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Although this is the most open Premier League for many years, it is still somewhat of a surprise to see Bolton Wanderers sitting proudly in fifth place after just over a third of the season has been completed. Not only that, but they have achieved this with a brand of passing, attractive football that most fans thought beyond them. It's a far cry from this time last year when Gary Megson's team was being pilloried by Bolton's own supporters for the awful combination of poor results and an ugly, negative playing style.
This inevitably resulted in the "Ginger Mourinho" being sacked in a desperate attempt to stave off the threat of relegation and the club replacing him with Owen Coyle, whose move from local rivals Burnley was highly controversial, not to mention acrimonious, but the change has paid off in the best possible way. Bolton steadily moved up the table for the rest of last season, ultimately finishing in a comfortable 14th position, while this year's start has been the club's most promising for some time.
Moreover, this has not been accomplished via the attritional football long associated with the Trotters, but with an attacking approach and a sense of panache that has the purists purring in appreciation. As the club's accounts drily explained, "Owen has embarked upon a programme of evolutionary change to the playing style." The manager has certainly worked a minor miracle with forwards Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander, whose transformation from lumbering plodders to skilful tyros has been nothing short of remarkable. Indeed, this led Barney Ronay in the Guardian to gush, "Bolton are a beautiful thing these days."
"The dynamic duo"
Of course, Bolton have not been without success in the past, but they have not won much in their long history, even though they were one of only 12 founder members of the Football League. You have to go back all the way to the 20s for their most successful era, when they won the FA Cup three times, with their only other trophy coming in 1958, when they again won the FA Cup by beating Manchester United 2-0 with two goals from legendary centre-forward Nat Lofthouse. More recently, they qualified twice for the UEFA Cup in 2005 and 2007, but their real success has been to survive in the Premier League for ten consecutive seasons.
However, all that glitters is not necessarily gold and, in stark contrast to Bolton's fortunes on the pitch, the club's finances have seen better days. A couple of weeks ago the 2010 accounts revealed a huge loss of £35 million plus a significant rise in the net debt to £93 million, thanks to an unhealthy mixture of low turnover and an inflated wage bill. Just as Bolton's side appear to be on the verge of great things, it looks as if it will have to be broken up by selling its best players, maybe as soon as the next transfer window.
Chairman Phil Gartside admitted that star defender Gary Cahill and Elmander may have to be sacrificed if the right offers come along, "If a Champions League team knocks on the door in January, that's the best time to sell an asset, because those teams will pay the money." This could be particularly relevant for Elmander, as the Swede is out of contract at the end of the season, so could leave for no fee, unless his contract is extended. Coyle has insisted that he is under no pressure to sell, stressing that the chairman and owner were already well aware of the financial situation in the summer, and they did not force his hand at that stage. He has a point, but cynics might feel that he is merely talking up the price and someone will still have to be sold in January to balance the books.
So just how bad is the debt?
If you look at it in purely numerical terms, quite frankly, it looks terrible. In fact, the net debt of £93 million is an astronomical sum and is the sixth highest in the Premier League. Outside of the Big Four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, only Fulham have more debt than Bolton and it is arguable that two of those clubs will soon be in a better position, as Liverpool's previous acquisition debt is being repaid by their new owners, while Arsenal's debt is rapidly falling due to proceeds from property sales.
What's even worse is that Bolton's debt is increasing at a rate of knots. Having held steady in 2005 and 2006 at around £29 million, since then it has more than tripled, rising 45% in the last year alone from £64 million to £93 million. That's worrying by anyone's standards, as it indicates a business model that isn't working.
At least there is no immediate pressure from the banks, as the composition of the debt has changed in the last 12 months with almost all of it (£85 million) now owed to the club's owner, Edwin Davies, via his company Moonshift Investments Limited, leading Gartside to emphasise, "We are in a fortunate position in that a small percentage of our debt is owed to the bank" – though subsequent to the release of the accounts, Gartside has stated that the club has now agreed new banking facilities with Barclays.
"Cheer up, Phil. The team is in 5th place"
In the meantime, last year's financials clearly indicate how much Bolton rely on the backing of their owner, as he has covered their increasing losses over the last few years. As Gartside put it, "Without Ed's support, we would be watching a very different standard of football. He is the only reason we are in the Premier League. He has given us a huge amount of money."
Actually, Davies has not exactly "given" the money to the club, as Bolton have to pay a price for his generosity. Last year, his company was paid £3.6 million in respect of "arrangement and guarantee fees" for the £85 million loan, which is linked to an interest rate of 5%. It's also repayable on demand, though the directors have received assurances that repayment of the loans will not be demanded within 12 months of signing the financials statements. In fairness, these terms are an improvement on the previous year, when the interest rate was a very high 10% on a £23 million loan, which produced a £2m payment to Davies.
The loan is also secured by a floating charge on the club's assets, while Moonshift is owed a further £2.7 million by the club for what is mysteriously described as a "player success fee".
In short, it is clear that Davies' funding has been vitally important to the club, but it is equally clear that this is a commercial investment that has provided the owner with a healthy income stream during a difficult economic climate. The club's chief executive, Allan Duckworth, acknowledged that the owners' loans charged interest "at a premium which reflects risk, which is high at a football club." As a result, the club has been paying £4.5 million a year in interest, which is not massive, but it is a sizeable burden when the turnover is only around £60 million.
"Will Cahill be off in the next transfer window?"
In contrast, Mohamed Al Fayed has lent almost £200 million to Fulham interest-free, which makes a significant difference to the West London club's financials. Furthermore, much of this debt is unsecured, which means that Al Fayed has no guarantee of repayment.
To be fair to Davies, Bolton were in dire straits when he paid £2.25 million in 2003 to increase his shareholding from 29.7% to 94.5%, effectively taking over the club and taking his total outlay at that stage to £14 million. The club had almost collapsed under the burden of debt accumulated from building the Reebok stadium and the adjoining hotel and offices with one of its banks, the Co-Op, seeking to force repayment of its loan. With other banks unwilling to lend, Davies was the only man to come forward and provide the money needed in order to avoid entering administration. For taking that risk alone, Bolton fans should be grateful, so he has arguably earned his reward.
Obviously much of the credit for the club's progress must go to the players and various managers, not to mention old-fashioned attributes like good coaching, tactics and team spirit, but it is difficult to believe that Bolton would have done as well without Davies' money. Indeed, Gartside stated, "That this achievement corresponds with Eddie's investment in the club is not coincidental." The importance of this funding is evident when examining Bolton's financials.
The last time that the club made a profit was back in 2006 when they just about broke even, but since then the losses have been steadily rising: 2007 £2 million, 2008 £8 million, 2009 £13 million and 2010 £35 million. The widening of the loss in the last year, when it very nearly tripled, is most shocking, and cannot simply be ascribed to the £4 million cost of restructuring the management team. The truth is that there are fundamental flaws in Bolton's operating model. Even the relatively small loss in 2007 was boosted by the once-off £3.5 million sale of naming rights for the training ground.
When Gartside recently raised the possibility of a wages cap in the Premier League, he exclaimed, "We keep upping the income and we keep losing money. It's ridiculous." Well, he's half right, if you examine how Bolton moved from a £4 million profit in 2005 to a £35 million loss in 2010. Yes, there has been some revenue growth, but not much – and almost all of it has come from television. Gate receipts have actually fallen in that period. On the other hand, you can see why Gartside is concerned about wages, as these have grown by £21 million, which is almost double the gain from TV. On top of that, player amortisation has risen £14 million and other costs £10 million.
In short, Bolton's small revenue growth has been eaten up and then some by the cost growth, mainly due to investment in the football team. They have eased their financial indigestion by reaching for the pill bottle named "Debt".
In similar circumstances, other clubs have opted to redress the balance with the sale of players, but that is not the case for Bolton. In fact, profit from player sales actually dropped from £8 million in 2009 to just £0.1 million last year. As Gartside explained, "We are not a selling club, but a trading club. One of the problems we've had over the last three or four years is that we've not done much trading." That's true, but one of the other problems they have is that it will require a lot of player "trading" to make a meaningful dent in the losses. For example, Bolton averaged profits on player sales of £8 million in both 2008 and 2009, but that did not prevent overall losses of £8 million and £13 million in those years.
