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Walt Disney World Resort Updateby Mark Goldhaber, staff writer
Update for February 18 – 24, 2013
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Coming Soon | Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Discounts/Promotions | Comments
News and Views
Rumor: Downtown Disney to become Disney Springs? | Disney Cruise Line announces Mediterranean, Alaskan and other destinations for summer 2014 | Tables in Wonderland to host another Great Movie Ride Dinner | Segway tours gone from Epcot for good? | Final round matchups set at Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic | A Personal Appeal, Year Eight: Mark's March of Dimes Donation Matching Challenge Returns! | Construction update | Quick takes | Crowd Update
Rumor: Downtown Disney to become Disney Springs?
The first official sign of progress in plans for a redesign of the Downtown Disney area has emerged. Walt Disney World has filed an application with the South Florida Water Management District for "The BVD Corridor Stormwater Project" to change the storm water runoff patterns in preparation for work on a 269.11-acre parcel of land. The plan affects drainage in the Downtown Disney area. The plan generally details how the water patterns will be modified to allow for new master planning of the area.
That's as far as the information in the permit goes. However, ParkRumors.com has posted what it says are current plans for the revamping of the center of Downtown Disney. The entire Downtown Disney area would be renamed Disney Springs (perhaps mirroring Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort across the lake), and—while the West Side and the Marketplace would remain largely intact, Pleasure Island and much of the current parking lot areas would be completely transformed.
We've been hearing little bits about the Disney Springs project here and there, and they don't entirely match up with what ParkRumors reported, but there's enough similarity to believe that this report probably has at least some truth to it.
So here's what the story says about Disney Springs:
Most of the existing parking lots will be replaced. The farthest-east areas will become green space, access roads, and "back-of-house" facilities. The existing Marketplace bus station will become green space and additional shops. A new bridge will connect this new area to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort from behind Cap'n Jack's to the eastern edge of the Congress Park area of the resort.
A five-story parking structure, Disney's first multilevel parking structure in Florida, will take up a rectangular space along Buena Vista Drive, starting approximately at the east end of World of Disney and running west to approximately across from Raglan Road. Beyond that, along Buena Vista Drive, will be more roadways, a drainage lake, and the only bus station for the area. That will take the rest of the space up to the beginning of the West Side. The West Side parking lot, as with the West Side itself, will be largely unchanged. The only changes noted to the West Side are a new Starbucks replacing Wetzel's Pretzels, an overhead "railway" for atmosphere between that location and DisneyQuest, and the current Planet Hollywood is labeled as The Observatory, with no stated details.
With the new parking garage and the shift of the parking boundary closer to Buena Vista Drive, the added depth of the current parking lot would all be turned into walkways and retail, dining, and entertainment venues. The new space will be broken into The Town Center, The Springs, and The Landing. The new entranceway would be branded as The Gateway. Aside from the West Side surface lots, all incoming traffic would now come in through The Gateway, which would feed the bus lots and the parking garage. The buses would exit the same way they entered, while the parking lot would exit further east along Buena Vista Drive.
An interesting angle of the site map posted at ParkRumors.com shows a flyover bridge to take through traffic past all of the entrance traffic for Disney Springs. This would allow through traffic to completely bypass the now common backups at the Downtown Disney entrances.
The map also shows a widening of the waterway between the mainland and Pleasure Island, which would become The Landing, and the repositioning of some of the bridges to the island. The waterfront area of the mainland would become The Springs, and the area of entry to Disney Springs from The Gateway would be The Town Center. The Town Center would be a retail center, The Springs would be primarily a relaxing open space, and The Landing would be drinking and dining establishments, with the long-announced waterfront amphitheater finally being built.
Again, and we can't stress this enough, all of this is rumor at this point. The only thing that is confirmed is the permit application for the stormwater drainage changes. However, these plans do resemble some of what we've heard unofficially, so there is a possibility that something resembling this might happen.
What do you think of this rumor? Would you like to see it happen? Do you think that this is better or worse than the announced plans for Hyperion Wharf? Let us know in the comments below!
Following construction, half of the Magic Kingdom's entry turnstiles have been converted to MyMagic+ entrances. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Disney Cruise Line announces Mediterranean, Alaskan and other destinations for summer 2014
Disney Cruise Line announced its summer itineraries for 2014 last Tuesday, featuring a return to the Mediterranean for the Disney Magic and a return to Alaska for the Disney Wonder. The Magic will also sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the first time in early fall 2014. After the clustering of all four Disney Cruise Line ships in Florida in early 2014, they'll disperse to the far shores, with the Wonder departing for the West Coast en route to Alaska on May 2 and the Magic heading to the Mediterranean on May 19.
Following its 15-night Panama Canal cruise from Miami to San Diego (with three stops in the Caribbean and two stops on Mexico's west coast), the Wonder will sail a two-night "cruise to nowhere" from San Diego before leaving for Vancouver, British Columbia, on a five-night voyage on May 19. The ship will then sail a nine-night Alaska cruise with an added port in Sitka on May 24 before settling into its regular series of seven-night Alaska cruises departing every Monday from June 2 through September 1. On September 8, the Wonder will head back to San Diego on a four-night trip before going back through the Panama Canal on a 14-night itinerary that will bring it back to Port Canaveral with two west coast stops and two east coast stops. The Wonder is expected to sail from Port Canaveral at least through much of October.
The Magic will take 12 nights to cross from Port Canaveral to Barcelona, Spain, with a stop at Castaway Cay and two stops in Portugal and Spain. The ship will sail a wide variety of itineraries while it's in the Mediterranean, including a new nine-night itinerary from the new home port of Venice to the Greek Isles, with stops at Katakolon, Piraeus, Rhodes, and Mykonos in Greece, as well as Kusadasi, Turkey. One other itinerary from Venice is a 12-night itinerary visiting the same stops in Greece, plus Santorini, Greece and Valleta, Malta, before ending in Barcelona. The repositioning cruise from Barcelona to Venice will stop in Villefranche, France; La Spezia, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Catania, and Venice in Italy; Corfu, Greece, and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Magic cruises from Barcelona include a 4-night itinerary with stops at Palma, Mallorca, and Ibiza, Spain; 5- and 7-night cruises with stops at Villefranche, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, and Naples (seven-night only); 12-night itineraries to Villefranche, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Valletta, and either Piraeus, Mykonos, and Kusadasi or Naples, Venice, and Dubrovnik. While the ship is sailing from the Mediterranean in summer 2014, Adventures by Disney will be offering port activities in each destination, as well as four-day, three-night add-on experiences in Barcelona before each cruise departs.
Once it's done with all of that cruising around the Mediterranean, the Magic will return from Barcelona to its new home port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a 14-night Transatlantic cruise departing on September 6, with five stops along the way.
Once the Magic gets to San Juan, it will sail four seven-night cruises with stops at Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, and St. Kitts. The rest of the fall 2014 schedule will probably be released in a few months.
For more information about these voyages or to book a cruise, call Disney Cruise Line at (888) 325-2500, visit the DCL website, or contact your travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are Mouse Ear Vacations, Small World Vacations, and Get Away Today Vacations.They can also help you with Adventures By Disney vacations. You can also call 800-543-0865 or visit the Adventures By Disney website.
The new Fantasyland restrooms are getting additional theming from Tangled, as floating lanterns are hung and some of Rapunzel's artwork trims the doorway. Other details include Wanted posters for denizens of the Snuggly Duckling, including Vladimir and Ulf, the mime-wannabe. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Stroller parking has been moved into the now-open area between "it's a small world" and the restroom construction wall, clearing the walkway between the attraction and Peter Pan for better guest transit. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The walkway from the new Fantasyland restrooms to Liberty Square behind the Yankee Trader shows some of the transition between the lands. Note the change from stone to brick accents along the wood rail fence. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Tables in Wonderland to host another Great Movie Ride Dinner
Tables in Wonderland, the discount dining program available to Annual Passholders and Florida residents, is hosting a special event on two nights next month. On Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, The Great Movie Ride Dinner event takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios from 8-10:30 p.m. For $195 per person, plus tax but including gratuity, guests will enter The Great Movie Ride after it is closed to the public and enjoy a meal that moves through the attraction itself.
From 8-8:30 p.m., guests will enjoy a passed reception in the Gangster Scene, featuring Roasted Red Pepper Cheese Stuffed Foccacia "Cement Shoes," "Gangster" Charred Beef with Smokey Apple Pear Glaze, and "Peppered Shotgun Stool Pigeon" with Lavender Aioli. At 8:30 p.m., guests will move to the Western Scene, where they will enjoy a plated dinner of Local Three Boys Farms Greens with Land-Grown Mickey Cucumbers, Ruskin Tomato and Chick Pea Croutons, with Desert Cactus Flower Vinaigrette; Mesquite Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Whiskey Mushrooms paired with Black Skillet Seared U-10 Scallop with Roasted Corn, Cilantro and Chiles; Grilled Asparagus, Yukon Gold Mash with Sour Cream, Bacon Drippings and Caramelized Onion; and Housemade Western Sage Rosemary Bread with Butter.
