text:
Working on finishing up my new album these days, and I've been having an absolute ball using various guitars for many different tones. This applies to the original tracks, as well as my overdubs, and the two primary Gibsons I'm using are a 1964 ES 330 and a relatively new Les Paul Traditional.
I have been finding these to be extremely useful and creative guitars to use in many applications, and I even just used the 330 in an overdubbed part that consists mostly of a kind of controlled feedback that backs up the vocal, as well as gets used in the solos and "ride out" of the song. It's really a cool effect, because first and foremost, it is not an effect, but rather a carefully played part that one can listen to and focus on throughout the entire song, as it weaves in and out. I find that I'm discovering new things about the "controlled" feedback even as I've been recording, such as using it for raga-like "drones", connections from one guitar part to another. Harmonies to the vocal and many other very, very cool applications!
Of course, this all comes from the fact that it is a true hollow body guitar, that wants to feed back even at fairly low volumes. And those great old P90 pickups really answer the call when it comes to that thick and bluesy tone I'm going for in conjunction with the feedback!
Then, enter the Les Paul, and we have a real feast of thick and wonderful tones that truly run throughout the entire album, and work very well together. I find that I've been loving the Les Paul on all three settings for many different reasons; the middle position (both pickups) is great for rhythm parts, and I've been doing a lot of arpeggio finger-picked parts combined with tremolo from the amp, which really thickens up some truly soulful parts!
I've also found, in regards to the Les Paul, it really works well on some very "up" parts at the ends of songs for that big "ride out" part that may be needed. And if you think of some of the great songs of the past, such as "Layla" and other Clapton, Page or Allman endings, they are truly great uses of the true "Les Paul" approach!
So some of this album definitely has that classic vibe, while on other tunes, I am going for far more contemporary and unique approaches, especially within my own tonal spectrum. Thanks to some classic Gibson tones this is all being made possible. Can't wait to debut some of these tracks for you all!


text:
1 or more
10 or more
50 or more
100 or more
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT: Chanukah gift box includes 3 deluxe truffles, chocolate coins, wood dreidel and Israeli tea. All products are parve and may be served as favors at your Chanukah party. If you are looking for a bit more upscale selection of items - this is it. Delicious, elegant, meaningful.
It would be our pleasure to ship it to you!
Free shipping and more discounts! Chocolategelt.com is your online source for Chanukah Gift Mini - Elegance (Parve). We serve schools, synagogues, non-profit organizations, as well as individuals. Chanukah Gift Mini - Elegance (Parve) sold retail and wholesale, you can see price break depending on quantity you buy on each product page. Our popular products are dreidels, chocolate coins also known as gelt, candles and party gifts for Chanukah. Our selection also includes wide variety of Purim supplies Thank you for shopping at our store!
- Wholesale - Contact/FAQ - Testimonials

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It's a great little tune with VOCALS by legendary vocalist BLACKLAMP Piano, Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Ukulele, and more!
Great for commercials, flash games, corporate projects, etc: It's an excellent track for your project!
I've got a spring in my step
and the wind blowing through my hair
it's time to find my place
and it's looking good right up there
Step into the street and meet
the lovely people
I can hear their songs and they
carry me along
The trees all dance
And the birds don't fly away
you can find a new dream
each and every single day
I'm gonna be free
I'm gonna be me
and You're gonna see
that life is never empty
Don't be afraid
of choices you made
stay here with me
and we can be together
Hope you'll enjoy this one !
Don't forget to rate this item after your purchase


text:
Orlando, Fla. – The Lander University Bearcats shot eight under par (280) as a team to take the lead after day one of the Coker College Invitational at Orange County National Golf Course in Orlando, Fla. Florida Southern is just two strokes back at six under par (282), while Barton College and Rollins College are both tied for third after a two under par first round (286).
Adam McKinney of Georgia Southwestern leads all golfers with a round one 67 (-5), followed by Roberto Nasalli-Roca of Lander and Ian Gilley of Rollins each shot 68
(-4). Hot on their tails are thirteen golfers who also had under par first rounds.
For Coker, the Cobras are tied for eighth place with Newberry College with a three over (291) performance. Patrick Kirby (Toronto, Ontario) leads the way with a one under 71, followed Trey Bridwell (Greer, SC) firing a even par 72. John LaDow (Pottstown, PA) shot 73 (+1) and Chris Marsh (Georgetown, SC) and Jimmy Gillam (Tyrone, PA) each shot 75 (+3).
The final round of the Coker Invitational will be completed on Tuesday, with teams teeing off starting at 8:00 a.m.


text:
Pages: [1] Go Down
Topic: Bill Simmons on "System" Coaches (Read 982 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Pages: [1] Go Up
Hello! Guest
Welcome to the CelticsStrong Forums.
Latest Discussions
- A Shame We Can't Beat The Great East Teams Like PHI, MIL, TOR....
- What would you give up for Anthony Davis?
- Woj: Kawhi still focused on LA and Home. Values quality of life in free agency
- All Things Philadelphia 76ers (merged Sixers threads)
- Patriots 2018 Season
- Memo to Jayson Tatum
- Celtics (18-10) at Pistons (13-13) Game #29 12/15/18
- Poll: Horford+Rozier, Two firsts for Drummond


text:
Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers U.S. Capitol Dome Rotunda Reopening
WHO: Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP
WHAT: The Architect of the Capitol will conduct a briefing for media on the reopening of the U.S. Capitol Dome Rotunda after completion of the safety netting installation and provide a status update on the Dome Restoration Project. The event is open to credentialed media from the House and Senate Media Galleries.
WHEN: April 30, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. (media set-up at 4:30 p.m.).
WHERE: Capitol Rotunda - credentialed media should enter via East Rotunda Door
VISUALS: Completed placement of safety net within the Capitol Rotunda below the Apotheosis of George Washington. Examples of the (5) layers of safety netting used to protect the Rotunda. Images of the outriggers and installation process. Still photos and b-roll of the safety net installation will be available for download by 4 p.m. April 30, via www.aoc.gov/dome/media.
MORE: The Dome of the U.S. Capitol Building, one of America's great symbols of freedom, needs additional restoration as part of an on-going multi-phased program. This project is a critical step for stopping the current level of deterioration in the Dome's cast iron as well as ensuring the protection of the interior of the Dome and Rotunda. The restoration project includes removal of old paint, repairs to the cast iron and stone, and repainting. Learn more about the Dome Restoration Project at www.aoc.gov/dome.


text:
Neoseeker : Videos : Walkthroughs : #18 - Dance Dance Revolution
Final Fantasy IV Advance
- By Matrix Software for PC, Wii U, Wii, DS, GBA
#18 - Dance Dance Revolution
Register as a member to subscribe comments.COMMENTS
You must be a member to post comments. Login or register to post what you think of this video!
Trailer Info
|From: HCBailly
|Dec 29, 2013
|Category: Walkthroughs


text:
Chair Taylor will call the meeting to order.
Chair Taylor will ask for approval of the minutes.
Chair Taylor will address the Board and present the Chair's Report.
President Delaney will address the Board and present the President's Report.
Jennifer McDonough will provide an overview of the proposed capital campaign.
President Delaney will present and update on his goals.
The purpose of this discussion is to address merit and need-based scholarships currently offered by the University and the Foundation.
This discussion will focus on current and proposed recruitment strategies aimed at increasing student quality and diversity of UNF's student body.
In the President's last end-of-the-year report, he presented an ideal student profile. This discussion will look at that profile.
Chair Taylor will adjourn the workshop.
Copyright © 2018 University of North Florida1 UNF Drive | Jacksonville, FL 32224 | Phone: (904) 620-1000
Contact |
Emergency |
Privacy |
Regulations |
DiversityConsumer Information |
Disability Accommodations
If you are experiencing difficulty accessing information on the site due to a disability, visit our website accessibility page.


text:
Business Challenge
Seattle Public Schools (SPS), the largest public school district in Washington State, needed to cut costs while minimizing the impact on students. IT launched an initiative to replace outdated VAX computers, personalize IT service provisioning, streamline operations, and increase staff productivity. Key goals included facilitating batch scheduling during the transition and enabling lights-out data center operation to provide ongoing savings.
BMC Solution
Working with BMC partner CFS Consulting, IT implemented Control-M to streamline and automate scheduling and Control-M Batch Impact Manager to quickly pinpoint issues that could delay batch processing.
Business Impact
The BMC solutions addressed requirements for cross-platform operation: processing based on event and transaction as well as date and time, and support for rich scheduling on the VAX throughout the decommissioning effort without modification to VAX jobs.
- Automated scheduling delivered $100,000 in immediate savings by reducing staff requirements by two full-time equivalents.
- Error reduction and productivity increases are projected to save $18,000 annually in the first two years and $38,000 annually in subsequent years.
- Early warning of potential problems allows proactive response to prevent service disruptions and complete jobs within the batch window.
- Immediate and ongoing savings free funding for programs that strengthen schools and student success.
- Automated batch processes run seven days a week, helping IT accommodate peak times such as the beginning of the school year.
"[Control-M] has compressed the entire schedule so we can run more jobs and bigger jobs in the same amount of time. In the past, when we had a large number of students to enroll, we would have to stage the enrollments in small groups across multiple nights. Now we can get the enrollments completed in a shorter window of time. That benefits everyone."— April Johnson, Senior Engineer/Project Manager, Seattle Public Schools.
Let's discuss your transformation
Featured offerings:
Accelerate delivery of digital services with simple, unified batch workload managementLearn More | Start a free trial
Control-M Batch Impact Manager
Protect your business from service disruptionsLearn More


text:
Obama Administration Decides Not To Fight Against Fair Use For Public Universities
from the good-news dept
Thankfully, the story got a fair bit of attention, and we heard that a lot of people spoke out and more feedback than expected showed up on the DOJ's doorstep, including from some folks in Congress, who were concerned about the possibility of hurting fair use in the educational setting. The end result? The DOJ has chosen not to weigh in after all. While it may seem like not such a big deal to get a government agency to not do something, from a variety of sources, it appears that the Copyright Office and the DOJ were very, very serious about filing something. It's not yet clear if the public speaking out led to the change of heart, but either way, it's good to see the administration back down. Having the federal government argue against fair use and in favor of (mostly foreign) big publishers was just never a good idea, and thankfully they realized that in time.


