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Manning & Napier, an investment firm with $40.2 billion in assets under management, bought 28 new stocks for their equity portfolio in the first quarter. The largest new stocks are Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR), Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA), Riverbed Tech (RVBD) and Cameron International (NYSE:CAM).
With an annual return of 5.7% since inception, Manning & Napier was the only manager to beat the S&P500 for 10 consecutive years as of January 2009. Last year, the firm missed returns by not emphasizing high dividend-paying stocks, which performed best in 2011. Rather, they selected attractively valued global growth companies that would continue to gain market share despite slow overall U.S. growth and developed countries' economic activity. The positioning remains the same for the environment going forward.
After trading Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) shares for several years, Manning & Napier sold out in the third quarter of 2011. They opened a new position with 13,778,802 shares in the first quarter at an average price of $21 per share, making it 1.6% of their portfolio.
Juniper, a network infrastructure company, saw its stock fall almost in half over the last year as its earnings fell in the first three quarters and was below analysts' expectations. The company faced weaker than expected router demand from service providers in the fourth quarter, particularly in the U.S. and Asia Pacific, due to the weak economy. Revenue from Europe, the Middle East and Africa was up about $40 million.
The company's bigger-picture financials have been strong. It grew revenue at a rate of 18.3% over the last 10 years, and EBITDA at 8.7% over the last five years. Free cash flow has been positive since 2003, and reached a record $720 million in 2011.
Though Juniper expected a weak first quarter due to the macro environment, its long-term demand fundamentals are intact and they have a new product portfolio which could stimulate growth.
The firm initiated a position in Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) with 20,485,590 shares at an average price of $10 per share. Over the last year, the stock has tumbled almost 42%, from a 52-weke high of $18.
Alcoa manages and produces aluminum, which is used in aircraft, automobiles, construction, oil and gas, electronics, and many other industries. Its revenue had been falling annually from 2007 to 2009, and increased from $21 billion in 2010 to $25 billion in 2011. EBITDA for the last three years has been near the lowest in the last ten years, as free cash flow turned positive in 2010 and 2011 after five years in the negative range.
The company's primary challenge was the volatile cost of aluminum. The forward price of aluminum on the London Metal Exchange (LME) dropped dramatically in May from $2,800 to roughly $2,000 per metric ton by December. The company is focused on making money by producing quality products, hoping to capitalize on rising aluminum prices when they rebound.
After closing out its position in Riverbed Tech (RVBD) in the second quarter of 2011 at about $35, Manning & Napier bought 5,162,400 shares of the company when its price fell to about $27 in the first quarter.
Riverbed, which focuses on solutions for the IT industry with a heavy emphasis on the cloud, is another stock the firm bought after its shares fell more than 40% in the last year. Unfortunately, they could have waited slightly longer to get the stock significantly cheaper. Shares plunged 26% on April 20 due to a first-quarter profit decline and lowered sales forecast for 2012.
In the last five years, Riverbed's revenue grew at a rate of 42% annually, and it generated over $1 million in free cash flow in 2010 and 2011. Earnings and EBITDA have grown annually in the last three years as well.
The firm bought 1,658,390 shares of its fourth-largest new holding, Cameron International (NYSE:CAM), at an average price of $54. In the last year, it has declined almost 11% to $49.
Cameron International makes products for oil and gas companies worldwide. The company has produced strong financial results in the last ten years, with revenue growing at a rate of 17.5% over the last ten years, and EBITDA growing at 20.5%. Free cash flow has also been positive, but dropped to a negative $160 million for the first time in the last ten years in 2011.
The company had a temporary setback when fourth-quarter earnings fell 39% due to charges from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. Otherwise, revenues increased 12% for the quarter and 13% for the year, which both represented new highs on record orders. In 2012, the company expects first-quarter earnings of $0.50 to $0.55 per diluted share, increased from $0.40 in the fourth quarter 2011.
See Manning & Napier's updated first-quarter portfolio here.
Manning & Napier, an investment firm with $40.2 billion in assets under management, bought 28 new stocks for their equity portfolio in the first quarter. The largest new stocks are Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR), Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA), Riverbed Tech (RVBD) and Cameron International (NYSE:CAM).


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Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations seem nowhere on the horizon. Construction on Jewish settlements is surging in the West Bank. Hawkish Israeli cabinet ministers are declaring that the two-state solution is no longer an option.
But none of that dampened the festivities Tuesday night at a star studded 90th birthday gala for Israel's best known dove and political celebrity, President Shimon Peres, who helped hatch the first peace talks with the Palestinians 20 years ago and continues to lobby for peace settlements as the country's elder statesman.
Former President Bill Clinton and Barbara Streisand made the trip to Jerusalem to headline the two-hour tribute. Robert DeNiro watched from the second row, and video greetings were played from heads of state of Russia, Germany, France and U.S. President Barack Obama.
The A-list collection of Israeli invitees gathered in eveningwear on a warm late spring night to mingle and munch on passed h'ors doeuvres. The gala, which some Israelis criticized as too lavish, was the kickoff of a two-day World Economic Forum inspired-conference under the auspices of the president entitled "Facing Tomorrow.'' Read More »

subset: commoncrawl


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A View From CUNA Mutual's Jeff Post
Watch the video here.
As with all other credit union vendors, credit unions' pain is CUNA Mutual's pain. Without employment recovery credit unions' income will be flat to down according to Post, and so will credit union vendors' income. Credit Union Times Editor-in-Chief Sarah Snell Cooke recently sat down with CUNA Mutual CEO Jeff Post to discuss the near term for the credit union industry and CUNA Mutual's business.
Sarah Snell Cooke: Welcome everybody here at CUNA Mutual's headquarters in Madison, Wis., with CUNA Mutual CEO Jeff Post. Good morning, Jeff.
Jeff Post: Good morning, Sarah.
SSC: Now I want to talk to you about a lot of different things that are occurring in the credit union movement right now. One thing in particular-and this applies to every business-is that we're all in the budget season and planning, and so: what is on the pipeline for CUNA Mutual?
JP: From a budget standpoint, we sure understand it's a tough environment out there. It's a tough environment for credit unions; it's a tough environment for us; it's a tough environment for every financial services company. We believe next year our revenues will be flat to down, so our expenses will also be flat to down. We have a board meeting in November where we'll be sharing our revenue projections, and clearly the amount of top-line change is really going to be dependent on whether or not we see any economic recovery, because so much of our top-line revenue comes out of the member side with our MemberCONNECT products. For consumers to start spending again is really the key variable that we're looking at.
SSC: What do you see as the top accomplishments of CUNA Mutual in the last year?
JP: The fact of the matter is, what we're proud of is we're still here. I mean anybody that came through the '07-'08-'09 timeframe, from a financial services company standpoint, and is still strong, is a real accomplishment. Our capital levels are right around-in some cases even a little bit above-where they were at the beginning of the recession. It sounds a little bit strange, but a lot of our peers aren't here anymore, and I remind my folks that while our results are good, given today's environment, a lot of our customers are still struggling and we need to find new ways to help them generate revenue and keep their expenses down.
SSC: Right. As you mentioned, a lot of your clients are struggling. Part of that is NCUA assessments. How has that affected your business?
JP: As the credit union business goes, so does our business. So the fact of the matter is while we don't get assessed, obviously it has an impact on our business because the healthier our customers are, the healthier our business is. We've been working with CUNA on doing an independent review of the legacy assets that we were asked to do by the large credit union group a while back. So what we are hoping to do is validate for credit unions what the likely losses are out of that portfolio. And again, we're working with CUNA and NCUA to do that. So hopefully, if anything, as it relates to the corporate crisis, we'll at least try to put some certainty in place for credit union CEOs.
SSC: Also, larger than the corporate credit union crisis, yet linked, is the general economy. How do you foresee that shaking out in the next year or two?
JP: I wish I could be optimistic about it, Sarah, to be frank. I'm sure you read the headlines in the paper [recently] that the recession's over but the pain persists. I believe you can't have a jobless recovery. I think we've got to get our hands around employment in this country. A lot of people talk about employment but it can't be underemployment. Just working in underpaying jobs is probably not the answer. I think you need to dig deeper than just the employment numbers. We continue-and I know credit unions especially in the most affected states-continue to be concerned about housing prices, and that doesn't look like it's going to recover anytime soon. In fact, I think some of the noted experts are saying that housing prices could go down for another three years. Bottom line: everything we look at, at best is neutral, maybe neutral to negative, so we actually think there's probably a fairly long road back here.
SSC: And in your business-insurance and investments-how does that play into credit unions being able to maybe make up some of those funds? Where are the cost savings in offering these types of services, as well as the noninterest income opportunities?
JP: From a CUNA Mutual standpoint, we are really about protecting their balance sheets and providing them their own investment products and income opportunities. Probably the greatest opportunity we've seen credit unions taking advantage of is our MemberCONNECT program. I think we have about 40 million members in the MemberCONNECT program. It's a very turnkey program for credit unions. We've been open for longer-term credit union investments for quite a while. We were quiet about it because we didn't want to compete against the corporates, but we had a lot of credit unions come to us and say, "Look, you are long-term investors. Can you help us?" And we've done that. That's another place where, to the extent there's a fair amount of liquidity in a credit union, and they're looking to invest that liquidity for a greater-than-12-month period, that we've added significant dollars to credit unions' income over the last few years. Again, a very tailored program-credit unions choose the amount of risk they want and the duration and we kind of do the rest.
SSC: You mentioned the fallout of the corporate credit unions, and that's had a huge effect on the credit union industry, from a regulatory aspect, income, bottom-line... What scares you most about what is happening as a result of the corporate meltdown?
JP: What scares me the most is the sheer amount of assessments, because obviously 15 basis points a year, approximately, is a huge drain on credit unions' income. The biggest concern I have is just simply the amount of loss within those legacy portfolios. That's my No. 1 concern. I think if I were a credit union CEO, especially a smaller credit union CEO, I would be concerned about processing and the like. Although one of the credit union system's huge strengths is its ability to cooperate-in fact, I talked to Debbie Matz [and] I said, "We're ready to help in any way. We can help." And I think the credit union system will come together and find a solution.
SSC: One of the byproducts of the corporate meltdown is the issue of director indemnification, and the way NCUA has handled the situation with the boards of directors there. Do you think that could have a chilling effect on volunteer boards' willingness to serve?
JP: I think the answer to that is yes. We're trying to work with the NCUA through their opinion time period to try to help them understand the difference between volunteer boards and nonvolunteer boards, while I surely respect the NCUA's desire to ensure that the board members have fiduciary responsibilities.
SSC: The agency has also put out a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding board member education requirements. What do you think should be included in minimum requirements, if at all?
JP: I don't think you need "education requirements" because I think people get educated many different ways throughout their life. I think at a minimum board members should understand financial institutions, should understand what the credit union stands for and how it delivers its products. I sit on a number of different boards, and I will guarantee you that in some of the discussions on those boards, I add very little value, because I don't have the experience in that realm. There are other places where I probably add more value than others, because quite frankly I've had that experience. So I think to necessarily put down a list of ten items and say you've got to check the box of all ten to be a board member kind of misses the point.
SSC: I think that diversification is good in any way you can achieve it on the board, and one of the big topics of conversation among credit unions is recruiting younger directors for credit unions, as well as younger employees and younger members. What is credit unions' big "in" to that Gen Y focus, and how are they achieving it, and are they doing all they can to accomplish that?
JP: Should the Gen Y be on the board, or should the Gen Y be in a marketing department? Again, part of being on a board is lifetime experiences, and you can accomplish it many different ways to get access to those Gen Y folks. They don't need to be board members. They could be if they have the requisite experience, but just being Gen Y isn't enough of a reason to put somebody on a board.
SSC: At the other end of the spectrum, for the boomers, it seems there is a huge opportunity there for credit unions with transfer of wealth as the parents of the boomers are aging, as well as great lending opportunities with their Gen Y children or Gen X children. What are your thoughts on how credit unions can attract more of this market as well?
JP: I agree with you it's a great opportunity. The question is how do you get at the opportunity. You are at an interesting point in time where the faith in the traditional large financial institutions in this country is at an all-time low. So what better time to take advantage of it? I surely visit credit unions every year that have a very robust broker-dealer and are very good at getting assets to invest for members. What I've seen as I've gone out and visited those credit unions and those CEOs is there's not one key to success. But it's like any other business within the credit union-you've got to invest in it, you've got to have the right people in place, and you eventually build the expertise and the view from your members that you are in fact a trusted adviser.
SSC: And I would think the grassroots feel of the credit union industry would resonate well with those boomers who grew up in the '60s and '70s.
JP: And I think it resonates even better today.
SSC: Thank you very much for your time, Jeff. I appreciate it.


