text:
Lois Dodd: "Catching the Light," career retrospective — 1955-2012 — for the Maine painter, through April 7; and "Voices of Design" — 25 Years of Architalx, interactive exhibition that showcases the power of design, through May 19, Portland Museum of Art. portlandmuseum.org.
"Malaga Island: Fragmented Lives," historic photographs, documents, artifacts and first-person accounts, Maine State Museum, Augusta. mainestatemuseum.org. Through May.
"Decorating the Everyday: Popular Art from the Farnsworth," furniture, paintings and textiles, through Sept. 22; "A Wondrous Journey: Jonathan Fisher and the Making of Scripture Animals," through Jan. 5, Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland. farnsworthmuseum.org.
"N'tolonapemk: Our Relatives' Place," archeological exhibits and stories of the Passamaquoddy, Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor. abbemuseum.org. Through October.
"Bowdoin Boys in Blue (and Gray)," Bowdoin College (Hawthorne Longfellow Library), Brunswick. 725-3288. Through June 1.
Faculty exhibition, University of Southern Maine (Woodbury Campus Center), Portland. usm.maine.edu/gallery. Through April 3.
"From the Heart!" new work in fiber, clay, mixed media and metals by Patty Olds, Nan Kilbourn-Tara, Natasha Kempers-Cullen and Judith Barker, Markings Gallery, Bath. markingsgallery.com. Through March 31.
"Lovecraft: A Darker Key," group show, graphite and ink drawings, photography, sculpture and more, Sanctuary Tattoo and Art Gallery, Portland. sanctuarytattoo.com. Through May 1.
Tom Curry, new work, Gleason Fine Art, Portland. gleasonfineart.com. Through Friday.
"Spring!", work from Henry Isaacs, Anne Ireland, Andrea Peters, Karen Tusinski and Carole Hanson, Gleason Fine Art, Portland. gleasonfineart.com. Through April 26.
"Paintings and Prints" by Laurie Hadlock and Carrie Lonsdale, Thos. Moser Showroom, Freeport. thosmoser.com. Through April 15.
"Afterthoughts," by Kalaisha Watrous, found ephemera with watercolor painting, pen and ink drawing, photography and embroidery. The Green Hand Bookshop, Portland. 253-6808. Through April 3.
"47 Years at the Super Bowl: What It Means to Be in the Never Missed a Super Bowl Club," objects from the personal collection of Don Crisman, who has attended every Super Bowl, Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk. brickstoremuseum.org. Through Friday.
"Bad (expletive)," photographs by Melonie Bennett documenting night clubs and a party cruise with Kid Rock, PhoPa Gallery, Portland. 317-6721. Through Friday.
Paintings by Harlow Tuesday Group, works by six Kennebec Valley Art Association artists, Harlow on the Circle Lobby Gallery, Augusta. harlowgallery.org. Through April 4.
Bess Cutler, abstract figure drawings, Doo Hair Salon, Kittery. 439-4009. Through April 14.
"Double Vision," photography and painting by Jim and Fran Townsend, Monkitree, Gardiner. monkitree.com. Through Friday.
"[email protected]," group exhibit of Addison Woolley Gallery artists, 3Fish Gallery, Portland. addisonwoolley.com. Through Friday.
"Tinder," Maine stories by SALT fall 2012 graduates in writing, radio, photography and multimedia, The Frontier, Brunswick. explorefrontier.com. Through April 29.
"A Stitch in Time," drawings by Gergana Rupchina, Harmon's & Barton's Gallery, Portland. harmonsbartons.com. Through Saturday.
Barbara Bean and Jackie Melissas, Gallery Framing, Brunswick. galleryframinginc.com. Through Thursday.
Claire Bigbee, paintings, Wells Public Library. 646-8181. Through Saturday.
"Resilient Spring," Sukie Curtis, Marcia Feller, Anne Macleod, Chris Nielsen and Bill Tomsa, Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery. yarmouthframeandgallery.com. Through May 30.
"Ongoing: A Multi-Media Exhibit," March show of gallery artists working in paint, pottery and glass, Richard Boyd Gallery, Peaks Island. richardboydpottery.com. Through Friday.
5th annual "44N 69W: Radius Belfast," work from potters, painters, welders, woodcarvers, mobile makers, sculptors and knitters, Aarhus Gallery, Belfast. aarhusgallery.com. Through Saturday.
"Constellation Vacation," Maine Artist Collective, Constellation Gallery, Portland. constellationart.com. Through Monday.
"Inspirations from the Cape," paintings, photography and ceramics by established and emerging artists, The DaVinci Experience Art Gallery, Falmouth. Through April 21.
"Layers," ceramic sculptures and wall tiles by Jonathan Mess, also featuring acrylics by Holly Brooks and new works by several members of the collective, Saccarappa Art Collective, Westbrook. 591-7300. Through April 10.
"Body as Art," black-and-white photographs by Antje Roitzsch and Deborah Cautela, Camden Public Library. 236-3440. Through Saturday.
Richard Field, new paintings, Lyceum Gallery, Lewiston. lyceumgallery.com. Through Saturday.
Lisa Dombek, mixed media/white series, Katie Made Bakery, Portland. 771-0994. Through Saturday.
"Perigord: Moods and Memory," encaustic paintings by Cheslye Ventimiglia, Daunis Fine Jewelry, Portland. 773-6011. Through April 29.
"Your Brain on Art," focusing on raising awareness of brain safety, brain injury and recovery and chronic pain, presented by Engine in collaboration with the University of New England Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, Engine, Biddeford Arts. feedtheengine.org. Through April 5.
"Captured in Fabric," Nancy Morgan, Vance and Anne Morgan Gallery, Kittery. 439-3800. Through Friday.
"Worldview," third installation of "Maine Women Pioneers III" University of New England (Art Gallery), Portland. une.edu/artgallery. Through May 12.
"Celebrate Student Art," RSU 23 art show, Saco Museum. dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org. Through April 19.
"The New Landscape," works by Lydia Badger, Hilary Irons and Erik Weisenburger, Rose Contemporary, Portland. rosecontemporary.com. Through April 19.
"Marching Forth," group show by Greenhut artists, Greenhut Galleries, Portland. greenhutgalleries.com. Through Friday.
"Still Points of the Turning World," contemporary photographers, Maine Jewish Museum, Portland. mainejewishmuseum.org. Through April 25.
"Higher Forms of Art," annual showcase of high school artists, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell. harlowgallery.org. Through Saturday.
"Exploring Visions," gouache, acrylic, pastels and ink works by Loretta Turner, Dogfish Cafe, Portland. 253-5400. Through April 27.
New works by Ilya Askinazi and "Ancient Light" by Brenton Hamilton, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Falmouth. elizabethmossgalleries.com. Through April 20.
Annual juried student exhibition, University of Southern Maine (Art Gallery), Gorham. usm.maine.edu/gallery. Through April 3.
Charles Thompson and Bistra Nikiforova, paintings and photography, University of New England (Campus Center), Biddeford. 602-2169. Through April 2.
Beech Hill Studio Painters, landscapes and still lifes by 11 Maine painters and their instructor, Liz Prescott, Freeport Public Library. 865-3307. Through March 30.
"Terrain Vague," photography by Gary M. Green, Glickman Library, USM Portland Campus, Portland. usm.maine.edu/gallery. Through May 3.
Art Openings
Per Kirkeby, career restrospective featuring paintings and sculpture, Bowdoin College (Museum of Art), Brunswick. 725-3275. Opens Tuesday; through July 12.
Daisy Greene, paintings, Savory Maine, Damariscotta. savorymainedining.com. Through April 30. Opening reception, 3 to 5 p.m. Friday.
"No Sex Please, We're British," Gaslight Theater production, seeking four women and seven men, ages mid-20s to 40s and 50s, Hallowell City Hall. gaslighttheater.org. 6:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
"The Little Mermaid," performances May 31-June 2, seeking actors ages 7 to 18, Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro. thewaldo.org. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
First Annual Mr. Maine Challenge, young men ages 13 to 24 compete in public speaking, talent and wear-your-own style, benefits Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Taste of Maine Restaurant, Woolwich, $15. 729-6341. 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Good Wine for a Good Cause, tastings from more than 25 wineries, benefits Cancer Community Center, Port City Music Hall, Portland, $25 advance, $30 door, 21-plus. cancercommunitycenter.org. 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.
The Telling Room's "Glitterati," literary ball with auctions, music, food and drink, poet Richard Blanco, Richard Russo, Kate Braestrup and more, benefits The Telling Room's free writing programs, Masonic Temple, Portland, $50 to $75. tellingroom.org/glitterati. 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday.
Books and Authors
UNE Maine Women's Writers Collection presents Eleanor Morse, author of "White Dog Fell from the Sky," Parker Pavillion, WCHP Lecture Hall, University of New England, Portland. 221-4375. 2 p.m. Sunday.
William David Barry, author of "Maine: The Wilder Half of New England," Freeport Community Library. 865-3307. 7 p.m. Monday.
W. Jeffrey Bolster, author of "The Mortal Sea, Fishing the Atlantic in the Age of Sail," York Public Library. york.lib.me.us. 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Ron Currie Jr., author of "Flimsy Little Plastic Miracles," Bates College (Edmund S. Muskie Archives), Lewiston. 786-6256. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Kathryn Miles, author of "All Standing: The Remarkable Story of the Jeanie Johnston, the Legendary Irish Famine Ship," Lithgow Public Library, Augusta. lithgow.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
James Scott, author of "Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed," Ketchum Library (University of New England), Biddeford. 602-2804. 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Local Author Series, Blaize Nolynne, author of "District One Stand By," Portland Public Library. portlandlibrary.com. Noon Friday.
Susan Lebel Young, author of "Food Fix: Ancient Nourishment for Modern Hungers," Nonesuch Books, South Portland. nonesuchbooks.com. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Classical Music
Gamelan, music indigenous to Bali and Indonesia, MIT ensemble Gamelan Galak Tika joins the Bates Gamelan Orchestra, Olin Concert Hall, Lewiston, free, tickets required. 786-6135. 3 p.m. Sunday.
Portland String Quartet presents Spelaeus Quartet, featuring Gershwin's "Lullaby for String Quartet" and more, Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland, $20 to $22, 21 and under free. larksociety.org. Pre-concert talk at 1 p.m., concert at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, with guest conductor Hiroya Miura, works by Brahms, Britten and Tchaikovsky, Orion Performing Arts Center, Topsham, $18, 18 and under free. midcoastsymphony.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Decompression Chamber Music Series, Beethoven string quartet No. 10, Op. 74, One Longfellow Square, Portland, $12 advance, $15 door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 6 p.m. Monday.
Fortepianist David Hyun-su Kim, works by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, Bowdoin College (Studzinski Recital Hall), Brunswick, free. 798-4141. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Portland Conservatory of Music Noonday Concerts, Aspiring Artists Chamber Group, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, Portland, free. 775-3356. 12:15 p.m. Thursday.
Bates College Choir, Faure's "Requiem" and Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston, free, tickets required. 786-6135. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Larchmere String Quartet, performing three string quartets, Bowdoin College (Kanbar Hall), Brunswick, free. 798-4141. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Larchmere String Quartet, works by Haydn, Barber and Dvorak, Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston, $12. 786-6135. 7 p.m. March 31.
"Second City: Laughing Matters," sketch comedy, Camden Opera House, $25, $14 for 16 and under. camdenoperahouse.com. 3 p.m. Sunday.
Open Mic Comedy Night, Slainte, Portland, 21-plus. slaintewinebar.com. 8 p.m. Thursday.
Comedy Night with Chuck Grover, Steve Cloutier and George Hamm, The Inn at Brunswick Station, Brunswick, $8, 18-plus. innatbrunswickstation.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Portland Comedy Co-Op, with Stephanie Doyle, The Oak and the Ax, Biddeford, $5. theoakandtheax.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Scottish country dancing, new dancers welcome, no experience necesary, Community House, Kennebunkport, donation. 839-8637. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday and March 31.
Spring dance concert, work by student choreographers, including thesis projects by dance majors, Bates College (Schaeffer Theatre), Lewiston, $3 to $6. batestickets.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 5 p.m. March 31.
Craft and vendor fair, Northport Memorial Post 6131. 323-2982. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Courtroom Dramas Film Series, "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957), Patten Free Library, Bath, free. patten.lib.me.us. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"Informant," documentary about radical activist turned FBI informant Brandon Darby, with filmmaker Jamie Meltzer, Space, Portland, $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"In the Garden of Sounds," documentary that is a poetic exploration of the relationship between mind, body and sound, post-screening discussion with Bill Halpin and Saskia Huising, Rockland Public Library, free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
"Who Does She Think She Is," documentary about five women who refuse to choose between being a mother and being an artist, University of Maine (Hutchinson Center), Belfast, free. belfastcreativecoalition.org. 7 p.m. Thursday.
Reel Paddling Film Festival, presented by Maine Island Trail Association and Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, $12 advance, $15 door, $10 students. ticketriver.com/event/5925-reel-paddling-film-festival. 7 p.m. Friday.
Food and Drink
Maine Maple Sunday 30th Anniversary, demonstrations, samples, tours and activities, various locations statewide, getrealmaine.com. Sunday.
The Edible Exhibition, series of dinners for eight to 20 people with assortment of traditional dishes relating to current art exhibit, Museum of African Culture, Portland, $50. 871-7188. 6 p.m. Thursday.
For Children
Mostly Puppets Festival Performance, Shana Barry's "The Fofers," Mayo Street Arts, Portland, $4 to $8, $4 kids. mayostreetarts.org. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Acorn Fairy Tale Players present "Tales From Anansi," Michael Levine's adaptation of well-known West African and Caribbean folktales, Acorn Studio Theater, Westbrook, $4 to $6. acorn-productions.org. 2 p.m. Sunday; 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. Saturday.
Play Me a Story, interactive theater performance and workshop, for ages 4 to 10, Portland Stage Company, $15. portlandstage.org. "Stories from Around the World," 10:30 a.m. Wednesday; "Enchanted Adventures," 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Purple Rock Puppets presents "Ecological Logic," Fryeburg Academy (Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center), free. fryeburgacademy.org/pac. 7 p.m. Friday.
Portland School of Ballet presents "Around the World with Flat Stanley — The Case of the Red Shoes," fun, family-friendly and innovative production, Westbrook Performing Arts Center, $5 to $10. portlandballet.org. 11 a.m. Saturday.
14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, family event for pre-schoolers through grade five, with DJ Dave Dionne, beading, bounce house, face painting, games and more, Lewiston Memorial Armory. lewistonmaine.gov. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter basket and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend. Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Sacred Harp Singing, participatory event, potluck after singing, home of Corrone and Ruth Ann Bryant, Damariscotta, free, bring dish for potluck. 563-6083. 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Todd Snider, alt-county, Ashleigh Flynn opens, Port City Music Hall, Portland, $18 advance, $20 door, $35 VIP, 18-plus. statetheatreportland.com. 8 p.m. Sunday.
35th Annual Schooner Fare/Devonsquare Reunion Concert, benefits Jack McPhillips Memorial Fund, rescheduled from Feb. 24, The Landing at Pine Point, Scarborough, $22 to $25. 800-838-3006. Doors at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Hattie Simon Duo, jazz, Engine, Biddeford Arts, $6 advance, $8 door. feedtheengine.org. 1 p.m. Sunday.
Julie Dougherty and The Stairwells, folk and blues to '40s standards, York Public Library, free. york.lib.me.us. 3 p.m. Sunday.
SOUNDWAVZ, dancing to Latin, jazz, rock and reggae, benefits humanitarian causes, Empire Dine and Dance, Portland, donation. portlandempire.com. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Duquette CD-release party, Rob Duquette on guitars and vocals backed by members of Royal Hammer and Rustic Overtones, McArthur Library, Biddeford, free. 284-4181. 3 p.m. Sunday.
[email protected] Chorus, senior chorus, "This is Getting Old" 2013 Tour, Merrill Auditorium, Portland, $35 to $55. porttix.com. 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Gaelic Storm, traditional Celtic music and dance, Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, $50. stonemountainartscenter.com. 8 p.m. Sunday.
Samantha Fish, blues, Time Out Pub, Rockland, $15. 593-9336. 7 p.m. Monday.
Songwriters session, led by David Dodson, Camden Public Library. 236-3440. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Local H, with State & Madison and An Army of Squirrels, Asylum, Portland, $10 advance, $13 door. portlandasylum.com. 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Dawes, rock, in-store performance, attendance is limited, fans who pre-order Dawes' new album will receive a ticket, Bull Moose Music, Scarborough. bullmoose.com. 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Robotic Pirate Monkey, with Alpha Data and KinksnLicks, Port City Music Hall, Portland, $10, $25 VIP, 18-plus. portcitymusichall.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday.
T-Acadie, folk trio/dance band, Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center, South Carthage, $15. 562-4445. 7 p.m. Wednesday.
March Music Series, Savory Maine, Damariscotta. savorymainedining.com. Brian Patricks, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday; Laurel Moran and Kathleen O'Connor, 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Voices of the Sea: Poetry and Song of Maine Fishermen and Those Who Work on the Water, presented by the Maine Maritime Museum, hosted by Maine humorist and radio host John McDonald, DiMillo's Floating Restaurant, Portland, $15. mainemaritimemuseum.org. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Gloriana, country, with Chase Rice, Asylum, Portland, $15, 18-plus. portlandasylum.com. 9 p.m. Thursday.
Kill the Noise, drum and bass/dubstep/electro, with Brillz and Style of the Eye, Port City Music Hall, Portland, $20, $40 VIP, 18-plus. portcitymusichall.com. 8 p.m. Thursday.
Portland Ovations presents the Pablo Ziegler Trio, interpretation of Argentinean tango music, Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, $36, limited number of $10 student tickets. porttix.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Frontier of Music #8, Mark Tipton, Timothy Burns and Maria Wagner, The Frontier, Brunswick, pay what you want. explorefrontier.com. 7 p.m. Thursday.
Bad Religion, punk rock, with The Bronx and Polar Bear Club, State Theatre, Portland, $27.50 advance, $30 door. statetheatreportland.com. 8 p.m. Friday.
Holy Mackerels Trio, with Mark Stover and Fiddlin' Paul D'Alessio, Tugs Pub, Southport Island. 633-3830. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.
Tricky Britches, bluegrass, with The Whiskey Boys, The Oak and the Ax, Biddeford, $5. theoakandtheax.com. 8 p.m. Friday.
Debo Band, 11-piece Boston-based Ethiopian pop band, DJ Mike Marchand opens, The Dance Hall, Kittery, $15 advance, $18 door. 3Sarts.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Anna and The Diggs, Andy Happel, Dawn Mitschele, Empire Dine and Dance, Portland, $20, 21-plus. portlandempire.com. 8 p.m. Friday.
The Nigel Hall Band, Big Easy, Portland, $10 advance, $12 door, tickets available at Bull Moose. bigeasyportland.com. 9 p.m. Friday.
Gardiner Area High School Music Department presents "Pizazz," jazz ensemble and show choir, with instrumental and vocal soloists, GHS Little Theater, $4 to $7. 582-3150, Ext. 3027. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Mary Lou Lord and Guy Capecelatro III, singer-songwriters, Engine, Biddeford Arts, $6 advance, $8 door. feedtheengine.org. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Girls, Guns and Glory, retro rock 'n country, Amy Black opens, One Longfellow Square, Portland, $10 advance, $15 door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Dave Mason Unplugged, founding member of Traffic, Ebony & Ivory opens, Asylum, Portland, $29, $45 VIP, 18-plus. portlandasylum.com. 9 p.m. Saturday.
Antje Duvekot, singer-songwriter, Jonathan's Restaurant, Ogunquit, $20 advance, $23 door. jonathansrestaurant.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Sparks the Rescue, with Too Late the Hero and Lannen, Port City Music Hall, Portland, $10, $20 VIP, 18-plus. portcitymusichall.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Geno's 30th-Anniversary Bash, with Hessian, Pigboat, The New Technicians, and The Pontiffs, Geno's Rock Club, Portland. 221-2382. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Dean Ford, pop, glam rock and electrofunk, with DC Wonder and Skyler, Studio 250, Portland, $10. 619-0250. Doors at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Village of Spaces, with Arborea and Ora Cogan, The Oak and the Ax, Biddeford, $8. theoakandtheax.blogspot.com. 8 p.m. March 31.
Rob Schreiber's Standard Issue, jazz from the Great American Songbook, Marriott at Sable Oaks, South Portland. standardissue.me. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 31.
Special Events
The Harlem Globetrotters, "You Write the Rules" world tour, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, $16 to $81. theciviccenter.com. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Greater Portland Landmarks presents the Old House Trade Show, how-to workshops, discussion sessions and more than 40 exhibitors from throughout New England, Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, $12. portlandlandmarks.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Antique paper show, more than 40 exhibitors, Fireside Inn, Portland, $4. 749-1717. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD, Zandonai's "Francesca Da Rimini," encore screening, Strand Theatre, Rockland, $15 to $27. rocklandstrand.com. Noon Tuesday.
"A Spindle in Motion," animated shorts produced by Spindleworks Art Center and SpinOff Studios, with a screening of the documentary film "Wretches and Jabberers," The Frontier, Brunswick, $5 to $10 suggested. explorefrontier.com. 11:30 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday.
2013 Stache Pag, moustache film festival and pageant, Port City Music Hall, Portland, $10 advance, $15 door, $20 VIP, 21-plus. portcitymusichall.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday.
"The Pig Light Show Experience: From '60s Psychedelia to the 21st Century," Marc L. Rubinstein takes the audience through his music videos with history about light shows, One Longfellow Square, Portland, $15 advance, $20 door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 8 p.m. Friday.
The Femme Show, dance, spoken word, drag, burlesque and performance art exploring femme identity, Mayo Street Arts, Portland, $11 advance, $14 door. mayostreetarts.org. 8 p.m. Saturday.
"Judy Garland: Moments of Magic," with Lawrence Schulman, music producer and critic Shulman on Judy Garland, followed by "Meet Me in St. Louis," Reel Pizza Cinerama, Bar Harbor, free. reelpizza.net. 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Dickens' "Great Expectations" in HD from London's West End, Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta, $15. atthelincoln.org. 1 p.m. Saturday.
International TableTop Day, learn and play board games, Weekend Anime, Westbrook, free. weekendanime.com. Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, $15 to $20. portlandpirates.com. Vs. Providence, 7 p.m. Wednesday; vs. Manchester, 7 p.m. Friday.
Maine Red Claws, NBA Development League affiliate of the Boston Celtics, Portland Exposition Building, $6 to $30. nba.com/dleague/maine. Vs. Erie, 7 p.m. Thursday.
Good Theater presents Amy Herzog's "4000 Miles," two outsiders find their way in today's world, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland, $15 to $25. goodtheater.com. 2 p.m. Sunday; 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Gorham High School Theatre Program presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!", McCormack Performing Arts Center, Gorham High School, $6 to $10. 839-5754. 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
"The Swaggering Damsel," Robert Chamberlain's 17th-century comic masterpiece of cross-dressed disguise and same-sex marriage, Bates College (Gannett Theater), Lewiston, free. 786-6161. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," adapted and directed by Al Miller, The Theater Project, Brunswick, $12. theaterproject.com. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Snowlion Repertory Company presents "A Child's Guide to Innocence," drama about three generations of Italian-American women, University of New England (Ludcke Auditorium), Portland, $18 to $20. snowlionrep.org. 2 p.m. Sunday.
AIRE (American Irish Repertory Ensemble) Presents "A Couple of Blaguards," comedy created by Frank and Malachy McCourt, Portland Stage Company (Studio Theater), $10 to $20. airetheater.com. 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday. Runs through April 7.
Gaslight Theater presents "Mrs. Packard," true-life story of a woman struggling to right a system gone wrong, Gaslight Theater at Hallowell City Hall, $10 to $12. gaslighttheater.org. 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The Public Theatre Presents "Time Stands Still," explores the romantic and professional relationship of a photojournalist and a war correspondent, The Public Theatre, Lewiston, $5 to $18. thepublictheatre.org. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Fiddlehead Art & Science Center presents "Annie Jr.," musical, Gray-New Gloucester High School, Gray, $6 to $9. fiddleheadcenter.org. 2 p.m. Sunday.
"Noises Off," Tony Award-winning comedy, Portland Players, South Portland, $15 to $20. portlandplayers.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. March 31. Runs through April 7.
"Love/Sick," series of funny and sad love stories by Maine playwright John Cariani, Portland Stage Company, $31 to $41. portlandstage.org. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. March 31. Runs through April 21.
Penobscot Theatre Company presents "WIT," one-act Pulitzer Prize-winning play by playwright Margaret Edson, Bangor Opera House, $22 to $26. penobscottheatre.org. 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. March 31.
Opera House Arts presents staged student reading, Eve Ensler's "I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World," directed by Deer Isle-Stonington High School honors student Sasha Zembrusky, Stonington Opera House, $8. operahousearts.org. 7 p.m. Wednesday.
"The Poets and the Assassin," play by Reza Jalali reflecting how Iranian women live contradictory lives in an intensely traditional and patriarchal society, Bowdoin College (Kresge Auditorium), Brunswick, free. 725-3375. Performance and discussion, 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Portland Ovations presents "Rock of Ages," Broadway national tour, Merrill Auditorium, Portland, $40 to $55. porttix.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Friday's NHL roundup: Coyotes rally to beat Rangers in OT, 4-3
Boston Bruins
Penguins end Bruins' three-game winning streak, 5-3
Life & Culture
You've got plenty of options this weekend for holiday (and non-holiday) things to do
Friday's NBA roundup: Pacers spoil Embiid's big night
Varsity Maine
Friday's girls' basketball roundup: Scarborough finishes up strong for a win


