text:
It's truuu. Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz is the new owner of a Hollywood Hills home with a rich rock-and-roll history. The three-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom Mediterranean-style residence formerly owned by rock guitarist Steve Vai comes with a fully equipped recording studio named the Mothership. Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Van Halen and Slash are among the marquee names of rock who have laid down tracks at the studio over the years. Now it's the 39-year-old rhymesayer's turn.
The multi-level, 2,400-square-foot house sold last month for $2.45 million, according to real estate website Redfin. The open-floor plan features a chef's kitchen blended with a spacious family room. Three fold-away doors reveal a patio stretching the length of the home. The master suite boasts canyon views from a balcony, a fireplace and his-and-hers closets, coupled with a limestone master bath. The studio itself has a separate entrance that leads to a mic and control room, along with a separate kitchen, bathroom and lounge area, totaling 1,400 square feet.


text:
so much talk about the auto industry's effort's to find alternative
fuels, it's no wonder that aviation corporations are joining the
search to reduce carbon emissions. Aerospace and defense
giant Boeing and
Chinese oil company PetroChina along
with the global aviation industry and representatives of the Chinese
energy sector have signed
an agreement to assess the idea of establishing a
sustainable aviation biofuels industry in China.
assessment will look at socioeconomic and environmental
benefits of developing alternative fuels as opposed to fossil-based
fuels. In addition, it will examine every stage of sustainable
aviation biofuel development such as agronomy, energy inputs and
outputs, infrastructure, lifecycle's emissions analysis and
government policy support.
is actively pursuing biofuel
research around the world," said David Wang, Boeing China
President. "Sustainable biofuels can help reduce carbon
emissions while offering the potential to lessen aviation's
dependence on fossil fuels. Through these agreements, China, its
aviation sector and its leadership are demonstrating tremendous drive
in the quest to develop a clean, sustainable aviation fuel supply."
project is to support "a broader sustainable aviation biofuel
agreement" between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and
China's National Energy Administration. The project aims to promote
the use of aviation biofuels in China and commercialization through
the U.S.-China
Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), which is a public-private
partnership to combat climate change and enhance energy security. Air
China and PetroChina will be "leading the Chinese team"
while U.S. companies taking part in the project are Honeywell's
UOP, United
Technologies and AECOM.
Boeing and the Chinese
Academy of Science's Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess
Technology (QIBEBT) have recently announced the building of
a Joint Laboratory for Sustainable Aviation Biofuels, dedicated
to the observation of "algal growth, harvesting and processing
technologies," in order to expand on their efforts to research
algae-based aviation biofuels. It will be managed by Boeing Research
& Technology-China and QIBEBT and will be located in Qingdao.
"inaugural flight" using the sustainable biofuel will
eventually be conducted by Boeing, Air China, PetroChina and
Honeywell's UOP. PetroChina provides the biomass and Honeywell's UOP
it into jet fuel. They will use the sustainable biofuel "derived
from biomass grown and processed in China."
The test
flight will occur in China, but it is unknown when or
exactly where the flight will take place at this time.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The PBM Industrial 48 Volt 80 Amp 3 Phase Battery Chargers are well built for forklift or other industrial applications where a smart charger of high amp output is appropriate, and three phase input is desired or required because of availability. There are no manual timers to mess with, as the internal charge regulation is done by the microprocessor for a full charge every time. Economical yet powerful enough to handle most forklift applications, these chargers are designed to withstand continuous duty use quietly and efficiently. The linear transformer and microprocessor control give years of trouble free service. They have a 4 digit LDC display with 12 functions. These units complete the charge and go into a maintenance mode. For wet cell lead acid batteries, 400 to 560 AH. Some of the 3 phase units require lead time.
Part#: 30-431
48 Volt 80 Amp
3 Phase Charger
|Dim (LxWxH):
|19.7 x 15.7 x 31.5
|Ferroresonant Design
|AC Input:
|Microprocessor Control
|AC Current Draw:
|LCD Display
|48 Volt 80 Amp
|Three Phase Input
|5 Years
Technical features:
• Three-phase input supply: 208/240/480 VAC - Frequency 50/60 Hz.
• Different power supply voltages available on request.
• Transformer adjustments to ±5% VAC.
• Tropicalized stray-flux transformer, copper windings with double enamel insulation, class H, impregnated with non-toxic resins, kiln-dried.
• Transformer with UL recognized insulation system which ensures high reliability even in difficult operating conditions.
• Low voltage control circuit (24 VAC).
• Overload cutout on transformer.
• Rectifier bridge equipped with interference suppressing filters.
• Protection fuses on mains input and D.C. output.
• Final acceptance test conforming to safety regulations.
• Complete with charging cables and battery connectors.
• Power cord to be installed by the customer.
• Can be stacked up to three units high.
• Charging with decreasing current to 2.4 V/cell, then gas charging stage begins (adjustable).
• Time controlled gas charging, adjustable by dip switch (3 hours standard).
• Equalizing charge automatically performed 60 minutes after last charge cycle.
Get Maximum Battery Life
and Maximum Battery Power
48 Volt PowerPulse $75
See our forklift battery charging tutorial!
Typical Anderson Connector Colors
Anderson Connector Sizes


text:
Trainer Eric Kruljac Secures 1,000th Win
Trainer Eric Kruljac won his 1,000th Thoroughbred race the night of Dec. 13 when even-money favorite Small Claims Court captured the sixth race at Los Alamitos Race Course.
Trainer Eric Kruljac won his 1,000th Thoroughbred race the night of Dec. 13 when even-money favorite Small Claims Court captured the sixth race at Los Alamitos Race Course.
Moving the April 14 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita from turf to the main track resulted in the grass race losing its grade III status for this year.
Odds-on Mizdirection made the best of what was left of the $98,000 Las Cienegas Handicap after the race was moved off the hillside turf course and contested on the main track with three rivals left.
Upstart Separate Forest opened a substantial lead in her stakes debut and refused to give way to heavy favorite Unzip Me to win the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a neck at Santa Anita.
Top female turf sprinter Unzip Me will attempt to become the third horse at Santa Anita since 1990 to carry 127 pounds to victory as the heavy favorite in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT) April 9.
Soul Candy made a success of his first synthetic start when he ran down favored Enriched in deep stretch to win the $150,000 California Cup Classic going away by 1 1/4 lengths Oct. 30 at Hollywood Park.
Odds-on Alphie's Bet, who missed a chance to run for the roses when he finished sixth in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) three weeks ago, made handy work of his rivals in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Sham Stakes (gr. III) winner Alphie's Bet tops the field in the $200,000 TVG Snow Chief Stakes, the main event on the 11th California Gold Rush program on April 24 at Hollywood Park.
Tanda, the longest shot in the field, got a dream run at the rail through the stretch to dominate the $100,000 Santa Paula Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita March 28.
La Nez makes her first start in the $100,000 Santa Paula Stakes (gr. III) March 28 since finishing third to major Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) contenders Caracortado and Alphie's Bet three months ago.
Blind Luck can add a third grade I victory to her sterling record when she faces five rivals in the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 6.
If there is one main aspect of the Breeders' Cup that is most fascinating it is the merging of American and British cultures, whether it be terminology, style of racing, or in the way horsemen deal with the media and vice versa.
Bold Chieftain became the first two-time winner of the 20-year-old California Cup Classic and went over $1 million in career earnings in a bittersweet victory at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meeting Oct. 3. Grazen, the 4-5 favorite, led the $196,000 race by one length in the final furlong but pulled up in distress and was removed from the course by van.
A condylar fracture of a cannon bone knocked Darley Debutante (gr. I) winner Mi Sueno out of the $300,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) this week and 13 juvenile fillies are hoping to take advantage at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Oct. 4.
It was no dream trip for Mi Sueno, but the even-money favorite's talent won out in the $300,000 Darley Debutante (gr. I) at Del Mar Sept. 5.
Mi Sueno, who left odds-on choice Necessary Evil far behind when she captured the Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) one month ago, headlines a field of 10 2-year-old fillies in the $300,000 Darley Debutante Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar Sept. 5.


text:
Cana Cuban New Years
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text:
College Avenue, Rockridge, Oakland
Published 4:01 pm, Wednesday, February 20, 2013
On a recent afternoon, patrons dined on hearty pizza or sipped wine outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and moderate temperatures. Nearby, a mom dreamed of a wintry weekend while searching for a snowsuit for her daughter, while others perused vintage finds, searched for a fashionable ensemble and spied a bakery display case filled with artisan cakes.
1. Zachary's Chicago Pizza
5801 College Ave.: For three decades, loyal fans have packed this pizza spot, eager to indulge in its hearty Chicago-style stuffed pizzas, including the popular spinach and mushroom version. Eat in or take half-baked pizzas home to finish cooking. Zachary's also offers thin crust pizza by the slice, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. (510) 655-6385. www.zacharys.com.
- Another Big Snowstorm Is Coming for the U.S. This Week TaLTIME
- Here Are 10 of the Cheapest Trips to Take in 2018 Buzz60
- This Is What Too Much Business Travel Can Do To Your Health Buzz60
- You Won't Need Additional ID for Domestic Air Travel Just Yet TaLTIME
- Swedish Zoo Admits to Killing 9 Healthy Lion Cubs TaLTIME
- Picking This Seat on a Flight Means You're Selfish, Psychologists Say TaLTIME
- TSA PreCheck Lines May Get Longer in 2019 Buzz60
- You Could Get Paid to Do Absolutely Nothing by This Travel Company TaLTIME
- Why You Should Think Twice Before Ordering Coffee or Tea on a Plane TaLTIME
- Drop Everything and Buy a $383 Round-trip Flight to Italy or Greec TaLTIME
2. Child's Play
5858 College Ave.: Gently used casual and dress clothes for children, toys such as tea sets, horse figurines, wooden trains and dump trucks made from recycled materials, furniture including a changing table and strollers filled this consignment children's store during a recent visit. (510) 653-3989. www.ghosthound.net/childsplay.
3. Toast
5900 College Ave.: Whether stopping in for lunch, dinner or an afternoon glass of wine, beer or a cocktail accompanied by a cheese or salumi plate, you'll find a menu focusing upon local, organic, seasonable and sustainable ingredients. Lunch choices include a crispy bacon arugula salad, and dinner entrees include Quinault River steelhead. (510) 658-5900. www.toastoakland.com.
4. Homesteader
5914 College Ave.: Savor the treasures in Bryan Westendorf's delightful shop. Warm, friendly and cordial, he encourages an unhurried browse of the bounty of dressers, nightstands and other vintage wood furniture that he finds and restores; charmingly rustic birdhouses that he makes, Bauer pottery and vintage-inspired gift items and accents for your abode. (510) 652-9677.
5. Katrina Rozelle Pastries and Desserts
5931 College Ave.: Known for her gorgeous wedding cakes, Katrina Rozelle Topp also designs celebration cakes for birthdays, graduations and baby showers. Everyday cakes include the lemon chiffon - a dreamy intermingling of layers of chiffon cake and lemon mousse covered with slightly sweetened, fresh whipped cream. (510) 655-3209. www.katrinarozelle.com.
6. In Full Swing
5937 College Ave.: A boutique that celebrates women with curves, In Full Swing features the latest creations by independent designers and major brands including Lola of San Francisco, Citron and Eileen Fisher in vibrant colors and patterns for work and play. It also carries lingerie, swimwear and accessories such as jewelry and scarves. (510) 654-5144. www.infullswing.com.
Limited pay-to-park street parking on College Avenue.
Public transit: Take BART to the Rockridge Station and exit onto College Avenue, heading north toward Miles Avenue. Continue for two blocks. www.bart.gov.
By car from S.F.: From the Bay Bridge, continue on Interstate 80 east to Interstate 580 east toward Hayward; exit on Highway 24 west. Take the Claremont Avenue exit, and turn left on Claremont and right on College Avenue.
Chef Ron Miranda creates dishes reflecting his Azorean-American heritage at Guest Chef from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday and 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. A fully equipped restaurant and kitchen incubator, Guest Chef gives diners the opportunity to discover new culinary talents by featuring a selected chef for a limited run. Guest Chef, 5337 College Ave., Oakland. (510) 658-7378. www.theguestchef.net.
- Stephanie Wright Hession, email@example.com


