text:
BRIEF-Moody's assigns AA1 to Ohio's G.O. bonds outlook stable
* Moody's on Ohio-stable outlook based on enacted budget, proactive financial management to support satisfactory financial position for current budget year Source text for Eikon:
PONTIAC, Mich. Jan 30 Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said on Wednesday that a review process on Detroit and a decision on whether the city's shaky financial condition warrants a state-appointed manager could be completed in as soon as three weeks.
The Republican governor said he expects to receive a report from a review team he appointed on Dec. 18 in two to four weeks and that his analysis of the report would take another one to two weeks.
"My reputation is not one to be sitting on things versus making decisions," Snyder told reporters at a General Motors Co event at its global powertrain engineering headquarters.
The report could recommend an emergency financial manager who would control Detroit's checkbook and who could decide to take the city to U.S. bankruptcy court unless the state blocks the move. A Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy filing for Detroit would be the biggest ever in the United States.
The city has been operating under a consent agreement since April 2012 that gave the state some oversight. However, the slow pace of reforms led Snyder to launch a new review of Detroit's finances in December.
The city of about 700,000 has been battered by a steep population decline, years of severe budget deficits and escalating employee costs.
Snyder on Jan. 10 asked the review team, which has a 60-day deadline to complete its work, to take into consideration recent actions by a majority of the nine-member Detroit City Council to approve reform and restructuring-related measures.


text:
Karl Marx wrote that history repeats itself the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. And the third time, he might have added, as North Korea. Just when you thought the place could not get any stranger, it did. In the past few weeks, this impoverished, isolated nation has tested a nuclear bomb, threatened a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the United States, abrogated the armistice that ended the Korean War and declared its intention to "rain bullets" on its neighbor to the south.
Karl Marx wrote that history repeats itself the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. And the third time, he might have added, as North Korea. Just when you thought the place could not get any stranger, it did. In the past few weeks, this impoverished, isolated nation has tested a nuclear bomb, threatened a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the United States, abrogated the armistice that ended the Korean War and declared its intention to �rain bullets� on its neighbor to the south.
It is highly unlikely that these moves are being conceived and directed by Kim Jong Un, the young leader who succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il. North Korea�s military dictatorship has wedded itself to the third generation of the Kim dynasty, which now seems to serve mostly as a unifying symbol for its people. But it is unlikely that a young man with almost no background in politics or experience in government is conceiving and directing these policies.
The most likely explanation for North Korea�s actions is that it is trying to get attention. In the past, its provocations usually led to international (especially American) efforts to defuse tensions. Then came negotiations, which led to an agreement of sorts, which the North soon cheated on, which led to sanctions, isolation and, finally, North Korean provocation again.
The pattern may be repeating, but it�s a high-stakes game, with nuclear weapons, brinkmanship and hyper-nationalism all interacting. Things could go wrong. The most important new development, however, is China�s attitude change. In a remarkable shift, China, which sustains its neighbor North Korea economically, helped draft and then voted last week for U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.
For decades, Beijing saw Pyongyang as a historical ally. But now, a senior Obama administration official told me Wednesday, �We are clearly hearing increasingly levels of frustration and concern� from Beijing about North Korea. At a recent meeting of an important advisory body to the government, a senior Communist Party official, Qiu Yuanping, openly questioned whether to �keep� or �dump� North Korea and wondered whether to talk to the North or �fight� with it.
Talk is easier than action. We tend to think about North Korea through the prism of two issues: nuclear weapons and human rights. But the Chinese have a more pressing concern � national collapse. If they were to push the North Korean government too hard, the regime could fall, leaving millions to seek refuge in China.
Even more important, the endgame would be obvious: a unified Korea on South Korea�s terms, which would mean that China would be bordered by a formal ally of the United States � one with about 28,000 U.S. troops on its soil, as well as nuclear weapons. You don�t have to be paranoid to worry about that scenario.
If the United States wants to deepen China�s commitment to tackling North Korea�s belligerence, it will have to address Beijing�s concerns. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, who has been the administration�s chief interlocutor with the Chinese, could have a frank series of conversations with his counterparts in Beijing about a strategic plan for the Korean Peninsula in the event of a North Korean collapse.
Henry Kissinger has outlined an interesting way to approach the matter. �The Chinese will not want to be seen as abandoning an ally or colluding with Washington in planning its demise,� the former secretary of state explained to me. �They know that there is now a real danger of an accident, incident or miscalculation on the Korean Peninsula. If that happened, there is a danger that China and the United States would end up reacting quickly, viscerally and in ways that might make things much worse � even lead to conflict. To prevent this scenario, we should propose serious strategic talks.�
Kissinger, who has spent more time talking to senior Chinese leaders than any other living American, says: �My instinct is that the Chinese are ready to have this conversation.� A senior administration official concurred, saying, �China wants stability but they now recognize that Pyongyang is the driver of instability on the Korean Peninsula.�
Fareed Zakaria writes for the Washington Post Writers Group.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Chidambaram seeks to reassure foreign investors
India's economy will grow "no better than" 5.7 percent in the current fiscal year but will regain traction in 2013/2014, the finance minister said on Tuesday, as he sought to reassure international investors that the government remained committed to pro-growth policies and reforms.
India's economy will grow "no better than" 5.7 percent in the current fiscal year but will regain traction in 2013/2014, the finance minister said on Tuesday, as he sought to reassure international investors that the government remained committed to pro-growth policies and reforms.
P. Chidambaram made the comments at a media briefing after meeting investors in Hong Kong as part of a four-city tour to try and boost capital flows into Asia's third-largest economy.
The minister also sought to allay fears that India was in danger of losing its investment-grade credit rating and being downgraded to "junk" status, as policymakers struggle to revive economic growth, rein in subsidies and hold down the fiscal deficit without triggering a backlash ahead of 2014 elections.
"I was not worried when I took over (as finance minister) in August 2012, and after so many steps that we have taken, I think I should be less worried. In fact, all of us should be less worried. There should no case whatsoever for anybody to downgrade India," he said.
"The silver lining is we are able to finance the current account deficit without reserves. Thankfully there are enough inflows of FDIs and FIIs (foreign institutional investment) and companies are able to raise money abroad under external commercial borrowing," he said.
Fitch and Standard and Poor's last year cut their ratings outlooks for India to "negative", citing its slowing growth and bloated deficit and putting it in danger of being the first of the BRICs grouping of fast-growing economies to be downgraded to sub-investment-grade status.
Chidambaram said he expected the economy to grow by no more than 5.7 percent in the current fiscal year ending in March, but predicted it would pick up momentum in the following year beginning in April, expanding by 6-7 percent.
India's economy extended its long slump in the July-September quarter and looked on track for its worst full-year performance in a decade, highlighting the urgency of politically difficult reforms to revive activity.
Since Chidambaram was appointed the government has opened up the retail sector and pushed reforms to allow more foreign investment in its insurance and pension sectors and simplify its tax laws.
Last week it allowed state fuel retailers to raise prices to gradually align them with market rates and help cut its fuel subsidy bill.
The finance minister said there was also room to sell off more state assets to ease fiscal strains. He forecast the government would raise $5 billion from such divestments in the current fiscal year and said he had approval for further sales in the next few years.
Chidambaram will also meet investors in Singapore, London and Frankfurt over the next week.
"The finance minister was both clear and confident of what needs to be done, how and when it will be done, and timelines," said a research note released by Citi, which hosted Chidambaram's meeting earlier in the day with more than 200 equity and fixed-income investors.
"The market has been cautious leading into what is seen as an 'election/populist' budget in February 2013. The finance minister was decidedly more positive. He suggests the fiscal deficit target will be met, taxes will not be raised and while policy will and should be biased towards the poor, the budget will offer a lot."
The minister assured investors that the government's top priority is curtailing spending in the short term, while in the medium-term it aims to cut the fiscal deficit by 60 basis points per year, reducing it to 3 percent in four years from an expected 5.3 percent this fiscal year, the note from Citi said.


text:
Both Medina, Class of '10, and Thomas, Class of '11, have been with the Fox News Team since 2011. KEVN Black Hills Fox recently announced the new weekend team along with its expanded one-hour program. The station's weekend newscasts had previously been one-half hour in length.
"We are excited to make this change," according to Black Hills Fox news director Jack Caudill. "It gives us a better opportunity to cover the news for our viewers with the depth that we strive for."
Medina, who had been the current weekend anchor, was joined by Thomas for the Saturday and Sunday shows for the first time this past weekend.
Medina worked as anchor, news director and general manager for KBHU-TV, BHSU's on campus TV station.
Both Medina and Thomas graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in mass communication with an emphasis in telecommunication.
The rest of the weekend Black Hills Fox team include Darren Leeds, the current weekend meteorologist, and Megan Thompson, the weekends sports anchor.
Anything is Possible at Black Hills State University! Faculty, staff, and students are making headlines with their achievements. See what BHSU is in the news for lately. Call 605.642.6215 to share your news item.


