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October 2014
Record low rates and historic monetary policy kept the economy and equity markets humming. Expect little to change mid-2015 when the Fed shifts into higher gear, Wealth's Jeff Mortimer explains.
I used to take a regular commuter flight from Denver to Santa Fe that was notorious for air turbulence. The flight path was over the Rocky Mountains, and the pilot would navigate the 20-seat propeller plane across a roller-coaster trajectory to avoid dangerous air pockets — with a laptop propped in his lap feeding him live weather images. On one especially rocky crossing, a woman who had never made the trip before suddenly hunched over in her seat in front of me with her fingers gripping the arm rests for dear life. I leaned forward and tapped her on the shoulder. "Don't worry, the pilot does this trip four times a day. This is routine for him."
Many investors have been buckling up to prepare for the Federal Reserve's plans to begin raising interest rates— by mid-2015, according to our forecast. After years of record low interest rates and unprecedented "pedal-to-the-metal" Fed policy, some investors are understandably bracing for market volatility and muted returns once the Fed's trip back up finally begins. However, unlike the Denver/Santa Fe flight path, the Fed's next trip is likely to be muted and measured, with little dramatic impact for months, even years. Investment opportunities are just as likely as new risks will be, as rates start to rise.
The next Fed cycle of rising rates may be different for a number of reasons. For starters, the Fed has never started raising either the federal funds rate or the discount rate from zero. This fact alone is significant. When the Fed begins raising rates from these historically low levels, the first few hikes may have little effect because it will take a few hikes just to get back to the starting point of past rate cycles. This could potentially bode well for markets.
"Beginning in mid-2015, we anticipate an end to the easy monetary policy the Fed has followed for the past five to six years. While longer dated fixed income assets might be slightly negatively affected, we believe the economy, and most equity markets, will weather the initial hikes quite well, probably rising in the process. "Jeffrey Mortimer, CFA, Director of Investment Strategy, BNY Mellon Wealth Management
The rate hikes next year could also be more than offset by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan. Both the ECB and the BOJ should be continuing to take steps to stimulate growth in their regions by utilizing easy monetary policy and various forms of quantitative easing.
The Fed is also projected to increase rates in increments of only 25 basis points. While the Fed reserves the right to raise rates by any amount, the current consensus is that a slow and steady rise is the most likely. Some Fed officials have been vocal in advocating this approach, including Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, who said the Fed should be "exceptionally patient" in its decision to raise rates.
Each of these differences may serve to lessen the historically negative impact rising rates have had on stock prices and bond yields.
Within stocks, the old adage, "Don't fight the Fed," would posit that it's time to sell when the Fed is about to raise rates. We do not share this view. While the Fed's actions will put an end to the liquidity-induced phase of the current bull market, and may slow future growth, we think stocks can continue to push higher in the intermediate term. Why? Consider Exhibit 1 (on the following page), which looks at how the Dow Jones Industrial Average typically fares after the Fed begins raising rates. As the Exhibit shows, markets are volatile for the first 22 days, and even into the 63rd trading day. After this point, a clear pattern emerges. Markets are generally higher 126, 190 and 252 trading days later. Only after the fourth rate hike have the markets reacted negatively, and that historically has been only to a very small degree.
DJIA Performance after Federal Reserve Rate Increases 1971-2014
Source: Ned Davis Research.
Using Discount Rate from 12/21/1917 to 12/30/1988 and Fed Funds Rate from 1/3/1989 to 9/2/14.
Another way to look at the effect rising rates have on equities is to analyze what happens to price-earnings multiples. In the spring, we wrote about how multiples can remain near their current levels (about 17X earnings) even if real rates on the 10-year bond increase by 200 basis points (2%). History shows that real yields on the 10-year bond would have to rise to over 4% from the current rate of approximately 2% for P/Es to be slightly negatively affected. Real yields on the 10-year would have to rise to over 6% to put significant downward pressure on multiples.
Even small cap stocks, sometimes seen as a proxy for a more risky equity asset class, have shown resilience to rising federal funds rates historically. Analyzing data going back to 1980, small caps historically have moved higher after the first rate hike. This holds true, on average, for periods as short as 30 days to as long as 18 months, with returns averaging just over 10% in the latter cases.
While stocks demonstrate resilience to the Fed's initial moves, bonds, of course, don't fare as well. After the Fed begins raising the discount rate, the yield on high-quality, long-duration corporate bonds increases as well. This is true in periods of time ranging from one month all the way to up to one year after the hikes have begun. As yields rise, bond prices fall, hurting investors' total return.
That said, we continue to believe that bonds play an important role in client portfolios, providing both income and diversification benefits. As rates rise, investors should remember that as bonds mature in their portfolio, the proceeds will be invested at higher yields, increasing the income generating power of the bond portfolio overall.
Beginning in mid-2015, we anticipate an end to the easy monetary policy the Fed has followed for the past five to six years. While longer dated fixed income assets might be slightly negatively affected, we believe the economy, and most equity markets, will weather the initial hikes quite well, probably rising in the process. Stronger underlying economic growth, should more than offset the drag slightly higher rates will have on the economy as the Fed begins the process of normalizing interest rates. It is more likely that the later rate hikes, done when the Fed is trying to fight off inflation and strong growth, will be cause for the most concern. However, we don't see that as a threat for some time to come. In the meantime, investors should be ready to seize upon attractive new opportunities.
Each month, for clients and associates of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, we provide commentary on the stock markets and the economy through the Investment Update. BNY Mellon Wealth Management is a nationally recognized leader in investment management, wealth and estate planning, and private banking and finance capabilities to financially successful individuals and families, their family offices and business enterprises, charitable giving programs, and endowments and foundations. Our clients benefit from our wealth management excellence and our commitment to adapting our organization's strengths to their unique circumstances.
For more information, please visit www.bnymellonwealthmanagement.com.
Our thought leadership materials are not intended as investment, tax or legal advice, but to the extent they may be deemed to be a financial promotion under non-US jurisdictions, they are provided for use by professional investors only and not for onward distribution to, or to be relied upon by, retail investors. Products and services may be provided in various countries by the subsidiaries and joint ventures of BNY Mellon. Each is authorized and regulated as required within each jurisdiction. This should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of securities or services or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance that is otherwise unlawful or not authorized.
Director of Investment Strategy, BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Jeff Mortimer is the director of investment strategy for BNY Mellon Wealth Management. In this role, he leads a team that sets capital market expectations and is responsible for making asset allocation recommendations. Jeff has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry.View Profile


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Polar increase and decrease - what does that mean (Jun/23/2010 )
Hi all
I was reading this paper that mentions how a mutation caused a "polar decrease" in the transcription of a certain gene. I'd like to know what polar means in this context.
"Polar" in this context is refering to "upstream", "downstream", or "distal". So, for example, if you mutate a promoter that drives an operon, you'll have polar effects on all downstream genes, although those genes are wild-type (i.e. not mutant). The same type of distal effects can be seen if, for example, you mutate a repressor gene -- the genes which are effected by this protein will be de-repressed, although you've made no change (i.e. mutation) to them. Or, if you insetionally mutate a gene by inserting a transposon in it, and the transposon contains a transcriptional terminator, operonic genes downstream of the mutant one will be affected.
Thanks! That was very helpful.
So I presume the term is more often use in situations where a regulatory/promoter region blocks expression of multiple genes, because I thought if it involves only one gene, then one would not need to put the word "polar?" I understand the meaning I am just trying to specify if this term also applies to single gene expression changes.
If mutating a gene affects only that gene, then there are by definition no polar effects. If mutating the gene effects many scattered genes serving many different functions, a better term would be to say the mutation has "pleiotropic effects". "Polar effects" is used mostly to describe the effect a mutation has on nearby genes devoted to the same ultimate function, as in synthesis and assembly of a capsular polysaccharide, for example.

subset: commoncrawl


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You like no hat at all, even in the winter months.
You like no hat at all, even in the winter months.
No. I like a sun hat when needed.
You like down coats.
You like to sit under an umbrella when on the beach.
You like using Hawaiian Tropic suntan oil.
Never tried it. Use different brand.
You like picnicing on the sand.
not especially, but I like snacking in the sand on the beach.
You like playing in the ocean.
You like baby showers
The hostess with the most-ess? No, too stressful
You like wide belts.


