text:
One of Android TV's killer features is Live Channels. As I've written before, channel surfing is a very enticing opportunity for content creators to show what they've made, but it's something that has always been just for cable companies and TV networks. The Live Channels app gives developers the opportunity to build their own streams of content side by side with cable networks. Some developers have already built channels into their apps.
However, the guide to do so can be somewhat difficult to understand and perhaps intimidating to many developers. I'm hoping that this guide, and the library that I have created, will spur more developers to add live content into their apps and help contribute to a large list of streaming channels.
Using the ChannelSurfer Library
Add my library to your app. It is also available on GitHub. As the library continues to develop, you should refer to the README there for more information.
compile 'com.github.fleker.channelsurfer:0.1.+'
You will need to specify in your manifest the service that you want to run for TV input, just as before. This service will be an extension of the
TvInputProvider class.
The library includes a lot of the boilerplate files, like
@xml/channel_surfer_tv_input, so you don't need to worry about creating and maintaining these files yourself.
<service android:name=".livechannels.VineInputProvider" android:enabled="true" android:exported="true" android:permission="android.permission.BIND_TV_INPUT"> <intent-filter> <action android:name="android.media.tv.TvInputService" /> </intent-filter> <meta-data android:name="android.media.tv.input" android:resource="@xml/channel_surfer_tv_input" /> </service> <meta-data android:name="TvInputService" android:value="com.hitherejoe.vineyard.livechannels.VineInputProvider" /> <activity android:name=".SampleTvSetup" android:exported="true" android:enabled="true" android:label="@string/title_activity_sample_tv_setup"> <intent-filter> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> </intent-filter> </activity>
Then you have to place your activity's name as a string.
<string name="tv_input_activity">com.felkertech.sample.channelsurfer.SampleTvSetup</string>
Once these things are set, you can start adding in your channels and player implementation.
Create a Setup Activity
The first thing you need to do is create an activity. This will be opened when the user sees the "New Channels Available" prompt in Live Channels. There is an activity class,
SimpleTvSetup, which can do all of the work of calling and managing the
SyncAdapter. You can just extend it and you're done. The GitHub page contains more information about how to customize parts of it.
public class SampleTvSetup extends SimpleTvSetup { }
Add Channels and Programs
Now go to your
TvInputProvider service. In this tutorial, we are adding this feature to the Vine client Vineyard. Videos are taken from a web URL, so we can play them with a
MediaPlayer object. Instead of extending
TvInputProvider, we are extending
MediaPlayerInputProvider to remove some boilerplate.
There are a few methods that we must override. Two of them are
getAllChannels and
getProgramsForChannel. These methods return lists that are inserted into Live Channels. The README can provide a full list of the
Channel and
Program objects, as only a handful of those properties are being used in this implementation.
@Override public List getAllChannels() { List topics = new ArrayList<>(); topics.add(new Channel() .setName("Popular Vines") .setNumber("101")); return topics; }
With this implementation, a single channel, Popular Vines, will be available.
To add programs, you can use a
Channel parameter to target programs for each one. They will have to be inserted beginning at the current start time until the end time. This is not necessary, but having a list of programs makes your channels more visibility and improve your branding. There's a lot of attributes for a program, such as including a season and episode number, genres, and ratings.
In Vineyard, this provides a small dilemma. Vines are far too short to supply two or three days worth of programs without many web requests. Instead, I used the
getGenericProgram method. This creates a nice program block which isn't very specific. It'll say "Popular Vines Live" and a description of "Currently Streaming". Now this has to be returned in a list for the entire period. It also needs to extend until the end of our syncing period.
@Override public List<Program> getProgramsForChannel(Uri channelUri, Channel channelInfo, long startTimeMs, long endTimeMs) { int programs = (int) ((endTimeMs-startTimeMs)/1000/60/60); //Hour long segments int SEGMENT = 1000*60*60; //Hour long segments List<Program> programList = new ArrayList<>(); for(int i=0;i<programs;i++) { programList.add(new Program.Builder(getGenericProgram(channelInfo)) .setStartTimeUtcMillis((getNearestHour() + SEGMENT * i)) .setEndTimeUtcMillis((getNearestHour() + SEGMENT * (i + 1))) .build() ); } return programList; }
We are using another method,
getNearestHour, so that our time blocks are neatly rounded off to the hour regardless of when the actual sync begins.
The channel list is created and our electronic programming guide has been populated. Now we have to do playback.
MediaPlayer class is used to handle playback. We just need code to handle tuning to each channel.
There is not a need to display any view over our playback surface, so this method should just return null.
@Override public View onCreateOverlayView() { return null; }
Now we can program our tuning method.
@Override public boolean onTune(Channel channel) { notifyVideoUnavailable(REASON_BUFFERING); ...
The first thing we do is alert the Live Channels app that we are currently buffering. This means it will not show our overlay view or our media until we say it's okay.
I make sure our
MediaPlayer exists.
if(mediaPlayer == null) mediaPlayer = new MediaPlayer();
Once all these things are set, I use Vine's API to grab the most popular videos, making sure that I am in fact in that channel.
VineyardService vineyardService = VineyardService.Creator.newVineyardService(); mChannel = channel; if(channel.getNumber().equals("101")) { vineyardService.getPopularPosts().enqueue(new Callback() { @Override public void onResponse(Response response, Retrofit retrofit) { tuneResponse(response); } @Override public void onFailure(Throwable t) { t.printStackTrace(); } }); }
tuneResponse method takes the result of this web request and begins playing the first video.
public void tuneResponse(Response response) { VineyardService.PostResponse postResponse = response.body(); try { beginPlayingVine(postResponse, 0); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } }
public void beginPlayingVine(final VineyardService.PostResponse response, final int index) throws IOException { String url = response.data.records.get(index).videoUrl; notifyVideoUnavailable(REASON_BUFFERING); Log.d(TAG, "Switch to " + index + ", " + url); try { mediaPlayer.setDataSource(url); } catch(IllegalStateException exception) { try { mediaPlayer.stop(); mediaPlayer.reset(); beginPlayingVine(response, index); return; } catch(Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } mediaPlayer.setSurface(mSurface); mediaPlayer.setOnPreparedListener(new MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListener() { @Override public void onPrepared(MediaPlayer mp) { mp.setOnCompletionListener(new MediaPlayer.OnCompletionListener() { @Override public void onCompletion(MediaPlayer mp) { try { mp.stop(); mp.reset(); if (index + 1 < response.data.records.size()) beginPlayingVine(response, index + 1); else onTune(mChannel); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } }); notifyVideoAvailable(); mp.start(); } }); mediaPlayer.prepare(); }
From there, the
MediaPlayer is prepared with a particular video url. Before the video starts playing, the Live Channels app is notified that the video is available.
After the video is completed, the next video in the list is played until the end. Then the channel is tuned to again to get another batch of videos.
Websites as Live Channels
"Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/47.0.2526.35 Safari/537.36"
To use websites as channels, extend the
WebViewInputProvider class. It takes care of a lot of boilerplate of setting up a
WebView. Call
loadUrl(String) to load the site.
What can you do with this? The possibilities are up to you! Having the web as a Live Channel allows developers to embed videos, such as from YouTube or Vimeo, without having to obtain the video files directly.
With only a couple of changes in your manifest, and a hundred lines in a single class, your app can have its own Live Channel. The goal is this library is remove all of the boilerplate out of Live Channels. This platform makes it easy for anyone to create a high quality leanback experience with any sort of content. There are already a handful of services that use Live Channels, and I hope that developers will use this library to make more great experiences.
I welcome contributions on its GitHub page. This library will continue to be actively developed as long as people are reporting bugs or suggestions.


text:
Click Image to see larger version in my gallery
10 x 14 in - 25 x 36 cm Watercolor This was another two hour challenge held at PaintingFriends.com
I concentrated on trying to get the refelection to look OK and to do it in the time allowed.
This is the reference slightly cropped from the original. Taken on Lake Maggiore in April this year.
I took 5 mins thinking through the possible issues in the painting. The main thing, seemed to me, was to get the tones is right in the reflection. I noticed that the reflection of the bright walls are lighter than the real walls that are in shadow.
I took 20 minutes on the drawing. While drawing I knew perfectly well that some of the windows that I was draw would not have any paint on them so I was just using the pencil mark to indicate that there was something there. I have noticed John Singer Sargent do this in some of his watercolours and if it's good enough him then it's good enough for me.
I finished in 1 hour 35 min. Yes I know I could have touched up a few places. A few more darks around the line where the land and sea meet would be an improvement. But I had basically done what I set out to do so the painting is, for me, "finished".

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Festival season is upon us! This year, ditch the car and forget the hassle of parking by choosing Megabus for your journey to Bramham Park for the epic Leeds Festival.
Starting out in 1998, Leeds Festival has quickly become a sacred place for rock-music fans. With a killer lineup including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foals, Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy, 2016 is certainly no exception – so get ready for an August bank holiday weekend that you'll never forget.
Getting to Leeds Festival with Megabus is cheap and straightforward. Simply hop onto one of our comfortable coaches travelling directly to Leeds from 45 locations across the country – including Aberdeen, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff and Portsmouth – and get your weekend off to the perfect, stress-free start. Once you arrive in Leeds, you can travel to the festival site via the shuttle bus which leaves regularly from the city centre.
Festival Location: Bramham Park, Leeds
Megabus stop: Leeds
Date: 26th, 27th & 28th August
Travel direct to Leeds with Megabus from 45 locations including: Aberdeen, Aviemore, Birmingham, Birmingham International Airport, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bristol, Bristol UWE, Cardiff, Coventry, Cwmbran, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Halbeath Interchange, Hull, Inverness, Kinross, Lancaster, Leicester, London, Loughborough, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Newport, Nottingham, Oxford, Perth, Pitlochry, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Preston, Rosslare, Rugby, Sheffield, Silverstone, Southampton, Southampton Airport, Sunderland, Swindon
To get the cheapest seats, make sure you book your Megabus tickets to Leeds Festival as soon as possible.
No comments yet
Living up to its legendary festival status, Leeds brings Reading Festival's insane line-up to the north of the country. This year brings more brilliant acts to Bramham Park and Megabus is here to tell you everything you need to know.
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival features 10 summer days packed with world leading artists from the Jazz and Blues genres, rolling into the Festival capital from 14th to 23rd July 2017. Megabus brings you everything you need to know about every event.
Reading will be overrun with rock fans once again this August bank holiday, with its twin site in Leeds offering three days of indie, punk, major rock and dance, to over 90,000 fans across 6 stages. Megabus brings you the unmissable moments and top tips for Reading Festival 2017.
Lovebox returns to London's Victoria Park in 2017, for another weekend of live music and madness. Join Megabus in celebrating 15 years of this festival and get the latest information on Lovebox 2017.
The world-famous Creamfields festival returns to Cheshire in 2017, with an unrivalled dance music line-up. Megabus make your festival planning that bit easier, with a definitive guide to Creamfields festival 2017
A festival so good they hold it twice – V Festival returns in 2017 for two days of unmissable music over two venues. Chelmsford's Hylands Park, and Weston Park in Staffordshire, host a weekend of music from some of the biggest names on the planet.
The Edinburgh International Festival is a classy eclectic series of creative performance events running throughout the entire month of August across the Festival capital in iconic locations.
Wireless Festival is set to electrify London once again in 2017 with R&B royalty and DJ legends filling the Finsbury park stages. Megabus has the headline facts here.


