text:
New Car Review
2014 Scion FR-S: New Car Review
You want to read about mass-market vehicles, like the latest midsize car or hatchback. We want to tell you about them. But occasionally we need a break from the ordinary. Just such a respite arrives in the all-new 2014 Scion FR-S, a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car from Toyota's self-proclaimed youth division.
Designed and engineered in partnership with Subaru, the 2014 Scion FR-S was intended to possess "balanced performance and handling, in combination with compelling style, flexible utility and surprising fuel efficiency." And we think they nailed it. The sheet metal, while conservative relative to Nissan's 370Z, is a shape that will wear well over 60 monthly payments. Its handling balance, with the Subaru-sourced flat 4-cylinder mounted low and rearward relative to the front wheels, is exceptional. And with the admittedly marginal rear seats folded, you have enough trunk and stowage area for the set of racing rubber you want to use on track days.
Regrettably, there aren't a lot of alternatives when shopping for the above-referenced attributes. With roughly 20 percent more power than a Mazda MX-5 Miata, the new Scion is a logical next step for Mazda enthusiasts. If, however, you're comparing the Scion with a V6 Mustang or Camaro, a similar mid-$20,000s investment nets you 300-plus horsepower (and another half ton of curb weight) on the Ford or Chevy showroom.
But if you're stuck on acceleration times, you're missing the point of the FR-S. This car is for those who find more thrills in corners than on straightaways, and it's refreshing indeed to find a reasonably priced modern-day sports car with such a focused mission.
What's New for 2014?
The Scion FR-S gets a standard touchscreen audio system and supple padding for the center console and door panels.
What We Like
The essential goodness of a true sports car; simple specs and an affordable price; surprisingly satisfying interior quality; unusually responsive automatic transmission
What We Don't
Modest power; intrusive road noise
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The 2014 FR-S is powered by a 2.0-liter "flat" 4-cylinder engine rated at 200 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, but Scion also offers an excellent 6-speed automatic with rev-matching capability on downshifts. Fuel economy is 25 miles per gallon city/34 mpg hwy with the automatic but just 22 mpg city/30 mpg hwy with the manual.
Standard Features & Options
The FR-S ($25,455) is offered in one well-equipped trim level.
Equipment highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels with summer tires, dual exhaust tips, LED taillights, a height-adjustable driver seat, a leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob (with a convincingly manual-like appearance on the automatic shifter), cruise control, a folding rear seat back, Bluetooth connectivity and a 300-watt, 8-speaker audio system with a 6.1-in touchscreen, HD radio and auxiliary/USB ports.
For smartphone devotees, Scion optionally provides BeSpoke, which offers a higher level of connectivity with Facebook, Twitter and Internet radio. Other options include 18-in alloy wheels, bigger front brakes, fog lights, a rear spoiler, a cold-air intake, a performance exhaust and lowering springs.
The 2014 Scion FR-S delivers a full house in old-fashioned accident avoidance measures. Relatively lightweight, well-connected steering, good visibility and strong braking give a reasonably aware driver the tools to stay out of harm's way.
If, however, you fall victim to a collision, know that the FR-S comes standard with six airbags, including dual-stage advanced driver-and-front-passenger airbags, front-seat-mounted airbags and side curtain airbags.
The government hasn't crash-tested the FR-S as of this writing, but the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the FR-S its highest rating of Good in every test category.
Behind the Wheel
Getting in and out of the 2014 FR-S doesn't require the typical contortions of the sports car paradigm, and once inside you'll find an expansive greenhouse, a great view over the hood and reasonable visibility to the sides and rear of the car. The front buckets optimize balance between lateral support and long-distance comfort. To Toyota's credit, the rear seat back folds flat to increase utility, but the space provided for humans is marginal at best. Notably, the FR-S is not a hatch; structural rigidity was deemed more important to the sport mission than utility, and the designers made the right call.
If Ferry Porsche were mixing and matching today's production components into a low-volume sports car, the result might look a lot like the FR-S. The Subaru-sourced flat 4-cylinder is philosophically close to all that the Porsche family holds dear, as is a sporty profile providing day-in, day-out utility. Of course, the motor's modest 200-hp output is a far cry from any Zuffenhausen product, and it's the FR-S model's weakest link.
You don't buy this car because of the engine. You buy it because you don't mind the engine given the excellence of everything else.
We strive to be objective, but the new FR-S had us at "hello." Clean lines, a preternaturally balanced chassis and a $25,000 purchase point are a compelling combination. This is an eminently entertaining package and should remain that way well after the warranty and payment book are retired. The steering is well connected, braking is positive and corners are carved with exceptional poise and confidence. If a pure driver's car is what you're after, the FR-S is in a class of one at this price.
Other Cars to Consider
Subaru BRZ -- It's technically the FR-S's twin, but rather than the Scion's 1-size-fits-all sales philosophy, Subaru brings two trim levels to the showroom, along with two price points.
Mazda MX-5 Miata-- For someone coveting the stripped-down simplicity of a compact roadster, Mazda's Miata remains compelling, and its manual shifter is one of the best we've ever sampled. However, it lacks the day-to-day practicality of the FR-S, and its engine is even more breathless than the Scion's at highway speeds.
Ford Mustang -- The Mustang is easily the most athletic of the modern muscle cars, and if you can find a deal on a V8-powered GT, the 400-plus hp under the hood may tip the scales in Ford's favor.
AutoTrader's Advice
We'd opt for a manual transmission, a color we can enjoy for four or five years and little else. Toyota's performance division, TRD, will seduce you with dealer-installed options, and a few will be of value. Before you pull out the MasterCard at the parts counter, get to know your FR-S in its pure, as-Akio-Toyoda-intended form. You'll be pleased with the decision.


