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Battling bots: Adams-Cheshire team victorious at Robotics Challenge
Photo Gallery | Berkshire Robotics Challenge 2016
LENOX — Colin Bain could have easily quit.
The 11-year-old Greylock Elementary School sixth-grader instead taught a lesson in perseverance to an audience of hundreds at the 17th annual Robotics Challenge at Lenox Memorial Middle & High School on Saturday.
All the other members of Bain's team, Another Brick in the Wall, failed to show for the competition, leaving the youth — a relative novice in robotics, with only a week-and-change on the team under his belt — holding the bag.
Team coach Keith Davis said he "left it up to Colin."
Bain spared no time picking up his controller and readying his machine, to the delight of the audience.
"I just had my mind set on it," Bain said.
Davis added, "Knowing Colin, I can't say I was surprised. I knew he would. He did great. I am so proud of this kid."
Also brimming with pride for Bain's heroics were his peers on the other North Adams Public Schools team, North Adams 4-H S.W.A.T.
The team of 10 netted themselves the competition's sportsmanship prize by rushing to the front row and cheering loudly in support of Bain on his one-man mission.
Thirty-three total teams comprising more than 250 students took part in Saturday's competition — a busy, loud, colorful affair. Songs by Queen boomed in between rounds, while dozens of students and parents wearing flashy team colors milled about the school's auditorium and cafeteria.
The specific challenge was called "Trash Trek," and saw students using the robots they'd designed and programmed to complete missions involving trash collection, sorting, reduction and reuse.
"The intent of most of [the missions] is to think about our impact on the environment," said Jon Friedman, a member of the event planning committee and head referee of the contest. "You can get these kids enthusiastic about anything. You teach them a little bit and they really want to go out there and change the world."
He added, "I think the older we get the more cynical we get. Kids this age, they have hearts of gold and are willing to do anything. Give them a little information about how they can make a difference and they want to do it.
The finals match up came down to Kontrolled Kaos II, an Adams-Cheshire Regional School District team, and Los Churros of St. Agnes Academy.
For the second year running, Kontrolled Kaos II handily vanquished their opponent to take home the competition's top honors.
"This was just a really, really well-programmed robot — it took sharp turns, missed obstacles, consistently achieved missions," Bernie Klem, a judge from Berkshire Life Insurance Co., said. "It was scary how consistent it was."
About the competition, Klem said, "I was just amazed by how competitive and how strong all the teams were. You should all be really proud of your accomplishments."
B. Stephen Boyd, CEO of Boyd Technologies in Lee and Chairman of Berkshire Innovation Center, wrote the introduction to the program on the event, stressing the need for students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math studies.
"Your participation is crucial to the future of Berkshire County," Boyd said. "As the entrepreneurial ecosystem grows here in the Berkshires, we will need more from our workforce. We must start thinking about these needs today."
Contact Phil Demers at 413-496-6214.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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The Value of Valentine's
No holiday is greeted with as much animosity as Valentine's Day. Sure, there are those that resent the "commercialization" of Christmas or having to eat Aunt Sally's grey mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving but Valentine's Day gets the worst beating of all.
First, you have the ladies that reject this holiday on the grounds that it's a bitter reminder of their current lack of a meaningful relationship. Then you've got the husbands that grumble about having to buy flowers for their wives. And don't forget the women that protest the occasion because of the improper amount of pampering they receive from their significant other. Geez! Doesn't anyone enjoy Cupid's day? Oh yeah, I do!
I love spoiling Jason in general so it makes sense that I would enjoy a day that gives me an excuse to do so with excessive gusto.
This year I took several rounds of surprise treats to Jason's work, including caramel apples and my favorite cookies from a local bakery, just to get the fuss started. Additionally, since it was my turn to plan our activities, I organized a group dinner at Meditrina, an enchanting tapas bar, with 5 other couples a few days before the big day. I would be lying if I said that arranging this outing was hassle-free. Too many people with differing opinions and way too much griping were involved so I don't think I'll be planning anything like that again with such a large group. Despite the pointless hang-ups, I did appreciate the company for the most part and my tummy definitely appreciated the tasty cuisine. So I guess the evening was mainly a success.
Speaking of food, that wasn't the end of the festive gourmet grub for us. Jason and I also had a romantic fondue dinner at home on Valentine's Day made by yours truly. Cave aged Swiss cheese and velvety Irish cream spiked chocolate were the perfect ingredients for a charming evening, especially when buy generic furosemide paired with the company of a man I absolutely adore. I would happily do a repeat of that night anytime!
Our Valentine's Day celebrations were again a delight and, as always, a little over the top. Like I said, I love to spoil Jason and, as far as I'm concerned, he deserves more pampering than I could ever bestow.
As a final note, in true obstinate fashion, I feel the need to once more complain about the rampant negativity directed towards Valentine's Day. I know many of you think that all this romantic goo may be fine for those of us that are happily hooked up but that the holiday's a waste for the single. To you I say, not so. Valentine's Day is a celebration of love so why does that just have to mean romantic love? Love takes many forms: the bond between brothers, the adulation of a child, the concern of a friend. I think nearly all of us are surrounded by plenty of people that matter in our lives. Why not take the opportunity afforded by this holiday to remind them that they are important to us? A card for a friend telling them what a difference their friendship has made, an unexpected bouquet of flowers for a mother or grandmother, some quality time spent decorating cookies with a child: there are lots of ways to get caught up in the spirit of this holiday that don't involve giving a 5 ft teddy bear to your girlfriend. I always enjoyed Valentine's Day even before I had someone to bring me flowers or make dinner for. Celebrating love and expressing gratitude to those that are essential to us shouldn't induce whining. It doesn't hurt to have a significant other on Valentine's Day but we all have people that matter significantly in our lives and isn't that worth some rejoicing?
1 Comment
Thanks Rachel! I love this holiday too, isn't it nice to just have a day to shower those you love? Thanks for loving it too!

subset: commoncrawl


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Happy 4th of July everybody! I hope you are having a lazy day full of family, food and fun. We are definitely doing some relaxing around here, after painting cabinets most of the day yesterday. We are about 1/4 of the way through the project and I am completely in love with my new white cabinets! Painting your cabinets will definitely make an impact in
30 Second No-sew Bandana Pillow Cover
Hey y'all! Are you ready for Juy 4th weekend? I know I am! I know it's been a while – but I've been very busy behind the scenes! We've been painting our kitchen cabinets and it's coming along nicely, but man, is it a lot of work – and very time-consuming. But I'm very happy with the way it's looking and I can't wait to
Concrete Star Wars Magnets & Pushpins: Easy DIY Father's Day Gift & Giveaway
Yippee! It's our 5th month of the Home Depot Gift Challenge and things are really heating up! Not only is this our Father's Day edition, we are excited to announce we will be giving away a Home Depot gift card to one lucky winner each month! You can enter to win the $100 Home Depot gift card below! This month Amanda over at Dwelling in
Calm and Inviting Whole House Paint Scheme
Hello my friends! I am finally getting back into the swing of things, after our big move last month, and then the passing of my sweet grandma last week. Life has really been crazy lately. I doubt it will get any less crazy any time soon, but that's ok! I'm really excited about some things that are coming up soon – I can't wait to
Create a Paint Scheme Floor Plan {a PicMonkey Tutorial}
Do you struggle with choosing paint colors for your home? Do you have trouble visualizing what different colors will look like in your home? Creating a floor plan with the colors you are considering is a great way to test them out, before you even open a can of paint! This tutorial will show you how easy it is to create your own paint color
Moving Into Our House + 5 Reasons Why Moving Is Awesome
Chaos. Utter chaos. That word has defined the last week of my life pretty accurately. We finally finished our home purchase two weeks ago, as I mentioned in my last post, my DIY turquoise entry bench. And we were ready couldn't wait any longer to move into our new home! We were very blessed to have quite a few family and friends come to help us
Turquoise 2×4 Entry Bench – HD Monthly Challenge
It's month 4 of the Home Depot Monthly Gift Challenge! I've teamed up with 12 other awesome bloggers to create a gift for one lucky recipient with an item from the Home Depot! Here's a list of the items we've chosen and the gift recipients in the last 3 challenges: Month 1: Item- Copper pipe, Recipient- our significant other Month 2: Item -Wood dowels, Recipient- child Month 3:
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Roman Architecture and Society
first edition Hardcover
1997 · Baltimore
by Anderson, James C., Jr.
Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. First printing. Hardcover. Fine/fine. First edition, 1997. Cloth hardcover in dust jacket, 442 pp., illustrated, Fine copy in Fine dust jacket. Dust jacket housed in archival dust jacket protector. (Inventory #: s00018566)


