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Stop killing the dolphins/stop documentary propaganda: The Cove
Who doesn't love dolphins? And who doesn't love spy thrillers? Well, documentary "The Cove" combines both in a bloody, moving piece about annual dolphin hunting in Taiji; what could be wrong with that?
I have become more and more disgusted with documentaries lately. Similar to "Waiting for Superman", "The Cove" presents its case through heart-wrenching footage of dolphin slaughter, juxtaposed with cute shots from TV-show "Flipper!" – it is a masterful work of propaganda, and it is so one-sided that I am hesitant to trust any of it.
Ric O'Barry was the man who captured and trained the dolphins who starred in "Flipper" – he blames himself for starting the dolphin-fad that has since resulted in the capture and killing of thousands of dolphins. He has been arrested countless times, banned from conferences, and is now a full-time activist against dolphin-captivity. He is eccentric, driving around Japan fully masked so as not to attract attention of authorities, who all know who he is and what trouble he brings.
O'Barry, along with director Louie Psihoyos, gather what they call an "Ocean's Eleven Team" of volunteers, including champion free-diver Mandy-Rae Cruickshank, kids from "Surfers for Cetaceans" (includes Hayden Panettiere who cries when they get arrested), and professional camouflage artists to hide high definition cameras in rocks, to get hidden footage. Using heat-sensitive cameras, and going to the cove in the dead of the night black ops style, the documentary momentarily transforms into a Mission Impossible styled film, with the divers running for their lives when fishermen show up with flashlights.
The film portrays locals quite negatively – there is one specific man referred to only as Private Space because "those are the only words he knows in English"; fishermen are shown harassing the cameramen and blocking filming with signs, hats, and their bodies. The film makers are smart enough to cast blame onto the government however, casting these fishermen as "misinformed" and "lied to" – they instead focus on politicians at International Whaling Commission meetings. The director is intelligent; he knows that an audience is hesitant to blame regular people, and so even goes so far as to interview people on the streets of Tokyo, who claim to know nothing about the dolphin catching activities at Taiji, nothing about the toxic mercury levels in dolphin meat, which are going into schoolchildren's' lunches. The film portrays the activities as a conspiracy, with a complex cover-up.
I'm not saying we should kill dolphins; everyone loves dolphins – they are intelligent, interactive, and cute! To be fair, there was a great deal of unexpected and applaudable cooperation in this movie – people were brought together, united by a common cause. At one point, one member of the team set up some DNA analysis equipment in a hotel room; pretty snazzy. But everything was over-exaggerated, there was so much hand-holding, as if the audience couldn't make their own decisions and opinions. When a Japanese magazine and news show accused crewmembers of antagonizing locals in order to get good, angry shots, Psihoyos immediately claimed these were due to fear of profit compromise. Since acquiring the footage, O'Barry has walked around with a TV taped to his chest on several occasions – he even entered a conference on the whaling industry and was immediately escorted out by security; at the Academy Awards, he even had a banner that said "Text DOLPHIN to 44144". (What is it with texting as the new thing?)
Despite controversy surrounding the portrayal of Japanese officials, "The Cove" did screen in Japan. And of course, it screened to great success in the US, snagging the Sundance Audience Award, as well as the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
You can watch it on Netflix or read the script here (http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/c/the-cove-script-transcript-documentary.html) and decide for yourself.
Ponyo on the Cliff!
In classic Miyazaki fashion, "Ponyo" is a story about children. Specifically, a young boy named Sosuke finds a fish-girl and names her Ponyo. The film is magical and wondrous; echoes from "The Little Mermaid" are passed through a Miyazaki filter and loaded with his visual visions. As always, the film is visually striking – Ponyo's father has an underwater castle with rainbow colored magic; Sosuke's mother drives through a storm where waves are literally reaching towering heights. I imagine the movie through the eyes of a child – no one knows really how they must view the story. As a kid, I thought how silly adults were and promised myself that when I grew up, I would certainly set things straight. Alas, I have forgotten all details, remembering only the desire to change, and none of the changes themselves.
I don't know what understanding or explanations a child would have for some of the questions I had about the movie (next time, I must try to find someone young to watch it with, so I can interview him or her afterwards). I ended up accepting things in the movie as they were, letting go of hesitations and uncertainties. Again, I loved how accepting and trusting the adults in Miyazaki's films are: Sosuke's mother believes all the magic that happens to Sosuke from the beginning, stopping her car immediately when Sosuke sees a little girl running on top of the ocean waves.
