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Have you ever been faced with a somewhat 'sticky situation' during a power lunch or a business luncheon meeting? A sticky situation could include being served a food that you're allergic to or being instigated to talk about a topic of a provocative nature or being served a food that's difficult to eat. How do you know what to do when faced with a difficult situation at the table?
According to the Huffington Post, here are 5 sticky dining etiquette situations that you could be faced with and how to handle them smartly:
1. Sticky situation: What if I have food allergies or I am on a restricted diet?
These days, more and more conference venues, caterers and meeting organizers recognize that guests may have allergies, restrictions or personal food choices. To respect these, attendees may be surveyed prior to the function. When asked, simply signal your intolerance or preference accordingly.
On the day of the meal, expect to be identified by a colour-coded piece of paper, sticky dot or other indicator. In other instances, you will be assigned a seat so your special meal may be served to you. Assigned seating is an important reason, apart from honouring attendees, that prearranged seating should be respected.
When attending a smaller function, especially if you are the only invitee, politely inform your host of your sensitivity. It could sound something like this: "Thank you, I am happy to accept your invitation but I must inform you that I have a severe allergy to shellfish." This way your host will select a "safe" restaurant.
Should you have made a life food choice or you shy away from certain food categories, for religious reasons or other, simply choose a menu option that will make you comfortable while following your host's lead. For example, if your host has an appetizer and a main course, choose two courses and not one nor three.
Know that it is always appropriate to ask the wait staff for a list of ingredients.
2. Sticky situation: What should I talk about?
We all know the taboo conversation topics: politics, religion and sex. Avoid them. Don't go there. At the table, there are also topics that should be avoided and they form the acronym D.I.N.E.: Disgusting, Insulting, Negative and too Emotional. You should also stay clear of offensive language and slang expressions.
A big no-no in all business situations is gossip. Never gossip. When in the presence of others that gossip, simply do the action word embedded in gossip: go!
Also, as a professional discussing business in a public setting, always be aware that the other restaurant patrons may overhear your conversation. Be careful of the use of your clients' and colleagues' full names.
Most importantly listen, don't interrupt or argue. Show interest in what others are saying by asking open ended questions.
3. Sticky situation: What are appropriate finger foods?
When in doubt about whether to use your fingers, observe your host and follow his lead.
Generally speaking; fried chicken, crispy bacon, sandwiches, french fries that accompany a sandwich, pizza and even lobster when served in a rustic setting are all acceptable finger foods.
When you are a guest at a business luncheon set yourself up for success. Choose foods that you are comfortable with and know how to eat. By all means, if your host invites you to eat something new and you are game, go for it. Experiment and do ask for the appropriate way of eating it.
4. Sticky situation: Do I have to have a drink?
No, drinking alcohol is a personal choice and no one needs to know why. When offered a drink the appropriate response would simply be: "No, thank you." If the other party insists, a simple: "I have a little bit of a headache, so I prefer not to, thank you," will do.
If you do choose to drink, wait for your host's clue as to whether or not you should order a drink. Know your limit, which in my personal professional opinion, should be one drink in a business setting.
As a new graduate interviewing while dining, it may be best for you to avoid alcohol to showcase your resume successfully.
5. Sticky situation: May I excuse myself to go smoke?
Anytime a business professional excuses himself from the table, he misses out on the business at hand. For that reason, avoid absences from the meal. If you must, choose a strategic time.
As a smoker, be aware that the scent from the cigarette may irritate other diners. In other words, leaving the table to go for a smoke break during a dining interview may leave a negative first impression which you may not be able to turn around.
While on the topic of first impressions, do arrive on time. Tardiness will most likely create a negative first impression before the interview has even started. Also, do turn off your cellphone. An interview is all about face time, not screen time.
Once again good luck with your interviews and remember to send a thank-you note to be positively remembered.
From now on, anytime you're faced with the 5 above sticky situations you know what to do. To get more tips on appropriate dining etiquette, including knowing how to take the lead when hosting guests, handling your cutlery, eating difficult foods and paying the bill Corporate Class's exclusive dining etiquette CD can help. With 50-mintues of enjoyable practical hands-on instructions, this unique CD uses a common sense approach.
Get your Executive Dining Etiquette CD today and see for yourself the difference correct dining etiquette can make to your success!


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Okay, this is the last Steve Jobs thing I will mention... for this entry anyway. I don't know who put this poster out, but I doubt it was Apple.
And now for the new pheature called...
Holy crap, look at that thing. We were hoping that was just a tiny trash can but, no, it's a coconut crab, which is the biggest arthropod that lives on land. I'd like to know how they chose the innocuous name "coconut crab" to describe something that can only be killed with a flamethrower. If these things were called "Skull Crabs" or "Under Your Bed Crabs" mankind would have declared war on them long ago.
This year has seen some surprisingly thought-provoking movies. I've lost count of the times that I have had to decompress after a film, discussing what a film really means, man over a bottle of cream soda. Just in case you're like me and your brain hurts a little bit from all this contemplation in 2011, you can sleep easy knowing that Real Steel will not make you think at all. The only thoughts you have will be ones like "Hey, cool, robots are fighting each other," and "Wow, Hugh Jackman looks great doing that jab-jab-uppercut combination." This movie came out of nowhere and gut-punched me with joy. The premise sounds a little hokey... Hugh Jackman plays Charlie, a washed-up boxer in the future who has to hustle in order to live. Instead of doing something classy like sell drugs, he operates remote control boxing robots in the ring against any opponent as long as there's a purse involved (the film opens with his robot fighting a bull). He gets unexpectedly reunited with his son Max (Dakota Goyo) who is supposed to stay home with his longtime friend and sometimes lover Bailey (Evangeline Lily), but of course he is too sassy to stay put and comes along. They end up procuring a very special robot named Atom that takes the robot boxing world by storm. Yeah, I know. It's a little bit like The Wrestler combined with notes of Curly Sue and The Last Action Hero. But it works really, really well. Sure, we've seen the story before. Anytime a movie gets close to being familiar, I roll my eyes unless something is going on that infuses it with new energy. Here, that energy belongs to Dakota Goyo. He is quite an extraordinary kid, and comes across great onscreen. He is precocious without being annoying, funny, and matches Hugh Jackman's chops at every turn. Onscreen it appears as though Jackman is having a great time working with such a little powerhouse, which translates to it being fun for the audience too. Here's another huge reason this movie was awesome: the robots are mostly animatronic. In a world polluted with fakey-fake graphics and green screens, seeing a real, big ole robot take a swing at another real, big ole robot really got my heart pumping. An actual robot on the screen immediately made the movie feel full of life, as opposed to the tinny, hollow result of the latest and greatest software demonstrations most films employ. There's only one thing about the movie: The tone is a little weird. It's not quite an adult's movie, and might be a little mature for some kids. I would take the PG-13 rating very seriously on this one, but I think most people will be happy watching metal against metal, along with an impromptu dance number. It's a perfectly fun movie that won't strain your brain. From 1 to 10 it gets a 10, and yeah, I will be buying it when it comes out.
Today's guest is a member of a cool indie band YAWN based in Chicago whose new EP "Open Season" is out now and available on iTunes. They'll next be be appearing tonight in Richmond, Virginia at the Canal Club. Please welcome to the Phile... Daniel Perzan.
Me: Hello, Daniel, welcome to the Phile. How are you?
Daniel: Hey-yo... good, still in a bit of a drunken haze.
Me: I have to ask you about the band name. When I first heard your music I was expecting something boring, but you guys are not boring. Where did the band name come from and what's with the capitol letters? It is YAWN, not Yawn, right?
Daniel: Yes, we had a different name once, it was rife with meanings we didn't care for, so we decided on something that was just simple. We figured a lot of bands didn't want to be associated with a name like YAWN for the exact reason... but once you capitalized it, it looked like it really popped on your iTunes playlist.
Me: Yawn is something people do when they normally read the Phile, so I hope you guys will have an opposite effect. Who is in the band, guys?
Daniel: 4 dudes... Jorge, myself, Adam and Sam.
Me: The band is based in Chicago, right? Are you all from there?
Daniel: Yeah, 2 of us born... all of us raised. Jorge and I we were born outside of the US... where you may ask!? Well we'll keep our audiences guessing!
Me: Your latest release "Open Season" is your second release... didn't you have an EP out before it?
Daniel: Yeah. self-titled EP we blasted it for free on the internet, if you haven't heard it.... www.yawntheband.com its there. We even had a remix contest, that yielded some really cool remixes from artists as far away as Germany.
Me: Did you learn a lot after making your EP?
Daniel: Yeah, tons. Just by means of learning programs, recording techniques, uses of all sorts of plugins to really give you a spatial feel for all the sounds. We really went sound design with some of the songs (you can hear toothbrushes, shower curtains and just randomness recorded). Plus it was an eye opener, with todays technology... its DIY or Die!!! Unless you have a lot of money, then that's cool.
Me: You guys went off and played in Germany when the band first got together, right? Did you have fun over there? How long were you there?
Daniel: It was a great time! Germany is beautiful. We won a competition to go over there and play in the Taubertal Open Air festival, all expenses paid. So we bought really crappy guitars, played a mediocre show, then ditched the guitars and went backing through Europe. Easily the best decision.
Me: Where was "Open Season" recorded, guys? The first album was recorded in a basement at somebody's house, am I right?
Daniel: The first EP was recorded in my and Adam's apartment, in the basement and in our rooms. The second started there as well, and we finished it in Sam's parents basement.
Me: Like so many bands and musicians I had here on the Phile, you kids played at SXSW. How was that experience? Do you prefer to play at a small club or a big outdoor show?
Daniel: SXSW is great, and we got lucky enough to play Fader Fort, which is probably the coolest free outdoor show going on in Austin. To be honest we never played outdoor fests where there is a large enough crowd to really be into it. Small clubs, when you pack them, and the place get dancing... its a beautiful thing.
Me: You just played in Orlando at the Social, and I had to work so missed. Ever been to Orlando before?
Daniel: I have... and I think Sam has as well. I have some family there. Really never got to see the city as much, it was always the theme parks. Which I promise I didn't this time.
Me: I have to ask you about the album cover. I was expecting it to be a picture of a bear and a deer but it is not. Who did the artwork?
Me: Hahaha, is that common now a days? Sam's moms good friend Mary Lou Zelazny did it. She does great work. We liked it because it does what we do with music, combine samples with organic material. If you look closely you can tell parts of her are just cut outs from like National Geographic or something.
Me: Thanks so much for being on the Phile. I wish you lots of success and I hope you will come back when the next album comes out. Do you have a website you'd like to plug?
Daniel: Yeah! yawntheband.com. Thanks so much, dood! See you in Orlando next time!
Well, that about does it for this entry. Thanks to Daniel for a good interview. The Phile will be back next Sunday with jazz saxophonist Rich Halley, and then on Monday it's Shelly Fairchild. Spread the word not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rocker Jack White is the mystery donor who paid off Detroit Masonic Temple's US$142,000 (NZD$177,000) tax bill and saved the historic Michigan building, according to local reports.
The payment was posted on May 30, just four days before hall bosses' June 3 deadline, according to the Detroit News.
And sources tell local radio network WXYZ that the former White Stripes star, who grew up in the city and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, jumped into action when he heard the largest Masonic Temple in the world was in danger of foreclosure.
Reports suggest his mother was an usher at the venue and he has played several shows there.
Detroit Masonic Temple Association President Roger Sobran says: "Jack's donation could not have come at a better time and we are eternally grateful to him for it.
"Jack's magnanimous generosity and unflinching loyalty to this historic building and his Detroit roots is appreciated beyond words."
The temple's Cathedral Theater will be renamed the Jack White Theater in the rocker's honour.


