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CLIF Bar Energy Bar, Variety Pack - 2.4 oz. - 24 ct.Item #: 913402 |Model #: 160228+ More details
- 8 - White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
- 8 - Chocolate Chip
- 8 - Crunchy Peanut Butter
EAS 100% Whey Protein Powder, Chocolate (5 lbs.)Item #: 345623+ More details
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100% pure whey protein to build and repair lean muscle
CLIF Builder's 20g Protein Bar, Variety Pack - 2.4 oz. - 18 ct.Item #: 498205 |Model #: 160802+ More details
- 6 - Chocolate Mint
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Nature Valley Protein Bars are a tempting combination of roasted peanuts and luscious peanut butter – all flavored with rich, dark chocolate.
EAS 100% Whey Protein Powder, Vanilla (5 lbs.)Item #: 345637+ More details
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100% pure whey protein to build and repair lean muscle
MuscleTech Premium Whey Protein - Chocolate - 5 lbs.Item #: 507212+ More details
You challenged us to make a better tasting protein powder, so we enlisted some of the world's best flavor houses to bring you a whole new protein taste experience. We know you'll enjoy the delicious new flavor of this award-winning formula!
MuscleTech Premium Whey Protein - Vanilla - 5 lbs.Item #: 507183 |Model #: MTPRO005CCHOUS+ More details
You challenged us to make a better tasting protein powder, and we heard your demands. We enlisted some of the world's best flavor houses to bring you a whole new protein taste experience. We know you'll enjoy the delicious new flavor of this award-winning formula!
CLIF Mojo Trail Mix Bar, Variety Pack - 1.6 oz. - 24 ct.Item #: 28320 |Model #: 260301+ More details
- 8 - Mountain Mix
- 8 - Peanut Butter Pretzel
- 8 - Chocolate Almond Coconut
Premier Protein High Protein Shake, Chocolate (11 fl. oz., 12 pack)Item #: 549096 |Model #: 71420+ More details
Premier Nutrition High Protein Shake serves as a meal replacement or snack.
Slim-Fast Shakes Milk Chocolate - 10 fl. oz. - 20 ct.Item #: 625877+ More details
$4.50 off
Everyday Price $22.48 Instant Savings* $4.50 Now $17.98
Valid Aug 27 - Sept 21Instant Savings applied to total at checkout.
Limit 3 per membership.
Controls hunger up to 4 hours. Part of the 3, 2, 1 plan.
*All terms and conditions apply. Instant Savings are subject to availability and valid dates. Select Instant Savings are available online. For Click 'n' Pull® purchases, Instant Savings can be redeemed at point of sale at the club with the primary membership card. State and local laws may require sales tax to be charged on the pre-discounted price of an item with an Instant Savings offer. Prices shown are pre-tax amounts. To view your Instant Savings account, visit SamsClub.com/instantsavings or download the Sam's Club® app. Member must have a registered email on SamsClub.com in order to access the Instant Savings account page online. Visit SamsClub.com/instantsavings for program details and terms and conditions. Instant Savings may take up to 24 hours to load to a membership account. Items and prices may vary in-club. Instant Savings offers shown are valid in the U.S. only, excluding Puerto Rico. Offers valid August 27 – September 21.
KIND Plus Bars, Variety Pack (1.4 oz. bars,18 ct.)Item #: 114253+ More details
- All Natural
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Variety pack includes: (9) Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein and (9) Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants.
Nature Valley Greek Yogurt Protein Bar - 18 ct.Item #: 190708+ More details
Nature Valley Greek Yogurt Protein Bars have 10 grams of protein and are a good source of fiber. Real fruit for a flavor that's good any time of day.
The Right Kind of Nutrition
The best way to watch your calorie intake is to plan ahead and maintain portion sizes. You have to watch what you eat. Snacks are meant to keep us satisfied until our next meal and should not replace an entire meal. At Sam's Club, you will find a huge selection of tasty and nutritional snacks that help you to keep your health in check. From high protein bars to multi vitamin drinks, we have it all. It's always easy to keep children happy with a protein shake or twisted fruit packs. These items have organic elements and are available in a wide range of flavors. We also have products like whey protein for sports enthusiasts and competitors who exercise daily and need high protein supplements.
You must always make sure to stock your kitchen with items that are safe and conducive to a good physical state of being. Fill your snack bags with the right products and find healthier options to satisfy those intense food cravings.
Sam's Club provides nutritional drinks and nutritional snacks that cater to all your health needs.


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The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. BSA is committed to the moral, ethical, and spiritual development of our youth.
Duty to God is a basic tenet of the Scout Oath and Law. Scouting does not seek to impose its beliefs upon others who do not share them. Virtually every religion is represented in Scouting and the BSA does not define or interpret God. That is the role of the Scout's family and religious advisors. To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, most religious groups have developed the religious emblems programs. The Boy Scouts of America has approved of these programs and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform.
How to Get Started on Religious Emblems Programs
Youth members must obtain the specific booklet for their religion. Scroll down for links, contact the religious organization directly, or check with the Scout Shop. Each youth member needs his or her own booklet to document progress. Some religions offer adult manuals for counselors and mentors. Parents must review the program guidelines. Some programs require participants to be official "members" of the religious institution. Age/grade requirements vary from program to program.
Each program sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor. Some programs require clergy to serve as counselors; other programs allow parents or other family members to serve as counselors. Families should talk to their religious leaders and show them the booklet before beginning any program. Most programs require that they be completed under the auspices of that religious organization. Many programs require the signature of the local religious leader. The youth member needs to complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the emblem.


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Our company culture represents core values, such as integrity, respect, honesty and trust. Our members share a strong work ethic and are held to a high standard of excellence through responsibility and accountability to our customers.
PL Property Investments is a full-service property investment firm that provides professional and high quality service for residential investor property management, tenant occupancy, and real estate sales or purchases in the Tri-Valley and San Joaquin Valley. We handle residential and commercial investment properties in the following cities:


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Emily's RubbishComment1
this wiki
- "Hello, Emily! My name is Whiff, because I'm a bit smelly!"
- — Whiff
| Emily's Rubbish/
Emily and the Garbage
Michael Angelis
|Air date
September 3rd,
|Previous episode
|Next episode
Emily's Rubbish, retitled Emily and the Garbage in American releases, is the second episode of the eleventh season.
Emily is asked to help a new engine called Whiff, but is mortified to discover he is scruffy and smelly and that the two are to collect rubbish trucks. Emily grudgingly sets off with Whiff, but is teased dreadfully when she meets Gordon, Henry and James. She runs away from him, but sees him again at a level crossing. She hides down a branch line, in a tunnel and by a water tower in succession, but is seen every time. She finally manages to lose him when she sees Spencer in front of some rubbish trucks that he refuses to move. Emily asks the others to help, but they refuse, and Emily realises Whiff is the only one who will. After finding him among some trucks, the two pull the trucks away so Spencer can get through.
- Thomas
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Emily
- Spencer
- Whiff
- Elizabeth
- Murdoch (cameo)
- Molly (cameo)
- Neville (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)
- The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (mentioned)
- Salty (deleted scene)
- In the American narration, Henry gained a Western accent.
- This episode marks Murdoch and Elizabeth's first appearances since the eighth season.
- Salty could have been intended to have a role in this episode as he is seen in a deleted scene.
- Going by production order, this is the fourth episode of the eleventh season.
- Emily has moved more than six trucks at a time before, so it seems unlikely she would not be able to move five trucks of rubbish.
- There is no signalman nor a signalbox at the junction where Emily goes down the branch line, so Whiff should have followed Emily down the branchline instead of carrying on along the main line.
- Could not Spencer have reversed to a junction and taken another route?
- When Emily puffs in the tunnel, some of her smoke disappears, indicating that the scene was cut.
- Emily should have the right of way at the level crossing.
- Elizabeth has Bertie's horn sound.
- When Emily says "Now no one will laugh at me for working with a smelly engine", her driving wheels are not moving.
- How could Whiff be at the otherside of the crossing if he was behind Emily?
- Emily and Whiff's crews shouldn't have allowed their engines to chase each-other around the island the way they did in the episode.
- James: Who's your messy new friend with the funny whistle Emily?
- Gordon: We smelled you coming from miles!
- Whiff: My name's Whiff!
- Henry: It suits you! Pweeeeeeh!
- Wooden Railway - Whiff and Whiff and the Garbage Cars 3-pack
- My First Thomas - Whiff
- TrackMaster - Whiff
- Take-Along - Whiff (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play - Whiff
- My Thomas Story Library - Whiff
In Other Languages
|Emily og Piff
|Emily and Whiff
|Emily and The Garbage Collection


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Ed. Note. I asked Seth Godin to finish out Share the Podium month here at WWDS. Seth, as many of you know, is the author of the most popular marketing blog in the world and twelve best selling books. You can go here or here to read more about him. Here's what Jay Levinson says about Seth.
Take Leo Burnett, David Ogilvy, Bill Bernbach and Mark Twain. Combine their brains and shave their heads. What's left? Seth Godin.
You might be asking about now, "How did GL convince Seth Godin to write an original guest post for his blog?" How I was able to break into his writing schedule, what with his business travels and around-the-world speaking engagements? Get your pens out and open up your Never-Thought-of-That-Career- Tip notebook for this WWDS-pearl.
Here's how: I just asked.
So, without further comment, and for the very last guest post of the Month….Here's Seth:
Don't you dare.
There are a few reasons for this. The first is that the act of trying to get a job corrupts you. It pushes you to be average, to fit in and to do what you're told.
The second is that this act moves the responsibility from you to that guy who didn't hire you. It's his fault. As soon as you start spending your day trying to please the guy, you've blown it.
The third is that the economy is terrible and the best jobs you're going to get are lousy.
So, what should you do?
Today, right now, while the opportunity costs (look it up on Wikipedia) are the lowest they will ever be, go start something.
Start a business. A tiny one.
Train people in social media. Run an eBay selling business. Sell coffee from a truck every morning at the train station. Run spring break tours by bus for other college students. Start a newsstand on campus. Run a birthday cake delivery service. Train executives in public speaking. Start a dog poop shoveling business.
Start something. Run it. Be responsible.
1. You'll probably make more money
2. You'll certainly learn more
3. If you're good at it, people will offer you a job
4. If you're not, then why on earth would someone actually hire you? Go get good at it.
Have fun. No whining. This is your moment, go make a difference.
You can thank me later.
by Seth Godin, exclusively for WWDS
Ed.Note. I greatly appreciate Seth's advice. I am all for starting companies; as a matter of fact, even I get calls from would-be entrepreneurs asking for all sorts of advice, ranging from "Got any good business ideas?" (seriously) to "I just want to be the creative leader, will you just take my idea and run with it and make a company out of it?"(seriously II)
I have written about starting a new business before, here and here. But if you don't have a new business idea, jump over to Mark Cuban's blog, where you can read approximately 2,000 new business ideas. For those who really-really want to forge ahead and start your own, browse through the 100 Lessons post where I list a 'few' of the lessons I have learned in 25+ years of doing startups.
If you found yourself on my blog, thanks mostly to Seth, thanks for visiting and come back when you can. Sign up for the RSS feed or email. If you are really only job hunting, take a look at LINKUP.com, the best job search engine on the web. LinkUp has jobs pulled ONLY from a company's own website, no job boards. (More than 50% of the jobs on Linkup are never advertised off the company's own website or to the public.)