text:
Best Of :: Shopping & Services
Tucked inside this small storefront on South La Brea with a ruby red carpet lies the absolute mecca for vintage rock & roll T-shirts. Clothing designer Kelly Cole, an ex–club kid/DJ/restaurant owner, has become one of the foremost experts in tracking down ultra-rare, original tees. Be warned: They don't come cheap. An original Cramps shirt might set you back $350, a Nirvana In Utero shirt $250. Other ridiculously rare gems include a shirt for Plato's Retreat, a 1970s swingers club ($350); a shirt for Andy Warhol's film Bad ($700); and the pièce de résistance, a sweater from Vivienne Westwood's label, Seditionaries ($1,200!). You'll also find, for the comparatively low price of $65, vintage T-shirts adorned with everything from Magic Johnson to "Impeach Richard Nixon," as well as Cole-designed jeans, belts and T-shirts. You might even see such celebrities as Chris Pine, Ryan Adams, Travis Barker and Kid Cudi, all of them customers.
One of L.A.'s great eccentric clothiers, Clockwork Couture is where serious steampunks source their parasols, gloves, frilly hats, goggles, gowns, long coats, leather "harness," corsets, boots, walking canes, medals of uncertain origin and, of course, timepieces. Reveling in the reimagined world of Victorian romance, steam travel, dirigibles and buccaneers, the shop can dress you in some of the most striking examples of sartorial whimsy you can hope to find. Even if you don't necessarily identify with the steampunk aesthetic, a dramatic dress or vintage accessory can be the unique and envied centerpiece of your wardrobe. In recent months Clockwork Couture has moved its inventory to an upstairs room and established its Geeky Teas shop and game room in the downstairs space; those seeking off-the-rack and custom orders can make appointments on weekends, noon to 8 p.m. (Of special note: Most of the shop's profits are earmarked for its own cat rescue, Clockwork Cature.)
There's this crazy little dress shop on Sherman Way in Canoga Park, its walls festooned with hot numbers like a stretchy ruched purple cocktail mini-dress and a pink satin off-shoulder club-dancing gown. Off to one side, bent over her work, sits Olga, with her power sewing machine and her handmade book thick with photos of Latina women and the pictures they've brought her, cut from magazines, of their dream dresses. From these, Olga will re-create any fantasy gown in any color and any fabric you provide, and add any twist, all for less than the price of something off the rack (around $100). She peruses your idea, sketches it up, measures you. Her English is broken but the plan is agreed upon. She creates a paper pattern, then cuts and sews the chosen material. You return for the final fitting. "Custom-made!" Olga boasts. And yes, the tiny, blond Olga is a sweetheart.
Reformation might seem like one of the least likely L.A. boutiques to scale up. Yet the fashion line that made its name handcrafting chic, feminine pieces out of fabric salvaged from vintage threads has opened two shops in New York, raised $12 million in financing in 2015 and is positioned to triple its revenue over last year. After Reformation co-founder Yael Aflalo became appalled by the environmental toll of Chinese manufacturing, which she witnessed firsthand during the production of her earlier clothing line, Ya-Ya, she set out to make clothes with the lowest possible carbon footprint — pieces that were as responsible as they were beautiful. Of course, Reformation's initial concept — to source most of its material from meticulously disassembled used garments — wouldn't cut it if the company was to hit $25 million in sales in 2014 (which it did) and keep costs somewhat reasonable (which it has). So Aflalo added to the mix environmentally friendly fabric, which means Reformation's downtown L.A. factory now can produce about 200 of each of the 15 pieces (in three colors) it launches weekly. Speaking of 200, that's the number of gallons of water a mass-market clothing line uses to produce a single shirt, Aflalo told Forbes earlier this year; a shirt of hers, by comparison, uses six.
If you love the look of vintage but don't love the idea of slipping your foot into shoes once worn by a stranger, you can circumvent your squeamishness at Re-Mix. The shop used to source vintage kicks for theater, film and television — but when the supply of quality vintage grew low, Re-Mix began working with manufacturers to create replicas. Re-Mix stocks dozens of reproductions of men's and women's shoes from the first half of the 20th century, and most styles are priced under $200. One particularly swoon-worthy pair of pumps, the Eva, channels the late 1940s with its d'Orsay cut, peep toe and button detail near the outer ankle. The best part: Because these shoes are timeless, they'll never go out of style. It turns out they do make them like they used to.
If you were worried you'd have to capture sugarplum fairies to fulfill your dream of swimming through tulle, you'll be relieved to learn of Danny's Warehouse, where, turning a corner, you find yourself face-to-face with a pile of tutus taller than you are. Danny's also sells anything dance-related, and everything is less than $10: leotards, tights, sports bras, dance pants, dance shorts, skorts, skirts, costumes, wraps and shoes — ballet, jazz, tap, ballroom and zumba! Feeling spirited? Danny's even has you covered for cheer and praise dancing. Since it deals in overstocks and samples, the selection here is always changing. When we visited, it even had triathlon suits. It is a warehouse, so be prepared to do some digging. That said, the staff is incredibly friendly. And if you've got some time and optimism, enter the $1 room and leave with a tutu bargain that makes you feel like you're dancing on air.
As the great Billy Crystal character Fernando said, "It is better to look good than to feel good." You would think that such a maxim would rule our world in a town obsessed with celebrities. Not so. Angelenos, especially the men, dress like slobs. Lizon Tailors in Palms can set you straight with a nip-tuck of that oversized suit, those saggy pants and that drooping dress shirt. Well-tailored clothing is in, even if your body is not prepared for it. Al Ozer, Lizon's owner, got his start making suits from scratch in 1966, so he knows his cuts. He started working "to support myself" when he was an orphan, he says. Lizon's prices are moderate — from $10 for a pant-leg hem to $70 to take in the sides of a double-vented suit — but they do the job fast, with quality construction. The small shop has received accolades from such publications as Details and Esquire. "When it comes to quality," Ozer says confidently, "I'm better than anybody."
A stroll through Montrose Shopping Park feels like a time-machine trip to a nonspecific decade. In fact, there's a watch store called Time Machine. A few miles from shopping behemoths such as the Americana at Brand and Glendale Galleria, this Main Street–esque stretch of Glendale looks painstakingly vintage. Aside from a few corporate exceptions such as Trader Joe's, Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the 40-plus shops and businesses are of the independent, mom-and-pop variety, selling everything from toys and quilts to vacuum cleaners and sewing machines. There's a small retro bowling alley, a Christian Science Reading Room and Faye's, a two-story lingerie shop for elderly women. Though it can get crowded during holidays and community events — arts and crafts festival, film festival, car show — the pace is refreshingly slow, which gives you plenty of time to choose from one of the many restaurants and eateries, whether it's The T Room tea house or Danish ice-cream parlor Paradis.Along Honolulu Ave. between Verdugo Road and Rosemont Avenue, Glendale, 91020. shopmontrose.com.
Once a locals-only secret hidden in the basement of an oak-shaded city library in Agoura Hills, the Book Cellar has become a go-to used bookstore set in gorgeous countryside at the end of a perfect morning drive. Snap up trade literary novels, hardback biographies, cool old how-tos and niche cookbooks, priced at 50 cents for paperbacks and $1 for hardcovers (some specialty books might be $2). Run by volunteers who keep up a friendly banter, this cozy shop has sold 1.9 million volumes in two decades, with all proceeds going to the library and a prisoner reading program. Manager Diane Haupt and her top assistant, husband Eric, collect books from donors who "are extremely well-read," Eric notes. If you don't buy it when you see it, chances are it'll be gone by the next Saturday — and that's the only day they're open. With Goodwill killing small used-book sellers, this one deserves to survive — and not just because of the free cookies.
Because it refuses to follow the same path that lesser used bookstores took to their graves, this North Hollywood gem still slings pages in quantity. By adapting to the idea that graphic novels and comic books can be both high art and high literature, the Iliad Bookshop keeps itself relevant to the hordes of bibliophiles who are just finding out the same thing. Its customers also have discovered that pre-owned illustrated literature is usually kept in impeccable condition regardless of value and can be bought at a near pittance. Where once was a disorganized corner now sits a collection of roughly 100 fully organized shelves. And a diverse one at that — an intrepid buyer can scoop up collected editions of Warren Ellis' cult-favorite Transmetropolitan just as easily as Superman omnibuses. Even better, as the shop buys more books daily — Kindle be dammed — it's expanding that section further.
Even in these digital times, it still seems an increasing number of life events require a gift and a card, and if you're lucky the 19th-century Chandler & Price letterpress will be in full flow when you enter Jonathan Wright & Co. Carefully crafting a regularly updated selection of simple but spot-on cards for congratulations, commiserations, weddings and birthdays, this small boutique is a reassuring haven for the days when a thoughtful gesture means everything. They can get a calligrapher for you if required, or merely desired. And while browsing you can enjoy the quiet and linger over the fragrant soaps, chunky journals, party favors, notepaper and envelopes. Anything you buy from among the thoughtful gifts is sure to be well-received, and here they even take the time to gift-wrap — for free.
Seeking that perfect off-the-radar gift that will stand out from the pack? The Brat store in Santa Monica is the place to find eclectic treasures that will inspire both a tongue-in-cheek chuckle and a thankful grin from the person who seems to have everything. Proprietress Nancy Hunt, owner of the long gone but well-remembered Melrose store Na Na, makes sure that the funky, unusual, amusing and kitschy are fully stocked. She knows her niche well and goes out of her way to keep this store one step ahead of the current pulse. If you're looking for a flying-saucer sandwich maker, Day of the Dead corkscrew, some offbeat printed socks or vintage-print kitchen towels, Brat's the place. From silly toys and retro-inspired dresses to fun household items and pop culture–themed books and novelties, shopping here is always accompanied by a light heart.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Kenneth Bowyer of ALL Crane Florida Wins Annual Crane Rodeo Competition
The ALL Family of Companies is proud to announce that Kenneth Bowyer, a crane operator from ALL Crane Rental of Florida, LLC, won the 2013 Regional Crane Rodeo competition, held in Orlando, Florida, on November 9.
The rodeo, hosted by The Crane Institute of America and The Florida Crane Owner's Council, is now in its third year. Officially known as the MCM & CIC Crane Operator Rodeo, the competition was developed by Maximum Capacity Media, publisher of Crane & Rigging Hot Line magazine, and Crane Institute Certification, a nationally accredited crane operator certification provider, to underscore the need for safe crane operation.
The event is specifically designed to test crane operator skills. Contestants are required to place a crane's headache ball into barrels without landing the ball or hitting any barrels; maneuver 55-gallon drums full of water through a barrel-lined obstacle course, and raise a 10-foot pipe from a horizontal to a vertical position, then place it between a set of cones. Each test is timed and monitored by the judges for load control, depth perception, and accuracy. Operators use a swing-cab style mobile crane with the boom extended approximately 70 feet.
The rodeo's objectives are not only to underscore the need for safe crane operation, which can only be achieved through training and experience, but also to increase awareness of the pending OSHA requirements for crane operators to be formally certified. Further, the crane rodeo seeks to raise the stature and visibility of crane operation as a profession. Winning operators are recognized for achieving the skills required to be successful and provide positive publicity for the crane and rigging industry.
Ken is modest about his achievement. "I'm competitive on equipment, but I don't like to toot my own horn, so to speak," he said. "I'm very proud to have brought positive recognition to ALL, however. I had the full support of Mitch McDonald, my General Manager. He made a point of coming to watch me, and helping my family with hotel accommodations, which I appreciate very much."
Though illness almost prevented him from competing, his family insisted he follow through. "They made me practice what I preach about always following through on commitments," he added, laughing. "Being sick made completing the course a bit tougher, but I made it."
Ken will advance to the National Championship in Las Vegas in March 2014. Prize money totaling approximately $2,000 will be awarded to the winner, as will a special belt, similar to that given more traditional rodeo champions. "It's not really my thing," Ken said, "but I am going to wear my special Stetson for the occasion."
Congratulations, Ken! We're all rooting for you.
About ALL
Since 1964, the ALL Family of Companies has grown to become one of the largest crane and equipment rental companies in North America. The company offers its fleet of cranes, aerial work platforms, boom trucks, material handlers, and other lift equipment from strategic locations, providing rental, sales, service, and jobsite analysis to help customers get the right equipment for the job. An important measure of their commitment is meeting or exceeding all pertinent regulatory and safety standards. For more information, contact ALL Crane Rental of Georgia, 485 Riverside Parkway, Austell, GA 30168. Phone: 770-944-3900. Toll free: 800-253-7156. Fax: 770-732-3151. Or contact ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. at 4700 Acorn Drive, Cleveland, OH 44131. Phone: 216-524-6550. Toll free: 800-232-4100. Fax: 216-642-7633. On the Web: www.allcrane.com
You can view all of ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp's Inventory online at Rock & Dirt.