text:
Artlook is a partnership of eleven artists based in Hampshire and Wiltshire. The group started in January 2007 and has enjoyed a very busy schedule which is continuing with future events booked up to 2018. The group meets up regularly and, as well as exhibiting their work in and around Salisbury and the New Forest, they enjoy painting days out together, workshops and painting holidays. Their work is diverse in subject matter encompassing landscape, still life, figurative and abstract art in various media including watercolour, acrylic, pen, pencil and pastel. The group also produces a range of greetings cards.
Hilliers Exhibition
August 3rd - 18th 2019
HOS Wallops Parish Hall
August 24th - 26th 2019
Artlook has bookings up
until 2020


text:
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny Reviews (PlayStation 2)
Published by
Developed by
ESRB Rating
Critic Score
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
User Score
5 point score based on user ratings.
User Reviews
|One of the few recent games that's worth playing
|Bregalad (967)
Our Users Say
Critic ReviewsMobyRanks are listed below. You can read here for more information about MobyRank.
RPGFan (Apr 25, 2006)
If you're looking for a fun 30-40 hour game to play, Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny is a clear choice. It's nothing like those state-of-the-art 3D RPGs from Square Enix and the like: this is oldschool glory. Maybe the novelty of the first game wore off too quickly this time around, but I still think that even with a better storyline and some very good gameplay, the package deal isn't as good as the first game was. I already know this isn't my RPG of 2006, but it will probably remain in the top five (maybe even top three). Atelier Iris 2 drops just below the A level and earns an 89%. It's still a great game, but it's definitely not the greatest, even by its own 2D anime standards. If you're interested, don't miss out on buying this one before it becomes a hard-to-find title.
Netjak (Apr 21, 2006)
Now, there are admittedly some ways in which Atelier Iris 2: the Azoth of Destiny doesn't quite equal its predecessor. The item creation system is simpler here, and it doesn't have quite the humor of the previous incarnation. All that aside, though, this game clearly is among the top role-playing games I've had the pleasure of playing in a good long while. Much like my work in the game's alchemy system, they took a winning formula and just modified it to make it work better than before. It's the kind of game that made me feel disappointed it was over. If all games that were just polished versions of older games like Atelier Iris 2 is, then I'd never want for an original game again.
4Players.de (Oct 21, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2 schafft es wie sein Vorgänger trotz veralteter Technik und angestaubter Spielmechanik ans Pad zu fesseln. Sie haben einfach Charme, diese pixeligen Bitmap-Helden und handgemalten Schauplätze. Gut, die Animationen hätten ruhig etwas geschmeidiger, die Dungeons detaillierter und die Gegner imposanter ausfallen können. Aber insgesamt wirkt der altmodische Look doch sehr stimmig und sympathisch. Löblich auch, dass es dieses Mal endlich einen 60Hz-Modus gibt, um die unschönen PAL-Balken zu umgehen. Das augenfeindliche Interlace-Flimmern hat man aber leider immer noch nicht in den Griff bekommen und auch für eine Lokalisierung hat es abermals nicht gereicht. Dafür steuert ihr dieses Mal gleich zwei Helden in zwei verschiedenen Welten, die sich mit Mitteln der Alchemie gegenseitig unterstützen müssen, um ans gemeinsame Ziel zu kommen. Auch Kampfsystem und Weltkarte bekamen ein Facelifting spendiert, das einige Kritikpunkte des Vorgängers zunichte macht.
HardGamers (May 27, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2 : The Azoth of Destiny est, sans aucun doute, destiné à ceux qui aiment l'aspect vieillot de certains RPGs. Plus réussi qu'Eternal Mana, il reste qu'il n'est pas destiné à ceux qui aiment l'esbrouffe d'un Final Fantasy XII.
RPGamer (2006)
Overall, many aspects of the series have been refined in Atelier Iris 2. The battle system and story in particular have received some nice upgrades, though the music and visuals have also increased in quality. While those that enjoyed the more creative aspects of the original may be a bit disappointed to find that the unique quirkiness and variety in the item creation system have been toned down a little, the improvements to the rest of the gameplay easily make up for this loss. This also makes the game more appealing to a larger audience than its predecessors. Those that enjoyed Atelier Iris will almost surely enjoy this one, and those who weren't quite as impressed might want to give this upgraded and more mainstream iteration a shot.
DreamStation.cc (Jun 26, 2006)
Overall, Atelier Iris 2 has nice features for it's rating. Even though it is generally easier than most I've played, there is still enough content to make it interesting to older players. The soundtrack is slightly more upbeat than normal for this genre, and there are nice anime cut scenes thrown in for effect. The game graphics are also colorful and detailed.
Deaf Gamers (2006)
Those who have played and enjoyed Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana will no doubt enjoy Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny. The game may have a slightly dated look, although personally I find the graphics charming, but this should be overlooked in favour of the game's enjoyable story and genuinely interesting characters. Is it the best RPG we've seen? Probably not but it's still a very good one and a game that every fan of the genre should experience. Here's hoping more Atelier RPG's are released here in Europe.
Pelit (Oct, 2006)
Kokonaisuutena Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny ei ole hullumpi rooliseikkailu. Välillä kärsivällisyys joutuu koetukselle, jos seikkailu jumiutuu tuntikausiksi puuduttavaan esineenmetsästykseen. Toisaalta hyvät hahmot, värikäs pelimaailma ja vauhdikkaat taistelut pelastavat paljon.
Ei Atelier Iris klassikko ole, mutta mutkaton ja lämminhenkinen seikkailu, joka on tehty varmalla ammattitaidolla perinteitä kunnioittaen.
Ei Atelier Iris klassikko ole, mutta mutkaton ja lämminhenkinen seikkailu, joka on tehty varmalla ammattitaidolla perinteitä kunnioittaen.
GameLemon (Aug 30, 2006)
It is a pretty fun game, worth at least a look (ok, fine, a rent!) by fans of the genre, if perhaps not a purchase. It is what it is, an unabashedly simple RPG that hearkens back to days of yore. Regrettably, it's most likely destined to quietly slip off most gamers' radars, only to be seen again a few years down the line being sold for $150 on eBay to the few poor suckers who have realized, too late, that they really need to play it. Don't be one of those unfortunates! If you've got a thing for games that really get your nostalgia glands pumping, don't let this one pass you by. Of course, if that's not your cup of tea, well, keep on walking buddy. Just keep on walking.
Gamers.at (Jan 05, 2007)
Anfangs konnte mich Atelier Iris 2 sehr begeistern, denn das Kampfsystem bringt etwas an Frische in das etwas angestaubte Genre und der gelungene Soundtrack unterstreicht das anfangs noch motivierende Gameplay. Leider aber entpuppt sich die Story im weiteren Spielverlauf als zu linear, was nicht jedem Spieler gefallen wird. Ich persönlich freue mich schon auf den dritten Teil, der angeblich im Laufe dieses Jahres in Japan erscheinen wird, bis dahin versüße ich mir die Zeit mit der Bonus-Soundtrack-CD.
Game Captain (Oct 19, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2 entführt den Spieler in eine liebenswerte bunte Fantasywelt, die unter anderem interessante Ideen bei Item-Erschaffung und Charakterwechsel zu bieten hat. Wegen Abnutzungserscheinungen im Missionsdesign und der dezent unspannend erzählten Geschichte bleibt dem Spiel jedoch eine höhere Punktzahl verwehrt. Rollenspielfreunden mit einer Vorliebe für klassische 2D-Kost beziehungsweise, wegen des relativ niedrigen Schwierigkeitsgrads, vielleicht auch Einsteigern sollte es trotzdem durchaus mal einen Blick wert sein.
MAN!AC (Jul, 2006)
Ganz auf Erfolgserlebnis programmiertes, ultra-faires Spaß-Rollenspiel für Classical-Freunde.
Play Magazine (2006)
Atelier Iris 2: Azoth of Destiny may seem out of place on the PS2, but it has a simple charm that will win over anyone with fond memories of the 16-bit RPG era. I know the staff of Gust will keep cranking out Atelier titles until they're forcibly evicted from their apartment over the ramen shop (at least, that's how I envision their offices), and I hope the fine folks at NIS America will continue to bring the fruits of their passion to US shores.
Game Informer Magazine (Jun, 2006)
Even though Atelier Iris 2 has undergone enhancements, it's the ultimate loss of complexity in the story and gameplay departments that make it fall short of greatness. Sure, it may be more accessible, but Atelier Iris never exactly fit the profile of a mainstream series, and now everything just feels a bit shallow. Still, if you liked the first title and just can't get enough of that alchemy, it's worth playing as you wait for the next obsolete pseudo-science to sweep the nation. Personally, I've got my money on Orgonomy.
Futuregamez.net (Nov 03, 2006)
So there you have it. Atelier Iris 2 is an interesting title, but it's certainly not going to appeal to everyone. Perhaps best suited for hardcore anime and RPG fans, this could also serve to help fill-in time until Australian shores see a certain Final Fantasy XII hit shelves early next year. The entire adventure is about 30-35 hours, but will take much longer for those who wish to get every recipe and ingredient. If you can get over the old-school graphics, and don't mind a bit of almost turn-based fighting, then you should definitely look at this one!
GameZone (May 01, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2's music, story and cast of characters are a winner. The rest doesn't quite cut it. If you want a full package, this game isn't what you're looking for. However, if what you want is a game with charming characters, battles you can get in and out of quickly, and have the will and the power to endure a series of repetitive moments, you'll have experienced a classically designed RPG with a lot of quirks, and a lot of heart.
Deeko (May 28, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny may not be as good as the first Atelier Iris, but it does manage to be an enjoyable title that offers up about thirty five hours of real gameplay. The battle system needs to be tweaked a bit, the map system disappoints, and searching for items to synthesize is a huge chore, but the graphics, story and voice acting make for a wonderful adventure that is worth noting. It is a very good game, but needed a bit more work to truly stand out.
Video Game Talk (May 28, 2006)
Ok, here's the bottom line. I had a lot of fun playing Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny, I really did. Did I enjoy it as much as I did the original game? Probably not. There are a lot of nice streamlined concepts here from the item synthesizing to lack of Mana upkeep. The overworld exploring can be kind of a drag after a while and the simplified overworld doesn't help shake the linear feel. This is a charming and solid thirty hour adventure that will endear itself to fans of the series and may win some new ones over. If you're on the fence though you'll probably want to rent it to see how you do with the concepts that are at work in the game.
VGcore (Jul 28, 2006)
While AI2 is by no means considered a lengthy game by RPG standards, it is still a good 30 hours of solid RPG fun. You could probably get more time out of it if you wanted to go out of your way to complete every item hunt and sub-quest. You can decide. The good looking sprites (though barely above Playstation quality), witty, charming, and well-played script make for an enjoyable game that you won't have a problem getting in to. If it wasn't for the tedious item questing, the game would have exceeded its predecessor. It isn't better than the last game, but fans of the series and fans of a decent RPG should still check this one out.
DarkZero (2006)
Overall Atelier Iris is an enjoyable game with a tonne of charm and while it may have a fun and challenging battle system and a billion and one possible combinations using the synthesis system, it fails in capturing the player's attention and doesn't offer much in the way of incentive to play. However if you're an RPG nut then there is enough on offer to keep you entertained and satisfied to stick it through to the credits.
GameSpot (Apr 24, 2006)
It's easy to be nostalgic when playing Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny, because at first glance it could be mistaken for a PlayStation game. The game plays by the rules established more than 10 years ago for Japanese role-playing games, which makes it sort of an anachronism in today's world of video games. But while it's certainly no Oblivion or Final Fantasy, Atelier Iris 2 is a charming and mostly fun adventure that will have you recalling your favorite classic role-playing games. And for that reason alone, it's a good game.
Play.tm (Oct 13, 2006)
The storyline can grow on you as the characters bring it to life with their humour and quirky personalities but the battles and constant item creation for every step of the game almost breaks up the flow and is very frustrating. As always, players who do find themselves trapped in an age of nostalgia when 2D gaming is concerned should give this game a try but they will find that it sadly does not live up to the original.
Eurogamer.de (Oct 26, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2 ist wie Sushi: mit Liebe fürs Detail erschaffen, Stück für Stück ein kleiner Genuss, doch zugleich merkwürdig und nicht jedermann's Geschmack. Felt und Viese sind durchaus Sympathieträger, die sich in einer guten Kulisse bewegen. Doch leider lässt das Spiel einen Faktor vermissen, der den entscheidenden Unterschied zwischen Durchschnitt und Topgame macht: Es fesselt den Spieler nicht vor den Bildschirm. Und genau das sollte ein wirklich gutes Rollenspiel zu 100% erfüllen.
RPGamer (2006)
For players wanting a classical RPG experience with unorthodox characters and an immersing item creation system, or players wanting a game to fill in-between releases of others, Atelier Iris 2 is a solid choice. Just do not be too surprised finishing the game in less than fifteen hours and not breaking a single sweat.
videogamer.com (Oct 19, 2006)
All in all, Atelier Iris 2 is a decent RPG, but there's really nothing new or anything it does particularly well to make it truly standout. If you're a fan of RPGs you'll probably enjoy it, but it certainly won't stick in your mind for very long once the experience is over.
Eurogamer.net (UK) (Jun 07, 2006)
It's rare for a videogame sequel to really screw up. We're used to secondary-suffixed movies being dull, trite or rubbish having lost narrative momentum, integrity, directorial vision or a big-name star somewhere in-between the first's poignant ending credits and the second's dollar-hungry whored conception. But videogames are usually a little different in that, to be a success (providing the first was), gameplay need only be gently tweaked and streamlined and a few simple new features introduced to meet with player expectations.
Game Chronicles (Jun 22, 2005)
While I like that more and more Japanese titles are being released Stateside that also means that more of the crap is going to be coming through in the mix. Atelier Iris 2 just goes to show that RPG gamers are going to have to become a little more discerning with what they buy. Either that, or be happy with the occasional turd.
GameCell UK (2006)
This game looks and feels like an old SNES game. While retro gamers might coo with pleasure I like to think that games should move on with the times - either through the clever use of the technology to hand or by exploring new ideas. Why not just pick up an old SNES on eBay instead? In summary, if you fancy an unchallenging retro adventure game that will take up a lot of your time and not tax your brain, then this would be right up your street.
1UP (Apr 24, 2006)
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny manages to throw enough cool new stuff and production value into an RPG that escaped from the Super NES era, and manages to make enough of that stuff stick that it adds up to a pretty fun little package. But if you've enjoyed the gameplay leaps in the intervening years since the 16-bit RPG's heyday, there's not enough in this game to make it worth your time.
G4 TV: X-Play (Apr 25, 2006)
Mana and magic system aside, the game's primary selling point is the same as so many other RPGs: a couple dozen hours of content. And if merely killing time is the goal, then it could fill the bill. But with a handful of other, far better entries in the genre also new in the past few months, even that's a lukewarm recommendation.