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Duval Dirty Bike Olympics
Jacksonville's gettin down and dirty as the Skidmarks bring the bike games weekend everyone has been looking for. The games will be held at multiple locations in Jacksonville's urban core over a 3 day period. Early registration for the Polo Tournament, Sprint Races, Crit Race, Fixed Freestyle Trick Competition, and Bike Repair Relay are encouraged (click HERE to register). The registration for the rest of the events will be open on Friday, March 23th from 4pm-8pm at Murray Hill Park, and will continue on Saturday March 24th from 10am-10pm at Fishweir Park.
Different events will take place at different places and times. A schedule of the weekends events will be out in February and will include a map of race routes and Olympic event locations, times, and registration fees & deadlines.


text: I thought that c++ you used to write out the whole program, then you use Visual C++ to make a GUI for that program. But I've read you can make programs with Visual C++ alone. I'm new at this, and probally don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm willing to learn.


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Apple or hate it, it's impossible to deny that Apple knows how to
make a hit product. The company currently has the largest
market cap of any tech company in the world. After
returning from medical leave Apple CEO Steve Jobs returned swinging
for the fences, announcing the
iPad tablet computer in January. The iPad launched in Wi-Fi
form on April 3 (U.S.), in 3G
form on April 30 (U.S.), and finally in nine more
countries on
May 28.Apple quickly blazed through sales of 1
million and 2
million units, leading some analysts to predict it could
sell as many as 8
million units this year.It certainly looks like
that's a strong possibility, considering that Apple just sold its 3
millionth iPad on Monday, only 80 days after the device's
launch. Steve Jobs cheered the news, stating, "People are
loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives. We're
working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more
people around the world, including those in nine more countries next
month."With the iPad, the tablet has become a hot
new field of computing, which many say could rival netbooks
or even traditional PCs. After Apple's success many companies
have scrambled
to release tablets, but none of them have made it to market in
the U.S. yet.What makes the sales of the iPad particularly
impressive is that they were generated during the traditionally weak
summer months. Between back-to-school shopping and the holiday
season, Apple can anticipate sales to possibly rise in the near
term.Given this, we would raise the previous analyst
estimates and actually estimate that Apple will sell between 9
million and 11 million iPads this year.


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Celebrate Romance with Valentine's Day Dinner in Atwater on Gore Creek
An edible journey for the senses....
The chefs at Atwater on Gore Creek invite you to join them on an edible journey designed to elevate your dining experience in the Vail Valley. Savor creative Colorado cuisine exquisitely paired with an eclectic list of craft beers that engage all the senses with their complex ingredients, aromatic flavors, and passionate presentations. Your table awaits
They say there is no better way to a man (or woman's) heart than through the stomach, and the culinary team at Atwater couldn't agree more. Celebrate romance in Vail and partake in our indulgent a la carte raw bar featuring sushi, sashimi, rolls, plus a variety of fresh shucked oysters, crab, lobster, jumbo shrimp and smoked salmon. A rose for the lady plus 25% off all split bottles of sparkling wine add the final touch.
- Vail Valentine's Dinner at Atwater on Gore Creek
- Thursday, February 14, 2012
- Special raw bar + Atwater's menu of authentic Colorado grill entrees
- A rose for the lady
- 25% off all split bottles of sparkling wine
Special Valentine's Day Dessert: Decadent chocolate hazelnut mousse, served with crystalized rose petals and violets, sweetheart truffle and strawberry sauce
To see our Vail restaurant's menu, check out Atwater's dinner menu.
Call 970-479-7014 for reservations or reserve online.