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The Gen7e Series simplifies the building process, making it easier than ever for schools to expand and modernize facilities quickly and cost-effectively. The ideal balance of standardization and customization, Gen7e is pre-engineered to deliver a healthy, high performance classroom in just 60 days for 60% less than the cost of conventional construction. Three standard floorplans can be configured with a variety of features and finishes, offering thousands of options to fit a school's unique goals and budget. Upgrade technology… add features… personalize interiors and exteriors—all in a permanent structure built around the needs of a 21st Century learning environment.
Streamlining our building platform allows us to buy and stock materials with maximum efficiency, reducing lead times and creating cost savings that we pass along, without sacrificing quality or performance. Every Gen7e classroom is designed with the same attention to detail and precision-built with the same responsible materials as our fully customizable Gen7 models. Like all Gen7s, Gen7e exceeds California's Title 24 energy code an average of 40% statewide and meets the most stringent green building standards, including the CHPS® and LEED® Green Building Rating Systems. Easy to design, economical to build and efficient to own, Gen7e is a smart investment—in the future and for it.


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Pattern of shoreline spawning by sockeye salmon in a glacially turbid lake: evidence for subpopulation differentiation
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
By: C.V. Burger, J.E. Finn, and L. Holland-Bartels
- The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Alaskan sockeye salmon typically spawn in lake tributaries during summer (early run) and along clear-water lake shorelines and outlet rivers during fall (late run). Production at the glacially turbid Tustumena Lake and its outlet, the Kasilof River (south-central Alaska), was thought to be limited to a single run of sockeye salmon that spawned in the lake's clear-water tributaries. However, up to 40% of the returning sockeye salmon enumerated by sonar as they entered the lake could not be accounted for during lake tributary surveys, which suggested either substantial counting errors or that a large number of fish spawned in the lake itself. Lake shoreline spawning had not been documented in a glacially turbid system. We determined the distribution and pattern of sockeye salmon spawning in the Tustumena Lake system from 1989 to 1991 based on fish collected and radiotagged in the Kasilof River. Spawning areas and time were determined for 324 of 413 sockeye salmon tracked upstream into the lake after release. Of these, 224 fish spawned in tributaries by mid-August and 100 spawned along shoreline areas of the lake during late August. In an additional effort, a distinct late run was discovered that spawned in the Kasilof River at the end of September. Between tributary and shoreline spawners, run and spawning time distributions were significantly different. The number of shoreline spawners was relatively stable and independent of annual escapement levels during the study, which suggests that the shoreline spawning component is distinct and not surplus production from an undifferentiated run. Since Tustumena Lake has been fully deglaciated for only about 2,000 years and is still significantly influenced by glacier meltwater, this diversification of spawning populations is probably a relatively recent and ongoing event.
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|Pattern of shoreline spawning by sockeye salmon in a glacially turbid lake: evidence for subpopulation differentiation
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|Alaska Biological Science Center
|pp. 1-15
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In a major new Briefing Report, the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, one of four regional associates of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in New York, argues that whilst moral outrage is an appropriate response to the tragically ineffective manner in which the authorities in Myanmar/Burma have addressed the humanitarian crisis in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, co-opting the Responsibility to Protect to justify a coercive aid disbursement is not. Frustrated that the Burmese generals delayed and blocked much needed humanitarian assistance to its suffering population, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner proposed on 7 May that the UN Security Council invoke the Responsibility to Protect in order to deliver emergency aid without the consent of the Myanmar/Burma government.
But the Centre concludes that the Responsibility to Protect does not apply at this stage because the principle does not mean protecting people from all imaginable threats. At the 2005 World Summit, when United Nations member states agreed that there is a Responsibility to Protect, they limited its scope to case of enocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. In international law, crimes against humanity are defined as widespread or systematic attacks directed against civilians. Although the governments response has been deplorable, there is no indication at present that it has committed such violations.
The Centre argues that invoking the Responsibility to Protect in relation to Cyclone Nargis is impractical and counter-productive. Without the cooperation of the government and regional neighbours, aid agencies and UN are unlikely to be able to deliver sufficient aid rapidly enough to stem the humanitarian.
Instead, the Centre proposes four courses of action. First, the most effective strategy to date for governments and aid agencies alike has been bilateral negotiations with the government of Myanmar/Burma. All interested governments should focus on assisting those efforts. Second, ASEAN is well-placed to coordinate multilateral efforts alongside the UN. Concerned governments should support ASEANs disaster relief teams and the proposed UN-ASEAN partnerships to coordinate humanitarian relief, raise funds and ease logistical supplies. Third, India and China have important roles to play as the major powers in the region. Governments and donors can work more effectively if they cooperate and coordinate with India and China. Finally, there are alternative pathways at the UN, and both China and ASEAN members have indicated a willingness to pursue these alternatives.
Time is running out for the survivors in the Irrawaddy Delta region. Rather than grandstanding by inappropriately invoking new international principles, concerned governments and commentators should focus on those measures most likely to provide pathways for the effective and timely delivery of life-saving aid.
For more information contact Alex Bellamy, Executive Director of the Asia- Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect:
To see the briefing, please follow the link:


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The most recent alternative risk transfer deals are outlined.
A fundamental problem of alternative risk transfer - ART - is the difficulty in assessing what is included within the term. For example, the current trend at Lloyd's to access quota-share capacity in order to increase syndicate writings, to take advantage of current hard market conditions, is seen by some practitioners as a form of ART. Likewise, the use of captives to manage parent company exposures in the current world of high deductibles and wide exclusions, could be viewed as a form of ART.
In this table, however, Global Reinsurance is looking at the more esoteric ART products - securitisations, catastrophe bonds and the like. Although there was a view that activity would increase post-September 11, as capacity tightened in the conventional market, this doesn't appear to be the case. There have, however, been a number of deals in recent months which prove that the role of ART is still alive and kicking.
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Gold Coast > Queensland
Investment level:
Cleaning & Maintenance > Handymen & Home services > Handymen Home services
All the hard work has been done, setting up and establishing this successful business. This Handy Man Maintenance Services business has been servicing new and existing residential and commercial cli
All the hard work has been done, setting up and establishing this successful business. This Handy Man Maintenance Services business has been servicing new and existing residential and commercial clients across the Gold Coast and South Brisbane for the past 5 years.
There is nothing the buyer needs to do, other than take over the day to day operations of the business, as this is a trade-based business that operates all year round maintaining consistent turnover and income.
The business has seen year on year growth, due to demand for this business services as well as many satisfied first time and repeat clients. The business has large client data base, so work is not in short supply.
This business offers a wide range of services to meet the client's needs:
General home maintenance and repairs.
Plastering, carpentry, painting.
Outside the home, garden and lawn maintenance.
Odd jobs around the home and the list goes on.
Marketing of this business is easy as most of the advertising and client connections are through the business's website, Facebook and referrals.
If the buyer of the business is looking to work in the business and not just purchase the business as an investment, that person would need to have a broad range of skills.
The owner works in this business and has employees to help with the work load and for the times a job requires 2 men.
Tools & equipment are included in the sale of this business. The work van is on lease, with the buyer having the option of taking over the lease.
Asking Price: $135,000
To find out more about owning this business and becoming your own boss enquire today.
A Confidentiality Agreement needs to be completed before further information can be disclosed, please complete an online confidentiality agreement at https://linkbusiness.com.au/GC00454 and click on the ENQUIRE NOW button.
For full details contact Alan Minshull
Ref: GC00454
Timestamp: 20200508090103
Premium High Volume Commercial Cleaning & Consumables Company - UNDER CONTRACT