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Come Recommended's Core Values
- Transparency: We are transparent with our team and clients at every level. Go ahead, ask us anything.
- Empathy: We understand and sympathize with the job search and hiring process. In fact, most of us have been there ourselves.
- Work Hard, Play Hard: We work tirelessly at making Come Recommended a better experience for you. But a little Wii Tennis and rockin' out to Pandora never hurt anyone, either.
- Value Relationships: Relationships are our business, plain and simple. We value them above all else.
- Office Politics is for Offices: In case you didn't know, we are a virtual team located throughout the U.S. All team members are chosen extremely carefully for a number of reasons but most of all because they need to fit within our "no office politics" culture.
- Your Success is Our Success: What else is there to say? In addition to sharing a virtual high-five when you succeed, know that we live and die by your success. Reach out to any team member at any time if you think of a way we can help you further.
- Passion for Helping Others Fulfill Their Dreams: We believe there's no greater feeling than helping others fulfill their dreams — whether it's landing their dream job/internship or expanding the team of their dream company.
- Paper Only Kills Trees and Doesn't Advance Careers: Down with the traditional resume! We're pro-profile here at Come Recommended.


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22 Comments »
- Rokkx said:
looking forward it ;D
- Klein said:
Looks Promising ..
- しずか ^ U ^ said:
shin >0<
- dr anime said:
holy shit so many like before the sub. i got to check this out
- Alvakarp said:
When eng subs?
- cbgal716 said:
man i wish i could understand!!!!!!!but by looking and observing it looks so good.oh man someone please tell when this will be subbed because once it is i will rush to this site to watch it right away.i want it subbed SOOOOOOO BADLY!!!!!!!!
- Heot said:
Honnestly, the voice of the main character is irritating, the story is OK but clearly some kind of harem girl.
- Nekomimi said:
looks like this is going to be a Dating sim or just a obvious harem anime. Looks promising but it's a bit early to say when there is only 1 episode. But it actually gives a weird vibe, don't know what it is but i feel irritated and very confused about it. :l
- Al said:
- cbgal716 said:
can't believe i got to finally watch it subbed.i saw it yesterday even though it was raw just to get a feel for it and knew i had to see it when it was subbed and i am so happy and can't wait for the next episode:)))))
- Peweshtry said:
Interesting >.>
- exodiar said:
all the male cast seem to have super weird eyes … i find this a strange thing… keep thinking it's important
- Avrai said:
umm i dont get it o___o ill need more episodes to understand the plot
- Priscilla said:
This is a really good anime. I like it a lot .
- x13xavi said:
Can someone please tell me what song is on 1:50 part please
- Vyse said:
It's actually based off a visual novel for PSP. Unfortunately, its not been translated into English. If your curious about it check out the Visual Novel Database.
- C.King said:
all the male characters with the exception of the diamond rep look like a member of a villainous organization in a video game or action anime, i like club rep's character though with the long explanation with every joke.
i know nothing about amnesia but i don't get why every plot with it has the character so depressing. the way i see it, memories make the person so they should enjoy a new life and adventure without worries of the past
- Then000bster said:
Al couldn't have said it better. Seriously wtf! Looks like it'll be a nice plot twister.
- x13xavi said:
So no one one know what does the name of the melody on 1:50 and almost a thread ?
- Tentensaidso said:
The boys look like came out from Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000%
- XLR8R said:
am i the only who noticed one of the guys in the opening kind of looks like N from pokemon black/white?
- theHaremKing said:
its really confusing !
Leave your response!
Read Free Manga Online | Watch Anime Online | English Dubbed Anime | Watch Anime Online | Watch TV Episodes Online | More


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Great Fall Decorations For The Home
Ready to decorate your home for fall? Keep your home cozy and stylish this season.
Philadelphia Priest Found Unsuitable For Ministry
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia says a priest who was suspended after federal agents seized a computer from his inner-city rectory has been found unsuitable for ministry.


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virgo, actively seek balance.
libra, trust these are the right decisions.
scorpio, separate fact from feeling.
sagittarius, remind yourself how you got this far.
capricorn, it is a time of luck.
aquarius, unpack your current fear.
pisces, take on this challenge.
aries, you will find a place to belong.
taurus, let it happen.
gemini, toast to self-acceptance.
cancer, embrace the love around you.
leo, you are safe here.
—SEPTEMBER HOROSCOPES, by Blythe Baird (via blythebrooklyn)


