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Fluid power reservoirs
Fluid power systems require air or a liquid fluid to transmit energy. Pneumatic systems use the atmosphere -- the air we breathe -- as the source or reservoir for their fluid. A compressor takes in atmospheric air at 14.7 psia, compresses it to between 90 and 125 psig, and then stores it in a receiver tank. A receiver tank is similar to a hydraulic system's accumulator. A receiver tank, Figure 6-1, stores energy for future use similar to a hydraulic accumulator. This is possible because air is a gas and thus is compressible. A receiver tank is a pressure vessel and is constructed to pressure vessel standards. At the end of the work cycle the air is simply returned to the atmosphere.
Hydraulic reservoirs
Hydraulic systems, on the other hand, need a finite amount of liquid fluid that must be stored and reused continually as the circuit works. Therefore, part of any hydraulic circuit is a storage reservoir or tank. This tank may be part of the machine framework or a separate stand-alone unit. In either case, reservoir design and implementation is very important. The efficiency of a well-designed hydraulic circuit can be greatly reduced by poor tank design. A hydraulic reservoir does much more than just provide a place to put fluid. A well-designed reservoir also dissipates heat, allows time for contamination to drop out of the fluid, and allows air bubbles to come to the surface and dissipate. It may give a positive pressure to the pump inlet and makes a convenient mounting place for the pump and its motor, and valves.
Some standard reservoir layouts
Pump on top. Figure 6-2 shows this common reservoir/pump layout -- used by many suppliers. The flat top surface of a standard reservoir makes a perfect place to mount the pump and motor.
The main disadvantage to this configuration is that the pump must create enough vacuum to raise and accelerate the fluid into the pump inlet. For most pumps, this is not a big problem, but it is not the best situation for any of them. Axial or in-line piston pump life can be adversely affected by medium to high vacuum at its inlet when using this layout. The piping in this configuration must be sealed, should be as short as possible, and have few or no bends.
Pump alongside tank. Figure 6-3 shows another design that is satisfactory for any type pump. (Many suppliers prefer this layout.) This arrangement is sometime called a flooded suction, because the pump inlet always is filled with fluid.
Although the pump inlet always has fluid, there will be some vacuum in the inlet line when the pump is running. A pump with its inlet below fluid level no longer has to raise the fluid, but it does have to accelerate and move it. However, this design is far better than the pump on top and can extend the service life of any type pump.
Notice the shutoff valve in the inlet line. This valve allows maintenance work to be done on the pump without draining the tank. Some precautions: install a free-flowing valve (such as a quarter-turn ball type) and use a valve with a limit switch to indicate full open. Wire this limit switch in parallel with the pump motor starter, so the pump cannot start until the shutoff valve is open.
Pump under tank. Figure 6-4 shows the very best pump/tank layout. This design puts the pump below the reservoir to take advantage of static head pressure. As explained in Chapter 1, there is pressure at the bottom of any column of fluid (about .4 psi per foot of elevation). With the tank above, the pump not only has fluid at its inlet all the time, but this fluid also could be at 2- to 4-psi positive pressure. (Note that this arrangement can be difficult to work on without ample headroom for the mechanic.) The same shutoff valve precaution goes for this layout as mentioned for the pump-alongside design.
Tank functions
The main reason the reservoir exists is to store fluid. The accepted rule for sizing a tank is: the tank volume should be two to four times the pump flow in gpm. This is only a general rule. Some circuits may require more volume, while less fluid may be adequate for other circuits. A 25-gpm pump would work well with a 50- to 75-gallon reservoir for most circuits. With this general rule, the returned fluid theoretically will have two to three minutes in the tank before it circulates again. As Figure 6-5 shows, a baffle separates the return line from the pump inlet line, forcing the fluid to take the longest possible path through the reservoir before returning to the pump inlet. This arrangement also mixes the fluid well and provides more time to drop contaminates and de-aerate. In addition, the fluid spends more time in contact with the outer walls of the reservoir to dissipate heat.
When a circuit has single-acting cylinders or cylinders with large rods, the volume of fluid returned on the extend stroke is greatly reduced – or even non-existent. In these cases, the tank must be larger than the general rule states to keep fluid level from falling below the pump inlet line.
Another situation where a tank may need to be larger is if the circuit has accumulators. Accumulators need fluid to fill them at start up and space into which to discharge this fluid at shut down. An undersized reservoir may not have enough fluid to keep the pump inlet covered at all times.
Another case for making the tank larger than the general rule is to add cooling capacity. All of the tank's exterior walls can radiate heat to the atmosphere, so the larger the tank the greater the heat dissipation. Use the formula in Figure 6-6 to figure tank-cooling capacity. An example problem is shown later in this chapter. Several data books include formulas and charts showing tank-cooling capacity. These also can be used in conjunction with this manual.
Heat dissipation is the main reason for having the tank bottom off the floor and why it is important not to stop free air flow around the tank. It is not good practice to enclose a power unit to reduce noise.
Tank components
The filler-breather cap should include a filter media to block contaminants as the fluid level lowers and rises during a cycle. If the cap is used for filling, it should have a filter screen in its neck to keep large particles out. It is best to pre-filter any fluid entering the tank . . . either by a filter cart transfer unit or by a filter fill unit (as shown in Chapter 2, Figure 2-2.)
Remove the drain plug to empty the tank when the fluid needs be changed. At the same time, the clean-out covers should be removed to provide access to clean out all residue, rust, and flaking paint that may have accumulated in the tank (and doesn't flow out with the fluid). If this is not done, the new fluid gets dirty immediately — defeating the purpose of the fluid change. In the design in Figure 6-5, the clean-out covers and internal baffle are assembled together, with some brackets to keep the baffle upright. Rubber gaskets seal the clean-out covers to prevent leaks.
If the system is badly contaminated, it is wise to flush all pipes and actuators while changing the tank fluid. This can be done satisfactorily by disconnecting the return line and placing its end in a drum, then cycling the machine. Do not over-fill the drum during this operation or it may rupture and spill fluid.
Sight glasses make it easy to visually check fluid level. Calibrated sight gauges provide even more accuracy. If the sight glass or gauge is difficult to see or is damaged, find another way to check the fluid level.
Many sight gauges include a fluid-temperature gauge. Tanks that feel hot to the touch may actually be within operating range. The temperature gauge gives a more specific indication. On older systems where the temperature gauge may have stopped working, it's best to check fluid temperature with some other method.
Pump connections
The inlet line to the pump should be at the same end of the reservoir as the return line, with the baffle between them forcing returning fluid to travel to the opposite end of the tank and back. The inlet must be below the fluid level and may include a strainer. If the inlet line is just a straight piece of pipe installed vertically, it is best to cut the line's open end at 45° so it is impossible to butt it against the floor of the tank, which could block flow. Outside the tank, this line should lead as directly to the pump as possible, with no unnecessary bends or connections. Never use a pipe union in the inlet line; unions are almost impossible to seal against air leaks. Even a minute leak in the inlet line can cause pump cavitation and all of its problems.
The return line should be located in the same end of the tank as the inlet line and on the opposite side of the baffle (as shown in Figure 6-5). The return line must terminate below fluid level to reduce turbulence and aeration. The open end of the return line also should be cut at 45° to eliminate the chance of stopping flow if it gets pushed to the bottom. Another good practice is to point the opening toward the side wall to get the most heat-transfer surface contact possible.
When a hydraulic reservoir is part of the machine base or body, it may not be possible to incorporate some of the features discussed in this chapter. However, keep in mind the different functions mentioned to try to eliminate ongoing problems.
Non-pressurized and pressurized reservoirs
Reservoirs are seldom pressurized because that feature is not required under most circumstances. One reason for using a pressurized reservoir is to provide the positive inlet pressure required by some pumps -- usually in line piston types. Another reason is to force fluid into a cylinder through an undersized prefill valve. Both of these reasons may require pressures between 5 and 25 psi and could not use a conventional rectangular reservoir design.
Another reason for pressurizing a tank is to keep out contaminates. If the reservoir always has a positive pressure in it there is no way for atmospheric air with its contaminants to enter. Pressure for this application is very low – 0.1 to 1.0 psi -- and may be all right even in a rectangular design tank.
A pressurized reservoir would be built like any pressure vessel, but with the baffling and other features shown in Figure 6-5. Note however that the reservoir pictured in Figure 6-5 is non-pressurized. The symbol for this type tank is shown at the left. The symbol also indicates how lines that terminate above and below fluid level are shown. If a drain line comes from an area that might have suction part of the time, it might not be best to terminate it below fluid level. If this type line terminated below fluid level, it could suck oil into the unit and possibly cause sluggish action. The drain line from the case drain of a pressure-compensated piston pump and an air bleed valve should terminate below fluid level at all times. This keeps air from being sucked in and causing problems.
Heat in hydraulic systems
All heat in a hydraulic circuit comes from wasted energy. Any horsepower put into the circuit that does not do useful work wastes energy.
Any circuit has inefficiencies that can be up to 15% of input power. This is bypass fluid in pumps, valves or other components and pressure drop through these components and the flow lines. These losses can be reduced, but never completely eliminated in a typical hydraulic circuit. Some ways to reduce inefficiency losses is to correctly size piping and valves, keep working pressure at or only slightly higher than required for all operations, and never allow fluid to relieve to tank. Flow controls also generate heat because they restrict flow. Reducing valves, counterbalance valves, and sequence valves also waste energy... especially if they are not set correctly. A pressure sequence or a counterbalance valve will do its job even when set too high, but will waste more energy at an unnecessarily high setting.
Each lost horsepower generates 2,545 BTU/hour of heat. To put this in perspective, 10 hp would heat a three-bedroom home when the outside air temperature is 30°F. Thus it is obvious what that much heat would do to the temperature of a 20-gallon tank of hydraulic fluid.
In a hydraulic circuit, you must calculate wasted horsepower to determine heat generation. In a highly efficient circuit this figure could be low enough to use the reservoir's cooling capacity to keep maximum operating temperature below 130°F. If heat generation is slightly higher than a standard tank will handle, it may be best to oversize the tank rather than adding a heat exchanger. An oversize tank is less expensive than a heat exchanger; and avoids the cost of installing water lines.
It is easy to figure heat generation by figuring horsepower input and subtracting horsepower output. With the gauge at a fixed-volume pump's outlet reading 150 psi and a gauge at the working cylinder reading 125 psi, there is a 25-psi pressure difference between energy in and work out. To figure horsepower loss, multiply (0.000583)(gpm)(psi). For this example, assume a 40-gpm pump. Then, lost horsepower = (0.000583)(40)(25) = .58. To determine actual heat loss, this figure must be divided by the percentage of the cycle that it occurs. If this figure is from the cylinder extending and the extend time was four seconds during a total cycle of 12 seconds, then figure 1/3 of the .58 hp or .19 hp as waste. Do this operation for each actuator in both directions of travel to determine total wasted horsepower. After all actuator losses are calculated, add them together to determine total wasted horsepower. (Note that when this horsepower total is less than the answer from the formula in Figure 6-6, no heat exchanger is required.)
The example just cited would be a straightforward circuit without any flow controls or other added restrictions. With a flow control in the circuit, pressure drop would be much higher and energy waste would increase drastically. Most circuits using a pressure-compensated pump would have flow controls so the pump would be at compensator setting while the actuator would be at whatever pressure is required. A circuit without flow controls or other restrictive plumbing usually has low energy losses. This type system may get by without a heat exchanger when ambient temperature stays below 110°F.
Tank cooling capacity
Use the formula in Figure 6-6 to estimate how much heat a given tank can dissipate. This formula assumes the tank is open on all sides with free air movement around it. (Remember, pipes, cylinders, and valves also have surface areas that can dissipate heat but those areas are usually not included when calculating cooling capacity.) For a 100-gal tank and a 30°F. temperature difference, this amounts to about 1.4 hp. A single cylinder circuit wasting only 0.7 hp would not require a heat exchanger on a 100°F. day while maintaining a maximum fluid temperature of 130°F.
Heating and cooling devices
Tank heaters: Most industrial hydraulic units operate in a warm indoor atmosphere so low temperature is not a problem. For circuits that see temperatures below 65° to 70°F., some sort of fluid heater is recommended. The most common tank heater is an electric-powered immersion type. These units consist of resistive wire in a steel housing with a mounting option. They often have an integral thermostatic control. The heating element on most units contacts the fluid directly, similar to a hot water heating system. Some immersion heaters in a sealed housing heat the air in the enclosure. The air then transfers heat to the fluid. This heater-in-tube arrangement allows the heating unit to be changed without draining the reservoir.
Figure 6-7 shows an electric immersion heater and its ISO symbol for schematic drawings. (This symbol may be replaced by some sort of pictorial rendition of the heating unit on many schematics.)
Electric heating units should not have concentrated heat like those used to heat water. Oil viscosity at low temperature is thick enough to retard movement. This could allow fluid next to the heating rods to overheat and possibly breakdown. The usual recommendation is for the heating rods not to have over 8 to 10 watts per square inch density. This limit may require multiple heating rods to meet the heat requirement of some systems.
Another way to electrically heat a tank is with a mat that has heating elements similar to those in an electric blanket. This mat is attached to the outside of the bottom of the reservoir and adds heat during low temperature conditions. This type heater requires no ports in the tank for insertion. It also evenly heats the fluid even during times of low or no fluid circulation.
Heat can be introduced through a heat exchanger by using hot water or steam in place of the cooling water. The exchanger becomes a temperature controller when it also uses cooling water to take away heat at other times. Figure 6-10 depicts the symbol for this type heat exchanger. (Chapter 7 shows an alternate way to add heat while filtering system fluid.) Temperature controllers are not a common option in most climates because the majority of industrial applications operate in controlled environments.
The formula for estimating how many kilowatts are needed to heat a certain size tank from an expected minimum ambient to a nominal working temperature of 50° to 70°F. is shown in Figure 6-8. Use it to size a heater when the tank is exposed to low temperatures.
Heat exchangers
Cooling hydraulic systems is necessary more often than heating them due to wasted energy from inefficiency and/or poor circuit design. A well-designed circuit eliminates most heat generation and may not need a heat exchanger. Use the same method to estimate how much heat a system generates as was used for the previous tank-cooling example.
When figuring wasted horsepower, see if there is any way to reduce or eliminate it so it does not have to be paid for twice. It costs money to produce the unused heat and it is expensive to get rid of it after it enters the system. Heat exchangers are expensive, the water that through them is not free, and maintenance of this cooling system can run high.
Items such as flow controls, sequence valves, reducing valves, and undersized directional control valves can add heat to any circuit. Are these items absolutely necessary? Can they be replaced with another valve or part that does the same thing with less pressure drop? Anytime these questions can be answered with a yes, the circuit is not ready to build.
Air-cooled heat exchangers
After calculating wasted horsepower, review heat exchanger manufacturers' catalog to pick out a unit that will dissipate that amount of energy. Most catalogs include charts for given size heat exchangers that show the amount of horsepower and/or BTU they can remove at different flows, oil temperatures, and ambient air temperatures.
Figure 6-9 shows a typical air-cooled heat exchanger that may be used in place of a water-cooled unit in some applications. Air-cooled heat exchangers are not as efficient as water-cooled heat exchangers, but they require only an electrical outside hookup. They work well in cool atmospheres or when the amount of heat to be removed is low. Note that airborne contaminants such as heavy dust or water and coolant vapors can quickly reduce an air-cooled heat exchangers low efficiency to almost nothing. Some manufacturers offer a filter pack to take out airborne contamination before it clogs the heat exchanger's radiator fins and tubes.
On circuits with pressure-compensated pumps, a small air-cooled heat exchanger often is used to cool case drain flow. On this type system, most of the heat generation is from internal leakage and control oil that flows to tank through the pump case drain. One type heat exchanger -- called a coupling cooler -- is a finned tube formed into a circle and wrapped around a blower that is driven by the motor turning the pump. A similar arrangement uses a small flat radiator attached to the intake end of the fan-cooled electric motor that drives the pump. Both units are low-flow, low-backpressure devices and dissipate only a small amount of heat.
Some systems use a water-cooled heat exchanger in the summer and an air-cooled one in the winter. This arrangement eliminates plant heating in summer weather and saves heating expense in the winter.
Water-cooled heat exchangers
Two popular water-cooled heat exchanger designs. As before, manufacturers' catalogs will assist you in picking out a unit to dissipate the amount of wasted heat energy. For water-cooled heat exchangers, catalogs ask for information such as how much and what temperature water is available, how many horsepower or BTU of energy must be dissipated, what is the fluid flow in gpm, and how many passes will the water makes to get through the body. The more passes -- up to four maximum usually -- the greater the heat dissipation per gallon of water flow. Charts that use this information make it easy to pick the correct size heat exchanger.
Figure 6-10 shows two types of water-cooled heat exchangers commonly used for hydraulic systems. The shell-and-tube design is the most common one at present, but the plate-and-frame or brazed-plate type are coming along because they are much smaller and easier to maintain. It is important to use clean water in either type unit to keep from building up insulating deposits or corroding the tubes until they leak water into the oil. Treated water from a cooling tower works best.
Either type heat exchanger should have a thermostatic control to turn on the water or fan only when the fluid temperature rises above its normal operating range. Without a thermostatic control, fluid could be too cold and thick, while wasting the energy to operate the heat exchanger. Figure 6-11 shows one type of water-control valve that requires no electrical hookup. Heat-sensitive liquid in a thermometer-type probe in the tank expands and opens a water valve upon reaching a preset temperature. The temperature is fully adjustable to meet any requirement and it operates in all types of fluid. Another option is an electrically operated temperature sensor that controls a solenoid-operated water valve. This installation requires an electrical hookup but is able to maintain a fluid-temperature range at any desired setting.


