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Mexican airlines review Part 3: Volaris believes it can rebound from a tough 2013
Mexican ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) Volaris is exuding confidence that it can attain margin expansion in 2014 even as it predicts an economic rebound in Mexico will not take hold until the second half of the year.
Volaris' bullishness follows a challenging 2013 for all of Mexico's carriers as the country's GDP was a weak 1%. The weak economy resulted in yields at both Aeromexico and Volaris sinking, and Volaris recording a loss for 4Q2013 and a 30% fall year-over-year in profits for FY2013.
After battling pressure from Aeromexico at its third largest base in Guadalajara during 2013, Volaris predicts some rationality should be restored to the market in 2014 even as it establishes a new base in Monterrey, which will increase capacity in a market important to all four of Mexico's major carriers.
Volaris find its tough to compensate lower yields with higher load factors
Volaris recorded overall passenger growth of 20.5% during 2013 to 8.5 million customers. Its domestic passenger growth increased roughly 23% year-on-year to 7.1 million passengers.
Volaris annual passenger numbers: 2010 to 2013
But Volaris had to endure a weak fare environment to achieve that growth as its yields for 2013 dropped 7%. Its average fare declined nearly 10% for FY2013 and nearly 17% during 4Q2013. Volaris' estimated break-even fare for FY2013 was USD111, but its actual average fare for the year was USD95.
See related report: Aeromexico and Volaris continue to face weak yields in a sluggish Mexican economy
The weak Mexican economy essentially caused fares to plummet, which resulted in an inability by Volaris to offset the lower fares by higher load factors. Its load factors for FY2013 remained essentially flat year-on-year, and dropped 1.7ppt during 4Q2013.
Volaris establishes Monterrey base as its loads look to be stabilising
Near the beginning of 2014 Volaris remarked that in 1Q2014 it was starting to compensate for the continuing price deterioration with higher load factors as its load in Jan-2014 increased 3.6ppt year-on-year to 80.7%. The carrier's load factors for Feb-2014 remained roughly flat year-on-year at 80% while its cumulative loads for the first two months of 2014 increased 1.6ppt to 80.9%. Previously, Volaris has estimated load factors in the low to mid 80s for FY2014.
During 1Q2014 Volaris is also establishing a base in Mexico's third largest airport by arrivals, Monterrey, through the addition of eight new markets supported by the operation of three A320s at the airport. Monterrey joins Volaris' four other bases in Mexico – Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana and Cancun.
Based on seat deployment, Volaris is the largest carrier in Guadalajara, the third largest in Mexico City, the leading carrier in Tijuana and fourth in Cancun (with an 8% share) behind US carriers American, United and Delta.
Currently, Volaris represents a roughly 6% seat share in Monterrey compared to its competitors, which hold substantially higher shares. Aeromexico has a 32% share, and Interjet and VivaAerobus (which is based in Monterrey) each hold shares of approximately 25%.
Monterrey Escobedo International Airport capacity by carrier (% of seats): 17-Mar-2014 to 23-Mar-2014
Based on current schedules in CAPA and OAG (17-Mar-2014 to 23-Mar-2014) Volaris operates flights from Monterrey to Guadalajara (competing with Aeromexico, Interjet and VivaAerobus), Mexico City (also competing with those three carriers) and Tijuana.
Beginning in late Mar-2014 Volaris is adding service from Monterey to Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Cancun, Culican, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Merida and Veracruz.
Once all the services begin, Volaris will serve six of the top 10 domestic routes from Monterrey, which could add to pressure on VivaAerobus.
Monterrey Escobedo International Airport top 10 domestic routes by seats: 17-Mar-2014 to 23-Mar-2014
Even as all four of Mexico's major carriers – Aeromexico, Interjet, VivaAerobus and Volaris – are targeting bus passengers, VivaAerobus and Volaris bill themselves as low-cost carriers while Interjet has more of a hybrid product and Aeromexico is a full-service carrier.
VivaAerobus offers service to all eight of the new markets Volaris is launching from Monterrey. On three of those routes, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Merida, it is the sole carrier.
Carriers and their respective seats share on Volaris' new routes from Monterrey
|One way seats
|Carrier seat share
Aeromexico 70%
VivaAerobus 30%
Interjet 39%
VivaAerobus 61%
|Ciudad Juarez
Aeromexico 61%
VivaAerobus 39%
Aeromexico 39%
VivaAerobus 61%
|Los Cabos
|VivaAerobus 100%
|VivaAerobus 100%
|Puerto Vallarta
|VivaAerobus 100%
Aeromexico 22%
VivaAerobus 77%
See related reports:
- Mexican airlines review Part 1: VivaAerobus faces tough conditions in 2014, postponing its IPO
- Mexican airlines review Part 2: Is Interjet emerging as Mexico's true hybrid carrier?
Volaris could become more of a threat to VivaAerobus if Monterrey is successful
Volaris' weekly seat counts on the new routes from Monterrey range from roughly 344 to 688, so its capacity won't match its rivals, including VivaAerobus. But an injection of additional lower fares is likely to dilute pricing for all carriers in those markets, and further pressure VivaAerobus, which recently opted to shelve an initial public offering scheduled for early 2014 after concluding market conditions were too unpredictable to ensure it secured favourable returns from accessing the public markets.
During 1Q2014 Volaris estimates that roughly 33% of its capacity is in direct competition with VivaAerobus – which is the smallest exposure it has to its three main rivals.
But if the base in Monterrey proves successful, Volaris will no doubt look to expand in Monterrey to capture the price sensitive travellers all the major Mexican carriers are targeting.
Volaris' competitive capacity outlook: 1Q2014
Privately-held VivaAerobus, faced the same market realities during 2013 as its Mexican rivals, and likely saw its yields affected just as severely. Although it can fall back on a pledge of lower costs, it is also in the process of incorporating new A320 aircraft into its fleet during 2014 that will eventually replace its fleet of 19 older Boeing 737-300 classic narrowbodies.
VivaAerobus is likely to face some cost creep during 2014 as it digests all the training and financing expense of the new aircraft while operating less fuel efficient jets.
Given that flux, perhaps Volaris sees an opportunity in Monterrey to promote its newer Airbus narrowbody aircraft for travel at similar fare levels as VivaAerobus. Volaris also recognises that it may need to enlarge its presence in Monterrey, which has the highest per capita income in Mexico.
Volaris identifies several new US transborder destinations
Despite Volaris' establishment of a new base in Monterrey, the carrier estimates that about 16% of its estimated 12% to 14% capacity growth during 2014 will be deployed in international markets, giving the airline some cushion if a domestic rebound fails to materialise.
Presently, about 17% of Volaris' seats are dedicated to international operations compared with 12% at Interjet and 1% at VivaAerobus. Aeromexico obviously has the most outsized international presence at 28%.
Volaris has not revealed any new international destinations for launch in 2014, but it introduced new service from Guadalajara to San Antonio and from Guadalajara and Mexico City to Phoenix in Dec-2013, which is driving some of its international capacity growth in 2014.
Its next move should be interesting. Although Volaris has previously stated it has identified roughly 150 international routes it can access with a stage length of 321km, including destinations within Latin America, it most recently has outlined several untapped US transborder markets it presently does not serve that feature large Mexican populations.
Some of those unserved cities include New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Albuquerque, El Paso, Tucson and Tampa.
Transborder destinations Volaris has identified with larger Mexican populations
See related report: Newly public Mexican LCC Volaris sees ripe opportunities inside and outside Mexico
Like all Mexican airlines, Volaris faces short-term uncertainty
As it stands, Volaris has previously indicated that the economic recovery in Mexico would take full effect in 2H2014, and it is basing its predictions of margin expansion on boosting ancillary revenue and containing costs (with the caveat of full prices and exchange rates holding steady around current levels).
Over the long term, Volaris remains bullish on the prospects of Mexican travellers migrating from bus to aircraft, basing its optimism on both shorter travel times and lower fares. The carrier estimates Mexico is nearly three times the size of the US state of Texas, and the travel time from Tijuana to Cancun is similar to the distance between San Francisco and New York.
Travelling that distance by air cuts off 36 hours from a bus trip and costs 15% less than a bus fare, according to Volaris.
Volaris' estimates of bus travel potential and actual fare differentials from Tijuana to Cancun
Those data points are promising for the long term, but Mexico's recent economic weakness is still creating some overhang for Volaris.
Since its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in Oct-2013 its stock has fallen about 35% (based on 17-Mar-2014 closing price). Some of the decline is likely uneasiness among investors over Volaris' prospects of maintaining its profitability in 2014 as Latin America's second largest economy has declared GDP growth of close to 4% compared to 1% in 2013. Mexico's original estimates for GDP in 2013 were 3.5%, so the country has a bit of hole to climb out of to meet its economic aspirations.
In the meantime Volaris needs to ensure that some of the pricing traction it recaptured at the start of 2014 remains intact and that its expansion does not become a drag on its favourable cost base.
If Mexico's economic aspirations for 2014 begin to look unachievable, all of the country's airlines may need to temper their growth expectations to ensure their viability to capture their fair share of bus passengers once consumer confidence is restored.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Date: : July, 2013
Kate Muker is the CEO and founder of Conscious Divas, a company that creates community for conscious women both on and offline.
The Spice Mistress is honoured to welcome Kate Muker as the focus of this month's Pancha Q.
Conscious Divas inspires and empowers women to be the best versions of themselves, by connecting deeply, discovering ones authentic path, living passionately and being fabulous. They offer a free digital publication filled with wisdom from the best experts in health, healing and personal growth, a community site with free tele-seminars and live events hosted by local city chapters.
Kate and Conscious Divas have been quoted in the Vancouver Sun, Globe and Mail and Vancouver View Magazine.
1. How do you begin your day?
Kate: I recently had a new baby so most mornings I lie in bed with a few brief connections with the universe before Indira wakes up. Then every morning I am greeted by the most adorable heart melting smiles as soon as Indira wakes up. Once we are ready for the day we head downstairs and ill usually have a smoothie, juice or homemade granola with nut milk.
2. What's one piece of life changing health advice you can share with others?
Kate: The body is self healing and self regulating; when given the right environment the body can heal itself. I learned this 7 years ago when I met my husband, it blew me away, transformed my life and forever changed the way I looked at health.
For me that statement is true to my core and I don't take it lightly. I have not taken any drugs; prescribed or over the counter, nothing from the outside in 7 years. I want my body to know that I believe it has the power to heal itself.
3. What's one thing that gives you hope for the future?
Kate: The next generation… I can't imagine what the children being born today will be able to inspire in the world. They don't have to wait 20-30 years to learn the things that have inspired many of us on a conscious path.
In a lot of ways I feel the collective consciousness is at a breaking point which is sad but also creates space for so much potential. When you are at the bottom there is only one way and that is up. I am surrounded by so many people doing their work in the world and inspiring this in their children. I feel honoured to be alive at this time.
4. Any lifestyle 'Crimes against Wisdom' (Prajnaparadha) that challenge you?
Kate: I know that a spiritual practice deepens with rituals and habits, but I feel like creating structure and rules to my practice takes away from me having control.
Control served me for many years when things in my life weren't very stable, being in control allowed me to feel safe. I know that I no longer need to have that level of control and that surrendering to a schedule and commitment around my spiritual practice would provide me with a much deeper connection and flow than control ever will. However, I continue to ride up against this.
5. A moment of beauty that inspired you today?
Kate: 'Babywearing' Indira as she falls asleep and I stare out the window surrounded by trees, beautiful flowers blooming and a view of the ocean. Bliss!
Thank you for the interview, Kate. Om Shanti!
Find out more:
Conscious Divas