Drawing from a star studded voice cast, the film's English version was not bad. Tina Fey voices the mother, and Matt Damon the father; we have little siblings Noah Cyrus and a Jonas brother as the children. Cate Blanchett and Liam Neeson are Ponyo's ocean dwelling parents. It seems like everyone has a soft spot for Miyazaki films; either that or Disney's getting bigger budgets for their voice actors.
There's not much to say other than I have always loved the textures of the ocean: "Finding Nemo" did an especially good job handling the depictions of liquid substances. This movie was closer to the lovely childishness of "My Neighbor Totoro", rather than the "Mononoke"-esqye complexities I prefer.
Overall, 4/5 – "Ponyo" is adorable and sweet. See it under a childish state of mind!
<3 Apple
Juno – Orion's Take
A sweet treat that manages to avoid being saccharine with a deft sense of humor and just plain weirdness, this is one film that kept me captured all the way through. Those that know me know that when I get emotionally involved in a movie I will often stop and pause the movie because I'm concerned about the wellbeing of the characters involved and sometimes I'll even yell at the screen.
Such was the case in this well-spun story about a 16-year-old girl's struggle to understand herself in the midst of an unwanted and unexpected pregnancy. Juno (Ellen Page), who is named after the Roman queen of the gods, decides on finding an adoptive home for her child and spins through the world with an attitude that is hard to describe. A mixture of wide-eyed astonishment, cynicism and hope, she is a bundle of contradictions that somehow presents a likeable character: though Juno is rude and sometimes foolish, she can get away with it. In one scene Juno remarks, rather callously, to a woman who cannot get pregnant, that she would never want what is happening to her. We, as viewers, can see the pain flash across the face of Vanessa (played masterfully by Jennifer Garner), but can forgive and even love Juno.
The interaction between a woman who longs to be a mother and an expecting mother who has no idea what she wants is engaging. Jennifer Garner manages to capture the desperation and joy that her character feels throughout the film with elegance, never overdoing it, just putting her heart and soul into showing this flawed but loving woman for who she is. And it works. Her character is one of the best in a film filled with many great characters.
Each character is portrayed with a special eye for their quirks, which makes them all the more human. Juno's father works with heaters and air conditioners, her stepmom is obsessed with dogs and works at a nail salon, her best friend has a "thing" for older, bearded teachers, and her not-really-boyfriend-or-lover runs track and rubs deodorant on his thighs. The support of her friends and family through the film changes Juno in inexplicable ways, and is very sweet. I especially liked the father, who, while living through a father's worst nightmare, never raises his voice at his daughter (which is not to say that he never gets angry) and keeps his good humor and down-to-earth nature all the way through.
This is a movie that is so filled with awkwardness that I felt right at home. The movie, in the words of my partner Apple, is "super cute." I have to agree. Whether it was the sight of Juno's cheeseburger phone, or the way her stepmother stands up for her, something got to me when I watched this film.
5/5 Waffles
With love,
The trailer we saw at "Deathly Hallows"…
Daniel Craig + Harrison Ford; at first this seems to be something quite different from what it ends up being…
When we saw the title, everyone in the theatre was all like WTH?
Why are there so many movies coming out in December?
Check it out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movie/upcoming.php?view=1
There are so many of these movies that I want to see:
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Fighter (CBale + MWahl)
The Tourist (JDepp + AJolie)
Somewhere (Sofia Coppola, 'nuff said)
Which ones do you want to see? Vote on the poll!
The Illusion of Prestige
I remember two very similar movies coming out around the same time a while back, in 2006, both about magicians in the 19th century. I watched "The Illusionist" (which featured a surprisingly well-cast Jessica Biel) relatively soon, but didn't get a chance to see "The Prestige" until last week. I think I'm starting to develop a dislike for Christopher Nolan.
"The Prestige" is a movie about two rival magicians, once friends, who will do anything to outdo the other. Their lives are dedicated to magic, to the extent that as the audience, we are continually asking, "is it worth it?" To Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), the answer is undoubtedly "Yes". There are countless parallels in this film – both men dress up and sabotage the other's show, both men lose someone priceless to magic, both men have unexpected explanations for their tricks.