text:
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Dear Santa Hop at A Blog Named Hero
Hello! I am excited to be sharing a fun blog hop and card with you today! There is a fun challenge blog that has been around for awhile, run by a couple of friends of mine called, A Blog Named Hero. They have an amazing design team that creates beautiful projects based on different challenges. Its a great place for inspiration! And this month I am joining in the Dear Santa hop. Each week there will be different guest designers and different projects to get you ready for the holidays! (click the link for the exact dates for all the projects)
Today I am using all sorts of goodies from Hero Arts!
I started by stamping and heat embossing Bead Background onto white cardstock with clear embossing powder. Then I stamped Starburst Background over the top with Mint Julep ink. I used a slightly damp paper towel to remove the excess ink from the stamped bead image. The sentiment was stamped on a die cut circle and foam mounted. I added some cool iridescent sequins to bring some sparkle.
Be sure and stop by the blog, seriously. Its a ton of fun! And you never know who will be guest designing!
thanks for stopping by!
4 comments:
- Barb Ghig said...
Gorgeous card, Kimberly! I love how you stamped the background to create your pattern! Very clever and so, very pretty!
- November 5, 2013 at 11:19 PM
- Holly AKA KopyKat said...
This is so beautiful
- November 5, 2013 at 11:42 PM
- forpahl5 said...
- November 6, 2013 at 4:50 AM
- conil said...
The effect of embossing under the sunburst stamp is gorgeous.
- November 6, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
WellHome is a home performance division aimed at residential home improvement. The division was launched earlier this year by building products manufacturer Masco, which operates a similar division called Environments for Living. That division is targeted at new-home builders.
Remodeling: How is the Environments for Living program for new builders connected to WellHome? Is that your model?
Larry Laseter: It's not our business model but it's definitely connected. Environments for Living started in 2001. It's a building science ¬based program focused on helping home builders build high-performing homes. The program, once implemented, guarantees certain heating and cooling costs and comfort levels. We've issued more than 135,000 guarantees through that program. It has grown in a down market. We found out that building science is real and could be applied to homeowners.
RM: How does Environments for Living work?
LL: Customers sign an agreement to participate in the program. It starts with a design review. We go through designs and recommend changes to make the homes perform better. We do inspections and testing in the home building process. At the end of the process the homeowner is issued a guarantee.
RM: How does what you're doing with WellHome differ from energy audit franchises such as Pro Energy Consultants, Energy Doctors, or an audit/implementation company such as GreenHomes America? Are you looking to franchise your model?
LL: We are a home performance contractor. We don't do audits. We make recommendations with a turnkey price. We serve as a general contractor to implement the home improvement. We don't just do a checklist audit. It's a diagnostic whole-home assessment.
This is important because there have been millions of free or low-cost audits in the last decade.
The biggest problem when there are free audits is that homeowners don't take action. It's a big barrier when you, the homeowner, get this long list of recommendations and then you have to go shop, trade by trade, for people to do the work.
We built this business by starting with the homeowner, looking at the situation from his or her perspective. With WellHome they have one person who's on the hook to deliver what we promise. At the end of our process, we issue a guarantee. If we say our improvements will save 40% and that doesn't happen, the [homeowner] can contact us and we will write them a check for the difference. So, we are not in the business of auditing homes and giving recommendations.
A second difference between ourselves and these other organizations is that we're definitely not a franchiser. [Ours] are company-owned locations.
And a third is that we have a parent company that already has national operations and service businesses. So we understand buildings and services.
RM: You've launched in seven cities and in your press release you indicate that you plan "multiple locations." How many, where, and how are you staffing them?
LL: We are in the process of recruiting to staff the locations. Our intent is to be a total branded provider of home performance services. Our target this year is 25 locations. We are a very process-focused company — we have an 83-step process to make sure everything is in line before we go live in a market — so we want to make sure that we provide a high service experience in every home we go into.
Our staff receive nine weeks of training before going live with a customer. We have taken building science and combined it in a way that it can be mass-produced. That said, every home and owner is unique, but what the appropriate improvements are for that home are not unique. So in training our staff we start with building science, we show them how to use the tools, we practice on real homes, show them how to do a sales presentation … because in the end we are selling home improvements.
RM: What will WellHome do to help homeowners find out about state tax credits and utility rebates and incentives?
LL: Part of our launch process is having people in the market contact utilities, state energy offices, and the like, to see what rebates are available. So when we're in the home selling a job, we can take that right off the top as an instant rebate, and if [the homeowners] file for it we can help them as much as possible. We also have a national organization working across markets to provide that data.
RM: What would be the maximum amount that a homeowner could recoup from state, federal, and utility credit and rebate sources?
LL: It's different state by state, home by home, and that's part of the complexity a lot of people don't take on. Say the job costs $10,000. A homeowner may be eligible for a local rebate of less than $500. But then — and we don't know every homeowner's tax situation — if they're spending that much, they'd be eligible for the $1,500 federal tax credit. So there's $2,000 out of the $10,000.
There are programs where homeowners are eligible for $4,000 in instant rebates. And they can get part of the tax credit. The range we've seen is anywhere from 15% to 50% of the cost of the job, as long as you get more than 20% energy savings.
RM: Is financing available?
LL: We offer financing when we explain payment options. We have a financing program that they can apply for — and be approved — right in the home. Many take that path.
RM: Why do you refer to them as "home assessments" rather than energy audits?
LL: We start with a customer interview. What's important to them? What are they trying to improve? Building science can improve efficiency, comfort, indoor air quality, and durability of the home if there are moisture problems. We start with why they called us to begin with. Energy audits are about the home. We focus on the homeowner, and take our understanding of building science and apply it to the issues they're trying to solve. If we weren't aware of those, we might come at it from a purely energy-savings perspective.
RM: What's the average length of time your WellHome adviser is in the home conducting initial tests?
LL: It could be two to five hours depending on what problems they have and the complexity of the house. Things like how many additions there have been to the home, things that could make even a small house complex. In all cases our people are BPI-accredited and following those protocols. They are doing zone testing and carbon monoxide testing. It's very thorough and it can take them a long time
RM: What equipment do your technicians bring?
LL: Blower door fans, carbon monoxide sniffers, infrared cameras, smoke wands. Those are really important for the diagnostics and in helping the owner see where the problems are, with insulation problems especially. This is really a science, and that's the reason we can offer a guarantee. Then we take the data, feed it into computer programs on a laptop to model the building and improvements, and come up with a price.
RM: What is your average job size?
LL: It can range from $2,000 to $20,000 plus. At the low end is air sealing and duct sealing. I don't think we've had a home that didn't need that. After that [come] insulation upgrades. And after that, HVAC upgrades and lighting upgrades.
RM: You guarantee energy savings for the first year. Isn't that a little risky? Is anyone else doing that?
LL: There are some who guarantee heating and cooling load reduction. Not sure if anyone is doing a whole-home savings guarantee. You can see window ads that promise 74% improved efficiency. All that means is that the opening is 74% more efficient. That doesn't translate to what's happening with their energy bill. We've already done 135,000 homes on the builder side, so we applied that experience in creating the guarantee.
RM: How big does the home performance market look to you? How many homes are potential customers for retrofits like the one you're offering, and what do you calculate as the dollar volume of home performance work?
LL: Here is how I describe it. First, think about the home improvements that go to make up home performance. It's the bundle I just described: weatherization, HVAC upgrades, window change-outs, a lighting package, energy-efficient appliances. Add that up and you're already at anywhere from $30 billion to $45 billion a year that's spent by homeowners, depending on what you include on your list of products and services.
Consumers clearly have a need. They're already spending the money. The key is getting them to take a whole-house approach in spending it. We figure that right now less than half a billion dollars is being spent via a whole-house approach. If you look at Home Performance with Energy Star data, that's maybe 10,000 homes a year. But it's growing and it's clearly the smarter approach.
That has led to the Gold Star portion of the bill. These aren't risky technologies. They're all proven. Take air sealing and duct sealing. They're the most cost-efficient improvements you could make. But how many homeowners would know to look for that in the Yellow Pages?
RM: Is this a trend, or a wave that will die down once the Home Star bill is passed?
LL: We at Masco have looked at it really hard and we believe it's a permanent change or we wouldn't be launching a national business to go at it. It's going to take market awareness and players to service it. I mean reputable contractors in the market who will take the whole-home approach. The need for it exists.
It's a matter of getting the word out. That's why the Home Star legislation can be so powerful. It will jump-start the market and create that initial awareness.


text:
He'll bring out the best and worst in her. A pariah amongst London's elite, Julia Westchester has become the toast of Parisian society. She's stunning, well-versed, and in high demand. Little does she know the real reason she's garnered the attention of many a young man is that she's half paranormal and about to enter her first mating season.
The enigmatic leader of the harbingers of death, Dante MacGreggor, was promised Julia's hand in marriage shortly after she was born. Now that she's finally matured, he has to open her to the world of the paranormals and their mating rituals and protect her from his many enemies.
©2010 Belladonna Bordeaux (P)2013 Belladonna Bordeaux
"just porn!"
very disgusted. Read at your own risk.
new voice
new story, new reader
disappointment and worse!
probably should not post my review!


text:
Review: Nokia 5300
The 5300 takes decent pictures in sunny outdoor situations, and scored 20/50 on the vision test. We were not wowed, but we weren't disappointed either. Even when presented with high contrast settings, the camera balanced out the dark and bright areas. Colors were represented well.
The same cannot be said for pictures taken in darker or indoor situations. Indoor pictures have a large amount of grain, even when set to the highest quality. The camera does not have a flash, so the only way to alleviate this is to activate the "night mode". Pictures taken in night mode were less grainy, but still didn't compare to the cleaner outdoor shots.
The video we shot was all grainy. While the motion and action were fairly smooth, the sound was choppy and faded in and out. In high contrast lighting, the video player did a poorer job of balancing out the lights and darks than the camera.
AD article continues below...


text:
exwyo on Family Tree Circles
Journals and Posts
Looking for Wm Case Benedict parents - Canada circa 1818
I am trying to find information on the parents (and other ancestry) of William Case Benedict. He was born May 22, 1818 in Fredericksburg, Ontario, Canada. Father's name was probably Ared Benedict. Mother's name may be Pringle(last name?).
- Displaying 1-1 of 1 Journals
- 1
- of1


text:
Feather Down Farms at Dolphinholme
- Free parking
- Pets allowed
- Kids activities or Babysitting
TripAdvisor Reviews Feather Down Farms at Dolphinholme
Travel Blogs from Dolphinholme
We hope to see you soon Africa!
... If there had been any bushes around I would have used that, unfortunately there wasn't. After this unforgettable toilet experience we moved on to Tana. A journey that lasted hours. Our bus was full of luggage, and chickens again! We made a stop to stretch in a small village where everyone was selling mangos. So about half of the people on the bus bought a big bag of mangos. Now on a cramped bus with no leg room, and your thighs are rubbing against the persons ...
All the gear and no idea.
... towns next to mansions and people walking on main roads next to cars speeding and over taking as there are no speed limits or road markings, they are definitely horn happy though!! It is such an eye opening experience but the beauty of it is that they are all really friendly people! We even had ladies waving to us from the back of trucks. We definitely stood out on arrival as Indian ladies came up to us and stated "just arrived? Very pale" whilst trying ...
Arriving in the UK
Yesterday picked up a car from from Manchester airport. The countryside is different, the accents on the plane different. Although they speak my language and drive on the right...oops, same side of the road, this is not home. I was not born here, I married one of them, which is why I am headed to Blackpool. I have been writing to Aunt Joyce since I was 19 years ...
The Lake District & Area
... and what ever else peaks your fancy.
After checking into our B&B we set off for a walk downtown which is only about 10 minutes and took us to a great Italian restaurant that was recommended by many a folk who had stayed at our B&B and they were not wrong. We had some wonderful dishes of Italian food and some great wine to round off our evening. And after a good meal it was time for a little walk around the town to work it off ...
... even if it is summer! It was pleasant walking through the woods along the lake edge and we passed through Brandlehow Park, the first National Trust Property in the Lake District. By the time we got back to the car we were both pretty tired, T particularly so, as we had walked 7.5km. On the way back home we stopped, again, in Ambleside for a coffee and as we walked back to the carpark I couldn't resist buying a new light weight fleece. Bacon eggs and black pudding for tea. ...


