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I am quite late in responding to Alona from the LoneTester HQ Blog with her 'It's all in the Numbers'. geneameme. As the old saying goes.. better late than never so I am putting pen to paper... well fingers to keyboard in fact, although that doesn't sound quite as enchanting! The challenge offered by Alona was to chose ten or more numbers which have some meaning personally, because of the way in which they relate to our own family history research. Thankyou Alona for your creative meme which has made me think somewhat outside the family box!
1. Fifteen is the largest number of generations I have on a branch of my family tree, beginning with myself. Fifteen generations takes me back to my maternal 12th great grandfather and grandmother in Switzerland. Xander Ryser was born in 1546 in Affoltern, Emmenthal, Bern, Switzerland and died there in 1614. Xander Ryser's wife Trini Gruetter was my 12th great grandmother. Another line of Swiss ancestors goes back 14 generations to Christian Häberling who was born in Ottenbach, Zurich in 1527, and although born earlier, he is an 11th great grandfather, making 14 generations of family including myself.
2. Leading on from the number above, is Twelve, the most number of greats I have before a grandfather and grandmother.
3. Three is the most number of name changes one ancestor has made deliberately, which means, not through spelling mistakes or change due to immigration and language difficulties or illiteracy.
I have a number of ancestors whose names changed after migrating to new countries. The German surname NERGER became NARGER, Häberling became phonetically spelled Heberling. In Scotland Farrins became Farren, Fearns, and Ferns, most likely because of mistakes made by clerks filling out records. My great uncle Rex Morley Hoyes, however, led a 'colourful' life and changed his name legally three times to hide from MI5, the British Press, the Law and possibly four or more wives! Rex was born Rex Morley (his middle name being his mother's maiden surname) HOYES, in 1902 in Auckland, New Zealand. He left new Zealand in 1933 with his first wife Muriel Bates, bound for the more prosperous shores of England. By 1935 Rex had divorced Muriel and married Lady Margaret Patricia Waleran (Blackadder). He purchased a large estate called Marwell Hall, in Hampshire, once owned by King Henry VIII. As the CEO of an aircraft company, Cunliffe-Owen Pty Ltd in Eastleigh, at the commencement of World War 11, Rex acquired government contracts to convert Seafire aircraft to Spitfires and to repair aircraft damaged in battle. With a secret airfield constructed on his Marwell Estate, and a team of women pilots, this contributed considerably to the war effort. MI5 then developed a serious interest in him and he was charged with bribery and corruption, although later acquitted. After the war, my great uncle changed his name to Rex Morley-Hoyes. There was speculation that Rex was also a spy with extensive air travel during the war years and exotic addresses such as Majorca, Formentor, Balearic Isles and others. Around the time he married his third wife Irene Arbib, and following a spot of illegal gun running to Hyderabad in conjunction with Australian pilot Sidney Cotton in 1948, Rex once more changed his surname, this time to Rex Morley-Morley. I found him in Kelly's Blue Handbook of Landed and Titled persons under this name. After a fourth marriage and another arrest this time at the King George V Hotel in Paris for failing to pay his bill, ( and indications that he had not been paid for his gun running activities by the world's richest man, the Nizam of Hyderabad) I finally found his death recorded under the most colourful name of all....Viscompt Fessenden Charles Rex Morley-Morley de Borenden! If nothing else , he had a vivid imagination!
4. Five is the most generations I have had living at one time (that I know of). When I was aged 10 months old, a photograph was taken at my great great grandmother's 88th birthday party held in Maryborough, Queensland. The photograph celebrated five generations of mothers and daughters. Pictured were myself, my mother Alwynne Jean MacDade (Reece-Hoyes), her mother ( my grandmother) Hilda Lillian Green ( Reece-Hoyes nee Weston), her mother ( my great grandmother) Lillie Herminnie Weston (Nargar) and her mother ( my great great grandmother) Barbara Lena Nargar (Häberling).
Five is also the fewest number of generations I have on any branch of my family tree beginning with myself. On my father's mother's Irish side of the family I have been unable to trace family back further than my great great grandfather William White of Brookend, County Tyrone.
Five seems to be a significant number for me also, as I have five convict ancestors.
5 & 6. I have Twenty Two people on my family tree with the name John. If I add Seventeen ancestors named the Swiss equivilent of John, which is Johan or Johannes and another Thirteen who used the abbreviated form of the name John, being Hans... in two languages and spread over England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Switzerland I have a total of Fifty Two ancestors named John in one variation or another.
7. Eleven appears to be the most number of children born into any of my ancestors' families. My MORRISON great great grandparents from Aberdeen Scotland and Nottinghamshire and who immigrated to Australia in 1868 had 11 children, comprising 8 daughters and 3 sons.
8. Eight is the number which crops up the most number of times on my family tree as the number of children ancestors had. The following forebears are some of my ancestors who had eight children.
CUPPLES, Alexander and Agnes. Five times great grandparents. (Ireland). Between 1775 and 1793 they had six sons and two daughters.
MCDADE, John and Elizabeth (Scotland to Australia). Between 1896 and 1911 my grandparents had five sons and three daughters.
HÄBERLING, Jacob and Anna (Switzerland to Australia). My great great great grandparents had two sons and six daughters between 1850 and 1868.
9. 1303 is the number of people currently on my family tree.
10. 1484 is the number of records I have collected to date to support my family history research... possibly more....


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Region's Leading Brain & Spine Tumor Program
The Medical Center has the most advanced brain and spine tumor program in Southern Kentucky. Neuro-oncology is a focused specialty concerning the diagnosis and treatment of brain and spine cancer and other tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. It consists of a multi-disciplinary team that includes multiple specialists including:
- Neuro-oncologic surgeon
- Radiation oncologist
- Medical oncologist
- Radiologist
- Pathologist
- Neuro-oncology nurse practitioner
- Nutritionist
- Physical and occupational therapists
A monthly Neuro-oncology Tumor Conference allows team members to discuss cases and form treatment plans.
Services and Treatments
Learn more about the leading edge technology and array of services and treatments The Medical Center offers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Standard ECMA-364
Data interchange on 120 mm and 80 mm
Optical Disk using +R DL Format - Capacity: 8,55 and 2,66 Gbytes
per Side (Recording speed up to 16X)
3rd edition (December 2007)
This Ecma Standard specifies the mechanical, physical and optical characteristics of 120 mm recordable optical disks with capacities of 8,55 Gbytes and 17,1 Gbytes. It specifies the quality of the recorded and unrecorded signals, the format of the data and the recording method, thereby allowing for information interchange by means of such disks. The data can be written once and read many times using a non-reversible method. These disks are identified as +R DL.
This Ecma Standard also specifies 80 mm disks with capacities of 2,66 Gbytes and 5,32 Gbytes. These disks shall have the same characteristics as the 120 mm disks, except for some parameters related to the smaller dimensions. All parameters unique for the 80 mm disks are specified in Annex A.
This Ecma Standard specifies:
The following file can be freely downloaded:
This Ecma publication is submitted for approval as 3rd edition of ISO/IEC 25434.
The previous replaced "historical" editions of this Ecma Standard are available here.


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April 5, 2006
Michelle Easton decried the false representation of the 'radical feminist leadership' in the United States Wednesday night portraying itself as representing the majority of American women.
"The women's movement in America today does not represent huge numbers of American women. It represents a radical, left-wing liberal point of view," said Easton, president of the conservative Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute.
"The conservative movement has wonderful smart, articulate women who support Ronald Reagan, conservative-type philosophy and they are seldom supported by anyone in the feminist movement, anyone in the academy, and in fact we're frequently trashed and silenced."
Easton's remarks were titled "The Failures of Feminism" and covered the start of the feminist movement in the 1960s and 70s with 'bra burners" and covered those she views as feminist leaders through today's newsmakers.
She touched upon today's political leaders and frequently invoked the name of key National Organization of Women leaders and feminist icon Gloria Steinem. "Feminist leaders continue to get tremendous coverage because the media loves them," she said. "The media delights in savaging conservative women."
Easton and the Policy Institute are also known for their out-spoken criticism of the Vagina Monologues, performed Feb. 13, 2005, on the Wabash campus.
"The play is disgusting," she said. "Every man is described as a rapist or weirdo. It's a pornographic play."
When challenged during the question and answer period about the playwright's stated intent to reduce violence against women, Easton responded she just didn't think that worked. The Wabash performance benefited, in part, the Crawfordsville Family Crisis Center.
Easton noted on a number of occasions during her remarks the importance of bringing the conservative message to college campuses.
"The fact is to have a conservative woman's voice like mine on this campus the invitation had to come from the conservative journal (The Commentary) and not the Gender Issues Committee," she said. "That simply reinforces the point that they really aren't interested in the views of all women in America."
Easton's appearance was sponsored by The Commentary and, in part, funded by the Young America's Foundation.