The meal will conclude with a dessert buffet in the Land of Oz from 10-10:30 p.m., featuring goodies themed to Disney's upcoming movie OZ The Great and Powerful: "Munchkin" Green Tea Cones with Mandarin; "Auntie Em's" Apple Cake; "Dorothy's" Kansas Dirt Cheesecake; "Evanora" Green Pistachio Cupcake with Cannoli Butter Cream; "Theodora" Red Velvet Cupcake; "Glinda" Yellow Brick Road Sweet and Salty Popcorn, Pretzels, White Chocolate and Edible Gold; and "Powerful Oz" Passion Fruit Punch with Bubbles, Coffees and Teas. Beer, wine, soda, coffees, and teas will be included with the meal, as well. Attendance is limited to 80 people per event date, and is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members.
For reservations to either event, visit the event website starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. EST. You'll need to provide your preferred event date, your Tables in Wonderland ticket number (starting with the "W"), first and last name of each person in your party (maximum party size of 10), your home address, phone number, credit card number, credit card billing address, personal email address, and any special dietary needs. Your credit card will be charged at the time of the booking, and you'll receive an immediate confirmation email at the address that you provide (make sure that the confirmation email doesn't get blocked as spam).
Oz playground photo update
The activity garden promoting Oz the Great and Powerful has opened about three weeks before the start of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The flowers simulate a yellow brick road, while you can put your face into the poster and pose as Finley the flying monkey in a movie poster behind them. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Oscar Diggs' crashed hot air balloon provides a creative shade structure for parents waiting while their children burn off energy in the play area. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The flowers give way to a yellow cushioned play surface as the "yellow brick road" enters the play area. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Handmade glass poppies were created for this Land of Oz Garden in the Michigan studio of Craig Mitchell Smith. Each flower is made of hundreds of hand cut pieces of glass, requiring about four days to make each one. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The Baum Brothers Circus midway games give guests a chance to play and walk away with buttons promoting the movie. Coca Cola has apparently sponsored this game. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Take a look around the entire Oz play area in this video from Disney.
Team MousePlanet runDisney Princess Half Meetup
Will you be at Walt Disney World for Princess Half Marathon weekend, February 2224? If so, please join us for a Team MousePlanet meet-up on Saturday Feb 23 at 6 p.m. in the outside seating area of Pollo Campero at Downtown Disney. Grab some food then eat with us, or just come to say hi. We'll have some MousePlanet goodies to give out, too. The meet is open to Princess Half and 5K participants as well as supporters! Attendees are expected to include MousePlanet staff members Stephanie Wien, Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, and Lani Teshima, as well as contributing writer Lorree Tachell!
Send us your menu photos
Click on the "Dining" section from our Walt Disney World Guide to see our complete list of of the park restaurant menus from Walt Disney World. Please help us keep the menus up to date! Send photos or scans of park menus to email@example.com to help us keep our listings updated.
Segway tours gone from Epcot for good?
Walt Disney World has quietly cancelled the latest version of the Segway tour at Epcot late last week. The Keep Moving Forward: See the World, Share the Dream Tour, which replaced the Around the World Segway Tour on September 17, is no longer listed on the Walt Disney World website, and those with reservations are being contacted and notified of the cancellation. The Fort Wilderness Back Trail Adventure, which uses the Segway X2 off- road model and travels less-populated areas, is still listed.
While it's uncertain why the tour is being cancelled and we have not yet received a response from Disney to our request for comment, the end of in-park Segway tours may be related to the lawsuit that was decided in Disney's favor in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last August. The removal of all guest usage of Segways in the parks (and likely the end of cast member usage, as well) would help to bolster Disney's claim of the danger of using Segways in crowded theme parks and potentially insulate them from future rulings if the case is appealed to the Supreme Court. This would also possibly help them even if they do not eventually make an Electronic Stand-Up Vehicle (ESV) available in the parks.
The Magic Kingdom park celebrated True Love Week as part of Limited Time Magic. One Twitter user joked "Best prom theme ever." Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Topiary Mickey hands Topiary Minnie a bouquet as scattered red and pink flowers decorate the plantings behind them. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Princesses were accompanied by their princes at meet-and-greet locations last week. Snow White gets a bonus friend, as Dopey apparently won't leave her and Prince Charming by themselves. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Cinderella's coach is parked by the Castle Courtyard wall for photo opportunities. It looks like it may have needed its off-road package to get into those plantings. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Final round matchups set at Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic
The matchups for the final round of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic are set, with the Columbus Crew and Montreal Impact set to face off in the championship match at 8 p.m. on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Columbus blew away the other teams in round-robin Group A, going 3-0, while Montreal was also unbeaten, going 2-0-1 in Group B with only a tie against D.C. United on the final round-robin day keeping them from a perfect record.
Finishing behind Montreal in Group B was Sporting Kansas City, who finished with a 2-1 record, losing only to Montreal. They'll take on Philadelphia Union, who finished with a 1-1-1 record in Group A. That game will start at 6 p.m. D.C. United—whose 1-1-1 record in Group B put them in third place—will kick off at 3 p.m. against Toronto FC, the only remaining team from the original Classic in 2010, who were third in their Group A with a 1-2 record. The first game of the day, at 1 p.m., will feature the only two teams not from Major League Soccer: Group B's Tampa Bay Rowdies (North American Soccer League), who finished with the worst record of all teams in the first round at 0-3, taking on the host team, Orlando City Soccer Club (United League Soccer), who managed a 0-2-1 record in Group A.
The two afternoon games will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com, while the evening games will be shown on ESPN3.com. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and at the Complex box office. You can also call 407-949-GAME (407-949-4263).
The winner of the Columbus-Montreal match will join the New York Red Bulls (2010), FC Dallas (2011), and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2012) as tournament champions.
The mountain peak at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train gets metal frame contours installed prior to the application of the actual concrete "stonework." Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The big drop out of the mountain appears to go straight into a turn. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
On the north side of the mountain, the buildings of Prince Eric's village take shape. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
A Personal Appeal, Year Eight: Mark's March of Dimes Donation Matching Challenge Returns!
There is nothing more heartbreaking than a baby who is born too soon having medical complications that leave them with medical difficulties for life, or worse, that never let them leave the hospital alive. On April 28, I will once again walk to raise money for the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
MousePlanet readers and MouseStation listeners have helped me to raise nearly $25,000 for this worthy cause over the last seven years. This year, my goal is to raise another $4,000 and I am again issuing a special challenge: I will match, dollar-for-dollar, every donation that comes in by the end of February from any MouseStation listener or MousePlanet reader. If it's in by February 28, I'll match it. So far (pending matching donations) we're almost 20 percent of the way to my goal!
You can also walk with me, either in person or virtually, by joining Team MousePlanet and getting your friends and family to contribute! You can go to my fundraising page to sponsor me, or the Team MousePlanet page to join in and walk yourself! Help us to provide a better chance to prevent prematurity and to help those babies that are born prematurely!
Captain Jack Sparrow's compass, a treasure map, and a treasure chest are among the latest props to appear for A Pirates Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas interactive adventure. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
An Animatronic parrot sits in a cage under a stairwell. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Construction update
The following is a listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange County in the last week:
Magic Kingdom:
- Main Street building MO5 – construction.
- Box Office Gifts – electrical.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – construction.
- Splash Down Photos – electrical.
- "it's a small world" – construction.
- Peter Pan's Flight – construction.
- Pinocchio Village Haus – menu shrouds.
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – construction.
- Casey Junior Splash 'n' Soak Station – construction.
- Flower & Garden Festival – main marquee sign.
- Flower & Garden Festival – smokehouse entrance display.
- Flower & Garden Festival – smoker pit.
- Mission: Space – construction.
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment – construction.
- Maelstrom – construction.
Disney's Hollywood Studios:
- Once Upon a Time – electrical.
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – construction.
- Feature Animation – construction.
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage – construction.
Disney's Animal Kingdom:
- Bus Loop – bus operations cast shelter construction.
- Island Mercantile – fire sprinkler repairs.
- Tiger Platform – installation of platform.
Blizzard Beach:
- Downhill Double Dipper – general construction.
- Ski Patrol Training Camp – refinishing/recoating of foam playground elements.
- Ski Patrol Training Camp – coatings.
Downtown Disney:
- World of Disney – electrical.
- Disney Days of Christmas – construction.
- DisneyQuest – construction.
- Disney's Old Key West Resort Conch Flats General Store – electrical.
- Disney's Art of Animation Resort Ink and Paint Shop – electrical.
- Sherberth Road S curve improvements – milling and overlay of pavement with new friction course and installation of new roadway signage.
- Fantasia Gardens Training Center – construction.
Following the removal of the Avengerail wrap, Monorail Red proudly sports its original livery again. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Quick takes …
…This week's Limited Time Magic promotion is Presidents' Day: A Week Long Celebration. The wonderful eight-part a capella group, The Voices of Liberty, will have a venue change for the event, moving across World Showcase Promenade to the America Gardens Theater from February 18-24. Performances will take place at 12, 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m., and will feature memorable quotes from U.S. presidents along with their usual historic songs. To accommodate that, and to help draw people out of the amphitheater after the shows, the schedule for the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps has been changed to feature performances at 11:40 a.m., and 12:25, 1:25, 2:25, 3:25, 4:25, and 5 p.m.