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Q&A With Ropes & Gray's Anne Phillips Ogilby
Q: What is the most challenging case you have worked on and what made it challenging?
A: I represented a start-up company that acquired in a single closing several dozen separate physician group practices, and each practice had its own accountants and...
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March 17, 2017 02:41 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump says he is discussing a myriad of topics with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a key European leader he harshly criticized for opening the door to refugees from Syria.
The two leaders posed for photographers in the Oval Office before a one-on-one meeting. Trump joked: "send a good picture back to Germany, please."
They are expected to discuss strengthening NATO, fighting the Islamic State group and resolving Ukraine's conflict - all matters that require close cooperation between the U.S. and Germany.
Updated: March 17, 2017 02:41 PM
Created: March 17, 2017 01:07 PM
(Copyright 2017 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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John C. Longton III
Staff Writer
The sport of boxing will feature a fight that could bring in revenue upwards of $300 million on May 2, 2015, which shatters the record for the highest paid fight in any format.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have agreed in principle to a fight that has been brewing for ages and some ask: why hasn't this matchup taken place years ago? With Mayweather and Pacquiao at the tail end of their careers, aging 38 and 36 respectively, you wouldn't expect this to be the fight that would be the record setter. The fact of the matter is boxing needs this fight desperately.
The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino sold out of the fight tickets within fifteen minutes of them going on sale. The fighters have a combined record of 104 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws. The five losses and two draws belong to Pacquiao. This seems like its going to be a fight for the ages, but some ask is it too late?
When the UFC was founded in 1993, boxing was in its prime and few paid attention to the mixed martial art sport. A lot of people believed that it was too barbaric and wasn't a product for everyone to consume. It took a U.S. Congressman to step in and change the sport forever.
Back in the late 90's, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) saw a raw video of UFC and was appalled. He wrote a letter to all 50 state governors asking that they ban the violent sport. 36 states complied, including New York.
After the call for the ban on the sport, the UFC has gone over an extreme makeover of rule changes and the implementation of weight classes so it could appeal the public and seem like a less violent sport.
Now, UFC and Boxing are both battling for viewership and, even though they are two different sports, both sides are trying new ways to get people interested. In today's market, sports have to evolve with the times. Sometimes it takes going back to what has worked if you have gotten away from it and boxing has done just that.
Boxing is taking an old new approach by airing some of Pay Per View worthy matches on primetime network television. NBC is facilitating this shot in the arm and has made Al Michaels the host of the show. Michaels is a hall of fame sports announcer and has called all type of events including Super Bowls and The Miracle on Ice. NBC also hired Marv Albert and Ray Leonard to cover the event. With this all star lineup, Premier Boxing Championship (PBC) series hopes to attract a younger market to the sport that would normally watch the UFC.
"I think UFC is a relatively young company. Still has a lot of growing to do. Boxing has been around forever," said Mike Faragon, a local professional boxer out of Guilderland. "I respect anyone who fights, but boxing is a science if done right."
Faragon, who is more of a boxing purist, was around 10 years old when he started taking Muay Thai. Faragon chose boxing over MMA when he was younger. He said, "When I knew I wanted to pursue fighting, boxing paid more. If anyone disagrees have them take a look at the Mayweather Pacquiao fight. It's all about the hype. They waited for a reason," said Faragon.
Some fans are tired of boxing and like MMA better because there are more than just a couple ways to win a fight. Submissions play a huge role in determining the outcome in a fight. In boxing, either you win by a K.O. or a decision after a long fight. The UFC is usually a much quicker experience and there are many different fighting styles or techniques that fighters will use to get an edge on their opponent. Society can relate more to a MMA fight because it resembles a real fight more than boxing does. Some fighters even choose MMA because of their street fighting experience.
"I grew up in the South Bronx. I had to fight all of the time. Got in trouble a few times. I met some good dudes that introduced me to MMA and jiu jitsu," said Johnny Resto, an amatuer mixed martial artist. "MMA helped me change my life around." Resto said "It's not that Ive decided to go with one or the other. You need boxing skills in MMA. Thats what stand up is. I'm a grappler." Resto channels his street fighting and jiu jitsu skills into a positive way to get off the streets and pave a fighting career.
Society as a whole, just like Resto, is moving more towards MMA and has regressed from boxing even though at the top of both sports, the money isn't even close. Some people say that the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight could be the last great fight in boxing for quite sometime. Is it because we are becoming more barbaric as a society? Or is it because MMA attracts more athletes and is curbed for more of a younger crowd?


text: Had a good counseling session yesterday with Blue. His meltdowns have subsided for the last few days and we may be getting into a routine before summer school starts. After yesterday's session - the Counselor says that she feels that Blue is remembering his past abuse but at times is memory may be confusing ME with his birth mother. Therefore that may be why his rage is often directed at me and only me. I can't stop thinking about this.....it feels so very heavy to think that after everything I have done and as much love as I have given that he could even remotely consider me in the same category of the person who violently abused him and neglected him. What do you all think?


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User review on Bajaj V written by (Guest) on 2016-05-15 14:47:00
(Guest) 's Rating
Design (Exterior/Interior)
Inside Comfort
Driving Comfort
Performance & Safety
Bike variant reviewed for: Bajaj V
Year of Manufacture: 2016 | Driven no. of Kms. : 500
- Pros: Design is good breaking is awsome
- Cons: Thr is a oil leakage problem in the bike and chain problem and pick is less and gt heated up soon in city
Full Review:
Before buying thz bike think 10times whn u book it bike is good
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By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
Before the stroke of midnight brings 2016 to a close, a "leap second" will be added to the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which means the last minute of this year will have 61 seconds.
What will you do with your second?
As we look towards the New Year, most of us take stock of who we are and what we hope to accomplish in the year ahead. Those of us who live and work in the political arena have a unique challenge, even an obligation to remember, that our actions affect every man, woman, and child in our State, who, unknowing, are subject to the many influences at work in our State politics.
Read More


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Why Visit?
These bloggers have highlighted the charm, beauty, and history of Charleston through words, videos and pictures. From straightforward lists, to beautiful stories of adventures, and pictures to inspire wanderlust. Here are reasons to pack your bags and get to this southern city!
A First Timers Guide to Charleston, South Carolina
No better resource for Charleston than Natalie over at Cosmos Mariners. She shares her knowledge and love of her hometown, Charleston, in many articles. My favorite is an in depth guide to the city; she tells us where to stay, where to eat, what to see, and what to know. She also has a ton more articles on Charleston, just type the city into the search bar.
These 30 Photos Will Make You Remember Why You Love Charleston
Movoto is always good about cranking out articles that perfectly highlight cities around the US. This photo essay on Charleston really will show you why you should love Charleston if you don't already.
25 Reasons You Must Visit Charleston
Bike riding up Ravenel Bridge, the perfect bowl of shrimp and grits, sunsets over the Cooper River, and friendly locals are just some of the reasons Suzy Strutner gives us in this Huffpost listicle. It's short and to the point, and really does make me want to get to Charleston ASAP!
Travel to Charleston, South Carolina
Listen to this podcast episode of the Amateur Traveler for a little inspiration on traveling around this southern city. Jen and John from This Week in Travel talk about their favorite places and why they love exploring Charleston. A few things they mention is getting drinks at the Macintosh Rooftop Bar, checking out the low hanging tree branches in Battery Park, and going to the Cooper River Bridge at Night to see all of Charleston lit up.
History Buff: Offbeat Charleston
In this guide, Lindsey from Roadtrippers tells us the options for seeing a unique side of Charleston. She highlights five walking tours around the city; a ghost tour, a pirate tour, a church and graveyard tour, a slavery tour, and a historical tour. Definitely gives you a different side of the city.
Charleston South Carolina Travel Guide
This is one of my favorite articles because of the honesty and fun demeanor. The girls behind the blog A Beautiful Mess, have written a post all about what to do, eat and see in Charleston. I love that this article is simply an honest play by play of their long weekend in Charleston. They don't tell us what 'The best things to do are' because they don't necessarily know! They share the things they ate, drank and saw that they loved, and suggested a few more they didn't make it to. To make it even better, their words are illustrated by fantastic photos.
Charleston for Food Lovers
These next articles to explore are all about food! The food in Charleston could be some of the best in the south. The cuisine includes your classic southern comfort food (Hello massive biscuits and gravy!), as well as many local farm to table food experiences. Exploring this food capital of the South seems like a delicious and exciting experience!
The Best Restaurants and Food Experiences in Charleston
Pretty much one of the main reasons I travel is to taste the food, and it seems like Katie of Travelling Panties has the same mindset. She arrived in Charleston hungry to tackle her huge list of recommended eats. She does a nice job of describing not only the restaurant's she enjoyed, but also the food she ate at each place. If you are jonesing for some southern food, give this article a read.
Awesome Things to Do in Charleston
Here is another honest roundup of the things Lindsay and Bjork of A Pinch of Yum did on their vacation to Charleston. They share with their readers 10 Awesome Things to Do in Charleston, and since they run a food blog; food focused excursions pretty much dominate the list. They also share some of the walks and outdoor places they explored which, to me, is the perfect vacation: Eat, Explore and Exercise!
Eat Your Way Through Charleston Without Gaining Weight
Yahoo Travel writer Rebecca Prusinowski highlights the incredible food around Charleston. She tells us where to eat, what to eat, and how to not gain 5 pounds while visiting! She nicely balances bars (the Gin Joint) and coffee shops (Black Tap) with decadent southern food restaurants (Hominy Grill) and healthy options (Farmers Market). She has curated a seemingly perfect combination of eating and exercising, I might just follow this exact plan while visiting!
A Guide on Where to Eat, Play and Sleep in the Holy City
This guide on all things Charleston from Alyssa at the Runaway Chef, falls into the food category of this round up. She goes into depth talking about the places she ate, and what she ate. Even better, are the food photos that compliment her words. She touches on all different kinds of restaurants, and highlights the stops on a Charleston Culinary Tour.
Charleston for Active Travelers
The best way to get active in Charleston is to join one of the many walking tours around the city. From haunted tours, to historic tours to food tours, there are tons of free and paid guided walks to get active between meals. There are other ways to include fitness into your travels as well, and these next articles highlight active pursuits all over Charleston.
Where to Run Trails in Charleston
Dan from This Time Fitness reviews six different trail runs in Charleston, and doesn't hold back on his honest opinions. In fact, he sums up one of the trails (The Greenway) in one word – Boring! His descriptions of the runs are really helpful in planning which ones I want to do when visiting Charleston. If you are a runner, and want more than just running on pavement, check this out.
5 Place to Get a Great Lunchtime Workout in Charleston
Roots Rated is a Charleston based online magazine and this article by Logan Woddell tells Charleston residents where to get a quick workout in. It is also helpful for travelers who want to try new places and experience the fitness scene of Charleston. He recommends checking out a climbing gym, going for a run or bike ride across a popular bridge, trying some Oly Lifting at a warehouse, exploring a local park, and a great place for a lengthy run.
Staying Healthy in Charleston
Food Babe has rocketed Vani to internet stardom with her investigations on how healthy the food we eat is. This post is old (2012) but still rings true. She takes us through her weekend getaway to Charleston and all the things she did and ate to stay healthy. Some of her tips include picking a hotel that is centrally located (walk everywhere!) and discovering fresh local foods at the farmers market.
Kayaking – Charleston, South Carolina
This photo essay from Anna over at Crazy in the Rain shows how much fun she had kayaking in Charleston. She went on a tour with Nature Adventures Kayak, Canoe and Paddleboard Outfitters and saw dolphins, birds, and mansions! Anna was a newbie kayaker and seemed to do just fine paddling in the open ocean!
Planning, Budgeting and Safety in Charleston
These articles give us an overview of planning a trip to Charleston, budgeting for it, and how to stay safe in the city.
The Notebook Charleston Tour & Best Free and Cheap Things to Do
Caroline of Caroline in the City went to college in Charleston and spent her four years discovering the best things to do here. She has many articles on this southern city, but my two favorite are The Notebook Charleston Tour and Free and Cheap Things to Do in Charleston. The Notebook was filmed here and Caroline tells us the locations and provides a map on how to get there. In free and cheap things to do, she tells us about the markets, parks, beaches, that are free of charge. As well as how to get around, eat and stay on a budget.
101 Things to do in Charleston
This is a straightforward and simple article that gets straight down to business with 101 different things to do in Charleston. Anna from the blog, The Next 30 Days, lives in Charleston, so she knows her way around the city. For all the things to do, she links to an article about it on her own blog or to the actual website.
10 Not to Be Missed Activities in Charleston, South Carolina
Most of the things on this list by Hike Bike Travel are activities that involve getting active or eating. My two favorite things! Spending a day taking a walking tour of the city, then dolphin watching on a kayak tour, then relaxing with rooftop drinks sounds like an incredible day to me (and any active traveler).
Charleston On a Budget
The folks behind Free Tours by Foot have created a detailed guide on everything you need to know about exploring Charleston, and how much it's going to cost you. They give tips I haven't seen anywhere else, like 'find out what will be in bloom when you are visiting', and 'how to get around without a car.' All of the links in this article direct you to other pages on their site with tons more information on Charleston. A great resource!


