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Terms of Sale Overview
We reserve the right to end this listing at anytime should the vehicle no longer be available for sale. The following terms of sale apply to all of our listings.
By submitting an offer, clicking on the "Buy-It-Now" button, or bidding on this vehicle, you are entering into a legally binding contract to purchase this vehicle and you agree to abide by all terms of sale set forth herein. The following terms of sale apply to all of our online sales including our "No Reserve" Auctions. If, at the end of the auction, you are the highest bidder, or we have accepted your offer, or if you have clicked on the "Buy-It-Now" button, you have won this vehicle and you have entered into a legally binding contract.
Payment Information/Methods
Paypal (Deposit ONLY), Cash (In Person), certified check, bank transfer, or 3rd-party financing. All funds must be in US dollars only. Please be sure to have full payment and/or approved financing in place BEFORE making your final bid. Call us for more information.
If you are the winning bidder, you must contact us within 24 hours of winning the auction to set up payment arrangements. It is the buyer's responsibility to contact the dealership; it is not the responsibility of Exclusive Auto Imports to contact the winning bidder. The successful high bidder will submit a $500 non-refundable deposit within 24 hours of the close of the auction to secure the vehicle. We require a $500.00 non-refundable deposit within twenty-four (24) hours of winning the auction. This deposit can be made through PayPal with any major credit card to the email address: "email@example.com". In the alternative, the buyer can make a deposit via secure wire transfer. If the deposit is not received within the required timeframe and alternative arrangements are not made, Exclusive Auto Imports reserves the right to make the vehicle available for sale to another buyer.
Payment of Balance Due
The buyer agrees to pay the remaining balance due (plus applicable fees and taxes) within 5 days of the close of the auction. The buyer must email/fax Exclusive Auto Imports a legible copy of his/her state issued driver's license and a current/valid insurance card after the deposit is made. As final payment for the vehicle, we will accept a certified bank check/cashier's check, bank loan check, wire transfer, or cash. We will not release the vehicle and/or title until funds clear. All financial transactions must be completed and funds received by Exclusive Auto Imports before delivery of the vehicle can be scheduled. If you pay cash, you can pickup the vehicle immediately once the currency is verified - there may be a small fee applied for excessive cash handling situations. If you pay by wire transfer the vehicle will be available for pickup once funds are available in our account. If you pay by bank check, you will have to wait nine (9) business days or possibly longer until the funds clear. If payment is made using a check we will hold all vehicles and titles for nine (9) days or until the funds clear.
Additional Fees and Taxes
The exact amount you can expect to pay for state-required tax, title, and tags will vary depending upon (1) the state in which you live, (2) the county where you will register your vehicle, (3) the weight of your vehicle, (4) whether you will have a trade-in vehicle, and (5) the type of license plate you select. All car dealerships have a mandatory dealer fee that they HAVE to charge ALL customers by state law. Some dealerships have been known to charge more than $1000.00, but we keep our fee as low as possible. Our dealer processing fee is $375.00 and covers the preparation of the vehicle, a professional detailing, the preparation of documents, filing tax, title and registration forms, and the expenses of maintaining inventory. Vehicles titles may be held by banks or lenders as collateral for loans. In many cases there may be a delay in receiving the original documents up to 21 days from the time we pay a vehicle off. While we usually have all titles in our possession at closing, there are rare occasions where we may be waiting for them to arrive. All titles will be overnighted at our expense if that is the case. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered.
The buyer is responsible for shipping and/or pickup of the vehicle. All shipping charges are the buyer's responsibility. We will assist the buyer with finding a shipping company and usually save our customers hundreds of dollars when shipments are booked through our broker - call us at 954-972-2277 for more information. We deal with both "open" and "enclosed" transport trucks. If the vehicle is going to be shipped, full payment must be received before the vehicle is delivered to the shipping company. We will not be responsible in any way for claims arising from shipping damage. Shipping companies have insurance policies that protect buyers against damage. If you choose to pickup the vehicle yourself, we can meet you at our local airport. This service is free of charge; however, we do require advance notice. Also, certain additional state fees, such as Florida state sales tax, may/will apply if the vehicle is delivered within the state of Florida regardless of the residence of the buyer. It is very common for shipping to be a more cost-effective option when weighed against all the actual costs for picking up the vehicle in person.
If you are planning to finance this vehicle through a lending institution, you must secure the loan prior to bidding. Secure all finances and be able to follow through with the payment before you bid. Please call us if you require assistance in obtaining financing.
Vehicle Representation
Every effort has been made to accurately and fairly describe this vehicle to you. Exclusive Auto Imports has tried to disclose all information known about this vehicle for auction and although we describe all our vehicles to the best of our abilities, it is still possible that we may have unintentionally made an error or left some information out. Please be advised that used vehicles will have typical scratches and dings inherent for their year and mechanical parts are subject to fail. Interior wear should also be considered depending on the vehicle's year and mileage. Opinions and expectations can vary, so please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the condition of this vehicle. Used cars may not come with all of the original books, keys or accessories. Please review all photos carefully and if there is anything you are not sure about, ask questions prior to bidding. We are not responsible for errors or omissions in our listings. The mileage may be different than advertised due to test drives and demos.
Buyer's Inspection
Exclusive Auto Imports welcomes and encourages a buyer's inspection. If you plan to have a buyers inspection, please make sure you inspect the vehicle prior to the auction ending. This vehicle is available for inspection at any reasonable time. If you choose to have the inspection done by a licensed professional, you must do so at your own expense. Exclusive Auto Imports is willing to work with the customer in transporting the vehicle to the desired inspection location as long as it is a reasonable distance from the dealership. If Exclusive Auto Imports needs to transport the vehicle to another location for the inspection, there will be a charge due prior to the transport to cover expenses of the customer's request. If the inspection is done at Exclusive Auto Imports, there will be no charge. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value based solely upon that judgment. Furthermore, it will be assumed that you have inspected this vehicle fully if you have placed the bid, submitted an offer, or clicked on the "Buy-It-Now" button.
Unless otherwise stated in the vehicle description, this vehicle is being sold "As-Is" and where is with all faults and possible defects. No representations or warranties are made by seller, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Nor are any representations or warranties relied upon by bidders in making bids. We are not the first owners of this vehicle and therefore cannot guarantee history, condition, reliability, mileage, title, salvage/history of salvage, function or performance of the vehicle. You are only buying what we have. Manufacturer's warranties may still apply. An extended warranty may also be available. Please contact us for details.
Notice to BiddersWe reserve the right to obtain and verify the registered information of all users who bid on this auction. We reserve the right to cancel any and all bids at our discretion and end the auction early in the event the vehicle is sold prior to the end of the auction, we shall not be held liable for such cancellations.
Bidder's Age
You must be 18 years of age or older to bid.
Bid Retractions
Bid retractions are not allowed nor will be recognized within 12 hours of auctions end. Seller will not be obligated to sell in the event of a late retraction.
New Bidders
New bidders and bidders with zero feedback rating are encouraged to email us or call us prior to bidding if you are unsure of the auction process and terms of this agreement.
Successful Bidder
The winning bidder will be contacted via email after the auction closes or he/she must contact Exclusive Auto Imports and pay the deposit within 24 hours to proceed with payment of the balance and delivery arrangements.
Storage Terms
Once a vehicle has been paid for in full, we will store it free of charge for five (5) calendar days and at nineteen ($19) dollars per day after that.
Non-Paying Bidder
If the deposit is not received within 24 hours of the close of auction or if the balance is not paid in full within 5 days following the close of auction, we reserve the right to re-list the vehicle or sell the vehicle to the next highest bidder or another qualified buyer.
Liquidated Damages
In the event that the winning bidder refuses to honor his/her obligation to purchase the vehicle, we shall be entitled to liquidated damages from that bidder in the amount of two thousand dollars plus two hundred dollars per one thousand dollars of the total purchase price of the vehicle.
The buyer agrees that in the event any non-paying bidder dispute shall arise, it will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida and litigated in Broward county. By bidding on this auction, the buyer consents to service by certified mail. The venue for legal action other than non-paying bidder disputes, such as claims, motions, litigation, settlements, or any legal action associated with this sale other than non-paying bidder disputes from either the buyer or seller is to take place in the State of Florida in Broward County.
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Message Board
Ian Kelly Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Kelly has written!
Author Kelly's Book Reviews
Beau Brummell
George Brummell, known as Beau, became famous for revolutionizing men's clothing in the early 1800s. He was English. Brummell's grandfather was a butler, his father assistant to a wealthy aristocrat, and Brummell rose to reign over "society", to mix with the rich and titled. Before his reign over fashion, men wore colorful silks and satins, and did not put much emphasis on cleanliness and neatness. The aim was to showcase one's status by showing off i...

subset: commoncrawl


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Shipping and ports
An overview of what we do in relation to maritime is available by reading 'An introduction to maritime'.
This section provides information for the shipping industry on the environment and on safety. Additional information is provided specifically for the UK shipping industry.
This section contains documents relating to a national standard for port marine safety, decision letters and reports of public inquires, good practice advice for all trust ports in the UK and port environmental information pages.
An introduction to maritime
An introduction to the Department for Transport's range of responsibilities covering the maritime industry.
- Published:
- 26 January 2007
United Kingdom Search and Rescue
Information about the structure and coordination of search and rescue in the UK.
Email contacts
Email contacts for the Shipping and Ports department.
- Published:
- 10 July 2003
- Last update:
- 23 March 2009
Archived content
The following content is available from the Department for Transport web archive .
For related documents, pages and internet links, see the column on the right.