text:
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Can anyone lease help me with the ID of these bats? Images 609 & 613 are the same species and were roosting in the roof of an open air dining room.
I think the top one is the proboscis bat, Rhynchonycteris naso
Not so sure about the other but possibly White Lined Bat.
Thanks John for viewing andsuggesting ID's.


text:
Proudly display your name and theirs with this customized lanyard.
Let joggers, bike riders, and trade show participants be seen with your logo on this round safety custom light.
This nylon custom lanyard will reflect well on your company.
This promotional blinking light has 3 different light settings.
These promotional products from ePromos are ready to ship in 24 hours. Rush promotional items for a last minute event or if you're other supplier fell through.


text:
This is the 5 worst Knicks of alltime based on skill level. Meaning I know some people do not like Marbury's personality, but he doesnt make this list! This is for bad basketball players only
5:Chris Dudley-this is was really hard for me because he was our starting Center in the NBA Finals when Pat went down. He rebounded, and was a decent defender.....but his offensive game makes Ben Wallace look like Amare Stoudimire. His Free throw shooting made Shaq look like Mark Price, and his athleticism made......ok you get the point!
4: Luc Longley- I actually was at his first game as a Knick (home game against Miami), I saw him miss his first two shots, and then he was yanked for the rest of the game. He makes this list mostly because he was the next Center after Pat was traded, and I hate his game for that alone
3: Moochie Norris- his game was just flat out ugly, even when he hit shots it looked horrible. side note: this was Isiah first move as GM
2: Eric Anderson- don't know who he is, shame on you! The lone white guy on the Team during the glory days of the 1990's. Eric couldnt defend, rebound, or shoot, but he did dunk on William Gates in the movie Hoop Dreams! Another product of the West Side of Chicago!
1: Jerome James- Ok allow me to admit that I created this Thread just to make the point that Jerome is the worst player to ever play for the Knicks. I'm certain that some of you will disagree with 5 to 2, but please someone tell me a worst Knick than Jerome James. I dare you


text:
I have two tables: boats and crew. I need to select some boats (not a problem) and to join the crew table but I want to pick only one crew member per boat and not just any crew member but one selected by sorting the crew table.
In other words, I need to do a sub select on the crew table that yields at most one record per boat and to join the result to the select from the boats table. How can this be done?
SELECT boats.name AS boat_name
, boats.port
, crew.name AS captain_name
FROM boats
JOIN ( SELECT crew.boat_id
, MAX(crew.hat_size) AS captain
FROM crew
BY crew.boat_id ) AS subquery
ON subquery.boat_id = boats.id
JOIN crew
ON crew.boat_id = subquery.boat_id
AND crew.hat_size = subquery.captain
Thanks but I couldn't get it to work. "MAX(crew.hat_size) AS captain" doesn't work
The crew members have a rank (enum field): Owner, Captain, Crew, Passenger. The "top hat" is picked by sorting:
ORDER BY rank, lname ASC
I would really appreciate if you would comment your proposed code.
dude, the quality of my solution is exactly in line with the quality of your question
and yes, my solution does work, i've been writing sql for many, many years
you should really have mentioned the ENUM datatype in your first post
(aside: you should change it if you can... do a search on "ENUM is the spawn of the devil")
could you kindly do a SHOW CREATE TABLE for the crew table
A badly asked question? Sorry, I'll work on that.
and yes, my solution does work, i've been writing sql for many, many years
I don't doubt either statement. I said "I could not get it to work."
Being an atheist, I don't believe there is a devil. I take it you don't like ENUM. I did the search and found a good explanation of the shortcomings of ENUM. I've been using it for years and never had a problem because I use it in such a way as not to tempt its devilish soul.
Change it to what?
CREATE TABLE `crew` (
`id` mediumint(9) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`boat_id` mediumint(9) NOT NULL default '0',
`fname` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
`iname` varchar(5) NOT NULL default '',
`lname` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
`rank` enum('own','cap','crw','pass') NOT NULL default 'crw',
`document` varchar(30) NOT NULL default '',
`doc_type` enum('id','pass') NOT NULL default 'id',
`notes` text NOT NULL,
`date_created` date NOT NULL default '0000-00-00',
`ip_created` varchar(15) NOT NULL default '',
`reason_removed` text NOT NULL,
`date_removed` date NOT NULL default '0000-00-00',
`ip_removed` varchar(15) NOT NULL default '',
`date_modified` date NOT NULL default '0000-00-00',
`ip_modified` varchar(15) NOT NULL default '',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
KEY `boat_id` (`boat_id`),
KEY `lname` (`lname`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1 AUTO_INCREMENT=1 ;
okay, thanks for that... so, i did some testing
here's my table --
CREATE TABLE crew
( id TINYINT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY
, fname VARCHAR(25)
, rank ENUM('own','cap','crw','pass') NOT NULL DEFAULT 'crw'
now let's re-acquaint ourselves with ENUM behaviour --
INSERT INTO crew ( fname ) VALUES ( 'Todd' )
INSERT INTO crew ( fname , rank ) VALUES
( 'Tom' , 'pass' )
,( 'Dick' , 'pass' )
,( 'Harry' , 'crw' )
,( 'Humpty' , 'cap' )
,( 'Dumpty' , 'own' )
, 0+rank as nrank
FROM crew
1 Todd crw 3
2 Tom pass 4
3 Dick pass 4
4 Harry crw 3
5 Humpty cap 2
6 Dumpty own 1
and vwalah, go back to the solution i gave you and replace MAX(crew.hat_size) with MIN(0+crew.rank)
It almost works but not quite:
SELECT boats.id AS id, yacht_name, yacht_registry, yacht_flag,
crew.rank, crew.fname, crew.iname, crew.lname,
FROM boats
LEFT JOIN (SELECT crew.boat_id, MIN(0+crew.rank) AS captain
FROM crew
GROUP BY crew.boat_id) AS subquery
ON subquery.boat_id = boats.id
LEFT JOIN crew
ON crew.boat_id = subquery.boat_id
AND crew.rank = subquery.captain
I've changed the INNER JOINs to LEFT JOINs to list boats without a crew member. But if there is more than one crew member with the same top-rank (2 or more owners, 2 or more captains -- could happen), then the boat is listed several times. I only want it listed once. The second boat is listed twice
[B]Yate Registro Bandera Tripulante[/B]
Persuasion Cayman-123456 Cayman Islands Capitán: Mr. Pepe
Tribilín's stories AGSC-123456 Venezuela Capitán: Nemo Morales
Tribilín's stories AGSC-123456 Venezuela Capitán: Mafalda Quino Perez
Pandemonium Dante Italy
How do I tweak the code?
Got it!
DISTINCT(boats.id) AS id
GROUP BY boats.id
come back when you discover why that won't work
Rest assured I will but it's working right now on my test case. Here is the full sql
SELECT DISTINCT(boats.id) AS id,
yacht_name, yacht_registry, yacht_flag,
crew.rank, crew.fname, crew.iname, crew.lname,
FROM boats
LEFT JOIN (SELECT crew.boat_id, MIN(0+crew.rank) AS captain
FROM crew
WHERE date_removed = '0000-00-00'
GROUP BY crew.boat_id) AS subquery
ON subquery.boat_id = boats.id
LEFT JOIN crew
ON crew.boat_id = subquery.boat_id
AND crew.rank = subquery.captain
AND crew.date_removed = '0000-00-00'
GROUP BY boats.id
ORDER BY yacht_name
BTW, I have a working two query solution to fall back on. Query 1: get the boats, Query 2: get top crew for this boat.
Thanks for your help!
two comments...
DISTINCT is ~not~ a function... placing the first column that comes after the DISTINCT keyword inside parentheses makes no difference, the DISTINCT will still apply to ~all~ columns in the SELECT list
if you GROUP BY boats.id, then the DISTINCT is redundant
what you're actually doing is forcing mysql to choose one value for each column in the SELECT list for each boat, and this does not guarantee that the fname, lname, etc. will all come from the same row!!
see http://rpbouman.blogspot.ca/2007/05/debunking-group-by-myths.html (a long read, but worth it)
When SQL gets this complicated a simple php solution is best: skip the duplicate rows:
$boat_id = '';
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($boats)) {
if($boat_id == $row['id']) { continue; } // :rofl:
$boat_id = $row['id'];
the rest of the code
I googled how to get just one record in a set or the first record in a set and I could not find a satisfactory answer. It seems that SQL does have a "FIRST" statement but it's not available in MySQL. As far as I recall, this is the first time I needed such a result in maybe 10 years writing MySQL code. I guess it's not something that is required often.
I found two workarounds:
1.- use two sql queries where the second one allows me to use "LIMIT 1", and2.- ignore the duplicates in the php code following the sql query
While I like to write "good" or "clean" code I'm no purist. There comes a time when a simple workaround is more practical than banging your head against obscure constructs. Just my opinion.
And again, thanks for all the help!
as a general statement, i would have to agree with you completely here
however, i still question the wisdom/appropriateness of your original requirement...
if a boat has two captains, why would you ~not~ want to show them both? if your answer to this is that you never want to see more than one output row per boat, you could use GROUP_CONCAT to show both captains in the same result column
That question is outside the coding realm and in the application design realm. While googling this issue I did run across "GROUP_CONCAT." I considered using it and decided against because of the consequences to the rest of the page design.
The function of this particular page is to facilitate finding a specific yacht to work on. The page will list all the yachts or a subset of "found" yachts. "Do you remember that yacht from Grenada with the whosawhatsis?" So you list the yachts from Grenada and then link to the most likely candidate. The idea behind listing one name only is to list the "top dog" on the yacht which is the reason for the ordering: "Owner, captain, crew, passenger." Suppose there is no owner or captain on board, just 12 crew members, GROUP_CONCAT would include all twelve. IMO, this is not "information" but clutter. It's a compromise and we can agree to disagree about it.
David Pogue makes a good point: Keep the design as simple as possible, follow the rules but break them when it makes sense to do so. One example he gives is a popup menu of country names, they should be in alphabetical order which would put the USA near the bottom. Intelligent rule breaking puts the USA on top. Really intelligent rule breaking lists the USA twice, once in its proper place and also on top.
David Pogue: Simplicity sells
okay, i agree to disagree
you single out one of two captains as "top dog" and the other one will never forgive you
it's one thing to simplify data presentation, it is another altogether to distort data