Nor are Bolton assisted by their ancillary activities. This analysis is based on the accounts of Burnden Leisure PLC, which is the parent company of the football club (Bolton Wanderers Football & Athletic Company Limited), but also includes the joint venture for a hotel (Bolton Whites Hotel Limited). Some see this as the saviour of the football club, but the reality is that this operation also loses money. The segmental analysis in the accounts reveals that the hotel produces annual revenue of around £8 million, but does not contribute anything to the bottom line, as it has reported losses for the last six years. In 2010, the loss was just under £2 million with trading conditions being described as "extremely testing".
Given the size of Bolton's turnover, they are almost bound to struggle financially. If we look at the Premier League revenue from 2008/09 (the last season when we have comparatives for all clubs), we can see that only four clubs reported lower revenue than Bolton (£52 million from football income) – and two of those (Hull City and WBA) ended up being relegated.
You would expect Bolton to be significantly behind the Big Four (Manchester United £279 million, Arsenal £224 million, Chelsea £206 million and Liverpool £185 million), but they also earn a lot less than clubs like Aston Villa (£84 million) and Everton (£80 million), while even Stoke City generated more income (£54 million). In the 2009 annual report, Gartside voiced his concerns, "Addressing this polarisation of clubs and increasing revenue differentials will be the major strategic issue for the Premier League over the coming years."
Given these limited resources, Bolton's lengthy tenure in the Premier League has to be considered a fantastic achievement, though it can be looked at in two contrasting ways: either they are punching well above their weight, or they are spending way above their means and are only propped up by a generous benefactor.
The revenue mix is particularly revealing. Match day revenue of £5 million is pitifully small, while commercial revenue of £9 million is actually inflated by including £3 million of unexplained "other football income", leaving the underlying balance as a tiny £6 million. What this analysis also highlights is the enormous reliance on broadcasting revenue, which represents over 70% of Bolton's total football income.
If we again look at season 2008/09, we can see that only Wigan are more dependent on TV revenue than Bolton. It's little different in 2009/10 with Bolton earning £39 million of their £54 million total revenue from the small screen. As such, their turnover is heavily influenced by the timing of broadcasting deals, with the £8 million increase in 2008 revenue being almost entirely due to the new Sky deal.
Happily for Bolton, they can anticipate a similar increase in revenue from next year, as the central payments from the latest three-year deal, which kicked off in the 2010/11 season, will climb by about a third, largely thanks to the increase in overseas rights. TV really has become football's equivalent of the goose that lays the golden egg, but that fable did not have a happy ending and some believe that the next sale of TV rights in 2013 might bring in less money, due to a number of threats (market saturation, competition, legislation, technology).
At present, Bolton are one of the beneficiaries of the Sky revolution with £37 million of their £39 million broadcasting income emanating from Murdoch's empire. Surprisingly, Gartside has argued that clubs like his should receive even more from the central distribution pool, even though the Premier League already distributes TV revenue more fairly than any other major European League with 50% of the domestic rights and 100% of the overseas rights allocated equally.
However, not all of the money is allocated in this manner. Merit payments account for 25% of the domestic rights with each place in the final league table being worth £800,000. In addition, the remaining 25% of the domestic TV rights comes from the facility fee, which is based on how many times Sky broadcast a club's matches live. Each team must be broadcast a minimum of ten times a season with a maximum of 24, but this tends to benefit the big clubs. For example, in each of the last two seasons Bolton have been shown the minimum ten times, while we have had the pleasure of watching Manchester United the maximum 24 times.
So, the difference between Manchester United's TV allocation of £53 million and Bolton's of £37 million is around £16 million, of which £9 million is due to merit and £7 million comes from the number of live matches. That does not seem too unreasonable to me. In fact, given that the overseas rights have become a far larger proportion of the total deal, in relative terms the smaller clubs are receiving more than ever before. Of course, the real differential in terms of TV revenue comes from the Champions League, which in fairness is outside the control of Scudamore and Co.
At least TV revenue has been increasing, but this is not the case for gate receipts, which have been declining and now account for only 10% of football income. Despite a slight increase in this revenue stream in 2010, thanks to three more home matches, gate receipts have fallen 45% from their peak of £9.8 million in 2006 to £5.4 million in 2010. Most of this can be attributed to average attendances plummeting from 26,000 to 22,000, but even when there was a temporary increase in crowds in 2009, the money still diminished, as Bolton have reduced ticket prices in an attempt to entice fans back, including the introduction of cheaper season tickets, £49 for children and £299 entry level for adults.
A couple of years ago, the club admitted that falling attendances were a real concern, pointing to factors such as price, kick-off times and levels of TV coverage, but it may simply come down to the effects of the recession, which have hit the north-west of England very hard. It should also be noted that their catchment area includes plenty of other clubs, so there's a lot of competition for the floating fan.
"Welcome to Planet Reebok"
Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that Bolton's average attendance last season was the fourth lowest in the Premier League and was actually smaller than seven clubs in the Championship and one in League One. This obviously causes them huge financial problems when competing against other clubs. OK, the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal may be out of sight with their match day revenue of over £100 million, but Bolton's competitors for European qualification also generate much higher gate receipts than their £5 million, e.g. Spurs £40 million, Aston Villa £23 million and Everton £22 million.
There should be no issue with the ground, as the Reebok Stadium is a modern, all-seater with an appropriate capacity of just under 29,000, though some would prefer the location to be nearer the town centre, as opposed to Horwich, a suburb of Bolton. The club moved to the new stadium in 1997, after playing at Burnden Park for over 100 years, with a view to generating more income, not just from football, but other facilities including a hotel, conference centre and restaurant.
Ever since the new stadium was built, Reebok have been an important part of Bolton's commercial revenue. They acquired the stadium naming rights, which have been extended until 2016, continue to provide the club's kit and were the shirt sponsors until 2009, when they were replaced by betting specialist 188BET in a two-year agreement.
"The Flying Finn"
Gartside described this as a "fantastic and lucrative deal", but the reality is that the £750,000 they receive annually is one of the smallest in the Premier League and is actually lower than the £950,000 that Reebok used to pay. This is part of an innovative "two for the price of one" purchase from 188BET, who also sponsor Wigan for £650,000. Clearly, you would not expect Bolton to match the £20 million earned by the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, but they could certainly aspire to get the same as neighbours Blackburn Rovers, who earn twice as much (£1.5 million) from their contract with Crown Paints.
Corporate hospitality has also suffered, down 25% in 2010 as a result of the business downturn, while merchandising and licensing sales might have grown by an "encouraging" 16%, but it's still only worth £1.4 million.
It remains to be seen whether the club can drive growth in these areas, but there may be some hope if Bolton can continue to deliver success on the pitch, while "re-branding" themselves as an exciting team. Gartside alluded to this a couple of years ago, "Commercial success of a football club will to a large extent reflect longer term success on the field."
So Bolton suffer from structural revenue challenges, but the 2010 £35 million loss was primarily blamed on "further investment in the football team", resulting in an increase in player wages and amortisation. In order to "improve the quality and depth of the squad", the likes of Chung-Yong Lee, Zat Knight, Paul Robinson, Sam Ricketts and Sean Davis were added, while loan agreements were taken out for Jack Wilshere, Ivan Klasnic and Vladimir Weiss. As a consequence, the wage bill increased by a hefty 14% last year from £41 million to £46 million.
However, this was far from an isolated incident as wages have risen by over 80% since 2005, while in the same period revenue only increased by 20%, contributing to a very high wages to turnover ratio of 86%. This is not only way above UEFA's recommended maximum limit of 70%, but has been described by chief executive, Allan Duckworth, as "unlikely to prove sustainable in the long term."
In fairness, it's not as if Bolton's wage bill is excessive in absolute terms, as they currently lie 12th in the wages ranking for clubs in the Premier League. As we speak, they could actually be even lower, as they could easily be overtaken by Blackburn, Fulham and Wigan when those clubs publish their 2010 accounts, while newly promoted Newcastle certainly pay more.
Moreover, the club is well aware that the wage bill is too high, as they have been adversely impacted by two important factors, one of which is specific to Bolton, while the other has affected all clubs. First, the consecutive changes in management have "led to the club carrying a larger than optimum playing squad and backroom team." Second, the club wanted to shed players in the summer, but the transfer market has died with far fewer deals taking place.