text:
2009-06-17 / Library
Record LIBRARY
Copiague 50 Deauville Blvd. 631-691-1111 •Tonight, Wed., June 17, 7 to 8 p.m. join entrepreneur and inventor Brian Fried of the New York Society of Professional Inventors and author of You and Your Big Ideas (at call number 608FRI) to learn the steps to take an innovative idea and turn it into the next great invention.
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Recovering the Social Message of Islam
Shy but amiable and disarmingly down-to-earth, 55 year-old Muhammad Abdus Sabur is a man with a mission. He is the founder and general-secretary of a Bangkok-based network of Asian Muslim social activists struggling for social justice and inter-faith dialogue – the Asian Muslim Action Network, its acronym AMAN meaning 'peace' in Arabic and several languages influenced by it.
I met him at his modest office in a Bangkok suburb on a recent visit to Thailand, the meeting being one of the highpoints of my three-week stay in the country.
I pester Sabur (as he is known to his friends) with a flood of questions, and he gently obliges. What made him set up AMAN? What exactly is AMAN all about? What are its goals and what has it done so far?
Uniquely Asian religious values
Sabur tells me how it all started. Born in a village in what was then East Pakistan and now Bangladesh, Sabur began working with a Bangladeshi NGO in the aftermath of the deadly war that resulted in the creation of the new state. "I worked particularly with badly-affected Hindu families in Sylhet in northern Bangladesh, who had borne the wrath of the Pakistan army, who had burned down their houses and had killed many of them," he says.
This work brought him in contact with the Bangkok-based Asian Cultural Forum on Development, ACFD, a network of Asian scholar-activists from different religious traditions trying to work out uniquely Asian solutions for uniquely Asian problems, inspired by Asian religious values.
In 1979, Sabur was elected as a council member of the ACFD, the youngest on the panel. He shifted to Bangkok to work with the ACFD, and has been based there since then.
"During the course of my many years with the ACFD," Sabur reminiscences, "I was struck how Christian, Buddhist and Hindu activists, inspired by their religious beliefs, were working on numerous fronts in a very organized manner. They were struggling for inter-community solidarity and women's rights, and speaking out against various forms of discrimination and oppression, within nation-states and at the global level, and forcefully debating social issues and problems."
Stuck in a feudal groove
"At the same time," he goes on, "I noted, with dismay, how very behind Muslims were in this regard. They had their charities, providing money to madrasas and mosques, which, though important, was obviously not enough to grapple with a whole load of contemporary social concerns, problems, conflicts and struggles."
"I felt that our essentially charity-based approach was still stuck in a feudal groove – you give donations to the poor, but don't touch them, don't live with and learn from them, don't participate in their lives and in their struggles for justice. Obviously, our responses were wholly inadequate," he adds. "I knew of many Muslim organizations who did talk of social justice, but this was only in the form of publishing books or delivering lectures.
Working with socially-involved Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, I realized that we Muslims, too, need to do practical work, and not just talking and preaching, to translate these dreams of social justice into actual practice."
In 1990, Sabur began contacting progressive Muslim scholar-activists in different Asian countries to do precisely that. A small group of them, from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand met at Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, in September that year, and AMAN was born. The noted Mumbai-based Islamic scholar Asghar Ali Engineer was chosen as the convenor of the network, and Sabur was elected as its general-secretary.
The aim of the network? "Essentially, to transmit progressive Islamic ideas to Muslim youth," says Sabur.
"Islam, properly understood"
With limited funds at its disposal, however, it has not been an easy journey for AMAN. Involving the traditional ulema of the madrasas in its work, which Sabur sees as essential, given the influence that they enjoy among many Muslim communities, has yet to happen in a significant way. "Madrasas are important, I agree, but their students need to have a broader social vision and a deeper insight into a host of social issues of contemporary concern, which many of them lack," he comments.
"Islam, properly understood, teaches us all this as well. It stands for equality and fraternity, not just within the mosque, but in society outside too, but this is hardly how it is interpreted today. It stands for human rights, for all human beings, and not just for Muslims alone. It teaches us to respect diversity. The Quran states that God made people into different communities, so that they could understand one another, not so that they should fight and kill each other. We need to revise many of our traditional understandings, to recover what I believe to be the essential social message of Islam."
"Scholarship and activism must go together"
And that is where the need to reach out to and work with the traditional ulema comes into the picture, for many of them continue to miss the liberating message of the Quran, properly understood, particularly as it applies to women, the poor and the oppressed and to people of other faiths.
"Research and action, scholarship and activism, must go together for them to be really effective," Sabur comments. And he excitedly tells me about AMAN's plans of shortly launching a Master's degree in peace studies in association with an Indonesian university.
Funding for AMAN's activities comes mainly from Western, mostly Christian, NGOs and a major Japanese Buddhist institution, and the AMANA magazine runs with a grant from Action Aid. Although Sabur has sought to diversify, to contact Muslim philanthropists and organizations who could possibly assist, he tells me that he has had little luck with them, and I am not surprised.
"Many of them will fund building mosques and madrasas or to promote their own particular sects and versions of Islam, but not this sort of activist work," he rues. "Perhaps it is because they are not aware of this sort of thing," he muses.
"Perhaps, I think, but I am not sure. I cannot imagine hardened Wahhabi Arab sheikhs funnelling petrodollars to sponsor initiatives activities that challenge Western imperialism, Muslim religious literalism and extremism or that champion women's rights and ecumenism and solidarity between Muslims and people of other faiths – which is precisely the sort of work that AMAN seems to be engaged in.
Genuine religiosity
Sabur's sage advice in the matter is: "We need to reach out to Muslim organizations, and to well-off Muslims, to make them aware of all these issues, to get them also involved in various ways in similar work. Perhaps some of them want to help out but don't know how. We need to speak out, against all forms of oppression, about poverty and illiteracy and discrimination in our own societies and globally, against terror and war, at all Muslim forums, at the national and international levels. Only then can our views and concerns be heard."
But, coming back to the question of funding, he says in the same breath, "We can't build relationships with money. What we need are simple, down-to-earth, simple and passionately dedicated people, inspired by the spirit of voluntarism and sacrifice, not doing work only if they are paid."
"That," he tells me as I get up to depart, "is precisely what genuine religiosity is all about."
Yogi Sikand
© Qantara.de 2008
Portrait Asghar Ali Engineer
Learning from India
Asghar Ali Engineer's aim is to make progressive thinking accessible to lay people and to bring it beyond the borders of a select group of intellectuals. A portrait of the Indian Muslim thinker by Fatma Sagir
A Meeting with Nik Aziz
"Look at the Prophet and How He Lived"
Nik Aziz, state chief minister of Kelantan and spiritual leader of the Islamic PAS party, is also a charismatic personality. Mike Millard visits him in his ministerial offices and talks with him about how Islam may be tolerant and yet retain its principle
Muslims in Laos
Hidden Beyond the Mekong
In terms of economic and political freedom, Laos still ranks among the most restricted countries in the world. It is all the more surprising, therefore, that the country's Muslims enjoy considerable religious freedom. Yogi Sikand paid a visit to Southeast Asia's smallest Muslim community