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Why Manhattan Price DATA Will Stay Strong in 2008
A: The power of the data! Now that Bloomberg came out with a 'Manhattan Slowdown' article that rippled across the blogosphere, I want to explain to you why I would NOT expect future data reports to show a slowdown in prices! The reason is in the new development closing dynamic and the fantasy of perceived timing; deals signed 10 months ago that close two weeks ago are considered recent and reflective of current market conditions. If you want to monitor the health of the current NYC real estate marketplace, stick to watching sales volume and inventory trends as a reflection on buyer confidence.
NOTE: I wrote this two days ago after I read the Bloomberg piece, not after today's Q1 report; so I referenced the older Bloomberg article to make my point.
If a contract was signed in 2007 for a new development that closes 12 months later in 2008, the price data reported will reflect the market conditions for when the original contract was signed! However, human nature will perceive the future report as current and in line with the market at the time of the reports publish date! No this is not an episode of LOST with Desmond jumping back and forth through time! Its a simple acknowledgment that: PRICING DATA THAT IS YET TO COME WILL REFLECT PRICES PAID FOR NEW DEV CONDO'S MANY MONTHS EARLIER!
Because of this dynamic and the fact that Manhattan has plenty of new construction deals waiting to close at high prices per square foot, if we are to grasp the health of the CURRENT market we should look at inventory and sales volume trends! Otherwise we will likely be confused by stale misleading data.
Let me show you an example of what I mean. Did you notice that the Bloomberg article published Monday showed the following trends:
a) Year-over-Year Sales Volume SLOWED 6.4%
b) Inventory ROSE 15% Since Start of Year
...leading us to believe that the market was softening, sales volume slowing, and inventory rising. Yet, the article later stated...
c) Property Prices ROSE 14% to Median $850,000
d) Condo & Co-op Prices ROSE Throughout Year, UP 6.4% in Q4 from year earlier
...leading us to believe that prices are in the process of rising!
So what gives? How could prices rise as sales volume slows and inventory rises? The reason is because the prices component is NOT registered until after the deal closes; some 1-3 months generally from contract signing! For new development deals, a contract can be signed over a year in advance of the closing. Which leads me to tell everyone that 2008 will see the closings of thousands of new development units that were signed into contract in 2007!
QUESTION: How will the prices paid, especially the price per square foot paid, ultimately affect future quarterly price reports for Manhattan?
ANSWER: Positively! As new dev deals close, it will help to offset any weakness that may be occurring in the current existing resale marketplace causing a misleading and mysterious report that probably will not be in line with the sales volume & inventory trends at the time!
So, given the method of collecting closed sale prices, I would expect future Manhattan price data to remain strong as inventory & sales data (especially contracts signed data) more accurately represents the current marketplace at any given time!
Lets face it, sales of 15 CPW & The Plaza skewed last quarters pricing report and gave a very bullish yet misleading picture of our marketplace. According to Bloomberg's article, "Manhattan Home Prices Rise on Sales at Plaza Hotel":
Manhattan apartment prices rose 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter, boosted by sales at two new luxury developments, the Plaza Hotel and 15 Central Park West.Now we have hundreds of new developments that will be closing deals in 2008, that will do a similar thing!
"A lot of the gain has to do with the unique circumstances of these two major buildings closing about the same time," said Gregory Heym, chief economist for Terra Holdings LLC, the closely held company that owns New York brokers Brown Harris Stevens and Halstead Property. "The high-end properties really pushed up the average price."
Apartments at the Plaza Hotel and 15 Central Park West, which accounted for 7 percent of total condo sales in the quarter, sold for an average $6.95 million, Heym said. The median price of a Manhattan apartment, including condominiums and co-ops, was $850,000, compared with $799,000 in the same period in 2006, according to Radar Logic Inc., a New York real estate data firm.
Jonathan Miller, of Miller Samuel & Matrix blog, chimes in on this topic:
"The record prices we saw in the current quarter don't reflect the "on the ground" activity of the market this quarter due to the high number of closing within new developments that actually went to contract last year. There was an unusual weighting of high end properties that skewed the mix of sales this quarter. The barometer of the market for 2008 will be largely measured on 3 factors: number of sales, listing inventory and days on market. Sales activity leads price direction."Today's NY Times story, touches on this exact phenomenon after reporting on Manhattan real estate's Q1 report:
Sales in the first quarter were strong in part because nearly a third of the apartments that closed were for condos that buyers signed contracts for at least a year ago, according to data tracked by Brown Harris Stevens and Halstead.So, when a broker or a friend says to you, "yea but look, Manhattan prices are up 15% since last year..." you can brush that off as just babble! We are at now now! If you want to know what is going on now, stick with sales volume and inventory trends!
PS: Now you know why I am trying to track contracts signed & new listings! Lets try to stay ahead of the curve so that we can expect the unexpected!!
This hits the nail on the head. Noah - what impact, if any, do you think that these types of articles have on the market. One would think that buyers see through these articles by looking at comps and recent sales, while sellers may continue to cling to any sort of news/stats that support their prices. To me, this just perpetuates the stand-off, resulting in even higher inventory levels.
Im sure it may scare a few buyers off, and maybe even HELP to make a sell decision for some sellers who have been considering selling, but in the end, its still not enough inventory to warrant any crazy moves or a trend. If this continues and sales volume continues to drop and inventories continue to rise, then it might be the sign the lagging slowdown is here.
Manhattan slowdowns are generally short lived as it really is a market where buyers come alive if deals are to be had. Now we must see how sever the job losses and economic slowdown will be!
Still no inventory. Try to buy a reasonably priced 3 bedroom, 1700-foot-plus family apartment near transportation and in a good school district. The only ones I have seen are 10-20 percent more than I paid in summer-fall 2007. I would expect layoffs and uncertainty to cause prices to drop, but they still have not, and I still don't see any quality apartments at clearly lower prices. I also know of plenty of people who believe they can time the market, who are waiting on the sidelines for the "right" time. Boy, oh boy, when they realize that the world is not ending, that is massive pent up demand. They still don't want to move to suburbia, they still want to have kids, and they still don't have a Manhattan apartment with enough bedrooms.
Prices are up because even with the uncertainty, there are more buyers than sellers.
That's funny, "Buyer", I mean "Broker Posing as a Buyer", I actually am a buyer and I have seen much more product since the beginning of the year. My sweet spot is 2+BRs, and not only has inventory been shooting up, but price cuts are in full force.
Another interesting stat:
Inventory now above 6,500, a WHOPPING 23% INCREASE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY.
At several open houses this past weekend, brokers went out of their way to emphasize the negotiability of their prices. You should know this "Broker Posing as a Buyer"!
I've never felt more comfortable as a potential buyer, and it just gets better by the day.
I am seeing weakness in one bedrooms and small two bedrooms.
Large two bedrooms (1,500 square feet plus) and three+ bedrooms are stronger, and less available, than ever before. I don't know if "Buyer" is a broker, but you still can't find affordable 3+ bedrooms at reasonable prices in a good neighborhood. Prices on these babies are higher than even 3-4 months ago, and I don't see any increase in inventory on large family style apartments.
What I see is in line with Wes & anon #4..3+ BR market is still very tight! Trend is clearly rising. Thats the important takeaway
I should say, I've never been more comfortable as a P
Wes: "but you still can't find affordable 3+ bedrooms at reasonable prices in a good neighborhood. Prices on these babies are higher than even 3-4 months ago, and I don't see any increase in inventory on large family style apartments."
Word up. Noah has to admit that prices are up, up, up, but wants to keep telling buyer clients that prices will fall. It's what they want to hear, but it's not true. Prices now have to fall about 10 percent, since Noah said prices will fall, just to break even. You heard it here first, prices Q4 will be higher than Q1, for median co-op resale.
Anon - I have posted here for about 8-9 months, since I found this site during my research during my buying process, and always under the same handle ("Buyer"). I believe Noah can confirm this for you. I work in finance. I paid cash for a 3-bed in the central Village last fall. Sold my 2 bed uptown shortly afterwards, top price ever for a 2 bed in the building. Show me a true 1700 foot plus 3 bed (with set back terrace) for less than 2 mill, doorman, top school near transport with all open windows and a landmarked view. Please document the falling prices with real listings. The data says prices are up across the board - one-beds, studios, 3-beds. co-ops, condos. You name it. Link a listing that says otherwise.
Of course buyers want lower prices. They may or may not get them. 6500 inventory is nothing. If it goes over 8000, with lots of family 3-beds among them, then I will accept prices likely to soften a bit.
But - do you want your money in stocks, bonds, cash, hedgefunds or NYC real estate? I have all of them, but feel quite safe with my NYC real estate.
I don't even think 1-beds will drop much. All the boomers are retiring to the city after selling their 'burb home.
I know this is kind of a strange comment, and I'll admit that it demonstrates that I really need to find a life, but I follow the StreetEasy new listings rather zealously, and I happened to notice that Elliman (the company who for some reason recently gave up listing number of bedrooms in a unit) has given up listing at all (at least since 03/31) in StreetEasy. Also, Elliman tends to list in StreetEasy a couple of days behind it's listings in the NYTimes.
This adds (unless StreetEasy is already capturing these units, I don't know how their system works, so I could be wrong) about 125 more units over the last three days, more if one accounts for the lag. (OK, I'll admit, I did a rough count using the NY Times database. Curiosity killed the cat, BUT satisfaction brought it back.) This may be nothing, but I found it curious.
you got me. I guess the jig is up
Crazy talk. The city is no longer that enticing to boomers retiring to the city, and will become much less so when the services are no longer so freely available because of the economy. Retiring boomers hit their stride returning about three years ago. I haven't heard that much about their return since. Plus, many of the traditional retirement markets are now DIRT cheap, AND we have out own retiring baby boomers who may very well be looking for a change of scenery. With their investments tanking, they may NEED to sell to have the cash to live, and to MOVE. Many people have mandatory retirement ages imposed by their employers.
There is a terrible shortage of school spots available, at every level. Preschools hit this year, kindergarten was awful, but is expected to truly suck next year, and I don't even want to speculate about the number of talented public middle school students who are going to be looking for spots due to the betterment of the elementary school system (certain schools, of course) in the next few years. Oh, but of course we have plenty of money to build the additional schools we need. We will have an AMAZING overabundance of the 3+ bedroom apartment in 3-5 years, what with our boomers retiring and the new construction occurring.
Brenda - You are a cheery sort. Have you considered buying in dirt cheap Florida or Arizona? The main problem with that plan, is you need to live in - Florida or Arizona. That's the catch, so to speak.
In 3-5 years there is an overabundance of large apartments (even though they are only 6 percent of the Manhattan RE market). How do you figure? These people retire to Florida? They move to Maplewood? All once their kids graduate elementary school?
Manhattan has the jobs and the money and this will only continue. Read Richard Florida's work. "Superstar" cities attract talent that adds value in the modern economy. This does not happen in Arizona.
Barring a rise in crime in the city, I see no reason for 2 career couples to ever want to move back the burbs en masse.
Again, Q4 beats Q1 for co-op median resale. You heard it here first. Noah will be here to explain that up does not mean up, but it will be up nevertheless.
No, Buyer, I'm not particularly cheery. I'm fairly angry, and probably not for the reasons you'd think. I think the Street has alot of explaining to do, along with the Fed, the Administration, the mortgage industry, the credit rating agencies, the monolines, etc.
$33000 a year per child and rising for one year of private school? Falling prices in Westchester and NJ? A city that arbitrarily just told school districts to cut spending, with Bloomberg saying that any financial organization can find a percent or so to shave?
Capital projects halting because there's no money? 200,000 commercial banking jobs being lost, who knows how many Ibankers and corporate attorneys? How many retirees can continue to afford Manhattan? Tax abatements beginning to phase down, affecting resale prices in new developments?
As to Manhattan prices, well we'll just have to see, but right now I see alot of developments with alot of inventory, and much of it is not yet "released." The fringe areas, such as Harlem, LIC, Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn are looking kind of frightening. Most of these developments are looking for the same sort of dollar, the highly paid young professional. The other Manhattan and Riverdale developments are looking for the highly paid young professional and the VERY highly paid professionals with families. This is not an infinite subset of the population.
AND the construction continues. There was an article recently, I think in NYMag (you can link from here), about how the upcoming change in the 421a tax abatement laws has continued to goose development.
AND there was a sobering article in the NYTimes (you can also link from here) about how more New Yorkers than was thought may be less than prime. 28% of loans written for NYC (I know, this includes the boroughs) were written with piggy-back HELOCs. I can't help but think that tightening credit standards will do nothing positive for the new construction condo market.
Buyer - now I understand why you're pumping the market so aggressively:
It is crystal clear to me now.
Look, I hope you love your apartment, and god knows if I had just bought this past fall (good god) I would not be torturing myself by following the market.
My advice to you, Buyer, is to enjoy your apartment and don't pay attention to the market. Don't read blogs, don't follow inventory/price cuts. Just enjoy your place and stay long term.
If you intend to flip, however, I would say your timing was about as bad as it can get, and I would advise you to rethink your investment horizon.
anon - Do you own or rent? For how long? You seem like this blog to have some cognitive dissonance going - prices are up. Up, up, up. Not just averages or big apartments or condos or 15 CPW. All apartments, all categories in prime Manhattan. I can't help you if you buy on the Gowanus canal because a broker tells you it is the next hot thing. Prime Manhattan co-ops are up in all categories. People don't flip co-ops, that's why there are almost none of them for sale, but if I did, I would be ahead right now by at least 10 percent maybe more.
You have good ¢, and you are not the only one who is angry. Channel it into something positive and make a difference even if it is only a small thing. It helps, and small things have a way of growing. :D
Buyer - look, if it helps you feel better about your recent purchase to tell yourself that the market is still booming, that's fine. Don't let me get in your way.
All I can share with you are my own observations, which is that properties are sitting longer on the market, price reductions are in full force - they are actually accelerating, even compared to the fall, and the credit markets are frozen. I have been to many many open houses, as I prefer to understand the market well before I purchase, and loads of brokers have been telling me that prices are negotiable. This is a 180 degree change from even last fall. The market has changed dramatically.
So there is NO rush to buy. We potential buyers are extraordinarily comfortable watching the landscape get better for us by the day. I save myself money every day by doing this.
The recent articles are only used by brokers to pump prices up and recent buyers (such as yourself) to rationalize perhaps an ill-timed purchase. Everyone else who's close to the market knows the real story with recent prices (see Urbandigs' excellent column of several days ago painstakingly explaining why those articles are putting forth misleading statistics).
Anyway, again, if you just bought, you should enjoy your place and avoid reading about the market. Or you can continue to post about the wisdom of your purchase, how the market's "going up, up, up", and look foolish among readers who know you're rationalizing a recent purchase.
Actually, for the first time in a couple of years I'm seeing some much more reasonable deals on Tribeca loft resales, about $1000 per square foot for 1600 sf properties. These had all but disappeared until now.
Also, go onto StreetEasy and take a look at those properties with reduced prices. Hopefully brokers are at least trying to price new listings properly (they obviously need the cooperation of their clients) so recent properties shouldn't have as many price cuts, but many of them do. Look at the coop resale market, specifically, where some people may actually need to sell.
CR - thank you. You are right. I've worked in soup kitchens before, in hospitals with children, and it DOES matter. I'll be thinking of how I might contribute. Our daughter is older now, and I finally have more time to do something, so I'll have to commit myself to helping. It SO angers me, however, that those who have been responsible for our welfare have chosen only to take so rapaciously.
With all that free time on your hands now might be the perfect moment to enter the political arena. Someone has to get elected...it might as well be someone who actually gives a damn about something other than their ego.
Buyer - your words are definitely not indicative of the current market nor what the market has been in the past 1-3 months. Every broker I speak to is very slow. Sales are not selling as originally thought. Prices are coming down to reality. Its NOT that general prices are asking below last years levels, its that overpriced properties that USED TO SELL, are not selling! Plus, some deals are going at below last years levels.
The fact that sellers STILL expect 10% appreciation since this time last year, is what is causing a rise in inventory. If sellers keep this up, they are in for a rude awakening as inventory will continue to trend higher during the course of 2008.
I truly think that you do not understand the effect on buyer confidence that is going on right now, at the same time that we are in a recession and the lending market has gotten extremely tough! I am about to lose a deal because my buyer cant secure a committment; credit score excellent but banks now require very conservative debt/service ratios and if you cant document that, well then you are out of luck.
Noah - I just did a Natefind.com search on average Village post-war 3-bedrooms of 1600-2000 feet (listing). They are asking 2.4 to 2.6 million, more than 25% above what I paid last summer. Maybe they have to "cut" their asking price 15%. Still way above last summer.
Perhaps after Bear people feel they should get a discount. Maybe it will happen. But so far, median prices are way up from when this site has been predicting a crash. Prices have to fall 10 percent from current transactions last quarter, just to break even from when this site suggested timing the Manhattan real estate market.
Buyers always want cheaper prices. But sellers at present don't agree. We shall see. I still claim median co-op resale is higher Q4 than Q1. (Also, if, as I did, you have to sell your old place when you buy a new place, "timing" makes even less sense.)
I still don't see those cheap family apartments people keep telling me about. Could someone provide a link, please??
Buyer - well I dont know natefind's reach for their listings, nor do I view asking prices as a leading indicator of a market (a seller can ask whatever they want, its where it sells that is important), and I wouldnt even look to PRICING data as a indicator of current health of Manhattan real estate; given the lagging nature of the metric.
With that said, and as I ALWAYS stated here on urbandigs (go look at my posts from early 2007 and you will notice I was bullish given very low inventory and very strong sales trends and activity), I look at inventory trends + sales activity from field + sales volume for signs of health!
Period. Jonathan Miller obviously thinks the same way. Also, if your simply talking about W Village or Chelsea, or SoHo, of course those tight and high demand areas will not be indicative of overall Manhattan as a whole. W Village is one of the most highly desireable and lowest inventories neighborhoods of Manhattan. We must look at it from bigger picture. And bigger pictures in y view shows a hit to buyer confidence (not a depression style hit, just a decline in confidence in general), slower sales volume, and rising inventory. I use this as leading indicators into where the market may be headed. I dont see those cheap family apts either, and I dont think you will until 2009! 2008 will be the year inventory rises, as I stated many times, and clearly its happening this way so far.
Interesting post. This leads me to believe that co-op price changes are a better indication of the market since new developments are all condos, and not co-ops.