…The Orlando Business Journal is reporting a rumor that Disney is planning to replace Pollo Campero, which opened at Downtown Disney in November 2010 in the location formerly occupied by McDonald's— and Bodie's All-America, which itself replaced Fresh A-Peel, which opened with Pollo Campero, last October. However, Babycakes NYC, which shares the building with the other two shops, appears safe. Reportedly Disney chefs are closeted at the kitchen of the former Bonfamille's Cafe at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort testing Tex-Mex recipes. We've got no official word on any of this, so this is still a rumor at this point.
The exit "goodbye" scene from "it's a small world" now sports signs that will double as interactive screens for Disney's Story Maker activity. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
…The Pocahontas meet-and-greet at Disney's Animal Kingdom has temporarily moved to "Bradley Falls," between Africa and Asia. She'll be meeting guests at 10, 10:55, and 11:50 a.m., and 2, 3, and 4 p.m. There's no word on why she's leaving Camp Minnie-Mickey, but it's possible that they're either doing some exploratory studies or pre-construction preparation for Pandora: The World of Avatar. More as this story develops.
…The new Disney Junior - Live on Stage officially reopened last Friday, featuring new segments with Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First along with the returning segments with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Never Land Pirates.
…With Live with Kelly & Michael filming at the Magic Kingdom from yesterday through tomorrow, the Goodyear Blimp will be circling Walt Disney World Resort. Keep your eyes to the skies.
Another Story Maker panel at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, featuring Phineas, Ferb, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, and Slash from Guns 'n' Roses. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
…Caught without a Concierge Collection location in New York City when the Plaza Hotel "went condo," the Disney Vacation Club last week added The Manhattan Club to the collection's roster. The boutique hotel is located diagonally across the street from Carnegie Hall. One bedroom suites range from 20 points to 75 points per night, depending on the night of the week and the season. The location is blocked out for the nights of December 20 through January 1. Standard Concierge Collection rules apply, including the fact that resale ownership interests purchased after March 20, 2011, can't book this location.
…Cold weather again closed down Typhoon Lagoon both days this past weekend.
On the Streets of America Backlot, this rarely-seen Streetmosphere trio poses as a contemporary movie production crew. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
…Registration for the February 22–24, fifth annual Princess Half Marathon Weekend is full, including the individual and team Half Marathons, Royal Family 5K, post-5K breakfast, runDisney Kids Races (dashes and Mickey Mile), Race Retreat, Pasta in the Park Party and all ChEAR Squad Packages. Any remaining ChEAR Squad Gear will be available for purchase at the Expo.
…Registration is now open for the 2013 Expedition Everest Challenge. The Challenge itself is now full, but the Family Edition is still available. Also available are the runDisney Kids Races for kids ages 4 to 10 and tickets for the pre-race picnic and the post-race party.
…Registration opens for the events of the 2013 Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend (Tower of Terror 10-Miler, Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run, runDisney Kids Races, Disney Villains Hollywood Bash) is now open.
…Registration opens for the events of the 2013 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5K, runDisney Kids' Races, Wine & Dine Finish Line Party) on March 12.
…Registration opens for the events of the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Walt Disney World Marathon, Half Marathon, Disney Family Fun Run 5K, runDisney Kids Races, Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, Pasta in the Park Party) on April 9.
…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, go to the MousePlanet main page and enter your email address in the top right box labeled "Join the MousePlanet Newsletter." Click Join, then fill out the fields in the registration page, including your first and last name. The Newsletter is free, but you must complete this registration to receive it, even if you may have signed up for one with us in the past.
Crowd update
Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, to help you better plan your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can "Do more. Wait less."
Join our networks
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here.
Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.
Coming up
- February 22–24: Disney's Princess Half Marathon.
- March 1–3: Contest of Champions Nationals.
- March 6 to May 19: Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
- March 9–10: UCA/UDA International All Star Championship.
- March 16–17: AmeriCheer / AmeriDance International Championships.
- April 27–28: Cheerleading and Dance Worlds.
- May 4: Expedition Everest Challenge.
- May 17–June 9: Star Wars Weekends.
- September 6–7: Night of Joy.
- September 27 to November 10: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
- October 4–5: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend.
- November 8–9: Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend.
- January 9–12: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Magic Kingdom
- Snow White's Scary Adventures – closed permanently for conversion to Princess Fairytale Hall.
- Splash Mountain – closed January 2 through March 19 for refurbishment.
- Main Street Bakery – closed January through early summer for conversion to Starbucks location.
- Princess Fairytale Hall – opens 2013.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – opens 2014.
- Fountain View Cafe – closed March through mid-summer for conversion to Starbucks location.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- No known refurbishments
Animal Kingdom
- No known refurbishments.
- Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill closed February 1 through late summer for refurbishment.
- Disney's Boardwalk Resort – Boardwalk Bakery closed January 2 through April 1 for refurbishment.
- Disney's Boardwalk Resort – Luna Park feature pool closed January 28 through March 1 for refurbishment. The two quiet pools will remain open, and guests wishing a feature pool experience during their stay will be able to use the Stormalong Bay complex at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts during the refurbishment.
- Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – Spa closed January 16 through summer for conversion to Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.
Water Parks
- Blizzard Beach – January 6 through March 16 closed for annual refurbishment.
Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays. Will not be performed on the following dates in 2013:
- March 19;
- May 14-18;
- May 21-25;
- July 23;
- September 17-21;
- November 5-6.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Passholder room discounts through mid-March
A Passholder discount is available for most dates through March 22, except January 18–20. Passholders can book this discount through the day of arrival if rooms are still available.
Guests will receive 35 percent off at select Deluxe and Deluxe Villas Resorts, 30 percent off at select Moderate Resorts, and 25 percent off at select Value resorts. Moderate and Value Resorts have additional blackout dates.
As with all discounts, rooms available at these rates is limited, and minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals. No group rates or other discounts apply. Suites, three-bedroom Grand Villas, and standard rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort are not included. Discounts range from 20 percent to 35 percent and availability varies by date.
You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World Passholder website or by calling (407) 939-1895 or your favorite travel agent and mentioning discount code S6Z. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).
Room-only and Magic Your Way package discounts for February through mid-June
You can now can book room-only and Magic Your Way package reservations at select Walt Disney World resorts for 15 percent to 30 percent off of standard rates most nights from February 18 through June 14, except March 24 through April 1. You must book your reservations by March 7 for nights through March 23 and March 31 for nights through June 14.
Guests can receive 30 percent off at all Deluxe and Deluxe Villas Resorts, except for all Magic Kingdom resorts (Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge), which offer 20 percent off, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, which is not available at a discount. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge only offers the discount for Standard-view rooms.
Discounts of 25 percent are available at all Moderate Resorts, including Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Cabins.
Guests can also get a 20 percent discount at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, and Disney's Pop Century Resort
Fifteen percent discounts can be had for family suites at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. Standard rooms in the Little Mermaid-themed section are excluded. Also excluded are Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, All-Star Music Resort, three-bedroom Grand Villas, and Fort Wilderness campsites.
If you add minimum four-day Magic Your Way tickets to your room to make it a package, you will receive discounts on both your room and tickets.
The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.
You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World website, or call (407) 939-1283 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).
Florida residents get special discount tickets through June
Florida residents can get discounted three- or four-day tickets through early June. The Discover Disney ticket provides three days of base admission for $119 plus tax, or four days for $129 plus tax. The Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun & More Options can be added for just $28.50 each, plus tax. The tickets are priced the same for adults and children.
Tickets are available for purchase from now through June 3, and may be used through June 7. Passes may not be used during the Easter peak weeks from March 23 through April 5.
For more information or to purchase tickets, check out the special deal website or call 407-939-1283.
PhotoPass+ pre-arrival discount
Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney PhotoPass+ pre-arrival packages. For $149.95 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests receive a voucher to exchange for a PhotoPass+ card upon arrival at the resort, a Photo Gallery CD with more than 400 stock photos ($39.95 value), a unique code to create and order a photo CD upon return from their trip ($169.95 value), print packages at select dining locations ($29.95 value each), and digital photos from select attractions ($14.95 value each). Applicable taxes are charged to all orders.
This special offer is only available from this link or by calling the Guest Support line at (407) 560-4300 before you arrive at Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund.
The package might take as long as 14 days to arrive, and you must bring your voucher from the package to redeem it, so make sure that you order far enough in advance to allow your materials to arrive.
Attractions currently participating in the program are Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. Current participating restaurants are 1900 Park Fare, 'Ohana, Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Tusker House Restaurant, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, and Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
2013 Military Salute offers
From now through September 28, 2013, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with either the Park Hopper or Water Parks Fun and More option for $156 per ticket, plus tax (up from $138 last year), or with both the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More options for $184 per ticket, plus tax (up from $165). No Base ticket is available with this offer.
These tickets expire after September 28. Blockout dates are March 24 through April 4 at all ticketed locations, and July 4 at Magic Kingdom park only.
Eligible service members include active or retired members of the U.S. military including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists. Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased at Shades of Green or at a participating military base (MWR/ITT) office. There is no tax charged for these tickets but they must be activated at a theme park ticket window. Tickets may also be purchased at Walt Disney World Park Ticket Offices and Guest Relations Offices where tax will be charged. Tickets may be purchased by active and retired military personnel for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. One of the Disney four-Day Military Promotional Tickets purchased on each occasion must be for use by the Eligible Service Member or spouse. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification is required. The tickets are non-transferable and may not be resold.