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School: Eastwood
Year: Senior
Sports: Football, basketball, track and field
Notes: Football — 5-foot-10, 226-pound center has helped Eagles to 7-2 record and 3,273 yards of total offense; 26 tackles and two fumble recoveries as defensive end; basketball — forward or center; track — discus and shot put; ranks eighth in class with 4.18 grade-point average
School subject: Physics
Car: Audi
Facebook or Twitter? Twitter
Store: Dick's Sporting Goods
Musical artist: Kenny Chesney
Song: "Young" by Kenny Chesney
TV show: SportsCenter
Movie: Batman: The Dark Knight
Actor: Denzel Washington
Actress: Sandra Bullock
Magazine: Eastbay
Radio station: 107.7 FM
Food: Pizza
Beverage: Blue Powerade
Fast food: McDonald's
Can't resist snack: Peanut M&M's
Place to visit: Chicago
Athlete: Carlos Hyde
Baseball team: Reds
NFL team: Lions
NBA team: Bulls
Person(s) I most admire: My parents, Kevin and Christine
Person I'd like to meet: Urban Meyer
It really bothers me when: People talk when I'm talking
In 10 years I hope to: Have an engineering job
My No. 1 goal this year: Make it to regional finals in football
Top sports moment: Beating Patrick Henry in season opener
Ohio State or Michigan? Ohio State


