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By the time you're reading this column, I'll be in Romania, continuing my research into the evolution of its tax system, including related investment, evasion, compliance and corruption issues.
It's truly amazing to watch its relatively young tax code change and develop, as well as look at the impact it has on employer and taxpayer lives.
However, an additional benefit of being there (and Bulgaria) is to have an opportunity to talk with people from all walks of life about their perceptions of us and other issues, including politics, poverty, energy concerns, pollution and so on.
You want to talk about pollution? Although vastly improved from 1989, some situations are still appalling. In the northeast industrial area you have towns like Baia Mare and Copsa Mica that still have pollution you can see, smell and taste.
The residents of some towns in the area have a life expectancy of 50 years. Lead in the soil is close to 100 times the permitted levels with vegetation lead levels close to 25 times accepted levels.
No meats or crops are sold outside the area; and the residents, being so poor, have no choice but to eat homegrown crops. Also, there are hundreds of miles of polluted rivers from metal poisoning and cyanide spills from gold mines. And we complain about our industrial pollution?
As to poverty, how about living on less than $400 a month, which is what the vast majority of the population does.
Three years ago, a friend took me to a peasant village where he was negotiating the purchase of land. We went three miles overland because there were no roads and basically no contact with the outside world, save marketplaces where they sold their produce.
Some of these people live on less than $5 a day. Their homes consist of one large, dirt floor room where chickens, pigs and ducks run in and out all day.


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Denise Dufala entered the Cleveland television broadcasting picture in 1986, and became an instant favorite with area viewers. Her experience in reporting and anchoring, combined with her strong roots in Cleveland and her acknowledged position as one of this area's most trusted and well-liked personalities, makes her an obvious choice to anchor 19 Action News.
Denise grew up in North Olmsted and earned a B.A. in journalism from The Ohio State University.
Along with serving as the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news anchor at WJW-TV, she was the original morning anchor of "Newscenter 8 This Morning."
An Emmy Award-winning reporter, her experience includes such historic assignments as President Clinton's inauguration in Washington D.C., the Pope's visit to St. Louis and the Attack on America.
Her career began as a writer with the State of Ohio's successful "Heart Of It All" campaign. Early in her television career she worked at WSYX (formerly WTVN) in Columbus. Although most of Cleveland knows Dufala through the news, some know her as a dynamic board member who helps children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Her interests include antiques collecting, ice skating and singing. Indeed, her talent and passion for the latter finds her singing regularly in her church choir, as well as performing the National Anthem before Cleveland Indians, Browns, Cavaliers and Crunch games. In what has become her trademark style, Denise continues to combine community-involvement projects with daily reporting and anchoring.
As a talented journalist and caring human being, she continues to make a positive difference in her hometown.
Click here to e-mail Denise, or find her on Facebook.
1717 East 12th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
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Alex Knapp, Forbes Staff
I write about the future of science, technology, and culture.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, geneticist George Church made some headlines by claiming that it will be possible to clone a Neanderthal in the near future.
"The first thing you have to do is to sequence the Neanderthal genome, and that has actually been done. The next step would be to chop this genome up into, say, 10,000 chunks and then synthesize these. Finally, you would introduce these chunks into a human stem cell," he told the magazine. "If we do that often enough, then we would generate a stem cell line that would get closer and closer to the corresponding sequence of the Neanderthal. We developed the semi-automated procedure required to do that in my lab. Finally, we assemble all the chunks in a human stem cell, which would enable you to finally create a Neanderthal clone."
Setting aside the ethical issues behind creating the lone survivor of an extinct human species, doomed to be a freak under the microscope of celebrity his or her entire life, I have to question Dr. Church's contention that it would really be that easy to clone a Neanderthal. There are a host of unanswered questions and many as yet undiscovered technologies that would need to be developed before this could be approached as a serious issue.
The Problem Of Cloning
One major obstacle to cloning a Neanderthal is a simple fact of the state of cloning: no human being has yet been cloned. Now, is it possible to clone a human being? Probably – other mammals have been cloned. But at a cost - clones often experience a host of health problems. And it often takes many attempts for a clone to happen. For example, the first cloned sheep, Dolly, was one of 29 cloned embryos. He was the only one to survive.
What's more, there's only been one extinct type of animal ever cloned. That work began in 2003, when the clone of a Pyrenean ibex, a subspecies of ibex that went extinct in 2000. Scientists had preserved and frozen samples of that ibex before it went extinct. Its DNA was then placed in the eggs of goats. 439 embryos were created. Of those, seven resulted in pregnancies and one ibex was born. That ibex died a few minutes after birth from lung defects.
Clearly, there are still a lot of technical issues to be solved here.
The Problem of DNA
One particular challenge of cloning a Neanderthal is that the oldest DNA successfully used to create a clone is DNA that had been frozen for 16 years. Neanderthal DNA, is thousands of years old, and it sequence had to be compiled from several different individual fossils. That poses one unique challenge because to date, mammalian clones have only been created from the DNA of specific individuals.
DNA has a half-life of only 521 years, and it's easy to contaminate or destroy. Which means that it's virtually impossible to clone in the only way that we know how to do – with the transfer of DNA from one individual into an egg cell. That means the only way to do it is synthetically, as Church suggests. However, the Neanderthal sequence is still not 100% complete. An initial draft was released in 2010, but the work by the Neanderthal Genome Project is still ongoing and there are gaps in the DNA that need to be filled.
When asked if it was possible to clone a Neanderthal, Neanderthal Genome Project leader Svante Paabo told the Associated Press, "Starting from the DNA extracted from a fossil, it is and will remain impossible. There is not really an improvement on current technologies that would make that possible."
The Problem of Mitochondria
One other challenge of cloning a Neanderthal is that it's not just the Neanderthal DNA itself we need to worry about. It's also the mitochondiral DNA. Mitochondria are organelles within the cells of your body that provide the energy we need to go about our day. They have a separate DNA, which is passed down from our mothers. Homo sapiens mitochondrial DNA and Neanderthal DNA were substantially different.
This matters because the simplest cloning path would be to put Neanderthal DNA into a modern human egg cell. Although modern humans and Neanderthals are very similar, it's not clear whether a cloned Neanderthal could survive with the H. sapiens mitochondrial DNA. If it can't, then the mitochondria in the egg cell would also have to be replaced. That's not impossible – the technology exists – but it adds yet another layer of complexity to the cloning process. It also provides the challenge of ensuring that not only we have a complete Neanderthal genome, but also a complete Neanderthal mitochondrial genome.
The Problem of Gut Bacteria
Within your guts is an entire ecosystem of bacteria that you rely on for many of the day to day activities of your life. They produce vitamins, aid in digestion and serve a number of other useful purposes – like bolstering your immune system. But here's the thing – Neanderthals almost certainly had their own ecosystem of gut bacteria. It's not known right now, though, exactly what those flora were. Indeed, it's not known exactly what human gut flora is. The NIH has an entire initiative – the Human Microbiome Project – dedicated to finding that out. What's definitely not known, though, is whether a Neanderthal could survive with the gut flora that modern humans take for granted. If that's not possible, we'll have to reconstruct the Neanderthal microbiome completely, which may not even be feasible.
The Bottom Line
Is it possible to clone a Neanderthal? The technical challenges for doing so are enormous, and involves a number of problems that have yet to be solved. Or even have solutions on the horizon. Even solving those problems doesn't eliminate some of the challenges – for example, whether a Neanderthal can survive in the modern day environment. Not to mention that the logistics involved would be enormous. Church speaks of having an "extremely adventurous female" give birth to a Neanderthal. But the reality is that success would require dozens of women – many of whom would almost certainly go through the trauma of miscarriage and stillbirths that appear to be inevitable when it comes to cloning. The ethical implications of just this simple aspect of the process are pretty damning. And even the bare fact of cloning doesn't guarantee that we can ensure that a cloned Neanderthal would be able to flourish in what is now a pretty alien environment.
Given both the technical and economic challenges to cloning a Neanderthal, it's highly unlikely that you'll see a Neanderthal clone in your lifetime, if ever.
Follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Read my Forbes blog here.
Well thank you for resisting the obvious impulse to simply say "no." We don't know what the future holds.
Well it would be nice to think that cloning a human that existed thousands of years ago would be anything less than cool, but in all actuality this is the most point less waste money and resources that we have. We have so many other dyer emergencies in life that could use not only the funding but the people power and the time. Stop wasting your time on this rediculous cloning. How about go feed a hungry American.
Perhaps it was that same lack of imagination and the inability to adapt to the need to walk and chew gum at the same time, exemplified in your comment, that led to the extinction of our Neandertal cousins.
I say yes.. I personally have worked with a couple people who are strikingly Neanderthal all on their own.
They already walk among us.
"…but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should. "
Dr. Ian Malcolm to John Hammond (Jurassic Park).
they don't have to look far for the real thing, there are lots of neanderthals in South Philadelphia
Nicely written! I liked the discussion of mitochondrial DNA and gut bacteria.
Do they mean they want to clone ANOTHER Neanderthal besides the one they call "Bronco Bomma?"
I was excited that this was something new, but sorry its all been done before,
Click on any Australian newspaper and you will find a photo of our very own called Julia Gillard Prime Minister.
there is no difference between this so called "Neanderthal" and you or i. he is based on the remains of a human being. that could just as easily be the forerunner of your Uncle Ernie from Jersey overdue for the barber.
all of these dates and times could be pulled out of a hat. meanwhile, even if you deny God, the explanation as laid out by the Bible actually is coherent and observable when you take human nature and the physical world as they reveal themselves.
the sad truth is, 90% of us are ignorant of what we say our beliefs are; those that believe in the Biblical interpretation and those that hold otherwise are woefully under informed on what their belief is based
as for the thought we are "evolving". i see no evidence to support that theory what or wheresoever.


