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* Some farmers have waited months for payment for rice
* Farmers' movement separate to anti-government protests
* Moody's says unrest will not undermine Thailand's rating (Adds share prices, details of bond-selling scheme)
By Pairat Temphairojana and Panarat Thepgumpanat
BANGKOK, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Thai farmers, angry at not being paid under a rice subsidy scheme, called off a protest tractor drive to Bangkok's main airport on Friday after an assurance they would get their money, some welcome news for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The subsidy programme was among the populist policies pioneered by Yingluck's billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister central to a conflict that has divided Thais for years and triggered protests, violent at times, that have paralysed parts of the capital for weeks.
The farmers had said they wanted to make a symbolic protest, with no plans to block air traffic as in 2008, when protesters forced Bangkok's two main airports to close.
Former member of parliament Chada Thaiseth, speaking for the farmers gathered in Ayutthaya province, said they had been assured of payment.
"The government will make payment next week. The farmers will head back now and will see whether the government will pay as promised," he told Reuters. "If it isn't delivered, we will return."
He said payments would be made via the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives from next week.
The government said it would sell bonds to pay for the rice, but that it would take seven or eight weeks for the sale to start, a move likely to prompt criticism that it is acting beyond its remit.
Yingluck has headed a caretaker government with limited spending powers since calling a snap election in December. Voting this month was disrupted by her opponents, and it could be months before a new government can be installed.
But in further good news for Yingluck, Moody's Investors Service affirmed Thailand's government bond rating at Baa1 with a stable outlook.
"Moody's affirmation is based on the view that Thailand's credit fundamentals have withstood the political turbulence in the country since the September 2006 coup," it said, referring to Thaksin's overthrow by the army.
"The stable rating outlook reflects the expectation that the recent resurgence in political infighting in Bangkok will not undermine Thailand's credit strengths to a material degree."
The much-maligned rice programme is critical to Yingluck's support base in the poorer north and northeast.
Generous subsidies for farmers were a centrepiece of the platform that swept her to power in 2011, but they have left Thailand with vast stockpiles of rice and a bill it is struggling to fund.
Opposition leaders say the scheme is riven with graft. Losses to the taxpayer, estimated at 200 billion baht ($6 billion) a year, have fuelled urban anger with Yingluck.
She and her government are being investigated by an anti-corruption panel for alleged irregularities in the subsidy scheme.
The farmers' anger over not being paid and the investigation into the subsidy programme come as Yingluck faces a campaign of street protests to oust her that has been going on for nearly four months.
Four protesters and a police officer were killed on Tuesday when police attempted to reclaim protest sites near government buildings that have been occupied for weeks.
The protesters want to stamp out what they see as the malign influence of Thaksin, regarded by many as the real power behind the government. This week they targeted businesses linked to the Shinawatra family, sending their stock prices lower.
Property developer SC Asset Corp has lost almost 10 percent since Wednesday and mobile handset distributor M-Link Asia Corp has lost 12 percent.
The protests are the latest instalment of an eight-year political battle broadly pitting the Bangkok middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly rural supporters of Yingluck and Thaksin.
Demonstrators accuse Thaksin of nepotism and corruption and say that, prior to being toppled by the army, he used taxpayers' money for populist subsidies such as the rice scheme and easy loans that bought him the loyalty of millions. (Additional reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat, Pracha Hariraksapitak and Khettiya Jittapong; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Alan Raybould and Ron Popeski)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The (UK - BD RB)
Marcus becomes the lord of the harvest and starts chainsawing up this review...
13 Years after the events in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre Tobe Hooper returns to mystery attacks that still haunt Texas. Lieutenant "Lefty" Enright (Dennis Hopper) is drawn to the scene of a brutal roadside killing in Red River, Texas. He soon forms an alliance with Stretch (Caroline Williams), a feisty female radio DJ who inadvertently broadcasts the chainsaw murder of two drunken frat boys live on her late-night phone-in request show. The chainsaw massacre seems to be beginning again. It seems to have no end.
I'd seen all the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in a pretty odd watch order one way or another over the years, that is except this one for some unknown reason. I don't particularly like many of them if I'm honest but the original always stuck with me after first seeing it, so going in to the first true sequel was a very interesting prospect. All the more so after most of the modern guff attempts that just seem to churn out the same film one after the other have totally run out of steam in the recent Texas Chainsaw 3D
Loud, brash and 80s to its very core the opening to this sequel has a real madness to it with school kids racing down Texas roads shooting signs and driving other cars off the road, It's much akin to some elements of Mad Max and the sheer madness of a chainsaw car chase is a bold and in your face opening for a sequel to a film that is considered a much more subtle affair.
From there on in this is a sequel that wants to big up the legend of the original massacre all while trying to generate a new story. This is partially told via Dennis Hopper's character chasing leads like a laid back and soon to be crazy Fox Mulder but I have to say this felt like a much braver approach than the shuffling of the same old elements that the modern Texas Chanisaw Massacre movies always take. Of course the recent Texas Chainsaw 3D showed some balls starting events directly after the events of the original but this soon succumbed to the same old teens and chainsaws mayhem. Man, that was a lousy instalment wasn't it.
Anyway, what this sequel does is attempt to progress the story, rather than just providing meat in a camper van for Leatherface to cut up, TCM2 actually tries to ask the question 'What happens next?' The world has moved on, the characters, or at least some of them are aware of the events thirteen years ago and because it's a secret that's been hidden, those in know are trying to keep it quiet, even though some of them obviously don't want to stay that quiet.
Somewhere along the line the weirdness of the family from the first film is ramped up so much that it all becomes quite humorous. We'll spend time with a kooky family member scratching the metal plate in their head and babbling nonsense rather than stick with Leatherface (a name they repeat over and over to make it stick with the audience) doing his chainsaw thing. This makes for quite a funny set of events that while weird and still dark in tone aren't exactly scary or all that memorable for the reasons the original's events were. There's also much more in the way of gore and brightly lit detail here that removes your imagination filling in the gaps and of course the scares. Instead its more to do with intensity.
Somehow, despite the growing madness, this all works. It's utter insanity and Hooper's ability to pile up the madness with multiple layers until you cant help but go with it works. A great example is the sheer mayhem in the radio station attack. Crazy veterans with a metal plates in their head, coat hangers, hammers, sexual encounters with Leatherface and an ice covered girl in daisy dukes asking "how good are you?" to her attacker, this is all overlapping, loud and in your face and it doesn't really relent. Same can be said for the horrible stuff that plays out in the hidden lair of the family in the film's final act. It both repeats the original film's beats and utterly ridicules their impact, all at the same time.
The first film was good with the sort of scares that just keep coming at you, ramping up tension and events. This sequel ramps it up in the same sort of ways, letting you know Hooper is still behind the wheel but it's not always effective due to the 80s sensibilities and the fact it gets progressively less easy to swallow as the film gets less and less believable. All the craziness and focused attempts to shock the audience with horrid visuals still makes this a ride worth taking but you can see why this one wasn't really a hit or indeed celebrated all that much since.
The HD presentation comes with its fair share of grain but it fits the style well and there's a real sense that age has treated this one pretty well. Edges and a good and sharp and there's a great use of colour. Everything is boosted but to to unnatural levels and this seems to be celebrating the original visuals of the film rather than hiding them away.
Details such as tarmac and grassed covered fields all look pretty good and close ups show off skin textures and stubble in good enough ways to see how impressive the upgrade is here, even if its not going to stand up to modern presentations.
Style wise this one is a lot more neon than you'd expect from a TCM flick, even if the starkness and the dustiness of the first film is retained, well at least in the first act. Once Hopper finds the families lair we may as well be in a 80s Pop video (there's also a striking resemblance to the lair in Ron Howard's The Grinch). Out comes the blue and red lighting and the smoke and the twinkling lights and the original film's realism is a thing of the past.
Beginning with a distinctly 80s soundtrack that just doesn't quit until someone dies, this sequel feels as much 80s and the original felt 70s, which is good because most of the TCM remakes just seem happy to live in 70s styles. The music choices are strong and clear (and synthy) and immediately make the film feel fresh and new. Dialogue is clean and central and the chainsaw buzz that doesn't take long to arrive sits naturally within the track rather than going down the overpowering route like the modern remakes love doing so much.
Screams are strong, layers of menace and buzzsaws overlap one another well and the squelches and cracks of Leatherface's victims all sound realistically grimy. The track maybe isn't as technically sure of itself as a modern TCM attack on the senses can be but it still does its job and its strongest buzzing can still rock a sound system.
'It Runs In The Family' (87 mins HD) talk about the impact of the original TCM and the road to the sequel. There's a lot of talk about the origins of the sequel and the documentary paints a clear picture of how the sequel became the oddity that it ended up being. Reasons for the change of style, budget cuts and the stress of the shoot including the production companies shock that the film was funny are all covered. There's a lot of cast and crew participation and this adds up to a really great in depth making of that I wish there were more like.
The 'Directors Commentary' is a 2006 Tobe Hooper with the laid back filmmaker answering questions and expanding on the film's production.
The 'Actors Commentary' has Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and Tom Savini in a fun, upbeat track that was full of great stories.
'Still Feelin' The Buzz' (28:31 HD) has a horror expert talking about how the hell you follow the original TCM. The similarities and differences between the two films are discussed and how the grotesque nature of the story is enhanced and how the comedy elements came out of the film's evolution into a brand rather than a film. This is a great, thoughtful overview of the film's content and approaches the film with a level head both celebrating it and highlighting its silliness.