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20722 Surnames | 136030 Records | 2772 Reunions
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Comments: E B Atherton (Nee: ) | | 1851-1900 | Comments: THIS IS A CDV ID'D AS E.B. ATHERTON. BACKMARKED BY DAVIES & MERRITT-26&28 WEST WASHINGTON ST.-INDIANAPOLIS, IND. THIS CDV WAS WITH OTHER CDV'S OF SOLDIERS OF THE AREA. IT MAY BE ELIJAH B. ATHERTON OF CO. "C" INDIANA 54TH INFANTRY.
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These games teach valuable skills and have a high fun and educational rating.
Your child learns to identify personal pronouns by dragging the correct words to the pirate's ship.
Your child learns about gradable adjectives (e.g. big, bigger, biggest) while organizing animals at the circus.
Your child learns how to correctly use the words who and whom.
Your child develops writing skills while filling in the blanks of a story.
Your child gains familiar with conjunctions by choosing the correct one to complete sentences.
Your child becomes familiar with pronouns by choosing the right pronouns to complete a sentence.
Your child learns to distinguish between nouns and verbs by playing this game.
Your child develops grammar skills by popping the balloons containing pronouns.
Your child improves grammar by using proper conjunctions to join the sentences.
Your child improves grammar by identifying specific parts of speech in a text.
Zoodles 11.8.7 Copyright (c) 2014 Inquisitive Minds, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Reading the opening of Jiz Lee's article in The Feminist Porn Book makes me wonder: How is it that anti-porn feminists can so easily disregard the experiences of a person like Lee, who has consciously taken on porn as part of their exploration of self, utilizing their body as a "canvas for art"? Sure, Lee's experiences in porn (and in life!) may not be run-of-the-mill, but they are the result of conscious choices that have led to, according to Lee themself, a set of positive growth experiences, along with being part of simply making art.I'm wearing a bright pastel blue suit I hand-dyed myself to match the suit worn by David Bowie in his music video for "Life on Mars." I'm a dapper version of Bowie, standing for photos with a golden glammed-up Adrianna Nicole in one of the biggest and most outlandishly decorated homes I've ever seen. Adrianna has handpicked her co-stars, creating scenes from her personal fantasies. She reclines on a white chaise lounge, gold lamé legs wrapped around me, wide eyes hungry. My large, flesh-colored strap-on cock juts out from the fly of my David Bowie blue pants and my hand pushes forcefully into her mouth. It all feels so good. Warm, wet, incredibly intimate. My fingers probe her wide mouth. I could do this for hours.--Jiz Lee, The Feminist Porn Book
I often hear anti-porn feminists declaring that positive experiences by performers in porn are not only few-and-far between, but irrelevant--it's the general masses of porn performers who are being harmed, they say, and happy, successful porn performers are the exception that proves the rule. I know there are issues, serious issues, with sex work in porn--similarly there are serious issues with work in nursing, in sweatshops, in teaching. I also understand that sex work is different (for some!) than other kinds of work, in important ways. But I would rather listen to the sex workers themselves. I'd rather listen to them tell me how it can be different, how the negatives and positives of porn play out for them, than assume that I know, or should judge whether folks should do porn for work.
Consent is sometimes complex (can women who have a dearth of options for employment be consenting to do porn in the same way that men, who have more options, consent?), but Lee's experiences opens our eyes to the cases where the consent is not only fairly obvious, but fundamental to what they are doing--specifically, in queer porn. Lee says:
For example, the decision to shave my legs for queer films, like Superfreak, was my own. The key is that it is a choice, not an ultimatum...[c]hoice, or performers' sexual agency, is one of the main differences between queer porn and mainstream genres...[I]f there's one thing that makes queer porn different, it's respecting a performers' choice—the choice to safely fuck how they want and to look how they believe is sexy.Lee's article is a perfect example of what listening to folks who do porn can do to one's ideas about working porn--I was always aboard with queer porn's politics (among other things!), but Lee solidifies things for me, because Lee is taking "the personal is the political" very seriously, as I think all feminists ought to do: Where sexual identity and gender identity (among other identities) intersect with porn performing, there is much to be learned, Lee thinks, and I take them at their word:
My mixed identities have led me to conclude that there's no right or wrong, no definitive experience, no one way of looking at the world. Nothing is black or white, and that fact is even clearer when you're gray.I think their article alone is worth the price of The Feminist Porn Book.
Lee's site.


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Public charter schools received significantly less funding than traditional public schools in five cities, including the District, between 2007 and 2011, according to a new study released Wednesday.
When it comes to per-pupil spending, the District had the largest gap, with public charter schools getting $16,361 per student in fiscal 2011 and traditional public schools getting $29,145, about $13,000 more per student, according to the study.
Those amounts represent total funding, include federal, state, and local tax dollars and private support from foundations.
The study, funded by the pro-charter Walton Family Foundation, analyzed private and public dollars spent to educate students in the District, Denver, Newark, Los Angeles and Milwaukee. It is scheduled to be published in the Journal of School Choice this year.
Charter schools are publicly financed but operate independently of local school systems. They are usually nonunionized. The amount of public dollars they receive is generally determined by the state and varies widely.
In fiscal 2011, traditional D.C. public schools received, per student, 43.9 percent more total dollars — private and public — than charter schools. Traditional public schools also received substantially more in the four other cities studied: in Newark, the difference was 39 percent; in Los Angeles, 34.7 percent; in Denver, 19.4 percent; and in Milwaukee, 31.4 percent.
Larry Maloney, the lead researcher, said his analysis suggests that although the number of charter schools is growing, when it comes to funding, states have created a two-tier public education system.
"I look at a student attending a public school as a student attending a public school," said Maloney, who is president of Aspire Consulting. "But we are now developing a funding mechanism that treats students differently, based on the public school they attend. If you attend a [traditional] district school, you're much more likely to have access to more funds."
Critics of public charter schools have long suggested that they have an economic advantage over traditional public schools because they have attracted financial support from philanthropies.
The Walton Family Foundation, for example, spent more than $158 million in 2012 to help support charter schools in 16 cities, including the District. More than 40 percent of public school students attend a charter school in the city, making it second only to New Orleans in terms of charter penetration.
But Maloney said his analysis shows that foundations have been reducing their contributions to traditional public schools and charters. In 2007, the D.C. public school system received 1.9 percent of its budget from private sources; that dropped slightly, to 1.6 percent, in 2011. Meanwhile, public charter schools got 10.2 percent of their budgets from foundations in fiscal 2007, which dropped to 6.3 percent in fiscal 2011, Maloney found.
"I was surprised in the decline of [private] revenue," he said. "That's what charters have relied on to close the gap, and it appears they no longer can."
D.C. law requires equal per-pupil allocations for public charter and traditional public schools. But traditional public schools receive additional local tax dollars for facilities and support services that charters do not. For example, the city's capital construction agency contributed $314 million to D.C. public schools for facilities in fiscal 2011, money that was not available to charter schools.
Maloney said large, nationally prominent charter operators such as KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) still receive a significant amount of financial help from private foundations. But smaller, individual charter schools have been getting less help from private donors, especially since the 2008 recession, he said.


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More than a decade ago, Greg Willard got the sort of attention NBA referees traditionally abhor — and he wasn't even working the game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were on their way to getting ousted from the first round of the playoffs for the sixth time in as many years. This was back in 2002, in the best-of-five days, and the Wolves' lone home game in the series against Dallas wasn't half over when Minnesota coach Flip Saunders erupted. He had to be physically restrained by a pair of assistants from closing the gap on ref Bill Spooner.
Turns out, Spooner had dropped a line on Saunders that demonstrated he had Willard's back. It wasn't the first time, either — Steve Javie had said something similar to the Wolves' coach in the aftermath of a snit Saunders had with Willard more than a month earlier.
Here's the backstory: In a 112-80 blowout of Toronto on March 19, 2002, Willard made a remark as he ran past Saunders about Minnesota forward Sam Mitchell's 3-pointer in the final minute, possibly about the sportsmanship Mitchell showed or the trouble he could have incited. Saunders snapped back along the lines of, "I thought referees were supposed to ref games. I didn't know they were supposed to give opinions."
Let Saunders pick up the story:
"Since that time," he said after the Wolves were bounced that day 11 years ago, "I've had two referees that, when I asked them about something, said, 'I thought you didn't want referees to give opinions.' … I told them I thought that was total bull. First of all, my problem was not with them, it was with Greg Willard. To bring something like that up in the heat of the battle, I don't know what you're thinkin'. … They all talk."
They surely do. The fraternity of NBA referees is a tight one, reaffirmed constantly by the rigors of their travel, the pressures inherent in their jobs and the guff they take while working from players, coaches and fans. Then there are their shared experiences, the close quarters of the refs' dressing rooms throughout the league and the collegial respect that comes from knowing who's good and, well, who's still learning in a tough profession of split-second decisions.
Willard had that respect and more, not just from how he worked as a ref but how he endured his year-long battle with the pancreatic cancer that killed him Monday at age 54. He was one of the NBA's senior officials, officiating nearly 1,500 regular-season games along and 136 more in the playoffs, two in The Finals and the 2006 All-Star Game. He achieved the best kind of status for someone in a competitive pursuit, the appreciation not only of his peers but most of those — those coaches and players — with whom he butted heads in the heat of their most intense moments.
Saunders and Willard made peace over their dispute soon after it happened and shared, in their respective roles, NBA courts for another 10 years. That sort of on-court silliness evaporated with the news last spring of Willard's illness. It's another example of that instant perspective, and life's reminders, that none of us ought to need.
"Greg epitomized what it meant to be an NBA referee through dedication to his craft, hard work, and integrity both on-and-off the court," said Lee Seham, general counsel for the National Basketball Referees Association, said in a statement Tuesday. "He was not only a great NBA Referee, but more importantly a wonderful person, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time."
Some of the highest regard shown by an NBA player to a ref came back in October, after the Los Angeles Lakers faced Utah in a preseason game in Anaheim. Willard had worked that game, despite his worsening condition, and Kobe Bryant shared thoughts on the moment via ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne:
Longtime referee Greg Willard, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June, had just taken the court and officiated the game even as his body showed the ravages of the pernicious disease.
The Lakers had already sent the game ball to the referees' locker room. Several had shook Willard's hand after the game. Bryant stopped by for a visit on his way out.
"He's an extremely good ref," Bryant said of Willard. "He doesn't hold grudges. He just makes the call in front of him.
"Honestly, tonight I wanted him to T me up for old time's sake. I didn't want him to have any kind of special night. I wanted it to be just like it's always been. I wanted to drop a couple F-bombs to him.
"I wanted it to be like how it's always been. That's the best way. "
All NBA game officials will wear wristbands or patches with Willard's jersey number 57 for the balance of the season to honor his memory.