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My name is Mitch Roberts and I am thrilled to be part of the KFSM-TV team. I've been married to my wonderful wife Leah for twelve years, and we have two beautiful daughters. I can't think of a better place that Northwest Arkansas to raise my kids. Other members of my family have already given this region a huge stamp of approval.
Three members of my family attended the University of Arkansas. Both of my sisters settled in Fayetteville after graduation, and so our girls will have plenty of cousins to play with. Landing the job at 5NEWS puts my family back together for the first time since the late 1980's.
I'm a graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. I have Anchor/Reporter experience in St. Louis, Nashville, Las Vegas, Dayton, Ohio, and most recently I was the Primary News Anchor/Reporter for KVII-TV in Amarillo, TX. While I feel blessed to have worked in some of those places, being here in Arkansas already feels like home. I will be based out of Fayetteville, but I'll drive anywhere with my trusty TV camera to tell the stories that matter to you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
Unit 5.1 Minidoc: Self-Healing
Self-healing materials use advanced chemical mechanisms
in order to reduce microscopic damage in case of fracture.
Modern chemistry research and development enable the design
of these materials. Video program cues: 0:30-4:15
The breakability of matter
Self-healing materials
"I have seen experiments done by the
group at Virginia Tech, where they are taking sheets of
this ionomer and shooting bullets through it and a bullet
makes a hole, but the hole instantly heals. Thats
a very interesting case, because what the bullet does, it
tends to fluidize the polymer sheet locally where the bullet
hole was, but at the same time you have a large number of
metal ions which tend to cluster together again
it instantaneously heals."
Dr. Richard Wool
Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
Steve, S. (2001)' Plastic Mends Its Own Cracks, 'Chemical
& Engineering News, Vol. 79, No. 8, pp: 13.
Healing microscopic fractures
Heinhorst, S.; Cannon, G. (2002)' Nature: Self-Healing Polymers
and Other Improved Materials, 'Journal of Chemical Education,
Vol. 79, No. 1, pp: 10-11.
© Annenberg Foundation 2017. All rights reserved. Legal Policy