text:
WASHINGTON — Rounding out his Cabinet, President Barack Obama intends to nominate Maria Contreras-Sweet, the founder of a Latino-owned community bank in Los Angeles and a former California cabinet secretary, to be head of the Small Business Administration.
Obama will announce Contreras-Sweet's selection at an event Wednesday afternoon.
Contreras-Sweet, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, has a history of working with small businesses and has been an advocate for Hispanics. As California's secretary of the state's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 1999 to 2003, she was the first Latina to serve as a cabinet secretary in the state and oversaw 40,000 state employees and a $12 billion budget.
In 2006, she founded ProAmerica Bank, a financial institution that aimed to assist small and mid-size businesses. Before that, she was president and co-founder of a private equity firm that provided capital to small California businesses.
"If you look at her remarkable career you can see that she is an excellent candidate for this position," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One, as Obama traveled to North Carolina to promote a new manufacturing innovation hub.
If confirmed by the Senate, Contreras-Sweet would fill the last vacant Obama Cabinet slot, filling the SBA administrator's position formerly occupied by Karen Mills who left in August.
Contreras-Sweet would become the second Hispanic in Obama's second term Cabinet. The other is Labor Secretary Thomas Perez. She would also become the eighth woman in Obama's current Cabinet. Obama's selection had been the subject of intense interest among Hispanic leaders who wanted to ensure they had a high-profile presence in the administration.
Her pick comes as some small business advocates have questioned the Obama administration's commitment to that broad segment of the private sector.
"Hopefully, upon confirmation, she will reach out to small business organizations and the entrepreneurs themselves to listen to their ideas and concerns," said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. "For the past year or more, the SBA has gone dark in terms of outreach."
Rep. Sam Graves, the Republican chairman of the House Small Business Committee, said the time it took Obama to nominate a successor to Mills "showed us that small businesses really aren't valued much by this administration."
Associated Press writer Joyce Rosenberg in New York contributed to this article.
Follow Jim Kuhnhenn on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jkuhnhenn


text:
Long ago, legions of monstrous creatures called Kaiju arose from the sea, bringing with them all-consuming war. To fight the Kaiju, mankind developed giant robots called Jaegers, designed to be piloted by two humans locked together in a neural bridge. However, even the Jaegers are not enough to defeat the Kaiju, and humanity is on the verge of defeat. Mankind's last hope now lies with a washed-up ex-pilot (Charlie Hunnam), an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) and an old, obsolete Jaeger.
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Science fiction
- Release Date: Friday, July 12, 2013
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 [ Brief Language, Intense Sci-Fi Action/Violence ]
- Starring: Charlie Hunnam [Raleigh], Idris Elba [Stacker Pentecost], Rinko Kikuchi [Mako Mori], Charlie Day [Dr. Newton Geiszler], Rob Kazinsky [Chuck Hansen], Max Martini [Herc Hansen], Ron Perlman [Hannibal Chau], Clifton Collins [Tendo Choi], Burn Gorman [Herman Gottlieb], Larry Campbell [], Brad Henke [], Diego Klattenhoff [Yancy]
- Directed by: Guillermo del Toro [Director], Travis Beacham [Screenwriter], Guillermo del Toro [Screenwriter], Thomas Tull [Producer], Jon Jashni [Producer], Guillermo del Toro [Producer], Mary Parent [Producer], Callum Greene [Executive Producer], Guillermo Navarro [Cinematographer], Peter Amundson [Film Editor], John Gilroy [Film Editor], Andrew Neskoromny [Production Design], Carol Spier [Production Design], Ramin Djawadi [Original Music], Kate Hawley [Costume Designer], Elinor Galbraith [Art Director]
- Visit the Movie Website | Watch the trailer


text:
ICE. When I saw the promotional poster for this OVA I was immediately intrigued. It was simple, good lookingm and hid just enough information for me to try it out. It had been quite a long time since I had run into a good love story, and that was what I expected. I was wrong to expect it to be typical.
As noted in the summary, it was a story of a dystopic world that had run into a bit of a problem: The loss of its men and a tense stalemate between the two groups the remaining people separated into. This itself was an interesting premise, albeit not exactly original.
It's not completely unwatchable, however it offers many disagreements to the viewer. My main problems with this anime were the pacing and to a degree the character interaction.
Many times I felt tossed around with the story. There seemed to be a bit of rushing in parts and nothing was ever fully layed out. Hitomi and Yuki's relationship seemed to proceed in an odd way. (There is only so much you can explain just by throwing the word destiny around.) Much of the focus was brought in on parts where it wasn't necessary at all. They dragged out scenes that in the end were not all too important. The switches between past and future could have been a bit less abrupt at the start. Some sort of transition or explanation for it as the story progressed would have done wonders. Also, the bit with Hitomi's visions as well as the events involving Lady Kisaragi in the ending and her rising seemed a bit farfetched/out there.
By the end, with so little attention to story, I was left wondering whether this was merely meant to be an exhibition of the AKB48 members as a service to fans rather than a serious work. With a bit more time and orginization, I feel this could have been significantly better.
The animation itself was decent, although it did seem to lack on occasion (especially with some of the shortcuts taken in the 'ballroom scene') I don't have any other complaints about it. The vocal choices were rather good. Most fitted their characters perfectly, demonstrating an effective use of technique to really capture their personalities even with such short screen time alotted.
Overall, I'd like to give the makers credit for thinking up something that had the potential to be rather good. However, I'm very disappointed with the actual realization of the idea. It's sad to say that the final scene was probably the best when none of the others matched it.
This is worth watching if you have some time on your hands, but not at all worth going out of the way for. If you're looking for something of with Simoun's quality and style, Maria-sama's gentle grace, or Kannazuki no Miko's well played out love throughout re-incarnation aspect- this is not at all for you. If you'd like something akin to a combined shadow of those three, be sure to check this out.
There are no comments - leave one to be the first!


text:
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has demanded the utmost professionalism from his players ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Prandelli's spell as manager of the national team has been clouded in controversy after he introduced a code of ethics.
The rules prevent players from national team selection if they misbehave at club level, and has already seen key midfielder Daniele De Rossi miss Italy's friendly against Spain last month after receiving a three-match ban for an incident during Roma's Serie A clash with Inter.
And speaking to FIFA Weekly, Prandelli says he has no intention of backing down from his demands ahead of Brazil 2014.
"I want players who feel honoured to wear the Azzurri shirt, because you have to win not only with technique but also with behaviour," said Prandelli, who will oversee Italy's Group D matches against England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
"Someone who spits in the face of a rival or repeatedly simulates does not deserve to be called, regardless of how they play.
"De Rossi? I do not believe he will lose his character. Nobody has complained, not even Daniele, only a few coaches.
"I do not like arrogance and the fact is that so many take it too seriously. In my day it was not so, and if we lost, the next day you did not leave your home in shame.
"We felt lucky to have so much at 20-years-old. We had easier lives."
Prandelli's comments come after he criticised the team's fitness levels following their 1-0 defeat to Spain.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!


text: Meta Battle Subway PokeBase - Pokemon Q&A Login Register All Activity Questions Unanswered Tags Users Ask a Question Rules Chat Pokemon Rumble Blast help with Zekrom 1 vote Is there an easier way to get zekrom. I know where to find him but it has taken me more than four days of non stop searching. if there is an easier faster method to find him let me know. 3ds super-rumble-blast zekrom asked Jan 12, 2012 by don't touch the mew Well from what iv'e been reading it says you can find him in any cave.So are you saying is there another way to find him besides the cave? No. what i mean is are there easier ways to get the shiny launch pad for him oh ok I understand now:) Please log in or register to add a comment. Please log in or register to answer this question. 1 Answer 1 vote Yes, they're extremely rare Legendary launch pads look exactly like the normal ones, except you see the "sparkle" effect that is on the normal Pokémon that have a 100% befriend rate that you come across every now and then. Another way to tell if you got a Legend is that the Legendary arena is the glass one in the sky that you fight Zekrom on in the beginning. Legendaries always befriend you, as long as you defeat them. So take it easy and use a fast Poké with high defense, speed, and a good ranged move, don't forget one that restores HP. Also, try to dodge all of the attacks that happen. I got This from Serebii Right Here I had to long on to my account dont know if The Link Provides to People Who Arnt REGISTERED This Is All I found from 2 day search and If this isn't what you were looking for I'm assuming There isn't another way to get Shiny Launch Pad's For Zekrom I love Weird things ¯(°_o)/¯ answered Jan 16, 2012 by (Abnormal1!) edited Apr 29, 2012 by (Abnormal1!) would Girantina with shadow force be helpful Nope I dont think so Sorry:( thanks this really helped i got him by using dialga's roar of time Please log in or register to add a comment. Related questions Pokemon Rumble Blast battle help? What is the highest World Ranking you can get on Pokemon Rumble Blast? In Pokemon Rumble Blast How Do You Increase Power? In Pokemon Rumble Blast, what happens after you beat all the Ex battle royals and Ex team battles? What are the best 3 Pokemon to beat "Dark Rust's Fort" in the bottom of the World Axle in Pokemon Rumble Blast? Pokemon Rumble Blast Q? in pokemon rumble blast can you get arceus before you beat mewtwo but after you beat arceus in ex 6 Which area is Reshiram located in in Pokemon Rumble Blast? Useful Meta Posts Vote for Sun/Moon moveset questions How to change your username How to add a user avatar Why was my post hidden? The points system Question etiquette Flags vs Downvotes Anime FAQ