text: The ACE Team wiki last edited by PimblyCharles on 03/05/14 09:12AM View full history Overview ACE Team was founded by three brothers: Andrés Bordeu, Carlos Bordeu and Edmundo Bordeu, and the name of the studio is based on the initials of each of their first names. It was originally a mod development group. They released two mods for Doom 2: Batman DOOM in 1999 and Zanzan slightly afterwards. They also released a Quake 3 mod called The Dark Conjunction in 2002. In 2002, ACE Team became a legal entity. They worked on a demo for Zeno Clash's predecessor called Zenozoik based on Lithtech. On 21st of April, 2009, the studio released Zeno Clash. An updated version, Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition, was released on Xbox Live on the 5th of May, 2010. They released Rock of Ages on Xbox Live on August 31, 2011 and on the PC via Steam on September 7th.Key Members Andrés Bordeu – Game Designer / Artist Carlos Bordeu – Game Designer / Artist Edmundo Bordeu – Art Director / WriterDavid Caloguerea – Lead Programmer Gabriel Garcia – Lead Animator Juan Briones – Level Designer Luis Santander - Game Artist Carlos Acosta – Programmer Partners: Patricio Meneses – Composer Antonio Dominguez - Game Audio


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BRADENTON -- Manatee County Chamber of Commerce President Bob Bartz has a front row seat to the "Pink Palace" renovations.
Bartz, whose office is across the street, hears regularly from tourists, residents and business people who stop in to ask about the work being done on the historic hotel.
"It's such a historical, iconic structure that's been talked about for so many years, that to see it come to fruition now is certainly exciting, and certainly going to add vitality to our downtown area," Bartz said.
The area is short on hotel rooms, and this will add to the inventory for the already-busy season of events planned, including rowing events along the Riverwalk.
Having another downtown hotel in place with amenities nearby has led to talks with major developers from Chicago, New York and Miami about other downtown projects, says David Gustafson, executive director for the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority. He's in talks trying to woo three more restaurants downtown.
"They're not just kicking the tires," he said. "They're coming into town making a determination of how they can make it work."
One of the restaurants could open late this summer, Gustafson said, but he declined to offer any names. He did say the restaurant would be a mid- to high-end eatery.
Existing restaurateurs are also eager for the hotel to open.
"The restaurants downtown are excited that this might help their business, because this hotel won't have a restaurant in it per se," Bartz said.
In the coming weeks, the scaffolding will come down on the historically dubbed "Pink Palace" as it continues its transformation into a Hampton Inn & Suites.
Renovation is nearing the halfway point, and as the windows are installed and beige paint helps transform the exterior, the hotel of many names is generating buzz.
"The buzz around the community is incredible about getting the old girl back into order," said Gustafson.
The 115-room hotel isn't even suitable yet for tours of the site, and officials have been clamoring to get a peek inside ever since work began Jan. 17. Some people are already trying
to line up dates not waiting for construction to be complete, Gustafson said, although reservations aren't being accepted yet.
"People are contacting our Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Development Authority and every day people reach out to me and say I want to book a wedding, I want to book an event or conference," Gustafson said. "To think it's six months out, but everyone wants to lock in those dates."
The $15 million hotel renovation aims to revive some of the building's charm from the 1920s through 1960 when it was the Manatee River Hotel and folks with deep pockets stayed there. The building later became a senior citizens residence called the Riverpark Hotel and closed in 2005.
Today, a sign hangs on the corner showing the building off as the Riverpark Grande.
"I know my DDA board, anytime I say that ("Pink Palace"), they give me a hard time for saying it," Gustafson said. "We're all going to have to change their name and we'll see what name sticks."
What passersby see at the top will be the hotel's final color, reverting back to the historic color of the hotel and replacing the pink that many in Bradenton have grown accustomed to over the last 30 to 40 years, Gustafson said. While some would say pink is their favorite color, Gustafson said the new treatment is growing on him.
"A lot of us were thinking we want the pink to come back, but I'm actually falling in love with the color on the walls," he said. "It makes the color of the blue aqua tiles around the windows jump out now."
The goal for the contractor, Widewaters Hotels, is to seal up the building before rainy season kicks in, paint from top to bottom, and then move on to the interior improvements, Gustafson said. Inside, detailed woodwork, finishing and intricate paintings will decorate the hotel.
The projected opening date is the end of November or beginning of December, he said.
Widewaters Hotels officials didn't return messages requesting comment for this report.
"Their marketing people are working toward the date they have and want to be open by the time the Bradenton Blues Fest occurs, which is the first weekend in December," Gustafson said.
The bluesfest at Riverwalk is designed to bring people right in the heart of Bradenton to stay, party and play. Hotel Officials have been planning all along to build on the success of Riverwalk, as well as the beaches, as they project 50,000 visitors a year will come to stay at the hotel and provide a $2.5 million annual economic impact.
"It's going to be a major shot in the arm for the City of Bradenton and Manatee County," Gustafson said.
With each piece of downtown falling into place -- Manatee Players, Riverwalk, Hampton Inn, Art Center and planned improvements for the Village of the Arts -- excitement is building in Bradenton.
"There seems to be optimism -- not just because of the hotel -- but because of the Riverwalk, the Manatee Performing Arts Center opening up, and there seems to be a lot of synergy downtown that kind of have people kicking the tires downtown," Bartz said.
Charles Schelle, business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow him on Twitter @ImYourChuck.


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User ID
Password Forgot Password
Cite as "AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 02052140 (posted May. 21, 2002)"
May 20, 2002, Inspector General (IG) report found "widespread failure by many
individuals in the INS" in connection with the agency's botched handling of
change of status applications for Mohamed Atta and Marwan Alshehhi.


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Part three of three-part series
Being wise about water use never goes out of season.
We can all do it, whether we own or rent, have a backyard or just some potted plants. Most conservation steps are simple and inexpensive—and all will save you money in the long run.
Before You Make Any Changes
Regardless of where you live or how many people share your home, it's good to start by knowing where your biggest uses occur so that you can focus your energy there.
- Spend a few minutes with a water use calculator, a quick and easy online tool.
- Check for leaks. They're rarely obvious. Even a small one can drive your utility bill way up.
Making Wise Use of Water Indoors
Familiar with EnergyStar labels on appliances that use less electricity? Well, now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a WaterSense label for all sorts of products that use water.
- Swap out any old, high-water-use toilets.
- When you replace your dishwasher or laundry washing machine, choose a water-efficient one.
Rebates for these upgrades are available from many of the Peninsula water agencies, including those serving Belmont, Burlingame, parts of the Coastside, Daly City, Foster City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, South San Franisco and San Mateo.
Among the many simple conservation tips you might try, don't forget the two everyone can do:
- Add an aerator to your showers and sink faucets to slow the flow.
- Turn off the tap when you aren't using it, such as while you brush those pearly whites.
Making Wise Use of Water Outdoors
Whether you're ready to replace a whole lawn with drought-tolerant plantings, or just start replacing a few of the biggest water-suckers with California natives, there are free classes available to get you started. This March, April and May, the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency will teach a variety of water-wise lanscaping topics in Peninsula towns, including Belmont, Daly City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo and South San Francisco.
Beyond the Tap
Once you've taken steps to reduce your water use, consider the sources available to you. In addition to buying our delicious, clean Hetch-Hetchy tap water from your local water agency, you can tap into the rain yourself for non-drinking uses. And whether or not you live in the parts of the Peninsula with recycled water available for landscaping, you can recycle some of your home's lightly-used water yourself.
If you read last February's Green Views article on how home rainwater and greywater systems work, and now want a class to learn how to install either one yourself, there are opportunities coming up again soon. Check the BAWSCA class page for free offerings on the Peninsula and the Oakland nonprofit Greywater Action for free or low-cost classes around the Bay Area.
A mild-mannered civil servant by day, Mary Bell Austin uses her time away from her environmental work for, well, environmental play. Her adventures in healthy eating and her explorations into the wider green world can be found at Bite-size Green. Her column appears biweekly on Saturdays.


