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This blog will focus on my book Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories is out now from Cleis Press. It will also cover anything related to sex in hotels, sexy hotels, travel sex and erotica, and more. You may also be interested in my book The Mile High Club: Plane Sex Stories, out in April 2009 from Cleis Press, which also its own blog.
I can be reached at rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com
Watch the Do Not Disturb book trailer below:
Watch Rachel read from the introduction and Isabelle Gray's Japanese love hotel story "So Simple a Place:"
Winner, 2010 Gold IPPY (Independent Publisher) Award for Erotica!
Listen to Donna George Storey's hotel sex story "Room Service" read by Diva Diana on the Nobilis Erotica podcast
Buy Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories from:
Table of Contents
Introduction: Made for Sex (see below)
Welcome to the Aphrodisiac Hotel by Amanda Earl
(read author interview about hotel sex)
Tightly Tucked by Alison Tyler
(read author interview about hotel sex)
From Russia with Lust by Stan Kent
Mirror, Mirror by by Andrea Dale
The Royalton–A Daray Tale by Tess Danesi
(read author interview about hotel sex)
So Simple a Place by Isabelle Gray
Heart-Shaped Holes by Madlyn March
(read author interview about hotel sex)
The St. George Hotel, 1890 by Lillian Ann Slugocki
The Lunch Break by Saskia Walker
(read author interview about hotel sex)
Memphis by Gwen Masters
(read author interview about hotel sex)
The Other Woman by Kristina Wright
Talking Dirty by Shanna Germain
(read author interview about hotel sex)
A Room at the Grand by Thomas S. Roche
(read author interview about hotel sex)
Tropical Grotto, Winter Storm by Teresa Noelle Roberts
G is for Gypsy by Maxim Jakubowski
Reunion by Lisabet Sarai
Hump Day by Rachel Kramer Bussel
(read "Hump Day" in its entirety at Bastard Life)
Guilty Pleasure by Elizabeth Coldwell
(read author interview about hotel sex)
An Honest Woman by Tenille Brown
Room Service by by Donna George Storey
(read author interview about hotel sex)
(read "Love Hotel Madness")
Introduction: Made for Sex
Hotel rooms are, in a word, hot. The minute I enter one, I want to strip off all my clothes and dive naked between the sheets, whether I have a lover there to share in the indulgence with me or not. Much more so than my own bed, hotel beds make me horny. They are, or at least, seem to me, to be made for sex.
Hotels give us the chance to unwind, relax, and, if we choose, become someone else. Behind closed doors, we are free to frolic, fuck, and flaunt ourselves. It doesn't matter whether the hotel is in a faraway land or in your own hometown; the point is, it's a clean slate. It's not your home filled with all the reminders of what you could or should be doing. Other people have fucked and will fuck in the bed you're about to sleep in; that can be a turn-on in and of itself. It's your borrowed space, for an hour, a day, a night, or longer, and in that time, you can claim it, control it, use it for your own naughty purposes. Other guests are prowling the hotel, checking in, checking out, banging and getting banged against the wall. There's a sense that anything can happenæand quite often, it does.
To me, the anonymity of hotel rooms, their personality wiped clean with each new guest, is part of their appeal. They beckon us with their welcoming ways. They offer an escape from the everyday, a chance to let loose and become someone else. In Do Not Disturb, I wanted to capture the ways hotels fit into our erotic imagination, whether they're a necessity or a luxury. Hotels let us explore parts of our passion that get left behind in the rush of daily life.
The authors whose work you are about to read understand perfectly the allure of a fresh hotel roomæor a hotel lobby. Indeed, the entire atmosphere a hotel offers can simply scream of sex. This goes for five-star and by-the-hour joints. They each have something to add, and here you'll find romps between lovers and strangers, reunions and quickies, as these characters indulge in their new settings.
Many of the characters here use hotels for secrecy, relying on the unspoken code of employees to never share what goes on. Others use them for flirting, for catching their prey. Many need a hotel room in order to engage in an affair or a roleplay. Whether exploring Japan's love hotels in Isabelle Gray's "So Simple a Place" or getting "A Room at the Grand" for a very special callgirl, the men and women you'll read about get off on their surroundings. The hotel itself becomes a player in their affair, a sign of the lengths they'll go to be together.
And this book wouldn't be complete without some extramarital affairs that can only happen in hotel rooms, like the lovers in Lisabet Sarai's "Reunion" or Gwen Masters's "Memphis." For these characters, the hotel room takes on added meaning for it is an ever-changing venue where their relationships grow, where they can savor each other's bodies without their spouses knowing, or so they hope.
Hotel rooms are also perfect for quickies, those fast fucks that you only need an hour or so for, made all the more arousing for their brevity. In Saskia Walker's "The Lunch Break," a sultry waitress pounces on a diner, and in my "Hump Day," a couple shed their business personae once a week to become the kind of people they could never be (or fuck) at home.
Even in the more innocent stories here, the vacation sex, the getaways among couples, there's something just a little clandestine about these hotel room hookups. That air of perversion is what makes getting serviced in a hotel (or motel) infinitely sweeter than doing it anywhere else. It's a private way of being an exhibitionist, of leaving the staff and fellow guests guessing (or parading around in your hotel robes). Sometimes it's a neighbor who'll lure you from the safety of your relationship, such as the lesbian who teaches Madlyn March's protagonist a thing or two in "Heart-Shaped Holes," or the way Elizabeth Coldwell's fellow jurors wind up relieving some tension in between trial time.
There's a hotel in New York, the Library Hotel, that has long intrigued me. They offer an Erotica Suite, filled with strawberries, whipped cream, red roses, erotic dice, Mionetto Presecca, edible honey dust, and a Kama Sutra pocket guide. They're upfront in their intention that you truly savor their package, as well as your lover's. I've never stayed there, or done more than pass by. In some ways, I prefer to keep its beauty safely tucked away in my imagination, the kind of room I'd use with a rich lover from out of town who'd seduce me with his or her accent, whisper to me in a foreign tongue before taking that foreign tongue and licking me all over. That's another thing about hotel rooms: they are perfect to fantasize about. In them, and in your dreams about them, you can have any kind of sex with anyone (or everyone) you want.
I can tell you that the sex I've had in hotel rooms has been some of the hottest of my life. I get off on knowing that neighbors may hear me, and in fact, that brings out the exhibitionist in me. The sexiest porn director I know took me to his hotel room in Manhattan one night and while his porn star girlfriend was elsewhere, we indulged in one of the most dirty, powerful, delicious fucks I've ever had, and when he came all over my chest, I reveled in it. I didn't wash it off, either, but proudly let it dry on my skin and couldn't stop the smile that found its way to my lips as I took the subway home.
Once, in some random seedy L.A. hotel, another lover and I hadn't brought any condoms, and instead had to make do with a paddle and a butt plugæpoor us. In a seedy Midtown motel, I spent a few hours romping with a very sexy young man who showed me all kinds of ways I could twist my body to extend my pleasure, then felt a shocked, naughty thrill as he entered the bathroom while I peed and watched me before dipping his fingers into the stream. Something I likely wouldn't have allowed at home became acceptable in a place I'd likely never find myself again. And when I'm in a hotel room by myself, tucked away under the sheets, I feel naughty and decadent, even if the only party guests I'm hosting are my fingers and my pussy.
While I doubt hotels are going to be stocking this book in their dresser drawers alongside The Bible, I hope that it finds its way into hotel romps. I picture lovers reading aloud to one another as they get ready to mark their hotel room, or in the afterglow, perhaps leaving it behind for the next lucky guest. I hope hotel staff spirit it away and read it during their downtime. I hope the next time you enter a hotel lobby, even if you have no intention of getting busy with anyone you may find there, that you'll at least notice the many erotic possibilities that greet you.
My most recent hotel rendezvous was at the ultra-fancy art-filled Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis. I was staying by myself for two nights, and while I didn't share my bed, the room itself beckoned to me. I found myself getting horny as I dove between the covers, wishing I had a lover to share my good fortune with. Now I have this book, which I hope you'll take with you on your travels, perhaps read it while lounging in a hotel lobby, or whisper from it into your lover's ear before you make so much noise in your hotel room bed that someone calls security. However and wherever you read this book, I hope it turns you on as much as it does me.
Rachel Kramer Bussel
New York City


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Posts Tagged 'Lectures on history'
Eric Foner Lectures on Lincoln and Slavery
Anyone studying 19th century American history will likely have read Eric Foner. WGBH Forum Network provides an audio video lecture Foner provided on Lincoln and slavery in November of 2008 at The Boston Athenaem. It provides some interesting insights on Lincoln's views on slavery and the Civil War. You can access it here.
Eric Foner is professor o history at Columbia University.