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New Balance WWM756v2 Walking Shoe Brown for Women
It would be great in case you stay at the web page for a short while and consequently find out even more concerning the New Balance WWM756v2 Brown shoes. I have to declare they're a first-rate item. I'm recommending a wonderful web store where you're able to find these New Balance WWM756v2 Brown women's walking shoes. Any very decent walking shoes seem like they are a better offer when you see there exists absolutely free delivery.
I am fairly certain you would be better to consider merchandise reviews posted by women who have tried the Brown walking shoes. If you would like to view certain testimonials and the price of this walking shoe simply click on the hyperlink just below.
New Balance WWM756v2 Brown Description:
- Split-suede upper provides natural comfort, durability and breathability.
- Slip-on construction with dual-sided goring for easy entry.
- Lightly padded collar and webbing heel pull loop for your convenience.
- Fabric lining and a PU insert adds an extra layer of stability and cushioning.
- Abrasion-resistant toe guard.
- C-CAP midsole provide cushioning and support.
- ABZORB cushioning in the midfoot provides exceptional shock absorption.
- AT Tread all-terrain rubber outsole combines a running and trail lug configuration for on- and off-road use.
- Last: AL-3
- *Available in Wide widths.
- Imported.
- Heel Height: 1 1/2 in
- Weight: 9 oz
- Product measurements were taken using size 8, width D - Wide. Please note that measurements may vary by size.
- Brown New Balance WWM756v2 walking shoes.
New Balance WWM756v2 women's shoes reviews by other buyers as well as the product description are extremely valuable for any female who wants to order these shoes. In case you already love how these New Balance WWM756v2 women's walking shoes look like, then you would want to check that they're comfy, durable as well as built from superior quality materials. If perhaps you think this particular color of New Balance WWM756v2 shoes wouldn't look good with most ensemble of yours, consider buying another colour. If you are lazy to view reviews yourself, trust me that this is a very decent product. A great number of females are getting women's walking shoes just like New Balance WWM756v2 Shoes in Brown using the web. In case you buy online you can have lower prices and also you don't ought to visit the shop. Don't you think this is a great New Balance WWM756v2 review?


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Brittany Thacher
- Total activity 218
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Activity overviewLatest activity by Brittany Thacher
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Announcement Banner
The Announcement Banner allows you to post a static message to your website. This is a great way to highlight an achievement or post a weather alert. Users coming to the Home page will see the anno...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Returning Participants Report
Need to compare participants from 2 different programs? The Returning Participant report will allow you to choose 2 programs for comparison. This report will give you information about the particip...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Inactive Participants Report
If participants are not registered for a program, or are on a wait list or in the shopping cart, the admin has no idea who these participants are or how they can be contacted. This report will prov...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Site Wide Events
Site Wide Events allows admins to add an event to their calendar at a club level. Examples of these events can be picture days, league picnics, tournament weekends, opening day, home run derbies, s...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
SAY Soccer Custom Theme
This theme is available as an option for our SAY customers. This theme can be found on all SAY portals by navigating to Home>>Themes. If you are are affiliated with SAY and do not see this theme a...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Fan Wear Settings
Once your store has been set up, you can click on the Fan Wear tab to access your store settings. The landing page for this will be the Artwork Library. This will allow you to see the status of al...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Fan Wear Setup
Setting up your Fan Wear store can be done in just a few easy steps. To get started, navigate to the Fan Wear tab on your admin menu. If you have not set up the store before, you will be prompted ...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Archive vs Unauthorize a User
There are 2 options for an admin if they want to get rid of or lock someone out of an account. Please read through the whole article to determine which option is right for your situation. If you g...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Editing Team Personnel Roles
Admins now have more control over standard team personnel roles and can customize them according to each program. The benefit of this is to encourage the use of standard roles, which allows you to ...
Brittany Thacher created an article,
Submitting Teams to Pop Warner National
If you have not done so already, navigate to Teams on the admin tool bar and choose a program and division. Once all Players and Team Personnel have been allocated to your teams, click the Sub...


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Clean Bottle Water Bottle Pro Review – By Twain Mein
- 22 oz. capacity
- 100% non-toxic, BPA-free plastic
- Removable top and bottom for easy cleaning
- MSRP: $9.95 each available direct
David Mayer is the mind behind the Clean Bottle. And this year he's burst onto the cycling scene with guerrilla marketing run amok. From spamming the Webcore cycling Yahoo! Group to free samples at the top of Old La Honda, Dave and his bottles are everywhere. He even had a video testimonial on Retailer and dressed up as a Clean Bottle for the of California. In fact, nothing is sacred with Dave; at the Wildflower Triathlon in May, I opened the door to a porta-potty and was greeted with a huge Clean Bottle poster over the throne. Dang, this guy is EVERYWHERE!
He also does something cool with the profits–he will donate 10% of the years profits to a charity that his fans vote on. Kind of cool.
Regardless of the marketing, lets look at the "history" of the water bottle.


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ARP/STREET RODDER Road Tour's AMSOIL Tour Hits Some Great Museums
By simple definition, street rodders want to enjoy their rods on the street. The basic concept behind the STREET RODDER Road Tour program is that we want to travel around the country and visit fun and interesting places. Most of us agree that our cars are built to be driven, not locked up in a building. That said, museums do play an important part in preserving history and the items that tell the story of transportation.
This year the AMSOIL INC. Road Tour traveled from Tennessee to the NSRA Northeast Nationals in Burlington, Vermont. Along the way, we were able to visit some very cool museums and got a new appreciation of their value.
The American Tri-5 Road Tour web links:
ARP/Street Rodder Tri-Five Nationals Road Tour Part 1
ARP/Street Rodder Tri-Five Nationals Road Tour Part 2
ARP/Street Rodder Ti-Five Nationals Road Tour Part 3


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A 19-year-old Romeoville man pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder for striking a 55-year-old man in the head with a baseball bat resulting in his death.
The bench trial for Adam Ballard of the 300 block of Healy Avenue, began Monday but ended the next day after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Ballard was sentenced to
10 years in prison. With credit for already serving more than four and a half years in the Will County jail and day-for-day good time, Ballard could be eligible to be released from prison in a matter of months.
Ballard and his father, Mark Ballard, 47, were indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Richard Pollack in August 2014.
Mark Ballard's case has yet to go to trial. He remains in the county jail.
Both Adam Ballard and his father allegedly used a baseball bat while fighting with Pollack during a 2 a.m. street brawl in the 400 block of Tallman Avenue in Romeoville.
Adam Ballard, who was 15 at the time of the incident, claimed he struck Pollack in self defense.
Carole Cheney, spokeswoman for the Will County State's Attorney's Office, said in light of the evidence at trial, the guilty plea from Adam Ballard was the best result that could be obtained. Cheney did not elaborate on said evidence.
The second-degree murder charge states Adam Ballard struck Pollack in the head while knowing it would create the strong probability of death.
The charge states Adam Ballard believed the circumstances, "if they existed," would justify or exonerate the killing but "his belief was unreasonable."
Romeoville Police Chief Mark Turvey said several combatants were armed with baseball bats during the 2014 street brawl. Witnesses reported seeing Adam and Mark Ballard strike Pollack in the head with a baseball bat, police said previously. Pollack was taken to Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, where he died an hour later.
After his arrest, Adam Ballard was booked into River Valley Juvenile Detention Center.
In 2016, Will County Judge Paula Gomora made a ruling that the juvenile court would not keep Adam Ballard's case and he would face the first-degree murder charge as an adult.
Adults convicted of first-degree murder face a minimum 20-year sentence.


