text:
Potential Position
Person Contacted
Bus Tel:________________________________
Home Tel:_______________________________
I'd like to verify ______________ dates of employment from ________ to________.
What type of work did ______________ do? (title/general duties?)
Were ______________ earnings $________ per _______? Were there any bonus orincentive plans?
Why did ______________ leave your organization?
What do you feel are ______________ strong points on the job? Whatcharacteristics do you most admire about him/her?
Did ______________ supervise other people? How many? How effectively? Canhe/she create team effort?
What are ______________ shortcomings? Was there anything he/she was trying tochange about himself/herself, or should be trying to improve on?
How would you rate ______________ overall job performance on a scale of 1 to10 (10 being high) compared with others you observed in a similar capacity?
Have you seen ______________ current resume? Let me read to you what it sayswere his/her duties and accomplishments at your organization.
Is ______________ honest?
How well does ______________ relate to other people? Which employees doeshe/she work best with: Superiors/peers/subordinates? Is he/she a team player?
How did ______________ last job performance review go? What strengths werecited?
What recommended improvement areas were noted? How about the performancereview prior to that?
What do you feel were ______________'s most major accomplishments with yourcompany? What changed as a result of his/her involvement?
On average, how many times did ______________ miss work or come in late? Doeshe/she have any personal problems or bad habits that interfered with his/her jobperformance?
Whom did ______________ work for prior to joining your company? When hiredwere his/her references checked? What did the references have to say?
What is the biggest change you've observed in ______________? Where hasthere been the most growth or development?
Is ______________ in the right job/career? How far do you think he/she cango?
What do you feel frustrated ______________ in his/her last position with yourcompany?
How did ______________ handle himself/herself in times of conflict?
If ______________ asked you what one thing would most improve the way he/sheperforms on the job, what specific advice would you give him/her?
What is the best way to work with ______________ to quickly maximize his/hertalents and effectiveness for the company?
What other person(s) know ______________?
Name: ______________ Name:_______________
Title: _______________ Title:________________
Location:____________ Location:______________
Telephone:__________ Telephone:____________
Excellent __ Good __ Some Reservation __ Poor __
Check made by:_________________________ Date:__________
Excerpted from The Complete Reference Checking Handbook, Second Edition byEdward C. Andler. Copyright Ó 2003 Edward C. Andler. Published by AMACOM Books,a division of American Management Association, New York, NY. Used withpermission. All rights reserved.
Visitors to this site are granted permission to download or print out one (1)copy of the AMACOM content from the Web site for personal use only and agree notto reproduce, retransmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish, broadcast orcirculate this material without prior written permission of the copyright owner(AMA).
The information contained in this article is intended to provide usefulinformation on the topic covered, but should not be construed as legal advice ora legal opinion. Also remember that state laws may differ from the federal law.
Workforce Online, March 2003 -- Register Now!


text:
(800) 544-7938
Login | Register
Wish List
View Cart: (0) $0.00
Professional Grower | Home Gardener
Options: 500 Seeds - Price: $27.90
1,000 Seeds - Price: $40.20
5,000 Seeds - Price: $179.70
74 Days to maturity.Mariana is one of the widely used saladette types because of its wide adaptability, disease package and fruit uniformity. Determinate plants offer good yields of 4 to 5 oz. fruit that have good smoothness
and are uniform ripening. The plant offers good disease resistance to Alternaria stem canker, Fusarium wilt (races 1 and 2),Verticillium wilt (race 1) and Nematode, and intermediate resistance to Stemphylium.Supplied as treated seed.
The Harris Seeds company began catalog operation in 1879. It evolved from the efforts of Joseph Harris who was extremely successful in the selection of superior strains of vegetables and grains. The company became wildly popular because of his basic business philosophy - "Offer my customers a quality product at a fair price and they will return."
355 Paul Rd. P.O. Box 24966 Rochester, NY 14624 Phone: (800) 544-7938 FAX: (877) 892-9197 E-mail Us
Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 8 am - 5 pm ET
Saturday: 8 am - 1 pm ET

subset: commoncrawl


text:
8 Celebrity Parents Freak Out On the Paparazzi! (Photos)Chris Rogers
In the best (or worst) of circumstances, even the most poised celebrities can have a moment of weakness when it comes to dealing with the paparazzi.
Britney Spears, Sean Penn, and even former First Lady Jackie Onassis have had some of the most infamous "run-ins" with the shutterbugs.
A little over four years ago, Spears had a pure moment of insanity when she went ballistic on the paparazzi with an umbrella and a cleanly shaven head! And Penn even dangled a photographer from his balcony window claiming to have thought it was a burglar. Yeah right!
Take a look below at some celebrity parents and their infamous paparazzi freakouts!
Sean Penn 1 of 8In 1986, Penn's most infamous freak-out was the time he dangled a photographer by his ankles off the ninth-floor balcony of a hotel room in Macau. The actor claimed to have thought the guy was a burglar. Penn was charged with attempted murder, but was later pardoned. Check out another of Sean's photographer attacks below.
Photo Credit: entertainment.ezine.com
Jay-Z 2 of 8During a visit to Croatia in 2009, Jay-Z flipped out on a cameraman who wouldn't stop following him and Beyonce. Let's hope Jay-Z has turned a new, calmer leaf now that he's a dad to Blue Ivy.
Photo credit: Justjared.buzznet.com
Hugh Grant 3 of 8A London photographer accused Hugh Grant of attacking him with a tub of baked beans. The charges were later dropped. More recently, Grant was seen giving a paparazzo a kick to the groin.
Photo credit: Celebguru.com
Reese Witherspoon 4 of 8In a bizarre example of paparazzi-celebrity entanglement, Witherspoon was questioned by L.A. police following the death of a photographer charged with battery after an incident involving Witherspoon and her then five-year-old daughter at a Disney theme park. After he missed his bail hearing, authorities feared paparazzo Todd Wallace had fled the country; his decomposed body was later found in his Brentwood apartment. In 2007, she also told off a photographer during a day out with her kids (pictured here).
Photo credit: Justjared.buzznet.com
Britney Spears 5 of 8To this day, few stars can cause a paparazzi frenzy the way Britney Spears can. Not only did Spears attack a photographer's vehicle with an umbrella, but another photographer staking out Spears took a bullet in the leg. The bullet (from a BB gun) didn't do any serious damage, and investigators later concluded that Spears and her bodyguards weren't responsible.
Photo credit: Entertainment.ca.msn.com
Jackie Onassis 6 of 8In a legal battle, the former First Lady sued photographer Ron Gallela for harassment after he followed her and her children into Central Park. The trial won her a restraining order against him, but when a court reduced the minimal distance to 25 feet, it allowed Galella permission to get back to work and take his self-described "greatest shot," this photo of Jackie's hair blowing in the wind as she turns toward the camera.
Photo credit: Njmonthly.com
Hilary Duff 7 of 8In a video, (pre-pregnancy) Hilary Duff is seen hitting a photographer with her purse as she returns home from shopping (see video below).
Photo credit: Starlitnews.blogspot.com
David Arquette 8 of 8Arquette once yelled at photographers as he left Los Angeles' Nobu restaurant with his estranged wife, Courteney Cox, claiming they were stopping him from driving away. Arquette then jumped out of his car, confronted one photographer and pushed his camera away before another paparazzi calmed him down.
Photo credit: Gosspcenter.com
[Photos via Twitter/Pacific Coast News/PR Photos.]
Read more of Chris' writing at ChrisjTV.
And don't miss a post! Follow Chris on Twitter!
Don't miss the latest from Famecrawler – Like Us on Facebook!
10 Reasons We Love Teen Mom' Chelsea Houska (Photos)
12 Celebrity Babies We Can't Wait To Meet In 2012 (Photos)
18 New Looks for Our Favorite Celeb Mom and Dads In 2012 (Photos)


text: TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The No. 21 ranked University of Alabama football team put the finishing touches on its game plan for its upcoming game with Northern Illinois. The Huskies have won nine of their last 10 games and upset No. 15 Maryland (20-13, OT) in DeKalb on Aug. 28. "We had a pretty good Thursday, but there are still some things (on offense and defense) we need to get corrected," Alabama head coach Mike Shula said. "The players will need to spend a little more time in the playbooks." "As coaches we are anxious to see how we play each week, Shula added. "The focus has been good and the players are excited about trying for that third win of the season. We have thrown a lot at them in the last three weeks. Our preparation has been good. They have been very attentive in meetings. We know we are going to make mistakes, we just don't want to make the same mistakes twice." Shula also announced on Thursday that senior offensive lineman Atlas Herrion, senior defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher and sophomore middle linebacker Freddie Roach (special teams) will serve as game captains. The Crimson Tide hosts Northern Illinois at 6:05 p.m. (CT) at Bryant-Denny stadium. The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis. Alabama and Illinois residents may call their local cable operator to order the game. The game will also be available on DISH Network (Channel 456) or by calling 1-800-TVSTARS (large C-band owners). The game is also available through ESPN GamePlan in the states other than Alabama and Illinois. Handling the announce duties for the Pay-Per-View telecast will be David Crane (play-by-play), Tyler Watts (analyst) and Chris Stewart (sideline).


text:
The following guest post was contributed by the folks at Veritas Legal Plan. If you would like to contribute a guest post, click here. The simple way to describe the Veritas Legal Plan is "Peace of Mind". While that does not define us, it certainly drives us. No one wants a lawsuit but the reality is that consumers who default ... Read More »
Veritas Assurance Group Announces Full Legal Protection to All Consumers in Any Debt Settlement Program. No Need for an Attorney Debt Settlement Company Anymore.
This is finally public and it might be a great asset to all performance based debt settlement companies that would like to provide legal protection to their clients. It's a big advantage for consumers since they can now get access to legal protection while in a debt settlement plan without having to pay an attorney firm all those advanced fees ... Read More »


text:
NEW DELHI: Former RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan has taken charge as Executive Director on the Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In addition to India, he will also be representing three other countries -- Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan -- on the IMF Board.
"The term of Rakesh Mohan at the IMF will be for a period of three years," the Finance Ministry said in a release.