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Günter Krämer
Head of the IT Department at Deutsche Lufthansa AG
SAS® optimizes route network planning and market forecasts at Deutsche Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is one of the leading airline companies worldwide. Lufthansa transports more than 50 million passengers and nearly 2 million tons of freight and mail each year. The company has more than 90,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue in excess of 16 billion euros.
Competition in air transport is tougher than ever. Around 200 airlines have air rights for flights to and from Germany, all fighting for passengers. To survive in this market, airlines are forced to adjust the route network planning to their customers' specific needs – while using their resources in as profitable a manner as possible.
Reliable route network planning is a decisive factor in whether we can operate as a profitable airline. You cannot find a better solution than SAS for that.
Günter Krämer
A case for SAS
Lufthansa has relied on the data management and analytical technology from SAS for its network planning for many years. The company's planning solution allows the company to design flight plans that create a flight network offering passengers optimally coordinated connections. Short travel times, fast connections and sufficient capacity – these are the core factors to remaining competitive.
The ability to quickly adjust to customers' needs is also becoming increasingly important. Where connections were updated semi-annually in the past, today's flight plans are enhanced on an ongoing basis.
In order to keep up with these developments, Lufthansa was looking for ways to expand its network planning systems. The goals were to improve the coordination of connections and especially to reliably forecast the demand for connections – both over the long term and the short term.
The solution
How many passengers will fly from Budapest to Chicago next July? Who is also leaving from Budapest but headed to Amsterdam? These are the types of questions airline companies need to be able to answer very early on in order to coordinate their flight plans accordingly.With its new network planning solution by SAS, Lufthansa has the perfect tool for doing so. Today, the airline can reliably predict the flow of passengers, thereby allowing it to optimally coordinate connections and determine which specific airplanes fly each specific route.
This enables month-specific predictions to be made for a period of a year and a half – even under consideration of individual airport capacities. Lufthansa uses 500,000 pairs of cities for these predictions. An analysis of past activity enables a prognosis for the future. There are three main sources
for the raw data that flows into the analysis: booking data, flight plan data, and information from the Star Alliance partner network. The data is consolidated in SAS, which develops models, analyzes data and creates corresponding forecasts.
Günter Krämer, head of the IT Department at Lufthansa, explains the choice of SAS: "SAS was the natural selection for the expansion of our network planning solution. We have successfully worked with SAS for more than 10 years creating our flight plans. The results were always excellent."
From Lufthansa's point of view, the ability to process very large quantities of data was one of benefits of SAS. Furthermore, all of the data models could be provided from a single platform.
Lufthansa's network management solution grows on a continuous basis, and the company expanded the solution to include "market analyses and market forecasts." Lufthansa uses special market models with SAS for these analyses. The models enable a simulation of how customers choose their flights and connections – and why. Once a flight plan has been created, the airline can use these models to test how the developed offer compares to those of its competition and how it is received by customers.
It can then use the corresponding forecast results to adjust the flight plans, if necessary, and to position them even better. This is a decisive factor for established airlines like Lufthansa, especially when competing against numerous new discount airlines.
The new forecast and analysis capabilities are not, however, used just for network planning. Employees from all parts of the company submit inquiries on a regular basis, when they need information for presentations or to prepare for meetings, for example. How has the Chinese air transport market developed over the past three years? What changes can we expect to see in the next 12 months? And how can Lufthansa best position itself? The new network planning solution always has the answers to these questions.
The benefits
- Ability to test the success of new flight plans through simulation of passenger decision-making behavior.
- Reliable forecast of passenger numbers 18 months into the future.
- Reduction of planning cycles at Lufthansa for adjustments to customer demands and external factors.
- Opportunity for improved reaction to short-term changes in the market and unforeseeable events.
- Enhanced profitability through better capacity utilization thanks to the creation of optimal flight plans.
- Analytical and forecasting advantage over the competition.
- Provision of the entire company with market analyses and forecasts.
Network planning and forecasting for air transport. Ensuring data quality of information purchased from external sources.
Shorter planning cycles.


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Car Review
2011 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid: Overview
Pros: Mercedes' only hybrid SUV; "green" image that comes from hybrid ownership; typical Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship and quality
Cons: Fuel economy similar to cheaper ML350 BlueTEC diesel; far more expensive than gasoline ML350; resale value will reflect its lack of popularity
What's new: The 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid received no major changes in its final model year. The hybrid powertrain didn't return when the M-Class was redesigned for 2012.
The Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid was the brand's first attempt at a hybrid SUV. While the second-generation M-Class debuted for the 2006 model year, the ML450 Hybrid was only available in 2010 and 2011. It was sold alongside a similarly efficient diesel model, which arrived for the 2007 model year.
The ML450 Hybrid mated a 275-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 to an 80-hp electric motor. Fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were 20 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Those numbers only slightly bested the diesel-powered ML350 CDI's 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway fuel ratings. Like the ML350 CDI, but unlike the regular ML350, the ML450 Hybrid was only offered with all-wheel drive.
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid started around $56,500, making it around $5,000 more expensive than the ML350 CDI. It also was around $7,000 pricier than the gas-powered ML350 4Matic. All ML450 Hybrid models used a continuously variable automatic transmission, designed for maximum gas mileage.