text:
The man who shot and killed another man at a Havelock apartment complex Saturday morning won�t face charges.
The man who pulled the trigger and shot and killed another man at a Havelock apartment complex Saturday morning won�t face charges.
In a complicated scenario, the victim�s alleged accomplice will face charges in the incident.
Marvin Lovell Norris Jr., 19, of Havelock, shot Demetri Shavar Berry, 28, of Havelock, Saturday morning while defending himself, according to a release Tuesday afternoon from the Havelock Police Department.
Berry, who had a wound to his lower chest/upper abdomen area, was first taken to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern and then to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where he died Saturday afternoon.
According to Havelock police, an investigation into the shooting showed that Berry and Marcus Anthony Nunes, 24, of Havelock, had broken into an apartment and were threatening Norris, who subsequently shot Berry.
The case was presented to District Attorney Scott Thomas, who determined that Norris would not be charged.
"The evidence in this case indicates that Berry and Nunes intended to do physical harm to Norris," Thomas said in a statement. " � Based upon the law and facts, Mr. Norris was justified in his use of deadly force to defend himself. Had he not acted, he would have likely suffered serious bodily harm or even death."
Nunes, however, has been charged with one count of felony conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and one count of felony breaking and entering in connection with threats against Norris. Nunes was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in Craven County District Court at 9 a.m. today.
The investigation by Havelock police into the shooting shows that Berry and Nunes were attempting to find Norris because they believed he had broken into and burglarized their homes. Berry had filed a police report of a break-in on Oct. 30, but had not indicated that Norris was a suspect. Nunes had not filed any report of a break-in.
On Saturday morning, Nunes and Berry found Norris in the parking lot of Kelly Park Apartments on Shipman Road and got out of their vehicle with a golf club and baseball bat with the intent of assaulting Norris, according to Havelock police.
Norris ran and entered the apartment of a family member, locking the door. That family member was inside the apartment with three of her children.
Berry and Nunes chased Norris and broke through the front door of the apartment, finding Norris in the kitchen. That�s when Norris shot Berry once, and Nunes then ran out of the apartment, according to Havelock police.
Police were called at 10:24 a.m. Saturday and upon arriving at the scene, found an injured Berry in the foyer area of apartment L-4 in the Kelly Park Apartment complex.
Thomas sited the "Castle Doctrine," which went into effect Dec. 1, 2011, in not charging Norris. The law states in part that an occupant of a home is not required to retreat when confronted by an intruder prior to using deadly force.
Berry�s autopsy on Monday revealed that he died from multiple internal trauma caused by the shooting, according to Havelock police. A small-caliber projectile was recovered during the autopsy, but investigators have yet to locate the weapon, described as a handgun. Police are continuing the investigation in an attempt to locate the gun.
At the time of his death, Berry was on probation for a Sept. 8, 2011, conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon and felony possession of marijuana, according to the N.C. Department of Corrections website.


text:
ACUSHNET — Police Chief Michael Alves leads by example. A low-key kind of guy, he's not the boisterous type. He's approachable and steady, not flashy. And first and foremost, he has credibility.
ACUSHNET — Police Chief Michael Alves leads by example.
A low-key kind of guy, he's not the boisterous type. He's approachable and steady, not flashy. And first and foremost, he has credibility.
Those personal qualities, along with the way he runs his department of 25 sworn officers, were major reasons why voters approved a new station for the Police Department, according to town officials.
And that's why Alves has been selected as The Standard-Times 2012 Acushnet Man of the Year. Nominations for the award came from the community and members of the newspaper staff. Recipients were selected by a newsroom committee.
Supporters said Alves has a proven track record with the public and people have confidence that what he's telling them is the truth as he knows it.
"When he spoke, people clearly listened," Selectman David Wojnar said of public discussion for the new station.
Voters approved a Proposition 2� override for the project earlier this month, giving the town permission to borrow up to $5.2 million to build a station at 60 Middle Road. Town Meeting already had approved the proposal.
The project could go out to bid in the fall and construction will take about a year, according to Alves.
Robert St. Jean, a former selectman and now chairman of the Finance Committee, said the public's confidence in Alves helped win over voters.
"The chief is very helpful to town residents," St. Jean said. "He's a very caring police chief. He has the respect of the community and he runs a tight ship.
"I think that will be his legacy after he leaves — that police station."
Alves, 48, who has been chief for eight years, said a new station has been on his mind since he was sworn in as head of the department.
He said the Police Department has occupied the former Parting Ways School since 1973, a move that was supposed to be temporary.
The building is inadequate for the needs of a modern police department — there's no bathroom in the station (there is one in the hallway outside the station), there's no sallyport for the safe processing of prisoners and prisoners share the same space as sworn personnel.
Alves said he wants the department to be certified and accredited but that won't happen until the department has a modern facility.
Townspeople understood the need and the department is grateful for their support, Alves said.
Longtime residents "were definitely for the project. They understood it was only supposed to be temporary and 40 years is not temporary," he said.
He said voter approval was "impressive," given the state of the economy.
The chief acknowledged he is not comfortable being singled out for credit in winning voter support.
"I have a hard time with the word 'I,'" Alves said. "We as a group lobbied the selectmen. We as a group lobbied support with the public.
"I'm kind of the gatekeeper of information and the coordinator of the effort. That is as much as I'm comfortable in saying because everything was a 'we,' not an 'I.'"


text:
Jackie Greene and Phil Lesh.
Photo: Jay Blakesberg c. 2007
Ah yes, the glamorous life of a traveling musician! When I reach Jackie Greene on the phone in Missoula, Montana, in early August, he's literally folding his underwear at a laundromat. "Unfortunately it doesn't magically do itself," he notes wryly. That night he was set to play an acoustic duo gig with guitarist Nathan Dale, who's also in Greene's regular band, as part of two-plus week swing that zig-zagged him to such far-flung ports-of-call as Minneapolis (on the day of the bridge collapse), New York, Chicago, San Jose, Montana, Idaho and even Alberta, Canada. Chart it on a map and it looks like one of those spiders-on-acid webs!
Count me among the many who were surprised (but delighted) to learn that this extremely talented 26-year-old singer-songwriter was tapped by Phil Lesh to become the main singer and second guitarist in the latest version of the ever-mutating Phil Lesh & Friends, whose fall tour stretches from September 22 through November 10. (You can see the complete tour list here). Over the course of three guerrilla getting-to-know-each-other gigs in small venues in the Bay Area in July, Greene looked and sounded fairly comfortable in what for him is a completely new musical milieu: This is a guy who had never played Grateful Dead music before, yet he sang and played with tremendous conviction, and a smattering of his own songs fit into the repertoire amazingly well. Clearly, Phil liked what he heard; hence the invitation to join with lead guitarist Larry Campbell (who by now has earned official P&F "wily veteran" status), recent keyboardist Steve Molitz and founding drummer John Molo in the fall edition of the group.
So, who is this guy anyway? Well, Jackie grew up near Placerville, California, a small Gold Rush town (originally known as Hangtown!) in the foothills of the Sierra. "I started playing in Placerville at coffee houses and pubs when I was 18," Jackie says, "though my first gig was actually in Sacramento when I was 16. A blues cover band invited me to come play guitar with them; I forget their name at the moment. Before that, I played in garage bands during middle school and mostly did modern—at the time—stuff, a la Pearl Jam, etc. I didn't start seriously writing until I was about 18 or so."
After high school he moved to Sacramento and over time he established a name for himself as one of the most interesting singer-songwriters on the local scene. Though his style was perhaps most clearly influenced by Bob Dylan—you can especially hear it on songs where he plays both acoustic guitar and harmonica—he also absorbed many other influences on his way to developing a recognizable oeuvre of his own, from Ray Charles to Muddy Waters to Hank Williams to Leadbelly to The Band. "When I got to Sacramento," he said in a 2006 interview, "I just started playing all the time, just about every place I could possibly play. I'd play five or six nights a week; some nights I'd play a solo happy-hour gig from 4 to 7, then run across town and play a gig with my band. I busted my balls, and it worked. I learned quite a bit in a short period of time, and people started noticing."
Jackie and Steve Molitz work out a part, while Phil and
Larry Campbell handle their end of an arrangement.
Photo: Jay Blakesberg c. 2007
Jackie had recorded his first album, a DIY effort called Rusty Nails, while still in high school. Once he started to get some attention in Sacramento, however, he signed a deal with a local indie label called Dig Music, and took on Dig's owner, Marty DeAnda, as his manager. The first album he made for Dig, 2002's Gone Wanderin', immediately showed that this 21-year-old was a force to be reckoned with. With a wisdom and maturity far beyond his years, he also showed considerable instrumental acumen, playing both electric and acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo and keyboards. (He sang two songs from that album—the title track and "Down in the Valley Woe"—at his initial P&F shows.) On his next release, Sweet Somewhere Bound (2004), he played nearly every instrument, including drums and synthesizers, and that album created enough of a buzz that it was licensed from Dig to the larger, New York-based Verve/Forecast label, and increasingly Jackie landed plum touring gigs opening for established artists. (My own initiation to Jackie's artistry came at a 2005 Los Lobos show at the Fillmore. I'd never heard of him, but just one solo set by him turned me into a rabid fan. He received one of the best receptions for an "unknown" opening act I've ever seen; he blew away many people that night!)
In 2006, he put out the album that is the true masterwork of his brief career to date: American Myth, produced by Los Lobos' Steve Berlin for Verve/Forecast, beautifully melds Greene's different musical personalities into a stunning whole. It has rockin' band-oriented tunes, sparser folk numbers, and perhaps his most magnificent nod to Dylan's influence, the nine-minute epic "Supersede." (Jackie also has an actual Dylan tribute album in his catalog, as well—a superb live disc called Positively 12th and K—that's in Sacramento, folks, not Greenwich Village—on which he trades lead vocals with legendary Beau Brummels singer (and Sacto resident) Sal Valentino on a great selection of old and more recent Dylan tunes. You can find that, and a recently released compilation of Jackie's earlier work called The Dig Years at www.digmusic.com.)
So how does Phil Lesh come into the picture? Jackie had seen Phil & Friends play live on the tour they did with Dylan a few years ago (Larry Campbell was in Dylan's band back then!), but they didn't meet. As Jackie tells it, "Phil had said some really nice things about American Myth and somebody forwarded his comments to me. Also, he was at Bonnaroo the same time we were there and he came to watch us play, and though I didn't get to meet him at the show, somehow I got his manager's e-mail address—that's his wife, Jill—and I said, 'Thanks for saying nice things about me.' That was about a year ago, and I didn't hear anything back, which was fine—I wasn't expecting anything. Then, about six months ago my phone rings: 'Jackie. Phil Lesh. Say, listen, I was thinking maybe you could help me work on some music.' At first I thought it was a joke: 'C'mon, Gimme a break!' But I discovered it actually was Phil, and he came over to the little studio I have in San Francisco, and I actually bought him dinner. Then we hung out and started playing songs down in my studio space. After that I started going over to his house and hanging out there and playing songs. The next thing I know he asked me to be a 'Friend' for the fall, and of course I said yes."
Greene says he had little previous experience with Grateful Dead music, other than hearing some records his parents owned. "I knew some of the big songs, and I liked them, but up until recently I'd never dived head first into this immense catalog. It's really interesting to me now. I'm kind of like the rookie, I guess." And though he has some background playing improvisational music—jazz piano and the like—"nothing that I've done compares to the way Phil plays. I don't have experience jamming in that way, which makes it all the more exciting to me, really. It's great being on the edge of what could be a train wreck at any moment, but somehow the band manages to figure it out on the spot. It's really exciting. Sometimes I feel like an audience member watching them, thinking 'Holy shit! How'd they do that?'" he laughs.
"The odd key changes and odd times are definitely stuff I'm not particularly used to, and before we started playing these warm-up gigs, I was sort of fearful of it: 'I don't know what I'm going do. I don't know if I can hang with these guys.' Then we did the first gig and I thought, 'That's not too bad; in fact it's really fun.' Phil gave me the best advice—he told me, 'You just have to give yourself permission to do it.' And that's really true, because a lot of musicians worry about what everybody else is going to think about it, and they don't give themselves permission to 'step out.' That's always been my problem a little, and Phil sort of fixed that with one line."
How is he learning the repertoire? "I learn by ear. Phil's been great in that he confers with me on what songs I'd like to sing and whatnot. I have a stack about waist high of stuff and I'm listening to it all the time. I'm constantly discovering songs and falling in love with them. Like, I knew 'Sugaree' before, but I'd never really gotten into it and now it's one of my favorite songs. I love singing it—I can howl on it; it's great! Anyway, in that stack there might be ten different versions of 'Sugaree'—one from Rochester and one from some other place, and so on, and I listen to them and I think, 'Here's the 11-minute version and here's the 4-minute version: what happens in the 11-minute version to make it what it is? Oh, that's weird!' I try to learn the song first, obviously: It's got this melody, this vibe. Then, from there on out it's anybody's game. We can get crazy with it, as Phil likes to do.
"Just recently, as of two night ago, I've been learning 'Brokedown Palace,' and loving that. Surprisingly, I really like the record version of that, which is kind of slow and acoustic. I want to try and sing that. I was just listening to 'China Doll' and that's a beautiful song, too. I really like 'Deal,' which we've been singing, and I really like doing 'New Speedway Boogie,' because I can play harmonica on it. We're going to do 'Wharf Rat'…just lots and lots of songs, so I've got my work cut out for me. And this band just cooks on everything, so you've got to bring you're A-game."
He says that everyone in the group has been very encouraging to him so far, particularly Larry Campbell, "who can really play his ass off in any style. He's so good. But then they're all really great musicians and really nice people. John Molo is this big, powerful man, but personally he's very gentle; very sweet. Everyone has been so helpful."
Interestingly, it has been Phil who has selected which of Jackie's songs to cover in the group, and so far they've ranged from the funky blues of "Seven Jealous Sisters," to the beautiful, folkish "When You're Walkin' Away." Other Greene originals P&F tackled in July include "I'm So Gone," "So Hard to Find My Way," and the aformenetioned "Gone Wanderin'" and "Down in the Valley Woe." No doubt others will be unveiled over the course of the fall tour. When I plead for him to play "Supersede" at the Greek Theater, he chuckles and says, "Ooo—the long one! This band could definitely play that well.'"
Of course Grateful Dead music will continue to be the main focus of P&F's performances, and Greene says he takes his responsibility for doing justice to the repertoire very seriously: "This music is sacred to so many people, and I can really see why—it's amazing! I was talking to a friend who's around my age—26—and we were saying, 'We'll probably never know how much these songs might mean to some people.' It's a trip to think about it that way—and also a little scary. It's a heavy task. It's a challenge and I want do really well. More than anything else I feel very honored to be playing with Phil & Friends. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Phil, the band and, of course, the songs. I'm actually still totally amazed at the idea of it.
"I'm going to do my best to honor these timeless songs."
For more on Jackie Greene, check out his website at www.jackiegreene.com