text:
Images: Baby Expo 2013: What to expect when expecting
Photo by Staff Sgt. Tomora Clark
Expectant fathers play Daddy Diaper Derby at the 2013 Baby Expo at CRDAMC's Women's Health Center Oct. 19. The expo helped expectant parents learn information about infant nutrition and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Tomora Clark, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)
This work, Baby Expo 2013: What to expect when expecting, by SSG Tomora Clark, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:10.19.2013
Date Posted:10.25.2013 11:33
Photo ID:1040351
Size:156.69 KB
Location:FORT HOOD, TX, US
Associated News
Baby Expo 2013: What to expect when expecting


text: Hands-on with Google Drive: cloud storage for Google loyalists Technology 26 April 12 by Nathan Olivarez-Giles Jim Merithew/Wired One of the worst-kept secrets in the technology space, Google Drive, is finally here -- live and yours to explore, if you're game.But if you're already using a cloud service, or maybe even a couple of services -- I actually use a combination of existing Google products, Dropbox and Apple's iCloud -- the question undoubtedly becomes, Do I really need another cloud platform in my life?This question gets a bit more complicated when you consider that Google already has a number of cloud services such as Play for music storage, Picasa for photos, YouTube for videos and even Gmail as well. Who hasn't emailed himself a file before, right?Google Drive doesn't seek to replace any of these existing Google services -- though it does replace one cloud service (more on that below). Instead, Google Drive seeks to replace the USB thumb drive stuffed into your backpack or purse. And, if you pay up for extra storage, maybe even the portable disk drive on your desk too. You can store all manner of file formats, and Drive gives you the option to convert files into Google-friendly formats as well.After spending a couple hours using Google Drive on an Apple iMac, a Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, and an Asus Transformer Pad tablet, it's clear that those who will prefer Google Drive are those who already prefer Google itself.Indeed, if you've ever used Google Docs, you'll feel immediately comfortable using Google Drive. And if you're a Google Docs power user, you'll probably outright love Google Drive.The service offers an iCloud-matching 5GB of storage for free, which should be enough for most users. If you want more space, it will cost you -- 25GB of storage will run $2.50 monthly (£1.50), 100GB is $5 monthly (£3.10) and 1TB will cost $50 a month (£31). Google will allow users to purchase as much as 16TB of storage, but isn't yet disclosing pricing beyond 1TB. Upgrading to any increased storage size will boost your Gmail storage up to 25GB.In the browser, Google Drive works exactly the same as Google Docs. In fact, Drive is replacing Docs and soon all Docs users will be Drive users, on mobile devices and on the web. No need to worry about lost files: All your documents will show up in your Google Drive once you've switched over, and the process is painless.Editing documents -- even real-time editing of shared docs with multiple people -- works in Google Drive just as it did in Google Docs. Sharing and emailing also works exactly the same as before and, just as Docs did, Drive maintains a revision history of edited files, allowing users to view previous versions as far back as 30 days.Like Google Docs (and unlike Gmail and Google.com), there are no ads to be found in Google Drive. There is, however, a lot of whitespace that could make for ad real estate if ever Google wanted to go that route.But the new service isn't perfect. In the web browser version of Google Drive, I found that audio files don't play back automatically, instead forcing you to download the file to your desktop, and open it up in another app before you can give it a listen.In the mobile app -- which is currently only available for Android, but is promised for iOS -- audio files are kicked out to music apps such as Google's own Play Music or Spotify. Videos play back just fine in the browser, but in the mobile app, you're once again kicked into another app to view your media. Rivals such as Dropbox, SugarSync and iCloud stream media without requiring a download or opening another app. It would be nice to see Google do the same.On the Galaxy Nexus, the Google Drive app worked as well as any other app (e.g., People, Calendar, Maps) built into Google's latest version of Android, aka Ice Cream Sandwich. With a clean, ICS-consistent aesthetic, it's one of the better looking and easier to use cloud storage apps available for Android today.Like Dropbox, Box, SugarSync and many other competing services, a desktop app for Windows and Mac OS X is available for Google Drive as well. But I see little advantage to using the desktop app over the web-based version of Drive. In both versions, uploading a file is as simple as clicking and dragging a file from your desktop into a folder or webpage. And in both versions of Drive, stored documents open in a browser window, and not into other apps.So far, the best feature of Google Drive is its integration with other Google products, and Google says further integration with Google+, Gmail and Chrome is on the way. So, if you're already using an Android phone, and Gmail is your main inbox and Calendar is where you make your plans, then Drive will fit into your life nicely.But there is a flipside: If you're not steeped in the Google ecosystem, or you're perfectly happy using one of the many competing cloud services, I don't see much reason to get behind the wheel of Google Drive just yet. Unless, of course, you refuse to pay for cloud storage, and you want to distribute your overflowing files across as many free services as possible. Source: Wired.com Edited by Duncan Geere Latest on wired.co.uk


text:
A 1961 Morgan +4, the Le Mans class winner in 1962 has been sold post auction for £120,000 following the Walter Hayes Sale last Friday (4th November).
Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions, said: "This Morgan is possibly one of the finest and most successful examples of this famous British marque. It just oozes history from every angle and harks back to a golden era of motor racing, so it's no surprise that it's been sold so soon after the auction."
The 1961 LawrenceTune prepared model has been raced at some of the world's most inspiring and demanding race tracks including Goodwood, Monza, Spa and Nurburgring.
The fully restored "low line" Super Sports trim model (which was Lot 158), finished in stunning British racing green and with a genuine factory hardtop, was one of the star attractions at the auction held in Silverstone's 'Wing' building. Despite significant interest and a number of bids it failed to achieve its reserve price on the day.
However, Silverstone Auctions is proud to announce a post auction sale.
"While the Morgan wasn't sold at auction it did attract a lot of attention and create a real stir. We've been kept busy fielding enquiries for it and other models following the event. It goes to show that it's not the end of the story just because it might not sell on the day.
At Netcars the other day we read an interesting article which stated classic cars are fast becoming the top investment choice for wealthy individuals. What do you think? If you had the money would you invest?


text:
Sauza Pulls a Leaf from the Old Spice Video Playbook
In the same absurdist vein as the Old Spice Guy, Sauza Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila has put a video up on YouTube that's meant to appeal to women while making both genders laugh—and to sell some premium product in the bargain.
The 2-minute video, "Make It with a Fireman", offers up a beefy actor/firefighter who pulls a fluffy white kitten form under his jacket (which he rescued, he reports, "by giving it CPR"), then proceeds to strip off his gear and demonstrate how to make the perfect margarita using Sauza Tequila. Viewers are then instructed both in the video and in the accompanying copy to go to SauzaMargaritas.com for the actual recipe.
They can also enter to win a spa getaway, share the video over Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, and unlock a coupon for $3 off the product by liking the Sauza Facebook profile.
And like it they do. According to YouTube the video went up two weeks ago on April 16 and has so far received more than 776,000 views and more than 1,400 likes.
The video's copy is geared to be a blatant,over-the-top pitch to women, but to be funny enough for men to enjoy and share too. "That's what I'm trained for," the fire stud says after mixing up his pitcher. "Whether it's to help her choose leggings or pants…telling her leggings arepants…or discussing leggings and jeggings versus pant-peggings at her next ladies' night in, I'll come to the rescue."
Shades of "What's in my hand? It's an oyster, with two tickets to that thing you love."
The Sauza buzz attack apparently works to activate interest and sell tequila– despite a few glitches. Writes GreenPixie 1013 in a YouTube comment: "Went to three liquor stores yesterday and could not find this tequila. But I refuse to give up. I will find it! btw—get this commercial on tv!"
As smart as it was in creating the video in the first place, Sauza has been just as savvy in monitoring the response and addressing just such practical issues. The company immediately informed GreenPixie 1013 that its new web site includes a product locator. Presumably his/her quest is at an end.
And does the video exert the requisite appeal to the ladies? Another YouTube commenter writes simply, "I think I'm pregnant."