'Cutting Moments with Bob Elmore' (14:41 HD) talks to the Leatherface stunt performer and his career and experiences with the TCM and then we're on to an 'Alternative Opening Sequence' (01:56 SD), a batch of VHS quality Deleted Scenes (10:37 SD), the 'Original Trailer' and an 'Image Gallery'.
Moving on to Disc 2: Tobe Hooper Early Works, this Blu-ray offers up even more Tobe Hooper goodies.
The short film The Heisters (10:27 HD)and the feature Eggshells (89:00 HD) are both restored in pretty great HD presentations. Eggshells also comes with a commentary with restoration participant Lewis Black and Tobe Hooper.
The 'Trailer Reel' (24:47) features looks at Hooper's other films such a Eaten Alive, Salem's Lot and Poltergeist. Then the interview with Tobe Hooper (28:23 HD) is the last great piece of this already great set. His influences, his thoughts on the Vietnam era in America and more details about the movies he's made are covered and its a nice wrap up to things.
Disc 3 in this pretty set is the DVD copy but I didn't get sent that to confirm what's on it - sorry about that.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is an odd beast. In many ways it works like a logical sequel and expands the story into new places without repeating itself but in other ways the slowly decaying style of the film into 80s slasher territory and the utterly severe ramp up in madness after the midway point really kills it as anything more than a romp. It feels like those horrors that homage the original Massacre but miss the mark but even with that said somehow in here the darkness still plays in amongst the odd humour making for a pretty gnarly Texas Chainsaw Massacre outing and one crazy ass Dennis Hopper performance.
The three disc set is packed with amazing stuff. The making of alone would make this a set worth picking up but with all the additionally stuff as well this is a real no-brainer for TCM die hard fans or even those who just have a passing interest in the horror classic's legacy and where it went next. Arrow have really treated this one in special ways and you'll come out the other end of this one knowing a whole lot more about a classic horror's sequel than you'd ever expect.
Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Marcus Doidge
Chris Johnson Member Join Date: October 2005 Location: United States Posts: 1,465
My favorite film in the franchise. I like this one way more than the others.
richyrich101 Member Join Date: September 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 51
I really like this one..! It doesnt try to Churn Out the same formual as the first one, and dares to go in a slightly different direction. Plus, its got Tom Savini doing what he does best!
Suitable only for persons of 18 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 11th November 2013
Discs: 3
Disc Type: HD DVD Hybrid
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.85:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: LPCM 2.0 Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Extras: Commentaries, Documentaries, Interviews, Deleted Scenes, Trailers, Image Gallery, Tobe Hooper Early Works : Eggshells, The Heisters, DVD COpy
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Tobe Hooper
Cast: Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Jim Siedow
Genre: Drama and Horror
Length: 100 minutes
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Ohio Retailers Reporting Strong Summer Sales
August 2, 2013 by RVBusiness · Comments Off on Ohio Retailers Reporting Strong Summer Sales
This summer, more families seem to be gassing up the recreational vehicle than ever.
Ryan Meeks, sales manager at Craig Smith RV Center in Galion, Ohio, said RV sales are up from last year, according to a report in the Mansfield News Journal.
"We're off to a very good start," he said. "I think a lot of it is due to the improvement in the economy — people having more confidence and people starting to spend money on things they really enjoy."
Margie Slatter, general manager of Young's RV Center in Fremont, said her business has seen similar trends.
"We belong to a group of 20 other RV dealers and they're saying about a 20% increase from last year's numbers," she said. "RVs are a recovering industry. I attribute this to a lot of reasons. One being baby boomers are retiring and that group has a lot of disposable income. We're also seeing a lot of families with young children. It's much more economical to buy an RV and go camping than it is to get a hotel and fly some place."
Cassie Miller, of Loudonville, said her family realized just how much their RV meant to them after they sold it last year.
"My husband Brian had always camped with his parents and he really got me into it," she said. "Last year, I was starting nursing school and we were trying to cut down on bills, so we sold ours. But this summer, not being able to go camping was killing us, so we ended up buying another."
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Nepal souvenirs: what to bring back from the Himalayas
Nepal ranks high on most adventurers' bucket lists, and with good reason. Home to the magnificent Himalayas, Nepal reigns supreme when it comes to landscapes…
EVEREST is more a pilgrimage than a trek: a tough personal challenge with a clear goal at the end, it passes deep into Buddhist Sherpa country, among some of the world's most sublime peaks. In terms of popularity, the region runs second to Annapurna. That said, the majority of trekkers in Solu-Khumbu, the Everest region, are all heading up the same trail. From the alarming airstrip at Lukla, the trail leads north into mountainous Khumbu, the dizzyingly high Sherpa homeland. The trail forks above the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar (or Namche for short): one route leads to Everest Base Camp and the viewpoint of Kala Pattar; the other for the beautiful Gokyo Lakes. Both high points are about eight days from Lukla, and can be combined by crossing the high pass of the Cho La.
Relatively few trekkers now take the switchback hike from the roadhead at Jiri through Solu, the lower, greener, more populous and more ethnically diverse country to the south. It's a stunning route, and offers a great way to acclimatize, but the extra five to seven days' walking is too much for many people. You should leave slack in your schedule even if you're flying, though, as getting a place on a plane out of Lukla can be problematic if bad weather causes cancellations to stack up.
To get a good look at Everest, you'll have to spend at least four nights above 4000m and at least one at around 5000m. At these altitudes, there is a serious risk of developing acute mountain sickness (AMS) and you must know the signs (see Altitude). Everest is also the coldest of the major treks, so you'll need a good sleeping bag, several layers of warm clothes, and sturdy boots that will keep out snow. The rental shops of Namche, in Khumbu, allow you to stock up on high-altitude gear and return it on the way back down. Because of weather, the trekking "window" is especially short in Khumbu – early October to mid-November, and late March to late April – and this, in turn, creates a seasonal stampede on the trails and at the Lukla airstrip. Winter isn't out of the question, but it's just that much colder.
While Everest isn't as heavily trekked as Annapurna, its high-altitude environment is even more fragile. Khumbu, with less than four thousand inhabitants, receives anything from ten to twenty thousand trekkers a year, and probably twice as many porters. Lodge-building almost destroyed the Blue Pine and Silver Fir forests around Lukla, and the demand for firewood is many times the regeneration capacity of the area. Near trekking villages, up to half the juniper shrubs have vanished in smoke. The Sagarmatha National Park, which covers most of Khumbu, has done some fine work in reforestation (funded by the Rs1000 entry fee), but it can't be said often enough: have as little to do with wood-burning as possible.
The popular trails through Solu-Khumbu are well equipped with lodges, some basic, some fancy and surprisingly expensive – until you consider the costs of portering in all supplies this far. Prices rise as you ascend; near the top, most lodges offer basic bunk beds only. The main Jiri–Lukla–Namche–Base Camp route is very straightforward, as is the alternative high-level spur, to the Gokyo lakes, but a guide is advisable for pretty much anything else. Solu-Khumbu is the easiest area in Nepal to hire a woman porter – a Sherpani – although few speak enough English to serve as guides.
From Lukla (2840m), the trail powers north up the Dudh Koshi ("Milk River") before passing into Khumbu and the Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsale (2740m), and bounding up to lofty NAMCHE BAZAAR/NAMCHE (3450M), where Khumbu and the serious scenery start. Nestled handsomely in a horseshoe bowl, the Sherpa "capital" has done very well out of mountaineering and trekking over the years, and shops sell (or rent) absolutely anything a trekker could desire. There's also a bank (with, astonishingly, an ATM), a post office, a bakery, a place calling itself "the world's highest bar", and even internet access. Try to make your trip coincide with the Saturday market, which draws Tibetans from the north and Rais from the south, or visit the national park visitors' centre, perched on the ridge east of town, which contains an informative museum. Thame, a beautiful few hours' walk west of Namche, makes an excellent side trip.
There are numerous possibilities above Namche, including passing through the relatively untouristy and unusually flat settlements of Khumjung (3780m) and Khunde. The main route contours to Sanasa (where the trail to Gokyo breaks off), before descending to cross the genuinely milky-looking Dudh Koshi ("Milk River"), at Phunki Tenga (3250m). The trail veers northeast into a tributary valley and climbs steeply to Tengboche (3860m), where the wildlife-rich juniper forest has long been protected by the local lamas and there's a show-stealing view of everybody's favourite peak, Ama Dablam (6828m) – the "mother with a jewel box", as Sherpas call it. Tengboche's large monastery was lavishly rebuilt in the early 1990s, and has a fascinating permanent exhibition. Mani Rimdu, the Sherpa dance-drama festival, is held here on the full moon of October–November. The trail briefly descends through birch and fir forest to Deboche, a settlement with a nunnery, before ascending again to Pangboche, containing Khumbu's oldest gompa, where for a donation the lama will show you some yeti relics. (The higher trail leading west out of Pangboche allows you to cut across to the Gokyo trek, on the opposite side of the Dudh Koshi valley.) After crossing the Imja Khola, the trail follows the terraces of the valley floor to Pheriche (4250m), site of a Himalayan Rescue Association post (AMS talks are held most afternoons, and $50 consultations are available). Above Pheriche, the stone and slate-roofed Sherpa settlements are strictly seasonal – trekking lodges aside.