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WASHINGTON -- In its latest study prepared for Congress, regarding U.S. coinage management, the Government Accountability Office reported that $1.4 billion in $1 coins are held in Federal Reserve Banks -- enough to meet demand for the next 40 years. In fact, more than half of all $1 coins ever minted are in government vaults.
In 2012, the number of $1 coins returned to Reserve Banks exceeded the number of $1 coins paid out. According to the GAO, the audit and investigative arm of Congress, more businesses returned the underused high-denomination coins than asked for them, so the government's stockpile grew.
The GAO in late November released its latest report with the fitting title, "U.S. Currency: Coin Inventory Management Needs Better Performance Information." The report looks at the history of the $1 presidential coin program, from its inception in Congress in 2005 through the coin's initial distribution in 2007, to when the Mint stopped producing them in 2011. | DOWNLOAD THE STUDY
Despite the huge stockpile, coin advocates say obtaining $1 coins is difficult. The Dollar Coin Alliance, which consists of vending, foodservice, carwash, transit and mining interests, told the GAO that commercial and public access to the $1 coin is limited, and that some DCA members have had difficulty obtaining the coins from depository institutions.
In contrast, representatives of Reserve Banks, depository institutions, coin terminal operations and the vending industry who were interviewed by GAO said $1 coins are readily available to the public. They do not have problems obtaining $1 coins or supplying them to their customers, the GAO said, but they emphasized that there is low public demand for $1 coins. Transit agencies and vending operators make the most requests for coins. Overall, $1 coin deposits are made regularly, but withdrawals are rare.
Once again, the GAO noted that shifting American public opinion in favor of $1 coins could be achieved by eliminating $1 notes. The GAO report observed that in Canada and the United Kingdom, public resistance to coins disappeared within years when there was "no alternative to the note" -- a case the office has made before.
The Reserve Banks are responsible for ensuring the efficient distribution and circulation of coins, including the $1 coin, which co-circulates with the $1 note. Legislation has been introduced in Congress to eliminate the $1 note and replace it with the $1 coin. In 2012, the GAO reported that the federal government would receive $4.4 billion net benefits over 30 years (about $150 million annually) if Congress decided to replace the $1 note with the $1 coin.
GAO's latest savings estimate is lower than its previous analyses, in part, because the life of the $1 note has increased. The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 requires the Federal Reserve and the Secretary of the Treasury to assess and submit an annual report to the Congress on the obstacles to the efficient and timely circulation of $1 coins, among other things. As GAO had previously found, while Congress sought to increase the use of $1 coins in recent years, circulation has remained limited, in part because the $1 note has remained in circulation.
A new Senate bill introduced in June by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) -- the Currency Optimization, Innovation and National Savings Act (S. 1105) -- seeks to improve circulation of the $1 coin. However, GovTrack.us gives the bill only a 1% chance of making it out of committee.
The Dollar Coin Alliance's latest economic study -- "Time for Change: Modernizing to the Dollar Coin Saves Taxpayers Billions" by Aaron Klein, a former Treasury Department official -- puts the budget savings, if the $1 coin replaces its paper equivalent, at $13.8 billion over 30 years (about $460 million annually), three times the GAO estimate. DOWNLOAD THE DCA REPORT
When it decided to stop production of $1 coins two years ago, the Treasury Department said, "Minting $1 coins that ultimately end up sitting in Federal Reserve Bank vaults -- and serve no useful purpose for businesses, financial institutions and consumers -- is simply not a prudent use of taxpayer resources."
So the government has shunned the $1 coin, but it continues to mint copper pennies, which are largely zinc, and which now cost 5¢ to 6¢ to produce, and it mints nickels, which cost 9¢ to 11¢.
$1 Coins Would Initially Cost More Than $1 Bills: New GAO Report
GAO Study Reaffirms $1 Coin's Benefit, Note's Cost To Government
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FUNDRAISERS . . . The Menlo Park Legends' baseball team will host a fundraising barbeque and other activities on Sunday at Nealon Park in Menlo Park from 5-10 p.m. The evening will feature dinner, music by the Windy Hill Bluegrass Band, baseball- inspired carnival games, music, a home-run derby with Legends players, autograph signing, a balloon raffle and a silent auction. A pickup-style softball game will end the night. The Legends are still accepting contributions to the raffle/silent auction. For any questions about donations, contact Ali at firstname.lastname@example.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit Legends Village, which was created to provide underprivileged children in the surrounding areas (Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City) free camps, clinics, a mentor program and a chance to learn the game of baseball. Cost for the evening is $10/adult, $5 kids/campers (12 and under) and $25/ family (up to 5). Price includes dinner, games and entertainment . . . The Grizzlies, a local boys' lacrosse club in Menlo Park/Atherton, will host an outdoor movie night (Crooked Arrows will be screened) on July 17 at Las Lomitas School at 8:15 p.m. The family package is $10 and includes parents and up to three siblings while all individuals are $7.50. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Grizzlies' club, which has grown from 70 to 140 boys (ages 5 to 14). For more information, go to www.menloathertonlacrosse.com.
SIGNUPS . . . The Mountain View Marauders have begun registration for the upcoming season. Football players between 7-15 years of age are eligible while cheerleading ages are from 9-15. The next signup will be July 19 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Mountain View Recreation Center, 201 S. Rengstorff. Players can get a registration form on the program's web site at www.mvmarauders.com. Other instructions for signing up are listed on the site. Other signup dates are: Monday, July 23 from 6:30-8 p.m. (Room 2) and Thursday, July 26 from 6:30-8 p.m. (Room 2). The football teams draw players from the immediate area, including Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills.
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So we all knew Amare was great at pick and roll when he operated with Nash (and MDA) in Phoenix. It would be great if that was an option for us now, but it seems like it isn't.
It isn't that we're not running the PnR per se, but rather that it sucks for some reason. Whenever I see us running it, it looks slow and almost never results in an open look for anyone. In fact what I see most often when we run the PnR is that neither the picker or the pickee (yeah, I need some better terms for that) gets open at all, and we often just end up where we were before we ran it, albeit with less time on the shot clock.
So given that we have 2/3 of the formula that led to so much success in PHX, does our problem lie at PG? I'd understand if Amare was getting open and our PG couldn't find him, but it's not even like that's the case. Or is it that we don't have a PG that commands enough respect to draw attention in a PnR scenario?
What would you think about a PnR system incorporating Melo and Stat? Stat sets the pick and Melo with the ball. Coming out of it, both guys can hit the mid-range J or drive in with force, meaning that you can not ignore either one (which often means one will be ignored while the other is given attention).
Any basketball tacticians out there care to comment? I'm just a regular guy who watches basketball.


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I don't have any previous programming experience, but I want to learn to program games with DirectX. How/where would I start to do this? A link to a tut would be great! I appreciate it.
BTW Garfield rules!!!!
I don't have any previous programming experience, but I want to learn to program games with DirectX. How/where would I start to do this? A link to a tut would be great! I appreciate it.
BTW Garfield rules!!!!
You are aiming to high, dont worry about directX right now, just concentrate on programming something.
Im sure some of the stuff at this site will get you started programming.
What language(s) do you suggest Steel to learn? C? That seems like the logical thing to learn before the DirectX API. Isn't it built off of that?
1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette
ya my friend garfield says its good to get into game programming..id love to..plz help!
Eber Kain: Do you agree that Steel should start with C? That would be the best thing to do, in my opinion, to get him started, then he can go off into DirectX.
Strike_Steel: I have a "Practical C Programming" book that I can lend you. It is pretty good. It is what I learned off of. I'll give that to you, you read it, and if you don't understand something, then I can explain it.
1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette
Almost all serious game programming is done with C/C++, so yes he should start there. C is not the easiest launguage to learn.
I learned the synax from makeing a tribes mod, and i learned the launguage from the first few chapters of "Teach yourself Borland C++ Builder". The rest of what i know came from online tutorials.
I have links to the best stuff on my links page
I don't think Steel will have too much of a problem with C. He's pretty smart and we are great friends so if he's not understanding something, I'll be more than happy to help him out. So, he'll have to start with C.
So, Eber, your website is this:
I'll check it out. And Steel, goto www.sunlightd.com, then have a DirectX tutorial for you to take a look at. Also go to Eber's site and check out his links.
1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette
If you're going to go with DirectX, I'd suggest learning C++.
While it is possible just to use C, there are many "helpful" things that you can only use with C++. (Just makes the job a little easier).
Programming DirectX (more specifically DirectGraphics) is a little confusing at first but its really not that bad once you get going.
However, if you have no programming experience, then I must also agree that you are shooting VERY high.
I remember buying a "game programming starter kit" when I first started programming. It had "everything you need to become a game programmer". (except the ability to actually program)
Before you start trying to make games, learn the language first. It's going to make it a lot easier. Plus, you'll be needing to learn some of the Windows API. So this isn't a small task.
ok thx guys..can u list some links or places where i can leanr...garfield ill go there...!
Do DirectX and the Win32 API work together? So, you actually have a Win API programming base for the program, and then you use the DirectX API inside of that? That's slightly confusing to me.
1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette
Win32 is needed to interface with the windows OS. to create windows and stuff.
DirectX can be used to get user input from keyboard, mouse, joysticks etc....
Direct3D is used to draw 3d Graphics to the screen, alternitaves to D3D are Allegro and OpenGL.
So, is Direct3D part of DirectX? I understand what you mean by the input, etc. Where would you get the API?
1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette
either buy a msdn membership and have the SDK's sent to you or go to msdn site and download the SDK's that you need.
Free the weed!! Class B to class C is not good enough!!
And the FAQ is here :- http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/smartfaq.cgi
for DirecX (DirectInput, DirectSound, DirectDraw, Direct3D, etc....) you need to download an SDK over 100 megs I believe. If you wanted to do OpenGL then you already have what you need.
Don't get too excited about programming a game just yet. Take a deep breath and get ready for work before fun. I'm not trying to discourage you or anything, but you're going to have to work at a language before you try something like DirectX or OpenGL. Hell, I've been learning C/C++ for about 20 months, and i still don't think I have enough experiance to go into that. But don't give up! It may be difficult at first, but once you learn a language, you'll never forget it
I know HTML, Java, JavaScript, XML, C/C++, some Assembly, Z80 basic, and some VB. Want to know what got me started on programming about 4 years ago? The TI-83! Yep, the little (but expensive) calculators. With their compilers and language (Z80 Basic), I slowly learned how to make things. I advanced from plain text-based games, to full, graphical, in-depth, multiplayer RPGs and games. I was able to utilize the link port and make multiplayer options and games that looked as if they were programmed by a professional in Assembly.
All it takes is a little time and a little pratice here and there to make it possible. there is just one thing: DONT GIVE UP!
*You cannot fail--it is only a delay to your success.
"The only thing you can count on is uncertainty."
Must I explain myself futher?


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Phillies Offense Gone Into Hiding Again
So besides a valiant effort by Jayson Werth, can anyone tell me where the bats have gone? Hiding under a rock somewhere, perhaps? Trapped under a heavy object and they can't get out? Can we hire a detective to go solve the mystery? I hear Scooby-Doo is not too busy these days…let's put him on the case! He works pretty cheap…just toss him a Philly cheese steak and he'll be happy to start sniffing around for us J Only 4 hits in last night's game and then 10 hits tonight (in 12 innings), including the amazing 2 run homer by Jayson Werth, which temporarily tied up the game and gave the Phillies a shot at redemption.
However, tonight the Mets completed the total deconstruction of the Phillies bullpen. The only "virgins" left in the pen after last night's horrid attack were Brad Lidge and Chad Durbin, who appeared untouchable. Not so, I am afraid. Both gave up runs today; Lidge gave up one and Durbin gave up two on a 2 run homer in the 12th inning to un-tie the game and give the Mets back the lead. But you really can't complain about that. The pitch Durbin made was low and out of the zone and Fernando Tatis just reached down and golfed it out of the park. Besides that, both Durbin and Lidge have been outstanding all year and can't be expected to perform miracles every night. Our offense should be expected to get hits in key situations, and this, they have not done.
So I say, Scooby Dooby-Doo, where are you? We need some help from you now! Won't you please, please find the bats? I promise to throw in extra cheese with that Philly steak! And hey, just a suggestion for Charlie Manuel – STOP taking Pat Burrell out of the game! This continues to hurt the team late into games and almost never helps on the base path! Today, he replaced him with Geoff Jenkins in a bases loaded situation with 2 outs. First off, Jenkins runs almost as well as Burrell! DUH! Second, the bases are loaded! Aren't we more concerned with the runners on 2nd and 3rd? Why waste Burrell's bat? We REALLY could have used him later in the game, but instead, we were subjected to watching Jenkins do NOTHING at the plate, as usual. You cannot use his defense as an excuse as Burrell is the only Phillie who has NOT committed an error ALL year! SOOOOOOO…leave him in there!
Speaking of Pat, remember to keep voting! Here is the link for you….let's get Pat to the All-Star game; we have until Thursday at 5pm! Get those fingers clicking people!