subset: commoncrawl


text: This Sunday, families who take part in our Lost Arts: Scrimshaw program will get to see examples of scrimshaw, an art form practiced by sailors on whaling expeditions in the nineteenth century. Scrimshaw makers, called scrimshanders, most often made elaborate carvings into sperm whale teeth. Families will see examples of these and will carve their…Read More


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Discover for free which first names would suit you or your baby !
Meaning of name Gautam
Etymology : Modern transcription of GAUTAMA
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Origin : Indian
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Who is she?
Gautam is an extremely nervous lady who is active and mobile, dynamic and undeniably charming. She always seems to be in a hurry, and patience definitely isn´t one of her finer virtues! Bursting with ideas, she is constantly making plans that she can´t wait to get started on. She is a likeable character and seeks the company of other people who tend to follow in her wake. Gautam lacks tolerance and has a habit of thinking that anything she is capable of doing, others are too. A woman of conquest, difficulty just spurs her on. She is naturally curious and into everything, without prejudice; which can mean that she is sometimes unpredictable, changeable and easily bored. On the other hand, she is sensitive, affectionate, generous and highly emotional. As a child, Gautam is a little bully so her parents will need to establish clear limits and inculcate the notions of sharing and respect for others. Independent from an early age, she is autonomous and self-centred. Daring and quick as a flash, it is important for her to get enough physical exercise and ideally participate in a sport as this will allow her to use up some of her excess energy. However, she is also a dreamer and could occasionally have trouble concentrating in class, and may be rather unruly at times... Her sexual education should take place at a relatively tender age because she is likely to be an early bloomer...
What does she like?
She enjoys her freedom and always does exactly as she pleases, an enemy of restriction. She loves movement, travel and adventure! Gautam is seductive and quite the enchantress - she is a sensual woman who is a little romantic, but not always a faithful lover; and could be rather eccentric or bohemian. She certainly isn´t the perfect housewife, since her sense of order and tidiness is pretty "out there"...
Get your free Personality test card now !!
What does she do?
She is best suited to occupations involving movement and action such as sales and marketing, sales representation and those in connection with sport, travel, politics or justice. Otherwise (and especially if she was born on a 9th, 18th, 27th, or if her life Path Number is 9), she will be attracted to occupations of a social orientation (the medical or paramedical domains...), or possibly a career in the hotel and catering industry...
Discover others boys first names : Gabe Gabin Gabino
*To note: :
It sometimes happens that two different first names have the same meaning. This has nothing surprising: both first names have the same figures of numerology. It is as in astrology: two persons belonging to the same sign present the same characteristic...
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Your Name Horoscope !
Thanks to the numerology, we propose you daily a horoscope personalized for your first name. Love, money , Shape: discover what waits for you for today. In Bonus every day find your daily lucky figure .. Horoscope of the first names
Love :Couples: All is well, today will be rather peaceful. Singles: A former lover could make an appearance today.
Money :Financial success. A projet that has been in the pipeline is about to become concrete.
Health:You've put on weight and it's becoming noticeable Gautam . You need to get some serious exercise.
Your Lucky number : 88


text: Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park is located on the northern part of the Cordillera Baja California Mountain Range called the Sierra de San Pedro Martir. The park is located in Baja California Sur, Mexico. It protects one of the few pine tree forests on the Baja California Peninsula. The park also protects habitats for the Bighorn Sheep as well as the California Condor. Mexico's largest optical telescope is located at the National Astronomical Observatory on the nearby peak of Cerro del la Cupula.


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Saturday's minor league recap.
It was a game of big innings early, until the ninth when the AZL Cubs walked off with another win, this time 8-7. Paul Blackburn started, but wasn't at his best giving up three runs on four hits in three innings of work. Rafael Dolis and Jasvir Rakkar each pitched an inning allowing two runs a piece. Ethan Elias did a great job keeping the Giants at seven runs as pitched the next three innings allowing no runs on no hits, while walking two and striking out four. The good luck charm Steve Perakslis improved his record to 4-0 as he got the win after pitching a scoreless ninth. The Cubs had a lot of nice days offensively. Carlos Penalver and Yasiel Balaguert each had two hits and drove in two a piece. Ben Carhart was 2-for-6 with a walk off single and Shawon Dunston had one hit, a double and three RBIs. Trevor Gretzky and David Bote both contributed with two hits and combined two score three runs for the Cubs. Daniel Lockhart and Garrett Schlecht each had a hit and an RBI in the Cubs victory. The victory clinched a spot in the playoffs for the Cubs.
Boise got out to a quick start and held on to beat Vancouver 8-6. After a recent struggle Jeimer Candelario appears to have broken out as he went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Stephen Bruno stayed red-hot going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Dan Vogelbach also had two hits, including a double and an RBI. Wilson Contreras and Gioskar Amaya each had a hit with Contreras knocking in two and Amaya one. Albert Almora left the game early with an apparent injury, but I have no word yet as to what the problem was. Ian Dickson started, but did not factor in the decision as was only able to last 4.1 innings as he allowed four runs on seven hits. Hunter Ackerman did get the victory as he threw the next 2.2 innings giving up one run and striking out five. Eduardo Orozco got the ball to Nathan Dorris and Dorris closed out the win and the second half for Boise. With the victory Boise is the second half winners and are headed to the playoffs.
A three run fourth was enough for Joseph Zeller and the Cubs bullpen as they beat Wisconsin 3-2. Zeller pitched quite well giving up one run on seven hits in six innings. Sheldon McDonald pitched the next two innings allowing one run, but got the ball to Larry Suarez who notched his fifth save of the season striking out two in a scoreless ninth. Timothy Saunders had another nice night going 2-for-4 with a homer and a double. Chadd Krist also hit a home run, a two run shot in the fourth inning. Oliver Zapata had a hit, two walks, and two stolen bases and Zeke DeVoss also added a hit in the Chiefs win.
Daytona lost game one to Tampa 3-2. Although they only had three hits, they threatened late, but couldn't finish. Ronald Torreyes, Elieser Bonne, and Vladimir Frias were the only Cubs to have hits on Saturday. Nelson Perez drove in the two Cubs runs in game one without the benefit of a hit. Eduardo Figueroa started, but took a no decision as didn't give up a run in four inning, while striking out six. Matt Spencer took the loss as he really struggled with his command walking five and allowing all three of the Yankees runs to score in just 0.2 innings. Matt Iannazzo finished game one out throwing a scoreless 1.1 innings.
Daytona returned the favor in game two as Ryan Searle and staff only allowed three hits in a 4-1 win. Searle started and pitched pretty good going five innings allowing one run on three hits and striking out five. From there Jeff Lorick pitched a scoreless sixth and Scott Weismann notched his fourth save of the season throwing a perfect seventh. John Andreoli and Ronald Torreyes hit one-two in the order and set the table of the Cubs in this one. Torreyes was 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI. John Andreoli was also 2-for-4 with a double, triple, and two runs scored. Rebel Ridling had two hits of his own and drove in one run and Nelson Perez drove in another run, again not having a hit. Javier Baez broke through with a double in the victory.
Mobile scored one in the ninth to tie it and got one in the 10th to beat Tennessee 4-3. Nicholas Struck was in line for the win pitching seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned on six hits, while striking out six. Zach Rosscup did his job getting the ball to Frank Batista, but Batista couldn't get the save in this one allowing the ninth inning run. Casey Harman took the loss allowing an unearned run in the 10th. Rubi Silva had a nice night at the plate going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Jae-Hoon Ha had three hits and Junior Lake had two hits and a run scored. Logan Watkins was 1-for-5 with a home run for the Smokies in the tough loss on Saturday.
Things have been better for Iowa as of late and Saturday was no different as they beat Oklahoma City 4-1. Ty'Relle Harris started and got the win pitching six strong innings. He allowed one run on four hits while striking out six. Miguel Socolovich and Jeff Beliveau each pitched a perfect frame to get the ball to Jairo Asencio who struck out two and pitched a scoreless ninth to record his fifth save of the season. The Cubs had a few nice nights offensively on Saturday starting with Diory Hernandez who had a home run and three RBIs. Dave Sappelt was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Matt Tolbert also had two hits with a run scored. Greg Rohan and Jeff Frazier each had two hits a piece with Frazier having two doubles and Rohan having one. It is good to see Iowa finishing the season strong.
It was an exciting night, Congrats to Boise Hawks and the AZL Cubs in clinching a playoff birth.
Thanks for Reading,