The village of Dingboche (4360m), in the valley of the Imja Khola a little above Pheriche, is a slight detour from the fastest route up, but sitting right under Ama Dablam as it does, it has a more appealing situation than Pheriche, and offers some fine acclimatization side trips: to a gompa 400m above, or further up the Imja Khola to Chhukhung (4730m). This sensationally situated village is tiny, with only a few lodges, but can serve as a base for higher explorations still: on to Imja Tso (a glacial meltwater lake marooned in moraine that threatens to burst), up to the peak of Chhukung Ri (5546m) or ascending towards the Kongma La. The Dingboche route rejoins the trail up from Pheriche at Dughla (4620m), which is where acclimatization problems set in for many trekkers. Do not ascend with symptoms of AMS. Immediately above the trail climbs the stony terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, passing a series of monuments to Sherpas killed on Everest, to reach Lobuche (4930m). Another day's march along the grassy edge of the glacier's lateral moraine brings you to Gorak Shep (5180m), the last huddle of lodges – and a cold, breathless and probably sleepless night in uncomfortably crowded bunk rooms.
The payoff comes the next day, when you climb up the mound of Kala Pattar (5545m): the extra height provides an unbelievable panorama, not only of Everest (8848m) but also of its neighbours Lhotse (Nepal's third-highest peak, at 8516m) and Nuptse (7861m), as well as the sugarloaf of Pumori (7165m), the "daughter mountain". A separate day-trip can be made across the thrillingly ice-spired Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp. The trail is well trodden by climbing expeditions and their yaks and porters, so you don't need any technical equipment beyond stout boots. Only the very fittest and best-acclimatized can manage Kala Pattar and Base Camp in one day; if you have to choose one over the other, make it Kala Pattar.
The Gokyo Lakes spur and Cho La
You're that little bit further away from Everest, but the scenery is every bit as good at GOKYO LAKES, in the next valley to the west, and the lodges are much more appealing, with their glazed-in sun decks. The route breaks off the Base Camp trail at Sanasa, below Khumjung, following the Dudh Koshi north via Machhermo (where there's an HRA medical post) to Gokyo, a cluster of lodges set beside the Ngozumba Glacier – the biggest in Nepal. It can be done in a long day if you're fit and acclimatized; two or three if you're not – there are lodges at frequent intervals all the way up. Several jewel-blue lakes, dammed up by the glacier's lateral moraine, dot the west side of the valley above and below Gokyo. The high point is an overlook, Gokyo Ri, surveying a clutter of blue teeth – Cho Oyu, Everest and Lhotse are just the ones over 8000m – and the long grey glacier tongue.
It's possible to be in Gokyo in two days from Gorak Shep (or vice versa), if you can manage the strenuous CHO LA (5420m). There are a couple of simple lodges at Dragnag (4700m), four hours from Gokyo, on the opposite side of the glacier, and a couple more at the unappealing Dzonghla, two to three hours from Dughla or Lobuche (4910m). But the high, middle section, crossing the pass, has to be done in one long day (unless you have tents): that's six to eight hours, or more in bad conditions or if you suffer from altitude problems – which is all too likely this high. The pass is usually snowy on the eastern side, where you have to cross onto a glacier, with some tricky and slippery sections. Don't attempt it if you're in any doubt about the weather, or your own condition, and team up with a group. In good autumn and spring conditions, full crampons aren't usually necessary, but mini-crampons are an excellent, lightweight idea, and an ice axe could be handy; a guide or a thorough understanding of the route is essential.
The SHIVALAYA WALK-IN is one of the classic Middle Hill treks in Nepal, and the crowds flying straight in to Lukla don't know what they are missing. Cutting across the lay of the land, the trail dips and soars between tropical valleys as low as 1500m and alpine passes as high as 3500m, but the sense of excitement as you get closer to the mountains proper makes all the gruelling legwork worthwhile – not to mention the fitness and acclimitization you'll accrue. A few glimpses of peaks – notably Gauri Shankar (7145m) – urge you along during the first five or six days, although the lasting images of the Solu region are of tumbling gorges, rhododendron forests and terraced fields hewn out of steep hillsides. Expect to walk for six or seven days to reach Lukla, not counting side trips – but thereafter you'll be walking much faster than those flying in, skipping up to Namche Bazaar in a day from Lukla. The bulk of traffic through Solu consists of porters humping in gear for trekking groups and expeditions flying into Lukla, and this is reflected in the relatively no-frills food and lodging available.
There are a number of variations on the route, but essentially you're switchbacking over three passes, each bigger than the last. After the steamy, bustling riverside bazaar of Shivalaya (1770m) you climb over the pass at Deurali (2710m) – an alternative side route takes you higher, via the cheese factory at Thodung (3091m) – and down via the handsome village of Bhandar (2190m) to another settlement on the warm valley floor: Kinja (1630m). It is possible to get transport from Shivalaya to Bhandar, where the road ends, but you won't save much time and the road is slow and deeply uncomfortable.
Most people choose to break the monumental third climb that lies ahead into two parts by spending their third night out of Jiri at Sete (2575m), halfway up to the Lamjura La (3530m), a pass where you first taste the scale of the mountains ahead. From there, it's a long descent through forest to the idyllic quasi-alpine Sherpa village of Junbesi (2680m). Most trekkers are understandably impatient to get up to Everest, but a side trip to the powerfully Tibetan Thubten Chholing Gompa, north of Junbesi, is well worth it, and it's possible to spend many days in the area. The airstrip at Phaplu is just two hours south, and immediately below that is Solu-Khumbu's rarely visited capital, Salleri, a long strip of two-storey houses strung out on a green hillside, with a thriving Saturday bazaar at its bottom end.
Less than two hours above Junbesi, Everest View gives the first serious view of the Khumbu range, with Everest itself apparently subsidiary to the nearer peaks. The next pass, Traksindho La (3071m), finally takes you into the Dudh Koshi Valley and, at Jubing, an attractively bamboo-festooned Rai village below, the trail bends north towards Everest. Two days later, it sidesteps Lukla and joins the well-trodden route to Khumbu.
The EASTERN ROUTES to or from Everest are sometimes treated as an exit by trekkers who want to avoid the long backtrack to Shivalaya, but there's no reason why the itineraries can't be done in reverse, except perhaps that it's better to gain some confidence before tackling this less-trekked region. Another factor to consider is the season: try to do the lower section of the trek when it's cooler. The routes are equipped with lodges and a guide isn't needed, but don't expect many English signs or much fancy food.
From the Everest region, the most interesting route leaves the Shivalaya walk-in at Kharte, about a day south of Lukla, and heads southeastwards to reach Tumlingtar five to seven days later, crossing three passes over 3000m. Part of this stretch traverses the Makalu-Barun Conservation Area, and the Rs1000 entrance fee may be required at a checkpost. The first half of the trek passes through tangled hills inhabited mainly by Rais; after reaching the last and highest pass, the Salpa Bhanjyang (3350m), it descends steadily to the deep, hot valley of the Arun – the traditional Rai homeland, though with a strong Hindu-caste presence. After crossing the river at a mere 300m, it's a short day to Tumlingtar, a busy bazaar overlooking the Arun River; from here there are flights twice daily or more to Kathmandu, or you can pick up a local bus for the tortuous journey back via Chainpur and Basantapur to Hile.
Other routes head south from the Tragsindho La or, alternatively, Junbesi, to the Phaplu airstrip, which is now connected by road to the Terai. A full route description, is included in Mountain biking. Another southbound route aims roughly due south from Jubing down the Dudh Koshi, then bounds across the big hills on the eastern side of the valley and over to Lamidanda airstrip.
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Get Jennifer Hudson's Marc Jacobs' Inspired Look With This How-To From Her Makeup Artist
Last night's American Music Awards weren't short on striking beauty looks, but it was Jennifer Hudson's blue eye liner and flawless skin that stole the show. Makeup artist Shannon Pezzetta was inspired by the bold eye shadow on Marc by Marc Jacobs' S/S 14 runway, translating it to a thick line of liquid liner for the red carpet. "Electric blue is going to be really big this spring," she says. "But you don't have to apply colour all over your eyes to make an impact!" You'll find all the tips and tricks you need to score this look at home—including the secret behind Hudson's perfect complexion—in our slideshow.
The trick to making this look work in real life? "When wearing a bright color on your eyes make sure you keep everything else clean and soft," Pezzetta says.
Our first question for Pezzetta was easy: What's the secret behind Hudson's perfect complexion? "Jennifer's skin can get shiny, so I try to stay away from highlighters or anything with oil in it," Pezzetta says. "Instead I always use L'Oreal's Ideal Moisture Lotion ($7), it's oil-free and illuminates the skin."
Pezzetta dabbed Urban Decay's Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion ($31) on Hudson's T-zone and around her mouth, then reached for Lancome's Teint Visionnaire ($60). "The trick is to apply foundation with a brush, then use a latex sponge to blend it in," Pezzetta says. "It gives a seamless finish."
To prevent shine, Pezzetta dusted YSL's Poudre Sur Mesure Powder ($60) in 4 Toffee all over Hudson's face, then used Lancome's Blush Subtil ($30) in Shimmer Pink Pool on the apples of her cheeks.
Pezzetta applied Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($20) onto Hudson's lids, then used two shades to contour her eyes. She dusted the medium brown hue from Lancome's 5 Shadow and Liner Palette ($49) in Kissed by Gold in the socket and under her bottom lashline, then used the gold hue on her lid.