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ReleasesBack to
Art Blakey
This LP, which has been included as part of a Mosaic Jimmy Smith three-CD box set, features the organist taking a pair of rare unaccompanied solos on "All the Things You Are" and a fairly free "The Fight" and jamming several songs ("Zing Went the Strings of My Heart," "Somebody Loves Me" and "Blue Moon") with his trio. Art Blakey fills in for drummer Donald Bailey on "Zing" while guitarist Eddie McFadden is heard throughout the three selections. Excellent straightahead jazz from the innovative organist. ~ Scott Yanow


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About OludenizOludeniz budget travel offers a taste of the beautiful blue lagoon and world-class beach of the Mediterranean's most photographed beach, with water sports and many other activities on offer, and outstanding scenery ranging from forests to marine wonders, secluded bays and peaceful coves.
Oludeniz Budget Travel
Below is a list of Oludeniz's top activities, click on the link to view all details and tours.
View all activities in Oludeniz
Oludeniz airports include:
•Dalaman International Airport
•Antalya International Airport
Oludeniz conservation plays a vital role in preserving the pristine state of the lagoon, which is a national nature reserve. With no building permitted around the lagoon area, development has not affected the current state of the lagoon, and with abundant forests and woodlands surrounding the lagoon and its Blue Flag beach, the area is protected against human influence to a large degree.
Oludeniz cultures include the following aspects:
•Parties and clubs form a typical part of life in this resort
•Food and cuisine also play a large role in the Oludeniz culture
•Ancient ruins and historical sites play a role in the resort's history
•Beaches and relaxation are a daily way of life
Health precautions in Oludeniz include the following:
•It is best to avoid tap water, and stick to bottled water
•Vaccinations are essential when travelling to Turkey
•Food can be on the rich side, so tummy bugs can occur
•Medical facilities are not excellent in the resort, with health care facilities only found in towns nearby
Oludeniz languages include:
Oludeniz money & banking information includes the following:
•Some hotels may accept credit cards, but not all do
•Travellers cheques are very hard to exchange, make sure you do this before leaving for Oludeniz
•The Turkish currency is the New Turkish Lira
•Banknotes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Lira denominations
•The Lira consists of 100 Kurus
Oludeniz people include:
Oludeniz local phrases include:
•Merhaba (Mer-ha-ba) Hello
•Gunaydin (guen-eye dhun) Good morning
•Evet (Eh-vet) Yes
•Hayir (h-eye-uhr) No
•Lutfen (lewt-fen) Please
Oludeniz plants comprise of typical Mediterranean vegetation that is found in this part of Turkey, with forests, woodlands and scrub being the most common vegetation found in and around the area. Edible plants can also be found in this region, which is a prime olive growing region.
Oludeniz religion includes the following:
Safety Tips
•As a tourist resort, Oludeniz is safe for travel
•Scams can occur however, especially for single travellers, be on the lookout for suspicious activity
•Keep valuables locked up in hotel safes and do not leave items lying around when you are not in your room
•Take care on beaches and when participating in water sports
•Be careful when hiking in the area and never hike alone
Oludeniz local transport includes:
•Mini bus
Travel Books
Oludeniz recommended travel books include:
•Insight Pocket Guide Turkish Coast by Metin Demirsar
•Frommer's Turkey: From the Blue Mosque to the Blue Lagoon by Lynn A. Levine
•Turkey Travel Map by Globetrotter
•Lonely Planet Turkey Country Guide by Tom Brosnahan and James Bainbridge
•Turkey Insight Guide by Reinhard Bockhorni
What To Buy
What to buy for holidays in Oludeniz:
•Spare batteries for torches and camera
•Guide books, bird books, Turkish phrase books
•Thick socks for hiking boots
•First aid kit for travel purposes
•Large refillable water bottle, or plenty of bottled water
•Backpack and money bag
What To Pack
What to pack for safari in Oludeniz:
•Sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
•Bathing suit and towels
•Snorkeling gear
•Comfortable walking shoes plus sandals
•Casual and smarter clothes for various activities
•Camera with spare batteries and memory card/film
•Binoculars for bird spotting
When To Go
When to go to Oludeniz:
•Spring has the best weather, with long days and less tourists
•Autumn has mild weather, with shorter days and more rain
•Summer is hot and dry, with clear weather and more tourists
•Winter is typically cold and wet, with few tourists
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
The highlight of my trip had to be Gweru in Zimbabwe, it was my idea of paradise. So much to do there with the animals and the location of it was just beautiful!
— Anne B (27) from Ireland
The trip was great! A very relaxed ride in a mokoro, followed by camping in the Okavango Delta and watching the animals on the islands was awesome!
— Michael & Silke from Germany
I loved every millisecond of the entire trip... Guess what I did in Swakopmund? I skydived out of a plane - woohoo was that AWESOME :-)
— JoJo E (61) from Switzerland
Finally home and had a great time…. I loved the shark diving, Sossusvlei and Himba people. Saw Lions, a Leopard, Elephants, Giraffes, everything really! Thanks for…
— John E from Canada
I did not believe in god till i visited Chobe National Park.
— Juca from Uruguay
Do this on the Cape Town to Nairobi with Gorilla Trek.Tours with Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Do this on the 14-day Kruger and Mozambique Safari.Tours with Kruger National Park Game Drive
Do this on the Best of South West Africa.Tours with Okavango Delta Mokoro Excursion
Do this on the Best of East Africa.Tours with Serengeti National Park Excursion
Do this on the Best of South West Africa.Tours with Victoria Falls Flight of Angels
Do this on the Best of South West Africa.Tours with White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River
Visit Etosha National Park on the Best of NamibiaTours through Etosha National Park
Visit Okavango Delta on the Best of South West AfricaTours through Okavango Delta
Visit Serengeti National Park on the Best of East AfricaTours through Serengeti National Park
Visit Victoria Falls on the Best of South West AfricaTours through Victoria Falls
Visit Zanzibar Island on the cape town to darTours through Zanzibar Island


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The Bird Is the Word
The seventh annual Artists Birdhouse Auction to benefit the Coalition for Women's Cancer at Southampton Hospital will be held on Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at 4 North Main Gallery in Southampton.
More than 60 artists have designed birdhouses to be auctioned to raise money for the coalition's cancer-patient support programs. The honorary chairwomen this year are Renee Zellweger, Betsey Johnson, and Karyn Mannix. Some of the birdhouses will be auctioned silently, others will be in a live auction.
Among the artists taking part are Mary Abbott, David Salle, Stephanie Brody Lederman, Eric Ernst, Preston Phillips, and even Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman.
This year there will also be "bird themed" photographs and paintings for sale. Portions of the sales will benefit the coalition as well.
Ms. Mannix started the birdhouse auction, which has become one of the major cancer fund-raising events on the East End, after she survived breast cancer. The mission of the coalition is to create and sustain a supportive network for women affected by breast and gynecologic cancers in the Towns of East Hampton, Southampton, and Shelter Island.
Tickets to the event are $25. All birdhouses will be on view at www. karynmannixcontemporary.com. Absentee bids may be placed by e-mailing email@example.com or calling 329-2811.
"From the Yards"
Harper's Books on Newtown Lane in East Hampton will present "Peter Spaans: New York from the Yards," an exhibit of black-and-white photographs shot in and around the city's subway yards in the mid-1980s. This is the first time the photographs have been on view publicly, although they were published in a small edition in the Netherlands.
The images, including abandoned buildings and graffiti-covered subway cars, capture New York in a state of decay and are said to generate an air of unease. Harper's Books will offer several copies of the original edition and a new limited edition.
The exhibit will open Saturday with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. with Mr. Spaans in attendance. It will close on Jan. 1.
Carpentier and Howell
The Pamela Williams Gallery in Amagansett will open an exhibit of paintings by Ralph Carpentier and Elwood Howell on Saturday.
The artists' East End landscapes are similar in subject but different in style. Mr. Carpentier's familiar views of fields, farms, bays, and back roads come from decades of exploration of those landscapes and an affinity with Dutch marine painters and the Hudson River School. With a focus on the light, Mr. Carptentier, who lives in Springs, chronicles a disappearing way of life.
The abstracted works by Mr. Howell convey a different mood and place. He uses transparent glazes and multiple planes to "leave a tonal field that makes up most of the canvas," according to Ms. Williams. He then adds floating shapes, letters and numbers, drips and spatters, to erect a symbolic framework drawn up to the high horizon line with a sliver of landscape resting on top. This style allows him to be literal in some ways while portraying an idiosyncratic view of the world.
The exhibit will be on view through Nov. 13.
Fabric Sale at LongHouse
Jack Lenor Larsen will hold a fabric sale on Saturday at the LongHouse Reserve on Hand's Creek Road in East Hampton from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of fabrics from all over the world will be available in the largest inventory ever donated to this event. Many large bolts are described as suitable for covering all types of furniture, while light-weight fabrics for curtains, duvet covers, and pillows will also be sold.
Prices range from $20 to $40 a yard. According to a press release from LongHouse, the fabrics are usually available only to the trade and typically sell for more than $100 a yard. All fabrics have been donated by Cowtan and Tout/ Larsen and will benefit the reserve's public programs.
For those who cannot make the sale, private appointments can be arranged through Wendy Van Deusen at LongHouse.
"On Loop" at Halsey McKay
The Halsey McKay Gallery in East Hampton will show Arielle Falk's video installation "On Loop" beginning Saturday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m.
According to the gallery, the installation is inspired by a childhood memory reinterpreted through the lens of Jacques Lacan's concept of "objet petit a," defined by Lacan as "any object that sets desire in motion." Yet, it is also an object that can never be obtained.
For Ms. Falk, it is the idea of chasing as an end in itself, as in a childhood game she recalled playing in which she chased a friend around a tree. The game to her is a "perfect metaphor for the fact that we, as humans, go through our lives searching for a chimerical something (objet petit a) and are forever wrapped up in endless loops of desire."
There are two videos in the installation. One recaptures the spirit of the chase game and the other shows the artist capturing the images for the first video, circling the tree over and over again.
Ms. Falk was born in Washington, D.C., and now lives in Brooklyn. She has had a performance piece in Union Square in Manhattan and has shown her work internationally.
Odds & Ends
Audrey Flack will play the banjo with the History of Art Band in Cooper Square in New York City on Tuesday, along with Watler Valta Us and others at 2 p.m. . . . Lynn Matsuoka will document a British actor during rehearsals for a sold-out London show in October. She is selling prints in support of this project at Kickstarter.com. . . . Molly Weiss, who has organized a number of exhibits on the South Fork, has been named director of Gallery 151 in Chelsea. A new show of John Platt's work will open there on Oct. 20. . . . Michelle Murphy Strada's work is included in the "American Realism" show at Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M. through Nov. 12. . . . Photographers East will meet Monday at 7 p.m. at the Bridgehampton National Bank community room in Bridgehampton with a group discussion of photography and uses of Photoshop. The public is welcome.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Art Scene for this week has been updated to include Halsey McKay's opening Saturday, Oct. 15. The event was originally announced in last week's Art Scene, due to an incorrect date provided on the initial press release.


