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DENVER—Cyber:Secured Forum, a cybersecurity summit focusing on integrated systems, will launch with an inaugural gathering here, on June 4-6, 2018, under a partnership formed by PSA Security Network, the world's largest systems integrator cooperative, ISC Security Events (Reed Exhibitions, the global tradeshow company) and the Security Industry Association (SIA), a leading trade association for global security solution providers.
"Sophisticated cybervulnerabilities and threats are emerging every day, and it is critical for the physical security and systems integration industry to accelerate its delivery of compelling education to help all industry stakeholders mitigate the risk of cyberattacks to business continuity," SIA CEO Don Erickson said in the announcement.
Cyber:Secured Forum will feature in-depth content on cybersecurity trends and best practices as related to the delivery of physical security systems and other integrated systems. Content is being collaboratively developed by SIA and PSA Security Network's education teams and will feature top cybersecurity leaders.
"Cybersecurity is no longer just a threat—it's a real issue knocking on the doors of security and IT professionals on a daily basis," Bill Bozeman, president and CEO, PSA Security Network, said in the announcement. "The time for just being in reaction mode is behind us now. As security leaders, we have a responsibility to step forward and be part of the frontline defense when it comes to cybersecurity, just as we have been part of the frontline defense when it comes to physical security issues for decades. The goal of this conference is to empower attendees with real tools and knowledge to do just that."
The two-day event will provide leaders in the IT and physical security industries with opportunities to connect and share information on risks and liabilities, responding to cybersecurity threats, and establishing security control standards across IT systems and particularly when integrating physical security solutions and devices on IT networks.
Additionally, sponsor exhibits will help showcase solutions related to cybersecurity, integrated systems and physical security solutions.
"At our recent ISC West and ISC East events, the educational sessions on cyber-physical integration and connected security have been in high-demand," Will Wise, group vice president of the Security Portfolio, Reed Exhibitions. "In-depth education, training and industry collaboration is essential to ensure safe and secure systems for the market. We're enthusiastic about this partnership with PSA Security Network and SIA to address this important market need."
For more information about this new event and to be added to the event mailing list, visit cybersecuredforum.com
Mission 500, a non-profit charitable organization focusing on the security industry and dedicated to serving children and families in need across the U.S., recently gave an overview of its efforts throughout 2017, including the annual Security 5/2K at ISCW, the summer Security Softball Game and the Miami Mixer among other events.
"Engaging and giving back to children and communities in need is at the core of our mission here in the U.S.," Jeff Eichenlaub, director of strategic partnerships for Mission 500, said in a prepared statement. "We look forward to contributing to causes that are important to the security industry again in 2018."
At the Miami Mixer, Mission 500 raised more than $15,000 for children in need in South Florida, according to the announcement. The event had more than 70 attendees and included a fashion show, raffles, an auction and karaoke. Proceeds were donated to children attending to Crosspointe Elementary School, a Title One School in Boynton Beach and Centro Campesino, a not-for-profit organization that hosts a summer camp for children of migrant farm workers living in severe poverty in South Florida.
At the Axis Connect & Converge Conference, Mission 500 spoke to conference attendees about corporate social responsibility awareness in the security industry and why it is important. Conference attendees assembled School Refill Packs for 600 students at a Title One School in Seattle, which will provide students with enough school supplies to get through the second half of the school year, the announcement said.
Axis Communications hosted another event at the company's new Southeast Experience Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The event was dedicated to assembling School Refill Packs for 200 low-income students impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the storm that impacted Houston in August 2017.
At the 2017 California Alarm Association Winter Conference held in San Francisco in November, Mission 500 helped attendees assemble School Refill Packs for 200 low- income children impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
At the NY Fire and Executive Security Club Dinner, Mission 500 honored Alan Forman of Altronix Corporation, Zygmunt Staszewski of Z.S. Engineering D.P.C, and Lew Walters of Affiliated Monitoring for their philanthropic contributions. All proceeds from the event benefited children supported by Mission 500, in addition to the NY Firefighters Burn Center Foundation Children's Camp.
In 2018, Mission 500 is already planning for the eighth annual Security 5/2K at ISC West as well as the annual Mission 500 softball game which will take place in the fall.
On the Move Systems recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices has executed a strategic agreement to supply its intelligent robotic solutions through Allied Universal, a leading facility services company and one of the largest security forces in North America with more than 150,000 employees.
The robots will be leveraged to help Allied Universal customers supplement existing security professionals and improve safety, increase situational awareness and drive efficiency across the enterprise.
"The RAD portfolio augments the core competencies of our guard personnel because it offers fully autonomous patrolling that stakeholders can leverage to make rapid, informed decisions," Ty Richmond, president, Integrated Security Solutions and Technology, Allied Universal, said in the announcement. "The data captured by the security robot will prove valuable in post-event investigations, enabling our customers to quickly address ongoing issues, close cases and identify trends. We are excited to explore the possibilities alongside RAD."
RAD founder and president Steve Reinharz said in the announcement that RAD's S5 Security Robots add significant benefits to the Allied Universal product and services portfolio by delivering a cost-effective solution to augment traditional guarding services, and serve as a force multiplier that removes security personnel from potentially dangerous situations, reducing injuries and liability. He noted that the combination of human personnel with robotic technologies creates a strong value proposition that results in new levels of security and streamlined operations.
"The market is primed to embrace the combination of human personnel and robotic guarding, and we expect this trend to increase significantly in the coming year," Reinharz said. "We are thrilled with our already valuable partnership with Allied Universal and the size and quality of the sales funnel we've been able to create together."
When Security Systems News spoke with Richmond recently, he noted that Allied Universal continues to work closely with drone and robotics manufacturers "to provide another technology tool that allows you to extend your security operations. We are very bullish on robots and we see them as an augmentation to our man-guarding business."
And speaking of robots in security, Reinharz and Allied Universal will both be participating on a session/panel at our SSN TechSec Solutions conference, Feb. 26-27, in Delray Beach, Fla. Click here for more on the session and the entire education program.
YARMOUTH, Maine—Now that we are in the second half of December, it seems like a natural time to look back over the year and some of the common topics from the monitoring side of the industry in 2017.
The Monitoring Association had some notable developments this year, including changing its name from CSAA in March—a change made to better portray the focus of the organization.
It was great to attend TMA's Annual Meeting this year. You can read an overview of that event here. At the close of the meeting TMA welcomed its new president, Ivan Spector, president of Montreal-based Sentinel Alarm Co., along with several other officers. You can read more about that here.
And, more recently, TMA announced its new Level 1 training course for monitoring center operators.
PERS, yet again, was a big topic of the year.
Affiliated Monitoring held its second annual Catalyst conference in Miami in mid-May, examining the sales and marketing aspects of the PERS industry.
AvantGuard held its fourth PERS Summit in late September, in Park City, Utah, covering a variety of topics.
Medical alert provider Medical Guardian also announced a change-up to its branding and marketing, looking more at overcoming one of the biggest obstacles in the PERS industry, which is "the perception of the service," according to company founder and CEO, Geoff Gross.
PERS manufacturer Freeus also started a dealer education initiative. There were also some acquisitions announced; VRI made a purchase in the PERS space, as did Tunstall Americas, and GTCR was purchased by a private equity firm. PERS company ONKÖL started production.
There were also a few notable hires and role changes at monitoring companies: Security Partners named Randy Hall as its president, Justin Bailey became the president of AvantGuard in addition to being its COO, MONI's Bruce Mungiguerra was promoted from SVP to COO, and NMC recently hired Nicola Oakie as its new director of national sales.
DALLAS—MONI Smart Security on Dec. 11 announced a renewed relationship with Skyline Smart Home Protection, based out of Los Angeles. Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, Skyline will begin selling exclusively for MONI.
"We're really excited about it and it really comes at a good time for us—to start off the year with a great new partner," Jeff Gardner, CEO of MONI, told Security Systems News. "One of the things that drives our revenue growth at our company is the strength of our dealer program, so … adding a dealer with the prominence of Skyline and the size of Skyline will send a great message."
Skyline was previously a MONI dealer, from 2010 to 2014. Gardner said that increased advertising and publicity for the MONI brand, as well as MONI's sales training opportunities were among factors that drew Skyline back to MONI's dealer program. "We're just thrilled to get them back," Gardner said.
"I am thrilled to be partnering again with MONI," Edwin Arroyave, CEO of Skyline, said in a prepared statement. "It has always been important for Skyline to align itself with partners who understand the value and importance of technology and innovation, while consistently providing the highest levels of customer service. MONI shares these values and I could not be more excited to be renewing our relationship. I look forward to the opportunities ahead."
Skyline was founded in 2004 and offers home security products and services, such as interactive and home automation, mobile apps, video monitoring and energy management products. The company currently has more than 80,000 smart home customers across more than 30 states.
"They're going to be one of the largest dealers in the MONI program," Gardner said. Skyline is "the largest dealer partner that we've recruited since I've been here, and I've been here just a little over two years," he said.
"I'm hopeful that Skyline will be the first of many new dealers that we add to our program in 2018," said Gardner.
No one can refute the impact that Amazon's Echo device has had in the home—if I had a nickel for every time someone yelled out the name Alexa in the home, I would be on a warm beach somewhere instead of trying to keep the cold drafts at bay in my office here is chilly Maine. But I digress.
With the success that Amazon has had with Alexa in the home, it is not surprising to see the company try to move into the office with the introduction of Alexa for Business, which was announced earlier this month at the AWS Re:Invent event.
As much as this raises interesting questions about possible uses within the office—in addition to the way these devices interact with other IoT devices in the office—it also raises many questions in regard to the place for voice assistants and voice assistant devices outside of the home.
In the home, Parks Associates estimates that nearly 50 percent of U.S. broadband households use a personal assistant through an application or dedicated device. And currently 10 percent of U.S. broadband households own a smart speaker with a personal assistant, such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home.
Parks Associates recently released a new whitepaper, Enabling Voice in the Smart Home, with research showing 49 percent of U.S. broadband households use a personal assistant through an app or dedicated device, which is a key use case for a voice-based user experience. The whitepaper, sponsored by the ULE Alliance, examines the influence of the voice-first interface on the adoption of connected products and presents market strategies for long-term success in the voice technology market.