"This look is actually really simple," Pezzetta says. She applied a black kohl liner on the top and bottom waterline of Hudson's eyes, then used Lancome's Artliner 24H ($30) in Sapphire to draw a thick line on her top lashline. "Flip the ends up just slightly," she says. "You don't want to create a cat eye."
"I had to fight Jennifer on the lip hue!" Pezzetta says. "She wanted more color, but I had to tell her to trust me on this one. This look is all about a single pop of color." Pezzetta applied Lancome Rouge in Love ($26) in Sweet Embrace.


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BEHEMOTH To Take Part In This Summer's ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL, Says Bassist
D.T. Metal of Metal Storm conducted an interview with bassist Orion (real name: Tomasz Wróblewski) of Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH aboard Barge To Hell — the world's most extreme metal cruise — which sailed on December 3, 2012 from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas and returned to the real world on December 7, 2012. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Storm: As [BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski] did have a brush with death (in December 2010, Darski underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure after being diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukemia. — Ed.), did the daily business routine of BEHEMOTH change since tomorrow could be the last day?
Orion: Tomorrow could be the last day for any of us, but the situation we had with Nergal makes us more aware of this fact. It was just one big lesson and I feel that the way we treat the band, and life in general, now is just — better. We do have a lot more appreciation for everything and we are trying to get as much as we can out of it all, professionally and personally. And everything that is happening with the band, it takes some work, but it's growing. It's hard to explain…
We are actually working on a new album right now and it's going really good. We have been rehearsing for a couple of weeks now and we have about four or five songs ready. We recorded a demo so we can listen to it and see if the approach is the right one. It's going really good and we have scheduled the studio for the end of February. If everything goes as planned, the album will be done in the summer and we plan on releasing it in the fall of 2013.
Metal Storm: You are going back to Hertz Studios? And weren't you involved with the production or studio work on the last album as well?
Orion: The last recording session — I don't even remember how many studios were involved… Like, six or seven, and lots of sound engineers as well; that's just the way we work. This time we will probably do most of the work in Hertz Studio, but we might do some stuff in other places as well. Plus we are still talking about mixing of the album and that's going to be probably somewhere else other than Poland.
Metal Storm: So you might go back to Colin Richardson for the mixing?
Orion: He did our last record and it went really good, so we are still considering working with the guy again; but there are a few other ideas as well.
Metal Storm: What's on next year's calendar for BEHEMOTH other than the new album, of course?
Orion: I am pretty sure I can talk about that; I don't think it is confirmed yet, but we are coming back to the States this summer to play on the Rockstar [Energy Drink] Mayhem Festival. This will be the very first thing we will do before the new record comes out. After that, we plan on doing some other festivals, but they are not confirmed yet either. We have done quite a few European festivals this year (2012) and I am not sure if it would be the best thing to do before the album comes out.
Read the entire interview from Metal Storm.


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RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD), a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance radio frequency systems and solutions, released the industry's first "green" gallium nitride (GaN) based CATV amplifier modules. The D10040200PL1 and D10040230PL1 are designed for use as power doubler amplifiers in current and next generation CATV infrastructure applications.
The D10040200PL1 and D10040230PL1 are hybrid power doubler amplifier modules designed to provide the final amplifier stage for CATV trunk amplifiers, line extenders and optical nodes. The parts employ GaAs PHEMT and GaN HEMT die and operate from 45 to 1000 MHz. They provide high output capability, excellent linearity and superior return loss performance with low noise and optimal reliability. With low current and extremely low distortion, the D10040200PL1 and D10040230PL1 are unconditionally stable under all terminations.
The performance of this new family of CATV amplifiers is on par with other industry-leading GaAs CATV Power Doublers, also supplied by RFMD, but with 20 percent lower current consumption (24 V/380 mA). With these "green" energy-saving benefits, these products enable designers to fulfill growing requirements for lower energy consumption and assist network operators in their drive to reduce the overall cost of operating CATV networks. The D10040200PL1 and D10040230PL1 are the best performing low-current CATV power doubler amplifiers on the market today.
Bob Van Buskirk, President of RFMD's Multi-Market Products Group (MPG), said, "Network operators worldwide are increasingly focused on reducing the energy costs of operating their wireless and wireline networks. RFMD's high-performance GaN technology satisfies the industry's drive for 'green technology' by enabling advanced RF components and products that provide industry-leading power and operate at significantly lower power consumption levels."


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Paul Wall
December 3rd, 2014
Paul Slayton
Paul Wall
Years Active:
'00s, '10s
Paul Wall
MC and DJ Paul Wall (born Paul Slayton) grew up as a hardcore disciple of fellow Houstonian DJ Screw and became so familiar with the pioneering DJ's woozy, slowed-down style of remixing that he had to adjust to hearing hip-hop at any other tempo. Prior to making a nationwide breakout in 2005 with a guest spot on Mike Jones' "Still Tippin'" and his Swishahouse/Atlantic Records debut, The Peoples Champ, Wall was involved with promotional street teams, DJed parties, put together underground mixtapes, and was half of the Color Changin' Click with Chamillionaire. He recorded 2002's Get Ya Mind Correct with his partner, and then followed that with 2004's solo Chick Magnet. Controversy Sells, another disc billed to Wall and Chamillionaire, hit the streets in early 2005, just months before Wall kicked off support for the chart-topping Peoples Champ LP with "Sittin' Sideways." Two years later, Get Money, Stay True was introduced by the single "Break Em' Off" with Lil' Keke. Changing labels with the rest of the Swishahouse family, his first album for Asylum, Fast Life, followed in 2009. A year later The Heart of a Champion arrived with blink-182 drummer Travis Barker handling production on half the tracks. In early 2012 he dropped the mixtape No Sleep Til Houston, which was picked up for an official release by the Fontana label late that same year. Affiliated throughout the years with Paid in Full and Swishahouse, Wall has also held down a lucrative business as a maker of diamond-laced grillz. His clientele includes Lil Jon and T.I.
Become a fan of the Top Songs 2014 on Facebook for exclusive offers, the inside scoop on latest and most exclusive music albums, singles and videos.


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Polarized Sources And TargetsWorld Scientific Publishing Company 2007; US$ 52.00 US$ 47.32
Polarized beams and targets have been irreplaceable tools in nuclear and particle physics experiments for a long time and have provided us rich information on the role played by spin-degrees of freedom in the sub-nuclear world. In addition, techniques to obtain large nuclear polarization have recently been applied to new fields such as materials and... more...
Polarized Sources, Targets and PolarimetryWorld Scientific Publishing Company 2011; US$ 56.00 US$ 50.96
This book collects the most recent experimental results, new ideas and prototypes in the field of nuclear gaseous and solid polarized targets and polarimetry. It contains the contribution of the biennial meeting on the topics of Polarized Sources, Targets and Polarimetry. Therefore it includes the most recent developments and performances in the field... more...
The Nucleon Optical ModelWorld Scientific Publishing Company 1994; US$ 59.00 US$ 53.69
The nucleon optical model is widely used to calculate the elastic scattering cross-sections and polarisations for the interaction of neutrons and protons with atomic nuclei. The optical model potentials not only describe the scattering but also provide the wave functions needed to analyse a wide range of nuclear reactions. They also unify many aspects... more...
A Theory of Scattering for Quasifree ParticlesWorld Scientific Publishing Company 2014; US$ 27.00 US$ 24.57
In this book, the author presents the theory of quasifree quantum fields and argues that they could provide non-zero scattering for some particles. The free-field representation of the quantised transverse electromagnetic field is not closed in the weak*-topology. Its closure contains soliton–anti-soliton pairs as limits of two-photon states... more...
The J-Matrix MethodSpringer Netherlands 2008; US$ 124.38
This volume aims to provide the fundamental knowledge to appreciate the advantages of the J-matrix method and to encourage its use and development. J-matrix is an algebraic method of quantum scattering with substantial success in atomic and nuclear physics. more...
Diffuse Scattering and the Fundamental Properties of MaterialsMomentum Press 2009; US$ 163.00
Diffuse Scattering-the use of off-specular X-Rays and neutrons from surfaces and interfaces-has grown rapidly as a tool for characterizing the surface properties of materials and related fundamental structural properties. It has proven to be especially useful in the understanding of local properties within materials. This book reflects the efforts... more...
Scattering Theory of Molecules, Atoms and NucleiWorld Scientific Publishing Company 2012; US$ 55.00 US$ 50.05
The aim of the book is to give a coherent and comprehensive account of quantum scattering theory with applications to atomic, molecular and nuclear systems. The motivation for this is to supply the necessary theoretical tools to calculate scattering observables of these many-body systems. Concepts which are seemingly different for atomic/molecular... more...
Inverse Problems and Inverse Scattering of Plane WavesElsevier Science 2001; US$ 98.95
The purpose of this text is to present the theory and mathematics of inverse scattering, in a simple way, to the many researchers and professionals who use it in their everyday research. While applications range across a broad spectrum of disciplines, examples in this text will focus primarly, but not exclusively, on acoustics. The text will be especially... more...
Scattering, Two-Volume SetElsevier Science 2001; US$ 1,745.00
Scattering is the collision of two objects that results in a change of trajectory and energy. For example, in particle physics, such as electrons, photons, or neutrons are "scattered off" of a target specimen, resulting in a different energy and direction. In the field of electromagnetism, scattering is the random diffusion of electromagnetic radiation... more...
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Monday, 12 March 2012 01:14 PM
Apple Inc. got a second partner in China to sell the iPhone in the world's biggest mobile-phone market. The deal may be too late to catch Samsung Electronics Co., with a market share that's three times larger and growing.
