chronic occupational exposure to it.
- Practical implications
In-custody deaths occurred before pepper spray was introduced and still occur today in cases not involving pepper spray. Determining the risks of pepper spray in arrest situations is complicated by two facts:
The number of in-custody deaths in which pepper spray was used in the arrest process is very low.
Every situation in which a suspect resists arrest is unique; it is impossible to collect enough useful data on nearly identical documented arrest scenarios with and without the use of pepper spray.
The studies cited in this report do not and cannot prove that pepper spray will never be a contributing factor in the death of a subject resisting arrest. In the in-custody death study summarized here, the evidence led the author to believe that, except for two cases, the deaths could be explained as being caused by the struggle with officers and the presence of drugs or alcohol (or both) even if OC had not been used.
The clinical study of subjects exposed to pepper spray and placed under positional restraint, even hogtied, strongly indicates that these conditions alone are unlikely to produce any significant risk to subjects. That study, however, was performed on healthy subjects who were not on drugs or obese. They had not fought with officers or subjected themselves to other physiological or psychological stress that could have compromised their health. These complicating conditions, often found in the field, cannot be replicated in a laboratory. Thus, there can be no definitive clinical determination of the risk of pepper spray use in all arrest circumstances.
The North Carolina study provided results that, in some instances, supported the general belief that the use of pepper spray will reduce injuries to police officers and suspects and excessive force complaints against police. Limitations in the data, however, made it impossible to draw conclusions on all three effectiveness measures at all three study sites.
The in-custody death study noted that pepper spray was reported to be effective in only about 20 percent of the incidents. This rate is much lower than that found in a 1999 study of arrests involving pepper spray, which examined a large number of incidents in which no deaths occurred. The subjects in the in-custody death study had a much higher rate of drug use, however, and there is evidence that pepper spray is less effective on subjects who are on drugs. A possible implication of these observations is that officers may want to move quickly to another force option if subjects appear to be on drugs and seem unaffected by a blast of pepper spray that clearly hit them in the face. Doing so could reduce risks to officers from continually aggressive subjects.
The results of all studies discussed in this Research for Practice seem to confirm that pepper spray is a reasonably safe and effective tool for law enforcement officers to use when confronting uncooperative or combative subjects; they provide no reason to stop using this important less-than-lethal weapon. Other studies continue to be conducted on pepper spray, however, and this will not be the last word on the subject.
To learn more about NIJ's less-than-lethal research and development program, visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/sciencetech/ltl.htm.
Findings and conclusions of the research reported here are those of the authors and do not reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The North Carolina study discussed in this report, "An Evaluation of Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) Use by Law Enforcement Agencies: Impact on Injuries to Officers and Suspects," by J. Michael Bowling and Monica Gaines, was supported by NIJ under award number 1997-LB-VX-K018.
The in-custody deaths study discussed in this report, "Deaths in Police Confrontation When Oleoresin Capsicum is Used," by Charles S. Petty, was supported by NIJ under purchase order number 2001-M7-56.
Additional reading
Kaminski, Robert J., Steven M. Edwards, and James W. Johnson, "Assessing the Incapacitative Effects of Pepper Spray During Resistive Encounters With Police," Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management 22 (1) (1999): 7-29.
Kaminski, Robert J., Steven M. Edwards, and James W. Johnson, "The Deterrent Effects of Oleoresin Capsicum on Assaults Against Police: Testing the Velcro-Effect Hypothesis," Police Quarterly 1 (2) (1998): 1-20.
National Law Enforcement Technology Center, "Positional Asphyxia--Sudden Death," National Law Enforcement Technology Center Bulletin, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, June 1995.
1. Granfield, John, Jami Onnen, and Charles S. Petty, "Pepper Spray and In-Custody Deaths," Executive Brief: Science and Technology, International Association of Chiefs of Police and National Institute of Justice, March 1994.
2. Kaminski, Robert J., Steven M. Edwards, and James W. Johnson, "The Deterrent Effects of Oleoresin Capsicum on Assaults Against Police: Testing the Velcro-Effect Hypothesis," Police Quarterly 1 (2) (1998): 1-20.
3. Kaminski, Robert J., Steven M. Edwards, and James W. Johnson, "Assessing the Incapacitative Effects of Pepper Spray During Resistive Encounters With Police," Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management 22 (1) (1999): 7-29.