"Collectively, companies are competing to stay in the race for dominance in the voice-first market," Dina Abdelrazik, research analyst, Parks Associates, said in a prepared statement. "Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Samsung continue to announce new product enhancements in order to stay ahead of the demand for voice technologies. As the voice-first landscape expands, we will see voice capabilities embedded into a variety of devices, from appliances to thermostats to lighting. Voice alleviates complexity in the user experience for these products, and as a result, voice will serve as a prime differentiator in the user experience for the smart home."
But will this same battle for the smart home play out in the business world as well? That is a question that only time will answer, but Amazon is hoping that the demand at home will influence and drive the demand outside the home, as consumers come to expect the same kind of convenience and seamless experience in the office.
Amazon offered up some interesting use cases at the launch of Alexa for Business, such as having Alexa make calls, send messages, record important meetings and control thermostats, lighting, and other IoT-enabled devices around the office, for example, but what role will voice play in the overall smart building ecosystem that we are moving toward as an industry right now? This is a question that is loaded with other concerns, such as privacy and cybersecurity, to name just a few.
What do you think the role of the voice in the office will be and how far are we from hearing Alexa called out incessantly in the office as well?
ASIS International announced this week that it has changed the name of its annual security conference from the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits to the Global Security Exchange (GSX). Building on its 60-plus year legacy as a premier security event, the newly branded GSX will take place in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 23-27, 2018, in partnership with InfraGard and ISSA.
"In what will be our 64th year of delivering the security industry's flagship event, the Global Security Exchange, or GSX for short, will build upon the change and reinvention introduced at ASIS 2017," Peter J. O'Neil, CAE, CEO, ASIS International, said in the annoucement. "This name reflects the Society's commitment to unite the full spectrum of security—cyber and operational security professionals from all verticals across the private and public sector, allied organizations and partners, and the industry's leading service and solution providers—for the most comprehensive security event in the world."
The education program, led by ASIS, InfraGard, and ISSA subject matter experts, will deliver an immersive and interactive learning environment for security professionals at all experience levels. The exhibit hall will be transformed into a learning lab environment, showcasing new and emerging products and technologies such as machine learning, robotics, forensic analysis, and artificial intelligence. In addition, the revitalized networking events will facilitate relationship building and the sharing of best practices with peers from across the globe.
"From the Internet of Everything and soft target attacks to data breaches and drones, the velocity of change and risks knows no boundaries," Thomas J. Langer, CPP, 2017 president, ASIS International, said in the announcement. "GSX fills the industry's need for a global event that brings together the entire security industry, to exchange ideas and lessons learned, keep informed of current and emerging risks, and gain exposure to the emerging technologies shaping society and our workplaces."
While the annual event's new name is debuting now, the full rebrand will launch at the 2018 ASIS International Leadership Conference, which will be held Jan. 16-19, in Arlington, Va.
The Security Industry Association on Dec. 1 announced its new Autonomous Security Robots Working Group, appointing Mark McCourt as the group's chair. McCourt talked with Security Systems News about the group's formation and core focuses.
McCourt said that he's been working on the group since September. "We thought about getting out in front of this topic by taking the robotics, the drone, the anti-drone [or] drone defense, underwater unmanned vehicles, that section of the market that serves security, and start early on what SIA's platform should be to help grow this industry successfully as a partner."
This would give robotics companies a more direct reason to be a part of SIA, getting a voice at the table with SIA's various segments, such as its legislative, education and standards teams, McCourt added. The Autonomous Security Robots Working Group is a part of SIA's existing Public Safety Interest Group. The working group is currently seeking input and participants.
"We want to create good communications around this topic that we can get out and talk to people about."
The working group will be looking at a variety of relevant topics. "One of the things we want to do is hone in on the go-to-market strategy and the role of channel partners," McCourt said.
Education for end users and security practitioners—to inform them of the benefits of robots within security—will be a goal of the working group. "It's not all about job replacement and cost reduction," McCourt said. There are other elements of productiveness, and allowing people who might have their jobs impacted by robots doing other tasks to add value to their organization
"Robotics technology, especially when powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, has the potential to reshape how we think about security," SIA CEO Don Erickson said in a prepared statement. "The Autonomous Security Robots Working Group will help industry members and end users manage and leverage this change to greatly enhance the protection of people and property."
McCourt currently works with Cobalt Robotics, helping the company with commercialization.
Reed Exhibitions on Nov. 14 announced the launch of Unmanned Security & Safety Expo 2018, set to take place Nov. 14 & 15 in New York City, alongside next year's ISC East show at the Javits Center. The launch is an expansion of the Unmanned Security segment at Reed Exhibitions' ISC West event.
"The all-new event is focused on drones and robotics for commercial and government security and safety use-cases and drone detection/anti-drone solutions," Reed said in its announcement.
"We're excited to launch this cutting-edge event co-located with ISC East in New York in 2018," Will Wise, ISC group vice president, said in a prepared statement. "Reed Exhibitions' security portfolio strives to provide the industry with the latest products, technologies and education in security and safety. Unmanned Security & Safety Expo directly embraces an essential need in the industry for addressing the in-depth issues and opportunities of security and safety for UAVs and UGVs. In line with this launch and continued rapid expansion of unmanned security and safety coverage across our portfolio of events, we're enthusiastic to also announce a collaboration with the Commercial Drone Alliance."
In its announcement, Reed gave an overview of how drones have entered the space, after the FAA updated Part 107 of its guidelines in June 2016, which governs the commercial use of UAVs/drones. The changes reduced barriers for UAVs in commercial applications. Increasing the adoption of drones for security.
"The launch of Unmanned Security & Safety Expo directly addresses this need in the marketplace," Reed said, adding that 67 percent of ISC's traditional audience is interested in evaluating unmanned technology products, and 75 percent of attendees are interested in learning more about ongoing FAA adaptions to UAV regulations and policies. The Unmanned Security & Safety Expo will include education sessions and product demos on the exhibit floor.
"Our Commercial Drone Alliance has been heavily focused on security concerns and the growth of the drone security market, and we're thrilled to support the Unmanned Security & Safety Expo at ISC West & ISC East in 2018", Gretchen West, co-executive director, Silicon Valley - Commercial Drone Alliance, said in a prepared statement.
Attendees of the inaugural Unmanned Security & Safety Expo in New York will also have full access to the ISC East 2018, Reed announced. ISC East has a built-in audience of 4,500 security professionals, all of whom will also have access to Unmanned Security & Safety Expo. Both events are also supported by the Security Industry Association.
President Donald Trump recently signed into law the Power and Security Systems (PASS) Act, P.L. 115-78, culminating a yearlong effort led by the Security Industry Association (SIA) to preserve an important provision in federal energy efficiency requirements critical to the operation of security and fire alarm systems.
"The PASS Act provides much-needed certainty to manufacturers, installers and service providers who are among thousands of Americans that work in the security industry … but ultimately it benefits the millions of American consumers that depend on such security and life safety systems." Jake Parker, SIA Director of Government Relations, said in the SIA announcement.
Drafted with assistance from SIA and in collaboration with the energy efficiency community, the PASS Act extends a policy exempting security and life safety external power supplies (EPS) from having to meet a "no-load mode" energy efficiency standard, since they must always be connected and in active mode by design and no efficiency gains would result.
The new law makes the exemption essentially permanent by removing the July 1, 2017 expiration date on the exemption and providing the U.S. Department of Energy with authority to retain the common-sense policy in any future updates to energy efficiency standards governing external power supplies.
SIA led a coalition of industry groups in working with Congress to secure the exemption in 2011, which included a "sunset provision"—a common way of ensuring a new policy set forth in legislation is reviewed by Congress before becoming more permanent.
Preserving this exemption was a key concern for security manufactures and systems integrators, according to SIA, noting, "Without it, product redesign and adjustments to manufacturing processes would needlessly increase the cost of the equipment by 200-300 percent according to industry estimates, affecting not just manufacturers but the entire value chain."
Enactment of this important solution would not have been possible without the bipartisan leadership of the bill's sponsors Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), as well as Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Susan Brooks (R-Ind). Over the past two years, Gardner, Welch and Brooks have been recognized with SIA's Legislator of the Year award for their support of this and other policies important to the security industry.
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Interior Design by Mary McDonald
I am a fan of Mary McDonald, I think everyone knows this. Her rooms are physical manifestations of my design dreams, absolutely perfect - not a thing missing! For oh so long I've coveted her ability, and looked over every picture in her book, The Allure of Style, which includes a few well styled photos of a home Mary decorated in Beverly Hills.
The whole house is absolutely gorgeous, but there's this one particular space that I just can't get out of my mind. For a long time, I thought that it wouldn't work at CDLV, but just recently I've come back to these photos and thought - perhaps, it could work!
A view of the room from another photographer, and a different angle. As you can clearly see, this room has much more architecture than mine. MUCH more, and better - it's inspiring none-the-less. Because I already own so much of the accessories that Mary used, and I have the ability to have some gorgeous slips made for my current furniture, thanks to Michelle at Custom Interior Sewing; I am seeing this as being very possible.
As shot for Veranda, the light is much better and shows even more styling.
Back to the real estate photos, you can see that in typical Mary Mcdonald fashion, blue and white Asian jars are spread throughout the room, along with custom slipcovers on antique gilded chairs, and those beautiful bone inlay tables. It's a huge room, with 4 separate seating areas. I'm thinking more about the sofa and gilded French bergeres.
Looking back toward the foyer, you can see all the different seating areas, and a few other special pieces in the room, bolin push suzani's. All sitting atop seagrass, with antique kilim rugs in a desk area when you first enter the room - this space is very definitely a you like it or hate it. I happen to like it - love it actually, but keep wondering if I could live with this much red on a day to day basis.
I mean, we're talking about $500,000 minimum to furnish this room which is about the size of my entire first floor, so could I live here - YOU BET! But could I live with what I can create on my budget in our house with the things that I already have?
From the pages of her beautiful book, you can see the Moroccan inspired slipper chairs, and those gilded chairs, and their simple but beautiful slips. I think I mentioned that I have these chairs - they're not gilded right now - but they could be very easily. My sofa could be slipped, with either the same fabric used to slip the chair or a match to the red slips from Ikea.
And although I don't think that I can afford this bone inlay chair - I have found a few out there that are in my price point. I've found suzani's on ebay, I only need one for the sofa - or maybe I need a new brain. Either way, I'll let you know which comes first!