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Not sure for sure but the following are people I know where conctaed for the 27/28 filming cycle:1- Aras ( Working out and Shaved for the first time in yeas, Likely to return)2- Rupert( Just a really big name floating around, can't confirm)3- Cirie( Another big name, but no postives)4- Steph V. ( One of the few supposed locks for 27, would be interesting to see again so i hope so)5- Tina ( May be replace due to health/Other Caramaon Spoiler reasons , but i hear she is a still on for 27 as of now)6- Tyson ( Highly rumored, no conformation)7- Kat( 99% chance, Talking to past survivors about past stratgeies, has openly tweeted about watching past seasons and working out hardcore){Rumor is she might come in with Hayden Moss}8- Nat B. ( one of the usual cut people, hoepfully shes a finalist this time, Sorcues are not sure if she made final cut)9- Danni B. ( rumored for either, but I think she said she wants to come back for All Winners, S28 might be that or HoF season, so maybe shes floating around for that)10- Eddie ( Confirmed by multiple sources to be an alternate for 27 with mother)11-RC (Confrimed 27 Alternate, the girls are all questionable so she might be on)12- Rob C. & Nicole ( Would love, know for a fact he was interviewed, however i know hes not gonna upload much over the summer so maybe)13- Terry ( Wants to come back to rematch Aras apprently, but there are a lot of Panama people rumored for this season, no evidence to suggest hes coming back)14- Gervese ( Highly speculated, and is for sure made final interviews, likely to be on the season)15-Greg Buis- ( rumored to be on, was interviwed, however most likely did not make cut)16- Colton ( Was the alternate for Caramoan, was interviwed, no conformation)17- Shane ( Always on the list to come back, always cut, no hope in him actually playing)18- Erinn ( Going away soon, was interviewd, so possbile)19- Taj ( Unlikley but is rumored)20- Kenny ( Interviwed, but hes in a Melee turny during the filming dates for 27, might be on 28 however)21- Kathy ( Was interviwed,, no conformation)22- Brenda ( Caramoan Spoilers, Apprenlty the production team didnt relize everyone loved brenda so much)23- Holly( Interviwed no confrimation)24- Jane( Just a rumor, highly unlikely)25- Todd ( Maybe 28 if its winner/HOF season)Also 2 more people from Gabon1 Person from Africaand 2 from Soma where casted but i cant find a name. Kat, Steph, and Gervese are the 3 names i have heard are almost perfectly locked and will almsot for sure be on take this what you will guys. REMBER NONE OF THIS IS CONCRETE its just from the spoilers boards, twitter, recent interivews, casting links ect
I really don't want any returnes.
Loved one + Ex Survivor = Desperate call for twist. -.-
I like this. I'd like to see Yau man or Dreamz return, but Yau is probably too old now.
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AlpineQuest is the complete solution for all outdoor activities and sports, including hiking, running, trailing, hunting, sailing, geocaching, off-road navigation and much more.
You can access and store locally a large range of on-line topographic maps, which will remain available even while being out of cell coverage. AlpineQuest also supports on-board file based maps, like MemoryMap© maps.
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Save and retrieve landmarks, share them with your friends. Track your path, get advanced statistics and interactive graphics. You won't have anymore questions about what you can accomplish.
By staying fully operational out of cell coverage (as often in mountain or abroad), AlpineQuest assists you in all your desires of deep wilderness exploring…
AlpineQuest is available for all Android powered devices (including mobiles, laptops and tablets).
Version 2.0.8 is available! (release note)
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More information on landmarks in AlpineQuest
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Track your paths without limits
AlpineQuest comes with a powerful GPS Location Tracker that will record all your tracks for hours. At any time, you can get advanced statistics and display dynamic graphics.
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3 Tracker
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1. require a GPS compatible device, 2. require a compass compatible device, 3. require a barometer compatible device
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AlpineQuest is compatible with all Android powered devices (version 1.5 or more required), which includes phones and tablets (Archos IT, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Dell Streak, …).
However you should test your device with the free Lite version before eventually buying the Full one. If the Lite version works, the Full version will.
If you have any compatibility issue, please let us know on our support forum, so we can correct it.
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Don't forget to visit the AlpineQuest Online Help.
Feel free to contact us for any question, problem, or for sharing your suggestions:
- On our support forum: www.alpinequest.net/forum/ (no registration or e-mail needed, all questions answered);
- By e-mail: ;
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AlpineQuest is currently available in the following languages:
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Don't hesitate to contact us if you are interested in translating few parts of the application in another language.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Prescription drug prices are taking off again as other health care costs are flat or falling.
Drug prices have reignited in the last four years, returning to growth rates of a decade ago.
Pharmacists say they're seeing a big difference in cost.
"Usually this time of year there is a general price increase in the first of the year, but seems like prices are taking that higher jump than normal this time around," said Gary Roberts, of Roberts' South Bank Pharmacy.
In 2012, prescription drug prices rose 3.6 percent, twice the 1.7 percent inflation rate.
What's driving drug costs up? Brand-name drugs paid for by insurance and often heavily advertised.
One example is Doxycycline. The drug has gone up about 75 times as much just within a few months.
There are three top selling drugs that have increased in price:
- Nexium, a heartburn drug, had a 7.8 percent price hike to a $262 average prescription.
- Abilify, for bipolar disorder, increased 10.4 percent to $642 per prescription.
- Crestor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, went up 9.7 percent to $193 per prescription.
In the case of Medicaid, there is no co-pay, so people who have that are protected for the most part from rising costs unless changes are made to the preferred drug list.
"If a drug's cost went way out of hand, they could theoretically take it off the list and, you know, make someone have to go to a different drug," Roberts said.
Medicare users do have a co-pay.
"After a certain amount of spend during the year, they have to pay for their out-of-pocket increases until it caps," Roberts said.
"That's money coming out of your food from regular living expenses," said Lois Jackson, a Medicare user.
"I get Medicaid, so I won't have to pay but like $5 more," Lelia Vann said.
Doctors say people can use generic drugs as an alternative. They are more affordable than the brand name version.


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Lead the Herd: Tix online Thurs
Bisons.com will be holding a Special Pre-Sale of individual game tickets from Thursday, March 11 at 9am until Friday, March 12 at 10pm.
At that time, you can reserve your spot for Opening Day on April 14, the July 3 Independence Eve Celebration with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus or any game in 2010. Every game will be on sale, online!
And the good news gets even better. If you order during the online pre-sale, there will be NO CONVENIENCE CHARGE on your tickets.
The Buffalo Bisons will hold their annual Family Day Open House on Saturday, March 13 from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field. This event is FREE to the general public.


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We've all seen the numbers. High-income earners are subject to higher marginal rates these days: 39.6% on incomes over $400,000 for single taxpayers and $450,000 on couples filing jointly on their 2013 returns. Additionally, single taxpayers with incomes over $200,000 and married couples with incomes over $250,000 are now subject to a 3.8% "surtax" on their investment-related income as part of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
Yet few wealthy taxpayers pay anything close to those percentages. Data for the past two tax years is not available yet, but in tax year 2010, the top 0.1% of taxpayers — those with incomes of more than $1.6 million per year — had effective tax rates of less than 23%. That's far below headline top marginal rate of 35% that year.
So, how do the big boys do it?
Wealthier taxpayers will probably always have access to tax breaks that rank and file Americans will never enjoy. But today, we're going to take a few tricks out of their playbook.
Tax Deferrals
Most Americans have access to some form of retirement plan, be it a 401k, a 403k or a 457 plan. In 2013 and 2014, the contribution limits on these sorts of plans is $17,500, or $23,000 for employees aged 50 or older.
Yet self-employed taxpayers — and most wealthy taxpayers fall into that category — can contribute significantly more. The contribution limits on two popular options — SEP-IRAs and Solo 401ks — are $51,000 in 2013 and $52,000 in 2014.
Is this something that an ordinary American can take advantage of? If you have any kind of side business or part-time contract work in addition to your regular W-2 day job, then yes.
But you have to make sure you utilize the right retirement plan option. At high income levels, SEP IRAs and Solo 401k plans offer identical tax savings. But at incomes lower than $204,000, there is a big difference. In a Solo 401k plan, you can contribute the first $51,000 you earned last year. Whereas with an SEP, your contribution is based on a formula: 25% of your compensation up to $51,000.
So, in a hypothetical case in which your side business earned exactly $51,000 in 2013, you could defer taxes on the total amount using a Solo 401k plan, but only $12,750 using an SEP IRA.
Step-Up of Cost Basis
Whenever a taxpayer dies, the cost basis of investment assets gets "stepped up" to the current market value. A wealthy investor could literally have millions — or billions — in unrealized capital gains that disappear at death, giving his or her heirs a clean tax slate. (Of course, estates larger than $5,340,000 in 2014 will be subject to the estate tax, but that is another topic for another article.)
Ordinary Americans inherit much smaller nest eggs, of course, but the same principles can be put to work with a portfolio of any size. If you are doing estate planning and have highly appreciated stock that you bought years or decades ago, consider holding on to it for the remainder of your life with the understanding that your kids or grandkids can sell it and reinvest the proceeds in a diversified portfolio.
I should give one important caveat here: Avoiding taxes should not be your primary investment consideration. If a single stock or small number of stocks makes up a disproportionately high percentage of your net worth, you might be taking too much risk. Avoiding a 15% to 20% long-term capital gains tax is great, but not if it comes at the risk of losing more than that in capital losses if the stock falls in value.
Every taxpayer will need to weigh the cost and benefit on a case-by-case basis.
Giving Gifts to Charity
Charitable giving is always going to be more beneficial to a high-income earner than to a regular American for two reasons:
- Most Americans take the standard deduction on their tax return, as their itemized expenses are not high enough to justify itemizing. The standard deduction in 2013 for a married couple filing jointly is $12,200.
- The charitable deduction reduces your tax burden at whatever your marginal tax rate is. The same $10,000 contribution will be worth $3,960 to the taxpayer in the 39.6% bracket but just $2,500 to the taxpayer in the 25% tax bracket.
Still, while this deduction is more beneficial to higher-income earners, that doesn't mean it can't be used to your advantage come tax time. If you like the idea of supporting a charity, church or even your old alma mater, you might as well get a tax break from it. Keep track of all cash donations you make as well as any clothes or other items you give. Cleaning out your closet of clothes you no longer wear can save you hundreds or maybe even thousands in taxes while also decluttering your house.
Regular Americans might never get to enjoy tax breaks to the extent that the wealthy do. But that's OK. By following the same ideas, we can at least knock a few percentage points off of our effective tax rates — and every dollar saved in taxes is a dollar that can be spent on something you actually enjoy.
Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA, is the editor of Macro Trend Investor and chief investment officer of the investment firm Sizemore Capital Management. Click here to receive his FREE weekly e-letter covering market insights, global trends, and the best stocks and ETFs to profit from today's exciting megatrends. This article first appeared on InvestorPlace.