text:
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to six classes of GSMS 2012-BWTR, a $300.0 million CMBS single borrower transaction. Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on December 7, 2012 (see our ratings listed below).
The transaction is collateralized by a single, non-recourse, first lien mortgage loan. The loan is secured by the borrower's fee simple interest in 546,411 sf of an 898,762 sf, three story super-regional mall known as Bridgewater Commons and an adjacent 93,799 sf lifestyle center known as The Village at Bridgewater (the "Property"). The Property is located in Bridgewater, New Jersey and features over 150 major and in-line tenants that are predominately leased to national retailers. The mall is anchored by Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor and Macy's. Lord & Taylor and Macy's own their improvements and the underlying land.
The mall is indirectly owned by Four State Properties, LLC ("Sponsor"), a joint venture between GGP Limited Partnership, an affiliate of General Growth Properties, Inc. ("GGP"), which owns 35% of the Sponsor, and Fourmall Acquisition, LLC, which owns 65% of the Sponsor. Fourmall Acquisition, LLC is a joint venture between the New York State Teachers' Retirement System and the Commingled Pension Trust Fund of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, which is managed by JPMorgan Asset Management – Global Real Assets. The Property is managed by General Growth Management, Inc., an affiliate of GGP. The collateral was 97.9% occupied as of September 30, 2012. Comparable in-line sales were $782 per sf for the trailing 12 months ending August 2012, resulting in an occupancy ratio of 14.2%.
KBRA's analysis of the transaction included a detailed evaluation of the property's cash flow using our CMBS Property Evaluation Guidelines, and the application of our CMBS Single Borrower and Large Loan Rating Methodology. The results of our analysis yielded a KBRA Net Cash flow (KNCF) of $31.4 million. To value the property, we applied a 7.25% capitalization rate to arrive at a KBRA value of $433.0 million. Our resulting KBRA Loan to Value (KLTV) was 69.3%. In our analysis of the transaction, we also reviewed and considered third party engineering and environmental reports, as well as our own on-site inspection of the property and the competition.
For complete details on the analysis, please see our presale report, GSMS 2012-BWTR, published at www.krollbondratings.com.
Final Ratings Assigned: GSMS 2012-BWTR
|Expected Rating
|Balance (US$)
|AAA (sf)
|AAA (sf)
|AAA (sf)
|AA- (sf)
|A- (sf)
|BBB (sf)
|* Notional Amount
Related publications (available at www.krollbondratings.com):
CMBS: GSMS Trust 2012-BWTR 17g-7 Disclosure Report
CMBS Single Borrower and Large Loan Rating Methodology
CMBS Property Evaluation Guidelines, published June 10, 2011
About Kroll Bond Rating Agency
KBRA was established in 2010 by Jules Kroll to restore trust in credit ratings by creating new standards for assessing risk and by offering accurate, clear and transparent ratings. KBRA is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). In addition, KBRA is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP).


text:
How the **** is this patentable? It is not a new concept - infact I had a mobile about 10yrs ago with 2 screens on it.
Microsoft has considered mobiles with multiple screens. A recently granted patent shows plans for an additional low-power display on the rear of our devices. The concept sees an E Ink-like display integrated across the entire backside of future mobile hardware. This is said to give vendors an opportunity to free space on the …
How the **** is this patentable? It is not a new concept - infact I had a mobile about 10yrs ago with 2 screens on it.
Of course it's patentable. Yours was probably two LCD screens. This is e-Ink. Totally different.
And low power. Totally and utterly different.
It's even curved at the to. Totally, utterly and unbelievably different.
How dare you suggest the the professionals at the USPTO give out patents for nothing. Just how very dare you! Why, that if attacking a vital organ of the capitalist system. Are you some kind of commie terrorist?
Are you working for Apple?
This would probably last as long as a Kindle screen.
That's been done before by Samsung and Motorola with many models of flip-phones.
Can you point me to a flip phone where the rear is one large e-ink screen configurable to display time, date or skinning info? I ask since that would be interesting and I have never seen one.
Apparently, you have seen many, so perhaps you could offer a link?
Ericsson had a mock up of a concept phone (before they were tainted by Sony) that did the same thing.
Patents are bad, mmm'kay
Picked at random: http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-2720-fold (this predates the patent claim by about a year)
The e-ink screen is merely an implementation detail. If these are now patentable, then that is absurd.
It appears that I do not need to!
I agree about the absurdity of the patent application. However, I don't think I've seen the monolith phone done with a rear screen before which suggests that it is an innovation, however minor.
Patentable? No. Not really. However, if used only as a self-defence patent - face it, some companies want to patent rectangles - then just about tolerable.
My first phone from three was an LG flip phone that had an LCD display on the top. Very useful it was too. E-ink would be a step forward but don't see how it is patientable.
oohh, I like the idea of a dual screen if one of them is eInk! Watch the film, then flip it over and read the book!
Patent drawings should have had "Your Logo Here!" on them. Sounds like its the perfect gimmick to get adverts pushed onto the back of people's phones. I guess it may also mean another phone design with a non-replaceable battery.
This is imagined as being low-power due to not refreshing very often - except that if it's used to display an accurate-to-the-minute clock then every minute the display will need to refresh. D'oh.
Not to mention that when they tried this on laptops (with Vista's Sideshow tech) the market response was characterised by a tumbleweed, bouncing gently along. I'm not convinced that the same pointless idea applied to phones will be any more successful.
I looked for a Sideshow screen to add to an HTPC since now having to switch the telly on to play music would have been useful. There were none to be found. I guess it way more about OEM apathy than unworkability.
However, on a laptop it was not a sensible idea - adding a scratchable surface to a laptop isn't practical.
Sideshow = some perfectly good scrap code some tech threw together in his spare time for a bit of fun...but then the marketing department thought they could monitize it.
Perhaps if they went back to the developer and actually asked him what it was designed to do, they might be able to sell it afterall...
It would just be used to display ads at eye level to people around you every time your on a call.
"He blows goats"
"I have proof".
Or a little bit of Rick-Rolling or something ;)
Kick Me!
i like the idea, can't see how its patentable, there is plenty of prior art, and this is evolution due to technology becoming available, not an inovation.
Remember the Samsung E700 flip phone?
Playing catch up as always M$!
Would someone from a proper patentese legal background please explain to me how so many obviously non-innovative and previously seen ideas manage to get a patent in the US?
I am utterly at a loss as how these things ever get past the patent clerks!
Surely innovation and not prior art should be the driving factor here? How would a UK court be likely to decide on a patent like this? What countries around the world take a more pragmatic view and disallow such obviously floored decisions (ignoring China and the Middle East)?
I'm a wee bit baffled THB.
It probably the people they hire in the USA.
A Uni mate of mine works for the UK patent office and has a BSc in Physics;
Wasnt it MS who came up with a secondard display in the top of a laptop lid as a cunning ruse to sell more Win Mob licenses.
This seems very similar - especially the bit about selling Win Mob/WinPho licenses :)
I very much like to idea of putting the status icons and time on the top of the case, in e-ink.
Not sure about the time being backwards though, that'd take some getting used to - but perhaps they did that to make sure it wasn't confused with prior-art ?
Does this mean I can patent my innovative idea of tacking a touchscreen monitor onto the side of a normal PC flatscreen monitor and sue for $MEGA when someone inevitably does it...?
if you can pay the lawyers...
The patent should NOT grant protection for the placement of dual screens on the phone. IIRC, I saw at least TWO dual-screen models of phones in Tokyo in 2004/2005. Can't recall whether they are Panasonic or Sanyo or Sharp. (Still scouring the net, unable to find them. Pissing me off because I keep in tin-foil-manner suspecting all such queries are suppressed. But, I must be mistaken.)
Any patent should ONLY cover the e-ink thingy, and ONLY for the exact shape and size of display, and SHOULD NEVER, EVER preclude the manufacture of e-ink displays sized and adapted to phones, PDAs, wrist gadgets, etc. ONLY a design patent for the specific item in circulation in the free market should be protected. Otherwise, someone could go back and retroactively patent the existence of eyeglasses, automobile windscreens, pocket protectors, file organizers and even mailing envelopes. Imagine if planes, trains, bicycles, and the simple surfboard were patented and licensed by single individuals or companies...
If I had one (unlikely) I'd have an Apple on the back ;-}
It's to post error messages! BSOD comes to mind.