You may upgrade the tickets to Seasonal Passes or Florida Resident Weekday Select Passes (for Florida Residents), or Annual Passes, Premium Annual Passes, or Disney Premier Pass with credit toward the upgrade based on the actual price paid. The no-expiration option and other upgrades, such as additional days, are not available.
In addition, specially priced rooms are available to active and retired U.S. military personnel at select Walt Disney World resorts for stays most nights through September 28, except for March 25 through April 4, 2013.
For complete information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830, visit the Walt Disney World website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here.
- By RunningFool
Thomas and I took the Segway tour when we were in WDW last January for the marathon. It was an incredibly fun and safe experience (thanks to great pre-tour training by cast members Joel and Diane); it's really too bad it has been canceled. Glad we had the opportunity to experience it when we did!
- By DaLoon
You need to update the passholder discounts. The room discounts are now available into June. I already used the discount to book beyond what you are showing. The passholder site has details.
- By davidgra
I'm not holding my breath about a Downtown Disney makeover, but it would be most welcome. A multi-level parking garage is desperately needed, because parking -- even in the slow season -- is horrendous. When you add in the relief from the summer sun that you'd get in a garage, it would make the entire Downtown Disney experience much more pleasant.
Honestly, I hope they start charging for parking once the garage is built. It'll stop people from parking there and taking Disney transportation to resorts and then theme parks. Make it free for passholders, resort guests and for those who have already paid for a day's parking (just like parking at the theme parks), and charge everyone else. Maybe include parking validation for those who dine there. Just get rid of all the people who park there when they're not actually shopping or dining there.
I'd rather not see them remove the Marketplace bus stop, but that's because we spend 90% of our time in the Marketplace end of Downtown Disney. But I'm all for the revitalization and expansion of the center section of Downtown Disney.
- Discuss this article on MousePad.


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text: Fire in Tahoe National Forest Continues to Grow Monday, August 12, 2013 | Sacramento, CA From the U.S. Forest Service incident report: The American fire is burning in a heavily forested area of very steep terrain on Deadwood Ridge, approximately 17 miles northeast of Foresthill in Tahoe National Forest. Access to the fire is limited, and firefighter safety is a concern due to difficult terrain. Fire size is estimated at 800-1,000 acres, with heavy smoke making it difficult to obtain precise numbers. The fire has crossed the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River and is burning toward the Last Chance area. Firefighters reported a moderate rate of spread with short uphill runs yesterday, and more of the same is expected today. Firefighters were able to make some progress on line construction overnight. Multiple Forest Service and Cal Fire engines, crews, dozers, air tankers, and helicopters are committed, with additional resources on order. Smokejumpers are being utilized. Efforts are being focused mainly on the Deadwood Ridge and Last Chance sides of the fire. While firefighters are working to protect cultural resources from the fire and from suppression impacts, firefighter and public safety are the first priorities. The Central Coast #7 Type II Incident Management Team is en route and expected to arrive today. Smoke in the areas of Foresthill, Auburn, Nevada City, and the valley will likely continue over the next several days. There are no current road closures, but people are being asked to stay out of the fire area for their own safety and the safety of firefighting personnel. The town of Foresthill is not endangered and there are no evacuations ordered. U.S. Forest Service Incident Updates Smoke from the American Fire west of Lake Tahoe will continue to affect the Reno-Tahoe area over the coming days. The American Fire is burning heavy timber on the western slopes of the Sierra, about 25 miles west of Lake Tahoe in the canyon of the North Fork of the Middle Fork American River. This is a graphic of Hysplit model run of the projected smoke moving into the Reno-Tahoe area this evening. West to Southwest winds will push smoke into Reno-Tahoe late in the afternoon and into the evening hours. Green shading shows areas where smoke is most likely to occur, while blue shading shows areas where smoke may be more dense. Click here for the latest smoke map Follow us for more stories like this CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today. Donate Today


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Google Moving Chicago HQ To Fulton Market Warehouse
CHICAGO (STMW) -- Google Inc. said Thursday it will relocate its Chicago office to the Fulton Market district in the West Loop.
The decision involving some 500 employees reflects the district's transformation from a stronghold for meat and produce wholesalers to a general business area similar to River North. Fashionable restaurants and loft offices already have elbowed their way alongside the food distributors.
Google will move into 200,000 square feet at 1000 W. Fulton beginning in 2016, said Rob Biederman, its Midwest public affairs manager. It will relocate from 150,000 square feet at 20 W. Kinzie.
Its new home is the old Fulton Market Cold Storage warehouse, which is undergoing a gut rehab. Owner Sterling Bay Cos. is renovating the 380,000-square-foot structure, which was formerly windowless, for offices and retail space.
"We really feel it's a great location with the access to public transportation. It's close to the Kennedy Expressway," Biederman said. He said that by moving into newly built space, Google can design it to its specifications.
The move is separate from jobs being brought into Chicago by Google's Motorola Mobility division. Google is moving about 2,200 of those employees from a Libertyville campus to the top four floors of the Merchandise Mart.
Sterling Bay plans to include parking within the old warehouse and to build a smaller building for offices and retailers next door.
Roger Romanelli, executive director of the Randolph Fulton Market Association, said the nearby manufacturers welcome Google and other office tenants that will come into the building. He said the manufacturers earlier had concerns about the development's retail component and negotiated a zoning deal that limits the size of any single store in the project.
He said the 95 industrial firms in the area have adapted well to an influx of residents and pedestrians. Some companies are modernizing their space, he said.
Crain's Chicago Business first reported Google's negotiations for the Fulton Market space.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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Hey guys, I got this great idea. How about I strap myself into a roller chair, fire up the ol' leaf blower, and send myself spinning around in circles until I collapse in a dizzy, nauseous, seething heap of idiot?
Meet Microsoft's New Surface Laptops
Oh, some guy already did that? Great, I'll just watch him then. [sisfti via The Daily What]


text: Hi, I have carried out a upgrade from version 2.0.8 to the 2.1.1 that has gone all good, the server is restart and all the sites work correctly, only that I don't succeed to enter in the control panel of ISPconfig with the login and password of administrator and not even with the parameters standard admin:admin. What happens? How, in these cases, to change give the access? Also I have tried to reinstalled the upgrade but nothing is changed. Please help me!


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Office: 510 889-7215
Toll Free: 800-895-4223
Fax: 510 889-8278
Wouldn't You Like to Scale Your IT with Your Revenue Stream?
For as long as there's been "IT" as we know it, there's been one prevailing Information Technology business model: Buy hardware (and assume all the risk). Overpay your IT department to "fix" what "breaks" one support ticket at a time. Fight and claw to make it a few years before it's all too antiquated to remain competitive. Start the process over again.
That business model is broken.
Why can't your IT costs expand and contract to match revenues? Why can't your IT solution create a competitive advantage while managing business risk? Why can't your IT team be a lean, agile, anticipatory service, rather than a bloated, reactionary in-house department?
Don't Replace it; "ACE IT!"
We'll run your entire IT operation "virtually," eliminating the need for an in-house IT department and dramatically cutting your overall IT budget (ROI of 100 percent within 3-5 years). You'll never again have to buy and house new equipment that you're then "stuck with." You'll never again have to chase after wayward IT personnel or try to reconcile an internal IT "blame game." Instead, you'll actually be free to focus on business operations. And you'll enjoy the advantages of a proactive, expert team monitoring conditions 24-7, robust resources across the entire computing spectrum and all-inclusive, scalable, cost-predictable services.
It's time to streamline processes and be more efficient … not get slower-to-market.
It's time to eliminate waste and dissipate risk … not get bogged down in major purchases.
It's time to get ahead of the curve (and the competition) … as service-based IT becomes the new industry standard.
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Economics Departments, Institutes and Research Centers in the World
Complex Systems Research Group
Universidad de Buenos AiresTranslation: University of Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Homepage: http://www.lsc.dc.uba.ar/
Handle: RePEc:edi:csubaar
Areas or Functions: Econometrics, Mathematical Economics
Homepage: http://www.lsc.dc.uba.ar/
Handle: RePEc:edi:csubaar
Areas or Functions: Econometrics, Mathematical Economics
Registered alumni from this institution
Their author profiles
People who have registered with RePEc and have received their terminal degree from this institution according to the RePEc genealogy. Alumni with publications are listed below with .
CorrectionsCorrections about details of this institutions should be sent to the team. Corrections about the member listing should be made by the members themselves by adjusting their affiliations at the RePEc Author Service. Adding or correcting alumni is done at the RePEc Genealogy by anyone with a RePEc author account. Serials from this institution can be added with the Publisher-Institution: RePEc:edi:csubaar line in the series template of their RePEc archive. If there is no local RePEc archive, follow these instructions to create one to have the local publications listed on RePEc services.