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Saturday, 31 March 2012
Bathing in Banos
The journey back from the Amazon took us about 20 hours to reach our next destination of Banos. This made us feel like proper hard core explorers but also made us very keen to find a comfortable place to chill out for a few days. In many ways Banos was the perfect place to chill out, it is named after the hot thermal springs which are meant to have all sorts of soothing medicinal properties. It however took us a couple of days to properly get into the swing of chilling out. In our first full day we hired mountain bikes and headed off on a 20km bike ride. Fortunately the ride was about 70% down hill so it was not too hard. The only real difficulty was when we came to a land slide which completely blocked the road, thankfully a kind Danish man was on the other side and we were able to pass him our bikes as we chambered over the rocks. Near the end of our ride we stopped to walk down to see a water fall known as El Diablo. It was the most impressive waterfalls I have ever seen. The sheer power of so much water forced through a small space created a great roar and a mass of white spray. There was a small cave that we could crawl through so we could stand behind the water getting soaked but with a great view. The second day we once again failed to chill out and instead decided to book a white water rafting trip. Despite my nerves after the instructor gave us a terrifying introduction on what to do if you fell in, we all managed to stay in the boat. The rain was however so heavy by the end it looked like we had swam the river anyway. After our hectic start we were able the next few days to properly chill out. Banos is a lovely little town with loads of nice cafes, restaurants and a market where you can buy nice freshly mixed fruit drinks and barbecued guinea pigs. We bought a number of the drinks but could not bring ourselves to try the guinea pigs yet. We knew that we had really managed to wind down when the most strenuous activities we fit into two days was sitting in the warm thermal baths by another waterfall and sitting in a cafe all afternoon watching the old classic film 'whem Harry met Sally'.
Friday, 30 March 2012
Jungle is massive!
It's been a while since our last Blog as we had a bit of a disaster on a bus - my passport, money, camera and debit card were stolen!! Not good at all and we're so careful with our stuff but someone must have dived under my seat from behind to get to it as I had by wedged in by my feet. Very frustrating but after a lot of paperwork I am now the holder of an emergency passport. And fortunately I didn't lose any photos as I switched memory cards the day it was stolen which is a little strange. Back to the Amazon which really was something worth remembering. After a 10 hour overnight bus ride, with numerous police searches, throughout the night, we rocked up at a bridge where we boarded a motorised canoe with our guide and our 5day adventure began. On the ride back to the lodge we spotted 4 types of monkey jumping overhead, toucans and a snake. We were loving it already. The lodge was surprisingly the most luxurious place we stayed, considering it was in the middle of nowhere. And the food was incredible-3 courses every time. There were only 2 other guests in the lodge which we didn't think would be as fun to begin with but we were lucky the other 2 people were a young Germany couple who were great fun. And it meant because we were a small group we could choose what we wanted to do a bit more. We did so much in these 5 days that it's a little tricky to write about. We really got our money's worth as we would be rounded up for 3-4 different trips each day! We would have about 30mins spare time-it was non stop! But i'll write up some of the highlights. We went on a 4 hour hike through the forest where our guide Wilmer, who was definitely a character, he told us all about how the locals use the plants for medicinal purposes. We tasted liquids from trees, lit liquids which were actually used as firelighters and incense, had a go at swinging on vines and waded through swamp water up to our thighs which was particularly entertaining as our guide laughed hysterically at how muddy we all were. He was definitely disappointed that none of us fell in!! Piranha fishing was great fun. You had to thrash the water with your bamboo rod to convince the piranha that something had fallen in and then as soon as you felt a nibble speedily pull the hook up. Jonty did very well catching one but although I got lots of nibbles I failed to catch him this time. Luckily we did get a chance to piranha fish again as we loved it, so peaceful, and I was determined to catch one. And I did better than that catching two and Jonty caught one more a fish called a Huanchiche. Our guide scarily demonstrated how strong the jaws of the piranha, by putting a twig in its mouth and it would slice right through it. No piranha dinner for us though as we threw them back to maintain the piranha numbers. That wasn't the only scary creatures we saw though. We went on a night walk and a night boat ride. On the walk we saw whip snake spiders and bullfrogs and had to turn off our torches at one point as our guide was convinced the dangerous bush tracker snake was trailing us. We're not sure still if he was winding us up about this but he seemed worried!! But the 6metre caimen we spotted by its glowing red eyes in the dark was a definite highlight. The boat eased right up to it and we were so close we could touch it, hmmm, but we were all fine until it dived under the boat and the driver speedily reversed away!! Each evening, we would go swimming in the middle of one of the great lakes at sunset. And one time, when it was just Jonty and I as we stayed on an extra day than the couple, we spotted river dolphins again but this time fairly close and our guide quite rightly said "when are we going to get a chance to swim with river dolphins again" so we dived right in. It was incredible, possibly my favourite moment swimming across that great, quiet lake and getting so close to the dolphins. I never quite caught them up, funny that, but I got pretty close to them and had almost swum the length of the lake when the boat pulled alongside and the guide told me I was swimming right next to where we had seen the 6m caimen yesterday. I was back in the boat within seconds, Jonty already on there. The guide told us that it's fine the caimen don't go there in the day and he wouldn't have let us in there if it wasn't safe but we later heard that another group had seen a caimen crossing the lake quite close to me- hmmm!! A pretty memorable trip was when we went to see the local shamen Tomas. We arrived and we saw a man dressed in jeans and tshirt but within minutes he was dressed in brightly coloured traditional shamen clothes. We felt it was little put on for the tourists but he was a friendly man and he proceeded to tell us about what he does, through a translator, and how he uses hallucinogenic plants to find out what is wrong with a patient. He conducted a mock ceremony on our german friend who struggled to keep a straight face and we were relieved we hadn't been chosen as the mock patient. On our last day as it was just me and Jonty on the tour, our guide who we had come to know very well now and liked (despite the fact he took about 20 photos a day of himself looking moody at arms length-ha), taught us how to drive the motorised canoe. This was very entertaining as we tried to do 3 point or 0 point turns in the river!! Most nights after dinner we would all play a game of some kind and it was while we were playing a dice game that I thought I saw a tarantula on me and I jumped up and screamed. It was actually a spiny lobster- check it out on Google images. We managed to look at it closely, after the initial shock, but it looks like something from a Doctor Who film!! The staff all found it pretty funny as they'd all run out to see what was going on when I screamed!! Jonty also had a surprise visitor of a frog jump on him in our room but he wasn't as terrifying as a spiny lobster. We were very sad when it was time to go, but in need of a rest after the 5.30am starts and non stop exciting schedule. We saw so much incredible wildlife, I have lists of everything we saw but won't bore you with all of them. But in summary the highlights were, river dolphins (not pink the ones we saw I'm afraid Phil but apparently its the older ones that are pink), caimen, parrots, toucans, kingfishers, stinky birds (so many birds) red headed woodpeckers, snakes, owl/squirrel/cappuccino/yellow handed titi monkeys, snakes. And the list goes on...it was an awesome, beautiful 5 days.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Watch the birdie
Mindo, a sleepy village in the cloud forest was our next stop. And it certainly lived up to its cloud forest name with all the surrounding mountains covered in clouds in turn giving the village a feeling of being in a bubble and totally cut off from society. We were staying in a cute wooden cabin hostel overlooking a noisy running river which was lovely to go to sleep to and there were humming bird feeders down by the deck so gave us another chance to try and take a photo of the fastest birds in the west well south!! Wandered around town and got drawn into watching a local very competitive volleyball game where money was changing hands. I was keen to join in but held back! Instead we treated ourselves to a classic Ecuadorian meal of Churruso which is steak with two eggs on top mmmm! We're certainly not eating too badly on our travels. Mindo is officially the birding capital of the world so we went on several pretty walks to track down the toucan which is officially our favourite bird. Our first walk didn't end up being the most successful. After walking along a pretty track for a couple of hours, having not spotted much, we sat down to eat our snacks which proved disastrous as i was wearing shorts and i was ravaged by sand flies-gaining 50 bites. Not my finest moment! I'm still suffering. Jonty was spared as he was wearing trousers! But that didn't stop us - the next day we set off at 7am and this time we managed to pick up a guide but not of the human variety. Whilst crossing the town square a cute black dog who had a permanent smile came and said hello. We responded and that was it he led the way for the next two hours all the way up to a waterfall and along the route where all the birds were. When we stopped to look at birds he stopped patiently and waited for us and then marched on when we started up. It was like having our own littlest hobo. The only problem we had was when i ducked under a fence to get a picture of the classic black and yellow toucan and smiler continued to maintain his guide position by running ahead of me but he ended up scaring off the toucans. But, it was pretty cool seeing them in flight. We spotted a few more other toucans and a quetzel and a south american turkey bird with help from official tour guides that we came across with big scopes. The colours and the bird song were very cool. After 2 hours it was time to say goodbye to our canine guide as we had reached the cable car which would take us over to the walk to the waterfall. After speaking to the cable car operator we found out that Smiler regularly escorts tourists up to the waterfall-very kind of him. We got in the 4 person cage to cross a canyon and then walked a couple more hours to a pretty waterfall which surprisingly had a concrete staircase next to it so you could walk up the waterfall!! In the evenings as it was a pretty quiet town we had dinner with some cool people we met and then ended the evening with beer and a few rounds of yachtzee. Oh yes we know how to party!!
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
As it is far too risky to go overland from central to South America we flew from Panama city to Quito in Ecuador. The customs official in Panama decided he was going to give me a hard time although it was nothing to do with where we were going but more to do with what I was wearing. He looked up from his newspaper and saw my Spurs shirt and kindly reminded me that Spurs had just lost to Arsenal 5-2. He kept saying el classico cinco dos! Landing in Quito was the first time being in South America and for me the first time being South of the Equator. It was also the first time we had experienced that much altitude. Quito is 2850m high and you can feel it's effects. As soon as the plane touched down Katie felt dizzy. Walking towards immigration she needed to sit down as the world was spinning and she was feeling weak. The effects gradually wore off over the next two days but it was a good warning for when we want to hike Machu Picchu. On the first morning a lovely Ecudorian woman gave us a tour of the old town. There were many beautiful churches, incredible colonial buildings and interesting facts but embarrassingly the one thing that most stayed in my mind was the story of the architect who was not properly paid so cheekily put large penises on the cherubs decorating the house he was building opposite one of the cities grandest churches. One of the things I most liked about Quito was the statue of the virgin Mary standing on a dragon, which overlooks the city from a nearby hill. She makes quite an imposing presence from nearly any street in the town. To a couple of gringo tourists like us Quito felt wonderfully foreign. Both the men and women wore fedorer style hats and many wore traditional clothes, embroidered shirts and the women had babies strapped to their backs whilst the men had long pony tails. Our attempt to find authentic Ecuadorian night life was however a mixed success. We went out in a part of town which was full of people, bright lights and loud music. It was gave us a sensory overload considering we had only recently left the desert islands of San Blas. We failed to find our dream place with live Latin music and ended up drinking in a club that was playing UK dance music from the early 90's. However by the end of the night they started playing some local tunes and Katie and I "wowed" the locals with our Latin dancing. On Saturday we left Quito for the nearby town of Otavalo famed for its market - the biggest market in South America. The market was an incredible sight, so colourful and vibrant and so different to anything we had seen before. It started in the main square selling beautiful hand crafted goods to locals and tourists and then spreads out to all the nearby streets selling everything from Nike trainers to armadillo guitars to Indian headdresses and ground up bugs which were meant to cure all sorts of diseases. We got tempted by some paintings and jewellery. The people were as fascinating as the goods they were selling. The locals wore beautiful traditional outfits but most did not like gringos taking pictures of them which was a shame because Katie wanted to take a picture of everthing she saw as the scenes were so exotic and a lot to take in. The food in Otavalo was also lovely, although because of my poor Spanish for some reason the waitress in one restaurant brought me two plates of trout to eat. Katie then joked I did it on purpose and called me two-trout Jonty! The next day we did a 4 hour hike around a lake formed in the crater of a volcano called Laguna Cuicocha. The views were absolutely stunning on a lovely sunny day, on one side the sun was shinning on the lake while on our other side we could see for miles the mountains and valleys around Otavalo.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Island life with the Kunas
We've actually made it to Ecuador now and we're currently sitting in a cloud forest watching humming birds dart around. our mission here was to see a toucan again but no luck on our walk this morning but as i'm sitting here writing the blog the lady who owns the place runs over to us to show us a toucan which she is holding. Not exactly the way i expected to see a toucan and we had no idea why she was holding it. Turns out some other people staying in the hostel had run out saying there's a rat in our room and she went into investigate and found a toucan under the bed. Now that's my kind of rat!
Anyway better get back to Panama and playing catch up. We headed to San Blas a remote set of hundreds of islands all owned and run by indigenous people. After a rough jeep ride we caught a boat to our chosen island and flew across the caribbean sea bouncing over the waves. When we turned up it looked as though we had swam as we were drenched but exhilarated from the ride. Island life couldn't have been more different than Panama City!! We could walk around the island in under 10 mins, there were only 3 families living on the island and 3 sets of cabins. The island was stunning, with crystal clear carribbean water and palm tree lined beaches.
Days followed a similar pattern, swimming, snorkelling, reading, chatting to fellow shipwrecked travellers. Busy busy schedules!! Days were punctuated by several memorable moments. The first being when Jonty went for his first swim in the sea and suddenly found that he was a human climbing frame as two local children climbed all over him. After looking a little confused and concerned he soon realised what they wanted and proceeded to flip them in the air and into the sea. Very sweet.
Another highlight had to be a bumpy boat trip to an uninhabited island with a few other travellers where the sea floor was just covered in star fish. It was very cool. There were orange, yellow and red ones and we'd never seen so many.
The passing of the days were often marked by meal times where we would all sit around the table together and eat. After 3 meals the same - chicken, chicken and more chicken we were besides ourselves when a catch of lobster and a massive red snapper came in. The atmosphere was fab that night as we feasted like kings and the night was finished off with a campfire on the beach- a pretty violent one as it was fueled by palm tree leaves which go up in seconds. We found the kuna people fascinating who lived on the island. The women wore the most incredible brightly coloured traditional dress with beads wound all up their legs and the children were very sweet and were keen to join in whenever we were playing a game like frisbee.
Our final night we had a persistent visitor in our straw hut we were sleeping in on the beach-a very cute but playful kitten. After putting it out twice and it sneaking back in we decided that the kitten would play this game all night so we made a bed for it where it happily slept.
Island life had been pretty special but not sure if we're cut out for it long term as we think we might have gone a bit stir crazy staying there for any longer than a week. After 4 days it was time to head to the mainland and to see what on earth we looked like in a mirror!
Katie and Jonty xx
Monday, 5 March 2012
Big city medium sized canal
Leaving the madness of las tablas and heading for Panama city we found out that traffic after a major holiday is pretty similar all around the world. However despite being stuck in traffic for a couple hours we realised that it could have been much worse when we bumped into two people at the bus station who had left over two hours before us. We decided that we had not quite got our fill of carnival so went to see the last evening of Panama city's carnival. We missed the floats but got to watch some live bands play some latin flavoured music. It was fun but not as good as Las tablas. Panama city was unlike any place we had been before with big shopping malls and even bigger sky scrappers. We however were staying in the old town which was very pretty and was in the process of a major renovation. There was building work everywhere but it seemed thst they were doing there best to keep its old world charm. Following our Lonely Planet guide book we decided to go to what they described as one of the unmissable attractions in Panama and go to the tourist centre on the Panama canal. However as soon as we paid our $5 we knew it was a mistake. We were surprised quite how unimpressive the canals lock was. Although you had to be impressed with the guide who seemedlike he was genuinely excited by the dull facts he was reading out.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Carnival Panamania!
Carnival Panamania! We were a little sad to leave Costa Rica as we'd loved the country and the friendly people but we were very excited about our next adventure in Panama. We made it across the border into Panama surprisingly easily and after 12 hours of travelling we decided to split our journey and stay in a small town called santiago. We stayed in a really quirky local hostal and met some lovely people but pushed on to Las Tablas for what was to be our home for 4 nights of carnival madness. And it was crazy. The panamanians really know how to party - having a day and night party session. In the day it was all about dancing, eating food on sticks, drinking and water water water. There were massive fire trucks and tankers lined along several of the streets and they would let rip by hosing down the partygoers. It was pretty entertaining and often very welcome as it was so hot. At times though it was a bit like running the gauntlet if you just wanted to make it to the next street. Let's just say we got drenched pretty often. And it wasn't only the giant hoses you had to watch out for but locals and kids who were armed with water guns and were keen to shoot the gringos especially as we were a very rare sight as there were probably only about 20 gringos amongst the tens of thousands of party goers. The people were incredibly friendly and there were so many families out making the atmosphere just fab. And there was a massive police and military presence so there was no trouble which was surprising considering there were so many people partying. At 4pm the police would clear the streets and give the town a chance to recover before the evening party began. Las Tablas was the biggest and most popular carnival in panama and we could see why. The floats were incredible-so elaborate, colourful with giant animal creations and feathers adorning the queens. The panama carnival is all about the battle between the two carnival queens from different areas of the city. And each queen would have a brass band following and supporting them, along with other supporters following the floats on foot. The brass bands were just so cool-playing so energetically -really fun and lively tunes. You really felt part of it as you could literally touch the floats as they passed by and often had to run to get out of the way. There were also endless firework displays framing the floats and the most obscene amount of firecrackers at times just chucked in the street. The noise was deafening but added to the excitement-although one lot went on for half an hour-crazy. Off the main square where the parades were there were so many cool little bars, clubs and bands playing in the street and this is where jonty and i learnt or attempted to learn the merengue - the local dance - by watching the locals We had the most special time in las tablas and we were fortunate as we were staying on the coast so we could get away from the madness for a bit if we needed to - although i did get stung by a jellyfish again. We had a very entertaining german host too who'd cook the most ridiculously huge breakfasts so we were stocked up until dinner. The other people staying at the hotel were lovely and such good fun too so we would head into town with them and enjoy carnival. We were sad to go but in need of a rest when we eventually left for Panama city. Katie and Jonty
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How does a small village deep in Tamil Nadu, whose name needs much practice to be pronounced properly become a major landmark in the medical missionary heritage of our country. How does this small village with nothing but a few teashops lining the main road become a bustling hub of activity in less than 30 years. How does this remote place with nothing much to boast of in terms of entertainment, eateries or environment attract so many of the so-called cream of our society - the doctors - to live and work here sometimes for their entire lives. The story of the Christian Fellowship Hospital and the transformation it has brought to Oddanchatram and the whole surrounding area will fill many books if it were told in detail. The story of a calling given, heard and responded to, the story of obedience often with perceived and hidden sacrifices, the story of blessings beyond human imagination.
I was privileged to make a pilgrimage to this 'holy ground' where I spent 3 wonderful days with our dear friends Drs. Tarun and Anne Jacob and their delightful son Koby. (For more on this inspirational couple, visit their blog here). As I wandered round the hospital and imbibed the wonderful feeling of Christian community that still reverberated strongly through its busy corridors and shady lanes, I was reminded again of the Ecclessia and the 'utopian' idea of true Christian fellowship. There will always be difficulties, but the CF Hospital, Oddanchatram is a true oasis in the desert that is our Indian Christian Community. A place where many people from totally varied walks of life come together with the sole purpose of living with and for Jesus. Different though the paths may be there is still a unity of purpose and oneness of spirit and mission. Would that God would raise up more Ecclesias. Would that we will be given the grace to be part of one at some point.