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OCEAN CITY – Decorative street lighting was approved Tuesday for the first reconstruction phase of St. Louis Ave.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office">
Last week a discussion over installing ornamental lighting along St. Louis Ave. began while the reconstruction is currently in its first phase from 17th to 10th streets. The project is being funded through bonds the city acquired last year to complete several capital projects.
St. Louis Ave. runs north and south in Ocean City and is a frequently used corridor on the western side of the island.
The second phase of the reconstruction project includes 10th to 4th streets and will begin next fall. The project will be competed in the third phase from 4th to North Division streets beginning in the fall of 2014.
The Mayor and City Council approved the project last April. At that time, it was made clear that funding was not available for the wiring or lights but in an effort to avoid disturbance to the roadway at a later date the design did include the installation of "empty conduits" for future ornamental street lighting similar to what is on Baltimore Ave.
At this week's meeting, Public Works Director Hal Adkins clarified not only will there be no undergrounding of the overhead utility wires, a conduit structure will not be installed for the future system as well. Therefore, the wooden utility poles along St. Louis Ave. will be remaining for the life of the new street, which is at least 20 years.
Currently, the cobra-head street lighting along St. Louis Ave. is mounted on metal arms extended off the utility poles. The proposed ornamental lighting will be separate light poles from the utility poles.
The cost to install ornamental lighting in the first phase, which includes 30 light poles, is about $154,000. In an effort to assist the project, the Ocean City Development Association (OCDC) applied for a $150,000 grant through the Community Legacy Program and has received a notice of intent to be awarded $50,000 and tentative approval to reassign $25,000 of a historical Small Business Assistance Grant.
The grant funding will cover 50 percent of the first phase's lighting cost, leaving $79,000 for the city to fund.
Last week council members expressed concerns, starting with the continuation of funding for decorative ornamental lighting throughout the later phases. The total cost for all three phases to include decorative light, which would be about 75 light poles, is approximately $390,000.
Adkins explained using the $75,000 from OCDC for the first phase that will leave city responsible for either $315,000 for all three phases if the OCDC is unable to gain additional grants or $215,000 if the OCDC is able to gain grant funding of about $50,000 for each phase. The OCDC intends to apply for $150,000 for each of the next two phases.
Councilman Joe Mitrecic has expressed concern over the lighting becoming a nuisance to adjacent property owners along the avenue. This week Adkins responded the proposed LED lights can be controlled away from adjoining private properties as needed.
Councilman Dennis Dare last week asked for Adkins and staff to further investigate alternatives within the project, such as heightening the face of the sidewalk to avoid cars from mounting the sidewalk and hitting the proposed light poles.
Adkins responded this week that the sidewalks included in the first phase fluctuate from five to eight inches in height, minimizing the chances a car could reach the surface of the sidewalk.
Dare also suggested placing the ornamental lights on the back line of the sidewalk as opposed to the street front. This week Adkins said placing the light poles toward the street front of the sidewalk allows them to be aligned with signs, fire hydrants and utility poles, maintaining a clear passage between such obstructions and the private properties.
Dare and Mayor Rick Meehan have advocated for eight-foot wide sidewalks but recognized the fact there is not enough funding, and the sidewalks will remain at five feet wide.
This week Adkins added that if the council would like to consider the expansion of the north/south sidewalks, which is the direction that receives the most foot traffic, then they may be interested in a brick paver strip behind the sidewalks on private property similar to other recent projects around town, which would require outreach to property owners.
Dare was in favor of approaching property owners to spark interest in installing brick pavers along the sidewalk at the city's cost.
"It could enhance the walkability of St. Louis Ave, as well as enhance the entire community," he said. "The project will enhance the corridor and promote redevelopment in the future … and street lights are one of the biggest things for public safety in making it a safe neighborhood … the council voted to include conduits for the street lighting so you all anticipated doing it sometime and we have a golden opportunity here to do it."
Dare made a motion to approve the installation of decorative ornamental lighting in the first phase of the St. Louis Ave. project, utilizing the grant money from OCDC and surplus in bond money to pay for the remainder of $79,000.
The council voted 5-2 to approve the motion on the floor with Council members Brent Ashley and Margaret Pillas in opposition.
Ashley has questioned future funding and the direction to use surplus bond funds.
City Engineer Terry McGean explained the city is under budget by $1.65 million for the Boardwalk but after Hurricane Sandy repairs and lumber are needed for the Inlet and bayside boardwalk in the amount of $300,000. The city is expecting FEMA to reimburse the city 75 percent, leaving the city responsible for less than $100,000. This would result in the surplus of Boardwalk funds to be about $1.55 million.
"We have budgets coming up we don't know of, next year we will have a restatement of our pension plans, so for me this is strictly discretionary spending," Ashley said.
Pillas has also voiced her concern over funding the future phases and this week she added she was not in favor of creating more clutter along the corridor. She believes the decorative lighting will create less light than the current cobra-head lighting fixtures.


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Notable Books of the Year 1993
Published: December 5, 1993
This list has been selected from books reviewed since the Christmas Books issue of December 1992. The list suggests only high points in the main fields of reader interest, and it does not include titles chosen by the editors of the Book Review as the Best Books of 1993. Books are arranged alphabetically under subject headings. Art, Music & Popular Culture THE ART OF CELEBRATION: Twentieth-Century Painting, Literature, Sculpture, Photography, and Jazz. By Alfred Appel Jr. (Knopf, $35.) Modern times aren't all Eliot and Kafka, the author cheerfully argues; there's also Matisse, Astaire, Chaplin, Teddy Wilson and a whole raft of dedicated life affirmers.
ATGET'S SEVEN ALBUMS. By Molly Nesbit. (Yale University, $55.) A scholar finds political commitment and self-conscious intentions in the work of the Paris photographer who has been interpreted as a primitive.
BLACK AND BLUE: The Life and Lyrics of Andy Razaf. By Barry Singer. Foreword by Bobby Short. (Schirmer, $28.) An important, atmospheric biography of the lyricist who wrote "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Stompin' at the Savoy."
BOMBSHELL: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow. By David Stenn. (Doubleday, $22.50.) A scrupulous biography of the woman who could tangle with the best of them on screen but in real life was passive and unlucky.
CHAUTAUQUA SUMMER: Adventures of a Late-Twentieth-Century Vaudevillian. By Rebecca Chace. (Harcourt Brace, $21.95.) An amusing, intimate account of a season with the Flying Karamazov Brothers on their annual vaudeville circuit.
THE CITY IN SLANG: New York Life and Popular Speech. By Irving Lewis Allen. (Oxford University, $25.) A dense, reflective and occasionally nostalgic dissection of New York street talk, old and new.
CHRISTEN KOBKE. By Sanford Schwartz. (Timken, $35.) Mr. Schwartz's portrait, the first English book-length study of the Danish painter known for his small, quiet landscapes, is conversational, affectionate and discerning.
THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF ROBERT MOTHERWELL. Edited by Stephanie Terenzio. (Oxford University, $39.95.) Essays, observations and pronouncements by the most articulate member of the New York School of painters, illuminating the ambitions and the ethos of the Abstract Expressionist movement.
CONTRADICTIONS: Artistic Life, the Socialist State, and the Chinese Painter Li Huasheng. By Jerome Silbergeld with Gong Jisui. (University of Washington, $50.) This gripping book about a landscape painter and his shifting fortunes under Communism is not only a fine study of painting in modern China but an absorbing introduction to the peculiarities of everyday life there.
CORNELL CAPA: Photographs. Edited by Cornell Capa and Richard Whelan. (Bulfinch/Little, Brown, $60.) Pictures that certify Mr. Capa's statement of his aims: to show "human beings, their lives, their habitats, their behavior and their relationships."
CUT WITH THE KITCHEN KNIFE: The Weimar Photomontages of Hannah Hoch. By Maud Lavin. (Yale University, $40.) An account of the work of the avant-garde artist that illuminates new definitions of femininity and sexual roles in Weimar Germany.
DANCING: The Pleasure, Power, and Art of Movement. By Gerald Jonas. (Abrams, with Thirteen/ WNET, $45.) A lavishly produced cross-cultural history of dance worldwide, companion volume to a public television series.
DESIGN, FORM, AND CHAOS. By Paul Rand. (Yale University, $45.) In this collection of essays by the pre-eminent statesman of graphic design, Mr. Rand compares his own beautiful forms with the duds of the day.
THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. By Saul Steinberg. (Knopf, $50.) The first book-length collection in 14 years by a great and greatly intelligent artist, who came to this country in 1942 and whose vision of America has lately become tougher, grittier, darker.
THE DUKE ELLINGTON READER. Edited by Mark Tucker. (Oxford University, $30.) A fascinating anthology of 70 years' worth of writing about (and occasionally by) Ellington, who clearly inspired powerful emotions in even the most sober minds.
EPSTEIN: Artist Against the Establishment. By Stephen Gardiner. (Viking, $35.) This polemical book defends at every point a major artist who all his life defied bourgeois conformity yet managed to die the proprietor of a knighthood. FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: COLLECTED WRITINGS. Volume 1: 1894-1930. Volume 2: 1930-1932. Edited by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer. (Rizzoli, cloth, $60 each; paper, $40 each.) The start of a projected six-volume edition of the architect's literary output; the collection's star so far is the 1932 version of "An Autobiography."
A HISTORY OF RUSSIAN ARCHITECTURE. By William Craft Brumfield. (Cambridge University, $95.) A beautiful history, covering styles and influences from the medievalism of the 11th century to the functionalism of the 1980's.
JAZZ: The American Theme Song. By James Lincoln Collier. (Oxford University, $25.) Starting with the provocative idea that there is no satisfactory history of jazz, Mr. Collier pleads for musical literacy, rails against fan mentality and smashes some popular notions, including the idea that jazz was invented by blacks in New Orleans.