text:
Out of the game
Marsha S. Smith 1/28/2005 5:22:33 PMGorgeous, love the colors and the shadow of the blue. #209938
Sue L. Cullumber 1/28/2005 6:11:56 PMMarija,
The clarity and color of the berries and container is excellent. Sue #1070040
Leanne M.E. Boyd 1/29/2005 1:00:46 AMI love the high key, Marija! Wonderful image! #1070349
Kip T. Berger 1/29/2005 1:28:38 AMVery pretty Marija! great color and a wonderful blue hued shadow. Texture of the berries stands out great against this white. #1070372
Detrick V. Martin 2/18/2005 9:33:01 PMWonderful work, well done! Congradulations! #1114734
Leanne M.E. Boyd 2/18/2005 11:19:21 PMExcellent, congratulations! #1115174
Evy Johansen 2/19/2005 12:18:26 AMWonderful image! Congrats on your finalist selection, Marija! #1115368
Karen Engelbreth 2/19/2005 5:47:27 AMCongrats Marija! #1116052
Marsha S. Smith 2/19/2005 5:51:19 AMCongratulations, Marija!! #1116070
Monika Sapek 2/20/2005 11:35:19 AMMany congratulations, Marija!
Donna La Mattino Pagakis 2/21/2005 12:48:10 PMCongratulations, this is very nice, love the high contrast and color combinations. The lighting is also spectacular!! #1123075
Uploaded on 1/28/2005 5:20:29 PM
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Marija Milovanovic Maksimovic. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
The Hornets are hoping to re-sign last season's top scorer Matej Vydra and are in negotiations with other potential signings, the Watford Observer understands.
Vydra scored 22 goals in 47 games during the 2012/13 campaign as the Golden Boys just missed out on automatic promotion to the Premier League and then lost the play-off final, when the striker was forced off injured at half-time.
The 22-year-old's form earned him a new five-year contract with parent club Udinese last summer and a loan move to the Premier League, with West Bromwich Albion.
However, the Czech Republic international has only scored three goals in nine starts and 14 substitute appearances in all competitions.
Vydra enjoyed his time at Watford and with the Pozzo family controlling both Udinese and the Hornets, we understand the owners are keen for the striker to return as the Championship club attempt to secure Premier League football at the third attempt.
West Ham United, Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur were among Vydra's suitors last summer but another loan move to a Premier League club appears unlikely.
And with the player's value declining over the last 12 months, and another four years on his Udinese contract, it also seems unlikely Vydra will be allowed to leave for a non-Pozzo owned club on the cheap.
Watford endured a difficult campaign as they lost their final four matches to finish in the bottom half of the table in 13th - 12 points below the play-off places.
The Hornets are keen to complete the majority of their business as early as possible this summer and Vydra is one of several players already identified.
The Golden Boys are closing in on the permanent signing of loanee Daniel Tozser and the club are also in talks with the representatives of other transfer targets.


text:
Feb 15, 2005
Feb. 15, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - For the first time in the program's participation in the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA), No. 15 MIT had two members of the men's volleyball team earn New England division weekly honors. Rob McAndrew was named the Player of the Week while Praveen Pamidimukkala received Rookie of the Week accolades for the second week in a row.
McAndrew posted a hitting percentage of .349 while tallying 53 kills, 16 digs, six assisted blocks, and four aces in 10 games. Pamidimukkala totaled 40 kills, six assisted blocks, four solo blocks, and four aces.


text:
Toys in the Gourmet Spirit: 8 Ultra-Luxe Bar Accessories for Mixology Geeks
It doesn't really take a lot of fancy tools to keep a bar appointed for entertaining. A small selection of spirits and mixers, a shaker, and a bag of ice from the corner bodega will keep the drinks flowing and your guests lubricated. But if you take your cocktails as seriously as gourmets take their food, there's a nigh limitless toybox of whosits and whatsits out there to make cocktails even more delicious. And even if they don't add much functionality, they do add a lot of style. If you happen to have won the Lottery, here are eight luxe toys to splurge on for cocktailians who want a bar that's as cool looking as it is well stocked.
• Ice Ball Mold — Japan Trend Shop $182
A perfectly clear sphere is the holy grail of ice, and it's almost impossible to get without a lot of effort. Once you've got your block of perfectly clear ice (an adventure in itself), you can either chip away at it with an ice pick, or you can use an ice mold like this one to shape it into a perfect ball.
• Yarai Mixing Glass — Cocktail Kingdom $34
The Yarai mixing glass is named for the cross-hatched pattern in the crystal, which theoretically makes it more difficult to drop. (I think the price is more a factor in my not-dropping-it-ness.) While they're not inexpensive, these mixing glasses are the ne plus ultra of mixology tools. Gorgeous to look at and tough enough for professional work, setting one of these on the bar says, "I am really serious about my cocktails."
• Yukiwa Gold Shaker — Umamimart $75
While many professional bartenders swear by the two-part Boston shaker, a three-part cobbler shaker like this one is necessary for the hard shake, the intense shaking method preferred by hardcore Japanese bartenders. Kanetaka Daiki, the master mixologist behind the bar at Glen in Beijing, uses a simple single-serving shaker made of plastic, but we're shopping in Fantasy Land, and I like the bit of kitschy flash from this gold one.
• Pimp Cup — Custom Cups $75-275
While we're talking kitschy flash, how could we ignore the pimp cup? There's no better vessel for a Pimm's Cup.
• Spherical Ice Tray Set — MOMA Store $16
Spherical ice balls aren't just for Lottery winners anymore. With a set of regular ice molds, you can shape them in your own freezer for way less than $182.
• Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer — Amazon $19.99
Fresh-squeezed juice is the gateway to serious cocktails, and that requires a serious juicer. With this sunny presser, you can get fresh-squeezed citrus in an instant, and then the whole thing can just pop in the dishwasher with no nooks and crannies to hold onto the pulp.
• Boston Shaker — Amazon $60.58
Nothing makes a bartender look like a pro quite like a heavy-duty Boston shaker. The two-part shaker has a heavy glass mixing glass for a bottom, but it's tough enough that there should be no worry about breaking. This one doesn't have a spout, so don't forget a strainer to get the cocktail out of the shaker when you're done.
• Bitters Bottles — Cocktail Kingdom $23.95
There's a wealth of bitters out there beyond Angostura and Peychaud's. Some people make their own, and there are tons of artisanal producers experimenting with strange flavors to add depth to cocktails. The only problem is those bottles don't necessarily match each other and your bar can wind up looking cluttered if you start collecting. But fear not, because that opens up one of the most fun bar accoutrements around: bitters bottles! They come in any number of sizes and the corked stoppers make for a perfectly measured dash every time. Best of all, they look like tiny potion bottles. Sometimes I like to sit in front of my collection and pretend I'm a wizard.
(Images: 1. Japan Trend Shop, 2. Cocktail Kingdom, 3. Umamimart, 4. Custom Cups, 5. MOMA Store, 6. The Kitchn, 7. Amazon, 8. Cocktail Kingdom)


