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2017 is finally here! Change is in the air, along with a wind chill so let us start the new year off right with 6 New Year's resolutions for your car. It not be as important as losing weight or becoming a better person but you trust your car, you...[read more]
Category: 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The 2017 Chrysler 300 Offers An Impressive List of Performance And Safety Features – Atlanta, GA
The 2017 Chrysler 300 offers drivers an impressive list of performance and safety features. The 300 is available with a fuel-efficient 3.6L V6 engine or a powerful 5.7L HEMI V8 engine. And with an extensive list of safety and security features such as Parkview® rear backup camera with dynamic grid...[read more]


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My son and daughter, both in their 20s, are part of a growing group of people who have "cut the cord" and no longer watch video via broadcast, cable or satellite TV. The apartments they live in are among the more than five million U.S. homes that, according to a recent Nielsen study, have "zero TV." That's up from just over 2 million in 2007.
But as the report points out, zero TV doesn't mean zero video, nor does it mean that they never sit in front of a TV set. More than 75 percent of these homes still have at least one TV that's being used for DVDs, video games and -- in some cases -- watching Internet video.
Young adults more likely to have Zero TV
As you'd expect, the Nielsen study found that younger adults were much more likely to live in zero TV households than people over 44. Cost was a factor for 36 percent of these homes, but 31 percent of these non-TV households cited "lack of interest." Just as many in my generation jettisoned their antennas in favor of cable, many younger adults are dropping cable or satellite in favor of Internet TV.
My wife and I don't fit into this zero-TV demographic. We have a satellite dish on our roof to beam in live news, special events like the Oscars and Super Bowl and the occasional sitcom, TV drama or American Idol show. But we find ourselves spending a lot less time watching broadcast programs and a lot more watching online video from Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO GO and other sources.
We have Roku boxes on our TVs to stream content in high definition on our big living room TV or the smaller sets in our exercise room and bedroom. Roku boxes, which start at $50, are small devices that connect to a wired or wireless home network and plug into a TV, giving you access to nearly 100 channels, including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, CNet, Disney, NBA Game Time, Al Jazeera English, Blockbuster On Demand and others that I had never heard of. Roku doesn't charge any monthly fees, but some channels do. Game consoles also stream Internet video as do some Blu-ray players.
One thing I like about Netflix, Amazon Prime and a few of some other channels is the ability to stream old TV shows that I can watch sequentially at my own pace. My wife and I, for example are almost done watching all five seasons of Alias. We also devoured all 75 episodes of Friday Night Lights and I'm reliving The West Wing. I've also been known to watch an occasional episode of shows from my youth, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Rockford Files and, purely for the nostalgia value, an occasional episode of Leave It to Beaver.
But streaming isn't just about movies and old TV shows. Netflix is taking a cue from HBO and Showtime by producing its own original content. We watched all 13 episodes of House of Cards, a political drama that debuted this year. Breaking from TV tradition, Netflix released the entire series at once, so viewers could watch them at their own pace. Based on what I saw on Twitter and Facebook, I'm not the only one who watched several episodes per evening rather than having to wait a week between shows as is typical of broadcast and cable networks. When searching for the show, I also came across the original BBC version -- also on Netflix -- which I liked as much as the American adaptation.
Another thing I like about streaming is that I can watch these shows on multiple devices. Sometimes we watch them on our Internet-connected TV, but I also watch them on my laptop when traveling or when I want to sit in the backyard. I also watch shows on my iPad mini, my Kindle Fire HD and a variety of Android tablets. And even though watching video on a smartphone isn't an ideal experience, I've done it on iPhone and Android phones simply because it was convenient, such as when I find myself with a little spare time and not near a laptop or tablet. My daughter often watches video on her phone when she's at the gym, though she has to be careful to stay within her data plan. My Sprint iPhone has unlimited data so I have no qualms using it to watch video.
HBO understands the value of streaming and is making its content available not just on PCs and mobile devices but on Rokus and other Internet streaming services. Yet it's still wedded to the cable and satellite industries. To watch HBO GO, you have to enter your user ID and password from AT&T U-verse, Dish, Time Warner Cable, Xfinity or other participating providers. But it's only a matter of time before content packagers like HBO come to the realization that they can make more money by going directly to consumers.
And, speaking of direct, we may also see more examples of content creators -- the producers, directors, writers and crew that actually make the programs -- figuring out that they too can go directly to the public.
This post first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News and on LarrysWorld.com

subset: commoncrawl


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A Web Site Design , Web Development f irm's Role A web page designer builds professional custom (or template) websites, or web portal applications for clients fromCalifornia to Florida.
Typical ecommerce site customers range from self proprietors, to small business, to Fortune 500 companies. Review each web site portfolio to select the best solution for your company. They work with web design and graphic design software including Adobe Photoshop ™, FrontPage ™, DreamWeaver, and Adobe GoLive. Web Designers often work with software development technologies including ASP, PHP, C++, Perl, .NET, Shockwave, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), XHTML, DHTML, and XML. A Website Design Business may build intranet database or shopping cart solutions with Mysql, Postgres, Oracle, Informix and DB2. A creative Web Site Design Firm may also utilize multimedia software including Macromedia Director, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Premiere. Many web design services offer a free initial consultation, web site hosting and website templates. We also list talented independent freelance web site designers who offer seo consulting services.
For additional web marketing, online avertising and web design / web development resources and information select form links at bottom of this page.
Developed by HindSite Interactive | Powered by WebNet Hosting | Related Links | Small Business & Web Design Blog


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Looks interesting, especially the TPS system, almost like a FPS game. I hope they DON'T do auto-aiming. I can imagine the TPS system opening a load of new possibilities for both PVE and PVP, but since this is PSO, I doubt there will be PVP. But for PVE, you can put hit-boxings on mobs and bosses as a way to defeat them. Head shot anyone?
I still have my character on my xbox somewhere. It was a level 120 Humar. I need to go play that again :(


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Photo by Shutterstock
By now, most of America has started to shake the Election Night hangover. While it was the wee hours of the morning before President Obama delivered his victory speech, many other victories were won early in the evening. There were several important environmental and socially responsible initiatives on state ballots this year, many of which were strongly opposed by big corporate and industrial interests. Thankfully, grassroots efforts prevailed in many cases, with environmental advocates winning landmark measures that will help keep humans, wildlife, and the planet safer as a result. Read on to find out which green ballot measures won and which ones will have to try again in the next election.
Photo via Wikimedia commons
Fracking Ban – Longmont, Colo.
This sleepy town became a hot spot of political activity this year, with the oil and gas industries spending around $507,500 to thwart a citizen-led campaign to ban hydraulic fracturing. Despite the influx of corporate money, the people prevailed, passing a ban on fracking, as well as the storage of fracking waste, within city limits.
Photo by Shutterstock
$2.5 Billion for Energy Efficiency – California
While we can all agree that tax loopholes aren't good, closing them hasn't typically been a green activity. By passing Proposition 39, an initiative to close corporate tax loopholes in California, voters will help raise $1 billion in annual state revenue. As Grist's Phillip Bump reports, 50 percent of the money will be used to make public buildings more energy efficient, creating green jobs along the way, and the other half will go to the state's much-depleted general fund.
Photo by Chas Redmond
Elliott Bay Seawall Repair – Seattle, WA
Just because the Pacific Northwest was safe from Hurricane Sandy's destruction doesn't mean those on the West Coast haven't been paying attention. "With images of severe storm and flood damage from the East Coast fresh in many voters' minds, Seattle residents overwhelmingly approved a $290 million, 30-year bond measure to reconstruct the aging Elliott Bay seawall" a largely wooden barrier, constructed between 1919 and 1936, The Seattle Times reported. "In Tuesday's initial vote count, 77 percent of voters were supporting the seawall replacement and just 23 percent were voting to reject it."
But sadly, they can't all be winners. San Francisco's Proposition F, which would have taken steps towards draining the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park, was defeated. Proposition 37, which would have made GMO labeling mandatory in California, was also defeated. Also losing was Michigan's Proposal 3, which would have upped the state's renewable electricity target to require that 25 percent of power come from clean sources by 2025. Supporters say that both initiatives were affected by financial contributions from industry-friendly special interest groups.
via Grist