China Telecom Corp. began selling the iPhone last week as Apple tries to build on its 7.5 percent share of the country's smartphone sales. Samsung controlled 24.3 percent of the market for phones that can play videos and games, according to Gartner Inc., using a strategy of allying with all three of the nation's third-generation networks since such services started in 2009.
Succeeding in China is important for Apple as shipments of smartphones in the country are projected to jump 52 percent this year to 137 million units, overtaking the U.S. for the first time as the world's biggest market. Unlike Samsung's strategy of partnering with all carriers, Apple has limited its own success by not making a device compatible with the nation's biggest operator, China Mobile Ltd.
"I don't expect Apple to replace Samsung any time soon," Gartner analyst Sandy Shen said in an interview. "China Telecom is the nation's smallest carrier, so the extent to which they can help Apple is quite limited."
The 16.8 percentage-point gap in China between Cupertino, California-based Apple and Samsung almost doubled from the third quarter. While Samsung is No. 1 and Apple No. 5 in China, the global story is different: Worldwide, Apple passed its Suwon, South Korea-based competitor to become the biggest smartphone vendor in the fourth quarter, according to Gartner.
China Mobile
Apple's partnerships with China's second- and third-largest carriers give it access to about 34 percent of the nation's 988 million mobile users, while Samsung targeted the whole market. iPhones aren't sold to China Mobile's 655 million subscribers, a number almost equal to the combined population of the U.S., Brazil and Mexico.
"Having access to more subscribers gives vendors like Samsung an advantage," said Teck Zhung Wong, a Beijing-based analyst with IDC China, who forecast the 52 percent jump in smartphone sales this year. "If Apple is going to continue to grow in the Chinese market, it has to consider very seriously a handset with China Mobile."
China Telecom had a total of 129.3 million wireless users at the end of January, including 38.7 million 3G subscribers.
Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007 in the U.S. exclusively with AT&T Inc. and added a second carrier partner last year in Verizon Communications Inc.
Pelting Eggs
Apple chose not to make a phone with China Mobile because the operator had a unique 3G standard called TD-SCDMA, even after the Chinese company's Chairman Wang Jianzhou met with the then Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs in early 2010. Wang told the company's annual meeting in May that he didn't expect Apple to introduce an iPhone until the carrier rolled out the fourth- generation TD-LTE network by end of this year.
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. was the nation's first carrier to offer the iPhone with a service contract in October 2009.
Even though Apple trailed Samsung, Nokia Oyj, Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp in China's smartphone market, people still crave an iPhone.
Apple's oldest store in China was pelted with eggs from a crowd of customers on Jan. 13 when the shop, in Beijing's Sanlitun district, failed to open on the first day of sales for the iPhone 4S. After police sealed off the area to remove more than 500 people, Apple said it would suspend sales of iPhones at all its stores.
'Didn't Bet High Enough'
The maker of iMac computers and iPad tablets underestimated the "staggering" demand for the iPhone 4S when it started sales in China in January, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said. "We thought we were betting bold," Cook said Jan. 24. "We didn't bet high enough."
The iPhone 4S has been "an incredible hit" with customers around the world, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said in an e-mail. Apple "can't wait to get it into the hands of even more customers in China," Wu said, declining to comment further on the company's handset strategy in China.
Samsung's approach to China is "the same" as other markets, Juha Park, senior vice president of product strategy, said in an interview in Barcelona.
"We make product innovation and make our brand very desired in the market," Park said. "That's what we do to become a major player. We have been doing quite strong growth in the China market."
Unlocked IPhone
Even without an agreement with Apple or a device that's compatible with its high-speed 3G network, China Mobile still has 15 million iPhone users, spokeswoman Rainie Lei said. Those China Mobile users buy unlocked devices and surf the web at slower 2G speeds, or else connect to Wi-Fi hotspots for a faster connection.
China Telecom projects that the iPhone will "significantly enhance its long term sustainable growth and value creation despite the short term pressure on its profitability," spokeswoman Lisa Lai said in an e-mail.
"For China Telecom, its 4S launch comes late and the low- hanging fruit may already be exhausted," said Lisa Soh, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Macquarie Group Ltd.
The egg pelting also resulted in Apple losing one advantage it had over Samsung -- its own retail stores stopped selling iPhones. Apple said at the time the move was "for the time being." Apple's Wu said the phones remain available through Apple's online store in China, and declined to provide an update on when the shops would resume sales of the devices.
That leaves Samsung free to further widen its gap.
"It's just one country, but it's such a big market and its portion in the global market is huge, so Samsung is trying to act fast to capture the market," said Kim Young Chan, a Seoul- based analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp. "Dealing with different network standards will give them a pretty valuable competitive edge."
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Are LED Manufacturers Adding Too Much Capacity?
By Ross Young, SVP, IMS Research
Every quarter, IMS Research personnel in China, Europe, Korea, Taiwan and the USA survey companies representing both the supply side and the demand side of the LED market in order to assess the health and outlook of the LED market. We are tracking:
- Historical MOCVD tool installations by LED manufacturer, MOCVD supplier, model number and wafer size
- Future MOCVD installations by LED manufacturer, MOCVD supplier, model number and wafer size.
- Each LED manufacturers' wafer capacity, die capacity, yielded die capacity and binned die capacity
- Quarterly LED panel shipments by panel manufacturer for TVs, monitors and notebook PCs.
- Quarterly number of LEDs per panel and total LED consumption by panel supplier at every size, resolution and refresh rate
- Annual shipments and forecasts for all other LED applications
The latest report showed that Q3'10 was another record quarter for GaN LED MOCVD installations with a record 230 merchant tools shipped as shown in Figure 1. Quarterly MOCVD shipments rose for the 6th consecutive quarter, a remarkable achievement.
Figure 1: Merchant GaN LED MOCVD Shipments
Source: IMS Research's Quarterly GaN LED Supply and Demand Report
The GaN LED MOCVD market was previously a 100-200 unit annual market, but exploded from the 2H'09 on the introduction of the first viable LED TVs and bright forecasts for LED penetration into TVs, monitors and eventually general lighting. We believe the merchant MOCVD market will reach 786 units in 2010, up 245 percent. In 2011, based on LED manufacturer surveys, we see shipments flat at around 790 tools.
Companies began adding capacity for many reasons.
- LED manufacturers affiliated with LCD suppliers added capacity to boost their self sufficiency.
- Independent LED manufacturers added capacity to boost their market share or enhance their vertical integration efforts.
- China introduced a MOCVD stimulus program to boost their LED self sufficiency. This program is expected to result in $1.6B in spending on MOCVD tools from 2010 – 2012. In addition to subsidies worth up to $1.8M per tool, local Chinese governments are also offering lower tax rates, accelerated depreciation and free land. This program has encouraged existing Chinese LED manufacturers to expand capacity, resulted in many new entrants and caused existing players in Taiwan and Korea to form joint ventures and add capacity in China. China led in MOCVD installations for the first time in Q3'10 and is expected to lead until the MOCVD stimulus program ends.
- In search of growth, a number of existing semiconductor manufacturers have diversified into LEDs hoping to capture some of the remarkable growth forecasted for this segment.
In total, 25 new LED manufacturers have entered and nearly all of the approximately 75 LED manufacturers are adding capacity between 2009 and 2011.
As a result, we are showing tremendous growth in LED capacity. In 2" wafer equivalents with conservative assumptions regarding tool ramps and utilization in China, we show ramped wafer capacity rising 54 percent in 2010 and 74 percent in 2011. There is also tremendous room for LED manufacturers to improve yields and bin rates, effectively boosting die capacity without additional capacity investments. In fact, a number of the leading manufacturers claim to have boosted yields (including binning) from the low 50s to the high 70s on their most advanced lines. However, it takes time to ramp to these yield rates and the large number of new entrants and new investments will keep industry average yield and bin rates low during this rapid expansion. Thus, we are showing weighted binned die capacity, which accounts for different yields and bin rates at different die sizes, rising 44 percent in 2010 and 60 percent in 2011. We believe these are conservative numbers with weighted average yields in the low 40s in both 2010 and 2011. Interestingly, we show 2012 weighted binned die capacity, without any additional tools installed in 2012, rising 31 percent as new tools ramp and yields and bin rates improve.
|LED Manufacturing Pavilion at SEMICON China
March 15-17, 2011 in Shanghai, China
|Last year, 25 of China's top LED manufacturers attended the LED Manufacturing Forum at SEMICON China. With massive government incentives and support, this year companies with even greater buying power will be participating. Speakers from Nichia, Cree and many more.
|Exhibiting, sponsorships and customer matchmaking opportunities available.
For more information, click hereor contact SEMI.
|Don't miss this year's premier LED manufacturing event in China.
Can Demand Keep Up?
With all this supply growth, can demand keep up? As shown in Figure 2, we believe demand growth outpaced supply growth in 2010, actually just the first half. However, in 2011 and 2012, we expect supply growth to outpace demand growth with no additional tools installed in 2012.