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Tonys Place Guesthouse Ayutthaya
Average rate: $31 - Hotel class: 2 stars
12/18 Soi 8 Nareasuan Road Ho Rattanachai Pranakorn Sri Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya, Thailand
Tonys Place Guesthouse Ayutthaya Rates and Deals
Tonys Place Guesthouse Ayutthaya Reviews
3 reviews
A good place to calm down after Bangkok May 23, 2011
It's a good place to stay in after a long stay in Bangkok. Easy-going people, very friedly, ask them for a special priece and they gonna make a good offer.
Little bit noisy, especially in the morning when they start working to rebuild a few parts.
2 / 2 TravBuddies found this review helpful/trustworthy
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3 reviews
Another Guesthouse going downhill because of lonely planet. Tony got Lazy Mar 24, 2011
Tony's place is nicely decorated in the common room and restaurant and has atmosphere as alot of travelers come here. Its restaurant o.k, but go to the night market nearby alot cheap and way better. Wifi was so slow and not working at all at times. Staff were rude and unhelpful and tony himself haha (a man who knows people will go to his guesthouse whatever, no effect was made) lonely planet need to relook at this place. Wish I had gone to the place across the road heard good reports.
Tonys Place Guesthouse Ayutthaya Overview
Discover all that Ayutthaya has to offer with Tony's Place Beds & Breakfast as a base.
All 40 at this 2-star property offers well-furnished rooms and attentive service.
Each of the hotel's guestrooms offers non smoking rooms, air conditioning, television LCD/plasma screen.
This Ayutthaya accommodation contains all of the facilities and conveniences you would expect from a hotel in its class.
The hotel offers kids club, garden to provide extra pleasure and relaxation for all guests.
Along with its convenient location in Ayutthaya, the hotel also offers a wide range of services and facilities to the guests.
For your reservation at the Tony's Place Beds & Breakfast, simply submit your dates and complete our secure online booking form.
Tonys Place Guesthouse Amenities


text:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Prosecutors have charged a man for helping another hold two women in his basement, where he allegedly severely tortured them.
Genues Jones, 38, has been charged in Allen Superior Court with two counts of felony aiding criminal confinement related to an incident inside a Chestnut Street home on Aug. 29.
According to a probable cause affidavit, an "extremely injured" woman showed up at her grandmother's home around 2:30 p.m. that day. Her family, then, called police.
The woman was taken to a local hospital with severe bruises to her left eye and face, bruises and a cut to her right eye, a bloody mouth, cuts on each of her arms, bruises to her back from beatings and a cut to the back of her head from a claw hammer, the affidavit said.
The woman told police the incident began at a Lima Road storage unit. She said she had been clean from heroin for a week and a half, but while she was on the drug, her dealer – Govan – had placed a storage unit in her name. Since, the woman said he'd been calling her for the key. The woman told police she finally agreed to meet him to hand over the key, and while at the storage unit, Govan said things were missing from inside and became "violently aggravated," according to the affidavit.
The woman said she told Govan that she'd loaned the key to another woman, who Govan had prostituted out and kept on heroin, the affidavit said. The woman said Govan then became angry and tossed her into her own car and drove to a Chestnut Street home, the affidavit said.
During the drive, the woman said Govan punched her some 10 times, the affidavit said.
At the home, the pair saw the second woman, and she admitted to taking the items from the storage unit, the affidavit said.
The woman said Govan then took both women and threw them into the basement of the home, laid them face down and bound their arms behind their backs with cable, the affidavit said.
The woman said Jones grabbed them by the arm and forced them to the basement. The other woman said he was ordered by Govan to stand by them as he left the room, the affidavit said. Once Jones realized Govan's plan, though, the women said he left. One woman said she heard him say, "Hell with this!" the affidavit said.
After that, the first woman told police Govan proceeded to kicked her in the head more than 100 times, hit her with a claw hammer and tortured her and the other woman, the affidavit said.
Morgan Govan told the woman he was going to kill them both, the affidavit said.
While he was upstairs, though, the first woman told police that the second woman slipped out of the cable and ran off, the affidavit said. The first woman said after that escape, Govan acted like he couldn't kill her now because he figured the second woman would go to the police, the affidavit said.
Govan then picked her up and took her to the door and threw her out, the woman said, according to the affidavit. She said Govan told her if she went to police, he'd kill her whole family, the affidavit said.
Police also spoke with the second woman later. She said Govan, who had supplied her with 3.5 grams of heroin a day, was mad about items stolen from his storage unit – items the woman said she traded to another heroin dealer for drugs, the affidavit said. Govan then tortured them, she said, stomping on their heads and bodies for a steady 45 minutes, the affidavit said. The woman said Govan was so aggressively beating them that he would have to stop for breaks, the affidavit said.
The woman said after she escaped, she ran to the nearest house where she saw people and used the phone, the affidavit said. She told police she suffered 50 bumps and contusions all over her body, as well as dizziness, a possible broken left foot and issues with back and leg, the affidavit said.
Police arrested Govan later. During an interview with police, Govan became "uncontrollable and lawyered up," the affidavit said. The 37-year-old was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, three counts of criminal confinement, and one count each of possession of a narcotic drug and intimidation – all felonies. His case is pending.


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train station, tile, tiled floor, art deco, brown, seats, two, leather, light, cushions, classic, vintage, waiting area, lounge, deco, railway station, facility, age, railroad station, artistic movement, seat, terminal, 2, room
Classic, vintage, art deco train station waiting area seats


text:
Another Memorable Flutie Moment
Published: January 2, 2006
This item appeared in the paper as a stand alone photograph. Caption information is provided below.
Photos: Doug Flutie, the Patriots' backup quarterback, drop-kicked an extra point yesterday, a first in the N.F.L. since 1941. At right, punter Josh Miller offered his congratulations. Dolphins Coach Nick Saban said: ''I couldn't figure out what was going on. They had a quarterback in, four tight ends and a receiver, and there was no kicker.'' (Photos by Left, Al Bello/Getty Images; Winslow Townson/Associated Press)