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This 100% biodegradable formula is completely non-toxic, gluten-free & free from pthalates, formaldehyde, and toluene. Keeki Pure and Simple's polish is the safest on the planet, so there's no damage done to your nails or the environment! Goes on clear.
Note: Base coat is recommended for use on fingernails only. Apply to tips of fingernails only. Not recommended for use on young children as it can make nail polish very difficult to remove.
Size: .5 oz bottle


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Enter your colors here, then click the icon below any design to preview it in your colors.
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Every year around the holidays the theater community joins together to raise money for 'Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS' to help people and families suffering with AIDS.
SoLuna Studio will be hosting a fundraising concert to raise money for this amazing organization!
Come celebrate the holidays with us and enjoy music, raffles and so much more!
Performances by various talented performers of SoLuna Studio!
Tickets are $15 each
For more info about BC/EFA go to www.BroadwayCares.org


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The Americans were able to return Captain Sarah Gascon to the line-up, but the return was offset by the loss of veteran Latrice Lewis, one of the top players on the team. Several other players sustained nagging injuries over the past week, and one sustained a minor concussion during a morning training session yesterday. The impact of such losses and injuries are difficult to assess, but clearly there was significant impact on the offense! While the Americans continued to play good defense, the offense created the opportunity for numerous counter-attacks which the Dominicans converted to scores. The halftime score was 16-6 Dominican Republic.
The halftime pep talk by the coaches focused on fundamentals and advice on offensive schemes and the proper execution of plays. Unfortunately, things did not improve to any great degree and the Americans continued to flounder on offense. Their stellar defense was the saving grace for the team, but such an effort didn't result in any significant amount of counterattack opportunities. The Dominicans were able to close out the American's without much difficulty, 27-11.
Team USA plays Costa Rica in the late game Monday night at 7:00 PM (EST). The game will be live streamed on the USATH web link or can be found on the Pan American Team Handball Federation web page.


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In 2002, before our annual late summer trip to Germany, I sent a fax to Werner Schönleber asking if we might visit his winery to taste. I had just read about him in the French-language version of Vinum - the influential European wine magazine, and I remembered that hes a close friend of Jochen Ratzenberger.
No producer in my experience has ever been better prepared for a first meeting. There were nearly forty wines ready to taste. And no producer has better understood what it is we are trying to accomplish.
Schönleber is the perfect example of a small producer for whom the farm-stand model (enthusiastic, direct sales to consumers, in a relatively restricted local market) works better than the supermarket model (the national distribution system).
In the first year of our relationship, more Schönleber wine was sold in two Moore Brothers stores than had been sold in the previous year in the whole of the United States.


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They are your pals of long ago, with whom you shared some of the best years of your life.
Maybe it was high school, or college or that first job working for that crazy boss you all made fun of behind his back.
In your memory, their faces are forever young, their bodies trim and their hair intact. When you left them, you vowed that you would always keep in touch.
But, well, you know how it is. Life intrudes on those promises. Maybe you get together the first year or two, but then money gets real tight, and you just can't see your way clear to visit.
You get married, have children, change jobs and cities and kind of lose track of where everybody is.
The phone calls become less frequent, the holiday cards somehow don't get sent out. So, you look up one day, and it has been more than 30 years since you've seen anyone from the old gang.
That's what happened to me a few weeks ago as I prepared to take a trip back to my college town, still, remarkably enough, infested with a couple of my old friends.
These are guys I partied with, drank copious amounts of beer with, shared my philosophy of life with and still probably have enough on me to get me arrested.
Trust me when I tell you this: It's impossible to think about meeting with someone you haven't seen in three decades without taking several furtive looks in a full-length mirror.
You try to pull your stomach in even as you look to see how much hair you have left, and whether any of it isn't gray.
You tell yourself it's not a matter of schadenfreude (happiness about someone else's misfortune), because you're far more noble than that. Yet, you wouldn't mind it at all if your friends were:
a) fatter than you;
b) looked older than you;
c) were broke, divorced several times and had maybe spent some time in federal prison for tax fraud.
No such luck on my trip. My wife and I were to meet our friend Paul at a restaurant. Thirtyfive years ago, Paul was a great-looking guy, blond, athletic, terrific personality and very popular with all the girls. He was one of my best buddies, and I couldn't wait to see how the years had miserably aged him.
So, of course he saunters into the place looking like someone who has a portrait of himself aging in his attic. Still blond, still youthful, still in great shape, still charming and personable. He's been retired for two years after a distinguished career as a teacher, coach and school administrator. Owns two homes, and is free to travel the country.
Damn him.
A couple of nights later, we met with another successful, happy friend from the days of yore. Seeing those guys was what it must be like to be one of Al Gore's old classmates.
"So ... Al, what have you been up to all these years?
"Oh, really? Senator from Tennessee? You don't say. What? Vice president of the United States, too. Hey, that's great, pal. That must have been fun. Oh, came within an eyelash of being president? Gee, I guess I don't pay that much attention to politics, being busy with my own job and all.
"What's that? You actually won the Nobel Peace Prize? An Academy Award, too? C'mon, you're pulling my leg, you old dog. I suppose the next thing you're going to tell me is that you've even won a Grammy.
"Oh .... really?
"You know, Al, the wife and I put in a new deck on our house, and we're saving for a sailboat.
"Oh? You have a mansion in Montecito, Calif.? That's nice. A multimillion-dollar house in Nashville, a condo in Frisco and a Tudor home in the Washington, D.C. area? A 100-foot houseboat? A farm with a zinc mine? Gee, you seem to have done kinda well for yourself there, Al."
Rather difficult to match all that, but you never know, no one has it all to the good. Gore and his wife, Tipper, just announced they're separating after 40 years of marriage.
Gore's imaginary friend _ if he's fortunate _ has, like me, a wife and kids he loves. They're worth a lot more than Nobel prizes and Oscars.
It really was wonderful to see my old chums, to lie to them and hear them lie right back to me. ("Hey, really, you haven't aged a bit.") The tendency to keep a life scorecard goes away quickly when the friendship is real and the warmth is genuine. I'm definitely not going to let a lot of time pass before I see those guys again.
Of course, that's what I said the last time I saw them.
SAM POLLAK is the editor of The Daily Star. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or at (607) 432- 1000, ext. 208.


text: Best Nude Sandals | Spring 2013 Nude Sandals — Your Secret Weapon to Instantly Longer Legs by Chi Chau 4/17/13 16 Reactions 42 Shares Print 10 2 11 19 0 Not everyone is blessed with supermodel genes, so with warmer weather springing up, we're looking for ways to lengthen our stems before slipping into our cute shorts and Summer dresses. Our secret weapon to instantly longer legs? Nude sandals — and this season, the virtual shelves are stocked with covetable styles to complete your ensembles. The key to maximum leg-lengthening appeal is making sure your ankle straps are always nude-hued; it's also amazing what a nude-hued pedicure can do (we love Essie's Sand Tropez option) for an even more seamless look. From white dresses to bright prints, nude sandals work with just about any outfit (the power of neutrals!), so needless to say, they're worth the investment. Big budget or small, we've got you covered — click on to see and shop our favorite nude sandals on the market right now! Source: Le 21ème | Adam Katz Sinding What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Understated and elegant, this Elizabeth and James Toni ankle-strap bare sandal ($298) can be styled with just about anything in your Spring and Summer wardrobe. 1 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diminutive studs give this Mango triple-strap sandal ($110) a slightly subversive edge. 2 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 We love the cool colorblocking details on Pierre Hardy's leather and suede wedge sandals ($775). 3 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pair this minimal Zara Mid-Heel sandal ($50) with slouched jeans and a printed tee for a chic off-duty look. 4 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pair Tibi's Elliot asymmetric sandals ($465) with a pencil skirt and structured top for a modern take on office dressing. 6 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dorothy Perkins's nude suede strap sandal ($95) is ideal for dressier occasions. 6 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paloma Barceló's suede and rope sandal wedge ($193) was made for easy, breezy maxi dresses. 7 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 From the sturdy sole to the cool sliced leather work, Vince's Lara sandal ($375) is perfect in every way. 8 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 The chunky sole on Alexander Wang's Anjelika sandal ($625) is perfect for city walking. 9 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 A metallic heel gives this KORS Michael Kors Lexa high-heel sandal ($275) a glamorous touch; just finish the look with a chic white dress and you're ready for your next rooftop party. 11 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Madison Harding's Shavonne wedge sandal ($155) is a great option if you're looking for a slightly lower heel height. 11 / 12 What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rope detailing gives off a subtle bohemian vibe on Nasty Gal's Favor sandal ($130). 12 / 12 10 2 11 19 0 Read More Spring FashionElizabeth And JamesPierre HardyZaraAlexander WangVinceShoesShopping Spring Fashion These Dresses Are Good, but the Accessories Are Better 29 minutes ago 10 Women Who Mastered the Art of Coordination 4 days ago Katie Holmes Isn't Alone in Looking Like She's Walking Down the Aisle 4 days ago This Week's Top 10 Is a Shoe-Lover's Paradise 1 week ago It's Never Too Late to Discover a Signature Color 1 week ago Stop Telling Yourself You Can't Fit Your Life in a Mini Bag 1 week ago Alexander Wang See What Alexander Wang Designed For The Hunger Games 1 week ago We Officially Have Our First Glimpse of Alexander Wang x H&M 3 weeks ago Gisele Bündchen Goes (Almost!) Bald For Balenciaga 6/27 We Spy Trends: Crop Tops Over Shirts — Hot or Not? 4/28 6 Things We Want to See From Alexander Wang x H&M . . . and 1 Thing We Don't 4/14 Did Miley Cyrus's Bleached Eyebrows Inspire Alexander Wang? 2/10 Zara One Maxi Dress Styled 10 Ways 2 weeks ago 13 Reasons to Drop What You're Doing and Shop Zara's Sale 3 weeks ago 10 Ways to Wear a Little White Dress 3 weeks ago 11 Awesome Things We Found at Zara This Week 6/15 We're Not the Only Ones Having a Zara Lovefest 6/05 We May Have Just Found the Perfect Summer Dress 5/21 Get a Personalized Fashion & Beauty Newsletter! Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional): Beauty Tips Celebrity Style Fashion & Beauty News Street Style What's Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Reactions Bárbara14519979 1 year You need to include darker options. Beige is not nude for everybody Link Love The designers of Kate's engagement ring are launching a new line — InStyle Here's a bra that's fit for all occasions — HuffPost Style This one style trick will grant a whittled waistline — Who What Wear Could you ever pick a favorite Sex and the City episode? — StyleList When you jump into the dating pool, it might affect your style game — Fashionista Carine Roitfeld offered these wise words to Gigi Hadid — The Cut Are we approaching the death of the flash-sale site? — Racked What you put in your suitcase depends on your style tribe — Vogue UK Don't be afraid of the statement shoe — The Zoe Report Source: Getty / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin Latest