4. Much of this skepticism resulted from a case in which a forensic pathologist answered that he could not prove, in the case in question, that death resulted from positional asphyxia. (See Price v. County of San Diego 990F Supp 130.)
5. More information on this study can be found in Chan, Theodore C., et al., Pepper Spray's Effects on a Suspect's Ability to Breathe, Research in Brief, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, December 2001, NCJ 188069.


text:
"Okra! This is fantastic!" celebrity chef Ricardo Larrivee says as he bounds between tables of vegetables during a recent publicity appearance at a grocery store. "This is tough to find anywhere in the country. We always buy okra frozen: it's gooey, it's never perfect. Probably, there's a community here that loves this fresh," he says.
Larrivee's passion for food is infectious, and it's helped him make a connection with aspiring cooks around the world.
His show on Radio-Canada, Ricardo, has been running for a decade, making him a household name in Quebec.
His TV show, Ricardo and Friends, has a dedicated following on the Food Network, and his bilingual website, ricardocuisine.com, has about 3,000 recipes and videos. He has cookbooks in both French and English, as well as a magazine.
He also has a new line of cookware that's available through his website.
Here is a recipe he likes to serve on a cold winter's night. It's also perfect for delivering to someone who's just getting over an illness.
Comforting Chicken Lasagna
There's nothing more comforting than a meal like this on a cold winter's night. It's also a wonderful dish to give to a loved one who's sick, convalescing after an operation or even recovering after giving birth. All the recipient has to do is pop it into the oven.
9 lasagna noodles
1 onion, finely chopped
3 tbsp. (50 mL) olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
10 cups (2.5 L) baby spinach, lightly packed
1½ lb. (750 g) ground chicken salt and pepper
1/3 cup (75 mL) butter
6 tbsp. (100 mL) unbleached all-purpose flour
3 1/2cups (800 mL) milk
1/4 tsp. (1 mL) grated nutmeg
1/4 cup (50 mL) grated Parmigiano Reggiano
2 cups (500 mL) grated Gruyere
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Rinse under cold running water. Oil lightly and set aside.
In a large non-stick skillet, brown the onion in 1 tbsp. (15 mL) oil. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
In the same skillet, brown the chicken in the remaining oil, separating it with a fork. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a large bowl.
In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over medium heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk and the nutmeg and bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a whisk. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
Spread one-third of the chicken and béchamel mixture on the bottom of an 11 x 7 in (28 x 18 cm) baking dish. Cover with a layer of noodles. Cover with another third of the chicken mixture. Cover with a layer of noodles.
Cover with the spinach mixture. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Cover with a layer of noodles and add the remaining chicken mixture. Sprinkle with the Gruyere.
Bake for about 45 minutes. Finish under the broiler for about 5 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
Serves 6


text:
Branagh: My Cinderella independent
Sir Kenneth Branagh has revealed his Cinderella is not just a damsel waiting for her prince.
The British filmmaker's next directing project is a Disney remake of the classic fairytale with an all-star cast headed by Downton Abbey's Lily James as Cinderella.
Branagh revealed: "It's an evolving adaptation that's based on being much moved by the ancient power of that myth. Everybody identifies with that underdog story, we are her and we want her to succeed against all odds and that goodness can win out.
"And that doesn't suggest that life is only worth living if a rich man comes along."
The actor directed new action thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, which he stars in alongside Chris Pine, Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner, playing the villain, Viktor Cherevin.
Branagh, 53, has been directing himself for years, in big screen adaptations of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henry V and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Then in 2011 he took the helm of Marvel comic book movie Thor. But he doesn't feel action films are anything new to him.
He said: "I always felt as though I started making action films with Henry V, which ends with the battle of Agincourt - 10, 15 minutes of non-stop fighting. And I've done a lot of physical, action things since.
"But with most movies I'm interested in the mainstream. Where there is action it's usually a slight of hand.
"And in a thriller, one of the things I wanted to do was, knowing we'd be sending the adrenalin off the charts at various points in the movie because of the story, we'd happily enjoy the number of points in the movie where people are just in rooms talking and that in itself could be exciting or dangerous."
Speaking about Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit he added: "In fact it's quite a combination, it's an action thriller but there's quite a lot of humanity and its character is based on the character stuff which emerges from it and so in a way something like this is as performance-led as anything I do anyway."