text:
The other shoe has dropped in the long-simmering feud between the Bureau of Land Management and Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy over the bureau's insistence but reluctance to round up hundreds of Bundy's renegade cattle in the Gold Butte area.
An environmental watchdog, the Center for Biological Diversity, served a 60-day notice Monday of its intent to sue the BLM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Clark County for failing to implement provisions of the Endangered Species Act. The act mandates the agencies comply with a permit for the Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
The permit allows the county to remove federally protected desert tortoises, a threatened species, in areas targeted for development in exchange for protecting critical habitat, including where 700 head of Bundy's cattle roam near his former grazing allotment. The allotment was closed in 1994 to preserve tortoise habitat, 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, but Bundy continued to graze his cattle there despite a 1998 federal court order to remove them.
The BLM had hired a helicopter roundup company to gather Bundy's cattle on April 11 and impound the cattle, but bureau officials decided to postpone the gather indefinitely after Bundy stated he would do "whatever it takes" to stop the impoundment action.
"BLM has failed and refused to 'provide adequate law enforcement presence to ensure that management actions and restrictions are implemented for the conservation of' the desert tortoise as required," Center for Biological Diversity Conservation advocate Rob Mrowka and center senior attorney Lisa T. Belenky wrote in the 60-day notice letter. The letter cites regulations and BLM's legal obligations under the county's multiple species habitat protection plan.
Representatives for the BLM, Clark County and the Fish and Wildlife Service said in an emails that they wouldn't comment on pending litigation.
Mrowka, who is an ecologist for the Center for Biological Diversity, said, "Enough is enough."
He noted that the number of cattle grazing the Gold Butte area - 700 to 1,000 in the center's estimate - is up to 10 times more than what was legally permitted when the Fish and Wildlife Service listed the desert tortoise as a threatened species in 1990.
"Grazing reduces vegetation the tortoises need to live and spreads noxious weeds by disturbing the soil with hooves and fur that carry invasive seed," Mrowka said.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at email@example.com or 702-383-0308.