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Wilson Club Super Sling Tennis BagItem Number: 18866376
Price: $49.99
Free Shipping Eligible on Qualifying Purchases Over $49! Up to $15 Shipping Credit. (See Promotion Details)
Product Information
Customer Reviews
The Wilson® Club Super Sling Bag is an eye-catching equipment bag option for club tennis players and amateur athletes. Featuring a unique sling design that sits comfortably across your chest, this black tennis bag features a separate shoe compartment that keeps the rest of your gear protected from damp, sweaty shoes. Constructed PVC-free with durable hardware, the Club Sling Bag is a perfect fusion of functionality and style.
- Sling design offers comfortable padding across your chest
- Ideal bag for club tennis players and amateur athletes
- Several accessory compartments store and organize your gear
- Internal laptop/tablet pocket
- Shoe compartment separates your wet, smelly shoes from the rest of your gear
- Premium, PVC-free construction and hardware for long-lasting durability
- Vendor color: black
- Model: WRZ852398
- Wilson
Country of Origin: China


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The Chimney Cleaning Log
How it Works..Creosote (tar) is a flammable material which can ignite causing a fire in your chimney.The Chimney Cleaning Log contains a mixture of special additives that are dispersed during the process of burning. The additives are released through the smoke and adhere to the creosote. Over a period of 2 weeks a chemical reaction will take place and the creosote in your chimney may become brittle and begin to flake away.As you continue to burn wood during this 2 week period, the heat from the fires will treat the creosote and may cause the creosote to disperse as a fine powder or break away from the chimney wall and fall back into the firebox in the form of small particles.Any remaining creosote is less likely to result in a chimney fire. It is also rendered more brittle, allowing for easier and more effective mechanical removal.


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April 22, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Another bum day at home. 'Spent it burning clients' dvds and updating websites.
2. Clubhouse sandwich at Pancake House with my parents (yes there are restos open for business on Good Friday)
3. Biking around the subdivision
4. Coffee buns from Kopi Roti (it's also open. hehe)
5. The annual lomonorth wasakan @ Ron's place :D
April 21, 2011
5 thing to be thankful for:
1. Skyping with Sophia, my sister, and Patrick from Ohio :D
2. My new blog. Harhar
3. Running/biking at UP
4. Korean food fest somewhere in Don Antonio Heights with my family
5. Free time to rethinking about my goals/what I want in life
April 20, 2011
Holy Wednesday
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Free day today :D
2. Free lunch at Charlie's c/o my siste :)
3. Spending time with my sister's family. We accompanied my nieces as they bought bikes in Quiapo :D
4. Late afternoon bike ride at UP. 'Had dirty ice cream
5. Sunflowers :D
posted about this day in my new blog
April 19, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Max's lunch with law school friends Anna, Tricia, and Grace. 'Ordered the usual, clubhouse + veggie lumpia bites
2. Having the grandparents here at home
3. Good run at UP again
4. Our ever-faithful yaya, Manang Lina's birthday :) She's been with us since my older sister was 2, now she's almost 40. Wahaha
5. Chooks-to-go chicken. Hehe
April 18, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Carpooling with Pam
2. Having new associates at the office :)
3. Lunch at the SC with Zsams, Pam and Maebel
4. Accompanying our new lawyer officemates as they sign the roll of attorneys. Congrats!! :) I feel so old. And less of a lawyer (surrounded by all the new lawyers in suits while I was in jeans. Hehe)
5. Again, running/biking in UP. Hehe
UP with family :) We didn't know the University Graduation was scheduled on the same day. Noynoy was there and naturally, his presence attracted a group of student protesters.
April 17, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Shooting Rafa's 1st birthday :)
2. Seeing my cutest godchild, Lexi :D
3. Elarz lechon! Haha
4. Spending time with the family at UP (again)
5. KFC dinner. Still not tired of it even if we're served KFC for lunch at almost all wedding preps
April 16, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Shooting Frances and Ren's prenup :D Frances was my high school batchmate from MC. It was fun catching up with her on high school memories. Hehe. Congrats to you both! :)
2. Very creative and fun prenup. Haha. Loved the angry birds toys. Cool AVP song too (Photobooth by Friendly Fires)
3. Having Rollie and Diane shoot with me. Thanks guys :D
4. Conti's merienda + Royce chocolates from the couple :D
5. Spending time with Diane at CBTL Trinoma. And seeing Lexi! :D (Jade's baby)
April 15, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Biking/running at UP
2. Free dinner at Tong Yang, SM Fairview (c/o my parents hehe)
3. Family time
4. Getting my pay from previous shoots :)
5. Plans to shoot in Banaue soon. 'Hope it pushes through though
April 14, 2011
5 things to be thankful for:
1. Cookies from Gonuts Donuts <3 Only P30!
2. Getting to watch Senior Year at Trinoma :D
3. Running at UP again. Yahoo :D
4. Getting a copy of Murakami's book, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running". I love Murakami. This is perfect for my new running habit :)
5. Kebab Korner dinner


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
It's an editorial, an opnion, and nothing else.
It's an editorial, an opnion, and nothing else.
With that said, I don't see what's wrong with quest text. Short of full voice over, text is just another form of storytelling. People just need to get some more patience and enjoy good writing. If you don't like texts, then RPGs might be a bad genre for you.
Also, do you really want a 5 minutes in game cinematic for "we have too many wolves around here, go kill 15 of them"?