text:
How it Feels
Similar to what you feel from a heating pad, a BFST® device feels warm to the touch. It is not a dry heat or moist heat, it is a penetrating heat. Think of how penetrating you feel the warmth from the sun or the heat from a campfire, it warms to the core of your body. This deep penetrating heat is similar to what you feel from BFST®. The stimulation is not vibration. The stimulation is not a massage. The stimulation comes from a special Energy Web® inside the wrap that envelops your body inside and out with energy that promotes circulation. There is very little sensation other than perhaps a slight 'tingling' feeling at the beginning of the treatment and then a constant, relaxing, warmth from deep within. All the while, your core circulation increases substantially promoting tissue health and healing.


text:
This Week's Best Offers in...Huddersfield
Thinking about buying a piano? Come to our shop check this amazing stock clerance! Up to 50% off SRP...Save literally thousands of pounds! Orchestral instruments also on offer. Check the list here.
Gretsch are perhaps the most legendary guitar manufacturer, alongside Gibson and Fender. For decades, artists from The Beatles to The Stone Roses have relied on their truly outstanding guitars. We got quite a few models now in stock - check them out!
Major Taylor stock just arrived in our Huddersfield shop. Fantastic range of these USA made guitars. Come down and see us and give them a try - they're truly beautiful guitars.
Dolphin Music, Huddersfield is proud to announce our Great Spring DVD Sale! For a limited period only we have over 200 titles for the unbeatable price of £4.99 each.
So, whether you fancy picking up an instrument for the first time, improving your technique, or just having a good jam session, we have something for you. But you'll need to hurry - at these prices, stocks won't last for very long!
11-15 Market Street
Opening Hours:
Monday: 10am - 5.30pm


text:
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson confident GM Dave Gettleman, Ron Rivera will get the job done
- Image 1 of 2
- Image 2 of 2
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is confident new general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera are the right men to "fix things" in Carolina.
The Panthers haven't been to the postseason since 2008 and haven't won a playoff game since 2005. Richardson says he's counting on both to change that trend soon.
Richardson introduced Gettleman at a news conference Tuesday, saying he likes that his new GM comes from a winning organization like the New York Giants. Gettleman has been to six Super Bowls and won three rings during his 25 seasons in the NFL working in pro personnel.
Gettleman, 61, wearing a Super Bowl ring on his right hand, told Richardson, "if we do this right, you and I will be holding up a trophy."


text:
Sega of America's Aaron Webber comments on the possibility of "Yakuza 5" and "Yakuza HD Collection" being localized for the European and North American regions.
Everybody and their mothers knew that Dead Souls was a bad game (gameplay wise, story was good) and that it was going to flop so why punish the fans like this?
I really hope that the whole Yakuza series gets brought over. I'd love to play Kenzan! without importing...
It is starting to look like we have a good chance of at least getting Yakuza 5 in the west.
Why the f*ck did they not localise Y5 when they were actually working on it. Why go through the painful process of assigning a team to localise a game months after release when it could have been done on the fly.
As much as I love you Sega, you make some seriously stupid decisions.
If Sega isn't able to figure out how to bring their games to the West and be profitable then I am not going to beg them to bring a game over here so I can give them money for it. Their are a myriad of ways to release Yakuza 5 in the West and be profitable. Atlus brings niche games over and makes a significant profit every time. Ni No Kuni is selling well also over here.
If Sega can't figure it out, then I am fine with passing on their games. I got a copy of both Yakuza 3 and 4 when it came to the West and I got a copy of Dead Souls. I am not interested in begging any company to take my money, either Sega figures it out or I will play other games.


text:
Contact Us
Let's do business together. Do you have some content to contribute to EIN News or a client that would benefit from customized services? Any questions or comments? Contact: David Rothstein, Director of Corporate Development. +1 202-540-8337 or +1 800-883-2055
As soon as we receive your email we'll send you an automatic reply. If you don't receive it, please check your spam filter.
If you are a member please log in.
In the USA:
IPD Group/ EIN News
1025 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: +1 202-540-8337 or +1 800-883-2055


text:
Following the government's unexpected plan to raise stamp duty for all buy-to-rent properties, Philip Nell, Fund Director of the Vista UK Real Estate Fund, the residential property fund established by Hermes Investment Management and Countrywide plc, the UK's largest property services group, considers the wider context of the decision, how it impacts the opportunity set for institutional private rented sector strategies and why it reduces competition from smaller-scale landlords.