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get_huge_pages man page
get_huge_pages, free_huge_pages — Allocate and free hugepages
#include <hugetlbfs.h>
void *get_huge_pages(size_t len, ghp_t flags);
void free_huge_pages(void *ptr);
get_huge_pages() allocates a memory region len bytes in size backed by hugepages. Hugepages may be of benefit to applications that use large amounts of address space and suffer a performance hit due to TLB misses. Wall-clock time or oprofile can be used to determine if there is a performance benefit from using hugepages or not.
The len parameter must be hugepage-aligned. In the current implementation, only the default hugepage size may be allocated via this function. Use gethugepagesize to discover what the alignment should be.
The flags argument changes the behaviour of the function. Flags may be or'd together.
Allocate a region of memory of the requested length backed by hugepages of the default hugepage size. Return NULL if sufficient pages are not available
free_huge_pages() frees a region of memory allocated by get_huge_pages(). The behaviour of the function if another pointer is used, valid or otherwise, is undefined.
Return Value
On success, a pointer is returned to the allocated memory. On error, NULL is returned. errno will be set based on what the failure of mmap() was due to.
See Also
oprofile(1) , gethugepagesize(3) , get_hugepage_region(3) , libhugetlbfs(7)
libhugetlbfs was written by various people on the libhugetlbfs-devel mailing list.
Referenced By
get_hugepage_region(3), libhugetlbfs(7).


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Applications open for National Youth Science Camp
Two South Dakota high school seniors will have an opportunity to travel to West Virginia this summer for the annual National Youth Science Camp, a residential science education program.
Two seniors from each of the 50 states and students from several other countries will receive full scholarships to attend the camp sponsored by the National Youth Science Foundation. Recipients will get to complete hands-on research projects and exchange ideas with scientists and other professionals from academia and industry during the nearly month-long experience, from June 27 to July 20.
The NYSC program covers a broad spectrum of natural, physical, and applied sciences including biology, physics, chemistry, math, geology, astronomy, environmental science, engineering, medicine, space science, and technology.
Participants spend most of their time at the camp in West Virginia. In addition, they spend three days in Washington, D.C., studying national science concerns in meetings with scientists and with behind-the-scenes visits to sites like NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Academy of Sciences.
Applicants must be South Dakota residents in their senior year of high school and demonstrate superior academic proficiency, particularly in math or science; eagerness to explore varied topics; and leadership abilities.
Applications are available at www.nysc.org and must be submitted online by March 1. For more information, contact South Dakota's state selection coordinator, Sam Shaw, South Dakota Department of Education, at (605) 773-5229.


text:
Discuss your favorite workout music to get you pumped up, relaxed, or focused. Post videos, sound bytes, opinions, favorite artists/songs, or whatever you'd like!
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text:
Consensus Report
Review of the National Science Foundation's Division on Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Draft Goals and Objectives Documents (2014)Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review; while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy. Learn more on our expert consensus reports.
The National Science Foundation's Division on Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) supports research to achieve the nation's scientific and education goals in the atmospheric sciences. At AGS' request, this letter report reviews an AGS draft goals and objectives document that sets forth missions, long-term goals, and the means to achieve those goals, for the years 2014–2018. The letter report's authoring committee commends AGS on taking initial steps toward strategic planning, and for participating in a public workshop organized by the National Research Council that engaged the atmospheric and geospace sciences community to provide feedback on the draft goals and objectives document. However, the letter report's authoring committee found that there are two key missing pieces from the Document that should be present to help AGS achieve its overall vision and mission : (1) clarification of the context and purpose of the Document and; (2) the role of AGS in the context of the national research portfolio. The committee also made observations and recommendations regarding the organization of the document, and the definition and articulation of the individual goals. Finally, the report makes recommendations on how the Document can more clearly articulate collaboration within AGS and the National Science Foundation, as well as nationally and internationally.
Key Messages
- This committee commends AGS for taking initial steps toward strategic planning, as recommended in the NRC 2007 report, Strategic Guidance for the National Science Foundation's Support of the Atmospheric Science, by drafting a goals and objectives document and engaging in a community workshop to discuss it.
- The multiple purposes of the Document should be distinguished in order of priority, as text suitable for one purpose might not be suitable for another. Are the goals intended to reflect the current research portfolio, to predict the future research portfolio, or to guide the future research portfolio? Is the Document's purpose descriptive or evaluative?
- The Document fails to clearly articulate the diverse approaches AGS supports to successfully conduct research in the context of national and international research priorities.
- Rather than a simple enumeration of the many contributions made by NCAR, the Document should discuss the strength, breadth, and scalability that AGS gains by virtue of its FFRDC's support of the university and private sector research communities.
- The organizational structure of the Document is weak and the presentation of the material is not balanced. It would be improved if the discussion of each goal contained the scope, importance, and rationale for the goal; examples of past activities and progress; key current and near-future investments; anticipated future areas of emphasis; and a discussion of partners and coordinating mechanisms.
- Expanding the four science goals to reflect their cross cutting integration of major efforts within AGS would reflect a more forward-looking, integrative approach that unifies research activities across the Division.
- The Document would be strengthened if it explicitly identified the mechanisms by which AGS cooperates, collaborates, and integrates among the individual sections at AGS, with other parts of NSF, and with other agencies of the Federal government.
- Interagency and interdivisional collaboration is crucial to future AGS success and clear examples of collaboration modes should be cited for each goal in the Document.


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Apple's Music Match: Innovation By (Record Label) Committee
from the is-this-really-so-special? dept
The real story may be in the terms of the deal. While the labels allegedly turned down $100 million from Google to offer the same functionality, they took $150 million from Apple for this deal -- as an advance on approximately 58% of all of those $25 fees. Depending on how much music you actually have, the $25/year might be a decent deal compared to other cloud storage offerings, but Apple isn't going to make much money on it. Between the storage/bandwidth fees and having to fork over so much to the labels, this has to be a loss leader type of deal, with hopes that it sells more hardware (probably not a bad bet for Apple). Of course, that explains why the Google deal may have been "unsustainable" in the eyes of Google. It doesn't really have the hardware revenue to fall back on.
Still, it makes you wonder what, exactly, Apple is paying the labels for here. What's really being licensed? Effectively it's the ability to match the songs and put copies in a locker, which basically means that the labels are getting paid -- yet again -- for songs that they already sold to people.
That said, the other interesting thing about this is that while the labels were pushing everyone else to figure out ways to block tracks that didn't have a clear authorized lineage from being included in such deals, that does not appear to be the case here. As a friend noted to me after this announcement, if someone creates a dropbox or other mountable hard drive with a ton of music, and people mount it and then run the matching software on it, they could technically "launder" unauthorized tracks through Apple and have them in their "cloud" pretty easily. Which means... expect stories in the very near future from RIAA-types about this horrible "new trend" of massive mountable drives that people use to then dump thousands of songs into their Apple music storage. How long until someone tries to pass a law about that sort of thing?
The other interesting bit? While the big four music labels apparently got that $150 million as an advance, all of the indie labels? They get nothing. Not only are they not getting any advances, but they get a smaller percentage than the major labels. Apple pretty much realized that if it had the big four labels, the indies would more or less be forced to come on board at whatever terms Apple wanted.
On the whole, lots of folks seem excited about this, and as with so many Apple offerings, I'm sure lots of people will use it and it will do quite well. But I just don't see what's so compelling about repaying to access my own (legal and authorized content) via other devices, when I've already set up plenty of ways to do just that already.