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When setting up a new computer, it's fairly common to download and install iTunes, right? That's a common thing? But if a user types "itunes" into a Google search, THIS is what they see. (I've temporarily disabled my AdBlock to capture this screenshot.)
At least three of my non-computer-savvy coworkers clicked on this exact Google ad this week, which sent them to this fun little site:
All three of them clicked "Download Free", without reading the tiny disclaimer below:
Clicking download starts a download manager to manage the iTunes download. Additional software may be offered to you via opt-in or opt-out ads during the installation process.
This "additional software" was apparently a cornucopia of self-replicating malware: Registry cleaners, "virus scanners", in-browser pop-up ads, etc, etc.


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
A new Liberty Fund imprint that brings the best of classical liberal economic and political theory of the past 100 years to life for today's college students. The cuneiform inscription for which this new imprint is named also serves as a design element in all Liberty Fund books. It is the earliest-known written appearance of the word "freedom" (amagi), or "liberty." It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 B.C. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash. Drawing from the Liberty Fund tradition of republishing classical liberal texts, the Amagi imprint includes works that are not considered classics, yet are important to the understanding of a society of free and responsible individuals. Amagi books will appear in affordable flexcase paperbacks with reader-friendly typefaces, handsome page layouts, and modern yet classic cover designs.


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Comic-Con: 'Futurama' directors branch out
Meet Haminal, the wide-eyed furry animal who fits perfectly in a sharp-edged can and comes topped with a pineapple slice.
Crystal Chesney-Thompson appears with one of her ham-inspired 'Haminals.'
This is the creation of Crystal Chesney-Thompson, who has been selling these strangely cute ham-inspired creatures at Comic-Con in San Diego, California, for three years. She came up with the idea in 2004, when she and others in her martial arts group were roasting canned ham on a campfire. Today, she's selling pig-like pink "canned" Haminals, as well as red "deviled" Haminals, just for Comic-Con. Next year, she plans to introduce a tuna fish.
No, this is not Chesney-Thompson's only job. She will be directing four episodes of "Futurama" this season.
"I love working in animation," she said while drawing a sketch for two young girls who recognized her from last year. (In this chaotic maze of posters, action figures, geeky T-shirts, network promotions and bizarre costumes known as the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall, Haminal did seem like a friendly face to me.)
Aimee Major Steinberger, sitting on the same row as Chesney-Thompson in the Exhibit Hall, is an assistant director for "Futurama," but she's also promoting her side project: a graphic novel for teenagers called "Japan Ai." It's based on her own trip to Japan, she said.
When it comes to these side projects, neither of these "Futurama" collaborators reported a negative impact from the economic downturn. Chesney-Thompson has been seeing good sales via the Internet, and Steinberger's business has been doing better this year than last.
"People need an escape of buying artwork or entertainment," Steinberger said.
So what's in store for fans in "Futurama's" much-anticipated revival? There will be more "what if?" episodes, and the show will explore interesting relationships between characters that have not been explored before, Chesney-Thompson said, echoing the "Futurama" panel from earlier in the Con. The show will also explore the backgrounds of Scruffy and Dr. Zoidberg, she said.
About this blog
Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.


text: I am shopping for the correct GPS for my F800GS? I know I want a Garmin and want to mount it in the center instead of on the sides of the handle bars. I have seen the stock BMW street pilot and like the setup but the dealer wants allot of money for it and I am looking for the best similar setup? Do you have a GPS mounted on your 800GS, could I see some pics to get me oriented? I really like this one but cannot figure out which mount or GPS it is (if anyone can identify the exact ram mount it is and GPS I would appreciate it): Thanks