text:
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に) or When They Cry is a visual novel developed by 07th Expansion. It is a Japanese murder mystery novel that takes place in a rural village called Hinamizawa in June 1983, where a group of young friends follow the strange events happening there. The first game of the series, known as Onikakushi-hen was released in August 2002 and the final game of the series, Matsuribayashi-hen was released in August 2006. An anime series was released in April 2006 and ended in September 2006 with 26 episodes. The second series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai was released in July 2007 and ended in December 2007 with 24 episodes.
Rena Ryuugu[edit]
"It's so cute, I want to take it home!" - Signature quote
"Omochiikaeri~!" ("I want to take it home!") - Signature quote
"Kana? Kana?" ("I wonder? I wonder?") - Signature quote
"USO DA!" ("LIAR!") - Signature quote (mainly directed to Keiichi Maebara)
"Friends. Those companions you speak of are only friends during those fun, yet unimportant times. When painful times come, they won't be your ally." - to Keiichi Maebara
- Don't worry, I used the blunt end of the knife." - to Keiichi Maebara
- I'm the only one that can help you, Keiichi-kun. I won't allow you to transfer away..." - to Keiichi Maebara
- Hello, Keiichi. Found you..." - to Keiichi Maebara
"Let me in, Keiichi!" - to Keiichi Maebara
"Don't do it, Rena. Don't think of those thoughts anymore... You're happy now... You're definitely happy..." - to herself
"...When today was over... and tomorrow came... I thought I could finally... Have a happy life here in Hinamizawa..." - to no one in particular
"Everyone's days of happiness are limited." - to no one in particular
"No one's going to help, anyway. Nor could they." - to no one in particular
"With a beautiful room like this, anyone's heart would be sunny." - to Keiichi Maebara
"I wonder, how hard does a person have to work to really be happy? I mean, really happy. "
Shion Sonozaki[edit]
"My God, you can really be annoying. Thanks to you, my popsicle melted." - to Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Rena Ryuugu, and Hanyuu Furude
"I did it! I did it all! I killed everyone, with my own hands!" - to no one in particular
"AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" - (to just about everybody)
"Okay. How 'bout this then: tell me that you're sorry 1,000 times. Do that, and I'll gladly let Satoko go." - to Mion Sonozaki
"If I end up being the only one of us to survive by letting you take my place, Sis is going to hate me for the rest of her life. The person I love is already gone but Sis still has hers." - to Keiichi Maebara
"You gotta hurry if you have a rival. Sis, a woman's tears can attract a man, but they can't make him stay with you. You have to keep smiling, but cry at the crucial moments! Hmm, this might be a typical model of moe... Maybe I should try it out on Kei-chan!" - to Mion Sonozaki
"No matter how much you cry, no hears and no one will be saved! You just stay in there and suffer!" - to Satoko Houjou and Mion Sonozaki
"After coming this far, I can no longer turn back."
"Next time, I won't make the same mistake...I promise." - to no one in particular (Possibly directing it to Satoshi Houjou)
Mion Sonozaki[edit]
"Waste your bullets on me, but if you hurt one of my friends, you'll face a fate worse than hell!" - to Miyo Takano
"Oji-san." -Signature quote, referring to self
"No! This can't be, this can't be! That Kei-chan will die here...!" - to Keiichi Maebara (Possibly Rena Ryuugu, Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude, and Shion Sonozaki)
"Wh-What are you saying... Dolls wouldn't suit my character either, I'm crude and spunky. Kei-chan, even you always say that!" - to Keiichi Maebara
"Sit still Keiichi-kun, it's time for your punishment game..." - to Keiichi Maebara
"It doesn't matter what you're trying to hide. I will always know what you're doing and when and where." - to Keiichi Maebara
"I... like you, Kei-chan..." - to Keiichi Maebara (Higurashi Daybreak)
"Well, it seems that all types of things happen in the adult world."
"I know everyone has their stories of pain and sadness, or things that they don't want to bring up. But if you can't be a good friend without telling that, then I don't need any friends at all!"
Rika Furude[edit]
"If you're going to put up a show of torture...I'm sorry, but I'd rather leave the stage." - to Shion Sonozaki
"Nipah!" - Signature quote
"Mii~" - Signature quote
"You can change fate as long as you believe you can." - to no one in particular (Probably directed towards Hanyuu Furude)
"...Nano-desu!" - Signature quote
"I will live past June 1983, and then I am going to grow much taller, my breasts are going to get bigger. I'm not going to stay in a child's body for the rest of my life!" - to no one in particular (Probably directed towards Hanyuu Furude)
"All right. I'll play a game with this endless June." - to no one in particular (Probably directed towards Hanyuu Furude)
"I'll play with you. Come here, Cleaver girl." - to Rena Ryuugu
"Yes… It was indeed very simple, and right in front of them the entire time, the key to so many things, to simply trust and forgive. Trusting and forgiving was all they needed to defeat their inner demons… and conquer their suspicions. However, trusting and forgiving can't solve everything, especially in Hinamizawa, where so many mysteries remain to be solved..." - Episode 26 Monologue (English Dub)
"Yes… this is how it goes. And I will gladly play this game, in this month of June that never seems to end, for as long as I want." - Episode 26 Monologue (English Dub)
"The only thing I could do is watch, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." - to Satoko Houjou
"Hau hau hau~" - to no one in particular
"Child of Man. What do you seek from this world?" - to Miyo Takano
"Man cannot forgive mans sins. But I can forgive your sins." - to Miyo Takano
"All of us, together, can make a miracle." - to Rena Ryuugu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude, Keiichi Maebara, and Shion Sonozaki
"Sorry Keiichi-kun, I'm only doing it for the cream puffs." - to Keiichi Maebara
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." - to everyone whose fate she could not stop
"Forgive me...Forgive me...Forgive me..." - to everyone whose fate she could not stop
"I'm prepared for anything! Up until now... I have been running away from every fight, afraid of losing. But running away is even worse than losing. Unless one continues to fight without succumbing to the pain of defeat it is impossible to achieve victory. That is what people I love taught me" - to Rena Ryuugu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude and Keiichi Maebara
Miyo Takano[edit]
"Ara, ara~" - Signature quote
"Come, come and hit me! Tanashi Miyoko is standing right here! If you can hit me, you will end my pain! But if you fail... Turn my fate around!" - to God
"Without a curse, there will be no God. With a curse, there will be horror. With horror, there shall be worship. Right now is the time where God advents. I have now become Oyashiro-sama!!" - to Rena Ryuugu, Keiichi Maebara, Shion Sonozaki, Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou and Hanyuu Furude
"Broccoli or cauliflower, which one is green...?" - to Satoko Houjou
"I just wanted to be told... 'It's okay to live.'" - to Hanyuu Furude
"NIPAAAAAH!" - to Rika Furude
"Was the corpse...buried properly?" - to Keiichi Maebara
"I told you about it because you're so understanding. But if the other villagers knew about it, they'd say I'm blasphemous and gang up on me."
Satoko Houjou[edit]
"Oh ho ho ho!" - Signature Laugh
"Are you watching, Nii-nii? Satoko has become this much stronger!" - to Satoshi Houjou
"Do whatever you want to me, just don't go into his room! Don't destroy Nii-Nii's room!" - to Teppei Houjou
"No more... I can't stand this anymore. Kill me already... Just hurry up and kill me." - to no one in particular (Probably related to Miyo Takano)
"I understand... We are a loving family." - to Teppei Houjou
Keiichi Maebara[edit]
"I won't be erased so easily!"
"We will break this so called "fate", together." - to Rena Ryuugu, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Mion Sonozaki and Hanyuu Furude
"You don't need to know. It's okay even if you don't know. I'm really sorry. I will never doubt you Mion, no, any of my friends ever again. That's why, somehow, forgive me for that day." - to Mion Sonozaki
"I don't care. I'll say this as many times as I have to. Mion Sonozaki is the best friend I've ever had." - to Shion Sonozaki
"Give her back! Give back Mion! Give me back the best friend I've ever had, give me back my Mion!" - to Shion Sonozaki
"I-I'm... sorry... but I guess... I have to retire." - to Rena Ryuugu, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Mion Sonozaki and Shion Sonozaki
"Everyone, live on." - to no one in particular (Probably related to Rena Ryuugu, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Mion and Shion Sonozaki)
"I can hear an extra pair of footsteps behind me . . . So that means my curse will kill you . . .DON'T GET KILLED BY A CURSE FROM THE LIKES OF ME!!"
Kuraudo Ooishi[edit]
"God may forgive you, but the police force will not!"
"I have the AC running in my car. Should we speak in there?"
- [Keiichi is walking home from school with his bat and notices Rena is following him.]
- Keiichi: What do you want?
- Rena: Um...Nothing...Um...
- Keiichi: What happened to the club, huh?
- Rena: Well...I...I was worried about you...So I...
- Keiichi: Don't follow me anymore. [Keiichi continues walking with Rena still following him.] I said don't follow me!
- Rena: But Keiichi, I have to go this way. My house is over there.
- Keiichi: Then go ahead of me. [Walks to the side] You go first and then I'll go.
- Rena: Keiichi, I just wanted to-
- Keiichi: Hurry up and go! [Points the tip of the bat ahead of him.] Now!
- Rena: Um...I will, but...Please put that bat down first. You're scaring me. [He lowers the bat and she walks ahead of Keiichi, but stops a few footsteps ahead of him.]
- Keiichi: Keep on walking!
- Rena: Um...Um...Can I...Can I ask you something?
- Keiichi: Yeah, what?
- Rena: Why are you carrying the same baseball bat?
- Keiichi: What are you...talking about?
- Rena: I was...Well, I was wondering why you're carrying the same bat.
- Keiichi: I have no idea what you're even saying! Tell me what you mean!
- Rena: Why are you...carrying the same baseball bat as Satoshi?
- Keiichi: Satoshi? [Looks at the butt of the bat and sees the character for "Satoshi".] T-This? I guess I just borrowed it. I mean, who cares?
- Rena: That's not what I'm saying! Why are you doing that? Tell me! Why are you doing the same as Satoshi?
- Keiichi: What is? What's the same?
- Rena: Even though he joined a team, he never played any sports.
- Keiichi: So? So what?
- Rena: And just like you, Satoshi also started walking to school alone one day...Alone just like you...And then one day, suddenly, he started practicing swinging his bat...just like you! And then, one day, he suddenly started carrying a baseball bat around all the time...just like you! And then...one day... Suddenly...Suddenly...
- Keiichi: One day, suddenly what? What happened to Satoshi? [Rena doesn't answer] Answer me, Rena! What happened to Satoshi? [He turns her around, seeing her with her demonic look.]
- Rena: I already told you, Keiichi. Satoshi transferred. He went to another school. [Keiichi backs away from Rena, but trips and falls.]
- Keiichi: Transferred...out?...
- Rena: You won't do that, will you Keiichi?
- Keiichi: I...won't do what...?
- Rena: Transfer out.
- [Satoko is chained to a torture cross in a torture chamber. Shion approaches Satoko, a knife in one hand.]
- Satoko: You murderer!
- Shion: I'm guessing Kimiyoshi's dead now.
- Satoko: [Satoko looks at a dangling corpse, gasps, and quickly looks away, closing her eyes in the process.]
- Shion: Oh, now I get it. You just watched him die. [Shion laughs.]
- Satoko: How could you do this to everyone... To Rika... Alright, tell me, what are you planning to do to me? [Satoko closes her eyes tightly]
- [Moment of silence...]
- Shion: ....Kill you.
- Satoko: [Satoko gasps] Ah!
- Mion: [Mion is locked in a prison cell] No, stop! Please, just leave Satoko alone!
- Shion: [Shion laughs] You wanna save her? You didn't seem willing to do that when it came to Satoshi. And that is your sin. [Shion drives a knife into Satoko's forearm.]
- Satoko: [Painful gasp. Shion wiggles the knife around in Satoko's arm and laughs]
- Mion: Please just forgive her! Whatever she did, forgive her! Do what you want with me!
- Shion: [Shion withdraws the knife] I was begging just like you not to long ago. You can plea for her 'til your throat is thrawed and still won't save her. You'll just have to sit here and watch your friend suffer. [Shion stabs Satoko again]
- Satoko: [Satoko starts crying and groaning silently and lets out another painful gasp as the knife is wiggled around more in her arm.]
- Mion: [Mion screams frantically and shakes the cell bars] Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
- Shion: [Shion withdraws the knife again] Okay, how 'bout this then: tell me that you're sorry 1,000 times. Do that and I'll gladly let Satoko go.
- Mion: [Mion bows her head] I'm sorry [Mion is screaming this repeatedly]
- Satoko: [Shion stabs Satoko again and again, withdrawing painful screams from Satoko]
- Shion: [Shion laughs] You pretty much mastered the art of crying, haven't you? Do you really think if you cry long enough, you're "Nii-nii" is going to save you?! [Shion stabs Satoko again]
- Satoko: [Satoko lets out another painful scream and then falls silent, almost lifeless.]
- Shion: Satoko, can you hear me? [Satoko doesn't respond] I'm talking to you! [Shion slaps Satoko]Do you know why you're here, what you're sin is? Are you awhere it was you who made Satoshi feel trapped?
- Satoko: [Satoko painfully repeats Satoshi's nickname] Nii-nii... Nii-nii...
- Shion: That's right, all you ever had to do was cry for your brother to come and help. One little cry, and Satoshi will come running. But did you ever think of the burden you placed on him? Satoshi isn't your knight and shining armor who always be there, nor is he invincible. He's just like you! [Shion stabs Satoko again]
- Satoko: [Satoko painfully screams]
- [Satoko repeatedly unleashes painful screams as Shion stabs Satoko again and again. However, Satoko stops crying and screaming after a little.]
- Shion: [Shion stops stabbing Satoko] What's the matter? Has your right arm finally gone numb? Then let's switch to the left one. [Shion stabs Satoko's left arm, but Satoko moans silently and refuses to cry.] Well that's no fun. Are you trying to hold back the tears 'cause you hearing you cry and scream the very things that egnion? [Shion stops stabbing Satoko]
- Satoko: [Satoko painfully speaks] You know, I thought the same thing you did.
- Shion: Huh?
- Satoko: I thought it was me making him feel trapped and that caused him to dissapear. I only saw me. And even though I knew Nii-nii was struggling too, I still couldn't stop myself. I kept clinging on.
- Shion: Well that was a unexpected... So you know what you've done?
- Satoko: But I know he's gonna come back. And when he does, I'm gonna show that I can take care of myself, now. That I don't need to hide behind his back anymore. That no matter that I'm going through, I can handle it.
- Shion: [Shion laughs] He's coming back, is he? [Shion laughs again.]
- Satoko: He is gonna come back! I know he will! And I'm gonna be here when he does! I'm gonna be here and apologize for leaving on him has much as he did! And until he's back, I won't give up! I'm gonna be strong! No matter how much it hurts! I've learned my lesson, now! Crying doesn't change anything, so I'm not gonna do it!
- Shion: [Shion's expression becomes dark and ominous] Really? Well, that's pretty tough talk... for a girl like you.
- Satoko: I mean it! If you wanna stab me, go ahead, stab me! But no matter how much you hurt me, no matter how much you wanna make me cry, I won't do it! [Shion stabs Satoko again and again, angrily.] Nii-nii, I hope you're watching. I hope you can see how much stronger I am, now. And no matter what happens, I'm not gonna give up. Not to her! Someone as pathetic as she is can never make me cry....[Shion delivers the final stab with a scream. Next scene shows Satoko's bloody corpse showing that she had died.]
- Shion: [Shion pants] Satoshi?! Where are you?! I've been waiting for you! I've been waiting for you ever since the last time we spoke!
- [Flashback]
- Satoshi: [Satoshi speaks to Shion over the phone] I'm leaving Satoko up to you, Mion. Okay?
- [End flashback]
- Shion: [Shion lets out a shocked gasp as Mion in the prison starts mourning for Satoko's death] What have I done? I've forgotten the last and only thing Satoshi ever asked at me. [Shion screams] Satoshi will never come back me after what I've done. Never! He's never coming back! [Shion laughs] Why do I care? I've known for a long time now. That the demon inside me is all that's left! [Shion laughs again.]