The policy at present
The government announced some months ago that it was planning to introduce a 3% stamp duty surcharge for second and subsequent property purchases. Many professional investors and the British Property Federation, which represents them, anticipated that large-scale investors would be exempt. In the latest budget, Chancellor George Osborne made it clear that this would not be the case. Despite this, lobbying on the matter continues and we are working with investors to contribute to these efforts.
The increase is part of a broader reorganisation of property taxation, with the government announcing it would also increase stamp duty on commercial property. This could help limit the damage that higher stamp duty on second and subsequent residential properties has on the attractiveness of build-to-rent projects for developers and investors relative to other real estate sectors.
Implications for property investing
Nevertheless, the 3% rise will likely reduce the supply of housing to the private rented sector (PRS). However, these investment opportunities are long-term in nature and in the context of planning cycles our calculations indicate a probable decline of only about 700 units each year over the next decade. Further, the sector remains severely underfinanced, which suggests that prices would revert to current levels over time. This dynamic has been demonstrated by past stamp duty increases in the commercial property sector.
Small-scale landlords hit hardest
The key benefit for institutional investors from the stamp duty increase is a likely reduction in the competitiveness or number of individual landlords. For these buyers, the impact of the rise will be aggravated by a reduction in the tax relief available on mortgage payments against rental property, making the asset class much less attractive.
However, demand for private rental housing in the UK continues to rise rapidly, with the government doing little to address the structural problems that have driven this trend. The combination of fewer competitors and rising demand could help encourage developers to create and sell purpose-built PRS properties, mitigating the damage done by the rise in stamp duty and maintaining consistent deal flow for institutional investors.
Any dampening of developer appetite can also be partially addressed by carefully managing the structure of deals. Because we focus on purpose-built PRS real estate, we could purchase a site and then fund the development costs, with only the acquisition incurring stamp duty. Or we could forward-purchase the site with the developer financing construction and then fund the acquisition upon completion. We can adapt the method of procurement in the context of the developer's financing needs and the new stamp duty arrangements, as the value of the units would likely make one route more tax-efficient than the other.
Strong PRS policy support remains in place
Long-running government policies still support the PRS market. Fast-tracked planning approvals of brown-field sites, new planning regulations for commercial-property conversions and previous changes to stamp duty legislation all contributed positively to the growth of the sector as an institutional asset class. Despite higher stamp duty, the positive planning infrastructure that was developed by the last two governments remains in place and continues to support the sector.
Through adept negotiations with developers, we believe that the impact of higher stamp duty on rental properties can be mitigated. This, combined with continuing policy support for PRS property development, greater pressure on smaller-scale landlords and the persistent demand and supply imbalance in the UK rental market, should ensure that investment opportunities in this sector remain compelling.
Responsible Business Week: CVS v Walmart
Press contacts
Jeannie Dumas
Head of Corporate Communications & Shareholder Relations email@example.com +44 (0)20 7680 2152 +44 (0)7841 324061
Melanie Bradley
Head of Investment & Stewardship Communications firstname.lastname@example.com +44 (0)20 7680 2218 + 44 (0)7767 162 317
Rachael Dowers
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications firstname.lastname@example.com + 44 (0)20 7680 4698


text:
News and Events
Investor Relations
First Quarter Net Revenues and EPS Significantly Ahead of Prior Outlook
Company Increases CY 2009 Net Revenues and EPS Outlook
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 7, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced better-than-expected financial results for the first quarter 2009.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, Activision Blizzard's GAAP net revenues were $981 million, and its non-GAAP net revenues were $724 million. The company's prior GAAP net revenue outlook for the quarter was $860 million. On a non-GAAP basis, the company's net revenue outlook was $550 million.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, Activision Blizzard's reported GAAP earnings per diluted share was $0.14, and the company's non-GAAP earnings per diluted share was $0.08. The company's prior GAAP earnings per diluted share outlook was $0.08. On a non-GAAP basis, the company's earnings per diluted share outlook was $0.03.
The company reports results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. Please refer to the tables at the back of this press release for a reconciliation of the company's GAAP and non-GAAP results.
Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, stated, "Our better-than-expected first quarter results were driven by strong global consumer response to the Call of Duty® and Guitar Hero® franchises and Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft®, despite challenging economic times. For the quarter, we were the #1 third-party console and handheld publisher in North America and the #1 third-party publisher for the Nintendo Wii platform worldwide, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk."