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Colin Donnell, Stephanie Umoh & More Set For ART's JOHNNY BASEBALL 5/14-6/27
The American Repertory Theater is pleased to announce the cast for Johnny Baseball, a world premiere musical about the Red Sox, with music by Robert Reale, lyrics by Willie Reale, book by Richard Dresser, story by Richard Dresser and Willie Reale, with musical direction and vocal arrangements by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett; musical arrangements by Bruce Coughlin. Scenic design is by Scott Pask, lighting design by Donald Holder, costume design by Michael McDonald, and sound design by ACME Soundpartners. The production is directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Peter Pucci.
After the Red Sox's stunning collapse in the 2003 playoffs, a baseball-obsessed team of musical theater writers (one long-suffering Sox fan and two oddly sympathetic Yankees fans) began searching for the source of Red Sox's infamous Curse. In Johnny Baseball, writer Richard Dresser, composer Robert Reale, and lyricist Willie Reale have embarked on a journey that has yielded an exhilarating blend of fact and fiction and a new musical that chronicles the stranglehold of the infamous curse and its ultimate, divine release.
Johnny Baseball traces the origin of the Curse to a collision of three orphaned souls: Johnny O'Brien, a hard-luck right-hander on the 1919 Sox; his idol, Babe Ruth; and Daisy Wyatt, a dazzling African American blues singer and the love of Johnny's life. The entanglements of love, friendship, and betrayal in these lives contain both the reason for the Curse and the secret to its end off the bat of Big Papi in 2004. The musical is a thoughtful investigation of the issue of race in major league baseball as a mirror of American societal attitudes through the twentieth century. With lively music and an engaging love story, Johnny Baseball celebrates the 2004 World Series victory under the new ownership in the context of the integration of the game. It packs an incisive commentary on American social history into a funny, heartfelt, and spirited musical that will bring cheers and tears to baseball fans everywhere.
The Company includes Colin Donnell as Johnny O'Brien, Stephanie Umoh as Daisy Wyatt, Burke Moses as Babe Ruth, Charl Brown as Tim, Jeff Brooks as Tom Yawkey, Charles Turner as a fan, as well as Joe Cassidy, Paula Leggett Chase, Kaitlin Davidson, Alan H. Green, Carly Jibson, Robert McClure, and Kirsten Wyatt. The musicians are Tim Ray, piano; Mark Pinto, piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone; Robert Bowlby, flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone; Rod Ferland, clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone; Jay Daly, trumpet. flugelhorn; Robert Couture, trombone, euphonium; Joseph Higgins, bass; Michael Ambroszewski, percussion.ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS:
Colin Donnell (Johnny O'Brien) was seen on Broadway in Jersey Boys, and in the national tours of Wicked and Mamma Mia. He was also seen in New York in Follies at City Center, Meet Me in St. Louis at the Irish Repertory Theatre, and Almost Heaven in the Promenade Theatre; as well as in numerous regional musical productions.
Stephanie Umoh (Daisy Wyatt) is best known for her role as Sarah in the 2009 Broadway revival of Ragtime, a role she previously performed at the New Repertory Theater, earning her an Elliot Norton Award nomination. A graduate of Boston Conservatory, she appeared with several local theater companies, in the Connecticut Repertory Company's production of Hair, and in the Roundabout Theatre Company's workshop production of The Tin Pan Alley Rag.
Burke Moses (Babe Ruth and others) originated the role of Gaston in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, as well as in the Los Angeles, and London's West End productions; played the roles of Sky Masterson in the 1992 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls and FrEd Graham/Petruchio in the 1999 revival of Kiss Me Kate. Other credits also include the New York City Opera production of The Most Happy Fella.
Jeff Brooks (Tom Yawkey and others) was seen on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, Nick & Nora, Gypsy, Lend Me a Tenor, and A History of the American Film; off Broadway roles include Talk Radio, Titanic, Sister Mary Ignatius, and The Foreigner. He appeared in numerous films, including Julie and Julia, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and IQ, and on television including ER, Law and Order, and Friends.
Charl Brown (Tim) appeared off Broadway in Walmartopia, and regionally in Dreamgirls (Curtis) at San Diego Musical Theater, as well as in The Wiz (Scarecrow/Ensemble) at La Jolla Playhouse, Showboat at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as in Angels in America (Belize), Hair (Hud), Sweet Charity (Daddy), Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker), Six Degrees of Separation (Paul), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), A Chorus Line (Richie), and Gypsy. He also appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Charles Turner (Fan) Broadway credits include The Orphans Cycle and Dividing the Estate (also at Hartford Stage), On Golden Pond, The Little Foxes, Caesar and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night. Off-Broadway he was seen in the Play About the Baby, They Cherry Orchard, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, among others. Regional credits include Fences and Dream on Monkey Mountain at Hartford Stage, The Oedipus Plays at Arena Stage, Hamlet at Long Wharf, King Lear at Yale; he played Frederick Douglass at the Edinburgh Festival, and Scott Joplin at the Avignon Festival. He is a veteran of many theatre productions, films, and television.
Richard Dresser (Book) His plays have been produced off-Broadway, at leading regional theaters, and throughout Europe. They include Rounding Third, Below the Belt, Gun-Shy, The Downside, Alone at the Beach, Something in the Air, and a trilogy of plays about happiness in America: Augusta, The Pursuit of Happiness, and A View of the Harbor. Mr. Dresser's most recent play, The Last Days of Mickey & Jean, premiered in March at Merrimack Repertory Theater.
Robert Reale (Composer) Theater credits include The Dinosaur Musical, A Year With Frog and Toad (Tony nomination, best score); Rounding Third, Once Around The City, Diva, Quark Victory. Films: The Rebound, The Victim, Ten-13, Wigstock, Dealers Among Dealers. Television: In the last few months, he has written the television main themes for Life Coach with Cheri Oteri (AMC), and Life (CNBC). Other television: Haskett's Chance; Good Morning America, ABC; PrimeTime, ABC; What Would You Do? ABC (main title theme); 20/20, ABC; Inside Edition; Focus Earth; Court TV (The System, Crime Stories, MugShots); Out There; Invent This!, A Current Affair (Fox); Case Closed with Stacey Keach (USA Network); Beating The Rap; After the Verdict; The Mailman and the Piranha (short musical, Nickelodeon).
Willie Reale (Lyricist) Writing credits with his composer/brother, Robert Reale, include A Year With Frog and Toad, Childrens' Theater Company in Minneapolis, New Victory Theatre, and Cort Theater on Broadway (two Tony nominations for his book and lyrics); the musicals Once Around The City, Second Stage Theatre in New York; Quark Victory, Williamstown Theatre Festival; and The Dinosaur Musical, The Arden in Philadelphia. Other plays have been produced at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Actors' Theatre of Louisville, and Circle Repertory Company. In 1981, he founded The 52nd Street Project, an organization that brings inner-city children together with professional theater artists to create theater. He served as the theater's artistic director for 18 years. With the Project, he produced hundreds of plays. The programs of The 52nd Street Project are currently being replicated at 12 sites across the country through a series of publications entitled The Kid Theater Kit. For the kit he wrote "52 Pick Up," the Project how-to manual, as well as numerous plays, and the lyrics to hundreds of songs. In 1994, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of his ingenuity in creating theater and theater education programs for young people. Television credits include Damages, Homicide: Life on the Streets, Deadline, Mr. Sterling, Keen Eddie, The Jury and Tilt, on ESPN. He created a series called Out There for Sesame Workshop and the BBC shot in Australia (Australian Film Institute Award, Prix Jeunesse and Writers' Guild of America nominations). Film work: Dreamgirls (lyrics to the song Patience, Oscar nomination). Willie was the head writer and Co-Executive producer on the team that reinvented The Electric Company, now airing on PBS.
Diane Paulus (Director) is the Artistic Director of the A.R.T., where this season she directed The Donkey Show (which ran for six years Off-Broadway, toured internationally to London, Edinburgh, Madrid, and Evian, France, and still running at OBERON) and Best of Both Worlds (a gospel/R&B adaptation of A Winter's Tale originally produced by Music-Theatre Group and The Women's Project). Other theater work includes the Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR on Broadway and London; Kiss Me Kate at Glimmerglass Opera; Lost Highway, based on the David Lynch film, an ENO co-production with the Young Vic in London; Another Country by James Baldwin at Riverside Church; Turandot: Rumble for the Ring at the Bay Street Theatre; The Golden Mickey's for Disney Creative Entertainment; and The Karaoke Show, an adaptation of "Comedy of Errors" set in a karaoke bar, produced by Jordan Roth Productions. Also for Music-Theatre Group she directed the Obie award-winning and Pulitzer Prize finalist Running Man by jazz composer Diedre Murray and poet Cornelius Eady, and Swimming with Watermelons, created in association with Project 400, the theater company she co-founded with her husband Randy Weiner. Other work Off-Broadway includes Brutal Imagination, and the Obie-award winning Eli's Coming, featuring the music and lyrics of Laura Nyro. Opera credits include Haydn's Il mondo della luna at the Hayden Planetarium in New York this season; Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Turn Of The Screw, Cosi fan tutte; and the Monteverdi Cycle Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, L'incoronazione di Poppea, and Orfeo at the Chicago Opera Theater. She is a frequent collaborator with British conductor Jane Glover; their critically acclaimed production of Orfeo was presented as part of The Monteverdi Cycle at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music in New York City. Upcoming work at the A.R.T. includes Death and The Powers, a new opera by Tod Machover in collaboration with MIT Media Lab and Chicago Opera Theatre, and in association with Opera Boston.
Peter Pucci (Choreographer) Off Broadway credits include The Orphans Home Cycle, Queens Boulevard (Drama Desk Award nomination, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreographer), Paradise Park, People Be Heard, After Ashley, The Late Henry Moss, True Love, Eyes for Consuela. Regionally he choreographed for Carnival! at Paper Mill Playhouse; Safe in Hell, The Cherry Orchard, Miss Julie, and The Black Monk for Yale Repertory Theatre; The Late Henry Moss for The Magic Theatre; Romeo and Juliet at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival; A Marriage Minuet for Westport Playhouse; Fall at Baltimore Center Stage and Berkeley Repertory Theatre; Ion, Beaux's Stratagem, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night at The Shakespeare Theatre; Hamlet, Fool for Love, The Cherry Orchard, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Learned Ladies at the McCarter Theatre; The Orphans Home Cycle, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Summer and Smoke, Eight by Tenn, Macbeth, Camino Real for Hartford Stage; and Romeo and Juliet at TheatreWorks USA; National Tour: The Civil War. Other credits include: Samson and Delilah at Baltimore Opera, Renard for Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Dance Commissions: Pucci Plus Dancers, Ballet Hispanico, Joffrey Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Pittsburgh Ballet, Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Big Apple Circus 2010 Production. He is Artist in Residence at Manhattanville College.
Wendy Bobbitt Cavett (Musical Director/Vocal Arrangements) Broadway credits include Mamma Mia!, A Tale of Two Cities (additional arrangements), The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Most Happy Fella. National tours: Mamma Mia! Las Vegas, The Who's Tommy, A Chorus Line. Ms. Cavett conducted the premier productions of Rob and Willie Reale's A Year With Frog and Toad. She is also collaborating with Rob and Willie on another new show, The Last Snowman.
Bruce Coughlin (Musical Arrangements) received a Tony Award for his orchestration for Light in the Piazza; other orchestration credits include 9 to 5, Grey Gardens, Urinetown, The Wild Party, Triumph of Love, and Lestat, and the revivals of Once Upon a Mattress, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, On the Town, and The Sound of Music.
Scott Pask (Scenic Design) designed The Donkey Show and OBERON for the A.R.T. His credits include the acclaimed productions of HAIR and Take Me Out for The Public Theater, Broadway, and London; other Broadway credits include The Pillowman (Tony Award), A Steady Rain, A Behanding in Spokane, 9 to 5, Impressionism, Speed the Plow, Pal Joey, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Tony Nomination, Drama Desk Award), November, The Coast of Utopia (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Awards), The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Nine, Sweet Charity, La Cage aux Folles, Little Shop of Horrors, and Urinetown. Other credits include Bash at The Almeida Theatre/London, New York, Los Angeles, and on Showtime; Love Song, On An Average Day at the West End/London; Tales from Hollywood at the Donmar Warehouse/London; Albert Herring for Opera North/UK; and Peter Grimes for the Metropolitan Opera last season. This is his sixth collaboration with Diane Paulus.
Michael McDonald (Costume Design) designed costumes for HAIR for The Public Theater, Broadway, and London. Off-Broadway credits include Tartuffe at Tribeca Playhouse, Amahl and the Night Visitors at Lincoln Center, and Measure for Measure at Expanded Arts. He also designed Take Me Out for the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Amadeus, Sweeney Todd, The Laramie Project, and Angels in America for Chatham Playhouse, and was Assistant Designer for The Goat, Take Me Out, and The Ride Down Mt. Morgan on Broadway.
Donald Holder (Lighting Design) Broadway projects include Movin' Out (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), The Lion King (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), After the Fall, All Shook Up, La Cage aux Folles, A Streetcar Named Desire, Gem of The Ocean, Thoroughly Modern Millie, King Hedley II, Little Shop of Horrors, The Boy From Oz, The Green Bird, Bells Are Ringing, The Violet Hour, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Juan Darien (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), Hughie, Eastern Standard and Holiday. Off-Broadway: A Man of No Importance, Observe the Sons of Ulster... (Lortel Award), Jitney, Saturday Night, Three Days of Rain, Chinese Friends, The Last Letter, Strike Up the Band, All My Sons, Communicating Doors, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Drama Desk nomination), Spunk, Jeffrey, Pterodactyls, many others. Opera: The Magic Flute (NYC Metropolitan Opera), Salome (Kirov Opera), The End of the Affair (Houston Grand Opera). Mr. Holder has designed at resident theaters throughout the U.S.
Acme Sound Partners (Sound Design) Broadway credits include The Addams Family, Ragtime,Bye Bye Birdie, HAIR (Tony nomination), Irving Berlin's White Christmas, In The Heights (Tony Nomination), Title of Show, The Country Girl, Legally Blonde, High Fidelity, A Chorus Line (2006), Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hot Feet, The Light in the Piazza, Monty Python's Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Dracula the Musical, Twentieth Century, Fiddler on the Roof (2004), Never Gonna Dance, The Boy From Oz, Avenue Q, Gypsy (2003), La Bohème (Drama Desk Award), Flower Drum Song, Elaine Stritch At Liberty. Acme is Tom Clark, Mark Menard, Nevin Steinberg and Sten Severson.
The AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER (A.R.T.) is one of the country's most celebrated resident theaters and the winner of numerous awards - including the Tony Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and numerous local Elliot Norton and I.R.N.E. Awards. It was recently named one of the top three theaters in the country by Time magazine. Founded by Robert Brustein in 1980, over its twenty-nine-year history the A.R.T. has welcomed major American and international theater artists whose singular visions generate and define the theater's work, presenting a varied repertoire that includes new plays, progressive productions of classical texts, and collaborations between artists from many disciplines. The Company has performed throughout the US, and worldwide in twenty-one cities in sixteen countries on four continents. Last year the organization welcomed its new Artistic Director, Diane Paulus, under whose helm the Company began its 30th Season. Under the leadership of Diane Paulus, A.R.T. has developed a new initiative, EXPERIENCE THE A.R.T., which seeks to revolutionize the theater experience through a sustained commitment to empowering the audience. This audience-driven vision has completely transformed the way the company develops, programs, produces, and contextualizes its work. This speaks directly to the A.R.T.'s core mission - "to expand the boundaries of theater." A.R.T. resources give equal importance to the social aspects of theater and the potential for a full theater experience, including interaction and engagement with its audience before, during, and after the production. The initiative involves producing theater cycles that create a festival atmosphere and allow audiences to experience productions in the context of a larger event. By producing and promoting these cycles as citywide events, A.R.T. seeks to attract larger audiences from the greater Boston area and from the rest of the country and world.
The A.R.T., located at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, and at its second space, the club-theater OBERON, at 2 Arrow Street, (corner of Arrow Street and Massachusetts Avenue), Harvard Square, Cambridge, is accessible to persons with special needs and to those requiring wheelchair seating or first-floor restrooms. Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons can also reach the Theater by calling the toll-free N.E. Telephone Relay Center at 1-800-439-2370.
Public transportation and discount parking are available nearby.