subset: commoncrawl


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text: Kenya and Tanzania claim some of the world's most beautiful National Parks, teeming with game - large and small. It is nestling within them, complementing the magnificent surroundings, that the Sopa Lodges will be found. Seven lodges which make up the Sopa Lodges portfolio have been individually designed to compliment their environment while reflecting the themes and influences of culture and custom within.


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The Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management will celebrate September's National Preparedness Month during "Community Emergency Preparedness Night" at Sky Sox Stadium Friday, Aug. 23. The gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05 p.m.
Pre-game activities start at 6 p.m. and will give families an opportunity to learn about emergency preparedness through interactive demonstrations to include:
· Smoke and fire trailer
· Signs for Life traffic safety bus
· Electrical and natural gas leak exhibits
· Medevac helicopter tours
· Police vehicles and fire engines
· McGruff the Crime Dog, Smokey Bear, Iron Man and others.
There will also be an opportunity to learn how to register for emergency alerts, participate in a blood drive to receive two free SkySox tickets for the 2014 season, and donate non-perishables to a local food bank.
The most important steps citizens and businesses can take to lessen the effects of a disaster are to Get Prepared, Get Trained, and Get Involved. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives from local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities. This community would not be able to maintain resiliency for a disaster without the assistance of volunteers.
This event involves many first response and/or emergency preparedness partners from the community to include:
Colorado Springs Fire Department
Colorado Springs Police Department
Colorado Springs Utilities
El Paso County Sheriff Emergency Services Division
Penrose-St. Francis Health Services
Pikes Peak American Red Cross
The Independence Center
El Paso-Teller County Authority (E-911) System
Pikes Peak Region Humane Society
El Paso County Public Health
American Medical Response
Medical Response Corps of El Paso County
Salvation Army
Care and Share
Our emergency services personnel do an incredible job of keeping us safe while responding to disasters, but they can't do it alone. We must all embrace our individual responsibility to be prepared.


text: A retro, funky theme with brass, jazz organ, heavy bass with lots of pounding percussion. The style is that of a 70's cop TV theme and so this piece would fit a production with that kind of feel. Otherwise, it could be used as a funky, big band style piece for background music.


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I'd been coming to Japan and performing regularly since 1980, and had never, ever been outside the big cities. In my eternal quest for hot water and fantastic cuisine, I somehow never was able to realize the particular dream of organizing a trip to a Japanese mountain hot spring and staying in a traditional ryokan, or Japanese inn. These ryokan seem to be imbued with the spirit and culture of Japan, a culture that to me, has so many levels of sophistication and so much that is admirable. My first few trips to Japan were filled with all kinds of explorations of the varied types of cuisine available : sushi of course,including the kaiten-zushi conveyor belt, yakitori, soba-yas and udon houses, curry and ramen, eel restaurants,shabu-shabu, tempura, okonomiyaki, kushi-age, Japanese pub food, and the great street food in different cities, like the octopus balls (tako-yaki) made in Osaka stalls. There was one cuisine though, that I was thoroughly intrigued with from the start, and that was kaiseki. It seemed,from my readings, to be the most exalted, the most spiritual,and the most wildly expensive of all the Japanese cuisines. What I already knew about it, is that it is a seasonal cuisine,in accordance with nature and what is fresh. In a way, it is the precursor to the whole "local food/sustainable agriculture" movement that is so wildly popular now.(another example of everything old is new again.) My only experiences were when our promoter's son, finally weary of my constant entreaties to try kaiseki cuisine, took me for a lunch in Tokyo. Once or twice in Kyoto, I also had the pleasure of a kaiseki tofu lunch. These experiences pale in comparison to what happened at Tobira Resort and Spa Myojinkan.
The Rabbi, in his ancient and inifinite wisdom, found this hidden treasure,built in 1930, nestled in the hills above Matsumoto City, a 2 1/2 hour train ride from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. We were met in Matsumoto by a gentleman in an old fashioned coachman's outfit,complete with flowing cape and soft fedora. ( "To the Castle…to see Dr. Frankenstein -fly like the wind and mountain roads be damned!") Comfortably settled into our seats and excitement slowly mounting, we started the 40 minute climb up the mountain, following a river as it wound up the valley from the city. We passed farms where the inn grows its own organic fruits and vegetables, before entering forests of silver birch, oak,cedar and chestnut. We would see these snow blanketed forests from every pool and from every room we entered at the ryokan.
Tobira= the door
Finally we arrive…and are greeted with elegant hospitality as we wait in the lobby for the key to our traditional Japanese bedroom.We will walk on tatami mats, sleep on futons and wear yukata and haori.
We will not see our shoes again till we leave the inn. Good riddance, I say. And, as an added bonus,we will also be naked for most of the visit, as we sit and poach ourselves in the hot water. Can life get any better?
Yes….yes it can.The Rabbi and I are led to our private tatami room by our own Girl Friday, Miss Natsuki Taguchi, who meets us at the elevator armed with her very own Japanese/English electronic translator device. Full of questions, always, we start by asking how the name for this cuisine came to be. Natsuki-san explains that the meaning comes from the story that Buddhist priests,in accordance with their tradition, used to keep a hot stone (seki) in their pockets,(kai) close to their chests in order to make their fasting more bearable. "More likely it caused severe second degree burns," I think quietly. Anyway, Miss Taguchi continues to tell us that original kaiseki cuisine was associated with the tea ceremony and was born in Kyoto more than 500 years ago. At this time, cold sake appears in its own frosty bowl of crushed ice, garnished with fresh flowers. Following closely on its heels, is the first dish of the meal,appearing like the opening pitch of the World Series. Our breath is appropriately taken away at the appearance of a delicately leaf patterned bowl .Within its confines, is a small block of homemade warm peanut tofu, topped with thin slivers of bright yellow, citrusy yuzu peel. By its side, on a red lacquered tray, is a small dish of Japanese baby string beans in a tahini-like sauce, crowned by a small branch of plum blossoms. I know this is just the beginning to the parade of courses. We take a icy sip of cold rice wine from our sake boxes of hinoki wood, say "Kanpai,"….and dig in.
The courses then arrive in perfect succession-the timing is perfectly attuned to our pace of first gazing admirably at our dish- the beauty and color of the pottery, the lacquered trays, the aromas of tiny blossoms, the silky texture of a raw fish slice. Then, we search for meaning in the different dishes…it's clear that the chef is sending a message. Taste is important certainly, but not the most important thing…there are other resonances.
The second course is described to us as "a dish for the New Year's Day" It is a stunning plate of various items artfully laid out. There is a single piece of Kyoto-style sushi made of kasuge, or sea-bream. Also on the plate…herring roe, kelp, carrots, some squid and a forked toothpick with a ginko nut and a sweet bean.
Next up, a beautiful small plate of mucilaginous, grated tororo, or mountain yam,with shiso leaf and braised radish followed by a clear soup with bamboo shoots and wakame seaweed floating topside. By the time the next course arrives and the next serving of sake, we are well on the way to feeling only the deepest admiration for the attention to detail in every aspect of the hospitality accorded us. It's a staggering concept for the Western mind to grasp. Everything is designed in accordance with nature…every hot pool in the ryokan has a view of the mountains and the icy streams, every menu is thought out as to what expresses the particular season, every experience is elaborately choreographed and delicately nuanced. We sit in wonder as the next course appears before us. There is sashimi contrasted with wild vegetables,there is raw salmon wrapped in cooked lettuce, there are coiled fiddlehead ferns which taste vaguely like asparagus,but more bitter. Our Japanese ladies giggle in delight when I speak the English name for these ferns, explaining how they look like the tops of violins….and there are tiny shiso flowers which perfume our mouths with a basil spiciness.
There is no music playing at dinner, just the symphony in our mouths… Just conversation, translations, eating and drinking. The experience reminded me of a quote from the writer Saki (H.H. Munro),where he has one of his characters, Clovis, expound upon "the tragedy of music at mealtimes." I've been in plenty of places where the music just does not complement anything going on food-wise and in fact is tremendously distracting. In the better restaurants Miss Eydie has had occasion to frequent, I've found that the better the restaurant, the less distraction there is from the food…the more bare the walls, the more subtle the colors,and the less sound distraction. I've actually been known to rip speakers out of the walls at restaurants. (well….once)
Now the courses are coming fast and furious. A beautiful earthenware pot discloses a white round of cooked radish floating in broth, and crowning it, a meaty portion of braised mackerel .The garnishes are a bit of winter leek and a shishito pepper. Following that, a gently sauteed sea bream perches atop pieces of taro root.
What happened next was heaven for a carnivore like me….the mackerel being just a foreshadowing of Japanese beef braised for 6 hrs and served in its own juices with a sprinkling of parsley on top. ..melt in your mouth, buttery, beefy ambrosia in a bowl."Fingerlickin' good," as we used to say in south Brooklyn.
Each course comes to us as a poem….harmonious elements reflecting the season, each course a culinary echo of the other, rhyming with divine simplicity and guided by the singular aesthetic vision of the chef. By the time the third carafe of ice cold sake arrives, I am composing my own haiku in my mind, urged on by the spirit body of Basho…something like:
"Clinging to a shred of sobriety
After the beef, there is what is called the "breath" course. This seems to be the palate cleanser part of the program that you find in traditional French tasting menus- your champagne sorbet, if you will. Tonight, for this winter menu, it is grated yam with onions- a real eye opener for the taste buds. After this refresher, the courses start again. A winter soup arrives containing a wheat dumpling, turnip, chestnut, carrot, spinach and some spicy marigold greens. The broth is milky, with bits of fresh ,local eggs suspended in it. Closely following on the heels of this, comes a beautiful dish of cold river fish and seasonal pickled vegetables…including some interesting local plants that we have to ask the name of. "Butterbur", a member of the daisy family, produces blooms in late winter and has enormous leaves. We also don't recognize "honewort leaf," but it's fun to use the all purpose phrase "Kore wa nan des ka? (What is this?) and have our lady scramble through her Japanese/English electronic translator.
Next up, miso soup with preserved tofu. Naguchi-san tells us that this particular dried tofu has always been used in winter cooking especially by older people who couldn't make fresh tofu during the cold months. The end of the meal approaches with the final bowl of rice with burdock root and hijiki seaweed. It's been a good couple of hours and the leisurely, perfect progression of the meal has been a joy, a cultural education, and a sensual, aesthetic wonder. We will discover that during our stay at the ryokan, we will never see the same piece of pottery twice. I start to wonder what the pantry looks like and how they safely store all this gorgeous tableware and stemware.
The final course is a sweet stunner- a homemade black sesame ice cream with fresh strawberries. There are also pieces of macerated pear and fig studded within this simple,elegant dessert.
Black Sesame Ice cream w/ Strawberries
Miraculously, we are not stuffed. We sip our green tea and remark on this curious fact. My thoughts are that it has to do with the pacing of the courses, the size of the portions and the awareness with which we ate our meal.
Now that's food for thought.
We're off to the baths….more to come.