text:
Over the past few months, instead of writing poison-pen pieces for SOS, I've been tied to a recording studio mixing desk working on jingles, TV themes, records and barmitzvahs. During those endless hours of hard work (unlike taking life easy and digging holes in the road for a living) I was mingling with quite a few top-notch session players, and it occurred to me that many musicians dream about what it would be like to earn a crust like these players, by thwacking their respective instruments. After all, it's a cushy life -- getting called by record producers asking when it would be convenient for the limo to bring you to the studio and play your favourite licks on a worldwide smash-hit pop song.
Actually, it isn't always quite like that -- certainly not to begin with, anyway. Being a session player means turning up to a centrally-located studio with all your equipment before the 10am call. No allowances are made for traffic gridlock or parking problems -- you're not paid to make excuses, you're paid to be ready to play exactly what's required, first time, regardless how off-colour you feel or how late last night's gig finished. You have to be really fantastic on your chosen instrument, and you have to be able to play what you're asked to, even when it's by a drugged-up idiot who knows nothing about music.
I got my break as a session bass player back in the late '70s. I'd left school before taking any exams in order to join a dodgy club band (today it would be called a covers band; apart from playing the same songs night after night, we were called on to back whoever the club's turn of the evening was, from a singing dog, to Freddie Starr, to a hypnotist who cured our drummer of smoking for almost a week).
As the youngest member of the band by quite a few years, I was aware that the standard of musicianship within the band would rate on the Richter scale as... standard. But I was earning money by playing, and what it did teach me was how to play a 'standard' (a standard in this context usually means a wonderfully timeless song written by a songwriting genius and recorded and sung by the best in the world -- although, as I recall, Middle of the Road's 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' was a standard in our set too).
I knew I had to move on with my career, as I was fast becoming musically more able than my fellow comrades and the valuable lessons the club-band life had taught me (chart reading, not playing too loud or too busy, and being able to throw up during the set, if unavoidable, without the punters noticing) had been learnt well.
So I came off the road and fell into punk rock, "which was nice", but hardly musically satisfying. I led the house band at the Roxy Club in Covent Garden until the rot started to set in (that means until the wages stopped being paid and I'd spent one too many nights collecting empty beer glasses).
My next step, after getting married, was to write a letter to my bass-playing hero: Herbie Flowers. I'd followed his career since before I was a teenager, when I flipped out listening to the Love Affairs' perfect piece of pop, 'Everlasting Love', with its killer bassline (which the producers of the recent pathetic hit cover version decided wasn't necessary -- once again music becomes a casualty of bland marketing).
At 11 years of age, I'd noticed that the bass player in the original band miming to the record on black-and-white Top of the Pops didn't know where to put his fingers, so I wrote to the record company to ask who had played on the record, and they replied that it was Herbie, probably the most experienced session player on the planet today. If you want to know more about him or the
|"You need gear that works properly, is in perfect tune, doesn't rattle or hum, and won't die halfway through the session."
Anyway, all those years later I wrote him a letter in which I mentioned that my musical career wasn't going as well as I would have liked. To my astonishment, he called me the next day and said we should meet up at the studio where he was working on a Justin Heywood album, with Jeff Wayne at the controls -- cool! I turned up, we had a laugh and I spent the next two years sitting in on sessions with him, helping to carry his gear, and learning session etiquette. From there I started depping for him (depping, or deputising, means doing rehearsals for evening shows when he had a session, or doing the less glamorous session if he was double-booked -- which was hardly ever).
My first proper session was with Sally Oldfield at Roundhouse Studios. I was nervous: on the way to the studio there were enough hot bricks in the car to build a wall round London, but the omens were good. I was listening to Capital Radio, and just as I was passing their old studios at Euston Tower, Kenny Everett (God rest his soul) read out my car number plate as part of a spot-the-car-sticker competition. I'd won a T-shirt! I pulled up outside the station within a minute of him announcing it, claimed my prize and got a name-check at the very moment I was parking in the Roundhouse car park -- super cool!
As for the session, at the time I thought I was laying down the virtuoso bass-playing standard for generations to come. On listening back to it, I now realise it sounds like simple bass playing of the pedestrian kind -- but it was a start.
First up, music qualifications: just how important are they? Of course, being able to sight-read with flair and personality is more or less essential (although there are a couple of people that earn a fabulous living as full-time session musicians who can't read a note -- but they fall into the category of 'don't bank on it being you' -- and there's nothing more embarrassing than a player who can't read music very well pretending that they can in a studio full of fluent sight-readers). However, I know of no contemporary players who have ever been asked what music exams they've passed before getting a session -- although I'm sure that if your desire is to be first violin with the LSO they might want to know if you've passed grade two theory.
Sight-reading is just one of the things anyone hoping to become a session player needs. Here are a few of the others:
* Ability: you may well be the greatest guitarist to ever play in your bedroom, have got all your musical grades before you could walk and have worked out every Hendrix lick on record, backwards. So what? Thinking you're any good and being able to play what the client wants, in the way they want it, more or less first time, are two separate things.
* Nerve: this doesn't mean you strut your stuff in tight pink leopardskin pants and blue hair. It means not having the faintest idea what you'll be asked to play but being confident that you will be able to play it, exactly as required. Will it be a sight-reading roast up? ('Roast up' -- something that's very hard to play, especially when there's no time to work out how to count the 11/16 bar which links the 5/4 piece in C-sharp and the 7/8 coda in A-flat.)
* Tools: you need gear that works properly, is in perfect tune, doesn't rattle or hum, and won't die halfway through the session. It doesn't necessarily have to cost a fortune. I spent the first half of my session career using a pre-CBS Fender Jazz bass, in mint condition, worth about a million pounds (well, from the cost of the insurance you'd have thought that was how much it was worth). I decided that it'd be a good idea to have a spare, so I bought a Squier Jazz for £120 and spent about £30 getting it set up properly (intonation, pick-up balance, buzzing fret). It sounded every bit as good -- or was it the fact that my fingers have the magic (he said, laughing all the way to the bank to plead for an extension on his overdraft)? So for the second half of my career as a session bass player, I used one of the cheapest instruments available.
* Location: the truth of the matter is that living in the outer Hebrides is all very well if you're an 'in demand' touring session player, but if you're trying to carve a career out for yourself in the highly competitive world of 'musicians for hire' there are really only four major centres on the planet (Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and London) where a session population exists in abundance. So you'll have to be commutable to one of these when starting out.
There's no formal way into the session business, though becoming a roadie or dep for a session player, turning up at studios to help them set up their gear, or perhaps being the person they call when they're double-booked, is one of the best ways of getting a foot in. Touring Europe with an old has-been is also a great way to start a session career: the pay isn't bad, and it's usually a real laugh. As for where to look for these types of openings... one thing's for sure: they're not in the local job centre.
Once you have wormed your way in and have done your first couple of sessions, you have to be seen by as many producers as you can. But how? By deception, of course! My fiendish plan when I first started was to send packages addressed to me to a number of studios, and then a day or so after I'd sent them I'd call and ask if they'd received anything addressed to me. They'd be grateful for my call, as they didn't know what to do with the package. I told them not to worry about it, as I'd come and pick it up the next day. Then I'd go to the studio and collect the empty tape box, at the same time clocking who was doing what where. Before long, the people who were making the records knew who I was, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Perhaps the personal background of one of the UK's 'first-call' session players might give you a few more hints as to the possibilities. There are about a dozen 'first-call' players (a first-call player is simply the first person a producer, composer or artist calls for their session) for every instrument in Great Britain. Probably the drummer on top of more lists than any other is Ian Thomas, who has a credits list as long as your arm and works on records, jingles, TV themes and feature films, including the Oscar-winning Leaving Las Vegas. On occasions, he'll have up to three different drum kits set up and ready to go in various parts of London on the same day.
He started playing at 12, but apart from a few lessons, had no formal music education. He moved to London from his native Wales in 1984, in order to play in a trio performing in a late-night hostess bar. Aside from these 8.30pm-3.30am nightly spots, he was the backbone to NYJO, which led on to loads of jazz gigs.
The first big name he worked with was Cilla Black, when he was called in as a last-minute dep on a Middle East tour. But it was at a jazz festival in Edinburgh, playing with the John Altman Big Band, that his first major session came up. He was asked by Mr Altman "are you doing anything next Tuesday?", which as luck would have it he was -- a summer-season gig with Ms Black. But luckily the bass player knew what the gig on offer was and gave Ian a sharp dig in the ribs, which made him think about getting a dep. The session was 'Kissing The Fool', a track on the first solo album by George Michael, with whom he's worked many times since.
When Ian went for a gig with Seal he was the last of 20 drummers to be auditioned, and since he hates auditions and thought the gig had probably already been taken, he decided to go crazy and play what he wanted -- kind of Keith Moon reborn in a world of hot jazz. Seal liked what he heard -- in fact they ended up jamming all night -- and yes, he got the gig.
One of Ian's most bizarre jobs of late was working on George Martin's final album, In My Life. The day started badly and he was running very late for the 10am start, so he decided to make use of the bus lane. Luckily for the safety of all of us, the police stopped him and gave him a jolly good ticking-off. When he eventually arrived at AIR Lyndhurst he realised he'd forgotten to tell his roadie to drop the kit off. So he'd got to the studio with no time to spare, and no kit. Just as he was going to confess to the greatest producer of all time that he didn't have a drum kit, he bumped into the riddum programmer who'd been booked to lay down the click track. Ian told him his dilemma and it turned out that the angel-of-mercy programmer was also a drummer, with a Gretsch kit in his car which he didn't need: phew!
The track Ian was booked to play on was 'Golden Slumbers'. Halfway through the song there's an added 16-bar drum solo which calls for the drums to go mad. A drum solo added to a song written by the undisputed greatest pop beat group of all time, on the swan song album for (arguably) the most influential producer in the history of recorded sound? A stroke of luck or what -- bastard. Then, at the end of the session, George Martin came up and said "I don't know if now is the right time to tell you, Ian, but we won't be using a note of what you've played. Phil Collins is coming in next week to replace it all."
If you think you can stand this kind of life (which could lead to you earning loads of dosh on a first-class Egon Ronay tour of the world, if you can get a gig with an internationally massive band on their world circuit), how do you know what you should charge for your work? Let's take a look.
|"Make no mistake, being a successful session musician means that you can play anything put in front of you."
There are about a million different minimum rates for musicians, as set by the union. They range from what a rank-and-file viola player gets for a five-hour rehearsal, to a price per bar for writing out arrangements, but we'll just look at a few of the most relevant. And remember: these are the minimum payments, and when you start out you really aren't in the position to demand a triple-rate scale.
For a session of up to three hours where you record no more than 20 minutes of music, the rate is £93, with every hour of overtime making you an extra £33. This is for audio record release only, which means that if it's used on anything else, including a pop video or radio link, you will get more money (how much depends on a number of factors, the main one being whether you signed the appropriate union consent form).
For playing on a jingle (media advert) the rate ranges between £88.50 and £115.95, depending on what uses are bought out by the producer (radio only, or combined TV/radio/film, although this doesn't include the Internet which, as in many areas of the industry, is proving to be a nightmare when it comes to copyright protection).
For a feature film (and over 20 percent of all Hollywood movies have their soundtracks recorded in London) there's a sliding scale of between £45 and £90 per hour, depending on how many musicians are involved on the session. Which means that if it's a full orchestral session the rate is £360 for an eight-hour day, but if it's just you and a click track, it's twice as much.
TV signature tunes made by independent production companies are a bit more complicated, but pay by far the best minimum rate of pay. Based on a three-hour session, the rate ranges from £300 to £370, depending on the uses bought. So for £300 the company can only use the piece for up to 13 episodes, but for the extra £70 they can use the theme as many times, in as many countries as they like, for five years. After the uses paid for are exhausted, they must pay a percentage of the original fee, between 40 and 50 percent.
Whenever I book players, I feel it good manners to pay at least 10 percent over the odds, and I make sure that all their rights are accounted for -- as do most people who hire players. It's not that the rates aren't high enough; it's more a matter of a little bit extra going a long way -- or, to put it another way, if you pay over the odds and go a little over time they won't charge you overtime.
There's also the question of 'porterage', which is an extra amount to cover the cost of getting the equipment to the studio. Drummers, more often than not, have a roadie deliver and set their kit up for them. They pay the roadie £50, which they add to their fee as porterage. But I've seen a saxophone player turn up on a session with their one instrument in a small case tucked under their arm and charge (or try to charge) £30 porterage. I've been on sessions where the percussion player earned more for his porterage than the fee for the job. Every time he used a different tambourine it was another £3.50. The most common way of dealing with porterage these days is that if you're going to charge it (which I never do), you tell the person with the cheque book before you write out your invoice.
Some time ago the MU lay down a directive that if a musician overdubbed on a track they'd already played on, they would be eligible for a 120 percent increase in their fee, if they were to overdub again they'd get an extra 140 percent, and so on. The reason for this expensive-to-comply-with directive was to make it cheaper for a producer to hire extra players than to just use one person to bank up the parts. An excellent idea, but in the real world what happens is that the producer and the player/s come to an arrangement at the start of the session. But don't say I told you so... Shh!
The most money I ever made on a session was £800 for 10 minutes work, where I had to replace the bass part played by a member of a very well-known band without his knowledge. The producer called me in at 9.30am and I had to be out within the hour, so as not to bump into any of the band. The song was a minor hit, the part was dead easy (although the guy in the band obviously didn't think so -- he was all over the place). The money was to buy my discretion, and it has.
The most money I earned out of a single session that initially looked as though it would be just another £75 job was a penny or so under £1500. It was a minor hit record which earned me an extra couple of bob for Top of the Pops plays and so on, but it went on to be remixed by Arthur Baker and used as the theme for a Hollywood movie. I'm not bound by a secrecy contract on this track, but modesty forbids me to reveal which classic film my sampled-up bass playing booms all the way through.
These were very much the exceptions, though, and both were over 10 years ago. These days, when accountants run everything with stranglehold contracts and agreements, tickles like these are harder to come by. And I can assure you that there's always someone younger, better-looking, cheaper, and musically superior waiting to step in. But that someone could be you...
Just remember that when you start out you'll have to be prepared to do anything, and that includes playing on crap written and sung by someone with more money than talent, or working for a fiver with fellow broke top players on their own material. Even pit work in the theatre (ultimately one of the most boring and frustrating places to be stuck, but a ripe breeding ground for gaining top contacts and for learning the trade of professional playing) is better than sitting at home waiting for the phone not to ring.
That concludes this month's depressing picture of your chances of earning the big bucks playing easy licks on number one hit records. If you think that was tough, wait until next month, when I'll take a look at becoming a programmer.