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Estate Rustenberg Ruins
For those of you who would like to experience a St. John Off the Beaten Track experience, but would rather not exert themselves too much, a visit to the Rustenberg ruins would be an ideal choice. It's a short walk along a level trail shaded by aromatic bay rum trees. The ruins are extensive and beautiful in their natural surroundings.
To get there, park across from the Cinnamon Bay trailhead on Centerline Road and walk up the road west, towards Cruz Bay, where you should find the trailhead, which may be more or less obvious depending on climatic conditions. Another alternative is to enter the forest about 50 yards or so and walk uphill until you reach the trail on the ridge and go left on the trail until you get to the ruins.
St. John Film Society Press Release
Queen of the Sun
What the Bees are Telling Us
Directed by Taggart Siegel: 83 minutes, Documentary
Free Film, Presented by the St. John Film Societey
Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:30 pm
St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay
This full length feature documentary is a a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva.
This film takes us on a pilgrimage around the world, 10,000 years of beekeeping is unveiled, highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost due to highly mechanized industrial practices. The film goes on to reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.
Join Mr. Smalls and other St. John bee keepers and learn about these wonderful insects that provide us with sweet honey and more.
Read more about the film on the website: http://www.queenofthesun.com
St. John Live Music Schedule Monday 4/30
High Tide – Mikey P- 8:00 – 11:00 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Maho Bay Camp – Open Mic with Lauren – 6:30
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Weekly Schedule


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They can it a "bang-bang" play. It happens so fast. But don't worry. No one is dead, but there are probably a body or two on the floor staring blankly at the refs as the refs stare at each other with the "did you get that" look of fear in their eyes.
The block or charge call is the most difficult in all of basketball, and maybe in all of sports. Many variables have to line-up at the moment one player collides into another player, all which a ref must process to decide what gesture he makes.
Was the defender moving ? Was his feet set? Did the offensive player lead with his shoulder? Did the defender come under the offensive player as he was landing? Was the player outside the circle? Do I count the basket?
Between the first weekend of the NCAA tourney and the NIT, there were plenty of games in prime-time, and refs have had to make the dreaded call. Mostly recently was last night, Penn State playing at Florida in the NIT quarter-finals. Side-Note: the Gator crowd was rockin' and was treated to a great game.
Late in the game PSU guard Talor Battle drove baseline, left his feet for a finger-roll, and Florida guard Nick Calathes set his feet and prepared for the hit while Battle was in the air. What is the call? The ref called a charge, but counted the basket.
There are a handful of variations of the call, this however, is the most idiotic variation of the "most difficult call" – which will be refer to as "the call" from this point forward.
The PSU guard made a good move, started his shot legally, but was called illegal because another player moved underneath him prior to Battle landing safely, which he could not do because a player was in the way. But it must not have been that illegal, because the ref counted the basket.
Even the commentators were miffed by "the call" – granted they have the luxury of a second look at the play in slow-motion – and they made their options known. Many commentators have been very vocal in this conversation. I vaguely remember a Jeff Van Gundy rant about this topic a few months ago when ESPN swapped announcers, putting the NBA crew with Van Gundy on the Duke vs. Davidson game.
Side–Note: I was not a Van Gundy fan when he was coaching, but I think he is just crazy enough to be entertaining as a broadcaster.
The NBA has made steps to take some variables out of "the call". By putting the half circle on the floor, a couple of feet out from the bottom of the net and calling it the "restricted area", the call becomes much easier. No matter if the defender is set, if his feet are touching that line, it is a block. Plan and simple.
In the NBA, almost every player can jump outside of the lane and land in that "under the basket" area and the possibility of injury is greater. Not so in college.
Another important aspect of "the call" that is over looked is the defenders right to that same space. To say that the offensive player has more right to that spot on the court is absurd. yet, that unconscious prejudice affects the way the call is made.
If a ref is "bias" in that they believe the offensive player is dictating the action, then the call is simple, read the reaction of the defender to the action of the offensive player. Depending on what transpires, the call is quite obvious. But if you believe that the defensive player is predicting a move prior to the offensive move happening, then it is the defender who dictates the action and then the reaction.
That is an extreme simplification of the call, but is exactly what I found when searching for some definition regarding "the call". Take a look at this post from NBA.com.
The post from NBA.com is dated 2001 and directory speaks to the ability for a player to land and even change direction when outside the lower box. By that definition, the call against Battle against Florida was incorrect. Even if he landed around the basket, his move was initiated outside the lane. While this maybe be the rule in college, it does not seem to have that level of detail. I did search for the NCAA rules, but what unable to find the rulebook online.
No matter what the call maybe, they greater issue may be the fact that "the call" varies greatly from game to game and ref to ref. Which leads the the single most important trait in a referee: consistency.
From call to call, players and coaches are part of a guessing game to determine how the refs will call the game. Every call leaves a small portion of interpretation, i.e. carrying, traveling, and three seconds in the lane. But that amount of interpretation seems to vary great when the refs will allow a certain amount of physical play in the first half, but then could call a hand check in the second half. And we all have seen it.
There have been many articles and quotes that have debated this issue to now end. Yet, the block/charge issue is becoming dangerous. As players get stronger and faster, there is a need to limit the variation and solidify a standard that will stop the players looking for the easy charge (We won't even go into flopping – whole other issue).
With greater concistency and preparation, payers will no longer be rewarded for sneaking over to anticapte the landing point of a player in the air. Or an offensive player who lowers the shoulder, expecting a block call. The charge/block is the call that needs consistency, period. With a few, specific changes, "the call" will not be so difficult.