Kotick continued, "During the remainder of the year, we plan to release our strongest video game slate, based on some of the industry's most profitable franchises. We are raising our calendar year 2009 financial outlook. Additionally, we expect to deliver record calendar year non-GAAP operating margins of 25%. Our high-quality franchise portfolio, industry leading operational capabilities and solid balance sheet should enable us to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the expanding interactive entertainment market and enable us to deliver continued superior returns to our shareholders."
Business Highlights
For the quarter ended March 31, 2009 according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk, Call of Duty and Guitar Hero remained two of the top-five best-selling franchises in the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, Activision Blizzard had two of the top-five best-selling titles across all platforms in the U.S. and Europe.
Other business highlights are as follows:
-- Guitar Hero World Tour was the #1 best-selling third-party title in the U.S. across all platforms in dollars, according to The NPD Group.
-- In the U.S. and Europe, Guitar Hero World Tour was the #1 best-selling third-party title in dollars for the Nintendo Wii and the only third-party game to rank as a top-five best seller for the platform, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.
-- Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King remained the #1 PC game in dollars in the U.S. for the quarter, according to The NPD Group.
-- Activision Blizzard had three of the top-10 best-selling PC titles in dollars in the U.S., according to The NPD Group.
-- For the quarter, European sales for the Guitar Hero franchise grew 84% year over year, according to Charttrack and Gfk. -- As of April 10, 2009, Activision Publishing's Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart was the #1 paid "app" for the iPhone of all time, according to Apple(R).
-- On February 24, 2009, Activision Publishing announced an agreement with Corus Entertainment Inc.'s Nelvana Enterprises to develop and distribute video games based on the breakout hit toy and wildly popular action animated television series Bakugan.
-- As of March 31, 2009, Activision Blizzard had purchased $439 million, or approximately 45 million shares, of common stock at an average price of $9.76, under its $1 billion stock repurchase program.
-- On April 6, 2009, Activision Publishing acquired 7 Studios whose experience will enable Activision Publishing to broaden its development capabilities in the music-based genre.
-- On April 16, 2009, Blizzard Entertainment announced that its World of Warcraft will be licensed to an affiliated company of NetEase.com, Inc. in mainland China for a term of 3 years following the expiration of the game's current license agreement.
During the quarter, Activision Publishing strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Dan Rosensweig as President and Chief Executive Officer of RedOctane, the business unit which develops the blockbuster Guitar Hero® franchise and soon to be released DJ Hero™. Mr. Rosensweig brings significant experience to Activision Publishing having served as Chief Operating Officer of Yahoo! from 2002 through 2006, where he oversaw the company's worldwide operations including its product development, marketing, and advertising sales and the development and introduction of innovative new Internet advertising formats.
Additionally, Activision Blizzard named Thomas Tippl as Chief Corporate Officer in addition to his position as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Tippl succeeds Bruce Hack, who has stepped down from the position following the successful business combination of Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc.
Company Outlook
For the second quarter of calendar year 2009, Activision Publishing expects to release three games inspired by theatrical motion pictures, X-Men Origins, Transformers™: Revenge of the Fallen and Ice Age™: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, as well as a new third-person action game Prototype™, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits™, a compilation of the most popular songs from previous Guitar Hero games that will now be playable as a full band experience and Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits™ for the Nintendo DS.
Due to current macroeconomic conditions, Activision Blizzard's outlook is subject to significant risks and uncertainties including declines in demand for its products, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers. The company's outlook is also based on assumptions about sell through rates for its products, the new slate of products and progress in integrating operations following the company's recent business combination between Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc. As a result of these and other factors, including any complications related to the transition of Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft in China from the current licensee to NetEase, actual results may deviate materially from the outlook presented below.
For calendar 2009, Activision Blizzard is raising its outlook for GAAP net revenues to $4.3 billion, and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.24, as compared to the company's prior calendar year 2009 GAAP outlook of $4.2 billion in net revenues and $0.22 earnings per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, the company now expects net revenues of $4.8 billion for the calendar year, as compared to its prior non-GAAP net revenue outlook of $4.7 billion. The revenue outlook includes a reduction in revenue from the company's lower margin distribution and co-publishing businesses and a negative year-over-year impact from a stronger dollar. On a constant exchange rate basis, however, the company expects another year of non-GAAP net revenue growth. The company's non-GAAP earnings per diluted share are expected to be $0.63 for the calendar year, as compared with its prior non-GAAP calendar year outlook of $0.61 earnings per diluted share.