This meant that no senior players left the club during the season, resulting in the senior squad increasing in size from 24 players to 30, while the full squad of players averaged 57 compared to 45 in the previous season. Gartside promised that the club's wage position would recover next summer when nine players will be out of contract, "If you took four or five players out of the squad, you've probably got £8 million of salaries that you don't need." It's an obvious area to target and one that should not be too difficult to improve.
You would have to believe that the board directors were capable of addressing the financial issue, given that they are very comfortably rewarded for their efforts. Last year, the highest paid director (most likely Gartside) trousered a hefty £584,000, including a £156,000 bonus, while the other director (presumably Duckworth) received £483,000, including a £178,000 bonus. If they make this much money, when the company reports a record loss of £35 million, heaven knows how much they would be paid if the club actually made a profit. Nice work if you can get it.
"The boy can play after all"
The logical result of the club's recent transfer policy has been a significant increase in player amortisation from £2 million in 2006 to £16 million in 2010 with this expense rising 33% last year alone. The concept of amortisation confuses many people, but it is simply how accountants handle player transfers. Instead of booking 100% of the player's transfer price as a cost in the year of purchase, accountants treat players as assets, so the cost is capitalised and written-down (amortised) over the length of his contract. At the end of the contract, he is considered to have no value, because he can then leave the club on a free transfer.
It's probably easier to understand with an example. Bolton bought Fabrice Muamba for around £6 million on a four-year contract, so the annual amortisation is £1.5 million. After two years his net book value in the accounts would be £3 million (the original cost of £6 million less two years amortisation at £1.5 million per annum).
Whatever the accounting treatment, what is indisputable is that Bolton have somehow transformed themselves into a buying club in recent times. Whether this cavalier approach makes sense, only time will tell. Gartside told supporters, "We have spent more money on players than we have in the past in the last three or four years" and the figures endorse this view. Up until 2003, Bolton made good money from their activities in the transfer market, generating a net surplus of £25 million in the preceding five years, but in the subsequent eight years they have incurred a net spend of £37 million. Apart from 2007/08 when the club's purchases were funded by the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea for a club record fee, every year in that period has seen outgoings.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without their benefactor providing the cash, which was explicitly acknowledged in the 2007 annual report, "Once again the ongoing support of Edwin Davies and parties connected to him has enabled this investment in the playing squad."
As the club understands that future "investment levels must be managed within the overall capacity of the business", they have committed themselves to a new philosophy whereby "young, promising players will be acquired as rough diamonds to be polished and cut. Some will be kept to secure the backbone of the team, but others will be sold to finance further investments." This youth strategy will benefit from the "Bolton Wanderers Eddie Davies Football Academy" in Lostock, which became operational at the start of the 2008/09 season and features a number of high quality grass pitches and an all weather training facility.
Whether this bold new vision is pursued is a matter of conjecture, because the very same report also states, "ongoing investment in the playing squad will remain a priority." In a way, this is perfectly understandable, as this is their best chance of fulfilling their primary objective, which is "simply to retain the club's Premier League status" – pretty much at all costs. Gartside has talked of a "fear factor beginning to emerge amongst top clubs outside the top few" surrounding relegation, due to the financial gap between the Premier League and the Championship, which tempts clubs to over-spend in order to keep their seat at the top table.
"Keep your eye on the ball, Kev"
Granted, the parachute payments paid to clubs dropping out of the Premier League have been increased to £48 million (£16 million in each of the first two years, £8 million in each of years three and four), but this would still represent a drastic reduction for Bolton. They can expect around £45 million revenue from the Premier League next season, so they would have to somehow cope with a £29 million reduction in their total revenue. Unless Davies provided even more funding, the club would be unable to meet their payroll, so would have to offload players in a fire sale, making it more difficult to be promoted back into the top division – a vicious circle.
This has lead to Gartside, also a Football Association board member, making a series of proposals for a two-tier Premier League with 18 teams in each. Although this theoretically might have some merit (winter break, fewer matches), you don't have to be the world's biggest cynic to detect a healthy degree of self-interest in the plan, as one of the primary objectives is clearly to give clubs relegated from the Premier League a softer financial landing.
His initial plan included the awful idea of doing away with promotion and relegation, though this has since been watered down to allow limited scope for teams moving up and down via some sort of "size and finance threshold". In other words, replacing a meritocracy with a franchise system. Maybe he's forgotten that this would have prevented his own beloved Bolton from climbing from the old Fourth Division in 1988 to the Premier League in 1995. Fortunately, these proposals have so far been rejected, but you get the feeling that won't stop Gartside from knocking at the door again.
The extent of the chairman's nervousness is all too easy to appreciate when you read the going concern warning in the latest accounts, where the club advises that it has a shortfall in its cash flow projections and is "in discussion with lenders regarding potential further borrowings in order to provide the company with adequate working capital facilities." There was a similar warning in last year's accounts, the only difference being that it spoke of "the potential securitisation of future guaranteed broadcast revenues", i.e. borrowing against the Sky TV money. It is evident from the cash flow statement that the business has only been maintained through financing, either with bank borrowing or loans from the owner, which has amounted to £64 million in the last four years.
This benefactor model works fine while Davies is there to provide support, even though some might accuse the club of benefiting from a form of financial doping, but it does beg the question of how strong his commitment is. Although he was born in Bolton and grew up in the town, Davies, who made his fortune from the manufacture of thermostatic controls for kettles, moved away in his early twenties. When he bought the club in 2004, a former director, Brian Scowcroft, expressed the fans' concerns, "Now we're owned by an Isle of Man tax exile via his Bermudan trust. It leaves us feeling very vulnerable and with many unanswered questions."
"Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be..."
That said, nearly seven years later Davies is still at the club and has continually made funds available. Gartside, for one, has no doubts over the owner's dedication to the cause, "We have no indications from Eddie whatsoever that he wants to exit the club. He still enjoys the games and is a massive supporter of the club." However, there must always be some misgivings when a club is so reliant on one individual. He might get bored, suffer ill health or run into financial difficulties. Such a scenario may be unlikely, but it has afflicted a number of clubs, e.g. Portsmouth, Rangers. Even if the spirit is willing, the bank account might be weak. According to the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List, Davies' net worth is £65 million, which might be more than enough for you and me, but does not leave him much more to invest in the football club.
Although the club claims that it is trying to wean itself away from relying on financing from Davies, we have seen that this is easier said than done. Nor would it be a straightforward task to find a new investor. Indeed, Gartside admitted, "I've been chairman for 12 years and on the board for 21. We've never had an approach to buy it in all that time."
The club might own its ground and other assets (including the hotel), but it still has net liabilities of £56 million, though much of this shortfall would be made up by putting a real world value on the players (intangible assets). These are reported in the books at £24 million, but the directors estimate the market value to be approximately £64 million. This provides some under-pinning of the debt, but does not help to release cash to make loan repayments - unless players are sold. This is the state of affairs facing the club (and Owen Coyle) right now.
"Owen Coyle - plenty to think about"
So Bolton may not be the most compelling investment, either from a yield or growth perspective, but there could be some light at the end of the financial tunnel via a couple of developments in football governance. Firstly, the introduction of Premier League squad limits should reduce the numbers required for the playing squad. Then, the advent of the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations should theoretically reduce the inflationary wage pressure from the top clubs. Of course, the latter is a double-edged sword for Bolton, as they are a long way from break-even and have less revenue potential than the larger clubs. It would be a horrible irony if Bolton did manage to qualify for Europe again, but found themselves excluded for financial reasons.
Maybe we should just enjoy the moment. Bolton have made enormous progress on the pitch since they were voted the seventh most hated club in English football in 2008. They are now playing some delightful football, eradicating the memory of the dismal fare served up by the teams sent out by Megson and Allardyce, and few neutrals would begrudge them their lofty position in the Premier League. If they maintain this level in spite of their financial constraints, it will be a simply stunning achievement. The odds are against it, but stranger things have happened.


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Sunday, May 1, 2011
Hidden Gem - SBER 100 Race Report
32 comments:
- jun said...
Great report. I think its great you didn't mention your time or place, but instead focused on what mattered most, the experience. Congrats.
- May 1, 2011 at 3:13 PM
- irun4pain said...
Solid run! Sorry that the original course didn't work out. I know you were looking forward to it. Recover and get ready for WS. I hope to see ya over there, however, I have a little thing to do on May 14th in Wisconsin first. - May 1, 2011 at 3:15 PM
- David Henry said...