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2016-09-08 - We speak to Filippo Bassoli, whose pioneering style and rebellious way of life has made him a well-known personality in Milan. "We were probably the first people with a Bugaboo stroller in Italy."
Filippo Bassoli is born and bred in Milan and you could say he's a bit of rock star dad. He's the CEO of Deus ex Machina Italy and founding partner of the Milan branch, a veritable emporium of cool that brings bikes, motorbikes, surf and apparel together. But more than just a store, it's a place where you can customize your surfboard or your bike. And then relax in the bar, barber shop and auditorium. Performance, style and a certain ruggedness are central to Filippo's way of life.
He also happens to be one of the very first Bugaboo stroller owners in Italy, first being spotted out on the street with his daughter Viola in their Bugaboo stroller in 2002, and since then with his son Vittorio who is now nine years old.
We talk to him about his family life - and what made him go for a Bugaboo stroller so many years ago…
First of all, what made you choose a Bugaboo stroller?
It all started in 2002 when we realized that our lives were about to change quite drastically with the imminent arrival of our daughter Viola. However, we were determined to hold onto our sense of freedom! So I started to look for a stroller that was more than just a utility product. Something that was more like an extension of us – and of our lifestyle.
We are really into design… Come on – we're Italian... And we're very sporty and love exploring the great outdoors. So we wanted something that looked stylish yet was robust enough to use in the mountains and take to the beach. After lots of research we found Bugaboo. And we bought a Bugaboo Frog – which at the time wasn't even distributed in Italy yet. So yes I guess we were pioneers in that sense.
We quickly realized it was perfect for us - that stroller has quite literally traveled the world with us since then.
What do you like best about Bugaboo?
What I like about Bugaboo is the design and the use of tough materials like aluminum. This really speaks to me; because of my work I am involved in design on a daily basis and I spend much of my days working with different types of materials. I do appreciate the attention to detail that goes into a Bugaboo stroller. And the fact that we've been able to go anywhere and everywhere with it has made it a perfect companion for our super active family.
How do you define your family?
It's hard to define yourself… but I definitely consider our family as quite contemporary: we're not scared to do things a little differently. For example, right from the start we've traveled a lot. Not everyone is comfortable going abroad with very young children – but we've been all over Europe, the US and Asia - even when our kids where still babies.
It sounds like you like adventures. Talk us through one?
Well, we're lucky enough to have a little house up in the mountains in Verbier. I love the wilderness up there.
One day I had an urge to go trekking high in the mountains – the kind of expedition that most people would never normally undertake with young children. But I was adamant to take my daughter Viola, as I wanted her to experience it with me. So I put her in the Bugaboo and we did it together. This was a serious trek –going up over a difference in altitude of almost 2000 meters… So I put the stroller into its 2-wheel configuration and pulled her up for most of the journey. It was a real adventure! The first of many. And to this day Viola still loves the mountains and sports like I do.
Do you still have your Bugaboo stroller?
Of course – it's part of the family. After Viola, we used it for our son Vittorio - and today my cousins and their young children are using it. It now lives in their house up in the mountains. The fabrics are somewhat faded and the tires are worn… But to me it's even more fascinating today.


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Mick Jagger, So Respectable by Aaron Johnson
Mick Jagger, So Respectable by Aaron Johnson
Framed print prices are for a 1" black frame with white matting. Upgraded Archival Framing includes UV protected glass (sometimes referred to as museum grade) and thicker, acid-free matting. For additional options and custom framing, please contact us!
Aaron Johnson is a California based artist producing vibrant, detailed paintings and drawings. He studied art and illustration at Sacramento City College and California College Of The Arts in San Francisco respectively. His subject matter reflects his evolving interest in pop iconography with a strong focus on music. Aaron has been inspired since a very young age by album covers, posters, magazines and live music. Johnson's works on board, canvas and paper are thoughtfully executed in acrylic, pastel and graphite. His artwork has been in many juried exhibitions and has won both local and national awards.
Paper print of original pastel work.


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Best Drugstore Beauty Products
Our editors share their favorite budget finds.
Dori Katz, Beauty Editor
"I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to playing with makeup—I need to test absolutely everything before I decide. A hard day's work, but somebody's gotta do it."
Eco Tools Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki Brush, $8
The supersoft bristles distribute powder and creams evenly. Plus, the sleek handles are made of bamboo and recycled aluminum—green and gorgeous!
Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30, $17
This lightweight lotion provides the perfect amount of coverage with a subtle brightening effect. The built-in sunscreen is the icing on the cake.
CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast in Purple Plume, $7.50
Smoky eyes made simple—just how I like it. Both sides glide on seamlessly, one to cover the lid, the other as liner and in the crease. Blend and smudge as you like.
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Gel CreamLiners, $11
The perfect metallic shades to enhance my hazel eyes in a formula that goes on smoothly without any tugging. The hardest part? Choosing just one!
Almay Wake-Up Hydrating Makeup, $13
A powder that has a cooling effect upon contact, with aloe vera, cucumber and green tea extracts to soothe and smooth. A perfect midday refresher!
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Blendable Blush in Berry, $5
One thing I've learned, a little blush makes a big difference. A few sweeps of this sheer shade and voila! A subtle, natural-looking glow, just right for every day.
Sally Hansen Flirty Eyes Classic Eyelash Curler, $5.50
A foolproof, easy-to-use tool—it doesn't pinch (promise!) and adds major curl in seconds.
Sonia Kashuk Instructional Eye Shadow Palette in Eye on Fall Color, $20
Sonia is always right on trend with the hottest, most wearable hues. This is a gorgeous mix of rich jewel tones and shimmery metallics that inspire you to mix and match, with a little cheat sheet for flawless application.
Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in Victorian, $9
Finally, my ideal pink, and this one actually stays put. The double-ended pen gives just the right pop of color.
Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat, $10
My nails were always prone to chips, until I discovered Seche Vite's tough-as-nails formula. One coat prevents nicks and keeps polish shiny for days.
L'Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara, $10
It's a fake out—you get the look of falsies without the time or effort. The fiber-rich formula makes my lashes look long and lush, and no dreaded clumping.
Amanda Flores, Associate Beauty and Fashion Editor
"I'm the go-to editor here for anything hair-related. Probably because I've tried—or am willing to try—everything and anything that claims to de-frizz, detangle or add the ooh to my ooh-la-la!"
Remington T-Studio Pearl Ceramic Styling Wand, $30
This tool has earned itself a permanent spot on my bathroom counter. Protect your fingers with the heat-resistant glove—included with the iron—and wrap your hair down the clamp-free barrel to get the ultimate beachy waves.
Garnier Fructis Color Shield, $5
Switching shampoos was a must after dying my hair. Not only does it keep color from fading, it also prevents dryness.
L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray, $15
Hands down, our department's all-time favorite spray. Major holding power, but never crunchy or flaky.
Goody DoubleWear 2 in1 Ponytailers, $6
Gold and glitzy elastics mean ponytails have never looked so polished. And grouped together they can double as bracelets. Très chic.
Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions Ultra-Light Moisturizing Treatment, $6
This deep-conditioning mask is meant for once-a-week applications, but I use it every time I shampoo to strengthen against future damage.
John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer, $10
I keep this handy serum in my makeup bag at all times. The wand has tiny bristles that catch even the shortest of strands to keep my hair smooth, never greasy.
Suave Professionals Volumizing Root Boost Spray, $3
My always-limp locks need all the help they can get. A few spritzes add the volume I want for any 'do—whether I'm sporting a high pony or low chignon.
Clairol Natural Instincts in Dark Auburn Brown, $8
I'm a commitment-phobe when it comes to color so this demi dye is right up my alley—it adds a subtle hue that washes out after 28 shampoos.
Batiste Dry Shampoo, $8
My hair hero! I have a few bottles stashed both at home and at my office. It cleanses roots, and if sprayed all over also adds fullness and body.
Ion I-Pak Hair Dryer, $80
Not only does the sleek nozzle target frizz and leave my locks super-smooth, but it has an inside attachment infused with argan oil to add shine while styling.
Linda Moran Evans, Beauty and Fashion Director
"If there's one thing I've learned from this job, it's to take care of my skin. No matter how tired or lazy I'm feeling, I always stick with my daily regimens. But I'm constantly on the lookout for some new favorites."
Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Hand Creme, $6
I am obsessed with this hydrating potion—you just apply and go. My hands feel baby soft!
La Roche-Posay Effaclar K, $27.50
Yes, even at my age I'm still dealing with breakouts—but this gentle treatment is my secret weapon. A genius blend of vitamin A that smoothes and tightens my skin without irritation and salicylic acid to combat acne. I call it my terminator in a tube.
Jergens Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer, $9
My must-have self-tanner: It looks real, dries fast and has SPF 20. Who could ask for more? It makes me look like a golden goddess.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF 100, $12
I think of this spray as my personal bodyguard; not only does it have the highest level of broad spectrum SPF available, it's truly light enough for everyday wear.
RoC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream, $23
My skin has always been sensitive to retinol, a top ingredient for treating wrinkles. But this slow-release formula prevents irritation and the effect is obvious— fine lines have noticeably faded.
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM with SPF 30, $14
Besides being derm recommended, the fragrance-free formula doesn't clog pores. The patented technology allows for a steady flow of ceramides and hyaluronic acid—in layman's terms means skin stays hydrated longer.
Olay Total Effects Line & Dark Circle Minimizing Brush, $19
Like magic, this lightly tinted moisturizer manages to make dark circles vanish with a sweep of the brush. Works like a charm on all skin types too.
Dove GoFresh Rebalance Body Wash, $7
I start my morning by cleansing with this thick, creamy body wash that soothes extremely dry skin like mine. (Even after I rinse off, its moisturizing effects are still doing their thing.) The subtle scent of ripe plum and sakura blossoms is calming—great for a hectic day ahead.
Bio-Oil, $12
The ultimate multitasker, it minimizes scars and stretch marks, smoothes uneven tone and nourishes dry, flaky skin. Loaded with vitamins A and E, and a combo of oils (calendula, lavender and rosemary) it somehow leaves no residue on skin. Sounds too good to be true—but it isn't.
Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Brightening Facial Towelettes, $8
Just one of these grimefighting towelettes singlehandedly removes a day's worth of dirt without any rinsing—promise! Infused with blueberry extracts (antioxidants that fight free radicals) and fruity acids for exfoliation, my skin looks brighter and feels fresher.
Originally published in the November 1, 2011, issue of Family Circle magazine.