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Many high school seniors around the country are waiting for acceptance letters from their dream schools—but not all will get the news they were expecting.
Continue Reading Below
Receiving a rejection letter from a college can be devastating after studying hard at school and putting together applications.
"The kid might be worried about humiliation because they've told everyone they applied to Stanford and then they have to tell everyone they were rejected because everyone is asking," says Suzanne Luse, certified educational consultant.
It's especially important for parents to support their child after receiving a denial letter and remind them that with the competitive nature of the college admissions process, schools are looking to fill their own institutional interests rather than infer a student isn't "good enough," explains Matthew Greene, educational director at Howard Greene & Associates.
"Many acceptance or deferral announcements list the crazy number of applications that were received, the percentage of admissions they were allowed to offer," he says. "Try to give context to the decision and say it's not about you personally, it's not that you didn't deserve this or you didn't earn this."
For students seeking guidance after rejection, here's what college experts say parents can do to provide support and help them figure out what steps to take next.
Acknowledge the Disappointment
Parents need to convey understanding for the frustration their kid is experiencing, recommends Howard Greene, educational director at Howard Greene & Associates.
"The kid can feel that they disappointed their parents and feel guilty that they weren't accepted and didn't have success with X or Y," he says.
After the initial shock fades, pulling out other acceptance letters and discussing pros and cons of each one can remind them of their other options, adds Luse.
"You might be going to a school where you're actually getting a merit scholarship and where you're going to shine and not be clinging on at the bottom of the heap," she says. "When you look at your other options, I think sometimes it's almost a relief."
Re-visit 'Backup' Schools
Taking a fresh look at two or three other choices where they were accepted can remind students of why they were motivated to apply in the first place and allow them to find out more on what that school has to offer.
"In almost every case, their impressions and what they think were or are their priorities are based on trips that they did as juniors over the summer when they were less mature and more tentative," says Howard Greene.
If it's possible for families to facilitate another visit to the college, students can better visualize themselves on campus through extended student stays, shadowing a current student and doing more research on the school's website.
Find Schools still Accepting Applications
If students are denied from all their schools, parents should encourage them to meet with their college counselor or educational consultant to discuss possible solutions.
Students with their hearts set on attending a residential four year university can check out the list of colleges that still have fall openings, published by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in early May, says Jim Miller, past president of NACAC.
"Because there's a lot of variability in all of these demographics, there are a number of quality schools that in the spring still have openings," he says. "There are some good small to mid-size liberal arts colleges and many state institutions, although they are usually not the flagship schools."
Re-Evaluate College Readiness
Although it can be tough to admit, some seniors may not be entirely ready for college.
"[Some students] do need another year of maturity to build a stronger academic program, to be more ready for college," says Howard Greene. "Maybe it's another year to grow and build a better profile--we've done this in our consulting work with many kids over the years."
Parents can encourage students to consider alternative paths such as community college with the intention to transfer, working an internship, volunteer work or taking a gap year.
"Keep in mind that thousands and thousands and thousands of kids are getting rejected," says Luse. "Parents need to maybe share some stories of when they've been rejected and how eventually it turned out to be for the good."


text: Augusta's boys soccer team needed a game like this. The Orioles scored the first goal of their home game against Circle within the first six minutes when Brandon Denoncourt got through a couple of defenders and made the shot. Denoncourt scored another first-half goal to spark the Orioles to a 5-0 win. Augusta wore pink shirts as part of Cancer Awareness Night. Kyler Steinkamp received a lob pass in the middle of the field and split two Circle defenders for the Orioles' second goal. David Ledgerwood later hit a cross pass into the net for a 4-0 halftime lead. Nick Young added the final goal of the game late in the second half. Circle got a couple good shots on goal in the second half, but Augusta goalie Brenan Wiswell, who came in for Jacob Lowery, made two nice saves. Augusta will play at Mulvane Thursday. The Orioles shut out the Wildcats at home in the teams' first meeting this season.