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Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Toon Update: 12/10/2008
I'll start with the alts since they are easy. As you can probably guess not much has happened with them. When log into Graypal he gives me a nasty look and says I only call when I need something DEed,Grayfel is giving me the silent treatment in the fuming warlocky sort of way, Grayvik sent me a mail the other day asking me not to forget the little people. I have played Grayfel a little bit that I was really looking for mining nodes to hopefully get some free gems. I really want to level him fairly soon, because I think his professions are particularly useful. However, I don't see him getting any serious attention until January. Graypal and Grayvik are just going to have to wait. The good news for Grayvik though is that by the time I level him again I will have a ton of Emblems and he will get some nice BoA gear.
LoE is having their first "official" raid tonight but we were have done informal 25 man raids for the past week and started 10man raids a couple of weeks before that. Our progress has been good.
On the 10man level we have cleared Naxx and Sartharion with one drake up, and have put some solid attempts in on Malagos. Sartharion is simple with no drakes, but got a little tougher with a drake up. My view on naxx may be a little misleading. When I cleared Naxx10, I had already cleared 3 wings of Naxx25. Most of my group had cleared Naxx on the 10man level, and some of them had experience with it on the 40man level preBC. So this wasn't a group that walked in fresh. Naxx10 may be tougher for people with less raiding experience, but from my perspective it was fairly easy. We cleared all 4 wings of Naxx10 and killed Sapphiron with out a single person dying during a boss fight. We were very close to getting the Undying achievement, but ended up 3 shotting Kel'thuzad. Really, I think even fairly casual guilds could master this instance fairly quickly if they had a good consistent group that had decent raid experience.
The really fun part of my 10man raiding experience is Malagos. He is much tougher then Naxx, but still very doable. None of the phases none of the phases are really hard, but we haven't mastered them yet because we are running up on the enrage timer. With a little tweeking of our strategy I think we can get him down fairly soon
On the 25 man level we have cleared Naxx, but have yet to attempt Sartharion or Malagos. Naxx25 was better tuned then Naxx10 in my opinion. A lot of the fights are fairly easy, but there are some that test your skill or are tuned just right for a beginning group.
The best example of this is Thaddius. His fight mechanics aren't hard but are a little unforgiving to errors. For those of you that don't know he is a lot like the first boss in Mech. He will randomly put Positive and Negative charges on people periodically through out the fight. If people with opposite charges are near each other they damage each other. If all of the like charges are grouped up together then you get a 10% damage buff for each person with your charge. On top of that he has a very short enrage timer so these buffs are very important. Also, the way you get to the boss is to jump from one platform to another. If you miss the platform then you fall in the water and have to run back around. By the time you get a chance to jump again the charges will have been applied, and you will have to wait until your charge matches your side's charge. You will lose at least a minute of DPS time doing this. So this is a personal accountability fight and a DPS race. If several people don't make the jump then the raid wipes. If you don't pay attention to your charge you will kill your self and probably several of your raid members.
On our kill we had about 15 - 30 seconds to spare but only one death during the fight. So, the fight is a little tight. Given that we had fairly entry level gear I think this is perfect. I'm sure we could kill him with just 20 people a month or two from now after everyone has fully geared, but I like how he is tuned for now.
I do want to make a comment about raid difficulty. Much has been said about how Ensidia (the former Nihilum and SK Gaming super guild) cleared all raid content in under 48 hours after release. I personally don't think that this means that the game is to easy. Most of the people that are beating the game now are fairly serious raiders that have a lot of experience and are a little better trained to react to the unexpected. Many of them raided during the beta and/or raided Naxx back during Vanilla WoW. So it is no wonder that these people are going to have a leg up and be able to clear the content quickly. That doesn't mean that your more average player isn't going to find this content challenging, and his is the entry level content. Its not meant to be a Sunwell type difficulty, and all of the QQing ignores the achievements. Has anyone cleared Naxx 25 without anyone dying? Has anyone killed the 4 horsemen with in 15 seconds of each other? There are several achievements that you can go for to make the fights harder and I doubt that many people have completed them yet.
I have done all the heroics except Halls of Lightning and Drak'tharon Keep. In fact I haven't cleared Drak'tharon Keep on Normal either. I hope to get those over the weekend so that when I kill Malagos I can get the champion of the frozen wastes title. Overall I like the heroics, but think they are a little uneven. Some are very tough or have very tough fights. I would consider the HoS event and the last boss in Old Kingdom very tough. Then there are other instances like the Nexus, UK, CoT: Stratholme that I would consider fairly easy.
I don't really have a favorite yet, but there are some that I think are a lot of fun. Utgarde Pinnacle had a lot of nice variation to its bosses that I liked. The Oculus was interesting because of its unique design and the Drake fight was fun. Violet Hold is like the new mech in that it seems to be the one that everyone farms, but at the same time it has some nice variations since you never know what the first two bosses will be.
Even though I am level 80 I am still questing. The Zygor guide worked out great for me. It had a few bugs here and there, but for the most part it made leveling fairly simple however, it stopped about a quarter of the way into Storm Peaks and with no progress in Icecrown. This isn't horrible but it left me a little flustered at the start. I feel that it is important for me to complete the quests in these zone's to prepare for the future patches. They have a lot of heavy phasing that I may miss things that I will need for future raiding. On top of that these are going to be heavy farming areas for Herbs, Eternals and other things, so I need to know the area. As of now I have completed the Storm Peaks but haven't started Icecrown yet. I don't have a lot of time to quest in between raiding and heroics.
One last thing, I'm not really happy with how we have to level Alchemy. I've been stuck at 410 to 415 for a while now and there isn't a good way to get it higher. The problem is the availability of recipes. Once you get to about 410 the recipes you get from the trainer don't level you much anymore. The only recipes that allow you to level up to about 430 or so are discoveries you can make from Northrend Research. The problem with this is that Northrend research has a 7 day cooldown, and you have no control over what you discover. So far I have discovered [Elixir of Mighty Mageblood], [Elixir of Mighty Defense], and [Potion of Wild Magic]. These items aren't bad but none of them are anything I would use right now, and I am not much of a craft to sell type of alchemist, but I need to use these three to get to 430. Once there I will have to start transmuting Diamonds daily to get the next 5 points, which won't be cheap. Once I get to 435 it will be smooth sailing, because I will be able to craft [Flask of the Frost Wyrm] all the way to 450. Really there is no reason to push for 450 now. There aren't any recipes that require that amount of skill currently in game. I'm sure they will introduce something in the future but by that point I will have probably crafted enough flasks to be max skill.
5 comments:
I agree on the alchemy front, it was pretty frustrating to see all my recipes go gray so quickly. I ended up buying the mats for the meta gems and making them all right there, which got me high enough to get the flasks, which I also bought the mats for a leveled to 450. I got the gems cut and sold them as well as the flasks and made about 5 times more gold than I spent so it worked out in the end.
- December 10, 2008 at 2:12 PM
- darnon said...
There is no cooldown on transmuting gems, so you can make that 5 point push to flasks in one day.
- December 10, 2008 at 3:00 PM
- Jerome said...
Nice to read your reaction to all this! That flask of the Frost Wyrm looks awesome btw.
I feel the same way about heroics too. Some are way easy and others are way hard.
Thanks for the blog! It's awesome and your pre-raid gear was so extremely helpful!
- December 11, 2008 at 1:13 AM
I agree with Hathorre that the easiest way to get through the deadzone on pots and elixirs is to make metagems. A little expensive, but you can do fairly well on the metagems on the AH.
- December 11, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Naxx seems too easy for those who have run the old Naxx or do guild runs. Much like Kara was too easy and Molten Core was too easy. In fact I think Naxx is abit more difficult than Kara despite what is being said. Yes the difficulty has been watered down from Naxx60 but Naxx still requires people to do tactics and the majority of people can just tank & spank.
On my server I hear that pugs havent managed to clear even the spider wing. The reason for that is simple, not decently geared players, lack of coordination but most importantly the fact that Naxx had been designed to be a tactics dungeon. Your average caster DPS cant avoid green slime on Heigan (melee have no trouble with this), some think that topping the damage meter is more important than freeing your fellow players in Maexxna, many havent bothered to lvl first aid and cant do bandages on Loatheb and, surprisingly many people seem to like standing in the AoE of Anub Rekhan.
This is not to say that Naxx is nuclear science, not at all, its a game after all how difficult can it be. I think Naxx is fine for a tier-1 leveling dungeon. It has awesome graphics, nice shinies, the fights are not boring at all and the lore behind it is awesome. Those who want more challenges will find what they want in Ulduar and what follows next.
So far Blizz seems to have it right, they brought back the epic feeling of classic wow. A good blue piece is again fine for playing the game and you dont see "required full epic" asked by people in full merciless. Also people who put some effort creating their t6 set could keep it till Naxx, makes you feel like one tier of raiding is really enough to get you to the next one. Cant wait for legendary items that dont just drop but also have questlines, like Atiesh (hmm a cleansed version would be nice :P )
Please dont spoil this with an arena/bg epidemic were people will have to farm points/honor to get something that is good for their raiding, make pvp gear good for pvp but worse than good blues for pve/raids. Also dont give out again Black Temple level gear for running Underbog 1000000 times, its not fun and this welfare epidemic is ruining the epic feeling of achievement, make gear to resemble achievement not endless grinding. Give separate badges for Ulduar, if you want the new 10 man badges drop from heroics, let them drop from the new dungeons (that we will see with patch) and please let those have a similar difficulty ramp as Naxx-> Ulduar will have.
- December 12, 2008 at 11:33 AM