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Giving shoppers and employees a token that bears your organization's name is a perfect way to build brand loyalty. Choose from a variety of products that are easily shared and distributed to get the most visibility possible by including custom printing on all of these products.
Read More
- Pens and Stationery Pens are one of the most easily shared and noticed instruments in the custom printing repertoire. It is easy to order them in bulk and distribute to employees and shoppers, hand out at events and integrate into everyday life.Stationery serves to complete the correspondence circle. Give your company a professional look by adding custom printing to envelopes and letterheads. Cards bearing your business name also sends personalized congratulations and salutations to customers and consumers alike.
- Custom Bags Shoppers often require bags for their purchases, so adding a custom printed design to the outside is a good way to increase brand presence. These bags are available in paper and plastic and can be created with materials such as canvas and cotton that last much longer. These items create a lasting impression with employees and customers as they continue to associate the business with their everyday needs.
- Make an Impression Make a lasting impression on your employees by giving them awards and prizes with custom name tags and commemorative inscriptions. Trophies and lapel pins are ideal for showing off individual success and assuring employees that they are valued and also for expressing to clients that the personnel they encounter have established accolades.
Quill has the variety of custom office supplies and excellence that you're looking for; with us, you'll always find what you need at the right price.


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HAPPY BiRTHDAY!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy!
Happy biryhday!
have you ever been to thisissand.com? it is fun
Well I just wanted to tell you that i know i was very obnoxious in the past but i listened to some of the advice given to me and i read a book called fighting invisible tigers and every aspect of my life has been changed by the two of those
WHy am I off of your friends list?!
Of all the advice people have given me on here IamSam came through for me. He got me mad at him only to keep it going until I started joking and going along with what he was saying. Genius isn't it?
I had a question about links. How do people make it so their links will say the word "here" and when you click on it it will follow the link? I want to do that but I don't know how!
hi. i am soooooooooo bored
Hey I was just on Google and Dexter has an obituary. WTF is going on
Bitter Punk Fairy
Colonel Principal
in stores now!
Bring me a dream.
blissed & gone


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Spring is in the air — and that means it's time to get rid of the clutter. But rather than throwing out those unused items, why not get rid of your excess stuff by donating it to charity?
Brittany Martin Graunke founded zealousgood.com, an online community that helps donors connect with charities, to do just that.
"We work with 235 nonprofits throughout the Chicago area," said Graunke. "We help people get that direct transparency so they can know where the items end up rather than just sending things to a donation center."
To use the site, Graunke said, users just fill out a form online describing their donated items and specify whether they'd like to drop them off or have them picked up..
"That information then gets distributed privately to the nonprofits, who can request it if they're interested, or send the user a request directly to their inbox," she said.
Those who donate can often see photos of how their items are being used.
"Let's say you wanted to get rid of your old piano and a community center took it," she said. "They can then send you pictures of it being used so you know that not only you helped someone in need, but you can see how your donation is being appreciated."
Here are some items to consider donating to help you give back with your spring cleaning:
Unused gym equipment.
"We had someone give Friends of the Bessemer Bears her old weight bench, which helped the Bessemer Bears team advance to the state games for the Special Olympics," Graunke said.
Old toys.
"Some of the bigger charities will say they don't want used toys, but there are plenty of others that really need them," she said. "If you have a pile of old trucks or a sandbox in the back yard that you're not using, you can get that picked up by someone who will play with them. And those board games in the basement should be given away too."
School supplies.
"This can be markers, sharpies (or) folders," she said. "Child Link was matched to a box of school supplies and crafts. Young women who are aging out of the foster care system live in Child Link's Transitional Living Program. These supplies were used by the girls in their high school and college classes and the crafts were used in group counseling."
Kitchen items.
"So many people only use a few plates or mugs, but they have so many dishes and glasses," she said. "Also, knife blocks, and appliances are needed. Neumann Family Services (which serves adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness) was matched to a stove and kitchen items by Zealous Good. They used the items at one of their community homes."
"Any random electronics or an old printer, or a laptop," she said. "Even old cell phones. A non-profit that clears data from computers and electronic devices would be FreeGeek Chicago. They received donated phones from Zealous Good and used them to train volunteers how to operate, maintain and repair the devices."
Rather than leaving that chair or couch on the curb, Graunke said to try and find it a home.
"Furniture is so important. And it takes all kinds — big and small," she said. "The social service agency dGreenhouse was matched to a leather chair. This chair was used as part of furnishings for a single former homeless veteran who just moved into her apartment this month."
DVDs and CDs.
After you've transferred those movies or music files onto your computer, Graunke said don't let discs take up space.
"This is a big one. People have piles of unused DVDs or CDs and they can be put to good use. We matched DVDs to Project Education Plus. The organization used them on teen movie nights to give kids in the community a safe place to be on weekend nights."
Twitter: @jenweigel


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Click below to filter your search results
Committee Opinion Number 624, February 2015
Reaffirmed 2017
ABSTRACT: Cytology-based cervical cancer screening programs require a number of elements to be successful. Certain low-resource settings, like the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, lack these elements. Implementing alternative cervical cancer screening strategies in low-resource settings can provide consistent, accessible screening opportunities.
Committee Opinion Number 619, January 2015
(Reaffirmed 2017)
ABSTRACT: Obesity is a serious problem worldwide and particularly in the United States, and in women is associated with an increased risk of death and morbid conditions (including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypercholesterolemia) as well as malignancies such as endometrial and postmenopausal breast cancer. Adverse effects after gynecologic surgery, such as surgical site infection, venous thromboembolism, and wound complications, are more prevalent in obese women than in normal-weight women. Preoperative consultation with an anesthesiologist should be consider...
Committee Opinion Number 466, September 2010
(Reaffirmed 2016)
ABSTRACT: International humanitarian medical efforts provide essential services to patients who would not otherwise have access to specific health care services. The Committees on Ethics and Global Women's Health of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourage College Fellows and other health care professionals to participate in international humanitarian medical efforts for this reason. However, such programs present Fellows with a unique set of practical and ethical challenges. It is important for health care providers to consider these challenges before participating i...
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
409 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024-2188 | Mailing Address: PO Box 70620, Washington, DC 20024-9998


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8622 items found matching
Fat Daddio's Springform Pans
Fat Daddio's started designing and manufacturing their signature anodized-aluminum bakeware in 2006. The company history, however, dates back much further than that. Their products are the result of over 40 years of family manufacturing in the professional baking pan and tool industry. The family previously...
$21.95 - $26.95


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GOMA, Congo (AP) — In a story March 4 about a plane crash in Congo's eastern city of Goma, The Associated Press reported erroneously that 36 passengers were killed in the crash, citing the city's mayor. The plane crash killed 7 people. The mayor corrected the death toll on March 5, and it was confirmed by an airline and rescue official.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Congo: Airplane crashes in eastern city of Goma
Congo officials: Airplane crashes in eastern city of Goma, killing many passengers
By MELANIE GOUBY
Associated Press
GOMA, Congo (AP) — Congolese officials say a plane crash in the eastern city of Goma has killed seven people and injured three.
Goma mayor Naasson Kubuya said three passengers survived the crash of the CAA Fokker airplane, which had 10 people on board. The mayor had earlier said 40 people were on board and only four people survived based on initial police estimations.
CAA and rescue team officials have since confirmed that 10 people were on board. An official with the company confirmed Kubuya's figures and said five crew were among the dead, one crew member was missing and one of four passengers was killed. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the press.
The aircraft crashed in the center of Goma, but witnesses say it did not hit any people on the ground.