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Over the next 10 years, there will be 1.4 million new jobs available in computer science, but only about 400,000 grads will be qualified for those jobs.
A new nonprofit has emerged that has a single-minded focus on bringing the teaching of computer coding into America's K-12 schools. The site's founder, Hadi Partovi, has gathered a virtual who's who of supporters, including Mark Zuckerberg, Will.i.am, Chris Bosh, and Arne Duncan, to name a few. Read the story. Watch the launch video that was created to inspire the next generation of coders and innovators.
First Lady Michelle Obama is determined to bring physical activity back to schools. She is calling for school "champions" to encourage all students to be more active and has set the ambitious goal of engaging 50,000 schools in the next five years. Learn more and sign up your school.
In a speech before the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Arne Duncan announced that ED will be starting a Principal Ambassador Fellowship Program similar to the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship that has existed at the Department since 2008. Some principals may be employed for a full year and others will consult with the Department from their schools on a part-time basis. Details for the new program are still being worked out, but the program will begin during the 2013-2014 school year. Read the story in EdWeek (Adams).
In this Teaching Channel video, sixth grade teacher Suney Park demonstrates how to involve students in active learning of Common Core State Standard math.6.G.1. For this lesson, Park asks students to work together to solve an authentic problem and to visualize the meaning of their solution. Watch the video.
Testimony of Emanuel F. Harper IV, French teacher at Herron High School (Indianapolis, Ind.), before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education February 28, 2013.
The third International Summit on the Teaching Profession takes place in Amsterdam next week. The U.S. is sending a delegation including Under Secretary Martha Kanter, AFT President Randi Weingarten, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, Chris Minnick (of the Counsel of Chief State School Officers) and two other advisors to Arne Duncan. Teachers may participate in the event in a number of ways. They can peruse the materials on this year's theme--evaluating teaching quality, view the opening and closing ceremonies, or read the OECD Report, Teachers for a 21st Century at the summit webpage. On March 13 and 14, educators may Tweet comments to #istp2013.
Prior to Arne Duncan "schooling" the competition during his third appearance in the NBA Celebrity All Star Game in Houston last month, he sat down with former NBA All Star Allan Houston, current Golden State Warrior Harrison Barnes, and the WNBA's Maya Moore to speak with five high school student-athletes from across the country during the Department of Education's first Google Hangout. The discussion centered on the importance of education and how sports can play an important role in maturation on and off the court. Read more and watch the hangout.
Supportive School Discipline Webinar Series. This series of archived webinars is designed to increase understanding of school disciplinary practices that push youth out of school, often into the justice system.The webinars provide practical examples of alternative approaches that ensure academic engagement and success for all students while maintaining school safety. View the webinars.
• Utilizing the Village: Effective Re-engagement and Recovery Programming in Rural Communities
• Alternatives to Traditional School Discipline: The Multi-Tiered Behavioral Health Prevention Framework
Turnaround Leadership Academy Offers Professional Development. The Turnaround Leadership Academy is a rigorous training program designed to prepare experienced and aspiring principals to lead Massachusetts' highest-need urban and rural schools. The problem-based program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and sponsored by Teachers21 in partnership with the New York City Leadership Academy. The second session begins in July 2013. Get more information.
According to a report update released at the third annual "Building a Grad Nation" Summit, the U.S. is on track to meet the national Grad Nation goal of a 90% high school graduation rate by the Class of 2020. The national high school graduation rate has increased 6.5 percentage points since 2001, to 78.2%, with an average growth of 1.25 points each year from 2006 to 2010. As a result of this acceleration, more than 200,000 additional students received diplomas in 2010 than 2006. In large part, the growth was driven by significant improvements in African-American (from 59.2% in 2006 to 66.1% in 2010) and Hispanic (from 61% in 2006 to 71.4% in 2010) graduation rates. Read the report.
NATIONAL EDUCATOR SURVEY: TEACHERS NOT YET READY FOR THE COMMON CORE. Recent data collected from a survey of teachers show that while teachers say that implementing common standards will help them to improve their teaching, the majority feel only moderately prepared to teach the standards to their students. They report that they are notably less ready in the case of certain student groups, such as English-language learners and students with disabilities. Few reported that their textbooks and curricular materials are sufficiently aligned with the common standards. Download A National Survey of Teacher Perspectives on the Common Core (produced by EPE Research Center).
5 BIG IDEAS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE COMMON CORE. On Edutopia, Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins take a look at five big ideas for implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Their five-part series clears up misunderstandings and offers recommendations for designing a coherent curriculum and assessment system for realizing the standards' promise. Read more.
HAPPY TALES FROM A COMMON CORE CLASSROOM. Read this interesting article by high school teacher Lyn Cannaday about how years of mandates and testing have eroded the rich content of her intermediate (non-honors, non-AP) classes, putting students on "entirely different reading paths." Cannaday describes how the CCSS are returning the good literature and the joy to her classroom.
In this piece from the Huffington Post, Secretaries Duncan and Sebelius discuss how to achieve the President's objective of restoring the promise that people who work hard and shoulder their responsibilities should be part of a thriving middle class. Read how they link closing the opportunity gap to a new plan that will deliver high-quality preschool for every American child and improve services to children from birth through age three.
ED's Google+ page is now live, and 7,616 people have already added it into their circles. Based on the initial response, it appears that the page is on track to become an important communication tool for ED. Visit it here. During the NBA All Star Weekend, for instance, ED used the Google+ page to stream the first-ever Google+ Hangout with Arne. Watch it here. ED's Facebook page, which has been active for a longer period of time, has 13,681 followers.
National and collegiate efforts to increase the number of women graduating with STEM-related degrees has seen great success in fields like biology and chemistry, but the fight isn't over yet. In the field of computer science, the number of women receiving degrees dramatically dropped between 1984 and 2006. Leaders in the field are trying to figure out how to make male-heavy programming courses more appealing to women so that both the market and the learners benefit.
• ED DATA 3.0 LAUNCHED. The Department recently launched version 3.0 of ED Data Express, an interactive website aimed at making accurate and timely K-12 education data available to educators and the public. The site consolidates relevant data collected from several sources and provides tools that allow users to explore data and create individualized reports.
• THE CASE FOR TEACHER VOICE IN POLICY MAKING. Educators for Excellence leaders Ama Nyamekye and Sydney Morris argue that teachers should be "agents of change" in schools and discuss how to increase teachers' voices in policy discussions. Read more.
• THE NEW NORMAL: COLLEGE DEGREES. In this 3-minute video from NBC News, Catherine Rampell of the New York Times discusses why more employers are requiring college degrees for even the most basic jobs.
• FIELD TRIP TO DC? If you are planning to visit the nation's capital within the next eight months, you might want to take advantage of free professional development offered by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Learn more.
• CAN STUDENT-DRIVEN LEARNING HAPPEN UNDER COMMON CORE? Middle school math and science teacher Marsha Ratzel argues, "There is hope that rote learning and teacher-driven classrooms will not be necessary in order for students to pass the test." Read her article (from Mind/Shift).
• COUNSELORS TAKE CORE ACTION. Implementing the Common Core State Standards: The Role of the School Counselor (developed by Achieve, NAESP, NASSP, and College Summit) presents a terrific action brief highlighting what the new state standards mean for schools, teachers, and students. The brief includes astute observations, including a primer on the standards, a case for action, a description of "12 Schoolwide Instructional Shifts" taking place now, and guidance for school counselors to support these shifts. The companion pieces for Secondary and Elementary school leaders also are worth reading.
• HOOKED ON READING. NEA President Dennis Van Roekel reminds us all of the importance of childhood reading on the anniversary of Read Across America Day, which took place March 1. Read his article in EdWeek.
On February 26, Arne Duncan sent this question via Twitter: Teachers, what was your biggest challenge during your first year of teaching? Here is a sampling of responses. Read the rest on Storify.
5. "As a new teacher I needed mentorship, coaching, and feedback from effective instructional leaders.'" (Barry Bosacker)
4. "Resources. As a Business Ed major I was hired to teach computer courses...I had a lab full of computers that did not work." (Nina Packer)
3. "Learning to navigate school culture as well as create engaging activities for my students. Lots of late nights." (Phillip Cook)
2. "Discipline and getting the class under control. (Aya)
1. "New #teachers need support and for their voices to be heard and valued!" (Liam Goldrick)
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Malaysia won the AFF-Suzuki Cup on a 4-2 aggregate in front of a partisan crowd, in what is being touted as the first sign of a revival of the national football team's fortunes.
At first I thought it's hard to beat Indonesia team and I guess Malaysians knew that we won't stand a chance of beating Indons in their own backyard, and that was why the 3-0 advantage made a lot of difference. Despite that, still Harimau Muda were able to sneak in 1 goal pass the bald goal keeper and it was really a beautiful goal.
I am so happy and proud!
The Malaysian team did great and deserved to win after going through horrendous media circus from both Malaysia and also from Indon. Believe me, we Malaysians were also relieved for the team to have won the cup.


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Previously unknown classical Greek mythological and medical works, newly discovered classical scientific texts preserved only in Syriac translation, religious writings in extinct languages, an ancient Christian poem describing Old Testament figures in Homeric style and detailed illustrations of plants, buildings and people have re-emerged for the first time in centuries through the Sinai Palimpsests Project.It's good to see that my alma mater UCLA is involved with this important project.
For new readers: a palimpsest is a manuscript that has two layers of writing on it, an older one that has been erased, and a more recent text that was written over the erased one. Modern technology is increasingly allowing us to recover the erased lower layer of writing on these manuscripts.
For more on the palimpsests from St. Catherine's Monastery, see here and links. For other posts on palimpsest manuscripts, start here and follow the links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.


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Get MemeStreams Stuff!
It just keeps getting better! Now there are privacy concerns as well!
"On his blog, Russinovich has published further research showing that the XCP software appears to be in communication with Sony's website - something that had not previously been disclosed."
Sony DRM patch could crash PCs.
Distributed computing at it's finest.
A Glimpse of Google - A bit about how it 'works'
Encouraged that Republicans are more likely to vote at lunch time, this democrat took herself down to the courthouse right before lunch to vote. It was rather unorganized. There were only 2 poll workers that I saw throughout the process. There were 4 voting machines going that I saw, but I think there may have been 4 more in another room as well since they had been calling voters back 8 at a time.
When I first walked in, I thought I was passing a courtroom of people waiting for court, but no, it was a courtroom of people waiting to vote. I quickly recognized several people from various democratic meetings and I saw a few others come in as I was waiting, so I would guess from limited observationthat the majority of early voters were democrats.
I filled out the required paperwork, and showed my ID. After an hour's wait, I was given my smart card and the busy poll worker pointed at the polling room. I saw an empty machine and went in. The voting process was not observed at all.
When I finished I left my smart card on a table. I could have easily walked out with it.
I can't say I've ever seen a harddrive have THIS happen to it. How very ODD. The platters were wiped almost completely clean.
Ever seen a harddrive fail like THIS?


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Well hello there
where on earth has January gone?
I for one am sitting here scratching my head
trying to figure it all out
like ~ didn't I just pack up Christmas
well yes I did and that goes to show you
that time marches on whether we are ready for it or not
after having some much needed time off over Christmas and New Years
we went back to work and although it usually slows down this time of year
we have been crazy busy ~ working overtime
and then I got sick
yeah ~ not so great
I did make a pom pom garland while I was camped out on the couch
it is not hung yet ~ but I will get there..... soon
it has been a month of nesting and soup making
long baths ~ reading
our weather has gone from bitter cold to rainy and mild
this one is on my agenda for the weekend
sounds yummy
and bread too ~ just maybe
snowstorm in the forecast for the weekend
so nest and cook and maybe some baking
but rest for sure ~ gotta kick this cold to the curb.
Have a great weekend.