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Wasatch Learning Academy
One-On-One Instruction: We know that a high-quality education requires more than just a great curriculum. Highly-qualified teachers provide one-on-one instruction, tutorials, and supplemental learning to help students meet their goals. Parents play a critical role as learning coaches, working with teachers to support student achievement.
In addition to the exceptional curriculum and supportive community, students enrolled in Wasatch's online school will also receive the following:
• Opportunities for academic and social enrichment, as well as a dedicated parent support network.
• Access to online lessons 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from anywhere a internet connection can be found.
• Communication and advice from teachers through e-mail, web-conferencing, and in person.
• Access to after-school programs, school libraries, and computer labs.
WLA is Excited to Welcome Your Students
Wasatch Learning Academy is dedicated to helping your student complete their online educational goals, and is open to all families who wish to participate in student learning. We have found that all students can flourish with the right support, and have identified the following characteristics as those which describe a successful Learning Academy student:
- Highly involved parents or guardians who are comfortable using computer technology
- A History of good attendance and academic success in a prior setting
- Discipline and self-motivation
- An enjoyment of reading
- The desire to seek solutions to problems
- Involvement in school and community activities
Students at Wasatch Learning Academy are not required to fit into a rigid structure. Instead, they are given flexibility, and accessibility to high-quality education. Students have access to personal attention from teachers. There are some basic procedures that all families at Wasatch Virtual Learning Academy must follow. For a child to successfully participate in our program, a parent must:
- Be available to the student while he/she is working on school assignments.
- Keep close contact with your teacher.
- Monitor your child's daily attendance and completion of work.
- Have your student maintain appropriate pacing of instruction.
- Notify the Academy of and changes to personal information, including phone numbers and changes in address.
- Students must participate in state testing, and are required to travel to state-mandated testing sites.


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Suffolk Babies do not provide an antenatal breastfeeding workshop ourselves, this is provided by Ipswich Hospital Trust Midwifery Service, the details of which are below. There are many sources of support and advice for breastfeeding mothers, and support groups run regularly across the county. We have just listed the Latch Patch below, as it runs at Suffolk Babies, but please contact your local Children's Centre for information on what is available in your area.
Preparation for Feeding your Baby Workshop
Provided by the Ipswich Hospital Trust Midwifery Service—Baby Friendly Accredited.
Feeding workshops are facilitated to help you make a decision about how to feed your baby when he/she arrives. This is an opportunity to discuss your options and have your questions answered in a relaxed atmosphere. Partners can attend as well if they wish. In this workshop we cover:
- Making a choice on how to feed your baby – influences and barriers
- Why breast milk is important for babies and mothers
- Building a strong relationship – the role of skin to skin and an early first feed
- Making milk and positioning baby for feeds
- Feeding responsively for all babies. Hand expression – when it might be useful
- Knowing that baby is getting milk – the first two weeks
- DVD demonstrating good positioning and attachment
- Opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions
- Information on support available locally
- DVD demonstrating good positioning and attachment
- Opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions
- Information on support available locally
It is useful to book a place by 28 weeks of pregnancy . Your midwife / maternity support worker can tell you how to book.
Workshops are usually a 2 ½ hour session.
You may also be able to book through your local Children's Centre. For a list of all Children's Centres in Suffolk and their contact details, see here.
Please also see Ipswich Hospital's page on Feeding your Baby and Breastfeeding Support. which has useful information, and leaflets to download, as well as useful contacts.
If you are registered at a different hospital to Ipswich, please contact your Midwife to find out what is available in your area.
Your local Children's Centre
Children's Centres run weekly drop-in sessions where you can speak to a Health Visitor about any concerns. Staff running various groups will also be able to provide advice and support. Children's Centres also run Weaning Workshops.
To register with your local Children's Centre, you can do this online here.
To find your local Children's Centre and their contact details, timetable etc, see here.
The Latch Patch at Suffolk Babies
A support group for breastfeeding mothers, with babies/children of any age. Come for impartial advice and support, help with issues, and a drink and a snack in a friendly, relaxed environment.
The group runs term time only, on Wednesday mornings, 10am-12pm. For more details, see here.
For online advice/support, please join the facebook group, Ipswich Breastfeeding Mamas UK.
Other sources of support
The Breastfeeding Network (BfN)
Helpline: 0300 100 0210, open 9.30 am – 9.30 pm, seven days a week.
Website: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk Here you can find out more about the BfN and access leaflets and publications which can be downloaded.
The National Breastfeeding Helpline
Helpline: 0300 100 0212, open 9.30 am – 9.30 pm, seven days a week.
Staffed by trained peer supporters who have fed their own babies. You will be connected to a local supporter if you use a landline as the system recognises your area code.
La Leche League
Helpline: 0845 120 2918
Website: www.laleche.org.uk
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
Helpline: 0300 330 0700, open 8 am – 10 pm.
Website: www.nct.org.uk
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
Helpline: 0300 330 5453
Website: http://abm.me.uk/
Arrival Breastfeeding Support
Arrival Early Partnerships CIC is a non profit making Community Interest Company (Social Enterprise).
Our aim is to provide timely support, and so reduce the likelihood of families facing confusing struggles, and perhaps reducing or stopping their breastfeeding, before they would have otherwise chosen to.
We are able to visit your home during the first days and weeks after birth to offer clear, practical and non judgemental help and advice.
You can access our Services by ringing us direct on 07716 878865 / 01728 831882 and booking a consultation in your home at a cost of £40 for a one and a half hour consultation. We will always endeavour to visit your home within 24 hours.
Marlene and Jacqui are always available to talk with you and listen to your questions and concerns and give expert lactation advice and support, do not hesitate to contact us.
Website: www.arrivalbreastfeedingsupport.com


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Worcester Magazine, the alternative weekly newsmagazine that serves Worcester, Massachusetts and environs, quoted TER in its "Blog Log" for this week. The quote came from a piece that I wrote following the New(s) England Revolution conference last week in Lowell. The piece discussed the New England Commons panel headlined by journalist Neal Peirce. The quote in Worcester Magazine is as follows -
There are many obstacles to regional thinking — a government structure containing six states and more than 1,000 local governments, a tradition of local focus, and a transportation infrastructure designed in the most myopic fashion (Exhibit A: the fact that the Massachusetts Turnpike does not pass through either Worcester or Springfield). In yesterday's panel discussion, Neal Peirce compared New England to a group of talented people blindfolded in a dark room and not talking to each other.
The "Blog Log" also quoted a piece by Marry in Massachusetts done earlier this week called Massachusetts Rolls Over.


text: Frances A. Dunlap Fair Oaks Frances A. Dunlap, 79, of Fair Oaks, died Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Concordia at Villa St. Joseph. Born January 26, 1939, in Sewickley, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Anna Brodish. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Dunlap, November 13, 2008; a daughter, Roseann Kramer, 2014; two brothers, Fred Brodish and Edwin Sokalski; stepdaughter, Linda Shannon; and step-grandson, Danny Tiberio. She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Cindy Heslop, Poland, Ohio; William and Yvonne Heslop, Atlanta, Ga.; and Gale and Kathy Heslop, Baltimore, Md.; one daughter and son-in-law, Wilma and Dan Williams, Fair Oaks; one sister, Ruth Sokalski, Moon Twp.; one stepson, William and Frannie Dunlap, Midland; two stepdaughters, Margie Tiberio, Center Twp., and Kathy and Tim Galloway, East Liverpool, Ohio; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 p.m. until service at 5 p.m. in BOHN-MATICH FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 1099 Maplewood Ave., Ambridge, with the Rev. Bert Domineck officiating.