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Yes, another secure and ephemeral messaging app. There's Wickr, Snapchat, Confide, so what makes Wiper Messenger different? I've had the chance to play around with the new free chatting app on iOS, and it seems to act as a fusion of WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Wickr. The app prompts you for your email address or phone number in order to create your account, and then you are brought to a fairly simple interface with three tabs across the bottom: Chats, Contacts, and More. Let's go tab-by-tab:
Facebook Messenger finally arrives on iPad, complete with calling and stickers
Facebook today updated its Messenger for iOS app finally adding a full iPad version. The iPad version works like the version found on the iPhone and iPod touch but takes advantage of the much larger display by showing more content like message threads while in other messages. The iPad version also features the same calling features found on the iPhone and iPod touch versions. Facebook's various supported sticker packs are also featured on the messaging app for iPad. Read more
NYTimes for iPad, Facebook Messenger, Aperture, Printer Pro for iPhone, FX Photo Studio, more
NYTimes for iPad version 2.5.3: The New York Times has updated its iPad app today with optimizations for the new iPad's smaller display:
- Optimized for the iPad Mini
Facebook Messenger version 2.02: On top of "other improvements and bug fixes," Facebook has added the ability to give feedback about its iOS Messenger app from within settings:
What's New in Version 2.0.2
– Visit your settings to give feedback about the app
– Other improvements and bug fixes
- MacBook Pro Retina display support
– Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility
– New look
– Overall memory usage and performance improvements
– Color processing improvements
– Enhanced adjustment for all filters
– Bug fixes
-Addresses an issue that could cause a licensed copy of Aperture to prompt for a serial number with each launch
iDisplay Mini: A new iPhone and iPod touch only version of the app that allows you to use your iOS device as a second screen for Mac or PC is out today. Instead of getting the $5 universal app, you can get this iPhone only version for 99 cents.