text:
Before a commercial, television shows have traditionally done a FadeToBlack. Recently, though, television dramas skip the fading and cut the picture to a completely black screen. Typically, a Smash to Black will immediately follow a shocking moment such as a CliffHanger, a CommercialBreakCliffhanger, or a [[TheTeaser Cold Opening]], but can also follow a OneLiner or a moment of {{Deadpan Snark|er}}. Expect this to be called "Older Than The DVD" thirty years down the road.
Named for the SmashCut, of which this is a subtrope. May be accompanied by a ScareChord.
* One of these occurs after a BigLippedAlligatorMoment in ''Anime/{{REDLINE}}'' where a family drawn in [[ArtShift a completely different art style]] is seen watching TV for no reason. Cue smash cut to black for added audience disorientation.
* ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'' has one that's [[TearJerker phenomenally brutal]] in its simplicity. [[spoiler: Kimishima]] has been severely injured amidst his SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome. So Kazuma carries him back home. Somewhere along the way, [[spoiler: Kimishima]] stops talking, but Kazuma [[DistractedFromDeath doesn't realize what this means]]. When they get home, Kaname realizes what's happened, and starts to cry. But [[IdiotHero Kazuma]]...
--> "Hey, now you hold on or you're gonna fall! [[spoiler: Kimishima]] are you listenin'? Hey! [[spoiler: Kimishima]]? Heh heh, say something. [[spoiler: Kimishima]] I am not in the mood to fool around. This isn't funny. Hey, Kaname, what's wrong?...Hey, wait. [[spoiler: Kimishima]]?"\\
(''screen cuts to black'')\\
"[[PleaseWakeUp Come on, wake up]]. [[spoiler: Kimishima]]..."
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* The movie ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' ends the same way.
* Creator/PaulThomasAnderson is fond of ending movies this way--''Film/BoogieNights'', ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'', ''Film/ThereWillBeBlood''. The one in ''Magnolia'' is perfectly timed to the big guitar lick in Music/AimeeMann song "Save Me".
* The first officially-released teaser for ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' has two, one right after the first glimpse of Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, another right ''before'' the second glimpse.
* The ending to ''Film/{{Inception}}''.
* ''Film/TheRundown'' ends similarly.
* ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'' is a strange example in that the smash to black comes after a long scene of dialogue in which Ed Tom Bell describes two unsettling dreams to his wife over breakfast. In a movie full of disturbing violence and suspense, the smash to black makes the final scene all the more ominous.
* Inverted in the case of the ending of ''Film/TotalRecall1990'' which does a Smash To White.
* ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'': As the New Avengers present themselves at the end, the music swells, Captain America steps up to them and says "[[AvengersAssemble Avengers... A--]]" Smash to credits. Seeing as the movie was directed by Creator/JossWhedon (see the entry under Live-Action TV below), this isn't surprising.
* ''Film/{{Resolution}}'', a film about stories, the resolution thereof, and the EldritchAbomination guiding the story, has the characters asking the narrator for a second chance. There's a roar and a cut to black and the film ends.
[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Joss Whedon apparently loves this trope, using it with all his shows:
** ''Series/{{Angel}}'',
** ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'',
** ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}''
** ''Series/{{Firefly}}'',
*** Joss mentions in the commentary for ''Firefly'' that in order to avoid the automatic cuing of the commercial, they changed the color of the blackout, so Smash to Black became Smash to Almost Black But Really Just Very Dark Brown.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'' ended the fourth season like this (and on a major {{cliffhanger}}).
* ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris'' ended its series this way as well, mainly as a ShoutOut to ''Series/TheSopranos''.
* ''Series/{{Lost}}'' does this with just about every major or minor plot twist. In other words, ''a lot''.
* Season 5 of ''Series/MadMen'' ends this way, just after a woman propositions Don Draper. It's probably a tribute[=/=]ShoutOut to ''The Sopranos'' (on which ''Mad Men'' creator Matthew Weiner was a writer and producer).
* ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'' did this in nearly every episode, complete with a door-slamming sound effect.
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' had one episode ("Michael Ellis", 1974) in which the actors were discussing how to end the show.
--> "Well, how about a sudden ending?" CUT
* ''Series/{{Skins}}'' smashes to black so often that the one time they did the [[FadeToBlack fade out]] (Katie's S4 episode) it stood out (and some people suspected the fade out to be a lengthening device to cover up time lost from cut scenes).
* {{I|tWasHisSled}}nfamously, ''Series/TheSopranos'' [[NoEnding ended the]] ''[[NoEnding series]]'' this way, with Music/{{Journey}}'s "Don't Stop Believin'" cutting off mid-''word''.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' does this frequently, as observed on Website/TelevisionWithoutPity:
** And lampshaded in "Monster Movie", featuring a MonsterOfTheWeek who's a GenreSavvy movie fan.
-->"End scene." (monster boots Dean in the face. [[CommercialBreakCliffhanger Smash Cut to commercials.]])
* Pops up now and then on ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', notably when the porcupine monster rampages through a TSA holding area in the teaser of "Nothing as It Seems".
* ''Series/TheLateLateShow'' did this with Craig Ferguson's GrandFinale, referencing ''Series/{{Newhart}}'', ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'', ''Series/StElsewhere'', and getting cut off like ''The Sopranos'', music and all.
** The new James Corden version used this on a "Celebrity Noses" sketch (one where Corden can't get to Celebrity Noses because things keep going wrong) cut to black because the director told them they were out of time.
* This was actually common on many drama and action adventure series produced by Creator/UniversalStudios in the 70s and 80s.
* Used hilariously to conclude the penultimate Season 2 episode of ''Series/{{Galavant}}''
--> '''Jester:''' (''singing'') Or will we leave all our viewers with pain and anger,\\
Just like we left them last year?\\
Could we just stop once again, on a huge cliffhanger\\
* Along with the Smash ''From'' Black, this is how the CBC and its French counterpart SRC presented its '''interlude''' title cards (the ''only'' text to be shown in the picture) in the 70s and 80s.
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''Music/TheBeatles: VideoGame/RockBand'' does this with "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," befitting [[NoEnding how the song itself ends]].
* ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'' ends in a similar way to the ''Mass Effect'' example below. The actions in the final scene coincide with the soundtrack, cutting to black with the final piano note. And by actions, I mean [[spoiler:every version of Elizabeth (one of the two main characters) in the multiverse [[RetGone disappearing from existence]] before the camera, smashing into black with the last one--the one you've grown to know throughout the game. [[TearJerker Did I mention Elizabeth just drowned her father]] [[HeroicSacrifice at his own request?]]]] Bio Shock is just that kind of franchise.
* Done in ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' as well, sometimes out of nowhere, usually to indicate something bad has happened, and always to great effect.
* Used prominently in Telltale Games' more recent projects.
** ''VideoGame/TheWolfAmongUs'' ends Episode 1 with [[spoiler: the reveal of Snow White's severed head on the front step of the Woodlands]], Episode 2 with [[spoiler: Crane smashing the magic mirror]], Episode 3 with [[spoiler: a severely injured Bigby lying bleeding in an alleyway]], Episode 4 with [[spoiler: whatever action the player took upon meeting The Crooked Man (especially effective if the player chose to smoke as the smash occurs when Bigby ignites his lighter]], and most shockingly, Episode 5 with [[spoiler: Bigby's reaction to the game's single largest WhamLine that leaves a major part of the story (is Faith really dead, and if so, when did she actually die? Is Nerissa who she says she is, or is she actually Faith in disguise?) up for discussion. The smash only occurs if the player chooses to go after Nerissa, and punctuates Bigby's last memory of Faith. "I'll see you around...Wolf."]]
** Season 1 of ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' ends Episode 1 on a weird gradual example as all the lights in the Travelier Motel go out one by one, and a moment after the last one shuts off, the smash occurs. Episode 2 ends with a smash to punctuate [[spoiler: Jolene's video tape of Clementine in the motel, and the line, "You'll be safe, I promise."]] Episode 4 ends with [[spoiler: Lee being stunned completely speechless by The Stranger on the walkie talkie as the game ignores whatever option the player chose by smashing to black]], and Episode 5 ends with the SequelHook of [[spoiler: Clementine alone in a field spotting two figures off in the distance]].
* An option in ''Videogame/{{Limbo}}'' can be switched on if you don't like the gory deaths that can occure. It smashs to black the instant the boy is about to be killed, but leaves the sound of his demise in.
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' ends like this, with the Smash to Black coinciding with the final note in the ending music. However if the EMS is high enough and the player chose to destroy the reapers, there is a quick scene after [[spoiler: in which Shepard wakes up in the rubble.]]
* The Franchise/StarWars video game ''Republic Commando'' ends with this, with the door of the gunship that the protagonist squad is in slamming shut after Boss says "Delta Squad! Lock and load!"
* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'', if all human characters in the party die, the screen makes a sudden cut to black accompanied by a screeching sound, which lasts several seconds before fading in to a scene of you crossing into the afterlife.
** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'' does the same, only without any sound effects to go with your final moments of life.
* In ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation'', whenever the Xenomorph catches you, the screen smashes to black the moment before the creature deals the finishing blow.
[[folder:Web Animation]]
* "WebAnimation/NoEvil" has this in "Black Bart" as part of Wrip's perspective when [[spoiler: Charles/Black Bart takes Xochipilli's ear covers, absorbing the [[SealedEvilInACan Black Tezcatlipoca]]. He promptly uses the new power on everyone nearby, Wrip included, causing a Smash To Black.]] We're then given a shot of her waking up, surrounded by the rest of the cast.
[[folder:Web Original]]
* The "Sex Survey Results" episode of ''WebVideo/LasagnaCat'' uses a Smash to ''Orange'' in its ending.
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' does this at the end of each episode.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' ends nearly every episode with a hard cut to the credits. The one time they used an IrisOut, it was just a FakeOutFadeOut.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' uses this in many act breaks.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' was perhaps the first show to do this consistently. Most act breaks avoided fadeouts, in part because they usually end acts on a gag and it is thought a fadeout would detract from its impact.
** To combat the automatic commercial problem noted above, most Simpsons episodes have a fadeout artificially added when they air in syndication. This can be problematic since often there is plot or a joke happening up to the very last second of an act, so the fadeout often begins while the action is still occurring.
* Most of the episodes of seasons 1-6 of ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' ended like this, yet allowing the background music to end properly even after the end. Starting from somewhere around season 6, smashes to black are only seen on the DVD or iTunes versions of the episodes (note that the background music is ending within the episode, not after the smash to black), while on Nick.com and international versions of Nickelodeon, there are no smashes.
** "The Krabby Patty secret formula i"
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' uses this instead of its usual star shaped IrisOut for more serious episode endings.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' did this in "Lois Kills Stewie". Serves as bit of a TakeThat to the infamous ending of ''Series/TheSopranos'' mentioned above.
-->'''Stewie''': [[TemptingFate Well at least it didn't end like ''The Sopranos'' where it just cut to black in mid-sen-]] ''(Smash to Black)''
* Happens OnceAnEpisode on ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'', usually about one minute from the end of the episode.
* Although not a true smash to black, as there is still audio, the video smashes to black during one of the biggest [[WhamLine Wham Lines]] in season 3 of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bojack Horseman}}''
-->'''Bojack''':[[spoiler: Sarah Lynn? ''({{beat}})'' Sarah Lynn? ''(Smash To Black)''...[[PleaseWakeUp Sarah Lynn?]]]]
[[folder:Real Life]]
* This is how UsefulNotes/{{NASA}}'s Ranger probes ended their transmissions, {{c|rashIntoHello}}ulminating their [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-s5lSHWaug observations]].