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Friedman: Ron Rosenbaum Will Save The Internet
Marketwatch media critic Jon Friedman's MEDIA WEB QUESTION OF THE DAY: "Who is your favorite writer on the Internet?" Ours is MarketWatch media critic Jon Friedman! Today he wants to introduce you to 61-year-old Ron Rosenbaum, who, writing at Washington Post-owned internet magazine of conventional wisdom plus occasional contrarianism Slate, "represent[s] a turning point in the evolution of online journalism." Finally, these new-fangled internet websites are hiring ultra-established, book-writin' old white dudes.
Friedman hopes Rosenbaum will "help class up the Internet, which is home to so much nonsense. (For a prime example, check out some bloggers' shameful rumor-mongering about actor Heath Ledger's death this week.)" Ha! Take that, you Mary-Kate Olsen rumor-mongering Internet hooligans at the New York Times city desk!
We do like Rosenbaum's writing, but he's hardly our favorite Internet writer. Has he ever written a sentence as dryly, subtlely hilarious as this? "As Rosenbaum has shown by tackling such unpopular subjects as Hitler, a journalist doesn't have to yell or preen or act like Mike Wallace on steroids to appear courageous." Finally, a writer willing to take on that sorely underreported "Hitler" fellow!


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HOUSTON - It's bigger than a football field. Its walls are stacked high with goodies and you can find its beaver logo on almost anything you can imagine. But just follow travelers when they enter a Buc-ee's store and you'll find the one reason that likely gets them in the door -- the restroom.
"They're clean," said one male customer. "They have disinfectant. The paper towels work."
"They're just clean and awesome and they have lights to tell you when you can go in," a female customer said. "It's just a woman's dream."
KPRC Local 2 traveled to the largest mega-convenience store in Texas. It's the 68,000 square-foot Buc-ee's in New Braunfels, on Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin. General Manager Dan Parkinson said consistently clean bathrooms are the center of a business model that's making Buc-ee's boom across the state.
"We're on a quest to take over the world, one clean restroom at a time," Parkinson said. "Customers see that sign and they know that waiting inside for them are clean restrooms, friendly staff and awesome products. All you have to do to validate that is go inside anywhere else."
Buc-ee's all started in Lake Jackson when two different convenience store owners decided to merge. The name "Buc-ee" came from one of the owner's childhood dog. There are now 28 Buc-ee's stores across Texas. Buc-ee's large travel centers are located on almost every freeway road trip out of Houston.
"From the outside, I thought this was a Sam's Club or Costco or something," said a traveler from Minnesota. "This is a gas station! It's unbelievable."
Buc-ee's is the convenience store experience on steroids. Outside, it has 60 gas pumps. Inside, there are 80 bathroom stalls.
The store shelves are loaded with everything from barbecue to candy to kolaches. There's the great wall of popcorn next to the great wall of candy. Both walls filled with hundreds of different kinds of popcorn and candy. You'll find one-of-a-kind specialties everywhere across the store.
Of all the stuff you can buy, fan-favorite Beaver Nuggets are the best-selling item.
"It's an extruded corn product that is covered in brown sugar," Parkinson said. "It's full of highly-addictive substances."
It's seems anything with the famous Buc-ee's beaver logo has become addictive, too. Every imaginable piece of beaver logo merchandise fills up almost 25 percent of the store.
"I don't know what's caused all of that or what's created that buzz," said Parkinson. "I don't think we've seen any tattoos yet, but I think we're headed in that direction."
Buc-ee's just completed a large travel store in Bastrop. Crews are currently building two more stores in Waller and Texas City.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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OCEAN CITY – Apparently, change is not the type of thing that some Boardwalk merchants believe in, as a summer of tough times and new rules has left some storeowners fit to be tied.
A week after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the town of Ocean City came to a verbal agreement to no longer enforce and eventually amend the town law that prohibited any amplification used by street performers, merchants shot back, claiming that they are being treated unfairly and that all regulations are being directed at them.
"The concern from the merchants is that this isn't fair and they feel as though they've been targeted this year," said Boardwalk Development Association (BDA) President Vicki Barrett, who acted as a vocal liason for a handful of merchants at Monday's council meeting. "They feel that the restrictions that have been made on the Boardwalk are way to restrictive for them to run their businesses and this change effects them."
The argument seems to stem from a new town ordinance that applies to outdoor display guidelines for Boardwalk stores, requiring them to have their amplified speakers turned into their store rather than project sound out onto the public Boardwalk.
According to Barrett, merchants feel that the street performers being allowed to use small amplifiers or battery operated CD players for their personal acts, creates an unfair or un-level playing field.
"Personally, I think that we need those people up on the Boardwalk adding to the culture and the atmosphere because they have as much right to be there as a T-shirt shop, but when you talk to people, they only see their own side of the argument sometimes," Barrett said.
Prior to the summer season, after months of deliberation and years of apparent planning, the town passed a new outdoor display guideline ordinance, which laid out new rules for the allowable layout for displaying merchandise outside the store, while trying to create an across-the-board improvement of enforcement to ensure that everyone was obeying the new rules.
According to Barrett, two stores have lost their outdoor display privileges this summer for a week each after violating the town's new display guidelines.
"Enforcement was the biggest talking point with these new rules, and we knew if we could enforce it better, we could make things better little by little," said Barrett. "We are just trying to take baby steps cause we can't make all the changes we need to in one season."
The amplification issue is just one of many for Boardwalk shops, who have dealt with some bad public relations in June after several violent episodes resulting in arrests, the proliferation of salvia in many shops and rumors of explicit music and loud noises coming from a handful of storefronts.
"We are clinging to our family image in Ocean City, and we are trying to fight for our livelihoods to keep it," said Councilwoman and Boardwalk shop owner Margaret Pillas. "Once that bad language or type of behavior takes over a place, then with it comes a whole different lifestyle and we don't want that."
Pillas said that the new ordinance might be a bit confusing to some merchants, as in the instance of the amplified speakers being required to be turned to the interior of the store, it is only required north of 3rd Street.
"I really think that they are trying to push the envelope a little bit because they feel as though so many changes are being made this year, and it's always hard when in a transitional phase like we are now," she said.
Barrett said that the new outdoor display ordinance is starting to show signs of its effectiveness and praised the "vast majority" of storeowners for making the Boardwalk a cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing place.
"I looked at some pictures from two years ago when we started this process and compared them to some pictures I took last weekend, and it's absolutely amazing how much better everything looks," said Barrett. "The mayor [Rick Meehan] even told me a few weeks ago that he's had almost no complaints about the Boardwalk this year, when, as he says, his bucket is usually full by now."
Members of council assured Barrett on Monday night that the amplification on the Boardwalk for buskers and for merchants will be monitored by the town's various noise ordinances.
"Most of their amplifiers are going to be battery powered and very small, probably only 15 watts," said Council President Joe Mitrecic. "I don't think that the sound they are going to be creating is going to be like the volume in some of these stores."
Business might not be at an all-time high, or even morale for that matter, but in a year when everyone is looking for a positive, especially on the Boardwalk, the most notable plus for the tight-knit business community is the overall improvement of its aesthetics.
Whether the look of the Boardwalk has improved in lieu of the changes or despite them, Barrett says that's a thing that they'll look at when looking at phase two of the improvement plan in the fall.


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looks like somebody's not satisfied by the result so far
Magic Johnson doesn't like what he sees from the Los Angeles Lakers, and he decided to speak up about it Saturday.
"I think the Lakers had a mind-set that was disrespectful to the Pistons. They thought it was going to be easy. That is not the case," Johnson said. "Unless they come out and play very hard, with the same level of intensity as the Pistons, this series will be over."
"I am angry. You have to compete. And we're not competing," he said. "You can just see the Lakers' frustration. No one is welcoming anyone to the bench. Guys are sitting there, wandering off into the crowd, defeated. We've got to get that look off our faces and play basketball the way it's supposed to be played. If not, the series won't get back to Los Angeles."
"I have eight rings and I want nine," Johnson said. "My anger is that we haven't competed in this series. I don't know what's going on. I don't know what the mind-set is. But this is just unacceptable."
"Gary Payton is 35 years old and isn't the same Gary Payton he was 10 years ago. He has to accept that," Johnson said. "Gary Payton has had a lot of great, wide-open looks and hasn't knocked them down. That doesn't change if you're in the triangle or a 1-4 or what. Wide-open looks are wide-open looks. He shot an airball just the other day, wide-open. Hell, nobody was 10 feet from him.
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Happy Hour: Patron Red Carpet
When you say "Red Carpet," most people probably think of fantastic frocks and celebrity smiles. Not the folks at Patron. For them the phrase "Red Carpet" has a completely different meaning. To them it means a lavish raspberry red tequila drink coated in edible gold. The specialty drink is called the Patron Red Carpet, and four thousand of them will be served at this year's Governors Ball. If you'd like to make that four thousand and one, get the recipe — including a video on how to make one at home — when you
Note: This recipe includes a gold sugar rim. They are actually going to be using edible gold, but you can just color yours with a bit of food coloring paste.
Patron Red Carpet
From Patron
Makes 1 cocktail.
1/2 oz Patrón Silver Tequila
1/2 oz Patrón Citrónge Orange Liqueur
Fresh raspberry juice
Dash organic cranberry juice
Fresh lime juice
Gold sugar rim
Orange wedge dipped in gold sugar for garnish
Splash of grenadine
- Wet the rim of a cocktail glass using an orange or lime wedge.
- Rim with gold sugar, shake off excess sugar and set aside.
- Pour the liquid ingredients — minus the grenadine — into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into the prepared cocktail glass.
- Add a splash of grenadine.
- Garnish with an orange wedge dipped in gold sugar.