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Sure, there are plenty of green, child-centered gifts you can get babies, kids and their parents…like an organic onesie with "Mother Sucker" on the front, the fabulous Ergo Baby Carrier, or those adorable socks printed to look like Mary Jane shoes. But, IMHO, the best gifts are the ones that make the parent's life better (without harming the planet or the family's health). Here are a few faves that I've given or gotten over the years…
Gift #1: Cast Iron Pans & Glass Food Storage containers
Myra Goodman already covered many reasons to go old-school on your cookware, including that nonstick pans are dangerous, but she didn't mention how cast iron pans impart digestible iron into your food as you cook it—a big plus for new parents. I got my brother a Lodge "Signature" series cast iron skillet after his baby was born and he loves it (which was a relief, as previous attempts with eco-friendly gifts hadn't gone over so well).
And plastics? Don't get me started. My favorite food storage and re-heating solution: Pyrex glass bowls with the BPA-free plastic lids – they're sold everywhere, in every size, and everyone loves them.
Gift #2: Home Cooked Meal(s)
Put that cast iron skillets and food containers to good use by whipping up your parent friends a home-cooked meal. Bring along some flowers and a 6-pack of dark beer, and you will win their hearts forever. (Maybe Dr. Greene can weigh in about whether dark beer really promotes breast milk production…or if it's a psychosomatic effect). Extra credit for those who make extra portions so leftovers can be thrown in the freezer—better yet, bring the meal in Pyrex glass containers and say "keep them"—a double gift!
And whatever you do, don't forget a rich dessert (fat is good for the baby's developing brain as well as the mom's mental health)!
Gift #3, Hi-tech: Rechargeable Batteries
Every parent needs these, even those who swear "I'm not going to have a lot of battery-operated toys." Famous last words, as family and friends will deliver the goods that rarely sync with those eco-friendly plans.
Sure, the upfront cost is a bit higher, but one rechargeable battery can replace 300 disposable ones. And disposal of batteries is a nightmare. All those toxic metals inside the cell leach out in a landfill, so when you have dead batteries of any stripe, recycle them (IKEAs, Best Buys, and other electronic stores collect them, as do municipalities' hazardous waste programs). Get recyclables for yourself while you're at it; sites like Green Batteries have many options.
Gift #4, Low-tech: Exercise Ball & Yoga Mat
The exercise ball is a popular multi-tasker: a labor aid, baby bouncer, and toddler toy, as well as platform for post-partum backbends and stomach crunches. You don't know relief until you've stretched out your breastfeeding hunchback on a supportive cushion of air. It also serves as extra seating at your next party or as a computer chair. I scored a huge one off Freecycle and never looked back.
And you can't have too many yoga mats…of course yoga is a great practice for parents (for so many reasons), but even if your asana practice isn't super-disciplined, your yoga mat will serve as play mat (and PLAY-DOH mat) since kids are constantly hanging out on the floor. And while it's out, the parents can sneak in a few down-dogs, even after the kids insist on climbing all over them…
Gift #5: A Journal
Great for a parent to record precious moments for their child, or for the parent themselves to record their thoughts regarding the joyful times as well as those when you want to kill your partner, your child/ren or both. I'm partial to the marbled drug store composition books, but you can go as fancy as you want with this one. I still think of my college roommate Sarah, who gave me my kids' first journal, every time I open up my subsequent volumes to jot down a few memories.
What are YOUR favorite gifts for new parents?
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text:
TMC wrote:and bball is already changing to a high-scoring, no-contact sport.
This statement right here sums up all of my frustrations. All of the rules being made are inspiring quicker, outside, open play... compared to the previous type of ball where you had a defender leaning on your back the entire game. I'm tired of watching basketball games and hearing whistles every trip down the floor. Some of these fouls are ridiculous.
Boxing out from yesteryear. No doubt, whistles would be blowing the minute these two got airbourne and somebody yelped from getting pushed.
This is the result: where rebounding now becomes more about who can jump the highest at the right time, instead of who can force their way into proper positioning. Does anybody see ANY potential boxing out around Mr. Duncan?
Anthony Mason, Larry Johnson, and Charles Barkley were all undersized (Johnson and Mason were listed at 6'7", Barkley at 6'6", and everyone knew that they were all shorter than that)... but they were bulldogs who fought their way underneath and came up with over 8 rebounds a night because they WANTED the ball more. If you read the names of NBA players who top the rebounding list today, you'll find players like Garnett, Marion, Camby, Yao, Murphy... a bunch of non-muscular bean-poles with long arms and height (all are above 6'10"). I guarentee you, Anthony Mason would have eaten up any of the above for breakfast.
The game wants to accomodate for the guards moreso than the big men... and, in doing so, it's forcing the big men to play like guards. I, personally, find it disgusting.


text:
Rockies End 5 Game Skid with 6-2 Win Over Padres
Left-hander Christian Friedrich made his Major League debut striking out seven in six innings, leading the Colorado Rockies (13-17) to a 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres (11-21) yesterday afternoon at Petco Park. After taking today off, the Rockies continue their road trip tomorrow night against the Dodgers (19-11) in Los Angeles at 8:10 MT (TV: none).
The Rockies took advantage of strong work from their starter. Friedrich's outing came a day after Alex White held the Padres to two runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 3-2 loss. Both hurlers were called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier this week. The starts by White and Friedrich gave the club 13 starts of six or more innings in its first 30 games. The Rockies are 9-4 in those games.
Official: Wednesday's Box Score.
In avoiding being swept in a three-game set, and in preventing the Padres from completing their first sweep of the season, the Rockies got odd run-scoring doubles from Jason Giambi (for one run in the fourth) and Wilin Rosario (two runs in the sixth). In both cases, the ball hit the extreme top of the outfield fence, and the umpiring crew went to replay to see if they were actually home runs.
Tickets are available for the Rockies next home game at Coors Field on Wednesday, May 16th vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks, and can be purchased by calling (800) 388-ROCK, or click here.