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|2010-02-03, 03:30
|Link #61
|2010-02-03, 06:30
|Link #62
Custom User Title
I guess out of all people, Enel would have probably the highest Bounty, if the WG would just know about him. Luffy is basically the only one who can beat him, for everyone else he is unreachable, in strength and literally, considering Luffy is the only man in the world he has to fight in close combat. He can read minds, fly and basically can kill anyone and anything from up the sky, without ever being seen.
|2010-02-03, 11:28
|Link #64
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Land of tha Heartless
Age: 30
I still don't understand how Kidd's bounty is higher than Luffy's, even IF he kills innocent people. Luffy took down a government fortress for God's sake. Surely a selfish and corrupt government that cares more about its arrogant aristocratic bastards than the lives of innocently captured 'human employees' would take more offense to the Enies Lobby defeat than killing of innocent people.
|2010-02-03, 11:33
|Link #65
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Well, that only means that the government still cares for its image. Government fortress can still be rebuilt, but lives of innocents cannot. That's what citizen's will think. By giving Kidd high bounty, it atleast shows that the government cares for the citizens.
|2010-02-11, 14:30
|Link #66
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Grand Line
Kidd is another thing, he does infamous things to civilians and WG trys to blow wind to his atrocitys so citizens will try seek refuge with WG against likes of Kidd.
|2010-03-09, 07:51
|Link #67
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Land of tha Heartless
Age: 30
Luffy's will go up, undoubtedly. But I think also Sanji and Usopp's will go up for their striking a Tenryuubitou (even if Usopp's was unintentional). I think the WG knows full well that Usopp and Sogeking are the same guy...... everyone who sees Usopp knows, except Luffy and Chopper . Kuma, upon just meeting him knew, so I don't think they'll have a problem with that.
|2010-03-09, 12:30
|Link #68
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
|2010-03-10, 13:40
|Link #69
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
|2010-03-11, 03:21
|Link #70
Senior Member
I don't know how much for ussop and Sanji. I really don't know if sanji or ussops will go up, my impression is the government has assumed them to be M.I.A or K.I.A. Kuma defeated them on Shabody remember? Luffy was "defeated" and showed up in impel down, then broke several hundred prisoners out.
|2010-03-21, 10:24
|Link #71
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
well we all know luffy is 300mill b
ace must be about 300mill b-400mill b
shanks must be 600mill-700mill we havent see his potential yet..
whitebeard 700-800mill hes the greatest pirate in the world he should be about that
these are just guesses
|2010-03-21, 18:20
|Link #73
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
It's plausible that the bounties that we currently are familar with on the Grand Line is very different to those of the captains that have achieved success in the New World and are considered immediate threats by the WG.
I believe that after the latest events has calmed down reasonable and the WG and the Marines has, once again, secured their position somewhat, that Luffy will gain a New World Bounty: 1 billion.
While Luffy isn't in the tier of the Shichibukai and certainly not with the Yonkous and the Admirals, he has shown, once again, that he stirrs up trouble for the Marines wherever he goes. Akainu has been gunning for Luffy for some chapters now, and as Luffy will (certainly) escape, Akainu will most likely push for actions towards Luffy.
Last edited by John D.; 2010-03-22 at 03:12.
|2010-03-22, 10:46
|Link #74
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Iceland
Its obvious that Luffy will gain a considerable bounty when he escapes from the battle. I have too say that I think that the Magna Admiral Akainu which was only targeting Luffy because of his father is afraid of what Luffy can become. And that he fears his father and fears that he will become his father, if not more powerful.
|2010-04-08, 11:30
|Link #77
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
despite all points I would be fairly surprised if Luffy's next will be over ~500 mil
Teach can easily go to 800+ i think ..
1) deceived WG
2) threw Shichibukai title in their faces
3) Impel Down thing
4) the only person ever to wield 2xDF and one of em belonged to the strongest man in the world and can destroy that world
5) has declared open war on everything
|2010-04-14, 03:23
|Link #78
Senior Member
Buggy the Clown > 80,000. I was going to say 100,000,000 for some reason I feel like 80,000,000 is the right number. For some reason ODA sensei seems to give out a lot of just around 80,000,000 (Robin, Boa, Crocodile). It would be funny if he accelerated to rookie status over night (100,000,000).
Trafalgar Law I think will get an increase due to his aiding luffy on two occasions.
Luffy's Bounty is likely to increase even with the marine ford cover up. I don't think they can hide the fact that Luffy was in the lime light most of this war, or the fact he punched a Tenrryuu Buuto. I think they might be able to cover up a lot of impel down, but I think enough rumours will fly about lufffy breaking in and out. The credit for capturing Crocodile was given to Smoker, but they still rose luffy's bount. I was going to estimate 500,000,000, but I would not be surprised if its actually higher.
|2010-04-21, 16:28
|Link #80
Pink Ball!
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Dreamland
Age: 29
Everyone talks about Enel... Kairoseki and the Admirals could handle him well i my opinion!
For Luffy I bet he will get a very bad ass bounty for messing up Impel Down, and his saga will continue so i think he will easily reach 1 Billion in no time!
For the rest of the crew members: i think their bounty wont change at least until they meet up... The WG thinks they are dead...
|Thread Tools