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Year 8 students experience a day at University
27 September 2012
Close to 400 students from Compass partner high schools visited the University for the annual Year 8 Experience Day. The students selected morning and afternoon electives from a variety of activities run by University Schools and Faculties. The aim of the day is to help students make connections between their interests, higher education, and future careers.
Many of the faculties and schools who ran events in 2011 were back in 2012, including:
- Sydney University Law Society, who created law and order in the Law School's moot court
- Sydney Conservatorium of Music, who harmonised their way to happiness in MacLaurin Hall
- Veterinary Science, whose collection of animal skulls left the teenagers enthralled.
In attendance for the first time were new partner schools Moorebank HS, Liverpool Girls HS and Liverpool Boys HS which meant more students than ever before and expanded activities, including:
"Astronomers Toolkit: Parallax" (School of Physics, Faculty of Science)
Researchers from the School of Physics introduced students to one of the fundamental experiments and techniques in astronomy: parallax. Co-facilitator Tom Gordon also runs the popular Kickstart (Physics) program as part of the Science Alliance, so it's not surprising that discovering parallax was nominated by students as one of the most popular and valuable lessons of the day.
"Spying on History" (Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
Students were presented with a box of documents from a censorship case: notes from undercover police, court records, other cryptic bits of evidence. What could they learn from all of this about how people lived and thought in the past?
This session was hosted by Associate Professor Chris Hilliard in the Senate Boardroom of the Quadrangle, but students quickly learned that in a university the sometimes austere surroundings don't dictate the tone, as they got stuck into the scandalous details of the century's most celebrated censorship cases. The workshop gave students a taste of what humanities study in higher education is like, and while some preferred the more hands-on activities of science, others enthusiastically found their voices and proved themselves ready to tackle the big ideas of history!
With 400 students to coordinate into 30 sessions not all students got their first choice of activity, but in some cases that turned out to be a positive - "I think I love science now!" - and in others, the experience of trying out something new brought their true interests into sharper focus. By talking to student ambassadors, faculty, and staff, they also started to realize how much choice and flexibility features in pathways to higher education: "You don't have to know what you want to do... People change their minds a lot with what they want to be."
The challenge for secondary students is how to look ahead into the future to figure out how to match their nascent talents and interests with not only a possible career path but the school subjects and higher education courses that will get them there. For the students who attended the Experience Day, that murky vision may have become slightly clearer.
See the photographs and video from the day on our website.
The Compass team gratefully acknowledges the participation of these Faculties and businesses:
- Faculty of Agriculture and the Environment
- Faculty of Veterinary Science
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning
- Sydney Nursing School
- Sydney College of the Arts
- University of Sydney Business School
- Conservatorium of Music
- The Co-Op Bookshop
- Sydney University Museums
- Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness
- Campus Security
- University Venues


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Though the Battle of Cynocephalae in 197 BCE is often cited as the birth of the Roman Empire, the equally famous Battle of Actium is a better candidate.With the overthrow of the last Roman king, the Roman Republic was ruled by a senate and assembly from 509 BCE until Julius Caesar's appointment as Dictator in 44 BCE. The battle of Cynocephalae in 197 BCE consolidated Rome's power in the Mediterranean but did not launch the Roman Empire - that came about, at least in part, due to the dynamics in the relationships of three very strong personalities, Octavian, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and a tragic love affair between two of them.
Born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, Octavian was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar in 44 BCE and was afterwards known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. When Julius Caesar was assassinated 15 March 44 BCE, Octavian was named as heir in his will and came to Rome where he allied himself with Mark Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus to hunt down and punish the assassins. Forming themselves into the Second Triumvirate, the three would work well together (at least on the surface of things) until the assassins Brutus and Cassius were defeated in October of 42 BCE at the Battle of Philipi. Lepidus was given Africa to govern (which effectively removed him from any further power plays) while Antony took the east and headed to Egypt and Octavian governed in Rome.
Julius Caesar's third cousin, once removed, Marcus Antonius was a brilliant General, much loved by his soldiers, and Caesar's best friend. As renowned as he was as a leader of men, he was equally known for his inordinate love of pleasure in the form of wine, women and gaming. In Egypt he found the perfect companion for these pursuits in Cleopatra VII. Plutarch tells us, "Plato admits four sorts of flattery, but she had a thousand...she played at dice with him, drank with him, hunted with him...at night she would go rambling with him to disturb and torment people at their doors and windows, dressed like a servant woman" (Lives). In a short time, Antony fell in love with Cleopatra and she with him.
Cleopatra VII Philopator had a son, Caesarion, by Julius Caesar, and had actually met Antony years before when she was a young girl. Much to the dismay of Octavian and the general Roman public, Antony would have three children with Cleopatra (though he was now married to Octavian's sister, Octavia Minor, since 40 BCE) and would acknowledge them publicly. In 33 BCE Antony divorced Octavia and, in a letter to Octavian, wrote, "What's upset you? Because I go to bed with Cleopatra?...Does it really matter where, or with what women, you get your excitement?" (Ancient Rome). Antony then claimed that Caesarion, not Octavian, was the true legitimate heir to Julius Caesar, calling Caesarion the "King of Kings". Octavian, who had long resented Antony, was outraged at this and persuaded the Senate to declare war on Cleopatra knowing, naturally, that Antony would be drawn into battle.
On the morning of 2 September 31 BCE the fleets of Mark Antony and Cleopatra met the fleet of Octavian outside the Gulf of Actium in Greece. Antony's ships were large quinqueremes which were built primarily for ramming and sinking opponent's vessels. His ships, however, were seriously undermanned due to a malaria outbreak which had struck his crews. Octavian's ships, on the other hand, were smaller and fully manned with healthy crews. A further blow against Antony's hopes for success was the defection of one of his Generals, Quintus Dellius, to Octavian's side with all of Antony's battle plans. Octavian drew Antony's fleet out and, sometime after mid-day, Antony engaged his enemy. It was apparent, shortly, that the battle was not going well for Antony. Cleopatra, with her sixty ships, raised sail and left the battle for the open ocean. Antony immediately left his command ship and followed Cleopatra with forty of his own ships, leaving some 5,000 men and 300 ships to be destroyed by Octavian.
Why Cleopatra, then Antony, left the battle has always been a matter of conjecture and speculation. Some say Antony lost his nerve when he saw Cleopatra leaving the fight while others claim their action was a pre-planned escape should the battle go toward Octavian's side. Whatever the reason was, the result was complete victory for Octavian. Defeat followed on defeat for Antony and, the following August, he committed suicide by stabbing himself, dying in Cleopatra's arms, and she, then, allowed herself to be bitten by a poisonous asp preferring death to humiliation by Octavian. Later that year Octavian had Caesarion murdered by strangulation (stating that "two Caesars are one too many") and ordered the execution of Antony's oldest son, whom he considered the only threat. Octavian then was the supreme ruler of Rome and her provinces and, in 27 BCE, was given the title `Augustus' (Illustrious One) by the Roman Senate, becoming Augustus Caesar, first emperor of Rome; and so the Roman Empire was born.