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| 9.4°C Dublin
Four years ago, Declan Kidney assumed control of a national rugby team whose confidence was spread-eagled upon the canvas, still reeling from World Cup failure and embroiled in a desperate scramble with Argentina for the dubious right to be called the eighth best team in the world.
That was then. And now?
Ireland, lurching once more from another World Cup that was freighted with disappointment, embark upon another autumn series with an undignified scrap to remain in the second tier of World Cup seeds again the main aim.
Except this time, the responsibility all rests on Kidney's shoulders.
A remarkable raft of injuries notwithstanding, all other factors, from the failure to propagate decent, indigenous tighthead options to the appalling inconsistency in performance and selection, rest at his feet.
How he emerges from this latest crisis of confidence will be fascinating to behold. To his credit, all the players -- at least those who remain standing -- are making the right noises.
All the while though, he is coursed by the darkness of New Zealand last summer, as well as the selection and tactical inadequacies that haunted both the last World Cup and Six Nations campaigns.
The margin of error between success and failure has become wafer-thin.
Victory against the South Africans this evening may seem improbable but a win against Argentina, a side who have precipitated the death knell for his two immediate predecessors, is a must.
In the absence of any encouragement from his paymasters as time ticks on his contract -- due to expire next summer -- Kidney will appreciate the familiar sense of doubt emanating from voices beyond his control.
It has always been this way in the life of a remarkable coaching phenomenon.
Despite success at schools level, he was chided for being unable to replicate that at a senior club. When he did, the bar was reset.
When winning Ireland's only World Cup -- with the U-19s at the 1998 Junior World Cup -- it was felt he couldn't make the step up to coach adults.
When he led Munster to two Heineken Cups, few felt that the tide of goodwill that ushered him into the senior international gig would prove anything other than an illusory leap of faith.
He has faced down the doubters at every turn.
Now, as Ireland scramble to overturn the worst losing streak in 14 years of international rugby, he must once more answer the assertions of those who charge that winning the Grand Slam in 2009, remarkable, historical achievement that it was, represents the high watermark of his coaching career.
For, since that 2009 success, one engendered by gargantuan self-belief and a loyal adherence to a highly successful, if minimalist, game plan, Ireland's international performances have been blighted by inconsistency and incoherency.
Hence, some believe the IRFU's quite deliberate refusal to even publicly mention the farrago that was this summer's Hamilton humiliation -- maintaining a theme, the harrowing loss came a week after Ireland almost claimed a historic result against the All Blacks -- hints that they are willing to allow the current coaching ticket to quietly expire over the next few months.
Kidney and his players will have other ideas, of course.
Should Ireland perform well against the Springboks, augmented by the innate innovation wrought by the accelerated promotion of younger, fresher blood, and beat Argentina, then the side will head into the Six Nations with renewed confidence, plus the sight of a clutch of world-class players returning to work.
With England and France at home, Kidney and his squad would then probably enjoy a crack at another trophy-winning campaign, clouding further any debate about his future employment being a non-runner.
However, there are a lot of ifs and buts tossed in there. Can Ireland emulate their resuscitation of late 2008?
When Kidney surveyed his squad at close quarters for the first time this time four years ago, he was alarmed at the manner in which the confidence seemed to have been vacuumed from his players.
"It surprised me when I came in because these players had won three Triple Crowns and they seemed to knock that back," he said at the time.
"They should have been fully confident, but they were not. That lack of confidence is one thing, but we just need to get that balance right and be reasonably critical while not being too over-the-top hysterical when we win a match."
That Brian O'Driscoll, the country's greatest ever rugby player, should be so distraught as to seek the counsel of a sports psychologist, indicated starkly the depths of despair into which that Irish squad had plunged.
And yet, emboldened by the belated introspection of the infamous Enfield congregation, Kidney managed to mould his men to source the perfect balance between hubris and humility; they lived every moment, worked for every minute and maximised every opportunity.
That class may be permanently etched upon the public's sporting psyche, but even cliche cannot evade the desperately poor form that has since pointed just one way.
While Ireland's record-breaking 60-0 defeat to the All Blacks in Hamilton in June looms large in the background, there are few crumbs of comfort to be found in recent record books.
With the exception of going down 22-19 to the world champions the week previous to that defeat, Ireland's form has been extremely poor.
They've won just one Test in their last five (v Scotland 32-14), and have conceded 168 points and 18 tries.
Since their thrilling 15-6 win over Australia in the World Cup -- the most recent in a thematic sequence that has seen lengthy mediocrity punctured by isolated brilliance -- Ireland have beaten only Russia, Scotland, and Italy twice.
The 17-17 draw with France in Paris was the highlight of their Six Nations' campaign.
A loss against the Springboks would condemn Ireland to their fifth consecutive defeat -- their worst run since losing seven in a row between 1997 and 1998.
Compounding the obvious sense of decline since 2009, Kidney and his side have, predominantly, failed to find succour with home comforts either.
Ireland have managed a win ratio of just 45pc since returning to the rebuilt Lansdowne Road in 2010. In all, they have lost six of the 11 Test matches played at the venue, a clearly unacceptable rate as the players regularly acknowledge.
A seventh loss today would equal the total number of losses at the famous old stadium between 2000 and 2006.
That seven of Ireland's last 10 losses at home (Croke Park and Lansdowne Road) have been by less than four points could point to at least one inescapable conclusion.
Ireland have simply forgotten how to win those tight games that defined Kidney's annus mirabilis of 2009.
Four years on from the painful pre-planning for their greatest success, Ireland would seem to have turned full circle.
Only now, with their most talismanic figures unavoidably absent -- two Lions captains, successive European players of the year -- the task would seem to be even more arduous than before.
The players, loyally, continue to talk a good game and it remains to be seen whether the subtle criticisms of the coaching ticket that have wrought less subtle changes therein can produce immediate results.
They retain trust in Kidney and he clearly maintains faith in his team.
"I'm not talking about blind optimism, the kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path.
"I'm not talking about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight."
No, not Kidney. But Barack Obama after US voters gave him a second chance to build on the promise of four years.
Kidney has already delivered on his promise of four years ago.
But has he anything more to offer the Ireland set-up?
This month will be revealing. As much as anything, we will find out the crucial answer to one searingly direct question.
Never mind whether the IRFU, the public or the players have faith in Declan Kidney? Does Declan Kidney still have faith in his own coaching ability?
Irish Independent


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Nov. 12, 2014—This November, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is recognizing National Diabetes Month and urging Americans to take steps to reduce their risk of developing the disease. It's also a time for those who have the disease to guard against related complications.
People with diabetes are nearly 2 times more likely than those without it to die from heart disease, according to the NIH. They are also more vulnerable to serious kidney, eye and nerve diseases.
More than 29 million Americans have diabetes. And another 86 million or more are on the verge of getting it: Their blood sugar levels are abnormally high but not yet elevated enough for an actual diagnosis of diabetes. This condition is known as prediabetes.
Defining diabetes
There are 3 types of diabetes:
If you have diabetes
If you've already been diagnosed with diabetes, the National Diabetes Education Program encourages following the diabetes ABCs—steps to reduce your risk of diabetes complications. The ABCs stand for:
- A1C test. This test shows what your blood sugar has been over the last 3 months and can help identify your level of diabetes management.
- Blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause a heart attack, stroke or kidney disease. The blood pressure goal for most people with diabetes is below 140/90 mm Hg.
- Cholesterol. LDL—the bad cholesterol—can clog arteries. However, HDL—the good cholesterol—helps clear cholesterol from blood vessels.
Ask your doctor what your ABC goals should be and how to reach them.
If you have prediabetes
The number of Americans living with type 2 diabetes is growing, along with rates of obesity nationwide, according to the NIH. Still, there's good news: This disease can be prevented. According to the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, research funded by them shows people with prediabetes who lose just a modest amount of weight—about 15 pounds—may reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58 percent.
If you don't have diabetes
Even if you don't have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends doing your best to stay at a healthy weight, eat well and be active—3 safeguards that can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. It is also beneficial to understand your risk factors for developing the disease. This assessment can help you determine if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes.