text:
Solid if rather classically corny story underperformed in Gaul, though the dudes should find takers in mostly Francophone markets.
Following "The Hearts of Men" and "French Men 2," writer-director Marc Esposito, the undeniable king of the modern-day French bromance, offers yet another tale of brotherly love in the ex-con dramedy "My Buddy." This time, the helmer streamlines some of the butt-and-back-slapping into a solid if rather classically corny story of a parolee who finds employment and friendship with a flamboyant magazine editor before criminal temptations resurface. With strong performances from Benoit Magimel ("Little White Lies") and Edouard Baer ("Off and Running"), pic underperformed in Gaul, though the dudes should find takers in mostly Francophone markets.
Straight-talking, sarcastic Victor (Baer) runs a popular car mag called Auto, which, despite all the passion he puts into it, is forever on the verge of bankruptcy. When he agrees to speak at a local prison, he's greeted by the dreamy-eyed Bruno (Magimel), a man so into cars (he's serving time for auto theft) that he convinces Victor to hire him as a trainee in the art department, allowing for daytime parole and the possibility of a shortened jail term. Initially things go more than well for the two, who quickly bond over Ferraris and Formula 1 glories. When Victor offers Bruno his very own Grand Prix race as a birthday gift, the latter is on the verge of tears. Nothing can separate the buds, and even their respective wives (Diane Bonnot, Leonie Simaga) become backseat drivers to a smooth ride that will inevitably get bumpy when Bruno decides to accept just one last shady gig. Opening credits state that the movie was "inspired by a story experienced" by the director himself. Indeed, former Premiere editor Esposito helped co-found the glossy French film magazine Studio (now merged into Studio Cine Live), and his script is best when it details Victor's difficulties in keeping Auto afloat: A scene in which the two visit an industrial printing press revels in the beauties of publishing on paper, and Victor views each page layout as a veritable work of art. But by switching the mag's content from movies to cars, the helmer has upped the testosterone factor to an almost risible level, which tends to hamper the underlying drama. As the pic's uncannily false denouement (again involving fast cars) proves, when it comes to Esposito's storytelling, it's definitely bros before narrative credibility. Magimel does a terrific job portraying an adolescent trapped in a jailbird's body, and even when he's at his most dangerous, there's something touching about Bruno's extremely earnest approach to life. Baer is on point as a Parisian who, despite coming from a very different world from Bruno's, shares the same loves and is able to see beyond their obvious class differences. Blue- and gray-toned lensing by Pascal Caubere ("Murderers") takes advantage of the many Paris-set locations. Nonstop gushy music is unnecessary at points, and does little justice to performances that would work fine without it.My Buddy
A Mars Distribution release of a Les Films du Kiosque, Wayan Prods., France 2 Cinema, Mars Films, Alvy Prods. production, in association with A Plus Image 2, Cinemage 5, Cofimage 22, Soficinema 6, Uni Etoile 8, with participation of TPS Star, Canal Plus, France Televisions. (International sales: Films Distribution, Paris.) Produced by Francois Kraus, Denis Pineau-Valencienne, Marc Esposito. Directed by Marc Esposito. Screenplay, Esposito, in collaboration with Jean-Luc Levesque.
Camera (color), Pascal Caubere; editors, Benoit Alavoine, Benjamin Ambard; music, Calogero, Gioacchino; production designer, Fabienne Guillot; costume designer, Aurore Vincente; sound (Dolby Digital/DTS Digital), Jean-Luc Verdier; superivising sound editors, Emmanuel Angrand, Remi Clement; re-recording mixer, Anne-Laure Francois; line producer, Claude Parnet; assistant director, Carole Amen; casting, Adele Esposito. Reviewed at UGC Cine Cite Les Halles 9, Paris, Dec 3, 2010. Running time: 104 MIN.
Edouard Baer, Benoit Magimel, Diane Bonnot, Leonie Simaga, Atmen Kelif, Riton Liebman, Albane Duterc, Lucie Phan, Francoise Michaud.


text:
PR Newswire
CHICAGO, April 1, 2014
CHICAGO, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE), today announced two significant transactions: The closing of the sale of the Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel and the acquisition of the remaining 50 percent ownership interest in the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Combined with the previously completed sale of the Four Seasons Punta Mita resort, the Company successfully executed over $715 million in transactions in the first quarter of 2014.
The Company closed on the sale of the 237-room Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel for £125.15 million ($207.7 million), or approximately £528,000 per key ($877,000). Net proceeds from the transaction total approximately £58.1 million ($96.5 million), after the repayment of property-level net debt of £67.0 million ($111.3 million). The hotel was sold to an affiliate of Hong Kong based private equity firm Joint Treasure and remains subject to a ground lease with 43 years remaining on the term. The Company was advised by JLL on the sale of the hotel.
"By closing on the sale of the the Marriott London Grosvenor Square, we are finalizing our exit of the European market, as previously committed," said Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. "In addition, this sale will eliminate approximately $1.0 million of annual frictional costs associated with the asset and allow us to redeploy capital into one of the highest growth assets in our portfolio," Gellein continued.
The Company also closed on the acquisition of the remaining 50 percent ownership interest in the 649-room Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort for approximately $90.6 million. Prior to the transaction, the Company owned a 50 percent ownership position in the asset through a joint venture with an affiliate of Walton Street Capital, L.L.C. ("Walton Street"). The transaction values the asset at a gross value of $307.5 million and includes the assumption of the existing $117.0 million mortgage financing. As part of the transaction, the Company earned a promoted interest that was negotiated during the 2011 restructuring of the asset totaling $19.3 million, resulting in a net purchase price of approximately $288 million.
"The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is one of our highest growth assets as the resort continues to benefit from the addition of 60,000 square feet of new meeting space as well as improving market trends in the greater Phoenix/Scottsdale market. In fact, since the introduction of new meeting spaces and other amenities, group RevPAR penetration at the resort has increased nearly 17 points," said Gellein. "We are pleased to essentially match-fund this acquisition with the proceeds from the sale of the Marriott London Grosvenor Square, allowing us to execute this acquisition without requiring us to raise external capital. On a full-year basis, the two transactions are essentially neutral to our earnings per share and marginally deleverage the balance sheet. Our nearly three year partnership with Walton Street, who assisted us in recapitalizing the resort in 2011, has been both a rewarding and profitable experience, and we appreciate their support and partnership," Gellein concluded.
The net purchase represents a $444,000 per key valuation, a 12.7 times multiple on forecasted 2014 EBITDA and a 6.5 percent capitalization rate on forecasted 2014 NOI. In 2013, RevPAR grew 15 percent at the property resulting in 48 percent EBITDA growth.
As a result of the two transactions, the Company is adjusting its full-year 2014 Comparable EBITDA and Comparable FFO per diluted share guidance ranges as detailed below:
Guidance Metrics |
Previous Range |
Revised Range | |
Comparable EBITDA |
Comparable FFO per diluted share |
$0.53 - $0.63 |
$0.50 - $0.60 |
The lowering of the FFO per diluted share guidance range is primarily driven by the timing of the closing of the transactions and the seasonality of the two hotels. On a pro forma, full-year basis, the two transactions would be neutral to FFO per diluted share and marginally lower the Company's leverage metrics. The Company is reaffirming its other previously provided guidance metrics for 2014 including RevPAR growth in the range of 5.0 percent to 7.0 percent and Total RevPAR in the range of 4.5 percent to 6.5 percent for its Same Store and Total United States hotel portfolios.
About the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a 649-room, 65-acre resort property located in the northern region of Scottsdale. The hotel's design is authentically western with Spanish-style architecture throughout the property. Few, if any, resort destinations in Scottsdale offer the level of service, multitude of amenities, and expansive grounds of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
The resort includes 649 rooms and suites consisting of 72 villas / Fairmont Gold rooms and 119 casitas, 106,000 square feet of indoor meeting space including the newly completed 20,000 square foot Palomino Ballroom, 50,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space, a 44,000 square foot Well & Being wellness spa, five restaurants including Bourbon Steak and La Hacienda, and the exclusive long-term booking rights to two 18-hole Championship Golf Courses (one of which is a TPC course and home to the annual PGA Tour Waste Management Open, formerly the Phoenix Open). Of the resort's 65 acres of controlled land, 27 are fee simple and 38 are under a favorable long-term lease agreement through 2110 with the City of Scottsdale.
About the Company
Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) which owns and provides value-enhancing asset management of high-end hotels and resorts in the United States and Europe. The Company currently has ownership interests in 16 properties with an aggregate of 7,862 rooms and 835,000 square feet of multi-purpose meeting and banqueting space. For a list of current properties and for further information, please visit the Company's website at www.strategichotels.com.
About Walton Street
Walton Street Capital, L.L.C. is a premier private equity real estate firm based in Chicago, Illinois that focuses on value-added and opportunistic real estate related investments. Since its founding in 1994, affiliates of Walton Street Capital have received total equity commitments of over $8.0 billion from public and corporate pension plans, foreign institutions, insurance companies and banks, endowments and foundations, trusts, and high net worth individuals. The firm employs over 100 professionals through its offices in Chicago, IL (USA), Mexico City, Mexico and Mumbai, India.
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (the "Company"). Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's future financial results, stabilization in the lodging space, positive trends in the lodging industry and the Company's continued focus on improving profitability. Actual results could differ materially from the Company's projections. Factors that may contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to the following: the effects of the recent global economic recession upon business and leisure travel and the hotel markets in which the Company invests; the Company's liquidity and refinancing demands; the Company's ability to obtain, refinance or extend maturing debt; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with covenants contained in its debt facilities; stagnation or further deterioration in economic and market conditions, particularly impacting business and leisure travel spending in the markets where the Company's hotels operate and in which the Company invests, including luxury and upper upscale product; general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of the Company's shares of common stock; availability of capital; the Company's ability to dispose of properties in a manner consistent with its investment strategy and liquidity needs; hostilities and security concerns, including future terrorist attacks, or the apprehension of hostilities, in each case that affect travel within or to the United States, Mexico, Germany or other countries where the Company invests; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; the Company's failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; risks related to natural disasters; increases in interest rates and operating costs, including insurance premiums and real property taxes; contagious disease outbreaks, such as the H1N1 virus outbreak; delays and cost-overruns in construction and development; marketing challenges associated with entering new lines of business or pursuing new business strategies; the Company's failure to maintain its status as a REIT; changes in the competitive environment in the Company's industry and the markets where the Company invests; changes in real estate and zoning laws or regulations; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs; changes in generally accepted accounting principles, policies and guidelines; and litigation, judgments or settlements.
Additional risks are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those appearing under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Low Range |
High Range | ||
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders |
$147.6 |
$167.6 | |
Depreciation and Amortization |
115.5 |
115.5 | |
Interest Expense |
82.3 |
82.3 | |
Income Taxes |
1.9 |
1.9 | |
Non-controlling Interests |
0.8 |
0.8 | |
Adjustments from Consolidated Affiliates |
(15.5) |
(15.5) | |
Adjustments from Unconsolidated Affiliates |
17.7 |
17.7 | |
Preferred Shareholder Dividends |
17.6 |
17.6 | |
Realized Portion of Deferred Gain on Sale Leasebacks |
(0.2) |
(0.2) | |
Gain on Sale of Asset |
(157.9) |
(157.9) | |
Other Adjustments |
0.2 |
0.2 | |
Comparable EBITDA |
$210.0 |
$230.0 | |
Low Range |
High Range | ||
Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders |
$147.6 |
$167.6 | |
Depreciation and Amortization |
114.7 |
114.7 | |
Realized Portion of Deferred Gain on Sale Leasebacks |
(0.2) |
(0.2) | |
Gain on Sale of Asset |
(157.9) |
(157.9) | |
Non-controlling Interests |
0.7 |
0.7 | |
Adjustments from Consolidated Affiliates |
(8.0) |
(8.0) | |
Adjustments from Unconsolidated Affiliates |
9.4 |
9.4 | |
Other Adjustments |
0.2 |
0.2 | |
Comparable FFO |
106.5 |
126.5 | |
Comparable FFO per Diluted Share |
$0.50 |
$0.60 |
SOURCE Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc.