text:
ELMORE Success in Florida
Feb 24, 2014
Like many older adults, "Jane," 73, wants to remain in her home and community as she ages. That's why she took out a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM)—one of the most popular forms of reverse mortgages available to older homeowners.
Yet when a storm caused extensive damage to her Southeast Florida home, Jane was unable to maintain her insurance, and soon was facing a default amount of more than $5,000. When she received notice last November of a court hearing for the sale of her property scheduled in January, she knew she had to act quickly.
To the Rescue
Fortunately, Jane's mortgage company alerted her to a new program that is helping to save seniors in her situation from foreclosure. Florida Housing's Elderly Mortgage Assistance Program (ELMORE) assists HECM borrowers in Florida who, as a result of a hardship, have fallen behind on their property tax or homeowner's insurance payments.
The mortgage company connected Jane with Jennifer Pascale, a counselor in a network of free HUD-approved specialists supported by a new partnership between Fannie Mae and the National Council on Aging (NCOA).
Six weeks later, Jane received over $12,000 in assistance from ELMORE—enough to cover her default amount, legal fees, and to pay ahead 12 months of her 2014 taxes and insurance. She also received help from Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit that rehabilitates homes for those in need, to make post-storm repairs on her home.
Spread the Word
ELMORE was created in cooperation with Fannie Mae, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help reverse mortgage borrowers save their homes. The program is funded via $25 million in federal monies allotted to Florida from the Treasury's Hardest-Hit Fund.
Florida homeowners with reverse mortgages who want to see if they qualify for the ELMORE program should first contact their reverse mortgage servicer. If the servicer is unable to assist, a homeowner should then contact the toll-free ELMORE Application and Information Line at 855-414-3328 to apply and/or receive more information on the program.
Additionally, visit the ELMORE program website at www.FloridaELMORE.org or www.KnowYourOptions.com/reverse for more information.


text:
Sleep Tight (US - BD RA)
Gabe has a brand new reason for checking under the bed every night...
Toiling silently among the residents of an everyday Barcelona apartment building, doorman César (Luis Tosar) harbors a dark secret: his sole desire in life is to make others unhappy. When he sets his sights on Clara (Marta Clara), one of his building's cheeriest residents, his sick need blossoms into a full-fledged obsession. Embarking on a series of private and physical violations against Clara, Cesar becomes determined to ruin her life by any means necessary. Becoming the boogeyman hiding under the bed and bringing her nightmares to life, his fascination with torment soon crosses the line into lunacy – and his thirst for others' sadness soon becomes manically unquenchable.
From that plot synopsis (Dark Sky Film's official one), Sleep Tight sounds a whole lot like Antti Jokinen's The Resident, an incredibly dull 'thriller' that marked a sad, new beginning for the UK's Hammer film studio. Why would anyone care about a Spanish version of an already unoriginal story (David Schmoeller's super sleazy Crawlspace basically perfected the formula by way of remorseless sex and violence)? Director Jaume Balagueró, that's why. Most readers likely know Balagueró as one half of the directing team behind REC and REC 2 (the other half was Paco Plaza, who remains an up and coming director to watch), but before that he made a name for himself with classy supernatural horror films, like Los Sin Nombre and Darkness. These films, along with films like Guillermo del Toro's Devil's Backbone, Alejandro Amenábar's Abre Los Ojos, Álex de la Iglesia's El Día de la Bestia, helped redefine and reinvigorate genre cinema in Spain in the late '90s/early '00s.
Sleep Tight is absolutely a return to those days of menacingly still and quiet thrillers, meaning the folks that see it simply for the REC factor will likely be disappointed. But Balagueró doesn't overstate himself here, either. His deliberate pace still has a rhythm to it and doesn't stifle the narrative experience. He's also not overly concerned with drawing attention to his beautiful compositions, which tend to play out as long as required before moving on to the next, equally stunning image. It's probably also important to clearly state that Sleep Tight is not really what most people would call a 'horror film.' It settles pretty nicely into the assumed textbook definition of a 'psychological thriller.' In fact, beyond even that, Sleep Tight is a rather stringent study of a single character and a rather unsavory character at that. The 'horror' is found less in César's actions (which are plenty grotesque) and more in the fact that we are so complacent with them as an audience. It takes a solid half of the film before we're finally driven out of his corner and are able to treat him as a true antagonist (he has to make an old lady cry). Even then, it's difficult not to feel sorry for him, despite not being given a single reason to the contrary. Most of the fingernail-gnawing suspense revolves chiefly around the possibility the villain will be caught doing definitively seedy things, not around the heroine falling victim to his plans.
The screenplay was written by Alberto Marini, who co-wrote To Let, Balagueró's entry in the Spanish answer to Masters of Horror, Films to Keep You Awake. Marini cleverly doles out just the right amount of information as it is needed to allow the skin-crawling tone to seep in. The audience gains information on César only as deemed necessary, which creates a lot of intrigue around some generally predictable plot turns. The concept doesn't immediately seem to justify a feature runtime, but between Balagueró's (mostly) impeccable pacing and Marini's vibrant, quirky characterizations there's little time lost in the subtle turning of the screws. The quirky characterizations eventually become a problem, however, and not in the way you'd think. The weirder and funnier the people around him act, the easier it is to wish there were more comedy mixed into this otherwise mournful film (the most memorable part of the entire film is a mostly incidental relationship between César and the preteen girl that witnesses his crimes). The entire situation is kind of preposterous and should probably be tonally addressed as such. There are incidents of black comedy (how can there not be), but a rich vein of absurdity is mostly ignored in favour of further dips into complete melodrama.
I haven't had a Dark Sky Films Blu-ray to review in some time, the last one being their 2011 release of Stake Land, which was a fantastic rendering of the Red One camera's capabilities. Sleep Tight was shot on 35mm film and, being film-based, this transfer is a bit more 'traditional,' including plenty of fine film grain and some inconsistencies in overall clarity. Balagueró and cinematographer Pablo Rosso shoot much of the film quite darkly for the sake of mood and, though the sharpness of highlights is rarely dulled, the consistency and richness of blacks is occasionally lacking. This is likely not an issue on Dark Sky's part, because the inconsistencies are generally in keeping with the look of 35mm film. Balagueró and Rosso spend a lot of time in shallow focus, which doesn't do a lot for the complex qualities of backgrounds, but there are some beautifully rendered close-up textures and only minor hints of edge enhancement when the focus deepens. The palette is divided largely between daylight (warmer) and nighttime (cooler) sequences, but relatively consistent either way. The most commonly represented hues are blues, greens, and yellows, all of which act as both undercoats and poppy highlights throughout the film. Despite some additionally warm red elements and especially vibrant overall colour quality, the bulk of the natural hues are generally washed out, making skin tones appear eerily unnatural (not to mention the brownish blood in the film one particularly violent scene). All of these colours are pretty sharply separated, except, of course, those times they are absorbed a bit by the blacks. There is, perhaps, a little more noise throughout the whiter backdrops than expected.
There's only one audio option available on this Sleep Tight Blu-ray – a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 version of the original Spanish track. Thank goodness Dark Sky didn't waste our time with a dub track. This track is mostly natural and soft with minor volume embellishments to create a relatively deep, dynamic, aural palette. The ambient noise is not particularly boisterous, but is given a decent multi-channel representation and even some directional enhancement depending on the busyness of a given location. The more delicate moments are not as aggressively impressive, but the important sounds are always clear and always situated in the correct channel, based on screen placement. Occasionally, things get a bit more intrusive, such as the inception of a sequence where Clara awakens to discover hundreds of cockroaches in her apartment and the stereo channels vibrate with the chatter of insects. Lucas Vidal's score is haunting and romantic for most of the film, featuring warm instrumentations and smooth echo effects. When he wants to get a little scarier, he doesn't shy away from startle stabs or pumping, electronic stereo sounds, but the coolest effect is a deep, rumbling bass that is almost subconsciously subtle. The choice of pop music during rare interludes is curiously bouncy and gives the track some surprising texture, not to mention the biggest in terms of LFE punch.
The extras begin with Sleep Tight: César's World (1:47:30, SD), an extensive making-of documentary that runs (excessively) longer than the film itself. This doc covers Marini's original script, Balagueró's interest, which helped restructure the script for Spain rather than New York, drastic editing, casting, music, sound design, production design, cinematography, set construction, storyboards, insect wrangling, digital effects, stunts, and make-up/mechanical effects. It includes a lot of raw behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage, as well as interviews with Balagueró, Marini, producer Julio Fernández, editor Guillermo de la Cal, composer Lucas Vidal, sound designer Oriol Tarrago, production designer Javier Alvariño, cinematographer Pablo Rosso, digital FX supervisor Cesc Biénzobas, mechanical FX supervisor Juan Carlos Davila, stunt supervisor Toni Hingueruelo, and actors Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Petra Martínez, Carlos Lasarte, Iris Almeida, Alberto San Juan.
The disc also features a deleted scenes reel (12:40, SD), a trailer, and trailers for other Dark Sky releases.
Sleep Tight is a fine entry in director Jaume Balagueró's canon. Its Hitchcockian subject matter merely needs a dash more humour to make the whole thing gel. I only warn REC fans that Balagueró's involvement does not equate the same brand of high-energy horror. This is a much smoother thriller, akin to his earlier work. Dark Sky has done a fine, if not outstanding job with the A/V quality here and have included both a feature-length making-of documentary and deleted scenes as supplements, which is more than the studio's average extent of extras.
* Note: The images on this page are not representative of the Blu-ray image quality.
Review by Gabriel Powers
moviewizguy Member Join Date: February 2006 Location: United States Posts: 224
A first-rate thriller. "Messed-up" doesn't even begin to describe the film.
This product has not been rated
Disc Details
Release Date: 8th January 2013
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 2.35:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Spanish
Subtitles: English SDH
Extras: Sleep Tight: César's World, Deleted Scenes, Trailers
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Jaume Balagueró
Cast: Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan
Genre: Comedy, Horror and Thriller
Length: 102 minutes
6Review Guide
Follow our updates
Past Reviews
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The US - DVD R1 Weather Woman US - DVD R1 Perfect Sense UK - DVD R2 Cannibal Man US - DVD R1 Claim, The US - DVD R1
Hot Articles
THE TEN Things That The Forthcoming Star Wars Blu-ray Should Include. BD Guilty Pleasures: Masters of the Universe DVD Star Wars: The Changes - Part One DVD | BD Star Wars: The Changes - Part Two DVD Star Wars: Top 20 Moments DVD
Latest Reviews
Candyman: Collector's Edition US - BD RA Mission: Impossible – Fallout US - BD RA Zombie: 40th Anniversary Limited Edition US - BD RA Perversion Story US - BD RA Fog, The UK - BD RB
Most Talked About
Halloween (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA Venom US - DVD R1 | BD RA Cloverfield Paradox, The US - DVD R1 | BD RA Suspiria (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA The Super US - DVD R1 | BD RA