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Actress Tabu Photo shoot for Filmfare Magazine (February-2013) edition. In these photo shoots Tabu looking very hot for simple dress. Let us see the pictures, photos of magazine pages.
credits:facebook/Bollywood's Biggest Fans Club (BBFC)
|Tabu's Latest Photo shoot for magazine
|Tabu new hot gallery
|Tabu New HQ Wallpapers
|Bollywood actress Tabu looking hot in this photos
|Tabu Latest Image, HQ Gallery


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Coconut macaroon cookies are easily made into easter nests with melted chocolate and Cadbury mini eggs. Try the recipe this Easter!
Coconut is one of those ingredients that you either love or hate. I happen to love coconut, after all Samoas are my favorite Girl Scout cookie. Today I made macaroons (not to be confused with macarons) for the first time and let's just say it was a success.
The perfect macaroon has a toasted exterior with a chewy center, not too sweet and certainly not bland—the coconut flavor has to be evident.
To achieve this balance, I used a mixture of sweetened and unsweetened shredded coconut with cream of coconut, unbeaten egg whites and a dash of corn syrup and vanilla.
Since the coconut macaroons were not overly sweet, I dipped the bottoms in chocolate for a little extra something (don't worry they are just as good without the chocolate too!)
And, for Easter weekend, I made half the batch into nests holding mini Cadbury eggs because when do I ever pass up the opportunity to add festive touch?
- 1 cup cream of coconut*
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 4 large egg whites
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- Instructions:
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly spray the parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray.
- Whisk together the cream of coconut, corn syrup, egg whites, vanilla and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
- Combine the unsweetened and sweetened coconut in a large bowl, toss together, breaking up any clumps with your fingertips.
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the coconut and mix with a rubber spatula until evenly moistened.
- Drop heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared sheets, spacing them about 1-inch apart. Form the cookies into loose haystacks or mounds, moistening your hands with water as necessary to prevent sticking (yes, this actually helps since the "batter" is pretty loose).
- Bake until the cookies are light golden brown, about 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through.
- Cool cookies on the baking sheets until slightly set, about 2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack with a wide metal spatula.
- While cookies are cooling, melt chocolate in a double boiler or makeshift double boiler (see tips for melting chocolate here). Dip the bottoms of the cookies in the chocolate and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Place cookies in fridge for chocolate to set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Macaroon Nests
- Follow steps 1 through 4 above.
- Drop two heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared sheets and form into a ball. Press your thumb into the center to create an indentation so the macaroon resembles a nest.
- Bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack with a wide metal spatula.
- Once cooled, melting chocolate instructions. Fill indentation with melted chocolate and place mini cadbury eggs in the chocolate. Place cookies in fridge for chocolate to set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.


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Not all social networking happens via technology…
Not all social networking happens via technology…
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged communication, culture, gratitude, signs, social networking
We've been renting our Airstream trailer on airbnb, and had some unusual guests last week. Alex and Luke, two Canadian travelers also known as alexandluke.com, stayed with us on the 151st night of an extended journey around North America.
What's unusual about Alex' and Luke's trip is that they are using social networking platforms to determine their whole itinerary.
Without a route or any preconceived idea of what we will see and do, we are calling on the communities behind the most popular social media websites to act as our compass (pointing us where to go) and our guidebook (telling us what to see).
Luke says that, for him, the technoscape rather than the landscape was the real inducement to hit the road, and their trip is as much an exploration of the borders between online and offline worlds as the geography of North America. An ecotone is the transition area between two adjacent ecological communities, and by pairing the intensive use of social media with the highly physical and interpersonal nature of travel, Luke and Alex are really probing the unique possibilities of the space where digital and physical meet.
We sat down underneath the redwoods and recorded a 30-minute conversation about what it feels like to have your destination determined by the Twittersphere, how they decide what to share and what to keep private, what social networking tools they wish they had but don't (Twitter analytics and more fluid map sharing via IM, etc.), and how this unusual experience is changing them.
You can listen to some audio excerpts from the interview here.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged #California, @alexandluke, airbnb, alexandluke.com, experiments, Facebook, interview, IRL, social media, social networking, technoscape, travel, Twitter, Web 2.0


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Summer of Soccer 2019
With three major international tournaments going on right now, soccer fans and...
Dear Tiger . . . ,
Man-to-man, Blackman-to-Black man, bro' to bro' n' Bra" to Bra" . . . Please, please . . . please don't let these bastards break you. Don't under these present-day dire societal circumstances: the racial/cultural war that grips these so-called "United" States is heating-up, becoming combustible, so, considering the climate, you've got to do more than "hold the line" . . we need you to push forward son. Breaking, crumpling nor self-destruction is an option for you Tiger.
Not now, at this time, when many, many White Americans feel their "privilege" and their "monopoly" on life-altering options and choices is under attack. They see themselves in a cultural battle, and you my friend, along with the still "Straight-outta-Compton" Williams duo, together you constitute an entire battle field.
The three of you haven't just knocked on the door of the country club, no son you kicked the SOB in.
Tiger, you've made them eat crow.
Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson had them chocking too.
And wait, you've done it in a way n' manner which infuriates the pompous, elitist wannabe aristocrats who populate most private (All-Rich White Male) country clubs. You, under what the public now understands was Lone Ranger riding Trigger type guidance and control of your late pops, you rewrote and redefined "greatness" in the golf world.
This garnered you a legion of haters and naysayers who couldn't wait for you to falter or fail.
But hang-on, what sent these adversaries over-the-top, what set their hair on fire was your lust-for White women. Even after the court-of-public opinion "permitted" you to wed that Nordic princess . . . you betrayed her and trampled all over the benefit of the doubts they'd accorded you, akin to OJ and him slitting the throat of his Nordic Princess . . . .
They had to embarrassingly revoke your "Honorary" White guy card and decoder ring.
And then, adding insult to injury, as you were "gettin' yourself together" you showed the world you were bedding Lindsey Vonn, a real snow bunny . . . then after you'd soiled her, dirtied her for eternity . . . you continued to sleep with White women, even the wives of other PGA tour members . . . or so they say.
My God son. do you realize the type of scorn, contempt and animosity they harbor for you? You're like a modern-day Jack Johnson in some superficial ways – like not understanding they would hang your 50% Black ass if they could.
If this were 1947 . . . .
So, when you rumble, stumble, tumble and now fumble away opportunities to become immortal and exceed the greatest Great White Hopes in Golf . . . they laugh at you, mock you and they yearn to mentally, emotionally break you, put you back in your proper assigned place. . . second place.
Show your innate, inherent inferiority . . . .
Son, this is far, far bigger than you, this is about who n' what you are, and who you look like and represent. Nonetheless, like President Obama you're a walking "litmus test." Just saying your name is like saying Christopher Columbus, Ronald Ray-Gun, OJ or Trayvon Martin.
You've got to get your you-know-what-together, and we're gonna need that to be ASAP, because Father Time is catching your quasi old ass, far too long have you been in captivity . . you've lost the eye of the . . . Tiger. Hey man look, I don't know, go sit at your father's graveside, drift-off into some marijuana/151 Bacardi induced state-of-reflection . . . and 7 days later emerge naked with wolf blood smeared all over your body, with that look in your eye, that glide in your stride, that dip in your hip . . . completely grasping you've got a job to do, kickin down the gates of golf's fortified, fabricated bastions of White male supremacy isn't enough son, sorry. You're going to have to complete your mission and burn that "mother . . ." down, to the ground, so that golf can have a "new day," one where you're individual triumphs demand inclusion and diversity rain-in as opposed to exclusion, racism, classism and sexism.
I'm sorry son, nobody said it was going to be easy, you'll have to step-up, man-up and get the god-damn job done, somehow, someway Tiger . . get it done. Not for you, but for your people, for Lee Elder, Calvin Peete, Joe Louis, Charlie Sifford, Spiller, Black, Roach . . . you know who got their hands dirty, did the heavy-lifting to get your Black ass where it is.
Tiger, we're counting on you to sit-down n' shut-up the chorus of Conservatives and Confederates sportsfans who want to turn back the hands of time (actually rip the flippin' clock off the wall" if they could) to a time n' place where you n' I, our children couldn't play golf, or go to that school, or live on that block, eat at that cafe . . . you get it, yes . . . it's much bigger than you son.
Look inside Tiger, and find the truth and the "path" back-to exceptionalism.
You can do it.
BlackAthlete.com/BlackCommentator.com Columnist, Desi Cortez, was hatched in the heart of Dixie, circa 1961, at the dawning of the age of Aquarius, the by-product of four dynamic individuals, Raised in South-Central LA, the 213, at age 14 transplanted to the base of the Rockies, Denver. Still a Mile-Hi. Sat at the feet of scholars for many, many moons, emerging with a desire and direction… if not a sheep-skin. "Meandered thru life; gone a-lot places, done a-lot of things, raised a man-cub into a good, strong man, produced a beautiful baby-girl with my lover/woman/soul-mate… aired my mind on the airwaves and wrote some stuff along the way."


text:
Europe River Cruises
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About Avalon Waterways
Contact Information
Phone: 215-723-8687 - E-mail:
Our Travel Haus office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We also offer Saturday hours from 9:00am to 1:00pm during our busy season which is January through May.
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unparalleled vacation experiences, full of personal discovery and insider knowledge for more than 85 years.
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Travel Terms & Conditions


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Remembering the Miracle Team: Fort Yates Warriors, 1973 North Dakota Class A Sta
Indian Country Today
Forty years ago, the Fort Yates Warriors basketball team achieved one of the most exciting final game victories in North Dakota high school playoff basketball history. Their brilliant come-back in regulation and persistence in three overtimes propelled them to the state class A championship in 1973. Their three-OT victory over the Minot Magicians, the top-ranked team in the state, is legendary in state basketball history.
The '73 Warriors were honored March 16 during the boy's state A basketball finals at the Bismarck Civic Center. Read about that here.
To watch a four-minute video on the 1973 Warriors and their miracle run to the state title, which is a preview of a forthcoming documentary produced by United Tribes Technical College and Makoché Studios, click here.