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So it looks like it's definitely the end for Malta's vintage buses…. 😦
We've travelled to a fair few places on these buses and only ever use a taxi to get from the airport to our accommodation, although one year we did take the bus from the airport to Valletta and then another onto Bugibba bus station.
It took a bit too long for our liking and not so much fun with a suitcase, so we went back to the taxi option for our other visits.
The old Bedford buses are to be replaced by Arriva – we have them in Cyprus too. We do still have an old village bus that parks at the top of our street and often see it dressed up for weddings. (Click through for more info on Cyprus buses).
Did you know, the average Maltese bus is apparently around 35 years old?
This and more interesting information about the old and the new Malta buses can be found on this link:
BBC News – Malta's colourful vintage buses bow out.
MALTA BUS ROUTE UPDATE 22nd July 2011
Malta bus route changes planned this year after complaints over 18 of the 71 routes in Malta. The changes will take place from this month and the Winter timetable will be brought forward to 2nd October instead of 31st October.
The first of the changes will be implemented on 31st July and thereafter on 4th September, 2nd October and 30th October.
Routes that will be shortened:
1. Ċirkewwa – Valletta: Route 41 will no longer pass through Bugibba.
2. Birżebbuġa and Marsaxlokk – Valletta: Routes 81 u 82 will no longer pass by Marsa Park and Ride.
3. Qrendi and Żurrieq – Valletta: Routes 71 u 72 will no longer stop off at the Airport
New Direct Services
4. Services between localities and villages in the South of Malta and Mater Dei. There is agreement in principle, but the details are still being discussed and announced at a later date, the ministry said.
5. Cirkewwa –Valletta: Services related to the arrivals and departures of the Gozo ferry based on a direct route to Vallettawith only a few stops.
6. Rabat- Lija – Mosta –St Julians and Mater Dei: Route 202 will start stopping by Mater Dei.
7. The Three Cities – Marsaskala: Reorganisation of routes 121 u 124 into one route connected in a direct network between the localities.
8. Sliema – Gżira Polyclinic: Changes in route 116 to allow a direct connection between the two destinations.
New routes towards Valletta
9. Qormi (San Ġorġ) – Valletta: A new route (63) between Qormi (San Ġorġ), Ħamrun, and Valletta.
10. Għaxaq, Gudja – Valletta: A new route (X5) connecting these villages directly with Valletta.
11. Attard – Valletta: A new route (54) from Misraħ Kola to the centre of Attard, ending up in Valletta.
12. Fleur de Lys – Valletta: A new direct connection to Vallettawill be introduced starting from Birkirkara station, and will pass through Fleur de Lys and Ħamrun.
13. Santa Luċija – Valletta: A new route (83) will run between Santa Luċija and Valletta.
14. Pembroke, Swieqi and Ta' Ġiorni: New routes between Valetta to these respective localities.
New direct services to Valletta
15. Golden Bay/Imġarr – Valletta: Aside from existing services, a direct route will run between Imgarr and Golden Bay running to Valletta which will pass through Mosta.
16. Għargħur – Valletta: A more direct service between Gharghu and Valeltta which will pass through the Birkirkara bypass and Mater Dei.
17. Naxxar – Valletta: Aside from existing services, a direct route will run between Naxxar and Valletta which will pass through Birkirkara.
18. Marsaskala: Route 91 will be extended to St Thomas Bay and the area around St Thomas' Tower.
Shifts in routes to better cover urban areas:
19. Gżira (Rue D'Argens) and Sliema (Savoy): Routes 22 u 32 will begin passing trough Roue D'Argens Gzira up to the Savoyhill in both directions which will allow a direct connection to and from Valletta.
20. Birżebbuġa (Tal-Papa): Route 82 will be adjusted to cover tal-Papa.
21. Xgħajra: Route 3 will be better adjusted to cover more of the locality.
22. Psaila Street, Birkirkara: Route 125 will be adjusted and will run in both directions to allow a better connection to Psaila Street.
23. Żejtun: Service will be extended to allow better access to the Eastern side of the locality.
24. Kappara: Route 116 will be adjusted to better service the area.
25. San Ġwann t'Għuxa: Route 2 will pass through the zone in both directions to better service the locality.
26. Xewkija: Route 302 will be adjusted to cater for more of the locality.
27. Għajnsielem: Route 303 will be adjusted to cater for more of the locality.


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Two press releases
So - the comic that I teased last post by myself and Paul Duffield was revealed as TXA; a ten-pager commissioned by the London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine. Click the banner for one of the write-ups as well as a link to the full comic:
And the other news that broke over the weekend was regarding the incredible search for the remains of Richard III, a subject close to my heart. I was amazingly happy to be asked to provide illustration for the press conference, and enlisted the help of Kate Brown and Paul Duffield in making the images come to life with colour and borders. An exciting time for fans of the white boar!
Click the above banner for more on the dig. And the one below for a little teaser I posted on my tumblr regarding just why the whole thing was so exciting for me to be a part of!
All this and of course Shadowkiss is still moving on as well. I'm over twenty pages into pencils on the book, and I just know you guys are going to love it!


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Happy Birthday Aaliyah: Watch Singer's Top Five Videos
Aaliyah was one of R&B's treasured songstresses in the '90s, but she was sadly taken away after a fatal plane crash on Aug. 25, 2001. And although it seems bittersweet to celebrate what would have been her 34th birthday today, we, at TheDrop.fm, want to celebrate her with a look back at her musical highlights and best music videos. Even though she may not be with us any longer, these videos will be a reminder of the great singer that she was and always will be. R.I.P. Baby Girl.


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Kia Ora, everyone,
Fiona here, long-time atheist and mother to a 13 year old boy. Separated, divorce to be granted mid-year and planning a move soon to the US to be with my partner who lives in Kentucky.
I was raised Catholic and am raising my son as an atheist. I love the comments I get from people who are incredulous I am raising my child to not believe in the existence of a deity, but hey, to me that is the "default setting" for all people when they're born, so I am simply raising him as he was born and simply instilling what I hope are good, healthy ethics and morals based on the premise that we should be good because it's the right thing to do, rather than because we are afraid of the consequences meted out to us byt some mythical deity.
Looking forward to getting to know people here.
Fiona x
Views: 336
Good luck moving to Kentucky. I think they have a little more than their fair share of whoo. Just curious, what made you change your mind about theism?
Hey Michael,
Thanks for the reply, and interesting question. Mostly I get "how COULD you move away from God" hahaha.
I was taught to question most things I am taught, particularly if I am told to "take it on faith". I was raised in a Catholic household, but by a mother who was highly educated and quite brilliant academically, so accepting things on blind faith - or rather, the doubting of such an acceptance - was as ingrained as the Catholicism.
By the time I was at university I knew I was atheist, I was just still needing the comfort that the Church gave me IN THEORY, ie, the somewhat flimsy knowledge I was part of a community that would look after me and protect me (not that it did, but ya know...).
I finally admitted to myself anything less than realising I was not a theist was hypocritical, and by the time my child was born (I was 30), I knew it was the right route in life for me to take.
Hope that explains it somewhat for you.
Regarding Kentucky, it will be very interesting. My partner is atheist and he cannot wait to have a family around him that is of a like mind: respect all, but be yourself.
Kentucky is a very pretty part of the country. I liked the Cincinnati area a lot because of all of the fun things to do there. Count your self a lucky person in getting to raise your kid with a like minded partner. I have seen plenty of horror stories on the net when that is not the case. I changed my mind when exposed to other branches of christianity in public school. I initially attended a catholic school. I didn't like how the other kids behaved in spite of the increase in their god-talk. In order to dismiss their beliefs I had to take a closer look at mine because of the similarities.
My son currently attends a Catholic high school as he couldn't get into the public high school we wanted for him and the other two are too violent for him. So far, it's working out okay, but I hate the fact he is not allowed to get academic awards as "demonstrating the Catholic ethos of the school" is a requirement for being given such awards. And although he has had teachers putting him forward for award for multiple subjects, he is not allowed to be recognised. Pity... But he at least has some good teachers.
Glad to have you on our side! We could use an infusion of non-stupid over here in the States!
Not sure how friendly Kentucky is to that sort of thing. Tennessee for one is known for being hyper-religious, and they are right next to each other. But just having you there will make Kentucky one family smarter. :)
I wish you luck in Kentucky. Some parts of the state are ... less primitive than others. There is at least one Humanist group in one of the cities, and probably more. I hope your son takes well to the change. He may have a tough time the first few weeks in school. Please be supportive and responsive. I hope the change works really, really well for you all.
Thank you, Jerry. He will be homeschooled initially, which he has been before, and prefers, utilising the resources from a local high school (eg, science labs, music and drama rooms, etc.). The plan is to not stay in KY for longer than a couple of years, by which time he will be ready to sit his SATs for college in CO or WA.
We won't be living close to any of the major cities in KY, so will perhaps look at humanist groups in WV as well.
Thanks for that, Pat.
I look forward to experiencing the wonderful scenery of Kentucky, and my partner has said the caves are marvellous, and we should do some exploration. However, we are more keen on CO or WA so will end up, fingers crossed, in either of those two states, and nearer a metropolitan area, where life is a little more...shall we say eclectic? hehe
I have been to CA five times to visit family over the years, and KY Nov 2012 for the first time, and look forward to eventually moving over.
© 2019 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