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I closed down ZA and wanted to restart it. On my programs menu, it was listed but there was no actual program inside. I went to Program Files and found an entry for "zonealarm_extreme_security" but inside was only one file that said "ConduitSilentUninstaller".
I need to find the .exe file for the program, so that I can put it back into my program files.
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security version: 10.0.246.000
vsmon version: 10.0.246.000
Driver version: 10.0.246.000
Anti-virus engine version: 126.96.36.199
Anti-virus signature DAT file version: 1058017280
AntiSpam version: 22.214.171.12471
ZoneAlarm Browser Security: 1.5.311.0
ZoneAlarm ForceField Spyware Scanner: 126.96.36.199
ZoneAlarm ForceField Anti-Phishing Database: 220.127.116.11
ZoneAlarm ForceField Spyware Sites Database: 04.155


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Just saying, I've never been on an RP site like this so if I screw something up please tell me. Help the noobs!!
Basic Information
Name: Satchi Zurake
Nickname: N/A
Gender: Male
Age: 10
Clan: No significant clan
Looks: Golden Brown hair that falls down to about the eyebrows, blue eyes, light colored skin, about 4'9 in height. Wears a long sleeve mesh shirt underneath a regular v-neck shirt. Standard pants (similar to those of Kiba) with ninja sandals. Sword across his back, mid-sized ninja type blade.
Personality: Usually friendly, though in battle has a very antagonistic attitude toward his opponent, loving to provoke them. On the inside, however, he has a very analytical nature. He is rather intelligent, and very observant of peoples characteristics and mannerisms. He is also highly capable of understanding the mechanics behind complicated jutsu (performing these is a totally different matter). He loves to put himself in challenging situations to test his abilities and see how far he can push himself. He is known to have a rather nasty passive-aggressive attitude toward anyone who annoys him.
Village Info.
Village of Birth: N/a
Village of Alliance: Hidden Leaf
Rank//Chakra Info.
Ninja Rank: Genin
Specialty: Ninjutsu, Strategy
Elements: Lightning
Your ninjutsu:
Basic Academy taught techniques- Transformation, Substitution, Escape, Etc.
Basic sword abilities
(Idk what stipulations there are on summonings, so if this is incorrect just tell me and ill fix it.)
Summoning-Snakes, although no giant ones due to lack of chakra to do so at such a young age. Usually uses a small Ribbon-snake like summoning that hides in his shirt around his neck. Serves as genjutsu protection and in some cases for tracking.
Background Info.
(Is it okay if I list him as a member of a clan as story only? With no such abilities reflecting ties to the clan? If not, please tell me and I'll correct this.)
Satchi was born into the main branch of a very strict clan. The Zurake clan, though not very well known, had produced some of the most lethal assassins in the 5 ninja nations. Satchi, being the second of two children, lived in the shadow of his natural-born-protégé sister, Sensa. He was trained in the ninja academy of their clan, and though he far surpassed his classmates, he was still worlds behind his sister in skill. Their mother, desperate to try and give her son an edge, even taught him the summoning jutsu, through which he entered into a summoning contract with the Snakes of Ryuuchi cave. Unable to prove his worth to his father, he was deemed unworthy of being trained under the clan and was exiled to join the ranks of the Leaf Village after an agreement with several of the villages officials. He was not part of the organized system, however, having entered the village as a Genin and thus not being tested with the rest of the students. He hopes that one day, he can return to the clan and prove his worth to his father. It is clear, however, that he has very dark feelings on the subject and something unsettling seems to be visible in his eyes.
Theme Song and Background Music:
Like I said before I hope this is correct. If anything is wrong please correct it.


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EL CERRITO — The City Council heard presentations from an innovative school writing program and a Marin County green energy nonprofit Tuesday evening and honored an El Cerrito native who has become a "NewsPoet" on National Public Radio.
Robert Menzimer of the Writer/Coach Connection asked the council for $2,500 to help maintain his program at Portola Middle School at the same level as last year.
The mostly volunteer organization receives funding from school districts and from grants and private contributions but has never received money from a city.
Writer/Coach Connection places volunteer writing coaches in the schools to work one-on-one with students and supplement the instruction they receive in their English classes.
Volunteers at Portola have raised about $2,000 this year, and the West Contra Costa school district is providing $10,000, leaving the program about $2,500 short of what it received in the 2011-12 school year.
"We're working to help students write effectively and think critically," Menzimer told the council. "We'll all pay the price for the degradation of writing and critical thinking skills."
Menzimer was backed by six adult volunteers in the program, which is also offered in three other East Bay school districts, including Albany.
"From a homeowner perspective, $2,500 is a good investment for the money," said Lynda Frank, a volunteer at Portola and parent of a student at El Cerrito High.
Councilwoman Rebecca Benassini said she backs Menzimer's effort, but she acknowledged that because of budget constraints, the city needs to be careful making piecemeal grants to any organization.
"This is a unique and critical time (for the city budget), where city employees have given up a lot (in concessions)," Benassini said. "There is a lack of a competitive grant program, but this may be a good time to make an exception."
Benassini and Menzimer both emphasized that even a small amount of city support could go a long way to leverage more grants from nonprofits.
The council agreed to consider the grant as an action item at a later meeting.
Later, Dawn Weisz of Marin Clean Energy, a joint powers authority in Marin County, described how it is offering energy customers the opportunity to buy electric power from 50 percent or 100 percent renewable sources, compared with about 20 percent from PG&E.
Marin Clean Energy buys power from wind, biomass, biofuel, hydro and solar energy producers, mostly in California, and resells it to its customers at rates that are competitive with PG&E, Weisz said.
The 10-year-old nonprofit has 95,000 customers in Marin and signed an agreement in June to sell power to customers in Richmond.
El Cerrito would also be a good place for MCA to expand its business because of its proximity to Marin and because of residents' overall interest in the environment, Weisz said.
The council also honored poet Tess Taylor, an El Cerrito native who teaches writing at UC Berkeley, with a city proclamation celebrating her contributions to the arts locally and nationally.
Taylor is best known to the public as the "NewsPoet" for National Public Radio. Her work has appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, the Boston Review and the Times Literary Supplement.
In other action, the council denied an appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of a use permit for a consignment auto sales and auto repair business at 11858 San Pablo Ave.
Steve Kahn, owner of Steve's Auto Care next door to the property, appealed the approval on the grounds that noise from service bays facing his property would disrupt his operations.
Kahn said he located his service bays at the back of his building to create a quieter, more attractive frontage on San Pablo.
Kahn was also concerned about pedestrians walking across his property if the vacant building were to be reopened without any changes to its design.
The council directed the city's Design Review Board to require a fence, trees or a combination of screening to block views of the service bays and limit access to a reopened facility from Kahn's property.