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Tom Snee, Office of Strategic Communication, 319-384-0010 (office), 319-541-8434 (cell)
EU ambassador to US to discuss European sovereign debt crisis at UI
EU ambassador to US to discuss European sovereign debt crisis at UI
EU ambassador to US to discuss European sovereign debt crisis at UI
Joao Vale de Almeida, the European Union's ambassador to the United States, will discuss the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis when he speaks at the University of Iowa College of Law on Wednesday, March 28.
Joao Vale de Almeida, EU ambassador to the U.S.
Vale de Almeida's speech, "The State of the EU," will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Levitt Auditorium of the Boyd Law Building. Admission is free and open to the public.
"The European sovereign debt crisis is one of the most significant economic events of our time and has called into question the viability of the Euro and theEurozone," says EnriqueCarrasco, professor of the law and director of the UI Center for International Finance and Development that is hosting the lecture. "The decisions made today will have impacts generations from now, both in Europe and all around the world."
The crisis has exposed a major flaw of the European Monetary Union, Carrasco says. Lax fiscal rules allowed several European countries to amass massive, unsustainable public debt and no ability to pay it back, requiring crisis intervention by Eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund. Austerity measures have caused economic stagnation and high unemployment in countries like Ireland, Italy, and Spain. The most significant problems are in Greece, where third party debt refinancing is the only thing keeping the government from defaulting on its loans, and which recently reached agreement with its private bondholders to re-pay its debt for just pennies on the dollar.
Carrasco says a deepening of the crisis could imperil the fragile recovery of the global economy.
More information about Vale de Almeida is available at www.eurunion.org/eu/Ambassadors-Corner/Ambassador-Joao-Vale-de-Almeida-Biography.html.


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This medal (4cm) commemorates Baron Trenk (mid-18th century), who commanded the Pandurs in the time of Empress Maria Theresa in all the wars against Frederick the Great. Trenk was eventually dismissed by her on suspicion of having taken a massive bribe from Frederick to release him when Trenk had effectively captured him.
Trenk was the originator of the Austrian Light Infantry/Riflemen as he raised his men from the frontier regions of the Empire, notably the Banat regions in Lower Hungary, and in Croatia, where these men would have been familiar with the use of the Turkish rifle, which, of course, was much more accurate than the Austrian service musket of the period. The Pandurs had an evil reputation among friend and foe for being a bunch of banditi. However, they proved very effective as scout units in all the fighting against Prussia.
This medal was perhaps produced on some sort of anniversary connected with his life.
Its condition is VF and it is signed 'SPIEGLER'.


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May 27, 2020
Pastor Darin Youngberg
<< Next Entry Previous Entry >>
Daily Bread
Posted on Monday, March 05, 2018 by Bro_D
Daily Bread March 5, 2018
2 Timothy 4:2 preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.
I really enjoy watching the LORD do His thing! Especially when I get to be a part of it! This morning I had a conversation with a friend about "finding the right church". At one point, this comment was discussed… "a church that teaches the Bible, but accepts people just as they are…" – the point being, I want the Bible, just not the judgment.
My response ….. any place that truly teaches the Bible will be a place where the individual will be reproved, rebuked and exhorted to live by that Bible, therefore, said individual will almost always come away from that Bible teaching "feeling" judged. Paul told Tim to "preach the Word" and that by preaching the Word the people will be reproved …. Which means corrected --- which implies their current behavior is wrong! When the Word of God is proclaimed, people will be rebuked …. Which means they will be called out – Paul even called people out by name! Pointing out one's sin is the most loving thing that could happen to them --- by implication when one is rebuked one is also called to repentance. Exhorting the people by the Word of God, with the Word of God is challenging them to trust the ways of God.
In the next two verses Paul tells Timothy why this is so important -- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. (4) And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths. Left to his own, man will turn from the Truth to the lies of his own flesh. I reminded my friend of what I have said for years .. "If you go to church "a" because of reason "1" you will eventually leave church "a" because of reason "1". But, if you are at church "a" because the LORD has planted you there, then you will only leave church "a" when the LORD leads you to. The Bible teaching church will be the church your "toes are stomped" AND your life is equipped to "go and sin no more." I appreciate the time I had this morning with my brother, "iron sharpens iron".


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Hide Forgot
Description of problem:
After installing FC6 from the CD's, the machine won't boot from the harddisk.
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
How reproducible:
Always. I have found no work-around, and therefore the severity is set to
High. I really need some kind of work-around, so that I at least can boot my
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install FC6 from the CD's.
Actual results:
After rebooting, the machine halts with the message "GRUB Loading stage2.."
Expected results:
The machine should boot normally.
Additional info:
This problem has been seen before. However, the solutions presented in the
other bug reports have not helped me.
I've tried the following:
1. Boot from rescue CD
2. chroot /mnt/sysimage
3. grub-install /dev/sda
However, after booting the machine now hangs at "GRUB Loading stage1.5."
I then tried:
4. Boot from rescue CD
5. chroot /mnt/sysimage
6. /sbin/grub
7. root (hd0,0)
8. kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
9. initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img
but this gives "Error 28: Selected item cannot fit into memory".
My machine details are as follows:
Via EPIA EN12000E motherboard with a VIA VT8237R controller.
A single 160 GB SATA disk (no raid).
The partition info is as follows:
sh-3.1#sfdisk -l /dev/sda
Disk /dev/sda: 19457 cylinders, 255 heads, 63 sectors/track
Units = cylinders of 8225280 bytes, blocks of 1024 bytes, counting from 0
Device Boot Start End #cyls #blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 0+ 608 609- 4891761 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 609 1217 609 4891792+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 1218 1340 123 987997+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda4 1341 19456 18116 145516770 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 1341+ 1949 609- 4891761 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1950+ 6205 4256- 34186288+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 6206+ 19456 13251- 106438626 83 Linux
/dev/sda1 on / type ext3 (rw,defaults)
/dev/sda2 on /home type ext3 (rw,defaults)
/dev/sda6 on /p2p type ext3 (rw,defaults)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,defaults)
/dev/sda7 on /share type ext3 (rw,defaults)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,defaults)
/dev/sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,defaults)
/dev/sda5 on /var type ext3 (rw,defaults)
The GRUB configuration files are:
sh-3.1#cat /boot/grub/grub.conf
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You do not have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
# root (hd0,0)
# kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda1
# initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
title Fedora Core (2.6.18-1.2798.fc6)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img
sh-3.1#cat /boot/grub/device.map
# this device map was generated by anaconda
(hd0) /dev/sda
I've tried installing FC5 as well as FC3 onto the same system, but that didn't
help. I've not yet tried FC2. Nor have I tried installing onto a PATA drive.
Please let me know if there is something else I can try, or some information I
can provide.
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 215226 ***


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Tewksbury/Wilmington Advocate - Tewksbury & Wilmington, MA
(August 2009-present)
The Tewksbury Advocate is a local newspaper that covers everything in the town of Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Starting to write professionally for the Billerica Minuteman (July 2009-Oct. 2010), I was introduced to the Tewksbury Advocate from Max Bowen, the editor of the Billerica Minuteman.
One day, I called my editor, and told him that I know a comedian named Dave Russo, who lives in Tewksbury, and asked if I could feature him in my next article. Bowen told me that the 'Minuteman only covers Billerica events, but said I could call the Tewksbury Advocate editor, and tell him about the story.
From the moment I talked to the editor of the 'Advocate, it has been all uphill as I have covered an arms worth of stories ... simply meaning, I have published a ton of articles in the Tewksbury Advocate.
Jason "Mac" MacEntire is the editor of the Tewksbury Advocate as well as the Wilmington Advocate. For this, MacEntire asked me to cover a sports show called "Greater Boston Sports Collectors Club" that took place in November 2009, and ever since I have been writing periodically for the Wilmington Advocate.


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Halon Security has launched a 'personal' version of its Virtual Security Router to allow users to install a specially tailored firewall router into their systems.
According to the company, the small business and personal use router is available for free and is IPv6 ready for support of any virtualised environment, and is based on OpenBSD. It said that it adds automatic clustering, revision-based configuration, real-time graphs and logging, integrated centralised management for clusters, automatic high availability and VPN hardware AES acceleration (when used with supported hardware).
The company explained that the free version does not have reduced performance capacity, instead there are restrictions such as a maximum of ten firewall rules, one IPsec tunnel and no load balancer, VPN users or VLAN.
Jonas Falck, vice president of Halon Security, said: "It might sound very light, but it is good enough for some purposes, such as for personal use or for a smaller set-up. Support is not included but the product can be upgraded to a commercial edition that includes software updates and support.
"You do get all of the nice features of the Virtual Security Router: an easy to use user interface; revision-based configuration; web centralised management and full IPv6 support."
Peter Falck, president of Halon Security, said: "Our powerful firewall and router extends possibilities to a new dimension. We're offering unique rich feature sets that allow hosting, software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud companies set security to another level without compromise.
"VSR is a complete security package for virtual infrastructure and can be easily integrated by using APIs. Now, we have all these features available for free."