One of the reasons that demand is projected to grow slower than supply is a large reduction in LEDs per TV and monitor panels which occurred in Q3'10. As shown in Table 1, the number of 2@ mil edge-lit LEDs per panel declined by 22-27 percent from 2H'09 to 1H'10 and fell another 34-38 percent in 2H'10. Thus, in one year, the number of LEDs per panel dropped 51-54 percent, well beyond most LED manufacturers' expectations. In addition, the weighted average number of edge-lit LEDs per TV panel dropped from 196 in 1H'10 to 124 in 2H'10. LED manufacturers were expecting 15-20 percent per year reductions per year, thus, they found themselves with too much capacity to serve demand and LED manufacturers' utilization rates fell in 2H'10. This large reduction was achieved through improvements in LED luminous efficiency as well as improvements in lightguide distribution efficiency, panel transmissivity and optical film optimization. By reducing the number of LEDs, panel makers were able to migrate from 4-6 LED light bars per panel to just 2 light bars per panel significantly cutting costs and minimizing premiums over CCFL panels.
Figure 2 LED Supply and Demand Growth
Source: IMS Research's Quarterly GaN LED Supply and Demand Report. Assumes no MOCVD installations after Q4'11.
In addition, the timing of the reduction was particularly poor as LED TVs were selling slowly in Q3'10 as premiums for LED TVs were on top of already high premiums for high refresh rates. As a result, demand slowed, inventories rose and supply growth significantly overtook LED demand growth in backlights, reducing factory utilization to much lower levels in 2H'10. With 2011 and 2012 supply growth expected to further outpace demand growth, we see a growing LED surplus. Furthermore, with the China MOCVD stimulus program potentially ending in 2011, we don't see 2011 MOCVD shipments slowing down as LED manufacturers pull in their orders to ensure they take advantage of this unusual stimulus opportunity. As a result, we should expect LED manufacturers to significantly reduce their capacity expansion plans after the China stimulus program ends as supply is rising too fast.
Table 1 Edge-lit LED Die per Panel*
*Assumes 2@ mil die. Source: IMS Research's Quarterly GaN LED Supply and Demand Report
Figure 3 Q2'10 – Q4'10 Supply Growth vs. BLU Demand
Source: IMS Research's Quarterly GaN LED Supply and Demand Report
LED Market Outlook and Summary
So it seems China's MOCVD stimulus program, a large number of new entrants and slower than expected demand from display manufacturers is going to lead to a rising surplus over the next couple of years. But will the market continue to grow?
We believe it will. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, 2010 was a great year for the GaN LED market led by LED TVs. GaN LED revenues are expected to rise 76% from $4.8B in 2009 to $8.4B in 2010 with the total LED market exceeding $10B for the first time. TVs and monitors drove the revenue growth, rising 518% and 653% respectively, with units up even faster at 624% and 842% respectively. All segments in Figure 4 were up in units with only mobile phones and "Other BLUs" down in revenues.
With a healthy surplus projected, we expect rapid LED penetration into all backlight segments and faster than anticipated penetration into general lighting. We see continuous growth in LEDs as the general lighting market surges to offset eventual saturation in TVs with lighting overtaking the TV market in dollars in 2015. However, the LED lighting market does face numerous challenges in addition to price such as in improving efficiencies, reducing glare and improving light distribution and uniformity, particularly in terms of the fluorescent tube replacement market. But, that is a topic for another article. The LED surplus should also lead to declining utilization and slower capacity growth once the China MOCVD stimulus program ends, while growing pricing pressure could lead to consolidation. So, while healthy growth is forecasted, we can't say the same for margins.
Figure 4 GaN LED Market by Application
Source: IMS Research's Quarterly GaN LED Supply and Demand Report
Figure 5 GaN LED Revenues
Source: IMS Research's Quarterly GaN LED Supply and Demand Report
SEMI Global Update
January 6, 2011


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While there were no spectacular dunks or buzzer-beating shots, Seriously Bent, Suffolk University's student comedy troupe, experienced its own version of March Madness by making it to the Final Four of the sixth annual College Improv Tournament National Championship at Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre.
Suffolk is the only school in North America to have reached the College Improv nationals five times in six years.
Competing on a national stage as actors, Seriously Bent's game plan worked to perfection.
"I thought we executed our structure very well and we had some really funny scenes," said coach Anthony Passafiume. "I feel great for this group of students and for Suffolk University."
Just one look ... and they're off
"We work really well together," said junior Amanda Stone. "We're more like a family than an improv group. There are times when we just give each other a look and play off of that. The entire experience in Chicago was well organized and a lot of fun. Every team brought a different style and energy level."
Back in October, 123 college teams across North America began a five-month series of competitions, all looking to win a regional title and a chance to compete for the national crown in Chicago, the birthplace of improv.
Regional champs
Seriously Bent captured the New England Regional championship in November, earning a trip to the Windy City.
The Sweet Sixteen -- North America's top-ranked and funniest college improv teams -- 12 regional winners and four wild cards -- faced off in a pulsating, one-day tournament. Each school performed for 20 minutes before a live audience and a national panel of professional referees, er, judges.
When the spotlight shone on Suffolk, eight pairs of students took turns performing lightning-fast scenes. They portrayed artists talking about selling a painting, hoarders discussing why they love junk, a conversation between a mafia boss and a hit man afraid of using guns, and a confrontation between a crossing guard with a power complex and a student who is challenging his power.
"I felt our scenes were well grounded and had some nice character development," said Passafiume, a 2007 Suffolk and Seriously Bent alumnus.
Familiarity breeds success
The troupe's group scenes drew on the strong bond among the actors.
"We are extremely comfortable with each other all the time," said co-captain Joseph Talluto, a senior. "We have a lot of confidence as a group."
In the opening playoff round, Suffolk defeated Arizona State University, the University of Missouri and Wheaton College to advance to the championship round. The University of Houston finished in first place, followed by the University of British Columbia, the University of Iowa and Suffolk.
"We left everything we had on stage"
"This is my third trip to the national tournament, and I am very proud of how we have evolved over the years," said co-captain Ethan Bukowiec, a senior. "We all know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we encourage one another all the time. I felt we left everything we had on stage, and that's a great feeling."
In addition to Bukowiec, Talluto and Sousa, Seriously Bent cast members competing in Chicago were sophomores Zachary Barker, Stephania Kay, John MacGregor and Tatijana von Rosen, and freshman Erin Farrington. Senior Andy Cataluna also made the trip, serving as the group's manager.
Joseph Talluto and Amanda Sousa improvise a scene.
Physicality informs the humor as John MacGregor and Stephania Kay perform.


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OCZ Vertex 450 Review
OCZ Vertex 450 Introduction:
Over the past few years, one company has been at the forefront when it comes to driving up the adoption rate of solid state drives from the budget minded Agility and Octane series to the upper end Vertex, Vector, and Revo Drive series for the consumer. That company, OCZ, has seen its share of the good and bad when it comes to NAND Flash technology over that time frame. With recent successes such as the Vector drives and maturation of the Indilinx Barefoot 3 NAND controller, OCZ is poised to make a comeback with the budget friendly Vertex 450 drive. Equipped with the Indilinx Barefoot 3 M10 controller, a lower clocked version of the controller, and lower cost IMFT 20nm NAND, you get controlled costs as low as $109 for a 128GB high performance drive. Available in capacities from 128GB to 512GB, the Vertex 450 from OCZ hits all the standard capacities and price points along with a three-year warranty.
128GB drives traditionally have a lower level of performance and this drive is no exception, with the 128GB version sporting sequential read speeds of up to 540MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 290MB/s. The 256GB version, however, is rated at 540MB/s read and 525MB/s write, giving the drive a significant boost in write performance for more than double the cost. So how do you boost performance while saving some coin? Use two smaller drives in a RAID 0 configuration! After the initial setup, it's all upside and increased performance with the same data volatility as using a single drive.
In this review we will take a look at how the Vertex 450 in 128GB trim compares to competitive 240-256GB drives in single and in a dual drive configuration to give a textbook example of what you can expect. Let's see if we can double the performance of a single drive.
OCZ Vertex 450 Closer Look:
OCZ's packaging has not changed much, if at all, since I last looked at the Vector series of drives with the exception of the naming and color scheme. The front panel shows an image of the Vertex 450 drive, the drive name, how it is Indilinx infused, it comes with Acronis True HD drive cloning software, and shows some basic features along the bottom. The back side talks about the upsides to owning an OCZ solid state drive in various languages. Internally the drive is held in place with a dense foam block that also holds the 3.5-inch drive adapter, mounting screws, manuals, and keycode for the included Acronis software.
Out of the box the Vertex 450 looks much like most solid state drives, but features OCZ's unique take on the housing that features rounded corners and the full on graphics treatment. The back side of the drive has a label that includes the drive part number and serial number along the bottom of the label. Overall it's a good looking package. Drive connectivity is standard for a SATA 6Gbps drive using the standard SATA power and data cables to connect to the motherboard and power supply. Mounting the Vertex 450 is the same as any other 2.5-inch form factor drive with mounting holes on the sides and bottom of the drive housing.
The drive housing is held together with four screws, one of them covered with a tamper seal that will void your warranty if damaged. Internally the OCZ-designed PCB is held in place with another quartet of screws. The standoffs are high enough to prevent any contact with the PCB or surface mounted components, even with the slim 7mm form factor of this drive. The cover has a small square of thermal interface material that contacts the Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller so that heat from the controller can be passed to the drive housing.
Packed onto the PCB are sixteen 64Gb IMFT Micron 20nm MLC NAND Flash modules that make up the 128GB capacity on this Vertex 450 drive. A 256MB DDR3-1600 DRAM module is used for data caching for the Indilinx Barefoot 3 M10 controller. There is another pad for additional DDR3 memory for use with larger drives.