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Welcome to the Asia Stocks live blog, a running account of what the region's share markets are doing, along with other news. While China Mobile earnings and the trading debut of Japan\'s Seibu will factor into today\'s trading session, an early read on the Chinese manufacturing sector may trump other issues in driving stocks.
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- 8:24 pm
- Japan rises as Seibu swings into action
- by Mike Kitchen
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Japanese stocks are springing back into gains, with the Nikkei Average's 0.9% erasing yesterday's 0.9% loss (and with the Topix also 0.9% higher), as the market gets an assist from a weaker yen and a stronger overnight finish on Wall Street.
As the dollar buys ¥102.67, up from ¥102.48 at the end of yesterday's session, we have the tech exporters mostly outperforming: Sony and Toshiba up 1.4% each, Fujitsu up 1.5%, and Fuji Electric up 2.6% on the back of a Nikkei news report that the firm will post estimate-beating operating-profit results for the fiscal year that ended last month.
Most of the big auto shares are rising by a smaller margin (Honda up 0.7%, Nissan up 0.5%, but Mazda up 1.1%). However, Toyota Motor is down 0.1% after Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley downgraded its rating on the shares to neutral from outperform.
Among the financials, Resona is leading the pack with a 4% gain after David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital said it added new stakes in the Japanese bank.
But never mind all that — the morning's big buzz is all about the trading debut of Seibu Holdings.
As the conglomerate returns to the stock exchange after a decade's hiatus, the shares are up 4.1% from their initial public offering price. The IPO had priced at the low end of the range, raising doubts about demand, but the stock has recovered from a flat open to its current gain.
(Pictured: The mascot of the Seibu-sponsored pro baseball team — the Seibu Lions — appears on a postage stamp from the late 1990s.)
- 8:56 pm
- Sydney cheery ahead of data
- by Mike Kitchen
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Australia's equities are bopping higher, with the ASX 200 up 0.5% to double yesterday's 0.5% advance, but with upcoming data serving as today's wild card.
Australia's first-quarter consumer prices are due out at 11:30 a.m. local time (9:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern time), but their effect may be secondary compared to HSBC's preliminary China manufacturing report, set to hit the wires just 15 minutes after the Australian numbers.
As Rivkin global investment manager Timothy Radford notes, "an upside surprise [in the Chinese data] will be supportive for the broader market and help push the ASX 200 to fresh multiyear highs."
For now, however, it's the financials helping lead the market higher, with ANZ up 0.6%, CBA up 0.7%, Westpac up 0.8%, and Macquarie up 1.1%.
The heavily weighted mining sector is mixed, with BHP Billiton down 0.1%, Fortescue Metals down 0.6%, and Atlas Iron off 0.5% after a loss for iron-ore spot prices. But Rio Tinto is 0.1% higher, Oz Minerals is up 0.8%, and Newcrest Mining is rising 2.5% after saying gold output for the fiscal year ending in June should come in around the higher end of its previously issued guidance. Newcrest also posted a drop in gold production for the last quarter due to maintenance work, though the result was still higher than the year-earlier period.
- 8:58 pm
- Markets check -- 9:58 a.m. in Tokyo
- Add a Comment
Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 0.8%
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 0.6%
Seoul (Kospi) up 0.1%
- 10:00 pm
- China's factory slowdown slows down (but details aren't great)
- by Mike Kitchen
- Add a Comment
Offering investors their first peek at the state of Chinese manufacturing this month, HSBC reported that the preliminary (or "flash") version of its Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 48.3 from last month's 48.0.
While the result remains below the 50 level that divides expansion from contraction, the mild gain halts a string of declines for the data set.
And yet the market reaction is broadly negative, likely because of some of the report's not-so-encouraging details. While the subindexes for both output and overall new orders slowed the rate of their fall, new export orders swung to a decrease, and the drops for the employment and work-backlog subindexes fell at a faster pace than in the March report.
"Domestic demand showed mild improvement, and deflationary pressures eased, but downside risks to growth are still evident as both new export orders and employment contracted," wrote HSBC chief China economist Hongbin Qu, summarizing the results.
On the markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index is trading 0.4% lower after sitting on the flatline just before the data, while the Shanghai Composite's 0.1% drop has expanded to a 0.3% deficit.
The China-data-sensitive Australian dollar fell to 93.03 U.S. cents from 93.23 U.S. cents moments ahead of data release.
The HSBC flash PMI normally includes about 85% to 90% of the total responses used in the final edition of the report, due for release early next month.
- 10:05 pm
- Markets check -- 10.05 a.m. in Hong Kong
- Add a Comment
Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 0.8%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) down 0.2%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) down 0.3%
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 0.5%
Seoul (Kospi) up 0.1%
Taipei (Taiex) up 0.4%
- 10:20 pm
- Consumer prices slap the Aussie dollar lower
- by Mike Kitchen
- Add a Comment
Unlike most other developed economies, Australia prefers to report its consumer and producer prices once a quarter, rather than on a monthly basis — and considering today's result, this might be a good thing, at least for stock investors.
Earlier this morning, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said the consumer price index rose 0.6% in the January-March (up 2.9% compared to a year earlier). This trailed expectations that the CPI would increase by 0.8%, just as it did in October-December period, according to consensus figures reported by Dow Jones Newswires.
The Australian dollar didn't like the results one bit, perhaps since they seemed to lower the odds of an interest-rate cut somewhere in the not-too-distant future. Currently, the Reserve Bank of Austraila is targeting consumer inflation of around 2% to 3%. In a swift and violent move, the Aussie dropped to 93.25 U.S. cents from 93.72 U.S. cents after the data. (It's now buying just 93.05 U.S. cents after taking a second blow from Chinese manufacturing data — see previous post on this blog.)
As for the inflation drivers, the statistics bureau says tobacco, gasoline, education and health care drove the increase, while drops in furniture, auto repair and travel offset the gains.
- 10:34 pm
- China Mobile, factory data drag down Hong Kong
- by Laura He
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A slight pick-up in Chinese manufacturing activity doesn't seem to be helping firm up this morning's soft tone for Hong Kong stocks. The Hang Seng Index is still in negative territory, down 0.2% to lose all of its opening gains.
Index heavyweight China Mobile is down 2.4%, after the world's largest mobile carrier said its net profit growth slowed in the first quarter … again. (It's the third straight quarter that the company has posted a drop in net profit.)
What may seem more frustrating for the mobile carrier: Neither its launch of 4G services in December, nor the sale of the iPhone which began in January have been of much help, at least for now.
Why? The company points to intense competition from some of its smaller rivals which have been selling iPhones for several years now, as well as competition from free mobile-messaging applications, such as Tencent Holding's WeChat.
What's more, pressures from the Chinese government, which has been encouraging competition to help lower mobile-phone expenses, have also made it difficult for the carrier to raise fees to recover its cost on 4G-network building and iPhone subsidies.
China Mobile's rivals were not well bid either: China Unicom is down 1.8%, despite news reports that said it has been tapped to offer in-car telecom services for Tesla cars sold in China. China Telecom trades flat.
Meanwhile, mainland Chinese banks are weak after HSBC released the preliminary version of its Chinese manufacturing data (see earlier post on this blog), with Agricultural Bank of China declining 1.5% and China Merchants Bank dropping 1.2%.
- 11:29 pm
- Markets check -- 11:29 a.m. in Hong Kong
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Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 0.6%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) down 0.8%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) down 0.5%
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 0.5%
Seoul (Kospi) down 0.1%
Taipei (Taiex) up 0.3%
- 12:11 am
- Chinese pork giant to delay Hong Kong IPO
- by Laura He
- Add a Comment
Amid a volatile stock market, Hong Kong investors seem to be taking a cautious approach to a Chinese food major's plans for one of the largest new listings in the territory.
WH Group has become the world's largest pork producer since buying U.S. rival Smithfield Foods last year (while running up a large debt to pay for the $7.1-billion deal). The company said Wednesday morning that it may publish a supplemental prospectus cutting the size of its Hong Kong IPO and resulting in "a short delay" in the timetable for the listing.
WH Group had announced its IPO plans in Hong Kong a week ago, hoping to raise 29.2 billion to 41.1 billion Hong Kong dollars ($3.8 billion to $5.3 billion) with the proceeds used mainly to pay down its debt. It was originally scheduled to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange on April 30.
WH Group didn't specify the reason for the possible IPO delay, but markets suspect the company has received a cool reception due to heightened caution amid volatile market conditions. The Hang Seng Index has fallen 3.2% since the end of last year, according to Factset data.
If conditions were not met, the IPO might "lapse," the company said.
- 12:18 am
- VIDEO: Obama tries again on Asia pivot
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- 12:59 am
- Markets check -- 1:59 p.m. in Tokyo
- Add a Comment
Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 0.7%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) down 0.7% (at break)
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) down 0.5% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 0.6%
Seoul (Kospi) down 0.1%
Mumbai (Sensex) up 0.5%
Taipei (Taiex) down 0.2%
- 1:07 am
- China data: the reactions
- by Mike Kitchen
- Add a Comment
While Chinese stocks remain solidly in the loss column after the release of HSBC's flash Chinese manufacturing data (Hang Seng Index down 0.7%, Shanghai Composite down 0.5%), economists' reaction has been a bit more positive and generally more optimistic.
Many are also citing the recent "mini stimulus" measures from the government as providing a legitimate boost to the economy.
Here's a rundown of what some of them are saying:
Kim Eng Securities strategist Andrew Sullivan:
Sullivan takes comfort from the (admittedly mild) rebound in the headline number, saying that the "key is that the index seems to be stabilizing," even as China "is still suffering, along with the likes of Japan, with the global slowdown."
"The important thing is that the Chinese government has announced more projects recently, signalling a willingness to support the economy, and those projects should help the longer-term growth in China," he writes.
Capital Economics
CapEcon's team agrees, saying the gain for the HSBC PMI "adds to growing evidence that, with infrastructure investment picking up, the recent slowdown in economic activity has begun to moderate."
That moderation, in turn, has been "helped in part by the government's move to support growth with spending on railways and social housing," both components of the mini-stimulus announced earlier this month.
They write that one of the more worrying details in the report — the increased weakness in manufacturing employment — isn't too big a deal.
The PMI's employment subindex "has remained weak over the past couple of years, despite wider evidence of a tight labor market. Recent data show that the wages of migrant workers, who are most vulnerable to an economic slowdown, continued to grow at a double-digit pace" in the first quarter, CapEcon says.
Bank of America-Merrill Lynch economists Ting Lu and Sylvia Sheng:
Lu and Sheng are cheered by the fact that this month's rebound marks the first improvement since last October, with the recovery driven by the new-orders and output subindexes.
They see the "marginal improvement" continuing in the near term, with the headline index "to gradually move to the range of 49-50 in coming months," while China's economic growth should improve to 7.5% in the current quarter from 7.4% in the last quarter, before slipping back "to around 7.1% in the second half of 2014 due to a higher base."
Noting that the Chinese government's version of the PMI has generally been stronger than the HSBC edition, Lu and Sheng say that "the HSBC PMI has a downward bias as it covers mainly small enterprises in the export sector. These labor-intensive small enterprises have a much lower survival rate, especially as labor costs rise rapidly in China. Automation in those enterprises will also cut the number of workers," helping explain the weak employment result in the flash HSBC report.
PNC Financial Services senior international economist Bill Adams:
Adams sees the latest PMI result as suggesting GDP growth remains somewhere north of 7%, meaning "fast enough that the Chinese government should see latitude to leave its policy stance in neutral — i.e., not expansionary — territory in April."
He adds that the level of economic activity could even be strong enough for the People's Bank of China to allow the yuan to resume its upward trend against the dollar in earnest, even though the central bank may have been more interested in curbing forex speculation when it pushed the currency lower.
But on a more downbeat note, Adams says: "We are now in the second quarter of what looks to be a third year of real GDP growth under 8%. This is clearly China's new normal, yet the continued slow pace of investment by Chinese private firms suggests uncertainty toward the country's economic fundamentals remains high."
- 2:21 am
- Markets check -- 3:21 p.m. in Tokyo
- by Laura He
- Add a Comment
Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 1.1% (closed)
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) down 0.9%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) down 0.5%
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 0.6% (closed)
Seoul (Kospi) down 0.2%
Mumbai (Sensex) up 0.5%
Taipei (Taiex) down 0.2% (closed)
- 4:04 am
- Markets check -- 4:03 p.m. in Hong Kong
- by Laura He
- Add a Comment
Tokyo (Nikkei Average) up 1.1% (closed)
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index) down 1% (closed)
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index) down 0.3% (closed)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200) up 0.6% (closed)
Seoul (Kospi) down 0.2% (closed)
Taipei (Taiex) down 0.2% (closed)
- 5:01 am
- Hong Kong widens losses on China data
- by Laura He
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Despite a mild rebound in HSBC's Chinese manufacturing data for April (see earlier posts on the data), reactions in the stock market were not that great.
Hong Kong's Hang Index widened its losses and retreated 1% at the close, while the Shanghai Composite Index ended down 0.3%, with financials weighing on both markets.
Agricultural Bank of China lost the most among major banks, down 2.1%. Among others, Bank of Communications and China Minsheng Banking fell more than 1.6%, Bank of China and ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) declined 1.5%. Both China Merchants Bank and China Construction Bank were off 1.3%.
Market heavyweight China Mobile slid 2.6%, and smaller rival China Unicom (Hong Kong) sank 4.9%.
However, luggage maker Samsonite outperformed following a 9.6% jump in first-quarter sales. Samsonite shares hit an all-time high earlier in the session before closing up 3.9% at HK$25.25 ($3.28).
Over on the mainland, major banks were also poorly bid. China Citic Bank Corp. gave up 1.4%, Bank of China fell 0.8%, and both China Construction Bank and Bank of Communicatiion settled 0.3% lower.