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TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The head of Tunisia's largest political party said Monday that the country's crisis will be solved by a new compromise government of technocrats and politicians.
Rachid Ghannouchi, whose moderate Islamist Ennahda party holds the most seats in parliament, said the leaders of the main parties had agreed on a new limited Cabinet that would work toward holding new elections as quickly as possible.
Tunisia was plunged into a political crisis after the assassination on Feb. 6 of a leftist opposition politician provoked anti-government riots around the country and sapped confidence in the Ennahda-led Cabinet.
Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali originally called for a technocratic government to guide the country to new elections and threatened to quit if his initiative was rejected.
On Monday, Jebali announced his technocrat option did not have sufficient support and that he would see President Moncef Marzouki on Tuesday. Jebali did not say he would resign.
Ennahda, his own political party, which had rejected his initiative, said it still wants Jebali to remain as the head of government.
"We of Ennahda continue to support the leadership of Hamadi Jebali at the head of government, and this is the case of all parties at the meeting," said Ghannouchi. The meeting consisted of 11 heads of parties, including the opposition.
Tunisians overthrew their long-ruling dictator in January 2011 and kicked off the Arab Spring uprisings in the region. A moderate Islamist Party won elections and formed a coalition with secular parties, but the country has been dogged by a faltering economy, high expectations, and a rising strain of extremist Islam prone to violence.
Efforts to write a new constitution and organize elections for a permanent government also were stalled by bickering between the political parties, culminating in the crisis over the assassination.


text: Make an Appointment Locations Main Hospital Washington, District of Columbia 20010 1-888-884-BEAR (2327) Languages Spoken English Departments Brain Tumor Institute Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Experimental Therapeutics Program Oncology Neurofibromatosis Institute Brain Tumor Institute Board Certifications American Board of Pediatrics/Hematology-OncologyNational Provider ID: 1023215944 Disclosure This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has a working relationship (i.e. consulting, research, and/or educational services) with the companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts. Outside Interests Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium


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EHR & Super Storm Sandy
John Lynn is the Founder of the HealthcareScene.com blog network which currently consists of 10 blogs containing over 8000 articles with John having written over 4000 of the articles himself. These EMR and Healthcare IT related articles have been viewed over 16 million times. John also manages Healthcare IT Central and Healthcare IT Today, the leading career Health IT job board and blog. John is co-founder of InfluentialNetworks.com and Physia.com. John is highly involved in social media, and in addition to his blogs can also be found on Twitter: @techguy and @ehrandhit and LinkedIn.
I was recently contacted by Waiting Room Solutions, an EHR company located in New York City about their experience during Super Storm Sandy. Sandra Levy talked to a number of Waiting Room Solutions EHR doctors to learn about their experience with EHR during Super Storm Sandy. She tells their stories in the embedded PDF below (try the full screen button for easy reading).


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The chart on the left is the 3 month Euribor.
The Euro Interbank Offered Rate, or Euribor, is the average interest rate at which term deposits are offered between prime banks in the EU wholesale money market or interbank market.[1] Just like the LIBOR serves as a short-term reference rate for British Pound and U.S. Dollar denominated instruments, the Euribor is widely used as a reference rate for Euro denominated forward rate agreements, short-term interest rate futures contracts and interest rate swaps. It is quoted for spot value T+2 (for settlement 2 working days after the calculation date) and calculated on an actual/360 day count convention (with an exact day count over a 360-day year).[1]
A representative panel of prime banks in the European Union interbank market provide daily quotes of the rates that each panel bank believes one prime bank is quoting to another prime bank for term deposits with maturities ranging from one week to one year. The panel banks are required to directly input their data to Reuters no later than 10.45am (Central European Time) on each day that that the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross-Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) system is open. At 11.00am, Reuters eliminates the highest and lowest 15% of all quotes collected, averages the remaining quotes, rounds the average to 3 decimal places and publishes this average as the Euribor. If more than 50% of the panel banks fail to provide their data by 11:00am, Reuters will delay calculating the Euribor until at least 50% of the panel banks have quoted.[2]
Euribor panel banks have the highest volume of business in EU money markets and are either banks located in the European Union or large international banks from non-EU countries but with important EU operations.[3]
Netherlands: ABN Amro Bank, ING Bank, Rabobank


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Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr: Balcony PDA!
Orlando Bloom and model girlfriend Miranda Kerr can't hide their love for one amother, sharing a sweet smooch on the balcony of their hotel in Sydney, Australia on Thursday (February 26).
Orlando, 32, and Miranda, 25, couldn't keep their hands off each other as soaked in the Sydney sun.
Orly, who was seen putting his shirt back on, is soon leaving Sydney to fly home to Los Angeles.
10+ pictures inside of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr's balcony PDA…


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It is not just the Republican party that has changed its rhetoric when it comes to immigration.
According to a new Associated Press-GfK poll, more than 60 percent of Americans favor allowing undocumented immigrants to eventually become U.S. citizens.
A shift in strategy in the GOP does seem to have something to do with it. The sharp turnaround on immigration reform by party leaders is meant to boost increase support from Latino voters -- 71 percent of them helped re-elect President Barack Obama in November.
Emboldened by the overwhelming Latino backing and by shifting attitudes on immigration, Obama has made overhauling laws about who can legally live in the U.S. a centerpiece of his second-term agenda. In the coming weeks, he's expected to aggressively push for ways to create an eventual pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants already in this country.
The poll results suggest that the public overall, not just Latinos, will back his efforts. Sixty-two percent of Americans now favor providing a way for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to become citizens, an increase from just 50 percent in the summer of 2010, the last time the AP polled on the question.
In an even earlier poll, in 2009, some 47 percent supported a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
The poll showed strong support for Obama's decision, announced last summer, to shield as many as 800,000 young immigrants from deportation with conditions. Those affected would have to be younger than 30, would have to have been brought to the U.S. before turning 16 and would have to fulfill certain other conditions including graduation from high school or serving in the military.
Undocumented immigrants covered by the order now can apply for work permits. The order bypassed Congress, which has not passed "DREAM Act" legislation to achieve some of the same goals for younger undocumented immigrants.
Sixty-three percent of Americans favor that policy, while 20 percent oppose it and 17 percent are in between or unsure, the poll said. The policy is supported by 76 percent of Democrats, significantly more than among Republicans (48 percent) or independents (59 percent).
Cordel Welch, 41, of Los Angeles, was among those poll participants who believes undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children should be treated differently from people who came here as adults.
"The ones that were brought here by their parents, they're already here, they're already established," Welch said in an interview. "The adults should go through the process."
Further boosting the president on the issue, Democrats have opened a 41 percent to 34 percent advantage as the party more trusted to handle immigration, the first time they've held a significant edge on the matter in AP-GfK polling. In October 2010, Republicans held a slight edge over Democrats, 46 percent to 41 percent, on the question of who was more trusted on immigration.
Much of the increase in support for a path to eventual citizenship has come among Republicans. A majority in the GOP — 53 percent — now favor the change. That's up a striking 22 percentage points from 2010. Seventy-two percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents like the idea, similar to 2010.
The findings suggest that those GOP lawmakers weighing support for eventual legal status for undocumented immigrants could be rewarded politically not just by Democrats and independents but also by some in their own party as well. This comes amid soul-searching in the party about how the GOP can broaden its support with Latinos, who backed Obama over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, 71 percent to 27 percent, in November.
Romney received less support from Latinos than Republican President George W. Bush did. But his slice was on par with candidates Bob Dole in 1996 and George H.W. Bush in 1992.
Some Republicans have concluded that backing comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship is becoming a political necessity. Many lawmakers remain strongly opposed, and it's far from clear whether Congress will ultimately sign off on such an approach.
But in the Senate, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to draft immigration legislation, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a possible 2016 presidential candidate, has offered proposals that would ultimately allow undocumented immigrants to attain legal status.
One poll participant, Nick Nanos, 66, of Bellmore, N.Y., said that providing a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens would respect America's history as a nation built by immigrants.
"We act as if our grandparents got here legally. Don't want to ask a single Indian about that," Nanos said in a follow-up interview. "I don't think that most of us can solidly come to a point where our grandparents or great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents were here legally. What does that even mean?"
Overall, 54 percent in the poll said immigration is an important issue to them personally, a figure that's remained steady over the past couple of years.
The poll also found 35 percent strongly favored allowing undocumented immigrants to become citizens over time, while 27 percent favored the idea somewhat. Just 35 percent of Americans opposed the approach, with 23 percent strongly opposed and 12 percent somewhat opposed. That compared with 48 percent opposed in 2010 and 50 percent in 2009.
The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted Jan. 10-14, 2013, by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,004 adults nationwide. Results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points; the margin is larger for subgroups.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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Denver residents who have recently changed addresses within Denver County, or who have moved to Denver from a different county can help ensure they receive renewal notices and other communications from the DMV by submitting your change of address below.
New Colorado residents who have just moved into Denver County should visit our new resident vehicle registration page for questions about vehicle registration.
Your change of address must be submitted two months prior to the expiration of your plates to ensure your renewal notice is sent to the correct address. If you are not within this timeframe, you may not renew online and must visit one of our branch offices to renew your registration.
Denver Motor Vehicle
Phone: (720) 865-4600
Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri: 8am - 4:30pm
Wed: 8:30am - 4:30pm
*Denver DMV Does NOT Administer Driver's Licenses
Beginning on January 1, 2015, the city eliminated the 2.7 percent service charge on credit card payments for drivers renewing their vehicle registration with the city. Read more...