text:
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The 94WIP Morning Show announced their Winners and Weasels for the week of April 18th, 2014.
Angelo's winner of the week is Cole Hamels who has pitched 15 innings in his last two starts, allowing 10 hits and two earned runs, in back-to-back 2-1 Phillies wins.
Angelo's weasel of the week is Jonathan Papelbon for blowing a save and losing a game in back-to-back, and making jovial comments about being booed by the fans.
Caller winner of the week (approved by Hollis Thomas) is Doc Rivers for saying he will likely leave if Donald Sterling remains the owner of the Clippers.
Caller weasel of the week (approved by Al Morganti) is John Harbaugh for saying, "It's not a big deal, it's just part of the process" on Ray Rice's two-game suspension for assaulting his wife.
You may also be interested in these Sports stories:


text:
Speaking in Odessa, Fed Reserve Bank President says Congress must address deficit
Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, May 12, 2010
ODESSA - Last week's European debt crisis briefly roiled U.S. markets but could ultimately have a positive outcome.
The crisis, which prompted European nations to provide a rescue package to Greece to prevent its default on government debt, should serve as a wake-up call to American legislators, said Richard Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. In town to attend a board meeting, he addressed a luncheon audience of local civic and business leaders.
"We have been stealing from our children and grandchildren and now our great-grandchildren, and that has to be repaired," he said, noting that Americans will find spending cuts as painful as the cutbacks Greeks and other Europeans are now experiencing as governments try to cut their debt.
"I see it as a good message and I believe our political leaders are getting the message - they better be getting the message," he said.
However, he said, it is not and should not be the duty of the Federal Reserve to make fiscal policy. It is, he said, Congress that makes fiscal policy while the Federal Reserve makes monetary policy. Americans, he added, would not want to see the two entities trade duties
"This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue," Fisher said. "Congress is the one that will have to solve this problem."
Addressing reporters after his speech, Fisher said he doesn't think Congress has a choice but to address the budget deficit. "Congress has always had a kick-the-can-down-the-road attitude, but at some point that has to stop," he said.
After last year's financial meltdown, when the government infused massive amounts of cash into an economy halted by frozen credit, Fisher said the economy is slowly getting its legs and markets are being restored. "The economy is no robust but it is gaining momentum," he said. "The constraining factor is unemployment and until we bring unemployment down, we won't have a robust economy."
He is proud, he said, that Texas is at the forefront of economic recovery.
"Regardless of political party, I like that the Governor of Texas is on the cover of Business Week," he said. "I like being compared to California; we win every time."
Texas, he said, was late to the recession but did feel its effects and is now recovering due to what he called its dynamic entrepreneurial spirit. Texas banks, he said, are in better financial shape than banks in other states and the Permian Basin is even stronger, he said.
"In the Permian Basin, you're highly energy-driven," Fisher said. "The banks here are even stronger than in the rest of Texas. This is a blessed area - you have low unemployment, the rig count is on its way back up, so the energy economy is a great blessing. This area is extremely vibrant."
Mella McEwen can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
What does nethermost mean?
Definitions for nethermostˈnɛð ərˌmoʊst, -məst
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word nethermost.
Princeton's WordNet
bottommost, lowermost, nethermost(adj)
farthest down
"bottommost shelf"
farthest down; lowest
Origin: From nether + most
Webster Dictionary
lowest; as, the nethermost abyss
Origin: [AS. niemest. See Nether, and cf. Aftermost.]
Anagrams for nethermost »
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of nethermost in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of nethermost in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Sample Sentences & Example Usage
I do not think myself to be a worm, and a grub, grass of the field fit only to be burned, a clod, a morsel of putrid atoms that should be thrown to the dungheap, ready for the nethermost pit. Nor if I did should I therefore expect to sit with Angels and Archangels.
Images & Illustrations of nethermost
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text:
Novel cost-effective screen test can speed up cancer genes discoveryNovember 19th, 2008 - 6:14 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, November 19 (ANI): Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have devised a cost-effective screen test that can speed up the rate of discovering cancer-related genes and validating their function in living animals.
The novel test resulting from a combination of five research groups expertise has been found to succeed in uncovering 13 new tumour suppressors, genes that inhibit the activity of cancer genes, in a preliminary study.
Given that cancer sufferers, specifically people with liver cancer, usually lack tumour suppressors, these discoveries are a huge step forward in understanding the genetics of cancer and open up a host of new strategies to improve its diagnosis and treatment, according to the authors.
Dr. Scott Powers, Director of the Human Cancer Genome Center at CSHL, used a highly efficient genome-sequencing technique to scan the genomes of liver cancers from more than 100 patients to compile a list of deletions of chromosomal regions, which were hypothesized to be the location of most of the missing tumor suppressor genes.
Upon comparing that list with the genome sequence of a normal human cell, the researcher could identity approximately 300 genes within the deleted chromosomal segments.
Since chromosomal deletions are not limited to cancer-related genes alone, and may cause any number of unrelated neighbouring genes to be lost, the researchers had to pinpoint the tumour suppressors among the 300 genes.
Genomic analysis of human tumours is important, but combining it with functional screening in mouse models is a notable step forward, Powers observed.
CSHL Professor Scott W. Lowe bypassed the time-consuming step of mutating a gene in mouse embryos, and then creating lines of mice that can be examined for the mutations effects. The researcher instead engineered mutations into the genome of adult mouse cells, and then re-injected them into adult mice.
The team used a method honed by Dr. Gregory J. Hannon of introducing stable mutations into mouse cells via RNA interference (RNAi), a technique in which small RNA molecules are introduced into cells to shut off specific genes.
RNA sequences that corresponded to all the 300 or so deleted genes were obtained from an RNAi library compiled by the Hannon lab.
Lowe and colleagues introduced the RNAi tools into progenitor cells that develop into mature liver cells, albeit ones engineered to over-produce a cancer gene product called Myc.
The engineered cells that carried a Myc mutation and an shRNA were injected into mice. Dramatically, those that received cells in which a tumour suppressor gene had been silenced by an shRNA developed tumours within a month.
The scientists homed in on the identity of the silenced tumour suppressors by simply isolating and analysing the genetic material from the tumours, and their strategy identified 13 new tumour suppressor genes, most of which had not been linked to cancer before.
The nature of these new genes is not obvious and we wouldnt have guessed their relationship to cancer if we hadnt followed this approach. They may now allow us to make headway into poorly understood areas of cancer, says Lowe.
The researchers say that the newly identified tumour suppressor genes affect a wide array of cellular activities, including maintenance of cell structure, cellular metabolism, cell proliferation, and control of the levels of various tumour growth-enhancing proteins in the cells nucleus.
In one instance, the teams strategy uncovered an entire network of genes that go awry in liver cancer.
Given that the cancer puzzle involves multiple genes in various combinations, we need to find all the hits that make the cell tip over the edge, says Lowe, explaining one advantage of his teams broad strategy.
The researchers are of the opinion that some of the genes identified might also lead to new strategies for cancer therapy.
A report on this study has been published in the online edition of the journal Cell. (ANI)
Tags: adult mice, cancer genes, cancer sufferers, chromosomal regions, chromosomal segments, cold spring harbor, cold spring harbor laboratory, cshl, functional screening, genome sequence, human cancer, human tumours, liver cancer, mouse cells, mouse embryos, mouse models, professor scott, screen test, spring harbor laboratory, tumor suppressor genes