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Please update your bookmark for the MOTU Classics Sales Report to our new web-site at:
Please update your bookmark for the MOTU Classics Sales Report to our new web-site at:
Last edited by ComicTrek.Net; December 2, 2010 at 02:20pm. Reason: New URL
Those are some disturbing figures. But if Matty wants those figures they too better get their heads out of their asses and start to even more up in production!
Accept the unacceptable.
useful and illuminating - and yes - it should tell Matty something. Bring on KG fast!
On the flip side there's about 15 other figures that would Read......
What's wrong with a few figures in the line fetching big dollars? I don't even have a Greyskull, but would rather not even see it Re-released. EVERY line should have at least a FEW figures that never see the light of day ever again ESPECIALLY if it's an exclusive and that should be one of them.
Things like that add to the allure and keep it going with collect ability high, it's a highlight of the line. Would you really stop collecting if EACH and EVERY figure didn't get re-released? I think not....Faker is another one....I paid a premium price to obtain one just like i do with certain other figures in any other line and I have no problem doing so...It's the name of the game.
I laugh when I see people saying that these types of figures HAVE to be re-released!!!...No they don't, they're EXCLUSIVES!! Haven't you ever collected anything before? The term "Exclusive" tells you everything you need to know....Matty bends at the knees to peer pressure yet again...
I think that it's an injustice when Exclusives get re-released and yes I know that the packaging is different, big deal...is the figure? No...
Anyway...I'll be away till Sunday night...but would love to respond if need be then.
Thats a neat page, its about what I was thinking $10 extra over base for most figures and then the special ones are in the $100-150 (Grayskull and Wun-Dar)
Its also in line with what I sell my extras at, so at least when I got rid of my extras it was what the market was paying.
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Very cool tool! Enlightening. I'll definitely be checking back to see how much I should be paying for figures I missed. But other than KG and Wonderbread I agree the prices aren't over the top.
The trend I noticed was Certain figures sell high (King Greyskull, Faker) other sell well until the reissue is announced (see Stratos, MMA) others when you figure in inbound outbound shipping & all the fees the people are taking a beating.
Also look at how many Adora auctions compared to the others.
one last thing look how bad poeple are getting screwed for shipping 18.00 for a figure???
Maybe we as a comunity as a service should report those with the uber excessive shipping & ebay will pull them
Last edited by tmthor; February 13, 2010 at 12:15pm.
My active ebay items for sale.http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/taddow...Q_fromZQQ_mdoZ
jbaw2, Dr.Omega, email@example.com, tmcclurg, celticsfan, THEGODBEAST, Venom77713, Royalt1us, racerx, davidlogan, granbeetle, MOTU SAN JOSE 2, prime731,galaxywarrior,Butterflyer,Creasy Bear.
Looking at the prices of most of these MOTUC figures on Ebay now, I am truly baffled as to why people would want to buy up bunches of these figures on mattycollector to re sell on Ebay. There just isn't any profit with it. I know some collectors sell their extras sometimes, but there are always a few sellers that have batches of these figures and end up losing money.
As for figures being rereleased.... why would you care or be bothered by it? I'd much rather see fans able to get these figures at a decent price than have to pay an outrageously inflated price for them. IMO, none of these figures are worth $100 or more. not by a long shot...
nobody should have to pay that much for a $20- $30 figure (which is expensive enough imo)... anyone who thinks otherwise has got to be a seller looking to make a HUGE profit at a collectors' expense.
Screw the whole 'some figures should fetch big dollars' metality. that doesn't benefit anyone but the *******s, and imo is rather a selfish way of thinking. and that's my opinion on that.
and yes... rereleasing a figure doesn't in any way step on the toes of the con exclusives. look at He-ro... the con exclusive had a stamp, while the other one didn't. so there you have it. KG will also have some type of different deco, so again, that'll have no effect on the first release version whatsoever.
how about people getting the figures they want without having to sell their soul? how about that? why do you think fans should have to pay an outrageous amount for new toys? I don't get that logic one damn bit. I can see paying a higher amount for items that are 20 + yrs old and still mib, but not for a 'brand new' item or one that's only a yr or two old. No way, no how.
Lifelong fan of: MOTU, G.I.Joe, Transformers, most 'good' movies of any genre, Star Wars, oldies/classic rock & country music, WWE/WWF/WCW/NWA wrestling, old school circus sideshow performers & fictional movie 'creatures', my friends and family. oh, yes...and I love action figures!!!!!
Support MVCreations for MOTUC!!!!
Very few of those auctions are closing below $20, which when you factor in how many tens of these figures a lot of resellers have to be buying, shipping for them is negligible, so they are at very least breaking even 99% of the time.
I wish Mattel would've kept increasing production like they were throughout 2009.
Remember when DR/Matty's snafu created multiple unwanted Mer-Man orders and the market was absolutely flooded with Mer-Men?
If there had been 1 or 2 more figures after that which had similarly poor pay-off on the secondary market, resellers might have taken a big step back.
But in hindsight, the subscription-only production levels is catering right to those people.
Now thats a report.
I sold a few on ebay and made ok money. I wtill have 2 of each and will never get rid of them. Even if they re-issue them.
Check out the Masters Of The Galaxy Podcast. And also check out Masters of the Galaxy Facebook page
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My feedback threadhttp://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/...or-Brian-Ozone
If the listings extended for just a few more days, the two figures that I just bought would probably be among those listed. Unless I'm just not seeing how to update for February.
"You see, I've got this real moron thing I do...it's called 'thinking'...and I'm not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions." - George Carlin
that is an excellent page for auction prices!
I want NA Skeletor and Rio Blast and I want them now!
Faker as an exclusive was a pretty poor choice, in my opinion. While he was just reused parts, he's a keystone figure in the mythos, along with the 8-back characters.
As for Grayskull, maybe if he'd actually not been assembled by an even worse factory than what we have for figures now I'd be a little more peeved.
Anyway...great post on your behalf!!!
ComicTrek your site is very informative and useful!! Thank you for your efforts.
I firmly feel that each fan should get whatever figure they want without having to take out a loan just to by that figure. I also feel it's good to help a fellow fan out who missed out or can't get a certain figure, like Wundar. If I had 2 subscriptions, I'd gladly part with mine for $20 plus shipping. That's just me though, mister nice guy.
It seems as though Evilbay is really the only place for casual collectors to get their figs - which is fine.
The problems I have with eBay however, are not unique to just MotU figures. However, with that said, the one thing I've learned is that its up to you, the buyer to insure you get the item you want at the price you want.
My rules are:
1. Set my maximum such that I am paying no more than I am willing to pay.
2. Bid on multiple bidding options. The few figs I have picked up, I've paid about what someone would've paid to purchase from Matty (I've paid no more than $30 on the figs I do own).
Its easy to get frustrated and start increasing you "willingness" beyond what you would like. As long as you're patient, you'll usually get what you want at a price you deem acceptable. If you're in the "I want this now" mentality, you're usually gonna pay a lot more. The trick here is to offer what is reasonable (they still want to make some money but they also want to get the item off their hands and recoup their investment).
Another thing is to take advantage of the "make an offer" option. Try to offer a price that is both reasonable and less than what you'd actually pay for max. That is how I got my He-man. He was going for 55 including shipping and I offered 25. I ended up paying 30 all together (this was months after he had been released).
A lot of those second hand dealers are fairly stubborn. They think if they leave it up long enough - someone WILL buy it. But, after a few months, someone comes along and offers a price that still allows them to break even or make a few bucks. The shrug and go, "What evs, might as well." - especially when they have 6 more waiting to be sold.
Granted, for me, 30-35 is reasonable, if I miss out from buying direcly from Matty - especially since I'm not in it for each and every figure.
Last edited by andrantos; February 14, 2010 at 11:06pm. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Thanks for the very useful site! I have always wanted to do this same thing with vintage MOTU merchandise!!
Contact me if you have MOTU Merchandise Items for sale or trade! Please view a sampling of what I am looking for Here:
very interesting info. i'll be looking this up every so often.
Oh MOTU, Why Can't I Quit You!
My Trader Feedback thread:
So what do we call "Exclusives" then that are ONLY available at shows? Super Duper Exlcusives?...Perhaps your new to collecting....Just about EVERY line in existence has figures that never see the light of day again after a special event, why should anything new take place here? My response was in regard to "true" exclusives not the entire line and how the bulk of them are obtained.
What's so inflated....1, 2, figures?...Seriously I'll say it again...are you new to collecting? That is a perfectly normal situation. Just about every figure aside from a select few can be found either on here or Ebay for just about cost, OR slightly higher.
Here you say again, what you essentially said before....You obviously take a stance in one direction while I go in the complete opposite.
You make it seem as if 90%-100% of the line is UNOBTAINABLE and how people have to sell their house and Grandpa's Coin Collection to collect the line. We're talking about a tiny amount of product here...Again this concept is NOTHING new in regard to collecting ANYTHING...There also IS a connection in keeping certain things harder to get and keeping collector interest high...
If EVERYTHING was so easy to get a good amount of people would loose interest on that merit alone....Alot of people DO collect/buy for the mere fact that they think that "something" might be worth something one day down the road and that helps keep the engine running...The "Millionaire Syndrome" is contagious and everyone wants to become one somehow, someway...What do you think is *part* of the reason that this line has been so successful to this day alone,...That very concept!!
If it takes a "few" figures to do that and keep collector interest high and the so called "engine" going so be, it who cares. Are you going to drop dead because you only have 49 pieces of plastic displayed on your shelf instead of 50, 51? Give me a break......
If Matty came out tomorrow and said that "Mo-larr" was going to be re-released 6 months after Comic Con or said nothing at all, BUT then re-released Mo-larr 6 months after comic con it would drive a stake into the heart of the Frenzy and future frenzy....Why would you want to do that to the line, for the expense of single figure so that EVERYONE could get for $20? Makes no sense...When it's gone it's gone...end of story.
I'm sure that all of us won't EVER achieve and accomplish EVERYTHING that we've always aspired to acquire in life so why should little hunks of plastic be any different. We obviously differ in opinion which is fine and a fact of life in any circumstance so I can't expect it to be any different here.
and no i'm not new to toy collecting. i've been collecting toys since around '82. You sound as if you are an after market seller who likes making outrageous profit at the expense of collectors... I don't know if that's the case.
I seriously never understood the reason to make any figures in any given toyline rare, since imo it's a pain in the ass to obtain them, and it benefits nobody but the after market sellers. It gives them that much more reason to jack up the prices and rip people off. Nothing infuriates me more than people who rip off others. I am grateful for ebay, as it makes it easier to actually find some of those elusive toys.
and yes, alot of exclusives in general are very much inflated. look at what KG costs.... over $100 for a $20 figure? that's insane! I've seen He-man for over $75 in some places... also totally off the wall. I would never charge somebody that much for a $20 item, no matter how 'hot' it is... I just never saw the need to price gouge people over a friggin' toy.
$30 - $35 to me is reasonable for these figures, which is about twhat BBTS charges. any higher is not, since most of these figures (exclusives included) use the same damn parts anyway.
my point is, that not everyone has been collecting this line from the beginning. luckily I have been, and have been able to obtain every figure so far. But if i had missed out on some of those early figures i'd be furious to have to pay $100 or more for a $20 figure. Actually I don't believe any figure in this line is actually worth $20, but since they're only avalible off the website (exclusive) they see fit to charge that price.
and if i were just discovering this line now, i might be deterred from collecting it, seeing as just about everything is no longer avalible...so the rereleases help to draw in new collectors more than the exclusives.
Don't get me wrong... i have no problem with con exclusives being something special... and not getting released again, such as mo-larr, or Wun-dar.... it's just that you came off as sounding like none of the figures should get rereleased. like you said once it's gone it's gone... to me that's a selfish way of thinking. even though this line is website only, it still should operate as if it were a retail line, meaning making enough of each figure to satisfy demand. seeing as the vast majority of figures sell out in mere hours, they're obviously not making enough of each, unless everyone is buying 10 or more of each figure. I doubt that's the case.
I see no reason not to rerelease kG, or He-ro or whoever Mattel sees fit. i know i'll never own a spirit of Grayskull figure, and i'm fine with that. i like my figures in full color anyway. Everything else though, I want, and do expect to be able to get at a decent price.
And unless you have a credit card, this entire line is unobtainable... unless you buy them off ebay, for a higher price. I don't see why Matty can't have payment through paypal like every other toy websites do. It would make life easier during times when one's credit card is maxed out. I collect alot of other toylines besides motuc.... so it adds up quite fast.
and don't even get me started on those AFA graded figures. Some of those G1 Tf prices are downright friggin outrageous..... a true aftermarket seller's paradise. if they actually get people to buy them for those crazy prices.
Thank you Power Sword. I'm glad that somebody here has some degree of common sense. I'm happy for those who missed out on KG, that they will now have a chance to get the rereleased version. I'll get one myself just to have a cardback to add to my other cardbacks. i wonder what his new accessories & deco will be?
andrantos... yeah those are some good ebay tips... i do look for the most reasonable prices for various items. you can get some great deals every so often.
Lifelong fan of: MOTU, G.I.Joe, Transformers, most 'good' movies of any genre, Star Wars, oldies/classic rock & country music, WWE/WWF/WCW/NWA wrestling, old school circus sideshow performers & fictional movie 'creatures', my friends and family. oh, yes...and I love action figures!!!!!
Support MVCreations for MOTUC!!!!