For the second quarter 2009, Activision Blizzard expects GAAP net revenues of $1.0 billion, and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.10. On a non-GAAP basis, the company expects net revenues of $775 million and $0.06 earnings per diluted share for the second quarter.
Conference Call
Today at 4:30 p.m. EDT, Activision Blizzard's management will host a conference call and Webcast to discuss the company's results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and management's outlook for the remainder of the calendar year. The company welcomes all members of the financial and media communities and other interested parties to visit the "Investor Relations" area of to listen to the conference call via live Webcast or to listen to the call live by dialing into 719-325-4798 in the U.S.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Activision Blizzard provides net revenues, net income (loss), earnings (loss) per share and operating margin data and guidance both including (in accordance with GAAP) and excluding (non-GAAP): the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and related cost of sales; expenses related to share-based payments; Activision Blizzard's non-core exit operations (which is the operating results of products and operations from the historical Vivendi Games, Inc. businesses that the company has exited or is winding down); one-time costs related to the business combination between Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc. (including transaction costs, integration costs, and restructuring activities); the amortization of intangibles and the associated changes in cost of sales resulting from purchase price accounting adjustments from the business combination; and the associated tax benefits.
As online functionality becomes a more important component of gameplay, certain of the company's online-enabled games for certain platforms contain a more-than-inconsequential separate service deliverable in addition to the product, and the company's performance obligations for these games extend beyond the sale of the games. Vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value does not exist for the online services, as the company does not separately charge for this component of online-enabled games. As a result, the company recognizes all of the revenues from the sale of these games ratably over the estimated service period. In addition, the company defers the cost of sales of these titles to match revenues.
Revenue related to the sale of Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft boxed software, including the sale of expansion packs and other ancillary revenues, is deferred and recognized ratably over the estimated subscription life beginning upon activation of the software and delivery of the services.
As a consequence, the company's non-GAAP results exclude the impact of the change in deferred revenues and related cost of sales associated with certain of the company's online-enabled games for certain of the Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and PC platforms and for World of Warcraft boxed software, including the sale of expansion packs and other ancillary revenues, to provide comparable year-over-year performance.
Management believes that the use of non-GAAP measures that eliminate the impact of the change in deferred revenues and related cost of sales in its operating results is important when evaluating Activision Blizzard's operating performance, and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods.
Management also believes that non-GAAP measures that exclude Activision Blizzard's non-core exit operations, one-time costs related to the business combination between Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc. (including transaction costs, integration costs, and restructuring activities), the amortization of intangibles and the associated changes in cost of sales resulting from purchase price accounting adjustments from the business combination, provides a better comparison to prior periods in which Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc. were operating as stand-alone companies, and that the resulting effects arising from the business combination do not affect the on-going economics of the combined entity. Management also believes that excluding expenses related to share-based payments provides more comparable operating performance results. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with additional useful information to measure Activision Blizzard's financial and operating performance because they facilitate comparison of operating performance between periods and helps investors to better understand the results of Activision Blizzard. Internally, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the company's operating results, as well as in planning and forecasting.
Activision Blizzard recognizes that there are limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as they do not reflect net revenues, net income (loss), earnings (loss) per share and operating margin as determined in accordance with GAAP, and may reduce comparability with other companies that calculate similar non-GAAP measures differently. Management compensates for the limitations resulting from the exclusion of these items by considering the impact of these items separately and by considering Activision Blizzard's GAAP as well as non-GAAP results and outlook and, in this release, by presenting the most comparable GAAP measures directly ahead of non-GAAP measures, and by providing a reconciliation which indicates and describes the adjustments made.
Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP.
Activision Blizzard's non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, and the terms non-GAAP net revenues, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per share, non-GAAP operating margin do not have a standardized meaning. Therefore, other companies may use the same or similarly named measures, but exclude different items, which may not provide investors a comparable view of Activision Blizzard's performance in relation to other companies.
Comparable-Basis Presentation by Segment -- Non-GAAP Comparable Measures
On July 9, 2008, the business combination between Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc. was consummated. As a result of the consummation of the business combination, Activision, Inc. was renamed Activision Blizzard, Inc.