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Jeepers, sure hope things look up a bit round here soon, i understand peeps are worried about CV but theirs no point hibernating is there?
Dont think oh just a bit fun no harm how irresponsible are they beyond belief.They cant hang around mcnuggets and dud you see all cars queuing for the drive through morons
Jeepers, sure hope things look up a bit round here soon, i understand peeps are worried about CV but theirs no point hibernating is there?
My teeth itch and my hair is scratchy
I had this terrible dream, I was in Terry Nation's old Survivors tv program and...
ahhh, it's not a dream! Well, we are living differently way over here in Canada, which is to say very carefully. Next door is a country not doing so well in changing ways (the big U.S. of A.) or taking the danger as seriously.
A relative from Holland and her husband would've been visiting in May but have had to cancel, sounds like they are handling this very differently there too, something about building group immunity by not changing things too much? I guess time will tell us, Nick Drake knew!
We have gone through a bit of the panic shoppers buying up things but mostly can still get everything each week or so, but they queue people up outside a certain space apart and let them in slowly to shop. There is a senior's hour early in the morning so they get to shop first after everything has been disinfected and cleaned as much as possible from closing the day before. I have two late 70s aged parents to look out for. Made some bleach and water for a spray bottle to treat door handles and surfaces, telephones, also I use old pencils to push keypad buttons on anything public and then throw away the pencil.
My virtual jigsaws: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/beccabear67/Original-photo-puzzles
were you all lot talking about me ?
if so i have been really busy as it was my old man's 50th on Wednesday . so i have been celebrating that with my mum and my sister .
im trying to keep myself busy, but im finding hard ,i miss going to the shops etc eg coffee shop's and my charity shops i love them.
i hate you butler
your 10% man and 90% spotted dick"
Stan Butler the Abominable Slowman!"
Get your trousers on your nicked
Nice to know your safe


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Natalie McGarry, MP for Glasgow East
"I am delighted to again support the work of the Centre for Kurdish Progress who have done so much to raise awareness about the Kurds both in the UK and internationally.
The Kurdish community have made a welcome and important contribution to the multicultural and economic identity of the UK - especially in Scotland - and the Centre does a great deal to showcase this annually.
By establishing a solid forum for open discussion and debate over the current affairs of the Middle East, Kurdish Progress allows us to dig beyond the surface on many issues, providing nuance and access to information which is unavailable elsewhere.
I am proud to lend my support and assistance to the Centre to progress their aims as well as those of Kurds across the region who have done so much to promote democracy, gender equality as well as free cultural and linguistic expression."


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Everyone knows how to scramble an egg, in theory. After all, scrambled is probably the easiest egg cooking method there is, even easier than boiling. Scrambled is what you do if you're aiming to make some other kind -- sunny side up, over easy -- and you screw it up right at the get-go by breaking the yoke. "Screw it, we're doing it scrambled!"
And yet, it is possible mess up scrambled eggs.
To help you with your egg cooking endeavors we enlisted the help of the Restaurant People's Peter Boulukos, co-owner of S3. He shows us how to whip up the perfect scrambled eggs every time.
See Also:
- How to Poach the Perfect Egg With Chris Miracolo of S3
- How to Grill the Perfect Burger With Executive Chef Jim Leiken of Cafe Boulud
Step One: Heat your frying pan over low heat.
Step Two: Crack your eggs into a bowl and whisk vigorously.
"It's very important to whip the eggs a lot," says Boulukos, "The raw eggs need to look frothy. It adds a really nice airy fluffiness to the finished product."
Step Three: Throw a touch of butter into the pan. When it melts and just starts to sizzle add the eggs.
"If you really want to be luxurious use truffle butter and chives," says Boulukos, "That's a way to start your day."
Step Four: Season the eggs with salt and pepper. Use a plastic spatula to draw the eggs toward you as the curds start to develop.
"You get a soft and silky texture this way," says Boulukos.
Step Five: Plate your eggs and enjoy.
Follow Sara Ventiera on Twitter, @saraventiera.
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Engaging with our readers is essential to New Times Broward-Palm Beach's mission. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling South Florida's stories with no paywalls.


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The One Year Adventure Novel program is a writing curriculum that guides students grades 8–12 step by step through the process of writing a compelling, fully structured novel in one school year. Associated with this program is a vibrant community of fiction writers, including adult writers who have graduated from the program. The community stays actively connected through an online writing forum, a Facebook group, and semiannual (Summer and Winter) week long writing workshop/retreats in Kansas.
In 2008, I began my time in the One Year Adventure Novel program through what is now known as the Olathe Fiction Class – the initial self-proclaimed "guinea pig" class which kickstarted the curriculum. Since then, I have remained active in the program – attending almost every Summer Workshop (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and every Winter Workshop (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) thus far, and serving as a critique group leader and student speaker at several of those. I have also served as a volunteer Writing Mentor on the OYAN online forum.
At the 2018 Summer Workshop, I was invited for the first time as a speaker, giving a talk entitled "Know What You Write: Creative Research for Creative Writers."


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Last weekend 75% of the Kelly Gang headed to Lake Moogerah, for an overnight camp with the Whites and Gills. We travelled out Saturday morning and the fog looked really eerie from Willowbank, all the way to the campsite. It soon burned off to a glorious day! We have visited here before a couple of years ago, but only for the day.
Whilst there is a bit of effort with the packing, setup / pull down for one night, it was well worthwhile!
Thanks to the rest of the crew for a great time on and off the water (Thanks for taking your boat Chris!)
So much fun on the water!
Until there was a blow out with one of the toys…
I have been looking at other camping options and working on the other 25% joining us for the next one. 🙂
Song of the day is Kasabian – Fire, because well fire… I was getting a little sleepy sitting around the fire at 7:00 PM but we were all still there after 11:00, with marshmallows of course.


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D- Dometic CFX-50
or 6 weekly payments from $245.00 learn more
50 litre fridge/freezer for refrigeration or deep-freezing with CFX VMSO2 electronics
With an internal capacity of 50 litres, the CFX-50 fits 72 cans and up to a standard Riesling bottle. It is configured as a single zone fridge/freezer compartment and can be used for cooling or freezing. It includes a basket with removable divider and also features a dairy compartment for perishables.
Key benefits
Configuration: Fridge/freezer (fridge/freezer compartment + dairy section)
Genuine WAECO compressor, CFX VMSO2 electronics with soft start and turbo cooler
Strong drop down handles and USB port
Robust metal hinge design and sturdy lid latch
Generous lid seal gasket with air pocket
4 point M6 nutserts in base
Warranty: 3 year full warranty + additional 2 year (parts only) compressor
Capacity (l)50
Height (mm)471 Width (mm)661 Depth (mm)455
Weight (kg)20.4
Thermostat type Electronic
Defrosting type Manual
Digital display Yes
Input voltage 12V Yes
Input voltage 24V Yes
Input voltage 230V Yes