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OR – Excalibur Comics 40th Anniversary Signing
July 18, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, Oregon, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television
Brian Michael Bendis, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, Michael Avon Oeming, Taki Soma, and David Marquez sign at Excalibur Comics on Wednesday August 6th at 6:00 p.m. for the store 40th anniversary!
Excalibur Books & Comics
2444 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214-3969
(503) 231-7351
OR – Image Comics Signing
June 26, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Oregon, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, Joe Keatinge, Jamie S. Rich, and Joshua Williamson for a Special Get Pop-Cultured Event at Barnes & Noble on Saturday July 19, 2014 at 3:00 PM! Come join as this wonderful lineup of authors discuss their work and sign books! Those who attend will be entered to win raffle prizes.
Barnes & Noble – Clackamas Town Ctr Mall
12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97086
OR – Pretty Deadly Signing
April 3, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Oregon, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Top Stories
Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick appears on Wednesday April 30 at the Portland TFAW from 6 to 9 p.m. to celebrate Pretty Deadly, her hit from Image Comics series co-created with Emma Ríos, Stop by the Pretty Deadly Volume 1 signing to purchase the first collected graphic novel and enjoy free food and beer (those 21+ with ID).
Kelly Sue DeConnick is one of the most prominent writers in comics today, with acclaimed runs on Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel, and Ghost. Pretty Deadly, DeConnick's fantasy western with artist Emma Ríos (Doctor Strange, Osborn), debuted in October 2013 to stellar reviews, and immediately sold out on release date.
Pretty Deadly Volume 1 presents the collected opening arc of Kelly Due DeConnick and Emma Ríos' surprise-hit series, which marries the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher. Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her origin story is a tale of retribution as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage!
Pretty Deadly Volume 1 will be available for purchase for just $9.99. Don't miss out on this opportunity to meet one of the hottest writers in comics April 30 at the Portland TFAW!
Things From Another World
2916 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
Image Comics Announces Schedule & Exclusives for Emerald City Comicon 2014
March 24, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Top Stories, Washington
Image Comics is pleased to announce the official Image booth signing schedule, panels, and exclusives that will be available at Emerald City Comic Con 2014 on March 28, 29, and 30. Several exciting Image creators including Kelly Sue DeConnick, Chip Zdarsky, Matt Fraction, Scott Snyder, Jason Aaron, and Greg Rucka will be signing at the Image booth (see full schedule below). Convention attendees interested in the indicated ticketed signings can come to the Image booth, #212, to collect their ticket, but arrive early as tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis!
For sale at the booth, in addition to award winning creator-owned Image titles, will be exclusive, numbered, art prints of WYTCHES, SOUTHERN BASTARDS, C.O.W.L., and SHUTTER for signings with Scott Snyder and Jock, Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, Kyle Higgins, and Joe Keatinge and Leila Del Duca. Each convention attendee will receive an exclusive THE WALKING DEAD #1 ECCC color variant—additional copies, as well as the B&W version, will be available to purchase at the Image booth.
Also exclusively for sale at the ECCC will be the hardcover edition of SEX CRIMINALS, VOL. 1—the critically-acclaimed series that has taken the comics world by storm and named best new series of the year by TIME magazine—available for $40 and an exclusive 18″ x 24″ print available for $25, at Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky's tables, C-10 and C-11. Purchased together, hardcover and art print will be available for $60. The FIVE GHOSTS #10 ECCC variant will also be for sale at Ed Brisson's table at X-04, and a THE FIELD #1 ECCC variant can be purchased at Frank Barbiere's table, X-03.
Image Comics is also proud to host several panels this year at ECCC that you won't want to miss. On Friday check out "Robert Kirkman's Skybound: On the Rise" and "Image Comics Presents Comedy in Comics." On Saturday join us for "Image Comics Presents Sex Criminals" and "Image Comics Presents Crime, Adventure, & Fantasy!" On Sunday we'll explore a popular speculative fiction genre in "Image Comics Presents Building a Better Dystopia."
Friday March 28
12 – 1 p.m. Eric Stephenson & Nate Bellegarde
1 – 2 p.m. Stuart Moore & Gus Storms
2 – 3 p.m. Brandon Graham & Simon Roy [TICKETED]
2 – 3 p.m. Joshua Williamson
3 – 4 p.m. Justin Greenwood & Antony Johnston
3 – 4 p.m. Jason Aaron & Jason Latour [TICKETED]
4 – 5 p.m. Kurtis Wiebe & Roc Upchurch
4 – 5 p.m. Kyle Higgins
5 – 6 p.m. Ken Kristensen
5 – 6 p.m. Joe Keatinge & Leila Del Duca
Saturday March 29
11 – 12 p.m. Jason Aaron & Jason Latour [TICKETED]
11 – 12 p.m. Joshua Williamson
12 – 1 p.m. Sina Grace
12 – 1 p.m. Greg Rucka
1 – 2 p.m. Stuart Moore & Gus Storms
1 – 2 p.m. Michel Gagne
2 – 3 p.m. Dave Stewart & Stefano Gaudiano
2 – 3 p.m. Brian Joines
3 – 4 p.m. Matteo Scalera
3 – 4 p.m. Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky [TICKETED]
4 – 5 p.m. Tim Seeley & Mike Norton
4 – 5 p.m. Frank Barbiere
5 – 6 p.m. Joe Harris
Sunday March 30
11 – 12 p.m. Ed Brisson & Johnnie Christmas
11 – 12 p.m. Greg Rucka
12 – 1 p.m. Joe Harris
12 – 1 p.m. Brandon Graham & Simon Roy [TICKETED]
1 – 2 p.m. Nick Pitarra
1 – 2 p.m. Kelly Sue DeConnick & Jordie Bellaire
2 – 3 p.m. Joshua Williamson
2 – 3 p.m. Scott Snyder & Jock
3 – 4 p.m. Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky [TICKETED]
Robert Kirkman's Skybound: On the Rise
There's no limit on what to expect from Skybound, Robert Kirkman's imprint at Image Comics. The Walking Dead continues to dominate comics and television, Manifest Destiny is one of 2013′s breakout hits, and new series—like OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA—are on the horizon. Join Skybound's best writers and artists as they discuss what's in Skybound's future.
Program date and time: Friday, March 28, 12:40 p.m. in Hall D (Room 602-603)
Panelists: Joshua Williamson (Ghosted), Paul Azaceta (Outcast), Joe Keatinge (Shutter) & special guests
Image Comics Presents Comedy in Comics
Sometimes the best comics are the funny ones, but getting jokes across in print while simultaneously telling an engaging story can be tough. Luckily, we have a panel of experts who can tell you their secrets, tips, and a few really good jokes.
Program date and time: Friday, March 28, 3:00 p.m. in Room TCC 301
Panelists: Rob Guillory (Chew), Kurtis Wiebe (Rat Queens), Roc Upchurch (Rat Queens), Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals), Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals), Jim Zub (Skullkickers), Brandon Graham (Prophet)
Image Comics Presents Sex Criminals
Sex Criminals debuted in 2013 and quickly became the book of the year. Now, a few months into 2014, the same looks to be true! Sit down with creators Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky and bare your soul, fetishes, and anecdotes with the Sex Criminals.
Program date and time: Saturday, March 29, 2:00 p.m. in Room 3AB
Panelists: Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals), Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals)
Image Comics Presents Crime, Adventure, & Fantasy!
Gunfights, heists, cowboys, hoodlums, magicians, adventurers, aliens, and more: are you not entertained? Image Comics' varied publishing line has something for everybody. Settle in and listen to the experts discuss creating entertaining stories.
Program date and time: Saturday, March 29, 5:00 p.m. in TCC 301
Panelists: Kelly Sue DeConnick (Pretty Deadly), Jason Latour (Southern Bastards), Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards), Joe Keatinge (Shutter), Leila Del Duca (Shutter), Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts), Joshua Williamson (Ghosted)
Image Comics Presents Building A Better Dystopia
No matter how good we have it, a future where we have nothing has its own thrill. These creators know their way around a dystopia, whether it's due to mad science, economic factors, or nightmarish alternate dimensions.
Program date and time: Sunday, March 30, 3:00 p.m. in Room TCC 301
Panelists: Nick Pitarra (Manhattan Projects), Greg Rucka (Lazarus), Richard Starkings (Elephantmen), Simon Roy (Prophet), Ed Brisson (Sheltered), Johnnie Christmas (Sheltered), Joe Harris (Great Pacific)
Carol Corps Celebration to Take Place at Emerald City Comicon 2014
March 19, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Cosplay, Top Stories, Washington
Emerald City Comicon is proud to present an official Carol Corps Celebration event with Kelly Sue DeConnick, G. Willow Wilson, and Christopher Sebela at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Thursday, March 27th from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet awesome featured guests, mingle with them and each other, socialize, and enjoy the main exhibits in the Museum of Flight. Light hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and beverages will be provided. Tickets also guarantee all-day access to the Museum of Flight (during regular business hours of 10am to 5pm).
This event is designed to celebrate Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel and connect fans of those comics with their creators. Cosplay, demonstrations of creativity, and enthusiasm are highly encouraged.
Kelly Sue DeConnick is the writer behind the current Captain Marvel comic, as well as Pretty Deadly, Avengers Assemble, and Ghost. G. Willow Wilson is the writer for the new Ms. Marvel comic, in addition to work on All New Marvel Now! Point One, The Unexpected, and Mystic. Christopher Sebela has also written for Captain Marvel, as well as High Crimes, Ghost, and Fantastic Four.
Special guests also include Captain Marvel cover artist Dexter Vines, and Captain Marvel co-writer Jen Van Meter! Ms. Marvel guests include colorist Ian Herring and legendary comic artist Arthur Adams!
ECCC has partnered with We Love Fine to produce an exclusive "Captain Marvel at the Museum of Flight" t-shirt, available for purchase at the event or during ticket purchase. ECCC has also partnered with TopatoCo to provide an exclusive Carol Corps patch with art by Kate Leth (Kate or Die!, Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake) only available to the Carol Corps Celebration event attendees.
We are proud to partner with Optimystical Studios on an exclusive Captain Marvel pendant, available only at this event. We will also have Espionage Cosmetics and their ECCC Exclusive make up pack, with a table set up to provide manicures for those who buy nail wraps!
We have also invited local charity Comic Book Characters for Causes to attend, and they will be accepting donations. They will be bringing Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman, Black Widow, and Captain America. You're welcome to get photos taken with them, or just talk cosplay and comics!
All proceeds for this event will be donated to the Girls Leadership Institute.
This event is open to people aged 16 and over. Tickets to Emerald City Comicon are NOT REQUIRED in order to attend this event. Tickets to the Carol Corps Celebration do not allow access in to Emerald City Comicon. This is separately ticketed event from the convention itself. Alcoholic beverages will be available at a cash bar for attendees 21+.