Just curious Geoff, what do you think the gain, roughly, of the re-routed course was? What other 100 did the course compare to?
- May 1, 2011 at 8:01 PM
- SwissRunner said...
I really enjoyed your race report. I was one of the lucky ones running the 100 miler and I truly enjoyed this event. RD Robert did an amazing job and I highly recommend this race to anybody.
- May 2, 2011 at 10:03 AM
- Scott Dunlap said...
Way to make the best of a tough situation. Mother Nature has been tough on Santa Barbara this year, with a weather-related cancellation at Two Moons and the course re-route at SBER. But given what you are saying about the spirit of this event, I have no doubt it shall prevail.
Let's earmark this one for next year!
SD - May 2, 2011 at 12:51 PM
- Cloud said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 2, 2011 at 2:09 PM
- Cloud said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 2, 2011 at 2:19 PM
- Larissa said...
Geoff - great report! I think you captured why we all do this sport. For our love of running and the community. Cloud - sure, it would be awesome to do this for a living, but once it becomes work is it really as much fun? I commend Geoff for taking a chance on a small race and helping to put it on the map. I'm a big believer that Karma will pay off in better ways than running just to please sponsorships.
Don't forget, Killian was 'well-trained' last year and we all know how that ended.... - May 2, 2011 at 2:45 PM
- Aaron Spurlock said...
Thank you for the best race report I've read in a long time. The day you or anyone else starts blogging about how much cash they made off a race is the day I stop caring what you have to say. Keep up the good work and keep creating great memories for yourself.
Cloud-maybe you should be selling something useless to someone clueless. Pretty sure Geoff is gonna be OK without your coaching. - May 2, 2011 at 3:53 PM
- Ian Scott said...
Geoff, quite inspiring in capturing the spirit of running for the sake of just running. I think it's great you still run unfamiliar races because you want to explore new territory, at least that's what I got from this post. Bravo.
- May 2, 2011 at 5:00 PM
- David Hill said...
Ha, it seems some people here are not familiar with your past training / race taper history - specifically that you've done quite well with just 5-6 weeks of down time between races. It has to make you chuckle :)
I admire the fact you kept your commitment to take part in this race, even when it didn't look so great on paper, and ended up having a great time. A good karma lesson for us all, cheers to you! - May 2, 2011 at 6:40 PM
- Grandma Linda said...
I enjoyed your description of the race and your love of racing, and I particularly enjoyed your comments about Scott.. I have known him for many years, and was eagerly following his race via his family.
I understand from them that you are a TOP NOTCH runner....good luck in future competitions, and WATCH out for Scotty for SURE. - May 2, 2011 at 10:24 PM
- Steve Ansell said...
Congrats Geoff. It was great seeing you out there on the course (heading in the opposite direction of course).
I'm sure this 100-mile training run will bay big dividends for your plans later in the year ;-) - May 3, 2011 at 6:10 AM
- Speedgoat Karl said...
Cloud should get together with Kris. :-)
Great run man! Glad you went down there and scoped it out. Even though it was alot of road, the scenery and peacefulness, I'm sure was nice. Kinda like our run on the Pony Express Trail, a dirt road, but no people, and pretty cool scenery to boot.
WS will not make anyone rich Cloud, it's just another race that happens to be 100 miles.
I've sticked to my passion all of my career, and hope that Geoff does too, going to races blind and seeing the course that way is fun. - May 3, 2011 at 7:18 AM
Congratulations again, Geoff!! Hope your recovery goes well and you kick some serious tail at WS!
I don't think you need to worry too much for Geoff's recovery... The guy TOTALLY SLACKED through most of the race!!!! :P He had enough time to stop and talk to me for 5 minutes on the trail... Heck, he even stopped for a beer along the way!!! It was great to see Geoff run this race for fun and fun to see him enjoying the experience! Seeing him out there, I have the feeling that SBER did more good for him than bad and my money is still on him for WS!
All Day!
~Ken - May 3, 2011 at 7:35 PM
- jun said...
I'm pretty confident everyone who has seen Cloud post recognizes him as a complete tool.
Cloud, worry about your own running. Everyone else will be just fine on their own. - May 4, 2011 at 7:20 AM
- Unknown said...
Congrats Geoff!
By the way, Cloud doesn't run! Well, except for running off with the mouth :) - May 4, 2011 at 2:19 PM
- Cloud said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 4, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Hey Geoff, great report and great running. Never lose sight of the values you hold because it is exactly what makes you the runner you are. Well done and I cannot wait for WS100, hope Tony Krupicka iskicking fit for another epic :)
- May 4, 2011 at 11:03 PM
- Mark Tanaka (Ultrailnakaman) said...
Nice report and relaxed win, Geoff. I think a lot of people (of all levels) draw a lot of inspiration from your attitude.
- May 5, 2011 at 12:21 AM
- Speedgoat Karl said...
Cloud, is it not fair to say that last year when Killian ran across the Pyrenees, (that was around 500 miles in 9 days) he was overtrained? I my opinion no, he's one of those younger guys like Dakota, Tony a few years back and a few others that seem to have the knowledge and experience of an expert such as yourself. He knew what he was doing. Killian also runs because he enjoys it, not because he wants to be a rich ultrarunner. Killian, Geoff, Tony and my old self have some class, although sometimes I'm not so sure about myself. You may reveal your name now, I'd like a chuckle, I'm sure the rest of us would to. :-)
Good stuff as always! - May 5, 2011 at 9:50 AM
- Cloud said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 5, 2011 at 1:50 PM
- Geoff said...
of course you're not going to let us all know who you are. you've spent the better part of the past couple weeks making a complete fool of yourself here and on tony's blog. i've considered disputing some of your ridiculous comments a few times, but then you chime back in and make yourself look even more ignorant, cowardly, and oblivious to reality than anything I could say would possibly do. keep up the good work, you're providing lots of folks a good laugh (and no, they're not laughing with you, but rather AT YOU). - May 5, 2011 at 3:34 PM
- Charlie said...
I don't see how you can claim to "rile people up and get 'em thinkin" when you resort to personal abuse. You only come across as a troll rather than the "supercoach" you claim to be.
Surely if you want your views to be taken remotely seriously you need to tell us who you are. There is no point in quoting what could be a completely fictious resume.
I thought Karl had never run Western - May 5, 2011 at 10:13 PM
- Charlie said...
By the way Cloud, Kilian has just touched down here in Sydney Australia to run a very tough 100k next weekend. We are all very excited about seeing the great man in action.
Ian Sharman is running Miwok and Comrades prior to WS (not to mention a raft of marathons and 50Kers). Jez Bragg is racing two very tough 50+ mountain milers in 2 weeks. Dave Mackey is running Miwok etc etc etc.
Looks like the entire elite field at Western will be over trained this year, you had better have a word to them all. - May 5, 2011 at 10:31 PM
- Geoff said...
i was thinking the same thing. WS is pretty much going to be a race of a bunch of over trained bums. with all his expertise I expect Cloud will probably show up and show us all how it's done. - May 6, 2011 at 6:40 AM
- tim white said...
"its easy to pile on when a guy like me speaks the truth"....???
You should understand (or maybe you're incapable), its easy to pile on when that guy walks into a room and starts verbally vomiting... HEY... you're retarded... HEY... you're misguided... all of you super talented runners who have enjoyed amazing accomplishments... none of you know what the fuck you're doing... listen to me... all of you elite athletes.. none of you know how to channel your talents... HEY all of you listen... LISTEN TO ME!!
You automatically devalue any insight you might have by being an ASS. The very fact that the people you're attacking are successful makes you look very STUPID! There are many people like you. You think you provoke some interesting conversations, or someone might actually think to themselves... hey, this person might be onto something. I can assure you, you're onto nothing. You clearly don't have the credentials (or intelligence) that you claim, otherwise you would certainly have to balls to stand by them with an actual name. You're a loser... nothing means more in your pathetic little world than to rile up these gifted athletes who are kind enough to share their insight, advise, emotions, accomplishments... all the ups, all the downs. But ooohh if i could just get Geoff, or Karl, or or Tony to respond to me... it would make me so important.. ooohhhh. Heres a little reality... nope.. unh uhh... never have been, never will be. Why not just save yourself further embarrassment and go away. Oh and you should probably know very bad things have a way of happening to really shitty people. Or maybe you already do.
tim - May 6, 2011 at 8:04 AM
- jun said...