text:
After three years with CAMT, I will be stepping down as director of projects and marketing to begin the next phase of my career. On January 19, 2009, I will become the Web Content Manager for Carnegie Mellon's Heinz College. I'll be in the same building as CAMT, but it saddens me deeply that I will no longer be working with our many great clients and partners. Connecting with so many amazing people is just one of the numerous reasons I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with CAMT.
Through January 9, 2009, I will continue to be the CAMT contact for new projects. After January 9, 2009, Josh Futrell will be your contact for both project and support issues. You can reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com (support items) and firstname.lastname@example.com (project items).
For the time being, I will continue to post on the Technology in the Arts blog and host our bi-weekly podcast. So please continue to contact me at email@example.com with questions and tech updates.
(NOTE: The image above is from the late 70s TV version of The Incredible Hulk. To add to the sad departure atmosphere, click below to listen to the walking away song from the show.)


text:
Stone Brewing Co. is well known for making out-of-the-box beers. Apparently, only a few people are worthy of appreciating their greatness. I had a pre-release taste of their Lukcy Basartd Ale at the Beer Blogger's conference in November, and loved it. Does that make me worthy?!?
Anyway, I'm going to make up for lost time by sampling five brews from their regular year-round lineup. So during the next few weeks, I will be sampling and writing about:
- Stone IPA
- Stone Ruination IPA
- Stone Levitation Ale