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SAN FRANCISCO — In their continuing search for rock bottom, the Giants landed with another thud Saturday night. Nate Schierholtz homered against his old team with one out in the ninth inning, propelling the Chicago Cubs to a 1-0 victory at AT&T Park.
The Giants' heartbreak was complete only after they squandered bases-loaded chances in the eighth and ninth innings. Tony Abreu grounded into a double play to finish it, a fittingly frustrating ending for a team that fell a season-worst nine games out of first place.
"Right now, we're in a tough rut and we know it," manager Bruce Bochy said.
The reeling Giants have lost six of their past seven games and 21 of their past 28.
Since May 14 — when they were still in first place — the Giants are 23-42, the worst mark in the majors during that span. The defending World Series champions now sit in a virtual last-place tie with the San Diego Padres.
"I think everybody in here believes in the guys that we have," said starter Madison Bumgarner, who got a no-decision despite eight shutout innings. "We just have to go come together."
Schierholtz hit the game-winner nearly a year to the day after the Giants traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies (on July 31) in the Hunter Pence deal. The left-handed hitting outfielder signed with the Cubs as an offseason free agent.
Schierholtz hit a fastball off Sergio Romo (3-6), who suffered losses on back-to-back nights for the first time in his career. Romo said the fateful pitch was: "Right down the middle. That's what happens. This is the big leagues. I tried to go inside, and it just tailed back over the plate."
The blow came minutes after the Giants wasted a prime scoring opportunity in the bottom of the eighth. They loaded the bases with nobody out and the heart of the order — Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Pence — coming to the plate.
But Posey and Sandoval hit harmless ground balls that resulted in force-outs at home plate, and Pence struck out swinging at a pitch out of the strike zone from right-handed reliever Pedro Strop.
"We couldn't get a fly ball or a cheap hit or anything," Bochy said.
The manager said the Giants are pressing, and the numbers back him up. Posey went 0 for 3 and is 1 for his past 19 over his past seven games. And nobody is jumping in to carry the load: The Giants have only three home runs over their past 23 home games.
Of the Giants past 76 hits, 63 are singles.
More than the bats, though, Bochy is concerned about the faltering defense. With two more errors Saturday, the Giants now have 76 miscues, one more than Houston Astros for the worst mark in the majors.
It's such an epidemic that Bochy will consider skipping batting practice in favor of more defensive drills.
"There could be days when we might not hit (before games)," Bochy said before the game. "We might just take ground balls or take infield. We need to get our focus back on catching the ball."
In doing so, Lincecum became just the sixth pitcher since 1900 to allow eight or more runs in his first start after a no-hitter, according to Elias. The others are Chick Fraser (10 earned runs in 1903), Phillip Humber (nine in 2012), Dazzy Vance (nine in 1925), Catfish Hunter (eight in 1968) and Carlos Zambrano (eight in 2008).
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Sunday's game
Chicago Cubs (Travis Wood 6-7) at Giants (Tim Lincecum 5-10), 1:05 p.m. CSNBA