Whats the deal with two boxes you ask? It's so we can look at the performance metrics delivered by a pair of these drives from OCZ in a RAID 0 configuration.Ultimately to show the added value and performance you get when compared to a single 240-256GB drive. At $109 these are a steal.


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|Develop strong critical thinking skills, accurately craft and decode key messages, and increase your aptitude in oral and written communication. Whether you choose to double major in Communication Studies and a specific workforce preparation field such as Health Care Management or Information Technology, continue on for graduate study, or enter your chosen profession as a baccalaureate-level graduate, as a graduate of this program, you will add more value to any organization you join once you've honed these areas of knowledge. Specific careers may include: Communications Coordinator, Public Affairs, Reporter, Web Developer, Director of Communications, Marketing Communications Specialist, Media Relations Coordinator.
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Flexible delivery formats such as evening, online, hybrid, and weekend intensive courses ensure that the program is accessible to working adults of all ages. In addition, this degree allows a seamless transition from the associate to the baccalaureate degree.
See a list of required courses for this program on our Curriculum Map. Download a printable version of the curriculum map.


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Let's say the wind is constant... two riders of different weight - for sake of argument, 50kg and 100kg. Both riders are powered to the same extent, on 7m and 13m kites respectively.
Or something like that - you know what I'm getting at... fatty is holding down a bigger kite than skinny can in the same wind.
Who jumps higher?


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posted by Thom Holwerda on Thu 29th Mar 2007 16:02 UTC, submitted by diegocg
OSNews reported recently about an article from Sun comparing the Solaris 10 security extensions to RHEL 5's SELinux implementation. James Morris, a SELinux developer, talks about that article. He also links to another article about the same topic.


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March 1, 1924 - March 7, 2013
Monroe, NY
Angela Latini SARI SEMPRE NEL NOSTRO CUORE of Monroe, NYand a former Suffern, NY resident passed away March 7, 2013 at the age of 89. She was born March 1, 1924 in the Bronx, NY to Joseph and Pasqua Savino.
Angela was predeceased by her husband, Pierino in 2002, and is survived by her five children: Barbara of North Carolina, William and his wife, Maxine of Florida, Judy and Bob Tolve of NY, Richard of NY, and James and his wife, Noel of NY; grandchildren: Thomas, James, Taryn, Anthony and Kevin; great grandchildren: Krista, Timothy, Keegan, Carter, and Delaney, and one brother, Michael Savino.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Suffern. Burial will follow at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Nanuet, NY. Friends may call on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Scarr Funeral Home Inc., Route 202, in Suffern.
In lieu of flowers, donations made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties would be appreciated.
Arrangements by Scarr Funeral Home, 845-357-1137.


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Pardon my ignorance, but many of the above is a landscape. Not a culture. Or my definition of culture is different than yours so forgive me:)longwhitecloud wrote:i kind of presumed Kamikuza was trolling....
chilled, no stress, sport, rugby, boats, fishing, sailing, road trips, camping, outdoors, Maori culture, Pacific culture, Euro culture, Asian culture, no nuclear anything allowed - even in nz waters, awesome wildlife, very low population, Hobbits, Flight of the Concords, Lorde (no1 in US charts), Americas Cup, Volcanoes, Mountains, Beaches, Fjords, Subtropical North, Crickets that ski on snow, lizards with 3 eyes, parrots that live in snow, a 10 foot high bird that could eat people, thermal hot pools... some ideas anyway
Cultural experience is much more than a pretty landscape in my books. And to experience that one should move away from the US culture (or the US influenced).
Bali is a cultural example for me. But you won't find it in Kuta:) Is it safe? No. But it's awesome.
Vietnam would be great for kiting. Many went there for holidays. Cheap. Safe. Huge cultural experience and food!
Sri Lanka would be stunning. Or Mauritius. Safe? Hm, hm. Great culture and food (French speaking).
Philippines for sure. Is it safe? All depends on a place and moment(1). Boracay might be very busy.
Now, Australia where I live. No culture. Mediocre food. Expensive. Deserted beaches - how to get help? Safe? See (1). But people love it (most of them only in camping, 4x4 and fishing tho - not me).
And than you have Italy, Sardinia even Sicily. Or all neighboring countries. Can't be compared...It might change your life. Beware:)


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August 25, 2010
This issue is very important to me as a practitioner, to my clients, and to all investors. I urge the SEC to adopt a fiduciary standard for all financial professionals who provide personalized investment advice.
Currently, investors may be getting personalized advice from an investment adviser or a securities broker. But the advice is given under two different investor protection standards. The investment adviser, under a fiduciary obligation, is acting in the best interests of the client, while the broker must simply be making suitable recommendations. While perfectly legitimate under current rules, it simply doesnt make sense to have two different standards for what amounts to the same service.
Investors deserve a common standard and they should not be left to guess what kind of protection they are being afforded. The standard for providing investment advice should be the same for brokers and advisers: to act in the investors best interests. It is what investors deserve and what they should be able to expect.
I understand that Congress has protected commission-based compensation and made other provision for allowing existing business models to continue, consistent with putting investors interests first. With those concerns addressed, I think the SEC must take this opportunity to exercise its authority and get brokers and advisers on the same page when it comes to providing advice.
Requiring everyone who provides personalized investment advice to act in the investors best interests will help restore the faith and confidence in our markets and financial professionals that is so desperately needed. This is the most common sense consumer initiative the SEC can take and I strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to provide this simple, meaningful investor protection.


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David Copperfield
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Charles Dickens.
David Copperfield.
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Criticisms and Interpretations
By Adolphus William Ward
doubt what so irresistibly attracted Dickens to David Copperfield, and what has since fascinated many readers, more or less conscious of the secret of the charm, is the autobiographical element in the story. Until the publication of Forsters Life, no reader of Copperfield could be aware of the pang it must have cost Dickens to lay bare, though to unsuspecting eyes, the story of experiences which he had hitherto kept all but absolutely secret, and to which his own mind could not recur without a quivering sensitiveness. No reader could trace, as the memory of Dickens always must have traced, some of the most vivid of those experiences, imbued though they were with the tints of a delightfully playful humour, in the doings and dealings of Mr. Wilkins Micawber, whose original, by a strange coincidence, was passing tranquilly away out of life, while his comic counterpart was blossoming into a whimsical immortality. And no reader could divine, what very probably even the author may hardly have ventured to confess to himself, that in the lovely little idyll of the loves of Doady and Dorawith Jip, as Doras father might have said, interveningthere were besides the reminiscences of an innocent juvenile amour, the vestiges of a mans unconfessed though not altogether unrepressed disappointmentthe sense that there was always something wanting. But in order to be affected by a personal or autobiographical element in a fiction or poem, it is by no means necessary to be aware of its actual bearing and character, or even of its very existence; Amelia would gain little by illustrative notes concerning the experiences of the first Mrs. Fielding. To excite in a work of fiction the peculiar kind of interest of which I am speaking, the existence of an autobiographical substratum need not be apparent in it, nor need its presence be even suspected. Enough, if it be
But it had far better be away altogether, unless the novelist has so thoroughly fused this particular stream of metal with the mass filling his mould that the result is an integral artistic whole. Such was, however, the case with David Copperfield, which of all Dickenss fictions is on the whole the most perfect as a work of art. Personal reminiscences which lay deep in the authors breast are, as effects, harmonised with local associations old and new. Thus Yarmouth, painted in the story with singular poetic truthfulness, had only quite recently been seen by Dickens for the first time, on a holiday trip. His imagination still subdued to itself all the elements with which he worked; and, whatever may be thought of the construction of this story, none of his other books equals it in that harmony of tone which no artist can secure unless by recasting all his materials.
As to the construction of David Copperfield, however, I frankly confess that I perceive no serious fault in it. It is a story with a plot, and not merely a string of adventures and experiences, like little Davys old favourites upstairs at Blunderstone. In the conduct of this plot blemishes may here and there occur. The boys flight from London, and the direction which it takes, are insufficiently accounted for. A certain amount of obscurity as well perhaps as of improbability, pervades the relations between Uriah and the victim, round whom the unspeakable slimy thing writhes and wriggles. On the other hand, the mere conduct of the story has much that is beautiful in it. Thus there is real art in the way in which the scene of Barkiss deathwritten with admirable moderationprepares for the greater loss at hand for the mourning family. And in the entire treatment of his heros double love-story, Dickens has, to my mind, avoided that discord which, in spite of himself, jars upon the reader both in Esmond and in Adam Bede. The best constructed part of David Copperfield is, however, unmistakably the story of Little Emily and her kinsfolk. This is most skilfully interwoven with the personal experiences of David, of whichexcept in its very beginningsit forms no integral part; and throughout the reader is haunted by a presentiment of the coming catastrophe, though unable to divine the tragic force and justice of its actual accomplishment. A touch altered here and there in Steerforth, with the Rosa Dartle episode excluded or greatly reduced, and this part of David Copperfield might challenge comparison as to workmanship with the whole literature of modern fiction.