EDIRC is a RePEc service hosted by the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Copyright 1995-2023 Christian Zimmermann All rights reserved


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Write Your Resume From An Employer's-Eye View
Your resume is in pretty good shape, isn't it? You have been perusing professional samples online and you have been reading all the how to's, when to's, and don'ts. Well, then why no quality interview calls? Despite unemployment rate still at 7.3 as of the end of August, there ARE opportunities out there. It is tougher, let's face it, but why? Because your competition is talented and highly qualified. Therefore, you, my friend, have to step up your job-search game and dare to take control of your brand on paper (resume) by not playing it safe but standing out on your own. What am I referring to? Applying the old objective plus career chronology resume format you learned in high school isn't going to cut it anymore. It is now imperative your resume pop and quickly capture attention. That it convey value over others who are also extremely qualified. That you tell a story about how you rescued the company, department, location, region, initiative, client base, or project.
Resume Basics You Must KnowHow? Survey your career from the employer's-eye view and promote your exclusivity. Then, you will know how to best write a resume that implicitly tells an unmatched story that hogs the job search spot light.
1. Presentation Does MatterSeizing the attention of an employer means you have to break from the traditional and overly used resume presentation. While ultimately, content (achievements and qualifications) is what will win you an edge--by capturing attention first, you net the additional seconds necessary to entice, enthrall, guide, and compel through content (yes, content is still king). Now, know the design of your resume is conceptualized based on the industry you are targeting. Depending on your target industry, it may be necessary to keep the resume design conservative. Yet, conservative does not mean mundane. See below:
2. Write Storytelling DescriptionsAs a career professional, I receive resume submissions daily. Most are in horrible shape but every now and then, I will find a few in my inbox that look nicely polished. (Thumbs up!) Yet, as I begin to read, the truth is discovered. The truth? The resume is an absolutely boring boilerplate; the job seeker has simply regurgitated the job description as if we don't already know what the job entails. Get this, your resume is not a job ad. You are not to list all the requirements to perform the job. (Employers already know what a job entails). Your resume is a candidate promotional tool and you are to tell and show... what YOU did with the opportunities under the given job title—not just you fulfilled the job title (that is the least expected of you). Example:
Before: Job Description
Cross-Selling Specialist, Company Name Here, 2007 to Present
Responsible for managing sales of distributor partners and direct customers. Facilitated customer relationships, leveraged marketing programs, provided sales training, and developed unique selling tools to drive sales volume, revenue and margin by translating customer needs to product solutions.What is unique about the above? Wouldn't others who hold this very same position describe their job this very same way?
After: Job Story (Cliffhanger, normally followed by quantifiable achievements in bullet form.)
Cross-Selling Specialist—Company Name Here, 2007 to Present
Identified, tackled, and solved the lack of a systemic processes and efficient tools necessary to uncover account cross-selling opportunities and maximize sales growth despite a down market. Engineered a unique and user-friendly tool by leveraging industry ratios as benchmark to identify product slate. Developed accompanying process. Tested, rolled out, promoted, and launched commensurate sales staff training, successfully equipping this B2B organization to better quantify, target, and aggressively close cross-selling opportunities across 14 sectors. Earned a promotion based on results; tool is recognized as a global best practice standard.The above tells a story. Does it not? Let's see: 1) this person faced and solved an existing problem, 2) created opportunities for growth, 3) engineered a tool that positioned the company for long-term growth. This person's work was recognized company wide. Wow! They actually produced results and not just executed the job.Employer's-eye View = "This person is worth meeting. Perhaps they can come and dissolve our similar obstacles in reaching increased margins."
3. Add Impact With Marketing PowerSometimes quantifiable achievements can be best illustrated with a bit of pizazz (A graph, a table). See below:
Bottom line is don't be afraid to break from the historic way of presenting yourself on your resume. True, perhaps you will surprise prospective employers and yes, perhaps you will be the only one submitting a resume likes yours. Is that a bad thing? Are you a leader or a follower? Playing it safe and blending in with your resume does not win interviews for top-paying jobs. Time to shoot higher and dare to break the norm. Photo Credit: Shutterstock


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Menu is one of the most nutritious in the industry
ATLANTA (April 7, 2014) – It has been seven years in the making and Chick-fil-A® is ready to debut a new lineup of grilled chicken entrees that will give the chain one of the most nutritious and expansive grilled menus across the quick-service industry. On April 14, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain will introduce three new entrees – the Chick-fil-A® Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A® Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich and Chick-fil-A® Grilled Nuggets – in an ongoing effort to provide more flavorful and "craveable" grilled options for its nutrition-minded customers.
Chick-fil-A's new recipe features an unmatched backyard grilled taste. Each grilled chicken breast is freshly marinated with a blend of sea salt, lemon, garlic and savory herbs, and cooked on a state-of-the-art, proprietary grill developed by Chick-fil-A. The technique creates a tender, juicy filet with just the right amount of smoky flavor.
To make this menu enhancement possible, Chick-fil-A invested seven years of testing and more than $50 million to reinvent its grilled chicken recipe. The largest portion of the investment came as the company worked with Garland Grills for more than 10 years to create a proprietary grill. This grill sears chicken perfectly on cast-iron grates like it was cooked on a backyard grill, only faster.
"We started with a mission to create a best-in-class grilled sandwich, and after testing 1,200-plus recipes, we landed on a taste so remarkable that we decided to extend the flavor into a full grilled line," said David Farmer, Chick-fil-A's vice president of product strategy and development. "Our previous grilled entrees were good, but not remarkable. We wanted a grilled chicken recipe that is just as 'craveable' as our original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich."
Following is more information on Chick-fil-A's new grilled lineup:
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich: The Grilled Chicken Sandwich is a boneless breast of chicken, marinated with a special blend of seasonings and grilled for a tender and juicy backyard-grilled taste. It is served on a new toasted, multigrain bun with green leaf lettuce and tomato and served with a side of Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce. It is priced starting at $4.29 with just 320 calories and 5 grams of fat, making it one of the most nutritious grilled entrees in the quick-service industry.
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich: Building on the improvements of the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, the Club adds a kick of flavor with Colby-Jack Cheese and Applewood smoked bacon. It is priced starting at $5.49 and has 460 calories and 14 grams of fat.
Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets: Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets, which were first introduced in 2012 as a Kid's Meal entrée, are bite-sized pieces of pure boneless breast of chicken that are great as a meal or a snack. Customers can order Grilled Nuggets in 8-count (160 calories, 3.5 fat grams) or 12-count (230 calories, 5 fat grams) with their choice of dipping sauce. Grilled Nuggets are made without gluten-containing ingredients and are free of trans fats, with prices starting at $3.79 and $5.59, respectively.
Chick-fil-A's new grilled chicken recipe also enhances the chain's line of other grilled chicken entrees, including the Chick-fil-A® Grilled Market Salad, Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap® and Chick-fil-A® Chicken Salad Sandwich.
"Chick-fil-A is more committed than ever to providing our customers with a 'menu of choice' that not only tastes great, but is great for them," Farmer added. "Whether our customers are counting carbs, fat or calories, or eating food made without gluten-containing ingredients, we offer a number of menu options to suit their dietary needs and preferences. To keep them informed, we make our nutritional information easily accessible for all guests, including online nutrition information, calorie counts posted on our menu boards, nutrition panels and pamphlets in our dining rooms, and order-specific nutrition information printed on receipts by request."
On Feb. 11, Chick-fil-A announced that it will serve chicken raised without antibiotics in all its restaurants nationwide within five years. The move marked the first time a quick service restaurant has committed to a 100 percent "raised without antibiotics" standard for poultry. In late 2013, the company removed yellow dye from its chicken soup, and is testing the removal of high fructose corn syrup from all dressings and sauces, artificial ingredients from its bun, and TBHQ from its peanut oil.
Also in 2013, Chick-fil-A overhauled its salad line by introducing three new premium salads, as well as a new wrap, touting locally sourced greens and premium fruits and vegetables. Chick-fil-A is actively working to reduce sodium across its menu, including a 25 percent sodium reduction in breads and 10 percent sodium reduction in dressings and sauces.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company dedicated to serving the communities in which its restaurants operate. Credited with inventing the chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious, freshly prepared food in 1,800-plus restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
Founded by S. Truett Cathy in 1967, Chick-fil-A produced sales of $5 billion in 2013. Chick-fil-A was recognized in 2013 as one of America's "Most Inspiring Companies" by Forbes Magazine and "Best Places to Work" by Glassdoor™, among other honors. More information on Chick-fil-A is available on the chain's website, located at www.chick-fil-a.com.


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Help determine which rising artist will land a spot opening for the Songwriters Hall of Fame winners, the Goo Goo Dolls.
SUBWAY® restaurants has joined forces with music and entertainment leaders, iheartradio, to present the "SUBWAY FRESH ARTISTS™" Competition powered by OurStage.com. Beginning September 10, 2010 all pop, rock, country artists and female or male singer-songwriters are invited to upload a fresh new track in the "SUBWAY FRESH ARTISTS™" Music Competition Channel. Entries should be upbeat and inspire people to get a fresh start to a new day.
The "SUBWAY FRESH ARTISTS™" Competition will run in 2 parts: one in September (Regional) and the other in October (National Finals). In September, competitions will be held in 10 regions throughout the U.S. At the end of the month, Clear Channel Radio Program Directors will select a winner from the Top 10 ranked artists in each region (10 total) to receive a $1000 cash prize, promotion through Clear Channel and OurStage.com in addition to SUBWAY® gift cards.