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By Haibing Ma and Lini Fu
In 2010, China overtook the United States as the global leader in installed wind power capacity, representing yet another triumph in the much-hyped clean tech race between the world's two largest economies. Looking beyond the numbers, however, the true nature of China's wind energy development appears far more bleak.
According to the newest data released by the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association (CREIA), by the end of 2010, China had installed a total of 41.8 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity, just ahead of the U.S. total of 40.2 GW. Even more impressive is the growth of China's wind sector: while the United States added only about 5 GW of new capacity in 2010, China installed 16 GW. In 2009, China surpassed the U.S. to become the world leader in clean energy investment.
So why aren't China's top energy policymakers celebrating the recent wind capacity milestone, given the country's unprecedented achievements in renewable energy development? Instead, in a January meeting, officials with the National Energy Administration (NEA) lamented the fact that China still trails the U.S. in the amount of wind power connected to the grid—with only an estimated 31.1 GW grid-tied by the end of 2010.
The reality is that a significant share of China's installed wind capacity is not connected to any grid. This is wasting a significant amount of investment, not to mention energy. The positive side is that the central government is beginning to address this problem in a more rational way, which hints at a more sustainable approach to policymaking as well.


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Guilty Pleasures: Fascinating & Fun Posts
Here at Apartment Therapy, we love sharing daily design inspiration, tours of fantastic homes and DIY projects that astound. It's what you expect from us, and what we love to deliver, day after day. But sometimes, just sometimes, we like to take you by surprise - add a bit of quirk, a touch of silliness and a healthy dose of good old-fashioned guilty pleasure. This list represents the best of those posts from the last year. (Consider them the cherry atop our sundae of gooey design-y goodness, and enjoy)!
• 1(a) Outfit to Home: Ryan Gosling
• 1(b) Make a Big Splash: Clear Glass Tub
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• 1(f) Lisbeth Salander's IKEA Shopping List
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• 7 A Peek into Celebrity Closets
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• 9 Is There a Line Between Quirky and Eccentric?
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• 15 Lay With Your Food: Pancake Floor Pillows
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Sporting a blue Tampa Bay Rays shirt, former Gov. Charlie Crist continued Saturday to court Florida Democratic activists, while his chief rival distributed fans to the delegates attending the party's political conference.
ORLANDO — Sporting a blue Tampa Bay Rays shirt, former Gov. Charlie Crist continued Saturday to court Florida Democratic activists, while his chief rival distributed fans to the delegates attending the party's political conference.
"It has been overwhelming," Crist said about his reception, after speaking to party caucuses representing African-American and Hispanic Democrats on Saturday. "The kindness and grace that the Democrats have embraced both Carole (his wife) and me has been simply amazing."
Crist said the party activists have not challenged him about his Republican past, including his time as a GOP governor, a former state Cabinet member and a state lawmaker. Crist joined the Democratic Party last year, after losing the 2010 U.S. Senate race as an independent.
"I think they see my heart and understand," Crist said. "They see what the leadership of the (Republican) Party has become ... I'm where my heart is, and I feel very at home, and I think they have welcomed the convert and I'm grateful."
Crist still has not officially entered the race to challenge Republican Gov. Rick Scott next year, although he is expected to make the announcement on Nov. 4 in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
But Crist's chief contender for the nomination was also busy working the Democratic crowd on Saturday. Former state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, was giving out "I'm a Nan fan" fans to the delegates.
Although Crist is drawing much of the attention, Rich is diligently working on her own strategy of connecting with grassroots Democrats and building a statewide network.
"It's a people-powered campaign, and this proves it," Rich said.
She also doesn't seem to be intimidated by Crist's ability to generate buzz among the 1,300 delegates attending the three-day conference at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club Resort.
"It's all about substance and style. I have focused my career on issues, priorities and solutions," Rich said. "Charlie has got a lot of style. I think this election has to be about substance."
Rich said she is ready to run on her record of serving as a state lawmaker for more than a dozen years and developing an expertise on issues including Medicaid funding and child welfare.
"Deeds and action are louder than just words and style," said Rich, who was scheduled to speak at the conference's dinner on Saturday night and address the delegates Sunday morning.
She said delegates "want a Democrat who has the core Democratic values and principles. And that's what I'm going to present. And the voters will determine what kind of Democrat they want."
Rich's Democratic credentials were not in doubt. But for Crist, the conference was another test of his ability to explain his political conversion.
Neutral observers say Crist appears to have passed the test thus far.
University of South Florida political scientist Susan MacManus, who is attending the conference, said Crist "has jumped the hurdle of acceptance for a lot of Democrats."
"What I have noticed here is that the Democratic activists seemed to have accepted him," MacManus said. "They appreciate his enthusiasm and interaction with them to explain himself."
Interviews with the delegates showed some support for Crist, while others like Rich and a number remain undecided.
"I think Charlie Crist would be my choice," said Pat Benson, chair of the Manatee County Democrats.
She praised Rich's intelligence but said "the charisma is not there. Charlie has the charisma."
She noted that Crist drew more than 300 to a local fundraiser for the party. And she said that political ability will be critical in bringing voters to the polls in a non-presidential election.
"We have to do what's right for the party," Benson said. "We've got to light a fire under our people in order to get the vote out."
Wanda Francis, a retired American Express executive from Fort Lauderdale who was wearing a "Nan" button, said she is strongly behind Rich's campaign.
"She's a true Democrat," said Francis. "She's a progressive, and I can trust her to do what's right for the state. While Charlie was governor, there were some things I liked that he did, but he didn't always do the right thing for the state from my perspective."
Francis also said she didn't like the fact that Crist's independent campaign for the U.S. Senate undermined Democrat Kendrick Meek's candidacy, helping elect Republican Marco Rubio.