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Home > Regulation & Examinations > Comment on Financial Reform Implementation
Comment on Financial Reform Implementation
August 17, 2010
In regards to the Financial Reform Bill, according to Title XIV of the Dodd-Frank bill appraiser fees will be determined by "customary and reasonable" appraisal fees. I have owned my own business as a certified residential real estate appraiser since 1995. Due to the lower fees I receive from the AMC's I have been forced to lay off workers. I have the same overhead but make much less than I used to. It seems that the only ones being punished for the bad loans are the appraiser's. No one else took pay cuts. And certainly none of the politicians had their salaries lowered. The borrower is also being ripped because they pay more now for an appraisal. I am hoping the average fees that appraiser's used to make in their market area and FHA & VA fees will be used to make a new fee schedule to pay appraisers. Please implement a fair fee schedule that AMC's have to pay appraisers.
Thank you,
|Last Updated 9/14/2010


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There were once so many farms in Bridgewater you could see all the way across town because the land was so flat, Bridgewater Historical Commission Chairman David Moore said.
"It is said at one time you could see the steam from the steam trains going through town from South Street, there were so few trees," Moore said.
Now, Hanson Farm on Route 104 is the only remaining active farm in town.
It's a familiar story repeated throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and much of the country.
There were once so many farms in Bridgewater you could see all the way across town because the land was so flat, Bridgewater Historical Commission Chairman David Moore said.
"It is said at one time you could see the steam from the steam trains going through town from South Street, there were so few trees," Moore said.
Now, Hanson Farm on Route 104 is the only remaining active farm in town.
It's a familiar story repeated throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and much of the country.
In post-World War II America crops like corn, cucumbers and potatoes were replaced with a much more lucrative crop: houses.
"Some people have been able to make a lot of money selling farmland for far more than they could have made farming the land for the rest of their lives," said A. Richard Bonanno, president of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, the largest agricultural association in the state, with 6,000 member families.
Until the mid-twentieth century, people either lived on farms or in cities for the most part. It wasn't until the late 1950s and 1960s that people started "sprawling out" into the suburbs, Bonanno said.
The numbers paint a stark picture.
In 1940, there were 1.9 million acres of farmland in Massachusetts, according to the USDA's census of agriculture, a document the federal government has been producing every four or five years since 1840.
In just one generation, by 1969, that number had been slashed by nearly two-thirds, to just 701,000 acres.
And the most recent census, for 2007, puts that number at 518,000 acres — one quarter of the World War II-era total.
In Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk counties about three-quarters of the farmland has disappeared since World War II. Easton, Mansfield, Norton and Raynham are in Bristol County; Randolph, Stoughton and Canton are in Norfolk County; and Bridgewater is in Plymouth County.
Except for Easton, these towns can no longer be considered agricultural communities.
"There is enough potential farmland still available in Easton to come close to feeding all the people here," said Edmund Hands of the Agricultural Commission.
But in towns like Bridgewater, Canton and Norton, the designation "farm town" has been replaced with "bedroom community." Meanwhile, Raynham has become home to "the auto mile" and an industrial park and will soon be able to claim two Wal-Marts within its 20 or so square miles.
The same trend occurred nationwide but on a much less dramatic scale.
In 1940, farmland constituted 56 percent of the nation's total land area. By 2007, that number had dropped to 40 percent — a significant reduction but nothing like the situation in Massachusetts, where the percentage of farmland fell off a cliff.
"It's so easy to judge from a 21st century lens, 'How could they?' But that was a snapshot in time. Natural resources seemed infinite and people wanted to move out of the cities and be in the suburbs," said Anna Waclawiczek, chief of staff at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).
The evidence of disappearing farmland is all around us in southeastern Massachusetts.
The Austin Goose Farm on Winter Street in Mansfield, founded in 1867 and once reputed to be the largest poultry farm in the world, was transformed in the 1980s into Austin Farm Estates.
The names of the subdivision's tree-lined streets — Goose Lane, Down Lane, Gander Lane — are the only reminder of the land's agricultural heritage.
In Easton, the old Andrews Farm on Randall Street is now the Andrews Farm Estates subdivision. The farmhouse is still a private residence, as is the old farm store, and the barns were preserved as storage buildings. But behind them, instead of pastures, cows and chickens stand upscale modern colonials.
The Andrews family carries on the tradition at the Andrews Bakery & Cafe, located halfway across town on a busy road, no farms in sight — but still using many farm fresh products and specializing in chicken sandwiches "like the ones found back on the farm."
In Bridgewater, the old Pawlowski Farm is home to the new Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School and the old Hogg Farm is home to the new Bridgewater police headquarters.
In Raynham, Chestnut Farm on Route 104 near Lake Nippenicket on the Bridgewater line has been transformed into the 240-unit Chestnut Farm Apartments, built under the state's "40B" affordable housing law.
Chestnut Farm's website boasts about the picturesque views but says nothing of how much the development transformed that rural setting.
Dairy farms once dotted Norton. But most of them disappeared over the course of the 20th century as transportation improvements made products from western farms more readily available, said George Yelle of the Norton Historical Society.
In 1850, there were 4,500 acres of farmland in Stoughton, not bad for a town of just about 10,000 acres. Farmers raised horses, milch cows, oxen and swine and grew Indian corn, Irish potatoes and barley. They also sold butter, cheese and hay and made charcoal from trees harvested in the woodlands, according to the Stoughton Historical Society.
But today, just a couple of farms remain and Stoughton residents who want to buy local produce must visit a farmers market in a surrounding town.
Development is a fact of life, but the loss of farmland in Massachusetts has "stabilized" over the past decade or so, Bonanno said.
Between 2002 and 2007, the number of farms in the Commonwealth actually went up somewhat, from 6,075 to 7,671, and the loss of farmland was very small, a shift from 518,570 acres in 2002 to 517,879 in 2007.
And Bonanno hopes to see more of the same when the 2012 numbers are released.
"It's very encouraging," he said.
He credits the positive trend to two main factors: the buy-local movement and the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program, which has permanently protected more than 800 farms and 68,000 acres to date in Massachusetts, according to the MDAR.
The APR program pays developers the difference between the development value and the agricultural value of their land in exchange for their placing a permanent deed restriction on the property precluding non-agricultural uses.
That can be a big, big difference in land value, Bonnano said.
An acre of farmland might go for $5,000 to $10,000 if it's sold farmer to farmer. But that same land sold for development purposes could bring 10 times that, Bonanno said.
Hence the pressure to turn rows of corn into rows of houses. That pressure is much greater in eastern Massachusetts than western Massachusetts — though less so here in the southeastern part of the state than right outside of Boston, where land values are greatest, Bonanno said.
Bonanno, an active farmer in Methuen, said for most farmers selling land that has been in their families for generations and represents a cherished way of life is gut-wrenching.
But if they're losing money year after year, if they're in debt, if their children don't want to go into the family business and land prices are soaring — it becomes very difficult to resist the temptation to cash out and call it a day.
"In general farmers love farming," Bonanno said.
"Everybody eats. It's still a very valued profession. But you have to be a smart businessman or woman to stay in agriculture and make a living at it," Bonanno said.


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Watch Alicia Keys' "New Day" Video Made From Fan InstagramsWhen Alicia Keys asked her fans to send Instagram photos inspired by her new "New Day" song, her followers got the picture. The images taken by her fans now appear in the singer's new video.
Alicia Keys Needs Your Photos For New VideoAlicia Keys is working on a music video for "New Day" and she needs your help.
Alicia Keys Surprises Fans With New Music (Take A Listen)If you're one of the over 8 million people who follow Alicia Keys on Twitter, you got a pleasant surprise today.Today she gave fans a taste of what's to come, tweeting out a link to her latest song, "New Day."


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has had a lot of troubles since it began making big changes to its service. It
first increased the prices of its plans back in July, which outraged customers to the point of jamming Netflix's customer
service phone lines.
To make matters worse, Starz decided not to
renew its contract with the company because Netflix wouldn't make subscribers
pay a premium price for Starz content. This means Netflix will lose Disney and
Sony-related programming come February.
Now, Netflix is cutting its third-quarter forecast by 1 million U.S.
subscribers, and has realized the full extent of customer wrath since raising
plan prices by 60 percent as well as splitting DVD plans from streaming plans.
"We know our decision to split our services has upset many of our
subscribers, which we don't take lightly, but we believe the split will help us
make our services better for subscribers and shareholders for years to
come," said Netflix.
The company is now predicting 24 million U.S. subscribers by the end of the
third quarter, which has been reduced from a previous forecast of 25 million.
Originally, Netflix predicted that 3 million subscribers would move to the
DVD-only plan while 22 million would transfer to the streaming-only plan. Now,
these predictions have fallen to 2.2 million DVD-only subscribers and 21.8
million streaming-only subscribers.
"Clearly, if the third quarter is slipping, there's risk to the fourth
quarter, as the year-ago period was a time when everything went right for
Netflix," said Barton Crockett, a Lazard Capital analyst.
Despite the cuts in U.S. subscriber predictions, Netflix has maintained its
third-quarter financial forecast and international subscriber outlook.
Netflix has said that it needed to raise prices in order to afford the hundreds of millions of dollars
it takes
to purchase licensing rights from movie studios and television networks. These
licenses help Netflix build its digital library.


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Reel love turns real for 'Beta Hi Chahiye' stars?Follow us on Social Media
Follow @iamdesirulez
Tweet #iamdesirulez
If the buzz from the sets of the show "Beta Hi Chahiye" is to be believed, its lead pair Ankit Bathla and Garima Tiwari have taken their on-screen romance off the screen.
The duo has hit it off well, and the show's unit is said to be amazed with the pace that the two have been bonding.
According to a source from the unit, Garima is friendly with all her co-stars, but especially with Ankit.
They eat in the same plate between shots, and Garima adoringly addresses Ankit as "pati" off screen too!
Who knows something may be cooking?