Additionally, the Top 50 ranked artists in each region (500 total) will automatically advance to the national finals competition in October. Fans will judge the artists' tracks to determine the Top 20 ranked artists nationally. At the end of the month, an expert panel of judges, including member of the Goo Goo Dolls, will select one grand prize-winner to open for the Goo Goo Dolls on their 2010 fall tour.
Artists must be eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. Individual artists or a band member must be a legal resident of the 50 United States. An artist may submit only 1 (one) unique track into the "SUBWAY FRESH ARTISTS™" Music Competition Channel. Accepted genres must fall into the pop, rock, singer-songwriter or country genres as defined by OurStage.
All entries must be acceptable for radio airplay with clean lyrics. Entries must contain vocals, but do not have to consist solely of vocals. Entries must be accompanied by musical instruments.
Click here to view the official rules.


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6 MLB All-Stars That You May Not Know
The 2014 MLB All-Star Game in Minnesota is fast approaching. The rosters have been announced and, of course, the perennial names are still there. Players like Derek Jeter, Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw and Yadier Molina are all once again joining their star studded peers in the Midsummer Classic. Some names, however, aren't as flashy but have earned spots on their respective rosters and deserve some recognition. Here is my list of MLB All-Stars that you may not know:
American League:
1. Derek Norris, Catcher for the Oakland Athletics
A's catcher Derek Norris is making his first All-Star appearance for the American League. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the fourth round of the 2007 draft and traded to the A's in 2011. This season he's batting .305 with an on-base percentage of .409. He's is currently second among American League catchers with 37 RBIs.
2. Dellin Betances, Reliever for the New York Yankees
Yankees reliever Dellin Betances leads all relievers in the MLB in strikeouts with 81 and he's also sporting an All-Star caliber ERA of 1.52. He has a 4-0 record in 39 games and has been solid for the Yankees. This is his first All-Star selection and if he continues to pitch like this, he could be appearing for the American League for many years to come as a star in the Yankees bullpen.
3. Michael Brantley, Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians
Here's a 28-year old outfielder that's putting some good numbers together. Charlie Blackmon is currently sixth in batting average among National League outfielders with a .294 and is tied for fifth in RBIs with 50. His Rockies aren't playing so well, currently 11.5 games out for first place in the NL West, but he is definitely a bright spot that fans can look forward to seeing when they go out to the ballpark.
2. Tyson Ross, Starting Pitcher for the San Diego Padres
Tyson Ross is having a solid year for a bad team. The Padres are 10 games out of first place and are last as a team in the MLB in runs scored, on base percentage, batting average and hits. Ross has an ERA of 2.93 which should give him a better record than 7-9 but there is not much he can do when the team doesn't score. It's a shame for the entire Padres pitching staff who has the fourth best ERA in the MLB. You can't win if you can't score.
3. Devin Mesoraco, Catcher for the Cincinnati Reds
26 year old Devin Mesoraco is providing solid production out of the catcher position for the Cincinnati Reds who are still alive in a very tough division. He is currently second in home runs among all catchers with 15 and third in RBIs with 43. This is a breakout season for Mesoraco who can solidify the catcher position for years to come in Cincinnati.
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Here's Why I Wish I'd Hired Home Care Sooner
It was the collection of little things that constantly nagged at Sacha as she and her siblings struggled to care for their ailing mother.
Who was going to be able to make the 30-minute, one-way drive to her mom's house to administer her eye drops? When was the last time she showered? Had she soiled herself and did her laundry need to be done?
And then
Her mom, Netty, passed away recently at 87.
But for years, Sacha and her siblings were among more than 34 million Americans who provided unpaid care for a friend or loved one, according to a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. And as the U.S. population continues to age, experts say the need for caregiving will balloon.
And if Sacha has one piece of advice for those in her place: "Do not wait to get a caregiver to help."
"The relief of knowing that your mother is taken care of when you can't do it, it was really a relief to all of us,'' she says. "There was just peace of mind, and I wish I had done it earlier."
"You always worry about the money, sure,'' she added. "But there is no price tag for your peace of mind or your loved one's comfort."
Sandwiched Generation is Smashed
The strain on her and her siblings intensified when her mother turned 75 and had to stop driving.
The occasional trip here or there to help quickly turned into more frequent stops and errand-running. Her mom, who had a pacemaker, had to visit the cardiologist every other week. Her blood had to be tested. And over the years, she became incontinent and Sacha worried about her cleanliness.
And while a half-hour drive doesn't sound like a lot, it added up in time and stress as Sacha worked to balance the demands of a full-time job and being a full-time mom with sons who were active in school, sports, band and their church. That doesn't even account for her activities or being a wife. To top it off, she also had a 45-minute, one-way commute to her own job that was as far north as her mom's home was south.
Even with the support of siblings, the dueling responsibilities created stress.
"I was definitely sandwiched,'' Sacha said, referring to being of the generation that is in the middle of caring for parents and for their own children.
Sacha fit squarely into the BLS profile of the unpaid caregiver for seniors:
- Half, or nearly 9 million people, are parents themselves.
- Most, 78 percent, are employed. Of those, 63 percent work full-time.
- Nearly 40 percent of family caregivers help with household chores, including preparing meals, cleaning up and housework.
"I constantly felt pulled in many different directions," Sacha said. "And it helped to have help. It was a lifesaver, really. Even just the help with the basic things. Aides are so much better at things like giving baths. I'm more clunky at it."
And the companionship her caregiver provided for the 20 hours a week she came to her mother's home was priceless.
Hiring Professionals Frees You
Jackie, who also became a caregiver for her aging parent, couldn't agree more.
Jackie and her sister hired Visiting Angels for their father, Jack, to help around the house after her mother died. For Jackie, having a professional meant freeing her to spend quality time with her dad before he passed away a couple years later at the age of 80.
In the beginning, his caregiver visited in the morning and another came in the evening. As he aged, they were able to up his care to 24 hours a day.
She laughs as she described him as a handful and, at times, stubborn. Instead of spending days arguing with him or unsuccessfully trying to get him to do something he didn't want to, she said his caregiver freed her and her sister to enjoy him.
"You just can't do it all. Something will give,'' Jackie said. "It was better for our relationship with Dad to bring someone in. That helped get rid of his resentment that we couldn't be there all the time and the guilt we had on our part.
"At least this way, we knew he was getting much better and more frequent care."
Jackie also looked forward to the daily reports the caregivers sent. They got reports not only on what her dad ate, but also on little changes in mood or temperament.
"They were there every day and saw things we may have missed," she said.
And for Sacha, having help meant spending more quality time with her mom."When I'd go on Sundays, I wanted to visit with Mom. I didn't want to be cleaning her bathroom,'' she said. "It was nice to just sit with her and visit. That was awesome."


text:
my $auth = Net::SIP::Authorize->new(
dispatcher => $dispatcher,
realm => 'net-sip.example.com',
user2pass => \&give_pass_for_user,
i_am_proxy => 1,
my $proxy = Net::SIP::StatelessProxy->new...
my $chain = Net::SIP::ReceiveChain->new(
# all requests for proxy need to be authorized
[ $auth,$proxy ]
DESCRIPTIONThis package is used inside a Net::SIP::ReceiveChain to make sure, that requests are authorized before they get handled by the next receiver in the chain.
- new ( %ARGS )
This creates a new registar object, %ARGS can have the following keys:
- dispatcher
- Net::SIP::Dispatcher object manging the registar. Mandatory.
- realm
- The realm for the authentication request. Defaults to 'p5-net-sip'.
- opaque
- Optional value for "opaque" parameter for the authentication request. If none is given no "opaque" parameter will be used.
- user2a1
- Either hash reference with "user,a1_hex" mapping or callback, which gives "a1_hex" if called with "user,realm". For the meaning of "a1_hex" see RFC 2617.
- user2pass
- Either hash reference with "user,password" mapping or callback, which gives "password" if called with "user". This parameter will only be used if "user2a1" does not result in a defined "a1_hex" for "user".
- i_am_proxy
- Flag if the object behind works as a proxy (e.g. Net::SIP::StatelessProxy) and sends "Proxy-Authenticate" or if it is an endpoint (e.g. Net::SIP::Endpoint, Net::SIP::Registrar) which sends "WWW-Authenticate".
- filter
Additional filter for authorization, e.g. if authorization based on
username and passwort succeeded it might still fail because of these
filters. Filter is a hash with the method as key.
The value can be an additional authorization (in which case it must succeed), a list of authorizations (all of them must succeed), or a list with a list of authorizations (at least one of the inner lists must succeed).
The additional authorization can be a name of a Net::SIP::Authorize subclass (e.g. "ToIsFrom" means "Net::SIP::Authorize::ToIsFrom") which has a "verify" function or a "[\&callback]".
The verify function or callback will be called with "($packet,$leg,$addr,$auth_user,$auth_realm)" where $packet is the request, $leg the Net::SIP::Leg object where the packet came in, $addr the senders address, $auth_user the username from the authorized user and $auth_realm the realm which was used for authorization. Success for verification means that the function must return true.