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I think that many people believe that racism et al are only actually worthy of being pointed out if examples of them were done deliberately with malicious intent. For example, my father complains about how the media seems to always be complaining about racism in regards to police activity or their representation in Hollywood, and yet would quite likely stand up for someone if somebody was slinging racial slurs at them in public and discriminating against them in an obvious manner. People like him probably find these "smaller issue" social justice concerns to be extremely frivilous, get burnt out from hearing them all the time and definitely do not consider themselves racist. Unfortunately, due to a lack of interest or education on the subject, they are missing the underlying, unconscious issues in society which are contributing to the lingering of racism/sexism/etc. This often means that people concerned with social equality need to be concerned not so much with the less-common and clearly unacceptable examples of deliberate racism, but moreso with the unintentional examples.
Honestly, I find that deliberate examples of inequality are potentially less offensive than the unintentional, ingrained ones where people don't even realize that they're being potentially offensive. To link back to the start of the article, think about how big budget video games and movies rarely feature a hero who is a white, a male and a power fantasy of some sort. Think of how Assassin's Creed: Unity ditched the option to play as a female assassin, claiming that they didn't have the development time or budget to do it (which was promptly revealed to be a bullshit excuse, they just didn't prioritize the female audience). Another good example is in Warhammer 40,000. Every couple months, someone comes onto the Dakka Dakka forums and asks where all the non-whites are in 40k. The simple answer is that there ARE other races in the Warhammer universe, and there are a handful of examples of them in 40k art, but it has literally not even occurred to the painters to paint any of their soldiers non-white. Honestly, I fell into the same trap with my 40k armies. When I was growing up, it never even occurred to me to paint any of my Space Wolves anything other than white. When I started an Imperial Guard army years later, I still didn't think to paint them anything other than white for quite some time, until one of those Dakka Dakka topics pointed out the issue. We all have our own blind spots where we don't even realize that we're missing out on a chance at equality, or at least to make a conscious artistic decision one way or the other.
This is why the Bechdel test is so crazy - women rarely speak to one another about something other than a man because of the way that the screenplay is written. When 2 women speak, they have to advance the plot in some way by the very nature of the narrative. However, the fact that most movies fail the Bechdel test really shows how marginalized women are in movies, and that they aren't generally the ones who the movie really cares for. It shows that women are not prioritized in the scripts, nor are they generally the focus, and generally serve as little more than plot convenience, especially when they speak to one another (because rarely do they bother to have 2 real women characters with any agency). My friend and I were watching the 1998 Godzilla, which isn't an overtly sexist film by any means. However, we were commenting on it the whole time, when halfway through I was suddenly struck by the realization that the film had bombed the Bechdel test. There were only a couple scenes in the whole movie which featured two women talking to one another, and they spent all of them talking about a guy as the focal point to set up the love story subplot. It really illustrates where the film's real focus is, and the fact that it's so common is distressing (and let's not even mention the 2014 Godzilla, which doesn't even feature a single scene with more than one woman in it with a speaking role... this is a frighteningly common reality in movies).
What about deliberate examples of inequality though? The Witcher 3 is getting taken to task for apparent sexism in the game (although I'll admit, Feminist Frequency does not have the best track record of picking good, clear examples). I haven't played The Witcher 3 unfortunately, so I can't comment, but one complaint that sounds valid is that the game features a lot of gendered insults when you play as a female character (or when they're around at least... again, haven't played it). Moral judgments about it aside, can we at least agree that having such marked differences in the insults directed at male and female characters is sexist? How odd would it be if enemies taunted your male game hero by saying they were weak, had a small dick, couldn't pleasure their partner, or threatened to sexually assault them if they fail? Unfortunately, this is a strangely common trope for women in video games: quite a long time ago I wrote about Lollipop Chainsaw, a game I actually rather enjoyed, but lamented how the enemies will frequently call the protagonist a "bitch", "slut" and threaten to violently sexually assault her. This also apparently happens all the time when you play as Catwoman in Batman: Arkham City - there's a 6 minute video on Youtube of nothing but the instances where enemies hurl gendered insults at her, which is kind of insane. On the more positive end of the scale, I recently replayed the Tomb Raider reboot on PS4 and, despite the island being inhabited by violent, insane, foul-mouthed sailors, I didn't find the game any less "realistic" for not having them sling gendered insults at Lara all the time. Rather, they simply act as if she was any other badass running around kicking their asses, and shout out her actions ("she's flanking us!") rather than taunts.
While gendered insults are undeniably sexist just by definition (male characters get generic taunts, female characters are taunted based on their gender), that isn't to say that this is something that needs to be eliminated necessarily. I'm wondering if the point that Sarkseesan is trying to make (and the one she tries to make whenever she picks a really questionable example) is simply pointing this out to bring awareness to this potential issue in gaming, rather than saying "This is bad and needs to be eliminated from gaming RIGHT NOW." If anything, it is more likely stopping devs from taking this sort of thing for granted and trying to get them to be more deliberate when they utilize gendered insults and female characters - is being beaten down and shamed for their gender key to the experience that the devs want to give the player when playing as a female character?
One common mistake that inexperienced writers make is when they try to make their story "mature", they tend to overcompensate and just saturate it in misery, rape and constant violence. This causes the plot to be completely forgotten or overshadowed, and the acts themselves to feel meaningless. The fix, of course, is for the writer to be more deliberate with the use of mature themes, so that they have the impact that they SHOULD have. Rape, sexism and the like can be used in fiction effectively, but artists should be very deliberate when doing so and do it with the expectation of some potential backlash.
Like, in Season 6 can we finally get to a storyline other than "Who is going to try to rape Sansa this year?"
For example, I hardly want to call myself a great writer, but this deliberate inequality is something I have tried to take into account with my own sci-fi novel I have been working on. It takes place around a thousand years after humanity undergoes a biological revolution and colonizes the galaxy. Racism and sexism aren't totally dead, but they are significantly diminished because the fearful have turned their attention towards bio-engineered organisms. As a result, women and men (of various races) hold equally prominent positions within the civilian and military structures without people having to comment on it. Homo/trans-phobia is also considered a non-issue in the universe of the story. One major character is bisexual and hated by basically everyone, but no one even thinks to belittle him for his "queerness". When deliberate inequality is brought up, it is done to show characterization, not just because I decreed that this story featuring six foot spiders and space magic has to be "realistic". This is not pressuring me to conform to diversity, this is making my story far more interesting and opening up more avenues for creativity than if I stuck to my own narrow "vision".
People seem to assume that criticism is an attempt at censorship (a misunderstanding which helped kickstart the whole GamerGate movement...). They claim that criticizing media for just fitting with the status quo and featuring "realistic" examples of sexism/racism/etc is an attack on the creative rights of the artist. However, I think that criticism should be seen more as an attempt at artistic improvement. By pointing out examples of inequality, critics are effectively saying "this art would be improved if the female characters weren't such a flat plot device, consider making them more interesting in the future, because it will enrich the narrative", or "I would enjoy this more if they weren't calling the female protagonist a 'slut' or 'whore' all the time, this is grating for me because I hear these sorts of insults get hurled at my sex all the time". The artist is free to accept or dismiss that criticism however they wish, but if they dismiss it then they shouldn't expect not to be criticized for it.


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags '@focus'.
Found 1 result
P4434 Moving Store
Lester Loutte posted a topic in Eve TradingGreetings Incursion Runners! We know that running to the nearest trade hub (sometimes it is far from the current focus constellation) is sooooo much hustle and can mess with your ISK/hr Don't worry, Project 4434 got a solution for that! We are now selling ammunition at every focus. WHAT ARE WE SELLING AND FOR HOW MUCH :: If you need something that I don't have, for now, send Lester Loutte a mail. :: I am selling it on contracts, you can view it there :: Prices are based on Jita price + hauling fee. Prices might adjust or change without any notice.


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Smashing Pumpkins, well in fact Billy Corgan & Co has decided to release His new album for free one song after another for the next few months.
44 songs in all.
Here's the second song available for free Widow Make My Mind.
You can download the first song " a song for a son" as well.
For more From the studio click HERE


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The public will help decide what Fort Smith's future Belle Grove Center on North Seventh Street will offer the community.
The public will help decide what Fort Smith's future Belle Grove Center on North Seventh Street will offer the community.
The 16,000-square-foot building in the Belle Grove Historic District at 622 N. Seventh St. was purchased by the city in January for use as a community center. The former Girls Inc. campus cost the city $107,500.
A public meeting is planned next month to gather programming ideas.
"It's to get input from the public on what they'd like to see done and what kind of programming we would do in that building," Parks Director Mike Alsup said. "After this meeting and some more work with the Parks Department and Parks Commission, we'll have a plan for programming, then we'll have a concept plan."
The public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Elm Grove community center, 1901 N. Greenwood Ave.
According to the city, the nearest youth club is two miles away. The new community building, dubbed the Belle Grove Center, will serve students from Tilles and Howard elementary schools, as well as Darby Junior High School.
Earlier this year, students taking a Community Leadership class at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith researched how the center might best meet community needs. Some of the students' many ideas included swimming lessons, indoor sports, after-school programs, parenting classes, CPR classes, GED classes and computer tutoring.
The original building, distinguished by rock work, was constructed in 1942 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration program to hire the unemployed and help to bring the country out of the Great Depression. According to the Parks Department, additions came about in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Although a complete overhaul is years away, the city repaired a leaky roof and secured the building, Alsup said.
Future renovation costs are estimated at $1 million.
"There have been no dollars allocated to that project yet," Alsup said. "After we do the programming phase, it will give us a better look at what we need to be working toward as far as the renovation."
Once the facility is up and running, yearly operating expenses are estimated between $250,000 and $300,000.