text:
The Dolphins announced Thursday that they signed free-agent S Tyrell Johnson.
Johnson, who visited Miami earlier in the week, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Vikings. Last season, he played in 11 games with three starts, recording 28 tackles and one pass defensed.
His most productive season came in 2009, when he started 15 games and made 57 tackles and seven passes defensed. Johnson helps fill a void at safety created when the Dolphins cut veteran SS Yeremiah Bell.
The team also announced that ILB Austin Spitler signed his exclusive-rights free-agent contract.


text:
Faux Meat, Allergen-Free Food, Yogurt Shops In 2013
The New Year has just begun and it is already dismissing the food trends of the last year. However, on the other hand, some of the food trends, which were just peripheral last year, are beginning to catch up fast. One of them is mock meat.
With people cutting back on meat for health or environmental reasons and the faux meat products improving in taste, meat substitutes are gaining in terms of popularity. Two years ago, a Dutch restaurant, named 'The Vegetarian Butcher', had started the trend of selling faux meat products and now, you can order replacement chicken, sausage, burger, even schnitzels from a range of online stores.
The craze for gluten-free products will reach new heights as people start looking for allergen-free foods too. Dairy, peanuts, soy, eggs and shellfish are some of the allergens, which will be shown the door as more and more people become health-conscious and companies will cash in on the trend too.
Yogurt shops will also grow in size and numbers with consumers becoming more conscious of eating non-frozen yogurt. Traditional yogurt, with healthy toppings like nuts, seeds, and fresh fruits, will be much in demand.
And one more food trend to do the rounds this year is the mid-calorie foods, which are a step ahead of the diet food. Scientists are working hard to create perfect foods for calorie-conscious consumers, who want healthier and tastier food options in their quest for health.
Which one of these food trends do you think appeals to you the most? Do let us know.
Other Articles You May Like To Read:
3. Bio-Printed Meat For Dinner
4. Meat-Free Food: How To Buy Tips
Image Courtesy: restaurantgirl, whyriskit, ludietitian


text:
Valerie Adams won her 37th straight shot put competition in the Swiss City of Luzern this morning.
With just over three weeks to the start of the 2013 Moscow World Championships, the double Olympian propelled the 4 kg shot put out to 20.76 metres, and was untroubled in beating the Germany's Christina Schwanitz who could only manage 19.65 metres.
In Moscow, Adams will attempt to win her fourth consecutive world title, having already won at Osaka (2007), Berlin (2009) and Daegu (2011). The Swiss-based Aucklander also won the bronze medal in Helsinki in 2005 and was promoted to second after a historic drug test positive from the championships by Belarusian Nadzeya Ostapchuk.
Adams has one more scheduled competition before Moscow, a Diamond League meeting in London on 27 July.
At the same Luzern meeting, young Hamilton hammer thrower Julia Ratcliffe placed second with a best throw of 64.03 metres. Ratcliffe now returns to Princeton, US to continue her studies.
Athletics: Adams wins 37th straight event
8:51 AM Thursday Jul 18, 2013


text:
Boy Wonders
Crazy was a bestseller in Germany, where it was originally published. Why? Germany's long-standing cultural interest in the everyday discomfort of being-in-the-world might be one reason. I can't think of another. In this autobiographical novel, Benjamin Lebert (b. 1982) recounts a couple of key incidents that occurred during the year its protagonist16-year-old "Bennie Lebert"spent repeating the ninth grade in the Castle Neuseelen Boarding School, located about an hour outside of Munich. Partially disabled, Bennie is paralyzed on the left side of his body. His roommate, Janosch, is the relatively charismatic leader of a band of overweight, silent, or otherwise socially awkward misfits, and Bennie, needless to say, fits right in.
Like all teenage boys, these self-proclaimed "heroes" are obsessed with sex. "We bury ourselves in Playboy," recounts Bennie. "It used to be we pinned up pictures of superheroes in our rooms. Now what we pin up is super tits. Really we're still small boys." In the first of his two boarding-school adventures, the heroes visit the school's girls' wing for a beer party, a journey that entails an epic ascent up a fire-escape ladder. Once there, Bennie gets drunk, loses his virginity, and vomits on the floor. "Enough for one night," he decides. "Enough to make anyone puke."
Much of this short yet tedious book's commercial appeal lies, no doubt, in its fairly banal musings on the nature of God and existence. Life is at various times essentialized as "being afraid," "a big wet bed," and as something "full of stories." A large nod to its literary inspiration is made during a bus trip to Munich, when Bennie reads Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea to his friends, bringing a couple of them to tears. Better that than American Psycho, I suppose.
By Benjamin Lebert, translated by Carol Brown Janeway
Knopf, 178 pp., $17.95
Buy this book
The Munich spree turns out much happier for the boys than their earlier adventure, probably because the strippers who entertain them so thoroughly do so at a much safer distance than the real girls upstairs. As much as Janosch tries to reassure his friends that they are indeed "crazy" heroes of everyday life, the book is ultimately about fear, failure, and despair. Bennie flunks out of school yet again, with only another year at another new school to look forward to. "How can you describe life in boarding school?" he asks himself toward the conclusion of this pointless peek into the void. "It goes by."
In Case You Missed It
Upcoming Events
TicketsWed., Mar. 29, 2:00pm
TicketsWed., Mar. 29, 8:00pm
TicketsThu., Mar. 30, 7:00pm
TicketsThu., Mar. 30, 7:00pm
Sponsor Content


text:
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Around the Block - December
21 comments:
Ahhh grey....I really love grey...grey with anything but especially green...I think those are my two favorite colors.
You can't sew clothes...I just can't wrap my head around that...I mean you sew the best straight lines around and that is mostly what it is!:)
I sewed my first label on a runner for my friend's 5oth birthday present...I blogged about it....I can see I am going to think of you every time I sew one of those on a project!:)
Thanks for the Thanksgiving greetings...I am thankful for finding your blog!;)A ha! I popped into Patchwork on central park too and picked up some linen and liberty and made a scarf! Mine is for my mum, but I got enough of the liberty to make another for me, just have to get another piece of linen. I love them, and it really was such an easy project. Shame that nice linen is so exxy...
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! I really appreciate it.
Comments are published after review.
Feel free to ask questions and I will answer either here or by email, as is appropriate.


text:
A ghost is all that's left, of everything we swore we never would forget. Tried to bleed the sickness, but we drained our hearts instead. We are...we are the dead.
It's a good list. Not sure if I like the number 1 choice, but I like the shoutout they give to the Adolescents and Thrice.
It is a good list but I think Smash should be higher
I knew tragic kingdom would be number one... I just knew it somehow.. really glad to see sublime there...


text:
Shelby Busch has been named recruiting administrator at Bridge Technical Solutions. Busch brings a customer service background to the position with prior experience in the banking and hospitality industries. She holds bachelor's degrees in human resource management and marketing from Rhode Island College. •
Tuesday, March 21
Thursday, March 23


text:
With Thanksgiving falling on the first day of Hanukkah, I wanted to look for ways to blend a little of each holiday at the same table.
And it turns out the fruit is a fine place to start, because cooked fruit enjoys starring roles in both holidays. For Hanukkah, there often is applesauce, a sweet and refreshing counterpoint to savory, crispy potato latkes. And for Thanksgiving, a dinner spread is incomplete without a sweet and tart cranberry sauce -- even if it's from a can.
These fruits complement one another so wonderfully, there actually are numerous ways to combine them. You could chop raw cranberries and apples, then toss them with sweetened lemon juice, red onion and minced jalapeos for a fresh salsalike accompaniment.
Or you could simply combine peeled apples and fresh cranberries and simmer them together with cinnamon, sugar and lemon juice for a sauce that is a little bit applesauce, a little bit cranberry sauce.
But I decided to go with a skillet sauce. I cut the apples into wedges, then saute them until just barely tender. Then I add dried cranberries because they have a great contrasting texture. Let the whole thing cook for a few minutes, then finished it with crushed pistachios. Great with turkey or latkes.
Skillet Apple-Cranberry Sauce with Pistachios
Start to finish: 15 minutes. Servings: 6.
1 tablespoon butter
4 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup crushed toasted pistachios
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the apples and cook until lightly browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the vinegar, water, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and cranberries. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid is thick and syrupy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Spoon the apple-cranberry sauce into a serving bowl, then top with the pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition: 200 calories; 45 calories from fat (23 percent of total calories); 5 grams fat (1.5 grams saturated; 0 grams trans fats); 5 milligrams cholesterol; 42 grams carbohydrate; 4 grams fiber; 33 grams sugar; 2 grams protein; 0 milligrams sodium.