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BBC America on Friday announced the air time of "The Day of the Doctor:" 1:50 p.m. CST Nov. 23.
The 50th anniversary special of "Doctor Who" will be simulcast globally in 75 countries, then BBC America will rebroadcast is again at 6 p.m. CST Nov. 23 with new, exclusive looks at Matt Smith, who plays the 11th Doctor, and David Tennant, who plays the 10th Doctor.
Smith and Tennant star in "Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor," which was written by lead writer/exec producer Steven Moffat. Jenna Coleman, Billie Piper and John Hurt also star.
BBC America also announced plans for a Doctor Who Takeover of the network Nov. 18-24 with special "Doctor Who" programming set to celebrated the 50th anniversary of the "most successful sci-fi series in history."
Beginning at 8 a.m. (all times are Central in this post) Nov. 18, the network will rebroadcast marathons of "The Doctors Revisited" specials before presenting new programming, including specials about the science behind the series, the TARDIS, a "The Doctors Revisited" dedicated to the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, and finally, the premiere of the film "An Adventure in Space and Time" about the creation of the series and the 1st Doctor, William Hartnell.
Doctor Who Takeover Schedule
"Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited" marathon
8 a.m.–8 p.m.: The 1st through 10th Doctors
"Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS"
8 p.m. U.S. Premiere
The new special features the series' actors and producers from the show's 50-year history sharing their experiences and memories of the world's longest-running sci-fi show, including actors who have played the Doctor (Matt Smith, David Tennant, Tom Baker, Peter Davison), actors who have played companions (Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Freema Agyeman, William Russell), and current exec producer Steven Moffat. The discussion includes how the actors got cast, how the roles changed their lives, how a 'regeneration' is recorded and how filming the show in the '60s compares to today.
"The Science of Doctor Who with Brian Cox"
9 p.m. U.S. Premiere
A former rock star and Britain's popular TV physicist, Professor Brian Cox explores the universe of the world's favorite Time Lord when he takes the audience on a journey into the wonderful universe of Doctor Who, with the help of celebrity guests. In this exclusively recorded special from the lecture theater of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, Brian reveals the science behind the spectacle and explains the physics that allows Doctor Who to travel through space and time. Fun but filled with real science, it's a special night for Who fans and anyone with a thirst for understanding.
Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor marathon
9 a.m.–9 p.m. The Ninth Doctor-Christopher Eccleston
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor marathon
1 a.m.–10 p.m. The Tenth Doctor-David Tennant
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor marathon, Part I
8 a.m.-10 p.m. The Eleventh Doctor-Matt Smith
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor marathon, Part 2
8 a.m.- 7 p.m. The Eleventh Doctor-Matt Smith
"Doctor Who Explained"
7 p.m. U.S. Premiere
The new special explores the mysterious, two-hearted alien who is the Doctor. Through exclusive interviews with principal cast members from the show's 50-year history, including Matt Smith, David Tennant, Peter Davison, Tom Baker, Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan and Freema Agyeman, viewers get an insight to what happens behind-the-scenes of the award-winning sci-fi show.
"An Adventure in Space and Time"
8 p.m. U.S. Premiere
What do you get when you mix C.S. Lewis with H.G. Wells, and sprinkle in a bit of Father Christmas? An alien Time Lord exploring space and time in a Police Box spaceship called the "TARDIS" (Time And Relative Dimension in Space). Written by Mark Gatiss, the BBC America co-production stars David Bradley as the actor who played the First Doctor, William Hartnell, Brian Cox as BBC Head of Drama Sydney Newman, Jessica Raine as producer Verity Lambert and Sacha Dhawan as director Waris Hussein.
An unlikely trio of misfits set out to create a genre series that all ages would love. William 'Bill' Hartnell, displeased with his career, was presented with a chance to break out of the hard-man roles he'd become known for. And with the instincts of first time producer, Verity Lambert and first time director Waris Hussein, the Doctor was born.
As the success of the show grew, William went from unhappy curmudgeon to beloved TV star who relished his career resurgence and found a new lease on life. But all good things come to an end. How will Bill face leaving behind the part that has made him a hero to millions of children? And can the show survive without him? Journey back 50 years through space and time to witness the exciting beginning and untimely end of the First Doctor in this touching drama.
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor marathon, Part 3
12 a.m.–1 p.m. The Eleventh Doctor–Matt Smith
"Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor"
1:50 p.m. Global Simulcast, World Premiere
The centerpiece of BBC America's celebrations is the global simulcast of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special written by Steven Moffat. The Doctors (Matt Smith and David Tennant) embark on their greatest adventure across space and time.
In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London's National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor's own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.
Starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt. Last seen as the Doctor on Jan. 1, 2010, this will be the first time David Tennant has reprised his role as the 10th Doctor. During his reign as the Time Lord, Tennant appeared in three seasons as well as several specials. He was first revealed as the Doctor in the 2005 season finale, "The Parting of the Ways." Meanwhile Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler for two seasons following the reboot in 2005, will appear in the show for the first time since featuring in David Tennant's last episode, "The End of Time" in 2010. The special is directed by Nick Hurran, executive produced by Steven Moffat, Faith Penhale and produced by Marcus Wilson.
"Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor" encore
6 p.m.
BBC America will premiere exclusive "Inside Look" interviews with Matt Smith and David Tennant during this broadcast. The special will be followed at 8 p.m. by the premiere of new fantasy-adventure series "Atlantis."
"The Graham Norton Show" with guests Matt Smith and David Tennant
9 p.m. U.S. Premiere
"Doctor Who" stars Matt Smith and David Tennant make their first appearance together on BBC Americas hit talk show "The Graham Norton Show." Emma Thompson, singer Robbie Williams and comedian Jimmy Carr also will appear.
"Doctor Who: Matt Smith Countdown"
8 a.m.-7 p.m.
BBC America counts down the top 11 episodes from the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, as voted on by fans.
"Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited-The Eleventh Doctor"
7 p.m. U.S. Premiere
BBC America celebrates the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, in this new special. Matt Smith first stepped into the TARDIS in 2010 and, after starring in the 50th Anniversary Special airing Nov. 23, will regenerate in the Christmas special. "The Doctors Revisited" begins with Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman (companion Clara Oswald), Karen Gillan (companion Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (companion Rory Williams), lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and others examining the human side of this Doctor and taking a look at how his extraordinarily long life has affected him.
The special is followed by the 11th Doctor two-part story, "The Impossible Astronaut" and "Day of the Moon," in which a strange summons reunites the Doctor, Amy (Karen Gillan), Rory (Arthur Darvill) and River (Alex Kingston) in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret the Doctor's friends must never reveal to him. These were the first "Doctor Who" episodes to be filmed in the U.S.
More from BBC America about "Doctor Who":
"Doctor Who" follows the Doctor, an alien from the planet Gallifrey, the last of the powerful Time Lords, on his adventures through all of space and time. Traveling in the TARDIS, the time machine resembling a vintage British blue police box that is bigger on the inside, the Doctor almost always side-steps danger armed only with his incredible intelligence and fix-anything sonic screwdriver.
The Doctor routinely cheats death by regenerating--changing into a new, fresh body. Eleven actors have starred in the iconic role. First played by William Hartnell, the Doctor was portrayed by seven actors before the series went off the air in 1989, including Tom Baker, who held the role the longest, from 1974-1981. After being off the air for seven years, the Doctor regenerated again in a 1996 TV movie.
When "Doctor Who" returned to TV with a new lead writer and executive producer, Russell T Davies, in 2005, the title character once again had a new face. The series was resurrected with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, and Billie Piper as his companion Rose. David Tennant took on the role in 2006.
In 2010, Steven Moffat became lead writer and executive producer while Matt Smith, made his first appearance as the Doctor--the youngest actor ever to play the character. He is the first actor to be nominated for a BAFTA Award in the role. Last season Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) became his companion, the impossible girl who routinely appears when he needs the most help. The thrilling season finale ended on a cliffhanger with the closing shot saying "Introducing John Hurt as The Doctor."
Matt Smith will hang up his bow tie at the end of this year after starring in the 50th Anniversary special and regenerating in the Christmas special. Having starred alongside companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill), River Song (Alex Kingston) and most recently Clara Oswald, Matt's Doctor has fought Daleks (mutated beings encased in a metal shell and bent on destruction) and Cybermen (humans who have been upgraded to soulless metal robots) as well as Weeping Angels (frightening creatures that are erased from memory the moment someone looks away) in New York. Regularly heard shouting "run" and "Geronimo," through Smith's Doctor fans have been introduced to a new culinary combination--fish fingers and custard.
Earlier this year, "Doctor Who" won an Institutional Peabody Award. The series is BBC America's highest-rated series and is one of the most talked about shows in social media.
Want more? Discuss this article and others on Show Patrol's Facebook page.


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Global injustice. Gay marriage. War or no war. Spreading the Christian gospel.
The free speech area at Texas Tech has been a forum for people to express their views on those topics and many other topics most people might not even know about.
While some events are a peaceful protest, others end up with an atmosphere much like a World Wrestling Entertainment battle royal.
The latest exhibition was an Injustice Wall, placed there by Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, a Tech student organization, earlier this month. The wall included old newspaper articles and fake blood, there to represent what is happening around the globe. It also included phrases and words on controversial topics, including abortion, immigration and the Iraq War.
Austin Mullins, a graduate student from Arlington studying electrical engineering, said the wall lets students see the "big picture," before taking a spiritual approach. Mullins said he has been pleased with the students' response.
Tech had limited free speech to six designated areas on campus until a 2004 court case opened the entire campus to free speech, according to the homepage of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, www.thefire.org.
The site reports that U.S. District Judge Samuel R. Cummings found several aspects of Tech's free speech areas to be "unconstitutional" including the "banning of insults, ridicule and personal attacks" and the policy requiring permission for any sort of political expression.
Although free expression is allowed everywhere on campus, most activity remains with the previously designated area.
Other students, such as Jourdan Wilkerson, a junior advertising major from Arlington, said the free speech area is good for Tech, although students might not agree with what is protested.
"I always walk by, and sometimes I stop," she said. "I always think there are liberal things over there. It's not my viewpoint, but students should have a place."
Some people who have witnessed activity at the free speech area could believe anything can happen under the gazebo.
As an attempt to raise money for people in Africa and Asia, the South Asian Student Association stopped at the free speech area for Poverty Week last week.
Members of the organization even abstained from eating while the sun was out. Some could say it was difficult because they fasted during the week after the time change for daylight time.
Not all of the area's events have been as peaceful. Some organizations go out to the zone in an attempt to raise discussion on campus on topics they do not believe have been talked about very much.
On Nov. 8, the area was a place for Tech employees and students to protest against Constitutional Amendment Proposal No. 2, which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. Some could say the protest made little difference, while more than 80 percent of the voters voted in favor of the amendment.
That rally, along with others attracted more attention, while some local TV stations sent their crews to the free speech area to report what was happening.
At other times, the area's protest have caused an appearance by the Texas Tech Police Department, for instance, the time the Good News Network, a traveling Christian ministry group, came to preach at Tech.
While the protest offended some people because they believed they took a harsh approach, it also gained the support from others who were glad to see people take a stand. Hundreds of students just came by to see what was going on.
Although the police came to the scene, they said there was no public disturbance, and the Good News Network continued its sermon until the next day.
In March 2003, the free speech zone was a place for people to speak out against the U.S. troops going back to war in Iraq. The protest was more than one week before Operation Iraqi Freedom took place. Many came because they believed there was an "alarming lack of discussion" about it.