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Russell Branyan: Enjoying success
Mariners slugger getting the chance for serious playing time
It all starts with the chemistry on our club. Our focus hasn't wavered. We've come together as a group, and we're playing hard for each other. We're exhausting ourselves on a daily basis to do whatever it takes to win ballgames.
Coming to Seattle for the first time, I had heard horror stories about previous seasons, but I also knew that didn't have anything to do with this year's club. We treat each other as brothers and focus on playing a full nine innings.
A big part of our chemistry took shape with our offseason additions. Guys like Ken Griffey and Mike Sweeney came here and have mixed well onto a team that already had players like Ichiro and Adrian Beltre.
Of course, it also helps to have a strong starting staff and bullpen and quality leaders on our coaching staff.
Don Wakamatsu has a strong belief system and a great philosophy. All he's asked us to do is believe. We've worked hard to this point, and we have believed. It's been nice to see the team develop, and it's been nice to play good baseball.
Playing in Seattle has been a great opportunity for me. I've been given the chance to go out and prove myself on an everyday basis. I haven't put any pressure on myself. I just try to play the way I know I can play. I'm embracing my new role and trying to enjoy the opportunity.
I've been happy with the results. I've hit for a high average, and I've hit lefties well, but that hasn't really surprised me. I've been a bench player most of my Major League career, but I always believed I could do those things. Whenever I would go to the Minors and play regularly, I always performed well.
The best part of this season's success, both as a team and as an individual, is that I've gotten to share it with so many great teammates.
Russell Branyan, who joined the Mariners as a free agent, is in his 12th big league season but only his first as an everyday player. The first baseman and designated hitter is batting .303 with a team-leading 19 home runs and 40 RBIs.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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CHICAGO -- Registration has opened for the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo, slated for May 21 through 23 at McCormick Place here. It's sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, which expects the 2013 staging to be the most successful in the event's 17-year history. According to the association, exhibit space sales are nearly at the capacity of the available space, five months in advance of the opening date.
A number of big-name items, including Frito-Lay's Cracker Jack and Unilever's single-serve frozen novelties, will make their first appearance at the Sweets & Snack Expo in 2013. This is indicative of the importance and growing popularity of snacks for both retailers and manufacturers, the show's organizers reported.
"Seven years ago, when the NCA board decided to incorporate snacks into the expo, the thought was to increase the opportunities and efficiencies of those already attending," said Larry Graham, NCA president. "By adding respected brands like Cracker Jack, as well as new categories like ice cream, the expo has become now, more than ever, a retailers' one-stop-shop for candy and snack needs in a growing variety of product categories."
Back by popular demand this year, the expo's Most Innovative New Product Awards program will serve as the launch platform for more than 200 confectionery and snack products in the marketplace.
Expo chairman Tim Quinn, vice-president of trade development at Mars Chocolate North America (Hackettstown, NJ), explained that "candy and snack category sales continue to outpace total store sales, and in a challenging economy, retailers increasingly rely on those categories that are proven sales performers.
"The expo was designed to not only provide retailers access to more new and exciting products, but also to offer merchandising solutions and keynote topics designed to turn insights into actions," Quinn pointed out.
The 2013 exposition again will offer presentations by well-known keynote speakers as part of the programming available for a single modest registration fee. The show's educational component offers an expert faculty providing strategic direction for effective leadership, and insights that can contribute to bottom line success, NCA said.
Duke University's "Coach K," who has coached the men's basketball team for more than 30 years and led the team to four NCAA championships, will share his winning leadership philosophy. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will, whose syndicated column spears in nearly 400 newspapers in the U.S. and Europe, will examine the political climate and how it affects the industry.
Dina Howell, worldwide chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi X, will explore ways to evolve from category- to-solution-based strategies to increase brand connection with shoppers, and Leon Nicholas, director of retail insights for Kantar Retail, will present twice on the state of the confectionery and snack industry.
The 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo will also boast more international exhibitors than ever before, welcoming back the Brazilian, Chinese, German and Mexican pavilions and adding a new one for Ecuadorian exhibitors.
"It has become increasingly important that our industry continue to expand our markets to include other countries and regions," Quinn noted. "The global marketplace provides an area of growth opportunity going forward, and our expo is the place to connect with manufacturers from around the world to discover international products that can set retailers apart from the rest."
Additional information about the show, and online registration, may be found at sweetsandsnacks.com.
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Jazz and other styles from Brazil celebrated at UNT
When it comes to cultural exchanges at the University of North Texas College of Music, contributions from the Czech Republic have gotten a lot of love over the years.
This fall, a new oboe professor in the college is putting our artistic neighbors to the south in the spotlight.
Festival Brasileiro celebrates the familiar sounds of Brazil — namely the country's considerable jazz accomplishments — as well as some of the sounds that are lesser known, especially in the orchestral realm.
The festival started Tuesday and continues through Saturday with several big concerts.
Oboe professor James Ryon took a liking to Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos when he was a student himself. His love of Villa-Lobos' music grew into a decades-long interest in Brazil's broad musical ventures.
Ryon was researching the country's music on Brazilian soil when he met Joao Guilherme Ripper. At the time, Ripper was a rising star in the country's classical music composition scene, and is now an international presence.
Ryon wasn't alone in his love for Brazilian music at UNT. Clarinet professor Kimberly Cole Luevano was performing in Brazil a few years ago, and met clarinetists from Goiania and Brasilia while she was there.
Ryon and Luevano both joined the UNT faculty two years ago, and both learned of the other's affinity for the country's musical heft. They tapped bassoon professor Kathleen Reynolds to join them to start Trio Vientos Tejanos.
The three teachers and artists didn't let the dust settle from their project: They got to work planning an exchange with Brazilian musicians. Trio Vientos Tejanos will travel to Brazil in December to continue the exchange.
"The festival and other exchanges give students, faculty and the general public the opportunity to discover more about the two largest nations in the Western Hemisphere and their distinctive cultures," Ryon said.
The festival ramps up this week with performances of Brazil's classical music. Locals can sample Ryon's longtime favorite, Villa-Lobos, during the festival concerts, and Ripper arrived on campus to lecture and conduct ensembles as a guest. University of Brasilia wind faculty members are in town, too. The Brazilian teachers and artists make up the wind quintet, Quinteto UnB and visiting jazz ensemble Trio Assum.
Ryon and other UNT faculty members are also taking advantage of the college's relationship with Denton's bustling downtown jazz joint, Sweetwater Grill & Tavern. Brasuka, a Dallas-based Brazilian jazz ensemble that includes UNT faculty in its lineup, will share the patio stage with Trio Assum on Saturday night.
LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877.
The University of North Texas College of Music's Festival Brasileiro continues through Saturday. For more information, visit http://music.unt.edu.
7:30 p.m. — UNT Symphonic Band performs Joao Guilherme Ripper's Chamber Symphony for Winds and Jose Urcisino da Silva's Suite Pernambucana de Bolso in Winspear Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center, on the north side of I-35E at North Texas Boulevard. Conducted by Dennis Fisher. Tickets are $10 for the public; $8 for non-UNT students, seniors and UNT faculty and staff; free for UNT students with ID. For tickets, visit www.thempac.com or call 940-369-7802. Live streamed at www.untmusiclive.com
8 p.m. — "An Evening of Brazilian Chamber Music" featuring Trio Vientos Tejanos and Quinteto UnB with flute professor Terri Sundberg and guest artist Dennis Parker on cello, performing the works of Jose Vieira Brandao, Walter Burles Marx, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Joao Guilherme Ripper, Sergio Nogueira and Liduino Pitombeira. In Voertman Hall at the Music Building, at Avenue C and Chestnut Street. Free.
8 p.m. — "An Evening of Brazilian Chamber Music" with the UNT String Orchestra, featuring cello professor Eugene Osadchy and the UNT Cello Choir with student soprano Jennifer Youngs; Trio Assum; chamber orchestra of UNT faculty, guests and students; and Quinteto UnB. Works include Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Villa-Lobos, and From My Window No. 2 and Concerto a Cinco by Joao Guilherme Ripper. In Voertman Hall at the Music Building, at Avenue C and Chestnut Street. Free.
9:30 p.m. — Brazilian jazz at Sweetwater Bar & Grill, 115 S. Elm St., featuring Brasuka and Trio Assum. Free.


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Time for the Shields Vintage to Mature
Shields is often heard in the background on dugout microphones throwing out these definitely unique brand of "Shields-isms" that makes no immediate sense until they suddenly hit you right between the eyes and you find yourself either rolling your eyes or emitting a huge belly laugh at them. It was Shields non-pitching character to keep the team loose and carefree.
Some joking aside, maybe it is time for Shields to consider himself more of a finely matured Cabernet within Rays Manager Joe Maddon's clubhouse instead of the whimsical Sangria. With the Rays roster renovation project firmly entrenched to begin in the Spring of 2011, now more than ever Shields has hit that finely aged vintage stage of his career where providing a veteran presence throughout the Rays clubhouse is more important than his off-day dugout verbiage.
It is time for Shields vintage to either ferment and mature along with his young Rays teammates, or he could eventually be turned into expensive red wine vinegar and subsequently sent a sail into the Gulf of Mexico sunset. As one of the most vocal Rays veterans remaining from the 2008 American League Championship team, it might just be Shields time to shine as a clubhouse leader and provide more than just another inspiring page to the Rays 2011 Media Guide.
This Spring Shields begins the fourth year of a four year contract with the Rays, but he also has 3 one-year club options in 2012,2013,2014 firmly on the horizon. With a season like 2010 behind him, it is time for Shields to again lead by example and reclaim his Number one spot in the Rays rotation.
Coming off the statistically worst season of his career,
It has been almost 10 months since Rays hot prospect Jeremy Hellickson inadvertently said in an interview he could "learn some things from the Rays older pitchers". But is his true whimsical nature, Shields did not mope or get his nose out of joint with the comment.
Shields instead took it in with gusto and came out into the Florida Sun on February 28,2010 sporting a fake gray beard beaming with pride that he was the staff "graybeard".
That just might be the type of bend but not break mentality and banter needed as the Rays rebuild from within both on the field and in the clubhouse.
With a large Rays leadership void created with the departure of long time Rays clubhouse mentor Carlos Pena and long time Ray Carl Crawford, the Rays will count on guys like Shields, Evan Longoria and fellow starter Matt Garza to fill some might big character cleats in the Rays locker room. Shields who is coming off his second straight Roberto Clemente Award nomination just might be peaking and ready for the challenge this season.
Now more than ever the Rays need a figure like Shields to thrust his hands into the crisp Florida air and call for his team to unite and bond under the banner of the "Rays Way" as the Rays reporting date for pitchers and catchers (2/13/2011) quickly approaches.
It will ultimately be the strength and leadership roles portrayed by Rays players like Shields in the coming months can will repair and hermitically seal the Rays leadership.
Shields has the heart and desire along with his pitching talents to help raise the Rays game both on and off the field. The best praise a pitcher can get is from a teammate who has face him at the plate.
Infielder Eliot Johnson, who will be fighting for a utility spot this Spring for the Rays might just sum it up best: "He (Shields) didn't lose a thing. He's still crisp no matter how old he is- or isn't."
Happy Birthday Shieldsy, I think it is time to show the rest of the baseball world your vintage has mature and is ripe for a leadership role. Take the reins graybeard, it is your time to lead this crew, all 25 of them.
14 Comments
That picture cracked me right up! Shields sounds like quite a character and every clubhouse needs one to lighten the load.
I agree every clubhouse needs that guy who can cut the tension with a comedic act. But, the Rays have a few of those closet stad-up guys and need a more secure backbone like Pena instilled for the clubhouse to stay the course and not wander into the abyss.
That might sound a bi.. dreary, but the Rays have finally gotten out of that 10-year funk, and I would love to see them stay out of that dark place for a long, long time.
Rays Renegade
Just when you thought you'd gotten Carl Crawford out of the AL East…he's off to the OTHER "evil empire". My only question is the $142 million (over 7 years) Boston's paying him.
And yet people DARE to say the Nats "overpaid" for Jayson Werth (@ $126 million over 7)?? Let's see, $20.85 mil/yr for Crawford as opposed to $18 mil/yr for Werth…now, WHO'S the overpaid one?
Just give both of them 2 years, and we'll find out.
Nasty Nats Live Here (and Everywhere)
I truly thought (as most of the country) that Carl Crawford was going to the Angels.
But after nearing the Angels owner moan and groan that C C was not worth that type of contract…I think Scott Boras and C C made a accurate $$$ move.
Hate that he is in the A L East, but we have beaten teams that look better on paper than us.
Heck we only lost 1 lousy game worse than our 2008 campaign and scraped by to win an A L East title.
I think in two years we will know who was wise, and who got hosed…..You can bet who I hope got hosed.
Rays Renegade
I'm with Jane… I gotta get a new keyboard now cuz there's coffee in mine (it was part of the spit take after that pic).
I second – or is that third at this point – Jane and Jeff. That photo is a riot and a half. Then again, I have a huge soft spot for the goofier players – go figure, Angels fan. While I agree that being the class clown isn't always the best way to rise to a leadership role, I love that this was his response to a younger player's off the cuff and less than tactful remarks. Making your point with good humor leaves a stronger impression than chastising, I think. Sounds like Shields could very well be the guy for the Rays this year.
Hopefully you are at work and IT can get you a new keyboard without a big incident. If you are on a laptop or at home…I am sorry Iposed a photo that made you spit up before 6 pm and that it did not have a malt taste to it.
Seriously, it is time. Time for Shields to take that next step ion his career both on and off the field. Taking a piece of the Rays clubhouse leadership should help him get an internal confidence of leading his team out to battle every day…maybe as a modern day grayheart…
Rays Renegade
As long as Shields produces on the field like he's capable of then it wouldn't matter to me. However, if his "youthfulness" is preventing him from becoming a better pitcher then something needs to change. Ryan Dempster is known to cut up quite a bit for the Cubs, but he also takes his performance on the field very seriously. I think Shields could win 15-20 games this year and be the leader the Rays need in the rotation.
Shields hit 13 wins a few years ago, so I do not foubt the talent, just needs to broaden his game with maybe a slight difference in his delivery or pitch selection. Shields got hammered in 2010 when people were sitting at the plate waiting on that patent change-up, and he paid the price.
Adjusting both on and off the field might be the key to his 2011 season, and his chance to get to the 3 1-year club options in 2012-2014.
Rays Renegade
Thanks for coming by and saying that for Shieldsy.
The pic was amazing. And like Kristen stated, Shields could taken offense to the comment, but played off it and made it into a positive.
Wonder if he had a lemonade stand as a kid?
Rays Renegade
I agree that there has to be a class clown on every team, but when the bulk of your leadership takes their stuff and leaves, someone has to fill the void.
Shields is a natural candidate, and one I hope will heed the call to duty. From what he does with his own charity, I know he has the internal fortitude and strength to pull it off. Now all he has to do is throw back his hounders and take on this team's leadership role. Longoria could be a vital part, but I think Longo needs to not take the top step yet. Same with David Price. in the next two years those two Rays can take the torch and lead…I think it is Shields time to shine in 2011.
Rays Renegade
Congrats on hitting #2 for November, Renegade! WTG! You have a great blog. I always enjoy reading your posts.
Thanks for that, but I am not sure how I did it this time. It was a great surprise and makes me feel like it is all worth the time, effort and research to get the scoops or news every day on my favorite team.
I guess it is a firm example that if you want it…Every one can get to this point….any month.
Rays Renegade