Hey Jeff, you should come over train with me and a few friends by doing the Zion Train (traverse) in a couple of weeks. We'll redefine 'casual run' for you. Then again, maybe you shouldn't, it might clash with Cloud's solid training plan for you.
- May 6, 2011 at 10:36 AM
- Cloud said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 6, 2011 at 11:04 AM
I had a blast running SBER. It was a true adventure & plunge into the unknown-which in essence, is the heart of ultrarunning. If you don't fuel that fire every now and then, who knows what could happen. You were totally running easy on the course, it was obvious to all of us. see you on the trails! - Ashley
Cloud- tools like you take the fun out of ultrarunning, even for" sisters of the poor". Stop hiding behind your computer, &grow a set. & dude, that's coming from a girl. - May 6, 2011 at 1:12 PM
- Unknown said...
Hands down to Geoff..this IS running!
- May 8, 2011 at 7:35 PM
- Unknown said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 8, 2011 at 7:35 PM

subset: commoncrawl


text:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Paula Broadwell is telling friends she is devastated by the fallout from her extramarital affair with retired Gen. David Petraeus, which led to his resignation as head of the CIA.
A person close to Broadwell said Sunday she deeply regrets the damage that's been done to her family and everyone else's, and she is trying to repair that and move forward. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
A group of friends and neighbors welcomed Broadwell, her husband, Scott, and their young sons back to their home in Charlotte, N.C., after Broadwell spent more than a week being hounded by media while staying at her brother's home in Washington. The family associate said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from her neighbors.
While Petraeus has given one interview, and communicated his regret over the affair through friends and associates, this is one of the first messages to the public from Broadwell.
Broadwell is still being investigated by the FBI over classified documents found on her laptop and in her home, which investigators believe the author gathered while researching her biography of Petraeus in Afghanistan. Investigators say many of the documents are old and may no longer be classified despite their labels, and say Broadwell told them she did not get them from Petraeus.
The FBI stumbled onto their relationship after tracking anonymous emails Broadwell allegedly sent to Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, warning Kelley to stay away from Petraeus and Afghanistan war commander Gen. John Allen.
Kelley served as sort of an unpaid social liaison for Central Command, hosting parties at her and her husband's home, where senior officers would mingle with Tampa's elite. Officials say Kelley kept in near constant contact with Allen, and Petraeus before him, apparently trading on her friendship with the four-star commanders to advance her social status in the military-conscious community of Tampa.
The scandal widened when the Pentagon announced it was looking into that copious correspondence between Kelley and Allen, searching for possible evidence of an inappropriate relationship between the two married people. Allen's nomination to lead the U.S. European Command has been put on hold, pending results of the investigation, though officials now concede only a handful of the emails between Kelley and Allen are of a flirtatious or questionable nature.
The FBI found no reason to further investigate Petraeus, but the CIA is now investigating whether the former director behaved inappropriately, such as possibly using agency resources to further the affair.


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Brakes use friction to bring a vehicle to a complete stop. This friction creates a substantial amount of heat that can degrade the brakes and brake components over time. As a result, inspecting these components and ensuring proper operation has become a critical part of overall vehicle maintenance. Although brake systems vary from vehicle to vehicle, the responsibility and importance of the components remains the same. Today, some common brake types include drum and disc brakes. Drum brakes contain brake shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, springs, and self-adjusters. Disc brakes contain brake pads, rotors, calipers, and hydraulic components. Depending on the design of the rear brake system, the parking brake assembly, which keeps the vehicle from rolling once stopped, can be housed in either a drum or rotor. All of these components, including the brake pedal and brake fluid, should be checked during a brake inspection service to help ensure that a vehicle is safe to operate.


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I am trying out a lot of whole wheat baking for my little family. I did not get around to take pictures of most of it, but from now onward I promise you that I will try to keep a record of recipe and pictures to share with you all. I really enjoyed baking this bread and sharing with my family.They even commented that this tastes better than this classic Focaccia I often bake.The lil guy was keeping on coming back to kitchen to snack on this. I must tell you that he is such a picky eater when it comes to cakes and bakes !
It has been a while since I wrote about my lil monster here. He is learning a lot everyday and growing up in all ways and learning new words and sayings-some really hysterical! He is learning about emotions and to be precise, emotional blackmailing ,these days. A few days back he was shooed away by all the three of us and he started crying ,saying that "nobody loves me". Maybe he is learning it all from his big sister, but he got the context right. Also he is able to express his disappointment and disapproval a lot more than he used to before.Another thing he is doing these days is giving his weirdest smile when he looks at the camera ! I know this is just an age thing, but I'm so disappointed that, I am not able to capture his naughtiest smiles and the twinkle in his eyes when he naturally smiles.
I love Peter Reinhart's recipes, mostly for their authenticity.He explains everything so well, making it hard to make any mistakes even for a beginner. I have tried several of his bread recipes and I am always satisfied with the results.I learned a lot of basics in bread baking from his books. I take his books form our local library, but I would love to buy all of his books. I have baked this beautiful Buttermilk White Bread and couple of recipes I never blogged about, from 'Bread Baker's Apprentice'.This whole wheat Focaccia is from 'Whole Grain Breads'. I highly recommend this book, if you are planning to do some whole grain bread baking. Most of his recipes calls for starters like biga or poolish, which is the traditional way of making a bread. And usually it doesn't take much time to make the dough. You just need to be patient to do all the proofing that takes a few hours.I must tell you that it is all worth it.
This recipe requires you to make the dough and refrigerate it overnight. But the preparation of the dough takes less than 10 minutes.Although for proofing, you need to take the dough from the fridge at least 3 hours before you want to bake the bread.Proofing is also very easy, just press the dough 2-3 times after 20 minute intervals.If you decide to make herb oil, that is also super easy. Just like any other Focaccia recipe, this can also be used to make pizza. I have to try that next time.You can make any other rustic bread you can think, with the same dough.I just love this rustic looking bread with the intense flavor from whole wheat !
PS: This is our little pear tree ! It survived last week's snow. Thanks for your concerns and wishes . Hope some of these will turn into beautiful Pears,just like last year !
Sending this to this week's Yeast Spotting
Preparation Time: 2 Days (10 minutes to prepare dough,overnight proofing in refrigerator and 3 hours proofing before baking at room temperature)
Cooking Time- 30 min
Serves- 6-8
Adapted From : Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads
Whole Wheat Flour- 4 cups
Salt- 1 1/4 tsp
Active Dry Yeast- 1 1/2 tsp
Water,lukewarm- 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp
Honey/Agave nectar- 1/2 tsp (can replace with 2 tsp sugar or brown sugar)- optional
Olive Oil- 1 1/2 Tbsp
1. Proof the dry yeast by mixing the yeast with a few tablespoons of lukewarm water and a pinch of sugar.
2.Place the flour and salt in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer and mix at low speed (use paddle attachment)
3.Add the yeast mixture,honey and remaining water and mix until everything comes together.This takes about 2 minutes. the dough is sticky but fairly smooth.
4.Add the olive oil and mix at low speed for 15 seconds.
5.Let the dough rest in the mixer for 5 minutes.
6.Mix again on low speed for about a minute.
7.Prepare a 17 by 12 inch sheet pan, by lining with parchment paper and brushing with olive oil.
8.Transfer the dough to the pan. Rub your palms with olive oil and flatten the dough.The dough will cover only about half of the pan.
9.Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days.
10.The day you are planning to bake, take out the dough at least three hours before you are planning to bake.
11.Remove the plastic wrap and press the dough after drizzling a spoon of olive oil on top..When the dough starts shrinking back, stop pressing..
12. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
13.Repeat the above step, cover and rest again for 20 minutes.
14.Prepare the herb oil by mixing (2 cups olive oil, 1/4 cup dried herbs,2 tsp paprika,1 tsp kosher salt,1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper,1 Tbsp granulated dried garlic) these in a sauce pan and warming it a bit.
15.Spread the oil on top of the dough,starting at the center and working towards the edges.
16.Press and dimple the dough,until it is only half inch thick. Cover loosely and let rise at room temperature until the dough comes just to the top of the pan.
17.This take about 2 to 3 hours depending on the room temperature.
18.Prepare your toppings if you are adding any.