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BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — The Houston Dynamo struggled on the road this season, but that wasn't the case on Wednesday night in a 2-1 Eastern Conference Knockout Round win over the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.
The Dynamo, the best home team in MLS, were just 3-9-5 in regular-season road matches and 1-9-5 in their last 15. One of the worst defeats away from home came on Sept. 2, a 3-1 road loss to Chicago.
But Houston scoring hero Will Bruin, who netted both of his team's goals in Wednesday night's playoff triumph, said that match back in September left no emotional scars.
"The score line doesn't tell how that game went,'' Bruin said. "We gave up some soft goals, some giveaways early, and we knew that wasn't how that game should have gone for us. We knew that if we took out those simple turnovers the game could go to us.''
There were no early mistakes by the Dynamo on Wednesday. And Bruin, who scored 12 goals during the regular season, headed in Brad Davis' corner kick in the 13th minute for the goal that got Houston on their way to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against top-seeded Sporting Kansas City.
WATCH: Bruin faces cameras after match
"After that first goal we had the feeling this was our game,'' Bruin said. "We felt we were playing well under pressure, and getting that goal was a reward for our good play.''
Bruin scored his second goal 18 seconds into the second half off a setup from Calen Carr. That strike proved to be the game-winner, as the Fire scored late to make a game of it.
OPTA Chalkboard: Bruin is clinical vs. Fire
Alex's goal for Chicago was too little too late as the Dynamo advanced to Sunday's first match of a two-game home-and-home series with Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The Dynamo was 11-0-6 at home this season and became the fourth team in MLS history to complete a home schedule without suffering a defeat. The club has gone a total of 25 regular-season games without a defeat dating back to last year.
"It's awesome to get a playoff game at BBVA,'' Bruin said. "Our fans deserve it because they've supported us all season and made us a very tough home team.''


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When you have a clientele that expects the best, and when they are willing to pay for it, new microphones and digital recording solutions are available to let you capture and create a soundtrack for your masterpiece that will blow them away. For example, if you know the bride's parents are going to watch their daughter's wedding video (and your top package) not just on an HDTV, but in a great surround sound home theater as well, then listen up.
HolophoneWe've talked before about Rising Sun Productions' Holophone surround-sound microphone and audio recording systems, and you probably know about the H4 SuperMINI, the company's camera-mountable surround microphone. It places multiple microphone elements inside a 360-degree enclosure (which gets mounted on a camera) and lets you record sounds that can be truly differentiated in direction and impact. Six discrete channels are encoded to and decoded from a standard two-channel audio recording configuration.
But there's one problem: The whole thing can look and feel like a bowling trophy was attached to the front of your camera. So the new H4 Multi-Cable helps reduce the height of the SuperMINI microphone, dropping it down full 6" for a much lower on-camera profile. It also allows the H4's encoder, preamp, and monitor module to be more conveniently mounted in a variety of locations.
With the Multi-Cable, the H4 SuperMINI microphone enclosure connects through a cold shoe connector; the encoder can be worn as a belt pack. The H4 Multi-Cable is available with 3' or 5' cable lengths. The SuperMINI itself has also been upgraded. In addition to its current 3.5mm stereo outputs, the encoder now has one six-pin mini XLR output which contains both LT and RT-balanced information.
This helps to make the mic's recordings more compatible with professional-level AV equipment. It also allows the encoder to be connected to a camera or recording device with a longer run of cable without affecting the quality of the audio signal.
The H4 SuperMINI comes equipped with an audio zoom button, which increases the forward bias of the pick-up pattern, and an auxiliary center channel microphone input (XLR) for attaching an external shotgun or wireless lavaliere. There's a virtual surround headphone output with gain control so you can monitor recordings in the field, and a great little tricolored LED that indicates sound level and direction. The microphone is priced at $2,695.
The Holophone D-CODE ($599), a multichannel Pro Logic II decoder, comes out this season as well, letting desktop editors easily get in on the surround-sound action. The D-CODE takes two encoded audio channels, made with the H4 or Porta-Mic 5.1 and a camera or other two-channel recording source, and decodes them into six discrete audio channels.
Decoded multichannel audio is delivered via six RCA analog outputs or USB directly to the computer. The six discrete audio files can then be edited in any pro NLE.
ShureIf you're willing to pay close to $3,000 to be able to work effectively with six mics, how about the paying same price for one? Shure has introduced the UR1M Wireless Micro-Bodypack Transmitter (Figure 1), which is about half the size of most standard body packs, but with a heftier price.
It weighs just 3 ounces with two AAA batteries, but into the small package goes patented companding technology for crystal-clear sound across a wide 60-MHz–75-MHz tuning range (region-dependent). It's tunable in 25-kHz increments, so thousands of selectable frequencies ensure a good response almost anywhere.
The UR1M also features selectable 10-megawatt or 50-megawatt RF power; up to 9 hours of battery life and selectable alkaline, lithium primary, or NIMH battery power metering; audio-level metering; and a backlit LCD display. The UR1M has a suggested retail price of $3,198 and is available this summer.
Shure, through Countryman line, has also introduced new options for the UR1M Micro-Bodypack, and Countryman's Type 85 Direct Box will now be available from Shure. Countryman microphone products are sold in different coverage patterns, skin tone colors, and connector types. In wireless applications where concealment is a priority, the WCE6 and WCE6i Earset microphones are among the smallest and lightest around. When you need to make the mic next to invisible, even if used up against a wide variety of skin tones, the small and lightweight WCE6 and WCE6i Earset mics are a real advantage.
Another unobtrusive mic is the Countryman WCB6 Micro-Lavaliere (Figure 2). At about 1/10" thick, it's thinner than most mic cables, and is available in a number of colors for mixing and matching with various clothes or skin types.
The WCE6 and WCE6i Earset microphones list for less than $500, the WCB6 Micro-Lavaliere is just under $600.
ZaxcomZaxcom has upgraded its TRX line of wireless microphone transceivers, adding a wireless dynamic range expander and an adjustable RF output power feature. Use of the expander (a free software upgrade for current owners) can help attenuate low-level noise, especially handy when using and mixing together multiple mics. The algorithm pushes the noise floor to 12 dB, so the dynamic range of the TRX wireless system is effectively 118 dB.
All Zaxcom wireless transmitters will now begin shipping with adjustable output power settings of 10 MW, 25 MW, and 50 MW. This new feature allows customers to fine-tune the TRX system to meet varying distance, battery consumption, and RF power output needs.
Zaxcom's digital wireless microphone packages are priced around $1,800, as is the ZFR800, a handheld digital recording microphone. Uncompressed audio can be recorded to removable memory cards, and a handy prebuffer ensures that nary a word is missed.
On the ZFR800 audio files are automatically recorded at 48 kHz/24 bits. The transfer software utilizes sample rate conversion to obtain the sample rate and bit depth of choice when files are imported to your computer. Any number of versions of the same recording can be made from a single file. The ZFR800 ships with file transfer software that runs on both Windows and Mac OS.
I know podcasters who love the quality and convenience of this mic; high-quality voice-over video narration can also easily be captured (without camcorder or studio setting) with the ZFR800, which is compatible with any Shure screw-on capsule.
Sound DevicesWhen one- or two-track audio recording won't do (and that does happen to many event videographers), the new 788T digital audio recorder (Figure 3) from Sound Devices can meet the most demanding on-location audio requirements. I recently worked on a multicamera video documentation crew at a music history conference; as many as eight speakers at a time participated in panel discussions, and many more musicians jammed during impromptu music sessions. We had a temperamental old A-DAT machine, but the 788T would have been perfect.
This battery-operated recorder has individual controls and connectors for each of its eight inputs, plus numerous additional I/O and data connections, all in a durable stainless-steel and aluminum chassis weighing less than 4 pounds and roughly the size of a hardcover book.
On location, the 788T visually indicates level information about inputs and track assignments. Each of the eight input controls has a corresponding tricolor circular LED, making adjustments simple in run-and-gun environments like ours. The 788T's Input Control Toggle allows for quick access to common settings such as input type, limiter engagement, high-pass filter activation, and phantom powering.
Its LCD display is viewable in all lighting conditions, including direct sunlight. The LEDs are dimmer-adjustable for any lighting condition, including a lights-out setting for blacked-out sets.
To store all the data from multitrack digital audio recordings, the 788T comes equipped with a 160GB 2.5" internal SATA hard drive. This onboard storage provides up to 30 hours of 8-track, uncompressed 24-bit audio recording. CompactFlash cards with UDMA support and external FireWire mass storage volumes can be used for recording and playback. All three storage mediums can be selected for simultaneous, redundant recording.
To transfer recorded audio, the 788T features high-speed access to both the internal hard drive and connected CompactFlash medium. Disk-to-computer and card-to-computer transfers are limited only by the drives themselves, with transfer speeds greater than 40MB/sec. with fast 266x CompactFlash media.
The 788T is powered by 7.2 V Li-ion batteries or external DC (10–18 V) and offers an on-board Li-ion battery charger. Its price is $5,995, but the capabilities of the 788T, and the results you'll get from it, are well worth it.
Lee Rickwood (lrickwood at goodmedia.com) is a media consultant and freelance writer.


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Party Buses and Limousine Coaches for rent in Las Vegas
We have an awesome selection of Party Buses in Las Vegas! Our Fleet of of Party Buses seat anywhere from 1 – 34 passengers and have the newest interiors in town. Our Party Buses come equipped with Dance poles, Competition stereo systems, Flat screen TV's and Color Change interior lighting. Check them out and call us to reserve one for your next event.
Call us at 1-888-820-9996 to get a Party Bus for your next event!