The following authorization subclasses are defined:
- FromIsRealm
- Succeeds if the senders domain is the realm or a subdomain of the realm.
- FromIsAuthUser
- Succeeds if the username of the sender equals the username used for authorization.
- ToIsFrom
- Succeeds if To header equals From header. This can be used to make sure, that a user can only call REGISTER for itself.
filter => { REGISTER => [ # all of these must succeed [ 'ToIsFrom','FromIsRealm','FromIsAuthUser' ], # or this [ \&callback ], ], INVITE => 'FromIsRealm', }
- receive ( PACKET,LEG,FROM )
PACKET is the incoming packet,
LEG is the Net::SIP::Leg where the packet arrived and FROM
is the "ip:port" of the sender. Responses will be send
back to the sender through the same leg.
Called from the managing Net::SIP::Dispatcher object if a new packet arrives.
Returns TRUE if the packet was fully handled by this object which is the case, if the packet was not authorized so that a 401 or 407 (if "i_am_proxy") response was send back.
Returns FALSE if packet was authorized and should be handled be the next object in the Net::SIP::ReceiveChain. In this case it usually changes the packet to remove the local authorization information.


text:
Healthcare Industry News: JETREA
News Release - January 4, 2013
ThromboGenics Confirms JETREA(R) US Launch Date of Monday January 14th, 2013JETREA� US Price Set at USD 3,950 per Vial
LEUVEN, Belgium, January 4, 2013 -- (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) --ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR), an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic medicines, confirms its JETREA�US launch date of Monday January 14th, 2013.
Next week, Dr. Patrik De Haes, Chief Executive Officer of ThromboGenics, will present during the 31st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference from January 7th to 9th, 2013 in San Francisco, USA.
The ThromboGenics presentation will be held on Wednesday, January 9th at 11.00 am PST (20.00 CET) at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. It will include the Company's plans for launching JETREA� (ocriplasmin) in January through its own U.S. commercial organization, which will mark a major milestone for transforming ThromboGenics into a fully operational biopharmaceutical company that provides innovative ophthalmic medicines.
JETREA� represents a paradigm shift and for the first time offers a pharmacological treatment option to patients suffering with symptomatic VMA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved JETREA� in October 2012 as the first pharmacological agent for the treatment of symptomatic VMA. Symptomatic VMA is a progressive, sight-threatening condition that, when left untreated, frequently leads to retinal distortion, further deterioration in vision, and irreversible damage to eyesight. The recommended dose of JETREA� is 0.125 mg (0.1 mL) of the diluted solution administered by intravitreal injection to the affected eye once as a single injection.
The approval was based on the data from ThromboGenics' Phase III program where JETREA� was shown to be superior to placebo for the treatment of symptomatic VMA (26.5% versus 10.1%; p<0.01). Treatment with JETREA� was associated with some, mainly transient, ocular adverse events.
Important safety and prescribing information about JETREA� is available at http://www.JETREA.com.
About JETREA� (ocriplasmin)
JETREA�(ocriplasmin) is a truncated form of human plasmin that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of symptomatic VMA. JETREA�is a selective proteolytic enzyme that cleaves fibronectin, laminin and collagen, three major components of the vitreoretinal interface that play an important role in vitreomacular adhesion.
JETREA�has been evaluated in two multi-center, randomized, double-masked Phase III trials conducted in the U.S. and Europe involving 652 patients with vitreomacular adhesion. Both studies met the primary endpoint of resolution of VMA at day 28. JETREA�'s Phase III program found that 26.5% of patients treated with ocriplasmin saw resolution of VMA, compared with 10.1% of patients receiving placebo (p<0.01). The Phase III program also showed that JETREA�was generally well tolerated with most adverse events being transient and mild in severity.
About ThromboGenics
ThromboGenics is an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic medicines. The Company's lead product, JETREA�(ocriplasmin), has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of symptomatic VMA. The Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for ocriplasmin is under review in Europe.
In March 2012, ThromboGenics signed a strategic partnership with Alcon (Novartis) for the commercialization of JETREA� outside the United States. Under this agreement, ThromboGenics could receive up to a total of �375 million in up-front and milestone payments. It will receive significant royalties from Alcon's net sales of JETREA�. ThromboGenics and Alcon intend to share the costs equally of developing JETREA� for a number of new vitreoretinal indications.
ThromboGenics is also further exploring anti-PIGF (Placental Growth Factor), formerly referred to as TB-403, for the treatment of ophthalmic indications.
ThromboGenics is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Iselin, NJ (US) and Dublin, Ireland. The Company is listed on the NYSE Euronext Brussels exchange under the symbol THR. More information is available at http://www.thrombogenics.com.
Important information about forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report.
This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of ThromboGenics in any jurisdiction. No securities of ThromboGenics may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws.
Source: ThromboGenics
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.


text:
Jim Romanovich, ATI's President of Worldwide Media and Entertainment and this year's Daytime Emmy producer, shared with We Love Soaps his thoughts on the latest happenings from around the soap world.
By far, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly is one of my favorite films. Unfortunately, we're not talking about Clint Eastwood and the Man with No Name. We have plenty of names here. Good, bad, and ugly. This week certainly seems like the World Series of news in daytime television. There's reassuring as well as disconcerting news. The bottom line is that this only validates how fragile our industry is.
The Good
The recasting of Jonathan Jackson as Lucas Lorenzo Spencer, Jr. is great news for GENERAL HOSPITAL fans, advertisers, and network executives. It re-establishes a dynamic that has been missing for ten years and that is the Luke and Lucky connection. It also validates ABC's faith in GH. If you recall a few months ago, I did an analysis of the creation of Ethan as Luke Spencer's illegitimate son with Holly Sutton. I think we all agreed that the story would have played out better if he was Robert Scorpio's son. But if Tristan Rogers is not on the canvas, then what's the point? But Tony Geary is, and he is an actor in search of a story. What Luke was not getting with Lucky he was able to recreate with Ethan.
Continue reading...
With the return of Jackson, it will be interesting to see what happens with Nathan Parsons. If the JJ and TG reunion is a mega hit, you could very well see Ethan be exposed as the con artist he is who was never Luke's son and then be run out of town. But none of that is pre-determined until they see if the magic is still there. I think it is. If anything, Jackson's talents have only matured since he was a kid and I'm betting that you're going to see sheer dynamite on screen with him regardless of story because he is that captivating as an actor. There are some who are successful working actors that deliver the goods every time and then there are others who walk in the room and everything stops. Jackson has this "it" factor. If you like Tom Pelphrey, I think you're going to like the adult Jonathan Jackson. I'm also guessing that there are going to be major changes in Lucky's direction in life. I cannot imagine him as a cop. If I was writing the show, I would have a come-to-Jesus situation that forces Lucky and Luke to be together in which all truths, all demons, and all understandings come out. I'm talking a week of powerhouse dialogue between two titans in their own play that is as moving and essential as anything you'd see in an Arthur Miller production. Do you remember that last scene in Death of a Salesman between Willy Loman and his son Biff? The resolution is that Lucky has a better understanding and acceptance of his father as well as what he needs to do with his life. With Jackson on for six months, perhaps this is an end game for Lucky. If economic hardships continue, then perhaps Jackson can ride it out as long as the GH train runs. But that's how I see Jackson's version of Lucky evolving out of Greg Vaughan's version.
And speaking of Mr. Vaughan. The only negative about Jackson's return is Vaughan's departure. In baseball, he is what we call a utility player. He shows up when you need him. He's always on time and generally will be the last to go until the job is done… and done correctly. He's the guy that will do whatever is asked of him in support of his team and what's best for his team even if it's not always in his best interest. He is the protector. And that's what he did with Lucky. He protected that character for six years and did the role justice. As I mentioned in a previous piece, Greg inherited Jacob Young's version of Lucky which was night and day from Jackson's version. Young was more brooding and dark. He wasn't "cowboy". He played Lucky as a tortured soul which I'm sure came out of the brainwashing storyline engineered by Helena Cassadine. When Young left, Vaughan was a good choice to bring back a more human side of Lucky. You have to remember at the time that Laura was gone or nearly gone and Luke was spiraling out of control.
To Vaughan's credit, he found a dynamic that made sense in integrating the "adult" Lucky into the world of the "child-like" Luke-and it made perfect sense. Notwithstanding the drug addiction storyline, Vaughan's Lucky became Luke's parent. To Vaughan's detriment, it also set a path for the character in which there was no return. The Luke/Lucky dynamic had changed because the writers had now written Lucky as the show's moral compass. He was the barometer of right and wrong. But as such, he was no longer the force of conflict. He measures conflict and that's not a very fulfilling place for this character or for the actor. This is exactly the reason for Ethan and more directly the reason for Jonathan Jackson's return.
One final word about Greg Vaughan. Don't worry about him. He is a fine actor who still has his greatest work ahead of him. He's one of the good guys in this business. I didn't get a chance to meet him when I visited the set this past June. But it is evident that he commands a lot of respect from his cast mates. And he also commands a lot of respect from producers as well. He has a great future and I am sure you will see him in something very, very soon. I have great respect for Greg Vaughan because he alone kept the character of Lucky Spencer alive and relevant. Not an easy task.