text:
Privacy Policy
Effective Date: October 1, 2009
By using The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa web site, you agree to the following terms and conditions.
Privacy Guarantee
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa respects your right to privacy. Any information you give us is held with the utmost care and security, and will not be used in a manner to which you have not consented. We will not sell, rent, or loan the identities or any other personal and identifiable information of visitors to this website to any third party.
Policies and Legal Notices
This website is operated by The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa under the web address www.kierlandresort.com. The mailing address is 6902 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 USA.
All content included as part of this site, such as text, logos, graphics, images and icons, is the property of The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and is protected by U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. The compilation, collection, arrangement and assembly of all such content is the exclusive property of The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. Any other use, such as reproducing, distributing or commercially exploiting such content and software, is strictly prohibited.
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa takes no responsibility for the content or information contained on sites linked to or from this site. Entities wishing to establish a link to this site must request and receive written permission prior to implementing any link. Sites linking to this site without permission do not have any affiliation with The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.
All information including rates found on this site are for reference only. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information within this website, an occasional error may occur. We reserve the right to make corrections, and apologize for any inconvenience.
Contact Us:
If you would like to update your information, modify your communication preferences, have comments or questions regarding Starwood's data privacy practices or if you do not want to receive marketing communications from The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in the future, please contact us. Choose the most convenient method from the following:
by e-mail:
by telephone:
by writing to us at:
Starwood Preferred Guest Program
6902 E. Greenway Pkwy
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
We have not configured this website to collect any personal information from your computer when browsing this site. This means that, unless you voluntarily and knowingly provide us with personal information, we will not know your name, your email address, or any other information identifiable to you.
Data Collection
We will ask you for personally identifying information that allows us to contact you. Generally, this information is requested when you are ordering email updates, newsletters, and promotional information, and submitting comments, questions, or requests. Personal information requested by kierlandresort.com is limited to your first and last name, email address, and postal code, but may include other information when needed to fulfill a service or request you want us to fulfill.
Group Dynamic Information
We collect the following information:
? Click-stream data
? HTTP protocol elements
? User's interaction with a page or resource
? HTTP cookies
? Flash cookies
This data is used for the following purposes:
? Completion and support of the current activity
? Website and system administration
? Research and development
? Anonymous user analysis
? Anonymous user profiling and decision-making
This data will be used by our agents and ourselves and is used to ensure servers are working correctly.
Internet Protocol (IP) Address: An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer every time you browse the Internet. When users request a page from our site, our servers log the user's current IP address. We use IP addresses to help diagnose problems. We do not link IP addresses to any personal information about you.
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa uses a technology called "cookies." Cookies can be used to provide you with tailored information from a website. A cookie is an element of data that a website can send to your browser, which may then store it on your system. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether to accept it.
Our site makes use of cookies. Cookies are used for the following purposes:
? Site administration
? Completing the user's current activity
? Pseudonymous analysis
? Pseudonym-based decision-making
It is our intention to only send you email communications that will be useful to you and that you want to receive. When you create a personal profile on kierlandresort.com, make a reservation on Starwood.com or make a reservation via telephone and provide your email address, we will occasionally contact you via email and provide information about products and offerings that may be of interest to you. These communications will typically relate to special Westin Kierland Resort & Spa offers and promotions. If you would prefer not to receive such emails you may indicate so in your profile. In addition to your choice to opt-out of emails in your personal profile on Starwood.com, you are provided the opportunity to opt-out of future emails in every email message you receive.
We use a third-party email service provider to send emails. This service provider is prohibited from using your email address for any purpose other than to send an email related to The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Emails you receive do contain pixel tags (see description above) that help us to send the email in a format you can read, to allow us to track the aggregate number of emails read and to measure in aggregate if any of the links in the email were accessed. No other information is collected or used from pixel tags.
KierlandResort.com Privacy Statement Changes
In the future, we may need to change the privacy statement for www.kierlandresort.com. All changes will be made here so that you will always know what information we gather, how we might use that information and whether we will disclose it to anyone.
California Privacy Rights
In accordance with California Senate Bill No. 27 (?S-27?), which became effective as of January 1, 2005, we are required to notify all California consumers of their right to request a California Information-Sharing Disclosure. Unless otherwise notified by you to do otherwise, we use all information in accordance with our Privacy Policy under which the information was collected. If you do not agree to any provision of this Privacy Policy, or any update or modification thereto, please do not use our website.
If you wish to request a California Information-Sharing Disclosure, you may do so by contacting us via the following means. In accordance with S-27, we are only able to respond to requests of California consumers who contact us at one of the designated addresses listed in the "Contact Us" section above.
Dispute Resolution/How to Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy statement or privacy concerns please send an email to
Terms and Conditions for Use
This web site and the related web sites contained herein (collectively, the "Site") make available information on hotels and resorts owned, managed and franchised by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "Starwood"). By accessing and utilizing this Site, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions, so please carefully read this section before proceeding. Starwood reserves the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of these terms at any time and make changes to the products and programs described in the Site at any time and without notice or liability. Please check periodically for changes. Your continued use and/or access to this Site following changes to this policy and/or conditions will mean that you accept those changes.
Personal and Noncommercial Use Limitation: This Site is for your personal, noncommercial use. You may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any information, software, products or service found on or obtained from the Site (collectively, "Starwood Information"); provided that you may download, reproduce, and retransmit Starwood Information solely for non-commercial purposes within your organization. With the exception of the foregoing limited authorization, no license or right in any copyright of Starwood or any other party is granted or conferred to you.
The site is provided on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement, other than those warranties which are imposed by and incapable of exclusion, restriction or modification under the laws applicable to this agreement. YOUR USE OF THIS SITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. IN NO EVENT SHALL STARWOOD, ITS AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR LICENSORS be liable for any LOSS OR INJURY OR ANY damages, either direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental, consequential or otherwise, resulting from, or in any way connected to, the use of this site OR ANY STARWOOD INFORMATION, in each case regardless of whether such damages are based on contract, tort, strict liability, or those other theories of liability. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or consequential or incidental damages, so portions of the above-referenced exclusions may not directly apply to you. YOU HEREBY WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST STARWOOD, ITS AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES AND LICENSORS ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF THE SITE OR ANY OTHER STARWOOD INFORMATION.
Copyright and Proprietary Rights Information: The Site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors or omissions. Starwood reserves the right to make changes, corrections and/or improvements to the Site, and to the products and programs described in such information, at any time without notice.
This Site contains and references trademarks, patents, trade secrets, technologies, products, processes or other proprietary rights of Starwood and/or other parties. No license or right to or in any such trademarks, patents, trade secrets, technologies, products, processes and other proprietary rights of Starwood and/or other parties is granted to or conferred upon you. Reproduction or storage of materials obtained from this site is subject to the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, Title 17 U.S.C. Starwood, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis and W Hotels, and other Starwood logos and product and service names are trademarks of Starwood . Any reproduction or use of any of the contents of this site without the express written consent of Starwood. is prohibited.
Linked Web Sites: Starwood does not review or monitor any web sites linked to the Site and is not responsible for the content of any such linked web sites. Your linking to such web sites is at your sole risk. We cannot be held responsible for the information, products, or services obtain on such other sites and will not be liable for any damages arising from your access to such sites. Any links to other sites are provided merely for the convenience of the users to this Site and the inclusion of these links does not imply an endorsement of the linked sites or the content therein. In addition, you agree not to link your web sites or any other third party web site to the Site without the express prior written consent of Starwood. Starwood reserves the right, at any time, for any reason not prohibited by law, to deny permission to anyone to link a web site to the Site.
Governing Law: Any disputes arising out of or related to the Site shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of New York. No Unlawful or Prohibited Use. As a condition of your use of the Site, you warrant to Starwood that you will not use the Site for a purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices.
You agree that no joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and Starwood as a result of this agreement or use of the Site. Any rights not expressly granted to you herein are expressly reserved by Starwood.