text:
CHEP and IFCO Systems Integration: Brambles Unveils Growth and Business Strategy Plans at Investors Conference
Brambles management unveils growth and business strategy plans, which signals greater collaboration between CHEP and newly acquired IFCO Systems. This spells trouble for the rest of the 48x40 market.
By Chaille Brindley
Date Posted: 5/1/2012
��������������� Brambles Ltd., the parent company behind CHEP and IFCO Systems, recently held an investment market briefing designed to inform the public about future operational plans, growth strategies, and integration of the CHEP and IFCO business units. Brambles, a pooling conglomerate, announced intentions to acquire IFCO Systems in November 2010, which caused concern in the pallet industry because this would unite the largest pallet pooler and the largest recycler in the country under one parent company. The deal was approved by government authorities in March 2011 and Brambles took over control of IFCO Systems in April 2011.
��������������� While Brambles suggested that the most attractive reason for the acquisition was IFCO�s reusable container business serving the produce industry, the conglomerate commented that the IFCO white-wood pallet division was a good business that could provide some synergies with CHEP�s operations and extend the amount of service offerings that Brambles could offer customers. Due to the perceived differences in how the two pallet companies operated, some wondered how Brambles would integrate the two distinct businesses. Some even speculated that Brambles might try to sell off the IFCO pallet business in time, which remains a possibility. But Brambles seems to be signaling to the market that the IFCO pallet business is a critical new tool in its toolbox to serve customers. The level of planned integration between the two companies suggests that Brambles has no real intention to divest the IFCO pallet business any time soon.
��������������� In a recent investor briefing, Brambles top brass discussed the integration, future growth strategies and business moves that could send ripples throughout the U.S. supply chain. With Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS) somewhat crippled for the moment with systemic problems, CHEP has reinforced its leadership position in the market. Innovation and finding new ways to lower costs and serve customers was certainly on the minds of the Brambles executive team as it unveiled its growth strategy.
CHEP�s Current Position
��������������� Having just spent millions of dollars over the last few years upgrading the quality of CHEP�s U.S. pallet pool, Brambles has stated it will not go back to old policies that allowed quality to wane in favor of short-term profit gains. CHEP picked up the Con Agra and Pepsi business that iGPS had stolen for a short period of time. Peter Mackie, group president CHEP Americas and global supply chain chair for CHEP, said, �We are not going to go back to the wrong level of investments.�
��������������� �CHEP USA believes its improved pallet quality has bolstered its competitive position, which should drive margin improvements. Mackie said, �Our ability to grow and discuss price is easier with the improvements in quality and service in the U.S. business.� He added, �We have a pretty robust competitive position in the U.S. business.�
��������������� Currently, the CHEP USA business has three major goals � enhance return on capital investment, focus on cost leadership and remove costs out of the supply chain, and identify and go after growth opportunities for new business. Improved communication with retailers is a major aspect of this effort. Kim Rumph, president of CHEP USA, said, �Retailers control the supply chain inside the United States as they do globally.� As a result, CHEP has focused to improve its deep engagement with retailers by recently hosting a forum for top decision makers. Rumph said, �Now we are sitting with the supply chain teams. And they are saying, �It�s about reducing days on-hand inventory. It�s about direct ship to stores from manufacturers.� They are giving us the insights that we need to drive innovation.�
��������������� Improving asset control has become a high priority for Brambles. CHEP has bolstered the total number of asset management staff in the field and is aggressively reinforcing its ownership claims according to Mackie. This is all part of an overall plan to evaluate each customer and shipping lane based on a Revenue Per Issue (RPI) basis. CHEP has begun test programs with customers and analysis of each unique customer situation to identify the true cost to serve each customer.
��������������� Rumph, explained, �We are beginning to shift price based on the true cost to serve customers.� While this may mean higher prices for some customers, it also means savings in other cases or possibly a transition to white-wood pallets offered by IFCO Systems. Armed with more data, don�t be surprised if CHEP lobbies for higher prices to serve underperforming lanes in the future.
��������������� CHEP is currently conducting end-to-end studies tracking flows for Proctor & Gamble and Kroger as well as Costco Wholesale. The goal of these studies is to identify waste and improve asset utilization.
��������������� Brambles believes that growth will come from new business (particularly small to medium sized companies), former customer win backs, such as Pepsi and Con Agra, and price increases. One potential source for new business is customers concerned about mold or bugs wanting a dried, export certified pallet. CHEP is likely to offer a half-sized pallet in the near future. Rumph pointed to the growing trend of special manufacturer promos that are being shipped on half-sized pallets as a major growth opportunity since CHEP USA does not offer a half-sized pallet. CHEP Canada recently launched a half-sized pallet in Canada.
��������������� Rumph said, �If there is going to be a fractional sized pallet in the United States, we want to be the one to create that pool and set that standard.�
��������������� CHEP believes it has gained only 48% of the addressable pooling opportunity in the United States. It has identified 15% held by other pooling companies and 37% served by standardized white-wood pallets as a potential target. CHEP has a much greater growth potential it has admitted in South America compared to the United States and Canada.
��������������� Thanks to the Costco Wholesale mandate for block pallets, pallet poolers have gained access to small-to -medium sized product manufacturers that previously avoided rental. CHEP indicated that this has been a good source of business since these accounts have a higher RPI compared to larger volume accounts.
��������������� Rumph said that CHEP has been able to expand about 15% into a higher class category when it comes to volume yet keep at the same RPI, which is one of the reasons that CHEP has been able to boost profitability over the last half year. CHEP considers any account under 100,000 issues to be a small-to-medium sized customer.
IFCO�s Pallet Division
��������������� Although IFCO doesn�t have the profit margins of CHEP, it is a low capital investment business. Dave Russell, president of Pallet Management Services for IFCO, said that IFCO has about 3,000 customers and this division grew about 9% during the first half of the fiscal year 2012. IFCO handles over 200 million pallets per year.
��������������� IFCO has benefitted from its strategic relationship with CHEP as pallet depots controlled by CHEP have diverted white-wood cores away from the open market to assist IFCO. Also, CHEP has transitioned some unprofitable pooling business to IFCO white-wood pallets. This eliminates unprofitable shipping lanes while keeping business in the Brambles family of companies.
��������������� IFCO�s growth plan includes expanding into new markets and opening new locations, leveraging the strategic relationship with CHEP and offering new services. The largest percentage of growth for IFCO has come with its pallet management services aimed at helping companies better control proprietary pallets and packaging. Russell pointed to IFCO�s program with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) which has helped the government reclaim stray pallets and packaging. Russell explained that the USPS situation presented a challenge of high volumes in heavily centralized locations, short lead times and the requirement of a government compliant contractor. In some cases, IFCO provided wooden pallets as an alternative for trips that couldn�t be effectively managed to secure return of the government packaging asset.
CHEP and IFCO Integration
��������������� During the investment briefing, Rumph told the story of one CHEP customer that had a high number of flows to Non-Participating Distributors (NPDs), companies that have not signed on to return CHEP pallets. This particular customer was supplied completely by CHEP. Sixty percent of its flows were going to high RPI participating distributors. The remainder was going to NPDs. Rumph said, �We have shifted this customer from being a non-profitable account to being a profitable account by eliminating NPD flows. CHEP primarily achieved this by moving the NPD flows to white-wood pallets provided by IFCO.
��������������� Currently, CHEP has capped NPD flows and is working to reduce NPD shipments. It is also trying to convert many NPDs to its program so that manufacturers can ship even more loads via CHEP.
��������������� Brambles has started to integrate some parts of the CHEP and IFCO businesses, such as IT, administration, human resources, administrative� support and other functions. Both companies have retained their separate sales teams although the companies are sharing leads and working to move business to whatever approach can provide the best RPI. Mackie said that eventually the goal is to simplify and centralize billing to make accounting easier for customers.
��������������� A number of pallet recyclers across the country have reported that CHEP is imposing stricter rules for PDs since the beginning of the year. This includes restricting downstreaming of pallets for picked loads and imposing logistics return fees that had been waived for return freight. After CHEP outlines the tougher rules or imposition of fees, a little while later IFCO comes to visit and suggests that it can make those issues go away if the PD will agree to allow IFCO to manage its program and take possession of all the white-wood pallet cores. This is exactly the kind of sales games that the pallet industry was concerned about when the IFCO acquisition was first announced. Although a number of pallet companies petitioned the Department of Justice (DOJ) to scrutinize closer the acquisition, it sailed through with virtually no problem.
��������������� In the end, these recent moves could jeopardize the future of the GMA market and force smaller recyclers to close. This would certainly lead to higher rental prices, which is likely the point of this strategy.�
Logistics and Operations Innovation
��������������� A major focus of Brambles has become driving costs out of the supply chain. It hopes to do this through using best practices to optimize CHEP and IFCO facilities as well as looking for logistics savings primarily by reducing the amount of distance that pallets must travel in its system. The idea is that fewer miles on the road leads to less money spent on fuel.
��������������� In some cases, CHEP has started to work with customers to handle shipping its pallets. CHEP has launched a program with Wal-Mart where the retailer will backhaul pallets in its trucks back to CHEP facilities.
��������������� A key weapon in this process is software and logistics expertise pioneered by Lean Logistics, which was acquired by Brambles a number of years ago.� Lean Logistics is a consulting firm that helps increase operating efficiency and reduces transportation costs for customers. This computer modeling approach is going to be used to optimize both the CHEP and IFCO logistics network, which means that both companies may close, open or combine some facilities over the next few years.
��������������� �Plant network optimization is where we are expecting the biggest chunk of savings (about $40 million) because this reflects the integration of the IFCO PMS and CHEP networks. We are combining two effective networks, and we are expecting big savings there by reducing transportation distances,� said Carmelo Alonso, senior vice president of CHEP.
��������������� Brambles hopes to save $95 million through optimization of its network and increasing the efficiencies of its plants. Also, some programs are aimed at addressing customer concerns. Alonso said that one of the most critical factors for customers has been raised nails. CHEP plans to add to its network around the globe a weighted roller system used in Europe that has helped address the concern.
��������������� CHEP will start standardizing many practices in its plants. For example, CHEP plans to paint pallets one at a time and stencil its logo and marks on the pallet using ink jet machines, a practice which is used widely in its Canadian operations. Various automation practices will still depend a lot on the volume and local labor costs for each plant.
Synergies and Cost Savings
��������������� The big takeaway from the recent Brambles meeting is that the� integration of these companies will provide the market a dynamic packaging provider that hopes to drive costs out of the supply chain while offering customers an optimal pallet based on the real cost per trip. Both CHEP and IFCO have been busy trying to grab new business and appear positioned for more growth. That�s bad news for the rest of the pallet business where many recyclers are struggling to survive.
Do you want reprints or a copyright license for this article? Click here
Research and connect with suppliers mentioned in this article using our FREE ZIP Online service.