The Bad
Greg Vaughan's departure certainly is bad although it would be cool to see him come back to GH as someone new. The other bad news of the week is the imminent departure of Eric Braedon from the iconic role of Victor Newman he's made famous for thirty years. Now, this may iron itself out and I hope it does as Braedon's departure would be devastating for Y&R. Fortunately for Y&R, they have so many strong characters on the show. But the principal obstacle is that Y&R's chief success now becomes their biggest liability. The show is second to none in the relevancy of history and legacy characters being more than wallpaper or plot devices. They have built their dynamic largely on the Newman/Abbott feud for twenty or more years that I can count. With Braedon out, Y&R has a tremendous hole to fill that in this fragile state of daytime may be too difficult to do. Victor and Nikki are the two that most Y&R fans want to see. I'm not saying it's impossible to recover. But trends are showing that daytime soaps are declining. There is no ebb and flow. It's a pinhole in the bean bag. But a hole nonetheless. Would Braedon's departure turn that pinhole into a major slash? If I was Sony or the Bells, I would make the hard cuts elsewhere until it was time to renew Braedon's contract in 2010. It's just too great to risk and the fan backlash could be devastating. On the hand, it may give other families, such as the Winters, a chance to build their dynasties as well as the Newmans to find new dynamics within their own household. Perhaps an Adam/Nick conflict that could escalate. I don't know. All I do know is that your number one show doesn't need to stir its waters as such. I'm all for re-inventing a show for a new audience. But rebuilding from an atomic explosion could prove futile. I certainly hope I'm wrong if Braedon leaves and, more importantly, I hope this whole discussion is moot when Braedon and management come to terms.
Which leads me to…
The Ugly
The common theme here is the fragility of the daytime broadcast television soap opera. I worded that very carefully as you can see. "Broadcast television" as the operative words. The ugliness began with the 36th Annual Daytime Emmys being dismissed from both ABC and CBS. It may not have been the beginning of what was to come, but it certainly was the identifying factor in that which was about to follow…and follow quickly. GUIDING LIGHT's cancellation in April, DAYS OF OUR LIVES' elimination of veteran cast members, ALL MY CHILDREN moving to LA, Eric Braedon's possible departure from THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, and now the possible elimination of yet another soap-ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
OLTL is one of the best soaps on television. I emailed Frank Valentini recently about how much I enjoyed the show and some ideas I had about taking the David Vickers character and making a real mock reality series for SoapNet. It would be funny and showcase OLTL characters in a new way that may bring forth new fans just as GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS on A&E brought in new Gene fans to KISS. Now KISS has a new CD and huge nationwide tour. Unfortunately, the deals made would not allow OLTL to do this. But OLTL is one show that has me vested in every story. When one ends, another picks up steam and no cast member is all that much greater than the other in importance. They use veterans in prominent stories yet don't solely rely on them to carry the ball. Valentini has a well oiled machine that rarely fails its fans. So to hear of their possible cancellation next year was horrific to say the least. It's also pre-mature. I feel if ABC wants the show, they will do what they can to save it. I believe that part of the AMC move to LA was meant to save both shows as I knew one wouldn't survive. It seemed ABC showed great faith in all three of their soaps by doing what they did. I still believe that.
But I also know the business of television and it's all going to come down to "money saved is money earned". If the profit OLTL generates (assuming it does) does not balance out the effort that goes into it, then, yes, OLTL may end just as ANY show would. ABC is looking at their future and that also means taking the path of least resistance. I spoke about profit margins in previous interviews. The good news is that ABC owns its soaps. Its profit margins are probably higher than other network's soaps. The bad news is that it may be too much effort. If OLTL makes a 20% profit on its cost, let's say, and ABC can make that same 20% profit on a talk show in which they also have a vested interest, then which way do you think they might lean? The talk show. One talent, one set, and fewer days of production as many talk formats can whip out five days worth of shows in two or three days. I think JUDGE JUDY comes in for a week and does a month of shows. This is really what it all comes down to regardless of magnificent storytelling or stunt casting. In television, art does not create business. Business creates art. If Tide detergent wants to spend $20 million to create a new daytime soap, then a new daytime soap will be created. But all the Agnes Nixons, Glory Montys and Doug Marlands in the world can't create the art in hopes of finding the business in today's world.
You heard of the Golden Rule? The one that controls the gold rules.
If you think daytime is the only target, think again. Where can you find all your great dramas these days? Cable. Sure, you have CSI, HOUSE, 24 and a few others. But on cable, you mostly have the best shows. SOPRANOS, MAD MEN, THE TUDORS, TRUE BLOOD, RESCUE ME, DAMAGES, and so on.
Network television is in survival mode. Daytime television is on the top of that list. So my hope is that OLTL remains a vital part of their line-up. If it doesn't, and keep in mind the Sword of Damocles hanging over ATWT too, and we lose both shows in 2010, then that sound you hear is the fat lady rehearsing.


text:
Style: 165-Oak
Greek Giant Pointed Paddle
33.5 x 8 inch oak paddle... Read more
$ 48.99
Product Images
|1 - 5
|$ 48.99
|6 - 11
|$ 44.09
|12 - 29
|$ 41.64
|30 - 30+
|$ 39.19
Product Details
33.5 x 8 inch oak paddle. Rush service is available for 20% of the total price.
(Paddles cannot be made for Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Eta Rho, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Kappa Psi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Chi Psi, Delta Chi, Delta Gamma, Delta Kappa Alpha, Delta Phi Lambda, Delta Zeta, Farmhouse, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Lambda Chi Alpha, National Panhellenic Conference, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Phi Alpha Delta, Phi Chi Theta, Phi Delta Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Mu, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Pi Sigma Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Iota, Sigma Nu, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Sigma Tau Gamma, Theta Phi Alpha or Zeta Tau Alpha)
WARNING - FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. Any use of this item that causes harm to others is in violation of Greek organization policies and may be in violation of state and federal anti-hazing laws resulting in fines and or imprisonment.
Style #: 165-Oak


text:
The general consensus is that tailors will have a chance to receive the Cocoon randomly when making imperial silk at the silken fields. No matter if you simply use the Imperial Silk CD or use Song of Harmony with windwool and spirits of harmony, it will still always be made in the Silken Fields. Those CDs require the tailors to be in the Silken Fields.Ryazan wrote:I'm also starting to lean towards the cocoon way after doing some research and will update that to the next version of my list. I'll prolly swap the sorting order to source instead of pet school to give a bit better idea how one gets what - or just make a Google doc where people can choose their own sort...Quintessence wrote:The Silkworm Cocoon is new in 5.1, and I think you can craft it in the next patch using the existing Imperial Silk recipe (taught by trainers), but I'm not entirely sure.
All sources of the pets that I can find on Wowhead point in this direction as the source of these pets.


text:
Rudolph Giuliani: Crusader Against Crime
New York's mayor announces cancer diagnosis
by Beth Rowen
Giuliani announces that he has prostate cancer at a news conference on Thursday, April 27, 2000. (AP Photo)
"I don't think it's fair to answer questions about the Senate race right now," Giuliani, 55, said. He admitted that treatment would require him to shuffle his schedule. He said he and his doctors would decide over the next few weeks what course of treatment to pursue.Options for Treatment
According to the American Cancer Society, treatment options include a radical prostatectomy, a surgical treatment in which the entire prostate is removed, along with some surrounding tissue; transurethral resection of the prostate, in which part of the gland is removed—this process is used as pain relief for patients with advanced cancer; radiation therapy, which kills the cancerous cells; cryosurgery, in which the cancerous cells are frozen; hormone therapy, which is typically used if the cancer has metastasized or has returned after a previous treatment; and chemotherapy, which is used when hormone therapy fails.
"It is a treatable form of prostate cancer, it was diagnosed at an early stage," the mayor said at a Gracie Mansion press conference.What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men. (Skin cancer is the most common.) It accounts for 11 percent of cancer-related deaths in men. If detected and treated early, prostate cancer is treatable. The prognosis is not nearly as optimistic if the cancer spreads. The walnut-sized gland, which produces sperm, is located at the front of the rectum and under the bladder.
| New Cases of Cancer and Survival Rates in the U.S.
Cancer Risks You Can Avoid
What Is Cancer?
Preventing Cancer
American Cancer Society figures show that eighty-nine percent of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive more than five years, and 63 percent live for 10 or more years. The Society says that about 180,400 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000. Giuliani's father died of prostate cancer in 1981 at age 73.
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic candidate in the Senate race, has not yet commented.Crusader Against Crime
Giuliani served as Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Justice Department from 1975 to 1977, and as Associate Attorney General from 1981 to 1983. As U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District, a position he held from 1983 to 1989, Giuliani successfully prosecuted several high-profile Mafia leaders and Wall Street miscreants. He made his debut in elective politics in 1993, when he narrowly defeated David Dinkins in the New York City mayoral race. He was reelected in 1997, campaigning largely on his clampdown on crime.
Though he has not officially thrown his hat into the ring, Giuliani, a Republican, has for all intents and purposes been running a bitter campaign for the U.S. Senate against Rodham Clinton. He came under fire for quickly rallying behind police in the March shooting death of Patrick Dorismond, an unarmed, off-duty security guard, who was shot by an undercover New York City detective.