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Readers show support for suspended UT student
Shows the same old UT double standard. If you're not essential to the sports program, you can be punished severely. If you are a member of the sports program, and considered important, you get a slap on the wrist. Just like the bar brawl where the police officer was injured. The non-essential players were disciplined, the essential players excused.
Don't ask, don't tell (about UT's sport's program bad behaviors). That seems to be UT administrators' policy when it comes to moral standards of conduct.
UT an institution of higher education? UT is just another bloated and arrogant government operation. Of course, if you are an athlete or coach, you are treated differently. No change there. I hope she sue's and collects a bundle.
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Narrow your search
Check out the East Coast's best geek-oriented spots.
Slow-paced sci-fi gameplay, a rich storyline, and a different adventure every time make Out There easy to recommend, even for the price.
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Call of Duty: Ghosts has a new live-action trailer, featuring average schlubs shooting it out in Vegas.
A fun, flexible action cam, the iOn Air Pro 3 keeps things simple without sacrificing video or build quality, making it an excellent option for those who just want to go out and shoot -- in or out of the water.
If your iPhone 5/5S has become your go-to video camera, the iOgrapher case helps make your results so much better.
Capturing photos from your iPhone videos couldn't be more convenient thanks to Vhoto's simple user interface and plentiful tools.
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The Nikon Coolpix P600 isn't the quickest camera, but that might be a small price to pay for having such a long lens on a relatively compact, lightweight camera.
The Samsung HU9000 has straight-up great picture quality, design and features, but the gratuitous curved screen adds very little to the viewing experience and way too much to the price.
Great for adults or children, MatchCut gives you a fun and easy process to enjoy your video clips, but it needs some work to make it truly great.
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With their 360-degree rotating screens, the new 13.3-inch Pavilion and 15.6-inch Envy x360 convertibles join the budget-friendly 11.6-inch x360 from earlier this year.
While it may not reach the pinnacle of other next-gen sports games, MLB 14 The Show is a solid effort that brings just enough new exciting bits to the PS4 experience.


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The Southeast division remains a mire, and that leaves the door open for just about anyone to claim the division title. Dustin Tokarski makes his second straight start, will dehydration be a factor...
Lightning goaltending prospect Dustin Tokarski, who will be the starter for the Norfolk Admirals in 2011-12, had his goalie mask design unveiled. Tokarski, also known as Tik, has embraced The Tick.
A fan's look and observations at Tampa Bay Lightning goalies in North America right now.
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Alexander Taub, Contributor
I write about biz dev and entrepreneurship.
It's a common misconception that funding for early-stage tech companies is easy to come by. The money is flowing, people say, just come up with an idea, and investors will come running.
This could not be further from the truth.
Nowadays, the only people who can raise money from professional investors with an idea on a napkin are founders with previous successful exits. While I have yet to raise funds for my own company (I joined Aviary after it had already raised a series B), I have gained some exposure to the early-stage investing space by helping to source a few deals for investors.
From the beginning of 2011 to the present, I've noticed a pronounced difference between companies that have been able to raise funds and those that have not. In order to raise seed-stage funding you need all or most of the following:
1) A great team – usually a combination of people in product, business, tech or design.
2) A big market. (Or, you can create a new market like Groupon or Kickstarter.)
3) The first version of your product. In tech vernacular, this is known as a minimum viable product, alpha, or version 1.
4) The ability to demonstrate that your product is gaining traction. The only metrics that matter: revenue and active user base.
A great team and a big market have always been necessary to raise seed funding; it's usually the team that the investors will put money behind. In 2012 (and moving forward) the biggest changes will come in terms of product availability and proven traction.
Before 2012, a general product idea, some wireframes, and a soft business plan might suffice. You generally did not need a live product deployed to raise seed capital.
Very very few startups actually can show traction before they receive their seed funding. That is one of the biggest differences between seed and angel investments on the one hand, and later series a and b rounds on the other.
Well done, Alexander. This column mirrors my experience exactly and is great advice for anyone looking for get into the game. The money is out there…but it's on the entrepreneur to hustle and make it happen. I strongly suggest entrepreneurs heed this advice….it's the same I received from my board and it allowed me to focus on what it takes to demonstrate and create value vs. spinning wheels with premature meetings and conversations with companies when your at the wrong stage to take on money. When you follow these requirements, the doors begin to open themselves.
nice, but does it have to be about techs all the time? i would like to see more material on people that build start ups that have more daily applications in the fisical world and especially in third world countries seeing as they are the ones with all the natural resources now.
Hi Alex
Just to take a help from you , i am planning to launch an apparel brand but lacks funding. I have a great marketing plan to work with but where can i get investors who can invest in my business and i can take it further. I am pretty sure that there will be profits in a country like India with a great marketing plan that i have. Please let me know if you can guide or help me in my endeavors.
Prashant Prasannan
email – firstname.lastname@example.com
I am trying to raise seed stage funding to assist in a business venture, location of business is in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Business Plan ready for your consideration.