19.Preheat the oven at 500 degree F (this may take half an hour).
20.Place Focaccia in the oven, reduce the temperature to 450 and bake for 15 minutes.
21.Rotate the pan 180 degrees and bake for another 12-15 minutes or until it is caramelized to a light brown color on top and bottom.
22.If you like a crunchy outside, cool the bread on a wire rack, for at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
23.If you like it to be chewy, leave the bread in the pan to cool down.


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The San Ysidro School District Board of Education is the governing body of the District, which acts during legally constituted meetings in which a quorum of the Board is required.
The Board is comprised of five locally elected public officials and derives its powers from the Constitution and Statutes of the State of California. The Board of Education represents the people of the District and functions as a vision-setting, policy-making and evaluating body. The Board provides oversight for the professionals who manage the day-to-day operations of the schools and has complete jurisdiction over the District.
To learn more about school boards, read School Board Leadership: The role and function of California's school boards, a publication of the California School Board Association.


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Updated: January 22, 2012
The term CIMLS is used to refer to Commercial Investment Multiple Listing Service and associated websites and e1 Solutions and affiliates in this document. The term user in this document refers to any person or entity utilitizing CIMLS for any purpose.
The information presented by CIMLS is deemed to be accurate, but it has not been independently verified. We make no guarantee, warranty or representation. It is the user's responsibility to independently confirm accuracy and completeness.
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Ways to Avoid Dry Mouth
Published 1:59 pm Thursday, July 19, 2012
(NewsUSA) – We all have dealt with dry mouth at one time or another. For some, however, it's more than just a casual occurrence.
What exactly is dry mouth? Basically, it is when your mouth feels parched. If you suffer from dry mouth symptoms, you naturally have less oxygen-rich saliva in your mouth, which creates an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment — the perfect environment for bacteria that cause bad breath.
Are bad breath and dry mouth signs that some other health condition is present? Possibly. It's true that serious cases of dry mouth have been linked to health problems such as diabetes, Sj?gren's syndrome and hypertension — just to name a few. However, even if your dry mouth isn't being caused by a more serious health condition, ignoring it can lead to more health problems down the road.
"No one likes having bad breath, but dry mouth can also increase your risk of gum disease, tooth decay and mouth infections. In fact, it can even damage your throat," says Dr. Harold Katz, a dentist, bacteriologist and creator of TheraBreath premium oral care products from Beverly Hills, Calif. "Medications, smoking, health conditions and dehydration can cause it."
Over 75 percent of prescribed medications list dry mouth as a side effect. Plus, mouthwashes with alcohol will only exacerbate the problem. If you have dry mouth, here are some solutions that can help fix it:
* Stop using products with sodium lauryl sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate can dry out your mouth, which feeds bacteria, creates bad breath and induces bitter and sour tastes.
* Avoid drinking citrus juices. Acidic drinks, like orange, grapefruit and tomato juice can compound dry mouth.
* Drink more water. Getting enough water will keep your mouth moist, especially if you're ingesting things like coffee or orange juice. High levels of oxygen in your saliva balance acids and deter sulfur-producing bacteria.
* Use mouth-wetting lozenges. TheraBreath's mouth-wetting lozenges work in three distinctive stages to stimulate saliva and promote fresh breath. (Plus, they're sugar free.) Learn more at www.therabreath.com/gum-mints-strips/therabreath-mouth-wetting-lozenges/.
If your dry mouth remains an issue, talk to your doctor. Be sure to find out if the medication you take is known to give patients dry mouth. From there, you can look into the necessary oral care products or consider picking up a humidifier. For more information, visit www.therabreath.com/dry-mouth.html.


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When hardware issues come up, the sooner you can get running again, the better. Have expertise at the ready with HP Hardware Next Business Day[1] Onsite Service, and vastly improve your product uptime. With high-quality remote assistance or convenient onsite support available the next business day, help is there when you need it—so you can get back to work.
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"A deadline set by the Ukrainian government for pro-Russian gunmen to leave government buildings in eastern Ukraine and surrender weapons passed early Monday," The Associated Press writes, "with no immediate sign of any action to force the insurgents out."
NPR's Ari Shapiro, who is in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, reminds our Newscast Desk that Ukraine's government has promised it will use force, if necessary, in a bid to regain control. With up to 12,000 Ukrainian troops reportedly poised to enter the region, "people here are afraid of all-out war," Ari says.
There are also fears, of course, about what might happen after any such action by Ukrainian forces. The AP notes that "Russia has warned the Kiev government against using force against the protesters in the east and has threatened to cancel an international diplomatic conference on the Ukrainian conflict scheduled for later this week."
Last month, Russian forces moved into what was the Ukrainian-controlled Crimean Peninsula. Since then, Russia has annexed Crimea — an act that Ukraine, the U.S. and many other nations have deemed a violation of international law.
On Monday, NPR's Corey Flintoff reports from Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Western allegations that undercover agents from Russia are helping to stir up trouble in eastern Ukraine — perhaps in an attempt to create the same sort of crisis that preceded the annexation of Crimea.
On Sunday, as we reported, Ukrainian authorities said one of the nation's security service officers was killed when pro-Russia gunmen fired on security forces near the city of Slovyansk.
For much more about the crisis in Ukraine and how it has unfolded, see our earlier posts.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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We're going next to the town of Harrisburg, Illinois, one of many Midwestern towns struck by tornados. Harrisburg suffered the most of those towns. The tornado killed six people, with winds of up to 170 miles per hour. NPR's Cheryl Corley is there.
CHERYL CORLEY, BYLINE: Sections of Harrisburg, where buildings are now piles of rubble, have been off limits after the city set a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew. But last night, a long stretch of what used to be a strip mall, was lit brightly by the lights of television crews, the only acknowledgement that there used to be shops here the huge bright yellow letters that spelled Cash Store on top of a mound of towering debris.
Looking at it all, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Greg(ph) said it was almost surreal.
MAYOR ERIC GREG: We have over 100 people that are injured. We have, you know, several homes and businesses destroyed, millions of dollars in damages. But again, most importantly, we're suffering tonight for the loss of some of our citizens.
INSKEEP: Most of the victims here died after the tornado. A massive force 200 yards wide with 170 mile per hour winds ripped through a housing development of duplexes near the strip mall. Seventy-five-year-old Mary Osman(ph) was among them. Her son, Daryl, said he heard the warning sirens and after the tornado passed, he tried to contact his mother, then raced to her home when she didn't answer phone calls. He arrived just in time to speak to her before she was taken to a hospital, where she died.
DARYL OSMAN: She had a broken femur and a broken shoulder, had a head injury.
CORLEY: Two hundred to 300 homes were also damaged here, trees uprooted, cars smashed. Osman's daughter, Dina McDonnel(ph), said her mother had only lived in her new home for three and a half months.
DINA MCDONNELL: She said something about a month ago about she finally got the new smell out of there, because she'd been burning candles and she was excited about it finally looking like a home.
CORLEY: There's been lots of cooperation here in this town of 9,000, as residents began to sift through debris, looking to find bits of their lives that the tornado has left behind. Earlier yesterday, Fire Chief Bill Summers(ph) called the Harrisburg fatalities heartbreaking, adding that assistance from other towns was extremely helpful in a truly horrible situation.
BILL SUMMERS: We had rescue teams from every town in our area. They worked very hard and were able to get a lot of people out of the houses. It's just unreal. It's like a war zone if you haven't seen that area there.
CORLEY: Summers and other officials will meet today to determine how many police officers and others are needed to keep ravaged areas of Harrisburg secure.
CORLEY: The doors are locked at the First Baptist Church is Harrisburg. It's being used as a shelter, an escape from the havoc for a small group of families who have no power or hot water in their homes. Six-year-old Brandon Matthews(ph) says he hid in the closet with his mother and baby sister when the tornado roared through the area.
BRANDON MATTHEWS: All you could hear on the roof was like a woooff...
CORLEY: When you were in the closet?
MATTHEWS: Yeah. First we went in the closet.
CORLEY: More than 14,000 utility customers in the region lost service immediately after the storm, and while crews have been working to restore it, the extensive damage means power may not be fully back until late tomorrow. Brandon's mother, Danielle Mathews(ph), says she hopes to be able to return home soon.
DANIELLE MATTHEWS: Well, we've got a busted window, so I'm happy it's a busted window compared to the damage that we've seen.