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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Idle Thought
"With one of the worst economic downturns in history, it's pretty bad that the Libs can only manage to be tied in the polls with the Conservatives. The Liberals should be way ahead."
Obviously, this argument comes from the conventional wisdom that the opposition should be able to capitalize during economic challenges. History would tend to support this thesis.
I'm wondering then, if it's a fair criticism of the Liberals, because it would seem like a pattern exists throughout Canada, not exclusively a statement on the federal party. Why is that McGuinty is riding high in the polls, without the slightest hint of erosion? Why haven't the NDP and PC's capitalized? Ground zero on the economic front and the incumbent doesn't suffer? Surprising, to say the least. Why is that Charest's popularity is almost unprecendented in Quebec, what with this seismic economic downturn? Why hasn't the PQ capitalized? How did Gordon Campbell manage to get another majority, with an election right smack in the middle of the worst of it? Why didn't the NDP capitalize? In other words, why does it appear that incumbents aren't really suffering at all, why are they defying history?
Seems to me, that part of the equation here that might be unique- Canadians have largely bought into the perception that this recesssion is an imported downturn, a global problem that has nothing to do with Canada in particular. That explains why various incumbents aren't "wearing it" in the traditional sense, and maybe why it's a bit erroneous to copy and paste historic analogies. As a matter of fact, the federal Liberals don't appear terribly unique at all, relative to other oppositions in Canada.
18 comments:
- Anonymous said...
You do know the Liberals in Quebec are poll 33% now against the PQ?
You do know Campbell has fallen from grace as well right?
They had their election before budgets and forecasts were made that is why they won. It is simple.
- 2:32 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
"You do know Campbell has fallen from grace as well right?"
Umm, he was re-elected at the lowest moment during the recession, so you harmonized sales tax argument means what exactly, in relation to the economy?
As for Charest, check out today's CROP to see just how poorly he's doing.
Oh, and the last Ontario poll gave McGuinty 45%. Not bad for the epicenter, don't you think?
- 2:52 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
I'll try to "you do know" help you out. From Eric's site:
"Wednesday, August 26, 2009
New CROP Poll: 11% Liberal Lead
CROP released a new poll today, taken between August 13 and August 23 and involving 1,003 Quebecers. The result:
Liberals - 44%
Parti Québécois - 33%
Québec Solidaire - 8%
Action Démocratique - 8%
Parti Vert - 7%
Man that Charest is really "wearing it" don't you think?
- 2:56 PM, August 26, 2009
- CanadianSense said...
Steve V.
You are correct the problems associated with Global Recession were imported.
The Liberals should not mimic the NDP/Bloc in overly partisan cheapshots.
Cash for clunkers in the US has helped our domestic parts and manufacturing
Oil is around $ 70-75 per barrel and our other commodities are starting to move from their lows.
In November the opposition united and demanded the Government spend $ 30 Billion and drop Pay Equity, Right to strike by Civil Servants, Political Pay Subsidy.
In January 2007, the Liberals agreed to the CPC Throne Speech and direction.
The single policy they did not re-introduce from the Economic Update was the Political Pay Subsidy.
The CPC have warned the Liberals not to destabilize the government again. They will not agree with the NDP 320-360 EI Plan est.($ 1.0 - $4.0 Billion): if they force another campaign before EAP has had a reasonable time frame to be implemented and reviewed they will not help the Liberals get out of the box again.
The Liberals are entitled to introduce a non-confidence motion on September 28 to be voted 2 days later.
Steve without a clear vision or policy from the Liberals to date, a groundswell against having an election, a groundswell to replace Harper with Iggy the 3-6% bump from the lows in October 2008 may not hold up.
This is not 1984 dump BM, vote for the Big Red Book 'sentiment'.
As an life long liberal never voted for the PC until 2000 the current leadership and direction is not the party of my parents.
OBAMA spent years along with the Democrats rebuilding the party and they outspent and out organized the Republicans.
The Liberal Party is NOWHERE near that reality in donors or dollars.
Fix the party drop the silly stuff, wafergate, tasteless jokes, unsexy comments.
Most Canadians don't care about the BS from Ottawa.
The incumbent Premiers won because they were not blamed for the external recession and were deemed fit to govern.
Until Harper's # tank below Iggy in leadership or a REAL scandal aka HR, Gun, Tainted Blood, Adscam hits the fan...please drop the Puffins and plagerism stuff!
- 2:58 PM, August 26, 2009
- Anonymous said...
I still think it's because it's summer and people aren't paying attention. It's not like the media has talked about the important stuff very much.
To me, it's more than the economy. It's foreign affairs, health/isotopes/swine flu, our institutions.
Until parliament resumes, these issues won't get much attention.
- 2:58 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
Oh, here's the last Ontario poll. McGuinty ABOVE the last election percentages:
Liberals - 45%
Progressive Conservatives - 31%
New Democrats - 12%
Greens - 11%
An increased majority, man he's "wearing it" too. If only a few more plants closed I bet he could get to 50%
- 2:59 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
I don't disagree, particularly on the vision front.
Just to complete the trifecta:
"May 14, 2009
Campbell held a press conference Wednesday morning, hours after voters gave his B.C. Liberals 49 seats to the NDP's 36 in the new legislature."
Note the date. Then go back and look at the economic indicators for British Columbia in particular for April and May. "Wore it" alright.
Actually, when you think about it, the only opposition that has overtaken a sitting government during this recession was the Liberals. Hmmm.
- 3:04 PM, August 26, 2009
- Anonymous said...
McGuinty is high in the polls because the NDP is not a factor in Ontario. The NDP is still fighting for party status.
Expect a three party race the next time. No way the Cons and the NDP do worse than 2007.
Charest is leading in the polls because both the PQ and the ADQ are broken. They are waiting for the next generation of nationalists to emerge. Also the Quebec Libs are the only federalist party in town. No federalist hard right or hard left there ;(
The fed Grits are struggling to get their message across because they have good ideological opponents from the right or the left. For a party that has been successful in governing throughout the 20th century, these few years are a low point. I will argue that the lack of ideological pull has led to this. Similar to most centre left parties in the world.
- 3:15 PM, August 26, 2009
- DL said...
I think the proverbial shit is starting to hit the fan in BC what with the revelations that Campbell lied about the deficit and lied about the HST and has now brought in a budget with massive cuts to health and education etc... (I wonder if Campbell is giving us a hint of what an Ignatieff federal government would be like?). Incumbent government can win elections EARLY in a recession when people are looking for a safe port in a storm - but at some point when you govern during bad economic times you start to have to do some very controversial and unpopular things (ie: tax increases, massive deficits, cuts in social spending etc...) and that's when the rubber hits the road. We have to wait for that show to drop and for Harper to be forced to do some really unpopular stuff. Then he will start to drop like a stone.
- 3:46 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
"We have to wait for that show to drop and for Harper to be forced to do some really unpopular stuff."
Which might explain why the incumbent disadvantage hasn't kicked in yet, or maybe it's a bit unfair to say "Libs should be up by 10 points".
Maybe "no way", but they're stuck where they were in 2007, McGuinty actually doing better, and Ontario has been hammered relentlessly since. Not really addressing my point, an being "broken" is really a weak explanation IMHO.
- 4:00 PM, August 26, 2009
- Trevor said...
Ontario Conservatives: Recent poor leader, new untested leader. Are they ready to govern?
Quebec opposition: Recent meltdown and leadership changes in ADQ and PQ. PQ is still polling reasonably good. Are either ready to govern?
BC NDP: They did so much damage last time they were in government and BC has benefitted greatly by (mostly conservative) policies of Campbell. Why would the voters want to switch to NDP?
Now the federal Liberals claim to have a strong competent leader, a strong front bench and are ready to govern. The electorate seems to disagree. Careful who you compare yourself to.
- 4:04 PM, August 26, 2009
- DL said...
Actually looking all over the world, incumbents aren't faring all that badly. Kevin Rudd is still very popular in Australia, Angela Merkel gets 70% approval levels in Germany, the only places where the recession has really had a political impact are in the two countries that are seen as having been the origins of it - the US and the UK.
- 4:08 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
I think that's because the overwhelming meme is this was soley an American problem, their massive failure. This might be an anomaly in terms of the historical assumptions.
Like you said earlier though, it might look different once the dust settles and people have to deal with the damage.
- 4:24 PM, August 26, 2009
- Anonymous said...
You do know that BC Libs don't equal Federal Libs right?
The majority of BC Libs (terrible name) are Federal Conservatives.
Your whole premise is BS.
- 4:40 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
OMG, you must be the dumbest person alive. Let me guess, Con?
- 4:48 PM, August 26, 2009
- ottlib said...
The Martin government wore the "worst political scandal in Canadian history" for almost three years.
During that period the Martin Liberals only ever lost a polling lead against the Harper Conservatives twice. Once during the height of Mr. Brault's testimony and after the release of the first Gomery Report. In both cases the Liberals regained a lead well outside of the MOE by the next set of polls after these events and held it.
Every other time they maintained an average lead of about 7 points. It was only during the elections he fought that the effects of the scandal were felt for a sustained amount of time.
The incumbent almost always has the advantage in between elections often regardless of what is happening on the political scene. They may lose that advantage if something dramatic occurs but it is usually temporary and the incumbent advantage usually reasserts itself again.
The fact the Liberals lead for the first six months of this year and are now "just" tied or slightly ahead is remarkable. If I am Michael Ignatieff I am liking my polling numbers in relation to a sitting government.
- 5:37 PM, August 26, 2009
- Steve V said...
I'm okay with tied, considering we lost by 12% not a year ago.
- 6:13 PM, August 26, 2009
- Jon Pertwee said...
"The electorate seems to disagree. "
Yeah Trev, who are you speaking for? Harper vs Ignatieff vs Layton vs Duceppe hasn't happened yet.
So do you often speak for others Trev/
I'm just sayin...
- 7:13 PM, August 26, 2009


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Gov. Rick Scott told The Ledger on Wednesday that he continues to support Medicaid as the way to expand health care for people with income as great as 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
Gov. Rick Scott told The Ledger on Wednesday that he continues to support Medicaid as the way to expand health care for people with income as great as 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The 138 percent figure is $29,700 for a family of four. The 100 percent figure in use today is $22,350 for a family of four.
The 138 percent rate, called for by the federal Affordable Care Act starting in 2014, would provide health care for about 1.2 million more Floridians.
"On the Medicaid, as you know, I opposed the president's law, but it passed. I think there is a better way to provide health care, but it is the law of the land, and the Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate," Scott told Ledger editors and reporters Wednesday.
"We're all paying the taxes. While the federal government pays 100 percent, we ought to make sure we take care of people. I cannot in good conscience deny people access to care," Scott said. The federal government would pay 100 percent from 2014 through 2016, tapering to 90 percent by 2020.
Scott's affirmation follows a period of uncertainty in the Legislature about increasing health care coverage for lower-income and poor Floridians.
The state House of Representatives and the state Senate rejected the Medicaid expansion advocated by Scott.
Both bodies have suggested that a state program could provide the coverage through private insurance companies. While the Senate proposes to seek an estimated $55 billion over 10 years the federal government plans to spend on expanding Medicaid in Florida and use it in a state program, health leaders in the House oppose using federal funds, questioning whether they will be available reliably over the years.
An alternate state approach could be acceptable if a robust program with strong oversight and safeguards could be put into place so that no coverage delay occurs. Those are tough criteria to meet in a short time.
Adding to the uncertainty is the House's proposal, for which no funding has been identified.
Even Scott has added to the confusion, telling the Tampa Bay Times on March 19 that he would support a Florida-operated, federally funded bill pushed by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart. Negron is the powerful chairman of the Apportions Committee.
On Monday, Scott also told TC Palm Newspapers during a stop in Vero Beach that he would support Negron's approach as long as it would accomplish the same as Medicaid expansion.
"It's going to be 100 percent federally funded," Scott told TC Palm. "So he's doing the right thing, and he's going to take care of those who don't have health care."
The problem is that, as the days of March have counted down, Negron's committee bill — originally designated SB 7038 — has not done much more than gain a new designation Wednesday of SB 1816.
Scott's reaffirmation Wednesday at The Ledger may be explained by his answer to a follow-up question on Medicaid: Does the proposed Senate plan make sense and is it likely to work?
"Anything you have to do that you have to go backward, that's harder." Scott said. "I've got a good working relationship with HHS and CMS, but anytime you have to go back up there and you've got to ask them again, it's not easy."
The HHS is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, located in Washington. The CMS is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It is an HHS agency that has many functions, including working with states to administer Medicaid, and is located in Baltimore.
Also fortifying Scott's Medicaid-expansion decision is Florida voters saying 50 percent to 40 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released March 20 that Medicaid should be expanded.
The certainty that some 1.2 million people in Florida would gain health care coverage through expansion of Medicaid makes the federal-state program the clear choice.
The Legislature's moribund attempt to find an alternative is an unacceptable risk for these vulnerable Floridians.
As Scott said Wednesday, and as the legislators who can't bring themselves to support Medicaid expansion should acknowledge, "I cannot in good conscience deny people access to care."