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Video Visitation: Increased Security, Reduced Costs
Photos courtesy of HDR Inc.
Inmate visitation responsibilities can represent a significant percentage of operating costs, particularly in county jails where the close proximity of relatives and friends lends itself to the increased frequency of visitation. A heavy visitor load carries with it the high recurring cost of corrections personnel needed to facilitate and monitor the process.
Video visitation technology has the potential to maximize security during the visitation process, minimize the introduction of contraband, and limit the number of corrections personnel required to monitor the visitation process.
After years of fine-tuning equipment components and system configurations, a well-planned system can offer all of the above benefits to nearly any facility. Best of all, while its initial cost may be substantial, the cost savings that are possible will more than pay for the system over time.
Bringing the Visit to the Inmate
|Whatcom County, Wash.
During a traditional visitation, the inmate is typically escorted from the housing unit to a special visitation room, where a face-to-face encounter behind a barrier takes place. This requires a corrections officer to accompany the inmate from the housing unit to the visitation area. It also demands that someone monitor the visit for its entire length, normally up to an hour. With a steady stream of visitors arriving during the course of the day, the demand placed on corrections staff is considerable.
In some video visitation configurations, the inmate is escorted to the video camera location, a practice that continues to require correctional officer intervention and its associated personnel costs. Although offering additional security by physically separating visitor from inmate and deterring contraband introduction, no personnel cost savings are realized.
However, by placing the video camera within the inmate housing unit or day room, the visit can be scheduled in advance and the inmate notified to be at the video station at an appointed date and time. It is the inmate's responsibility to inform family members of the scheduled visitation and to be at the video booth at the appropriate time. If either party fails to show at the appointed time, that visitation opportunity is lost and another must be scheduled.
With the video booth situated in the day room, there is no need for the inmate to leave the security of the housing unit. An operator at a video control board activates the closed circuit video camera of visitor and inmate at the appropriate time, by way of a matrix switch. The visit may then proceed, with voice communication through a two-way telephone handset. The camera at the inmate station is in most cases protected behind a clear Plexiglas shield and an armored cable protects the telephone cord.
A countdown timer is visible to both parties. When the visit time is at an end, the cameras are automatically switched off, eliminating the opportunity for the inmate to provoke an incident by pleading for more time. There can be no arguing with a blank screen.
In an average county jail, two video stations per day room will be sufficient to meet the visitation needs of 20 to 32 inmates. Under standard conditions, the number of inmate stations required will be about double the number of visitor stations. A large county facility, housing approximately 3,500 inmates, would require about 70 to 90 inmate stations and 35 to 45 visitor stations. The number of stations can be scaled up or down, according to the size of the inmate population and the frequency of visitation. In state or federal prisons, where visitation can be much less frequent because of longer travel times, more inmates can be served per station. Corrections facilities can build in more video visitation capacity than needed at the time of installation, allowing for the easy activation of additional stations as future needs increase.
Keeping the Visitor Out of Secured Areas
The public side of visitation at the T.K. Davis Detention Center in Lee County, Ala. (above). Video visitation units installed in inmate housing at the Whatcom County Jail in Bellingham, Wash. (below)
A major security benefit of video visitation is that visitor camera stations can be placed outside the confines of the jail facility. A visitor who does not enter the facility cannot introduce contraband to those areas. In some configurations, visitor stations are placed within the jail building because space previously utilized for traditional visitation is converted and reconfigured for video. Utilizing space within the detention building affords visitors who use the on-site amenities the opportunity to establish a conduit for contraband and compromise the security of the facility.
The Preferred Configuration
As the efficiency of video visitation is recognized, designers are encouraging agencies to put stations in dedicated structures, which keeps visitors away from secured areas and allows the designer to create a purpose-built setting. Instead of the traditional visitation setting, the decor of visitor stations can be more family-friendly and less intimidating to children. Facilities can utilize specially designed inmate-station backdrops to make the setting appear less institutional and stark. The video visitation building can assume the look of a family home. Video booths can feature several chairs for family visits and be wheelchair-accessible.
Another important benefit of a separate video visitation building is that of reduced operational costs. A video visitation unit, situated outside the secure facility, can be operated by civilian personnel. Employees not in contact with inmates do not require special corrections training and can be hired at a lower rate of pay than correctional personnel.
Is A Video Visit Really A Visit?
Critics have faulted video visits as sterile and impersonal. Yet, in traditional noncontact visits, a sheet of Plexiglas or steel mesh painted institutional green or gray divides the family members. The inmate may be in handcuffs and/or leg irons, depending on the inmate's custody classification. Voice communication is achieved with a telephone handset, with clanging metal doors as a sound backdrop. Visitor and inmate cannot actually touch in any way, so it is a stretch to consider this type of encounter a personal visit. Critics of video visits must balance this reality against the improved ambiance achieved with today's electronic systems, which can deliver scheduling capabilities and significant cost savings, while increasing operational security and lowering the threat of contraband introduction.
Robert Bosco, CPP, is a project manager and designer of security systems and countermeasures with training in industrial security management, electronic and physical security, security screening, biometric access control, intrusion detection, perimeter security, duress alarms and CCVE surveillance, and the application of government antiterrorism and force protection guidelines.


text: "Both verse extracts and prose commentary provide a brief but intense introduction to subtle Buddhist concepts of mind, the self, impermanence, karma, and continuity of consciousness after death. The translation is beautifully clear, the content complex; a glossary explains in precise detail terms and concepts used in the text. The idea that death, the intermediate state, and rebirth may mirror the sleep, dreams, and awakening of ordinary life help guide the reader into this challenging set of ideas. Parallels with modern accounts of near-death experiences are also noted. This glimpse into the extraordinary intricacy of Buddhism shows how a major Tibetan text addressed the needs of both the living and the dead."Publishers Weekly


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"An expert musicality filled with charm, honesty and melody, and a peaceful, easy instrumental touch."LATimes
"Mayer in full-on soul-searching mode
. [An] honest, and oftentimes compelling, statement on his road to redemption
. Mayer coproduced the album with Don Was, and together they coat the songs in a warm shee from Greg Leisz's mercurial pedal steel on 'Queen of California' to the Americana glow of 'If I Ever Get Around to Living.'
It's the songwriting that reveals new facets of Mayer's talent. He sounds like a man reborn, and the transformation suits him."Boston Globe
"Mayer is an underrated singer
[and] an extraordinary guitarist."Washington Post


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1970 Chevy Suburban - Alaska Cool
Brian Saupe's Northern Custom is One-Of-A-Kind
I received these photos of an amazingly customized '70 Chevrolet Suburban Woody all the way from Anchorage, Alaska. Unfortunately, the images are not suitable for print, but it was too cool not to show everyone. Brian Saupe is the proud owner of Custom Crafts, a custom painting shop in Anchorage, Alaska, and the proud owner of this woody. Brian performed all of the rust repair and bodywork himself and he also painted the 'Burban. The front end, doorjambs, and lower body section are PPG Vibrance Collection Aquamarine with metal flake and the wood, well if you can believe it, it's actually airbrushed on. That's right, Brian used a mixture of House of Kolor Root Beer Brown, Tangerine, and Pagan Gold to create the dark and light wood effect. It took Brian two days to apply the woodgrain effect and get the colors just right. The results speak for themselves. It's stunning. The roof is covered in Mercedes Benz convertible top material and matches the, get ready, 85-inch sliding ragtop!
Transforming the 'Burban into a limo, Brian built a dividing wall and installed a limo window. The large back seat was made out of wood and a marble shelf was added to match the body color. "Big Daddy's" handled the wild interior that includes Alligator diamond leather throughout. Shades of Competition added a stereo and DVD player, along with a large front sunroof The engine is a 350ci small-block with a simulated Hilborn Injection system built by Don Garlits.
The Chevy was lowered and features 22-inch chrome wheels with Vogue Tyres. Brian was quick to thank his wife Brenda, sons Shawn and Gehrig, and daughter Crystal for their support. What a cool ride, literally!


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Children & Youth: Building tomorrow today
As young people mature, the decisions they make have an enormous impact on their families, their communities and our world. But growing up surrounded by poverty, war or in the aftermath of disaster increases their risks and limits their choices.
That's why giving children and youth the right support at this most critical time is essential to building tomorrow's strong, productive communities.
When disaster strikes, young children are especially vulnerable to developing emotional and social problems that can jeopardize their futures. Mercy Corps worked with experts to design our signature Comfort for Kids program that helps children process their trauma and recover through play, sports and art activities. See our expert's recommendations for how parents and caregivers can help children through times of crisis ▸
For adolescents faced with violence, early marriage and interruptions to schooling, we provide opportunities for community involvement, vocational training and life skills development. Our goal is to empower youth in the toughest places to make smart life choices and invest their energy in developing solutions to their countries' biggest challenges.
All stories about Children & Youth
Haiti: Video: Art Therapy in Haiti
Japan: Starting Comfort for Kids in Japan
Japan: Q&A with Peace Winds' Natsu Nogami
Japan: Helping the Japan tsunami's littlest survivors
The youngest survivors of disasters are often the most resilient, but also the most fragile. While earthquakes and tsunamis rob children of the same things that most adults hold dear — homes, families, friends — kids lack adult coping mechanisms. The emotional toll can be devastating.
Yemen: Helping youth connect to opportunity in Yemen
Umelto (Alto) Labetubun is Mercy Corps' representative in Yemen, our newest country program. Originally from Ambon, Indonesia, Alto began working for Mercy Corps in 2000, when his home island was rocked by a sectarian conflict that killed thousands and displaced more than a half-million people.
Iraq: Reclaiming a place for Iraqi youth
For many years, there was a very bad place in the middle of Kalar, Iraq. It had no name, but all kinds of malice and misfortune spread from it, spilling into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Egypt, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen: How we're helping transform the Middle East
The recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt — and their ripple effects across North Africa and the Middle East — have reminded the world how powerful young people can be.
Sri Lanka: Peace and reconciliation through sport
Q&A: Sarah Warren in Egypt
Sarah Warren is acutely aware of the needs, challenges and voices of Middle Eastern youth.
Iraq, Libya: Recognizing the power and potential of youth
The last few weeks of resolve, resistance and peaceful revolution in Egypt have reminded the world of the power of people — and especially youth. Mercy Corps has long recognized the potential of young people to be catalysts for positive change, especially in the Middle East.