text:
I don't recall targeted area being in 3e. It's possible it's in one of the gadget guides. I don't have all of those yet.Foreshadow wrote:That is what a Targeted area attack is. Make an attack with a roll to hit and apply this against the defense of all in the area, and only the main target can suffer a multi-attack or critical. The attack effect misses any not hit by the attack roll. So its an area attack you get to save all or nothing rather than half effect, but if your hit you suffer Area damage, and one target gets the multi-attack effect.
Multi-Attack and Area Attacks
Join the never-ending battle for truth and justice in the world's greatest super-hero universe, using the world's greatest super-hero roleplaying game! This forum is for discussion of DC ADVENTURES.


text:
Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in a condominium complex in Nashville, Tennessee, TV station News Channel5 is reporting, citing police.
Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams confirmed the death in a statement on the team's Web site.
WTVF-TV in Nashville reported police said it looked like a double homicide. A female victim was also found dead.
McNair, 36, retired in April 2008 after 13 seasons in the league.
He played for the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times. He was the co-NFL MVP in 2003 with the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning.
McNair led the Titans to the Super Bowl after the 1999 season, where the team lost to the St. Louis Rams 23-16. Receiver Kevin Dyson caught McNair's final pass with no time remaining and was tackled with the ball inside the 1-yard line.
This really really sucks, he was one of my favorite qb's of all time. one of the toughest and classiest players the world will ever see. he will be missed


text:
KŌAN collects a selection of sketchbook comics from winter 2011, thematically arranged in three sections: Travel, Home, and Surveys.
In Zen tradition, a kōan is a statement that is meant to evade reason, but rather rely on intuition and lateral thinking. KŌAN attempts to present you with a visual equivalent.
This 64-page book measures 21x26cm, colour cover printed on heavy 200g/sm watercolour paper, BW interiors on ivory 130g/sm Munken Pure. $25 + shipping.
Every copy is lovingly spiralbound, and cut by hand by the artist (sizes may vary slightly due to this).
Enquire about availability and shipping costs.
Visit the KŌAN minisite for samples!


text:
(Phoenix, Ariz. – May 24, 2005) The Arizona Attorney General's Office today served a criminal search warrant on the Colorado City Unified School District, taking custody of boxes of financial records, other documents and computer equipment.
"For the past two years, my office has been investigating reports of possible financial mismanagement in the Colorado City School District," Attorney General Terry Goddard said. "We executed the search warrant today in an effort to be sure the records are not at risk of being destroyed, removed or altered if the district is placed in receivership and to help determine if any wrongdoing has occurred."
The search warrant and its related documents are sealed by the Superior Court and remain confidential.
Goddard's office is preparing a petition to present to the State Board of Education to put the school district in receivership. The Arizona State Legislature recently passed a law allowing the board to place school districts in receivership if they are being financially mismanaged. The new law will take effect Aug. 12, 2005.
"We drafted this legislation to ensure children receive the education they need and deserve," Goddard said. "I am taking steps to make sure children do not suffer for the financial mismanagement of a school district."


text:
Docomomo International Journal 44: Modern and Sustainable is complete and will land in mailboxes shortly. Guest editor for this edition on sustainability is Docomomo US President, Theodore Prudon.
The Docomomo International Journal is a benefit of Docomomo US International members. If you would like to receive future editions of the Journal, become an International member today!