text:
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — Treasury prices fell Wednesday, pushing up some yields to levels not seen in a month, after the Federal Reserve unveiled a fresh round of monetary stimulus aimed at keeping the economic recovery on track.
The Federal Reserve outlined a new bond-buying program worth $45 billion per month of longer-term Treasurys. While the size and the composition of the plan were in line with market expectations, the bank unexpectedly set targets for unemployment and inflation, giving the market guidance on when it will eventually raise interest rates. See MarketWatch's streaming coverage of the Fed decision.
"What [Federal Reserve] Chairman Ben Bernanke has outlined today is the exit strategy for quantitative easing," said Michael Yoshikami, CEO and founder of Destination Wealth Management.
"For the first time by giving an unemployment-rate target, he has now very clearly stated that easy-money policy is not going to last forever, and I think you're seeing the bond market react accordingly," he said. "It's the stark realization for bond bulls that the party won't last forever."
Yields on 10-year Treasury notes US:10_YEAR rose to 1.70%, and reached 1.71% during the session. The yield hasn't pushed above 1.7% since Nov. 6, according to FactSet data.
The 10-year yield was at 1.65% ahead of the Fed's announcement. Also before the Fed's announcement, the Treasury Department sold $21 billion of 10-year securities.
Thirty-year US:30_YEAR bond yields rose to 2.91% from 2.84%. That yield hadn't reached above 2.9% since early last month. Yields on the 5-year note US:5_YEAR edged up to 0.65%.
"The long end of the Treasury yield curve is getting hit the most in response to the [Fed] news," wrote Peter Boockvar, an equity strategist at Miller Tabak, in a note to clients.
"Putting aside the possibility of sell on the news or inflation worries, it may very well be just in response to the maturity makeup of QE4 relative to what the plan was when they extended [Operation Twist] in July," he said.
The Fed's new purchases of Treasurys are aimed at keeping the total pace of asset purchases at $85 billion a month. If it hadn't taken action, the Fed purchases would have been reduced at year-end when its existing Operation Twist program to swap short-term debt for longer-term Treasurys is set to expire.
The buying pace will be kept at $45 billion "initially," suggesting policy makers may review the size of the purchases. The central bank also kept its existing program to buy $40 billion a month in mortgage-backed securities.
In an unexpected move, the Fed said it would hold rates close to zero while the unemployment rate is above 6.5%, as long as inflation doesn't rise above 2.5%. The Fed had previously said it expected to hold rates low until mid-2015.
Destination Wealth's Yoshikami said the Fed's move to set new thresholds "is exactly what the market needs to hear. Businesses are looking for more certainty around what interest-rate policy will be, and any time you can remove uncertainty, it creates an opportunity for decision-making by businesses."
The market also heard Fed Chairman Bernanke at a press conference Wednesday warn that the Fed can't shield the economy if it hits the so-called fiscal cliff of tax increases and spending cuts set to go into effect on Jan.1. Lawmakers in Washington need to work out a deal to avert the fiscal cliff.
"If there is no cliff agreement, people will flee risk assets and that will push short yields down as people fly into safety," said Yoshikami. "If there is a fiscal-cliff deal, risk will be on; it's that simple."
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 index SPX, -1.91% gave up most of its gains, ending up less than 1 point at 1,428.48. See: U.S. stocks add to gains after Fed move.
On Wednesday, the U.S. sold $21 billion in 10-year notes at a yield of 1.652%. The auction was a reopening, meaning the debt sold carries the same maturity date and coupon as the original securities, in this case sold in November. Bidders offered to buy 2.95 times the amount of debt sold, compared with the recent average of 3.20.
Indirect bidders, a group which includes foreign central banks, bought 24.2% of the sale. Direct bidders, a group which includes domestic money managers, purchased another 42.7%, a "very strong direct award," as the result was above the recent average of 25%, said CRT Capital Group in a report after the auction. The Treasury sold $32 billion in 3-year notes on Tuesday and will hold an auction of 30-year bonds on Thursday.
Providing critical information for the U.S. trading day. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Need to Know newsletter. Sign up here.


text: White Horse Temple, there are a number of temples all over the country are here, of which the most famous White Horse Temple in Henan. White Horse Temple in Luoyang, Henan, Henan 12 km east of the Old City, was founded in the Eastern Han Yong Ping 10 year (68), is the introduction of Buddhism to China built the first temple, Chinese Buddhism, "Forefathers" and " release the source, "said. Temple save a lot of folders Zhu Yuan dry paint figures including Buddhas, two days will be, 18 Rohan so valuable. In 1961, the White Horse Temple is The People's Republic of China State Council announced the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In addition, Anhui, Qinghai, Jiangxi, and Shanxi and other places, there are "White Horse Temple."


text:
No. 10: Jerry Buss
10. Jerry Buss (203 first-place votes, 9,352 points) Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979, and under his esteemed ownership they have won 10 NBA championships with such players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Before becoming involved with the Lakers and other sports franchises, Buss pursued a career in academia. By age 24, he had earned a master's and doctorate in physical chemistry from USC. Buss was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 5, 2010. He died on Feb. 18, 2013.
Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 2018, Sun Sentinel


text:
It's nice to see that my local credit union (Arkansas Federal) has a much better interest rate at 6.00% fixed (also not an introductory rate). I wonder if other credit unions or local banks have as good of rates? Anyone else getting better rates than 4% + prime?
The Best Low Interest Rate Credit Cards
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The only thing more challenging than managing credit card debt is getting out of it. To accomplish this important goal you need a sound budget, plenty of discipline, and a credit card with the lowest possible interest rate. (See also: The Best 0% Balance Transfer Cards)
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The Five Lowest APR Cards on the Market
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Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
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Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
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Although the best way to use a credit card is to avoid paying interest, most Americans are unable live up to this ideal. If you do have to carry a balance, your primary goal should be finding a card with the lowest interest rate. Doing so will help you to minimize the amount of interest that you owe, making it easier to pay off your credit card debt as soon as possible.
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Finding the best low interest credit card is not easy. We have to compare many cards on various things as interest, annual fee, balance transfer fee, etc. So, I thank for your post on the best. Although we must to suit our financial capability and the goal of getting the low interest credit card.
CommunityFirstBank in Harrison, Arkansas offers a Master Card with a no-teaser APR of 7.15%. No annual fee unless you opt for the rewards program. $35 annual fee with rewards.
While applying for a credit card with the lowest interest rate might be good for some people who don't always pay off their credit card bills and carry a balance each month. The lower the interest rate, the less interest charges they have to pay to the bank. However, if you are someone who always pay off their bills in full every month to avoid paying any interest charges, looking for a credit card with rewards is a better option.


text:
What are the highest leverage activities that are best for ensuring that you have a good life?
(Found this question on Quora… Do you use Quora?…Check it out!)
This is a followup to What's the single most valuable lesson you've learned in your professional life?
Focus on high-leverage activities. Leverage is defined as the amount of output or impact produced per unit of time spent.
I define conversation as the meaningful clashing of ideas and perspectives. You don't need to be talking to someone else- you could explore your own mind, or the natural world, and that would be a form of conversation- anything that leads to insight and understanding. Mindfulness.
Exercise can be a kind of conversation you have with your body- if you're not listening, you could get injured.
Reading is, ideally, a conversation with other human minds, past and present.
Your relationships grow the most in moments where you are paying the most attention to one another.
Passive, thoughtless routines will not do in this pursuit. Pay attention. Give a damn. Care. Listen. You can differentiate all great experiences and mediocre ones by assessing the mindfulness/thoughtfulness present in a process.
Steve Jobs was a mindful, thoughtful guy with regards to his work. Buddha was a mindful, thoughtful guy. So was Jesus. All good artists, all great anything- be mindful, pay attention, have a great conversation- with yourself, with each other, with the world. Devote yourself to learning and understanding new points of view, so that you better understand your own.
Pay attention and be engaged for a great life.


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Bouchard makes short work of Kerber
Eugenie Bouchard reached her second successive grand slam quarter-final by knocking out eighth seed Angelique Kerber at Roland Garros.
The 20-year-old made her grand slam breakthrough in January with a run to the semi-finals at the Australian Open and her progress in Paris has been just as impressive.
Bouchard came into the tournament in form after winning her first WTA Tour title in Nuremberg and her 6-1 6-2 thrashing of Kerber was her ninth victory in a row.
The Canadian is making only her second appearance at Roland Garros after reaching the second round last year and, with either Carla Suarez Navarro or Ajla Tomljanovic next, will fancy her chances of going further.
German Kerber, who was a quarter-finalist in Paris in 2012, is the fifth of the top eight seeds to exit the tournament.
Bouchard was unfazed by her run in Melbourne and it is a similar story here.
The Canadian said: "I feel like since the beginning of the year I have been improving my game, since Australia I'm at a different level from there.
"I'm confident and I really believe in my skills. I believe I can play with the best girls out there. She (Kerber) is top 10, so I respect her. She can play some really good tennis.
"I was really mentally prepared for anything, for a battle. I think that mindset helped me, made me realise whatever happens I can deal with it on the court.
"I was just really going for my shots. That was my intention. It worked."
It will be Suarez Navarro who Bouchard plays in the last eight after the Spaniard defeated 21-year-old Tomljanovic 6-3 6-3.
The 14th seed last reached the quarter-finals in Paris back in 2008 while she beat Bouchard in the third round of Wimbledon last year.


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Tags: Font, Formal Script, Sans Serif