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The city's dining scene is bustling with activity and great tastes to tempt all palates.
Oysters on the patio
During Fiesta, Brasserie Pavil, 1818 N. Loop 1604 W., celebrated with an oyster bake on the patio.
Guests seemed to really enjoy the event and, as a result, the restaurant is offering an oyster bake each Thursday.
The menu includes $2 grilled or raw oysters, $2 classic martinis and $2 beers.
Call 210-479-5000.
Start the weekend right
Tommy Moore's Cafe, 915 S. Hackberry St., is having its monthly all-you-can-eat brunch buffet this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
If you haven't been to Tommy Moore's, it's a haven of home cooking with the fried chicken earning the highest praise. If you have been, then you know what lies in store.
The price is $10.95 for adults and $5.95 for children. Call 210-531-9800 to let them know you're coming.
A mid-week treat
Wanna know the best fine dining secret in town? It's the Tuesday and Wednesday prix fixe special at Fig Tree Restaurant, 515 Villita St.
Chef Byron Bergeron and his staff prepare a three-course menu that changes weekly. The specials include two choices of appetizer, entrée and dessert for $39. Wine pairings are available for $49.
Recent appetizer options have included smoked duck breast, a summer roll with a peanut sauce or zucchini blossoms with goat cheese and an heirloom tomato coulis. Past entrées options: Steak au Poivre, an oven-roasted prawn, Veal Blanquette with jasmine rice or crispy skin striped bass. Desserts run the gamut from an almond and pear tart to Domino Cake, a creamy house specialty. On a recent Tuesday, it was strawberries flambé prepared tableside.
For reservations, call 210-224-1976. Let your server know you're interested in the prix fixe.
On the move
Fishland Fish Market, 4941 Walzem Road, is moving. Not far, mind you, just next door. But the new space will be much larger, so more diners can enjoy the kitchen's seafood specialties. The move should be complete by July.
If you aren't familiar with this haven of fried seafood, with some of the best hush puppies you'll ever taste, check out our review. Though it appeared in September 2009, recent visits have shown it to be as good as ever.
Pasha readies second location
Pasha Mediterranean Grill will open a second San Antonio location on Loop 1604 at Blanco Road in June. The restaurant's original location is at 9339 Wurzbach Road.
San Antone Cafe and Concerts, formerly Casbeers at the Church, is closing. The owners, Steve Silbas and Barbara Wolfe, have cited personal health reasons and the economy. Whatever the reason, it's a shame. The owners have helped raised plenty of money for charities over the years through the Gospel Brunch and other fundraisers, while bringing in some fine music.
Many will miss the one-of-a-kind Tex-Mex enchiladas as well as the bean burger, one of the best in the city.


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Radio at its finest: Alan Johnston's remarkable kidnap account
I had read the transcript of Alan Johnston's special edition of From Our Own Correspondent (Radio 4) in advance. Like most, I also knew the basic facts of his time in captivity: the who, why, when and where of the story. But listening to the broadcast, I forgot all about radio being the medium you multi-task to and sat still, utterly compelled by what he had to say and, even more so, by how he said it. In that rich half-hour's broadcast, I was reminded what radio, at its simplest and finest, is all about: a compelling voice reaching out to you, without fuss or distraction.
This presentational clarity served to amplify the many dramatic and emotional dimensions of Johnston's story, and his calm, measured telling - his voice only came anywhere near breaking once, when he recalled the moment he thought he faced execution - made this piece of radio an extraordinarily dignified response to circumstances that would defeat many of us.
It was a restrained account, focusing on evocative details, moments of terror and also the terrible monotony of imprisonment to create its considerable impact. "Imagine pacing, or just sitting for three hours, for five hours, for 10 hours," said Johnston. "After you had done 12 hours, you would still have four or five more before you could hope to fall asleep." The mood changed in the final moments of the programme, with Johnston suggesting, remarkably, that "a kidnap's legacy's not all bad". It teaches you to cherish simple things, he said, and teaches you that: "All that really, really matters are the people you love."
By this point, I was in tears, even though I knew to expect that moving pay-off line and its lesson for us all. I was awed by Johnston, impressed yet again by the regular brilliance of radio, and ready to face the rest of my day without complaining about stuff that doesn't really matter. This resolution lasted mere minutes; the memory of this tremendously affecting broadcast will, I'll wager, last much longer.


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If you have not heard of the MouseDriver Chronicles you are in for a treat. It is a tale of two guys trying to start-up a business around a novelty golf product. I had the opportunity recently to here John Lusk, one of the founders, talk about his experiences and share his wisdom. There was some great advice for entrepreneurs, marketers, and product managers.
Here are some of their lessons learned they captured at the end of the experience:
On the product side:
Licensed the Product: When you have a single-product, especially one like MouseDriver, it's all about volume sales. Where you will make your money is by selling extremely high volumes of your product in mass channels. Now, if you're goal is to actually have a sustainable company that will be around for awhile, then it makes since to build out your own distribution channels and grow the sales and marketing side of the company.
On Sales:
Focused on Sales: Now this one seems obvious, but we'll be the first to admit, our product strategy was somewhat flawed in that is wasn't focused enough on sales. Not that we didn't succeed in executing our strategy; we went high-end first, generated tons of awareness, tied a story around the product, dropped the price and went low-end and arguably, built a 'brand' around MouseDriver…just like we said we were going to do. But, what we failed to realize is that with a product that has a limited life cycle (think Pet Rock or any 'fad' product), TIME IS MONEY!
On the start-up:
Do Everything Yourself: Initially, especially if you are bootstrapping or are low on funds, you should be doing EVERYTHING yourself. That means that you're in charge of accounting, operations, marketing, selling, answering the phones, taking out the trash, mailing things, etc. Essentially, you should use your own resources for as long as you can to create value and prove your idea. While many highly educated entrepreneurs might feel that answering the phones or taking out the trash is below them, our genuine advice is to get over it.
The best part of the mouse drivers is seeing their early use of online word of mouth marketing (and also their very Web 1.0 website from 1999). You can follow the time line of their newsletter updates here and find more words of wisdom.
It was through this newsletter that the company developed its primary story and eventually, its main marketing. A story that because popular enough to land the cover of Inc magazine and eventually end up in a book deal.
On a final note, one of funniest parts of John's presentation was during the discussion of sales projections. I didn't see John's slide online so I did a loose rendering of what it looked like:


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Morgan Lewis Picks Up Jones Day Patent Pro
Brett A. Lovejoy joined the firm's intellectual property practice as a partner July 1. He had worked at Jones Day for the past 7 1/2 years, and prior to that at the now-defunct firm Pennie & Edmonds.
A former researcher at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Lovejoy focuses on bioinformatics, a field that crosses life sciences and information technology....
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Earth/moon/sun#1: Question Preview (ID: 7949)
Below is a preview of the questions contained within the game titled EARTH/MOON/SUN#1: Review Of The Positions Of The Earth Moon And Sun .To play games using this data set, follow the directions below. Good luck and have fun. Enjoy! [print these questions]
Play games to reveal the correct answers. Click here to play a game and get the answers.
Auroras, or the northern lights, are caused by....
a) solar winds
b) light reflecting off the polar caps
c) protons and neutrons from solar winds mixing with gases in the Earth's atmosphere
d) the sun
How long does it take the moon to revolve around the Earth?
a) 1 day
b) 7 days
c) 29.5 days
d) 365 days
If an astronaut weighs 100 pounds on Earth, approximately what would he weigh on the moon?
a) 200 pounds
b) 0 (there is no gravity in space)
c) 100 pounds
d) 30 pounds
Which of the following correctly describes the sun?
a) it is a planet with a rocky surface
b) it is a planet which has nuclear reactions that produce energy
c) it is a star where nuclear reactions occur.
d) it is a satellite that revolves around the planet
What is the central and largest body in the solar system?
a) Earth
b) moon
c) Jupiter
d) sun
What force keeps the planets in a regular and predictable motion around the sun?
a) solar energy
b) gravity
c) nuclear energy
d) cicumference
The revolution of the Earth around the sun takes approximately....
a) one month
b) one day
c) one year
d) one decade
Day and night on Earth are due to:
a) The Earth's rotation
b) the moon's orbit around the Earth
c) the Earth's revolution
d) the Earth's tilted axis
Summarize why life is possible on the Earth.
a) Earth is just the right size to support both plant and animal life
b) Earth is the only planet with a magnetic field
c) Earth is larger than Mercury and Mars, but smaller than Jupiter and Saturn.
d) Earth has an atmosphere, liquid water, and a moderate temperature.
Regions of the sun that are cooler than the rest of the photosphere are known as....
a) sunspots
b) spicules
c) prominences
d) solar flares
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LegalEase Sample – Memorandum on Private Placement NEW YORK
Memorandum on Private Placement NEW YORK
To: Large Law Firm, New York, NY
From: LegalEase Solutions, LLC
Date: 1/16/2006
Re: Private Placement Memorandum/Fraud Allegations/Reasonable Reliance
You have asked us to research, identify and summarize the key cases on the issue of what might be held to constitute reasonable reliance on representations made in a private placement memorandum offering interests in a fund. These issues require discussion of:
Relevant Cases
1. First Lincoln Holdings, Inc. v. The Equitable Life Assurance Society of The United States, 43 Fed. Appx. 462 (2nd Cir. 2002)
Plaintiff Corporation alleged breach of contract, common law fraud, and violations of the federal securities law, due to defendant society's decision to terminate its ability to execute trades by telephone, fax, or other electronic means on its account. The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York denied the corporation's preliminary injunction motion and granted the society's motion to dismiss. The corporation appealed.
The corporation claimed that by restricting its trading, the society effectively prevented it from engaging in its preferred investment strategy, a form of arbitrage known as market timing. The instant court agreed with the district court that the annuity fund contract unambiguously granted the society the right to determine the terms on which investors in the fund could have traded on their accounts. Nor could the corporation have relied on its contention that the society's agents assured it that it could have engaged in market timing or on indications of its intent to do so in its application materials. The fund application clearly stated that no agent had the authority to make or modify any contract, or to waive or alter any of the society's rights and regulations. Furthermore, the prospectus made abundantly clear that market timing was forbidden. The corporation could not have relied on parol evidence to vary the express terms of the written contract. The fraud claims were properly dismissed because a sophisticated investor could not have reasonably relied on the alleged fraudulent representation of the society's agents directly contradicted by the society's documents.
The Court agreed with the district Court in that the plaintiff's fraud claims were properly dismissed, because a sophisticated investor could not have reasonably relied on the alleged fraudulent representation of Equitable agents directly contradicted by Equitable's documents.
The Court also noted the general rule that reasonable reliance must be proved as an element of a securities fraud claim. Id at 464.
2. Opher Pail v Precise Imports Corporation, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13401 (S.D.N.Y., 1999)
Plaintiff employee sued defendant's employers who induced him to spend his own time inventing products for the defendant, in exchange for stock in an acquisition company. No shares were ever issued, and the acquisition company was dissolved. Plaintiff alleged common law fraud and securities law fraud under the Securities and Exchange Act, rule 10b-5, 15 U.S.C.S. § 78j(b). Defendants moved for dismissal, claiming plaintiff did not plead reasonable reliance, did not plead with sufficient particularity for fraud, and did not allege misrepresentations. The court denied the motion, finding that plaintiff plead reasonable reliance as an employee who relied upon the representations of his employer, so no heightened standard of diligence was applied. Plaintiff also pled with particularity, fraudulent statements made by defendant as to the stock exchange. Finally, plaintiff alleged misrepresentation of the value of the stock, which induced him to continue inventing products in exchange for it. Defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's claims was denied. Plaintiff pled common law and securities fraud with sufficient particularity for claims to survive motion to dismiss, pled reasonable reliance as to stock representations, and sufficiently claimed misrepresentation which induced him to purchase stock by inventing products for defendants.
The Court held that Reasonable reliance is an element of both common law fraud under New York law and securities fraud.
3. Igor Azrielli v. Zamaryonov, 21 F.3d 512 (2nd Cir. 1994)
Plaintiff purchasers challenged the district court's judgment inasmuch as it dismissed plaintiff's complaint asserting claims of securities fraud in violation of 15 U.S.C.S. § 78j(b) and 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (1993) promulgated thereunder, claims of violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C.S. § § 1961-1968, and various claims under state law. The court affirmed in part and vacated in part. The court held that evidence in the record revealed genuine issues of material fact with respect to plaintiffs' claims against defendant attorney, other than the RICO claims against defendant attorney, and with respect to their federal claims against other defendants such as an adequate showing that the claimed misrepresentations were material and in connection with the purchase of the shares by plaintiffs and that a pattern of such misrepresentations could have been found by a jury, making summary judgment inappropriate. The court vacated so much of the judgment as dismissed plaintiffs' federal claims, other than the RICO claims against defendant attorney, dismissal of which it affirmed and reinstated the state law claims.
The Court observed that the fundamental purpose of the Securities Exchange Act 1934, 15 U.S.C.S. § § 77b-78kk (1988) is to implement a philosophy of full disclosure, in order to make sure that buyers of securities get what they think they are getting. 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5(1993) thus makes unlawful any misrepresentation that would cause reasonable investors to rely thereon, and, in connection therewith, so relying, cause them to purchase or sell a corporation's securities. Liability under rule 10b-5 may be imposed not only on persons who made fraudulent misrepresentations but also on those who had knowledge of the fraud and assisted in its perpetration. Id at 518
A fact is to be considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable person would consider it important in deciding whether to buy or sell shares. A fraud claim may not properly be dismissed summarily on the ground that the alleged misstatements were not material unless they would have been so obviously unimportant to a reasonable investor that reasonable minds could not differ on the question of their importance. Representations tending to indicate that the valuation of the shares to be purchased has been inflated may obviously be material. Id at 519
4. Harsco Corporation v. Rene Segui, 91 F.3d 337 (2nd Cir. 1996)
The parties executed a purchase agreement for appellees' company. In the agreement, appellees made express representations and appellant expressly waived reliance on outside representations. Appellant later sued appellees for federal securities fraud, under 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5, common law fraud, breach of contract, and other related allegations. The court dismissed appellant's complaint under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). The appellate court held that since appellant specifically disclaimed reliance on representations made outside of the contract and the parties were sophisticated business entities, appellant could not claim reasonable reliance on appellees' outside representations. Therefore, it affirmed the dismissal of the common law and federal securities fraud claims, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Because the federal claims were dismissed, the court held that state law claims were properly dismissed because supplemental jurisdiction could no longer be exercised, but noted that state claims could be brought in state court.
The Court held that Reasonable reliance must be proven as an element of a securities fraud claim. Rule 10b-5 makes unlawful any misrepresentation that would cause reasonable investors to rely thereon. Id at 344.
5. Adler v. Berg Harmon Assoc., 790 F. Supp. 1222 (S.D.N.Y. 1992)
Defendant securities promoter filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff investors' second amended complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), 12(b)(6). The investors' complaint sought damages pursuant to the Racketeering and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C.S. § 1961 et seq, for fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of securities related to real estate limited partnerships.
The investors had purchased real estate limited partnerships based upon memorandums that were generated by the securities promoter. The investors claimed that the promoter was engaged in fraud in selling the partnerships through a complicated scheme of financing, mortgages, excessive fees and fees for non-existent services. The promoter filed a motion to dismiss the investors' second amended complaint, which was granted by the court. The court held that 1) under Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), the investors had failed to sufficiently attribute the alleged wrongdoings to the promoters because of the broad allegations that had combined the acts of several promoters to create the impression that all of them had engaged in the fraud; 2) the investors had not alleged the necessary elements of a claim under 18 U.S.C.S. § 1962(a), having only alleged injury that resulted from the racketeering acts, as opposed to injury by reason of the use or investment of racketeering income; and 3) the investors had failed to allege that each of the promoters had acted with a fraudulent intent. The court dismissed the investors' second amended complaint without prejudice.
The Private Placement Memorandums in the instant action were replete with warnings of the speculative nature of the investments and the risk that any investment may result in a loss. The Court held that although plaintiffs argue that they were misled into believing that the respective projects could operate profitably, such an argument is untenable. One glance at the financial projections in the offering memoranda before the Court indicates that tax deductions, rather than profits, were the immediate benefit to be expected by an investor — the immediate prospects for the partnerships were for substantial losses. Although investors may have hoped for additional benefits from the ultimate sale or refinancing of the property, none was promised in the PPMs, which virtually abound with warnings of the risks and imponderables. Accordingly, the allegations in the Complaint suggesting that defendants misrepresented the extent of the economic benefits that would flow to the limited partners from an investment in the partnership and the allegations respecting the misleading nature of the financial projections and risk estimates must fail. Id at 1232
6. Luce v. Edelstein, 802 F.2d 49 (2nd Cir. 1986)
Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal, without leave to amend, of their complaint alleging defendants' violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C.S. § 78j(b), by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Plaintiff limited partners sued defendant general partners, alleging defendants had violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C.S. § 78j(b), in the sale of partnership interests. The district court dismissed the complaint, finding fraud had not been pled with particularity as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), and leave to amend was denied. The court reversed, finding several allegations were sufficiently based on specific facts. For example, defendants allegedly represented they would make capital contributions to the partnership in the amount of $ 385,000 when only $ 80,000 was actually contributed. In addition, the renovation of properties undertaken by the partnership had cost nearly $ 6 million more than plaintiffs had been led to believe, with the renovations still incomplete. These allegations also sufficiently stated Section 10(b) violations, and it was an abuse of discretion to dismiss the complaint without leave to amend. Dismissal of complaint alleging violation of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 was reversed. The court found that several allegations were sufficiently based on specific facts as required to plead fraud with particularity, and that the allegations also sufficiently stated claims under the Act.
Reference to the Offering Memorandum satisfies 9(b)'s requirements as to identification of the time, place, and content of the alleged misrepresentations. See, e.g., Klein v. Computer Devices, Inc., 591 F. Supp. 270, 279 (S.D.N.Y. 1984); Somerville v. Major Exploration, Inc., 576 F. Supp. 902, 911 (S.D.N.Y. 1983). Furthermore, no specific connection between fraudulent representations in the Offering Memorandum and particular defendants is necessary where, as here, defendants are insiders or affiliates participating in the offer of the securities in question. See, e.g., Somerville, 576 F. Supp. at 911; Pellman v. Cinerama, Inc., 503 F. Supp. 107, 111 (S.D.N.Y. 1980).
Many allegations grounded in the Offering Memorandum are based on specific facts. For example, plaintiffs assert that although the Offering Memorandum represented that the general partners would make capital contributions to the partnership of $385,000, the general partners actually contributed only approximately $80,000. Plaintiffs also claim that the Offering memorandum falsely represented that the cost of the renovation would be $4.5 million, when in fact liabilities for the still incomplete project already exceed $10.2 million. Thus, some claims grounded in the Offering Memorandum are sufficiently pleaded to pass muster under Rule 9(b).
Those representations involved specific promises by the general partners to perform particular acts that they did not intend to carry out or knew could not be carried out. Id at 56
An examination of the complaint reveals some claims that fall within this category. Plaintiffs allege that the Offering Memorandum represented the following: that the general partners would make an initial capital contribution of $385,000 and guarantee the $4.5 million construction loan, that at least one of the general partners had maintained and would continue to maintain its net worth at a level sufficient to ensure the partnership's profitability, n3 that the general partners would collect management fees from the partnership for only one year, and that no assignment or transfer of the general partners' interest in the partnership could occur without notice to and consent of the limited partners. Plaintiffs also allege that these promises were not kept: the general partners contributed only approximately $80,000 and did not guarantee the loan; the general partners did not have and never had the net worth necessary to participate in the limited partnership; the general partners continued to collect management fees for well over one year; and the general partners entered into an agreement to transfer their partnership interests to F.M. Capital without the knowledge and consent of the limited partners. While the failure to carry out a promise made as consideration for a sale of securities may be an element of a Section 10(b) claim, that failure does not constitute fraud if the promise was made with a good faith expectation that it would be carried out. Cf. Ernst & Ernst, 425 U.S. 185, 47 L. Ed. 2d 668, 96 S. Ct. 1375. However, in the instant case, plaintiffs also allege that these promises were known by defendants to be false when made. Plausible allegations that defendants made specific promises to induce a securities transaction while secretly intending not to carry them out or knowing they could not be carried out, and that they were not carried out, are sufficient under Pross to state a claim for relief under Section 10(b). Id at 57
7. Friedman v. Arizona World Nurseries Ltd. Partnership, 730 F. Supp. 521 (S.D.N.Y. 1990)
Defendants, limited partnership, accountants, attorneys, former owners and/or managers of partnership (owners), promoters, and individual corporation, filed motions to dismiss plaintiff investors' consolidated complaint for violations of federal securities laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C.S. § 1961 et seq., and claims of fraud, negligence, conspiracy, and breach of fiduciary responsibility. Investors in limited partnership sought relief arising out of the "scheme" to sell an unsuccessful business to limited partnership. The motions to dismiss were filed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), 12(b)(6), and the court held that (1) investors did not adequately plead scienter under § 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C.S. § 78j(b) or show attributable statements, as to accountants and attorneys, regarding the tax opinion and offering memorandum that they drafted. (2) The § 10(b) claims against individual corporation were inadequate. (3) The § 10(b) claims were adequately pled against owners and promoters because they were insiders, and specific facts were alleged as to their actions and motive. (4) There was no liability under § 10(b), as to accountants and attorneys, due to the financial documents' cautionary language. (5) No claim, under § 12(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C.S. § 771(2), was stated against accountants, attorneys, or individual corporation because they were not statutory sellers. And (6) the securities fraud predicates for RICO claims, against limited partnership, owners, and promoters, were adequately pled.
The court granted the motions to dismiss by accountants, attorneys, and the individual corporation. The court denied the motions to dismiss by owners, limited partnership, and promoters for the claims pursuant to § 12(2) and 18 U.S.C.S. § 1962(c), granted their motions as to the claims under § 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and 18 U.S.C.S. § 1962(a) and (d), and granted in part and denied in part their motions as to 15 U.S.C.S. § 78j(b).
In this case, the projections in issue make clear that they "are based upon assumptions made by Arizona World Nurseries Limited Partnership of the income and expenses and cash flow from the operations of the nursery." Offering Memorandum, Ex. F: "Notes and Assumptions" section of the Financial Projections at 1. Furthermore, the projections expressly cautioned that they were based upon these assumptions and appraisals, and that some of the assumptions may not materialize, and thus, that the actual results achieved could then vary from the projections substantially. In addition, the cover letter which accompanied the projections made clear the limited role that the Andersen defendants assumed with reference to the projections (that they did not perform an audit and that they did not verify the assumptions provided by the general partner), and once again, explicitly warned, as set out above, as to the accuracy and achievability of the projections. Certainly, then, no misrepresentation claim can be predicated upon the fact that the projections did not bear out.
Furthermore, as can be seen from the warnings in the front of the offering memorandum also quoted above, as well as the "Tax Risks" section of the Memorandum, and as stated on page two of the tax opinion letter, Andersen relied on the factual information provided to it by the management of the partnership. Tax Opinion Letter at 2 (Andersen "relied on management and their legal counsel for business and legal matters"); Offering Memorandum at 22 ("INVESTORS ARE CAUTIONED THAT THE CONCLUSIONS IN THE TAX OPINION ARE BASED UPON CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS TO ARTHUR ANDERSEN BY THE GENERAL PARTNER"). The Court concluded that, given all of the cautionary language, Andersen's tax opinion cannot be read to mean that Andersen undertook to make representations of any kind regarding the value of the nursery stock. Id at 541.