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As the saying goes, when you're keister-deep in alligators, it's sometimes difficult to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swamp.
Creating and promoting a new website, updating my existing site, producing new videos and columns—not to mention gallivanting around as a speaker and a musician—have all been very exciting and satisfying. But 8 or 9 months of 65-70-hour workweeks finally took their toll on me.
So what did I do?
I did the same thing you have to do, especially as the wedding and event seasons kick into gear.
Take a break.
I know it sounds counterintuitive to slow down just as your season starts, but none of us—not even the video business advisor himself—is Superman or Superwoman. Remember that your mind, your body, and your nerves need a rest.
All work and no play make us dull, and we're not dull people. We're video people-smart, funny, talented, creative, and alive-and we need to keep that good edge so that we can do the good work for which we're known.
So how do you take a break while juggling those projects-and keeping brides, graduates, and everyone else happy?
First, keep in mind that the secret to having enough energy to keep up a hectic schedule is to separate yourself from your business on a regular basis. Too many 12- or 16-hour days in a row will fry your brain cells.
So take a day off and do something special. Take the kids fishing. Go to a play or a concert. Do something totally unrelated to your business-something reasonably mindless that doesn't require a lot of heavy thought.
Next, do something physical. Pitch horseshoes, ride your bike, climb a tree-whatever. You should be getting in a minimum of three 25-30 minute periods of exercise this week (and every week). Swim. Walk. Jog. Do aerobics. Do something, or else you're surely headed for that big green dumpster full of burned-out video producers.
Third, keep learning. Schedule a half-hour or more each week to sharpen your skills. Don't be content to rest on your present knowledgebase. Things change far too quickly these days to be cavalier about what you know.
Buy an instructional DVD. Sit down and play with your camera for a half-hour and reacquaint yourself with all that it does. Maybe learn a few new tricks. Listen to a podcast or audiotape that teaches you a new skill; read a book. Talk to a friend in the business who can give you hints on how to work better, smarter, faster.
Check out trade magazines and blogs that pertain to your business or to related businesses. Print out a new article or two from the web and give it a good read.
In my last two columns, I talked about the various ways you can promote your business through online Social Media, including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Ning. Since it's virtually impossible to keep up with all of them and still have time to sleep, this might be an excellent time to take a closer look at them-both collectively and individually-and choose one or two for your own social marketing efforts.
Watch out for time-suckers. Mental stress can be just as strenuous as physical exertion. I can drive myself crazy researching new and better ways to do things-spend hours drooling at the computer only to forget half of what I've read or realize that much of it is duplicate information. Better to set a time limit for how long you'll spend researching online. It's easy to get caught up in the chase and to keep gathering more and more (and more! and more!) information, even though you have enough material or the topic isn't worth the additional time you want to invest in it.
Last, but not least, renew your stuff. Take a few minutes every day to attend to the maintenance of your equipment and your support systems. Just 10 minutes and a dollar or two will probably do the trick. Clean out your company car or van, and wash and wax it. Replace that broken switch on your soft-light cord. Find a nut and a bolt and fix that sagging tripod.
Go through your wireless mike batteries and recycle the dead ones. Clean off your desk. File your papers. Label those unmarked masters from your last big job and put them away. Clean off your power cords and coil 'em up. Water the plants. Clean the refrigerator. But just remember, the little stuff does add up. If you want to work efficiently and look good while you're doing it, your equipment and surroundings need to be shipshape.
We're all aching to get to the top-as quickly as possible. We can even envision what we'll do when we get there. But we have to get there first, right? So slow down!
If you study the profiles of successful people, if you talk to them and analyze their methods, you'll find that real success comes from taking little baby steps and taking them consistently. Slow but steady.
I guarantee that if you take the steps I just gave you-and take them regularly and faithfully and consistently-you'll be at the finish line before you know it. And you'll continue to enjoy your work each and every day.
Steve Yankee (syankee at opinmarketing.com) has more than 35 years of video production and marketing experience and is the founder of The Video Business Advisor in East Lansing, Mich.


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Found this rock on a sandy beach, my first impressions was that it looks like elephants skin. Is this a fossil?
If it helps; it was found on Tentsmuir Point which is north east corner of Fife, Scotland. It's about 6 cm by 3cm.
I'm sure it is not fossil. Most 'cracked-sheet' -type of specimens are just cracked sediments; cracked before lithification or afterwards. With a touch of suitable weathing, they can end up looking somewhat skin-like.
But it is an interesting specimen because of those round bits with partial holes in their middles.
I would like to see some other photos (of the back and sides) - so I can get an idea what they are like in 3D.
There's a chance they are miniature sand volcanoes, or the cores of their feeder pipes. If so, there's a chance the cracked 'skin' could have got that way penecontemporaneously with sedimentation. I'll say more once I've seen those other photos (please?!)
(This is of interest to me because sand volcanoes were part of my PhD research; all in the domain of soft-sediment deformation.)
Hi Mike thank you for your reply. .... and bursting my bubble ;p
But this sounds as though it could be just as fascinating, miniature sand volcano. I hope more photos I'm uploading can help.


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While Clayton was incorporated into a city in 1913, its presence was established long before it became official. Born out of the separation between St. Louis city and county and the need for a new county seat, the city took roots in 1877, when Ralph Clayton donated 100 acres of farmland and the Hanley family added four more. The fact that 36 years passed before Clayton became an official city was especially intriguing to Mary Delach Leonard when she wrote Clayton, Missouri: An Urban Story, just in time for the centennial anniversary. "You look at that, and wonder why it took so long for Clayton to become a city. But when you learn about the history, you discover that there was this group of people who just knew how to get things done, so they didn't feel the need to establish an actual city with a mayor, etc."
Clayton, Missouri: An Urban Story shares the rich history of the metropolitan hub through words, photographs and facts. The book, published by local Reedy Press, is a project of the Clayton Century Foundation, and Leonard was approached to produce the text after members saw her previous work on Animals Always: 100 Years at the Saint Louis Zoo. Also having written a number of historical anniversary articles while at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Leonard took on the project as chance to tell another interesting story. "It's always fun to look at a place like Clayton and wonder how such a unique city happened," she explains.
With the help of her daughter, Melinda Leonard, Leonard dove into research. A valuable resource came in the form of Dickson Terry's 1976 book, Clayton: a history, an extensive look at the city's formation, including interviews with close descendants of the original founders. Leonard also spent hours looking up documents and old newspapers like the Watchman-Advocate on microfilm. Time spent exploring the city helped her appreciate the individual neighborhoods surrounding the business district. "The neighborhoods have these great park-like settings, and some of that goes back to the landscape architects and early designers who came up with the plans to accentuate the land and its beauty," Leonard says. "And today, the community has done a very good job of preserving the neighborhoods and walking the line with urban development."
In particular, the Hanley House caught the author's attention. "It's such a city treasure in the middle of the community, and you can walk from it right into the central business district. Its preservation speaks to the ability of the people to work together and make things happen."
As Leonard details in the book, that is exactly what occurred to spur the formation of Clayton as an official city. When community leaders found out in December 1912 about plans for neighboring University City to annex Clayton, action quickly was taken to stop the potential loss of their identity and tax base, Leonard says. By April 1913, Clayton was its own city. "Right after that was World War I, then the Depression, then World War II. The fact that they made this move and then the city was able to come into its own during such a rough period of American history shows the spirit of the community."
Leonard hopes that spirit is conveyed in the book, as the project was approached as a museum exhibit in book form with an overall view of the city's history. "We tried to do a mix of then and now. It doesn't delve into every issue, but it might whet your appetite and encourage you to learn more about Clayton and how it came to be."


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I'm new to this site but have spent the past few months learning about pizza - the NY Style is what I am most interested in but I dont have the kind of heat needed. I am planning on rigging a round charcoal grill as follows:1. install a LP Burner in the bottom that is adjustable up and down to be able to increase/decrease temp2. install metal shaft upright in the bottom of grill and put a round metal disk on top of that. The stone will sit on top of that.3. Cut a rectangular hole out of the side of the grill where I can insert the pizza onto the grill.4. install a small stone under the hood with a heating element above it to hold some heat for the top.In theory it sounds good but my questions are:1. good idea?2. I am pretty sure i can get the stone to 800 but how hot should the top of the oven be? how can I make that happen?3. Any other issues you see with this?thanks for the help. ive learned so much from coming to this site - hopefully I will be able to give back someday!Joe D
3. Any other issues you see with this?
the problem is that the stone gets too hot while the temperature on thetop side is too low. As a result the bottom burns before the cheese andtop side crust has chance to cook properly.So real challenge is to get the stone to just the right temperature while maintaining enough heat on the top side to cook the top and bottom evenly.
Any pizza I make is better than take out because I made it. It may be the worst pizza ever, but because I made it, it's better.


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Scout Willis Arrested For Drinking Like a Totally Normal Underage Kid
Scout Willis—aka @BougPunk aka Katherine Kelly—continues her flushed-faced descent into celebukidom. 20-year-old Scout was arrested last night for drinking a "Pakistani beer in Union Square." When an officer approached her she produced a fake ID (see: Katherine Kelly), before giving her real name.
This seems kind of like amatoor hour for Scout. I mean, what is she doing knocking back brews and hanging out in Union Square like this is Kids (in the daytime)? Shouldn't she be mainlining the stuff in glow sticks at some Manhattan apartment carved entirely from elephant tusks? I guess they just don't make the Hollywood heiresses like they used to.
[Image via Getty]


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Sherrington: Why Jerry Jones shouldn't throw money at FA WRs Mike Wallace, Wes Welker
Columnist Kevin Sherrington answered questions in a chat Wednesday. Here are some highlights.
Red Headed Step Child ... I asked Mr. George about a mid tier wide receiver entering free agency that he would keep his eyes on. He mentioned Amendola. I thought he's always been an injury prone slot receiver, and that we are pretty good in the slot. I am wondering more about outside guys. Are there any such guys out there that intrigue you?
Kevin Sherrington: Mike Wallace out of Pittsburgh is a nice productive receiver and, in the slot, there's no one better than Wes Welker. But if I'm Jerry Jones, I don't spend my money there. You can find WRs in the draft. You can't find many OL who walk right in and play. He's got to find another OG or OT, and he could use a DT. Maybe Henry Melton, who might be a good fit. I could see adding a safety, too, maybe Buffalo's Jairus Byrd if you don't think Church will be recovered by training camp.
Red Headed Step Child ... We had some really good looks at a wide variety of option offenses run by promising young QBs this year. Is there a verdict for you as to whether this style is fad or future?
Kevin Sherrington: I don't know about the offense, because they do come and go, and the read option can be a little brutal if your QB isn't big enough to take the pounding. But I think the era of the mobile QB is here. Even though Flacco isn't as mobile as Kaepernick, he can still get out of the pocket a little bit. A mobile QB just presents you with so many more options, no pun intended. He doesn't have to be a genius deciphering defenses. And if you're OL is no good, he helps a lot. Like Romo.
Red Headed Step Child ... I know it will never happen, and I am not saying I'd want it to, but... If there were, hypothetically, a trade offer of a first-, second-, and a 25-yr-old mid level pass rusher with upside offered for our beloved and highly esteemed Mr. Ware, don't you have to do it? Where is the line to part with older and still dominant talent?
Kevin Sherrington: There's no question that Ware is on the downside of his career, so I don't think he'd draw as much in return as you'd like. You're better off just riding him out now. He might be much better in a 4-3, where he doesn't have any pass coverage responsibilities. Anthony Spencer could be much better in that role, too, if the Cowboys decide he isn't too small to play DE.