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- 1 Tblsp. olive oil
- 1 Tblsp. butter
- 1 clove of garlic crushed or minced
- 1 large sweet onion, sliced
- ½ tsp. dried Basil or fresh snipped basil
- 2 zucchini sliced, about the size of bananas
- 3 Roma tomatoes - quarter lengthwise then cut in 2 - 3 pieces
- cup ¼-½of grated Parmesan cheese
- sea salt and pepper
- In a large, non-stick skillet, heat butter, olive oil and garlic over medium heat.
- Saute onion for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and caramelized!
- Stir in basil and add zucchini. Stir and continue to saute' until tender.
- Add tomatoes and continue to cook only until tomatoes are hot.
- Sprinkle with sea salt, pepper, and Parmesan Cheese.
- Turn off heat and cover until cheese is melted.
- Serve as a side dish or on top of grilled chicken, fish or pasta.
Terri's Notes
~ You have to taste it to believe it!
~ Start with the onions and garlic, end with cheese - and make it your own in between! Poratabella mushrooms come to mind, yellow squash.
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Hi Guys
'Gman' recently asked some questions on a club forum about Field of Glory: Napoleonic (FoG:N) and what I thought of the system.
I thought I might share my response, (and that of my friend Arnaud 'LeGrognard' )
From "Gman"
Hi Scott,
I've heard it said that FoGN is a bit slow to get a game through, how do you find it compares ?
Here in Brisneyland we're looking at what rules set to focus on for Nappies and some of the popular choices are Napoleon at War, Waterloo (GW offshoot ?) and FoG:N .
Do you have any experience with the first two ?
Hoping that FoG:N is easier to pick up on and less brain hurty than FoG Ancients which is pretty much abandoned locally, although I'm not meaning to make pre-judgements at all (in case anyone else wonders !).
Genuinely trying to get an idea of pros and cons.
My reply:Hi Gman
SLOW? No, defiantly not.
Napoleon At War and Waterloo.? I've Played Nap At War. It's a Division level game. At that level I prefer LASALLE.
Waterloo. Not played though I do have a copy. For what it's worth it looks to much like Warhammer for my liking.
FoG:N is 'wordy' but it rewards the effort put in with an excellent 'Napoleonic' gaming experience IMHO. That said, it's nowhere near as difficult to grasp as some systems I've dealt with. There is an EXCELLENT PowerPoint presentation that you can download that walks you through an entire turn. Highly recommended. I'll try and find it, but I think it's somewhere on the Slitherine FoG-N Forum.
From "LeGrognard"
Hi GMan,
I posted this in another thread about "FoG:N First Impressions", but have pasted the salient points here:
Having not played the rules in some months, it was very easy to pick up again, especially with a very knowledgeable referee to assist players (Crabby also has a lot more experience, so really I was the only neophyte).
Rules flow very well, and once you get the sequence down in your head, play moves along very swiftly.
By the end we had a pretty convincing conclusion which I've never seen with any other Corps level system. The only thing that really slowed us down was the occasional query regarding some of the nuances. Since it was a friendly game/learning experience we would all grab our rule book and carefully go through the applicable section so everyone understood. Helped with game play lots, but did slow us down a bit.
Biggest issue I have is with me...not the rules. At Corps level your considerations are far different than at battalion level (duh!) which is where most of us learned Napoleonic wargaming. Once you accept that, then everything about formations, fire, command and combat really does make sense.
The more I play, the more I appreciate these rules. They actually make sense, flow very well and are a joy to play. You can get a very convincing decision in a decent period of gaming once you know what you are doing.
I am certainly enthusiastic about them. Between these rules and "Lasalle" by Sam Mustafa I think I've got my Napoleonic gaming covered. Basing is the same for both systems as well as "BP" and "RtoE" so I can dabble there as well should I choose.
I pretty much agree with everything Arnaud has stated here. For the life of me I can't understand why these rules have not taken off with more people. I understand that they have not taken off in Sydney, but I believe them to be fairly popular here in Melbourne. It's a CORP level game. Once you grasp that it's all good. The rules play quickly.
I've some AARs on my blog:
Battle of Sacille 1809
Battle of Mockern 1813
and of course our recent battle of Lambsnag on Bunn:
You can find other FoG:N stuff here:
BELOW: Saxon Infanrty, 1812. "We LOVE FoG:N! (These comments are not paid for by Slitherine)".
The game flows nicely and feels like a Corps level action.
As Arnaud said, between these and 'Lasalle' I've got my Nap gaming covered. I use SHARP PRACTICE for Skirmish and FPGA for ARMY level.
Another question was posed by 'Nick':
My only reservation now is that you and I share a love of AB figures but we seem very different in our approach to rules. You like LaSalle where I think they're a very disappointing set. I need a Command & Control system and a well developed Morale system and some differences between troops when firing (I dont believe Prussian Landwehr ever shot as well as the Old Guard) in my rules for any level of command.
Do these elements exist in FOGN in your opinion?
The C&C system in FoG-N is IMHO excellent. It's nothing like LASALLE in that regard,
(and nor should they). I'm a Divisional Commander in LASALLE. Here in FoG:N I'm commanding a Corp as a minimum.
Shooting? The big difference is between reformed (think French, later war Prussians, etc) and Un-Reformed (think 1806 Prussians). Troop TRAINING has some bearing on shooting. For example:
VETERANS and CONSCRIPTS have re-rolls. Vets re-roll 1s (a Miss) and Conscripts re-roll 6s (a Hit).
Also 'OLD GUARD' will endure hits better than Landwehr.
Remember we have entire REGIMENTS (Brigades) shooting at each other here, not a Battalion of Guard Grenadiers exchanging shots with Landwehr. Things like attachments of Skirmishers and Artillery will impact on your ability to shoot.
In short, I believe so.
FoG:N is NOT FoG:A.
Comments Welcomed.


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Alfresco Named to EContent 100 list of Companies that Matter for Third Consecutive Year
Alfresco's Open Source Enterprise Content Management System Recognized for Significantly Impacting the Digital Content Industry
London, UK. – December 11, 2008 – For the third consecutive year, Alfresco Software, Inc., leading open source alternative for enterprise content management, was named to EContent magazine's 2008 EContent 100 list of companies that matter most in the digital content industry.
"With the EContent 100 Award, we look to honor the most innovative and brightest companies offering digital content solutions," said Michelle Manafy, Editor-in-Chief of EContent Magazine. "We had 14 industry experts critically evaluate and discuss each company presented, selecting those that enable organizations to maximize the use of digital content to help them achieve success. We are pleased to recognize Alfresco again this year for its industry leadership. Over the past year, Alfresco has continued to enhance its software solutions, providing customers with advanced opportunities in content management."
Alfresco has seen major adoption of its open source enterprise content management (ECM) system throughout the world. The Alfresco product has been downloaded 1.5 million times since the company was launched in October 2005. There are currently 50,000 active deployments of Alfresco and over 600 Enterprise Subscription customers, including the NYSE, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, Los Angeles Times, Sony Pictures, Activision, the French Air Force, Kaplan, FedEx and KLM.
"We are honored to be recognized by EContent for the third year for our content management capabilities," said John Powell, CEO and Co-founder, Alfresco Software. "Now more than ever, enterprises need content management tools that are easy to use, increase worker collaboration and most importantly allow companies greater choice in their technology infrastructure. The Alfresco team is committed to making content management accessible and affordable to all enterprises as demonstrated with our recent release of Alfresco Enterprise 3 and leadership in the new CMIS draft specification."
Alfresco recently released a white paper outlining the Total Cost of Ownership of ECM, based on publicly available pricing from a range of vendors. The white paper aims to demystify some of the complexity around current proprietary ECM pricing and demonstrate how choosing and implementing an open source ECM solution can be a transparent and cost-effective process. The TCO white paper is available online.
More information on the 2008 winners of the EContent 100 awards can be found in the December print issue of EContent magazine and online at www.econtentmag.com. In addition, the winners will be honored at the Buying & Selling eContent 2009 conference being held April 5-7, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona.


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Thursday, 16 January 2014 14:22
Short Charge Cables for Smartphones
Since most of us can't get through the day on a single charge of our smartphones, we all seem to be carrying auxiliary batteries, which themselves have been getting smaller in size and bigger in the amount of power they punch. Problem is, carrying the long version of the USB cable that comes with the phone is that it takes up too much space on my person, so these key chain-sized cables are just the ticket. These two Caught My Eye at CES!
Published in Accessories


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Cross- posted from our Bell Bajao blog. Written by Eesha Pandit, Breakthrough's Women's Rights Manager
As she went into labor Juana Villegas was shackled to her hospital bed. Living in Tennessee, she gave birth while in custody. She had been pulled over while driving and taken to jail when the officer discovered that she did not have a valid drivers license as was undocumented. She went to prison, where she went into labor. Her ankles were cuffed together on the ride to the hospital and once there, Juana begged the sheriff to let her have at least one hand free while in labor. She was denied.
Watch Juana's story:
In another instance, Maria, also undocumented, was more than 8 months pregnant and on the road with her husband and two US born children when they were pulled over by a police officer in Tuscon, Arizona.
Tuscon police spokesmen claimed in an interview with the Huffington Post, that the family had been stopped as part of a "random license plate check," which indicated that insurance on the vehicle was suspended. When Maria's husband did not have a valid driver's license and admitted to being in the United States without documentation, the authorities called the Border Patrol.
Maria asserts that her water broke when she was roughly pushed into a Border Patrol car. She soon went into labor and was not allowed to be with her husband as she gave birth and he was deported within the week. Inside her delivery room with her were two armed Border Patrol agents.
Watch Maria's story:
These women, living miles apart, share an experience of giving birth while in custody. It is an experience shared by more and more women in the United States and around the world. In the US specifically, incarcerated women, particularly those who are undocumented, face a vast set of barriers to accessing health care, as do their children and families. What do Maria's and Juana's experiences show us?
They show the additional points of vulnerability faced by women who are immigrants and refugees. They are at greater risk to experience violation of their human rights either at the hands of others in the community or at the hands of the state, because they often live outside the protections afforded by citizenship. Yet another border is created around them. This border keeps civil society protections just out of reach. Their very identity is criminalized leaving them no recourse for justice.
In another illuminating example, immigrant and refugee women, like all women, face the risk of domestic violence. But their status as immigrants or refugees often means that they face a tougher time escaping abuse. They often feel trapped in abusive relationships because of immigration laws, language barriers, social isolation, and lack of financial resources. They worry about what will happen if they go to the police. Will they be sent away? Will their families be torn apart? Will they have any financial resources available to them? How will they survive?
These challenges facing immigrant women are particularly acute for women who are undocumented. How can an undocumented woman who is considered a criminal by simply being in the US appeal the government to uphold her human rights? As it turns out, this is exactly the tough spot that we put undocumented people in. And it is exactly the reason that human rights should be afforded to everyone regardless of their citizenship status, in the US and everywhere else in the world.
No one should have to deliver their child while cuffed to a hospital bed, or be forced to deliver their baby in the presence of armed guards. Yet this is what happened to Juana and Maria, and countless other women in the US and around the world. Their stories show us something very important: Borders shift. Citizenship policies change. But human rights must remain constant.
Take action! Encourage your representatives to support the International Violence Against Women Act, which calls for a comprehensive U.S. response to end violence against women and girls globally.
Photo courtesy of bellbajao.org