text:
SXSW is just around the corner, but Sundance news isn't over yet. Picturehouse has acquired all U.S. distribution rights for the Sundance film "The Guest," Adam Wingard's follow-up to "You're Next."
The film stars Dan Stevens of "Downton Abbey" as David, a young soldier who visits the Peterson family, whose son died in Afghanistan. The family welcomes David into their home, but teenaged daughter Anna (Maika Monroe) suspects David when townspeople start dying under mysterious circumstances.
It's a terrific premise, one that sounds a bit like a modern version of Bob Clark's 1972 cult classic "Deathdream" (aka "Dead of Night"), in which a family's son comes home after being killed in Vietnam. Wingard got a well-deserved breakthrough last year when "You're Next" finally hit theaters after its 2011 Toronto Film Festival debut, so it'll be fascinating to see what he can do with this premise.
In addition to Wingard, "The Guest" retains "You're Next" writer Simon Barrett and producers Keith Calder and Jessica Wu. The film co-stars Sheila Kelley, Brendan Meyer, Leland Orser, and Lance Reddick. Picturehouse plans to release the film in the fall.


text:
(0) items
Edition: 1st
Author(s): Gainor,J. Ellen
ISBN: 9780393932829 / Textbook Paperback / 3/17/2009
Marketplace Disclaimer:
Edition, Cover Design, etc may vary from the eCampus.com description. Please refer to the seller's comments before ordering. Marketplace sellers are required to ship by the end of the 5th business day. Items are not returnable to eCampus.com. Orders cannot be cancelled by eCampus.com.


text:
Images: Happy 67th Birthday Military Police! [Image 1 of 2]
Photo by Spc. Megan Leuck
The conclusion of the 67th Military Police Regimental Birthday ceremony at Troopers Chapel consisted of members of the 525th Military Police Battalion singing the "MP Regimental March" and the "Army Song," Sept. 26, 2008. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detained enemy combatants, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the Global War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and on order responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.
This work, Happy 67th Birthday Military Police! [Image 1 of 2], by SSG Megan Leuck, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:09.26.2008
Date Posted:10.06.2008 15:17
Photo ID:120416
Size:2.74 MB
Location:GUANTANAMO BAY, CU
Gallery Images
Associated News
Happy 67th Birthday Military Police!


text:
Wednesday News August 14th
Road Closure
(Le Mars) Plymouth County's secondary roads department has informed us of a rural road closing which begins today. 310th street will be closed between Shamrock Avenue to Tamarack Avenue for a bridge replacement with a culvert.
The stretch of road will be closed from 8am Wednesday for two weeks through August 28th. The road will be open for local traffic.
Promissory Ruling
(Sioux City) A judge has ordered Sioux City to pay $1.2 million on a promissory note guarantee the city made for the developer of the downtown Promenade movie theater complex.
The judge also told the city on Tuesday that it must pay $300,000 a year from 2014 through 2018 if First National Bank has not received full payment of its loan to Civic Partners, the complex's developer, by Jan. 15 of each year.
Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott and the city's private attorney handling the case declined to comment.
In 2005 the developer refinanced a bank development loan under a promissory note and stopped making payments in 2009. The bank sued the city in August 2012 for breach of contract. Civic Partners has filed bankruptcy.
Vermillion Jobs
A Minnesota-based software services company has broken ground on an information technology support center that will bring 200 jobs to Vermillion, South Dakota.
Eagle Creek Software Services is building the center in Vermillion, and it's also partnering with the University of South Dakota to train eventual employees.
Company executives and area leaders broke ground on the new center on Tuesday.
Eagle Creek chief executive Ken Behrendt says there's a need for STEM jobs in the country, and the problem can be solved in the Midwest.
The firm worked with USD to help home-grow new tech talent through a customized four-course certificate.
Deere Earnings Up
Deere & Co.'s third-quarter net income rose 27 percent, driven by booming agricultural activity in North and South America.
The company easily beat most expectations and shares are rising before the opening bell.
The farm and construction equipment manufacturer earned $997 million, or $2.56 per share, well ahead of the $2.17 per share that Wall Street was looking for.
Revenue climbed 4 percent to $10.01 billion, the company said Wednesday, also topping most expectations.
The company last year booked earnings of $788 million, or $1.98 per share.
No Texting Ap
The state of Iowa intends to supply a smartphone app for 14- through 17-year-olds that will keep them from texting while driving.
The state Transportation Department is choosing a high-tech firm to develop the app, which is expected to become available early next year. It will be called "TXTL8R," which in text language is "Text Later."
The department will pick up the cost of the app for the teen drivers. Older drivers will be able to acquire the app but will be charged by a third-party vendor.
Several text-blocking apps already are commercially available for smartphones. They use a phone's global positioning system capability to determine movement.
Iowa law forbids all drivers from texting while driving.
|< Prev
|Next >


text:
Elise Witt
Elise Witt carries audiences to distant lands and inner landscapes.
Related Artists
Recently Added Videos
Meet the 2016 Citizen Artist Fellows
The Gothard Sisters (Seattle, WA)
These three siblings from the Pacific Northwest bring the exciting rhythms of Ireland to their live shows with dance, music, and storytelling. Their special brand of performance blends folk and classical with new arrangements for a distinct Celtic flair.
Featured Artist(s)
| The Gothard Sisters |
Danny Burns Band (Washington, DC)
Burns's Irish blood has cultivated his passion for narrative songwriting, unique vocals, and soulful delivery on his debut CD, Off the Grid. Since age 17, he's been honing his craft on the road, playing throughout the U.S. and on the European circuit.
Featured Artist(s)
| Danny Burns Band |


text:
Communities (35)
Top Network Posts
- 66Can I apply a CSS style to an element name?
- 56How should I choose between [知]{し}る and わかる?
- 49How to find a value in a multidimensional object/array in Javascript?
- 46Just how secure is a pattern lock?
- 45What is the first instance of a portal to another world?
- 38JavaScript mapping touch events to mouse events
- 34How to sort a Javascript object, or convert it to an array?
- View more network posts →
Keeping a low profile.
This user hasn't posted... yet.
Badges (4)
Gold —
Silver 2
Bronze 2


text:
High-Resolution Photos of RIM's Flagship BlackBerry 10 Device Leaked Online
It was only yesterday that Research In Motion teased us with a sneak peak of its first BlackBerry 10 device. Now, thanks to a rather bountiful leak from Tinhte.vn, we can fully observe the device from several angles.
As you can see from the crystal clear photo below, the device is all black with no physical buttons. We think it's a pretty handsome smartphone, but what's more important is the operating system that powers it. And for that, we have no choice but to wait.
Check out the full gallery of more than a dozen photos at Tinhte.
SEE ALSO: RIM Shares Rise to Seven Month High as Developers Warm up to BB 10
Photo: Tinhte.vn