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Barbie and Dodee
The Chester's Mill residents receive an unexpected visit from their loved ones on the other side. Meanwhile, the community braces for a threat from outside the Dome, on UNDER THE DOME. Pictured: L-R Mike Vogel as Barbie and Jolene Purdy as Dodee Photo: Kent Smith/©2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Hillsboro police
Domestic battery
Carlos Gomez Garcia, 36, of Hillsboro was arrested at 1 a.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic battery, accused of using both hands to grab the victim and pull her off the couch she was laying on. He was later transported to the Marion County Jail.
Misdemeanor theft
Michel Matias, 20, 400 S. Jefferson St., Hillsboro, reported the theft of an Apple iPhone 4, valued at $450, at approximately 2 p.m. Oct. 22. Charges are pending.
Sheriff's department
Theft of a high-definition TV, Smith & Wesson .38 revolver, Jennings 9mm pistol, and game console and controllers with a combined estimated value of $1,300 was reported at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8 on 300th Rd. between Xavier and Yarrow Rds.
Criminal damage to property
Vandalism of a mailbox with an estimated value of $100 was reported at 3 p.m. Oct. 14 on Pawnee Rd. between 240th and 250th Rds.
Theft of keys and a remote fob, saw, angle grinder, impact driver, and game camera with a combined estimated value of $1,645 was reported at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20 on 100th Rd. between Kanza and Limestone Rds.
Damage to the windshield and rear window of a 1995 Ford F-150 pickup and theft of the left door, three aluminum rims, and a chrome front bumper from the same truck, with a combined estimated value of $1,650, was reported at 4:10 p.m. Oct 21 on 60th Rd. between Mustang and Nighthawk Rds.
Criminal damage to property
Damage to a door and frame with an estimated value of $500 was reported at 10:34 a.m. Oct. 23 in the 400 block of S. Vernon St., Lehigh.


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Ga. – The Diamond Devils 17u Black (6-1) saw its six-game
undefeated steak end as it lost 9-2 to Bandits Baseball (3-4) in a
Wednesday afternoon Pool D matchup at the 2012 WWBA 17u National
with the Diamond Devils at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth,
the Bandits plated six runs to break open the game, keyed by a
bases-loaded walk and two run-scoring base hits.
spite of the loss, the Diamond Devils entered the day having already
clinched a spot in the tournament's playoffs by virtue of winning
their pool.
Diamond Devils' typical starting catcher, Nick Ciuffo (2013,
Lexington H.S., S.C.), took a day off from catching and instead held
down the third spot in the batting lineup as a designated hitter.
who committed to University of South Carolina as a freshman at Wando
High School in Dec. 2009, drove in the game's first run in the
opening frame with a RBI groundout to second base. He even stole
second base in the fourth.
think that was my second career stolen base," said Cuiffo after the
game. "I'm not really a speed demon."
a member of the Diamond Devils program since the summer of 2009,
hails from Charleston, S.C., where the organization's base of
operations is located.
you look back at the alumni who have come through this
program...it's, in my opinion, by far the best travel team in South
Carolina and one of the best in the country," said Perfect Game's
number 14-ranked prospect in the high school class of 2013. "And
the coaching's great. There's four-five coaches on each team, and
you get specific teaching with everything you do."
six-foot-one, 195-pound backstop attended Wando High School in Mount
Pleasant, S.C., for his freshman and sophomore years before
transferring to Lexington High School for this past season. While at
Wando, he pledged to South Carolina before ever appearing in a high
school game.
feel like it's the best program in college baseball right now,"
said Ciuffo, who also strongly considered Auburn University. "The
program there is just awesome."
to Perfect Game's preseason 2012 Underclass First Team, Ciuffo said
his summer has been jam-packed to say the least.
guess it started a week after school got out at the end of May,"
said Cuiffo of his travel ball season. "I played a couple of
weekends with the Daimond Devils and then I was off to the Metrodome
for the Perfect Game National Showcase."
in Minneapolis, Minn., in June, Ciuffo stood out defensively,
recording a 1.83-second pop time and firing an 82-mph throw down to
second in drills.
"(The) Perfect
Game National was definitely one of my favorite things that I've
done," Ciuffo said. "And then I went to the USA Baseball
Tournament of Stars in North Carolina, and got selected for the
40-man trials team. Then when I returned to South Carolina, I was
home for about three days and then I came to Georgia."
Rhodes, the Diamonds Devils' founder and president in addition to
the head coach of the Diamond Devils 17u Black, was quick and to the
point when asked about Ciuffo.
catcher. Good arm," said Rhodes after the Diamond Devils' loss.
"He understands the game. Swings the bat pretty well too."
Diamond Devils catcher sounded optimistic about the team's chances
heading into bracket play on Wednesday night.
know there's teams here that have eight or nine SEC or ACC
commitments or the six-foot-two, 215-pound guys who are going to hit
the ball 500 feet," Ciuffo explained. "But we've got a real
good nucleus I guess you could say.
a team. We play together and hang out all the time. And I feel like
that's what's going to help us to be successful. We're a team
that's here to win the whole thing."
asked about his goals for between now and June 2013, Ciuffo made it
very clear what he will be shooting for.
to get better every day. That's all you can really ask for,"
Ciuffo said. "I'd like to put myself in a situation where I've
gotten good enough to say I can be a first round draft pick. I feel
like that's everybody's goal."