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This year, for our Halloween edition of Badurday, I decided to focus on one of my favorite bad boys of the horror genre. Mr. Boris Karloff. He was born as William Henry Pratt. His father was the Deputy Commissioner of Customs Salt and Opium. What the heck kind of job was that? Importing opium? Really intriguing. I knew people used to use it quite openly but I had no idea there was a department of the government dedicated to it- I guess the tax man always wants his part, yeah?
And wouldn't you know it, old William Henry Pratt a/k/a Boris Karloff (have to get in the legalese, ya know) was British. Even British men born in 1887 appeal to me. Surprised?
Boris was actually a handsome dude under all that makeup. He played Frankenstein's monster in an early version of the movie (1937)- it was his breakout role (after 80 films). He was credited in the opening credits as "?" How fun was that? AND to have 80 films under your belt before your breakout role is encouraging to us aspiring to the best seller list, right?
The man of the day, Boris, also played in The Mummy and The Mask of Fu Manchu among other roles of the creepy persuasion. He played Frankenstein's monster three times and Frankenstein, the scientist, once. I didn't much care for the Abbott and Costello movies he played in. They were a bit too silly and Boris was really too dignified for that.
One of the neatest things is that he played in Arsenic and Old Lace on Broadway as the Brewster brother that was the murderer. The role was actually written for him. He was not in the movie version with Cary Grant but they did refer to him in it. They said the brother looked like that movie star. (I love that movie, by the way).
Here are some great pics of Boris and I was even able to find you guys a shirtless one. My favorite one I found was of four wonderful actors together. I adore all of them. Enjoy your Halloween and check out a Boris Karloff movie if you have the chance.
Filed under: Bad-urady | Tagged: Abbott and Costello, Arsenic and old Lace, Bad Boys, Badurday, Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Cary Grant, Frankenstein, Fu Manchu, Halloween, Peter Lorre, The Mummy, Vincent Price |


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From the Rough Guide to Jazz by Ian Carr
A consummate saxophonist and a talented composer, Ramsden spent one year at Leeds College of Music, after which he joined singer/songwriter Tom Robinson, touring and recording with him, and having some success with the hit single "War Baby". He has also played with Jimmy Witherspoon, NYJO, Loose Tubes, Dudu Pukwana and Bert Jansch. Ramsden eventually settled in London, and has since released two well-received albums, Above the Clouds and Tribute to Paul Desmond. He has also published a novel The Dark Magus and the Sacred Whore. (Serpent's Tail).
Ramsden is a prodigiously gifted saxophonist –good chops, beautiful sound, plenty of power and even more imagination. Richard Palmer Jazz Journal
The neo-noir Matt and Sasha trilogy (Serpent's Tail)
"Delightful." Maxim Jakubowski The Guardian
"Agreeably distasteful.' The Sunday Times
"A baroque and uproarious parody of every genre you could think
of you'll laugh along till your piercings ache."
Time Out
"Witty and absolutely hilarious." Stuff
"Deliciously dark." Desire
"Weird but great." Front
"An excellent novel. Very, very,very funny." Headpress
"Lashings of humour, generally of a hue blacker than a thigh-high
leather boot." Big Issue
WAR SCHOOL "Conn Iggulden meets Douglas Adams in this funny, poignant story of a boy cast adrift in a parallel universe, trying to discover the meaning of life and, trickier still, a way to stop his estranged parents from fighting' – John Williams
RADICAL DESIRE: KINK AND MAGICKAL SEX from the publisher http://mandrake.uk.net/radical-desire/Mandrake and from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radical-Desire-Kink-Magickal-Sex/dp/190695819X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404410356&sr=8-2&keywords=radical+desire
5.0 out of 5 stars Rad, Bad I'm totally Mad for this Book, 27 May 2012
Madeline Moore "Madeline" (Toronto, Canada) – See all my reviews
This slim (140 pages) book is part brutally honest, unpretentious and often hilarious autobiography,
REDACTED RUDE STUFF (which you can read on Amazon)
…part fine visual art (all illustrations by Ruth Ramsden) and part fiction (2 kinky short stories, here's an excerpt from "Madam Petra": Sometime, somewhere, we are always together. Exchanging fragments of dreams and whispered prayers. In the long, slow, sweet dance of desire. Warmed by a pussycat smile.) and entirely satisfying.
Radical Desire: Kink & Magickal Sex, is not so much a book as it is an experience; one that kinksters, new, experienced, or jaded, should not miss.
Rough Guide to Jazz entry on Above the Clouds
This haunting duo album was recorded live and unedited in St Thomas's Church, Clapton Common, London with Lodder playing the Church organ and Ramsden producing ravishing sonorities on the soprano saxophone.
The lyrical brooding timeless atmosphere is sustained throughout.
(second track)
Jazz UK on Above the Clouds
A truly beautiful and original collection of Ramsden compositions, baroque and thirteenth century dance it won praises from The Wire to BBC music magazine with a heartfelt 'amazing' from Nigel Kennedy along the way.
Brian Blain
Above The Clouds (Naxos) was once played next to Mozart on daytime radio 3, how I wish I'd kept that edition of the Radio Times. It's still available, the album, not the Radio Times, a snip at £5.
Critiques of Tribute to Paul Desmond
…a wonderfully expressive, airy alto player. Breezy, instantly accessible, but with a hint of the graininess that produces pearls. Jazzwise Chris Parker
I also toured and recorded with Bert Jansch, Kiki Dee, Roy Harper, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Tom Robinson among many other jazz, rock, blues, cabaret, show biz and theatre ensembles.
This Top of the Pops 2 vid of War Baby cuts off the start of sax intro, all of which you can hear when it was used on Ashes to Ashes (Yay! Loved that series), on the official vid (I look dreadful) on Youtube or on Tom Robinson's site. Funny seeing my rubbish hair in 1983. When we spent three weeks in the top ten.
Enjoyed hearing it on the Daily Politics 'what year is this?' quiz – perhaps a surprising choice, as we only got to number 6 (if only the small indie label could have pressed more copies?) but it seems to have stuck in people's heads.
there's a better solo in You Tattooed Me, a passionate, haunting song from Still Loving You
Recent Jazz/House tracks have been laid to rest at Soundcloud.com and Reverbnation.com
More stuff, including the Dark Tantra Tarot, the world's first fetish pack, a saxed up Get Carter and prettier pictures at MarkRamsden.moonfruit.com
a review of a gig I played at The Spin, Oxford, my favourite venue.
They once had a placard billing me 'An Icarus who flew too near the sun.' Prophetic…


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This is the front page. Lots of ribbon, Making Memories words, Cosmo Cricket punch outs, Creative Imaginations paper, vintage sheet music and a sparkly heart. Another 2 pages. More Creative Imaginations paper, sheet music, Prima flowers, Cosmo Cricket Punch out, other papers, and metal word.
More pages. Daisy D's words, Cosmo Cricket punch out, paper from France, Cardboard and sparkly hearts.
Thanks for stopping by. I am posting a fun challenge tomorrow.


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Nearly six years after his last release, indie rock veteran Jeff Martin of Idaho opens up his latest album You Were a Dick with the line "I hope you don't take it personally that I disappeared like that" on the title track, an olive branch sure to resonate well with his loyal fan base. With this mentality, Martin puts his vulnerability on the table as soon as the listener hits play.
Continue reading "Idaho Review: You Were A Dick"


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Discriminating Against Breaks is Counter Productive #productivity
Some weeks ago I read an interview with a Dutch Internet Entrepreneur who was launching a book on how to create a start up. I haven't read the book so I can judge that, however what surprised me was his tip to give smokers only 23 days holiday rather than 26 days as they are 1.5 hours less productive every day. I think that he's missed the point when it comes to productivity, and I'll tell you why:
Historically smoking and coffee breaks where perfectly acceptable, now people look on people who take frequent breaks as lazy or unproductive. Smoking might decrease hours behind your desk, it might even decrease the number of hours actually worked by 1.5 hours a day, which is 18.75% if we assume a working day has 8 hours. However the overall office productivity according to many studies is 62.22% of the time worked. This means that productive office hours are just under 5 hours, if we assume pro rata smoking might be an actual working time loss of 56 minutes (11.67%), where 34 minutes (7.08%) are consumed by the 37.78% none productive hours spend at the office. Studies say that between 1 and 3 hours everyday are spend browsing the web at work for personal business, which works out to between 12.5-37.5% of time spend at work which is approximately the amount of time that people are unproductive. That covers the ignorant "bums on seats" productivity argument.
Naturally there is also a loss when it comes to health, smokers are overall less healthy than former- and non-smokers. Some studies should that they miss a third more days in the office due to sickness. Smoking is also a risk factor for RSI, although smokers don't seem to be exposed to the other risk factors, including lack of frequent/regular breaks and sitting for long periods.
The attribution of laziness or unproductivity to people taking breaks is counter to the way the mind and human body work. Just as RSI complaints are due to a lack of regular breaks, the mind becomes less focused after 20 minutes of being focused on a task. And although it is also possible to refocus multiple times after 60-90 minutes the mind becomes less efficient. Having regular breaks allows the brain to recover its focus, and it allows the body to recover.
In fact research has shown that taking breaks a step further and having power naps during work is ideal to increase productivity. Just 20 minutes in the afternoon after lunch, when the pancreas starts to release insulin which triggers tryptophan to be created and converted into serotonin in your brain. And as it takes up to 4 hours to digest your last meal anytime between 1 and 3 pm would be ideal for napping.
Source: So many I decided against publishing them. 😉
Image source: Luisus Rasilvi