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What's in the Bottle?
An investigation into the startling fraud accusations that have upended the fine wine world.
Daniel Oliveros and Jeff Sokolin were known as the "sexy boys" because they often described the wines they sold as "sexy juice." Oliveros and Sokolin ran Royal Wine Merchants, a Manhattan retailer that was, until a few years ago, one of the biggest players in the fine wine market. They lived as lavishly as their wealthy customers—staying in swank hotels, often hiring limousines, and routinely opening thousands of dollars' worth of rare wines. Oliveros' marriage to porn star Savanna Samson added to the aura and the intrigue. But what really set the sexy boys apart was their seemingly limitless stock of legendary old wines, many of them in supersize bottles—quantities and formats that no one else could get their hands on. They bombarded clients with faxes touting their latest finds: multiple bottles of 1961 Latour à Pomerol ("Kinky Juice!"), magnums of 1945 Mouton Rothschild ("our latest sexy purchase"), a double magnum of 1949 Cheval Blanc ("Perfect condition. Better than 1947!!! Trust me!!!"). It seemed too good to be true. Apparently, it was.
Billionaire wine collector Bill Koch recently filed a lawsuit against Christie's auction house that includes some provocative claims about Oliveros and Sokolin. Third-party import records obtained by Koch suggest that Royal served as a conduit for Hardy Rodenstock, the suspected wine counterfeiter at the heart of the flap over the so-called Thomas Jefferson bottles. These invoices, which provide the first solid numbers hinting at the scale of Rodenstock's activities, show that the Munich-based collector shipped hundreds of bottles of wine, virtually all of them rarities, to the United States through Royal. The quantities are improbably large, and wine experts who have seen the figures believe that many if not most of these wines were knockoffs. Koch's suit doesn't say what Royal did with the bottles that it received from Rodenstock, but Slate has turned up evidence tying Oliveros and Sokolin to the sales of counterfeit wines, and at least one of the fakes they allegedly sold, a 1921 Château Pétrus, is on the list of wines that Rodenstock sent to them.
Koch, a 70-year-old energy tycoon, is notoriously litigious, and the Christie's complaint is the sixth lawsuit he has brought since 2006 as part of an effort to combat what he believes is an epidemic of wine counterfeiting. Three weeks ago, a U.S. District Court awarded him a default judgment in litigation that he had initiated against Rodenstock in 2006. On May 27, a New York court dealt him a setback, dismissing a fraud complaint that he had filed against Acker Merrall & Condit, another auction house, in 2008. The four other suits are still pending. Koch, who has a 40,000-bottle collection, purchased four of the Jefferson wines in the late 1980s, and he launched his crusade after learning that these were likely fakes and that other wines in his cellar were also suspect. Koch seems to feel that the wine auction market is full of swindlers and charlatans. I'm not quite so cynical, but having examined his many claims skeptically, I think that he is shining some light in a place that badly needs it. Many industry insiders agree and believe the Rodenstock invoices prove that the rare wine business has indeed been polluted by fraud.
Koch's lawsuit against Christie's also puts another name into play: Robert Parker, the world's most influential wine critic. The 1921 Pétrus—a wine that links Rodenstock to Royal, and Royal to the sale of counterfeit wines—became a highly sought-after collectible when Parker awarded it a perfect score, 100 points, at a tasting that Rodenstock hosted in Munich in 1995. In recent years, amid growing controversy over Rodenstock, Parker has sought to downplay his presence at that event and to distance himself from the metastasizing counterfeiting scandal. But Koch's allegations about Royal have now brought the scandal right to his glass. While no one is accusing Parker of any improprieties, the information concerning Royal raises a troubling question: Did Oliveros, Sokolin, and Rodenstock take advantage of their connection to Parker to help sell fake wines?
Oliveros, a native of Venezuela, and Sokolin, who is of Russian descent, opened Royal in 1990. The liquor license was in Sokolin's name alone. Four years earlier, according to court records, Oliveros had been arrested and charged with stealing approximately $20,000 worth of wine from Long Island's Garden City Hotel, where he had been employed. Reached by phone, Oliveros confirmed the arrest and said he had pleaded guilty.
Oliveros and Sokolin installed themselves in a peculiar location—an out-of-the-way apartment complex on Manhattan's East Side that was reached by crossing a footbridge over FDR Drive. The front of the store was unremarkable, but the back room was another story: It was bursting with fabled wines. After visiting Royal in 1999, a gobsmacked William Grimes of TheNew York Times described it as "Ali Baba's cave" and reported that "Strewn all over the floor and stacked in the makeshift racks were the artifacts of a glorious civilization. A 1952 Latour caught my eye. Then a 1949 Chateau d'Yquem, a 1955 Cheval Blanc, a 1900 Lafite. … The display was, shall we say, casual. Sitting on a case of priceless Bordeaux was someone's lunch."
Royal's huge inventory of great Bordeaux and Burgundies quickly made it a favorite among collectors. Oliveros and Sokolin also became renowned for their splashy tastings (as well as the acuity of their palates, which seems to be a recurring theme—Rodenstock, too, was known to be impressively discerning). Usually held at Oliveros' Manhattan apartment, the tastings would begin first thing in the morning, run late into the night, and feature a dizzying procession of venerated wines, which were knocked down with cold cuts and Indian takeout. Whether they were uncorking dozens of iconic bottles or staying at the luxurious Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, Oliveros and Sokolin lived inexplicably well for wine retailers, and among their peers, they were the subject of constant speculation and much suspicion. Where were they getting all the money, and more importantly, where were they getting all the wine?
Bill Koch's lawsuit against Christie's suggests one answer: Hardy Rodenstock. According to records obtained by Koch, Rodenstock shipped 818 bottles of wine to Royal between 1998 and 2008. (Koch is now trying to find out what other wines Rodenstock might have sent to Royal during this period or prior to 1998.) The invoices, which Slatehas examined, contain staggering quantities of celebrated wines, an astonishing 87 percent of them in large-format bottles (which are rarer than standard 750 ml bottles and are particularly prized by collectors). One hundred and seven magnums of 1961 Pétrus. One hundred and one magnums of 1961 Latour. Eighty magnums of 1945 Mouton Rothschild. Forty-seven magnums of 1947 Cheval Blanc. On and on it goes. By Koch's calculations, the total value of the wines, if they were legitimate, would be just under $8 million. But among people in the wine industry with whom I've spoken—and I've done more than three dozen interviews for this article—there is deep skepticism about the authenticity of the wines that Rodenstock shipped to Royal. "It's impossible that someone could come up with that many bottles of these wines in such a short period of time," Geoffrey Troy, a longtime New York fine wine merchant said. "It doesn't add up. There's just no way."
Despite the doubts about Rodenstock's wines, it has still not been proven in a court of law that the bottles he sent to Royal were fakes, that Royal knew they were fakes, or that it sold them. (As for what might have been in those bottles if they were indeed counterfeits, no one has a clue at this point. Click
Alongside the import records that Koch has brought to light, Slate has found other information suggesting that Royal—which is still doing business, but at a different Manhattan location—has been a major source of counterfeit wines. A wine consultant who worked for Christie's in the mid-1990s told me that the majority of the suspicious wines that he and his colleagues came across at that time were traced back to Royal, which he described as "the most consistent problem in the supply chain." A current employee of Sotheby's said that Royal has accounted for an "inordinate share" of the fakes that his firm has encountered. Additionally, a prominent collector and one fine wine dealer both said they stopped buying older wines from Royal in the mid-1990s after being sold bottles that they judged to be counterfeits. (Most of the people interviewed for this story asked to remain anonymous because of pending or potential litigation related to these issues.) But it's an ongoing dispute between Koch and a Bay Area collector named Eric Greenberg that offers the clearest indication that Royal was selling fraudulent wines, and at the center of the dispute is a bottle of 1921 Chateau Pétrus.