Of the idyll of Davy and Dorawhat shall I say? Its earliest stages are full of the gayest comedy. What, for instance, could surpass the history of the picnicwhere was it? perhaps it was near Guildford. At that feast an imaginary rival, Red Whisker, made the saladhow could they eat it?and voted himself into the charge of the wine-cellar. which he constructed,
being an ingenious beast,
in the hollow trunk of a tree. Better still are the backward ripples in the course of true love; best of all the deep wisdom of Miss Mills, in whose nature mental trial and suffering supplied, in some measure, the place of years. In the narrative of the young housekeeping, Davids real trouble is most skilfully mingled with the comic woes of the situation; and thus the idyll almost imperceptibly passes into the last phase, where the clouds dissolve in a rain of tears. The genius which conceived and executed these closing scenes was touched by a pity towards the fictitious creatures of his own imagination, which melted his own heart; and thus his pathos is here irresistible.
The inventive power of Dickens in none of his other books indulged itself so abundantly in the creation of eccentric characters, but neither was it in any so admirably tempered by taste and feeling. It contains no character which could strictly be called grotesque, unless it be little Miss Mowcher. Most of her outward peculiarities Dickens had copied from a living original, but receiving a remonstrance from the latter he good-humouredly altered the use he had intended to make of the character, and thereby spoilt what there was in itnot much in my opinionto spoil. Mr. Dick belongs to a species of eccentric personagesmad people in a wordfor which Dickens as a writer had a curious liking; but though there is consequently no true humour in this character, it helps to bring out the latent tenderness in another. Davids Aunt is a figure which none but a true humorist such as Sterne or Dickens could have drawn, and she must have sprung from the authors brain armed
as she appeared in her garden before his little double. Yet even Miss Betsey Trotwood was not altogether a creation of the fancy, for at Broadstairs the locality is still pointed out where the one great outrage of her life was daily renewed. In the other chief characters of this story the author seems to rely entirely on natural truthfulness. He must have had many opportunities of noting the ways of seamen and fishermen, but the occupants of the old boat near Yarmouth possess the typical characteristics with which the experience and the imagination of centuries have agreed to credit the salt division of mankind. Again, he had had his own experience of shabby-genteel life, and of the struggle which he had himself seen a happy and a buoyant temperament maintaining against a sea of trouble. But Mr. Micawber, whatever features may have been transferred to him, is the type of a whole race of men who will not vanish from the face of the earth so long as the hope which lives eternal in the human breast is only temporarily suspended by the laws of debtor and creditor, and is always capable of revival with the aid of a bowl of milk-punch. A kindlier and merrier, a more humorous and a more genial character was never conceived than this; and if anything was wanted to complete the comicality of the conception, it was the wife of his bosom with the twins at her own, and her mind made up
to desert Mr. Micawber.
Thus, then, I must leave the book, with its wealth of pathos and humour, with the glow of youth still tinging its pages, but with the gentler mode of manhood pervading it from first to last. The
of David Copperfield is, perhaps, the first feature in it likely to strike the reader new to its charms; but a closer acquaintance will produce, and familiarity will enhance, the sense of its wonderful
Nothing will ever destroy the popularity of a work of which it can truly be said that, while offering to his muse a gift not less beautiful than precious, its author put into it his lifes blood.From Dickens, in English Men of Letters.
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Whether your teen daughter is ready to update her childhood bedroom into something more elegant and ladylike or your college-age son needs bedding to tote off to the dorms, Overstock.com has a complete selection of teen and dorm comforter sets to fit the bill. Comforters in a wide range of color options let you pull together the existing decor, and sizes ranging from twin to California king let you find an option for any mattress. Comfortable materials help your child snooze soundly, and fun patterns let teens of any age express their interests and unique personalities. Choose contemporary sets for the modern teen, deck out a cool kid's dorm in casual style, or opt for a patterned comforter for visual appeal. Reversible comforter sets let your teen switch up the bedding color or pattern whenever the desire arises. Shop teen and dorm comforter sets from top brands that include Eddie Bauer, Izod, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, and Rizzy Home to get quality bedding you can trust. Keep reading to learn more about the teen and dorm comforter patterns, materials, and pieces available from Overstock.com, and get to know the answers to some common bedding-related questions.
Comforters with stripes bring a sense of maturity and sophistication to a teen's bedroom. A set with stripes in multiple shades can pull together a room's color palette, while sets that incorporate other patterns with the stripes, such as animal prints, amp up the visual appeal. Some striped sets reverse to a different pattern, so it's easy to create a new look whenever your teen wants.
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Sports and collegiate comforter sets let your athletic enthusiasts cheer on their favorite teams. Football sets celebrate the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, and other NFL teams, while Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and other MLB sets cater to baseball fans. NBA followers can choose from sets that honor the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and more. Collegiate sets let students cheer on their school, whether it's Ohio State, Michigan State, or the University of Georgia. NHL sets are perfect for hockey fans, whether they root for the Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, or Toronto Maple Leafs.
Cotton is the most popular material used for bedding. Comforters and sets made of 100-percent cotton are soft to the touch and breathable, providing your teen a cozy place to curl up for sleeping, studying, or lounging. Since it's naturally hypoallergenic, meaning it doesn't attract dust mites, mold, dander, or dust, cotton is an ideal choice for teens who suffer from allergies or sensitivities. Known for its durability, cotton is machine-washable and resists wear and pilling with ease.
Polyester bedding is extremely durable, making it a great fabric for teen bedding sets. It holds its shape and appearance over time, washes easily, dries quickly, and is resistant to wrinkling. Polyester is known for being an affordable fabric, although it is not as breathable as cotton.
As a synthetic material, microfiber is very durable. It holds up well to repeated washing and high-heat drying without becoming faded, stretched, or ruined. It doesn't wrinkle or crease easily, presenting a clean, polished look on the bed. This affordable fabric is ideal for cold-weather bedding because it holds heat, but it may be too warm for your teen during the summer months.
Sets with one piece include only the comforter. This allows teens to mix and match sheets and pillowcases, as well as shams and bed skirts, to suit their personal style. One-piece teen and college dorm comforter sets are available in sizes that range from twin up to California king.
A two-piece comforter set includes the comforter and one pillowcase or sham. Shams open from a flap in the back and are typically more decorative than pillowcases. A sham may feature a ruffle or flange that dresses up all four sides, while the pillowcase is designed for sleeping on. Two-piece comforter sets are usually designed to fit twin-size beds.
Three-piece sets contain one comforter and two shams or pillowcases. These sets are typically made to fit full, queen, or king beds. The extra width of these larger beds accommodates the two pillows.
A teen comforter set that contains four pieces usually comes with one comforter, one sham, and two decorative pillows. These sets are designed for a twin or twin XL bed. Other sets may come with one comforter, two shams, and one decorative pillow, meant to fit a full, queen, or king bed. Another variation of the full, queen, or king set may trade the decorative pillow for a bed skirt.
A five-piece comforter set includes one comforter, two shams, and two decorative pillows. These sets are designed to fit full, queen, king, or California king beds. The extra pillows create a luxurious and inviting look.
A bed skirt, also called a dust ruffle or valance, is a piece of decorative fabric that goes between your mattress and your bed's box spring. The bed skirt hides the box spring and the space beneath the bed, providing a clean, polished look. A tailored bed skirt is flat, sleek, and modern. Gathered bed skirts may contain pleats or ruffles for a more traditional style.
Most college dorms are outfitted with twin or twin XL mattresses. Twin mattresses measure 39 inches wide by 75 inches in length. Designed to suit taller students, twin XL mattresses measure 39 inches in width by 80 inches in length.
Comforters should be washed every four to six months or more frequently if they become soiled. Bed sheets and pillowcases should be washed weekly. Always check the manufacturer's care instructions before washing any comforters, pillows, or bedding.
If you need further help or information please visit our Online Help Center


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Memphis City Beautiful and Memphis Botanic Garden will plant an Arizona Cypress as part of an Arbor Day ceremony Friday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at the garden's horticulture center, 750 Cherry Road. Cost is free and will include a tree-seedling giveaway. Cherry tree seedlings will be available for sale. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com.
Literacy Mid-South will kick off the 2013 Read Across America campaign with its "Wonder" party Friday, March 1, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Road Extended. "Wonder" is Literacy Mid-South's 2013 Book of Choice. Visit literacymidsouth.org.
The Memphis Cotton Museum will host its second annual Season Starter Party Friday, March 1, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the museum, 65 Union Ave. Attendees can connect with industry members, growers and Farm and Gin Show visitors while enjoying food and wine, live music and giveaways. Tickets are $40 at the door. Visit memphiscottonmuseum.org.
HopeWorks will hold its fifth annual A Morning of Hope fundraiser Saturday, March 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Woodland Hills Event Center, 1000 Woodland Hills Drive. Bill Courtney, entrepreneur and the former coach featured in "Undefeated," will present the keynote. Tickets are $50. Visit whyhopeworks.org or call 272-3700.
The Exchange Club Family Center will host its 2013 Hands of Hope Auction Party Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m. at The Columns at One Commerce Square. The event will include live and silent auctions, food, cocktails and live entertainment. Visit exchangeclub.net or call 276-2200.
The Original Blues Brothers Band will perform a Donald "Duck" Dunn tribute concert benefiting the Stax Museum of American Soul Music Sunday, March 3, at 7 p.m. at Minglewood Hall, 1555 Madison Ave. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Visit staxmuseum.com.
Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South will hold its free BBB Smart Investors Workshop Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m. at the bureau's office, 3693 Tyndale Drive. Space is limited. R.S.V.P. to firstname.lastname@example.com or 757-8603 by March 1.
Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South will hold a networking breakfast Tuesday, March 5, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the bureau's office, 3693 Tyndale Drive. Cost is free for BBB member businesses and $15 for nonmembers. R.S.V.P. to email@example.com or 757-8603 by March 1.
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