Both actors did a great job, as did supporting cast Michael Caine (Alfred!), Rebecca Hall (from "The Town"), and Scarlett Johansson (in a "Girl with a Pearl Earring" type act). The story is also a great one, with good magic – Orion especially appreciated this, having always loved magic tricks, and doing a few sleight of hand ones quite well.
There is a twist at the end of the movie, and I think it is this that both delights and bothers me the most. The twist puts small oddities in place, as a good twist should (see "The Sixth Sense), but at the same time, seems so out of place that it could never have been guessed (see "Evelyn Salt", "Book of Eli"). A true master could put something in front of viewers, with everything being just one step away from the audience's grasp, and then reveal it at the end. That is true prestige. To play a trick the audience has no chance of solving is just unfair, in my opinion – it's no trick at all, just showing off.
Yet another Batman arc: Under the Red Hood
I've always loved "Batman". I remember Saturday morning cartoons in my childhood, waking up extra early for 'older' cartoons – mainly, "Sailor Moon", "Batman", and "Superman". Also, "Batman Beyond". That was good stuff.
The only thing I don't like about the Batman franchise is just how massive it is. I read the wikipedia pages for everyone's favorite dark knight for a whole afternoon, and still wasn't done with all the different story arcs by all the different authors and artists. Characters die, are revived, die again, are revived again – it gets tiring after a while.
But back to Batman! He is my favorite superhero! "Under the Red Hood" was a look into his relationship with the second Robin, how he took his death, how he dealt with it. The Joker was again a main villain, and I never seem to get bored of how he is everything we don't expect. I think I've discussed this with several people – the Joker represents the ultimate villain. He is dangerous, incredibly so; his madness knows no bounds. How is the villain in "Dark Knight Rises" going to stand a chance following Heath Ledger's legendary Joker??
Overall, the movie wasn't bad, although Orion protested nonstop through our viewing that "everything was different in the comic". It at least provided a short, pleasant respite from the other heavy dramas I've been perusing.
It's available on Netflix, so all you netflixers out there can check it out!
3/5 - Apple
Daniel Radcliffe (Almost) Nude
As I watched Daniel Radcliffe strip for the eighth time, I couldn't help but wonder if his performance of Equus had made him too comfortable with his own body.
Wait, what? We are talking about Harry Potter here, right?
The first part of the close to the epic series is going to rake in tons of money, despite (or because of) the incessant almost-nudity of its protagonist. But that's not why I had such high expectations for this movie. I can't help but wax nostalgic for a series that has consumed 11 years of my rather short life. Very few other stories hold such hold over my heart.
To say that this movie was magnificent and banal in equal parts would seem to be something of a contradiction. To be perfectly honest, some of the half-hearted attempts to incorporate story lines discarded in the other movies irritated me. Why bother trying to appease purists that won't be satisfied anyway? But when I think about the problems with this movie one thing becomes quite clear: the original casting was prophetic. When watching this movie, you never get irritated at Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Rupert Grint. You might get irritated at Harry, Hermione and Ron, you might even groan in exasperation at the way their actions differ from the books. But they are the closest you will ever get to seeing Harry, Hermione and Ron in the flesh. They no longer have to act: you can see them slipping into character as easily as fish breathe in water.
The poignant parts of this film come from these excellent characterizations. In one scene (everyone in the audience laughed) Harry sees Hermione sitting alone listening to a love song on the radio and on an impulse picks her up and starts dancing. Ridiculous as that might seem in description, it is touching and eerily accurate. We know these characters, and I daresay we love them. Which comes to my next point.
Because this story is such a part of my identity, I can attach myself to the characters that I know from frequent exposure. But what am I supposed to do with a CGI character that appeared extremely scarcely in the movie series? Though the director takes pains to give that particular character more screen time, the tragic scene at the end is scarcely intelligible, at least emotionally speaking. As ***** (I've removed the name for spoiler reasons) lies dying in the arms of Harry, I was torn between sorrow and disgust. "Hurry up and die," I kept thinking, as ***** whispers sweet nothings to his "friend" Harry who never came and visited. I was particularly insulted because this is one scene that made me weep in the book.
But I suspect that this movie is fundamentally whole: the pieces, though rough, cannot help but fit together. And the glue holding it fast are the three main characters we've seen grow over the span of nine years. Welcome to the end, Harry Potter.