For accounting purposes, because the business combination resulted in Vivendi obtaining control of Activision, Inc. through the acquisition of a majority of common stock of Activision, Inc., the business combination is treated as a "reverse acquisition," with Vivendi Games, Inc. deemed to be the accounting acquirer. As a result, the historical financial statements of Activision Blizzard prior to July 9, 2008 are those of Vivendi Games, Inc. and the results of Activision, Inc. prior to July 9, 2008 are not included as part of Activision Blizzard's historical financial statements.
As one means of analyzing Activision Blizzard's performance, the company presents data that combines: (1) the company's results after July 9, 2008, (2) Vivendi Games, Inc.'s results prior to July 9, 2008 and (3) Activision, Inc.'s results prior to July 9, 2008. Management uses information prepared on this comparable basis internally to compare results and believes that this presentation provides investors with additional useful information to understand the company's performance on a year-over-year comparable basis. However, the data is not presented in accordance with GAAP and is not presented in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X relating to pro forma financial statements.
The non-GAAP information presented should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP.
The following data is presented in the attachments to this press release:
-- Non-GAAP Comparable Basis Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
-- Non-GAAP Comparable Basis Segment Operating Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
In conjunction with the business combination, Activision Blizzard changed the manner in which senior management assesses the operating performance of, and allocates resources to, its operating segments. As a result, the company now operates in four segments:
i. Activision Publishing ("Activision") -- publishes interactive entertainment software and peripherals, which includes the Activision business conducted by Activision, Inc. prior to the business combination and certain studios, assets, and titles previously included in Vivendi Games' "Sierra Entertainment" operating segment prior to the business combination; ii. Blizzard -- Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries publishing traditional games and online subscription-based games in the MMORPG category; iii. Distribution -- distribution of interactive entertainment software and hardware products; and iv. Activision Blizzard's non-core exit operations ("Non-Core") - Vivendi Games' divisions or business units that the company has exited or is winding down as part of its restructuring and integration efforts as a result of the business combination.
Activision, Blizzard and Distribution are referred to collectively as Activision Blizzard Inc.'s core operations ("Core").
With respect to periods prior to July 9, 2008, results for historical Activision, Inc. are reported in the Activision and Distribution segments. In addition, as a result of the change in operating and reporting segments, all prior period segment information has been restated to conform to this new financial statement presentation.
About Activision Blizzard
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide online, PC, console and handheld game publisher with leading market positions across every major category of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry.
Activision Blizzard maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, South Korea , China, and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activisionblizzard.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Blizzard's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements under the heading "Company Outlook," are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Blizzard generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects," "intends," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Blizzard's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Blizzard's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, any difficulties experienced during the transition of World of Warcraft in China from the current licensee to NetEase, Activision Blizzard's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Blizzard's products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Blizzard, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors, licensees, licensors and third-party developers, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision Blizzard's success in completing the integration of the operations of Activision and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated, and the other factors identified in the risk factors section of Activision Blizzard's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and Activision Blizzard assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
Click here for Financial Tables
SOURCE Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Copyright © 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved


text:
Bachelor Gulch Village has a long, rich history named fondly after a few lonely bachelors who settled in this little pristine and secluded valley in the early 1900's. This exclusive gated community is part of Beaver Creek Mountain, located on the adjoining ridge and part of the village-to-village ski experience between Beaver Creek Resort, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead. It is the only residential ski neighborhood entirely on-mountain in the Vail Valley. As a Bachelor Gulch Village homeowner, you can sit back and take in the panoramic views of the Gore Range to the east all the way to Castle Peak in the west. Once you pass through the private gates, you can admire the picturesque parkitecture, which the resort is known for, with rustic native stone, seasoned timbers and massive logs modeled after the iconic lodges found in national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. Visit The Ritz-Carlton®, the keystone of the resort, to experience fine dining at WYLD, or pamper yourself at their outstanding newly renovated spa. This prestigious on-mountain community is for those who wish to live life luxuriously and appreciate what the early settlers understood over a century ago about this special place now called Bachelor Gulch Village.
A tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community.
Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard.Market Snapshot Tool
Bachelor Gulch - $1,695,000
Condominium | MLS # 933707
3 Beds | 4 Baths | 1,842 +/- sq.ft.
There are no open houses at the moment. Please check again soon, or try a different community.