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The risk of deflation may be rising in the euro zone, but economists don't expect the European Central Bank to make more moves to fight it on Thursday.
While ECB President Mario Draghi is expected to use his monthly press conference to elaborate on measures taken two months ago -- a further cut in its key lending rate to just 0.15% and a negative rate of 0.1% on deposits held at the central bank, among others -- strategists say charts like these illustrate the challenge in ultimately convincing markets that the central bank is committed to chasing off the danger of deflation.
A market-based measure of inflation expectations is falling:
This chart, courtesy of St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank economist Alejandro Badel, shows that one-year breakeven inflation expectations calculated from Italian debt yields have dropped sharply since early May, when Draghi said the central bank would be "comfortable" taking steps to boost inflation. Breakeven inflation expectations are calculated by measuring the extra yield provided by a nominal debt security compared to the yield on inflation-indexed debt.
"This lack of reaction in inflation expectations can be interpreted as a signal that market participants do not expect the policy to work in terms of boosting inflation," Badel writes in a blog post on the St. Louis Fed's web site. Read more about Badel's take on euro-zone inflation expectations.
Draghi is likely to adopt a dovish tone, holding the door open for quantitative easing in the future, if needed. That's assured, in part, by a further decline in the annual rate of inflation to 0.4% in July, the lowest reading since October 2009 and far below the ECB's target of near but just below 2%.
Draghi has repeatedly said that deflation doesn't appear to be a danger, but has acknowledged that an extended period of very low inflation can be dangerous. Providing some margin of comfort, the fall in inflation is seen down in part due to falling prices for food and oil.
Russia worries are hitting German economic sentiment:
"We expect [Draghi's] Q&A session to be dominated by questions about the impact of recent EU and U.S. sanctions against Russia on the euro-zone economy and financial system," said Elwin de Groot, senior euro zone strategist at Rabobank in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Fears that tougher sanctions against Russia for its role in the Ukraine conflict could hurt German exporters and threaten the flow of Russian natural gas have taken a toll on economic sentiment in Germany. Europe's largest economy took the biggest hit in the latest Sentix sentiment readings.
Stocks stumble:
That's contributed in part to a retreat by stocks, with Germany's DAX leading the way down for Europe's major regional indexes:
Euro offers some welcome news:
It hasn't been all doom and gloom for ECB policy makers. De Groot argues the ECB's "forward guidance" policy and recent monetary-policy efforts have successfully held down interest-rate expectations. That's finally taken some air out of the euro , which last month dropped below $1.34 for the first time since November.
A weaker euro is a welcome development for euro-zone exporters. It could also help put some upward pressure on inflation by lifting import prices.
Credit growth:
Lending to the private sector continues to fall across the euro zone. But the pace of the decline has at least slowed, leaving some economists to argue the glass is half full. Writes Pernille Bomholdt, senior analyst at Danske Bank in Copenhagen:
The latest figure for loans to the private sector showed a slower pace of decline, while the ECB's Bank Lending Survey for Q2 showed that banks eased credit standards. Weak bank lending has been a significant headwind to the ongoing recovery and, according to the ECB, a third of the output gap in the periphery can be explained by weak credit growth. Hence, the improvements are much needed.
Meanwhile, the ECB should also welcome a fall in interbank interest rates to an average of 0.04% in July from 0.26% in May, said Jennifer McKeown, senior European economist at Capital Economics. Also, the yield on 10-year German government bonds , or bunds,has dropped to a record low and peripheral yields have fallen too, she noted.
-- William Watts
Follow William on Twitter @wlwatts
More must-reads from MarketWatch:
The market is betting against Draghi
Weidmann is jockeying for the ECB's top job
This aging bull market can still rage


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I suppose it was only a matter of time, but I was still surprised to see an announcement of a documentary film debuting a the Tribeca Film Festival, called Out of Print. This film, directed by Vivienne Roumani, an independent producer/director based in New York City, explores the future of the book. Roumani, a former librarian has assembled an impressive group of interviews, including the late Ray Bradbury to consider the question of what will happen to the book.
On the web site for the film, the following description summarizes what the viewer can expect to see.
Web to Book: Drop Dead," fun but jarring, was one of the headlines amid the growing barrage of news stories and books about the imminent death of the written word and the inevitable migration of our personal and collective knowledge and memory to machines. Especially as a former librarian, this growing view about the impact of the digital revolution was deeply troubling to me. Is the book as we know it really dead? Is the question even important in an always-on, digital world? I set out on a quest to find out what it really means to us as individuals, and as a society, to have the ability to answer nearly any question at lightning speed, anywhere, and at any time.
The complexity of the architecture of information became evident from the first interview: the bookseller led to the author, which led to the publisher, to the librarian, the reader, the pirate web site, the educator, the cognitive scientist; issues of copyright, preservation, knowledge, democratization, and diversity of access and sources were all intertwined. "Is the book dead?" was simply the starting point to get to the bottom of a time of transformation that ultimately affects every aspect of our society. The late Ray Bradbury, Authors Guild President Scott Turow, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, New Yorker and CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin, are among the participants that helped me unravel the issues that impact the very core of our civilization. I hope that the clarity that Out of Print offers is a starting point around which we can engage in a candid and fruitful discussion that will help direct our future.
What do you think about the future of the book? My position is as long as we long to tell and hear stories that impact our lives, there will always be a place for the book. Use the comment section to let me know your views.


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Previous Lecture
Complete and continue
The Photo Fix
Getting Started
Start Here
Keep Yourself On Track
Referral Program
30 Day Photo Fix Journey
Members Only Facebook Group
Your BONUSES!
3 easy tips for a pic 3x better
Secrets of the famous rule of thirds
Use lines to lead the eye
How the pros use negative space positively
The secret to getting the subject to "pop"
How your lens dramatically impacts composition
Why it's all about light
Light Law #1: Forever Change Where You Shoot
Light Law #2: The antidote to flat light
Light Law #3: You might as well be in biz
Every pro owns this to create stunning light
A foolproof (and profitable) natural light setup
How the pros make the eyes "pop"
Use window light like a pro
5 tips for shooting in direct sunlight
Understanding Exposure
Why exposure is like painting
Why aperture is like a paint brush
An exercise in aperture
What aperture should I use?
Shutter speed and solitary confinement
Blurry pics? Here's why.
ISO to the rescue
Exposure: bringing it all together
The holy grail: Shooting in full manual
Camera Operations
The most important button on your camera
The 2 shooting modes pros use most
How to use aperture priority mode like a pro.
Everything you need to (finally) nail your focus
How to capture accurate skin tone
RAW vs JPG: And the winner is…
The 10 Camera Commandments
The editing software to invest in
Adobe Lightroom: Library basics
Adobe Lightroom: Editing basics
Use tone curves to look genius
Optimizing images for web and print
Organizing pics through the edit phase
Google Photos: Effortless photo management and backup
The Amazon Way
Where to get exceptional prints at bargain prices
My favorite place to get quality books
When (and why) to print your own photos
The best (unexpected) way to display your photos
Bonus: Gear Guide
The ONE lens that will put your images on the next level
Purchasing your next lens
f2.8 to f1.4: Is it worth it?
Camera Buying Guide
Lens Buying Guide
Lighting Buying Guide
Computer / Software Buying Guide
Accessory Buying Guide
Keep Yourself On Track
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For people who suffer from mild to moderate chronic pain, medication may offer relief. But many people find they can gain long-term control over their pain through complementary methods. Pain can be a chronic condition, just like hypertension or diabetes that you need to learn to self-manage and control.
The Options
In addition to traditional pain relievers, nondrug methods of pain relief may help you gain that control. Some techniques, like imagery, relax the muscles, help you sleep, and distract you from symptoms.
While some techniques require little expertise or help from others, some may require instruction from a professional. Patients can seek advice from a chronic pain specialist who can coordinate all aspects of management, including physical therapies and other techniques.
Below are examples of the many nondrug options that are available.
Applying Heat or Cold
Most of us are familiar with holding an ice pack on a twisted ankle or lying on a heating pad for a sore back. But hot and cold treatments can be used in other ways. For example, moist heat, which is often more effective than dry heat, can be applied with a warm towel or a soak in the tub. A small paper cup filled with water and kept in the freezer can become an excellent tool to apply to a painful area, while iced washcloths can be used to cover a larger area.
When using heat or cold therapy, do this for only 15 minutes at a time. Allow the area to return to normal body temperature before reapplying the therapy. Some people obtain added relief by alternating heat and ice. Others use heat before exercising and ice after.
Always place a towel between the cold or heat and the skin. Never lie directly on a heating pad, and if it feels too warm, take it off.
The relaxation response is an array of beneficial physiological effects associated with focused relaxation, some of which may reduce the perception of pain. For best results, make relaxation a part of your daily routine.
There are a number of ways to invoke the relaxation response, and many audio and video downloads are available to help. One popular approach is to get in a comfortable position, take several deep breaths, and then focus on your breathing, or a word or sound, while passively avoiding intruding thoughts.
Muscle Relaxation Exercises
Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that may be effective for both muscle spasm pain and stress reduction. It involves focusing your attention on each muscle group until it feels heavy and relaxed. You usually begin in the feet and gradually progress upward.
Imagery Exercises
Imagery, which often accompanies the management of pain through relaxation, allows you to visualize what it would be like to let the pain go. If you know what is causing the pain—for instance a pinched nerve in the spine—the idea is to picture the encroaching vertebral space opening and freeing the trapped nerve. By calling on a variety of senses, you can take yourself to a favorite place, like the beach or the mountains and redirect your thinking away from physical pain. Music, nature sounds, and instructional audio make it easier for beginners to escape to a mental paradise.
Biofeedback offers a measurable response to relaxation and imagery techniques. Through the use of sensors connected to a computer, you receive visual or auditory cues that indicate an increase or decrease in muscle tension, heart rate, and skin temperature. Using this feedback, you train yourself to control body functions that you normally don't even think about. Biofeedback may be useful in chronic pain or other conditions associated with muscle spasm or tension, like some headaches.
Although you may not feel like getting off the couch because you hurt so much, exercising within the confines of your physical limitations can decrease pain. Why? The reasons are complex, but one prominent theory is that exercise releases endorphins, which are natural pain relieving chemicals in your brain.
A physical therapist can tailor an initial exercise plan based on your capacity to exercise, and then gradually make recommendations for increasing how much you do and for how long. Pain experts recommend pacing activities. Overdoing it on good days can come back to haunt you later. It's fine to cut back on your exercise during flare-ups of your pain, but it's important to resume your exercise routine as soon as you feel better.
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine. It involves inserting very thin needles into the skin at different and very specific points of the body. While the evidence to support the use of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain, like back pain, has been mixed, acupuncture may be worth a try if other self-care options have not been helpful for you.
The benefits of meditation go beyond relaxation response. Daily meditation may be an excellent tool in fighting chronic pain. Since there are a variety of different meditation techniques, try to find a meditation style that is right for you. Meditation can be done easily in a privacy of your home.
When you think of hypnosis, you may picture a performer on the stage with a handful of audience members. But, hypnotherapy is done by a trained and licensed therapist who uses several techniques, like progressive relaxation methods, to create a hypnotic state. This alternative therapy has been used for a number of conditions, including pain relief.
Attitude and Communication
The way you think about your aches and discomforts, your level of anxiety and depression, your expectations, and your ability to cope determines how much pain you feel. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help change unhealthy attitudes and habits that can develop when pain is chronic.
There are many nondrug options to reduce pain. Talk to your doctor about whether these options are right for you.
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 10/2015 -
- Update Date: 01/22/2013 -