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Best Bond Funds
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There's a London whale, a Euro zone crisis, and persistent, if nonsensical, chatter about a bond bubble. Yet in an effort to find some measure of safety and -- one can hope -- income, investors have poured $882 billion into bonds since January 2009, driving prices and stress levels up and yields and expectations lower.
All this economic and political strife is making the bond market harder to navigate than ever. Most fixed-income managers will tell you it's the toughest they've seen. Every new headline brings a "risk on" or "risk off" shift, with negative headlines sending investors into Treasury bonds and other safer instruments (risk off), and any bit of good news sending investors back into corporate bonds, high-yield or other riskier investments (risk on).
In short, the bond market is a mess, and it's harder than ever to make sense of it. One way to do so is to study how some of the largest and most successful bond-investment firms are navigating these treacherous waters.
The industry's leaders are all goliaths; the five largest firms control 51% of bond-fund assets. Vanguard is the nation's largest by far, overseeing $360 billion in fixed-income mutual funds. But that figure reflects retail mutual funds only -- no money-market funds, no ETFs and no closed-end funds. Even if you include institutional money, Vanguard is still the biggest fixed-income manager, with $467 billion, more than a third of which is in index products. Two of the names most associated with fixed-income investing -- Western Asset Management and BlackRock (ticker: BLK) -- don't even crack the top 10 in terms of asset size.
Fidelity, Pimco and T. Rowe Price [TROW] also are giants in the field, in both size and investment returns, and we have picked them to profile because each approaches bond investing in a unique and instructive way. Pimco, in short, takes a macroeconomic view, while Fidelity builds portfolios from the bottom up. T.Rowe is conservative in its approach, and its low profile belies its sparkling success.
These firms also have much in common. All are located far from Wall Street, and visits to each of their offices demonstrate highly collaborative and social behavior inside a somewhat isolationist firm. Each values a distinct corporate culture that many employees have grown up in -- an astounding number of people at each firm measure their tenure in decades. And each company is known for active management.
As in any area of money management, there is no single right approach. But it is important to understand what your manager is doing.
You can't talk about bonds without talking about Pimco. The firm, which manages some $1.8 trillion in total, long has been known for its macroeconomic perspective on, well, pretty much everything. And that exhaustive macroeconomic research informs every investment decision.
Pimco's two leaders and front-men need little introduction, so we'll dispense with it quickly. Bill Gross founded the Newport Beach, Calif.-based firm in 1971, and currently serves as co-chief investment officer and manager of the flagship Pimco Total Return fund (PTTAX), which, with $263 billion in assets, is also the world's largest mutual fund. He's also a member of the Barron's Roundtable. Sharing the spotlight at Pimco is Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive and co-CIO with Gross. He's been with the firm since 1999, save for a two-year stint managing Harvard University's endowment. Before that, he spent 15 years with the International Monetary Fund.
The pair have created a new lexicon for bond investors -- "the new normal," (a long post-financial-crisis period characterized by sluggish growth, persistently high unemployment, debt and deficit issues in all the "advanced" economies), "the cleanest dirty shirt," (pricey Treasury bonds that offer little in the way of return but are the best of the bad options), and "stable disequilibrium" (describing the period before the European crisis, when global markets were in a more precarious position than most realized).
The firm's nine-member investment committee meets four days a week, for two to three hours at a time. Gross and El-Erian each chair the meeting two days a week. There are three rotating members, who are only part of the committee for a particular quarter, and are chosen for the timeliness and relevance of their expertise. "I think that's pretty unusual, but I'm a bit isolated here in Newport Beach," Gross says. "We talk the talk and then go out and walk the walk, but it's a two-and-a-half-hour talk."
On the table: the ever-changing political and economic landscapes and the investment opportunities and risks they present. "It's not just the view from 40,000 feet, though," Gross says. "We also discuss particular investments from a bottom-up perspective, as well as daily emergencies in terms of credit flows or other specific problems."
These conversations aren't limited to the daily meeting. Gross routinely leaves hand-written notes for traders and analysts, and Pimco's airy trading floor, lined with huge windows, was buzzing with chatter on a recent visit. Perhaps the socializing is due to the fact that Pimco employees essentially operate in a different time zone from their families, as most are in the office by 4 am. But the pairing of congeniality and high stakes makes for some lively debate among the firm's 662 investment professionals on specific bond issues and macroeconomic forces.
Of course, Pimco is best known for its view from 40,000 feet, and that's where much of its resources are spent. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was a paid consultant throughout the financial crisis, regularly providing commentary and participating in strategy sessions. When beefing up its equity management, the firm hired Neel Kashkari, now head of global equities, but better known for his role in the U.S. Treasury Department from 2006 to 2009, where he established the Office of Financial Stability and oversaw the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
"If you're getting on a freeway, you'd better know which direction it's going before you decide on a lane and how fast to go," El-Erian says. "We have a very disciplined process that draws not only on our own strengths, but brings in outsiders selected for their thought leadership and also gives the floor to our brand-new M.B.A.s and Ph.D.s who haven't drunk the Kool-Aid yet."
By constantly testing its belief system, the firm hopes to recognize mistakes before they happen. "Our bias is to be too early, and we're very aware of that," says El-Erian.
Being early paid off handsomely for years -- until suddenly, last year, it didn't. Gross famously predicted in 2005 that the subprime-mortgage crisis would contaminate all markets and economies, and, by the time it did, he owned no subprime or other problem mortgage-backed securities.
Then came 2011, and Gross's now-infamous bet against Treasury bonds. He sold all U.S. debt held by the fund early that year, expecting that the government's deficit spending would cause inflation and interest rates to rise. He was wrong, and Total Return had its worst year ever, landing at the bottom of the category. The "new normal" is still playing out, El-Erian says, but it's been further complicated by two additional issues -- the role of politics and policy makers, and the integrity of vast financial systems being called into question.
"Market participants need to pay a lot more attention to political developments," he says. "Last summer's [Treasury] downgrade, Europe today, the fiscal cliff -- these are all purely political issues. Plus, there's active debate as to what the euro zone, the biggest economic region in the world, will look like."
Few in the investment world seem ready to count Bill Gross out, though, and Total Return is up 6% this year, once again beating 94% of its peers.
Pimco's focus on macroeconomic research also drives its new product development. Since 2006, the firm has been working on its "Global Advantage Bond Index," which weights holdings according to a country's gross domestic product, rather than the traditional capitalization weighting. Pimco's new indexes also take a range of products into account, not just "cash bonds" for sale, but also the market for futures and other derivatives. The problem with conventional indexing in the fixed-income world is that as countries (and companies) run into trouble, they often issue more debt, prompting the least healthy to take up a larger part of the index. These proprietary indexes are already used in some of its mutual funds, and will be the basis for some yet-to-be announced ETFs.
More than 3,000 miles separate Pimco from Fidelity Investments' Merrimack, N.H.-based fixed-income group, but distance isn't the only thing that divides them. Both are powerhouse firms with seemingly unlimited resources, but take a starkly different stance on investing. "They are polar opposites," says Miriam Sjoblom, a fixed-income fund analyst for Morningstar.
Fidelity is entirely focused on "bottom-up" research. That's immediately clear from a tour of the office, which is organized by team. There are eight, the names of which wouldn't be immediately evident to most investors, but reflect the firm's view of the bond fund market: core/core-plus, short- and intermediate-duration, credit/LDI (liability-driven investment), stable value, government mortgage, passive strategy, Canadian/non-dollar, and municipal. Fidelity's high-yield and emerging-market debt teams are based in Boston, with the equity teams.
Each fixed-income team is housed in a surprisingly small "pod" -- a semicircle of desks, Bloomberg terminals, computer monitors, and stacks of paper -- where the portfolio managers, analysts, and traders sit. In all, Fidelity has 62 funds (six of which are index-based), 36 fixed-income portfolio managers, 103 research analysts and associates, and 36 traders.
The staff doesn't work in isolation. "Everyone is expected to have a view and understand their area of responsibility, and understand how it maps to the variety of different mandates that we have," says Christine Thompson, chief investment officer for the bond division and a 27-year veteran of the firm. "And to do that, all the teams need to share information, which they do through a series of formal and informal meetings. They're constantly talking, surfacing ideas and debating them."
In fact, the firm created the position of head of macroeconomic research only in March. It is now held by former Fidelity fixed-income manager George Fischer. "What 2008 taught us was that we'd have to ask questions we never thought we'd have to ask," says Bob Brown, president of Fidelity's bond division, who has been with the firm for 17 years. "Our global interconnectedness has never been more amplified, and that was an area we improved."
This doesn't change in the firm's bottom-up approach, Brown stresses: Fischer's work doesn't dictate how any particular manager should or shouldn't invest; rather, "it's just another input."
So instead of focusing on which way the wind is blowing in Greece, Fidelity drills down to the fundamental characteristics of individual bonds. And that takes a lot of technology. Fidelity is known for spending a lot to ensure its managers, analysts, and traders all have the best tools. Brown credits the fact the firm is a private company. "It allows us to focus on building out, even in down times. We don't have a microscope on our earnings per share," he says. "My budget to spend on technology and expanding the investment staff is up 40% this year, when most buy-side firms are cutting back."
"Every fund is a quant fund," Thompson says. "There's no black box, but our analytics inform everything." In this case "everything" includes an analysis of how other funds are positioned, and what's driving their performance. "We don't spend a lot of time on that," Thompson says, "but we can do an analysis of what's happening in the space, see how we're positioned and how we're likely to perform relative to others in the category. It's about the expectation of the shareholder, and the type of volatility, income, and appreciation they're expecting from the category."
The quant team also generates daily reports that view each fund from different investment and risk perspectives, running thousands of scenarios drawing on how certain securities have performed under different conditions historically, and projecting how they might perform under similar -- or dramatically different -- situations in the future. "We look at risk from a lot of different areas," Thompson says. Every six to eight weeks she meets with each investment team and brings along managers from other teams and often the equity group, to discuss "how the world is unfolding, how we feel about the direction the analysts are focusing on, so we don't develop tunnel vision."
Some of this process evolved from the financial crisis, during which Fidelity didn't avoid the subprime and mortgage-backed security mess. Its home-price assumptions were overly optimistic, Brown acknowledges, but now there's stronger risk oversight. And those lessons from the mortgage team helped Thompson, who then managed the municipal-bond team, avoid many of the problems caused when municipal-bond insurers came under pressure. "The mortgage team warned me that things could get a lot worse, especially with respect to rating- agency reviews," she says. "I'm very happy I paid attention. And our take-away was that we always have to look at the world from a lot of different perspectives."
Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price is an under-told story in the bond world. Long known as talented growth-oriented stockpickers, the firm has quietly built a solid reputation for successful, if conservative, bond investing. "We're focused on performing well for clients; we're not about being the biggest or the sexiest," says Michael Gitlin, the director of the firm's fixed-income division. But maybe conservative is the new sexy: T. Rowe's success and subsequent growth have been as robust as the firm has been quiet. It had $79 billion in fixed-income assets in January 2009; it now has $146 billion under management, with $68.4 billion in retail fixed-income funds.
The T. Rowe Price New Income fund (PRCIX), its $17.5 billion core flagship, did well in the crisis. Like Pimco, T. Rowe recognized the potential for a subprime crisis in 2006, in large part due to analyst Susan Troll -- a name that gets mentioned frequently within the firm, but is hardly known outside. At Troll's urging, the firm began selling its subprime assets and was almost completely divested by February 2007, well before the summer's credit crisis sent the value of those securities to zero. In 2007 and 2008, the fund beat 79% and 72% of its peers, respectively. "Their philosophy seems to be 'you shouldn't have to think too much about your bond funds,'" Sjoblom says. "T. Rowe has built out its quantitative tools in recent years, but they're mostly about good old-fashioned bond-picking."
That often means that the firm's funds will lag in good times, as New Income did coming out of the financial crisis. "We don't take big swings at the bat. We move incrementally," Gitlin says. For instance, The T. Rowe Price Strategic Income fund (PRSNX) can invest anywhere from 30% to 55% in an asset class such as emerging-market debt, bank loans or high yield, but any such moves in or out of an asset class will be in 1% to 5% increments.
The firm has 45 credit analysts who rate every security using an internal, independent system. "Our ratings are different than the ratings agencies' about half the time, and they tend to be more conservative," Gitlin says. "We were more conservative than the agencies 77% of the time in 2007, when it was most appropriate to be cautious."
As a result, the default rate in T. Rowe's high-yield group is less than 1%, whereas the average is 4%. The firm has been consistently growing this area throughout the financial crisis, and from 2008 through 2012, it is expected to have added 20 credit analysts and 20 quantitative analysts, bringing the total number to 71.
Thanks to its strong balance sheet -- T. Rowe has $1.9 billion in cash, and no debt -- it was able to invest in this sort of growth, even in bad economic times.
T. Rowe eschews the top-down, macro-oriented style of investing, but it has a remarkable focus on the global bond market nonetheless. It's International Bond fund (RPIBX), launched in 1986, is one of the oldest international bond funds on the market. Same goes for its Emerging Markets Bond fund (PREMX), launched in 1994. The newest of T. Rowe's 29 bond funds is its Emerging Markets Corporate Bond fund (TRECX), launched in May.
"T. Rowe does a very good job of anticipating investor interest in their product-development process," says Lipper analyst Jeff Tjornehoj. The key word there, Tjornehoj says, is 'anticipating.'
"A fair number of firms will wait for demand to solidify before coming out with a new product," he says. "By then, it's often too late to capture the best returns."
Pimco and Fidelity are prolific (and, for the most part, successful) users of derivatives, but here, too, T. Rowe is more conservative. "It's a tool in our toolbox," Gitlin says. "We're not huge gamblers on duration, and we don't use them to enable us to manage more money." As a result, the firm is a bit quicker to close funds to new investors when they start getting unwieldy. Its entire $24 billion high-yield strategy, including the T. Rowe Price High Yield fund (PRHYX), just closed, even though that sector is in demand right now. "Our focus is on performance, not gathering assets," Gitlin says.
Small wonder the firm, whose offices are located right on Baltimore's Inner Harbor, still has a small-town feel. T. Rowe's lobby displays a timeline of its 75-year history -- an anniversary the firm was celebrating when Barron's stopped by in June, complete with cake served by Brian Rogers, chief investment officer and chairman (and another Roundtable member).
There's still a "company man" feel among the employees, many of whom have been there for decades, which is exactly what T. Rowe wants. Turnover is in the low- to mid-single digits, and the average tenure of its portfolio managers is 14 years.
That staff longevity and development leads to a culture of collaboration -- an essential part of all three firms, but one in which T. Rowe takes particular pride. Its fixed-income team works closely with its equity counterparts. Tenure and collaboration are equally important in trading decisions, says high-yield portfolio manager Paul Karpers.
"Our traders aren't order-takers, they're very much a part of our relative value process," he says. And the firm's careful approach has won it good relationships on Wall Street. "They know we're long-term, committed capital," he says, "and we try to be thoughtful and responsive when discussing the structure of a deal. High yield in particular attracts a lot of hedge funds and fast investors."
Investment-grade bonds often get announced with two hours' notice, says Lauren Wagandt, a corporate-credit research analyst. "You need to make a credit decision quickly, because their books get filled quickly. So our first stop is the equity analyst. We don't buy and do the research later."
Collaboration is a buzzword at T. Rowe, but the consensus-building is essential, especially when it comes to making bolder investment decisions. "One of the hardest calls we've made recently was to get overweight in financials," Karpers says. "We needed to work to build a consensus in the firm. Everyone weighed in."
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RICHMOND, Va. – Following a run to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship match a season ago, the VCU Women's Soccer team is poised for yet another strong campaign. The Rams will look to make noise in their first season in the Atlantic 10 this fall after being selected to finish fourth in the league's preseason coaches' poll.
The Black & Gold was picked behind defending A-10 champion Dayton, which returns eight of 11 starters from last year's 19-win season. Cross-town rival Richmond and La Salle, which posted the conference's top two regular season records in 2011, were picked second and third, respectively.
VCU returns several key players from last year's squad, including their top two goal scorers with junior Courtney Conrad and reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Cristin Granados. The duo combined for 12 goals and 27 points, and was responsible for five of the team's nine game-winning scores.
The Rams will also look to continue their strong defensive play again this year as 2011 First Team All-CAA goalkeeper Kristin Carden returns to the net. She finished second in the CAA with a 0.68 goals against average, while posting 72 saves and nine shutouts. Carden also allowed one goal or less in 18 of her 21 games. In addition, VCU's defense took a 10-match unbeaten streak into the CAA title game, and once reeled off a 532-minute stretch without surrendering a goal (second longest in school history).
Massachusetts rounds out the top five, followed by Charlotte (sixth), St. Bonaventure (seventh), Fordham (eighth), and Saint Louis (ninth). The other A-10 newcomer Butler is selected 10th, followed by Xavier (11th), Rhode Island (12th), St. Joseph's (13th), George Washington (14th), Duquesne (15th), and Temple (16th).
The top eight teams in regular season play advance to the A-10 Women's Soccer Championship. This year, the tournament will be held at the University of Rhode Island's Soccer Complex in Kingston, R.I.
VCU, which finished 7-1-3 in its final 11 matches in 2011, including eight shutouts and just three goals against, travels to James Madison for an exhibition match on Aug. 12. The Rams begin the regular season against High Point at Sports Backers Stadium on Aug. 17. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
2012 A-10 Women's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish (2011 record)
1. Dayton (19-4-0, 7-2-0 A-10)
2. Richmond (13-5-3, 7-1-1 A-10)
3. La Salle (15-2-3, 7-0-2 A-10)
6. Charlotte (7-10-4, 4-4-1 A-10)
7. St. Bonaventure (9-7-4, 4-2-3 A-10)
8. Fordham (8-8-3, 3-4-2 A-10)
9. Saint Louis (5-10-3, 3-5-1 A-10)
10. Butler (8-10-2, 3-5-0 Horizon)
11. Xavier (7-8-3, 2-5-2 A-10)
12. Rhode Island (7-10-2, 2-6-1 A-10)
13. Saint Joseph's (7-7-5, 2-4-3 A-10)
14. George Washington (5-12-2, 2-5-2 A-10)
15. Duquesne (3-14-1, 2-7-0, A-10)
16. Temple (5-12-1, 2-6-1, A-10)