4/5 Waffles
- Orion
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 – Apple – 5/5
Orion and I didn't quite get to the midnight premiere, but we did get free HP7 cups from the Great Room. Tickets provided by Seabury, we went to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" as a group on Saturday night, and although we arrived an hour before the movie started, the line to get good seats already wound around two corners of the theatre hallway. Did I mention I love watching movies with packed theatres? There were at least three kids fully decked out in wizard gear – wands, robes, you name it.
The movie is as you would expect – grand, magnificent, and filled with great performances by our three favorite adolescent actors. Emma Watson has especially evolved to become quite a polished young actress, and though I can't say I like her new haircut, I have to say she's probably the best force among the three. Orion claims the movie was at the same time 'rushed' and 'missing too many parts', but I would disagree. I thought the entire movie was a thrilling journey, an experience that completely threw me into J. K. Rowling's wizarding world.
My friend Josh, one of the few people I know who stopped reading the Harry Potter books, described his experience coming into the theatre without any expectations or self-imagined preconceptions. He said that seeing the movie after reading the book made the movie seem bad, but watching the movie without having read the book beforehand made the movie seem amazing!
Perhaps it's because I read the whole book the night it came out – waiting until midnight to get it, reading straight to the end until 5 AM – and only read it that once, I forgot a lot of the details. And thus, I felt unprepared for the twists and turns that came up – although I knew Nagini (I have a huge fear of snakes) popped up somewhere, that our heroes would be kidnapped, that there would be lots of infighting while camping – I wasn't expecting them; I didn't spend the movie mentally and scrupulously ticking off events matching the book's timeline in my head.
I really had a great time at HP7. We are, after all, the Harry Potter generation – the first books came out when I was around 10, exactly the same age as the characters. We've followed these characters through growth, watched them go through the same things we went through, and we've developed quite the bond. The movie was described as all setup, as "just when things were getting good, the movie cut out". This may be true, but I applaud the movie team for their handling of the material. Harry Potter is such a gigantic franchise that it would be easy to disappoint – I'm sure some people are still disappointed – but given what source they have, what limitations they must circumvent, the movie team has done a great job. I look forward to "HP7 Part 2" with great expectations and great enthusiasm.
5/5 – Apple
Fair Game—Orion's Take
A movie as unrelentingly tense on the screen as Fair Game is hard to find. Each scene demands attention, whether it is set in Iraq or in the Plame-Wilson household. Each twitch in Naomi Watts' expression reveals a new set of problems, a new enemy to overcome.
The story is simply gripping. Sean Penn and Naomi Watts do not so much play their characters as embody them: imperfect humans struggling to stay afloat in a bad situation. Told simply yet with great depth, the story of Valerie Plame cannot help but catch our attention. Despite being interesting all the way throughout, however, the film sometimes has problems integrating the several story lines that run throughout. This makes it more believable, in any case, as in real life loose ends are not always tied up.
In the context of today's (arguably) calmer political world, the vitriol spewed at the Plame-Wilson family seems unbelievably vicious, yet with further analysis I realized how accurately the film conveyed the political tensions of the time. At one point guests at a party start to argue about the Iraqi war. The argument so resembled an argument that I had as a 10-year-old in social studies that I was ashamed, ashamed that these adults were making the same arguments as a 10-year-old had, and ashamed that I had made such inane arguments as a 10-year-old.
Yet this history lesson reintroduces ideas that could serve us well now. The lessons about the danger of executive power and (more importantly) excessive partisanship and warmongering are still relevant, which makes the film all the more potent.
4.5/5 Waffles


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Garfield Heights, Ohio
Linda Tyminski
William Jatsek
Improved Patient Satisfaction with Post-Tracheostomy Outcomes Using a New Educational Pamphlet
Click on the research project title above to learn about the science that inspired the artwork to the right.
eXpressions™ Award: Blue Ribbon
My artwork is a representation of a tracheostomy because, like in a tracheostomy, the neck and throat are "removed." In a tracheostomy, since air is taken in at the base of the neck, not the mouth, it makes the throat itself almost unimportant for breathing. I illustrated this by removing the neck from my sculpture, but life still goes on. The face portrays all of the confusion, sadness and loneliness someone who experienced this surgery may feel.
eXpressions™ Award: Red Ribbon
This is a design work expressing views on the tracheostomy. The viewer is inside the throat looking through the tracheostomy. The view is pleasant, giving hope that it truly does help the person.
eXpressions™ Award: White Ribbon
In this work I portrayed a man in three different stages. In the first stage the man seems healthy and fine. In the second stage he is holding a cigarette and his skin begins to deteriorate. And in the third stage his face is deteriorating extremely and he has a tracheostomy tube protruding from his throat.