text:
Join Now
Forgot Password
Comments: Useable condition. Missing Fender on right side.
Due to logistics there is only a brief comment on description or condition of this item up for auction. All items can be inspected on site by calling Tony in the maintenance department during inspection hours of 7:30am to 2:30pm Monday thru Friday only. Specific questions can be directed to the Auctioneer regarding any item or bidding procedure. All items are being sold "as is" so we recommend you take the time to view and inspect each item. Most items were in operational condition when removed from service due to upgrades, wear and tear or slight defects. Don't hesitate to call for more information.
Auctioneer: 978.407.4452 (Fred)
Facility Manager: 508.414.9900 (Tony)
This item is being sold "as is" and "where is". The highest bidder at the close of the auction will be awarded the sale and is required to pay the final bid price plus a 10% buyer's fee to the auctioneer. All payments must be made within three (3) days of the bid closing and can be in cash, approved local checks or credit card. All credit card payments will be subject to a 3% finance fee. The winning bidder has seven (7) days to remove the items purchased and must do so by appointment. Personnel will be available during normal hours of operation (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Saturday by appointment, but you must call ahead for scheduling. The phone number to call is (978) 345-9200 x 5234, contact person is Michael Gormley, Director of Facilities or call the Auctioneer, see number below. You can use this same number to schedule any appointment during the sale to visually inspect any item offered for sale or to request more information regarding any item included in this liquidation.
The auctioneer and the Personnel who represent Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School will not be held liable for any injury or loss which might occur from any item being offered for sale or for any loss or injury which might occur while on the premises of the school for inspection or removal. Please be advised that any involvement in this sale will be conducted at your own risk and you relinquish your right to hold any person or institution liable in any event which might cause injury or loss. By bidding online for any item in this sale, you are acknowledging acceptance of the terms and conditions of this sale. Please be advised that any bid represents a bidding contract to purchase. All bids are final and no return or cancellation of any bid will be allowed. If you do not comply with any of the terms listed, your sale can be voided and any items may be resold or disposed at the discretion of the auctioneer. Your failure to comply with these terms may cause you to become liable for any loss which might result from your noncompliance. Please do not bid if you do not accept these terms. We strongly encourage all bidders to inspect all items before bidding. Any information made available is provided as a courtesy but we do not offer any guarantee either expressed or implied. For any questions or concerns, you can call the auctioneer on his cell phone anytime during this sale. The number to call is (978) 407-4452. Fred Tousignant, Mass License No. 309.
Additional note! All buyers will be required to sign a certificate of non-collusion and pay a 6.25% sales tax unless you submit a valid tax exempt certificate.
Please click here for an explanation of our (1-10) Rating System.
Condition Ratings
Also, please feel free to email or call us if you have any further questions.
Maximum Bidding
To save our bidders time, our system is desgined to accept "maximum bids."
A "maximum bid" is the highest bid you are willing to place on an item.
Our system will automatically bid for you, in the required increments, up to your "maximum bid."
The initial bid placed for you will be only as high as required to outbid any current bidders should your "maximum bid" be highest.
This means that you will always pay the minimum price required to "win" an item, and not necessarily your "maximum bid"
**NOTE: In the event that your maximum bid ties a previously left maximum bid, the previously left maximum bid will prevail.
**If you are the current High Bidder, entering another "Maximum Bid" will simply adjust your current "Maximum Bid" to the new amount providing it is higher than the "Current Bid". You are allowed to increase or decrease your "Maximum Bid"


text:
Hi - new here. My baby has always had a great shark baby latch, has always eaten
and slept well - through the night since day 5.
about 1.5-2 weeks ago she started coming off the breast after 5-10 minutes, not latching back on, getting really frustrated and ended up crying inconsolably. It was nearly always at her last feeding at pm.
little history: My milk came in on day 4 and has increased exponentially. During the middle of the night i can pump nearly 8 oz.
i started pumping pretty early on and now 5 weeks later have nearly 100 oz frozen.
she started doing the pull off thing at night and i would try and try to get her to keep eating because i knew she was still hungry and i knew she needed more.
fast forward to about week ago, she started having green poop. every other diaper was dark green. It finally stopped last weekend, shes gained a full pound in a month, and shes had great wets and dirties. yet she is still pulling off and refusing to eat, even during morning and daytime feedings.
my MIL claims its colic because her son had colic. I dont think thats it because she IS consolable, and she will latch back on if i just let her have a break and sleep for a while.
I had her on a great schedule that was working great for her, then this started. (Dr Denmark schedule - every 4 hrs at 5, 9, 1.)
Im not getting uncomfortably engorged and my milk doesnt spray out without me squeezing my nipple.
Ive heard she gets frustrated that its not coming out fast enough, and ive heard babies just need to cry at night because they are overstimulated or dont know how to unwind from the day.
i also am starting to think i possibly have thrush?
I have an extremely high pain tolerance, but nipples are Super tender after feeding/pumping, they are pinkish/reddish after feedings and itch a little sometimes.
Her mouth has white on her tongue but my MIL says its just "milk tongue" and its not all over her mouth or on my nipples.
any help would be marvelous.
thank you!!


text:
The most bizarre and startling restaurant news of the new year is that Graze won't live to see the other side of this weekend. You heard right, unfortunately. Owner Michael Chesley, who parted ways with co-owner and Executive Chef Jennifer James in September of 2006, issued a press release last week announcing the restaurant's impending closure. His reason: Despite garnering national attention for the restaurant's focus on small plates and local ingredients, Graze's lofty concept just didn't make financial sense.
"Since opening, Graze has excelled in many areas but has never been financially successful," he says in the release. "As the majority owner, I have used my personal funds to help maintain the restaurant these last four years. It is with great regret that I realize I can no longer continue with this course of action."
Graze will serve its last deviled egg this Saturday, Jan. 27. If there's a silver lining, it's that Chesley has no plans to close adjoining Gulp! Lounge. The jewel-like microbar will remain open seven days a week from 4 p.m. until the wee hours of the night. Although, I do have to wonder (aloud, as my phone calls to the restaurant were never returned) if the touches that made Gulp sparkle-
Another university area staple will shut its doors this weekend as well: IryshMac's Coffee House will serve its last latte on Saturday, Jan. 27. Longtime barista Tea Nielsen (pronounced "tay-uh," not like the beverage) explains that after seven years on southeast Yale, it was time for a change. "The owner [Erin Mowris] felt it wasn't a stable environment for a business."
Mowris will open a new, unrelated coffee shop in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, about one-half mile north of Osuna on Fourth Street. You'll note that's not exactly a haven for college-aged kids. "That's a lot of the reason why it's not going to be IryshMac's. The students are what made it." Mowris hasn't settled on a name just yet. If you've got any ideas, let her know at the farewell party this Saturday from 6-10 p.m.
Still more closures: Clear across town, Eurasia Bistro (10721 Montgomery NE, in the old Minato of Japan building) appears to have closed. I guess the demand for $60 Kobe beef sashimi dinners wasn't high enough to keep its ample dining room filled.
It's not all doom and gloom in the restaurant scene this week, though. Just down the street, Savoy Bar & Grill has at last opened at 10601 Montgomery NE, in what for years has been the massive, languishing YesterDave's building. The stunningly redesigned restaurant is the latest effort from oenophilic brothers Keith and Kevin Roessler, of Zinc and Seasons fame. Savoy's exhibition kitchen shows off a menu heavy on wine-friendly cuisine like roasted meats, seafoods and locally farmed produce.
Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and dinner is available after 5 p.m. There's also the swanky Suede Lounge and vine-draped Patio Bar open daily at 3 p.m., with a happy hour from 3-6 p.m. Call 294-WINE (9463) for reservations.