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SEAL BEACH – If the radiator holds, Paul O'Brien is thinking, I'm home free.
He's cruising to Laguna Beach in a 1935 Ford Tudor. Its new radiator is designed to carry him across deserts and mountains to Grand Mound, Iowa – in one week.
As usual, people are waving. Cars are honking at this award-winning antique.
And then he thinks he smells steam-on-metal.
"I pulled into a gas station and squirted water all over the radiator," O'Brien says later, showing photos of his car strapped to a tow truck. "The radiator was fine, but I flooded the distributor."
Uh-huh. And you think you're driving to Iowa?
The playful business owner – he just designed a package for a "Pirates of the Caribbean" DVD collection – nods his head yes. See, O'Brien is on a mission – to find something he lost when his father packed up the family in December 1950 and drove west.
"It's time I take this old beauty back to Iowa," O'Brien, 60, says. "I don't want this to be on a list of things I always wanted to do and never did."
He once drove a 16-horsepower Vespa scooter 1,200 miles to Oregon. He drove his '35 Ford home from North Hollywood once with no brakes. And while visiting his mom in Salem, Ore., he drives a 68-year-old tractor into town each morning – for coffee.
Mechanics have retooled his outdated radiator. They've hand-shaved his tires to reduce wobble. They re-mounted coils, retrofitted belts and filled a back-seat box with old generators, water pumps and gaskets in case he breaks down.
Now he is ready to retrace his father's steps. And to learn the lessons left in cornfields of Grand Mound.
Donald O'Brien had a wife and six kids when he pulled up stakes 57 years ago.
"He just got to the tail end of the dog," says his wife, Marcella, 89, still alive in Salem, where they settled.
Times were tough. After the Great Depression crop prices fell about 60 percent. Then came the rise of the big farms.
Facing yet another bank loan, Donald O'Brien sold everything: 15 head of cattle, five milk cows, one fresh with calf at side, reads the old auction poster he wrote. One John Deere corn picker, one hay rack, one hog waterer, one cream separator with motor …
"This is a dirt farmer in Iowa," says Paul O'Brien, reading the list. "This is a post-Depression farmer. This is where we all came from."
His father was never rich in money, but always rich in friends. He became a simple highway worker. And his Oregon home became the gathering point for a host of eclectic friends – a newspaper editor, a pharmacist and a doughnut maker among them – who traded stories, loved music and reveled late into the night.
They dug wells, slaughtered pigs and repaired that dilapidated $2,600 farmhouse together.
"When my dad wanted to add on to the house, all these people showed up in aprons with hammers to help," says O'Brien. "As children, we had this opportunity to learn the value of community."
The kids pitched in, too, picking strawberries, pole beans and apples. O'Brien's personal best was 666 pounds of beans in one day, for which he earned $23.31 that went into a pickling jar – some for him, some for the family.
"It gave you a sense of what things cost," he says. "It was real money."
His father may have been a dirt farmer, but all his children went to college. And they all started their own businesses.
"I have a lot to be thankful for, for that courageous decision my dad made to move west," O'Brien says.
Youth recaptured
Still, there's something that draws him back to the heartland. Maybe the uncle he'll be staying with in a few days can provide a clue.
"He's what?" says Uncle Dale, 83, when told O'Brien will be arriving soon. "I'll be darned. He should tell me before he does these things."
Dale's son Mark Rathje, 45, offers this: "My crazy cousin. I knew he was coming, but I didn't know when."
O'Brien, it seems, is a larger-than-life character among relatives, and one who's done well in life.
His first of eight patents, a guitar jack for acoustic guitars, was adopted by singer John Denver before becoming the industry standard. He later designed product packaging for Mattel, Armor All and the Walt Disney Co. His work has allowed him to buy antique cars and large boats and to fly relatives in for his annual St. Patrick's Day parties.
It's also allowed him to drive a museum-quality Ford 1,900 miles.
"You wouldn't normally take a car like his on a trip like that," says Jack Hogan, one of the nation's top Ford restorers – his collection just sold for $1.7 million – and the restorer of O'Brien's '35 Ford. They're also brothers-in-law.
"Just the grilles – they're probably $4,000 to find one," he says. Imagine parking, and some guy backs up and takes your grille out. Then the little trumpet horns hanging on the front fender are very difficult to find."
To O'Brien, that just adds to the excitement. Soon, he'll be catching catfish on the Wapsipinicon River, listening to his cousins' bluegrass band, riding the back roads with Uncle Dale and then …
Then will come the moment.
Let's see, says Rathje, there's the time a go-cart arrived by UPS for the kids. And the time a box of Mattel toys arrived. And, of course, all times O'Brien has flown Rathje's family to Seal Beach for St. Paddy's Day.
"Yeah, he lights up the place," Rathje says.
In return, Rathje has shipped 10-foot boxes of from-the-field corn to Seal Beach. He takes his cousin to back-road parties where men grow beards long and drink beer out of buckets. To swimming holes and Mississippi riverboats and cookouts where the catfish are fresh from the Wapsi and music is played on fiddle and mandolin.
And he's the one who lines up the farmer and field where O'Brien gets to relive his youth.
"I remember the first time I followed my dad out in the fields," O'Brien says. "I was barefoot. It was spring. He was plowing, and I was walking behind. When he turned the soil over, you could smell the earth. To this day, when I smell freshly turned soil, it's like I'm following that plow."
In a few days, this packaging designer from California will be the one turning over the soil – harvesting Iowa corn on an Iowa cornfield in an Iowa combine, just like dad.
"I make a few passes," he says, "and life is good."
He'll have found what he came looking for. A reminder that the roots you plant and the friendships you keep are more valuable than the things you buy.
It's a lesson his father, the dirt farmer, never said. But lived. A lesson found deep in the roots of Grand Mound.
Contact the writer: 714-796-6979 or email@example.com