text:
Assembly Approves Wisniewski, Vainieri Huttle & Mainor Legislation Increasing Oversight of Port Authority's Massive Operations
Measure Could Help Avert Massive Toll Hikes Like One Instituted Yesterday
(TRENTON) – The full Assembly on Monday approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John Wisniewski, Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Charles Mainor granting the legislature authority to disapprove the minutes of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), a move the sponsors say could help avert massive toll increases like the latest that went into effect on Sunday.
"Despite our best efforts, there are relatively few controls in place to curb the waste, abuse and secrecy that have taken place at the Port Authority," said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). "This legislation would institute much-needed oversight to help us avoid future abuses and create more accountability so things like questionable toll increases aren't heaped on commuters without proper justification."
The bill (A-2166), approved by a vote of 44-31, would require the PANYNJ to transmit the minutes of its meetings to the legislatures of both New York and New Jersey for review and approval.
"As of yesterday, non E-Z Pass drivers are now paying $13 to travel across the Hudson River, a move that the legislature has been powerless to stop," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "In any economy that's an enormous burden. We need to make sure that the Port Authority is operating in the best interest of residents and the only way to do that is to have the proper system of checks and balances in place to monitor their decisions."
Either legislature, by concurrent resolution, may disapprove the minutes within 10 business days of receipt of the transmission. If neither legislature acts within the prescribed period of time, the minutes shall be deemed to be approved by each legislature and subject to the Governor's veto authority under existing law.
"These toll increases have made commuting to work simply unaffordable for some constituents," said Mainor (D-Hudson). "Despite the public outcry when the Port Authority announced the toll hikes, there was virtually nothing the legislature could do to stop them from being implemented. This legislation will create two extra sets of eyes and ears to look out for toll payers' interests."
In order to become effective, New York would have to pass substantially similar legislation as well. The measure now awaits consideration by the Senate.
On the Net:
The Assembly Democratic Office Web site
NJ Assembly Dems on YouTube
NJ Assembly Dems on Vimeo
NJ Assembly Dems on Facebook
NJ Assembly Dems on Twitter
NJ Assembly Dems e-mail alerts


text:
A Wallace and Gromit 'Chat-O-Matic' app has been launched today by Aardman Rights with app developers Widebeam Digital.
The app, which is available on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, is pre-loaded with 48 Wallace sayings, including "Someone's been at me cheese" and "Hold tight lad and think of Lancashire hot pot". In 'Chat-O-Matic' mode, fans can select their favourite phrases and when they turn their Apple device over and place it under their nose they have the animated mouth and voice of Wallace.
Robert Goodchild, head of licensing at Aardman Rights, said: "In true Aardman style, the 'Chat-O-Matic' App breaks mobile and animation boundaries by utilising pre-captured frames and reanimating them within the app in real time to create a very realistic Wallace that we all know and love."
Joe Morsman, senior developer at Widebeam Digital, added: "It's been a pleasure working with the Aardman team to develop this groundbreaking app. We have utilized the latest technology to bring Wallace to life in a fresh and innovative way that we're certain will engage fans of all ages."


text: Home Culture Former New York Giant Says Gay Marriage Will Lead to Anarchy David Tyree, who made a game-changing catch in Super Bowl XLII, speaks out against the impending law. By: Nsenga Burton Posted: June 17 2011 8:16 AM 0 Ex-New York Giant David Tyree (Google) News One is reporting that former New York Giant David Tyree is speaking out against gay marriage. Tyree, who became a hero after making a game-changing catch in Super Bowl XLII, made a video for the National Organization for Marriage, warning of "anarchy" if gay marriage is legalized. "If they pass this gay-marriage bill, what I know will happen is, this will be the beginning of our country sliding toward ... it's a strong word, but, anarchy," Tyree said. "That will be the moment itself where our country loses its grip with what's right. Marriage is one of those things that is the backbone of society. So if you redefine it, it changes the way we educate our children, it changes the perception of what is good, what is right, what is just." Needless to say, Tyree's comments have gone viral and are being reposted all over the Web. It is America, so Tyree has a right to his opinion. Quiet as it is kept, Tyree's feelings are not his alone but reflect the feelings of many people in the country, including New York, which is currently battling to make gay marriage legal. It's too bad that Tyree doesn't understand that the same argument he's using is the same argument used when slaves wanted to legally marry -- that it would lead to anarchy. We're still trying to figure out why straight people think that other people's marriages have something to do with them. Like any marriage, including Tyree's, it is really no one else's business about what goes on in it. We're still wondering how people who live in a country where the divorce rate is 50 percent get the nerve to define marriage in such limited terms for other people. Clearly there's very little respect for the institution. If Donald Trump, Tiki Barber, Rudy Giuliani and Anthony Weiner get to marry, then why not gays? Read more at News One. In other news: Candorville: Bills, Bills, Bills. Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Get what we're watching delivered to your inbox everyday! Sign up for our daily video newsletter below. Powered by Livefyre 0


text:
FHWA responds to TOLLROADSnews' criticism of their toll data
An FHWA spokesman has responded to our strong criticism of their toll 'facilities' data. In what follows they take a sentence from my criticism and comment. We've laid it out FHWA: with their quote and response, and EDITOR: is our response.
FHWA: "No mention of the Henry Hudson Bridge, the Tappan Zee Bridge, the Thruway, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Queens-Midtown Tunnel, or any toll facility as such." All these toll facilities are in fact included in the report.
EDITOR: they may be mentioned elsewhere but as I wrote they were not listed under the heading 'Toll Facilities' and 'New York' and they should have been.
FHWA: "Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Auth. is not a 'toll facility' nor a separate toll agency from MTA." The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority is considered an affiliate agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
EDITOR: you have it right now. Someone who knows what they are doing will not list an affiliate agency and the parent agency as if they are separate toll agencies. And someone with an elementary grasp of the english language will not list agencies under a heading 'facilities.'
FHWA: "Then the FHWA data manglers have a couple of mysterious toll facility listings: Palisades Interstate Park Comm. and Olympic Regional Development Auth." These are from a partial listing of toll facilities, and may include facilities that no longer charge tolls.
EDITOR: so FHWA is publishing some kind of potted history of where there may once have been a toll facility? I can't find any history, even, showing Pallisades Interstate Parkway was ever tolled. Why not stick to listing facilities that currently toll?
We were wrong in saying flatly New York Olympic Regional Development Authority doesn't toll. FHWA does have a case. The park authority in far northern NY state was set up after the 1980 Winter Olympics to maintain the park and ski facilities and it maintains the summer-only road to the peak of Whiteface Mountain collecting what they call admission fee ($16/car) from motorists. It is similar to 'tolls' on roads up to Pikes Peak CO, and the top of Mount Washington WA.
FHWA: The information is reported by and collected from state departments of transportation (DOTs). The process is explained at
We compile toll information from State DOTs and others that may sometimes provide different names for toll facilities. Accordingly, we have started using a Toll ID number to keep track of them. See
EDITOR: If this data is coming from state DOTs then the job is being given to unsupervised interns or clerks. Who in Virginia DOT for example would class VDOT as in control of the Dulles Toll Road at the very time the local news is full of protests about the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's sale of billions of dollars of Dulles Toll Road toll revenue bonds, and its plans to hike Dulles tolls two and three fold? And who in New Jersey DOT would think the Garden State Parkway is still run by the long defunct New Jersey Highway Authority? Or in Maryland DOT who would not list the state's long established toll authority?
FHWA: We suggest that in the future you check with us first before printing more errors or insults. The FHWA works to educate and offer information in a professional and respectful manner and expects nothing less from others.
EDITOR: with the exception of Olympic Regional Development Authority the errors are all FHWA's. Publishing data as grossly inaccurate as you publish on tolls is unprofessional. Give up on the lame the-states-told-us-that excuse and produce better data. Then FHWA will deserve and will be accorded respect.
A suggestion to FHWA. Either (1) employ someone who knows something about tolls to help plan the toll data collection and vet the tolls data, or if that's too much (2) recognize data from state DOT interns etc is going to be problematic, compile and label it as a draft and invite corrections from people who know the industry.
This is a followup to our April 13 report here:
ADDITION: One state DOT official tells us he has been trying for years to get the FHWA's Office of Highway Statistics to print that state's correct fuel-tax rate, without success. He encourages us with Hunter S Thompson 's advice: "Show no mercy to these swine."
You understand why state DOTs might assign only lowly interns and clerks to FHWA data requests and pass it along unvetted.
TOLLROADSnews 2012-04-16 CORRECTION Olympic Regional Development Authority April 17 9:30
ADDITION Apr 17 10:00


text:
World Travel
One of our World Affairs Council partners, The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (WACPhila), has been organizing Travel the World lifelong learning tours for 35 years not only for its own members but for the national association of Councils as well. The trips offer all the highlights of touring plus access to political leaders and local experts who give behind the scenes views and briefings that make the trips special and unique.
Many trips include lecturers drawn from the fields of diplomacy, journalism, or academia and offer "meet the people" opportunities for our citizen diplomats. Some appeal to foodies and, for a trip of a lifetime, check out our private jet trips! The annual 5-night Inside Washington is its signature inside the beltway program. It now has a Treasury Department License to offer Cuba programs.
Trip features:
- Expert tour leadership
- Like-minded fellow travelers
- Roommate matching when available
- Advance reading materials
- Substantive in-country briefings
- Quality tour content
The WACPhila can match your travel needs to specific tours. Call us at 800-942-5004, ext. 209 or 217
Click here to subscribe to the WACPhila e-newsletter.