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This post is part of my 2016 Poirot Project. You can read the full story of why I'm doing this in my Introduction post. The previous post was a review of 'The Theft of the Royal Ruby'.
Beware: Here be Spoilers
The ninth episode of the third series of Agatha Christie's Poirot was first broadcast on 3rd March 1991. It was based on the short story of the same name, which was first published in The Sketch in March 1923.
After the madness of the last couple of posts – 'The Mystery of the Spanish Chest' and 'The Theft of the Royal Ruby' turned out the be a lot more complicated than I was anticipating – it's nice to end the series with two reasonably straightforward adaptations of classic Poirot short stories.
'The Affair at the Victory Ball' was Christie's first Poirot short story, written after Bruce Ingram, the editor of The Sketch, encouraged her to revisit the characters she'd created for The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The story is interesting for the way in which it develops certain aspects of Poirot and Hastings's character that were hinted at in the 1920 novel, but also for the way it sets the template for the subsequent series of short stories. It's also a very entertaining read, and I've always been very fond of this story and its adaptation.
The story is narrated by Hastings, and the first paragraph gives us a very brief resume of what has happened in the years since The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Apparently, Poirot's success in that earlier case 'brought him notoriety', and so he has decided to settle in London and set up as a private detective. Hastings himself was invalided out of the army after being wounded on the Somme – a fact hinted at, but never stated explicitly, in Styles – and so 'finally took up [his] quarters with [Poirot] in London'. (It's interesting to see this said so clearly, as many of the other short stories are a wee bit circumspect about the men's living arrangements. It's also intriguing that Hastings says he 'finally' took up residence with Poirot – Christie would come back to the question of what Hastings did before he took this decision in 'The Lemesurier Inheritance' at the end of 1923… but it'll be a while before I get to that story.)
In case we've forgotten Hastings's Watson-esque role as Poirot's chronicler in Styles, he reminds us of it here:
'Since I have first-hand knowledge of most of his cases, it has been suggested to me that I select some of the most interesting and place them on record.'As in the earlier novel, Hastings never really tells us who suggested this – or where this record is being placed. But that doesn't really matter… it's just a literary conceit after all. (Every fan bone in my body just ached as I wrote that sentence.)
'The Affair at the Victory Ball' begins with a scene that will become very familiar to readers throughout the run of the Sketch stories – Hastings has completed his Perusal of the Morning News, and shares a curious report with his illustrious friend. He has been reading about 'The Affair at the Victory Ball' – i.e. the murder of Lord Cronshaw and the subsequent death of Coco Courtenay from an overdose of cocaine – and is keen to engage his friend in a bit of armchair detection.
Poirot doesn't take the bait, though, as he's too busy admiring the new pomade he has bought for his moustaches.
Before things can go any further, the men's domestic scene is interrupted by the landlady, who announces the arrival of Inspector Japp. And the Scotland Yard man has a proposal for Poirot:
'I'm on a case that strikes me as being very much in your line, and I came along to know whether you'd care to have a finger in the pie?'Ah ha! The game is afoot…
As Japp explains, the murder of Viscount Cronshaw took place the previous week at a grand fancy dress 'Victory Ball'. Cronshaw had attended with his friends – 'Coco' Courtenay, Mr and Mrs Davidson, Cronshaw's uncle the Honourable Eustace Beltane, and an American widow named Mrs Mallaby. The party had worn the costumes of the Commedia dell'Arte, modelled after a set of china figures in Beltane's collection. Cronshaw was Harlequin, Coco was Columbine, the Davidsons were Pierrot and Pierrette, and Beltane and Mrs Mallaby were Punchinello and Pulcinella.
At some point during the evening, Cronshaw and Coco had a falling-out, and the actress was taken home by Chris Davidson. After this Cronshaw became moody and withdrawn, before finally disappearing completely. He was spotted briefly at around 1.30am, but not seen again. Eventually, his friends decided to look for him, and that's when they discovered the body of the murdered Harlequin – he'd been stabbed through the heart.
To make matters worse, the following day Coco Courtenay was found dead in her flat. A known user of cocaine, the actress was believed to have taken a fatal overdose. But did this have anything to do with Cronshaw's death?
'The Affair at the Victory Ball' is an absolute classic. The clues are nicely subtle, the misdirection is almost imperceptible, and the cast of characters is intimate, but diverse enough to give you something to ponder over. And the Commedia dell'Arte costumes add a touch of theatrical glamour to the proceedings. (Incidentally, I absolutely love the Commedia dell'Arte, so that might be part of the reason why I'm so fond of this story. Christie, too, seemed to be rather fond of Harlequin, as one of her less well-known detective creations was a certain Mr Harley Quin – but more on him another time.)
In addition to the Poirot-Hastings reunion and the well-crafted puzzle, this short story also offers us a reminder of Poirot's infuriatingly efficient grey cells, and our first taste of the detective's penchant for ludicrously elaborate dénouements.
In the case of the former, it appears that Poirot gets his first inkling as to the puzzle's solution before Japp has even finished outlining the facts. Hastings spots that his eyes are 'shining with the green light I had learned to recognize so well' as the policeman comes to the end of his narrative. But, of course, Poirot isn't quite ready to share what he has deduced just yet. When pushed to explain his thinking, he simply says:
'Ah, mon ami, you know my little weakness! Always I have a desire to keep the threads in my own hands up to the last minute. But have no fear. I will reveal all when the time comes.'This doesn't go down brilliantly with his associate, of course. It never really does, does it?
'"Poirot," I cried, "one day I shall murder you! Your habit of finding everything perfectly simple is aggravating to the last degree!"'More hints of the way the relationships between the men are going to develop come when Poirot asks Japp if he 'play out' his resolution of the mystery in his own unique style. Not only does this give us a hint of the elaborate game the detective is planning to play, but it also allows for a really lovely response from Japp, which really gives you an idea of how the poor old policeman sees his mad Belgian friend:
'"That's fair enough," said Japp. "That is, if the dénouement ever comes! But I say, you are an oyster, aren't you?" Poirot smiled. "Well, so long. I'm off to the Yard."'Now, I've talked about some of Poirot's bonkers dénouements before – the ones involving almost life-size ventriloquist's dummies and fake séances complete with blood-stained hands and wandering ghosts – but this one is quite the sight to behold. It seems that, in the early days, Poirot actually has a team of guys on hand to help him create his bizarre little performances:
'The preparations greatly intrigued me. A white screen was erected at one side of the room, flanked by heavy curtains at either side. A man with some lighting apparatus arrived next, and finally a group of members of the theatrical profession, who disappeared into Poirot's bedroom, which had been rigged up as a temporary dressing-room.'Japp's reaction to all this? 'Bit melodramatic.'
Of course, like many of Poirot's escapades, this complicated endeavour is actually almost completely pointless. The 'performance' itself takes just a couple of minutes, and is merely intended to prove that it's possible to hide a Harlequin costume under a Pierrot costume – something that's surely blinding obvious to anyone who has seen the outfits. But still… it's always fun watching Poirot playing the game, isn't it?
So… how does the TV adaptation stack up?
The ITV version of 'The Affair at the Victory Ball' was directed by Renny Rye and written by Andrew Marshall, and it's a fairly faithful interpretation of Christie's story, with just a few alterations to fit the format and style of the TV series.
We have a little pre-Poirot scene, as we do in a number of episodes, but, unlike in 'The Adventure of the Clapham Cook' or 'The Mystery of the Spanish Chest', this doesn't give anything away that wasn't said up-front in the short story. The opening scenes include a voiceover from Poirot explaining the characters of the Commedia dell'Arte, and we see a bit of the relationships between Cronshaw and his friends. In order to establish Coco Courtenay as an actress, but also as a druggie, we see her (played by Haydn Gwynne, in the first of her two appearances on the show) arriving late to a radio performance on the BBC National Programme (you know, in case we'd forgotten it's the 1930s…)
Given that the short story already contained quite a bit of Hastings and Japp, there's no real attempt to change their roles particularly in the adaptation. As with a number of the early episodes, though, Miss Lemon is added to the episode. Sadly, poor old Pauline Moran doesn't really get much to do here, except demonstrate Miss Lemon's familiarity with how the radio works. She doesn't seem very impressed with Deadly Alibi by Desmond Havelock Ellis (the play in which Coco is performing) though – clearly it's not as good as Raffles, the Gentleman Thief (who, as we all know, Miss Lemon adores).
Another change made to the story – and, again, this is quite a common one for the series – in the insertion of Poirot and Hastings at the scene of the murder. As in 'The Mystery of the Spanish Chest', Poirot is actually present at the party where the murder takes place.
However… he nearly isn't at the party. Although Hastings is over-the-moon about attending a costume ball, Poirot initially appears to have forgotten all about it. When his friend bounds in, clutching a large box containing his costume, Poirot is resolutely unimpressed. He can't go to the ball, he says. Why?
'I'm afraid I must rearrange my stamps in order of size.'Hastings twists his arm, and they reach a compromise. Poirot will go to the party, but he won't wear fancy dress. I don't think this matters though, as Hastings has more than enough costume for the two of them.
Hastings has already given us a hint of what he will wear when he burst into Poirot's study shouting, 'They seek him here, they seek him there…' But I love the fact that Hastings actually seems to be dressed as Sir Percy Blackeney, rather than his Scarlet Pimpernel alter ego – there's something quite cute about Hastings dressing a mild-mannered fellow whose mask of stupidity hides the truth about his daredevil character. It's how I imagine Hastings likes to think of himself.
Much as I love Hastings's costume, the real stars of the Victory Ball are, of course, the Harlequinade. And the costumes in the episode really are gorgeous.
Finally, as might be expected from the series, there is a slight expansion of the puzzle aspect of the story in order to better fit the format of the TV show. A straightforward clue from Christie's story is altered to create a bit more confusion (the cocaine boxed that was engraved with 'Coco' in the short story is now marked with a more ambiguous 'C'); an additional red herring is added in the form of a cryptic note saying 'Lowestoft'; and there's a slight alteration in the meaning and motivation behind the pompom cut from Mrs Davidson's costume after the ball. However, none of these really amount to massive changes, and so the story itself remains very close to Christie's original.
Saying that, there is one further alteration that should be mentioned. Poirot's staged dénouement plays out a little differently in the adaptation, which sort of makes sense given the shift from theatre to radio acting earlier in the episode. The TV finale is still bonkers – just in a different way to that of the short story.
In a bold – and probably illegal – move, Poirot decides to perform his unveiling of the murder live on the BBC. He enlists the help of producer James Ackerly (played by Andrew Burt) to help with the technical side of things (replacing the gang of lighting technicians and actors he employed in Christie's story). And he brings along the set of china figures to help aid his little play.
It's a somewhat toned-down version of the source story's finale, as Poirot mostly narrates events, rather than revealing fully-clothed versions of the characters. I'm also not sure it works as piece of radio – Miss Lemon listens at home enraptured, but I'm not convinced Poirot's monologue would be as engaging without the visual aids he has in the studio. Given that he also can't show the dramatic costume switch that revealed the mechanism of the murder in Christie's story, the unveiling of Davidson has to rely on yet another new detail: Poirot (clearly forgetting the constraints of radio) suddenly throws a china figure at Davidson (Nathaniel Parker), who catches it in his left hand and gives away the fact that he was the fake Harlequin witnessed by Mrs Mallaby at the Victory Ball.
It's a bit flimsy, to say the least. Perhaps he should've hired that lighting rig after all.
Anyway, despite the slightly weakened ending, 'The Affair at the Victory Ball' is one of my favourite episodes from the early series. It's just got everything you'd want from a Poirot story, and it's a fitting adaptation of such a significant story in the Poirot canon.
One final detail that I really like comes about halfway through the episode, as Poirot, Hastings and Japp discuss aspects of the case. They walk past a newspaper boy who is selling issues of The Star: the front page headline is about the case, but specifically about Poirot's involvement in the case (and his apparent inability to get to the bottom of it).
It's not a particularly important detail – Poirot shrugs it off and makes a dismissive comment about safeguarding his 'reputation' – but it does remind us of Hastings's words at the beginning of Christie's short story: Poirot really has gained a fair bit of notoriety.
Time to move on the final episode in this series: 'The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge'.