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Is this the last golden ticket?
Enrique Iglesias has been offered what may be the final spot on the American Idol judges table, Entertainment Weekly reports.
The "Bailamos" singer, 36, would join already announced judge Mariah Carey, as well as reported new additions Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj. Iglesias was reportedly offered $ 4 million.
Nigel Lythgoe returning to American Idol
If Iglesias decides to sign on, and Urban and Minaj's deals are finalized, American Idol might have its most diverse panel of judges yet. While Carey's music is best described as pop mixed with R&B and hip-hop, Urban is pure country, Igelisias is huge in the Latin genre and Minaj is best known as a rapper/singer.
Randy Jackson, the only holdout from last season, and a judge since Idol's beginning, is said to be moving to a mentor role.
However, it is unclear if Iglesias will sign on the dotted line after turning down a chance to host The X Factor. He was also in talks for The Voice.
Do you think Iglesias would make good judge?


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Hungry? Today you'll find the best of whatever it is you crave -- in Jonathan Gold's 101 Best Restaurants, where our Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic names and ranks his favorites.
"If you take into account Los Angeles' superb produce, its breathtaking diversity and its imagination, it can be one of the most pleasurable places to eat on Earth," Gold says.
Is it a savory Indian dosa you crave? Pizza as good as anywhere on Earth? Shrimp tacos for less than $2, or sushi for several hundred dollars?
You'll find this and a lot more, including an interactive map and engaging ways to share where you've been and where you want to go with your friends -- whether you're searching on a desktop or your smartphone. But, you'll have to be a Los Angeles Times member to see it all. Membership details are here.
Still hungry? Here are Gold's top 20 restaurants:
1. Providence 2. Urasawa 3. Spago 4. Mozza, etc. 5. Kogi 6. Lucques 7. Animal 8. Cut 9. Jitlada 10. Shunji 11. Rivera 12. Spice Table 13. Ink 14. Baco Mercat 15. Tasting Kitchen 16. Sea Harbour 17. Night + Market 18. Bestia 19. Hinoki and the Bird 20. Melisse
In addition, we've created an embeddable map for those who want a simple way to share the information on their own sites. Use the "embed map" link below the map to get the code:


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I love that the winter has been so mild. I just hope that doesn't mean the bugs will be that much worse come spring.
The end is near my friends. 2012 marks the start of severe and erratic local and regional climactic swings, and the days of relevant calm are gone. A few weeks ago I found large hatches of some stonefly looking insects. Got warm, they all hatched out and then promptly froze and dessicated to death. Could be we are going to be seeing less insects, as apposed to more, around here.


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For The New York Times, Assistant Professor of French Kaiama Glover reviewed the book Harlem: A Century in Images.
An excerpt: About midway through Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts's slim, enchanting volume we are introduced to rather an odd figure, L. S. Alexander Gumby, proprietor of the Gumby Book Studio and motive force behind a 1920s Harlem-based literary salon. The studio and salon both evolved, Rhodes-Pitts explains, out of Gumby's singular passion for scrapbooking — his "impulse to compile, collect and curate the detritus of his reality." Gumby's efforts ultimately produced an apartment's worth of materials about the so-called black experience, culminating, we are told, in a "brilliant and strange production." These words well describe Rhodes-Pitts own achievement in "Harlem Is Nowhere." Her happily disparate text blends the historical and the personal, the exceptional and the ordinary, adroitly communicating the multiplicity of Harlem itself.
Prof. Glover is the author of Haiti Unbound: A Spiralist Challenge to the Postcolonial Canon, published by Liverpool University Press.


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DUBLIN, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Actavis plc (NYSE: ACT) today announced that its indirect subsidiary, Actavis Funding SCS, priced a private debt offering of $500 million of 1.300% senior unsecured notes due 2017, $500 million of 2.450% senior unsecured notes due 2019, $1.2 billion of 3.850% senior unsecured notes due 2024 and $1.5 billion of 4.850% senior unsecured notes due 2044, for a total offering of $3.7 billion in aggregate principal amount. The offering is expected to close on June 19, 2014, subject to market conditions and other factors.
Actavis intends to use the net proceeds from the offering, along with borrowings under its indirect subsidiary Actavis Capital S.a r.l.'s new senior unsecured term loan facilities, other financings and cash on hand, (a) to consummate the acquisition of Forest Laboratories, Inc. ("Forest"), (b) to refinance Warner Chilcott's 7.750% senior notes due 2018, (c) to pay related fees and expenses and (d) for general corporate purposes.
The senior unsecured notes offering is not conditioned on the completion of the acquisition of Forest. However, if the acquisition is not consummated on or prior to December 17, 2014 or the agreement relating to the acquisition is terminated at any time prior to such date, Actavis Funding SCS will be required to redeem all of the five, ten and thirty year senior unsecured notes at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the senior unsecured notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
The notes will not initially be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under any state securities law; and unless so registered, the notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
About Actavis
Actavis plc (NYSE: ACT) is a global, integrated specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing generic, brand and biosimilar products. Actavis has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and U.S. administrative headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA.
Actavis develops and manufactures generic, brand, branded generic, legacy brands and Over-the-Counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products and has commercial operations in approximately 60 countries. The Company's North American branded pharmaceuticals business is focused principally in the Women's Health, Urology, Gastroenterology and Dermatology therapeutic categories with a strong pipeline of products in various stages of development. Actavis also has a portfolio of five biosimilar products in development in Women's Health and Oncology. Actavis Global Operations has more than 30 manufacturing and distribution facilities around the world, and includes Anda, Inc., a U.S. pharmaceutical product distributor.
For press release and other company information, visit Actavis' Web site at http://www.actavis.com. Information on our Web site is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this press release.
Important Information for Investors and Shareholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed merger between Actavis and Forest, Actavis has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a joint proxy statement of Actavis and Forest that also constitutes a prospectus of Actavis. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on May 2, 2014. Each of Actavis and Forest has mailed to its stockholders or shareholders the proxy statement/prospectus. In addition, each of Actavis and Forest has filed and will file with the SEC other documents with respect to the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ACTAVIS AND FOREST ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Actavis and Forest through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Actavis will be available free of charge on Actavis' internet website at www.actavis.com or by contacting Actavis' Investor Relations Department at (862) 261-7488. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Forest will be available free of charge on Forest's internet website at www.frx.com or by contacting Forest's Investor Relations Department at (212) 224-6713.
Participants in the Merger Solicitation
Actavis, Forest, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the Actavis and Forest shareholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Forest is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on July 8, 2013 and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Information about the directors and executive officers of Actavis is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2014 and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the above-referenced registration statement on Form S-4 and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
Actavis Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this communication that refer to Actavis' estimated or anticipated future results, including estimated synergies, or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Actavis' current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this communication. Forward looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "could," "should," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "outlook," "guidance," "intend," "may," "might," "will," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the Forest acquisition, including future financial and operating results, Actavis' or Forest's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and the expected timing of completion of the transaction. It is important to note that Actavis' goals and expectations are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially from Actavis' current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Actavis' business, Forest's business and risks associated with acquisition transactions. These factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainty associated with financial projections; restructuring in connection with, and successful closing of, the Forest acquisition; subsequent integration of the Forest acquisition and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of the Forest acquisition; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals for the transaction (including the approval of antitrust authorities necessary to complete the acquisition), the timing of obtaining such approvals and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction; the ability to obtain the requisite Forest and Actavis shareholder approvals; the risk that a condition to closing of the Forest acquisition may not be satisfied on a timely basis or at all; the failure of the proposed transaction to close for any other reason; risks relating to the value of the Actavis shares to be issued in the transaction; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Actavis' and Forest's products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; access to available financing (including financing for the acquisition or refinancing of Actavis or Forest debt) on a timely basis and on reasonable terms; the risks of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the pharmaceutical industry, including product liability claims and the availability of product liability insurance on reasonable terms; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future litigation or government investigations; periodic dependence on a small number of products for a material source of net revenue or income; variability of trade buying patterns; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; risks that the carrying values of assets may be negatively impacted by future events and circumstances; the timing and success of product launches; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of product development efforts and regulatory agency approvals or actions, if any; market acceptance of and continued demand for Actavis' and Forest's products; costs and efforts to defend or enforce intellectual property rights; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; the availability and pricing of third party sourced products and materials; successful compliance with governmental regulations applicable to Actavis' and Forest's facilities, products and/or businesses; changes in the laws and regulations affecting, among other things, pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products; changes in tax laws or interpretations that could increase Actavis' consolidated tax liabilities; the loss of key senior management or scientific staff; and such other risks and uncertainties detailed in Actavis' periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Actavis plc's Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, Quarterly Report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 and Current Report on form 8-K filed on May 20, 2014 and from time to time in Actavis' other investor communications. Except as expressly required by law, Actavis disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.
Investors:Lisa DeFrancesco (862) 261-7152
Media:Charlie Mayr(862) 261-8030
David Belian(862) 261-8141
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Czeslaw Milosz
Czeslaw Milosz (30 June 1911 – 14 August 2004 / Kedainiai)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
First, plain speech in the mother tongue.
Hearing it, you should be able to see
Apple trees, a river, the bend of a road,
As if in a flash of summer lightning.
read more >>
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I've always loved hardware stores, something about being dragged along with my dad when I was a kid when he needed to pick up something; absolutely fascinating places in the 'old days,' Disney-level entertainment today.
So there I was waiting for my husband Trav to pick up whatever he needed and I'm just looking around to see what's new at the Lowe's store in Bozeman Montana. And pow ? there it is! The perfect answer to Montana's cold. Especially if one is a fly fisher who thinks fishing in the winter is even a possibility. That probably isn't going to be even a possibility for me personally since I've given up on winter in Montana and instead opt out of it entirely by living for six months of the year in sunny Arizona. (and yes it really is)