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February 25, 2016
YMCA Kids Hoop It Up at Half-Time Fundraiser Show
Posted in Events by Marilou Ubungen
Three youth from the University Family YMCA participated in this year's event on Saturday, February 20th. The Foundation donated $100 for each free-throw that was made during the special half-time event, with a minimum $1,000 donation. The three YMCA kids put on a great show this year, wowing the crowd by making 12 baskets!
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February 08, 2016
Windermere Foundation 2015 Year in Review
Posted in Windermere Foundation by Christine Wood
2015 was an incredible year for the Windermere Foundation. We reached a goal that we set back in 2013, which was to raise $30 million in total donations by the end of 2015. Not only did we reach that milestone, we did it three months early, thanks to the support of Windermere owners, agents, and staff that increased their giving, held more fundraisers, and brought new donors into the fold.
Read More >


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Bisons' 2010 TV schedule
The Buffalo Bisons Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, today announced their 2010 television broadcast schedule that will include the LIVE broadcast of 46 games on Time Warner Cable SportsNet – Channel 13. The schedule begins with Opening Day, Thursday, April 14 against the Pawtucket Red Sox (3:05 p.m.).
PRINT: Get your own TV schedule
The broadcast schedule, which represents an increase of nine games from the 2009 season, includes 33 home games as well as 13 road games against the Rochester Red Wings and the Syracuse Chiefs. After the initial broadcast, all games will also be available for cable customers to view anytime on Time Warner Cable SportsNet on Demand – Channel 946.
"This partnership has been extremely beneficial for all the baseball fans of Western New York," said Mike Buczkowski, Vice President/General Manager of the Buffalo Bisons. "Time Warner Cable does a great job with each broadcast, and we're looking forward to presenting even more Bisons games to our fans in 2010."
"Time Warner Cable SportsNet is thrilled to bring another exciting season of Buffalo Bisons baseball to our customers in western New York," said Steve Arvan, Director of TWCS and Production for Time Warner Cable. "We are again looking forward to working with the Bisons and televising a great summer of baseball on TWCS."
All games played at Coca-Cola Field will feature the play-by-play of "The Voice of the Bisons," Ben Wagner. Road games will be commentated on by the respecting home team's announcers.
Highlights of the schedule include four games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees (July 8 & 9, September 1 & 2) and two games against the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, the Columbus Clippers (August 5 & 7). The Bisons annual Independence Eve Celebration on July 3 against Rochester is on the schedule as is the team's May 31 Memorial Day game against Syracuse. A full broadcast schedule is attached to this release.
About Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered systems located in five geographic areas–New York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. Time Warner Cable serves more than 14 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers a suite of phone, Internet, Ethernet and cable television services to businesses of all sizes. Time Warner Cable Media Sales, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions that are targeted and affordable. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at http://www.timewarnercable.com/northeast.


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Final part of our series. Also see our analyses of Marco Rubio, Rob Portman, Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and Tim Pawlenty.
We've spent a lot of pixels analyzing some of Mitt Romney's vice presidential options. There's a reason for this, and it's not simply because surveying the field and weighing the candidates' strengths and weaknesses is a popular parlor game. Romney's choice of running mate matters. It's true that voters choose based on the top of the ticket, not the bottom, and that history shows most VP nominees only nudge the needle a few points in their home states. "People say the VP selection doesn't matter," says Doug Wead, a senior adviser to Ron Paul who was involved in George H.W. Bush's vetting in 1988. "The fact is, in a close election everything matters." One need only look back four years for a reminder of the outsize impact a VP candidate can have on the outcome of the election. Go back one Administration and you can see the fingerprints an influential vice president can leave on a presidency. Romney's pick will hand someone an express ticket to the nation's highest office. Since 1900, a full 15% of vice-presidential nominees have become president themselves.
It's eminently possible, of course, that none of the five potential candidates I've considered will get the job. Among Republican bigwigs, the smart money has coalesced around Rob Portman. Yet Romney could wrong-foot everyone, as John McCain and George W. Bush did before him. Romney has been taciturn about his selection process, and much of the advice observers offer tends to clash. Romney should do no harm–unless he can find someone who will invigorate the ticket. He needs to court women and Latinos, amplify his economic message, avoid picking someone who will overshadow him, tap someone who will excite the base, find someone from a swing state, eschew politics and focus on someone who can help him govern. Nobody checks off every box. All the candidates are flawed, as they are every four years.
(PHOTOS: A History of the 'Veepstakes' in Pictures)
Several additional candidates are worth mentioning. Perhaps no figure would thrill the GOP establishment more than Paul Ryan, a youthful, rising party star upon whom Romney has heaped praise. But the document that vaulted Ryan to prominence — the budget adopted by House Republicans, which would slash spending, lower tax rates and overhaul Medicare — probably precludes his selection. It's already a punching bag for Democrats and a potential liability for Romney, who has expressed support for it. Tapping Ryan would swivel the campaign spotlight toward those issues, and Democrats a club they've wielded deftly of late. It's unlikely that Romney would choose to make a third-rail issue a focal point of the fall campaign.
Bob McDonnell, the governor of Virginia, makes some sense. He's a popular swing-state governor, talked about by religious and Chamber of Commerce conservatives alike. But McDonnell's role in the state's skirmish over requiring women to undergo ultrasounds before an abortion–not to mention his controversial master's thesis at Pat Robertson's Regent University, which espoused antiquated views about gender roles — would invite further battles over what Democrats have dubbed the "war on women." Given that Romney trails Obama by a sizable margin among the fairer sex, that's probably not a fight he wants to pick.
(MORE: What History Tells Us About Romney's Chances)
Bobby Jindal is intriguing: an Indian-American who has compiled a conservative record as Louisiana's governor, boasts a glittering resume and has the ear of Evangelicals. But Jindal hails from a reliably red state, and delivered a memorably wooden performance in his one star turn on the national stage, responding to Obama's 2009 State of the Union address. Jeb Bush, one of the "white knights" who party elders hoped would salvage a moribund primary field, has seen his name floated again for VP. But even many Republicans are suffering from Bush fatigue.
There is, of course, a conspicuous absence of women among the names often floated for Romney's short list. The near-consensus opinion is that Romney is unlikely to choose a woman — not because of any prejudice, but because the options are weak. South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is a woman of color, which raised her stock among the chattering classes, but she's been beset by controversy, losing luster with the Tea Party and raising potential vetting problems. In addition, she's relatively inexperienced, which would undercut Romney's argument that Obama was ill-prepared to handle the demands of a bruising recession. Ditto Susana Martinez, the popular first-term governor of New Mexico, who might help with Latinos, women and independents. (Martinez, who helps care for an ailing family member, has appeared to definitively rule herself out anyway.) Romney has spoken highly of Kelly Ayotte, a rising star in the U.S. Senate. But Ayotte too is a first-termer, which is a major drawback with the specter of Sarah Palin hovering over the process. Plus, her home state of New Hampshire is a hindrance; it's hard to imagine an all-New England ticket representing a party whose strength is concentrated in the South and Mountain West.
(PHOTOS: On the Trail with Romney)
So where will Romney turn? My hunch is he plays it safe and turns to Portman or Pawlenty, two low-key, broadly acceptable Midwesterners with governing experience and limited down sides. But it's only a hunch. What's yours? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.