Bachelor Gulch - $170,000
Previous price: $186,000
Partial Ownership | MLS # 931377
3 Beds | 4 Baths | 1,982 +/- sq.ft.
Bachelor Gulch - $165,000
Previous price: $192,500
Partial Ownership | MLS # 925410
3 Beds | 3 Baths | 1,982 +/- sq.ft.
Bachelor Gulch - $160,000
Previous price: $174,900
Partial Ownership | MLS # 932783
3 Beds | 4 Baths | 1,973 +/- sq.ft.
There are currently no featured listings in this community. Please check again soon. Our inventory is constantly being updated.


text:
Vancouver, British Columbia, native Laura Brown made it a night of firsts Tuesday at the Coastal Empire Cycle Fest Criterium.
Brown, in her first year riding with a professional team, claimed her first professional win in the inaugural event on Tybee Island.
Brown pulled away with a pack of three from the original group of 56 riders with 10 laps to go, then outsprinted Erin Stillman and Whitney Schultz to the finish line to win the women's pro division.
Brown was one of six winners during the four hours of racing at the criterium - a closed course race that drew raves from several racers Tuesday.
Columbian Carlos Alzate, a silver medalist in the 2007 Pan American Games and a participant in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was the men's pro winner.
But maybe Tybee came out the biggest winner. Several racers raved about the one-kilometer course which began on Strand Avenue in front of Fannies On The Beach, turned left on Tybrisa Street to Butler Avenue and up 18th Street back to Strand.
"It's awesome, there's the beach, there are places to eat while you're waiting. That's not really the case other places we go," said Jacksonville, Fla., resident Drew Miller, a winner in the Masters over-35 division.
"It's very nice, beautiful," said Alzate, finding complimentary words in his limited English.
There were two collisions during the night and one rider, who was believed to have suffered a broken collarbone, left in an ambulance.
"I think it was a success," said race organizer Anne Bolyea. "There was a lot of exciting action that the other races didn't have."
The Tybee event was part of Speed Week - a seven-race competition in seven southeastern cities during a nine-day period.
The first two races of Speed Week were in Athens on Saturday and Roswell on Sunday.
From Tybee, racers head to Walterboro, S.C., Spartanburg, S.C., and Belmont, N.C., before finishing in Sandy Springs - a suburb of Atlanta.
It was a unique event for Tybee. Curious onlookers, some with drinks in hand, leaned against the fences erected to separate the racers from the normal foot traffic.
At times, when cyclists broke into long lines, it looked like a colorful flowing river.
Brown wasn't among riders in a pack. The 26-year-old credited her team (Colavita/Fine Cooking) of six riders who helped push the pace, leaving competitors slightly tired.
"The team set it up perfectly for a sprinter," Brown said. "I'm so proud of the team."
Highly regarded Erica Allar, who won the first two races in Athens and Roswell, finished in fifth, but remains in first place overall.
In the men's race, Alzate got to the front and stayed there as many racers in the 61-man field suffered equipment breakdowns.
Racing started about 20 minutes late, apropos for Tybee, and about 40 minutes later Miller and James Carney crossed the finish line together without a sprint to the end. Both were winners because they were riding in different classifications.
In the Category 4/5 division (riders work their way up from Category 5 to Category 1 before getting to pro), Scott Crosier outsprinted his competitors to the finish.
In Category 2/3, Evan Murphy pulled away from a pack of three when two foes got tangled and fell.
Murphy won by 55 seconds over a field of 19 participants.
Between the women's and men's pro races, an Amtryke freedom ride for those with disabilities was held, drawing cheers and encouragement from spectators.
Proceeds of the criterium will be split between AMBUCS (a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities) and the American Diabetes Association.
Masters 35
1. Drew Miller; 2. Aaron Jottngian; 3. Brady Rogers; 4. Clay Parks; 5. Mike Buechel
Masters 45
1. James Carney; 2. Tom Godfrey; 3. Bryan Kent Lofton; 4. Alan Korhonen; 5. Greg McDevitt.
Category 4/5
1. Scott Crosier; 2. John Tousignant; 3. Jeff Erler; 4. Joshua Bennett; 5. Steve Riley.
Category 2/3
1. Evan Murphy; 2. Jake Andrews; 3. Aaron Jottngian; 4. Abraham Soler; 5. Mitchell Jacaruso.
Women's pro
1. Laura Brown; 2. Erin Stillman; 3. Whitney Schultz; 4. Theresa Cliff-Ryan; 5. Erica Allar.
Men's pro
1. Carlos Alzate; 2. Hilton Clarke; 3. David Guttenplan; 4. Sergio Hernandez; 5. Bradley White.