text:
1995-05 CV Axle Shaft Pair A1 Cardone 66-1323 - CAACS00009CAACS00009
Part Details
- Quantity: Pair
These axle shafts are new, aftermarket parts. They are just what you need to get your vehicle in good working order!
- Comes as a PAIR
- Fits both LH (Driver Side) & RH (Passenger Side) FRONT
- CV Style Axle Shafts
- Brand New, not refurbished or rebuilt
- Built to strict quality control standards
- No core charges
- Correct for models with or without ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes)
- Does not include Stub Shaft for Passenger Side
- Buyer will need to transfer Inner Stub Shaft from the original axles to replacement CV Axle
Features & Benefits of each NEW CV (Constant Velocity) axle shaft:
- 100% Neoprene Boots for excellent Ozone resistance. - Eliminates cracking; a leading cause for failure of CV boots
- 3% moly grease. - Provides excellent high temperature and extreme pressure characteristics which extends the life of the joint
- Axle nut supplied 100%. - If axle nut from the vehicle is worn or stripped there is no need to buy a separate axle nut because it is provided
- Splines rolled 100%. - Guarantees proper installation of axle into mating hub and transmission eliminating installation hassle
- Threads rolled 100%. - Guarantees proper installation of axle nut eliminating installation hassle
Note: This is for a pair of axle shaft assemblies.
Axle shafts may need replacing for a variety of different reasons. On vehicles that do heavy work or endure other extreme use you can actually break an axle or strip the splines or teeth. More often the CV joint wears out causing noises and vibration while accelerating or turning.
CV axles are designed to transmit the power from your vehicle's drivetrain to the wheels while being able to flex and pivot to the demands of the steering and suspension systems. If your vehicle is making clicking noises at lower speeds or when making turns, it may be time to replace your CV axles with our 100% brand new assemblies.
Item Condition:
Lifetime Warranty
This item is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. In the event this item should fail due to manufacturing defects during intended use, we will exchange the part free of charge (excludes shipping charges) for the original purchaser.
step : Removing the Wheel (0:49)
- Loosen the lug nut caps with a 19mm socket
- Pull off the hub cap
- Loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle on the ground
- Raise the vehicle with a floor jack
- Secure the vehicle on jack stands
- Remove the lug nuts
- Pull off the wheel
step : Removing the Axle (1:15)
- Apply penetrating oil to the axle nut
- Remove the hub nut with a 30mm socket and breaker bar
- Remove the hub nut washer
- Apply penetrating oil to the axle splines
- Push the axle out of the hub with a hammer and a block of wood
- Turn the spindle assembly by hand
- Apply penetrating oil to the strut assembly nuts
- Loosen the 21mm nuts from the strut assembly with a breaker bar and pipe for leverage
- Remove the 21mm nuts with a ratchet
- Tap the bolts out of the strut assembly with a hammer
- Pull apart the lower nut and spindle with a pry bar
- Apply penetrating oil to the brake line bracket bolt
- Remove the 13mm bolt from the brake line bracket
- Pull the spindle back and pull the axle out of the hub
- Pry the axle away from the output housing with a pry bar
- Pull the axle out by hand
step : Installing the New Axle (4:38)
- Push the transmission end of the axle in, making sure the clip locks in
- Push the axle all the way in, and push the hub end into the hub
- Install the hub nut and washer
- Preliminarily tighten the hub nut
- Insert the 13mm bolt into the brake line bracket
- Line up the spindle with the strut assembly
- Insert the bolts into the strut assembly
- Tap the bolts in with a hammer
- Put the 21mm nuts on to the strut bolts
- Tighten the 21mm nuts to 100 foot-pounds of torque
step : Reattaching the Wheel (7:32)
- Slide the wheel into place
- Start the lug nuts by hand
- Tighten the lug nuts preliminarily
- Lower the vehicle to the ground
- Tighten the hub nut to between 145-150 foot-pounds
- Tighten the lug nuts to 90 foot-pounds in a crossing or star pattern
- Put the hub cap on, lining up the notch with the valve stem
- Tighten the lug nut covers with a 19mm socket
Tools needed for replacement:
- Hammer
- Floor Jack
- Jack Stands
- Rust Penetrant
- Block of Wood
- A Piece of Pipe (for leverage)
- Torque Wrench
- 1/2 Inch Breaker Bar
- Ratchet
- Pry Bar
- 30mm Socket
- 13mm Socket
- 21mm Socket
- 19mm Socket
General Tools
Materials, Fluids, and Supplies
Ratchets & Related
Screwdrivers & Related
Sockets - Metric
|Chevy Cavalier Front CV Axle Shaft Pair for Models with 4 Speed Automatic Transmission A1 Cardone 66-1323
|Pontiac Sunfire Front CV Axle Shaft Pair for Models with 4 Speed Automatic Transmission A1 Cardone 66-1323
Part #: CAACS00009
Order must be placed by 4pm ET
Get it in: 2 - 4 Business Days
Want it sooner? Choose Next Day Air at Checkout


text:
Shareholders signal dissatisfaction with HP's board
Hewlett-Packard Co Chairman Ray Lane and several other directors narrowly kept their seats on the board as shareholders conveyed their displeasure over the botched $11 billion acquisition of British software firm Autonomy Plc.business Updated: Mar 21, 2013 15:14 IST
Hewlett-Packard Co Chairman Ray Lane and several other directors narrowly kept their seats on the board as shareholders conveyed their displeasure over the botched $11 billion acquisition of British software firm Autonomy Plc.
Lane, a managing partner at high-powered Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, fellow venture capitalist Marc Andressen and other board members have come under fire from shareholders for one of the company's costliest acquisition mistakes in years.
Director and activist Ralph Whitworth told shareholders at the company's annual meeting on Wednesday to expect "some evolution" in the company's board, but did not elaborate.
Lane, whom influential proxy firm ISS recommended voting against, won just 58.88 percent of shareholder votes. That was well below last year's 96-percent tally.
ISS and Glass Lewis, a governance analysis firm, had recommended voting against a roster of other directors.
ISS gave the thumbs-down to McKesson Corp Chief Executive John Hammergren and former Wachovia Corp CEO G. Kennedy Thompson, while Glass Lewis recommended shareholders vote to remove four directors: Andreessen, lead independent director Rajiv Gupta, Hammergren and Thompson.
Hammergren got 53.91 percent of shareholders' votes versus 81 percent last year, while Thompson had 55.15 percent, down from 81.2 percent previously. Andreessen garnered 69.77 percent, off from 82 percent last year.
Problems with the acquisition, spearheaded by former CEO Leo Apotheker during his tumultuous 11-month reign, came to light after HP last year accused former management at the British firm, including then-CEO Mike Lynch, of accounting fraud, which Lynch again denied on Wednesday.
HP eventually swallowed a multi-billion dollar writedown on the asset's value, enraging some investors. The misstep capped a tumultuous decade for the company that encompassed the infamous "pretexting" scandal of 2006, during which it hired detectives to pose as journalists and board members to obtain their phone records.
"Today's vote was a challenge to business as usual for the HP Board following a decade of failures at HP and the board's insistence on blaming recent missteps on the previous CEO," Dieter Waizenegger, executive director of the CtW Investment Group, said in a statement. "These votes are too high to ignore."
The firm, which advises union pension funds with roughly $200 billion in assets and has opposed the re-election of Hammergren and Thompson, wants the board to replace them.
Lead independent director Gupta last week warned shareholders that disrupting the board would destabilize the company during a critical turnaround period. Gupta was re-elected with 80.25 percent of shareholder votes.
"They need to better manage the business," said Michel Cohen, a shareholder from Sunnyvale who voted against some of the board members. "They (board) were part of the old school where they made big mistakes, big acquisitions. They have not created a stable environment."
Need some changes
Investor unrest comes at a bad time for HP and CEO Meg Whitman, who has embarked on a multi-year turnaround to resurrect growth at a company once synonymous with Silicon Valley but has since stagnated as its core personal-computing and printing business declines.
She has asked investors for patience while the company enacts layoffs and cost cuts and expands into areas with longer-term potential, such as enterprise computing services.
"Despite what you have read in the headlines, we are on a solid financial foundation. There is still room for improvement," Whitman told shareholders on Wednesday. She won re-election to the board with more than 98 percent of the vote.
Whitworth, who runs activist hedge fund Relational Investors LLC and was named to the board of the struggling Silicon Valley computing company in 2011, defended HP's board, saying it was among the best he had seen. But he acknowledged that HP's investors have "rightfully" questioned some of the transactions the company has made.
Whitworth, whose firm owned about $800 million worth of HP shares, said shareholders can expect some changes in the HP board in the near term.
"I think you can expect some evolution of the board over the coming years, months maybe," he said at the annual meeting held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, a few miles from HP's headquarters.
Lynch, who has repeatedly denied HP's allegations, on Wednesday demanded the board provide more details on its accounting-related allegations, reiterating that HP mismanaged the software company after buying it.
HP said it was cooperating with the authorities and "cannot disclose any information that would interfere with any of the ongoing investigations into this matter."
"We refuse to be a scapegoat for HP's own failings," Lynch said in a letter to shareholders.
First Published: Mar 21, 2013 15:12 IST


text:
"Naked" Sponsored Access
Naked sponsored access is the practice of a non-broker-dealer client using the exchange membership of a broker-dealer without any pre-trade validations.
We support regulation that would require pre-trade, during trade, and post-trade risk monitoring for sponsored access.
We share concerns about market participants accessing exchanges directly without pre-trade risk assessment. We believe that naked sponsored access introduces the potential for significant systemic risks due to the lack of appropriate pre/intra/post trade risk controls. Goldman Sachs does not allow any customer to access the exchanges without first using our pre-trade risk management systems.