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Some coders are apparently having a tough time writing software
for Google's mobile operating system, Android. Google
announced the new platform last month and has released an
early version of a software developers kit. The WSJ ($) quotes Seattle-based mobile developer Adam
MacBeth, who says Google's OS is full of bugs and "not ready for
prime time."
File this under "non-news." Android is a long-term project for Google, and the first few months of third-party development will have minimal impact on its success. Remember that phones won't be on sale for at least six months. If mass-market consumers are going to buy Android phones, they're going to do so because Google's hardware partners have cooked up some attractive, interesting, well-priced gadgets -- not because of what sort of apps that coders like MacBeth have made.
No doubt, software is very important, especially after Apple showed the rest of the industry how a cellphone user interface should work/look. But despite Google's "open" philosophy, we expect the most important software for Android phones to be created by Google itself for quite a while.
See Also: What Google's Phones Mean To Us -- And Them
GPhone Pics! Open-Source 'Bug' Can Run Android
Google, Carriers Apply For FCC Spectrum Auction
The Top 4 Apps and Platforms Takes That Go Against The Grain Report by the BI Intelligence Research Team.
Get the Report Now »


text:
Pros: full disclosure, doesn't bother lungs, works
Cons: cheaper to make own
cleaners are so easy to make that I rarely think it is worth it to buy them premade. I am an asthmatic so store bought bathroom cleaners in general usually are very bad for me and i can't use them, this one doesn't bother my lungs at all and still works great. so if you really don't have the time or drive to make your own seventh generation is a great option! They are a full disclosure company and I understand all the ingredients they use and why, great peace of mind and they work wonderfully!


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Zyp-Zyp Minimal Tape Dispenser
Finding the end of the tape on a roll often takes an eternity. Cleverly, the Zyp-Zyp Minimal Tape Dispenser eliminates this problem like a normal tape dispenser might but without the actual dispenser — and with a cutting edge far more efficient than plastic. Zyp-Zyp is manufactured in Germany by centrifugal casting of Nicaflor, a copper, nickel and tin alloy, and installs on standard tape rolls 12mm in width and of any diameter. The way it works isn't what you'd expect and is hard to describe, so we recommend checking out their video at the link below. But we'll still try: press down on the end with the cutting edge to unstick the tape that's been passed through the hole from the roll, then pull and cut at desired length before sticking it back down.


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London - On Tuesday, hundreds of journalists and analysts gathered in the German Gymnasium, Pancras Road, London, for HTC's big reveal. Rumours were rife that they would be revealing the M7 but HTC shocked the world and opted to invest in a new, unfamiliar and risky title, the HTC One.
HTC has revealed their latest flagship in the smartphone market and having attended the launch, I have to say it's marvellous. The design team went above and beyond to produce a handset that could rival that of market titans, Samsung and Apple, with revolutionary new features, 4.7 inch-1080p display and slick all-aluminium finish.
In today's market it's not enough to just improve on specs; companies are forced to look for innovative new features that cater for the consumer which are otherwise unheard off. The HTC One does just that, leap-frogging the iPhone 5 and Blackberry Z10 with a creative, attractive and unique focus on delivering and generating content.
Holding the phone in my hand, the architecture felt like a marvel in its own right. A powerful Snapdragon quad-core processor drives an ultra megapixel 4.7-inch display, 2.1-megapixel front-facing lens, 2GB of RAM and the Android 4.1 OS. The HTC One also comes with 2,300mAh Li-polymer battery compared to the smaller 1,800mAh battery of the Blackberry Z10 which promises up to 15 per cent greater lifespan.
The OS is layered with the latest version of Sense UI and allows users to vertically scroll through a home screen of tiles with a focus on big, clear images and deviation away from cluttered apps and widgets. HTC has also formed an agreement with Aol, the American global brand company, to produce what they call 'BlinkFeed' whereby users are able to access up to 1400 content sources directly to their phones with full social media integration delivered straight to your homescreen in something that looks akin to a Facebook feed.
The home screen does well to focus interactive content readily to the user; the layout is simplified and filled with large, clear images which look surprisingly sharp in person. The black version does well to distract your attention from the speakers, camera, and sensor cluster but it's the silver that really screams smartphone the first time you see it.
Apart from having what is undoubtedly the smallest full HD display boasting up to 468 pixels per inch, the HTC One also comes with two stereo front spacing speakers and internal amplifier fully integrated with 'BeatsAudio' to deliver a clear audio experience known as 'BoomSound'. The combination is an industry first coupled with a new music player, which now displays lyrics when available to open the door for the visual music trend.
While Sound Hound did this before, the feature is now integrated into the Sense platform.
'HTC Sense' cleverly monitors the call volume and adjusts itself according to the level of noise around the caller to ensure a crisp reception whilst Sense TV makes full use of the phone's built in infrared to allow users to control the television with the app presenting the current list of programs as tiles which allow for easy navigation.
Perhaps the most exciting feature is the introduction of 'Zoe' or the photos-in-video concept. HTC has done away with the regular snapshot and now allows users to take short high res videos every time they take a picture. The user is then able to scroll through a series of static images that best capture the moment or simply compile his/her own 'highlight' package which can be easily uploaded and shared.
The phone is all metal and less that 4mm thick with a slick aluminium finish. It's light, 143g, and is tapered around the back and sides making it easy to handle and unbelievably comfortable in the palm of your hand.
The clever but bold strategy could work wonders for the company as the majority of consumers begin to make the shift to high-end affordable devices. Worldwide release of the HTC One is expected mid March and in South Africa in April.
To ensure greater success, HTC will need to be more proactive with its own marketing whilst successfully developing the 'One' brand and the company name. The design and interface already sets it apart from much of the 'Android generation' and with more carriers committed to a single smartphone than ever before, the HTC One looks extremely promising and certainly stands out as one of the most attractive smart phones the world has ever seen. - Do Gaming