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Ray J hired a Kim Kardashian look-alike to star in his video "I Hit It First," in case the album cover and lyrical references didn't make the subject of the single clear enough.
PHOTOS: Tina Fey and more of this season's MVPs"I had her head going North and her a-- going South / But now baby chose to go West / We deep in the building, she know that I kill 'em / I know that I hit it the best," Ray J sings in the video, while the Kardashian look-alike rolls around in bed and gets handsy with the singer, sometimes in the form of a hologram.Of course, Ray J still hasn't admitted that "I Hit It First" is about his infamous sex tape co-star and her baby daddy Kanye West. "It's a song. It's not about that; it's about a concept," Ray J said in an interview with Hot 97. "People going way too deep. They just gotta keep it on the surface. I'm not trying to create no war. It's all love; we're doing music."Watch the full "I Hit It First" video below. What do you think of the Kardashian look-alike?


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Adam Levine Is Reportedly Apologizing to His Ex-Girlfriends Before He Gets Marriedby Michelle McGahan | PopCrush
Adam Levine is allegedly reaching out to his ex-girlfriends to apologize for any wrongdoings, Us Weekly reports.
According to the magazine, the Maroon 5 frontman — who is set to wed model girlfriend Behati Prinsloo this July — is tying up any loose ends with his past flames and apologizing for any hurt he may have caused.
"He apologized for how he treated them," a source revealed to the magazine.
While Levine may feel better after clearing the air, his former lady loves may not.
"They couldn't care less [if] he wants to make it right," a second source claimed. Of course, there's also the distinct possibility that they have totally moved on.
Though the 'The Voice' judge may be reaching into his past, he's also clearly focused on the present, and his fiancé at hand.
"He may get a tattoo of Behati's name over his heart," another insider told Us. "He wants to make their love permanent on his body!"
For a guy who was once a serial bachelor, that's pretty impressive.
Watch 'The Voice' Star Jacquie Lee Cover Beyonce's 'Pretty Hurts'


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In August 2014, Harry (Hidehisa) Horinouchi was appointed the Consul General of Japan, Los Angeles. This is his second U.S. mission, with his first being a counselor at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. from 1996 to 1999. During his 25-year career in Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), he has held various positions in both Japan and China. His ministry assignments at MOFA's headquarters in Tokyo involved legal affairs, treaties portfolios, Asian and Oceanian regional affairs and international intelligence analysis. He has authored numerous articles in law journals on international legal issues, authored a book published in China entitled Longevity of Japan, and has been a lecturer on international law at Waseda University. He is a graduate of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law and attended Nanjing University in China and Harvard University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Tokyo Journal's Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie met with Consul General Horinouchi shortly after Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's historic visit to Los Angeles.
Danny Choo is the founder of media production company Mirai Inc., which focuses on sharing Japanese lifestyle with the world though the Internet, TV, mobile, print, products and conferences. He is also the director and presenter of the TV show "Culture Japan," and a presenter on the morning show "Check Time" and Star Worlds' "Japan Mode." Danny speaks on Japanese pop culture and consumer generated media at conferences and universities worldwide. He has been featured on CNN, BBC, NHK and G4TV. He was appointed by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as creative director for the Mazer project in 2012 and now consults for METI's Cool Japan Project. Danny is the creator of "Culture Japan's" mascot character Mirai Suenaga. Danny greeted the press while serving as master of ceremonies at the Anime Expo 2013 convention in Los Angeles.
"We share and make Japanese culture more accessible to the world."
Q: Why do you think the popularity of anime has expanded so much?
CHOO:I think that one of the major influences is the Internet. When I first started off liking Japanese culture, we had to watch anime on VHS tapes. I got them from a Japanese bookshop in the UK which was recording Japanese TV shows and renting out these shows. But I was very reliant on this single location where I would have to take the train and go there to get these videos. But now with the Internet it is very easy to find something online these days. So I think that has definitely contributed to the proliferation of Japanese anime.
Q: Other than your line of dolls, is there anything else you're going to do with your character Mirai Chan?
CHOO:Mirai Chan has become a mascot character for VOX, the Japanese convenience store Lawson, Kinokuniya International Bookstore and the low-cost carrier Air Asia. I'm working with someone now to write 13 episodes of an anime for Mirai Millennium. He has worked on things like "Cowboy Bebop" and "Ghost in the Shell." The scenario is complete right now. The next step is to decide if we want to release manga or go for the anime route. I personally want to release manga first. Instead of going through the normal publishers, I want to do it myself. After I learn how to do it, I want to share the knowledge with everyone else so they can do it themselves as well. Mirai Chan is actually a 3D printed interactive Android-controlled robot and we want to make her interactive with social media. My first goal is to have her sitting on the edge of a desk while she swings her legs back-and-forth, looks around the room and when you get a Facebook notification, she will tell you about it in a cute voice. Extra motions and voices would be available for purchase later on through the Google Play Store