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We combine our compassion, our experience and our resources to provide great care, excellent medical education and groundbreaking research.


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Times are changing. Gone are the good old days when PR professionals had the luxury of drafting a press release around product launches or company news, providing byline articles and pushing out pitch ideas. Don't get me wrong. Those things are still relevant, but for many, PR is still about how to provide content for reporters to repost or write a story based around a good pitch. Today, however, there is much more to it than that.
I recently spoke at an event sponsored by Business Wire where I had the pleasure of sharing the panel with several Phoenix reporters on how to pitch to reporters using social media. And while social media can be a great tool for connecting with reporters, today it's much more than that – and it's becoming critical in the way we manage our brand and media relations efforts. PR professionals whose job functions involve media relations must learn the rules of real-time PR. The new face of media relations requires even more speed and agility to seize market opportunities, real-time engagement and creative out-of-the-box approaches to become the first market mover.
Speed and Agility Win
In his soon-to-be-published book Real-Time Marketing and PR, David Meerman Scott wrote, "In the emerging real-time business environment, where public discourse is no longer dictated by the mass media, size is no longer a decisive advantage. Speed and agility win."
Whether we're an agency or in-house PR, we have to understand how to establish a competitive advantage if we are to truly win in today's world. No longer should we be confined to traditional methods of PR or media relations, but instead, we must understand the world of the social Web. This is where listening and monitoring are so important. I hear so many PR pros say they are monitoring, but without understanding how to quickly respond with even more speed to the conversations, our efforts will fall by the wayside.
One clear example outlined by Meerman Scott is the famous YouTube sensation, "United Breaks Guitars," where Canadian singer-songwriter David Carroll crafted a song about his experience with United Airlines and posted it to YouTube. The video hit 2M views in less than a month. Where speed and agility mattered was United Airlines' ability to quickly respond to this video post in a timely fashion through real-time monitoring and participation. Sometimes having to say you're sorry and providing your community with some insight into how you're going to do a better job with your customer service is a great start. It humanizes your brand and let's people know that you're listening and fixing the issue at hand.
Seize Real-Time Opportunity
The maker of Dave's guitar, Taylor Guitars, wasted no time in seizing real-time market opportunity to build goodwill with customers. In Meerman Scott's book, his example outlines how within days of Dave's YouTube post, Bob Taylor, the company's president, created his own video around how traveling musicians can package their equipment and follow airline rules to better protect their guitars.
Today, with so much information out there, it can feel like we're drinking from a fire hydrant. This is where PR pros should think of ways to seize real-time opportunities by getting creative — not just writing a byline article and pushing it out – which takes time and could potentially be dated by the time it's released. It's about real-time response to trends, challenges and issues that are happening right before our eyes. To take advantage and capture your audience, think creatively by videos or funny cartoons around best practices or how-tos and posting to your blog or pushing it out via social channels. A media alert can always come later where you package up all the information and publish it.
Real-Time Market Engagement
Speed and agility can't go very far without engagement. While millions of people were tuning in to view Dave's YouTube video, United didn't seize the opportunity to respond and engage with its potential community of reporters, prospects, customers and bloggers. While Twitter and Facebook were all abuzz, the company did absolutely nothing to participate in the conversation. As one of the largest players in the airline industry — one that spends billions on advertising, PR and marketing — the company went silent. This lack of response showed a lack of customer commitment or the know-how to engage in today's conversation. Meerman Scott writes: "United Airlines exhibited a paralysis in the face of a snowballing crisis. In the battle between the small, speedy and agile players and the slow, clumsy giant, I see prima-facie evidence that a revolution has indeed been set in motion."
Whether you are a small company or a giant organization such as United Airlines, today it's about having a dialogue — whether you like it not — because conversations will go on with or without you. The decision to participate and engage in real-time will make the difference between relevance and irrelevance. PR is not just about media relations anymore — it's about wearing your customer support hat and engaging with real people online. This will further help you humanize your brand. It also sends a clear message to the online community — that your brand is actively listening, monitoring and engaging because you care about what people are saying, thinking, and doing in the market.
Meerman Scott sent me this quote via Twitter: "Social media are tools, Real-Time is a mindset." You can have all the tools in the world – but if your organization lacks the will, speed and agility to engage in real-time, those tools become meaningless. It's about empowering the people to harness the power of the social Web to listen, monitor, connect and engage through innovative means.
Click on Real-Time Marketing and PR for a sneak peek at Meerman Scott's soon to be published book.
About David Meerman Scott
David Meerman Scott's book The New Rules of Marketing & PR opened people's eyes to the new realities of marketing and public relations on the Web. Six months on the BusinessWeek bestseller list and published in 26 languages from Bulgarian to Vietnamese, New Rules is now a modern business classic. Scott's popular blog and hundreds of speaking engagements around the world give him a singular perspective on how businesses are implementing new strategies to reach buyers.
He is also the co-author (with Brian Halligan) of the hit book Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History and wrote three other books including World Wide Rave.
His Web Ink Now blog is ranked by AdAge Power 150 as a top worldwide marketing blog.


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ReleasesBack to
Scott Colley
Though chock full of Osby's signature brand of dissonance, The Invisible Hand is one of the altoist's mellower, more contemplative offerings. Its most novel aspect is the inclusion of pianist Andrew Hill and guitarist Jim Hall, two of jazz's fascinating elder statesmen. Hill's piano style is fractured and fragmented, yet suffused with its own ornamental beauty. Hall is a master of the understated, perfectly chosen phrase. Both have worked with Osby on more than one occasion. But The Invisible Hand is an historic first: prior to its recording, Hill and Hall had never played together. Disappointingly, the two are paired only on Hill's "Ashes" and Hall's "Sanctus"; otherwise, they appear separately. In fact, Hall is present only on three of the album's ten tracks, giving listeners only the briefest glimpse of his talents. Hill, appearing on six numbers, is utilized more effectively; the pianist is especially brilliant on Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz." Gary Thomas, an Osby contemporary, overdubs multiple woodwinds to create thick orchestration on "Nature Boy," "With Son," and a couple of others. Bassist Scott Colley and drummer Terri Lynne Carrington provide reliable rhythmic support throughout. But overall the record suffers from a discontinuity brought about by repeated personnel shifts. In a sense, The Invisible Hand sounds like three different albums, and Osby's production seems unnecessarily convoluted. ~ David R. Adler


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Message Board
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Talk about the novels, new and used books that Vaughn has written!
Author Vaughn's Book Reviews
A.K.A. Goddess
Magdalene Sanger has been hearing tales of godesses and female empowerment since she was a child. The females in her family come from an ancient line of women known as the Grail Keepers, who protect ancient chalices belonging to former godesses. These chalices are known to have enlightening powers for females, and are therefore feared by many men. Maggi is a professor of mythology, and as a result of this she studies many of the mythical godesses who ow...
Beneath the Surface
Mary and Guy were childhood best friends. Then an accident claimed the lives of her brother and his cousin, and Guy's family moved away. Years later, both are scarred by the tragedy: Mary is terrified of death, and Guy is unable to make any kind of commitment in his life. The body of Guy's cousin has been found, and Guy has come back to town to help his family. Mary, now a witch and a massage therspist, meets Guy for the first time in years. A ten...
Waiting for the Wolf Moon
Sylvie Peabody, bookstore owner and witch, meets Rand Garner, who runs his own haunted house. Although she is attracted to him, Sylvie has been burned in the past by her ex-fiancee, who was a drug addict. Her suspicions are heightened because Rand, although engaging and funny, seems to be hiding something. Sylvie and her circle of fellow witches are investigating a mysterious death in their small Louisiana town. The evidence seems to point to a wer...