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Design patterns are well-known, reusable paradigms that allow developers to solve certain problems in a more efficient way, even though their implementation is flexible and not tied to a specific programming language. Due to their variety, they can be placed in different categories (creation, structural, behavioral, etc.), but their rather fuzzy boundaries tend to create large gray areas between them.
It's valid to say, though, that a number of patterns can be of great help, especially when developing more flexible and scalable applications. A good example of this is the triad made up of the Decorator, Composite and Strategy patterns, which share a common feature worth stressing here: all of them tend to favor Composition over Inheritance.
Unlike its handy partners Composite and Decorator, which tackle some common software development problems in an elegant and efficient manner at the expense of a steeper learning curve, Strategy is incredibly easy to implement. This becomes even more evident when using a language as friendly as PHP. When applied in an appropriate case, the Strategy pattern is a powerful tool that permits you to merge two of the big pillars of the object-oriented paradigm: first, to use Composition over Inheritance, and second, to encapsulate the concept that varies.
To demonstrate how useful and easy it is to apply the Strategy pattern in a real-world case using PHP, in the two previous tutorials of this series I started building a modular web application. It was tasked with validating incoming data through a set of loosely-coupled strategy classes. So far, I've shown how to provide this sample program with the ability to check integer values via an isolated "integer strategy" class, but it's necessary to extend the program's current functionality by adding a few more validation classes to it. Therefore, in the following lines I'm going to develop a brand new strategy class, which will be charged with checking whether or not a supplied value is a float number.
Are you ready to learn more about this process? Then begin reading right now!
{mospagebreak title=Review: the sample classes developed so far}
As usual, before I get my hands dirty defining a brand new strategy class responsible for validating float numbers, first I'd like to spend a few moments reintroducing all of the sample classes developed so far in this series. This way you can analyze them in more detail and understand more clearly how they fit with each other.
Having said that, here's the definition of a simple form helper. It accepts different strategy classes via its "addValidator()" method. This permits it to validate distinct types of data with minor hassles. Take a look at it, please:
class FormHelper
protected $_validators = array();
protected $_errors = array();
// add a validator
public function addValidator(AbstractValidator $validator)
$this->_validators[] = $validator;
return $this;
// get all the validators
public function getValidators()
return !empty($this->_validators) ? $this->_validators : null;
// validate inputted data
public function validate()
$validators = $this->getValidators();
if (null !== $validators)
foreach ($validators as $validator)
if (!$validator->validate())
$this->_errors[] = $validator->getFormattedError();
return empty($this->_errors) ? true : false;
// get validation errors as an array
public function getErrors()
return $this->_errors;
// get validation errors as a string
public function getErrorString()
$errors = $this->getErrors();
return !empty($errors) ? implode(", $errors) : ";
// clear state of the form helper
public function clear()
$this->_validators = array();
$this->_errors = array();
As I said before, the previous form helper relies on the benefits offered by Composition to inject a bunch of data checking classes from the outside, which can be used to easily assemble different validation strategies at run time.
Since the source code of this helper is pretty easy to follow, I suggest you move on and look at the definition of the following abstract validator. It encapsulates the common structure and logic of a generic validation (read strategy) class. Here it is:
abstract class AbstractValidator
protected $_value = ";
protected $_filter = ";
protected $_options = null;
protected $_errorMessage = ";
protected $_errorPrefix = '<p>';
protected $_errorSufix = '</p>';
// constructor
public function __construct($value, array $options = null)
$this->_value = $value;
if (null !== $options)
// get supplied value
public function getValue()
return $this->_value;
// set validation options
public function setOptions(array $options)
if (empty($options))
throw new ValidatorException('Invalid options for the validator.');
$this->_options = $options;
// get validation options
public function getOptions()
return $this->_options;
// set the validation filter
public function setFilter($filter)
if (!is_string($filter))
throw new ValidatorException('Invalid filter for the validator.');
$this->_filter = $filter;
// get the validation filter
public function getFilter()
return $this->_filter;
// set the error message
public function setErrorMessage($errorMessage)
if (!is_string($errorMessage))
throw new ValidatorException('Invalid error message for the validator.');
$this->_errorMessage = $errorMessage;
// get error message
public function getErrorMessage()
return $this->_errorMessage;
// get formatted error string
public function getFormattedError()
return $this->_errorPrefix . 'The value ' . $this->getValue() . ' is incorrect. ' . $this->getErrorMessage() . $this->_errorSufix;
// validate the supplied value
public function validate()
return filter_var($this->getValue(), $this->getFilter(), $this->getOptions());
class ValidatorException extends Exception{}
From the above code fragment, it's clear to see how this abstract validation class does its thing. It simply uses the functionality provided by PHP filters to validate an inputted value, previously stored on the protected "$_value" property. Not surprisingly, the workhorse method of this class is called "validate()" and is responsible for checking whether or not the mentioned value is valid.
This abstract structure encapsulates a lot of generic logic and is accommodated comfortably on top of the hierarchy. Therefore, defining refined implementations of it, which can be used to check different types of data, such as integer numbers, is as simple as creating the following subclass:
class IntegerValidator extends AbstractValidator
protected $_filter = FILTER_VALIDATE_INT;
protected $_errorMessage = 'Please enter an integer value.';
That was simple to code and read, wasn't it? By simply overriding the "$_filter" and $_errorMessage" properties declared by the abstract validator that you just saw, it's possible to create a custom validation class in the blink of the eye. This class can be injected either as a strategy object into the previous form helper or used as a standalone component.
However, as I explained in the introduction, my goal here is to progressively build a modular program aimed at checking incoming data by using different strategy classes. Obviously, in its current state this sample program is capable of validating only integers, which isn't very useful. So, it's time to add a brand new strategy class to it that permits it to check whether or not a supplied value is a float number.
The full details regarding the definition of this class will be shown in the following section. Thus, to learn more, click on the link below and keep reading.
{mospagebreak title=Adding a strategy class for checking float numbers}
In reality, building a strategy class that can validate float numbers is nearly identical to creating one that checks integers, which we already did in the previous segment. Nonetheless, the best way to prove the truth of my claim is by means of some functional code, so below I included the definition of this brand new strategy class. It looks like this:
class FloatValidator extends AbstractValidator
protected $_filter = FILTER_VALIDATE_FLOAT;
protected $_errorMessage = 'Please enter a float value.';
There you have it. As you can see, building a refined class that validates float numbers is reduced (again) to overriding the already familiar "$_filter" and "$_errorMessage" properties defined by the parent abstract validation class. Of course, "FloatValidator" is as flexible as its partner "IntegerValidator," so it can be used in conjunction with other classes or in an isolated fashion.
The latter option deserves at least a quick look. So in the last section of this tutorial I'm going to set up a basic script that will show how to use the previous "FloatValidator" class in an independent manner.
Now, don't waste more time; read the lines come.
{mospagebreak title=Using the FloatValidator class as a standalone component}
To demonstrate in a quick and dirty way how flexible the earlier "FloatValidator" class can be, below I coded a somewhat trivial script which shows how to use the class as a standalone component. Check it out:
// create an instance of the float validator class
$floatValidator = new FloatValidator('This is a test string');
// validate the supplied value
if (!$floatValidator->validate())
echo $floatValidator->getFormattedError();
displays the following
The value This is a test string is incorrect. Please enter a float value.
echo ' The data that you entered is correct.';
Done. As you can see, using an instance of the previous "FloatValidator" class in an independent way is a straightforward process that doesn't bear any further discussion. However, it's worth pointing out that the above script may produce erroneous results, particularly when checking numeric values. These glitches occur due to the behavior of the FILTER_VALIDATE_FLOAT constant. Thus, if you need to fix these little bugs, please read the official PHP filters documentation here: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.filter.php
Having clarified that, I'm sure that at this point you have a clearer idea of how useful the Strategy pattern can be when checking incoming data in a modular way. However, the sample validation program being developed here still has a pretty limited functionality that needs to be enhanced. This will be done, of course, in future articles in this series.
Final thoughts
In this third installment of the series, I proceeded to create a brand new strategy class, which was provided with the functionality required to check whether or not a supplied input value is a float number. While the addition of this class does contribute to extending the capabilities of the sample validation program that I'm currently building in this series, it's fair to say that it can be enhanced even further.
You may be wondering how. Well, it'd be relatively easy to add another strategy class to the program, and make this one able to validate email addresses. This would make it possible to assemble a wider range of validation strategies at run time, which speaks for itself about the benefits introduced by Composition. In the next article I'm going to define this new email checking class.
Here's my final piece of advice: don't miss the upcoming tutorial!