text:
Gay marriage: more legalistic and twisted semantics
Love Means Nothing
Love is just a score if you happen to be talking about tennis; otherwise it means a lot.
There are many kinds of love. There is religious love. There is romantic love. There is parental love. Then there is gay love, which I suppose is a subdivision of romantic love. There is brotherly love. There is sisterly love. Then there is marital love. Each type of love is important enough that people have been willing to die for it. But only marital love is recognized by God and the state.
A Biblical translation commands us to "go forth and multiply." The government agrees so completely with this command that if you obey, you will get a tax break for each child. Why is this important? Let's look at Mr. and Mrs. Farmer. If they don't go forth and multiply, there won't be replacement Farmers to grow crops. If Mr. and Mrs. Truck Driver aren't fruitful, produce won't get to market. And if Mr. and Mrs. Baker aren't fruitful, we won't have bread. These unscientific examples, though simplistic, anticipate an economic axiom: demography is destiny. They also provide fodder for the Law of Unanticipated Consequences.
The gay community wishes to have their unions recognized as marriage. Why? There are only two plausible reasons: (1) recognition by God, and, (2) tax breaks. They may be disappointed on at least one count and probably two. Gays cannot go forth and multiply, and gay couples, although loved by God, will not be recognized by God as married.
Regarding the government's recognition (i.e. tax breaks), I doubt if gay couples will be granted the same benefits as heterosexual married couples for two reasons: (1) Their union does nothing to benefit society, and (2) Under the equal protection clause of the Constitution, I believe that If the government were to recognize gay marriage, the Supreme Court would be forced to extend those same benefits to all loving couples living together, be they mother and daughter, brother and sister or sister and sister. This will engender more legalistic and twisted semantics to get around the fact that non-heterosexual unions can bear no more fruit than 'Love' in a tennis match. And, we all know that means nothing
Chuck Griffiths
Ocean View
The legislation before Delaware legislators this Spring is very clear--it is for the recognition of loving gay couples who want to make it official in CIVIL marriage. Churches can choose to withhold their blessing of a marriage under the proposed statute, just like they have always been able to do for heterosexual marriages they may have issues with. Some will, some won't.
Mr. Griffiths, you and possibly your choice of religious affiliation may not choose to recognize all the same-gender marriages that are in our future. Fine. But you and your church do not have the right to demand strict adherence to a particular set of religious dogma by everyone else. That's how the Taliban does it. The USA was founded on the principal of separation of church and state.
Civil same-gender marriages strengthen relationships, and do indeed strengthen a community. It is, in fact, the most conservative outcome of a loving relationship because it binds couples through legal commitments with (including Federal) over 1,000 different rights and responsibilities. Gay couples deserve no less than equal treatment.
Marriage between any couple does indeed mean something. To many, it means everything. Gay couples are no different in this regard. It is a shame that it has taken over 200 years for this great nation to recognize that fact. Better late than never.