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During a "sneak preview," San Jacinto College graduate and employee Cassandra Lucio looked over books that were available to students during the College's "Read Across Campus" event. Photo credit: Rob Vanya, San Jacinto College marketing, public relations, and government affairs department.
HOUSTON — In conjunction with the National Education Association's Read Across America initiative, San Jacinto College hosted a Read Across Campus event recently during which free books were available to students.
Approximately 1,200 "leisure" reading books were donated by San Jacinto College faculty and staff for Read Across Campus, a project conceived and coordinated by Dr. Bill Raffetto, provost of the San Jacinto College North Campus, the site of the book give-away. The inventory included fiction and non-fiction books of many genres, such as mysteries, romance, western stories, science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, biographies, and children's books.
"The premise of the national Read Across America initiative is that motivating students to read is an important factor in academic achievement," commented Dr. Raffetto. "Our local Read Across Campus event is a way of facilitating that objective. Reading obviously is vital to education and learning, but I also personally enjoy reading just for leisure and adventure. That is why we focused on collecting recreational books, not text or reference books, to offer for free to students. We want to make them lifelong readers."
Dr. Raffetto admits he was not sure if there would be a good turnout for the Read Across Campus project. However, there was a huge turnout, and all the donated books were taken in a short amount of time. "I was pleasantly surprised at the response and the success," he commented. "It's the digital age, and so you never know how people, especially young people, will respond to an event that's all about print products. Students at the event were excited and appreciative, and there already has been a lot of positive feedback."
San Jacinto College graduate Cassandra Lucio, who works part-time at the College while pursuing a baccalaureate degree at the University of Houston, was one of the first ones to browse through stacks of books during a sneak preview in the provost's office. Lucio has been an avid reader since childhood, and like most of her generation she spends a lot of time on her smartphone and other digital devices. Yet, she prefers print over digital books for recreational reading.
"It may seem crazy to some, but I just like everything about a print book," she commented. "I like the feel of a paper book in my hands. I even like the smell of older books. Reading print on paper seems to be easier on my eyes, and I can focus better on the subject matter because digital content is nearly always so busy and distracting."
For leisure reading, Lucio enjoys classic novels. Some of her favorites are Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and "Northanger Abby." Others are George Orwell's "1984" and "Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie.
Lucio said she was glad San Jacinto College coordinated the Read Across Campus book giveaway. "I think some of my generation might not read a lot because they think books have no interest to them," she said. "An event like Read Across Campus can be beneficial because it can help someone discover how interesting and entertaining books can be."
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, San Jacinto College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of approximately 30,000 credit students. The College offers 186 degrees and certificates, with 46 technical programs and a university transfer division. Students benefit from a support system that maps out a pathway for success, and job training programs that are renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $690 million each year to the Texas workforce.
For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, visit www.sanjac.edu, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.


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Following the usual flurry of deadline-day business, the winter transfer window is closed for another year.
While there were fewer wacky narratives to follow this January - Harry Redknapp wasn't around to bring Christopher Samba out of the wilderness, unfortunately - there were plenty of fascinating deals struck over the month that deserve recognition.
Here are theScore's top 10 signings of the January transfer window, including big-money purchases by Barcelona and AC Milan, and youthful nabs from Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund.
Honorable mentions: Josh Maja (Sunderland to Bordeaux, $4.56 million), Rabbi Matondo (Manchester City to Schalke, £11 million), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo to AC Milan, €35 million), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal to RB Leipzig, loan)
Boca Juniors to Borussia Dortmund for €16 million
Balerdi is a gamble. He was signed after only 450 senior minutes for Boca Juniors and was in Germany for a brief time before flying out to join Argentina Under-20's Sudamericano campaign. He will prematurely return to Dortmund early next week after suffering "a cut to his upper lip" at the tournament, and can now acclimate to his new surroundings and challenge for a place in a defensive department that already lacks experience. It will be fascinating to see how Balerdi develops compared to Under-20 comrade and Atletico Madrid's January buy Nehuen Perez.
Paris Saint-Germain to Celtic on season-long loan
Weah was unveiled at Celtic a day after Old Firm rivals Rangers had brokered an 18-month loan deal for Jermain Defoe, who is double the age of the American attacker. It almost made a mockery of Steven Gerrard's designs on Celtic's seven-year stranglehold on the Premiership title. Weah scored off the bench in each of his first two appearances wearing the famous hoops and looks set to provide the firepower required to secure league and Scottish Cup honors. The 18-year-old's pace and technique could also give Valencia a scare in the Europa League round of 32. This is a short-term measure, but it could be immense.
Brentford to Bournemouth for £12 million
This, admittedly, isn't very exciting. Nevertheless, the acquisition does mark an eventual end to Bournemouth's long-running interest in Mepham and means Nathan Ake isn't always partnered by a portly ex-League One regular at the back. Although the Welsh international is only 21, he quickly developed a reputation as one of the wisest defenders outside the Premier League. His comfort in possession should be a springboard for the Cherries' rapid counter-attacks for years to come. As an aside, the loan pinch of Nathaniel Clyne was another intelligent piece of January business on the south coast.
Chelsea to Crystal Palace on season-long loan
Crystal Palace sensationally made an 11th-hour swoop for the underappreciated Batshuayi on transfer deadline day. Following a disappointing half-season spell with Valencia, the Belgian can now expect regular minutes on loan at a team that has been in desperate need of a focal point between Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha in Roy Hodgson's attack. The four strikers who have appeared for the Eagles this season have combined for one league goal; Batshuayi, who scored 33 times in 78 Marseille appearances before leaving for Chelsea, would do better blindfolded.
Atlanta United to Newcastle United for £21 million
How did Rafa Benitez manage to encourage Newcastle's tight-fisted owner Mike Ashley - who is openly trying to sell the club - to part with a club-record fee for Almiron? The Magpies trumped their previous biggest outlay which stood for 13-and-a-half years (when Michael Owen joined from Real Madrid) to purchase the Paraguayan from Atlanta United, supplying a welcome unpredictability and invention behind Salomon Rondon in the starting lineup. Entertainment has been on short supply during large chunks of Ashley's regime, but Almiron could help address that.
Club America to Real Betis for €12 million
Real Betis produced another impressive piece of business by bringing in Lainez this January, where he links up with compatriot Andres Guardado. Lainez is a raw talent - his tactical awareness needs fine-tuning and he strongly favors his left foot - but, given he turns 19 in June, his natural low center of gravity and ability to bewilder defenders is certainly worth investing in - especially because he cost just €12 million. Quique Setien has quickly displayed trust in his fresh arrival, involving him from the first whistle in their last two matches, the latter of which was a vital Copa del Rey showdown with Espanyol.
Juventus to Chelsea on season-long loan with option to buy
In 64 minutes of Wednesday's humbling 4-0 loss at Bournemouth, Higuain didn't muster a shot, nor did he play a key pass or even draw a foul. As first league starts go, it was torrid. But the Argentinian's goal-scoring exploits on the continental are impressive and, in striking a loan deal, Chelsea addressed the need for a No. 9, appeased Eden Hazard by returning him to his preferred inside-forward berth, and now have great freedom in the small print of Higuain's temporary contract. If there are comparisons with Chelsea's prior signings from Serie A, expect more of a Hernan Crespo impact than a dud like Andriy Shevchenko or Adrian Mutu.
Zenit St. Petersburg to Paris Saint-Germain for €40 million
Is Paredes the ball-winner Paris Saint-Germain have been lacking in midfield? Not exactly, but he is an early replacement for the seemingly outgoing Adrien Rabiot and, at 24, can rapidly become an integral member of PSG's starting XI for the next decade. It was a surprise that Paredes ended up at Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer of 2017, but he regularly stitched the Russian side together with his velvet touch and smart use of the ball. He may not be the big-name signing club owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi tends to favor, but he should bring some balance to a top-heavy team.
Genoa to AC Milan for €35 million
Following a league debut from the bench against Napoli three days prior, Piatek was afforded his first Milan start in the Coppa Italia against the same opposition on Tuesday. He certainly made his mark with a brace, the second of which featured some dogged individualism before an emphatic finish. His deal was affordable in today's market - therefore potentially bringing sell-on value if the Rossoneri find themselves beset by more financial issues - and, with performances like the one in midweek, he'll soon consign memories of Higuain's disappointing spell to the history books.
Ajax to Barcelona for €75 million
Barcelona will have to wait for De Jong - the Ajax youngster will meet his teammates in July - but over the intervening months, they should bask in the glory of beating Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and others to one of the most coveted signatures in world football. It's difficult to avoid comparisons to fellow Dutchman and Barcelona great Ronald Koeman when it comes to De Jong - his vision from deep-lying positions is mesmeric - and he has the ability to rapidly establish in the club's starting XI. It's a lot of money, yet worth every penny.


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1PUNCH Releases Dance Practice Video for "Turn Me Back"
Sensitive Artist, Feb. 5, 2015, 11:13 a.m.
1PUNCH has just released a choreography dance practice video showing them practicing the steps for their debut track, "Turn Me Back"! The young duo have been continually impressing their fans and listeners with their funky style, paying homage to old school groups like Seo Taiji & Boys, and Deux, while still maintaining a contemporary feel.
The group 1PUNCH has definitely made a name for themselves in the K-Pop industry with their debut and release for "Turn Me Back", and it seems that other artists have been watching them as well. Check out the video above to see some of the slick dance moves that they practice and see just how much talent they have! You heard it here at Koogle.tv!


text: Jacqueline Novogratz is founder and CEO of Acumen Fund a very successful and fast growing nonprofit venture capital firm for the poor that invests in sustainable enterprises bringing healthcare, safe water, alternative energy, and housing to low income people in the developing world. She founded Acumen Fund in 2001 and by the end of 2008 this firm had approved more than $40 million on investments in 40 enterprises serving the poor, creating through these enterprises 23,000 jobs providing basic services like water and life saving malaria bed nets to millions of low income people around the world. Her book The Blue Sweater -Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World-is an inspiring memoir of a woman who left a career in international banking to spend her life on a quest to understand global poverty and find powerful new ways of tackling it. Many important lessons can be learned just by following her heartbreaking and hilarious stories of starting a microfinance institution and a bakery in Rwanda. Also the book is packed with examples that teach us humility and that good intentions alone are not enough as described through some failed programs of traditional charity that have left the poor people in the same or worse conditions. One also learns about the Rwandan genocide through the stories of the survivors that Novogratz had worked with. The book is inspiring, educational, entertaining and a must read for everyone and especially for those who aspire to make a difference.