In 2007, Koch filed a lawsuit alleging that Greenberg knowingly sold him seven counterfeit wines at an auction in New York, including a magnum of the 21 Pétrus. Koch's complaint, which is still pending, asserts that Greenberg, a tech investor, bought certain of these bottles from Royal, and an insurance claim that Greenberg filed appears to support this. Koch obtained the claim earlier this year after subpoenaing it from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, and his investigators shared it with Slate.It shows that Greenberg purchased $2.1 million worth of wine from Royal between January 2000 and March 2002. In or around 2002, according to Koch's suit, Greenberg was informed by Sotheby's that his wine collection, comprising "tens of thousands of bottles," contained a "significant number" of fakes. Koch says that an independent appraiser hired by Greenberg, William Edgerton, confirmed that there were counterfeit wines in Greenberg's collection. Both Sotheby's and Edgerton verified these details for Slate. (Edgerton is now consulting for Koch.) Greenberg filed his insurance claim in May 2002. In it, he said that Royal had sold him dozens of fake wines; by his tally, fraudulent bottles accounted for $912,301 and possibly more of the $2.1 million in wine that he had purchased from Royal during that two-year period. He provided Fireman's Fund with a list of wines that he bought from Royal, and it included five magnums of 1921 Pétrus. In November 2002, the insurance claim was denied because Greenberg's wasn't covered against losses related to fraudulent business transactions and his policy had also expired. According to Koch's lawsuit, Greenberg hired an attorney to pursue claims against Royal but then settled with Oliveros and Sokolin. Oliveros told Slate that Greenberg was "a good client" and bought "a fair amount of wine from us" but said he couldn't comment on any dispute that Royal may have had with him or any settlement they may have reached.
In October 2005, Greenberg sold 17,000 bottles of wine at a Zachys auction in New York. Bill Koch participated in that sale, and among his purchases was a magnum of 1921 Pétrus, for which he paid $29,500. A few months later, suddenly concerned about the authenticity of many of his wines, Koch sent the magnum to Bordeaux to be inspected by the Pétrus staff. They concluded that it was a fake, according to Koch spokesman Brad Goldstein. In their judgment, the cork was an incorrect length, and both the capsule and label had been doctored to look old. The château confirmed for Slate that it had expressed serious doubts about Koch's magnum.
In his suit against Greenberg, Koch says that he was told by Zachys, which is also named in the complaint, that the magnum had been put up for sale by Greenberg. (Reached by e-mail, Jeff Zacharia, the president of Zachys Wine Auctions, said, "No one is disputing the claim that the bottle of 1921 Petrus that Bill Koch purchased at the October 2005 auction came from Eric Greenberg's consignment.") Koch alleges that Greenberg subsequently informed him that he believed he had bought the bottle from Royal, and Greenberg's insurance claim would appear to corroborate this. Greenberg, through his lawyer, refused to comment. In his answer to Koch's lawsuit, Greenberg denied Koch's claim that Sotheby's and Edgerton had discovered a number of fake wines in his cellar, denied knowingly selling any fake wines, and said that Koch had spurned his offer of a refund. In 2008, his motion to have the case dismissed was rejected by U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones, who wrote that "the particularly egregious nature of Greenberg's alleged conduct is demonstrated by his decision to sell wine at auction that he knew two experts had determined to be counterfeit." Interviewed by the Wine Spectator last year[subscription required], Greenberg said of Koch's lawsuit: "Out of 17,000 bottles I consigned, he found a couple of fakes. That's not fraud, that's a mistake. I did not knowingly put fake wine out there." Over the Memorial Day weekend, Greenberg sold around $19 million worth of wine at an Acker Merrall & Condit auction in Hong Kong. According to Acker, it was the second-biggest wine auction in history.
So if Greenberg bought the Pétrus magnum from Royal, where did Royal get the bottle ? The shipping invoices obtained by Koch suggest it came from Rodenstock. The records show that Rodenstock sent 21 magnums of 1921 Pétrus to Royal between 1998 and 2004. Eleven arrived prior to 2000, the year that Greenberg purchased his five magnums, according to his insurance claim. Oliveros said he couldn't comment on the invoices but that Royal has received '21 Pétrus from Rodenstock in the past. A source close to Pétrus told me he was "more than skeptical" about the authenticity of Rodenstock's magnums. He said that the château has no record of magnums being bottled there in the 1920s. Some négociants may have produced magnums of the '21; back in the day, Pétrus sold part of its output in bulk to merchants who would bottle and label the wines themselves. But he noted that in the 1920s, Pétrus was considered an everyday wine best consumed young and there thus would have been little demand for large-format bottles and little incentive to make more than just a token number of them. The idea that one person, some 80 years later, could unearth nearly two dozen magnums of the '21 struck the source as highly unlikely.
If Rodenstock's ability to procure so many 1921 Pétrus magnums seems suspicious, the timing of his shipments makes perfect sense. Starting in the mid-1990s, demand for the '21 surged thanks to the 100-point rating that Robert Parker had recently awarded the wine. Parker's tasting note was effusive. He described the '21 as "out of this universe!" and "one of the sweetest, most opulent, thick, juicy wines I have ever tasted." His note was based on a magnum that was served by Rodenstock at a bacchanal he hosted in Munich in the fall of 1995. Joining Parker in Munich that weekend were Oliveros and Sokolin. In all likelihood, Parker wouldn't have been there had it not been for them.
During the 1990s, Parker regularly met up with Oliveros and Sokolin. When Slate contacted Parker, who is 62, with a list of questions pertaining to Royal, his lawyer responded with a letter stating that he'd advised Parker not to comment. The reticence is understandable: It now appears that Royal dumped a lot of counterfeit wines on the market over the last two decades.
In February, Parker was deposed by an attorney for Koch, and much of the discussion focused on his ties to Oliveros and Sokolin. In the deposition, which Slate obtained, Parker said that he "saw them socially a number of times" and that they "seemed to have a lot of contacts for wine." This last point surely explains much of the attraction for Parker: The Royal duo shared many rare wines with him. During the deposition, Parker said that he stopped getting together with Oliveros and Sokolin in the late 1990s because of concerns he had about their "excessive lifestyle" and also about the authenticity of their wines; according to Parker, they had sold a friend of his, a collector named Park B. Smith, fake bottles of 1990 Château Rayas, a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Parker took part in some of Oliveros and Sokolin's big tastings. During his deposition, he recalled participating in three of them. A collector who went to many of these events told me that Parker was present for "at least a half-dozen." Three other people with whom I spoke and who also attended various Oliveros and Sokolin tastings said that Parker was among the guests when they went. (All of these individuals believe that the wines poured on these occasions were legitimate. One theory that has been suggested: Oliveros and Sokolin served Parker the genuine articles and pawned off their fakes on less discerning palates.) In addition to attending these gatherings, which would bring together a number of aficionados, Parker, who lives in Maryland, often joined Oliveros and Sokolin for wine-soaked lunches in New York. The multiple sources who provided this information said the lunches were normally held at Restaurant Daniel, and that Oliveros and Sokolin would typically have several clients in tow and would also supply many if not most of the wines—usually older Bordeaux. Parker wasn't asked about the lunches during his deposition. But Oliveros confirmed for Slate that they took place "once every six months, or twice every six months, depending on [Parker's] schedule. Whenever he might have been in town, we would organize something if he had the time." He said the get-togethers ended after Restaurant Daniel stopped serving lunch in 2001.
Oliveros said that he and Sokolin never tried to cash in on their ties to Parker. "He was just a professional writer we admired," Oliveros told Slate. But it doesn't appear that they were shy about advertising the relationship; even now, Royal's Web site features photos of the three men hanging out together. Eric Greenberg's insurance claim includes what were evidently private offers to him from Royal, and some of these solicitations made clear that Oliveros and Sokolin were on close terms with Parker. When Royal tried to interest Greenberg in a double magnum of 1921 Haut-Brion, the note said, "Unfortunately, Bob has not tried it yet so I have no reviews to give you." A message touting a magnum of 1947 Latour à Pomerol read, "Jeff just called from Brussels where he was able to secure one or more of these puppies. He and Daniel were at a tasting with Mr. Parker and Frans de Cock where they drank magnums of 1947 Mouton, 1947 Lafleur, 1948 Lafleur Petrus, 1979 Ramonet Montrachet, 1980 Jayer Echezeaux and all were excellent. …"