text:
RH850: A Next Generation of 40-nm Microcontrollers for Motor Vehicles
The following page content corresponds to the products marketed in Japan.
If you do not live in Japan, please
Today these devices are absolutely essential components in all basic functions: driving, steering, and stopping. Further, they are the heart of many other features. For example, automotive MCUs implement safety features, make possible environmental friendliness, and provide convenience, comfort, connectivity and entertainment for drivers and passengers. For that reason, it is not unusual for a typical mid-priced new car to contain hundreds of MCUs spanning a range of processing and communication capabilities.
Going forward, even larger numbers of embeddable MCUs will be needed to meet the growing number of standard and optional electronically controlled capabilities required by regulators and desired by car buyers. These design requirements will necessitate chips with greater functionality.
A previous Part-1 EDGE Technology Special story, "Jumping Far Ahead to 40-nm Process Technology", described a unique Renesas MONOS (metal-oxide nitride-oxide silicon) production technique for the internal flash memory essential for achieving higher levels of MCU performance for automotive applications. We are now incorporating that technology into a comprehensive line of IC solutions for global automotive electronics markets. Devices in new groups of Renesas 40-nm MCUs fulfill the processing requirements of the exciting economy, mid-level and luxury vehicles being developed for future production.
In this Part-2 Technology Special story, Hiroaki Kaneko, General Manager of the Automotive Systems Division in Renesas Electronics' Marketing Unit, highlights the high-performance 32-bit MCUs in the RH850 family, the top end of our newest products. He points out that these advanced chips exhibit enormous application potential for automotive ECUs (electronic control units) and describes their important design features and benefits.
Worldwide automotive sales volume is likely to continue growing at 4 to 5% per year, with estimated sales reaching 80 million vehicles in 2013. Rising demand in China, India, and other emerging-market economies is largely responsible for this ongoing growth. China, in particular, is expected to exhibit a very robust market expansion over the next three years. In 2009 China was already second only to the United States in annual sales volume, at over 10 million vehicles, and Renesas expects that volume to double by 2015.
The impact of semiconductors on the automotive industry is an amazing, yet relatively recent phenomenon. Just a few decades ago, cars did not come with embedded MCUs, or even with semiconductors. In the early 1970s, for example, you could find semiconductors in car radios, but not in any of the vehicle's three basic systems—driving, turning, and stopping. Back then, chips were used only to add value to extra features.
Today though, MCUs are pervasive, critically important components in cars and trucks. They are hidden from view in all of a vehicle's essential systems. The low emissions, good performance and excellent drivability achieved by modern engines, for instance, is made possible almost entirely by the monitoring, processing and real-time control capabilities of MCU-based electronic modules (ECUs, electronic control units).
Clearly, the availability of more optimized, better performing ICs and other semiconductor chips is the major factor pushing automotive technology today. For that reason, going forward Renesas expects to see a 10% annual increase in the volume of semiconductor devices used in new vehicles, outpacing the unit growth in car and truck sales. In fact, we believe that by 2018 the number of MCUs used in automotive systems will reach double what it was 2010 (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Projected worldwide sales of automotive MCUs (by volume). By 2018, demand for these vitally important embedded control chips is expected to rise to double what it was in 2010.
The major factors car buyers consider when choosing a new automobile traditionally could be broadly grouped into three categories: environmental, safety, and comfort. Recently, though, surveys have identified the emergence of a fourth category that has become quite important: connectivity.
In the environmental category, markets are seeking ways to reduce the greenhouse gases that cars and trucks produce. Microcontrollers play a central role in improving fuel efficiency, which lowers tailpipe emissions. Together with power devices, and other semiconductors, MCUs are vital solutions for improving a motor vehicle's environmental profile.
In the area of safety, demand is rising around the world for functions that can reduce the incidence and severity of motor vehicle accidents. Studies show that most accidents are caused by driver inattention or by inappropriate situational responses. High-performance MCUs are increasingly being applied to reduce and mitigate the effects of human error. Blind-spot monitoring systems and collision avoidance systems are but two examples of popular new-car features that make vehicles safer.
Another consistently strong requirement among car and truck buyers is for features that deliver greater comfort for drivers and passengers—especially those that improve the driving experience, reduce fatigue and increase the perception of quality in audio systems and other amenities. Automotive MCUs already provide a wide range of advanced added-value features in the comfort area and can enable new innovations. For example, it's possible for electronic systems to identify automatically drivers and passengers as they enter the vehicle and then perform personalization functions such as adjusting the interior lighting to preferred levels and also making specifically tailored adjustments to seat positions, HVAC settings, control panel layouts, steering and chassis control systems, etc.
The incorporation of MCU-based connectively in automobiles is a strong trend due to the rapid evolution and adoption of wireless technology and associated services. New-vehicle buyers are making it a very important decision factor for their purchases. They want a car or truck that can communicate with smartphones, deliver real-time traffic information, and provide high-quality GPS navigation assistance. Many purchasers are also looking for features that deliver intelligent driver support by monitoring and responding to traffic and road conditions.
Renesas has a track record of winning—by a significant margin—the leading share of the worldwide market for the MCUs used in car and truck applications. According to data from a leading market research firm(*1), for instance, Renesas captured a 42% share of this global market in 2011, demonstrating a broad preference among automotive engineers for the solutions in our extensive MCU portfolio.
(*1) Source: The IHS iSuppli 'Competitive Landscaping Too
Now we are striving to boost our automotive MCU market share up to at least 50% in the near future. This is a significant challenge for us, one that entails the introduction of new chips offering major new opportunities and benefits for designers of in-vehicle systems. We are making good progress in this regard.
As our global sales numbers imply, Renesas microcontrollers are being incorporated into multiple functions in most new cars. Our high-end 32-bit MCUs, for example, are found in powertrains, chassis components, vehicle bodies, safety features, and instrument clusters. Further, our versatile 16-bit MCUs are essential components for controlling numerous sensors, switches, and other system components.
Figure 2 highlights two product lines we highly recommend for new designs for automotive electronics. The RL78 family contains excellent choices for functions that can be handled by 16-bit processors, while the RH850 family offers the best solutions for automotive applications that require more electronic 'horsepower'.
Figure 2: Renesas automotive MCUs recommended for new designs. No matter what in-vehicle function has to be controlled, there is a chip in either the high-end 32-bit RH850 product group or the ultra-low-power 16-bit RL78 product group that is optimum for the task.
To meet the ambitious goal of raising our leadership automotive MCU market share above 50%, Renesas management asked our R&D experts to produce a new portfolio of system design solutions that meet or exceed the design requirements of current and future in-vehicle functions. Large, empowered teams of chip, process and system engineers have been aggressively addressing all aspects of this MCU technology challenge. Their success is clearly evidenced by the flash MCUs in the RH850 family—high-performance, power-efficient devices built with our 40-nm semiconductor technology. These advanced 32-bit chips aim at vehicle ECU applications.
The products within the RH850 family play a very important role in our MCU growth strategy. These advanced automotive solutions synergize the proven strengths of our V850 and SuperH architectures—offering the best of both, plus more speed, processing capabilities and functionality. Their key features, which are summarized in Figure 3 and described in more detail below, give vehicle engineers important design advantages. We firmly believe that RH850 MCUs are destined to become the top-performing MCU product line for customers building and applying ECUs in cars and trucks for world markets.
Figure 3: Key features of 40-nm RH850 microcontrollers. The many different devices in this new 32-bit product line deliver the performance and capabilities needed for handling today's automotive ECU applications, as well as those anticipated in the future.
RH850 MCUs consume very low power relative to the high level of performance they deliver. The 40-nm chips use about 26% less power than an equivalent 90-nm device. Such impressive power savings are extremely beneficial for ECUs because they help to resolve packaging and environmental issues that currently mandate design tradeoffs that sacrifice application potential.
Specifically, automotive ECUs have to be compact so they can be mounted in open places in a car's body. Yet they must be big enough to be able to dissipate internally generated heat. By saving power, an RH850 MCU enables customers to produce smaller, more capable ECUs that can fit into tighter spaces.
ECUs also have to be able to operate continuously in the high temperatures reached when a vehicle is running, especially on very hot days. Renesas addresses this issue by guaranteeing that RH850 MCUs will function at ambient temperatures(*2) up to 125º C (257º F), and at junction temperatures(*3) up to 160º C (320º F). System engineers can therefore be confident when mounting these new high-end devices into ECUs close to heat sources in engine compartments and elsewhere.
(*2) Ambient temperatures: A term that refers to the temperature in a localized environment; i.e., in a room, inside a vehicle, in a car's engine compartment, etc.
(*3) Junction temperatures: The internal, on-chip temperatures of a semiconductor device
In recent years, functional safety specifications have become an essential part of car and truck performance profiles. These specs are intended to ensure that the electronics controlling essential functions such as steering and braking will always detect and respond to system failures in ways that maintain the safety of the vehicle's occupants. In particular, functional safety implementations must conform to international standards IEC-61508 and ISO-26262, which describe requirements for fail-safe protection methods.
Renesas is very knowledgeable about the subject of functional safety, having been involved from the beginning in the drafting of the IEC-61508 standards. For over ten years our technology experts have been acquiring a deep understanding of successful safety concepts and implementations. Their accomplishments in this area are the best in the industry, and our accumulated expertise is the foundation of critically important RH850 capabilities.
These new 32-bit MCUs combine a high-performance multicore CPU with low-power technology to deliver functional safety together with fast calculations and good input/output control. Moreover, our chip designers are able to optimize the functional safety core, high-speed arithmetic core, and input/output core of various RH850 models for specific automotive control system applications and goals. Chips can be configured to provide an application's required level of performance while consuming the smallest possible amount of power.
Performance levels for RH850 MCUs extend to cores that run as fast as 320 MHz. The functional-safety core uses a proven dual-core lockstep(*4) design that achieves fast, reliable error detection at low power.
(*4) Dual-core lockstep operation: Two independent CPU cores on an MCU chip execute the same operations, the results of which are compared to determine whether or not an error has occurred. If it has, fail-safe routines are implemented to protect the occupants of the vehicle.
All of the eight MCU series in the RH850 product group are tailored for high-end automotive ECUs; they are differentiated by optimizations for specific types of control functions and applications (see Figure 4). Devices in the C, D, E, F, P, R, S, and V series meet the specific needs of all of the various in-vehicle functions: powertrains, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) systems, instrument clusters, bodies, safety features, ADASs (advanced driver assistance systems), and more. The span of MCU models encompasses chips with single or multiple CPU cores and scalable functional IP blocks, memory and pin counts.
Figure 4: The RH850 family of next-generation 32-bit MCUs. Each of the eight device series—C, D, E, F, P, R, S, and V—contains chips with sets of performance characteristics and built-in functions optimized for specific ECU control tasks. Now system-engineering teams can learn and write all necessary programs for a single architecture, saving development time and sharing code to obtain the maximum return on R&D investments.
The different RH850 MCU series combine to meet the diversity of system design requirements of applications found in both advanced and emerging economies. Also, the various sets of features and performance levels provided by the broad span of Renesas products lets automotive engineers cost-effectively select the characteristics and capabilities needed to produce all types and models of automobiles within a brand, from luxury vehicles to economy ones.
Because system engineers who specify RH850 MCUs can create solutions for entire ranges of vehicle control applications, they gain major benefits by using chips with the same basic architecture. Especially, they can reuse code and hardware to obtain time and cost savings and maximize their returns on engineering investments.
Additionally, MCUs in the RH850 product group accelerate software development projects by providing a consistent platform for all control-related applications. Until recently, automotive ECU platforms tended to vary, depending on the vehicle type and application. As a result, separate software development programs were required for each platform. Today, though, system designers are beginning to reject this approach because it creates significant inefficiencies, adding extra engineering and testing costs and causing unnecessary schedule delays.
Renesas helps customers reduce their software development workloads, shorten design cycles and cut expenses by offering a single architecture for all types of automotive ECUs. Only one IDE (integrated development environment) is needed to support the entire RH850 family of MCUs, and this software tool enables a smooth migration path from legacy designs to advanced automotive products.
In particular, Renesas is a strong supporter of AUTOSAR, the Automotive Open System Architecture. Companies in the European ECU industry are rapidly adopting this open platform because it simplifies and speeds up software development. Renesas joined the AUTOSAR consortium as a premium member in July 2004. Since then our experts have actively participated in efforts to standardize software platforms and the associated software design and test processes.
The AUTOSAR architecture provides a hardware abstraction level that hides hardware differences. Thus it allows vehicle and electronics manufacturers to take a component-based programming approach to application development. The resulting components can be ported and reused throughout the automotive industry. As a result, use of this architecture is expected to greatly improve the efficiency of software development for all companies that adopt it.
Software for AUTOSAR implementations includes a device driver—MCAL (Microcontroller Abstraction Layer)—that hides differences between the MCUs in various ECUs from higher system layers. Renesas has facilitated the adoption of this design methodology by including MCAL with our automotive MCUs since 2007. The new RH850 chips incorporate an MCAL conforming to the latest AUTOSAR version: AUTOSAR 4.0.
The strategy of providing both a single MCU platform and an industry-standard software platform allows Renesas to ease customers' software development burdens.
The limited size of a typical microcontroller's internal flash memory has often been a vexing constraint for software developers. Unless the engineers could restrict code size to fit within an MCU's relatively small storage space, they were forced to make difficult fixes or accept design compromises. The 40-nm fabrication process used for RH850 chips helps eliminate this type of system design challenge, though, by allowing up to 8 MB of internal flash—a generous amount for code and data. Moreover, blocks of data flash are included that emulate EEPROM functionality for reliable long-term storage.
By selecting an RH850 chip, software developers needn't constantly worry about low memory limits. The device's expansive on-chip flash might well make it possible to reintegrate applications that previously had to be broken up and run on multiple MCUs. additionally, the extra memory space the MCU provides facilitates the addition of functions and features previously precluded by low memory limits.
Ultimately, the larger memory size available in RH850 MCUs should enable more sophisticated ECU control programs that achieve higher levels of functional safety for cars and trucks, while also accelerating the development of new operational, comfort and connectivity features and capabilities. The resulting advanced ECUs will open the way to the next generation of motor vehicles.
In continuing our technology and market leadership in automotive applications, Renesas has developed 40-nm, 32-bit RH850 MCUs chips that anticipate the emerging needs of automotive ECU applications for global markets. These new high-end MCUs, along with our 16-bit RL78 devices, hold great promise for enabling and enhancing in-vehicle electronic control systems now and long into the future. Automotive engineers who specify our products can take advantage of key features and benefits to gain sales advantages in fiercely competitive world markets.
Click here for more information on RH850 MCUs
Click here for more information on RL78 MCUs.


text:
Brizard: Square One
The new superintendent of the Rochester City School District is about to undergo a test of stamina.
On Thursday, January 31st, WXXI and WDKX-FM are partnering for a project called Brizard: Square One. It is a full day of broadcast events designed to introduce Jean-Claude Brizard to Rochester, and vice versa.
Beginning early in the morning, WDKX's Tariq Spence will join Brizard at Dr. Freddie Thomas High School on Scio Street to take calls from Tariq's listeners - primarily young people getting ready for school. Then Brizard will check in with WXXI-AM's morning host Alex Crichton for a Q & A during Morning Edition.
After a quick coffee break, Brizard is taking center stage in the auditorium at Freddie Thomas for a student assembly. Students get to ask the questions. The forum will be broadcast live on both WXXI-AM and WDKX-FM.
Brizard then heads to the WXXI studios on State Street for 1370 Connection with Bob Smith. The phones will be open, and the program will air simultaneously on WDKX.
It's not over yet.
During the late afternoon, WXXI-AM's evening host Rachel Ward interviews Brizard on All Things Considered. And then....
A special LIVE, CALL-IN edition of Need to Know. WDKX's morning news anchor Liz Medhin is joining Brizard and me on the Need to Know set for an hour of call-in questions.
It all wraps up at 10 p.m. , about 15 hours after it began.