text:
Finn wasn't ready to go inside yet. Beck would come and get him when it was time. It was warm today. The sun was shining, and it was at least seventy degrees, he guessed, maybe seventy-five. He and Ronan had spent a week working in Chicago where it had been around ten degrees every single day with crazy below-zero wind chills. The heat felt good on his face. He liked being outside, cold or hot, and he liked being home, too. It had been such a long time.
His cell phone rang, reminding him that he needed to turn it off before the ceremony. He saw who was calling and felt a wave of exhaustion. On-again off-again Danielle was trying to reconnect with him. He wasn't about to get into that drama. He'd had enough, and he simply didn't have the stamina for any more of her games. He declined the call and turned off the phone. He should go in, he decided, and was about to do just that when he saw her. The vision in blue. He watched her cross the parking lot and start up the walkway, her high heels clicking against the brick. He noticed her body first, of course. It was damn near perfect. The short, fitted dress showed off her curves and her long, gorgeous legs. Her stride was every bit as sexy as her body. The way she moved was sensual and seductive. She was absolutely beautiful. Her long dark hair, the color of midnight, fell in soft curls just below her slender shoulders.
She must have felt him watching her, for she suddenly turned and looked up the hill. When she saw him, she stepped off the path and started walking toward him. He wanted to swallow, but he couldn't seem to remember how. He had never reacted to any woman this fiercely, this quickly. What had happened to his self-control? He excused his bizarre behavior by reasoning that she was no ordinary woman. He didn't want to stare, but the closer she came, the better she looked. Beneath her thick dark eyelashes were the most beautiful, crystalline blue eyes he had ever seen, and her rosy lips were full and inviting.
She stepped directly in front of him and gave him a heart-stopping smile. The dimple in her cheek was sexy as hell. So was her scent, which was light and feminine.
Her eyes sparkled with laughter when she stretched up, kissed him on his cheek, and said, "Hello, Hotshot."
He was speechless. Peyton Lockhart? He couldn't believe it. She was all grown-up. She had gone from a skinny little girl to this beautiful woman with a devastating smile. When did this happen? The transformation seemed to have taken place overnight, but then Finn realized he hadn't been around while she was growing up. He'd gone to California to do his undergraduate work at Stanford and had stayed there for law school. During that time his parents had downsized to a smaller, more energy-efficient home about a mile from their old house in Brentwood. Whenever Finn was home on break, he never had enough time to go back to the old neighborhood.
Finn overcame his surprise enough to speak. "Don't call me Hotshot."
"You didn't know who I was, did you, Finn?" she asked, saying his name to placate him.
"I didn't have a clue," he admitted. He was still trying to get past his initial reaction and stop acting as though he had never seen a beautiful woman before. This was Peyton, the little girl who would sit on the front steps and wait for him to come home from high school so she could tell him about her day. She was a nuisance back then, and now a temptress.
"Are your sisters here? I won't recognize them, either, will I?"
"Yes, they're here already. I'm running late."
Beck whistled from the doorway to get Finn's attention.
"Aren't you in the wedding?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, I should go in. It's good to see you again."
Peyton didn't want to miss the bride walking down the aisle. "It's good to see you, too."
It had suddenly become awkward, and she didn't understand why. He wasn't leaving. Beck whistled again, but Finn didn't move.
"Are you going to the reception?" he asked.
"No, I'm afraid I can't."
"Maybe I'll see you after the wedding, then."
Peyton continued on, but when she glanced back, she thought it strange that Finn was still standing in the same spot.
Finn had walked down to the parking lot to get away from the noise. He was listening to phone messages and turned just as Peyton was approaching. He offered to walk her to her car.
"How come you aren't coming to the reception?" he asked.
"I have to work," she answered. She dug the keys out of her little clutch and hit the unlock button. Standing beside her car, she said, "It really was good to see you."
"I'm sorry we didn't get to—" He stopped. "When did you get this car?" he asked, staring past her and frowning.
"About a year ago. Why?"
Finn moved closer and squatted down behind the rear bumper. "These are bullet holes."
"Yes, they are," she agreed. She didn't seem the least fazed. "I've got to get going or I'll be late for work."
He wasn't about to let her leave. "They haven't been here long."
"The bullet holes?"
"Yes, the bullet holes," he said.
He was asking questions so rapidly he wasn't giving her time to answer.
"Yes, I was in the car. I was on the highway when it happened. He wanted me to stop. I didn't know he shot at me until I was back in Texas. The holes are so low, I didn't see them until a few days later. In fact, you're the only other person who's noticed them."
"You couldn't hear gunshots?" His voice was brisk, no nonsense. He was all FBI now.
Her hand went to her hip. "I was in the middle of a blizzard at the time. All I could hear was the howling wind."
"Where exactly were you?"
"Northwest of Minneapolis. Finn, I've got to leave."
She wasn't going anywhere until she gave him a few more details.
"Who did you report it to?"
Peyton knew he wasn't going to like her answer. "I didn't report it."
"Because you didn't realize he was shooting at you."
"But when you did see the bullet holes—"
She cut him off. "I didn't report it."
"Why the hell not?" Frustration made his voice sharp. "He could be out there now trolling for his next victim, and maybe this time he'll hit the gas tank or, worse, the driver."
She shook her head. "No, he won't."
"Did you get the make or model?"
"I have to leave."
"No, you have to answer me."
"You know what, Finn. You're just as bossy and stubborn as you were when I was a little girl."
"And you're just as aggravating. Now answer me."
She gave in. "It was a big white truck, and I know for a fact that he isn't out on the highway looking for other victims." Unless someone gets on Drew Albertson's bad side, she silently added. She took a step closer. "And I'm not a victim. I took control of the situation and forced him to stop chasing me."
"How?" he asked, trying to concentrate on what she was saying and not how sexy she was or how good she smelled.
"I sent him into a field. Actually, I sent him through a fence into a field."
"How did you do that?"
"Some...intricate driving moves." Slamming on the brakes and going into a spin that she was helpless to control could be considered an intricate move, couldn't it?
"Intricate driving moves, huh?" he repeated, smiling.
"Yes," she said. "He didn't get hurt," she hastened to add. "His car sank into the snow, and he was stuck. I pulled over to make sure he didn't need an ambulance. I watched him get out and start pounding his fists on the truck."
"You saw the shooter?"
Uh-oh. Too late, she realized she shouldn't have mentioned that fact because now he was going to ask her another hundred questions. She decided to stop him before he got started.
"I didn't get a close look at him, but I've got a good idea who he is."
He seemed to take the news in stride. "Okay. Who is he?"
"His name is Rick Parsons, and he works for the company that hired me."
He nodded calmly, but she noticed his jaw was clenched. "Since you never reported the incident to the police, he wasn't arrested."
"That's right."
"Why was he chasing you?"
"Because I left," she said, evading the details. "They really hate it when you leave the company"—she shrugged—"so they shoot at you."
Peyton thought he would think her answer funny, but apparently he wasn't amused. She was sure he would have kept her there with his questions for the rest of the evening, or until he had the entire story, if a groomsman hadn't appeared and told him he had to return to the church for photos.
Finn answered that he would be right there, then opened the car door for Peyton. Before he started back up the hill toward the church, he turned to Peyton and said, "We aren't finished with this."
Excerpted from Hotshot by Julie Garwood
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.


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Built in 1998, the Konkan travels from Bombay to Cochin. In the days of empire, the British had considered, and rejected, the idea of running a railway down the Konkan coast - too wild, too hilly, too many rivers. But the Indians thought otherwise.
The 760km route took seven years to build and includes 92 tunnels and 1,998 bridges. Not being a 'heritage route' means it will be spared the mock Agatha Christie motif that blights many great rail journeys. It's a real train for real people - the majority of them Indians.


text: PepsiCo Inc. said it agreed to purchase the soft-drink business of MEI Corp. for $590 million in cash. PepsiCo said MEI is its third-largest independent bottler and operates in 33 Pepsi-Cola franchise territories from the Midwest to the West Coast. The company said MEI`s operating income from its beverage business totaled $79.7 million in 1984 on sales of $564 million.


text:
Writings Pictures Anime Gaming About Links Blog Guests
Christina's Cygnar
I am still working on my macro camera skills, and I especially apologize for the outside-pics, but these're the best I've got. I hope they'll do. Note the Cygnar blue shade is a tad darker and deeper in tone in real life. Click on the links for larger pictures and other angles.
Commander Stryker.
Ironclad Heavy Warjack
Charger Light Warjack
Lancer Light Warjack
Haley, Eiryss, and other 'Casters and Solos


text:
Aston Villa have agreed a £5.5million deal for Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell.
And after only seven Premier League starts for the Blues, Sidwell has now opted to move to Villa Park.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill is keen to bolster his small squad as he attempts to build a side capable of a top-six Premier League finish next season.
But, Sidwell, 25, could also be viewed as a possible replacement for Villa captain Gareth Barry, who is a transfer target of Liverpool.


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The management of ITU-T Study Group 16 Working Party 3 (Media Coding) has organized a Special Session - New ITU-T Audio and Speech Coding Standards within the sixteenth European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO-2008) hosted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL).
The session will be chaired by Hervé Taddei (Rapporteur of Q23/16, "media coding") and it will be complemented by a broad overview of ITU-T speech and audio coding standards that will be given in a plenary session presentation highlighting the audio and speech coding achievements in recent years and the main trends for the next four years.
EUSIPCO Conferences focus on the key aspects of signal processing theory and applications, and the exploration of new avenues and methodologies in signal processing.
The focus of the Special Session is on details of recent (mid 2007- early 2008) ITU-T speech and audio coding standards. In order to cope with the heterogeneity of access technologies adopted to interconnect various networks and terminals and to provide a universal and convergent multimedia access to users, audio coding development has been driven by three objectives: quality enhancement, flexibility improvements and increases in robustness.
VoIP over broadband has driven the development of strongly enhanced voice and audio services requiring new encoding capabilities. The capability to extend the encoded audio bandwidth from narrowband to wideband, superwideband and eventually fullband for a wide range of bit rates, with a high QoS is becoming a key issue. Scalable codecs capable of interoperating over such various sets of bit rates and bandwidths bring significant improvement.
Meanwhile, the work on development of additional features (Voice Activity Detector, Discontinuous transmission, Packet Loss Concealment procedure,) necessary to accommodate current coders to new application requirements and new IP packet networks constraints has continued and been reinforced.
Present an integrated view of recent developments
in speech and audio coding standards
Increase cooperation between ITU-T and academia
for audio and speech coding
Raise visibility of ITU and its standards setting
environment with academia and research organizations
ITU-T G.711 wideband extension
Enhancements to ITU-T G.729.1 wideband speech codec
New ITU-T embedded variable bit rate codec
Testing methodologies for fullband audio
Paper proposals are invited for the Special Session and should be
submitted within the general framework of the EUSIPCO 2008
(indicating submission to this special session); deadline for paper submission is 20 February 2008.
[ more … ]


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|3,229 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|0 - 6 nights
Our canalhouse is situated in the oldest part of Amsterdam. It is a quiet living area. But at the same time it is in the middle of the centre of Amsterdam.
We have three big bedrooms with each a bathroom. The living area is huge. About 320 m2. With a small patio and a little garden in the back. On of the oldest canals in Amsterdam is right outside our house.
The central trainstation is 6 minutes walk.
There are 8 beds.
We live here since 2004
mike boerma purchased this apartment in 2004
Our home is situated in a very quiet area but still 5 minutes walk from one of the centres of Amsterdam. 5 minutes walk from the central trainstation.
Our house is very big. about 300 square meters. With three big bedrooms. A small patio garden in de back.
Absolutely stunning house, it's distressed feel only added to the character. Perfect for entertaining and big meals, with cosy out door areas and three massive ensuite rooms.
And to top it all off you're welcomed home by their lovely cat Stella who loves to curl up with you next to one of the many sunny windows.
Incredible location, within walking distance of everything and a short stroll to restaurants, cafes and supermarkets.
Two of the toilets didn't have doors (purposely) but the showers were lovely!
Would highly recommend, especially over a hotel/hostel - you really felt like you belonged and the group was able gather for meals and planning (and the odd glass of wine).
Thank you, Mike!
the house is very central in Amsterdam, and it was easy to walk almost everywhere.
We loved the house- the decoration was fun and whimsical, and the house is huge! There was easily enough room for all 6 of us, and we enjoyed the roomy bedrooms and the in suite bathrooms.
The house is unique and fun, and we would love to come back some time again.
Communication with our host was very easy, and we have only had a positive experience.
Thank you!
Tutto perfetto. Dall'ospitalità di Mike, sempre presente anche se in vacanza, alla location, una tipica casa olandese vissuta ed originale, con ampi spazi anche per dieci persone. In pieno centro, non abbiamo mai sentito la necessità di usare mezzi pubblici: la destinazione più lontana è stato il Meseo Van Gogh, raggiunto comunque in non più di mezz'ora di tranquilla passeggiata. Comodissimo anche da raggiungere dall'aereoporto, con il treno: la stazione dista non più di dieci minuti a piedi. Che dire... non saremmo potuti capitare meglio. Grazie Mike e famiglia!
Un logement idéal en tous points pour découvrir Amsterdam: l'emplacement est central, à moins de 10 minutes à pied de la gare, nous n'avons utilisé qu'une fois le tram, pour aller au rikjmuseum. Pour le reste, tout se fait à pied. La location était très spacieuse, tout à fait conforme aux photos et impeccable, et la communication avec Mike très facile, nous avons pu le joindre rapidement chaque fois que nous avons eu besoin de le faire (pour trouver un médecin pour notre fille malade par exemple). Accueil vraiment sympathique avec pain frais pour le petit déjeuner ( nous sommes arrivés tard le soir)! Je recommanderais volontiers cette grande location.
Our house is on the broadest and one of the oldest canals of Amsterdam. It is an old captains house. It is a official monument.
Our house is located in a very quiet living area. But on the same time is only 5 minutes walk from the 'Nieuwmarkt', one of the old centre of Amsterdam. It is also situated only 5 minutes walk from the central trainstation.
|Tax Rate