text:
A New Era Of Leadership Attempts to blame coming in from all over the world, the financial crisis has provoked considerable debate about who should take the blame, which led to the emergence of a lot of negative feelings towards the decision-makers Omnia Investments. The leadership, which was recently signed away from accountability has now found itself vulnerable to sharp criticism of the presumed what has been termed the "post-crisis world" of responsibility. Amid all of that emotion, it will not do any attempt to deny that the blame can sometimes be justified. As well as the changes that have to be made to overcome the logical doubts.
The new economic climate puts businesses in front of new challenges but at the same time carries with it countless opportunities, as many claim that the current period represents a defining moment for companies if they want to create value. It is here, amid the confusion surrounding the post-recession period, dating back to attention once again looking towards the summit waiting for guidance, and researcher for inspiration and confidence that they seem to have lost long ago. Thus, the leaders of companies today are faced with what appears as a crisis identity, where they became torn between having to act quickly and at the same time enjoy the utmost vigilance so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Having saddled their shoulders the burden of added responsibilities, the leadership of the family business does not represent an exception in this case; Despite the thought that they are the least affected by the crisis, decisions that they make are affected by Omnia APP Scam competition and dynamic business fractured change.
As a start, we are entitled to ask the question whether it was necessary to change the leadership of the company in any case or not. Experts say that after we have seen countless cases of declining regional economic activity and a few cases of the economic downturn on the global level, despite finding similarities, we are still unable to identify repeated patterns. Thus, we will change our behavior to make any difference at all? We must ask ourselves, if the issue of our inability to predict the form or format following the economic downturn will make our behavior analysis and we have learned from our mistakes is to no avail.
The public opinion, taking into account the facts that unfold every day, apparently a supporter of the need for the leaders of the companies in some soul-searching. However, many family businesses in the Arab world survived the worst consequences of the financial crisis. Some allege that the interpretation of this phenomenon is that the leaders of family businesses tend to adopt long-term trends and therefore they have a very cautious investment strategy. Thus, if we take into account that they came out relatively of the crisis, the question remains why the leaders of Omnia APP family businesses must change from the ground up?
The answer is obvious: Despite the we may not be able to predict when the next similar shock that hit the world economy, the leaders of family businesses still have to deal with the present, where the post-crisis world, which offers them a competitive arena entirely different, and carries with it new challenges and opportunities . At a time when the leaders of the companies forming the economic our climate, are they themselves are affected by many factors and responsibilities, for which they need to put them in mind during the day they make their decisions. We even have any risks by saying that the burden, in fact, on the shoulders of the leaders of family businesses may have been bigger than those imposed on the leaders of the regular joint stock companies.
And even show the size and complexity of the challenges, and at the same time the opportunities in front of you, the leaders of family businesses dimensional and responsibilities that affect the leaders and that must be taken into account when thinking about the issue of change:
Multiple roles
Leaders of family businesses play often three-dimensional role of responsibility; they are not responsible and by all management, but have also part of the company to say the least, and equally important, you may be enjoying the status of a task in the family unless they already deans of their families. Experience has shown the impossibility of a complete separation between these roles and responsibilities in spite of all efforts. In spite of this, it is still possible to achieve a lot through good governance systems, one of the responsibilities that need to give top priority in corporate governance.
Leadership within the framework of the family firm draws attention to human resources. In order to cope with the troubled global economy it becomes necessary to assemble the strongest possible team of experts to assist the leaders of the company. The issue of the appointment a difficult issue, despite the large abundance now in the number of skilled employees who have become redundant need for companies by the crisis. Moreover, the leaders of family businesses need to deal with the expectations of family members and the issue of migrant education and training. There are new generations are flocking to the family business, they may have different ideas of technology and progress, and may be in their imagination to imagine a different future for the company. The mission of the family company commander to evaluate new developments objectively as much as possible, and to encourage new initiatives while at the same time on the core family values.
Dealing with the company's image
The reliance on the family name alone has become difficult with the increasing invasion of globalization and international competition at the expense of regional features. It must be directed towards the leadership capacity to maintain, at the same time enhance the image of the family business in the eyes of the outside world. It's important to cherish and take pride in what we have gained the reputation over the previous time periods, but the competition with international companies require us to use textured planning external communications and to avoid dissemination of inaccurate information, whether in the media or through the business community method.
Strengthen the communication process
External communication is only one of the aspects that the leaders of family businesses always need to put it into account. It comes on the equally important contact at the domestic level. The quality of communication is a key factor for the continuity of the family business. The rapid growth that has occurred on technology to increase the size of the gaps between the different generations have contributed. And leaders of family businesses need to take into account these differences, where they constitute a great danger threatening cases of misunderstanding, whereas if it is handled well, it provides greater opportunities.
Maintaining the values and renewal at the same time
One of the biggest challenges faced by leaders of family businesses is the spirit of innovation while maintaining the core values of their families at the same time. The loss of family values imply the loss of value of their reputation and status, which would affect the company at all levels. However, most importantly, to family values is a kind of internal link or serves as an implicit guidance for family members as well as employees from outside the family. The preservation of these values meant to strengthen the company's identity.
In fact, the question of leadership is essentially a question of the stability of the principle, or what we call the lack of a double standard. No one expects to be the leader of infallible, there is no us of it as well. However, the role of leadership implies an inevitable and automatic guidance and inspiration. Consistency is an important issue, as a respected those who can defend their decisions and bear the consequences. It turns firm on principle, not only through words but mostly through acts: Who will defend those who followed him? Who applied against the reward at a time when the rest lose their jobs? It is a question of consistency between what is said and done and then it comes to the integrity of the person who sits alone at the top. Although we may tend to think that companies are only machines to pump money, and that we must from time to time to reduce their expenditures, we are all aware that the company manage its meaning dealing with human beings of different orientations and visions, even if they belong to the same family. It is becoming increasingly difficult to continue to focus on long-term goals within a rapidly changing environment and rotation.
Although it is certain that the issue of revision of the leadership strategy when someone ordered varies from case to case, the fact that the current climate needs strong leaders companies have a lot of visions of the enlightened and the ability and the capability to expand their horizons. No longer the complexities of the global economy will allow the decision-maker to assume full responsibility alone. And knowledge required for enlightened leadership, which is to know you can not expect its presence in possession of a single person, you must acquire a collective effort and directing them to keep the companies in the long term. Hence, one can say that the new era of leadership motto that the leaders of corporate performance, whether it is family-owned businesses or otherwise, will be subject to the performance of those around them quality.


text:
RICHMOND – The Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) and Growth4VA, a campaign to promote reform and reinvestment in Virginia's nationally acclaimed higher education system, is pleased to announce that Gubernatorial candidates Ed Gillespie and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam today endorsed Growth4VA at the 2017 Virginia Summit on Higher Education and Economic Competitiveness. The Summit brought together Virginia business and higher education leaders and stakeholders, members of the General Assembly, and major-party gubernatorial candidates, Lt. Governor Ralph Northam and Ed Gillespie, to discuss the impact of higher education on economic competitiveness in Virginia.
Gil Minor, Chairman of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, said, "Creating jobs and opportunity through higher education is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it is a Virginia issue and we are pleased to receive both Ed Gillespie's and Lt. Gov. Northam's endorsements of Growth4VA today. The endorsements by both major-party candidates demonstrate the importance of higher education's role in the success of Virginia's economy. The Virginia Business Higher Education Council and Growth4VA are pleased that our next Governor understands the significance of Virginia's universities, colleges, and community colleges and the tremendous economic impact they have on our commonwealth. Growth4VA will remain focused on working with our elected officials and business leaders to put forth commonsense solutions to grow the Virginia economy, expand access to education and job opportunities for all Virginians, and regain Virginia's #1 ranking for business."
Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, Candidate for Governor, said, "We have so much to be proud of in Virginia with our colleges and universities. They are best in the world and that certainly contributes to our economy and workforce development. We are in the midst of a technology revolution here in the Commonwealth, and the way we need to move forward is through innovation and having the best talent in the world. The Growth4VA initiative will help us reach these critical goals."
Ed Gillespie, Candidate for Governor, said, "My higher education agenda is focused on increasing opportunity for all Virginians. My policies are centered around talent and innovation that will help get the Virginia economy growing again. In fact, much of what I've put forward is reinforced by Growth4VA, as well as the Virginia Chamber's workforce initiatives and the State Council of Higher Education's strategic plan. I look forward to working together to emphasizes our shared vision for much broader-based collaboration and partnership between business and our colleges and community colleges."
About Growth4VA: Growth4VA is a campaign of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, an organization founded by Virginia business leaders on the principle that the prosperity of Virginia and the well-being of its citizens is fundamentally tied to access to a strong system of public colleges and universities. Growth4VA is a broad-based, bipartisan coalition of Virginians who support reform and reinvestment in our higher education system to help grow the Virginia economy, expand access to education and job opportunities for all Virginians, and regain Virginia's #1 ranking for business. To learn more about the Growth4VA campaign, including the current economic impact of Virginia's higher education system and the Growth4VA coalition's plans for expanding economic growth and opportunity in Virginia, visit the campaign website at www.Growth4VA.com.


text:
A common step throughout my design process and work is to gather as much data as possible. Ask a lot of questions, collaborate, define the problem and objectives, gather user insight and behaviour (Want an actionable plan of this? Use the lean UX design canvas) and then before reaching a visual solution create an inventory of design patterns, visual inspiration and collate all my notes etc. and then expand from there. I like notes, lots of them. To use my skills as a designer to join disparate bits of data into information. And to leverage this information to guide/form the solution. It sounds all organised and shit, but in all honesty the process is quite fluid and scrappy.
A great tool that I've been using lately to help me with this phase is Milanote (this is not a sponsored plug). I've just found it really useful and wanted to share it with this community. The fluidness of the tool helps me quickly write notes, gather moodboards, collect various bits of data and information that I can collate and reference quickly. I used to create a lot of documents in indesign. But I like the scrappiness and fluidness of this tool – it feels more collaborative for client feedback and updates. And it almost feels like a digital notebook, which allows me to reference different bits of data and quickly translate and dump my thoughts. Here are some example use cases for milanote:
Great for developing for a scrap board of ideas- gathering quotes, setting up to do lists and deeper references for a project.
Great for visualising user insight and raw data for quick references.
Easy moodboard creations that allow collaborative feedback from clients/stakeholders.
The idea is in the beginning you want to go for volume. It is the divergent phase of the design process. Gather junk so you can find that gem within. You want volume and not finesse.
1. Volume means lots of little ideas with nothing being polished. Disparate pieces of data that can aid a project. Come up with a lot of different ideas that can solve the problem from different angles. Images, text, video, design patterns, data, copywriting, user insight etc.
2. Finesse is when you go deep on an idea/solution and refine the shit out of it. Iterate to find the most effective and feasible solution. That's when you take that volume and finesse it to a solution.
Build those boards and clusters of data, visuals, design patterns and anything that can aid the project. It's easy to open up sketch, photoshop, figma, XD and go to town with the first concept that you come up with. But if you take a holistic view first and spend a little time to explore different options, directions and consider all the variables. You can move away from your base assumptions or your usual patterns of play to stretch yourself creatively but also be more empathetic and considered with your approach.
So try giving Milanote a spin and see if it can aid you with your workflow and design process. Use it for client liaison and collaboration. Use it when you need a tool for complex and scrappy note taking.
Remember design is a process. A process to reach business objectives and to provide value and delight to users. Work that impacts people. There more you start thinking holistically about your work, the more valuable your output will be.


text:
As of today, Other Machine Co. is officially Bantam Tools.
It's been five years and one month exactly since we embarked on a journey to design desktop manufacturing tools for the classroom on a government contract. Through Kickstarter, venture capital funding, and acquisition earlier this year, the mission has never changed: we aim to dramatically increase the accessibility of CNC machines.