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New Augustana and a two-disc reissiue for Jimmy Eat World, plus an album that will assist you in putting the young ones to sleep.
AUGUSTANA"Can't Love, Can't Hurt" (Epic Records) Grade: B
The band that gave you the catchy and overplayed song "Boston" is back with the same infectious sound, with a side of maturity. Augustana fails to reproduce a single with the same lasting power as "Boston" (though "Sweet and Low" comes dangerously close). Instead, fans get a more serious side of the band on this third studio album. "Twenty Years" and "Fire" are softer tracks and do away with the soaring guitars and chorus (those can be found on "Here Now"). They are also growing as songwriters — check out "Dust" ("I believed in the Lord/ He don't show up anymore"). Obviously, there's more to these guys than sunny pop tunes about the best city in the world.JIMMY EAT WORLD "Bleed American" (Deluxe Edition) (Universal Music Company) Grade: A
This reissue of JEW's 2001 release comes with a second disc that includes live versions of "Bleed American," "A Praise Chorus," and "Softer." But the gem of the extra stuff is probably the acoustic version of "The Middle," a song about how things will get better — an appropriate message for a band that saw their first two major label full lengths completely ignored by the media, which inspired Capitol Records to drop them. But the band didn't give up, taking a self-promoted tour through Europe, which garnered them even more fans and paved the way to recording "Bleed American." This was before the days of Myspace and iTunes, which makes this re-issue not just a sample of B-sides, but an example of one of the first victories against a major label.GRIFFIN HOUSE "Flying Upside Down" (Nettwerk Records) Grade: B
It's easy to ignore this album, with its familiar rhythms and an onslaught of songs about relationships. (And I really didn't need to hear the song about the guy going after the girl who is out of his league). However, there are some gems on this disc, including the Johnny Cash-like "I Remember (It's Happening Again)," a song about the vicious cycle of war and a world that refuses to hold on to the lessons of the past. It's the one song that sticks out in a group that includes "That Guy That Says Goodbye To You Is Out Of His Mind." Guess what that one is about.CONSTANTINES "Kensington Heights" (Sub Pop) Grade: B+
There's something special about the third album from this Canadian rock band. For years, many have noted the band's intense live shows that mix soft and loud songs. "Heights" follows that formula, opening with the loud "Hard Feelings." But then the album evolves, bringing in deeper sounds and even more metaphoric lyrics. By the time you've reached the end of the album, you're at the end of a journey. And the trip is kind of inspiring. Take some time with this one…it'll grow on you.MELISSA ERRICO "Lullabies & Wildflowers" (Velour Music Group) Grade: B+
Errico has a family, too, and she's trying to help put your kids to sleep. The Tony-nominated Broadway star has crafted an album of classic lullabies (like "Mockingbird" and "Hushabye") along with Broadway favorites like "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me." It's a simple and effective recording. If you aren't feeling drowsy by the third or fourth song, you may have a sleeping problem.
New England Arts


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Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small sailing and all-suite ships visiting approximately 270 ports in 2019 sailing throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska, Canada and New England, and cruising year-round in Tahiti. Windstar's fleet is the market leader in small ship cruising with a total of 1,242 passenger berths calling on off-the-beaten-path and popular ports in over 60 countries. The boutique cruise line carries fewer than 310 passengers on its small ships and takes travelers on cruises that are 180 degrees from ordinary. They are known for their immersive and authentic experiences, unique, port-intensive itineraries, exceptional award-winning service, and innovative culinary program as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation. Windstar Cruises is a part of Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, known for "Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint."
Windstar was voted Best Boutique Cruise Lines by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards; Porthole Cruise Magazine choose Windstar Cruises as the Most Romantic Cruise line and Best Tall Ship plus Best Cruise Partnership. Condé Nast Traveler's 2017 Readers' Choice Awards Gold List Selection for Best Small Ships (fewer than 500 guests). Windstar Cruises has been selected as the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation and sponsor of the organization's JBF Awards, Taste America®, Chefs & Champagne® and Celebrity Chef Tour.
Sailing under the banner of its appropriate tag line "180º From Ordinary," Windstar offers an alternative to the typical cruise or resort vacation. The Windstar passenger sees the world from romantic small ships with luxurious accommodations, a casual yet elegant atmosphere, and exquisite service and cuisine.
You'll discover why Windstar is beyond the ordinary at every turn. In the way the crew greets you and caters to your smallest wishes, respectful yet familiar. In the casually elegant ambiance that pervades everything, from the wide and varied dining choices to your luxurious ocean-view stateroom or suite.
Discover Windstar's distinctive small ship advantage.


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In 1983, scientists created the first genetically modified plant. Fast forward a mere 29 years later and approximately 80% of all packaged food in the U.S. contains genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. But there's no way for you to tell--producers aren't required to use any labeling that indicates the use of GE crops.
That may soon change in California, where Proposition 37 (AKA the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act) will be placed on voter ballots in the upcoming November election. If passed, the proposition will require most foods containing GE ingredients (with the exception of alcoholic beverages, dairy, meat, and poultry) to come with special labeling.


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One of the things I have noticed in the last few years is that we are becoming more isolated and less social. How many times have you gone to a restaurant or a store and seen people with their noses glued to their smart phone? Most often totally oblivious to everyone around them. Perhaps your own dinner table is this way as well with everyone Facebooking or YouTubing instead of actually talking to each other.
We are getting distant with our fellow man and we are teaching our children to do the same. We need to reverse this and become social again. One of the ways you can do that is to have a family game night. Pick a night that works for everyone and have the rule of no phones on during the two hour time period. Pick a game that everyone agree's on, or even do a hat draw and pick one randomly and then play together for a could of hours. Its fun and you might just learn something along the way.
One of the games that I like to play is Watch Ya Mouth - Throwdown Edition. It is a fun game that is good for kids or adults 12 years or older. Its great for families because it involves 4 or more family members at a time. You get 142 cards, 10 colored mouthpieces, 4 straws, 4 noisemakers, and 2 throwdown balls. There are over 100 head to head mouth piece challenges.
You have to wear a mouth piece ( there are 2 different sizes one for kids and one for adults) and depending on the card drawn you have to speak a phrase or do a challenge. Things like making the most noise with a noisemaker, or drink a glass of water the fastest are not going to be easy with your mouth wide open. It is a funny game that will definitely bring your family together.
I had to use the smaller mouthpiece as the adult one was too big for my mouth. Also be prepared for drooling because it WILL happen, but it had me laughing right away!
This is one of the phrases you are asked to say while having the mouthpiece in. I will say it isn't easy but it is hilarious!
You get 4 colored straws for challenges, mouth pieces in large and small sizes, cards, a dice, a timer, two plastic balls, and four noise makers. Make sure you clean the pieces after each use. The mouthpieces are dishwasher safe and the others can be cleaned with soap and water.
Right now you can save 15% off this amazing game with the code 15THROWDOWN so visit
Watch Ya Mouth today to get yours for the holidays!


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- Sauber news
Kaltenborn admits Barrichello interest
Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn has confirmed Rubens Barrichello is being considered as a potential driver for the team in 2014.
With Sergey Sirotkin lined up to be one of the team's race drivers next season, a driver with more experience would be attractive to Sauber with so many new technical regulations coming in to effect. Amid reports that Barrichello has held talks with Sauber, Kaltenborn was willing to acknowledge he is a candidate for a seat next year.
"I always have to give you the same answer on that!" Kaltenborn said. "We will announce in due course … I think there are a couple of options out there and we know what he has - his experience - we know that he would like to come back, so let's see."
However, Kaltenborn also ruled out the chance of Barrichello appearing for the team as early as the Brazilian Grand Prix this year.
"I don't see any possibility there because we have no reason to change our two drivers for that race."


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Arsenal FC: Ricardo Alvarez Is the First Signing for Next Season
Monday, 23 May 2011
With the fantastic and breathtaking Premier League coming to an end for the season, Arsenal stands at the fourth position in the table under the leadership of manager Arsene Wenger. After making an eye-catching start and going on with a style at the midseason, Arsenal finally succumbed to pressure and lost out in the silver race.
Wenger promises to splash cash for Arsenal squad next season in an exception to his trend of low-budget signings. With captain Cesc Fabregas already again in the centre of "he-stays-he-leaves" drama, it seems like Samir Nasri is also on the verge of leaving Emirates this summer.
Though the news comes up everyday with a twist that whether Wenger wants to make stay Fabregas of let him go for a tag of $50 million, nothing has been confirmed about the status. As for the "contract rebel" Nasri (yes, that is what they call him now for not signing a contract), Wenger is trying to sort out a deal soon so that Nasri cannot leave for free at least.
It is obvious that Wenger will buy some players if he sells out some of his teammates, and reports claim that he has already made his first move in signing an attacking midfielder for the Gunners.
As per reports, Wenger has agreed to move for a pre-contract signing for Ricardo Alvarez, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder who currently plays for Argnetinian club Velez Sarsfield. Ricardo's contract runs out in June with his club, so Wenger can land him for free.
Th Argentinian plays as a second striker as well as an attacking midfielder for Velez. However, stats show that he scored a mere two goals in 46 matches from that position.
The 6'2" Alvarez played only 46 matches during his spell of three years at Velez, which is due to the fact that he was injured. Reports fail to identify a solid reason as to why Wenger is going for this under-average player from an unusual recruiting location.
On the positive side, reports claim that Alvarez has plenty of pace to bust attacks into the box and can run across the midfield to play at different attacking positions. He is also know for his powerful shots from range which can (sometimes) score a goal or two.
Arsene Wenger surely looks to make his attacking options stronger with this signing, but will this gamble be a good one for the Gunners? Wenger should definitely look forward to spending good cash in summer now to add some amount of satisfaction to the Gunners.