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I had a leather shop on Cape Cod and decided to open one for a few months in Gainesville figuring I could make some cash with all those college students. Well, I broke all three rules of "location, location, location," and rented a space in a little strip mall on out beyond the car places off Main Street.
The place was too big so I put up an 8-foot wall down the middle and rented the other side to an Asian grocery. To get my license I had to be inspected and the town told me I couldn't build a wall without a building permit but I assured them I had in fact built the wall despite the lack of permit and the Japanese folks were quite happy over on their side. After some head scratching they gave me a permit for a temporary wall with the promise that it would be removed when I left in six months and the Japanese people took over the whole space.
Speaking of permits, because I had leather dye I also had to have a metal fireproof cabinet to keep it in. Since I had already built a wooden cabinet I just went to a local newspaper and got some of their old metal printing sheets (pages in pre-computer newspaper days were printed from thin metal plates and rollers) and wrapped them around the cabinet. More head scratching and I got my permit for that, too.
I did not make much money, doubt if I covered the rent but I did have fun.
While I was in Gainesville that winter I rented a funky doublewide sitting on a couple of acres north of town about a mile off of 441. There was a creek running through part of the lot and plenty of woods. Apparently the previous renter must have been in the pot business because I found a bunch of old aquariums out in the woods, some with a few small pot plants still growing in them.
One day when I was out walking I saw a really big cottonmouth down in the creek trying to eat a good-sized dead catfish. The catfish was stiff and its side fins with nasty spines in them were sticking straight out. The snake would start with the tail of the fish and work his way up to those spines but he could not get them in his mouth. So he'd work back down off the fish and then angle around and start from the head. No luck.
That's where I left him, chewing on the dead catfish, but I got to thinking he was pretty big and close to the trailer and my dog liked to explore. So I called Fish and Wildlife and they sent a very nice guy out who caught the snake and was going to turn him loose further away from people. The guy warned me that moccasins are very territorial when they have babies and are likely to be aggressive in ways other snakes are not.
Shortly after he left I went back to the creek and unbelievably there was another one, even bigger than the first. I called the Fish and Wildlife guy back and he came over for the second snake. He took his pole with a looped rope on the end and went down in the creek bed and nabbed this one too. The snake was a good five feet, maybe a little more and fat, as big around as his forearm.
"This is one hellacious cottonmouth," the guy said as he dropped the moccasin into a container in the back of his official pick up. "Call me if you find anymore," he said as he bounced down my heavily rutted sand driveway.
Luckily I saw no more cottonmouths and before long the winter ended and I headed back north missing Gainesville and sand roads and shadowy lives lived on the edge of town even before the city limit sign disappeared in my rearview mirror.


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Hmm maybe, from memory there's a piece of legislation in parliament at the moment to put on hold any future fracking projects so this could simply be a good news story to sway public opinion the other way.
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Hmm maybe, from memory there's a piece of legislation in parliament at the moment to put on hold any future fracking projects so this could simply be a good news story to sway public opinion the other way.
I would be concerned about the effect that such a large operation (assuming it's even vaguely like the size that they are talking in the press) would have on the Great Artesian Basin which isn't all that far away.
Took some photos at a dress rehearsal of a stage play the other day. The stage lighting was 'moody' and multicoloured, which made for some 'interesting' effects to say the least. This one was taken with a D7000 and 18-200VR; 1/125s at f/5.6; auto ISO 3600; 170mm focal length (255mm in 35mm equivalent); tungsten white balance.
Attachment 61207
Great shot Les. Almost looks studio lit.
The whole point of bringing up the oil thing was to get some photos of the area "pre-boom" (if there is one). This is also the opal capitol of the world as well. Might be interesting, but understand it is several hundred miles from some of you. Kinda like me going to Mt. Shasta.
Attachment 61208
Nice pic of Mt. Shasta. How far is that away? I'd guess 20-30+ miles. Hard to be sure without knowing it's height from the plain.
I think that you are getting way to excited about the prospect for substantial change in the landscape. Even if the find is real it would be 10 years before anything major happens on the ground by the time people get funding in place then environmental and legislative approvals the access infrastructure the facilities for workers, etc.
In terms of distance its over 1600km each way from my place and after the first 150km or so I suspect I could travel the rest of the way without going through a traffic light controlled intersection. It's not a quick drive even straight there and back flat out would be a 2 1/2 days driving and I for one won't be accepting your suggestion thanks. :D
Great shot of the mountain D70Fan.
Here's another shot from the stage play, this time illustrating the 'interesting' (read frustrating!) effects of multicoloured lighting. The actress on the right is bathed completely in blue light and thus is ghost-like in appearance; the actor on the left catches some blue but is mostly lit by a white spot from above, so he appears more 'normal'. To the eye the contrast between the two forms of lighting is not so marked, but the poor old sensor on my D7000 got really confused! Auto ISO bumped the sensitivity up to 6400 to compensate for the dim lighting.
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So I'm guessing Sir Les that all your shots are now black and whites :p


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Midday wrap: Latvala leads top five battle The halfway point of day two of the Rally Japan - the longest day of the rally by just three kilometres - delivered yet more drama. Although Citroen privateer Petter Solberg arrived at midday service...
Midday wrap: Latvala leads top five battle
The halfway point of day two of the Rally Japan - the longest day of the rally by just three kilometres - delivered yet more drama.
Although Citroen privateer Petter Solberg arrived at midday service leading the event by 5.9 seconds, a 10-second jump start penalty incurred on SS13 has now dropped him to third overall.
The new leader is Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala who now has a 1.6 second advantage over Citroen's Sebastien Ogier. Solberg has been demoted to just over four seconds behind Latvala in third.
Solberg, who started the day in the lead, reported that he was feeling slightly better this morning after being laid low with a fever since Thursday. This certainly seemed to be the case, as he set fastest time on the opening stage.
The biggest loser on the 17.68-kilometre stage was Hirvonen, who dropped around 10 seconds with a spin towards the end of the stage that dropped him 21 seconds behind Solberg. "At least we're still in the fight," said Hirvonen afterwards - but the Finn had put himself firmly in the middle of a danger zone with Sebastien Ogier just 2.2 seconds behind him in third and Latvala only 0.5 seconds behind Ogier in fourth.
It was all the motivation that Latvala needed. He went fastest on the second stage of the morning to suddenly make up two places and promote himself to the runner-up spot. Latvala had a big moment on the third stage of the day due to a mistake in his pace notes, but survived to hang onto second place by just 1.6 seconds over Ogier - which then unexpectedly became first as he reached service.
"Petter's penalty certainly makes it interesting!" said Latvala. "My start position helped today. I thought that road position wouldn't make much difference but the last two stages in particular had a lot of loose gravel on the surface."
Ogier, Hirvonen and Sordo are still in the thick of the victory scrap too, with the top five covered by just 20 seconds. "It's going to be a big fight so I'm looking forward to that," said Ogier - who was second-fastest on SS13.
Sordo also was up for the challenge, having resolved the gearbox oil leak that afflicted him yesterday. The Spaniard won the last stage before service, while Sebastien Loeb remained mysteriously off the pace in sixth place - by his high standards at least. Henning Solberg was another man holding station to maintain his untroubled seventh place.
Matthew Wilson lost eighth place after going off just one kilometre from the end of the day's first stage. The car was undamaged but firmly stuck on a bank, meaning that the Englishman will not return until tomorrow under the super rally rules. This benefited Kimi Raikkonen, who had a much better run, setting three eighth-fastest times to consolidate his eighth place overall.
There's no change at the top of the Super 2000 and Production Car standings, with Jari Ketomaa in 10th overall leading the S-WRC by a minute in his Ford Fiesta and Patrik Flodin's Subaru occupying 12th overall with a comfortable P-WRC lead.
-source: wrc


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January 14, 2012
Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica keeps to the Shogun Warriors theme as they transform Touma's Goon figure in to the classic Mazinger Z and the Fang figure into Getter Robo. Stephen and Spencer hit these amazing customs right out of the park once again and we love the way they executed the mech style of the Shogun Warriors into these figures. This custom set is limited to only 1 and is now available HERE for $650.
words by VP


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Like many Schenectady residents, you may already be getting ready for Halloween during the last weeks of September and the first part of October. Halloween has become a favorite holiday for millions of people across the country. Unfortunately, this time of year is also one of the most dangerous for children and others who roam the streets on All Hallows Eve. At Bendall & Mednick, we understand that this may be a fun time for you and your children. However, we also want your family to be safe.
Road construction may worsen highway dangers
During the fall, road construction sites across New York are likely to be wrapping up to prepare for winter. For the next few weeks, drivers in Schenectady and elsewhere may encounter construction equipment, cones, lane closures and workers who are attempting to get the job done before cold weather sets in.
What if you or your child is bitten by a dog?
Dogs will forever be known as "man's best friend," but the truth of the matter is that some dogs are friendlier than others. While the canine friend may be affectionate and patient with its owners and even the kids in its family, it may not be that way around other adults and kids.
Concussions require weeks of mental and physical rest
As you may have read in other posts on this blog, concussions are not to be taken lightly. At Bendall & Mednick, we understand the serious ramifications that can result from a concussion that is not accurately diagnosed or treated properly. It is important that you and other Schenectady residents understand the time and measures that are involved in recovering from a concussion.
Is social media a good idea for doctors to use?
Social media is a large part of people's lives. Not only can you keep in touch with friends and family, you can also stay up to date on what is happening with your favorite stores and products. This is also true for the professionals with whom you do business. Many doctors, chiropractors, dentists and other members of the medical industry have learned the value of being accessible on social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and GooglePlus. However, there can also be a downside when medical professionals in Schenectady and elsewhere are active on social media.
Elevators are not always safe
Whether you live in a multi-story apartment building, shop at a large mall or work in an office high rise, you probably use an elevator once in a while. You might take one on a regular basis. Elevators are convenient, but at Bendall & Mednick, we understand how they may pose a danger to Schenectady residents.