In his deposition, Parker said that Oliveros and Sokolin introduced him to Rodenstock. He told Koch's attorney that the four men had dined together twice in Paris and that it was obvious to him that Oliveros, Sokolin, and Rodenstock were "good friends or business associates." Like Oliveros and Sokolin, Rodenstock was renowned for the tastings that he hosted, but his were even more decadent—they were often multiday affairs that featured wines spanning several centuries. And he was apparently very intent on getting Parker, the world's pre-eminent wine critic, to come to his events; Parker told Koch's lawyer that he was invited to a number of Rodenstock tastings before he'd even met the German. Parker finally went to one in 1995; he was among the guests at a weekend-long wine orgy in Munich organized by Rodenstock. In recent years, Parker has said that this was the only Rodenstock fete he ever attended and that the "over-the-top generosity and extravagance was enough to scare me away from all other invitations."
But that doesn't square with what he said at the time. In the February 1996 issue of his newsletter, the Wine Advocate, Parker wrote that the Munich gathering was "the most extraordinary three days of wine tasting, superb eating, and wine camaraderie that I have ever experienced." He was full of praise for Rodenstock and dismissed concerns that had been expressed about him and his wines. Parker wrote that the "unkind remarks I had read about [Rodenstock] were untrue. A man of extraordinary charm and graciousness, Rodenstock is a true wine lover in the greatest sense of the word, as well as exceptionally knowledgeable, and generous to a fault (he charges nothing for the opportunity to participate in his tastings)."
Nor was the Munich tasting the last time that Parker saw Rodenstock or benefited from his generosity. In December 1996, he was a guest at Rodenstock's 55th birthday party, which was held in New York. It was an intimate gathering—about 10 people at Restaurant Daniel. Oliveros and Sokolin were among the other attendees. Rodenstock supplied the wines, which included a bottle of 1961 Pétrus, magnums of various 1948 Pomerols, magnums of 1900 Pétrus and 1899 L'Eglise-Clinet, and a bottle of 1841 Château d'Yquem. Although Parker's book Bordeaux: A Consumer's Guide to the World's Finest Wines, includes a tasting note, dated "December 1996," for what he said was "believed to be a magnum of the 1900 Pétrus found in a private cellar in St-Emilion" (he didn't love it, rating it just 89 points), Parker said in his deposition that he couldn't remember the evening. However, two other people who were there not only recalled the dinner well enough to name all the guests and all the wines, but the exact date that the party took place (December 7). Oliveros, too, remembered a dinner at Daniel with Parker and Rodenstock but said he couldn't recall the date or if it was a birthday celebration.
Parker has always insisted that it is "imperative" for a critic to keep his distance from the wine trade, and one reason that he came to wield such remarkable influence was the widespread perception that he scrupulously avoided compromising situations. In his deposition, Parker claimed that at the time of the Munich tasting, he was unaware that Rodenstock was selling wines. But he said it was clear that the German had courted him because he wanted the validation. As Parker put it, "I assumed it was because of my prominence in the wine field … it was sort of like, if I can get Parker, that would be great … you line up the head people in the field, you get them there, it gives credibility to your tasting. They then write about it and in my case write very favorably about it. It's a win win win situation for Rodenstock." Photos from the Munich event show Rodenstock at Parker's side, and in the years since, he has invoked the famed critic to defend himself against accusations of fraud. Rodenstock named Parker as a potential supporting witness in the lawsuit that Koch brought against him. In a letter that he sent to one of Koch's attorneys in 2008, he denied serving counterfeit wines at some tastings in New York; he said that the authenticity of the bottles "can be testified by Robert Parker, the worldwide no. 1 wine expert. He was there and his tasting notes can be read in his books or on the internet" (he didn't specify which tastings or when they took place). Asked by The New Yorker in 2007 about the 1921 Pétrus, one of the wines served in Munich, Rodenstock noted Parker's 100-point rating and said, "Is there any better proof that the wine was genuine when world-renowned experts described it as superb and gave it the highest possible grade?"
But Parker may have done more for Rodenstock than just boost his credibility. That "highest possible grade"—the 100-point rating that Parker gave to the 21 Pétrus at the Munich tasting—was a bonanza for anyone who had bottles of the 21 to sell, and judging from the import records that Koch obtained, Rodenstock had quite a few of them to unload. In 1991, a double magnum of the 21 had fetched $6,800 at a Christie's auction in London. Then came Parker's perfect score, which was catnip for wealthy collectors. In 2000, according to his insurance claim, Eric Greenberg paid nearly $10,000 apiece for five magnums of the '21, and five years later, Bill Koch spent almost $30,000 for one of Greenberg's magnums at the Zachys auction in New York. Although Parker had never had the wine before, he still believes that the '21 he drank in Munich was real, according to the tasting note that is available on his Web site. But in a 2007 interview with Toronto's Globe and Mail, he allowed that the bottle may have been a fake, and on his site, his wine reviews from that weekend now carry a note acknowledging the controversy surrounding Rodenstock. Whether the Munich bottle was genuine or not, Parker's 100-point rating ignited unprecedented demand for the '21, and it appears that Rodenstock, via Oliveros and Sokolin, furnished at least some of the supply.
The '21 Pétrus was just one of many suspect wines that Rodenstock shipped to Royal, which raises a disturbing possibility: Might Parker have been used by Oliveros and Sokolin, either on their own or in concert with Rodenstock, to move other potentially fraudulent wines? That is, did they serve him certain bottles, real or fake, because they wanted ratings that would help them sell phony versions of those wines? Oliveros said that he and Sokolin did not open any wines for Parker with an eye to obtaining scores but that Parker may have produced write-ups based on bottles that they shared with him. Last October, Koch's team, hoping to learn if there was a link between wines that Parker drank with Oliveros and Sokolin, his reviews, and any fakes that Royal might have put on the market, subpoenaed Parker's notes from those tastings. Parker replied that the documents Koch sought were publicly available, though he didn't specify which of his tasting notes were taken from events with Royal. (Koch also subpoenaed Parker's notes for events that involved Rodenstock; according to Koch spokesman Brad Goldstein, Parker turned over some 400 pages of published reviews and comments in response to that request.)
When he was deposed in February, Parker told Koch's attorney that some of his published tasting notes resulted from get-togethers with Oliveros and Sokolin; he gave no indication of how many. Parker was asked about one particular Oliveros and Sokolin tasting, and he said that he "probably didn't" mention in his published account of the event that it had been hosted by Royal because "I don't want to look like I'm promoting a retailer that is selling the wines." (Several editions of Parker'sWine Buyer's Guide included Oliveros, Sokolin, and Rodenstock in the acknowledgments, but all three men were missing from the most recent edition, which came out in 2008.)
Oliveros and Sokolin were not so discreet, and the Parker connection was apparently good for their business. Parker's relationship with them was well-known in wine circles, and it carried weight with other players in the market. As one merchant who says that he purchased a lot of wine from Royal—and who remains a Parker admirer—told Slate, "People look to Parker for guidance, and when you see him hanging out with these guys, of course it influences you. Who wouldn't be influenced?" Whether or not Parker was set up by Oliveros and Sokolin, the relationship that he had with them helped Royal sell wines, and many of the wines that it sold were evidently fakes. There is no indication that Parker was complicit in any wrongdoing. But by becoming entangled with Oliveros, Sokolin, and Rodenstock, he may have unwittingly had a role in corrupting the fine wine market, which would be a bitter irony for a critic who claimed Ralph Nader as his inspiration and who has long presented himself as the consumer's advocate.
Clarification, June 23, 2010:Jeff Sokolin of Royal is not to be confused with Dave Sokolin, the owner of Sokolin LLC, a wine retailer in Bridgehampton, New York. The two are distant relatives, and Jeff Sokolin and Oliveros worked for Sokolin LLC before starting Royal Wine Merchants. However, there is no relationship between Royal and Sokolin LLC.
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text: Photo Galleries Women Factory Workers of World War II (7) facebook twitter google+ ‹ › ‹ › During World War II, American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers. The munitions industry heavily recruited women workers, as represented by the U.S. government's "Rosie the Riveter" propaganda campaign. Play Pause Fullscreen