text:
It's been a long time since my last update. Rest assured, I'm not dead, I've just been busy with that other game we all love known as "real life." That said, it's not that I've gotten nothing done on SagaSim. I've done very little programming but I've been brainstorming other aspects. In particular, I've developed the species system in more detail, specifically dealing with traits. In the previous entry, I laid out how the DNA system works. Now, it's time to define just what all the various DNA-defined traits mean in terms of simulation behavior.
I have the following list of traits so far:
plant animal generalist specialist spore-bearing seed-bearing invertebrate vertebrate fabric producer endothermic ectothermic large-bodied small-bodied aquatic terrestrial scales feathers fur skin exoskeleton woody wings herbivore carnivore algae fern shrub tree burrower ground-dweller tree-dweller deep sea dweller reef dweller conifer fruit-bearing egg-laying live birther predator scavenger nocturnal diurnal baleenic domesticable farmable omnivore flying flightless migratory non-migratory parasitic venomous hive solitary colony pack flocking schooling large brain pollinating grasping appendages opposable digits bipedal sapient
I will no doubt add more and tweak the ones I have. Currently, there is some inconsistency between ones used as nouns and others used as verbs. I will likely adjust those once I decide how best to code them. In any case, I've come up with several game elements as a result of these. The following concepts are now part of the species simulation:
- Mobility — Animals can move, plants can't. This literally just affects whether a species can move from one location to another as part of normal simulation activity. Immobile species can only "move" by reproducing into an adjacent tile.
- Sustenance — Plants need sunlight to live. Animals must eat to live.
- Threat — A value indicating how severe a threat this species poses to others. Think of this like an "attack" statistic from role-playing games.
- Vulnerability — Sort of the inverse of Threat: how easily this species can be harmed by others. This is akin to a "defense" statistic from role-playing games.
- Range — Specialists can live only in the biome type from which they originate. Generalists can live anywhere (so long as their other trait-implied needs are met.)
- Size — Determined by various traits. Size values are exponential: a size of 2 is ten times size 1, size 3 is ten times size 2, etc. This is useful when determining which animals can eat which, as generally larger animals eat smaller ones.
- Resources — Some species produce resources usable by civilizations, such as fabric (think silk.) I will probably come up with more of these, e.g. leather, fur, etc.
- Migration — Some species migrate, which means they can relocate from one tile to another based on availability of food resources. Now, any animal species will migrate in an effort to find food, if food becomes genuinely scarce where they are, but a migratory species will migrate either randomly or just if there is a more optimal source/quantity of food nearby.
- Herding — Animal species can be solitary, or they can operate in packs, or colonies/hives. Animals that operate in herds receive a vulnerability bonus based on their local population. Herding behavior also determines the maximum population for this species on a given tile.
There are some other attributes I'm still roughing out. The next step will be to create the basic species simulation system that simulates populations on a given tile. That one is going to require quite a bit of programming and I might write a blog post about it next, as I work out the particulars.
Most of the brainstorming I've done over the past several months was related to the civilization system, so admittedly I've neglected the species system in that time, hence the rather sparse update this time around. I'm hoping to get another update done (with actual development progress!) in the next week or two.


text:
LeAnn Rimes and Friends Recreate Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover
LeAnn Rimes is not shy to show off her bikini bod. On Memorial Day, the singer spent some time by a pool with her girlfriends and tweeted a cheeky photo of the trio enjoying themselves.
Rimes took a page from the Sports Illustrated book with her photo. She recreated a recent SI photo from the 2014 swimsuit shoot that showed models Chrissy Teigen, Lily Aldridge and Nina Agda. Unlike the original, the women all kept their tops on for this photo.
Rimes tweeted the photo with the caption "Models in training @SInow sequel #happymemorialdayboys #wetryhard #having fun." Rimes is obviously proud of her figure -- and for good reason. She worked extra hard on it before she lounged poolside during a workout with L.A. trainer Ilyse Baker.
"Workouts done!" Rimes wrote on her Twitter hours before she hit the pool. "Every inch of me is drenched!! @ilysebaker time for sun & a bikini!"
Rimes is a soon-to-be singer turned reality star. Her and actor husband Eddie Cibrian are starring in their very own reality show 'Eddie and LeAnn.' The show is set to air on VH1 beginning on July 17. According to the singer, the show will showcase what she refers to as a normal life.


text:
0 Items (Empty)
Recently Viewed Items
Your Shopping Cart
Your shopping cart is currently empty. If you would like to make a purchase today, add items to your shopping cart.
The art of beautiful writing is used for Weddings, Invitations, Verse, Certificates, whatever you want to appear distinguished and beautiful. Click here to learn more, and click your browser's back arrow to return to JenniferUnlimited.com!


text:
Trends & Topics
Teaching Resources
This resource is designed to introduce younger children to basic Internet safety concepts through interactions with animated characters—Clicky, a yellow robot, and the sister-and-brother team, Nettie and Webster. Children learn the importance of being safer on- and offline from the repetition of safety messaging in Clicky's songs. The ultimate goal of NetSmartzKids is to teach children to identify online dangers and practice safer behaviors.


text: Use mouse scroll wheel over image or pinch-to-zoom on touch devices. You can also click and drag around on image. Park it 0 0 Follow 458 on Vorsteiner wheels Parked to Ferrari by Wheels Boutique Vorsteiner VSC-102 Vehicle Info: Ferrari 458 Italia Keywords Sign up to add your own keywords More from this Garage: More from this Profile: Project Wheels Boutique's Ghost Project Ford SVT Raptor on HRE TR46 Project Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniv. on American Force Wheels


text:
Tanida Quiz Builder enables you to create educational quizzes in Flash format that can be published on a website or distributed as standalone EXE file or Word document. It includes a variety of answer schemes, including True or False, Multiple Choice, Drag and Drop Matching, Fill-in-the-blank, Click Map and others.
Tanida Quiz Builder provides an easy-to-use interface to design the quiz and does not require any Flash or programming knowledge. You can fully customize the quiz appearance and layout including buttons, sound effects, labels and all other aspects. Quiz Builder let`s you change question types on the fly, assign points, randomly shuffle the answers, add pictures, limit the number of tries to get the answer right, and customize feedback.
Create your quizzes by typing up to eight different kinds of questions - Each with its own point system, accompanying graphics, and feedback.View Demo
When ready, export them in easy-to-use Flash (SWF), standalone(EXE), or Word (DOC) formats.!View Demo
Store results on our or your server so you don't have to fuss with complicated server scripts. Your quizzes can even email results to you.View Demo


text:
In New Brunswick, the pre-budget consultations are already over and done with. In Prince Edward Island, the last two public meetings are today and Thursday, in Charlottetown and Montague, respectively.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, they'll run to the end of January.
In Nova Scotia, there's a handy graphic showing how they're part of the annual budget cycle, just before the handy "Build A Budget" section. (I'm not going to reproduce the graphic, but for some reason, it made me think of a dead cartoon caterpillar, with a series of blue circular feet stuck up in the air.)
For all four Atlantic provinces, there are websites and email addresses for submitting your suggestions, your deep thoughts or just plain outright rants, and always, the promise that your suggestions will be deeply and thoroughly considered.
Each province has its own news release on that front, all of them remarkably similar. Here's the one from New Brunswick's finance minister, but you can really just insert the name of any province in that space, and you'll get the idea.
"With the engagement of New Brunswickers your government has developed a balanced and comprehensive plan to address our fiscal challenges," said Finance Minister Cathy Rogers. "We will keep listening on the important issues facing our province today and in the future. I encourage New Brunswickers to read the report and to share their ideas either by attending one of the upcoming public sessions or by submitting their feedback directly online or by mail."
But truthfully, it's much more of a public relations effort than anything else.
Finance ministers and their staffs gear up for the annual road shows, new web pages are built or old ones are dusted off, and after a few nights of "listening to the citizens, the people who really matter," the whole thing goes back into the storage locker until next year. At least when the travelling carnival comes to a nearby parking lot, the rides are more enjoyable that an hour and a half on a hard plastic chair in an echoing hall.
The truth is that it's sitting on Santa's lap at the mall on the 20th of December: you can ask the old guy for anything under the sun you might want, but unless it's already hidden in your parents' bedroom closet, it's not going to be under the budgetary equivalent of the Christmas tree.
It's important for governments to listen, the mantra goes.
But there's a difference between listening and hearing.
Often, the consultation work starts well after budget work is underway. Government departments have made their detailed budget submissions, have heard back from their respective finance departments, and are fine-tuning spending priorities before the public provides its pearls of wisdom.
In other words, if you go in to suggest a radical change in direction in the way the budget-car is being built, you're faced with the cold hard fact that the entire vehicle is only sitting there waiting for its final trip to the detailing garage.
Not only that, but there's also the problem of how the various governments prime the pump. Often, the pre-budget consultation starts by asking you to read the government's presentation on the fiscal direction it's already decided to take. If you go to the public meeting, it's all in the presentation read to you at the start. Then, it asks questions like "Should we cut faster? Slower?" The decision to head north or south was made long before.
The direction is already set; you are being offered the chance to move the deck chairs.
But to move them, of course, in a valuable, consultative, collaborative way, recognizing the importance of the voice of the electorate.
Or something like that.
Russell Wangersky's column appears in 35 SaltWire newspapers and websites in Atlantic Canada. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com — Twitter: @wangersky.