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Nearby points of interest
Distance: 2.14mi
Distance: 2.34mi
Distance: 2.60mi
Distance: 2.87mi
Distance: 2.14mi
Distance: 2.34mi
Distance: 2.60mi
Distance: 2.87mi
Nearby points of interest
Distance: 2.14mi
Distance: 2.34mi
Distance: 2.60mi
Distance: 2.87mi
Distance: 2.14mi
Distance: 2.34mi
Distance: 2.60mi
Distance: 2.87mi
About California Market at Pacific's Edge
The new California Market at Pacific's Edge is the exciting fusion of the Hyatt Carmel Highlands' two popular and award-winning restaurants, the casual bistro California Market and the fine dining Pacific's Edge.
After the biggest renovation in the hotel's 100-year history, the California Market at Pacific's Edge is ready to welcome diners for breakfast, lunch and dinner on its expansive new 870-square-foot deck, featuring louvered roof and glass-panel walls with dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Big Sur coast.
Combining the best of both worlds, California Market is committed to fresh, organic, locally grown and raised ingredients to create food that not only fulfills our appetites but pleases our sensibilities.
Carmel, CA 93923
Dining Style:
Casual Elegant
American, Contemporary American, Californian
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast Monday - Friday: 7:00am - 3:30pm
Lunch Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 3:30pm
Brunch Saturday - Sunday: 7:00am - 3:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Lounge: 3:30pm - closing (drinks start at 3:30pm, 4:00pm for food)
Cross Street:
Highway 1
Dress Code:
Business Casual
Price Range:
$50 and over
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Phone Number:
(831) 622-5445
Come and listen to the stylish voice of Neal Banks and contemporary guitar of Steve Ezzo every Friday night in the Lobos Lounge from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Enjoy the vocal stylings of Dino Vera in the Lobos Lounge every Saturday night from 7:00pm until 10pm. Peer at the wildlife on Bird Rock at Point Lobos through the ship's telescope in the corner, then drop the lens and join the party, dancing to tunes such as "Great Balls of Fire," one of their more raucous covers that always seems to get everyone up and dancing in merriment.
Parking Details:
Free Valet Parking. Drive your car to the front steps and the friendliest valets in the world will happily park your car for you. Towards the end of your meal, have your server summon your car. Nothing could be more convenient, other than an overnight stay here at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands where you could walk to your room after dinner.
Private Party Facilities:
Named one of the top 20 restaurants in the United States by Wine Spectator, Pacific's Edge is ideal for every occasion; from wedding receptions to corporate events. Set high atop a cliff in Carmel overlooking Monterey's Big Sur coastline, our private dining room will enchant your guests with its warmth and beauty. Glass enclosed for privacy, our Wine Room can seat up to 40 guests and provides a personal wait staff for the ultimate in service and elegance.
Contact one of our sales professionals at 831.622.5445.
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Fireplace, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Smoking Area, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Special Events & Promotions:
Please visit our Facebook Page for upcoming special events: https://www.facebook.com/hyattcarmelhighlands/events
Restaurant Photos
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Mon - Fri 1:00PM - 1:00PM 1:15PM - 3:30PM 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Sat 1:00PM - 2:00PM 2:15PM - 3:30PM 7:00PM - 8:30PM
California Market at Pacific's Edge Ratings and Reviews
The loud music from the lounge drowned out the jazz music in the restaurant. This may be due to the location of our table.
Our hostess was obviously overworked. So not much attention to our table.
We ordered Dry Aged Ribeye .... not inexpensive ..... it was tasteless.
Bad day at California Market. Staff was totally overwhelmed for lunch on New Year's Day which was surprising being that they were only seating guests with reservations. It took an hour after being seated to finally get our food which was not at all worth the wait. Sad to see what has become of a once outstanding restaurant, you can only cut costs so much before things fall apart.
This restaurant was once fabulous so my expectations may have been too high. There is no longer a wine expert - sommelier. Some servers try to help but are uninformed. Food is not exceptional and prices are high for "holiday" dinners. There are too many wonder restaurants near to warrant eating a festive dinner here.
The view is second to none! We went for New Year's eve brunch, and we enjoyed it. The food wasn't fantastic, but it was good enough considering the beautiful panoramic scene. The staff was attentive enough. Our french toast came out cold, so they took it in the back and reheated it. They forgot to dress it appropriately when it came back out. When we ordered we asked for them to hold the pecans, but when it came back out there were plenty of pecans and no berries. I think you are paying for the view and the ambiance, and sometimes that's ok. We will be back!
Celebrating 2018 New Year we decided to return to the place we celebrated our engagement and college graduation 55 years ago. We were very pleased so many years ago and found it to be just as excellent this time.
Bartenders engaged conversation with us while making the perfect Margaritas. Servers were kind and welcoming and the chef prepared outstanding meals in a quiet beautiful dining room.
You come here for the view and ambience, period. Food is just okay, service in our case was really poor (had to ask for water, WATER, 3 times before it was even brought to our table), waiter was a good guy, but there is nothing really special about the food or service. It's a hotel restaurant with a spectacular view before the sun sets.
A true stand out for the Carmel area.
If your coming for the food is wonderful with lots of fresh and local ingredients and variety to meet anyone's desire. However, if you are looking for an amazing view and ambiance, this location will exceed your expectations. During the day you can see for miles into the Pacific and the coast line, simply stunning, especially for sunset. In the evening the lighting of the trees and the water is very romantic. One of our all time favorites for sure!
The view is gorgeous but the food was just ok. Our host was great and brought us to a comfy table with a gorgeous view. Our waitress, however, was awful. She never asked us about drinks and failed to bring us water then lied and said they are not allowed to serve water because of the drought (we live in Norcal) and saw other tables get water brought over soon after they were seated. I would have rathered her just apologize and own up to an understandable oversight than make up lies.
Then I ordered strawberry ice cream for my son. It took her 20 mins to bring over sorbet and when I said this is sorbet she argued with me and said it's "fresh" in house strawberry ice cream. Ok - we just ate it and it was sorbet. She then brought over the same exact thing, threw it on our table and said "THIS is sorbet" you had ice cream. What a weirdo!
What terrible service!
Was not impressed by the hostess.
A basically empty restaurant she was going to seat us in direct sun. As it was our 45th anniversary I had requested a nice table. There were tables with direct window seating but she implied the area was not available. Bottom line the seating was ok but could have been better.
Service was very good. The food was very good but pricey. Lunch for
Four. 178.00.
The view was the big draw and next time I will probably get my food and beverage in the bar.
Deceiving description of food, slow service
If you packakes description says local berries, you expect a portion of berries on top of them; not just FOUR raspberries
Our server (a lady) was missing in action for most of the breakfast, she did not come to check in how we were doing after our food was served
This restaurant has great views of the Pacific Ocean and the rocky coastline south of Carmel. Our Thanksgiving special 3-course meal was very good, the service top-notch. My only complaint was the cost - with one pre-dinner drink and one glass of wine with dinner each, our bill came to almost $350 for two people (tax and 20% tip automatically added to bill). The food was good, but probably not THAT good.
We have dined at Pacific Edge for the past 18 years. The quality of food and service has gone downhill. At the same time the prices have gone sky high. Our thanksgiving dinner was $475.00. It was a fixed price of $95 per plate - 3 courses. There were 3 of us. We had a half bottle of very average wine $45 and 2 1/2 glasses of below average wine. Appetizer - 2 has brussels sprouts and 1 had beets. The brussels sprouts came in iron type dishes and had a little too much vinegar plus the raw cashews didn't go well with it. 2 of us had turkey and one had prime rib. Average! Nothing interesting on the plate. There was nothing unusual or nice about the plate presentation. The pumpkin tart was average and only 2.5 inches in diameter. They had music advertised on menu and there was no music. And the service was improper - serve from left take away from right; wait until everyone is done to remove dishes. The only thing i can say good about this restaurant is the spectacular view.
We had not stayed at the Carmel Highlands Resort in many years and therefore we were excited about our weekend. We said have been informed before arriving for dinner that the hotel was hosting a wedding in the lobby:great room adjacent to the "open" restaurant. It was as if we were spectators at a very loud wedding event. Certainly we were happy for whomever got married, but we did not have the relaxing evening we had planned. We could barely hear each other talk. I am not sure if this is a common practice but we will never dine at this resort again.
This was an incredible spot! The dinner menu looked to be on the pricier side, however we wanted to try it, so we made lunch reservations. Absolutely loved everything. We sat outside and had the most incredible view. Our lunch was great and service was wonderful. Highly recommend coming here to enjoy the amazing views.
Beautiful view of the bay from everywhere in the restaurant. Dinner was good;limited variety to choose from. The beet salad was delicious! As was the bread pudding dessert. Rib-eye cooked perfectly as ordered. Excellent service from the hostess and our server. A wedding party was in a private dining room, but with the doors open, their merriment was sometimes distracting. After dinner, we sat in the lounge, listening to a talented pianist playing & singing a variety of songs that made the warm atmosphere by the fireplace even better. Excellent way to spend a relaxing Saturday evening.
Not sure I want to let everyone know how great this place is. If I do, more people will go there. The food is great and so is the service. And the great views are worth the drive. The price of the food is what you would expect from a high end restaurant with great service and ambiance.
It was more than difficlult to make reservations with them directly therefore we went to open table. The service was horrible there were only 4 tables with customers. Our waiter was rude, disrespectful and distant. We had to ask for him many times, we were told that since it was a birthday they would provide a suitable birthday dessert. Our waiter aruged with us about this, we asked another wait staff person to send over the manger , the manger was never sent over instead our own waiter showed up 5 minutes later with the bill . It made for a horrid dinning experience. The cobb salad was forgetable, the lobster rolls had very little if any lobster, the mussels were okay the broth srunning, yet with enough mussels for 2 we only got 2 thin pieces of garlic bread and were charged extra for more bread? I've written the Hyatt about our experience and have not recieved a reply as yet.
This was one of my worst dining experiences ever. The waiter was totally unprofessional, incompetent and arrogant. The waiter failed to come to table and I had to ask hostess to summon him. I ordered bouillabaisse and it was served without proper utensils. I had to get up to get them. Fish in soup was mushy and shellfish was not fresh.
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