Emerald City Comicon 2014 Updates
December 11, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Collectibles, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Horror, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Top Stories, Washington, Webcomics
Emerald City ComiCon's newsletter has some major updates for their 2014 convention with new guests, tickets available for sale, and more!
Tickets Now In Stores!
Tickets to the 2014 Emerald City Comicon are now on sale in stores. And while you're buying, don't forget that we've expanded Friday into a full day of fun (10am-7pm). More than half of the show's tickets have already been sold, so stop waiting. Get your ticket for all three days right now! [Tickets Are On Sale Here]
A Reminder from the Committee for Line Reductions
The Committee for Line Reductions would like to note that starting this year, if you buy your ticket online, we're mailing your badge to you about a month before the show. If you buy your ticket at your local comic book store, you'll exchange that ticket for a badge at that same store anytime in March. Either way, you won't need to wait in a line to trade in your ticket at the show! This has been a reminder from the Committee for Line Reductions.
So. Many. GUESTS!
Over the past few weeks, we've added more special guests than we can possibly list.
Here's just a few of our new celebrity guests and voice actors: Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Lance Reddick (Fringe), Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Frozen), Bill Farmer (Voice of Goofy) and Nancy Cartwright (Voice of Bart Simpson). The complete list of celebrities is here: [Celebrity Guests] and the voice actors are here: [Voice Talent]
As for our special guests, recent additions include Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel), Jason Aaron (Thor), Peter David (X-Factor), Don Rosa (Donald Duck), Katie Cook (My Little Pony), Matt Fraction (Fantastic Four), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows), Ed McGuinness (Nova) and DOZENS more! [Check out the full list of guests here]
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out who we're adding next!
More Hotels!
While we've expanded our deals into more hotels, half of them are now sold out! Make sure to hit our hotels page and reserve your room before they're all booked up! [Find Hotel Deals Here]
More Comics!
Every week, we're adding more free comics to our website. A new Tales From The Con is posted every Wednesday. You can also read the ongoing adventures of the Emerald City Crusader and Emerald City Crusaderette in our very own webcomic, Emerald City Cusader Chronicles, new pages are posted every Tuesday and Thursday. [Read our comics! Yes, COMICS!!]
MD – Pretty Deadly Signing
October 8, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Maryland, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Emma Rios sign on Saturday October 26, 2013 from 11AM-2PM at Third Eye Annapolis. The first 25 people to line up will receive a special gift!
Third Eye Comics
2027-A West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
OR – Skinner Signing
July 6, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Oregon, Other, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Charlie Huston appears at Powell's Books on Monday, July 15th at 7:30pm. He will be joined in conversation by comic book writers Matt Fraction, Brian Michael Bendis, and Kelly Sue DeConnick.
Powell's Books
1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209
ICAF 2013 Guests & Schedule Announced
May 20, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Oregon, Top Stories
The International Comic Arts Forum is an annual academic conference dedicated to promoting the scholarly study and appreciation of comic art, including comic strips, comic books, comics albums and graphic novels, magazine and newspaper cartooning, caricature, and comics in electronic media. This year's speakers included Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon, Mike Allred, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Greg Rucka, Megan Kelso, Brian Michael Bendis, Diana Schutz, Dmitry Yakovlev, and many more! RSVP on Facebook!
9:00 AM: Opening Remarks: José Alaniz, ICAF ExCom Chair
9:30 – 10:30 AM: Plenary Speaker: Douglas Wolk
10:30 AM: Coffee Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel Session One
Moderator: Toph Marshall
- Robert W. Lovejoy "Amusing Victorians: Nineteenth-Century Print Culture and the Rise of Respectable Comic Journalism."
- Martha Kennedy, "Cover Art by Women Cartoonists and Illustrators for American Magazines: A Window into Women's Professional Advancement and Gender Representation."
- Walter Lai, "The Comic Book as a Work of Art – A Case of David Mack's Kabuki: The Alchemy."
Moderator: Carl Horn, Dark Horse Comics
- Jeremy Stoll, "Arguing the Auteur in New Delhi."
- Azisa Noor Koesoema, "Alternative institutions in emerging national comic book industries: The case of Indonesia."
- Héctor Fernández L'Hoeste, "On Historical Revisionism and The Chilean Experience: The Case of Historia de Chile en comic."
12:30 PM: Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Contemporary Russian Comics. With Dmitry Yakovlev.
Moderated by Jose Alaniz.
3:30 PM: Coffee Break
4:00 – 5:30 PM: Roundtable: On the Theory and Practice of Comics Pedagogy. With Brian Michael Bendis, Diana Schutz, and affiliated teaching faculty within the UO Minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies. Moderated by Ben Saunders.
5:30 PM: Dinner Break
7:30 – 9:00 PM: A Celebration of Finnish Comics at Floating World Comics. With Ville Hänninen and Tommi Musturi at Floating World Comics (400 NW Couch Street). Pre-talk reception at 6:30pm. *Off-site venue*
Moderator: Toph Marshall
- Colin Beineke, "Disciplining Comics: A Case for the Institutionalization of Comics Studies."
- Corey Creekmur, "Freud and the Funnies: The Psychoanalysis of Comics."
- Franny Howes, "Drawing Comics in the Writing Classroom: A Decolonial-Disability Studies Approach."
Moderator: Mark Heimermann
- Susan Kirtley, "Drawing Conclusions: Focalization in the Works of Lynda Barry."
- Brittany Tullis, "The Angel in the House: A Critical Examination of the Feminine Ideal in Quino's Mafalda (1964-1973)."
- Devon Kerslake, "Adolescence and Erasure in Mariko + Jillian Tamaki's Skim and Alison Bechdel's Fun Home."
10:30AM: Coffee Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel Session Three
Moderator: Mark Heimermann
- Bruce Mutard, "Out Of The Gutter And Into The Panel: Comics closure as qualia of art imitating life."
- Jayms Clifford Nichols, "Scrolls, Codexs and Flippy-throughiness in (digital) Comics."
- David Brame, "Personal Poetics: A comic book and spoken word community development."
Moderator: Qiana Whitted
- Alisia Chase, "Matrixial Graphics: Motherhood and Politics in Megan Kelso's Watergate Sue."
- Marni Stanley, "Where Do You Draw the (Front) Line: Women in War and Revolution."
- Annabelle Cone, "Something to Laugh About(?): A Gendered Reading of Sexual Satire in the French Post-war Bande Dessinée."
12:30 PM: Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:15PM: Roundtable: Beyond Auteurism - Creativity and Collaboration in Comics. With Gabriel Ba, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, Charles Hatfield, Ben Saunders, Qiana Whitted.
3:15 PM: Coffee Break
3:30 – 4:30 PM: The John Lent Award Lecture: "How to Think About Comics as Social Objects,"
Benjamin Woo, Simon Fraser University's Centre for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities.
Abstract: Comics can be defined in many ways. They are art works that create aesthetic experiences for their readers, cultural objects reflecting the time and place where they are produced, and commodities with a value on the market. But they are also social objects. They are made, read, and talked about by people who exist in a relatively stable set of institutions and relationships. This lecture addresses some of the possibilities and problems of a social-scientific approach to comics, placing them in the context not only of the "comics world" but also of a wider social world of geeks, nerds, and fans.
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM: An Evening With Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon. Moderated by Matt Fraction.
Moderator: Qiana Whitted
- Robert Loss, "Profluent Lingering, Trauma and the Individual in Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece's Incognegro."
- Jennifer Glaser, "Seeing Race in Comics: Photography, Drawing, and the Gaze in King and Incognegro."
- Margaret Bostrom, "Graphic Narrative, Catastrophic Homelessness, and Stories from a Storm: Reading A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge."
Moderator: Stanford Carpenter
- Tiffany Pascal, "Girl Power Gone Sour: Issues in Discussing Romantic Love Between Girls in Japanese Comics."
- Nicholas Theisen, "Where the boys are[n't]: the suspect gendering of shōnen manga (boys' manga)."
- Amanda Murphyao, "From "I am gay!" in 1992 to "I'm gay!" in 2010: The Comics Code and Coming Out in Alpha Flight #106 and Veronica #202."
10:30 AM: Coffee break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel Session Five
Moderator: Jose Alaniz
- Joshua Plencner, "Scopophilia and Sixties Marvel: Lensing the Self as Losing the Self."
- Brannon Costello, "Superbodies and Fascist Aesthetics in the Comics of Howard Chaykin."
- Andrea Gilroy, "Queer Sexuality and the Superhero in Batwoman: Elegy."
- Hend Alawadhi, "Reclaiming the narrative: Muslims in comic books and The 99."
Moderator: Stanford Carpenter
- Jennifer Anderson Bliss, "Real Memories, Surreal Experiences: Autobiographical Tensions in David B.'s L'ascension du haut mal."
- Christophe Dony, "The Rewriting Ethos of Vertigo Comics, or, Critical Perspectives on Memory-Making, Canonization, and the Logic of Fields."
- Josina Robb, "The Spatiality of Voice: How Joe Sacco's Palestine Takes Up the Ethos of New Journalism."
12:30 PM: Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:30 PM: Roundtable: Comics and the Pacific Northwest. With comics creators Megan Kelso, Greg Rucka, and T. Edward Bak. Moderated by Ben Saunders.
3:30 PM: Coffee Break with Documentary Film, "The Comic King of Guatemala"
4:00 – 5:30 PM: Plenary Speaker: Scott Bukatman, "Sculpture, Stasis, the Comics and (oh yeah) Hellboy."
5:30 PM: Closing Remarks: Ben Saunders, University of Oregon
Small scheduling adjustments are sometimes necessary. Please check in before the event to catch any last minute updates.
The ICAF conference welcomes interested members of the public – but please note that any beverages and snack foods supplied on the premises are for speakers and panel participants only. Panel participants and speakers should further note that lunch and dinner will not be supplied. However, the UO in Portland building is conveniently located with access to several restaurants and diners within short walking distance.
NC – Captain Marvel Signing
May 9, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, North Carolina, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Kelly Sue DeConnick appears at Ultimate Comics on Friday May 10th for a signing and writing workshop!
Press Release:
Come in this Friday, May 10 for a special event with the writer of Captain Marvel, Avengers Assemble & Ghost, Kelly Sue DeConnick!
Kelly Sue will be in the store signing Friday from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and hosting a Writing Workshop & Discussion Session starting at 6:00 pm! Now is your chance to sit down with one of the industries most innovative creators! Don't miss out!
Ultimate Comics
6120-A Farrington Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517