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"Too Bad"
Great concept for a book but this one is all over the place and it doesn't help at all that the reader does nothing for the characters. Perhaps if each character were given a distict voice to match their personalities it would be easier to follow all the jumping from person to person from the past to the present, etc.
I can't reccomend.
"Not Steven King"
I'm not digging this one and should have paid better attention to some of the other revues that compared it to Dr. Sleep - I didn't like that one either :( This one is sounding much more like a James Lee Burke or a "wanna be" James Lee Burke, I actually like his stories more than this one - it's nothing like a thriller at all. Don't waste your time on it if you're looking for a good thriller - keep looking.
After reading the other book by this author that was new to me I immediatly looked for more here on Audible and found this book. I loved it as much as the other - I like that this auther chooses not to make things easy for her characters and just in life - things don't always end happy. Again, it has some hard subject matter and anyone adverse to drugs, violence, and just plain harsh living might not like it all that much - I however LOVED IT as much as the first one - sad Audible doesn't have all her books on here.
"Great Book - Hard Content"
This book has some very hard to hear subject matter and I must say some of it was a bit too over the top. For me, the girls having the caring families that they did but then coming home with a multitude of some pretty serious injuries just doesn't jive for me. However, that being said I can see where predatory and self righteous thugs could and would inflict such pains. For me the writing and story line were enough to keep me constantly engrossed, enough so that I've now gone and gotten her other book that Audible has to offer and I'm just as excited to listen to it - hoping it keeps my interest just as much as this one did. I can't help but be sad for one of the characters in this book - you'll know who by the end. Highly recommended if you can handle the context.
"Who's Watching? Or ... Are they?"
One of the best mysteries I've listened to in a very, very long time. I'm now excited to listen to others by this author.
"Can't Recommend Highly Enough"
I just finished book 2 and wrote a longer review - but for those that are considering this series but may hesitate given the length of each book - do yourself a favor, get this one and try it out.... if you hate it you can return it. I'm betting a good 98% of you will go on to be chomping at the bit for the next one and the next one and on and on. Having just finished 2 and sitting waiting for 3 to download to my Android - I'm having withdrawals already.
"Too Good"
I can't say enough good things about this series - I'm completely enthralled in the history, the story and the absolutely amazing writing - all from a person that didn't start until mid-fifties! I don't want to put the book(s) down and so far - as soon as I've finished one I'm ready to jump into the next, well... more than ready, which for me, after listening to such a long book using the same narrator I'm usually a little burnt out and ready to have a different voice in my head :) - Not this time, it's all so perfectly done and I'm loving it. Also, I find it interesting how the author has woven in some hints on characters from other's work from this time period in history - it's been fun and I'm ready for 3 to finish downloading to my Android. NOW!!! Hurry up please and thank you.
I was so happy to finally get to listen to this book. I read this book years and years ago when it first came out by DK and absolutely LOVED it - it remained my most favorite book for a few decades. I was thrilled to see that it finally came to Audible and I could listen to it as I've done with some of my other favorites from my past. I was a little "iffy" at first by not being thrilled with the reader - but the story holds it's own and I'm happy to have experienced it again all these years later. I love when I share a good book with someone and they love it too - I've had that experience with this book many times since my first reading. I hope you have the same enjoyment if you choose to read it as I did then and now again :)
"Great Listen"
I've listened to Dean Koontz and read any of his books I could find and have done so for years - he really started slipping a few years ago but I feel this one is back up almost to par with some of his earlier works. I very much enjoyed the narrator and will look him up to see what else he's done. If you're a Koontz fan I don't think you'll be disappointed - good read not his best but good and glad I tried it!
One caveat.... the ending was somewhat muddled to me and the bad guy gets off too easy.
"I can't believe it."
I'm having an extremely hard time believing this is the same author that wrote some of the other books I loved so much. The story line is not great and the performance makes it worse - not recommended at all but check out the author's others if you've not already - they I do highly recommend.
"Drone, drone, drone....OmG make it stop."
Just stupid of me - that's all I can say. I've not followed my earlier in life protocol for picking books and I'm highly paying for it. :(
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Ready to toast 2013 this weekend, but need some last-minute tricks for preparing and serving drinks? We've asked the owners of two local bartending schools for tips to make your New Year's Eve party a smashing success—without anyone getting smashed.
Have plenty of ingredients, ice cubes and tools of the trade.
"Have beer, wine and vodka, tequila, rum and gin for simple cocktails," said David Rattner, owner and director of the National Bartenders School in White Plains. "Few drinks should be served with crushed ice, which dilutes and can ruin (them)."
Stock up on lime juice, cranberry and orange juice, club soda, cola and tonic water for mixers. Lemon, orange and lime slices and cherries are for garnishes; accents can be cinnamon sticks, vanilla and coffee beans, and olives.
Basic tools include: a corkscrew, muddler (for mashing or crushing), and shakers; speed pourers for the liquor bottles, a jigger (for accurate measure), a long-stemmed bar spoon, and a Hawthorne strainer—a flat strainer with coil around the edges, Dennis Ryan, the owner of the Academy of Professional Bartending School in New Rochelle explained.
Use quality alcohol and mixers and know when to shake.
"A three build—three or more ingredients, including the alcohol, needed to make the drink—must be shaken," Ryan said. "An example is a Sea Breeze, which has vodka, grapefruit and cranberry juice."
A Screwdriver, for example, has two ingredients and need only be stirred.
"A drink with sour mix or cream must be shaken, and a drink with pure spirits is stirred so as not to cloud the drink," Ryan said.
There are exceptions to every rule, however.
"A bartender, first and foremost, should always do essentially what the client has requested," Rattner said, referencing James Bond's famous line uttered by Sean Connery in the 1964 film, Goldfinger, "Just a drink, a martini, shaken not stirred."
Avoid under pouring or over pouring after you mix a drink.
"Not filling the glasses to the top with ice and/or using the wrong glass (is incorrect)," Ryan said, "Glassware affects the drinks taste and the overall experience."
For drinks with more ingredients, stick with larger glasses, Rattner said. "A brandy snifter, on the other hand, is architected for sipping fine cognac," he explained.
Provide food–carbohydrates and protein–to help slow down the absorption of alcohol into the body.
Drink Gatorade before you imbibe and keep yourself and your guests nourished and hydrated.
"Alcohol dehydrates the system, and some of the pain of a hangover is caused when the vessels constrict due to dehydration," Ryan said.
He suggests drinking the same kind of alcohol during the evening. If you're having clear drinks stay with clear drinks, if you drink wine, stick with wine.
"There are many dozens of popular "folk" remedies out there (for hangovers)," Rattner said. "Bottom line is do whatever you can to correct the dehydration and vitamin deficiency that's been caused by your overindulgence."
Have an area with non-alcohol beverages like water, juices, soda and coffee.
Keep these separate from the non-alcoholic beverages you'll use for ingredients. Alcohol doesn't quench thirst, which is easy to ignore when you're having fun.
"And let guests ask you for another drink," Rattner said. "Don't keep asking them if they want more."
Consider being a guest at your own party.
"The biggest mistake people make when having a party is neglecting to arrange for a bartender," said Rattner.
Ryan echoed that sentiment. "For larger parties, you don't want your guests serving themselves nor do you want to spend the night mixing drinks," he said.
"Bartenders add a certain element of class and quality to parties, and people don't have to be hampered," Rattner said. "And they can sense when someone needs to be cut off from drinking."
Most important rule: drink and serve responsibly.
"If you're at a party with friends and family and see someone's had too much, enlist the help of the host," said Ryan.
He advised approaching the person with care.
"Handle with kid gloves," Ryan said. "A person (in this case, the host) could be sued under the Dram Shop Liquor Liability, which holds third parties liable if the person drinking is involved in an accident."
And just a quick reminder: No matter if the party is at your house, it's against the law to serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.
If you sense a guest is unable to get behind the wheel, ask someone to drive the person home, call a local taxi service or, if need be, let the person stay overnight.
Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!