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Three-year Follow-up Phase 3 Data Provide Additional Information on Efficacy, Durability and Safety of Investigational LUXTURNA™ (voretigene neparvovec) in Patients with Biallelic RPE65-mediated Inherited Retinal Disease
Data show mean improvement demonstrated at one year post one-time administration maintained through at least three years for original intervention cohort, and two years for crossover cohort, with observation ongoing
"These data provide additional support information on the efficacy, durability and safety of investigational LUXTURNA, showing no statistically significant change in the primary endpoint from the initial gain in functional vision at the three-year time point for the original intervention group and at the two-year time point for the original control group after crossover," said Katherine High, M.D., president and head of Research and Development at
Functional vision is considered a key component in a person's ability to perform daily living tasks and can be assessed through orientation and mobility testing and other measurements.
Three years after the one-time administration of investigational LUXTURNA to both eyes, the cohort of 20 participants in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) intervention group maintained the average improvement demonstrated at one year, as measured by multi-luminance mobility test (MLMT) score change, the primary endpoint, and full-field light sensitivity threshold (FST) testing, a secondary endpoint. The mean MLMT improvement measured 1.8 lux levels at three years, compared to 1.9 lux levels at one year. The more than 100-fold average improvement in FST testing observed in the intervention group at one year similarly was maintained through at least three years. Additionally, the increase in visual acuity (VA) averaged over both eyes, a secondary endpoint which was not statistically significant at one year, has been stable for at least three years for participants in the intervention cohort, at an eight-letter improvement using standardized VA testing.
The mean change from baseline in Goldmann III4e test stimulus, a pre-specified exploratory measure of visual field (VF), was 282.2 sum total degrees averaged over both eyes for participants in the intervention group at the three-year time point, compared to a mean change of 302.1 sum total degrees at one year.
Likewise, all participants in the control group (n=9), who after one year of undergoing observation with the same retinal and visual function testing as the original intervention group elected to cross over and receive LUXTURNA in both eyes, maintained the same mean MLMT score change of 2.1 lux levels one year following the one-time injection through two years after administration. The more than 100-fold average improvement in FST testing observed in the crossover group at one year similarly was maintained through at least two years. Similarly, in the crossover group, the increase in VA averaged over both eyes, was not statistically significant at one year, but has remained improved compared to baseline for at least two years.
The mean change from baseline in Goldmann VF was 182.6 sum total degrees averaged over both eyes for participants in the crossover group at the two-year time point, compared to a mean change of 194.3 sum total degrees at one year.
No new serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with LUXTURNA or deleterious immune responses were observed. Most ocular adverse events (AEs) were mild in severity, with the most common being cataract, elevated intraocular pressure, retinal deposits and retinal tears. One participant in the crossover group experienced an SAE related to the surgical procedure in which there was foveal thinning and a sustained reduction in VA. Three participants in the intervention group had SAEs unrelated to study participation.
LUXTURNA is under Priority Review with the
Clinical Trial Overview of LUXTURNA™ (voretigene neparvovec)
The safety and efficacy of LUXTURNA were assessed in two open-label Phase 1 trials, which continue to follow participants who received LUXTURNA between 2007 and 2012, and one open-label, randomized, controlled Phase 3 trial. The LUXTURNA clinical program overall includes up to four years of efficacy data from a single dose. The overall safety profile has not changed over the period of observation, and has been previously reported (The Lancet 2016; The Lancet 2017).
Following the one-year control period of the Phase 3 study, all control participants elected to cross over and received LUXTURNA; long-term safety and efficacy continue to be assessed in the Phase 3 participants who received LUXTURNA between 2013 and 2015. The clinical trial program included 41 participants with vision loss ranging from mild to advanced, and included individuals from age four to 44 years at the time of first administration. Confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations and the presence of sufficient viable retinal cells were established in all participants.
LUXTURNA Phase 3 clinical trial data, including data from the intent-to-treat population of all randomized participants through the one-year time point, were published in The Lancet. Results included in the BLA submission showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful difference between intervention (n=21) and control participants (n=10) at one year, per the clinical trial's primary endpoint, mean bilateral multi-luminance mobility testing (MLMT) score change (difference of 1.6; 95% CI, 0.72, 2.41; p=0.001). In addition, participants who received LUXTURNA showed a marked difference compared to control participants across the first two secondary endpoints: full-field light sensitivity threshold (FST) testing averaged over both eyes (p=0.001) and the mobility test score change for the first injected eye (p=0.001). A third secondary endpoint, the change in visual acuity (VA) averaged over both eyes, was not statistically significant between intervention and control participants (p=0.17).
On average, participants in the original Phase 3 intervention group maintained functional gains observed by the day-30 visit through their last annual follow-up visit, as measured by MLMT and FST, with observation ongoing. Average improvement in FST testing observed in the original intervention group at one year was more than 100-fold (or greater than two log units).
In continuation of the trial to include crossover of the control group to receive LUXTURNA, 93 percent (27 of 29) of all treated Phase 3 trial participants saw a gain of functional vision as assessed by bilateral MLMT over the follow-up period of at least one year from administration of LUXTURNA to each eye. Additionally, 72 percent (21 of 29) of all Phase 3 trial participants receiving LUXTURNA successfully completed MLMT at the lowest light level evaluated (1 lux) at one year.
Data from a cohort of the Phase 1 clinical trial, in which investigational LUXTURNA was administered to the contralateral, or second previously uninjected eye, showed mean improvements in functional vision and visual function. This cohort of participants (n=11) received the same dose of LUXTURNA that was administered in the Phase 3 trial and would have met the Phase 3 eligibility criteria. See the publication of the three-year Phase 1 data in The Lancet (2016).
Two ocular SAEs were reported in the clinical program. There was one SAE related to the surgical procedure in one eye of a Phase 3 participant, in which there was foveal thinning and a sustained reduction in VA. One additional ocular SAE was reported in one eye of a Phase 1 participant in which the treatment for bacterial endophthalmitis led to elevated intraocular pressure and subsequent optic atrophy. There were three non-serious AEs of retinal deposits (subretinal precipitate) in three participants (three eyes) that were considered to be related to LUXTURNA. All three of these events were mild in intensity, transient in nature and resolved without consequences. No deleterious immune responses have been observed. The most common adverse reactions related to LUXTURNA reported in 10 percent or greater of the combined Phase 1 and Phase 3 trial participants included conjunctival hyperemia, cataract, increased intraocular pressure and retinal tear.
About RPE65-mediated Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD)
Inherited retinal diseases (also known as inherited retinal dystrophies) are a group of rare blinding conditions caused by one of more than 220 different genes, often disproportionally affecting children and young adults. People living with IRD due to biallelic RPE65 gene mutations often experience night blindness (nyctalopia) due to decreased light sensitivity in childhood or early adulthood and involuntary back-and-forth eye movements (nystagmus). As the disease progresses, individuals may experience loss in their peripheral vision, developing tunnel vision, and eventually, they may lose their central vision as well, resulting in total blindness. Independent navigation becomes severely limited, and vision-dependent activities of daily living are impaired. There are currently no approved pharmacologic treatment options for IRD due to biallelic RPE65 gene mutations.
About Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is an investigational approach to treat or prevent genetic disease by seeking to augment, replace or suppress one or more mutated genes with functional copies. It addresses the root cause of an inherited disease by enabling the body to produce a protein or proteins necessary to restore health or to stop making a harmful protein or proteins, with the potential of bringing back function in the diseased cells and slowing disease progression. To deliver the functional gene into the cell, a vector is used to transport the desired gene and is delivered either intravenously (IV) or injected into specific tissue. The goal is to enable, through the one-time administration of gene therapy, a lasting therapeutic effect.
Cautionary note on forward-looking statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the company's product candidate LUXTURNA™ (voretigene neparvovec). The words ''anticipate,'' ''believe,'' ''expect,'' ''intend,'' ''may,'' ''plan,'' ''predict,'' ''will,'' ''would,'' ''could,'' ''should,'' ''continue'' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that: (i) our BLA or MAA submitted for LUXTURNA may not be approved by
|Investor Contact:
Ryan Asay
(215) 239-6424
|Media Contact:
Monique da Silva
(215) 282-7470
Source: Spark Therapeutics, Inc.


text: Search Results We have found 1 classified ads matching your search query. Search Advanced Search My Favorites (0) Close Sort By: TitleDate PopularityFeaturedRatingPrice List Grid Capital City Movers NYC Posted 01 years 08 months 10 hours 23 minutes ago. Transport 309 Capital City Movers NYC – the full-service moving experience you need. We are well-known and established long distance movers NYC that aim to make your relocation simple and fast. Capital City M £100 Unknown 1 Page 1 of 1


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The Weather Channel Cos. will be airing "Braving the Elements," a new docudrama anthology series revealing the work, subculture, and characters of professions that take place outdoors and are impacted by weather, seasons, and extreme locations. The anthology includes "Turbine Cowboys," which features the men and women who are pushed to the limit both physically and emotionally as they brave extreme heights and every conceivable weather condition to work on wind turbines.
"Working in extreme weather conditions requires a certain personality, and all of these miniseries feature a fascinating group of individuals who find their work thrilling, terrifying, and rewarding all at the same time," said Bob Walker, executive VP and general manager of networks and content, The Weather Channel. "As 'Braving the Elements' explores the daily conditions in which these courageous men and women work, viewers will no doubt gain a profound respect for their contributions to society and our everyday lives.""Turbine Cowboys" premieres April 17 on The Weather Channel. Click here for more information. For more information on wind turbine operations and maintenance, read EC&M's November cover story, "Wind Service".


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Robin Williams Death: Daughter Zelda Tweets Heartfelt Message, Conan O' Brien Reacts On-Air [VIDEO]by Michelle McGahan | PopCrush
Robin Williams' daughter Zelda has taken to Twitter to mourn the loss of her beloved father.
Zelda, 25, chose a moving passage from Antoine De Saint-Exupery's 'The Little Prince' to honor her dad, writing:
— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) August 12, 2014
Zelda's tribute is not only perfectly fitting for the cherished comedic actor, it is also especially poignant as Williams' last Instagram photo is a vintage, loving snap of the two that he posted to honor his daughter's recent 25th birthday.
"#tbt and Happy Birthday to Ms. Zelda Rae Williams!" Williams captioned the photo, which you can see below. "Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!"
Conan O'Brien also paid tribute to the legendary actor, actually breaking the news of Williams' death in a rare and serious moment on his talk show.
As O'Brien told informed the audience of Williams' death, an audible gasp was heard throughout the crowd, audience members clearly stunned and shaken by the devastating news.
"I'm sorry to anyone in our studio audience that I'm breaking this news [to]. This is absolutely shocking and horrifying and absolutely upsetting on every level," O' Brien said.
"As funny as he was — he's truly one of the all-time greats — he was even better as a person," remembered guest Will Arnett. "He was even more fantastic … he was one of the loveliest, sweetest, one of the kindest guys … it's a major, major loss for everybody."
"We're just processing this information right at this very moment," O'Brien explained. "We're thinking of Robin's family and everybody who he touched around the world, throughout his life. And we're thinking about Robin tonight."
Watch Conan O'Brien's tribute to Robin Williams below and see 10 of the actor's most memorable scenes here.


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March 15 is the Ides of March-no need to beware
SAN FRANCISCO — March 15 is the Ides of March. But there's no need to be on guard.
Julius Caesar probably should have been. But then, he blew off the soothsayer who told him to "beware the Ides of March" in the first act of Shakespeare's play.
You might remember from English class that things didn't go so well for him.
Out in the Twitterverse, posters are using #idesofmarch as a way to remember actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died of a drug overdose last month. Hoffman was in George Clooney's convoluted 2011 political drama "The Ides of March."
Though Bridget Hughes had one of the best tweets so far: "Note to self: On Saturday March 15th, order a Caesar salad, lure it into a false sense of security, then stab it 23 times #IdesofMarch"
All because of a line dashed off 415 years ago.
What if Shakespeare's soothsayer had simply said, "Watch out a month from now!" Would anybody remember the line?
"Ides of March" has a better ring to it.And yet all it means is "halfway through the month."
Ides comes from an old Latin verb iduare, which meant to divide. It was the Roman term for the day that came in the middle of each month.
Every month has an Ides. March had 31 days, so the Ides of March is on March 15.
Julius actually got several warnings. Later on in the play there's a big storm. To find out what it means, he sends a servant to get priests to sacrifice animals and read the omens in their entrails.
Their message is even clearer: Don't go out.
In best horror movie fashion he ignores them and, like an idiot, goes out.
So it's no surprise when Brutus and some other conspirators waylay him on the steps of the Capitol and stab him to death.
But unless it's 44 B.C., you're a Roman Consul and ignoring omens right and left, you should be just fine.