text:
With all the snow we had last weekend, we've dreaming of a winter weddings over here. If you're considering a winter wedding, then keep scrolling for some beautiful inspiration. Starting with a stunning winter themed wedding cake.
All pictures from Pinterest. Whatever season you are planning your wedding in we'd love to walk with you through your gown finding experience! To book an appointment call the store at 519.245.7997 or book online at www.onceuponatimeweddings.ca/appointment


text:
A Contemporary Approach to Race, Class, and Gender
- Authors:
- Lisa A. Keister, Duke University, North Carolina
- Darby E. Southgate, Los Angeles Valley College
- Date Published: January 2012
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521680028
This textbook reflects a hybrid approach to studying stratification. It addresses the knowledge accumulated by stratification scholars and challenges students to apply this information to their social world. Features include: • The text is divided into basic concepts (theoretical and methodological) and applications (e.g., to class, poverty, mobility, education, gender, race). • Each chapter includes a list of key concepts, questions for thought, suggested exercises, and multimedia resources (print, internet, and films). • A unique methodological chapter provides students the skills they will need to be able to read contemporary sociological literature. • The selection of chapters and chapter content provide students a sense of the topics, questions, and research that dominate contemporary research on social stratification and inequality. • Research-oriented approach reflecting the field of stratification studies. Additional ancillary material may be found at www.stratificationandinequality.comRead more
- Reflects a hybrid approach to studying stratification
- Encourages students to apply their learning in the social world
- Supported by current and up-to-date research
- Each chapter includes a list of key concepts, questions for thought, suggested exercises and multimedia resources
Reviews & endorsements
"At long last, here's a text that straightforwardly lays out the structure of inequality in our New Gilded Age, without a hint of obfuscation and without the usual distracting polemics. After the facts are laid bare, Keister and Southgate turn just as deftly to describing the mechanisms behind them, the policies that affect them, and the reasons for and against caring about them. A gem of a book." – David B. Grusky, author of The Inequality Reader: Contemporary and Foundational Readings in Race, Class, and Gender (2011)
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity×
Product details
- Date Published: January 2012
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521680028
- length: 416 pages
- dimensions: 255 x 178 x 22 mm
- weight: 0.7kg
- contains: 41 b/w illus. 40 tables 50 exercises
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
1. Social stratification and opportunities
2. Explaining stratification: theories and ideas
3. Understanding stratification: methods of evaluation
4. Class and the structure of inequality
5. The upper class and the elite
6. The middle class and workers
7. The working poor and the underclass
8. Social mobility
9. Education and inequality
10. Women and their changing positions
11. Race and ethnicity
12. Culture
13. Inequality across the globe
14. Public policy and social stratification.
Instructors have used or reviewed this title for the following courses
- Advanced Topics in Sociology
- American Minority Relations
- American Social Welfare
- Anthropology and Eduation
- Black Man White Law
- Class & Inequality
- Class Status and Power
- Class, Race/Ethnicity , and Gender
- Contemporary Issues/Social Welfare
- Contemporary Social Problems
- Critical Race Theory
- Cultural Diversity in Child/Family Services
- Cultural Pluralism
- Culturally Sensitive Human Service Practice
- Describing Social Inequality
- Diversity and Inequality
- Diversity and Pluralism
- Dynamics of Ethnic Diversity
- Economics of Well-Being
- Ethnic Relations
- Ethnicity and multiculturalism
- Gender Issues in Justice
- Gender and Society
- General sociology
- Globalization, Causes and consequences
- Immigration, Race, Ethnicity and Inequality
- Inequalities in America
- Inequality in China
- Inequality, Politics, and Public Policy
- Institutional Racism
- Intersections of Inequality and Identities
- Intro to Social Problems
- Introd. to Social and Cultural Behavior
- Introduction to Race, ethnicity and gender in public policy
- Introductory Sociology/Race/Ethnic Relations
- Leadership for Diverse Populations
- Leadership for Social Justice
- Mexican and Latin American Migration
- Minority Groups In America
- Modernity, Colonialism, and Capitalism
- Multicultural Relations
- Multicultural Studies
- Policy Development and Analysis
- Politics of Identity
- Politics of Social Welfare and Health Care Policy
- Popular Culture and Crtitical Thinking
- Poverty, Inequality and Discrimination
- Power and Inequality
- Power, Wealth and Poverty
- Principles of Sociology
- Race & Class Inequality
- Race Relations
- Race and Ethnic Relations
- Race and Ethnicity in American Politics
- Race, Class, & Ethnicity
- Race, Gender & The Law
- Rich & Poor in America
- Senior Seminar: Structures and Processes of Inequality
- Social Class and Democracy
- Social Class and Stratification
- Social Class in American Society
- Social Justice and Diversity
- Social Movements:The Black Experience
- Social Stratification
- Social Structures and Processes of Inequality
- Social Theories
- Social Welfare Policy
- Social Work with Diverse Populations
- Sociological Inquiry
- Sociology of the Family
- Stratification
- Structures of Inequality: Race and Class in American Education
- The Social Ladder: Inequality and Diversity in America
- The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
- The Welfare State
- US Race and Ethnic Relation / Sociology of Domestic Violence
- Urban Inequality
- Urban Minority Porblems
- Wealth, Status, Power
- Women and Social Action
- advanced criminology
- comparative race and ethnicity
- gender, society and politics
Sign In
Please sign in to access your account
Not already registered? Create an account now. ×
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email email@example.com Sign in
» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.Continue ×


text:
Every successful business has a unique story, and F.P. Miller Company's is no different. Built upon a storied tradition, excellence in execution, and an eye toward the future, F.P. Miller Co. is perfectly positioned to be your machine service and sales partner.
Founded in 1945 by Francis Paul Miller, the business that took his namesake, F.P. Miller, has staked its claim as a vital part of Michigan's thriving industrial community. In the 70+ years since our humble beginnings, we have continued to grow and expand based upon the original ethos of our founder: listen to each customer's needs, work hard, be professional. While other shops have closed their doors over the years, we have expanded to multiple locations and become a go-to resource for machine shops in Michigan. It's the way F.P. would have wanted it, which is why his grandchildren and staff of experienced technical professionals still run it that way today.
As technology advances, so does modern machinery. It's not uncommon to see one shop working with a range of equipment that spans decades. When something goes wrong, then, the necessary repair may not be so easy to diagnose and, if it is, making the repair could involve a very different skill set. At F.P. Miller Co, we staff full-time technicians well-versed repairing, rebuilding, retrofitting, and upgrade grinders, CNC machines, air compressors, and more, so you can focus on what you do best.
In addition to being a one-stop shop for machine repairs and rebuilds, F.P. Miller Co. also understands the importance of adding additional machines to your shop to facilitate growth. That's why we also offer a full inventory of used machines, including: lathes, boring mills, grinders, CNC machining and turning centers, automatic chuckers and screw machines, presses, coil cradles and straighteners, press brakes and shears. Further, you can see most of these machines under power at our facility in advance and, if for some reason, the machine isn't what you need, we offer a 30-day return privilege on used machine sales.
In addition to a huge selection of used items, we are also a full-service provider of new products from some of the most trusted names in the business, including: Kaeser, Saylor-Beall, Air-Hydraulics, Swisher, Fagor, Bear Claw, Amano, and more.
For more information check out our Youtube page.
F.P. Miller Co.
420 Ingham St.
Jackson, MI 49201
Phone: 517-787-3100
Fax: 517-787-3116
Email: email@example.com
Site Map
All contents and materials © Copyright F.P. Miller 2019
Website design and development by Web Ascender


text:
Terms and Conditions
The following Terms and Conditions apply to the use of this Web site as well as all transactions conducted through the site.
- Legal Notice
50% Deposit due at time of order.
Balance due 30 days prior to shipping.
Rental Advantage 409 N. PCH, Suite 773 Redondo Beach, CA 90277


text:
Man hid camera in Starbucks toilet to spy on customers near MI6's HQ… but accidentally filmed himself as he installed device
Footage shows the dim-witted voyeur peering into the lens as he camouflages the matchbox-sized camera behind a ceiling grate. Cops believe it was in the coffee shop in Vauxhall, South London, for about four weeks
A VOYEUR accidentally filmed himself on a spycam he fitted in coffee shop toilets near MI6's HQ.
He was seen peering up at the device — hidden behind a ceiling grate.
Cops reckon the matchbox-sized camera was at Starbucks in Vauxhall, South London, for about four weeks.
Media manager Ricci Acrcari, 34, who spotted it, said: "You think of creepy people doing something like this but you don't expect it. That cubicle is used by everyone."
A Starbucks worker speculated that the intended target may have been James Bond types from the nearby spy agency.
But police believe the sole purpose was voyeurism.
Revellers romping after boozy nights out may have been caught on camera.
The employee added: "We open at 5am so you can imagine drunk people come out of clubs and in here.
"They go in the toilets and do all sorts of things."
The device was found last November but came to light only when cops released the suspect's photo.
The Met Police said: "The contents of the device have been examined and feature people using the toilet.
"At this stage there is no reason to believe these could have been viewed by anybody other than the police,"
Starbucks stressed it carries out regular loo checks.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at email@example.com or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


text:
KPSC Recruitment 2017
Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) invites Application for the post of 1058 First Division Assistant & Second Division Assistant. Apply Online before 07 October 2017. Qualification/eligibility conditions, how to apply & other rules are given below…
Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Recruitment for First Division Assistant and Second Division Assistant Post 2017
Organization: Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)
Official Website: www.kpsc.kar.nic.in
KPSC Job Details :
- Post Name: First Division Assistant
- No of Vacancy: 507 Posts
- Pay Scale: Rs. 14550-26700/-
- Post Name: Second Division Assistant
- No of Vacancy: 551 Posts
- Pay Scale: Rs. 11600-21000 /-
Eligibility Criteria for KPSC Recruitment :
- Educational Qualification: Candidates Must be the holder of a degree with the computer working knowledge with one-year computer course certificate obtained by an institution recognized by Government of Karnataka or by Society.
- Nationality: Indian
- Age Limit: Minimum & Maximum Age limit is 18 to 35 years as on 07.10.2017
Job Location: Karnataka
KPSC Selection Process: Selection will be based on Preliminary Exam, Main Exam & Personality test.
Application Fee: Candidates should have to pay Rs.300/- for General Merit, Rs.150/- for 2A, 2B, 3A & 3B Category through e-Payment Post Offices Only. there is no fee for SC, ST & Category-1, PH & Ex-MP candidates.
How to Apply KPSC Vacancy: Interested candidates may apply Online through KPSC website www.kpsc.kar.nic.in from 01.09.2017 to 07.10.2017 till 11.45 PM thereafter website link will be disabled.
Important Dates to Remember :
- Starting Date For Submission of Online Application: 01.09.2017
- Last Date for Submission of Online Application: 07.10.2017
- Last Date For Payment of Fee: 09.10.2017
Important Links :
- Detail Advertisement Link: Click Here
- Apply Online: Click Here


text:
The European Commission Representation in the UK in partnership with City University London will be holding a symposium on continental crime writing and its translation into English at the Europe House in London on 21 March 2014.
The introductory lecture will be followed by workshops with authors and translators in which context and culture, vocabulary and street talk will be part of the discussion. Workshop leaders include the following:
Writers: Pia Juul (Denmark); Marcelo Fois (Italy); Dominique Manotti (France) and Domingo Villar (Spain), and
Translators: Silvester Mazzarella (Italian); Ros Schwarz (French); Amanda Hopkinson (Spanish) and Pia Juul (Danish).
Entrance to the event is free but places are limited. To reserve a place please contact Joanna Zywotko.
Download the event poster for programme and registration details.