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Grainy Leather Zip Pouch
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Size Guide
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- A slim leather pouch, featuring a detachable wrist strap and oversized zip-pull embossed with Burberry lettering.
- 19.5 x 30cm/7.7 x 11.8in
- Outer: 100% calf leather
- Inner: 100% calf leather
- Trim: 100% calf leather
- Lining: 97% polyester, 3% polyurethane
- Zip closure
- One slip pocket, six card slots
- Embossed Burberry lettering at zip-pull
- Made in Italy
Item 40760541


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|March 4, 2013, 06:22 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
Chimney Rock Battle:
Chimney Rock in Lucerne Valley was the site of the last Indian fight in Southern California. There were many events that lead up to the historic fight.
Indians had used the mountain areas of San Bernardino for many years to supply food for their families. When the white man began cutting down trees and building their sawmills the Indians felt their hunting grounds were being ruined. This began a campaign to rid the area of the white man.
In 1863 the Indians killed a Spanish man named Polito at the mouth of the Little Sand Canyon. As they made their escape, the Indians stole a mule from Sam Pine and ate it. A short time after this, the Indians shot a horse and mule belonging to W. F. Holcolm and Pete Smith. About the same time this was occurring, some Indians shot and wounded Dr. Smith in Cajon Pass. Bill Holcolm formed a posse and followed the Indians, but he had to give up the chase for lack of provisions.
Meanwhile, in Cajon Pass, S. P. Waite killed an Indian when he shot at an object a blue jay was darting after. He did not realize until the next morning that the object was an Indian.
In 1866, J.W. Gillette, Ed Parrish and Nephi Bemis started out to round up some stray cattle at the Dunlap Ranch. Gillette's mule was worn out, so he was sent back to get Pratt Whiteside to take his place. Gillette then stayed with the herd that Whiteside had been guarding. A short while later, the horses of Parrish and Bemis came back without any riders. The Parrish horse had blood on the saddle. Gillette went back to the ranch house to inform a sick Mr. Dunlap of the discovery and to gather more men and weapons.
The body of Nephi Bemis was found about sundown. The searchers determined from the evidence that about 30 or 40 Chemehuevi Indians had killed him. The bodies of Pratt Whiteside and Ed Parrish were found the next morning. Parrish still had a stone in his hand that he had been using to defend himself against the attack. The Indians had removed all the clothing from the three bodies along with Whiteside's riding rig and pistol. The Indians ate Whiteside's horse then returned to the desert the same evening.
The following winter in 1867, the Indians returned to the mountains and looted some homes in Little Bear Valley. The Indians went to the home of Bill Kane and they stole horses, supplies and guns from George Lish and John Dewitt. The next morning, Frank Talmage, Jonathan Richardson, George Armstrong and Bill Kane decided to go after the Indians. The men had returned to Kane's house and found it burned to the ground. Every item that the Indians could not carry had been destroyed.
The families of the men were sent to the mill for protection. Help from San Bernardino was on the way, so the men decided to track the Indians through the new fallen snow. At Willow Canyon they spotted eight Indians. Talmage and Kane chased after them on horseback while Richardson and Armstrong followed on foot with the pack animal.
The Indians hid behind a log. Kane was on top of them, but he didn't realize it. The Indians shot Kane's horse and it threw him. Kane lost his gun, but he still had his pistol. The Indians were trying to kill Kane as he hid behind a tree. Talmage arrived in time to save Kane from the Indians. Talmage killed one Indian and the others scattered. The men returned to the mill to gather more ammunition and more men to fight the Indians.
The next day, Talmage, William Caley, A.J. Currey, "Noisy" Tom Enfufty, Henry Law, George Lish, Tom Welty, Frank Blair and Jacob Roar joined Kane, Richardson and Armstrong. The posse now contained twelve men. The posse met up with about sixty Indians in some thick timber on the top of the first ridge past the mill. The Indians opened fire on the men with guns, bows and arrows. After several hundred shots were fired, the Indians took their wounded and headed for the desert. The posse let them go and returned to the mill with their wounded men. Tom Welty was shot in the shoulder and Bill Kane was shot in the leg. The posse had killed one Indian.
Men and supplies arrived from San Bernardino. The new posse split up with some men going through the mountains while others went through Cajon Pass. The posse reunited at the Dunlap Ranch on the Mojave River. W.F. Holcolm, Jack Martin, John St. John, Samuel Bemis, Edwin Bemis, Bill Bemis, Harrison Bemis, Bart Smithson, John McGarr, Johnathan Richardson, Frank Blair, George Armstrong, George Birdwell, Joseph Mecham, Jack Ayres, George Miller, and another unnamed man were the seventeen men who started out as the final posse.
The posse located the Indians on a rocky mountain in the desert Northwest of Rabbit Springs. About three or four of the men became sick and went home. David Wixom, "Noisy" Tom Enrufty, Sam Button, a preacher named Stout, Stout's son and son-in-law, Griffith, joined the men and completed the final posse.
That night, the men divided themselves into two parties. St. John was the leader of the party that headed North and Stout was the leader of the party that took the wagon road to the South. At daylight, the Southern party was in place, but the Northern party arrived late. The Southern party saw no Indians and fired some shots to let the Northern party know where they were. The men then turned to start back down to their wagons.
The noise of the gunfire woke the Indians who only saw the Southern party. The Indians began to try to cut the men off from their wagons. The Northern party began to climb the rocks and were unseen by the Indians until the posse was upon them. The arrows and bullets began to fly. Richardson was struck in the breast by an arrow. He fell into the arms of George Miller. Miller tried to remove the arrow but the tip would not come out. Miller went to get help. Miller met St. John who told him to guard an opening in a pile of rocks because the Indians were escaping through it. Miller tried to stop the Indians while St. John went to get other men.
The Indians yelled like coyotes during the battle. All of the Indians escaped except two women, a fourteen year old boy, a ten year old girl and a baby. The Indians had been surprised by the attack and when they thought they were trapped, they scattered. The posse took the prisoners and Richardson back to the wagons. Holcolm, Button, Armstrong, and Blair took Richardson to San Bernardino for medical attention.
The next day, Martin, Miller, Bill Bemis and Ed Bemis went back to the battle scene to pick up the Indian's trail. They tracked the Indians and discovered that they had come back together. From examining the tracks, they determined that there were about 150 to 200 Indians. The men heard a shot, but decide to turn back. It was almost sundown, they had run out of water, and they had a six mile walk to camp.
The next morning, three men stayed in camp while the others returned to the trail to track the Indians. The men arrived at the place where the others had turned back the night before and discovered that the Indians had been waiting on both sides of the canyon. If the men had gone any further the evening before, they would have been ambushed and killed by the Indians.
The posse followed the Indian's tracks. They traveled in a half-circle until 3:00 P.M. They decide to return to camp, which was closer to them now than when they had left that morning. Stout's son met the posse. He had two extra horses, a canteen of water and lunch for his father and brother-in-law. The three men decided to continue to look for the Indians against the advice of St. John and Martin.
The posse was eating their dinner at camp when they heard gunshots. Miller looked through a field glass and saw Stout's son running across the dry lake on a bald-faced horse. The Indians had laid in wait on the rocks and opened fire on the three men as they came through a small pass. The men from the camp hurried to help, and arrived just in time to save the two men from the Indians who were closing in on them. Stout's horse had been shot and Griffith, Stout's son-in-law, had a broken arm. The posse exchanged fire with the Indians and they scattered again.
The posse took Griffith back to camp. They determined that after they sent men to take Griffith to San Bernardino for medical treatment, they would not have enough men left to fight the Indians. The posse disbanded and went home. This ended the thirty-two day campaign against the Indians and stopped the Indians from raiding the mountain areas.
Writer's notes: The Chimney Rock site is a registered California Historical Landmark (# 737). Although the marker indicates that the site was the last Indian battle in California, historical records show that the last battle in California was during the Modoc War on April 11, 1873. Chimney Rock was most likely the last Indian battle in Southern California.
Here is a photo of Chimney Rock from a distance:
Here are two photos we took there recently. The first showing Chimney Rock near the top and the other looking out of the sniper's nest on the NW side of the rock formation. The dry lake mentioned in the article is visible in the image.
Last edited by 10851Man; March 4, 2013 at 07:15 PM.
|March 6, 2013, 12:26 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
Found what looks like an unfired .58 minie in the sniper's nest about 10" down. Will post photos soon...
|March 6, 2013, 12:58 PM
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Join Date: May 1, 2012
Posts: 280
Thanks; I'll be looking out for them.
|March 6, 2013, 01:11 PM
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Join Date: July 11, 2012
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 140
reminds me of the high dessert around Edwards AFB. My brother was stationed there then went on to work for Rockwell. I was born and raised in Cali, never did like the dessert though.
"Why Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave."
|March 11, 2013, 11:36 AM
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Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
Thus far, I have found (1) dropped (unfired) .58 caliber minie ball and a (1) 1865 2 cent piece near the Sniper's Nest.
These would be period correct for the February 1867 battle...
|March 11, 2013, 06:10 PM
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Join Date: August 16, 2004
Posts: 516
Impressive research and thank you for the post. More?
Bread and Circuses don't pay the Bills.
|March 12, 2013, 09:21 AM
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Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
Only one exploration at present, with more scheduled to follow in the future.
Here is the apparently unfired .58 caliber minie I located in the Sniper's nest about 11"-12" down in the soil.
|March 12, 2013, 09:26 AM
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Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
I am gently cleaning the 1865 2 cent piece with a light acid wash, just enough to bring out the detail. It was pretty crusty when I found it and barely noticed it in a scoop full of earth.
The 1865 2 cent piece is the size of a modern quarter...
|March 13, 2013, 02:18 PM
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Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
The 1865 2 cent piece after light de-scaling...
|March 13, 2013, 06:32 PM
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Join Date: February 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 160
Cool stuff.
|March 18, 2013, 07:07 PM
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Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: High Desert Mountains CA.
Posts: 410
Did the pics come out OK????
|March 30, 2013, 12:20 AM
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Join Date: June 30, 2012
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 139
Interesting history! We off-road in the area and didn't know about it. Next time out I plan on taking a look. Thanks for posting about the battle.
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A report that showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter cut short oil's first foray above $98 a barrel in four months on Wednesday.
Benchmark oil for March delivery was little changed in afternoon trading, down 8 cents to $97.50 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose as high as $98.24 in the morning but fell back after the government said the U.S. economy shrank from October through December, the first quarterly drop since 2009.
The government also said that crude oil supplies rose by 5.9 million barrels last week, more than twice what analysts expected, as imports increased. The rise in inventories could also indicate less demand. Still, oil maintained some of the momentum that has pushed up the price by about $6 a barrel this year.
The Federal Reserve concludes a two-day meeting later Wednesday. Investors will study the Fed's statement for clues about the outlook for the economy and interest rates.
At the pump, the national average for a gallon of gas jumped 3 cents overnight to reach $3.39 for the first time since Dec. 1.
Brent crude, used to price international varieties of oil, gained 37 cents to $114.73 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
In other energy futures trading on Nymex:
- Wholesale gasoline rose 6 cents to $3.03 per gallon.
- Natural gas rose 6 cents to $3.32 per 1,000 cubic feet.
- Heating oil was up 5 cents at $3.11 a gallon.
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Last month's most significant phone launch was...
The Galaxy SIV has landed.a (virtually) stock version of the hardware – a far cry from the silliness of custom devices like the "Verizon Droid Galaxy Ninja Turtle III". No one, not even Apple, had pulled that trick simultaneously across every US carrier.
So with this year's Galaxy SIV being bigger, brasher and badder in every respect, you'd expect this to be April's most significant phone launch.
But I would disagree.