text:
By Jeff Case
In the world of college football, a fan on an LSU message board known as LSUFreek made a name for himself by perfecting the art of college football-themed animated GIFs. Yahoo! Sports did a great feature on LSUFreek (aka Terrance Donnels) and his backstory, but we're not here to talk college football.
What we are here to do is bring to your attention to someone who took a little of LSUFreek's style, added an NBA wrinkle to it and used a 1980s sitcom for good measure, too.
Observe the work of one "TURBOZONE" on YouTube and his hilarious-yet-fitting tribute to the Toronto Raptors' international frontcourt of Jonas Valanciunas and Andrea Bargnani getting the Perfect Strangers treatment:
Hard to say what we like most about this video: the pasted-on faces and reactions of Jonas and Bargs, that Slovenian former Raptors big man Primoz Brezec is listed as a co-star or the whole LSUFreek-ish style of it all. At any rate, we hope this gave you the kind of good laugh it gave us today.


text:
Hi everyone! Glad to be back today to share with you a card I recently made for Prima's October CAT challenge. I had not created something for a while as school is back into full swing these past 3 weeks and so the craziness started again.
Anyway, here is the sketch that was provided.
Amongst other Prima mixed media products, I used the Rossibelle collection 6x6 paper pad, flowers and chipboard.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Love, Nadia


text:
The Winterfire-term refers to stock footage which displays Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis in many of it's forms, shot in timelapse-format.
Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are produced when charged particles are blasted out from the sun, which then excite particles in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The upper atmosphere's particles emit photons when returning from the excited states to normal states, which are then seen as the Northern Lights.
Especially in the northern people's folklore, Northern Lights have their own part. For example the native people of Lapland, the Sami people, believe, that the Northern Lights are blood spilt from the fighters who ensue battles in the heavens, or that people in the heavens cut themselves which is then seen as dancing lights. The Norse people believed, that the armor of the Valkyries, creatures who carried the valiant dead from the battlefield to Valhalla, glimmered as they rode across the northern nightsky.
Contains: base clip, looped clip, base clip with alpha, looped clip with alpha
Explanation of different Winterfire-products:
Winterfire Timelapse
WinterfireFX Realtime
WinterfireEX 4k-timelapse
My site:


text:
Apowersoft Streaming Video Recorder 6.3.0 (Build 07/23/2018) Multilingual
Apowersoft Streaming Video Recorder 6.3.0 (Build 07/23/2018) Multilingual | File size: 67.7 MB
Record streaming video and record Internet TV. Apowersoft Streaming Video Recorder is an all-in-one program for recording online videos and Internet TV Shows. It is very simple and intuitive to use, lets you easily record any streaming video being played on the Internet.And with a powerful video convert integrated in this Streaming Video Recorder, you can choose to output the recorded videos in many different formats, including AVI, MPEG-4, WMV, WMA, MP3, ACC etc. Nearly all online video sharing sites and all sorts of media types are supported.


text:
by Brian DeCandia, sports information graduate assistant
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 9 Georgia College men's tennis team (11-5) got their second-straight win, beating the No. 48 Delta State University (1-4) Statesmen at the White Sands Invitational Saturday afternoon, 8-1.
The Bobcats fired first jumping out to a commanding 3-0 lead after doubles. Leo Bernardes (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Tyler Franks (Greensboro, Ga.) finished first toppling Guillaume Lacour and Sebastien Rajaonary 8-2 in the second spot. Jerome Leborgne (Coordimanche, France) and Johan Wadstein (Helsingborg, Sweden) finished second for the Bobcats, edging out Josselin Polosse and Florian Mondolini, 8-5. Leborgne and Wadstein reach double-digits as they improve to 10-6 on the season.
In third doubles action, Tobias Rausch (Mannheim, Germany) and Robert Angelucci (Acworth, Ga.) struggled early but completed the sweep, defeating Mitchelle Pinchbeck and Cristian Garcia, 8-5.
Plagued by a heel injury, Wadstein, was not able to participate in the singles portion again but GC would continue to dominate, winning singles 5-1. Angelucci stepped in for the injured Wadstein and played in the six slot dominating Marco Heinzleman, 6-2, 6-2. Bernardes would finish second playing out of the No. 3 position for the second straight day and clinching the match for the 'Cats by beating Garcia, 6-3, 6-4. Wictor Andersson (Karlskoga, Sweden) won the first set with easy 6-0 but snuck by Rajaonary in the second set, 7-5.
After being handled in the first set 6-2, Franks rallied in the second set against Lacour to win 7-6 and force a tie-breaker. He went on to win the match in an 11-9 marathon. No. 16 Leborgne and Rausch both played in third set tie-breakers but both did not have the same result. Leborgne won his match against Polosse, 6-3, 6-7, 13-11 but Rausch dropped his bout to Mondoloni, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8. Andersson and Leborgne are tied for the team lead in wins with 10.
The Bobcats will get back to work tomorrow against No. 47 University of North Alabama Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


text:
Queen Castaspella is one of the closest friends of She-Ra.
She was taught her magical abilities by a sorcerer called Norwyn, who used white magic. He also tutored Shadow Weaver. Castaspella worked hard for her power but Shadow Weaver was tempted by evil. The two are bitter enemies, but were once great friends, so much so that Castaspella knows enough that she can pre-empt any spells that Shadow Weaver may use against the Rebellion. Once Castaspella had achieved her great power, she was deemed suitable to be the ruler of Mystacor.
When Castaspella sees Prince Adam for the first time she becomes very smitten with him, so much so that she "accidentally" leaves the Pool of Vision active, thereby pulling him into Etheria. Prince Adam also shows a mutual interest in her as well.
Castaspella, being a sorceress, has many magical abilities at her disposal. She has exhibited powers such as teleportation, materialisation, and transformation. Castaspella has also demonstrated on various occasions her vast knowledge of all things magical and mystical. She also wears a pair of magical discs on her bracelets that can fire energy blasts.
So guys, who loves her?
How do you want her to be done, once the 80's toy is so different from the cartoon?


text:
In 1998, My mom brought me to the U.S., I was only eleven years old, two days after my arival to the U.S., I attended Riverview school in Round Lake Wisconsin. My teachers found out that I couldn't speak a word of English, one of the many teachers at the school found the Rosetta Stone. She made me work with the program about four hours a day, five days a week, Im not saying that Rosetta Stone taught me everything, but if I have to say, It counts for 85% of the English I learned in those first four months. With me learning the language so fast, it made me handle the transition of my new life fast. After that I was able travel to many places, help my family with translation, etc. Now many years later I recomended my future wife the Rosetta Stone program and I know its going to work for her, like it worked for me.
Akron, Ohio
Find more posts about: English


text:
Managing multiple database platforms has become the norm rather than an exception for database administrators (DBAs) according to database tools vendor Embarcadero. The company's latest database trends survey that shows 72% of DBAs manage at least two types of database management systems. Of those surveyed, 20% reported managing one database platform, 33% said they manage two, 25% said three, 8% said four, and 14% said they manage five or more.
Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle were cited as the most common database platforms, with 62% of respondents working with SQL Server and 60% with Oracle. Third on the list was Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise with 35%, and Microsoft Access earned 19%. Oracle ranked tops as the database platform that respondents work with primarily.
Exacerbating the multi-platform database situation is the fact that most DBAs are also tasked with managing multiple versions of a database, adding another layer of complexity to their responsibilities and creating more room for error. According to the survey, 69% manage more than one version of the same database and, of those that do, 51% said they manage three or more versions of the same database platform.
"Each database platform and version has its own features and functionality, and keeping them all straight can be a monumental task for DBAs," said Scott Walz, senior director of product management for Embarcadero. "Multi-platform database management is becoming more commonplace, but that doesn't mean it's getting less complicated."
Although the vast majority of DBAs said they are proficient with more than one database platform, they believe the variables of multi-platform environments will put their skills to the test. When asked to name the single biggest database-related challenge facing them in the next year, the greatest number of respondents said cross-platform database management. Multi-instance databases and tuning tied for second place, followed by database management in third.
The more than 1,200 survey respondents were a mixture of DBAs, developers, architects, and analysts. The survey results and additional information are available online here.


text:
Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Wednesday November 16, 2011 2:11 pm
5 things you should know about iTunes Match
The first member of Apple's iCloud family that requires separate payment is here: the $24.99-a-year iTunes Match. The service will store any and all music in your computer's iTunes library up to Apple's servers and make it accessible to any of your iOS devices or computers running iTunes.
Though the free iTunes in the Cloud has existed since the launch of iOS 5 on Oct. 12, that service only covers music you've bought through the iTunes Store.
Apple's iTunes Match examines your song collection and determines whether Apple's servers contain a copy of each tune, in which case no upload on your part is required, and you can download a high-quality 256 Kbps AAC iTunes Plus version of the songs onto any device or computer you've signed into using the same Apple ID.
But for those who still have lingering questions about iTunes Match, here are a few more details:
- How much music for how much money? It isn't free. But you only pay once for all your devices and computers. For $24.99 a year, iTunes Match will host up to 25,000 songs, and sync them to up to 10 mobile iOS devices and computers.
- If you only have music purchased from iTunes, you don't need it. The already operational iTunes in the Cloud service, a part of iCloud, has you covered, since it stores all your music in iCloud free. This is similar to Amazon's Cloud Player, which also backs up any music you've bought from Amazon MP3 Store to the cloud and makes it downloadable from any Web browser.
- You only need to update iTunes, not iOS devices. In particular, you'll need iTunes 10.5.1 installed on a Mac or PC. The iOS 5 devices are updated automatically with a new iTunes Match choice in the Music player's settings page.
- You need a Mac or PC. If you only use iPads or iPhones but have never synced, then you have no use for iTunes Match.
- Yes, your ill-gotten music will be stored. It will also possibly be improved. I downloaded a few songs from a "free" MP3 site with bit rates of 128 Kbps, and after they were stored to iTunes Match, they magically appeared as 256 Kbps files, and sounded considerably clearer.
For more, see iTunes Match Ends Piracy As We Know It.
This article, written by Michael Muchmore, originally appeared on PCMag.com and is republished on Gear Live with the permission of Ziff Davis, Inc.
- Related Tags:
- aac, apple, icloud, ios 5, itunes, itunes match, itunes plus, lists, software
Latest Gear Live Videos
- Subscribe:
- YouTube
- iTunes High Definition
- iTunes Standard Version
© Gear Live Inc. {year} – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.


text:
Main Page
From IFWiki
Welcome to the Interactive Fiction Wiki
Monday, May 20, 2019
|Hey, everyone. As part of the cultural and ideological shift in interactive fiction, I shall be changing the Games category pages to refer to Works instead of Games. It's become increasingly obvious that works of interactive fiction aren't just games, but also what might be called stories, art pieces, and toys -- and possibly other sorts of things yet to be created. In truth, IF has included such non-games for quite some time, but we've collectively called everything "games" regardless. Unfortunately, calling all IF "games" has the unfortunate side-effect in thinking that works that aren't games don't belong. So, I'm changing our terminology. Discussion on this topic can be found at http://www.intfiction.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16906 . -- David Welbourn 17:24, 16 October 2014 (UTC)
Unfeatured Article
Feature Theme
|"IF is now being written by many types of people, for many reasons, as freeware or for sale, and distributed in a wide range of places. It is harder than ever to follow what is going on, and also there is a greater than ever variety to the works and players."
--Emily Short, "Brief Bibliography about IF History," April 2016.
What's new in the IF scene:
Still going strong:
The Land of FAQ
Check out these articles!
|Nick Montfort created the Frequently Asked Questions article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license. There is another article by David Fisher that lists Past raif topics. Check these articles out if you have a question. It's probably already been asked or the topic already discussed.
Competition News
May 2019
June 2019
(more news at Competition news)
| You want to help edit the IFWiki? Great!


text:
The fifth stop of the 2014 Come Up Tour presented by etnies went down this past weekend in Phoenix, Arizona at the Peoria Skatepark in conjunction with Cowtown. We had our biggest turn out yet, even in the 99-degree heat! Rayce Davis came in first skating with style all over the course, Daniel Villa flew through the tranny section and landed in second, and Cowtown local fav Jalen Noel came in third. Marcus Carr was our Prime C.U.T. winner. Check the full results. At the end of the Come Up Tour, Rayce and the winners from the other five cities will submit video parts to twskate.com for YOU to vote on. The winner with the most votes will get a Check Out in the mag!
Photos / Jaime Owens Video / Brandon Steed
Special thanks to our C.U.T. sponsors: etnies, Official, AYC, Independent, Alien Workshop, Fred Water, Bones Wheels, Rastaclat, Windell's, Stance, Art Of Board, Sandbox, Dakine
NCY, we'll see you this Saturday at the LES Skatepark, May 10 for the big finale in conjunction with KCDC!


text:
June 23, 2006
While Santa Clara basketball might not be in season right now, Broncos fans still have an opportunity to see their favorite men's and women's players in action right now. A total of 10 current players are participating in the San Francisco ProCity league from June - August at Kezar Pavilion. The league has just started its 27th year on the men's side and 12th year on the women's side.
Playing in the men's summer league are forwards Okechukwu Mbanugo (Bay Pride) and Tristan Parham (East Bay), centers Sean Denison (South Bay Spartans) and John Bryant (SF City), guards Calvin Johnson (East Bay) and Danny Pariseau (South Bay Spartans), along with incoming freshman Cedric Latimer (South Bay Spartans).
On the women's side, veterans Tracey Walker (Golden State), Anna Martin (East Bay) and Yasemin Kimyacioglu (TBD) will take to the courts, as will Jenni Gottschalk (TBD), who will be returning to the team in 2006-07 after a two-year absence.
The league will again be full of talented players, as a number of Bay Area collegiate players are participating, along with pro players who are back from Europe for the summer. Some NBA and WNBA players may even stop by from time to time to show off their skills. Drew Gooden of the Cleveland Cavaliers is scheduled to make some appearances in the league this summer.
One of the Broncos bright lights in 2005-06, Bryant is looking at the league as a place where he can continue to take his game to the next level. After a strong freshman season, the 6-11 center believes that the league will have him ready for an even stronger sophomore year.
"I think that the league will be very helpful for me," said Bryant. "There are so many talented players out there and I have already learned a lot that will help me next year. A lot of the players have experience in pro basketball, so they are passing down that experience to me."
For Walker, the SF ProCity is a great way to stay in shape and keep her competitive edge through the summer months.
"I really think that this is the best competition that I can get over the summer," said Walker. "There are a lot of college players from the West Coast that I know, so it almost feels like you are in season and that keeps me playing at a high level."
She combines her play in the summer league with her summer workouts and youth coaching, so basketball is never far from her mind.
"I work out every day but Friday and I am doing some coaching with my sister," said Walker. "Doing that stuff along with playing in the league keeps me focused and in shape, so I can be ready once we get back to practicing in the fall."
While all the players see the league as a great summer experience, the league takes on added importance for Tristan Parham as he attempts to recover from a knee injury that sidelined him for nearly all of last season. The league should provide a good test for him against strong competition as he prepares for his senior season.
"My knees are feeling better than ever right now," said Parham. "It is great to get some game experience over the summer so I can continue to build my game up. There is good competition up there and I think it will definitely help me be ready for next year."
Parham also wants to duplicate the championship he won last year in the league.
"Last year, we took home the title and I definitely want to do it again this summer. There are a lot of good players and teams up here, so we will see what happens."
The games have already started, as Bryant's SF City squad earned an opening night 104-88 win over the South Bay Spartans, which includes Denison, Pariseau and Latimer. Admission is free to all games at Kezar Pavilion. To find out more information on the league, go to http://www.sanfranciscoproam.com/.


text:
South Dakota Fight Commission Bill Headed to Governor
PIERRE - A bill creating a state athletic commission to regulate boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts will be sent to South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard.
The state Senate passed a House-amended version of the bill by a 27-5 margin on Monday.
Supporters say a commission is needed to oversee the sports because unregulated professional matches are often conducted without proper rules, referees, testing and medical personnel.
The Legislature passed a similar law in 2009, but it expired last year because former Gov. Mike Rounds and Daugaard never appointed commissioners. Daugaard has said the previous measure was flawed because commissioners could have been personally liable if the body was sued.
Daugaard agreed to support the bill once it was changed to allow his office to appoint the commission's five members.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
贵卅十一选五前直最大遗漏:Sports?& Entertainment
Engage fans with world-class sports and entertainment innovation
Solve your specific sports needs
Gain a competitive edge by leveraging the digital transformation in sports
贵州11选五遗漏查询 www.xv-j.com Outclass and outmaneuver the competition – on the field and off – by capturing, analyzing, and using data in real time to create the "digital athlete." Transform traditional methods in athlete management, scouting, health, fitness, training, development, game execution, and compliance for an edge no competitor can copy.
Solve your specific entertainment needs
Transform experiences by digitalizing entertainment park operations
Discover how entertainment parks and integrated resorts can win the innovation game by adapting to disruptive change and connecting their physical and digital operations. Success depends mainly on excellence in three key areas: ubiquitous customer engagement, strategic demand management, and effective operations management.
Foresee a promising future of casinos: digitalize and adapt to disruptive change
Drive digitalization in the casino and entertainment business in this era of unprecedented change by simplifying operations with Big Data and real-time analytics. Consumers are raising the stakes in their expectations for innovative wins in "guest-centric" gaming and entertainment in the highly competitive casino market.
Create live, continuous engagement opportunities in lottery and betting
Profit from potential prosperity in people's natural urge for gambling and a desire to win. Lucrative lotteries have captured over one third of the market. The IoT is extending the reach to digital apps and devices appealing to many. Keep pace with technology and millennials, who want the best experiences just a click away.
Find sports and entertainment software tailored to your needs
SAP Sports One
Get ahead of the competition and simplify game-winning decisions with innovative technology that helps you identify, acquire, develop, and maintain the best personnel. Uncover the insights you need to create winning strategies and adjust on the fly – so you can reach championship-level performance.?
SAP Event Ticketing
Boost your revenue using comprehensive, advanced cloud ticketing software. SAP Event Ticketing helps you manage tickets, customers, and event processes quickly and efficiently. And it enables you to utilize social media and mobile devices to increase ticket sales.
Realize your business goals by simplifying and accelerating your digital transformation
In an era focused on continuous innovation and anticipating customer needs, it can be hard to turn your vision into reality. This is where SAP Digital Business Services can help. We're part of SAP, so we know SAP software better than anyone else. With over 40 years of experience, we can help you reach your business transformation goals, and everything in between.
Transform your business with unparalleled service support enterprise-wide
SAP Digital Business Services connects business and IT to help you close the gap between your digital transformation strategy and execution. From designing and value discovery to accelerated innovation to productive usage for tangible business results, you can evolve your business by breaking new ground with a trusted adviser that knows SAP software best.
What are leading analysts saying about SAP?
SAP Sports One wins special mention at German Design Awards
Find out why SAP Sports One earned a special mention for Excellent Communications Design Interactive UX. The solution was developed using the design thinking method with the goal of meeting all requirements and user needs of sports teams.
SAP Sports One wins iF Design Gold Award 2017
See?how this all-in-one sports software can change the way soccer is played for?leagues of any size. Enable your team to reach its athletic goals with superior analysis tools and implementation functions.
See how customers are succeeding with SAP
Generating revenue with SAP Event Ticketing
See how Hannover 96's?new online ticketing system allows fans to easily order tickets and merchandise?from their mobile devices.
Revolutionizing football with SAP solutions
Learn how the Deutscher Fu?ball-Bund and SAP are using data and the latest technology to lead the way in digital changes in football.
Better customer experiences with SAP Data Services
Discover how Madison Square Garden uses real-time data to provide the ultimate fan experience for more than 300 events each year.
Solve your sports and entertainment business needs
Scope out seismic changes in the film industry
Explore how the film industry is adapting to changes in people's habits and preferences, including new viewing models and distribution channels, on-demand screening, and piracy.
Get the latest news and trends from experts
Improve sports performance by acting on data in real time
Collect?data on athletes and analyze it effectively in the moment to gain a competitive edge on the field, court, or track.?
Six challenges to the sports digital revolution
Let?go of gut feelings in favor of real-time player performance data. See how the?sports world has gone digital, and what obstacles are left to conquer.
Customers share best practices for SAP Marketing Cloud
Marquee sports brands joined SAP in March to discuss the topic of fan engagement and how they're using SAP Marketing Cloud to achieve their goals –?today and in the future.
Communities and Events
Meet the sports and entertainment team at an event near you
Join us at several events, such as G2E in Las Vegas, the European Attractions Show in Berlin, at Leaders Conferences and more. Contact the team for more information!
Join the www.xv-j.community
Stay up to date on the latest innovations, trends, and solutions for sports and entertainment through blogs, discussions, and events – and find out how SAP can help your sports and entertainment business run better.
Manage your sports and entertainment business enterprise-wide
Human Resources
Simplify HR processes and engage your workforce to drive better business results, empower your workforce, and develop your talent.
Bring together financial processes with automated, real-time analytics, and translate them into forward-looking business insight across the entire organization.
Procurement and Networks
Streamline procurement processes across your organization, driving compliance and control while cutting costs and risks.
Take advantage of in-depth data analysis, predictions, and processing of complex events, and combine data from a variety of sources into one, integrated platform.
Cloud and Data Platforms
Leverage business applications that use the latest technology advancements – including the SAP HANA platform, cloud, mobile, and more.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Deploy high-velocity, intelligent edge IoT applications using business and technology services.


text:
Three chefs who cook for some of the biggest rock bands on the planet have lifted the lid on the eating habits of stars including Thom Yorke and Kylie Minogue.
The cooks reveal Radiohead frontman Yorke "snacks" on sumac spiced eggplant and Lebanese salsa sliders before a gig, while his bandmates enjoy tucking in to partridge, quince and ginger gyoza.
Australian singer Minogue's meal of choice while on tour is beef tournedos with olives, and rockers Muse favor wild rabbit risotto with smoked pancetta and fresh sage for their backstage fare.
The exotic dishes show how pop stars' tastes have become more refined as they seek better nutrition to cope with life on the road, according to chef Sarah Muir.
Muir, who looks after Radiohead's on-tour catering, tells The Sunday Times Magazine, "When I started touring in the early 1990s with heavy metal bands, most of the groups lived off bottles of Jack Daniel's, fast food and cigarettes.
"Back then, you'd throw an oven in the back of a van, drive to the venue and knock up a basic shepherd's pie. But grueling tour schedules mean some artists are away from home for over a year. It's my job to ensure they can still shimmy into their skinny jeans, go out on stage and give it their all."
Giles Broe, who cooks for Minogue, adds of his beef tournedos, "(Kylie is) often exhausted after a show: this is the perfect protein-rich pick-me-up."