text:
Long-hauling could be black mark on Las Vegas' GOP convention hopes
Las Vegas is angling to host the 2016 Republican National Convention at the same time the Nevada Taxicab Authority is trying to shake off a reputation for lax enforcement of taxi drivers who long-haul passengers to illegally jack up fares.
Las Vegas is angling to host the 2016 Republican National Convention at the same time the Nevada Taxicab Authority is trying to shake off a reputation for lax enforcement of taxi drivers who long-haul passengers to illegally jack up fares.
It is one of eight cities vying to host the convention, where the GOP will nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates. The competition is fierce because winning the event will bring lots of attention and money to the host — potentially an estimated $400 million to Southern Nevada's economy.
The city is seen as the front-runner because it regularly holds major conventions, some with 150,000 participants, and the city has plenty of hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues, most within walking distance of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the proposed convention site.
A factor in Las Vegas' favor is that McCarran International Airport is just a couple of miles from the famous casino-lined Strip and is a three-mile drive to the convention center. Transportation issues are a greater challenge for other cities in the running, as convention attendees probably would have to take long bus rides rides between their hotels and the convention sites, an inconvenience that has stymied past GOP events.
Any problems with transportation in Las Vegas, including long-hauling by taxicabs, could be a black mark on the city's efforts to lure the Republican National Convention, an event bringing in at least 50,000 visitors.
Here, the airport is also a starting point for visitors to get ripped off by unscrupulous cabbies taking them the long way without their knowledge to hotels on the Strip. A state audit in 2013 estimated that nearly a fourth of sampled taxi rides from the airport were long-hauls, costing passengers about $15 million annually.
Nevadans involved in putting together Las Vegas' convention bid said they were confident that any issue with taxicabs and transportation will be solved by the time the 2016 convention arrives.
"We have complete faith that this issue will be completely resolved long before the 2016 convention," said Jack St. Martin, executive director of Las Vegas 2016.
Dawn Christensen, the senior director of communications for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, also expressed confidence that any taxicab issues will be fixed.
"The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is committed to providing our visitors with the best possible experience in the destination," Christensen said. "We are monitoring the situation and are in regular communication with the Nevada Taxicab Authority regarding any impact on our guest experience."
In recent months, problems have emerged with the Taxicab Authority, the state law enforcement agency charged with regulating all aspects of the taxi industry, including long-hauling. A recorded conversation emerged between the authority's chief investigator, Ruben Aquino, and another investigator, Chris Rivers. In the December 2012 conversation, they acknowledged that cab companies effectively oversee the authority's day-to-day operations and that they cannot be heavy-handed, court records and audio show.
Citation figures also dropped steeply in 2013. The authority's force of 26 investigators wrote just two long-hauling citations in December 2013. For the entire year, the agency wrote 225 citations for long-hauling, down from 425 in 2012.
Taxicab Authority officials have pointed to recent efforts to combat long-hauling, including posted signs with fare information at the airport and the authority's stepped-up efforts: 114 long-hauling citations were issued in February.
Political observers say long-hauling is an issue that should be addressed, and transportation is just one of myriad priorities for a city that wants to host a national presidential convention.
Brian Wahby, an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee, was part of an unsuccessful effort by St. Louis to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
"I think they should be concerned, only to the extent that they can't resolve the issue prior to being selected and prior to the actual convention," Wahby said.
In St. Louis' case, transportation got a look, primarily from the broader standpoint of capacity, not long-hauling.
Other areas come into play in attracting political conventions. Those include the availability of convention center space and hotel rooms and whether the convention's location is in a swing state such as Nevada, possibly tipping the scales in a candidate's favor.
Political conventions aside, Wahby said it would seem that officials would want to address the problem, given Nevada's reliance on tourism and travel.
"I've got to believe whether or not you're bidding for any national political campaign, it behooves the government to resolve the issue," he said.
Long-hauling could be a factor that party officials consider when looking at the logistics, said Martin Johnson, professor and chairman of political science at University of California, Riverside.
"If there's things like long-hauling going on, that seems to me like something I can imagine them being concerned and the party looking at issues like: 'Are we partially responsible for bringing people into a community where they get ripped off?' " he said.
But, he stressed, that's one consideration among others, like what backdrop Las Vegas would provide a convention.
State officials remain sensitive to media coverage of the Taxicab Authority and long-hauling, and the national image it gives Las Vegas.
"It is difficult to change public opinion but we must turn this around so that our residents and visitors aren't reading national headlines about getting ripped off by cabdrivers," Bruce Breslow, director of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, wrote in an email to staffers of the taxicab authority, which is within his department.
It's a delicate time in the selection process for any problems to crop up because the Republican National Committee's Site Selection Committee is in the middle of reviewing bids from the cities.
Five of the cities presented their bids to the RNC Site Selection Committee on March 3 in Washington, D.C. But a storm delayed presentations by Las Vegas, Dallas and Cincinnati, which are scheduled to present their convention plans to the GOP panel on Friday.
Ryan Mahoney, an RNC spokesman, said the party isn't prejudging any city. Asked about the problem of long-hauling in Las Vegas, Mahoney said: "We're not commenting on any specific bids at this time."
Said Lee Haney, spokeswoman for the Livery Operators Association, which represents 77 percent of the taxis and limousines on Clark County streets: "It (long-hauling issue) definitely doesn't help."
Owner Brent Bell of Bell Transportation and director Jonathan Schwartz of Yellow Checker Star say they haven't heard of any pressure being exerted to "solve the long-haul problem" in regards to the convention.
Another cab company owner said long-hauling isn't limited to Las Vegas.
"I think the majority of conventioneers and people who travel, from the beginning of time, have been long-hauled in New York and Chicago. You know — 'Didn't I see that building twice on this ride?' You've heard those stories everywhere in cities," said George Balaban, owner of Desert Cab.
"So I don't think the issue of customers being cheated by cabdrivers is anything new. You have those kinds of stories in Chicago and New York and any big city where people don't live there and are unfamiliar."
Review-Journal writer Richard N. Velotta contributed to this report. Contact reporter Ben Botkin at email@example.com or 702-405-9781. Follow him on Twitter @BenBotkin1. Contact reporter Laura Myers at firstname.lastname@example.com or 702-387-2919. Follow her on Twitter @lmyerslvrj.


text:
Free ground shipping on purchases over $100 shipped within the U.S.
M18 Titan Glove
Style# 1100350
Free ground shipping on orders over $100*
Size: xlView Sizing Chart »
Color: blk
DAKINE M18 Titan Glove
Insert: GORE-TEX® + Gore Warm technology / Waterproof and breathable
Insulation: High loft synthetic [ 110 / 230g ]
Palm: Durable water repellent leather
Shell: Poly with DWR treatment
Lining: 150g Tricot
External waterproof zippered stash pocket / heat pack pocket
Nose wipe thumb panel
Removable storm liner glove: Touch screen compatible 280g 4x4 stretch fleece
Customer Reviews
No reviews have been written for this product.
Be the first one! – Write a Review


text:
Preferred Pet Friendly Accommodation!
Pet friendly vacation condo rentals. Maravilla Resort is a beautiful seaside community with affordable family vacation rentals located on the Gulf of Mexico at Destin, Florida. Maravilla offers deeded beach access and is close to everything Destin, Florida has to offer. Beach Retreat Condominiums affords luxury accommodations for your pet friendly family vacation. Just walk across the 2 lane beach road and you are at the most beautiful sugar white beaches in the world. Plan your next Florida vacation at Destin's newest condo complex. Leeward Key Condominiums, a 12 story, 70 unit complex, offers magnificent views of the Gulf. This is one of Destin's newest low density condos. Feel right at home in Destiny West, a gated community with lovely Caribbean style homes and beach cottages, extraordinary amenities and quiet streets. Enjoy your next holiday at a condominium just a few steps away from the most beautiful sugar white beaches and crystal clear water in the world, the Emerald Coast.
Pet Policy
Please call for pet approval. These pet friendly vacation rentals do not rent to aggressive pets whether they are aggressive to other pets or people. Each pet must be approved after speaking with the pet parent. Pet size and weight are not an issue.
Pet Amenities
Pet walking areas are available.
Rates from
ReservationsBook Online or call 888-359-3030
Address & Contact:
2746 Scenic Gulf Drive #402
Destin, FL 32550
United States
Visit Website
2746 Scenic Gulf Drive #402
Destin, FL 32550
United States
Visit Website
Features and Amenities
- Wireless internet
- In season - 2 chairs and umbrella set up every day at the beach .