I think the most significant phone launched in April wasn't the identikit SIV (or even the gorgeous, aluminium-tastic HTC One).
It's a Nokia.
Half-price heroes
The Nokia Lumia 520 is a beautiful little device. Its sculpted matte back has a slight cast-iron finish which harks back to the N9's classic unibody. Its 4" screen is the goldilocks size for everyday use (not to big, not too small). Its tapered edges mean the xxmm thickness feels svelte in the hand. It feels like a damn sight classier than the shiny, plasticky Galaxy SIV.
But there's the rub. Because this is a phone that costs £109 no-strings-attached (£99 on O2 PAYG + £10 top-up; NB apart from iPhones, Carphonewarehouse devices are usually carrier-unlocked). That's an astonishing price for a brand-new, dual-core, carrier-unlocked smartphone.
While the mighty SIV is most definitely more of the same (Samsung has clearly gotten so bored of copycatting Apple that it has started copycatting itself!), the Lumia is a device that takes Windows Phone to entirely new price points.
It's what I call a "Half-Price Hero".
|The legendary San Francisco
These are the half-price heroes – low cost smartphones which give back twice what you pay for them.
How do handset vendors make money from these products? Well the answer is they don't – they are usually "strategic" products sold at low or low margins to gain share. In effect the vendor is paying you to use their product – and you're getting a smartphone you'd have gone and bought anyway into the bargain. The Blade was a result of ZTE's desperation to get a foothold in the smartphone market. The Nexus 4 was Google's attempt to subsidise its way into a leading smartphone position.
The Lumia 520 is the result of a similar dilemma. Nokia - facing smartphone extinction – has basically decided to trade gross margin for market share. Not a sustainable strategy I'd give you, but one which suits Joe Public to a tee.
Thankfully they've also picked a cracking device to do it with.
The Lumia 520: Thoroughly Reviewed
The cast-finish is a nice touch. It scrubs up well vs. the
cheap glossy plastic on the Android competition...
And thank heaven they've opted for a matte finish. Rather than a glossy fingerprint magnet you get a slightly rough surface which feels like gently cast iron. It actually looks good when smudged with oily hands. Colour-wise it's available in what are fast becoming Nokia's signature shares – cyan, red, yellow and white (as well as black). At this price point it's a good a chunk of
|Screen: Good enough.
A final bonus – the display is one of the new-fangled ultra-sensitive ones (cf Galaxy SIV) which works when with gloves. Limited usefulness in target markets such as India, but at least it gets round Nokia's "how do we use a phone in -20c Finnish winters" problem (which I suspect was one reason why they stuck with horrible resistive touch screens for so long - N900 I'm looking at you!).
InternalsThe guts of the phone are where it really shines. You basically get the exact same platform as the more expensive 620, 720 or HTC 8S – a dual core Snapdragon (albeit at slightly lower clocks). That's one advantage of bargain-basement shopping on Windows – vendors aren't allowed to cut back on the internals due to Window's rigid hardware requirements. There's also a microSD slot (works nicely with my SanDisk 64GB microSD) and a removable battery.
NB Initially the device didn't recognise the 64GB (or any) microSD out of the box - although it did after a quick factory reset. New users please bear this in mind!
The Lumia 520 and the iconic N9: The difference is that one
phone launches at 20% the price of the other one...
Now the bad news – like most low-end WP8 devices the 520 only has 512MB of RAM. This isn't a disaster – in day-to-day use the phone is just as snappy as 1GB devices. However a few of the higher end games (Temple Run, Modern Combat 4) require 1GB to run. Not a deal-breaker but it means the phone is less future-proof than 1GB models.
Two more omissions: No NFC (the chocolate teapot of the wireless technology world) and no LTE. Then again for £109 you can always bin it and buy another phone when that finally starts to matter…
Battery life, camera
Battery life has always been a key issue for me – if you're on the road for business you can't have your smartphone die on you after lunch. Thankfully the Lumia 520 has a removable battery for us road-warriors which clocks in at 1430 mAH. Interestingly that's 10% bigger than the battery on the higher-end Lumia 620 (same internals but a smaller screen). Anyhow the bottom line is that the battery life is adequate – it will get you through a day and is pretty durable on standby, although the phone's no RAZR MAXX HD.
The camera is a 5MP shooter; Nokia economise by including no flash.. It does the job – pics are sharper than on my previous Android device. Can't ask for more at the price.
Camera (raw photos): Perfectly adequate for close-ups and long-shots.
(FYI The pork buns are the Momofuku rip-offs from from Yum Bum near London's Old Street)
Oh and before you ask it makes phone calls perfectly well. Not that people use phones to make phonecalls anymore!
The Metro home screen and the WP8 Ecosystem:
More than good enough.
And after a month of using it as my daily driver I can honestly say that Windows Phone feels feature-complete. What really stands out is the deep integration of online services like Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin natively into the OS (nb how Facebook Home apes this). That's one area where the silo-ed iOS still feels some way behind. For both Windows 8 and WP8 Microsoft have done a great job integrating online services into the fabric of their OS, a stark contrast to both OSX and iOS. Google finally have serious competition in providing online services.
The one bugbear is multi-tasking. Apps often have to restart when you switch back into them rather than just picking up. There's a small pause here while it reloads (not as big a deal as people make out actually), but it means you might lose what you were doing at the time (mainly games or media playback). On the positive side the ruthless app-killing means that even with 512MB RAM there's never a lag when you have lots of apps loaded up (or not loaded up as it seems) – a perennial problem with low-end Android.
Much has been made about Google's attempts to make it harder to integrate its Calendar/Email services. I take this as a back-handed complement – the fact that Google is going after Microsoft's online services much more aggressively than it has done against iOS is an acknowledgement of how good they are getting as competitive offering. But in practice I had little problem setting up my Gmail and multiple calendars. I suspect this is a situation which will only get easier.
App ecosystem: The two big challengesObviously the app ecosystem lags iOS and Android, but unlike many commentators I think the Windows Phone 8 ecosystem is now good enough. That might be a controversial judgement for some, so let me flesh this out.
I think there are two big challenges for any non-iOS/Android ecosystem. The first is cutting edge apps which tend to come up on iOS first – things like Summly or Mailbox which are incredibly cool and innovative. These apps will remain with iOS for the foreseeable future. But do bear in mind, these apps are often too bleeding edge for everyday use; IMHO Summly was more a tech demo than a service.
The second challenge area is when you have one crucial app you can't live without (think Spotify, Hulu). That is the biggest weakness of the WP8 ecosystem, but I would say though that support for big-name apps is decent and improving. Marquee programs like Evernote, Spotify, Bloomberg or Linkedin are all available. Also Microsoft and Nokia have a good range of own-label offerings to help fill the gaps. Microsoft is been particularly good at pushing high-end gaming offerings – from the incredibly cute mobile Office and MSFT's game offerings to a bunch of Nokia exclusives like Here maps, Photobeamer and Mix Radio.
When I think back to where the Android store was at this stage in its cycle (say, 2010 when it was filled with plant-growing games and lots of random Russian porn apps), WP8's offering is in much ruder health (albeit in a much competitive market). Back in the day the app selection on Android was really, really horrendous, but fast forward to present and it's just not an issue. Soon I don't think it will be an issue with Windows Phone either.
App ecosystem: The 95/5 ruleAnother point is that even if you have 50+ miscellaneous games loaded up on your iPhone the reality is that 95% of the time you won't be using them. For me what are the killer apps? A browser, a music app, a couple of social media feeds and a random killing-time-on-the-subway game. If I have these covered that's 95% of my use-cases. I think most users are similar – and if that's your hurdle then Windows Phone is more than enough.
In terms of games particularly the 80/20 (or 95/5 rule) is definitely at work here. How many of us have bought a flashy Gameloft 3D shooter, installed it and realised three months later we never actually played the damn thing (too slow to load, no time to play). Although I see a lot of uber-premium driving or 3D shooters on the front page of the iOS App Store, I rarely see them being used on the tube. Instead it's wall-to-wall Angry Birds.
The reason is that the dominant model on mobile is freemium which is based on getting a simple app which hits as wide an audience as possible and then relying on 1-2% of that vast base to get addicted and pay for top-ups. That is a model where a) iOS's hardware advantages are less relevant and b) developers are incentivised to get their apps onto as many devices as possible – including WP8. Now it's not there yet (Temple Run 2 would be nice), but if the dev-tools really are as easy to use as Microsoft say there seems to be little reason we won't see an increasing number of ports coming to Microsoft.
A landmark low-end device
The Lumia 520 is a top-notch device, which offers excellent hardware design and a rich and compelling software experience. Yes there are gaps – multitasking, memory (perhaps), but not, IMHO, the app store selection (I think this is probably the first Windows Phone review in history which has made that statement!!).
But the point is for a sticker price of £109 the phone doesn't have to be great. It doesn't even have to be good (although it is). It just needs to spank the wave of Galaxy ace/ Alcatel / crapware "landfill smartphones". And that it does in style.
The Lumia 520 is a half-price hero.
What this means for the smartphone war
What does this device mean for the smartphone industry? Two points:
1) The next war will be fought at the low end
The real competition: Huawei's Ascend G10. Dual core, more
polycarbonate than a Lego convention and yours for £130.
Source: Eurodroid.
At the high-end we have the Apple vs. Samsung slug-fest we all know and love. This is now a war of attrition – as Apple's slowing growth shows the high end is becoming saturated and devices like the Galaxy S IV (and likely the iPhone 5S) show that evolution, not revolution, is now the order of the day. Highly profitable but not especially growing.
The mid-market (phones with an unsubsidised price of £200-400) is where things get squeezed. With the increasing quality of low-end devices (the Lumia 520 spanks most £200 android handsets for quality) the bottom falls out of this market, and if Google continues its aggressive Nexus push that hits the upper-mid hard. The Nexus 4 is effectively a high-end phone at a mid-market price point – and that's had an impact. It's the first Nexus phone I regularly see people using on my commute into work.
But the low-end is where the action is. Not only the Lumia 520 but the Xiaomi phone in China (with its excellent MiHome launcher - the only manufacturer skin people voluntarily install on their devices). In the US Blu are bringing low-cost Chinese platforms to the developed markets. Over here in the UK Aussie vendor Kogan (which has an interesting pre-sell-it-first-then-design-it model) has launched a £130 big-screen device in the UK (dual-SIM, no less!).
What we are seeing is a Cambrian explosion of competition at the lower end of the market. Let's be clear it's not going to be pretty and the margins aren't going to be great, at least until competition dies down. But to me this is where the action is. This is something the commetariat seems to have largely missed; while endless ink has been spilt about why you should (or shouldn't) get the GIV, I can count the number of Lumia 520 reviews on the fingers of my hand.
It will be interesting to see where the low-end Apple phone fits into this. Of course Apple's "low-end" is everybody else's "upper-mid", so don't expect too much. The question is whether their new device will reinvigorate the squeezed middle, or be swallowed by it. Their challenge is the (true) <£150 low-end is a market where Apple (which pays the bills with hardware gross) simply cannot go (as opposed to Nokia, which is desperate, or Google/Amazon, who don't make money on hardware).
|Early traction in the Indian market.
You can see this in the early traction in the Indian market, which has taken significant share out of the gate (see chart to right). Now success in a low-ASP market like India isn't going to save their bacon, but a full quarter of 520 availability is undoubted going to give a boost to their Q2 Lumia numbers.
2) The market underestimates how competitive Windows Phone has becomeIt's interesting if you look at broker forecasts for Windows. Despite the rapid rise of WP8 from a zero base they universally show its share inexplicably flat-lining at current levels. The fundamental issue for analysts is if they can't forecast it, they just hold it flat. Better to be slightly wrong than either completely right or completely wrong.
Except I'm pretty sure that's the last thing that's going to happen. If there's one thing we've learned from the smartphone market over the last five years it's that it never stands still. In 36 months' time Windows Phone will either be zero percent or twenty percent of the market.
At the moment my bet is on twenty percent. As I've said I think the OS is a lot credible, and a damn sight better app selection than Android was at this stage in its evolution (and market share). For Microsoft failure is not an option – as mobile devices become primary devices, the mobile OS will become your primary OS. This is an existential threat for Ballmer & co.
This is the next war, and it will be fought at the low end.