text: Worcester Prep students inducted recently into the Charles R. Jenkins Chapter of the National Honor Society were, first row from left, Meegan Jayne Smith, Sami Taraila, Skylar Wilson and Alexandra Lewis; second row, Rachel Sharp, Tori Dickerson, Gina LaBarck, Alexandra Smith, Mary Mazcko, Brooke Bochinski. Niki Kunciw, Josh Berman, Sean Hearn and Nick Spinuzza; third row, Hilary Roughton, Elizabeth Hudson, Jackie Wangel, Sophie Townsend, Katie Twilley, Allie Pedigo, Molly Simons, Will Regan, Adam Lewis, Hank Fisher, Tyler Graves, Christian Payne, Ivan Zorn, Justin Dempsey, Parker McIntosh, Andrew Canakis, Ross Roessler, Chase Harmon and Zac Moffitt. Missing from the photo are Sarah Showell and Anna Townsend.


text: Recently got a new Sony digital camera ( simple point/shoot). Wanted to have a spare LiIon battery. I opted for the genuine Sony...$15 on amazon, where 'generics' are also available for a buck 98, literally. Did I get my money's worth? I do not lose sleep over the 15 bucks one way or another, and ASSUME I bought greater capacity and/ or reliability. Am I snookered?


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A fast-moving brush fire burned through the foothills of Monrovia on Saturday, prompting a mandatory evacuation order and help from the Los Angeles Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service.
As the blaze grew from 10 acres to 175 acres in a matter of hours, voluntary evacuations became mandatory in the steep San Gabriel Mountain foothills as of 3 p.m., Monrovia Fire Department officials said.
At mid-afternoon, about 200 homes were included in an order that affected homeowners on 20 streets. The city said in a tweet at about 7:30 p.m. that officials would discuss lifting the evacuation order in coming hours.
The order was lifted for all but four streets at about 9:15 p.m., the city tweeted.
"We have old, dry brush out there. It's 55 years old, or as much as 100 years old. Combine that with inaccessible areas, this has been a topography and fuel-driven fire," said Monrovia spokeswoman Jennifer McLain.
The blaze had grown to 175 acres as of 7 p.m., according to fire officials. No structures had been damaged, and no civilians had been injured. One fire-fighter sustained a heat-related injury, city officials said.
By about 9:45 p.m., the blaze was 50 percent contained, the city said in a Facebook post that asked for residents who still live in evacuation areas to be patient.
"There is no imminent danger. Some flames are still burning, primarily off of Lotone and Heather Heights," Fire Chief Chris Donovan said.
The fire was first reported at 11:15 a.m. at 322 N. Madison Ave. (map). Smoke rising hundreds of feet into the air could be seen across the San Gabriel Valley during daytime Saturday.
Homeowner Glen Owens said a gardener he had hired to do brush clearance was knocking frantically at his door as the fire broke out.
"I look out ... and there's flames and smoke all over the place," Owens said.
Donovan told NBC4 a gardener's power tool accidentally sparked the blaze, but later said the "exact cause" was undetermined. In a city YouTube video, he said the blaze spread rapidly uphill, adding that full containment was expected Sunday.
"We'll be working through the night," Donovan said.
Firefighting airplanes, at least 125 firefighters, 65 fire engines, helicopters and ambulances were working to control the blaze, fire officials said mid-afternoon. The Los Angeles Fire Department sent five of their engines and a helicopter to help battle the flames.
Meanwhile Saturday afternoon, in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles firefighters battled a 4-acre grass fire, as seen at right, near Victory Boulevard and Haskell Avenue in Van Nuys -- near Woodley Park (map). At one point, all southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway at Victory Boulevard were shut during the blaze.
A small wildfire was also burning near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.
In Monrovia, Donovan asked via the city's Facebook page for a mandatory evacuation of homes on the following streets: Heather Heights, Alta Vista, Melrose, Magnolia, Hidden Valley, Mesa Circle, Sky Way, and Patrician Way.
The city updated the list just before 4:30 p.m. to include 10 additional streets: Crescent, El Nido, Highland from Foothill, Franklin, Scenic 400 and 500 blocks, Cloverleaf, Lotone, Hidden Valley, Ridgeside, Briar Cliff, Golden Hills, and everything west of Canyon Park north of Scenic.
At about 9:15 p.m., the city said the order was lifted for all but Highland, Briar Cliff, Hidden Valley and Alta Vista.
Evacuated residents were directed to a shelter at the Monrovia Public Library at Myrtle and Palm avenues.
The Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA posted on Facebook that the organization was offering free boarding for evacuees' pets.
The Monrovia Police Department said on the Facebook page streets north of Foothill Boulevard were closed to through traffic from Lincoln Place to Myrtle Avenue.
NBC4's Jane Yamamoto contributed to this report.