text:
- Writes scathing intra-office memo after finding employees playing "Catch" in the corridors of the Daily Moralist. It's about gaming in ethics journalism.
- A new law designed to dissuade people from stealing DS and Vita charging cables from each other as they travel from place to place. It's about ethics in gaming journeymen.
- A stoned discussion about the right or wrong of Mario massacring every living thing he meets on his way to the Princess. It's about the ethics of the gaming journey, man.
- The diaries of researchers using a Matrix to investigate game theory as applied to various Benthamite theories of society. It's about journals in ethics gaming sims.
- Taking damage to the speech center. It's about journics in ething gamalism.
- Having sex with someone who dresses all in black every day. It's about effing in gothic diurnalism.
- Treating wounds with prepared plant material before modern medicine. It's about medics employing herbalism.
- Scoring on multiple targets by firing large numbers of small vaned darts in a sharpshooting competitions. It's about flechettes in aiming tournaments.
- Rides an Acherus Deathcharger to a quest in Azeroth. It's about epics in gaming journey sims.
- We're guaranteed to lose because we have three snipers and no healers. It's about medics in gaming determinism.
- It's wrong to take bets on how long people will twitch due to St Vitus' Dance. It's about ethics in gaming ergotism.
- Some assholes don't believe that their bias is a stupid preference for bad old days? It's about skeptics and blaming conservatism.
- Some backwards rejects from the gene pool believe that girls can't enjoy hobbies? It's about genetics inflaming paternalism.
- Reads #gamergate. It's immature misogynists pissing on their own hobby in a failed attempt to prevent others from enjoying it.
More gatehate with


text:
|Sighting Report
|Occurred : 1/29/2004 17:00 (Entered as : 01/29/2004 17:00)
Reported: 1/30/2004 4:14:22 PM 16:14
Posted: 1/31/2004
Location: Hartford, CT
Duration:1 minute
|2 very unusual possibly related events correspond in time with no explanantion in Connecticut.
there was a mysterious power blowout affecting thousands in the Manchester CT area last night. I, in Hartford, witnessed an arcing sensation outside and the lights/ tv and computer dimmed briefly/ a pop noise and appliances/lights kind of fizzled. It was exceptional in that I felt that something big had happened.
That night on coast to coast, a caller from the another corner of the state(Westport, CT) related to George Noory on coast to coast that he witnessed an incredibly huge craft thousands of feet in the air with blinking lights and an antenna coming down from its underside. It was over US95 in Westport. the local utilities and newstation claim today they are puzzled byt the electrical failure.


text:
Interview with Habitat Skateboards and adidas skateboarding rider, Silas Baxter-Neal. Curated for Sidewalk Magazine 'Redux' Volume Two. Continue reading
Category Archives: Adidas
Dennis Busenitz – 'Away Days' Interview
"Yeah, I don't know if I'm particularly proud of my parts or whatever, just looking back at them reminds me of a whole era of my life. Bad fashion choices, tricks and just different times." Continue reading
Benny Fairfax & Chewy Cannon – 'Away Days' Interview
"The media is so quick and fast now that people expect something everyday so you can kind of get lost in filming a three-year project, but it's good to see the final thing. I mean; I feel proud to be part of this video just because of how many people are in it." Continue reading
Silas Baxter Neal on Habitat Skateboards, Joe Castrucci, Family Life & 'Away Days'
"I mean, Joe fought tooth and nail to keep Habitat alive. He's done everything he possibly can. There have been some good moments and some really bad moments throughout the history but Joe has dedicated his life to it. To know that someone is doing that for something that you feel strongly about really makes it hard to think about being somewhere else." Continue reading


text:
Archive for April, 2010
Spring break and the howl of the Wulfe Brothers
Sitting in my office it is as if there is no wall between this room and the meeting room and currently, the Wulfe Brothers are singing to a crowd of 130+ and my chair is moving with the music. Nice. There are two more shows today!
I brought back the book The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen without finishing it, since it has other holds on it, I put my name back on it. A book where a girl has a room in an old house, living with her grandfather whom she had never met before, where her wallpaper changes to suit her mood is just too neat not to read.
Have you ever noticed that once you have a notice that there is a book on hold for you, then three more follow almost immediately? It happened to me on the end of the aforementioned visits to Powell's bookstore, so had I had to let some of them come back as a responsible reader. I DID keep the book about Dogscaping Your Garden out of respect for the labs and for the sake of the season.
Hamish is now working the case of Death of a Cad. Lobsters devouring a murdered corpse is a new one on me and I resolve not to think about that too much.
We will be closed the week of the 11th for re-carpeting and re-shelving the fiction. If you read a certain author you will find all of their books together in one place.
Get stocked up NOW.
Happy reading!
The Thing on the Wing
On the way home from attending the Public Library Association Conference in Portland, Oregon, it was my distinct pleasure to spend the time on the flight towards Paducah reading a collection of Richard Matteson's short stories entitled, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. I found a used copy at Powell's bookstore. As a biblioholic, that is the penultimate store which sits on a whole city block and is three stories of used and new books carefully color coded. Oh, my. In fact, I purchased that one the second trip I made to the store. My first trip I went a little bazinga in the literature section having found a prime 1st addition James Thurber and a collection of William Cowper poetry that I did not own (the Thurber replaces one in my bookshelf that is not as prime- look for it at the Friends book sale in July).
'Tis the season for chasing rabbits. I digress, Richard Matheson wrote many of the original Twilight Zone scripts and is a favorite of mine for the sheer terror he produces. Reading the original Nightmare on a four-five hour flight from Portland to Chicago is a supreme pleasure that I can highly recommend to anyone and especially those who associate William Shatner or John Lithgow with the story. They were wonderful, but the story is even better.
The flight to Portland was spent with Hamish McBeth, a Scottish constable brought to us by M. C. Beaton and eventually in a series on BBC. The book was being read to me by my Ranger on the way to the airport so I checked the book out in order to find out what happens next. The library book was mailed back home. I finished it before de-planing. Hamish is brilliant but wants to stay under the radar because he refuses to accept a promotion, loving the Scottish countryside and his bizarre animals more than the idea of fortune or fame. No one gets knocked off in M. C. Beaton unless they "had it comin'". If Hamish delights you, also check out Agatha Raisin. They are both in series that will seduce you to read them all and still starve for more.
Respectfully Submitted,
JulieRead Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )


text:
CDD will be hosting our 3rd Annual Community Meeting for Catalyzing Humanitarian and Commercial Drug Discovery Research on Oct 1, 2009, at the J. David Gladstone Institutes at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus.
For more information, click here.
This blog is authored by members of the CDD Vault community. CDD Vault is a hosted drug discovery informatics platform that securely manages both private and external biological and chemical data. It provides core functionality including chemical registration, structure activity relationship, chemical inventory, and electronic lab notebook capabilities!
CDD Vault: Drug Discovery Informatics your whole project team will embrace!


text:
"Rick and Morty" Season 3 might see the return of Evil Morty. Co-series creator Justin Roiland teased the character's return on social media.
Roiland, who also serves as one of the voice actors, may have given a major "Rick and Morty" Season 3 spoiler in a previous Twitter post. The showrunner shared a concept art that hints at the return of Evil Morty. The art features Rick and three versions of his grandson Morty.
Roiland confirmed that the art is for "Rick and Morty" Season 3 although he did not provide further details about it. It is interesting to point out though that the three Mortys seemingly represent different personalities. The one seated on the ground has that mischievous look on his face, which may remind fans of Evil Morty. The other two Mortys appear harmless enough.
However, the only difference is that this mischievous looking Morty does not have Evil Morty's trademark eye patch. Still, it would be interesting to see the character return in "Rick and Morty" Season 3, especially amid theories that good Morty could turn evil because of Rick.
Also: yes- I'm working on S3 while here. Hard at work. Hustling. Sneak preview: pic.twitter.com/md2aSlasCH
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) January 22, 2017
Speculations are rife that good Morty turns into the Evil Morty because he rebels against his grandfather in "Rick and Morty" Season 3. A report from Den of Geek mentioned that a conflict develops between the titular characters and the catalyst is Beth and Jerry's divorce. Rick admitted in the premiere episode that it was his plan for Morty's parents to separate. The teenager did not take his confession kindly.
Meanwhile, Ryan Ridley, one of the show's writers, also hinted at the return of Evil Morty in an interview with Y Combinator. He acknowledged that fans are curious about the return of certain characters and teased that they might just bring Evil Morty back in "Rick and Morty" Season 3.
"The fact that anybody cares about characters that were introduced once in season one, and like intriguing ideas, like the eye-patch Morty, who's the evil Morty, you know, was that character gonna come back? In ['Rick and Morty' Season 3] I think that we stay true to the idea of those, the world is real, there are consequences," Ridley said.© 2019 Mstars News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


text:
Results for May 24, 2008
Attached are the current standings for this cribbage season through today
and below are today's tournament results.
CONGRATULATIONS to Cindy Grenville for taking FIRST PLACE today!
Jim Ranstrom once again got the $5 First 24-Hand prize, Karen Keil got a $5 "Worst Game Card" prize,
and Steve Wennstrom got THE CHICKEN and hung onto it to the bitter end
and took that $10 prize!
Steve secured 2nd Place today, and it was exciting to see Arlyn Teed earn 12 Grass Roots points!!
Next Saturday will be our final Grass Roots tournament of the season,
which runs from September thru May.
We will continue to play each week over the summer,
but it won't count towards Grass Roots points or prizes.
(Same $8 entry and same cash payouts.)
Since next week will be our final tournament of the season,
I hope you'll plan to join us and show your support for this club,
especially if you haven't played with us in a while!
It has been a very successful year for our club,
and I'm hoping we can add even more members next year!
Next weekend I am expecting a VERY exciting showdown between Steve and JIm!
You won't want to miss it!!
Leave a Reply.
June 2019


text:
For those who enjoy fresh air by the seaside on their holiday whilst soaking up the sun, this is your own German heaven! The coastal city of Bremerhaven is bigger than Cuxhaven and is popular amongst Germans and holidaymakers coming from abroad! As part of Bremen, the harbour here is intrigueing and many spend their days checking this out, or head to the Museum of Sea Travel (Schifffahrtsmuseum) to learn more about this city. Larger cities to visit here include Bremen and Hannover. With great transport links offering throughout the state, it is easy to get around and visit as many places as possible. If you think you will be travelling around whilst on holiday in Germany, then make sure you purchase a Schönes Wochenende Ticket from Deutsche Bahn. Valid for up to 5 people, the ticket is valid for one day on either a Saturday or Sunday and prices start from €40. this is a great way to travel round!
If you fancy heading somewhere slightly smaller and not on the coast, the university town of Göttingen is a beautiful town to walk around with your family and check out the fantastic architecture and vibrant lifestyle of this little metropolis in the heart of Lower Saxony. The markets here are some of the best in Germany so make sure you pop down if you visit or book a holiday apartment here. The town of Lüneberg, 28 miles from the second largest city in Germany, Hamburg, is great town to visit for all the family. Extremely picturesque, there are many museums and spas to visit in this university town. A relaxing location with still plenty of things to do, make sure you plan a trip to Lower Saxony today.
This is where you can find your reminder list,
recently viewed accommodations and lots more!