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Instead of perfume, there will be rottenness.
—Isaiah 3:24
Alittle before midnight, my taxi arrives at a club called the Vortex. The weather is atypically dry, and the neighborhood, like the rest of London, is a shopping district with its eye on the tourist trade. Half a block away ten or twelve teenage boys dressed like horror-movie morticians jump up and down and hit each other. Their hair is short, either greased back or combed to stick straight out with a pomade of Vaseline and talcum powder. Periodically, one chases another out of the pack, grabs the other's arm and twists it until he screams with pain. Then they rush back laughing and leap about some more. Sitting oblivious against a building, a man dressed in a burlap bag nods gently as a large puddle of urine forms between his legs.
Shouting epithets at themselves in a thick proletarian accent, the boys finally bob down the street as another cab pulls up to the entrance. A man with curly, moderately long, red hair, a pale face and an apelike black sweater gets out. It is Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols, the world's most notorious punk band who I have flown from New York to meet and see perform. McLaren has been avoiding me for two days. I introduce myself and suggest we get together soon. He changes the subject by introducing me to Russ Meyer, the softcore porn king of Supervixens and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls fame, who is directing the Sex Pistols' movie. "You're a journalist?" asks Meyer. "Do you know Roger Ebert? He won the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism and he's writing the movie with me. You should talk to him. At the Chicago Sun-Times, he's Dr. Jekyll. With me, he's Mr. Hyde. He's really into tits."
McLaren seizes the opportunity to disappear into the Vortex and is lost to me for the rest of the evening. The dense crowd inside consists of a few curiosity seekers and 400 to 500 cadaverous teenagers dressed in black or gray. Often their hair is dyed shades of industrial pink, green and yellow. Several blacks, also drably dressed and with rainbow stripes dyed into their short Afros, speckle the audience. The music over the loudspeakers is about two-thirds shrieking New Wave singles and one-third reggae tunes, which the kids respond to with almost as much enthusiasm as the punk rock. The dancing is frantic as a band called the Slits sets up. The style is called pogo dancing – jumping up and down and flailing one's arms around. It is as far as one can get from the Hustle, and it is the only way one can dance if one is wearing bondage pants tied together at the knees. Most are pogoing alone. Those with partners (usually of the same sex) grasp each other at the neck or shoulders and act like they are strangling each other. Every four or five minutes, someone gets an elbow in the nose and the ensuing punch-out lasts about thirty seconds amid a swirling mass of tripping bodies.
500 Greatest Songs of All Time: "God Save the Queen"
Unlike in American punk clubs, which occasionally become as crowded but where most people still try to avoid jostling each other, no one here hesitates to violate another person's physical space. Everyone is fair game for a push. The dance floor is phenomenally stuffed with sweating humans, and getting more stuffed with each new song. Roadies onstage and a few fans hurl beer glasses at each other.
The Slits turn out to be an all-female teenage aggregation whose efforts almost any current American rock audience would reward with a shower of bottles. The guitarist stops in the middle of the fourth song to announce, "Fuckin' shit! Listen to this!" and plays an ungodly out-of-tune chord that no one else had even noticed in the cacophony. The singer, apparently the only one with pitch, has to tune the guitar for her. "Fuckin' shit!" explains the singer, plucking the strings. "We never said we were musicians." When the audience becomes restless, she calls them "wankers" (masturbators) and launches into a tune called, "You're My Number One Enemy."
The crowd loves it, dancing with even greater abandon – with the exception of one pogo stick who stops in midhop at the sight of my notebook and demands to know what paper I'm from. I say I'm American, not one of the wanking English press. "Well, maybe you're all right," he snorts in a barely understandable brogue. "At least you're not takin' fuckin' pictures. The newspapers all sensationalize it. We aren't fightin'. We're 'avin' fun."
So what about all the reports of teddy boys (1957-style greasers) fighting punks on King's Road? "The scene has been going on long enough to attract the idiots who believe the papers," he shouts in my ear. "They're just tryin' to live up to their image. Regular violence is a lie!" Perfectly on cue, the kid is slammed into my chest as another scuffle erupts on the dance floor. "'ere it comes again," he says, happily jumping back into the fray.
The Slits draw an encore and invite their opening act, Prefix, a male group who shave their marble white bodies in emulation of Iggy Pop, to jam on "Louie Louie." The audience likes it so much that several of them storm the stage and nearly succeed in toppling the eight-foot stacks of PA speakers before the security men beat them into submission.
Heading for the exit, I recognize the Sex Pistols' drummer, Paul Cook, also weaving his way outside. Unaccompanied, he is wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, straight-legged blue jeans and dilapidated sneakers. The nose is wide, the skin pallid. Conditioned by six months of reports about the Sex Pistols' proclivity for violence, I half expect him to assault me. But his hand is limp as we shake and his eyes do not meet mine when I introduce myself. He is, of all things, shy.
"It's just a laugh, not really that violent," he says when I ask about their dancing. "You can take it which way you want: some laugh, some get paranoid. They want to prove they aren't posing."
"A lot of people have missed the satire," I say. "Some of the press are even trying to link you with the fascists."
"I can't be bothered with that shit," he replies. "It's just what they want to read into it. When we first started playing, before all the articles came out, people would come up and say they'd never seen anything so funny in their lives."
The next afternoon I spend reading clips in the Sex Pistols' office – two dingy gray rooms on the top floor of a small office building a few blocks from Piccadilly Circus. McLaren's assistants are also dingy and gray and do not introduce me to anyone. When they say hello, they do not shake hands or give a peck on the cheek; they choke each other. The three-foot clip file reflects a band so clouded in mythology that the truth is impossible to discern. This appears to be in everyone's interest – the press prints anything they can think up, the people are titillated in the midst of excruciatingly dull economic stories by reports that the younger generation is renaming itself Johnny Rotten and throwing up on old ladies, and the Sex Pistols' image as Forbidden Fruit is enhanced. This summer, however, the Pistols have been careening into overexposure in their homeland. The four major music weeklies – Melody Maker, New Musical Express, Record Mirror and Sounds – have mentioned them on the cover of almost every issue for months. Taking punk lyrics at their literal word, the dailies regularly proclaim the movement the end of Western Civilization. McLaren has since denounced them for "killing" the New Wave, which may have something to do with why he is letting me languish in my hotel room waiting for his phone calls rather than talk to the band.
All this for a group that has released three singles?
In the history of rock & roll, there is no stranger tale: in late 1971, Malcolm McLaren, then a 24-year-old art student, and his wife Vivian Westwood, who was either teaching or working for Social Security (she doesn't remember which), opened a boutique for teddy boys called Let It Rock. They started with little money, but the shop proved an enormous success because of their shrewd buying of vintage rock records in discount bins and unused stocks of old clothes. The teds' rigid conservatism proved boring, however, so McLaren and Westwood changed the name of their store to Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die and catered to the rockers, another cultural fragment that favored chains, black leather and motorcycles.
McLaren was not, he says, at all interested in contemporary rock music, but was greatly impressed by the swagger of the New York Dolls when they visited Too Fast one afternoon in 1974. He followed them to a Paris performance and, from November 1974 to June 1975, tried to manage them when their old management and record company were mired in feuds. Burying their old image as trendy transvestites, McLaren dressed them in red leather, draped their amplifiers with hammer and sickle flags and asked the question in their advertising, "What are the politics of boredom?" This proved less than a hit with both public and critics. The Dolls hung it up forever in the middle of a gig in Florida, and McLaren flew back to England a sadder but wiser rock & roll manager.
Meanwhile, Westwood had changed the name of the boutique to Sex and was selling bondage clothes and T-shirts decorated with large rips and grotesque pornography (the government actually prosecuted them for their pictures). It became a hangout for budding punks who listened to the jukebox and stole the clothes. Among them were four proletarian kids – Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Glen Matlock and another guitar player – who wanted to start a band. McLaren suggested the name Sex Pistols. Jones began as the singer (Cook played drums, Matlock bass) but didn't know what to do with his hands, so they gave him a guitar, which he learned to play proficiently in two months. The other musician was given the boot, leaving an opening for a singer.
One of the regulars at Sex was a kid named John Lydon, who was distinguished on three counts: 1) his face had the pallor of death; 2) he went around spitting on poseurs he passed on the street; and 3) he was the first to understand the democratic implications of punk – rather than pay ten pounds for an ugly T-shirt with holes in it, he took a Pink Floyd T-shirt, scratched holes in the eyes and wrote I Hate over the logo. McLaren stood him in front of the jukebox, had him mouth Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen" and declared him their new lead singer. Jones noticed the mung on Lydon's never-brushed teeth, and christened him Johnny Rotten.
From the beginning, the Sex Pistols had trouble finding venues for their chaotic performances. But Rotten, blessed with demented anger heretofore unseen outside a war zone, proved to be the spark that set off the forest fire of punk bands now raging through Britain. EMI, the largest and most prestigious English record company, signed them and released the Pistols' first single, "Anarchy in the U.K.," in November 1976. In a tune similar to the Who's "I Can See for Miles," Johnny Rotten declared himself an anti-Christ who wanted to destroy everything. The BBC was not amused and gave it no airplay. "Anarchy" was not even in the charts by December 1st, when the Sex Pistols became household epithets in one night.
Appearing live on the British Today show at the supper hour, the Pistols responded to interviewer Bill Grundy's command, "Say something outrageous," by calling him a "dirty fucker" and a "fucking rotter." The newspapers put them on the front page for a week with screaming headlines like "TV Fury Over Rock Cult Filth" and "Punk? Call It Filthy Lucre". Members of Parliament denounced them. "Anarchy" entered the charts at Number 43, but record company workers refused to handle it and EMI was fast buckling under the public pressure. The Pistols added to the outrage by refusing to apologize and by doing long interviews in which they denounced the star system and sacred luminaries like Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart for being old and rich. They went on tour, traveling around the country in a bus, arriving at gigs only to discover that they had been banned in the township. Out of twenty-one scheduled dates, the Sex Pistols played three.
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"It would be nice if in my lifetime I could see an end to this discrimination and hatred because of who I am and who I love." – Gwen K.
Between the partisan bickering and the media firestorm, we sometimes lose sight of what these elections are really about. Without fail though, there are moments that pull everything back into perspective. Whether it's an offhand comment from someone at a parade, a story at a small gathering, or, in this case, notes from a strangers across the country, there's always something that reminds me that this and all elections are fundamentally about people.
"I had to hide my orientation to preserve job security." – Linda L.
Since my campaign released a petition telling Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), we've received thousands of signatures and comments. The quotes you see in this post are from real people – people who worked in fear every day of their lives because there was no law protecting them from being fired simply for being honest about themselves, and their allies. ENDA would extend the most-basic workplace protections based on race, age, sex, national origin, religion, and disability to sexual orientation and gender identity.
"We are all created equal lets start acting like it." – Brenda M.
It's easy to forget that these policies affect real people. Especially with ENDA, we're talking about people's livelihoods – their jobs are at risk because of who they are, not what they do. I have friends who have shared this fear. Equality should mean equality for all. For millions of Americans, this is more than policy – it's personal. Just listen to all these voices.
"People should be judged on their abilities and should not have to worry about their employment due to the prejudice of others." – Dennis J.
To me, nothing could symbolize the gridlock and extreme ideologies that have dominated the 112th Congress more than its refusal to pass ENDA. These are not special protections; they do not offer any new protections not already enjoyed by other employees; and they do not even allow for disparate impact lawsuits. All ENDA does is ensure equality for all in the workplace. When I talk about common-sense policies, this is what I mean. Nothing could be more basic.
"These are our children that are being targeted." – Chris D.
ENDA matters because it affects people's lives and livelihoods. The notes and comments are already one of the great moments of this campaign – moments that reaffirm that we're making a difference. I am proud and I am humbled to have this support.
"Worried about this for 40 years. No more!" – Craig S.
Help me put an end to workplace discrimination by signing my petition lobbying Congress to pass this important legislation at www.PassENDA.com.
Brad Schneider
Candidate for United States Congress - 10th District