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Smartphone Patent Lawsuits See Little Reward
Smartphone makers who have sued rivals in the industry's patent war are finding minimal support from courts. Ashby Jones reports.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the app has been quite a bit of leaky stand in the smartphone pie ... worse but like them all all ... all this litigation has been the less likely to be worth it Wall Street Journal law reporter Ashby Jones is here ... actually lead us in the smartphone patent cases haven't always gotten but they're fighting for militant and this is the battle that broke out of three years ago among all the players the smartphone wars mean you know Nokia approval Apple ... nun Samsung's are all suing each other of claiming that they've ripped off that each other's ... products and then designs and inventions ... aam and ... into what's happening in three years and it it's it's hard for a need for for that to see that anybody's really made any progress and some that haven't been ... any huge wins we had a big win last year for Apple got about a one billion dollars verdict against Samsung right ... aam but since then the number of things have happened to sort of upset that verdict and it's un clear story what whether in what Apple's is exactly can recover and that ... so aam yet it's been a long slaw for the people were were bringing these cases and it's unclear right now what what the point is real ... and has that is that I'm settlement between Apple and payments from Samsung Apple has that been part of what's continuing to motivate people there's that one landmark case out there saying look Apple bottom billion dollars with people to keep going for it yet yet you know I'd I'd I thinks that's part of it another part of it is that I think that ... people think that ... aam even if they can knock up a plot of kin in John she gets a products were a few months or cause a competitor to sort of ... delay a product launch because of an infringement ruling on ... that side then it's worth it just it just to make life difficult for other people is is worth it ... and once you're on the receiving end of that motor to turn around a playoff and stew so ... aam it sort of everybody's involved everybody's running and it's just it's really for right now to know ... aam who's ahead who's behind and out ... and and whose tumors from this thing better off than they were before ... and isn't part of the issue here is that different time frames meaning ... the legal time frame that I'm a slow turn on the lawn and the quick turn obviously of technologies I think eroding her story that ... he'll by the time by the time these pieces are actually finish some of the food that they were fighting over again only our grandmothers reason Renault is really using them anymore that's right that's right I mean litigation with U S delegation takes a long time ... and as we know these products turnover every six to eight months or so and so you sue over certain products ... and if you win injunctions against it or something not to Michelle for comfort while the pair who were not something the product anymore anyway so ... aam it so yes I think it's been I think it's been a little frustrating for companies who brought these cases ... that said they continue to fight them aam a lot of these cases are still sort of in the middle innings ... they're still lot of pee all and what not and and and we could see some emerge from all the assistance being you know Rylee Victorian spot ... on as of right now it's it's hard to see her really gets the points we have here we have the numbers some ... of the sales for humble Apple and Samsung as you can see Samsung there for that for the first quarter two thousand thirteen ... I can suddenly million phones sold and found an apple muffin from three point four million ... on and is a mean you also ready which is interesting that they'd given how long this is this is taken given the lack of kind in the sights the Samsung Apple case the landmark case ... that there's a growing frustration with ... the pattern was as the asthe illegal reporter Wetzler some of the issues that are coming up there with them ... what will I think that there is a there has been even before I started a growing recognition to a lot of patents that were ... awarded over the past ten years or so ... aam made the courts and they don't necessarily speak to an innovation that that that is that sort of innovative or that that that groundbreaking ... and so all of these haven't specifically software patents are getting challenge ... and win their challenge Dom a judges are saying well we don't really buy this we don't think this really holds water in a lot of a lot of companies that are coming forward and saying ... aam garden you know you're you're preaching does pet nearby infringes patents reducing well that hadn't isn't really that good ... to begin with so ... its lead to conduct open water re examination of the patent system ... aam and done people say that the of changes and reforms are under way and ... and things are getting better and I do think that they all are ... we still have a legacy I think of bomb of the patent system that was ... frankly Brell awarding too many aam


text:
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text:
NEW YORK — Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen was back with his Orioles teammates on Friday, but this time was a little different. He's not just back to work out; he knows the next time he throws in a game it will be in the big leagues.
"I'm definitely ready to pitch for my next start, same approach to every game," said Chen through interpreter Tim Lin. "Like my last outing, I'm ready to pitch."
Chen, who was 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA in eight starts before straining his right oblique on May 12 in Minnesota, will throw a bullpen session on Saturday in Yankee Stadium in preparation for his next big league start, which will come either Wednesday or Thursday against the Texas Rangers.
"I'm not quite sure right now because they told me there'd be an extra day to rest," Chen said. "But I'm going to throw a bullpen [Saturday], so I don't know what's going to happen."
Said Orioles manager Buck Showalter on Chen: "If he's physically ready, we'll activate him on the fifth or sixth day. We've got some different options that present themselves now. We'll take it day to day. The big thing is I want him to get through his work day first and see how he feels."
Chen made two rehab starts for Double-A Bowie against the Harrisburg Senators. He allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in five innings in a no decision on June 29 at Bowie. On Thursday in Harrisburg, Chen threw seven scoreless innings to pick up the win. He allowed four hits and walked no one.
"The biggest difference is command," Chen said. "[Thursday], I attacked both sides of the plate, so that's probably the difference."
Showalter said he told Chen before Thursday's start that he wanted to see the lefty get the win — to show his competitive fire is still burning.
"One thing when you're down that long, the one thing that doesn't get stoked is your competitive juices," Showalter said. "The last thing I told him was, 'I want you to win the game. I want the Bowie team to beat Harrisburg and have a W next to Chen's name.' He started laughing and I said, 'No, I'm serious.' I said, 'That's what I'm going to be looking for.' So, I was glad from that standpoint."


text:
Catching up
Steve Kurtz has been busy.?The University at Buffalo art professor, the subject of a long and misguided federal case based on false suspicions of bioterrorism, participated in two projects at the major international art event Documenta 13 in Kassel, Germany, over the summer. His new project, "New Alliances," was recently exhibited in Turin, Italy. And an illustrated catalog of work by the Critical Art Ensemble, of which Kurtz is a prominent and vocal member, was also published this year.
Kurtz will give Western New York a progress report on his ambitious series of new projects – with a special focus on his work at Documenta – at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center (341 Delaware Ave.). His two projects for the contemporary art event, "Monument to Global Economic Inequality" and "Winning Hearts and Minds," are the latest outgrowths of Kurtz's longtime desire to unmask and challenge the oppressive tactics of governments and corporations.
The talk is $4 for Hallwalls members and $5 for nonmembers. Call 854-1694 or visit www.hallwalls.org.
– Colin Dabkowski


text:
Intervention #12 Ine Lamers - Call Sheet
The Rotterdam artist and filmmaker Ine Lamers created a presentation as part of the series of interventions that make up Collection Two, the present arrangement of the museum collection.
In 'Call Sheet', Ine Lamers presented her video work USTALA (I'm tired) in a museum context for the first time. Alongside USTALA (2008) Ine Lamers showed a number of casting photographs and video stills. She also selected various works of art from the museum collection with the idea of subtly broaching unexpected contextual and visual connections between the video images, the photographs and her selection from the collection.
In the video work USTALA Ine Lamers explores the notion of dystopia. The story takes place in the Russian model city of Tolyatti, which was built on utopian foundations in the 1950s and 60s. Significant political and historic events—the fall of the Iron Curtain and the dismantling of the Soviet Union—transformed the collective paradise into capitalist chaos. Utopia became dystopia. In the film a group of Russian kids loiter among the silent monuments and the debris of this former Communist paradise. Their repetitive acts seem to suggest that they are caught up in a ritual. Do they really want to escape from this apocalyptic setting?
Visual narrative
Lamers's oeuvre is made up of colour photographs and slide and video installations in which she examines the narrative properties of these mediums. USTALA was created through improvisation and in collaboration with a group of Russian actors (amateur and professional) and scriptwriters. The original concept—a re-enactment of a poetic 8 mm amateur film about the construction of the city of Tolyatti—was revised during the working process. USTALA developed into a cyclical film in which staged and documentary images intermingle with historic archive material.
Ine Lamers
Ine Lamers lives and works in Rotterdam and has been working as an artist and filmmaker since 1990. Her work appears in several museum collections and was recently exhibited by the Reuten Galerie and Galerie Ron Mandos. Her video works have been shown at many film festivals, among them the Viper Basel in 2004 and 2006, the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2005 and the Vermont International Film Festival in 2004.
Intervention #12 – Ine Lamers was put together by the curator of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's City Collection, who focuses on expressive art from Rotterdam by means of exhibitions and projects.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen gives contemporary art a prominent position by getting presentations to reflect on the collection or the museum building. The interaction with art from the collection reinforces these visual statements and creates an exciting tension. The interventions heighten the way the public views them and fire the imagination.


text:
I'm going to talk to you about Jasey-Jay Anderson. He is an Olympic Snowboarder who is 34 years old and he was born in April of 1975. He was born in Val-Morin, Quebec. Jasey-Jay's parents were both ski instructors and his brother Jayme introduced him to snowboarding. At the age of 14 Jasey-Jay won his first medal. He won more than 24 gold medals.
Jasey-Jay loves to do a lot of things for example: water activites, such as canoeing, kayaking and surfing, but most are in summer such as hiking, kite boarding, mountain biking. For winter it's snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The last hobby he has is painting. All of these are cool hobbies and he loves them all.
Jasey picked this sport out of all the Olympic sports because, his family enjoyed doing many sports but because his brother discovered snowboarding and Jasey tried it and loved snowboarding so he joined the Quebec snowboarding team.
I love snowboarding. I've known about it for awhile and have always been interested in it because it's like skateboarding but in the snow and of course no wheels… and its more fun because if you fall you won't be scraped, but fall into the snow, which is kinda fun. Also for snowboarding there are lessons for beginners and you have a large open area to move. My opinion is that snowboarding is the funnest sport to me.
Jasey-Jay Anderson's best finish was in fifth place in the snowboard cross four years ago in Turin. Instead of racing in snowboard cross and parallel giant slalom, Anderson was beginning to focus only on Alpine racing despite. I believe Jasey finished on the podium in his final three world cup events last winter,wining at La-Morina Spain, and Valmaleno, Italy. Anderson hopes for a strong finish to his Olympic career before he retires.
by: J.L., 10 yrs. old