text:
Territorial disputes
Tags: collaboration, competitionPosted in Ethics, Tips
Finding a suitable research subject is about the most difficult task in the life of a researcher. And professional scientists are confronted with this task continuously all through their career.
You do not want to work on a field that has existed for a long time and where great scientists have made large contributions. The suicidal defense that people bring forward when they embark on an almost exhausted field is: "there is still so much to do".
I suppose you have found your almost virgin territory and that it has made, or will make, you famous. You will however only make a large impression with your activities in your new field if many other people will work on this field as well. But if the field is indeed as promising as you think it is, you do not have to wait long, and your terrain will be rampaged by the competition.
How to survive? I think there is only one correct answer: by doing better science than your colleagues. Of course if you lack some skills, expertise, or equipment, or whatever, you should look for collaborations. But try to minimize the number of collaboration because it will turn you into an operator rather than a scientist.
Keep the competition out
A basic mistake that I see often being made by my colleagues, junior and senior, is that they want to maintain their position by minimizing the competition by telling these competitors that they have no right to work in this field. This is a classic territorial dispute, well-known with animals where it is the main source of self-preservation. Under quite a number of circumstances the researcher that issues such a tress-passing warning is successful. The scientist that is being threatened will not start to work in this field, or he will leave it. This howling success is so easy because the threatener has invariably a higher social status in science. And not giving in would lead to serious sanctions for the, socially weaker, addressee. I think that warning colleagues not to trespass, is always a sign of weakness. Just let them in. You must be convinced that you can do better yourself. If you do not have this feeling about yourself you are in the wrong business.
Trade secrets
But how do you deal with people that have worked for quite some time in your own neighborhood (for instance as your Ph. D. student) and decide later to work on their own in exactly your field? Is the behavior of such a junior immoral? No. In a number of cases it is not the most original choice he could make but if the field is still wide open it nevertheless might be a good choice for him. However, from my own experience I discovered that these newcomers often want to have their cake and eat it. That is to say, they still want to make use of the old – that is your – network, use samples, talk to former colleagues and then run away with the results and publish them independently. That is immoral. Right at the first meeting where the newcomer unveils his plans to continue to work in his old field the future relation should be straightened out: he will either be a collaborator or a competitor. Both choices are equally acceptable. If he chooses for being independent, that means he is choosing to be a competitor, it immediately means that his former scientific environment (colleagues, equipment, discussions, internal reports, …) has become off limits. Be immediately very, very clear about this.


text:
ETBU Alum AdDRESSes Hunger in a Unique Way
Posted by Tiger Pride in Alumni, Spiritual Life
How much money does it take to feed you for an entire month?
I recently read that a gift as low as $35 can feed a child in Ethiopia for an entire month.
It really makes you want to do something to help.
That's just how Katy Roberts ('06) felt just before she began Dress to Bless Ministries, an NPO that sells creative and unique dresses for little girls. Katy makes these colorful dresses from her home, which is a feat in itself as she is a married mother of 3.
From the Dress to Bless Ministries site (here): "We are a non-profit ministry committed to helping the hungry by providing physical and spiritual nourishment through a partnership with Samaritan's Purse where 100% of our profits go to starving children. Every dress sold provides a child with ONE month of nourishing food!"
Since the launch, dress sales have steadily increased, which translates into more hungry children being fed. Katy says in her blog, "I wanted to give a quick word of thanks to all who are supporting this ministry! So many of you have shared the word, bought a dress, given fabric, made a dress, and most importantly covered this ministry in prayer. To all of you thank you so much! I pray that you will be blessed for your efforts!"
At Tiger Pride we are dedicated to telling you about amazing things our Tiger Family is doing, but in this case we'd also like to tell you how you can get involved.
First, cover them in prayer. Prayer changes things, it moves mountains.
Second, buy a dress! You can go to the DtB site (here) and view the current selection. If you don't see what you're looking for, be sure to email Katy directly at firstname.lastname@example.com. Dresses are only $35 and 100% of the money goes to feeding starving children. (Even if you don't have a little girl in your family, you can purchase a dress which will be given to a local child in need. The $35 will go to feed a child. You'll feel great. It's a win win win!!)
Third, make a dress. What is great about this ministry is that Katy is using her talents to make a difference, and in my opinion, that's why God gives them to us. Be sure to contact Katy via email if you'd like to help create dresses to assist this ministry.
Fourth, donate fabric (even money for fabric!). Since 100% of the $35 per dress goes to feeding children, fabric and material cost must be covered in some fashion. Your gift of fabric and/or money for fabric helps feed more children and gives you the opportunity to make a difference. Gift certificates to fabric stores are welcomed as well.
Finally, you can donate a monetary gift. You can be assured that any money donated to Dress to Bless will be used to create more merchandise so they can help more children.
One dress feeds one child for one month. Amazing, once you think about that.
We are so very excited to hear about the work in which Katy and Dress to Bless are involved. Mother Teresa once said, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." We are so proud that Katy's "small thing," – a little dress – is making an great impact in the lives of hungry children.
Way to go Katy! GO BLUE!!
Dress to Bless Ministries – http://www.dresstobless.blogspot.com/
Katy Roberts –email@example.com
Be sure to visit Samaritan's Purse, with whom Dress to Bless partners at http://www.samaritanspurse.com/.


text:
Im curious as to whether there are females or not. Do they look the same as the males?
I would think that this will be one of their animations, as well.
They say the Pandaren look Asian, not a very accurate statement.There are a vast number of Asians and they all look different. The Pandaren look Chinese. I was married to a person of Korean heritage for 20 years. They look different from Chinese as do Japanese - usually. Southeast Asians, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. look different as well. Indians are also Asian, of course, and look quite different and there are over 1 billion of them.While their written languages look the same they are not. The Korean written language was designed by scholars and it's alphabet directly corresponds 1:1 to a phonic sound in their language - much more straight forward than English. Chinese of course has a picture for words and there are many thousands of characters. Asia is quite vast culturally as well as the people that live there.It would be nice for Blizzard to admit/say that the Pandaren are Chinese in tone and not Asian.
I may finally roll a healer!
"Punches and Kicks to heal"I hate to say it, because as I have said, I am TRYING to keep an open mind about this expansion, even though my first opinion is not a good one. But ever since Smite spec Disc priest came out I have been put off by a healing spec that includes doing damage to cast and / or buff healing. The one exception I actually enjoyed and thought made some sense was holy pally's using Judgement for mana regen. And if you really wanted or needed a little extra boost to your blue-bar, you could toss in a few auto attacks for a few extra mp5. I still believe in the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. WoW got where it is because of what it is. Tweak it, Improve it, Add to it....but don't change it. WoW has had defined roles..tank, heals, and DPS from the start. DK's pushed the envelope a little with the "massive self heals" tank idea......please do not make a healer heal with DPS. My vision of a Monk healer would be something more focused on Chants and channeled heals. Let the Chants be the instants or HoT's, and instead of a cast time, have a channel time for bigger heals. Something along the lines of channeling their Chi into the target. Along channeled "meditation" spell for a raid-wide cooldown "Tranquility" type spell.
The roll ability sounds so awesome, I can't wait to use it :D. Rolling into horde in bgs will be so fun.@Rankorr, I new a girl in my high school who was colorblind, and I think there was a guy I remember from elementary school who was also colorblind. But ya that's outta thousands of kids I knew from the schools I went too, so ya it's very rare.


text:
At a glance
Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University is Asia and the Pacific's leading graduate public policy school.
Staff and students at the School play an essential role in shaping public policy through research, education and policy engagement.
Crawford School is home to some of the region's most important researchers and many staff are active on government committees and in key advisory roles across government, business and civil society. Students at the School are valued members of the region's leading public policy community and contribute actively to the impact being made on the world's challenges surrounding such issues as water, food, energy, economic development, the environment, and governance.
Crawford School offers graduate degrees and executive programs in areas that include public policy, applied economics, public administration, and environmental management.
Crawford School is home to influential publications including the journal Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, and publications such as East Asia Forum, Dev Policy Blog, Policy Forum, Solutions, and Advance.
Leadership and governance
Crawford School has an Advisory Council and a Management Committee. The Advisory Council is made up of the School's Acting Director, plus leaders from the public service and business world. The Advisory Council's role is to help Crawford realise its vision to be the pre-eminent policy school in the region and among the finest in the world. The Management Committee is made up of senior academic and professional staff and meets regularly.
Strategic alliances and partnerships
Crawford School highly values strategic alliances and partnerships with government, business and civil society. Research, education and policy impact relationships with Crawford School can achieve significant results in national, regional and international contexts.
Sir John Crawford
Sir John Crawford was a great Australian civil servant and a distinguished leader of The Australian National University. As an official and as a scholar, he exercised remarkable influence nationally and internationally.
Updated: 24 March 2017/Responsible Officer: Crawford Engagement/Page Contact: CAP Web Team


text:
Opera singer and blonde bombshell Katherine Jenkins has spoken about her concern about reactions to her acting ability – A Christmas Carol is the Doctor Who guest star's first screen role.
She also said that she would be enjoying a "large glass of wine" before watching the episode when it goes out.
"I haven't had any training and I've not really had any experience of this kind of thing," she said.
Following the BFI preview showing on Monday evening, we now know a few more details about the Christmas special which is based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Spoiler time for the sensitive among you…
Sir Michael Gambon's Kazran Sardick is, it turns out, a rich and naturally lonely "Scrooge" who has control of the sky. To prove how rotten he is, he has frozen Jenkins' character Abigail Pettigrew simply because her family cannot afford to pay their debts.
All of this hooks together nicely, we expect, with the fact that accoridng to clips Amy and Rory are on board a crashing spacecraft… To top it all off, the Doctor must some how defeat a flying shark.
Katherine Jenkins seems to have been suitably encouraged while on set – so there might be a chance of a repeat performance from a lady we can now call a "singer/actress".
"Everyone in the whole Doctor Who team was brilliant and so encouraging and supportive that they made me feel like I could do it," she said.
"By the end, I had a ball and I think that has now opened my mind to thinking if the right thing came along maybe I would like to do it again."
Now if you don't know this next bit, you really need to read Kasterborous a little more often: A Christmas Carol airs on Christmas Day at 6pm on BBC One and BBC HD!


text:
- KCII Radio - http://kciiradio.com -
J. John J. Miller
Posted By News On @ 11:00 am In Funeral Service Announcements | Comments Disabled
Celebration of life services for 92 year old J. John J. Miller of Kalona will be at 2:00 Sunday at the East Union Mennonite Church. A private family graveside service will be held at the East Union Mennonite Cemetery prior to the service. Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 8:00 Saturday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona where the family will greet friends from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 6:00 to 8:00. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is handling the arrangements.
Article printed from KCII Radio: http://kciiradio.com
URL to article: http://kciiradio.com/2012/07/j-john-j-miller/
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2005-2013 KCII Radio


text:
Assuming you mean "html and css" when you say "code line", I can only say that both Firefox and Chrome are open source, so just download that to study the details of there engines.
If you us the url and whatever more we need to reproduce the error on IE that isn't an error on Firefox somebody might be able to tell you the cause. But at the moment you don't provide enough info for that.
I asking about background differences (how a code line is interpretated, why os IE I get an error and on Firefox it don`t reproduced), not speed differences, on Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer.