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I attended my first SQL Skills event in December 2011. Due to a big project at work I was able to work in week three of the Immersion Events which is HA/DR "High Availability and Disaster Recovery". Although I am taking the training out of sequence my hope is to be able to attend IE2 later this fall. IE2 is the performance tuning session.
Expectations are high when you attend an Immersion Event. Many will argue that it is the best training available. I haven't attended every possible training out there but I have attended training from the numerous "training centers", attended a lot of SQL Saturday's and three PASS Summits. Of all the training I have attended, the Immersion Events are the best.
Anytime that you put Paul Randal, Kimberly Tripp, Joe Sack and Jonathan Kehayias in the same room talking about topics they love you are in for a treat. I will tell you that topics range from consolidation, virtualization, backups, restores, clustering, mirroring, replication, design options and more. The fact you can find this information at SQL Skills I don't mind sharing it.
For me, each day I was able to learn something pretty significant that will have direct impact at work, thus each day the cost of the training was justified. How cool is that.
Thursday night at these events are community night. Several attendees get to present a 15 minute session. I was fortunate to be able to be one of those. I presented "Getting Involved and Getting Ahead", my session was on all things SQL Community.
If you ever have a change to attend, you are well feed both physically and intellectually. Don't miss the chance to get immersed in SQL Server.


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The United Paranormal Project wants to welcome you to experience another haunted location just opening up to the public, the Old Haunted Licking County Jail www.parajail.com
October 12th and 19th 2013
Decades after the last inmate walked out of the old Licking County jail, echoes of the lives spent within its walls and the deaths that have occurred here still resonate among the empty cells.
The Old Jail has had far more than its share of horror. It was built in an age where punishment was deemed more important than correction and in a place where corruption was as likely an outcome as justice. The Imposing structure was designed to look more like an ancient castle and has more in common with the Tower of London than with any modern correctional facility. The Jailor/Sherriff and his family lived within these glum walls as well as the inmates and within the walls of this Castle like structure 3 of the Sheriff's died, along with numerous inmates. Infamous murderers including "The Hand Saw Slayer", "The 22 Caliber Serial Killers", "The Proposal Day Murderer" and many more were housed here, but the most infamous death/killing here at the old jail was so shocking it made national news., that of Carl Etherington, a Dry-Agent Detective being held at the jail for protection from an angry mob of over a thousand people who had gathered demanding he be turned over to them to face their lynch mob justice. They stormed the jail and rammed the North entrance of the jail door down before finally gaining entry. They rushed up to the second floor cell block where Etherinton was being held and beat him to death with a hammer. The mob then drug him out of the jail and up to the Southeast side of the Town Square where they lynched him to a telegraph pole. It is said that nearly 5,000 people including women and children all came to take a peak at the hanging agent.
Then there is the case of "Laura Devlin" a 72 year old women who went mad and killed her husband then cut his arms and legs off with a hand saw and placed his arms and head in her oven and cooked them who also called the old jail her temporary home for awhile. Click on the links a to learn more. www.parajail.com/deadly-and-infamous-inmates.php
Already paranormal phenomina has been witnessed and even recorded at the jail during investigations and as renovation of the historic building continues activity seems to be on the rise. An apparition has been caught on video stalking behind an investigator in the matrons/women's section on the 4th floor. Another apparition has been caught in photographs standing in the basement/ dungeon under the jail. Don't miss out on being some of the first to explore and experience this unique location. these can be seen on the jails website.
October 12th at 9pm there will be a ghost walk/tour of the jail $ 20 dollars a person and then on the following weekend October 19th their will be a public ghost hunt at the jail from 9pm to 3 am Cost is $ 40 dollars a person by online order or $ 50 dollars ticket price at the door.
Ever thought about spending the night in a Haunted Jail? Well this one has 14 Known Deaths that have occurred in it, 6 of them being Suicides. From a Woman setting herself on Fire to a Man slitting his own throat with a Razor. The Paranormal Activity here is VERY STRONG! These hunts are designed for folks who are not members of a Paranormal Team. Our Public Ghost Hunts last from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am and the check-in time is 8:30 pm. After everyone is registered and divided into groups, guides will assist you in your exploration of this historic building. After a brief paranormal tour you will be with one of our experienced ghost hunting guides. Our guides are here to ensure that you have a positive and safe evening. Some equipment will be provided and you are welcome to bring your own. Everyone should bring a small flashlight for navigating in the dark. Everyone is required to act in a respectful manner or they will be asked to leave without a refund.
Anyone wanting to schedule their own private investigation of the Licking County Jail may do so here www.parajail.com/schedule-a-ghost-hunt.php
Haunted Old Licking County Jail open to ghost hunting events October 12th & 19th
Started by grimshawl , Sep 17 2013 10:58 AM
1 reply to this topic
Posted 17 September 2013 - 10:58 AM
Still full of Wonder at the Worlds Workings, looking for some of the ansers and most of the questions. Lost and Found Ohio
Posted 16 October 2013 - 12:27 PM
this weekends ghost hunt at the Licking County jail has sold out, your next opportunity to explore the old jail for yourself on a public hunt is Nov 16th or you can schedule your own private hunt if you prefer. www.parajail.com
Still full of Wonder at the Worlds Workings, looking for some of the ansers and most of the questions. Lost and Found Ohio
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After a two off days, the 12-4 Knicks return to action as they head down south to North Carolina to play the 7-9 Charlotte Bobcats tonight. The Knicks are coming in a little banged up at the point guard position, with bulldog/duck/point guard Raymond Felton expected to start after acquiring a bruise on his left hand in the Knicks win over the Suns on Sunday (puns!) and Jason Kidd expected to come off the bench after dealing with back spasms that kept him out of the past three games. A couple of things to watch for:
- The Bobcats play at the sixth highest pace in the league. The Knicks play at the third lowest. As with almost every game, the point guard are going to have to slow down the tempo and keep it under control. Moreover, the Knicks are going to have to deal with the athleticism that the Cats' have. Kemba Walker is lightning quick, and stopping his dribble-penetrations will be key. Second overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a dynamic wing who has defended very well this year and can also fly. In the frontcourt, Bismack Biyombo stands out athletically. He averages 1.6 blocks per game, can get them in bunches.
- As mentioned earlier, Jason Kidd will be coming off the bench. It will be interesting to see if he can help get the defense back on track by doing his veteran, Jason Kidd-things. His return should also let Woodson play around with his backcourt combinations, and have potentially have more of those 2-point guard lineups that have been working very well for the Knicks this year. And finally, and maybe most importantly, Kidd said that he will not be wearing the headband. Thank goodness. It's as if Basketball-Hanukkah has come early this year.
- SHEEEEEEEEEED. Rasheed Wallace played only 85 seconds on Sunday after getting ejected with two technical fouls. Sheed should be well rested and
ready to pick up more tech's ready to play smothering defenseready to launch more regretful three pointers. Without Marcus Camby (plantar fasciitis) Sheed will likely be the first big man off the bench and have to play some important minutes.
- Felton will be wearing a pad on his left hand, and I expect him to be fine. After all, he did launch up a falling away three-pointer on the possession immediately after hurting his hand. Bulldog gonna' bulldog.
- Bobcats center Byron Mullens is 7″0, 275 lbs and he averages 5.3 three point attempts a game. He averages 1.5 makes per game. This is hilarious.
- Finally, Ben Gordon has been on fire lately. He's made 18 threes in his last three games. I think that's a lot. Yeah, it's a lot. The Knicks are going to hope he cools off and make sure they stay with him out on the perimeter.
And them's be the things to watch for. The Knicks should win this game, and make sure they don't look past it with their showdown against the Heat happening tomorrow. Tip off is a little after 7 PM ET.


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Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0
This list was developed based in part (and with permission) on a post at http://enterprisetwopointo.com.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 1. Draft picks
Create a steering committee to drive enterprise 2.0 at your company. Make sure this group pulls together influential colleagues who 'get it.' Pinpoint the people in your organization who make things happen.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 2. Create a playbook
Work together to catalog current organizational efforts, such as blogs and Wikis, and problems that enterprise 2.0 applications might solve. Focus on the bottom line, such as client interaction or regulatory hurdles.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 3. Understand your user culture
Enterprise 2.0 is about sharing, which can be inhibited by organizational and/or sociological factors. Most taggers are 40 years old or younger and tend to be tech-savvy. So, if your user population is older, less technically inclined or just more private
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 4. Decide what to share
Identify information that you and others would like to share or know. Find the nexus of those two points, and gauge worker interest in the process.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 5. Start small
Keep the pilot tight and focused. Not only do such programs help IT kick the tires on these products, but they also develop a nucleus of users to bookmark and build the community necessary for successful deployment.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 6. Develop a great pitch
Approach senior management with a problem facing the enterprise and articulate to them how enterprise 2.0 technologies such as social bookmarking can solve it.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 7. Be patient
Enterprise 2.0 adoption takes time.
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - 8. Evangelize
If you've had trouble finding the right business problem to tackle, consider a bit of advanced selling. One major financial institution appointed an enterprise 2.0 evangelist to preach the gospel. He developed a users' seminar on searches, blogging, Wikis
Eight Steps to Enterprise 2.0 - See More Slideshows Like This One
Enterprise 2.0 in Action Enterprise 2.0 Glossary


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Veteran market strategist Rich Bernstein recently published his list of three secular investment themes.
Among them: the American Industrial Renaissance.
"Small and mid-cap US-focused industrial and manufacturing companies are gaining market share," he said.
One of the more talked-about forces at play in the American Industrial Renaissance is the decreasing competitiveness of Chinese labor costs.
Many of us are used to hearing our parents and grandparents tell us about how all of the manufacturing jobs have been shipped to China.
But with the standard of living rising so quickly and the size of the available labor force shrinking rapidly in low-cost countries like China, wages are rising rapidly. In China specifically, wage growth has far outpaced the growth seen in the U.S. As such, the marginal manufacturing capacity is reshoring to the U.S. (see chart).
Here are all of the forces Bernstein identified as pushing the American Industrial Renaissance forward:
1) Wage compression - although the absolute level of wages in the emerging markets remains less than that in the United States, the difference has been closing (see Chart 1). For example, a recent Bloomberg article highlighted that China's wages are likely to rise by 10- 15% during 2014. US average hourly earnings are currently rising less than 2%.
2) Lower energy costs - according to Empirical Research Partners, energy accounts for only about 5-7% of manufacturing input costs. However, lower US energy prices are nonetheless helping to keep overall US manufacturing costs competitive.
3) Quality control - the December 2012 Atlantic Monthly has a case study regarding on-shoring of US manufacturing. Quality control was cited as one of the main reasons companies are bringing total manufacturing back to the US rather than simply assembling foreign produced parts. The article discussed the difficulties rectifying quality control problems with distributed global manufacturing.
4) Transportation costs and time to market - the cost of shipping parts around the world and the associated time can be hidden costs that hurt both profit margins and market share.


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Elora Wolf
Elora Wolf's Details
Elora Wolf's Likes
I am a woman with a wonderful energy, cheerful, loving and passionate with everything I do in my day to day. I believe in the energies of the universe as a source of guidance and inspiration, I consider that to feel in harmony with ourselves in need to feel what you think , do what you feel and nourish the mind, the body and the spirit.I like to enjoy a good conversation accompanied by a delicious Colombian coffee, to be in contact with nature, to travel, I love to read (suspense genre) and enjoy my family.
My Fantasies
Sex fantasies? I have many, but the most important thing is to make your senses and my senses reach the total ecstasy with words, with our touch and imagination, I love to explore my body and guide me to new experiences, to feel that leave a footprint in my body and mind and that only Can say. "They were provoked by you"PD: A fireplace, a cabin with lake, cold weather, a good wine. perfect place to take us there.
My Obsessions & Desires
My main fetish is in the hands, I have a fixation with this, touching, kissing, licking the fingers, see how they caress me, I have many more that I would love to talk and make them reality with you, my essence is to be free and wild, so you can express yourself with Tranquility, let us feel and connect with our deepest desires.
Additional Info
In my room we can enjoy from a simple conversation to a deeper connection in sex, each show is unique to me, because you are unique.Tell me what you think, feel and want, I would love to know why you are in my room and so I can be happy complaciéndote.In my room is allowed to be what you really are, without judgements or pressures.Come here. I invite you to discover!
Special Info
In my room are welcome all people who want to enjoy a pleasant moment, I worry because my space is good for you.I would like you to know my rules and I hope you agree with them:1. Don't be rude, neither with me nor with other guests of the room.2. Do not beg, do not ask me to lower my rate, you can be sure you will not regret, if you can not afford to be here, then close the session.3. "Show boobs", "show ass" don't count as conversation, so don't expect my answer.4. The most important rule. Enjoy, laugh, enjoy, we are here to be happy.
My Fetishes
Anal, Feet, Piercings and Tattoos, Role Play/Costumes, Sugar Daddy, Voyeurism
My Sex Toys
Role-Playing Scenarios
Boss / Secretary, Doctor / Nurse, Service Worker/Housewife, Student/Teacher
Elora Wolf's Wishlist
Elora Wolf has setup a wish list at our authorized sex toystore. If you purchase an item from the wishlist it will be sent discreetly to Elora Wolf!
Your personal information (name, address, etc.) will not be visible to the performer; nor will you be able to access the performer's information.
Tip Target
You can imagine how to enjoy yourself and me with a pair of big tits, I'm sure it will be very ecxitante, any contribution will be appreciated, I have surprises for you, for every 500 credits I will give you 40 minutes in pvt ;)
Send tip for this target
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This top features a adjustable straps, lace design through out top and on bottom of fringe. This top is causal and great for any day. Model Info: Height: 5ft 0in | Waist: 24in | Hips: 34in | Chest: 32D Wear Size: Small
You're reviewing: JADE LACE FRINGE DESIGN CASUAL STRAP TOP
© 2017 Lollicouture.com. All Rights Reserved.


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Armani; Axel Heimken/AP
After the rave reviews Lady Gaga received for the stellar Armani Prive dress she wore to this year's Grammys, the singer is teaming up with Giorgio Armani once again, this time for her Monster Ball concert tour. The Italian designer just released two sketches featuring the custom-made outfits he created for the blonde performer. Through a release, Armani says, "We hear Lady Gaga's music everywhere we go, it is like a soundtrack of our times. In addition to her formidable songwriting skills, she is a modern fashion phenomenon." From a scintillating one-piece with a lobster-like effect on one sleeve to a sparkly cerulean body suit with exaggerated shoulders, each costume balances Armani's sharp tailoring with Gaga's dramatic flair. The performer's style parade continues with a one-of-a-kind Prada dress that blends high-tech fabric (it's made of plastic!) with a flared skirt based off a classic 18th century silhouette. Meanwhile, floral embroidery and lace trimming cap off that feisty-but-feminine look. – David Yi


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April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and I hope that you will take this time to discuss and document your healthcare wishes. We all need to be prepared in the event of a health crisis, and having the talk is easier than most people think, but many of us need a little inspiration or a reminder to do it. I hope that this message and National Healthcare Decisions Day are all you need.
Please take some time today and have the talk with your loved ones. There are all sorts of free resources, including free advance directive forms for each of the 50 states and a great short video to get you thinking and talking, on the NHDD website: www.nhdd.org. Additionally, please help spread the word with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Advance care planning is something we ALL should do and encourage others to do, regardless of age or current health. Discussing your wishes can be one of the most important gifts you ever give your loved ones.


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Big news... I finally managed to finish up the Kelp Quilt!
Even bigger news....
The Kelp Quilt is going to be part of the The Modern Quilt Guild Showcase 2012! The showcase includes 33 quilts will premiere at International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston and travel in 2013 to various International Quilt Festival and Market sponsored shows.
Here's a picture with the names of the bee members next to the strip they made! Your names are all listed in the information I submitted with the quilt, as is Bernie, who quilted this for me.
Awesome, right?
You know what's not awesome? I still owe Yahaira a block! :::hides under sewing desk:::


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(Originally posted on beltzner.tumblr.com – I'll move the RSS links over later, as I think I'll be using that more than this WordPress from now on …)
I'm really excited about Monday.
A little more than I year ago I took a big jump, leaving my role as Director of Firefox at Mozilla in order to work in a totally different field. Sadly, it was an experience that was cut short when it became clear that to be effective I'd need to relocate to Perth, West Australia. A gorgeous part of the world, but a little bit far from my family.
I've no regrets. The past year has taught me an awful about myself, and about what I want and what I need to do. For example, I know that I'm most passionate when working on products that help people interact with each other in new ways. I also know that I'm always going to be most interested in working on Internet-based products, and that I'll always be a passionate and involved member of the Mozilla community.
That's why I'm really excited about Monday, when I'll be starting as Head of Product with Toronto-based Wattpad.
Don't worry: I hadn't heard about them before, either. They've been a quiet success story despite explosive user growth and incredible investor interest. Wattpad is pretty simple idea with huge implications: people like sharing stories, and people like reading stories, so Wattpad provides a place where a community can congregate around those core activities. There are no kingmakers for content, there are no barriers to entry, and there is no limit to the size of audience that an author can reach.
What does exist, though, is an opportunity for writers and readers to truly connect and collaborate; to share their love of story. Since Wattpad is "of the web," there's also no borders; a global community sharing ideas and emotions, using whatever device they'd like (computers, feature phones, smartphones, tablets) to interact with the content. The mission is clear: change the way that people discover and interact with stories, and make it easier to connect readers and writers together.
My new friend and CEO Allen Lau has impressed me with his vision for Wattpad, and the team he and co-founder Ivan Yuen have put together is fantastic. Once again I'm finding myself in a mission and community oriented company as we develop a killer product that will reshape the way people interact with each other. There is a lot of work to do, and an incredibly broad range of interesting ideas and product opportunities to look into, and I am just so eager to get started.
My first day will be Monday, and yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.
(Did I mention we're growing? If you're at all interested in joining me, don't hesitate to drop me a line!)


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Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I Totally Stole this Idea ...
from Janet the Researcher. The link to the Warning Sign Generator is in her post.
4 comments:
Greta -ReplyDelete
This is hysterical! I just went to Janet's blog and told her that every one of us was going to have one of these signs on our blog - but it was so great of her to share.
Love your post - very funny!!
This is too funny!ReplyDelete
I love the sign you created.ReplyDelete
Cindy - Heh, heh - yes, this could be viral, for sure.ReplyDelete
Cindy, Professor Dru, and Janet - Thanks to all for your comments. It's nice to have a laugh.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Marion police
Oct. 15: Officers assisted Marion County jailers with a combative inmate and an inmate attempting to commit suicide. A suspicious person was checked at the former Arlie's Paint, Body, and Glass building.
Oct. 16: Officers took a complaint of disorderly conduct and reckless driving. A report was taken for suspicious activity involving a juvenile and reckless driving.
Oct. 17: Officers conducted a follow up investigation on possible juvenile bullying. A welfare checked was performed on a juvenile male at Marion Elementary School.
Oct. 18: A suspicious person was reported at a local business. Officers provided traffic control for a downed power line near Marion High School. A report of a possible burglary in an unoccupied residence was taken. Officers assisted Marion County Sheriff's Office with an inmate at St. Luke Hospital.
Oct. 19: Officers checked on a reckless driver coming into town but was not able to locate the driver.
Oct. 20: A report of possible harassment with a golf cart was taken. When walking alley between Cedar and Roosevelt, officers caught children playing with matches; they were sent home with nothing to light on fire.
Oct. 21: A report of domestic battery was taken. A report of assault and disorderly conduct was taken.
Oct. 23: Officers responded to a report of an uncooperative juvenile in Central Park.
Oct. 24: Officers assisted Sheriff's office with a cow out east of Marion on K-256. A criminal damage report was taken. Officers responded to a four-wheeler complaint in the Industrial Park. An individual was arrested on a Franklin County Warrant. Officers responded to a vehicle accident in the St. Luke parking lot but no accident report was required.
Oct. 26: A harassment report was taken. Officers responded to two non-injury accidents. Officers took a report of sexting. Officers responded to a report of a possible burglary in progress; when suspect was located, it was found to be a misunderstanding. Officers responded to a report of a man with dementia; the man stated someone was trying to cut off his head; the officers convinced him he was safe.
Oct. 27: Officers responded to an alarm for a downtown business; it was a malfunction.
Oct. 28: Officers assisted Marion County Sheriff's Office with a multiple injury rollover accident.
Last modified Oct. 31, 2012


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It's our privilege to announce a recent blog post that features CFCA:
The Apple Cider Mill: Kansan finds family in Kenya
Many thanks to Bethany Hudson for featuring this guest post from Shanxi Omoniyi, CFCA online content manager, on her blog!
The story of how I came to sponsor Victor is unique ñ just like anyone who has the privilege of sponsoring a child or aging friend.
I first heard of Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, or CFCA, when a job opening came up in 2010 for web editor and writer. Today I work as CFCA's online content manager. It's a great job, and I get excited about going to work each day. But one of the best results, in my opinion, was the opportunity to meet Victor and his family.
We invite you to click on this post and comment on Bethany's blog. This helps show our support for these bloggersí efforts to tell others about our work!


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I sure was surprised and honored when I discovered yesterday that Jana from Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog nominated me for the Illuminating Blogger Award!
As with the acceptance of any blogger award there are a few steps to follow:
- The nominee should visit the award site (http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/) and leave a comment indicating that they have been nominated and by whom. (This step is so important because it's the only way that we can create a blogroll of award winners).
- The Nominee should thank the person that nominated them by posting & including a link to their blog.
- The Nominee should include a courtesy link back to the official award site (http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/) in their blog post.
- Share one random thing about yourself in your blog post.
- Select at least five other bloggers that you enjoy reading their illuminating, informative posts and nominate them for the award. Many people indicate that they wish they could nominate more so please feel free to nominate all your favorites.
- Notify your nominees by leaving a comment on their blog, including a link to the award site (http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/).
I attended practice sessions as a guest and was able to perform in one live show. But when it came time to be a full member and pay those membership fees, I just couldn't fit it in our budget.
And last, but certainly not least, here are my five nominees:
Leslie Ann


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Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH
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Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH is a 3-D puzzle game with more than 70 challenging levels. Players need to guide Cubes to color-coded exit points. Using the Wii Remote controller's intuitive controls, players herd the colored cubes along by using Conveyer Belts, Warps, Stop Signs, Directional Signs and Splits. RUSH also includes the original Rubik's Cube as a bonus. Players can attempt to solve one of the four different-sized Cubes alone, compete against a second player or learn how to solve the classic Rubik's Cube.
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As night falls, the eldest among the Ouzguin Dremorix gather around the banked fires that serve the kilns of their art, and there, standing close by the ovens where their wondrous glass works are placed to slowly cool, they weave tales of the history of their people. Listen now, and hear the words of the elder…
Many a traveler has heard of the Sending of Axtrami; the wonder that haunts the desert wastes where once the City of the Spire stood! Some have even heard it in the distance, singing its melancholy songs, dancing brightly in the desert winds. A few brave souls have even dared to call to it, to look into its depths and learn its truths as it dances, flashing and sparkling in the morning light. But few remember how this wonder came to be; even fewer know the truth of what it is…
So gather close, friends, and hear the tale of lost Axtramiya Zuno, the City of the Glass Spire! For not all was lost, and not all was forgotten, on that day, so long ago, when they of the Shattered Orbs sought their revenge and the might of Axtrami stood revealed:
The Tale of the Spire
Many long years ago, the clans of the Bright People each made a gift of their finest, most brilliantly colored beads, their clearest mirrored glass, and their clearest bull's-eye panes to ornament a wondrous spire, a miracle of light and color in tribute to Axtrami, god of light.
Many were the worshippers called across the sands of Farakan to the city of the spire, to worship before the bright majesty of Axtrami, in the scintillating light of his temple's spire. Equally numerous were the travelers drawn from across the sea to the bright city, bringing their wares to its great bazaar.
For miles around Axtramiya Zuno, the City of the Spire, you could see the bright colors of the spire resplendent in the beams of the morning sun. The ships of the foreign merchants could see the spire towering high above the shores of the azure sea, its light dancing on the waves.
And many were those, condemned to live apart from Axtrami's light, who hungered for the city's bright wealth. So it was that the warlock Soromines came to attack Axtramiya Zuno. Driven by an evil lust for all the city held, this vile oathreaker came at the head of a legion of pirates and mercenaries, bringing death to the city of the Bright Ones.
Worse than that, even his depraved followers did not suspect what evil the sinister man intended, for he sought not only the wealth of the city of the Spire, but the very souls of its people, to be seized as thralls to his wicked schemes.
Not least among his deluded followers was a large number of the desperate men known as the Sect of the Shattered Orb. Outcasts, angry and coldhearted, they yearned to bring death and suffering to the city of the Bright People and avenge themselves against the people that had cast them out.
Well did these outcasts know the ways of the land that had rejected them; well did they know of the Quilano, the High Holy Day when the devotees of Axtrami would gather in solemn prayer at dawn. They suggested an evil plan to their vile master: They would attack the city while all the devout were gathered at the temple in worship.
As dawn's first clear light struck the gleaming tower, the slender dragon ships of the reavers swept into the harbor. They met little resistance, for no man suspected that they were to be attacked on that day. Men, women and children were slain, falling beneath the blades of the reavers and the fires that they started wherever they went. They swept into the crowded courtyard of the holy temple of Axtrami and began their foul slaughter there, even in the sacred precincts of Axtrami's holy place.
As the reavers swept through the city, killing and burning, their fell leader was already at work on an unholy invocation beyond any that man should contemplate: A curse binding the souls of all that fell, that none should go on to their reward, that none should see the mirrors of their deeds as the god Axtrami had decreed. As the blasphemous words rose into the air, a foul wind sprang up, filled with the murmuring of dark spirits. Stormclouds rushed toward the city, contrary winds moving and whirling against each other. His spell complete, the souls of all in the city were bound, trapped by his baleful, inhuman magics.
Realizing their doom too late, the embattled worshippers of Axtrami were simultaneously calling for the Bright Lord to save his followers. Their song reached toward the heavens, beseeching Axtrami to see their plight and send his aid. The god's voice called out as his staff struck down over and over through the city. The renegades and murderers that ran through the streets had forgotten one thing: Axtrami is also the god who speaks in the storm's fury. His voice continued to crash around them as his staff smote the godless raiders in the midst of their evil deeds.
The wind's voice rose higher and higher, howling around the complex patterns that covered the towering spire of the temple and then, flashing and glowing in the burning light of Axtrami's staff, the tower shattered into a thousand thousand fiery motes, scintillating in all colors of the rainbow. The wind swept together the bright beads, the gleaming mirrors, the flashing panes of glass. All over the city, the spirits of the fallen felt their Ouzala Hemisa, the orbs of their lives, pulled up into the whirling vortex and their souls were freed to go with the orbs.
The sending's winds pulled into it every cherished glass bauble, every flawless glazed window, every intricate bead, all the glass in the city as it became the whirling guardian of all the hopes and dreams, all the love and care of a noble people. Lent the power of a righteous god, the sending called out with the sad song of the desert winds and hurled itself at the invaders.
The reavers fled through the streets, but none could outrun the flashing edges and glittering fragments that filled the storm's fury. Their screams were drowned out in the tragic song of the avenging wind.
In the harbor, some few reavers saw the brilliant column of their doom rising up into the sky, a tower of dancing light to humble any spire built by the hands of men. Bright and terrible, it leaped down upon them, flaying flesh from bone, shredding through sails and crushing ships. In mere seconds, nothing remained in the harbor but bloody foam on the wind-tossed waves.
And so the bright city fell and was avenged. The Bright People that survived chose not to rebuild the City of the Spire; to this day, the bare, sand scoured stones of the city remain, empty and abandoned.
Nonetheless, sometimes those who travel the wastes see a flashing column of brilliant lights sparkling in the morning's light. Diminished now, no longer swollen with the power Axtrami gave it on the day of its wrath, it still haunts the desert, softly singing songs of hope and sacrifice, protecting the people of the wastes should foreign invaders come once more to their lands.


text:
Saturday, December 1, 2012
December 1 - Eligius, Goldsmith, Honest, Bishop
Eligius was a young man and so it was surprising that he had been selected for such a prestigious assignment: to craft a throne from gold for king Clotaire II. Eligius had become a goldsmith not because of a great personal desire to work within a trade renowned for its corruption but because his father recognized a certain amount of natural skill and talent in him for the work. Out of a desire to see his son succeed at his goals, Eligius' father had him apprenticed to a famous goldsmith in Limoges. Eligius had enjoyed his time there and had learned to enjoy the trade selected for him. By the time he left his master in Limoges, he felt as if this might be a good job for him even if it didn't feel like a calling. He had left to take a position under Babo in Neustria among the Franks. Babo was the royal treasurer for the Frankish kingdom and had the ear of Clotaire II. So, when Clotaire wanted a throne made from gold, Babo turned to his new goldsmith and informed him of his new task.
With little hesitation and less fear, Eligius took to his job and collected the amount of gold allotted to him for the work. Eligius was confused as to why so much gold had been given to him when his calculations suggested he didn't need nearly that much. As he sat in his workshop with the fabulous gems and large amount of gold, he decided to make the best throne he knew how to and simply trust that he had learned how to do his job to the best of his abilities. When he finished the first throne and had placed all of the precious stones on it, he looked again at the remaining stones and gold--there seemed to be enough for another throne of equal quality and weight. Not knowing what else to do, he made a second throne of equality quality and weight and presented both to Clotaire. At the time, it was the policy and practice of most goldsmiths to keep a large portion of the gold for themselves. They filed away pieces and burned up others so that when they had finished the work, they were all the more wealthy. Eligius kept no scrap of gold and, instead, presented king Clotaire II with two golden thrones comprised of every gem and ounce of gold given him to utilize. Clotaire was astonished at Eligius' shocking honesty. Eligius was rewarded handsomely for his craftsmanship and dependability and set a new standard for Frankish goldsmiths. Soon, Eligius had more gold than he ever could have stolen--gold on the edges of his robes, gold on his fingers and neck, gold in his pockets--and his reputation was cemented as an honest and dependable man.
Yet, it was then that Eligius suddenly seemed to understand calling. He had been given a gift of crafting and forging gold with the skill of an expert and artisan but this was not his only calling in life. Eligius felt a calling from the God he worshiped to serve him and give back from the abundance granted to him through his gifts. Eligius gave away his expensive clothing and was rewarded with more. When he was rewarded with more, he gave this away. The people could not understand why Eligius was so keen to give away what had been given to him but what they failed to understand was the passion burning in his heart: a passion to help the poor, sick, and needy. Eligius would pass through other professions--adviser, artist, diplomat--but always remained committed to his calling to take care of those in need and those outcast by society. As one who crafted what the society found valuable, Eligius was given many opportunities to free slaves and ransom prisoners.
Eventually, Eligius was elected priest and bishop of Noyon, France, and Tournai, Belgium. As a preacher, many were drawn to hear his homilies by his fame as a goldsmith and friend of the poor. His most exquisitely crafted sermon was the life he lived in full view of a culture that had made mistakes in prioritizing wealth over people. By forging and crafting gold, Eligius was able to right this injustice and lead many to the blessed redemption found by losing everything to gain the only thing that mattered.
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text:
Phantom Entertainment
|Internet TV, media-center and video-game consoles and peripherals
Key people
|John Landino (CEO)
|Phantom Lapboard
Number of employees
|3 (as of July 2007)[1]
Phantom Entertainment, Inc. (known as Infinium Labs, Inc. until 2006) is a company founded in 2002 by Tim Roberts which makes computer keyboards. However, Phantom is best known for the Phantom, a video game console advertised for Internet gaming on demand in 2004; it was never marketed, leading to suggestions that it was vaporware. The company's website was last updated in late 2011.[2]
Infinium Labs was founded by Tim Roberts in 2002 as a private company. In January 2003 it issued a press release saying that it would soon release a "revolutionary new gaming platform" with an on-demand video-game service, delivering games through an online subscription. The press release had no specific information, but included a computer-generated prototype design. Due to the use of buzzwords and the lack of details, the product was derided nearly from the beginning[3] by news sites such as IGN[4] and Slashdot and in the Penny Arcade webcomic.[5] The hardware and gaming site HardOCP researched and wrote an extensive article on the company and its operation, and was sued in turn. The Phantom placed first in Wired News's "Vaporware 2004".[6] In 2004, Infinium Labs went public.[7]
Roberts left the company in summer 2005 (with millions of shares of stock) before any products had been delivered. He later rejoined as chairman of the board, but in a July 2007 press release he again resigned from the company.[7] Subsequent CEOs included Kevin Bachus (who took the post in August 2005), Greg Koler (in January 2006)[8] and John Landino, who was appointed CEO and interim chief financial officer in July 2008.[9]
In September 2006 the company (which had changed its name from Infinium Labs)[10] promised to introduce its Phantom Lapboard product in November 2006, with a gaming service to follow in March 2007.[11] In June 2008, the company released the Lapboard.[12] In August 2007, Phantom Entertainment signed an agreement with ProGames Network to provide Lapboards and "game-service content" in hotels worldwide.[13]
The Phantom[edit]
The Phantom at E3 2004 in Los Angeles
|Home video game console
|If released, sixth or seventh generation (depending on release date)
|Release date
|Canceled; release promised in November 2004, January, March and September 2005
The Phantom is a cancelled home video game console whose development was supposedly begun by Phantom Entertainment–then known as Infinium Labs–in 2003. The device was said to be capable of playing current and future PC games, giving the system a large initial game library and making it easier for developers to produce games for the system. The system was said to feature a direct-download content delivery service, instead of the discs and cartridges used by most game consoles at the time.
Press releases said in 2003 that the console would be released that year, and the digital rights management software would be provided by DiStream.[14][15] A prototype Phantom was first seen at the May 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), although it was rumored to be fake.[16] Robrady Design was hired to develop the first Phantom prototype, and Synopse ID was later retained to develop second- and third-generation prototypes.
The Phantom had an online release on August 17, 2003 with basic hardware specifications and a price of "below $399".[17] Options included customized hardware and the PhantomNet (a gaming-content service), priced at $9.95 a month. A sale date for the first quarter of 2004 was set. It was missed; the company later claimed it would go on sale in November for the holiday season, although it had not developed online-delivery software, licensed games or found any retailers. The second deadline was missed, with Infinium sending thousands of faxes claiming that the system would be released in January 2005.
When that deadline passed, Infinium predicted the system's release for around March 2005. That date also passed, and Infinium Labs was absent from the 2005 E3.[18] Kevin Bachus (former Infinium CEO) hinted that the Phantom would be released around the same time as the Xbox 360 in fall 2005, but that date was also missed. By August 2006, the Phantom Console was removed from the products page of the Phantom Entertainment website.
Although the console was never manufactured, Alienware ordered a shipment of Lapboards for inclusion in a line of media-center PCs. Scheduled for release in February 2007, the company stated in December that Phantom could not meet their delivery needs and they would not be carrying the product.[19]
Financial problems[edit]
The company was unable to raise its projected $30 million to complete the Phantom and announced it would downsize and focus on the Phantom Lapboard, a wireless keyboard for home use. On May 16, 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Phantom Entertainment founder and former CEO Timothy Roberts of running a "pump and dump" scheme in promoting the Phantom console in 2004.[20] The Phantom lost credibility in the gaming and business worlds because its release date was continually pushed back, and because of financial scandals involving Phantom Entertainment (which lost more than $62.7 million since its creation).[21]
The Phantom Lapboard is a wireless keyboard made by the company. It was released on June 23, 2008, two years after its originally planned release date. Designed as a component of the Phantom game console, it is sold for use with Internet TV and PC video games since the console has been cancelled.[22] In 2010, a new model of the Lapboard was released to work with Internet TV, gaming and media centers.[23]
On January 3, 2006, Infinium Labs announced that the lapboard component of the console (a keyboard and mouse designed to be held on the lap, for example, seated on a couch in front of a television) was due to be released to online retailers by the second quarter of 2006.[24] On April 19 it announced that the keyboard would not be released in time for Q2 2006, but the device (manufactured by Itron Technology) would be released in North America and Europe "no later than October" 2006.[25] On August 15 it was announced that the price for the Lapboard would be $129.99, with customers who preordered receiving a $30 discount.[26] The keyboard was then delayed until November.[22] On August 22, 2007, Phantom Entertainment signed an agreement with ProGames Network to provide Lapboards and Game Service content in hotels worldwide.[13] The keyboard was finally released on June 23, 2008,[27] two years after its originally planned release date.
In April 2008 Maximum PC published a preview of the lapboard, describing it as "extremely promising" although the supplied mouse "experienced signal dropouts at a distance of about 24 inches from the sensor". The author was able to use other wireless mice successfully. The preview states that the peripheral will be available in "June for $130 in limited quantities".[28] In the actual review, however, Maximum PC gave the Lapboard a verdict of 4 out of 10 saying: "The bottom line is that this thing is bad. The mouse isn't good for gaming, the angled keyboard is awful for typing, and for media playback you'd do much better with a slimmer wireless media keyboard with a built-in trackpad or ball, which are available for significantly less than the Lapboard's $140 asking price." On July 20, 2009, a sample lapboard received a favorable review from the Hardware Heaven website.[29] Despite its lukewarm review, in May 2010 About.com included the Phantom Lapboard in its Father's Day gift guide.[30][31] On July 19, 2010, Michael Welter posted a generally positive review of the Phantom Lapboard on Missing Remote.[32]
Legal controversies[edit]
HardOCP lawsuit[edit]
In September 2003 HardOCP, a computer-hardware news website, published an investigative report by writer Steve Lynch critical of Infinium Labs and its founder.[33] On February 19, 2004 Infinium Labs' lawyers sent a cease and desist letter to HardOCP's editor demanding that the news site take down the article, claiming that it "painted a portrait of a company intent on swindling the public" and threatening to file a defamation suit. Rather than concede to Infinium's demands, HardOCP owner Kyle Bennett filed a lawsuit for a declaratory judgment that his company had done nothing wrong.[34] Infinium Labs then filed suit in Florida, denying that Texas was the proper jurisdiction (although it had previously maintained a staffed office in Richardson).[35]
In September 2004, the judge required Infinium Labs to produce a number of financial records, including Roberts's personal income-tax returns, by the end of that month. Because the company failed to produce the required documents, HardOCP won a court order compelling them to do so. The judge ruled that sanctions would be awarded to KB Networks and Kyle Bennett in an amount to be determined by the court (later reported as $50,000).[36] Infinium Labs settled the suit, agreeing to drop the pending Florida suit, and admitting all allegations of KB Networks' Texas complaint; they paid $50,000 to end the suit.
Other controversies[edit]
In October 2005, it was reported that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had notified Tim Roberts that charges were pending against him for violating federal securities laws.[37] In a statement about the notice, Infinium said it was not notified of specific charges, but suspected they were related to an SEC investigation of the unlawful promotion of penny stocks (including Infinium's).[38] Roberts hired a stock promoter to send faxes claiming that the Phantom console's release was imminent, and the company's stock price might increase as much as 3,000 percent. The SEC alleged that the company never intended to release the console at the promised time due to significant unresolved "technological and manufacturing hurdles", and the faxes were part of a pump and dump scheme on the part of Roberts. Roberts reached a settlement with the SEC in which he was barred from serving as an officer or public director of a public company or participating in penny-stock offerings for five years and paid a $30,000 fine.[39]
When Roberts was CEO of Infinium, the company failed to report a substantial amount of interest and penalties on unpaid payroll taxes.[40] From its inception, the company had consistently reported a small amount of cash on hand amid extensive (and increasing) debt.
In January 2006, Infinium Labs reached an agreement to borrow up to $5,000,000 from Golden Gate Investors to finance the manufacturing of the Phantom Lapboard, scheduled for release later that year. This would have been the largest amount of money Infinium Labs had ever borrowed at one time. The loan would have been repaid over three years, with an option of repayment with shares of common stock.[41]
In February, GameSpot reported that Phantom Entertainment was suspending the Phantom Game Service to develop the Lapboard. An SEC filing showed three-year losses in excess of $62.7 million, over half of which was marketing for the company and unreleased products. Over $24 million was spent on salaries and consultants, and $2.5 million on development. Infinium claimed it still intended to release the Lapboard if its financial situation improved,[42] but it missed release dates for the second quarter of 2006, October 2006 and November 2006. On August 15, 2006 Phantom Entertainment removed all references to the Phantom Game Receiver from its website, claiming that the content-delivery system targeted for the Phantom would be available for PCs running the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center edition;[43] it later indicated this service would be available in March 2007, after the November 2006 release of the Lapboard.[44]
See also[edit]
- Indrema
- ApeXtreme
- Coleco Chameleon
- Piposh Hollywood, a video game that Phantom Entertainment was set to publish.
- ^ Anderson, Nate (2007-06-03). "True Infinium stories: the $73 million (and counting) Phantom disaster". Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "Phantom Entertainment 2011: Home to the Phantom Lapboard". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ^ John Callaham (20 January 2003). "Phantom Interview". HomeLAN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Ivan Sulic (21 January 2003). "Destroy Your Game Systems". IGN. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Jerry Holkins (22 January 2003). "Penny Arcade "Dude, Whoa"". Penny Arcade. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Kahney, Leander (2005-01-07). "Vaporware Phantom Haunts Us All". Wired News. Archived from the original on 2006-01-31. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
- ^ a b Infinium Labs (9 July 2007). "Timothy M. Roberts Resigns as Chairman and Director of Phantom Entertainment, Inc". Infinium Labs Press Release. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Svensson, Christian (2005-11-21). "Bachus Quits Infinium". Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ^ "SEC - Form 8k - Resignation of Greg Koler". 2008-07-29. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ Murph, Darren (2006-07-19). "Infinium changes name to Phantom Entertainment". Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "Surprise! Phantom Delays Game Service Again". 2006-09-12. Archived from the original on 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "Infinium Labs finally releases the Phantom Lapboard - Boing Boing". Gadgets.boingboing.net. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
- ^ a b "Phantom Entertainment Signs with ProGames Network to Place Phantom Lapboard and Game Service Content in Hotels Worldwide". BusinessWire. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- ^ Infinium Labs (23 July 2003). "Phantom Game Console Unveiling to Be Online August 17th". Infinium Labs Press Release. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Infinium Labs (3 November 2003). "DiStream Will Provide Server System and Management Platform for PhantomNet". Infinium Labs Press Release. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Kevin Parrish (16 December 2008). "Phantom Returns With Online Store". TomsHardware. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Infinium Labs (17 August 2003). "Phantom Unveiling". Infinium Labs. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Morris, Chris (2005-05-19). "Whither the Phantom? After a big splash in 2004, Infinium Labs' on-demand game service is nowhere to be found at E3". CNN/Money. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
- ^ Biggs, John (2007-12-27). "Alienware no longer carrying Phantom Lapboard". CrunchGear. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ Morris, Chris (2006-05-16). "'Phantom' video game CEO charged with pump and dump scheme". CNN/Money. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2006-02-21). "Infinium opens the books". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-04-09.
- ^ a b Phantom transmogrifies - News at GameSpot
- ^ Castle, Alex (September 7, 2010). "Phantom Lapboard Review". MaximumPC. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2006-01-03). "Phantom Lapboard coming to PCs". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
- ^ Orry, James (2006-05-18). "Phantom Lapboard delayed". Pro-G. Retrieved 2006-05-18.
- ^ Phantom Entertainment
- ^ "Phantom Lapboard - Gizmodo". 2008-04-25. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ Smith, Will. "First Look: The Phantom Lapboard". Maximum PC. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Zardon (20 July 2009). "Phantom Lapboard (Keyboard & Mouse)". HardwareHeaven.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Johnston, Lisa. "Phantom Lapboard Review". About.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Johnston, Lisa. "Father's Day Gift Ideas". About.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Welter, Michael. "The Phantom Lapboard". Missing Remote. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ Lynch, Steve (2003-09-17). "Behind the Infinium Phantom Console". HardOCP. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
- ^ Fahey, Rob (2004-03-04). "HardOCP takes legal action against Infinium". Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "Infinium's Kevin Bachus Accused of Lying to US Courts". 2004-06-15. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "INFINIUM LABS INC, Form 10QSB, Filing Date May 23, 2005". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2005-10-31). "Phantom maker in hot water with SEC". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ^ "Infinium Labs Inc • 8-K • For 10/20/05". Form 8-K. Infinium Labs. 2005-10-20. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "SEC settles charges with video game executive". SEC. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2005-11-01). "Phantom maker in hot water with SEC". Gamespot. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ Klepek, Patrick (2006-01-25). "Infinium Bags $5 Million". Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2006-02-21). "Infinium opens the books". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ^ "Phantom console disappears". The Inquirer. 2006-08-16.
- ^ "Surprise! Phantom Delays Game Service Again". 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
External links[edit]
- Phantom Entertainment Official Website
- Official Phantom Entertainment Blog
- Phantom: Rewound – Editorial feature with a history of The Phantom.
- Video Interview of Kevin Bachus by Marketwatch
- Gizmodo.com - Lapboard


text:
Brookline arson yields mystery. Not who did it, but why?
Cellphone calls, texts lead to suspect, but motive murky
They were just two of many emergency 911 calls on July 26, one suburban and the other in Boston, three miles apart and seemingly unrelated.
In the Chestnut Hill section of Brookline, a fire fueled by accelerants quickly engulfed an unfinished home on Spooner Road, a developer's $2 million dream turned nightmare after three state courts declared it should never have been built.
Forty-five minutes later in a Jamaica Plain condominium, paramedics and police officers found 29-year-old Stephen J. McCann, badly burned, writhing in pain, much of his skin peeling off, wrapped in a sheet in a room reeking of gasoline.
It was not a confession, an informant's tip or eyewitness accounts that led to McCann's quick arrest on arson charges. It was the trove of incriminating evidence on the troubled ex-Marine's cellphone. It pinpointed his location near the house when the fire began. It stored text messages saying he was about to make a large sum of money, that he was about to do something he didn't want discovered, that he hoped there would be no proof.
That quick police work, however, has left police, prosecutors and a Norfolk County grand jury with a low-tech riddle: Why — and perhaps for whom — did McCann allegedly set the house afire? Could it have been the random act of a man suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? Or was it somehow related to a seven-year legal battle between the three developers and Spooner Road residents that soured everyone involved?
On Spooner Road, the swiftness with which the neighborhood eyesore went up in flames did not come as a shock to some.
"Everyone was kind of jokingly saying, "Is someone going to burn it down?' " said Philip D. Kousoubris, who purchased a home on the street two years ago. "But to actually go through with that in a nice neighborhood in a suburb of Boston that's historic is kind of hard to believe."
According to extensive police reports obtained by the Globe, Brookline Police investigators believe McCann was "receiving a large payment'' for torching the house. The police also noted that there was an $800,000 insurance policy on the house, but McCann's lawyer has said his client has no connection to the three developers, and the Globe's examination of public databases contains no hint that McCann knew any of the three men.
According to corporate, property, court, and town records of the extensive legal fight over the construction, the ill-fated development was a partnership involving Timothy J. Kelleher of Littleton, Alan F. Kaplan of Brookline, and Denis P. Cronin, owner of a Westwood construction company.
Kaplan is well-known in Brookline as the owner of the Village Smokehouse in Brookline Village. He and Kelleher are partners in several other real estate ventures, according to corporate records examined by the Globe. Cronin and Kelleher declined to be interviewed. Max D. Stern, who is Kaplan's attorney, said his client "had nothing to do with the fire.''
The mystery has yet another supporting player: McCann had been doing odd jobs for Jody Pattison, who has a Brookline real estate agency. And he was staying temporarily with Pattison. And minutes after the fire was set, McCann sent texts to Pattison seeking help. But Pattison has been cooperating with police, and insists he had only been trying to help an ex-Marine with mental health problems.
As a crime scene, Spooner Road is miscast. Its spacious homes have housed the affluent for more than a century. The road is now part of a historic district and many of its homes sell for $2 million or more. Police are called rarely, and even then the calls are likely to be for home alarms triggered by accident or complaints about telephone scammers.
That all changed on a rainy Friday in July.
The night before, according to the extensive police investigative reports, McCann confided in a friend by text: "I may be coming into some capital soon." On Friday afternoon, he texted another friend, saying: "If you ever have to do something stupid, do it alone & never tell anyone.'' Two hours before the fire, a reassuring text to a girlfriend in Maine: "I'm fine. I'll be even better if there is no proof of anything.''
At the Cabot Estates in Jamaica Plain, where McCann had been staying temporarily, surveillance video shows McCann's car being driven away just after 8 p.m., police detectives found.
The first 911 call reporting the fire came in at 8:58 p.m. But three minutes earlier, Brookline police received the first of two calls from neighbors who spotted a man fleeing Spooner Road, shirtless and crying in pain.
At 9:02, a call was made from McCann's cellphone to Pattison. But the call appeared to be inadvertent: There was no message, only McCann mumbling, crying, and screaming in pain about his fingers. It was a message Pattison did not hear until later that evening, according to police documents.
Also at 9:02, McCann sent Pattison a text: "Need you.'' Then he immediately sent another, one police said did not go through. It said: "I have never needed you more than I need you right now.''
At 9:22, Pattison texted McCann: "Call me!!!!!!'' "Now!!!'' At 9:24, the surveillance video showed McCann's car being driven back into Cabot Estates. Minutes later, another man who was staying there called Pattison to tell him to come home.
McCann left yet another technological footprint that may be far more damaging. Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Hely disclosed in court that GPS tracking data places his cellphone in close proximity to Spooner Road at the time the fire started.
McCann, who was hospitalized for 11 weeks after suffering burns over 25 percent of his body, has been indicted on arson charges by the Norfolk grand jury. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
When a haggard-looking McCann pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Nov. 6, his court-appointed attorney, Larry Tipton, insisted that McCann accidentally set himself afire miles away when he lit a cigarette after using gasoline to wash paint off himself.
Tipton said that the former Marine reservist, who spent nine months in Afghanistan, had been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. According to police reports, McCann had been abusing cocaine and alcohol. His wife has had a restraining order against him since May.
Years before McCann allegedly drove into the neighborhood, the site of the fire had been a place neighbors remember fondly.
For decades, the lot at 71 Spooner Road was a forested side yard to a six-bedroom white Colonial that was built in 1900. But in 2004, Kelleher, Cronin, and Kaplan purchased the home for $2.4 million, intending to subdivide the property and build a home on the quarter-acre side yard. They sold the white Colonial for $1.5 million.
At first, meetings with the developer were cordial, recalled John G. Nimick, who has lived on the street for 22 years.
"Sure, did we all on Spooner miss having that lovely pasture that was there where wild turkeys used to spawn or whatever wild turkeys do? I mean yeah, you always sort of bemoan the loss of land," said Nimick. "But it was totally understood that it was legal — if it was legal — and you would only hope the developers would build a nice house."
On April 8, 2005, the town's building commissioner issued a permit for construction of the house. But after neighbors saw the building plans, homeowners at 61 and 91 Spooner Road asked the town to rescind the permit, asserting the developers planned to build a house that was too large for the lot. On May 31, the commissioner rebuffed the challenge.
Six months later, exterior construction had been completed. That is when Brookline's Zoning Board of Appeals decided the new house was indeed too large. The board determined that the plans labeled a large second-floor area as "non-habitable attic space'' when it was intended to be the home's master bedroom suite. The board rescinded the building permit and ordered a halt to construction.
Between late 2005 and March 2012, the dispute found a home in the court system: There was a trial in Land Court in December 2007. That court's decision, in April 2009, went against the developers. The next stop was the state Appeals Court, which ruled against the developers in November 2010. In March 2012, the Supreme Judicial Court agreed.
A house that might have fetched $2 million became a white elephant, a long-running drain on the finances of the developers and a visible irritant in an otherwise idyllic neighborhood.
"It was making everyone anxious about property values, general appearance of the neighborhood — even walking past the house and riding a bike past it was difficult," Kousoubris said. "It was unkempt and it was just embarrassing, the whole thing."
For the three developers, the financial drain continues. After the SJC decision last year, the town ordered them to demolish the structure, which could cost tens of thousands of dollars. When they did not, Town Counsel Jennifer Dopazo Gilbert and Associate Town Counsel John Buchheit filed a new lawsuit asking the Massachusetts Land Court to issue an order for the demolition.
The Land Court has yet to rule. But a month before the fire, the developers suffered a procedural reversal when the court refused to dismiss the suit.
For the neighborhood, the fire may have hastened the day when the turkeys can return to their longtime neighborhood sanctuary.
With the demolition dispute languishing in Land Court, the fire gave the town the power to declare the site a safety hazard, which it has done, and hire a demolition company of its own to clear the property — at what would be a substantially higher cost to Kelleher, Kaplan, and Cronin.
That decision had the desired effect. On Friday, Cronin came into Brookline Town Hall and applied for a permit for his own demolition contractor to do the work.
McCann's alleged motive remains a puzzle. Many people were unhappy with the eyesore the Spooner Road house had become, but no one seems to have benefitted from its destruction. Pattison, McCann's temporary landlord who has cooperated with police, said he is dumbfounded.
"I was just trying to help a Marine veteran, help him get back on his feet," Pattison said. "He has zero criminal record. This is so out of character."
Pattison acknowledged that he has testified before the Norfolk grand jury, but declined to say what he told them. "I don't want to bury him any further, but they have overwhelming evidence against him, a lot of evidence."
This article was prepared for a course in investigative reporting at Northeastern University. It was overseen by Journalism Professor Walter V. Robinson, a former editor of the Globe Spotlight Team. Robinson can be reached at email@example.com. Confidential messages can be left at 617-929-3334


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I'm implementing a root-solver for finding x coordinates of a function f(x), after I have an y-coordinate. The function is periodic, roughly sinusoidal with constant amplitude but non-linearly varying frequency; for an inverse I don't have a closed-form (it is an infinite series), so I use the Newton iteration to find the x-value at a given y beginning the iteration at $x_0$ which is rather near the true value by something like $x=newton(x=x_0,f(x)-y)$.
In most cases this works fine, however if the y is in the near of a maximum (or minimum) of f, where the shape is very similar to the maximum of a sinus-curve, the newton-iteration does not converge. The wikipedia gives a bit of information about this, but not a workaround. The last way out would be to resort to binary search, but which I'd like to avoid since the computation of f(x) is (relatively) costly.
Does someone know an improvement in the spirit of the Newton-iteration (which has often quadratic convergence) for this region of y-values?
[update] hmmm... perhaps it needs only a tiny twist? It just occurs to me, that it might be possible to go along the way how I find the easily approximated x for the maximum y: here I use the Newton on the derivative of the function and search for the zero:
$x_{max}=newton(x=x_0,f(x)') \qquad $ and this has the usual quadratic convergence. But how to apply this for some y in the near of the maximum?


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A windmill is silhouetted by wisps of clouds reflecting multi-colors from the setting sun Tuesday evening southeast of Berthoud.
An thunderstorm rolls through from the mountains toward homes along County Road 21 south of Berthoud on Monday evening.
A drake mallard splashes down as it lands amid other ducks paddling around together Friday afternoon on a patch of open water at the Civic Center Park pond.
News Tue12 Bald Eagles-eb
A bald eagle prepares to land near a dead goose Tuesday on the ice in the south end of Lake Loveland. At one point Monday morning there were four of the eagles feeding on the thin ice.
Hundreds of birds take off from a sunflower field just southwest of the intersection of Interstate 25 and Highway 402 on Thursday afternoon. The flock would fly from the sunflowers across Highway 402 to a holding pond and field and then back across the highway to the sunflowers.
A large bull elk and a cow elk roam around an old barn Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, on a private farm near Fairgrounds Park in Loveland.
Water flows past several trees Wednesday at Glade Park west of Loveland that have changed color for fall.
Orange rays from the setting sun stream between mountain peaks and over the old sugar factory on Friday, Sept. 12, 2009, in this view from east Loveland.
Sunflowers bask in the mid-morning sun at a Berthoud farm Thursday.
An elk relaxes off Trail Ridge Road Tuesday in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Elk relax off Trail Ridge Road Tuesday in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Fireworks go off over Lake Loveland as a final celebration of Independence Day Saturday evening.
A ladybug goes for a mid-morning walk on a sunflower on Derby Hill Thursday. Today's weather will likely be similar to Thursday's with a sunny start to the day and temperatures in the low 80s. Thunderstorms may roll into the area by afternoon with a 50 percent chance of precipitation through the evening.
The sun's rays filter through the haze from California wildfires on Monday evening near the Derby Hill Baptist Church.


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July 16th 2015SuncéBeat News!
The office is now closed for business whilst we make our way to Tisno Croatia with our scheduled arrival late on the afternoon of Monday 20th. Tickets will remain on sale on line only until 5pm on Monday 20th July 2015. Read more…
June 18th 2015URBAN KLUB presents SuncéBeat Boat Party
The SuncéBeat excitement reaches fever pitch as we sail through Venice for our official Italian warm up party!
May 19th 2015Building The Powerhouse
Magnificent timelapse video of the construction of the legendary Southport Weekender Powerhouse.
May 4th 2015The Verge Of Getting Down: Bill Brewster's Funk Rock Rarities
The Quietus set crate digger extraordinaire, Bill Brewster another challenge. This week, make us a set culled from the less fashionable – mainly white, blue collar and European – backwaters of funk rock… he came up with some beauties.
May 3rd 2015From The Vaults: Underground Resistance @ Limelight, New York
Listen to Jeff Mills, Robert Hood and Mike Banks wreak havoc at New York's Limelight in 1992.
May 2nd 2015Revolutions On Air: The Golden Era of New York Radio 1980 – 1988
RBMA have produced a documentary about New York radio and pioneering DJs like Tony Humphries, Marley Marl and Kool DJ Red Alert.
May 1st 2015Pal Joey – Between The Lines
House don Pal Joey gives away a sweet downtempo tune via his SoundCloud.
April 30th 2015Check out Jeff Mills' UFO-inspired drum machine
Jeff Mills has unveiled his new UFO-inspired percussion instrument.
April 27th 2015Tech review: Pioneer – HDJ-C70
Daisuke Ito from Resident Advisor puts the Pioneer headphones through their paces.
April 26th 2015Stream a mix of samples, rarities and interviews celebrating 25 years of A Tribe Called Quest's debut album
A Tribe Called Quest's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm, marks its 25th anniversary this year.
April 25th 2015Benji B: Clubs Culture Curation
Hyponik visit Benji B in his north London studio to discuss his wide-eyed journey from club kid to one of the most influential figures in club music culture.
April 24th 2015The 1st Berwick Weekender 1987 (The lost tapes)
Hear a super rare recording from the first ever Southport Weekender!
April 23rd 2015Gimme MAW!
Pioneering house duo "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny Dope revisit their peerless career.
April 22nd 2015Southport Weekender: The Final Chapter
Traxsource cover the Weekender news story of the year with a Defected interview with Alex Lowes.
April 21st 2015The Guv'nor: DJ EZ Talks
Ran$om Note interview Weekender star DJ EZ.
April 19th 2015The Sudden End Of The Southport Weekender
Greg Wilson blogs about the announcement of the final ever Southport Weekender.
April 19th 2015The Rewind Meets The Beauty and The Beats
Our resident reviewer Angel Mel rounds up the best new bits.
April 18th 2015One Nation Under A Groove
With the shock announcement that the Southport Weekender will be holding it's last ever event in 2015, the Director of our documentary One Nation Under A Groove has decided to put the last 500 copies of the Directors cut DVD on sale for the fans of this iconic event.
April 17th 2015Delectronic Soul
Southport Weekender guest Ben Brophy delivers a sweltering mix of deep house gems ahead of his set in the SuncéBeat Dome.
April 16th 2015Angel Mel interviews Josh Milan
The name Josh Milan encapsulates all that is emotive, life affirming and conscious in the soulful house music scene. Angel Mel interviews the powerhouse to get an insight into the life and times of a dance music figurehead.
April 15th 2015Onra gets back to the Fundamentals on new LP
The French producer, whose earlier releases have received rotation in the Beat Bar, will release his next album through All City in May.
April 14th 2015DJ EZ Essential Mix
Funkbase favourite DJ EZ steps up and delivers an explosive Essential Mix!
April 13th 2015A Final Farewell: In Conversation with Southport Weekender's Alex Lowes
Urban Essence spoke with the festival's founder Alex Lowes to talk enduring highlights, Butlin's patronage, the future of SuncéBeat, this year's personal pick, and more…
April 12th 2015Straight Outta Compton
The group NWA emerges from the streets of Compton, California in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes pop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
April 11th 2015Soul Clap to release collaboration with funk legends George Clinton and Sly Stone
The fruits of a three-day recording session will finally see release on the house duo's label this May.
April 10th 2015Amy
The makers of a forthcoming Amy Winehouse documentary have unveiled the official trailer.
April 8th 2015Beyondoom
Watch previous Southport Weekender guest Yasiin Bey cover some MF DOOM favourites.
April 8th 2015Unheard Frankie Knuckles Mixes
On March 31st 2014 we lost the Godfather Of House Music, Frankie Knuckles. To celebrate his life and music, Radio 1 presents two previously unheard mixes, both recorded in 2011. The first mix was recorded live on the turntables at a special event in Shoreditch, London. The second is a studio session from the same year, showcasing his unique talent as a DJ, producer and remixer.
April 7th 2015New SuncéBeat website is now live!
Find out the latest information, check the line up and bag your tickets for this unmissable Croatian get together!
April 6th 2015Watch a documentary on the young NYC hip hop scene featuring Action Bronson, Le1f and more
We're Gonna Be Lords is the latest film from Watch The Throne director Robert Lopuski.
April 5th 2015Pete Rock Opens His Vault To Unleash "One, Two, A Few More"
On June 23, legendary hip-hop producer Pete Rock will release Petestrumentals 2, the sequel to his 2001 beats collection Petestrumentals.
April 4th 20155 reasons you should make sure you get to Southport Weekender 2015
Southport Weekender 52 is coming up May 8th – 10th and here is a few of many reasons you should make sure you're there.
April 3rd 2015Welcome 2 making magic!
The time has finally come: De La Soul is ready to record a new studio LP. Join the Kickstarter here!
April 2nd 2015Like Water for Chocolate
Common's Like Water for Chocolate reissued on green and white vinyl by Respect the Classics – win a copy!
April 1st 2015Dimitri From Paris Vs The Originals
Climb into Dimitri's record box with some of his most famous reworkings.
March 31st 2015Djeff Afrozila in the Boiler Room
Eighty minutes of contemporary Pan-African rhythms from the SuncéBeat DJ at the RBMA takeover in Lisbon.
March 30th 2015Underworld and Heller & Farley Unite For Frankie Knuckles Tribute
Junior Boy's Own is releasing a Frankie Knuckles tribute record, with material by Underworld and Heller & Farley.
March 29th 2015Mixmag Shares the SPW Announcement
Mixmag share the announcement we made last week, remembering some of the greats who've graced the Southport stage.
March 28th 20154×4: Angel Mel Interviews Josh Milan
The name Josh Milan encapsulates all that is emotive, life affirming and conscious in the soulful house music scene. Angel Mel interviews the powerhouse to get an insight into the life and times of a dance music figurehead.
March 27th 2015Davide Fiorese's Official SPW DJ Chart
SuncéBeat resident Davide lists his current floor fillers!
March 26th 2015The House of Finery – Official Southport Weekender Warm Up Party!
On Saturday 25th April, Groove Assassin will headline the official warm up party of our huge finale, hosted by legendary resident Ronnie Herel.
March 25th 2015The Southport Weekender Heritage Memories Podcast
Longtime supporter of the event Angel Mel delivers a beautiful podcast remembering the Heritage Weekender, our celebrated return to Pontin's.
March 24th 2015Black Coffee After Hours Mix
Southport Weekender 52 guest selector joins the crew at Radio 1 to provide a beautiful After Hours selection.
March 23rd 2015Hoya:Hoya means inconsistency in the best possible way
FACT Mag interviews the crew behind the fantastic Manchester party.
March 22nd 2015Jazzy Jeff – In Progress
Sneak preview of forthcoming material from Southport's Funkbase favourite.
March 21st 2015Romare – Projections
The much-hyped debut LP from Beat Bar guest DJ Romare is back in stock on vinyl and CD over at the Ninja Tune store.
March 20th 2015Gilles Peterson and Leon Bridges
Listen back to the weekend's show when Gilles is joined by soul and gospel singer Leon Bridges for a session in the 6 Music studios.
March 19th 2015Deep House London's Croatia Wave interview
Mike Gill from Croatia Wave is interviewed by leading journalist Marcus Barnes and names SuncéBeat as his favourite festival.
March 18th 2015Jasper Street Company – Reach
The legendary Jasper Street Co. returns!!! After their stellar Southport Weekender and Camelot performances with the Basement Boys last year in the UK, it was inevitable that J.S.C. would soon be back in the studio recording once more.
March 17th 2015The HHA Show
Rewinding Phil Asher's latest with jams from Tony Lionni, Lisa Shaw and Joi Cardwell.
March 16th 2015Barbican Cinema To Showcase Hip Hop Classcis
Four landmark films will be screened as part of a month long celebration of Hip-Hop culture…
March 15th 2015Meet the Makers: Ableton Developers at Work
Go behind the scenes at Ableton with a documentary on the developers behind the software.
March 14th 2015Mary J. Blige Documentary To Premiere at TriBeCa Film Festival
Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions chronicles the recording of Blige's 13th studio album
March 13th 2015Key Tracks: Whitney Houston's Debut Album
Two producers behind the singer's mega-hit debut speak about the album's construction.
March 12th 2015Dalindèo – Kallio
Check this brand new album sampler from Finnish jazz-sextet Dalindèo, coming soon on BBE.
March 11th 2015Danny Krivit plays The Date
The Date continue their series of welcoming legendary DJs to play in London's wonderful Loft Studios and is back for it's 1st party of 2015 with Southport Weekender favourite Danny Krivit.
March 10th 2015Souldynamic's Official SPW March Chart
Our Italian powerhouses share their latest main room picks.
March 9th 2015J.Rocc live at Goodgod
The original World Famous Beat Junkie pulls a signature selection of reggae jams, hip hop classics, and party anthems. Live from Sydney.
March 8th 2015Best Music Journalism: February 2015
We're only two months into 2015 and the world of music journalism is already getting pretty heated this year. Jason Gross rounds up the best bits so far.
March 7th 2015George Clinton In Conversation With Gilles Peterson
Last summer, P Funk legend and Parliament/Funkadelic founder, George Clinton passed through the Brownswood Basement to chat with Gilles about his phenomenal career.
March 6th 2015Rare Studio 54 photos surface
Vintage photos of New York's most infamous hedonistic hotspot Studio 54 have recently been unearthed and will be published in a new book.
March 5th 2015Danny Krivit: Message in the music
The Southport stalwart gives a fascinating account of his formative years in NYC to RA's Stephen Titmus.
March 4th 2015D-Vine Sounds
Southport Weekender 52 guest and resident DJ for the famed UK label, Defected, Sam Divine has launched her own imprint, D-Vine Sounds. Check out the exclusive premiere of Curtis Gabriel's 'If You Can' over at DJ Mag.
March 3rd 2015Azymuth In Liverpool
Combining funk, soul, and jazz with samba, Azymuth are the legendary Brazilian three piece orchestra responsible for creating a new sound and genre of their own – 'samba doido' (crazy samba). The previous Southport guests are playing in Liverpool this Saturday, with Weekender resident Gavin Kendrick supporting. Azymuth started their[…]
March 2nd 2015Eilon Paz's photographs of vinyl obsessives – in pictures
SuncéBeat favourites Gilles Peterson and Rich Medina feature in this Guardian photo feature.
March 1st 2015Come On Goddess
Preview the new Marcellus Pittman album on SoundCloud!
February 28th 2015Compass Rose
Here the new Afefe Iku track featured on the Only To Survive The Diaspora compilation.
February 27th 2015Silvan Audio Workshop
Kickstarter launched for company that handcrafts beautiful turntables out of wood.
February 26th 2015The 'spirit of London' captured for posterity
London's legendary red-light district is in the grip of redevelopment. Check these photos including vinyl digging on Berwick Street.
February 25th 2015The Bandcamp Boogie
Cop a haul of beats from Georgia Anne Muldrow, Madlib and the SomeOthaShip Connect crew for a bargain!
February 24th 2015Best Vinyl This Week
The Vinyl Factory select the 10 most essential vinyl releases of the last 7 days, including the new album from Southport guest Romare.
February 23rd 2015People Wake Up!
Angel Mel interviews Karizma, asking 8 questions, each designed to hit the reader with the same poignancy as the 4X4 beat itself.
February 17th 2015Stevie Wonder on Message Behind New Album: 'We Want to See Equality'
"I'm hoping to show what I've seen and I'm hoping it will encourage people to move to the next level," the singer says of 'Through the Eyes of Wonder'.
February 9th 2015Sound of Song
Composer and musician Neil Brand presents a series which explores the magical elements that come together to create our favourite songs.
February 8th 2015Theo Parrish: American Intelligence
Southport's resident journalist Marc Rowlands interviews Theo Parrish and talks DJing, sculpture and America in crisis.
February 7th 2015Nightclubbing: New York City's Better Days
If the Paradise Garage was a party, Better Days was a church. An oral history of one of the '70s and '80s most influential New York clubs.
February 6th 2015Listen back to the Southport Weekender Radio Show
Tune in to the official Southport Weekender Radio Show with Jonny Miller and Gavin Kendrick.
February 5th 2015Invisible Man
Gino Soccio was the one-man-band behind countless disco gems—until he vanished. "I built a wall between me and the media. After twenty-five years, you run out of shit to say," Soccio tells Wax Poetics.
February 4th 2015Balance deadline this Friday!
Remember that balances are due and must be with us by this Friday 6th February. If you have any questions then please ask now, don't leave it till 6pm Friday! Follow the link here to pay.
February 3rd 2015Ronnie Herel's Official SPW February Chart
Longstanding Southport resident and SuncéBeat party starting favourite Ronnie Herel shares his top tips of the month!
February 2nd 2015WYRB: Yoruba Soul Radio Vol. 107
Essential and eclectic radio vibes from SuncéBeat mainstay Osunlade.
February 1st 2015Gilles Peterson – Strata East
Ahead of the Strata East Live show at The Barbican on March 22, Gilles has put together a mammoth 3 hour mix, playing nothing but the finest music released on the legendary 1970s label, Strata East.
January 31st 2015Coronus, The Terminator.
Awesome video from Young Replicant of the Flying Lotus track, Coronus, The Terminator.
January 30th 2015Nightclubbing: Space Lab Yellow
Yuko Asanuma explains why this unassuming club became Japan's most influential venue, as well as a beloved home-away-from-home for countless international DJs.
January 29th 2015Silverback Surfer: DJ Harvey
Hyponik interview the awesome DJ Harvey, star of SuncéBeat 3.
January 28th 2015Ralf Gum & Monique Bingham
For the London family be sure to reach Makin' Moves this Friday to see two of the guests who stole the show at the Southport Weekender – DJ Ralf Gum and the super talented Monique Bingham.
January 27th 2015The Lick – 5 Years
Check out our main man Ronnie Herel strutting his stuff in celebration of 5 years of The Lick party.
January 27th 2015Memories Of Plastic People
Vice shares a heartfelt tribute to the UK dance music institution.
January 26th 201510 Drum And Bass Producers To Watch In 2015
One for the D&B crew… FACT points out the rising stars of the year ahead.
January 25th 2015David Morales Remembers Frankie Knuckles
It was one year ago that hundreds of people were packed inside SmartBar in anticipation of Frankie Knuckles' big birthday celebration. On the bill alongside the birthday boy were New York's legendary David Morales and Louie Vega along with Queen residents Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini and Garrett David. Inaya Day was going to sing, and Ultra Nate had flown in from Atlanta to do a surprise performance.
January 24th 2015Angel Mel Interviews Opolopo
This is the tale of the 'Synthesizer' kid, who dreamed that one he would spread his love of electronic dance music to the far corners of the earth. The kid worked hard, hidden away in his studio mastering his craft. Today we know of him as Opolopo, the Producer & Remixer Extraordinaire and Turntable Dynamo.
January 23rd 2015Kings of R&B Tour
Don't miss the Kings of R&B Tour in London this month with Joe, Tank, 112 and Ginuwine.
January 22nd 2015Ronnie Herel's Birthday Bash
We hope you can join us at The House of Finery as we celebrate our Southport and SuncéBeat resident DJ's birthday alongside friends of the event Sean McCabe, Lil Stevie and Martin Lodge.
January 21st 2015Adina Howard 20: A Story Of Sexual Liberation
In 1995, Adina Howard made waves in the world of music with her hit song "Freak Like Me." Never before had a solo R&B female artist made such a bold and controlling stance sexually through song. Along with becoming one of the highest selling singles and most played music videos on MTV and BET in 1995, Adina Howard's performance allowed young women of color and future recording artist to express their sexuality without shame. 'Adina Howard 20: A Story of Sexual Liberation' shares Adina's story through her own words as well as the impact that she made during the 1990s and thereafter through the thoughts of fellow entertainers, educators, feminists, family and fans.
January 20th 2015Cameo in London!
Cameo topped the R&B charts for more than a decade and sold more than 17 million albums. Line-ups change, styles evolve, and record labels merge, but Cameo has maintained its core funkiness for nearly four decades. Don't miss the London show on Valentine's Night!
January 19th 2015Romare on BBC Radio 6 Music
Gilles is back in the studio for another Saturday mix-up selection and is joined by UK-producer, Romare who talks about his new album and presses play on an exclusive track.
January 18th 20157 Sides Of DJ EZ
Soundplate feature an interview and mix with the Funkbase favourite.
January 17th 2015Gilles Peterson picks his defining moments of the Worldwide Awards
Celebrating its 10th anniversary later this week, Gilles Peterson reminisces about the Worldwide Awards: giving Flying Lotus his first paycheck, being snubbed by Gil Scott-Heron, and why it's important to have sushi chefs as fans.
January 16th 2015Key Tracks: Jimmy Jam on The S.O.S. Band's Just the Way You Like It
The celebrated producer remembers the sessions for the album that revitalized the Southern R&B group's career.
Track Of The Day
Radio Show
SPW Radio Show – March 2015
Tune in to the official Southport Weekender Radio Show with Jonny Miller and Gavin Kendrick.
Dj Charts
Davide Fiorese's Official SPW DJ Chart
SuncéBeat resident Davide lists his current floor fillers!
Music Reviews
The Rewind Meets The Beauty and The Beats
Words: Angel Mel. _________________ The Beauty Artist: Blue Six Album: Signs and Wonders Record label: NYC Naked Records Release date: Out now Buy here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/signs-wonders/id925943671 Welcome to the majestic sounds of the Blue Six, 'Signs and Wonders' album. It has been a long time since I have heard anything quite[…]


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The Aurora shooting spree is one of the deadliest in U.S. history--and authorities believe it was the work of only one man.
"All the evidence we have, every single indicator is that...he wasn't particularly aided by anyone else," Police Chief Dan Oates said Sunday. "We're building a case to show that this was a deliberative process by a very intelligent man who wanted to do this."
Police have also learned that over a span of a few months, suspect James Holmes received a number of packages in the mail, believed to have contained the tools used to gun down dozens of innocent people--and turn his home into a potential killing machine.
"He had a high volume of deliveries," Oates said. "We think this explains how he got his hands on the magazine, ammunition." Oates said it was presumably how Holmes got his hands on the astonishing number of explosives he rigged in his home.
The complex system of booby traps proved "vexing" for authorities in Aurora as they contemplated how to gain access into shooting suspect James Holmes' residence.
After more than 24 hours, authorities were finally able to detonate the extensive series of trip wires strewn across Holmes' apartment, as well as at least one explosive device. The Aurora Police Department says the detonation was successful; shutters rustled when the explosives went off, but no fire erupted.
Authorities were able to remove all dangerous explosives from the apartment by Saturday night, allowing most evacuated residents to return home--thought the ones living inside Holmes' building are still evacuated as of Monday morning. The explosives are being shipped to an FBI lab.
Officials say that besides the grenades, the apartment had two other types of explosives: jars filled with accelerants and chemicals intended to explode when mixed together.
Holmes alluded to having explosives inside his apartment upon his arrest, but authorities say what they found after placing a camera inside was stunning.
"I have never seen anything like what the pictures show us in there," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said.
According to CBS News, Holmes, 24, may have booby-trapped his apartment in hopes of luring officers away from the bloody scene at the Century 16 movie theater, where he is suspected of gunning down a crowd of movie-goers at "The Dark Knight Rises" premiere just after midnight Friday. Seventy people were injured in the shooting; 12 have been confirmed dead.
Holmes reportedly had loud music blaring around the time of the shooting spree to provoke neighbors into calling in a noise complaint, thus bringing officers to his home, setting off an explosion and diverting resources from the movie theater.
After disarming the wires and the first explosive device, Aurora Police Sgt. Cassidee Carlson said that the booby trap was rigged to kill the first person to walk through the door.
Neighbor Kaitlyn Fonzi could have been that person. Fonzi told CNN she came so close to opening Holmes' door Thursday night that she actually her hand on the doorknob.
The loud music had drawn Fonzi to his apartment, just as authorities speculate he intended.
Though the door felt unlocked, Fonzi abruptly changed her mind about going inside.
"I yelled out and told him I was going to call the cops, and went back to my apartment," Fonzi said.
Arresting Holmes was the simplest part of the investigation process; responding officers were on scene within a minute and immediately found Holmes behind the theater.
It was upon arriving at his home that authorities reached a temporary standstill.
"I'm a layman when it comes to bomb stuff, [but] I see an awful lot of wires, trip wires, jars full of ammunition ... jars full of liquids, mortar rounds. We have a lot of challenges to get in there safely," Oates said Friday.
Entering the apartment Saturday was considered extremely dangerous, particularly if Holmes, a former neuroscience PhD student who was "top of the top" academically while an undergraduate science student, was skilled at setting the explosive devices. Bomb technicians entered the apartment in full protective gear. One hundred personnel, including the bomb techs, firefighters, ATF and FBI were on scene Saturday.
Officials say technicians first used a robot to remotely remove trip wires, then move inside the 800 square foot apartment to detonate the improvised devices.
Aurora police said in a press conference Friday that Holmes has no previous criminal history in Aurora outside of a traffic violation. 11 News has looked at court documents for the state of Colorado, and have been unable to find any indications of a prior criminal background in the state.
CBS says Holmes, originally of San Diego, doesn't appear to have a criminal record in California either.
The CBS affiliate in San Diego, KFMB, reports that Holmes' mother lives in the Rancho Penasquitos suburb of that California city. The family has issued a short statement: "Our hearts go out to those involved in this tragedy, and to the families and friends of those involved."