text:
Mexican Recipes
Crispy Fried Lavash Tacos
Crispy fried tacos are traditionally made with deep-fried tortillas, but since I received a humongous package from our friends at California Lavash, I prepared the tacos with lavash flatbread and they turned out beautifully. I also used the same oil for the tacos for deep fried catfish sticks. I filled the tacos with brown rice, roasted red pepper and eggplant spread, fried fish, red oak leaves, Mexican crema and curly parsley.
These do take a little of time to prepare but the result is well worth the labor. As appetizers, they're especially great if you're preparing them for a small crowd. I'm sure your guests will love these mix-and-mingle party bites.
Full Recipe...
Horchata Cookies with Queso Fresco
If you've been keeping up on my recipes this week, you know that I've been making use of the wonderful cheeses from Queso Del Valle. I thought a dessert would be a nice way to end the week. Lulu and I had lunch at the appropriately named "Lulu's" Mexican restaurant last Sunday, and we both enjoyed a nice cup of horchata (cinnamon-flavored rice drink). I thought it would be fun to capture the rice and cinnamon flavors of the drink in an edible form.
I made cookies with queso fresco and incorporated sweetened condensed milk, horchata, almonds, rice flour and cinnamon. I didn't stop there and topped the moist cookies with cinnamon and crema Mexicana sour cream icing.
These horchata cookies turned out great and I might whip another fusion dessert before the weekend is over. How do profiteroles filled with Mexican vanilla-flavored queso fresco and crema Mexicana sour cream sound? I think it would be even more luscious if the profiteroles are drizzled with dulce leche. Mmmm...
Full Recipe...
Mexican Vegetable Terrine Recipe
This vegetable terrine was inspired by Blaise, a regular PhamFatale reader, who suggested this vegetarian dish. I adapted it this week in anticipation of Cinco de Mayo. I layered grilled eggplant, tri-color roasted bell peppers, sweet basil leaves, celery, fresh pineapple, black beans and a lot of Oaxacan cheese.
The key to creating the terrine is to make sure the layers of flavors are tightly packed to showcase the colorful display. I garnished the vegetable terrine with shredded red oak leaf lettuce, diced avocado and crumbled queso fresco (Thank you, Queso Del Valle!). The last step is a flavorful salad dressing; I prepared this one with delicious champagne vinegar from our good friends at Bellindora.
Want to see more? Make sure to like PhamFatale on Facebook for exclusive new dishes and follow @phamfatalecom on Twitter for instant culinary news and more photos on Instagram and Pinterest.
Full Recipe...
Red Kidney Bean Tostada with Nopales
Tostadas are deep-fried corn tortillas presented in the form of a flat, open-faced sandwich. I made a slightly smaller version for appetizers, called tostaditas. You can fill them with anything you like; I played with different textures and flavors, and settled on something Lulu had while we were on vacation in Cancun. I added grilled nopales (segments from prickly pears), corn and tomato salsa and topped the appetizers with mini red kidney bean burgers, crumbled queso fresco and Mexican sour cream both from our friends over at Karoun Cheese.
I love the fact that you could eat these in one-to-two bites. You can feel both the freshness and spiciness from the vegetables and the warmth and crunch from the tostada. I served them with little wedges of sweet limes from our garden to cut the heaviness of the cheese and sour cream. It's pure piece of heaven for the mouth. Enjoy!
Full Recipe...
How to Make Horchata (Cinnamon Rice Milk Drink Recipe)
I actually first discovered horchata during a 1993 summer family vacation in Valencia, Spain. We loved the drink so much, we drank liters and liters of the delicious, cool, sweet horchata. That particular variety was made with tiger nuts, but there are many variations that are made with nuts and grains such as rice, blanched ground almonds, sesame seeds or barley. It all depends on which region the beverage comes from.
I've had the rice-based version several times at Mexican restaurants recently, and I've been itching to learn how to make it at home. The recipe requires patience but is worth the wait. I'm definitely going to be bringing a big jug of this to the next family picnic!
Full Recipe...


text:
History and Old Stuff...
Emigrant children at Ellis Island, 1908.
I am fond of old books, and I bought another one at a tag sale last Saturday. It is Volume 5 of The New Student's Reference Work for Teachers Students and Families, and it was published by F.E. Compton and Company of Chicago in 1911. The set of books must have been an ancestor of today's Compton's Encyclopedia.
Much of the book is educational stories about various topics. I enjoyed the description of emigrants arriving at Ellis Island. This contemporary description is informative both in its factual content and in its inadvertent documentation of attitudes of the time. With the current furor over immigration to America, it is interesting to get a glimpse of immigration in a different time.
I believe that my great-grandparents Sees came from Germany through Ellis Island. I am not sure of the year, but I think it would have been between 1900 and 1910, about the time of the photo above and the description that appears below. (Aunt Becky or other family members, you can correct me if you read this.)
Here is an excerpt from the Ellis Island story. The punctuation and spelling are as they appear in the book. (Any obvious typos are mine.)
A child on the top deck of a ship, is observing emigrants arriving in New York City...
...A great ocean steamer is five or six stories deep, you remember. You have lived in the top story, or first cabin. You have never seen the people below you. You can see them now, as they go ashore over the gang plank, if you stand by the deck rail and look down.
A crowd of the strangest looking people pour over the gang plank from the third deck, or steerage. They look like little bits of all the countries you have seen or read about. Few of the women wear hats. They have handkerchiefs or caps or shawls on their heads. They carry babies in their arms, on their hips or their backs. Little childrren cling to their short, wide skirts. The men and boys carry mountains of queer shaped bundles and boxes and bags on their heads and shoulders. They stand by these bundles on the dock, as if they feared to lose them. Men in uniform keep the crowds moving. They shout orders in a dozen languages. The people are weary from the long journey, but oh, so interested in everything, so eager and hopeful. They wait patiently with their babies and their bundles and do everything they are told to do.
They will not be allowed to leave this dock, as do the cabin passengers. Although they are on American soil, they have not been admittted to make their homes here yet. In the old days, every one could come in freely. They cannot do that now. We found that a great many very old people, and orphan children, and blind and crippled and feeble-minded people, came. They did not belong here, but we had to take care of them. Many bad men came, too. They had been in prison in their own land, and they gave us much trouble. So laws were passed to admit only those who were strong and well and good honest workers. Every one who comes must have some money to give him a start. Children and old people must have some one to care for them.
All these people must get on a barge, or open boat, and go back to the emigrant station on Ellis Island. Ellis Island is just inside the harbor. You can buy a ticket and go there to see these people examined and questioned by government officers. Your boat is fast so it passes the barge.
When you leave your boat, hurry across the open space to a big building like a railway station. Go up a side stairway to a gallery that runs around a big white-tiled room and look down. Up the wide central stairway come the people from the barge. There are thousands of them. See if there are any you know.
Oh, there are the Dutch children. They wear wooden shoes just as they did three hundred years ago. That is an Irish family. The children have merry eyes. That is a German family. The children are stout and fair and rosy, You wonder if "dear mother" has a Christmas tree in that beautiful linen chest she sits on. There are some English or Scotch people. The little girls are shy, the boys independent little fellows. And there are such a lot of people who never came to America at all, in the old days.
Those big black-bearded men in long overcoats, caps, and high boots are Russian farmers. They will go out to wide western plains to grow wheat. We need that kind of Americans. The smaller, long-bearded men who are near them, are Russian Jews. They have had trouble about their religion, and come to us for peace and safety. They will work in tailor shops in the big cities. Some will be peddlers. By and by they will have good shops of their own.
Those men in velveteen jackets with nickel buttons and bright red vests, are Hungarians in their Sunday clothes. Some are in sheepskin coats. Their women have short skirts, bare heads, and embroidered aprons. These people will work in mines and packing houses and steel foundries. There are no women with those red-capped Turks who have come to sell us Oriental rugs. Those handsome Greeks will be peddlers of fruit or of plaster casts of old Greek statues. The Italians with dark, rosy faces, have dozens of little ones with them. The men are small but they can do the hardest kind of labor on railroad beds and street sewers. The Norwegians are tall. In their old home they are sailors. They will not be afraid to do iron work on sky-scrapers and bridges. Those fair, very clean, young women are Swedes. With the German and Irish girls, they make the best housemaids in the world. There are very few people among these new-comers who cannot do some useful work.
Men in uniform are at every door and stair landing. They can speak many languages and they know what country every one comes from by his dress and face. They are kind to these strangers. Now, one says to a scared little Italian woman, in her own language:
"Signora (madam), come in out of the draft. The bambino (baby) will catch cold." She smiles happily to hear her own dear tongue in this strange America. So it goes, all along the line. Five thousand strangers are made to feel at home.
On one stair landing stands a government doctor in uniform. He looks closely at every man, woman and child. Now he pulls a man out of line and marks a cross on his sleeve with chalk. The doctor thinks this man has tuberculosis. That is a "catching" disease, and few people get well of it. He must go to a special room and be examined. Another doctor looks at people's eyes. Another looks at their faces to see if they are bright enough to earn a living. People who are a little sick from the journey are sent to a hospital right on the Island and made well. Children with measles or other "catching" disease that they can be cured of, are sent to city hospitals.
Inspectors look at the numbered tag pinned to each emigrant's coat and tell him which wire-screened room to go to. There he finds an officer who speaks his language. The officer has a long paper that tells all about him. It was filled out in the seaport town from which he sailed. Now he must answer all these questions again. What is his name, his age, his birthplace? What useful work can he do? How much money did he bring with him? Has he friends in America? Where does he want to go? Has he ever been in prison; or in an assylum; or dependent on charity? What is his health? If his answers are satisfactory and truthful he pays a fee of $4.00. This is to pay the expenses of the emigrant station.
Then, if he is going farther than New York, an officer goes with him to the ticket office. He buys his ticket and checks his baggage. He finds that, in America, people do not drag heavy bundles about with them, but have them carried safely in trains, for nothing. Then he is put onto a barge with other people going his way, and taken to his railway station. There, another agent puts him on the right train. He is not allowed to go wrong. No one can cheat him or get his money away from him. Many have to wait until friends claim them, or until the sick members of the family come from a hospital. Such people have a big, steam-heated room to sit in. They have good food at low cost. They have white iron and canvas beds to sleep in.
Everyone who is admitted to America leaves the emigrant station through a certain swing door. A smiling man in uniform stands there, looks at the admission ticket and points the way. On the door is a sign that reads:
"Push: to New York."
That is the front door to America.
Once the new-comer is through that door he can go anywhere he likes, in our broad land, to live and work. Some days five thousand emigrants go through that door, and every year a million or more. In a few years they learn to speak English and all other American ways. Their children go to our schools. They all change into Americans so quickly you think there must be some magic in the words on the front door:
"Push: to New York."
Excerpted from Volume 5 of The New Student's Reference Work for Teachers Students and Families, Chapter XIX, "The Front Door of America", pp. 2299-2302. The book was published by F.E. Compton and Company of Chicago and copyrighted in 1909 and 1911.
Technorati tags: emigrants immigrants emmigrants immigration emigration Ellis Island New York history