text:
Ad alta voce
by Emiliano Corazza | :venews
Books should be listened to, never just read... "Ad Alta Voce", the solidarity reading marathon organized by Coop Adriatica, will invite dozens of poets, writers and actors to read their own favourite books in unusual Venetian places on the 20th of October, offering a rare opportunity for a totally oral approach to books, a contact with paper without actually touching it, but only listening to the book being read aloud.
Among other participants in this literary marathon will be Mario Monicelli, Ferdinando Camon, Mauro Corona, Roberto Citran, Pino Roveredo, as well as the immigrant authors Tamara Jadrecic, Cristan Maksim, Jarmila Ockayova.
Books will be read aloud in the vaporettos, in retirement homes, in social centres, at the train station, in supermarkets, in central post offices...
Nor are young authors lacking: several have been chosen by the fifth edition of "Coop for words", the literary award promoted by Coop Adriatica and reserved for debutant or emerging writers who dedicate themselves not only to narrative, poetry and blogs, but also comic strips.
Noble, too, is the scope of the event: to promote the loan of books to housebound elderly people and to the disabled, by Coop volunteers and associates in Venice and its province.
In past editions, the marathon has received Silver Medals from the President of the Republic for being a cultural event of great thematic interest.
It enjoys the patronage of the Ministry for Cultural Patrimony and Activities, the Region of Veneto, the Province of Veneto and Venice University.
by Emiliano Corazza | :venews
october 2007
Tr. Maria Fasolo
«Ad Alta Voce. Libri da condividere»
Saturday 20th October


text:
Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones 112 (Black)
Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones offer a crystal clear, natural sound and exceptional fit that ensures your earphones stay in so you continuously enjoy your music. Designed by Phonak, the world's leading hearing systems experts based in Switzerland, Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones reflect 60+ years experience of building high-quality hearing and audio products. With an "...
Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones with Microphone 122 (Black)
Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones offer a crystal clear, natural sound and exceptional fit that ensures your earphones stay in so you continuously enjoy your music. Designed by Phonak, the world's leading hearing systems experts based in Switzerland, Audéo Perfect Fit Earphones reflect 60+ years experience of building high-quality hearing and audio products. With an "...
Lg Hss-f530/B Earphones Quadbeat2 Built-in Microphone for Smartphone Black
GENUINE and ORIGINAL Packing same as Pictures. Provide Tracking Number ① treble balance of bass and treble to a reduction in peak improvement ② ergonomic design → improved fit inside the nozzle kkeokin ③ separated three buttons (volume up, down / playback, currency) → volume up-down adjustment Improved remote control key operation feeling → Speaker unit Units: * Type: ear type...
Original White LG 3.5mm QuadBeat 2 In-Ear Premium Earphone Headset+Mic for LG G2 D801
"The sound in general is quite sparkling, open and well balanced for a single driver IEM. The first thing i notice is that the bass is a little flat and lacks a bit of depth compared to high-end multi-driver IEM's. It doesn't have that good punch, warmth or layered experience most high-end IEM's possess. Update: the bass does seem to be better now, could also because of a better fit..." --Xstream
Phonak Audeo PFE 022
The Audeo 022 are in-ear headphones, but offer over-the-ear cable routing as favoured by the likes of Shure. This helps to reduce the amount of cable swing you get when moving around (e.g. walking) which can transmit a great deal of noise through to your ears. There is also a cable slider in place so you can get a good secure fit, if that's your preference. The design of the ear buds...
Phonak Audéo PFE 111
Perfect fit, ergonomically shaped earphones still feel comfortable even after hours of use. Clean, accurate sound delivered by a wideband balanced armature driver. Lightweight design, quality composite materials and miniature construction offer a premium audio experience in a small package. Tuneable sound lets you customise the audio response by changing supplied acoustic filters.
Phonak Audeo PFE 121
In ear headphones.
Phonak Audeo PFE 132
"This in-ear monitors were a wonderful surprise and so I thought I would report on my first impressions after several weeks. I was looking for a more comfortable in-ear monitors that were better than my Triple-Fi 10's which were aging albeit gracefully. I came across the deep deals for Cyber Monday and took a flyer based upon the positive reviews and pros that match my requirements. ..." --Mark-sf
Phonak Audéo PFE 232
" Audeo Phonak PFE232 Let's start with comfort. I have an ear that doesn't work perfectly with the pfe232. This may be rare, but I get a lot of forward treble that is almost sibilant, but more "in your face" with instruments like cymbals. This is not normal, as I can tell it is too far unbalanced to be intended. The cymbals are so far forward I can't listen to..." --luisdent
Phonak PFE 012
" I am one of the crazy guys with a bucket full of IEMs. I listen mostly to my beloved Cowon J3 because I can equalize most IEMs for a sound I like. I have an amp. Now I have the 012s, like I needed yet another in-ear! I purchased the black filters to swap with the installed green based on reviews I read but they're not really necessary but they do make a change. I'm going to make..." --drsamdc


text:
Here's a new twist on Jenga with a whole lot of shaking going on! Set up takes some dexterity, as the ice blocks have to be set up on the penguin's tray. Now players take turns removing an ice block from the tower and placing it on top of the ice tower. But your turn is not over yet. Now, the player presses the go- button that makes the penguin shiver. Keep your fingers crossed that the ice tower doesn't topple! Our test family said, "You can't help but laugh when everything falls down. It's one of those games that isn't very competitive because you are working together to keep the tower up." Their 9-year old son declared this "awesome for all ages." It is marked 5 & up. We think it will be more fun for slightly older kids who have greater dexterity.
Age: Early School Years. Review Published: 2012-09-08 21:09:31. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio - All Rights Reserved. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award are Registered Trademarks of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.
Instructions for submitting product to the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for review.
Contact the Toyportfolio by phone at (212) 598-0502 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Copyright 1995-2015
Products reviewed by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio are provided by the manufacturer at their cost. The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio does not require or accept fees for reviewing products.


text:
May 28, 2016
For several hours the block on 19th Street and 25th Avenue was closed as police investigated the mysterious deaths of two brothers. Shortly before 1:00 p.m. Monday the pair was discovered dead in their home.
The victims' sister, who also lives in the home, found the bodies. Willie Mae Currie said she was returning from a weekend visit in Alabama.
"When I got here and let the garage door up, the car wasn't here. So, I said, 'Ain't nobody here.' So, when I got in the house, the TV in the bedroom was on and I thought that was strange. And I walked up in his room and immediately saw him in the bathroom on the toilet and my other brother in his room in the floor," said Currie.
Currie said she saw blood but is not sure how her brothers, James Tingle, 75, and Johnny Lee Crump, age 59, were killed.
Currie said one of her brother's car was stolen from the garage. It was described as a silver 1993 Lincoln town car.
At news time, police were still investigating the case and a motive. Detectives would not comment. Meanwhile, many questions remain.
"I can't understand why someone would do this. They were in their own house. What was the reason?" asked family friend, Bernice Collins.
"Right now," said Currie, "one thing I know is that I don't know what happened and the next thing I'm sure of is that I've lost both my brothers and it hurts."
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


text:
Chicago firm doing library move
Relocating volumes from old facility to new costing $450,000
Moving into San Diego's new downtown library is a big job, painstakingly amassing 1.2 million items under the new signature dome over five weeks, costing $450,000.
The company selected for the move is based in Chicago, not San Diego. The movers were flown here and are staying at the Town & Country resort.
Valarie Brocato with Hallett Movers said her crew is worth every penny. And she notes some of the jobs are benefiting the local workforce, as students from local colleges are helping with specialized work of marrying the old library's collection with items that have been in storage.
"Something that really sets us apart is that we understand the library environment," Brocato said. "We are able to help extract their knowledge of their library and advise them to move in the best way possible."
Hallett has moved thousands of libraries and it takes a special kind of mover to compile the works — and make sure they are organized professionally at the new location.
"Believe me, I've seen grown men cry when a library is moved and it takes a year and a half to clean it up," she said.
The city apparently agrees that Hallett is the best in the business — although representatives of Mayor Bob Filner did not answer questions about why they hired the company. U-T Watchdog has requested documents related to the competitive process and the other bids and is awaiting the response. Brocato said her company was in the middle of the pack in terms of pricing, but that the quality made them the best choice.
"I myself have 10 years of experience," she said. "Hallett has 60 years of experience in moving libraries. We've moved some of the largest libraries in the country. We've done some very complex and incredible work."
Was San Diego right to hire a Chicago company for its library move?
Yes 48% (228)
No 52% (243)
471 total votes.
Bill Lovejoy, president of Chula Vista-based Republic Moving & Storage, did not bid on the job, but said he believes at least two other local companies did, including one that has moved many library collections successfully.
Republic, too, has expertise moving libraries and university collections and is also a primary mover in the US for members of the military moving to other stations in the states or overseas. Lovejoy said he didn't bid because the 127 pages of bid specifications were onerous.
"There's no one in town involved with that move," Lovejoy said. "It makes no sense. People are stunned. People say, 'That wouldn't happen. That couldn't happen.' But it does."
Part of the concern about an out-of-state contractor for such a big job is unemployment in San Diego.
San Diego's unemployment rate is 6.7 percent, down from a peak of 10.9 percent, according to the most recent reports released in June. Experts said much of the recent improvement was seasonal, related to hospitality and tourism.
Unemployment among those aged 18-29 is even more of a concern, at 15.6 percent in California, according to numbers released by Generation Opportunity, a youth advocacy group.
That's the age range of many of the laborers hired by Hallett to tote the boxes of books to the new library building.
"All that money is going out of state — except for the hotel fees and the rental trucks," Lovejoy said. "That stays here, but everything else is out."
The rental trucks Lovejoy mentions are being used by Hallett to ship the books nine blocks to the new library structure at 330 Park Blvd. from the present 1954 building at 820 E St.
The hotel fees are for the Town & Country, a Mission Valley resort that features swimming pools, a spa, a white-linen restaurant and, according to its website, "lush landscaping" and "beautiful, tropical and tranquil walkways."


text:
Scottish pop oddballs The Aliens are set to return on September 15th with their new single "Magic Man" - and you can watch the video on Clashmusic.com!
Comprised of former members of The Beta Band and cult troubadour The Lone Pigeon, The Aliens come with an assured alt pop pedigree. Debut album "Astronomy For Dogs" was an unexpected delight, combining the lysergic harmonies of The Beta Band with Anderson's shrewd lyrical flourishes.
New album "Luna" is due to be released on September 29th. Already garnering a clutch of good reviews, "Luna" looks set to build on the success of their debut with a host of fine indie pop anthems.
The first single to be taken from the album is "Magic Man". Released on September 15th, it comes accompanied with a brilliantly quirky video that matches the band's off the wall genius.
Check it out below...