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Fun and games, but no work, at battery plant given $150M in taxpayer money
Workers at a Michigan battery plant built with a $150 million federal stimulus grant but never opened played games and watched movies while their wages were paid for by U.S. taxpayers, according to a government report.
South Korea-based LG Chem, which used the grant money to build a factory that was supposed to make batteries for the Chevy Volt, has paid back $842,000 in wages it improperly billed to the government, but still has no plans to start production in the facility or return the grant. The company makes Volt batteries at another plant in South Korea.
"Our review revealed that LG Chem Michigan inappropriately claimed and was reimbursed for labor charges incurred by a variety of supervisory and staff employees for activities that did not benefit the project," stated the report, by the DOE's Inspector General. "… we confirmed that employees spent time volunteering at local non-profit organizations, playing games and watching movies during regular working hours."
The report blamed company officials as well as the DOE, charging the federal agency failed to make the grant conditional on the company actually starting production at the plant. LG Chem claims production has not been expanded to the U.S. plant because demand for the Volt has not yet required it.
"Until the shift in production takes place or some alternative use for the plant is developed, U.S. taxpayers will receive little direct benefit from a plant for which they provided up to half of the funding," the report stated.
The report was begun after the DOE received complaints that idled LG Chem workers were playing games and watching movies inside the dormant factory.
The Inspector General said getting LG Chem to return some of the labor costs – a drop in the bucket compared to the overall grant – was the best taxpayers could hope for because the grant was awarded without sufficient strings attached. And even the labor costs could be low, the report stated.
"We were unable to calculate the exact loss to the government because LG Chem Michigan did not track labor activities in detail," according to the report.


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HouzzTV "Small Kitchen Gets Big Kitchen Style" featuring Toni Sabatino
Creating dream kitchens for single family palaces is a good portion of my work. Giving that expansive feel to a smaller footprint is a challenge I enjoy as well. To do that I really need to feel how you function. I want to feel how you live and interact. I want to create a space that has room for kids' art, pet bowls, Costco runs, phone chargers, PTA calendars and still suits all your entertaining needs. I want to know who is cooking what and when so we have a tv for the morning news or easy access to the outdoor bar-b-q. I want to know if wine storage is important or if a built-in coffee system would really make your kitchen special and keep you from running out to Starbucks in your yellow fuzzy robe! Feeding our family and friends really feeds our soul and makes us happy. I want to help you outfit your kitchen to make the most of home celebrations and everyday living.
So, here I am with Ellen, talking about how we made her kitchen function for her specific needs.
My great appreciation for the work of Rick Spence and deepest thanks to the team at Houzz.com for featuring me in this promotional video.
KBIS and the Big (not so?) Easy…..
Well, after 30 years in the Kitchen and Bath business, I attended my first KBIS or Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. I have to say that New Orleans was friendly and the show was a great experience for me. But being in the midst of organizing ongoing projects, straightening out a new website, assisting in the planning of a close friends 50th birthday surprise dinner and various other family responsibilities, meant that running off to New Orleans was not so easy. But, it was well worth it!
I hit the ground running to make a dinner at Emeril's, a foodie hot spot from renowned chef Emeril Legasse, with a client. The following day, spent with my peers and leaders in the industry was exhilarating and a great reminder of what I love about this business. The opening speech from John Morgan provided a historical perspective on the NKBA, bringing to the forefront what we, as designers, mean to the home and family life in our society. Seeing the innovations like Kohler's Moxie blue tooth shower head, the beautiful new Brizo faucets and the array of richly textured tiles from Susan Jablon inspired me to seek the best of the best to present to you, when creating those spaces that are so all important in your home and makes you feel good. Here I am, at the QuEx CONNEX LIFE photo booth, laughing with joy that I actually made it to our industry's show of shows.
ToniSabatinoStyle.com email@example.com 516-972-5455
Thanks to K+BB for recognizing my work!
I am thrilled to be on page 72 of the K+BB Magazine April 2013 KBIS editiion! The recognition means so much after designing over a thousand kitchens over the years, in everything from local firehouse to some single family palaces. I love kitchens! The kitchen is where the action is. Friends are celebrated with food and drink. Firemen share stories over a pot of spaghetti and meatballs. Intimate news of love, life and true confessions are all shared at the sink during cleanup after a holiday meal. Interior Design is truly my passion and I love to start with the kitchen to transform a shelter dwelling to a stylish, comfortable home. Thanks again to Janet Groeber at K+BB Magazine for giving me the platform to share my love for design. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/kbb_201304/index.php#/74
TONI SABATINO firstname.lastname@example.com 516-972-5455
Magic, mayhem and my love of appliances…….
Thursday I had the pleasure of attending The Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier94 in the city. For me, center stage and the stars of the show, were the appliances. Among the items displayed by American Range was my favorite 60″ range with the 22″ gridlle perfect for making those big Sunday breakfasts I adore. Fhiaba takes refrigeration to a new level in my opinion, by allowing the user to change certain segments from refrigeration to freezer or vice versa in a matter of 2 hours–ordinary magic, indeed.
Then there was Thermador , whose design and price point make it my standard for discerning clients. The Thermador booth is picturedat 6:30 pm, wine flowing and people packing themselves in. On display, the new 48″ Pro Grand Range with built in steam oven and the versatile refrigeration columns displayed with wine storage and wood panelled faces that really show off the superior hinge design.
I love appliances!
TONI SABATINO firstname.lastname@example.com 516-972-5455
Inspiration….. when to go custom……..
I love texture and I love shine…….I am looking forward to posting about this kitchen renovation project when it is done but just had to offer a peek of what is in store……
This custom waterjet glass tile created by Ray Bernard of Finishing Touches in Huntington, NY, is just what we needed to put this kitchen over the top. Sure there are all sorts of inlays and herringbones to do in a backsplash but this art deco inspired glass pattern is clean, shiny and truly out of the ordinary….
TONI SABATINO email@example.com 516-972-5455
Are You A Guest In Your Own Life?
Okay, so you walk in your door and are surrounded by your physical home environment. As you look around, do you find that home on your kindle says more about who you really are than what you see? Even a beautiful, professionally decorated house can feel like a hotel lobby if it isn't personal. Having your home show your style is key to leading an authentic, fulfilling life and really provides a true sense of comfort. So how do you get there? Creating your own personal visual rhyme that makes you want to sing when you walk through the door….. That's what I am all about…….
TONI SABATINO 516-972-5455 firstname.lastname@example.com
New Traditional….. Toni Sabatino Style
New Traditional is my way of giving traditional an up-to-date vibe without trying to hide it's conventional nature. In this Connecticut kitchen remodel, I gave a nod to time honored crystal lighting by using a pendant that displays the crystals in a new way. We also took that tradtional classic of crackled subway tile and made that new by adding a contemporary linear strip of stone and glass. The result?
New Traditional that honors the past but brings the present into view….
TONI SABATINO email@example.com 516-972-5455


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Budget housing launches double in H1, 2016: Report
Real estate developers seem to go with the flow. While property markets across the country are sluggish, the number of launches in affordable housing has doubled in the first half (H1) of 2016 on a yearly basis.
At the high end, housing launches declined by 29 per cent as compared to same time last year, says a Cushman & Wakefield report.
The top eight cities saw launches of 17,000 units in H1 in the affordable segment, a rise of 95 per cent over the same period last year, said the report. The highest was in Pune at 4,170 units, followed closely by Bengaluru at 4,155.
The total of launches across all segments was 60,000 units, an increase of 17 per cent over a year. Mid-level housing saw launches of 36,267 units, a tenth higher than H1 of 2015. High-end residential units saw a 29 per cent decline.
According to the consultancy, Rs 20-25 lakh is considered affordable in top cities, except Mumbai, where it is up to Rs 70 lakh. Between Rs 50 lakh andRs 1 crore is considered mid-range in other cities; in Mumbai, between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 2 crore. Anything between Rs 1 crore and Rs 2.5 crore is considered high-end elsewhere; in Mumbai, between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore.
Mumbai saw the highest number of total launches in H1, with a little over 12,000 units added to the stock across categories. Next was Bengaluru with 11,000.
Chennai saw the least number of unit launches in H1, owing to a slowdown in construction activities in the city.
Anshul Jain, country managing director at Cushman & Wakefield, said: "The rise in the launch of affordable housing can be attributed to a steady demand for this segment in Bengaluru, Delhi–NCR and Mumbai. This is heartening to see that demand for this segment, neglected for a very long time, is now being catered to. This formed a very large segment of latent demand."
He said Cushman expected more of affordable housing projects to come up, as there is a cost-benefit in creating these.
"The time taken from ground breaking to completion is lower than for mid or high-end apartments. Also, sales can happen a lot faster, helping developers realise their costs earlier than usual," he said. "Further, with the government defining the affordable space as 30 sq metres in Tier-1 and 60 sq metres in tier-II cities, and announcement of benefits for development of such apartments, we expect this segment of residential housing to grow."
The mid-segment remained a favourite among developers across cities. Mumbai saw a 100 per cent increase in H1 and of 56 per cent in affordable units, as against the same time last year, with Ambernath in Thane recording close to half of these.
The other locations that saw new project announcements there were Taloja and Panvel in Navi Mumbai and Mira Road in the western suburbs. The highe end segment saw a 53 per cent decline (1,130 units), while no launches were recorded in the luxury segment.
Source: BS