CORLEY: Mayor Greg says he knows that people who have been displaced are anxious to return home, whether they are at the shelter or living with friends or family. He's anxious too, about a forecast that promises more stormy weather may be possible this week.
GREG: We're going to keep everybody on the ready, because we don't want to go through this again, and we want to make sure we protect our citizens.
CORLEY: Greg vows the tornado will not derail this town and that not only will it be rebuilt but it will be stronger. Cheryl Corley, NPR News, Harrisburg. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Critics Call Them "the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band", and Their First-ever International Exhibition Could Be Headed Your Way!
From Satisfaction to Brown Sugar, from Honky Tonk Women to Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones have written some of the most enduring rock 'n' roll songs of all time. Since their first Number One hit in 1964, they have become one of the most successful bands in the history of popular music.
They have sold some 240 million albums with eight Number One hit singles and played more than 1,500 concerts worldwide. In fact, more people have seen The Rolling Stones perform live than any other band in history.
Exhibitionism – The Rolling Stones, delivered by DHL is a touring exhibition which brings together the most comprehensive collection of Rolling Stones artwork, costumes and memorabilia ever to have been presented in one place.
The show provides a unique insight into The Rolling Stones' history, on a scale never before attempted and includes over 550 original and unseen artefacts from the band's 50-year history. There are rare guitars, iconic costumes and 160 pieces of art as well as original photographs, diaries and backstage mementos.
Rather than just showcasing memorabilia in glass cases however, the exhibition uses the latest cinema-quality, 3D technology and cutting-edge, interactive presentations.
Exhibitionism opened at London's prestigious Saatchi Gallery in April 2016, before moving to New York and is currently based in the USA as part of a global tour. Over the next four years, Exhibitionism will take in at least 12 major cities around the world.
DHL is proud to be the show's Presenting Partner as well as Official Logistics Partner and to be entrusted with the global transportation of many facets of this incredible exhibition.
Bringing decades of expertise and experience to the project, DHL handles key aspects of the logistics, ranging from transporting exhibition infrastructure such as cabinetry and mannequins, to paintings and artefacts, to the distribution of VIP passes to special events. We also provide customs clearance services and the shipping of official Exhibitionism merchandise.
Exhibitionism offers DHL a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our logistics know-how and bring our world-class expertise to a world-class band. As the song says: it's only rock 'n' roll, but we definitely like it.


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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Bonne fin d'annee
I am still in Paris. My daughter has a soiree lined up for tonight in the Bois. Of course, she has nothing to wear. And neither do I! The weather has been so bloody beastly, one has to bundle up in layers and layers of clothing. The wind manages to bite through regardless. Plus, the rain. I spent the day in Passy, an upmarket district, one metro stop away from Tour Eiffel. There, amongst all the fancy brands, boutiques and labels was a store called 'Darjeeling'. Why Darjeeling? Was it a tea salon? Main non!! It was a clothing store that had nothing to do with the hill station.
But the newly opened 'I Love Jaipur' section at the very chic and traditionasl Bon Marche had the most fantastic display of products from India, and of course, Manish Arora's funky, eccentric garments were the piece de resistance. I also spotted his wine\champagne covers for Champagne Pommery at Galleries Lafayette. 'Superbe'! as they say in Paris.
Well, I am joining my daughter for a Taiwanese meal an hour from now. We enjoyed a Korean one last night ( long live Bibimbap!). My older daughter Avantikka has instructed us to get plaid leggings for Arundhati to wear tonight. They are supposedly very 'in'. Wish me luck on my treasure hunt.
And Blogdosts..... let's hang together in 2010. Our friendships are precious and delicate. We are obliged to nurture them.
Have a super fabulous New Year. Blessings from Ma De - my new name for the new year!!
Lots of bubbly....lots of smiles....lots of hugs and kisses....
43 comments:
- RAJ47 said...
Hi Shobhaa,
Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous New Year 2010!!!
I would love to see you in Manish Arora's funky, eccentric garment - the piece de resistance.
I hope you will post your pic in tonight's outfit in the next post.
Thanx in advance.
Cheers!!! - December 31, 2009 at 5:13 PM
- supriya said...
you too have a rocking new year ahead "MA DE"...!! god bless you..
- December 31, 2009 at 5:14 PM
- Manjiri Agnihotri said...
did you find ur missing blog?... leave it .......
Let's celebrate the new year party
Very happy new year to you & ur family...... - December 31, 2009 at 5:58 PM
hv a rocking new year ahead!!!
and may 2010 bring even better treat for readers of this blog :) - December 31, 2009 at 6:11 PM
- Aditi Rajhans said...
Hey Shobhaa Mam,
Did you get your lost post?
It must be in 'edit posts'.. It cannot disappear just like that !
Please update us on that.
Wish you too a very rocking, happy, delightful new year 2010 ! - December 31, 2009 at 7:17 PM
- Samindra Das said...
With Regards,
Samindra Das, Mumbai, India, 31.12.2009,08.00 pm. - December 31, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Wishing You, family & friends peace/happiness for ever.
- charansparsh - December 31, 2009 at 8:14 PM
- Anon said...
Chère Ma De. J'espère que 2010 est pleine de santé,de paix,de contentement,d'amour et toute les choses qui te plaît! Toi et ton famille! Toujours en amitié.
- December 31, 2009 at 8:28 PM
- चंद्रमौलेश्वर प्रसाद said...
"Of course, she has nothing to wear. And neither do I!"
Mind U! It's not birthday, its New Year Eve :)
WISHING U AND UR FAMILY A HAPPY PROSPEROUS AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR. - December 31, 2009 at 10:18 PM
- vaidehi said...
wish u a very happy and prosperous new year MA DE.... :):)
- December 31, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Happy New Year Ma'm!! God bless!!!
- January 1, 2010 at 12:38 AM
- Alex Engwete said...
Bonne année, Madame…
- January 1, 2010 at 8:01 AM
- sonal said...
Dear Ms. De,
It seems that all u do is travel around the world and eat different varieties of food be it Korean Taiwanese, French or then Australian, and write about the good life.Well i could be jealous considering i am getting only rice and dal at home.But must say u have inexhaustible energy at ure age.All the best and a Happy new year! - January 1, 2010 at 11:41 AM
- Aparna Velankar said...
Ma De',
Some peope might find it starnge to call youlike that...But I know your secret :-)
You are really like a Ma when one gets to eat hot delicious lunch at your dinning table.....
Waiting to grab a bite ...
Come soon.
And have a lovely 2010.
Lots of love and a Big Hug,
to you and Arundhati...
-Aparna - January 1, 2010 at 2:14 PM
- Unknown said...
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 TO u AND YOUR FAMILY.
- January 1, 2010 at 8:04 PM
- pissed with politics!! said...
http://dareindianpolitics.blogspot.com/ check it out!!
- January 1, 2010 at 9:31 PM
- Theyoginme said...
happy new year Ma De.. and you too pissed with politics!
- January 1, 2010 at 9:56 PM
- Vinay. said...
Dear Ma De,
HAPPY NEWYEAR TO ALL OF YOU.we enjoyed your write ups. our blog dosti is invaluable. lets nurture it. lets nourish it.lets cherish it. i fully reciprocate. lots of smiles and H&KS. - January 2, 2010 at 12:02 PM
- Maddy said...
Happy New Year Blogdost!
- January 2, 2010 at 12:46 PM
- Banupriya said...
A very Happy New year to u too Mrs.Ma De...
- January 2, 2010 at 2:14 PM
- ne2 said...
I'm sure you must hav captured many hearts da moment u must ve wrote "Blogdosts...Let's hang together in 2010. Our friendships r precious & delicate." Thanks 4 da warm wishes.It seems, KOI APNA showering love & affection, all over u.Truly reciprocate ur wishes.May u have a blessed year & a blessed soul, always!
P.S.: Y, Ma de?It sounds lil strange. - January 2, 2010 at 2:41 PM
- krish said...
Happy new year Ma de.......hav a healthy and happy year ahead.....
Krish - January 2, 2010 at 2:47 PM
- Sasha said...
Dear Shobha De,
While you were out.. (and continue to enjoyr ur sejourn across the world, you missed the controversary surrounding Chetan Bhagat and the Hirani-Vidhu Vinod-Aamir Brigade... (and the unending media coverage and replay of the whole thing as it played out on national television. Let me tell you that it was - STEAMY!!