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Thumb Community Concert Choir in concert March 27 and 30
Published 8:00 pm, Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Thumb Community Concert Choir will be presenting their fifth annual concert on at 7 p.m., Thursday, and at 2 p.m., Sunday in the USA High School Auditorium.
The program consists of praise music, Broadway show tunes, and folk and patriotic songs. The repertoire varies from awe-inspiring arrangements to light-hearted, toe-tapping tunes and romantic melodies of the past and present. A sampling of the titles in those musical genres include Behold the Lamb, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Fly Away Medley, and a powerful arrangement of How Great Thou Art coupled with Majesty. Melinda Sutherland will captivate the audience with her expertise on the concert grand piano.
The 75 voice choir hales from several towns and villages and represents 20 different churches in the Thumb area. They have received excellent reviews by previous audiences and are looking forward to offering the public another exceptional musical event. The proceeds go to help support their sponsor, Thumb Friends of the Arts, and the USA school music programs.
Tickets are $8 and are available at the door.


text:
Below is a chart from NYPIRG's spreadsheet expert Bill Mahoney showing how NY has achieved a dubious first place distinction: the first state nationally to have campaign contribution limits — of the 45 states with finance laws — over $100,000.
That limit has risen thanks to a law that ties contribution limits to the Consumer Price Index.
NYPIRG notes that they are putting this out on the 1-year anniversary of the Citizens United case in which the US Supreme Court, critics say, effectively voided limits on some forms of corporate campaign spending.
At the same time, New York's Brennan Center, along with Common Cause and Public Campaign are calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to adopt a public financing system in New York noting that public support for the concept is high.
Common Cause's Bob Edgar said corporate dollars are already "flooding" into the 2012 races. "Now is the time to really address the question," said Edgar.
Note: the different limits for each party are because they are set based on enrollment.


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NFL Labor Situation: NFL Players Answer Commissioner Roger GoodellMarch 21, 2011
Remember that summer when you went away to camp and fell in love? You got the girl's address and began writing love letters back and forth. Well, the letters written from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to the NFL players and the one written back to the commissioner by a handful of players are nothing like those summer camp love letters.
They are more like the texts you fired off after the break-up.
Last week, I reported on Goodell's letter to the players and found myself wondering why, if such offers were made, this labor dispute was not resolved. Why were the players being so selfish? Hadn't the owners made significant concessions?
Now, I have read the players' response and I am like, "Ohhhh. Maybe the owners have not been as magnanimous as it seems."
(I know. I am a Piñata. Whack me and I fly that way. Whack me again, and I fly this direction. Keep whacking me and I am going to burst.)
The players' letter was signed by eleven players, which, oddly enough is just the right number to symbolize a "team." NFLPA president Kevin Mawae is the first name on the dotted line. He is joined by Drew Brees, Brian Dawkins, Mike Vrabel and other notables. There is not a "spare" among them.
Goodell is a lawyer by trade, so it stands to reason he may have actually penned the letter he sent. Or, he could have had a minion write. Who knows? I do not know which of the players wrote their letter. Maybe they all sat around a conference table and collaborated.
"Yeah. Put that in."
"Hey. Don't forget this."
Or, maybe a lawyer or team of NFLPA lawyers drew it up and then the players read it, liked it and signed it. It is all conjecture and hardly worth belaboring, so I will stop.
The players' letter to Goodell was much more detailed than the Commissioner's letter.
First, they exonerated themselves of culpability in this lockout. They write:
The NFLPA did all it could to reach a fair collective bargaining agreement and made numerous proposals to address the concerns raised by the owners. In response, the owners never justified their demands for a massive give-back which would have resulted in the worst economic deal for players in major league pro sports.
In other words, Don't blame us. This is all your fault.
Then, the players called Goodell a liar.
"Your statements are false," they wrote.
Liar, liar. Pants on fire.
They backed this up by laying out no less than 14 "facts." Since this letter is clearly as much for public consumption as it ever was for Goodell himself, they may have forgotten how short our attention span is or how easily we are overwhelmed with information overload. I mean, we are football fans; not legal aides.
But facts are facts and they had 14 of them.
(I also contend that Goodell's letter was a public relations move as much as it was a headlock, arm-twist and noogie for the players.)
I just cannot see my way clear to write out all 14 facts in this article, especially when I am giving you this link so you, faithful reader, can consume them at your leisure.
One of the more telling facts, however, is number five, which is actually built on the foundation of the first four facts:
Your proposal would have resulted in a league-wide giveback by the players of 576M in 2011 increasing to 1.2 BILLION in 2014, for a total of more than 3.6 BILLION for just the first four years. Even if revenues increased at a slower rate of only 5%, the players would still have lost over 2 BILLION over the next four years. These amounts would be even higher if your stadium deductions apply to the first four years (your proposal did not note any such limits on these deductions).
The 14th and final fact is kind of a summary:
The cap system for the past twenty years has always been one in which the players were guaranteed to share in revenue growth as partners. Your proposal would have shifted to a system in which players are told how much they will get, instead of knowing their share will grow with revenues, and end the partnership.
If the facts check out, one can see that the players have a legitimate beef.
Still, the rancorous tone of the letter seems ill-conceived and, I fear, threatens to paint them in an even worse light with the average NFL fan. The bottom line is they have fans, not because of their sense of justice or their righteous cause. They have fans because they run faster, hit harder and play the game we love better than the rest of the planet.
Saints Fans don't want to see Drew Brees' name on an angry letter to Roger Goodell. They want to see it etched on the Lombardi trophy. Besides, this thing won't be settled in the court of public opinion. It will be either settled in the court of robed lawyers, aka judges, interpreting the law consistent with their ideological leanings and political indebtedness, or (more likely) at the bargaining table.
(OK. Call me jaded. But tell me whether the judge was appointed by Bush or Obama and I can just about give you his ruling before he makes it. So, call me Nostradamus instead.)
While I do find myself moved ever so slightly back in the players' direction, I find myself, like most fans I talk with, hacked at both sides and unable to identify with either.
Ricky Williams, the Miami Dolphin and renowned lover of herbal things, tweeted Sunday, "It's turned into the billionaire-millionaire fight. I think you have missed the point. Mass media trumps common sense once again."
He seems frustrated that you are so stupid. I predict his frustration will only grow, because it will always be billionaires fighting with millionaires to Joe the plumber and Jimmy, who manages the night shift at McDonald's.
That, I am afraid, is fact 15.


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Multiple short-term job contracts are within EU law: court
(LUXEMBOURG) - Europe's highest court ruled Thursday that employers can keep staff on successive short-term contracts in a preliminary ruling issued amid a planned shake-up of labour markets across the eurozone.
"The renewal of fixed-term employment contracts may be justified by replacement needs, even where that need is recurring or even permanent," judges ruled at the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice.
"The mere fact that an employer may have to employ temporary replacements on a recurring, or even permanent, basis and that those replacements may also be covered by the hiring of employees under employment contracts of indefinite duration, does not mean that there is no objective reason or that there is abuse," they said.
The case was referred to Luxembourg by a German court looking into a complaint by a civil servant, regional German court clerk Bianca Kucuk, about her employment terms after being placed on 13 successive fixed-term contracts in 11 years.
She argued that the last of those contracts had become one "of indefinite duration in the absence of any objective reason justifying its being limited in time."
European Union law "is based on the premise that contracts of indefinite duration are the general form of employment relationship" and that governments must adopt measures to prevent "abuse" of successive fixed-term employment contracts.
However, they said the key is to supply "objective reasons" for such renewals, such as replacing permanent contract-holders on parental leave, rather than transferring staff onto permanent contracts.
"Temporary replacement" under German law is considered just such an "objective reason," they ruled.
In individual cases where abuse is alleged, adjudicators could nevertheless take into account the "number and cumulative duration" of such contracts.
The court specified that it "does not decide the dispute itself," and that its opinion is offered in order to help the national court or tribunal reach a "binding" decision in its jurisdiction.
Judgement of the European Court of Justice in Case C-586/10 - Kücük - Main proceedings and documents


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