text:
EPLZ<21 Showcase Auditions and Eureka Palooza
It's all about music, food, bouncy castles, games, vendors and fun galore at the 4th annual EurekaPalooza Outdoor Festival taking place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Lake Leatherwood fields in Eureka Springs.
This family friendly- festival features two stages for non-stop musical entertainment, including a showcase of talented young musicians from around the area. You'll hear everything from rock to bayou reggae and bluegrass to red dirt under a big sky with a grassy dance floor.
A Kid Zone will include bounce houses, games, slides, activities, and art opportunities. Admission is a suggested donation of $1, and proceeds benefit Clear School, an Independent school in Eureka Springs that provides a hands-on education to pre-primary – 12th grade students in Northwest Arkansas.
New this year is the EPLZ<21 Showcase. The idea for the showcase sprung from the popularity of the some wonderful performances last year by High School students from Clear Spring School and Benton County School of the Arts. A public audition for slots at the EPLZ<21 Showcase will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 in the Basin Spring Park. It will also serve as entertainment during the Eureka Springs Downtown Network's monthly Fun After 5 event. Selected performers will go on to play the showcase at EurekaPalooza in September. The Fun After 5 event is free and open to everyone.


text:
Now in its fifth season, viewers seemingly can't get enough of ABC's Shark Tank. It's half drama, half business lesson and provides a taste of the fast pace, do-or-die entrepreneurial lifestyle. While it's certainly a Hollywood look at business pitches and ideas, it yields some interesting and valuable lessons for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Next time you're tuned in, keep an eye out for the following lessons and more.
10 Business Lessons From Shark Tank
Lesson #1: Passion is a Must
From the first 15 seconds of a pitch on Shark Tank, viewers have a pretty good idea of whether or not there will be any interest from the Sharks. Even when no financials or other pertinent details have surfaced, much is said through how the entrepreneur carries him or herself. A monotonous, poorly scripted pitch sets aspiring entrepreneurs behind and necessitates a recovery at some point. An energetic, well-developed pitch positions them ahead and intrigues investors from the get-go.
Lesson #2: Do Not Overextend
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make on Shark Tank is going back on their original asking price. Time after time, an entrepreneur will get the exact offer he or she asked for but then hesitate on the deal. The greed of the moment causes them to attempt to squeeze out a few more dollars. Never go back on your word if you want to be honest and gain respect. If you do, one day it will come back to bite you.
Lesson #3: Go All In
Being an entrepreneur is all about risk and reward. To get the latter, you need a healthy dose of the former. Many entrepreneurs have a great idea – and one that works well – but fail to attract investors because they still have another full-time job. The Sharks often turn down entrepreneurs because their focus isn't 100% on their idea. While you have to do what's best for your family and personal situation, understand that investors appreciate and respect someone who is all in.
Lesson #4: Build a Team
Another characteristic the Sharks like to see is a strong core team; key word being team. While solo teams do work, there are advantages to a strong, cohesive team with complementary skillsets. Investors typically prefer this for a number of reasons, including an ability to take on more responsibility and increased flexibility.
Lesson #5: Know Your Business
There is one sure-fire way to destroy a pitch and scare off investors: not knowing your business inside and out. If potential investors ask for a statistic, financial figure, product specification, or key insight, you must have an answer. If you don't, you have to be quick on your feet to figure it out or point to another fact that addresses the issue. Sharks and investors are not keen on entrepreneurs who don't know 100% of the facts regarding their business.
Lesson #6 Establish a Bottom Line
When going into a pitch or proposal situation, it's important to have a bottom line for negotiations. In Shark Tank, entrepreneurs rarely get exactly what they ask for. There are usually negotiations – which are typically lower than the original asking price. With that truth in mind, it's important to set an absolute bottom line that you will not cross. This ensures you won't be swayed by the heat of the moment.
Lesson #7: Master the Pitch
Simply put: you must master the art of the pitch. Unless you're self-sufficient and can fund your own ventures, you will need to ask for resources at some point. Whether you're asking your brother or a venture capitalist, a good pitch is needed. It should be simple, comprehensive, and enticing. Next time you're watching Shark Tank, spend time grading each pitch. What are they good at? What do they lack? Consider giving them a grade for each of the factors above – simple, comprehensive, and enticing – to learn more about mastering the art of the pitch.
Here's an example of what not to do:
Lesson #8: Is Your Product Proprietary?
You'll hear the word 'proprietary' thrown around a lot on Shark Tank. That's because investors are interested in something that is both unique and promising. When pitching your idea, make sure you provide concrete details about some proprietary feature of your product and what sets it apart from the competition.
Lesson #9: Think Long-Term
Investors love entrepreneurs who think long-term. You should have a 6-month, 1-year, and 5-year plan for your product or idea. This proves you are looking beyond the short-term and well into the future. Long-term thinkers are not blinded by small issues in the present because they know where they are going and how to get there. The Sharks love a plan and usually have more confidence in someone who has their eyes on the future.
Lesson #10: Equity Isn't Everything
It can be scary to give up equity in your business, but don't let it keep you from taking on investors. If the investor has the right skillset or experience, it can be worth the tradeoff. Equity is certainly valuable, but so is having a mentor. Don't be afraid of giving up equity to the right individual – especially when it's one of the Sharks.
10 Business Lessons From Shark Tank
What You Didn't Know About Shark Tank
Even for die-hard Shark Tank fans, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that you may not be aware of. Here are just a few of those:
- Entrepreneurs are required to give up either 5% equity or 2% of future profits to the producers – just for being on the show.
- If you pay attention, you will notice that Kevin O'Leary sets the pace for each segment. He has an earpiece that the producers use to prod him to ask questions or set up commercial breaks.
- According to reports, as much as 40-50% of segments don't make it to the final broadcast cut. According to one source, season 3 shot 82 segments, but only aired 52.
While the show is certainly a Hollywood version of real life, it also provides viewers with valuable business lessons. Next time you watch, focus on what you can take away. If you look close enough, you may just learn something!
What's the biggest lesson you've learned from watching Shark Tank?
This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community: 10 Business Lessons From Shark Tank
More Business articles from Business 2 Community:
- Why You Shouldn't Give Your Social Media Audience the Content They Want
- Why You Can't Ignore the Customer Experience
- Discover The Power Within You: Storytelling and Content Marketing
- Top 5 Ways to Motivate Your Employees. It's Easier Than You Think.
- Understanding Content Strategy: What Resonates with Real Users


text: Chef Cohen was the Chef de Cuisine at Bouley in 1992 and hired Matthew to his first position of Garde Manger in David Bouley's kitchen. Chef Cohen since returned to native Rochester and opened the finest restaurant on the shores of Lake Ontario in an historic and renovated building. After Matthew and Wendy bought Carl's/Plates, they flew for an overnight to Rochester to celebrate in the Rio Bamba dining room with Gretchen and Jay Cohen, and learn what they could about becoming restaurateurs.


text:
Last night Lifetime Television aired an encore presentation of its original movie, America, a story of a teenaged youth caught in the web of the foster care system. Based on the book "America" by E.R. Frank and executive produced by Rosie O'Donnell, America gives a voice to the hundreds of thousand children who slip between the cracks of broken homes and find themselves in search of self, home, and family.
The story opens with an emotionally withdrawn America (Philip Johnson) arriving at a Michigan residential treatment facility where he meets and gradually develops a relationship with his psychiatrist, Dr. Maureen Brennan (O'Donnell). Skeptical of his peers and other adults, America is resistant to opening up about his past and participating in team-building activities with the other residents. His reasoning is portrayed through a series a flashbacks in which we come to see that America has been twice abandoned; first by his birth mother, a drug addict, and then by his original foster parents, who rejected him on the basis of his skin color.
At the center of America's crisis is his relationship with his favored foster mother, Mrs. Harper (Ruby Dee) and her brother, Reggie (Tim Rhoze). Supportive and nurturing, Mrs. Harper shows America an unconditional love that he did not receive with his mother and offers to become his adoptive mother. However, after a failed reunification attempt with his birth mother and a subsequent return to Mrs. Harper's home, America becomes a victim of child molestation at the hands of Reggie. His abuse lasts for 6 years eventually causing him to run away, self-medicate through alcohol (introduced to him by his abuser), and attempt suicide. As America reveals the truth of his painful past in therapy and makes amends with Mrs. Harper he is able to let down his guard and begin to trust once more.
America's story is all too familiar to those who know the ins and outs of the foster care system in this country. Though Mrs. Harper's certainly do exist in great numbers they pale in comparison to the number of homes where neglect, substance dependency, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse abound. Regrettably, in situations like these where the children have no voice emotions are oftentimes displayed through negative behaviors, coping mechanisms, and belief systems that make their navigation through the foster and residential care systems much more difficult. What happens when once-trusted adults are no longer trustworthy? Very few foster youth are adopted and become a part of a fragmented system that offers a temporary fix from family-to-family, social worker-to-social worker, until ultimately, the youth "ages-out" of the system and is left to care for self while jobless, homeless, and clueless. There is more work to do.
America brilliantly illustrates the dynamics between a therapist and client. A social worker, I identified most with Rosie O'Donnell's character who draws America in through a delicate push-pull balance of compassion and challenge. She comes down to America's level and is able to connect with him through his recreational interests while at the same time giving just enough tidbits of guidance to draw him closer to self-discovery. I've found that some of my best work with clients came outside of the office where I had to use creativity and spontaneity to facilitate the soul-searching process. Well done. And though I found it difficult at times to focus the message rather than the artistic merits of the film (Johnson overacted a bit too much for my taste- but hey, it is a Lifetime movie), I give America 4 Siggy's for its realistic portrayal of the experiences of foster youth and guided discovery in the therapeutic process.
For another great big screen depiction of foster youth and the power of therapy be sure to check out Denzel Washington's directorial debut in Antwone Fisher.