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our lady friends!
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these two are giving biceps AND booty!
Boys On Film!
Hot DILF Cop! I KNOW what this kind of stud smells like. mmm.
These are from three different videos of the same "incident". I KNEW this guy was a stud even with that camera in his face, sure enough the other footage confirmed him as a Woof. And we even got a crotch shot from another Occupy-err!
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Mom loves Christmas, but the whole family can't afford it this year...
November 25, 2008
My sister and I want to do a gift-free Christmas. What rules should we set? And how do we break the news to our mom? She's big on bargain hunting and spoiling us, so we're sure she's not going to take this well.
My spouse and I are doing well, but my sister and her husband are really struggling financially. We talked a few weeks ago and I mentioned the idea of having an "
Imagination Christmas
" and she was really enthusiastic. I think she was really dreading a Christmas where she would be unable to afford the type of gift my family usually gives to one another. Luckily, neither of us have kids yet.
My mom definitely loves Christmas shopping and there is a good chance that she already has a hallway closet stuffed full of gifts for us. How do we tell her that we want to keep Christmas simple? It is likely that she'll be upset that we don't want the gifts she picked out for us.
What's more, my sister will have to deal with this on her own once Thanksgiving is over. I live in another state and I'll be spending Christmas with my in-laws. Sis is not looking forward to a lonely, one-sided Christmas with my parents.
I would love to do a handmade Christmas, but while my mother and I share a gene for making handmade goods, my sister never got beyond hand turkeys. In addition, she has school, two jobs and no time for herself, let alone knitting or wood-working. I would be happy with a card, but I don't want to unintentionally show up my sister or make her feel bad. I love her and this has been a stressful year for her.
So, first, we need to set some ground rules (Is charitable giving okay? Can we give small gifts? Handmade?). We would love to hear any advice or experiences you have with this.
Next, we need to get Mom on board. My dad abdicates to her on all matters Christmas related, so her participation will make or break the occasion. She might be on board with donating gifts to charity, but it will need to be her idea. Any advice on how to bring this up or keep her happy would be appreciated. We'll just have Thanksgiving break to get this right, so I hope it all goes well.
posted by
Human Relations
(16 answers total)
2 users marked this as a favorite
there is a good chance that she already has a hallway closet stuffed full of gifts for us.
If this is the case, then you are sort of out of luck for this year, maybe you need to start earlier next year. I don't really "celebrate" Christmas gift giving, though it's not for any particular reason just because I don't like to shop and/or fiil my life up with extra stuff. Not having a religious reason sometimes makes people think I am not serious. However, I have as a partial goal, not making other people's holiday season [including family, even people who I have deep psychic disagreements with] more onerous because I walk my own path during the holidays.
So, I pick my battles and suggest you pick yours. Have a nice talk with Mom [and you and your sis can even play good cop/bad cop if you think that will help] and tell her about what you'd like to do. Do not chastise her or her approach to the holidays if you possibly can unless you really want to fight about this, which I do not suggest. Work on some variant of "How can you and I work together to solve this problem?" where the problem is stated as you wanting to save money, not go all-out for the holidays and not make your sister feel uncomfortable. Your Mom's response to this can help you determine how to move forward.
I don't want gifts and my parents and some others insist on getting them for me anyhow. When I try to think of what I really want -- less stuff, less obligation -- and what I don't want -- pissing off people I care about on the holidays -- I generally either regift, pass on their gifts or return their gifts depending. I get people small tokens of "I was thinking about you" during the holidays, often food or books (I am a librarian) and sometimes I don't get anyone anything and I just have to feel okay about being in a gifting situation with nothing to hand out.
I focus on the parts of the holidays that I do like -- doing good things for other people, fellowship, eating meals together, eggnog, whatever -- and realize that in a big way I can't change other people's deeply ingrained approaches to the holiday, even my own family and I try to find genuine [as in works for everyone] solutions to the problems that seem to annually come up. Best of luck to you.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
There are actually ways to do "handmade" things without the need for a lot of "crafty" talent. Plus, having fun with the presentation for some things could also satisfy a bargain-hunter.
What I'm thinking of are things like food items -- pre-mixed-up spice mixes or soup mixes. They're a snap to put together, and they are BUTT cheap, so your sister would be able to handle them -- but, also, your mother could have fun looking for the
jar/crock/plate/etc. to give them
Or, go with kooky gift baskets/boxes/etc. Themes make even the cheapest kinds of things work -- a $2 jar of mustard seems lame, but throw it into a basket with a $3 hard sausage and a $1.50 box of crackers and some other snacky kind of things, put a bow on it and call it "a snack basket", and hey, it's a gift! It's friendly enough for the "craft timid," but would also let your mother be able to go on a quest for the perfect sausage/cheese/etc. (I've had a lot of success with the "random things collected on a theme" approach -- I had a handful of movie passes I wasn't using, and all it took was a trip to a 7-11 to get some random candy bars and a box of microwave popcorn packs to make up "movie night baskets.")
So maybe suggesting the "basket" approach is an idea, because you may be able to satisfy both urges.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
In my family, we switched to doing a white elephant exchange (usually at a certain limit, can by funny, along a theme, or kitchen stuff) and/or a secret santa (can join in by couples, individually, etc). We still do stocking stuffers. If anyone is doing particularly well that year, then they're free to make a charitable donation for the family, or give a card with money.
We emphasize the importance of spending time together, bring something to share at the meal (coffee, a song, etc). Also since we're far apart we can emphasize how it's more important to spend our resources to see each other/call each other more often. Then we do gifts for birthdays, where it's easier to individualize by budget without the pressure.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
Sometimes it's ok to accept gifts and not give them. You and your sister can explain your decision yet not expect your mother to "buy into" (no pun intended!) the same choice. A lot of it is being willing to accept, yet not feeling an obligation to reciprocate. In the end gifts are about giving, for the giver, and receiving, for the receiver. Reciprocation is an entirely separate event. And I concur with Jessamyn that it is late too late in the gift-buying/making season to expect Mom to make the same decision you two are, were she even inclined to do so at all, which from what you say, isn't likely. (I'm a mom of adult children, and I NEED to give to my children!)
That being said, several friends of mine give gifts they collect at garage sales and secondhand stores throughout the year, wrap them beautifully and give them with love. They spends VERY little, and enjoy the process. That sounds a little like Jessamyn's way, just giving as you are moved to give, from your heart, and not out of obligation. Those are the gifts I love to receive. Thoughtful, inexpensive, or something baked, found, or nothing at all, just enjoying time together. It is a letting go on my part of the need to give as much...or at all, as someone gave to me...eschewing the kind of tit for tat that serves none of us in loving well.
posted by
on November 25, 2008 [
3 favorites
Do your sister and husband have children? After going through our budget for many years now, we end up having just enough for kids presents, but end up having to skimp on other family members -- and we typically give nothing or something small to each other. The kids are definitely the most important ones in the situation.
Because of this, we've devised a strategy that makes everyone happy: Photos we've taken ourselves or had done on the cheap, decorated with nice frames. Additionally, you could find old photos of family and create montages or special settings.
These end up making great gifts: They don't put us out financially, they're created by us for that extra amount of effort, and they're meaningful to both the giver and the receiver.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
This year my family decided that we would just put all of the family members names in a hat and everyone would draw one person do give a gift to (babies are excluded: everyone wants to get something cute for babies, though this isn't yet a consideration for your family). Spending limit of $50 for the presents. It's a great idea for us, because it keeps the gift giving element, which the family is not ready to give up, while saving a lot of time and resources. Might not work this year, if your mom has already done a bunch of shopping, but perhaps something to consider for the future.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
Here's what we did this year: We all decided not to do gifts, and instead picked a time to get together and do something together to really celebrate the holidays. For us, it is going to see the Nutcracker, but other options on the table were a bowling night, caroling, etc. There is no reason at all that you have to buy anything to celebrate the holiday. The important thing is to be really open as to the reasons for doing so. If it is a money thing, that will make everyone understand it more than if you just say that you don't want to do gifts.
If your parents aren't willing to do this, or something similar, than you should have a discussion about why they feel they need to buy gifts for all of you. The holiday has become so commercialized that for some people it is hard to imagine a Christmas without gifts.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
Id guess that Mom would be unhappy if asked to forego gift-giving (and also that she's probably bought a lot of gifts already), but that she'd be perfectly happy to give out her presents without getting anything in return. A lot of older people already have a house chock-full of stuff and don't really want anything more, so receiving lots of gifts can be more of a burden than a pleasure.
Tell Mom what you told us; she'll probably understand your sister's financial situation and won't want to add to the stress and anxiety. Let Mom do her happy holiday thing and enjoy herself, and in return give her one or two small gifts. Consumables like gift baskets are good - the food/soap/whatever doesn't hang around to clutter up the house forever. Home-made gift baskets are cheap, too, as Empress C says. Small things with sentimental value, like photos, are also a good bet.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
I've been in the same situation with my sister. What we did was give a joint gift (either a physical gift or, better yet, and experience gift like going to the panto) that we said came from both of us but we paid according to how much we could afford instead of 50/50. I actually paid upfront and my sister gave me her contribution after Christmas (even if she is cutting down on gifts Christmas is an expensive time of year). One gift I am hoping to make for my parents is an advent calendar out of felt, (google for something that appeals to her) and she can fill the pockets with little doo-hickeys she probably has lying around her home (or jokes she copies from a book). You said she isn't crafty but what if you bought her some partially made easy ornaments from [Big Name Craft Store] and she assembled them herself as gifts?
posted by
on November 25, 2008
If your mom loves shopping and giving, then that might just be the part of gifting that she enjoys the most (rather than receiving). Your sister could write your mom a nice handwritten letter? Or bake some cookies? Help your mom with cleaning for the holidays or some other "chore" part of it?
I say that over Thanksgiving, when you are all fed and happy and your mom is in a good mood, just tell her - "Mom, we don't know what to do about Christmas. It's not the best year for us to buy presents - [(if you want, add that sis needs to focus on paying for school/saving for a house/whatever and I need to save too)] - but we love you and want to celebrate with you. Would it be okay if we just did small gifts this year?"
I suspect your mom would be happy to be helping you guys by not having you get her a gift - most times I get my parents gifts despite them telling me they need nothing and I should save the money or buy something for myself. I am not sure it matters so much how you say it, just tell her the problem and ask her if it would be okay to solve it by having a smaller gift exchange. And your sis could sort out writing mom a nice letter and helping her out as she can.
For her part, your sis needs to accept that your mom will give too many gifts, no matter what you guys all agree to. She probably can't help it. Part of your (unmentioned) gift to your mom can be accepting that and not making it a point to fuss over it - let your mom do what she likes to do, which is give you gifts and make you happy.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
Maybe to make that more clear - my mom would be fine with me saying I couldn't/shouldn't afford to give gifts. She would so, so, so not be okay with me "not wanting" her gifts.
Maybe you could ask mom that if she has already bought a bunch of gifts she could save some for birthday time?
posted by
on November 25, 2008
I don't always have money. I love gift giving. I try to give gifts to all the children in my family. Christmas is the one time of year when I know I'm going to let my brothers and sisters know I love them and think of them, blah blah. So they get a card with a heartfelt message and a gift, even if trivial. One year I got everyone really nice dishtowels. This year, I think I'm sending fridge magnets, some
, some from a craft fair, all easy to ship.
Get your sister to join you for an evening of baking cookies or pumpkin bread, or making easy crafts, or writing holiday cards. I have a great word doc with holiday carol lyrics I'll send if you like. Your sister's gift to you and your Mom could be her time, spent singing, baking, Wii bowling, or doing some other fun holiday thing. If somebody would come decorate my house for the holidays, it would be the best gift ever. Include the kids.
Be gentle with your Mom, and try to get her on board with a frugal, non-materialistic Christmas. Consider helping her return any purchased gifts. Ask for her help and creativity in making Christmas about family, cookies, warmth and love. Make sure she gets the message that you understand that she buys gifts because she loves you, and loves the gift-y part of Christmas, but this year, you'd like to try another way of celebrating.
posted by
on November 25, 2008 [
1 favorite
Even though my family and friends are all gainfully employed this year, we're all taking this season as a time to step back and have a realistic gift exchange. What's working for us? A gift exchange that's limited to things we already own.
We all have small apartments and too many things, so this year we're brushing off the dust and exchanging small and sentimental items from our personal collections of Cute Stuff. This could mean books we want to share, decorative items that have gone stale in our homes, little trinkets, handmade and heirloom items. I'm sure your families could sort out something similar. You mom likely has a whole trove of things she's set aside to pass on, and you and your sisters likely have fun things to pass up to her.
posted by
on November 25, 2008 [
2 favorites
I've long tried to follow a principle that gifts should be consumable & shareable.
This way, it normally comes down to nice wines or fancy foodstuffs; the kinds of things that people appreciate but wouldn't normally buy for themselves. Often, both giver & recipient get to enjoy them together, and best of all, you avoid cluttering peoples' places with stuff that they didn't really ever want or need.
posted by
on November 25, 2008
Communist Christmas: each gives according to their ability and receives according to their needs. This is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it's basically the informal principle my family has used for Christmas for many years.
Our parents like to buy us stuff, so they buy us stuff. It makes them happy to be choosing gifts for their kids, and to be making our lives a little happier and easier. Us, though... well, we are poor grad students and were previously poor undergrads, so our gift to our family is our presence at home at Christmas. We live 10 hours away, and make the trip every year. Our family understands that our gift budget paid for the gas, and is happy enough to have us there that there are no further expectations.
We tried doing the white elephant gift swap and it was a bust - worst Christmas ever. There is nothing like finding a perfect and inexpensive gift for Sue, but not getting it for her (or giving it to her on the sly and feeling guilty about it) because your cousin Marley, whom you've rarely ever met, is the relative's name you drew. Awful.
Really, though, if your mom likes to give you gifts, let her! If it is something she enjoys and doesn't find a burden, then having a gift-less Christmas would almost be a punishment to her. Don't make her forego something that is a pleasure to her. As long as everyone understands that gifts are given by those who are able, and that they aren't under strict reciprocality rules, there is nothing wrong with some not being able to give.
posted by
on November 26, 2008
Your sister could write your mom a nice handwritten letter?
This is such a great idea. A nice, handwritten letter, on nice (but not expensive!) paper, talking about how much you love and appreciate someone, describing all the things you like about them, recounting an anecdote or two about happy times you've shared... If I got something like that, it would be the most treasured thing I ever received.
posted by
on November 26, 2008
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FORT WORTH — For the second quarter in a row, AMR is in the black.The Fort Worth-based parent of American Airlines said Thursday that cost-cutting implemented as part of its bankruptcy restructuring and increased revenue helped it post a $289 million third-quarter profit.The airline said its revenue rose 6.2 percent to $6.8 billion, its highest quarterly figure ever. And its quarterly profit was a significant improvement from a $238 million loss in the third quarter of 2012."The demand for travel so far is even outpacing our capacity increases, which is good news," AMR Chief Executive Tom Horton said during an interview with the Star-Telegram. The company's improved earnings "are a result of all the things we've been doing here at American, but it's also a pretty good revenue environment."AMR's planned merger with US Airways is on hold as the airlines fight an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department to stop the deal. The trial is scheduled for Nov. 25 in federal court in Washington. The company continues to operate under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.Although the results indicate that the company can perform well on its own, Horton said, they won't hurt its case against the government."We think a strong company means a strong merger, and the standard for the DOJ is to prove that the merger is anti-competitive, not whether or not American or US Airways is making a profit," Horton said. He reiterated that the carrier is open to a "reasonable, common-sense" settlement of the antitrust case.Jamie Baker, an analyst with JPMorgan, said the likelihood that the merger will be completed has increased to 60 percent from 50 percent, even though he does not expect a settlement before the trial."Our skepticism is driven by the view that satisfying the entirety of DOJ's complaint would result in significantly diminished revenue synergies, to the point that costs would rise in a merger and little else," Baker said in a research note sent to investors Wednesday evening. "But relenting labor pressure coupled with the Texas Attorney General (and possibly others?) dropping out certainly can't hurt, in our view, and may ultimately cause DOJ to soften its position."The carrier set aside $59 million in the third quarter with the expectation of making its first profit-sharing payout to employees since 2001, Horton said. The program was part of new union contracts negotiated during bankruptcy. If American continues to be profitable through the fourth quarter, the company would give employees their profit-sharing payments in March.While in bankruptcy, American has cut its labor costs by 13 percent and trimmed its workforce by almost 7 percent, partly with early retirement offers.Unit revenue, a key industry metric, grew 3.4 percent in the quarter. Jet fuel costs increased slightly, 1.8 percent, to $2.2 billion. The carrier paid an average of $3.04 per gallon of jet fuel, down 2.6 percent from the third quarter of 2012.Excluding one-time accounting items and restructuring charges, the carrier said, its net profit was $530 million. The company reported $151 million in reorganization items, including professional consulting fees paid during the bankruptcy process.AMR ended the quarter with a cash balance of $6.8 billion, not including a restricted cash balance of $935 million, up $2.5 billion since the third quarter of 2012. The company's stock (ticker: AAMRQ), which trades on over-the-counter markets, rose 9 percent, or 48 cents, to $5.62.The carrier estimates that its consolidated capacity will increase 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter, partly because of new international flights to South Korea, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Andrea Ahles, 817-390-7631 Twitter: @Sky_Talk