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Magnesium Supplementation: Is It Necessary?
- Jun 26, 2011
- Topics:
In an equine society dominated by supplements for everything imaginable--from joint health and calmers to antioxidants and vitamins and minerals--some horse owners likely wonder what, if any, feed additives they should provide their horses. Take magnesium for example: Science has shown us that horses require this macromineral to keep their bodies functioning properly, so should owners provide a supplement to ensure their animals get enough in their diet? According to an Auburn University researcher, hold off on buying that magnesium supplement, as it likely isn't needed by your horse.
Magnesium is an essential macromineral for horses that aids in maintaining normal nerve and muscle function, as well as the production of protein and DNA. Previous research from Cornell University indicates that horses need to consume just under 5 mg of the mineral to carry out normal body functions.
According to Allison J. Stewart, BVSc(hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, associate professor of equine internal medicine at Auburn, who recently composed a literature review on magnesium deficiencies in horses, "As there is generally a large amount of magnesium in vegetative matter (i.e., grass, hays, and grains), deficiency is rare in horses."
Stewart explained that in very rare cases, broodmares can suffer neurologic problems and rapid death from magnesium deficiency brought on by long bouts with no feed while nursing a foal
Magnesium toxicity also is rare in horses, and there's little scientific research on the topic.
She explained that incorrect administration of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) during treatment for a colonic impaction could lead to magnesium toxicity, so it's important for veterinarians to ensure a horse is adequately hydrated and has normal electrolyte and renal (kidney) function before such therapy.
Treatment for both magnesium deficiency and toxicity requires quick action, Stewart explained. "If a horse is very sick seek specialist care at a 24-hour referral facility as soon as possible so that electrolyte, fluid and acid base imbalances can be corrected quickly and aid in his recovery from colic, diarrhea, pneumonia, or sepsis," she said.
"There are rumors that magnesium supplementation can be used to help treat equine metabolic syndrome and improve insulin sensitivity," she said; however, she added there is no scientific evidence that confirms or denies these suggestions.
So should you purchase that magnesium supplement for your horses?
"If your horse is receiving a good quality balanced diet, or has access to good quality hay or pasture, (magnesium) deficiency is unlikely to be a problem," Stewart concluded. However, if you have concerns about a particular horse's magnesium intake, consult with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist.
The article, "Magnesium disorders in horses," appeared April in the Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice. The abstract is available on PubMed.
About the Author
Marie Rosenthal, MS
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This Week in Music, March 26, 2013: Welcome to the "Machines" of the Strokes and Depeche Mode
The Strokes: Comedown Machine
New release (RCA)
Photo courtesy of RCA
I had pretty much given up on the Strokes some time ago. The band's early, early promise just wasn't bearing fruit anymore. But here we have Comedown Machine, and waddayaknow, things would seem to be looking up.
The title track is actually specified as "80's Comedown Machine," and the rhythms of the more dance-leaning wing of New Wave are quite prevalent on this album, agreeably so. Yet the most post-disco track, "Tap Out," is best heard not in a club but on a good pair of headphones, so you can really appreciate the staccato guitars and devilishly good, burbling bass line. Meanwhile, damn if "One Way Trigger" doesn't sound like a punchier version of A-ha's "Take On Me" (and yes, that's a compliment — a big one).
On the '80s flip side, "All the Time" is the kind of hook-filled, flat-out-rocking, undeniably enjoyable single that has eluded this band for too long, and guitars also rule on "50/50." Elsewhere, both the rock and the dance are paired up for giddy tracks like "Welcome to Japan," "Slow Animals," and "Partners in Crime."
Whither the Strokes? This is the fifth and final album on their current RCA contract, and they conclude with two suggestive tracks: "Happy Ending" and, 12 years after their debut on Is This It, "Call It Fate, Call It Karma." One thing's certain: As of this posting, the band has no plans to tour or otherwise support Comedown Machine. But if the Strokes go on hiatus, retreat, or what have you, it's nice to know that they went out with a fine blast, if not a big bang.
Depeche Mode: Delta Machine
New release (Columbia; tour dates)
According to primary composer Martin Gore, "Writing this album was incredibly daunting." One one hand, "I wanted the sound to be very modern." On the other hand, "I want people to feel good about listening to this record, to get some kind of peace."
Depeche Mode pulls that off right from the start. The opening "Welcome to My World," with its threatening deep-bass synth, could be the latest sonic birth/burst from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, but it builds to a gratifyingly mellifluous chorus. "Angel," which begins even more severely, rises to even more splendor, perfectly setting up the meditative "Heaven." It's an approach that's clearly stated in the title of "Soft Touch/Raw Nerve," which itself is a synth strut that nevertheless has a deft gait.
Other highlights: the "Slow" blues, the sad ballad of "The Child Inside," the anthemic "Soothe My Soul." Throughout, producer Ben Hillier and mixer Flood help keep things interesting. If not every track is a beauty, then none is a bore.
Note to the 5.1 faithful: Although Depeche Mode is one of the few bands to release surround versions of nearly its entire catalog, apparently there are no such plans for Delta Machine. There's a Deluxe Edition of the album, but its extras are limited to four bonus tracks and a 28-page hardcover book with photos by Anton Corbijn.
The Waterboys: An Appointment with Mr. Yeats
New release in U.S. (Proper American)
Photo of Mike Scott by Paul MacManus
This is indeed a rendezvous with W. B. Yeats: Words from his poems and plays become the lyrics for music that's almost exclusively written and arranged by the Waterboys' Mike Scott. Yes, Scott has done this before, notably with "The Stolen Child" on 1988's Fisherman's Blues. But here, he keeps the appointment for an entire album, and the resulting song cycle is a heady, wide-ranging adventure. Celtic gallop, bittersweet ballad, Kurt Weill cabaret, midtempo electric-guitar riff rock, breezy pop tune: That's just the first five tracks of this 14-song affair, which, clocking in at 56 minutes, keeps things moving and always intriguing.
Scott draws on a healthy host of mostly new Waterboys and girls. Yet he also treasures intimacy, as in his duet with the lovely Katie Kim on "Before the World Was Made," backed only by keyboards and effects. Similarly, by scaling down "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death," he directs our attention to a thoughtful solo on cor anglais by Kate St. John. (Remember the Dream Academy?) In the big numbers, Scott the singer still tends to over-emote, as if acting in a silent movie. (Or maybe he, too, is "Mad as the Mist and Snow.") Yet we love him for it, and when the album ends with "The Faery's Last Song" — fading to the sounds of the wind and Kim's fare-thee-well vocals — you get the sense that Scott was always meant to be a composer for Yeats. Available overseas since late 2011, this album is only now being released in the U.S. So if you haven't heard it, pounce.
Dido: Girl Who Got Away
New release (RCA)
Photo by Guy Aroch
Although Dido says this fourth album was the easiest to make, it had a stop/start creation owing to the birth of her son in July 2011. The entirety of Girl Who Got Away was written before November 2010, much of it was recorded while she was pregnant, and it wasn't finished until late 2012, following a year off for Dido to just be a mother. The result is an album that has some trouble hanging together.
Thankfully, there's a lot to love. "No Freedom" delights with its solo-acoustic-guitar structure and simple drum-machine percussion. "Blackbird" and "Go Dreaming" each ride a deft groove. And the ambient/dance rhythm of the title track is subtly appealing; I just wish it had remained a suggestion instead of, later in the song, coming further to the fore. I also wish Kendrick Lamar had stayed away from "Let Us Move On." His rap here does nothing for me; in fact, it pretty much ruins the atmosphere. Alas, such is the supposed necessity of keeping an artist "current" and "relevant," but Dido and her brother/co-writer/co-producer Rollo Armstrong shouldn't have to resort to such tactics, what with a voice as pure as hers — demonstrated, for example, on the gorgeous "Sitting on the Roof of the World." Alas again, that supposed necessity can lead to "Love to Blame," which despite a nice percolation is ultimately just a trifle, and "Loveless Hearts," which can't escape the awkwardness of its stuttery backing.
That said, the two best tracks are out-of-the-park winners: a "Happy New Year" that is anything but, with its consistent tone of dejection, and "Day Before We Went to War," with a hypnotic rising synth figure that has the hallmark of co-writer Brian Eno. Dido, Rollo, and Eno: Now there's a trio, and on songs like these two, the 41-year-old still-new mama proves that the girl hasn't gotten away entirely.
Wire: Change Becomes Us
New release (Pinkflag; tour dates)
Photo by Phil Sharp
Here's what hasn't changed about Wire, ever since the band's landmark debut, Pink Flag, was released in 1977: the power of their music to shake up your world. What's more, vocalist/guitarist Colin Newman, bassist Graham Lewis, and drummer Robert Grey are all still here (with recent touring guitarist Matthew Simms now a full-time member). Another link to the past: Many of the tracks are based on "the rudimentary blueprints of songs that had never made it beyond a few live performances in 1979 and 1980."
This is where the titular change comes in. Most often, Wire has used those blueprints to build something entirely different from what was originally envisioned. So what was once the confrontational "Piano Tuner (Keep Strumming Those Guitars)" is now the peppy/poppy "Love Bends." Indicative of the band's more recent, multilayered work are tracks like "Keep Exhaling," "B/W Silence," "Time Lock Fog," "As We Go," and especially the closing pair of "& Much Besides" (a languid 6-minute affair) and "Attractive Space" (which builds steadily to controlled chaos). Other tracks retain more of the character of that earlier time, including the staccato "Magic Bullet," the punk "Stealth of a Stork," and "Eels Sang," which would fit right at home on 1979's Entertainment! by Wire's old contemporaries Gang of Four.
"Re-invent Your Second Wheel," says a song title here. Whether or not the band does that on every track, it sure keeps strumming those guitars. And there isn't much in rock today that's as stimulating as these (drums and) wires.


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March 15, 2010
New Moon DVD Behind The Scenes Extra!
Via TwilightBritneyFan
3 comments:
Parkour - FTW!!!ReplyDelete
Gawd the wonderful naivete of Taylor - Wow, those really don't help much. ... That's called "acting" - I wonder if he watches this, will he think of himself as a doofus?
Taylor is so young, adorable, and unfairly hot. I want to put him in my pocket.
Thanks for posting this.
I really hope we get some Edward behind the scenes ... cause I'm so over Jacob and his 'stunts'ReplyDelete
So cute when Taylor says 'poof!' with the hand gestures. lol.ReplyDelete
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Does anyone have experience with the Lytro Camera?
From looking at the pictures, it appears it would be far easier to use while on the move than standard point and shoot cameras. Furthermore, according to the technical description, you don't have to worry about getting the focus right before taking the picture.
....and yes I know, it's expensive.


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#RSL Tweets of the Day (@RealSaltLake)
WATCH: #RSL Insider @OriginalWinger w/ Grabavoy, @wingert17 & @JasonKreis before team heads to Dallas: //www.realsaltlake.com/video/2013/07/12/rsl-fc-dallas-match-preview … #BreakTexasHex
Off to Dallas! Time to bring back some points #OnAMission #3pts ✈
#RSL trio ready to rep #USMNT at #RioT Sat 1:30p v Cuba ... #FillTheRioT http://instagram.com/p/brxjCTMFeA/
Simultaneously, all-time #RSL leading scorer @al_saborio ready for hometown #SLC #tico support v BLZ… http://instagram.com/p/bryQd4MFfI/
Training finished, now time to rest for the match tomorrow. Excited to see the Riot packed for the red, white and blue! #USMNT #RSL
I hope to see a PACKED Riot tomorrow. 1:30pm kick-off, be LOUD and PROUD. #USA #USMNT #GoldCup2013
#RSL trio excited to represent #USMNT at Rio Tinto Stadium tomorrow. http://tinyurl.com/o7oydbw
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