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New Research Suggest Google Book Search Helps Publishers A Lot More Than It Hurts
from the nice-to-see-some-data dept
But, now we've got a bit more evidence. Michael Scott points us to a new research paper from law professor Hannibal Travis, that tries to look at the actual economic impact of Google's book scanning on publishers, and finds that the falling sky claims from publishers and critics simply isn't supported by the evidence:
First, it finds little support for the much-discussed hypothesis of the Association of American Publishers and Google's competitors that the mass digitization of major U.S. libraries will reduce the revenues and profits of the most-affected publishers. In fact, the revenues of the publishers who believe themselves to be most aggrieved by GBS, as measured by their willingness to file suit against Google for copyright infringement, increased at a faster rate after the project began, as compared to before its commencement. Their profits also increased significantly more on average from 2005 to 2008 than from 2001 to 2004. The increased rate of growth by publishers most affected by GBS does not disappear when one compares it to the growth of the U.S. economy or to the growth of retail sales. The continued rise in sales is remarkable when one considers the soaring sales and prices of other entertainment products that may compete with books.Obviously, this seems to go beyond just Google's book search, in showing that greater access can certainly lead to greater revenue and profits for those who embrace it. Definitely another worthwhile paper to read on the subject.
Second, this Article finds some support for the view that mass digitization and expanded access to book previews may increase the revenues and profits of the most-affected publishers. The evidence for this proposition takes the form of large increases in revenues and profits for publishers affected by GBS who did not opt out of Google's publishing partner agreement for broader access to previews of works still in copyright.
Third, it seems that GBS may simultaneously vindicate the public interest in expanded access to the world's cultural heritage and the pecuniary interests of authors and publishers in recouping the substantial fixed costs of book and periodical production and distribution. Analyzing this virtuous circle can help us begin to theorize the relationship between the Internet industry, the producers of cultural products, and the wider public. This relationship is also visible with other advanced Internet services such as YouTube or DailyMotion, which may increase viewership of copyrighted works that they may infringe, such as television shows.


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:: It rained all day yesterday and looks like it is going to do the same today. Also, we turned on our heat last night. I was probably more excited about this than is reasonable. I would however like to cold weather to put off coming for just a bit longer (or forever but you know, can't have it all) so we can finish stripping our deck and planting bulbs. Fingers crossed.
:: My dear sweet little Z-cakes. She wants to be Cinderella for Halloween. We looked at a few costumes at the store but they were....well...let's just say they were sub-par. I have taken on the task of sewing her a costume even though this is hands down the most technical thing I've ever tried to sew. Skills needed that are not currently in my repertoire include but are not limited to: sewing with satin, gathering, lining, and you know, sewing anything other than a straight line. But I love my daughter, so I'm going to try. And I have the rest of the month to work on it. And it doesn't have to be perfect. And most importantly...I can do this. Right?