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2 people found this helpful
Pros – They will teach you a lot and make sure you completely understand your job.
Every supervisor I had but one was awesome and really seemed to care about the employees.
Opportunities for growth within company.
Solid Benefits
Cons – Lower than average pay scale for the industry at least for production workers
Mandatory overtime up to 60 hours a week
Time is not given off without a consequences.
Advice to Senior Management – Most management does their job very well. To one I would say to get to know your employees a bit more and don't just give negative feedback if you are not going to give positive feedback when one goes above and beyond
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend
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The Andover Townsman
---- — Three young Andover writers were recognized as winners of the New England Disability Awareness Essay Contest.
They were three of the 13 elementary and middle school students from the New England area who were honored this week for submitting winning essays to the New England essay contest.
Third-graders Kyle Wolff and Nikita Bjaj earned first and third place honors, respectively. Sixth-grader Katie Nam earned third place honors for her essay.
The contest was hosted by Social Security Disability Help. To enter, students in grades two through six were asked to write an essay describing how someone with a disability has inspired them.
Wolff chose to write about his friend Matt. His winning essay describes Matt's struggles and triumphs with autism.
Wolff writes, "Matt inspires me because his life can be unfair sometimes, but he keeps trying and never gives up." Wolff has chosen to donate his winning prize money to Autism Speaks, an autism science and advocacy organization.
Bjaj earned a third-place honor for her essay titled, "My Friend, Mr. Verrette." Mr. Verrette, who has been blind since birth, often visits Bjaj's classroom to, "read stories with his fingers."
Nam, a sixth grade student at West Middle School, also earned third place honors for her essay, "Never Give up on Getting Better."
Rather than focus on one inspiring individual, Nam took a broader approach and wrote about developing an accepting attitude towards all people affected by disabilities. She writes, "Even though people with disabilities seem different, we need to accept and honor everyone as we are all unique, from all situations."
According to Social Security Disability Help, an informational website, the New England Disability Awareness Essay Contest was designed to promote disability awareness among elementary school students.
A release states, "It is our belief that by asking children at an early age to reflect on people with disabilities, the child is more likely to develop a lifelong understanding and respect for those who are disabled. The essay contest was a huge success and each essay we received was truly inspiring."
The winning essays can be read on the Social Security Disability Help Blog. Visit socialsecurity-disability.org.


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Mary J. Blige — "No More Drama"
If you're not a fan of songs that sample the "Young & the Restless" theme song, then GTFO because we can't be friends right now.
So now that the losers are out of the room, let's talk about the fact that the "Y&R" sample at the beginning of the song is THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO MUSIC IN THE HISTORY OF ANYTHING EVER. That didn't even make sense — that's how awesome the sample is.
Other than that, the song's pretty great and all. Drama sucks, blah blah blah. But having grown up watching "The Little Mermaid" and "The Young & the Restless" CONSTANTLY (whaaa? I turned out gay? I wonder how if there were signs…), that short little sample pretty much made my life.
(Source: Spotify)


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Baby Bib Embroidery: Tools and Techniques for Utterly Adorable Projects (Books)
Baby Bib Embroidery Kit -- Make any wee one the envy of the highchair brigade. This kit contains it all: blank bibs, iron-on transfers, embroidery floss, needle, and an illustrated instructional booklet. Jenny Hart's cool iron-on transfers can each be used several times, so moms-to-be and their friends can customize all sorts of accessories. More at Amazon.
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---- — Many people plan for college, a home purchase and retirement, but what about planning for health care? Planning ahead with preventive care isn't a high priority for many people. In fact, according to Partnership for Prevention, only 37 percent of adults receive the main preventive service recommended each year: a flu shot. Often overlooked, preventive care is key to getting and staying your healthiest. And since most health plans cover the entire bill for this type of care, being informed of the recommended services and benefits can take you a long way not only physically, but with your wallet as well.
Visit your doctor before you're sick
It's important to schedule a visit with your physician before your health status declines and you require one. The goal of preventive services is to deter and detect health issues – such as diabetes or heart disease – before they happen. Think of it as routine maintenance for your body, similar to changing the oil in your car.
Getting the right care
The federal preventive care recommendations depend on age group and health status. For children, immunizations and yearly physical exams are important, but often missed. Screenings for blood pressure, hearing, vision, obesity, developmental issues, depression and alcohol and drug use are also recommended and usually covered.
For adults, physical exams are important every few years until age 65, when they should be done every year. This checkup might include things like a blood pressure screening, cholesterol check and possibly cancer screenings, depending on your age.
Specifically for women, screenings and counseling for breast and cervical cancer, domestic violence and HIV are valuable. Most are now covered in full as preventive care by health plans.
The benefits outweigh the inconvenience
Whether it's a vaccine, screening or counseling, preventive care seeks to help patients stop a problem from developing. For example, if preventive care discovers a patient's high blood pressure, immediate steps can be taken to prevent further costly health risks, complications and related diseases from happening. Preventive care can help identify and address risk factors for serious illnesses as well, which can save you time and money, and increase your quality of life.
Under federal health reform, many preventive services are now covered in full by most health plans. If your health plan is grandfathered under the Affordable Care Act, you should review coverage levels.
Getting the most out of your preventive care
Being an engaged and informed health care consumer helps you get the most out of preventive services and the time you spend with your doctor. Understanding preventive care guidelines and your health plan, along with having open conversations with your doctor about these services, can keep you healthy, save you money and help you know what to expect during your appointment.
For more information on preventive care guidelines, visit the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force at uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. And for a full list of recommended immunizations go to the Advisory Committee for Immunizations at cdc.gov.
About the author: Bob Van Eck is vice president of clinical quality improvement at Priority Health
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by emailing email@example.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.


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The energy of God,
Like yeast within the dough,
Can take a sterile life
And give it strength to grow.
Which code can assist us
Uncover the fullness
Of living and loving
Which our spirits need?
Great Life-Force, God of all nurture;
Honor and praise to you.
Your peace and justice fill the Earth;
Honor and praise to you.
All things are connected
And everything is one,
The cells within our flesh,
The Moon, the stars, the Sun.
Thank you God for this beautiful Earth.
Thank you God for the wonder of life.
Thank you God for the blessing of love.
Thank you, thank you, thank you God
For the gift, the gift of life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you God
For the peace beyond all strife.
Blow your whistle, beat your drum,
God's new way is full of fun.
Have a party, bake a cake,
Everyone should celebrate.
If you want to be happy
Love life more than things
Finding the joys which sharing brings.
If you want to end grieving
For dying or loss
Cry till your tears dissolve your cross.
At times we're like old-fashioned cameras
Seeing life as black or white.
At times we're like deleted scanners
Printing only dull or bright.
If I think that I am wiser
But you feel that you are right
We don't need a fight to settle
What is black and what is white
I can't face forgiving you,
You have caused me too much pain.
You have made me cry too much,
We can't be good friends again.
I just want to be alone
Letting my dark anger reign.
When I'm feeling hurt and angry
I will let my feelings out
Yelling all my pain out loudly
When no others are about.
When your heart is feeling blue,
Feeling blue, feeling blue,
Count your blessings and give thanks,
Give thanks to God.
If my eyes are full of tears,
If my heart is numb with pain,
Give me hope that does not die;
Bring me back to life again.
Our spirits are like the trees of the forest,
Or trees as they stand guarding a park.
Our spirits can reach as high as tall timber.
Praise God for Spirit's sacred life.
(Boys) I don't have to be king of the castle,
I just want to be me.
(Girls) I don't have to be queen of the castle,
I just need the courage to be,
We're really like the onions
With skins beneath our skin.
Each face has ways of masking
The private worlds within.
Welcome! One thing is for certain. We are all welcome. This is the Jesus way. He called people to him; he asked people to come to him; he welcomed them; he got cranky with his disciples when they tried to prevent anyone, anyone at all coming to him. He ate with outcasts, those despised; he befriended tax collectors, those regarded as thieves; he encouraged children, usually ignored in adult community, to sit on his knees; he had meals with the elite and the riffraff; he conversed publicly with women although that was taboo; unlike the religious leaders of his day, he sought the company of all kinds and types of people, to affirm them, to challenge them, to call them to an abundant way of life. So we are all welcome. This is the Jesus way.read more


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A trend-conscious pattern and modern-chic details make this an essential sundress for summer style. Its ultra-flirty halter straps and sexy sweetheart neckline let you soak up the sunlight—and the attention.
• Halter straps. Sweetheart neckline. A-line skirt.
• Allover abstract pattern. Lightly padded bust with pleated detail. Smocked back panel. Two welt pockets at waist.
• Hidden side-seam zipper closure. Lined.
• Measures approximately 25" from center neckline to front hem
• 100% Polyester
• Dry clean
Measurement taken from a size 4
Shipping Options:
Orders are shipped via UPS using the following rate scale:
Standard 5-7 Business Days - $8.95
Second Business Day - $14.95
Next Business Day - $26.95
NOTE: No Saturday or Sunday deliveries.
No shipping to P.O.Boxes. A.P.O and F.P.O addresses are automatically shipped via USPS Ground.
Orders placed during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST) are typically processed and shipped within one business day.
We do not offer international shipping at this time.
For complete details, click here.
Easy Return Options:
Take it back to your local GUESS store for FREE or ship it back to us.
GUESS gladly accepts unworn, unwashed or defective full-priced merchandise for up to thirty days after purchase date. Original receipt, hygiene strip and tags must be attached. Unfortunately, pierced jewelry, innerwear, fragrances, lotions and items marked "final sale" are not returnable. Sale merchandise may only be returned to a store for an exchange. Shipping charges are not refundable.
For complete details, click here.
Contact Us By Email:
Use our online contact form for quick, personalized assistance. Click here.
Contact Us By Phone:
Toll Free: 1-877-44-GUESS (48377).
Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. (PT)