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The ancient and eccentric protagonist of British sci-fi show "Doctor Who" can travel through time at will, but unfortunately that ability doesn't extend to us; we can't hop into a blue box that's bigger on the inside to find out where Matt Smith's co-stars, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, will be a year from now – but the two did offer some hints at the first official Doctor Who Convention over the weekend.
It's no secret that their characters, Amy Pond and Rory Williams respectively, will be leaving in the fifth episode of the programme's upcoming seventh season, and we already know that their "role" of sorts as the Doctor's companion will be filled by "Emmerdale" star Jenna-Louise Coleman, but where the actors will go from here has remained something of a mystery.
"They've become two of my closest friends," lamented the Doctor himself, Matt Smith. "First and foremost, I'll miss the creative relationship, because it's brilliant; we really know how to press each others' buttons. Whenever one of us is bored on set, we find one of the other two and irritate them, and to be able to become close enough to do that is relatively rare, isn't it?"
to do more sci-fi
… it's really fun"
Amy Pond
"I'm slightly worried about going to find other things just because of the way we've been interacting with each other, and the way we know how to keep each other entertained," Arthur agreed. "I think if we started doing that with other people on other jobs, they'd think we're mental."
Arthur also stated an interest in further feature film acting, having previously taken roles in productions like "Pelican Blood", calling the filmmaking experience "the closest thing" to having worked on "Doctor Who". Both he and Karen Gillan also expressed an interest in returning to the sci-fi genre.
"Oh, I'd definitely love to do more sci-fi," Karen said. "It's really fun […] I want to be an alien, maybe!" (Her input was perhaps inspired by Arthur's "I'd love to come back as a monster" - and cued Moffat joking that she can be a Dalek that's facing the wrong direction.)
Of course, next on the cards for Karen is indie Scottish rom-com "Not Another Happy Ending", which is currently seeking some fan funding over the Internet via crowdsourcing website Indiegogo in advance of its Glasgow shoot. "I'm really looking forward to it," she said. "It's good that stuff's being made up there that isn't about drug use or fighting the English."
The pair's departure from "Doctor Who" is scheduled to be shot on location in New York very shortly; you can read more about that in our other article here, and find out more about the Doctor Who Convention coverage on our dedicated event page here, from which you can also find the rest of complete coverage.


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'Beer explosion' hits Livermore as ground zero
Despite a century-old wine history, Livermore Valley has only recently gained a reputation as a true destination wine region. The nascent beer scene, meanwhile, is already muscling its way into the limelight.
Working Man Brewing Co. just opened. Brotherhood Brewing Co. is in the works. And the pioneering 6-month-old Altamont Beer Works - Livermore's first brewery - can barely keep its suds in stock. Owners Greg Robles and Steve Satori epitomize what can only can described as the town's "beer explosion."
Satori, 28, looks all the world like a wild-eyed frat boy. Greg Robles, 21 years his senior, comes across as a gentle giant. The unlikely pair met at The Mad Zymurgists, a home brewers group composed mostly of chemists, engineers and scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Robles was ready to rest on his laurels from home-brew competitions; Satori was just revving up.
"Steve had enough (guts) to ask me if I wanted to start a brewery," says Robles, a full-time mechanical engineer.
It's a nondescript industrial mall where Altamont Beer Works brews and pours its beer (available only as tastes, or in 32- or 64-ounce growlers to go). Inside there's a tasting bar, a mural of the Altamont and its windmills done by a friend of Satori's - and a couple of upright kegs for tables.
Rambunctious energy
On a recent hot afternoon, 30-year-old John Daubenspeck, his hands black with grease and paint, brings in two growlers for refills of Altamont's Birra Bianco and Maui Waui, which has a hint of pineapple. The tasting room has a rambunctious energy, and Daubenspeck squeezes up to the bar. He moved to Livermore a year ago, and says he's here to "support the local brews."
Bianco is one of Altamont's two light-style beers, with 4.5 percent alcohol and subtle notes of orange and coriander. The other lightweight is Cereza Espumosa, a slightly fruity and effervescent 3.5 percent wheat beer.
"It's as close to a lawn mower beer we make," says Robles.
When the nearby wine tasting rooms close, patrons often head over to Altamont for a more relaxed, unself-conscious experience.
"Local is what's awesome about Livermore," he says. "The sense of local is just insane."
Ron Witherspoon, who opened the Alehouse in 2000, can prove it. Altamont's beers weren't even on the market in 2012. Now they account for 10 of the 50 kegs Witherspoon orders each week.
"I'm going through more Altamont more than any other beer by far," says Witherspoon. "People really like that it's local. And it's really good beer."
It's also fresh - sometimes right out of the tank, into a keg, and onto the truck for delivery.
Pliny the Younger is a 10.5 percent triple IPA that's fresh and local, as well. Released once a year by Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa, Pliny the Younger is a rock star in Livermore. Witherspoon was able to secure three kegs, and posted that fact on Facebook.
300 people in line
"By 9 in the morning we had 300 people in line out the door and down the street," Witherspoon says. He had to limit each customer to a pint.
Residents are not only thirstier than they were a couple of years ago, they're also more sophisticated, their curiosity whetted perhaps by area breweries such as Schubros in San Ramon and San Leandro's High Water.
Witherspoon says he's started serving brews like Duvel, a well-known Flemish pale ale, and "they're selling like crazy. People are willing to spend the money."
Witherspoon credits much of this growing sophistication to Tap 25, which Carrie and Tim Bryon opened two years ago on Livermore Avenue. Tap 25 prides itself on beer education while keeping it fun.
The Livermore Saloon, a decades-old watering hole, has changed ownership and has slowly been changing its name to The Beer Baron. It offers 22 taps, and is undergoing a renovation that will bring it up to 30, including two room-temperature nitro kegs to produce silky smooth pints of European stout. There will also be a kitchen, serving bar snacks such as Cuban-style sandwiches and house-baked potato chips.
"The people coming in are asking for handcrafted beer," says beer manager Diego Toscano. "Some people sit there and ponder, trying to figure out if the barrel was oak, wine, or bourbon, and what kind of yeast, malt or grain was used."
Like Witherspoon, Toscano uses social media to reach a young crowd he says are "willing to learn" about the nuances, or power, of beer.
"We just had 120 Minute," Toscano says, referring to a 5-gallon keg of a 40-proof IPA he scored from Dogfish Head brewery out of Delaware. "We posted it on Facebook and it was gone in a day."
Owner Hapreet Singh says he "just wanted a beer bar" when he took over the Livermore Saloon. A few years earlier he had worked with his father to turn Perry's, a decades-old liquor store in an aging Livermore strip mall, into a mecca of hand-crafted beers.
Hard-to-find brews
Perry's now boasts 20 coolers of hard-to-find brews, with just as many room-temperature beers running parallel down the aisle.
The bar owners point to another important fact in the growth of the Livermore brewery scene - the renovation of the downtown area, beginning in 2006 with First Street.
"The revitalization overnight turned this downtown around, and my business around," the Alehouse's Witherspoon says. "In the last couple of years with the better restaurants, it's doing that again. Every year it's getting crazier and crazier."
Livermore beer spots
Altamont Beer Works, 2402 Research Drive (at Vasco Road), Livermore; (925) 443-2337. www.altamontbeerworks.com
Beer Baron/Livermore Saloon, 2223 First St. (near Livermore Avenue), Livermore; (925) 579-4865. www.livermoresaloon.com. Anniversary party is scheduled to start at noon Aug. 31, featuring rare beer selections.
First Street Alehouse, 2106 First St. (near K Street), Livermore; (925) 371-6588. www.firststreetalehouse.com
Perry's Liquor & Craft Beer, 1522 Railroad Ave. (near P Street), Livermore; (925) 443-0550.
Tap 25, 25 S. Livermore Ave. (near First Street), Livermore; (925) 294-8970. www.taptwentyfive.com
Working Man Brewing Co., 5542 Brisa St. (near Vasco Road), Livermore; (925) 269-9622. www.workingmanbrewing.com
Nicholas Boer is a Bay Area freelance writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Ya Sa wants to
For many years, digital and voice communications have been closely monitored by the Syrian regime in order to ensure
Demand that Blue Coat Systems of California explain how 34 digital surveillance devices have been installed in Syria against strict US Export laws. We also want to demand that Blue Coat remotely shutdown such appliances circumventing users from acting freely on the web and informing the world of the atrocities being committed in Syria by the Assad regime. نطالب شركة بلو كوت للأنظمة…
Syrian Internet Censorship


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Since I have Teas Etc. on the brain today I thought I'd try something else of theirs.
In the tin, this tea has a deep, strong, currant smell. It's a lot like raisins, or pre-raisins (i.e. grapes). It has a slight sharpness to it that reminds me of red wine. There are whole currants in here, about the size of blueberries and looking far less shrivelled than I think of when I think of currants. Cool. And it has those blue cornflowers that I love looking at so much.
The aroma is also very curranty. It does remind me of some sort of baked goods. I wouldn't have picked hot cross buns, but I might have said currant scones. Yum.
This is a sneaky little tea. At first it didn't really taste all that remarkable. But the more I drank, the more I liked it. It's interesting. It has a thicker mouth feel than most black teas, and the flavor of the currants is nicely balanced with the flavor of the tea. It's almost like drinking a red wine without having to worry about getting tipsy. I'm for that, especially during a workday! It's very comforting while hot. As it cools, the flavor becomes more raisiny/grapey, still quite nice but not as comforting. I think it would lose it's charm iced, but I'm not much of an iced tea maven.
I'm glad I ordered this with my last Teas Etc. order. I'll likely keep this one around for when I feel like a glass of wine but without the alcohol. ;-)