Just what we needed to start the new year!! - January 3, 2010 at 11:31 AM
- Sasha said...
Okay, so I have a problem with closing brackets ')'. Ignore. :)
Happy New Year Ma De.
(So does Mr De become Pa-de from now) :) - January 3, 2010 at 11:33 AM
- Unknown said...
bon jour, ma cherie! i hope 2010 is more spicy, controversial and awesome than this damp squib 2009. Au revoir!
- January 4, 2010 at 8:26 AM
- Prashanth(MSP) said...
the real Shobha De? :O
- January 4, 2010 at 9:54 AM
- Protima said...
Love your Blog!
Wish you a Happy New Year and loads of happiness,joy ,peace, good health and even more fantastic writing! - January 4, 2010 at 12:37 PM
- Pooja Rathore said...
Dear Ma De,
Happy New Year!I liked your new name.And i liked your thought on our friendship(...Our friendships are precious and delicate. We are obliged to nurture them,it feels good to know that you take our blog dosti seriously ).
Your new name vibration (MA DE)adds to compound number 14 - meaning magnetic communication with public (it rules oral and written comunication as it adds total 14=1+4=5, when use this name vibration there is a karmic obligation "to rely on self the voice within".All the best and have fanstastic 2010. - January 4, 2010 at 1:21 PM
- Unknown said...
Hey Ma De
Wish you n your family a very Happy New Year. So hoz ur trip till now? Any specific reasons for this name change...?
Entertainment blog
entertainment options in Chennai
entertainment options in Bangalore - January 4, 2010 at 3:04 PM
- ROHAN KARKHANIS said...
happy new year to u and u r family ma de...
- January 4, 2010 at 9:55 PM
- Gajendra said...
happy new year shobhaa
- January 5, 2010 at 9:23 AM
- Harish said...
Hey De.
happy new year. :) come back no jaldi de.
missssing you... and the indi flavour of your blog. :) - January 5, 2010 at 12:18 PM
- Reflections said...
"And Blogdosts..... let's hang together in 2010. Our friendships are precious and delicate. We are obliged to nurture them."
To consolidate the fact please accept an award from this 'umble blogger;-D - January 6, 2010 at 7:25 PM
- Armando Átila said...
"The winds that come from the north bring good fluid and positivity for everyone, especially people of good heart and well intentioned.
Have a happy 2010 too! Shobhaa lady, and that all your days be filled with happiness, both in Mumbai, and Paris, or anywhere in the world.
And may God to you and all!"
By the way, you have a beautiful blog!
Armando Atila
http://armandoatila.blogspot.com/ - January 8, 2010 at 7:15 PM
- saravanan said...
hey, you can recharge your pre/post paid mobile free of cost everyday. visit www.pricesbolo.com
- January 9, 2010 at 1:03 PM
- Unknown said...
Hi Shobhaa de,
I have read your article in DC.Your right if all are RANCHOS the world would be so different many of us wanted to be as rancho but todays youth get inspired by the this type of movies only for a day or two,if they think "Aall is well" always in what ever situation then for sure every one will be ranchos. - January 16, 2010 at 8:16 AM
- arun said...
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its a best price Comparison Website in india.Lets We Know the price comparison before buying laptop,Mobile phones,home appliances,Kitchen appliances,and many more..etc..
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- arun said...
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- June 3, 2011 at 1:33 PM
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- June 9, 2011 at 3:26 PM
- joelmohanraj said...
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- January 14, 2012 at 7:45 PM
- arun said...
India's fastest growing online product and price comparison portal has launched a new version of their web site. The new site provides a richer end user experience with an updated look and feel, faster navigation, more accurate search results and simplified buying process.Online Shopping for Mobile Phones
Samsung has quietly introduced its Galaxy tab 7.7 GT-P6800 in India as Galaxy Tab 680 for Rs 34,900. India based online retailer Flipkart has listed the Galaxy Tab 680 (WiFi+3G) for Rs 33,571. It is the fourth tablet of Samsung to be launched in India with Google's Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system.
Visit Price Details : www.price4shop.com - March 14, 2012 at 6:00 PM
- arun said...
Mobile Phones Features and SpeificationsMicromax Booklet (Micromax P300) is a 7-inch capacitive display tablet , the first one from Micromax . Micromax is the top Indian brand in the mobile phones market but it will be difficult to do the same in the tablet market . The cheapest price tablets in India (around Rs.3,500) are already available in the market like the Indian government backed Aakash Tablet , the BSNL tablet and the Olive tablet . And these have been huge success (not based on reviews but the inventory sold) .
Price Comparison india
The Micromax Booklet will be running the latest Android v4 (ICS) OS , sports high speed Internet connectivity options (3G/EVDO) , and Wireless LAN connectivity support . It has HDMI output port so that you can enjoy its content on you HDTV with a HDMI cable . It also sports a USB portOnline Shopping and Price
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text:
Baku-APA. Riot police fired tear gas Saturday to disperse dozens of demonstrators throwing rocks outside an Alexandria courthouse where the city's ex-security director and other officers are on trial for the killing of protesters during Egypt's 2011 uprising, APA reports quoting Associated Press.
The confrontation comes a week before the country marks the second anniversary of the revolt that ousted the country's longtime autocratic ruler, Hosni Mubarak, and highlights the frustration expressed by many over the pace of reform in the Arab world's most populous nation.
Alexandria's former security director Mohammed Ibrahim is on trial along with five other police officers accused of using excessive violence to put down the 18-day revolt. In Alexandria, as elsewhere in Egypt, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets over the past two years to demand "qisas" — Arabic for retribution — for those killed in clashes with security forces.
Relatives of the dead say they have little confidence in the justice system or police investigations.
"It is one long chain of corruption," said Ramadan Ahmed, whose 16-year-old son Mohammed was shot dead in clashes outside an Alexandria police station.
Since Mubarak was deposed on Feb. 11, 2011, nearly 100 police officers have been brought to trial on charges of killing and wounding protesters, although all were acquitted or received suspended sentences.
Ahmed said he believes the judiciary and the pervasive security forces are still loyal to the former regime.
"No one alive will get their rights until these people who died do," he said
The Saturday clashes broke out as human rights activists and family members of those killed in Alexandria protested outside the courtroom. Most of their slogans focused on the police but it was not immediately clear how the violence began. At least three demonstrators and three riot police required medical care for tear gas inhalation and injuries from flying rocks, witnesses and state media said.
Later in the day, clashes erupted again after Judge Mohammed Hammad Abdel-Hadi barred the prosecution from calling witnesses to testify.
Out of around 900 people killed nationwide in the anti-Mubarak protests, some 300 were reportedly killed in Alexandria during the revolt. Mubarak and the former interior minister were sentenced to life in prison for failing to stop the killings, and were granted a retrial this month.
Ahmed said the loss of his son still shocks the family and has taken a toll on him.
"Imagine spending 18 years wanting a son and finally having Mohammed," said the retired naval officer.
Like others who lost loved ones during the uprising, Ahmed said he voted for President Mohammed Morsi, who had been imprisoned under Mubarak for his activities with the then-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. Ahmed said he met with Morsi after he was elected last summer in the nation's first free presidential vote.
"I told him there must be justice for my son. He took the picture of Mohammed and another boy from Suez and kissed it. He asked to keep the pictures and was clearly affected."
In another case involving protesters, an Egyptian criminal court on Saturday invoked a presidential amnesty and dismissed charges against 379 people accused of taking part in deadly clashes with police.
The charges stem from nearly two weeks of street fighting on downtown Cairo's Mohammed Mahmoud street in November 2011 that left 42 people dead.
Young protesters, mostly die-hard soccer fans known as Ultras, led demonstrations against police near the Interior Ministry and Tahrir Square, the hub of Cairo's activist movement. They were demanding a timetable for the military officers who were then ruling the country to hand over power and hold presidential elections.
Since the revolt, security lapses and a weakening of police powers has left many feeling more vulnerable, particularly the country's Coptic Christian minority.
On Saturday, police said they arrested seven suspected of attacking stores owned by Christians in the southern village of Marashda, in Qena province. Several shops were torched early Friday when word spread that a Christian villager had sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl. State prosecutors ordered the young girl to be given a physical examination as part of the investigation.