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I think a significant portion of the difference between US and UK prices is UK VAT.
Most stories covering Apple's international price rises have focused on the base price - up from 59p to 69p in the UK, a rise of 16 per cent or so - the increase is higher elsewhere. Case in point: readers buying comics through iPad apps and who used to pay around £1.19 per issue will now pay £1.49 - a 25 per cent price rise …
I think a significant portion of the difference between US and UK prices is UK VAT.
...VAT was applied before the price rise, and even then the increase in the UK is only 2.5%. Add 4% inflation - you're looking at a 6.5% increase. Factor in the exchange rate stuff - lets be generous - 2% in our favour, so 4.5% would have been a realistic increase.
Not 16%.
No...price rise more likely to be due to Steve Jobs needing a solid gold bath for his 5th mansion.
..and just to clarify:
59p before in the increase included UK VAT
69p after the increase also includes UK VAT
VAT went up 2.5%. Apples increase is 16%.
There is no US vs UK VAT arguments to be had here...
No one is saying the increase is only due to VAT! The actual reason stated in the article was a currency exchange update.
The exchange rates for app store purchases hadn't changed since 2008. But on top of that there's the VAT increase as well.
... UK prices are actually cheaper. 69p - VAT = 57.5p. 57.5p converted to USD is 92 cents. The 99 cents doesn't include sales tax because there is no national US tax; if you live in a state that collects tax on digital downloads then it'll be added to the $0.99.
The real inflation is 15%+ just as in this case. Same as with gas and countless other things.
It will get even funkier as we go along as EU approaches its "Argentina moment" in Q3 when Italy will follow on the stalwart examples of Portugal, Ireland and Greece.
In this particular case, it looks like VAT might be making the difference.
That is not to say Apple's prices have not assumed some mythical currency in the UK that is at parity with the USD in the past.
But if the price 'should be' 1.25 GBP and is actually quoted as being 1.50 GBP, that is exactly the kind of 20% increase that you might expect to see if for example VAT were set to 20%.
In the US people are used to seeing prices advertised before any sales tax is added, and since these taxes are local to the State, County and even City in come cases, I suppose this makes sense. But in the UK, prices are always quoted inclusive of all applicable tax (by law, no less).
So in the US you see something on sale as 1.99 USD, but you might pay anywhere between 1.99 USD and 2.25 USD or so for it. In the UK you see something advertised as 1.49 GBP and you will pay 1.49 GBP.
And long may it continue to be so.
Rip-off? Not in this case, I think.
iTunes EU Sarl is based in Luxembourg, so they charge 15% Luxembourg VAT not 20% UK VAT.
But don't companies have to register and charge at their customers rate after a threshold?
"If a business makes sales to a member state that exceeds that member states distance selling threshold (typically either EUR 30,000 or EUR 100,000) then it must register to pay VAT in that member state and collect VAT at that member state's VAT rate."
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_of_Digital_Goods#Businesses_located_with_an_EU_member_state
I believe that the VAT is charged at the rate of the country of purchase but happy to be corrected.
Think its more complicated - something about selling over the internet (which I assume is technically true for app store-esque purchases) within the EU/EC - you get to register in one country and charge IT'S rate of VAT for sales to consumers within the EC. This is why they are located in Luxembourg for its low rate of VAT (and why its European HQ is located in Ireland with a cross charge to get the low rate of corporation tax). I think Luxembourg also has some silly exemption which makes it lower than 15% for these kind of sales. Whole thing changes in 2015 (at which point expect ITunes to get straight out of Luxembourg....)
Not that I like paying more than anyone else.
Seems inconsistent. Quick look through my wish list reveals that:
The Elements, for example, went from £7.99 to £9.99.
iMovie went from £2.99 to £2.99... no hike there at all, wonder why.
There are other examples too - some things are the same price and some things have jumped up.
The developers set the sale price for their apps, so I expect they've also had input on these price changes.
For example, a £0.59 app would have bagged the dev £0.34 once VAT and Apple's cut are taken off, at current exchange rates that's $0.55, which is a good chunk less than the $0.69 they would get from selling the same app at $0.99 in the US store.
Raising the price to £0.69 changes the figures to £0.40/$0.65.
I guess the choice is down to a number of factors, but ultimately Apple only set the price points, the devs pick which one they use.
An app that cost £7.99 costs £9.99 and is a 25% hike - whereas the price level below (£7.49) has gone up by 20% (£8.99) and the one above £8.99 has increased by 16.7%.
Although the price band that Final Cut Pro X is on has seen a smaller percentage rise, it now costs an extra £20 ( £179.99 to £199.99).
Changes for all price bands can be found at http://www.tapmag.co.uk/blog/apple-increases-uk-app-store-prices-14-07-2011
"The developers set the sale price for their apps, so I expect they've also had input on these price changes"
So far, all the comments from developers that I've read, have claimed these changes came out of the blue - the closest to discussing it with developers seems to have been Apple letting them know that the system would be down for 'maintenance'.
Although developers do control what price level their apps sell at, most say that otherwise it's out of their control at it's Apple who sets out the price levels (some say it's similar to Amazon etc.).
Most of the UK developers' comments I've read, seem pretty supportive though.
Whilst there may be a striking correlation in the % rise the the current VAT level, I assume the previous price included VAT, so the raise should only be 2.5% increase if that was the explanation. Sounds like some sneaky double dipping, or just them not understanding UK Tax.
So Apple are making a whole 1p extra by "over charging" us (according to Google's currency conversion rate)
Oh the humanity!
These stories crop up with such regularity, concerning all sorts of companies not just Apple, that I'm pretty astonished that anyone would post an article like this without doing this very rudimentary bit of maths.
It makes you look really dumb.
Also, is there import duty on downloaded software? I think there is on software on physical media.
However the HMRC website is such an opaque mess when it comes to things like this that I always end up giving up after about five minutes of fruitless searching.
Didn't you realise that's exactly what you're supposed to do?
One way of stopping people claiming back money, is to make as hard as possible for them to
a) find out about it with 100% clarity
b) actually claim for it.
You can't eat an iTunes app or heat your home with it, which is what concerns many people right now. All iTunes stuff is discretionary spending, which by all accounts is going down the toilet due to inflation, wage freezes and fear. Except $ky Sports of course, which is unaffected by a recession because it seems to be regarded as a utility bill.
What's the big deal? Do Apple's app store prices change when currencies fluctuate throughout the day? All they do is set a price for a region, with no guarantee that it will match their "master" region, in this case the US. That price will reflect all sorts of different factors and so will lead to the same item costing different amounts in real terms in other regions - it's all about profitability per region and the markups that each region's controlling group within Apple plc they think they can get away with! For example, it is widely thought that the US sells very cheap denim jeans compared to the UK - does the UK arm of Levi ask the US arm to match the UK price? No, as it is a different region and may have differing priorities.
The big problem here is that traditionally people voted with their feet and if they felt they were getting ripped off they would go get their goods from another distributer, which due to Apple's walled garden is impossible, especially when combined with their cartel behaviour in making sure that the Apple app store price is the same everywhere else within a region. It removes the power of the market, i.e. the voice of the consumer. It's kinda the same as when those oil companies got done for artificially inflating the price of oil in secret agreements so there was little fluctuation in price from different outlets.
Shoulda gone with an Android. With Android ya have a mostly open market and as a consequence there is competition which keeps prices honest-ish.
So, pay up iFanPeeps and keep paying up. Cupertino doesn't love you,.... but they do love your $$$.
That android had a music store.
So does all this extra money feed back to the developers of the programs people are paying more for, or is it all Apple-Tax?
70% of the increase will go to the developers.
Apple are still only taking their 30% of the price, whatever the price is.
I'm amazed by that some people sayign that a 2-digit perctage price rise is fine and the Apple should be doing that. Gas prices rise and people complain that the engergy companies are just trying to squeese more money out of us, but Apple increase prices by 16% and Apple users just accept that Apple deserve the price rise of there increased cost of ... oh no wait.
Maybe it is early days these comments but defending a large price rise that mainly makes you pay more and impacts you directly seems strange to me.
As @Big Bear says they can raise the price and you have no choice about getting an app from another source.
"accept that Apple deserve the price rise of there increased cost of" the US dollar compared to 2008 when the previous store prices were set.
Forget the percentages, look at the raw figures.
Buying apps is a choice. You can't compare a 10p rise in the price of a budget game with a £100 increase on a winter heating bill. It might feel like a rip-off to some, but nobody ever died because they couldn't afford Angry Birds Seasons.
Apple fans should just cough up and not complain, after all ever penny spent gets you a step closer to iHeaven.
Apple need the money. Oh wait...
So why did they lower the prices in some countries? Oh wait...
Plus the biggest chunk (70%) of any increase goes to the developers, not Apple.