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News Article
'Hell Yeah!' is an ongoing series in which horror filmmakers, critics and fans share their take on movies they love. This month: werewolves!
I'm a big fan of monsters and monster movies. I usually prefer them over 'realistic horror' films that feature psycho killers. That's because a monster movie has a fantasy aspect that has to be introduced, explained and believed; it takes an extra dose of imagination and storytelling ability to scare an audience with a monster, versus let's say…someone tied down to a table have being carved up by a sadistic but human murderer. Yes, that can be scary, but unfortunately those people do exist in real life, and outside of the occasional piece of art like Hitchcock's Psycho, movies about them are by definition more exploitation than imagination (even the enjoyable ones often leave a bad taste in my mouth).
However, the problem with many pure monster movies is that realizing a believable creature on screen can be tricky business, especially in the pre-CG cinema world when most monsters were portrayed either by actors wearing stage make up and rubber masks, or puppets romping around toy cities. Let's face it: if a monster is not believable (or worse, cheesy looking), it's not scary.
That's why The Howling (1981) is my favorite werewolf film. Not only is it an extremely entertaining tale of terror, it showed me something I'd never seen before: a horrifying, eye-popping yet totally realistic transformation of man into mythical beast. And by doing so, set the bar for all werewolf (and most monster) movies to come.
Before The Howling, werewolf transformations were handled one of two ways: either the transformation was hidden, as in 1935's Werewolf of London (Universal's first werewolf film), or done via time lapse photography with hair and fangs added frame by frame and then edited together through a series of on-screen dissolves. This technique was first used in Universal's 1941 classic The Wolf Man, and the process (as well as Jack Pierce's legendary make-up) became the industry standard. But what was once shocking soon became mundane (after all, the actor had to remain perfectly still until the transformation was complete). By the time of 1957's kitschy I Was A Teenage Werewolf that kind of transformation had become a total cliché.
Unfortunately, not much changed over the next 20 plus years…then came The Howling.
Almost a full year before the release of the other great modern werewolf classic An American Werewolf in London, The Howling arrived to show us how to make a werewolf transformation terrifyingly believable.
Utilizing a combination of never before seen bladder make up techniques and prosthetics, special effects whiz Rob Bottin (who would later perform the same gooey magic on John Carpenter's remake of The Thing) completely revolutionized the monster-making process. The unblinking camera showed us everything: fingers elongating, skin bubbling, tendons stretching, fangs growing; these visuals combined with bone crunching sound effects gave us a transformation sequence that was startling, horrifying and completely convincing. It didn't hurt that the final creation was a new kind of werewolf, not just a man running around in torn clothes with fur pasted on his face, but a towering creature that was the stuff of nightmares.
There are so many elements that make The Howling the yardstick against which all other lycanthropic films must be judged: the suspenseful and witty direction of Joe Dante, the pithy script by John Sayles (who also penned Piranha and Alligator), the terrific cast of genre vets (Kevin McCarthy, John Carradine, Kenneth Tobey) and the clever homage of naming most of the characters after werewolf movie directors. Plus there's that amazingly hot and steamy werewolf sex scene that gives the film its title.
But it's the transformation scene, literally the centerpiece of the film that changed horror films forever, and allowed The Howling to claw its way into my heart as one of my all time favorite monster movies.


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Honors: 2011 – Presented the Terry Whiteside Award (excellence in academics, athletics, strength training, community service, and campus activities) … 2010 – Voted First Team All-Sun Belt by the league's coaches and media … Earned the most improved specialist award … 2009 – Named 1st team All-Sun Belt by the league's coaches and media … Named 1st team All-Sun Belt by Phil Steele … Voted 1st team All-Sun Belt by Rivals.com … Earned the most improved award and the most improved strength training award for specialists at the conclusion of spring drills … Named Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 21 … Named a semifinalist for the 2009 Lou Groza Award … 2008 - Named to the Daily News Journal All-Sun Belt Freshman Team … Voted to the Rivals.com Sun Belt All-Freshman team.
Career Rankings: First in extra points made, second in field goals made, first in points scored by a kicker, and second in overall scoring … Also finished as the all-time leading scorer in Sun Belt history with 295 points.
2011: Played in all 12 games and earned five winning grades from the coaches … Connected on 8 of 14 field goals and 31 of 32 extra points to lead the Blue Raiders with 55 points … Averaged 56.4 yards on his 50 kickoffs … Scored eight points and hit a 21-yard FG in win over Memphis … Hit two field goals and scored nine points vs WKU … Scored eight points and hit his lone FG attempt in win over FAU … Scored two points against UL to become the school's all-time leading scorer among kickers … Had six points on two field goals against FIU to become the all-time leading scorer among kickers in the Sun Belt Conference while tying for the overall scoring mark … His lone point against North Texas made him the all-time leading scorer in Sun Belt Conference history.
2010: Played in all 13 games as the Blue Raiders' place-kicker and kickoff specialist ... Earned 10 winning grades from the coaches ... Made 10 of 12 field goals on the season and 44 of 45 PATs for 74 total points ... Averaged 58.0 yards on 56 kickoffs with five touchbacks ... Scored eight points, all on PATs, in win over APSU while serving as a game captain ... Was also a game captain at Memphis ... Hit field goals of 40 and 55 yards in win over Louisiana, with the 55 yarder ranking as the second longest in school history and the second longest in Sun Belt Conference history ... Voted a game captain for Troy and ULM ... Made both his field goals (23, 40) and scored nine points at WKU.
2009: Played in all 13 games as the team's primary place-kicker ... Had 11 winning grades from the coaching staff ... Finished the year ranked 30th nationally in field goals made, 29th in field goal percentage, and 31st in scoring ... Connected on 18 of 22 field goals and 50 of 51 extra points during the season ... Set school records for field goals made (18), total points (104), and consecutive made field goals (12) ... Scored seven points on a field goal and four extra points against Memphis ... Scored eight points and hit two field goals, including the game-winner from 19 yards with no time remaining against Maryland ... Hit three field goals, including a career long 48 yarder, in win over North Texas while scoring 13 points ... Made both his field goal attempts against Mississippi State to account for the team's only points ... Connected on both his field goals and scored 14 points in win over WKU ... Made his first two field goals (46, 23) at FAU before seeing his streak of 12 in a row come to an end with a miss from 46 yards ... Finished FAU game with nine points ... Made both his field goals (33, 21) and scored 12 points in win over FIU ... Hit two field goals and had one blocked on his way to 10 points against Louisiana ... Had eight points against ASU to break the single-season scoring record by kickers at MT and his one field goal tied the single-season mark for three-pointers in a season ... Became the single-season record holder with a 40-yard field goal at ULM.
2008: Served as the primary placekicker for all 12 games ... Connected on 10 of 14 field goals for the year and made all 32 of his extra points ... Was second on the team in scoring with 62 points ... Earned eight winning grades from the coaches ... Made his only field goal attempt (22 yards) and both extra points in his first collegiate game against Troy ... Missed a 48-yard attempt against Maryland but came back to nail a 31-yard kick ... Missed a 25-yard field goal at Kentucky that banged off the right upright ... Made the game-clinching PAT with no time remaining to secure Middle Tennessee's 14-13 win over FAU on national television ... Made two field goals against FIU, including a 37 yarder ... Connected on a 42-yard field goal against Louisville to give the Blue Raiders a halftime lead ... Hit a career-best three field goals and scored 10 points against Mississippi State ... Hit a career-best 44-yard field goal in win over ULM ... His 28-yard field goal against North Texas was his eighth straight made three-pointer which tied the school record ... He also matched his personal-best with 10 points in the victory over UNT ... Saw his streak of eight straight made field goals come to an end in the season finale at Louisiana when he missed a 46 yarder into a stiff wind.
High School: A first team all-state selection as a junior and senior ... Also earned all-district, all-area, and all-Central Florida as a junior and senior ... Selected to play in Central Florida All-Star game ... Connected on 14 of 16 field goals and 27 of 30 extra points as a senior ... Made 16 of 19 field goals and all 15 extra points as a junior ... Owns a career-long field goal of 57 yards and also connected from 55 yards (hit a 67 yarder in practice) ... Is Orangewood's all-time leading scorer in football and the first player to sign a Division I scholarship in school history ... Appeared on the cover of RISE Magazine in December 2007 (other prep stars to appear on the cover include Lebron James, Dwight Howard, and Amare Stoudemire) ... An accomplished soccer player who became the state's all-time goals scored leader in 2007 ... Named the Orlando Sentinel Soccer Player of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2008 ... Named all-state four years in a row ... Lettered three years in football and five years in soccer ... Played football for Coach Jim Ceccarelli.
Full Name: Alan Scott Gendreau ... Parents: Art and Cathy Gendreau... Born: 5/27/89 ... Major: Music.