Slideshow functionality created with Lightbox JS v2.0 by Lokesh Dhakar

subset: commoncrawl


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Trainers Near You
Ashburn VA change location
Deborah Isaacs
north potomac, MD
Kelly Pell
gaithersburg, MD
David Slikker
rockville, Maryland
ACE Fit Share
Fit Life Articles
Exercising outdoors in the summer can be a lot of fun, but it also can increase your risk of heat-related illness like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Learn how you can safely exercise outside even when the mercury is on the rise. Here are six tips for staying cool while...
Increased calorie burning, metabolism and endurance—these are just a few of the benefits that come from high-intensity interval training (HIIT). But did you know you can also turn your weight-training sessions into HIIT workouts? Whether you're an experienced HIIT devotee...
The days are getting warmer, which means it's time to shed those winter layers. Fitness pro Sabrena Merrill presents three ideal moves that target the muscles of the hips and thighs and will have you rocking your shorts this summer.
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Survey results: marketing automation drives improved business results
A March 2011 survey conducted by Patricia Seybold Group and Information Technology Services Marketing Association (ITSMA) found a correlation between leadership in data-driven marketing and increased sales productivity as well as improved market share over a two year period. Pretty exciting results!
Digging deeper into technology factors affecting their success, we found that more than half the data savvy marketing organizations have had a technology strategy and roadmap in place for more than a year, compared with only 12% of the other marketing organizations in the survey.
We also found that the data savvy use more kinds of marketing data in more ways. Significantly, the uses achieved through the capabilities of marketing automation systems, such as determining which leads are sales ready, predicting campaign effectiveness, and segmenting markets for targeting campaigns, stand out among those that the data savvy use but others don't use. We see this finding as further validating the importance of marketing automation systems in driving improved business results.
Look for the survey report later this week at the Patricia Seybold Group site.
The Role of Context in Curation: B2B Marketers Take Note
Every B2B marketer should read Arnold Waldstein's thoughtful post entitled, "Context, not content, is king." The context he describes is exactly what B2B marketers need to provide in their content curation. He points out that, "Few of the curation platform players seem to understand that content without dynamic context is really neither interesting nor that valuable."
Waldstein talks about, "finding groupings around information needs" and the tremendous opportunity for business to invigorate new groupings relevent to its products/services. This is the challenge for the B2B marketer: pick the topics/issues that keenly interest a particular audience and provide a point of view that keeps bringing them back. The point of view adds the value.
Marketers who use curation to establish a thought leadership position can't stand on the sidelines, just aggregating and selecting relevant content. That's like saying, "I know what's going on." By contrast, being a thought leader means you are saying, "I know what's going on, what's coming down the road, and here's what it means to you."
A lot of Waldstein's post refers to the role social voting is having on curation: if a lot of people like something, some consider it more valuable. He doesn't. Neither do I. Social (i.e., friendships) can't provide the context that adds value.
Why Marketers Invest in Technology: Survey Results
In today's B2B buying environment, marketing can not be effective in driving demand, building brand, or charting strategies for future growth without technology. There are hundreds of reasons why marketers should invest in technology but I am more interested in what marketers report as their reasons. So, in a recent survey conducted by Patricia Seybold Group and ITSMA, I asked.
First a few details on the 107 survey respondents:
- Large B2B companies (half over $1 billion in revenue)
- Half from companies that primarily sell services; half from companies that sell products and services
- Marketers all managed one or more marketing functions in their companies.
The top four reasons these marketers invest in technology are to:
- Improve efficiency
- Make marketing investments based on data
- Hand better quality leads to sales
- Obtain greater understanding of prospects and customers to improve offers, products, services
Those who had made much more investments in technology for longer periods of time didn't have significantly different reasons. In other words, the leaders haven't moved on to focus on new horizons. They are continuing to invest to improve efficiency, accountability, sales productivity, and customer understanding.
If you are a marketer just beginning to invest in technology, you face a tough game of catch up. Data keep pouring in that correlate technology investment with data-driven marketing and correlate data-driven marketing with greater improvement in market share, lower cost of sales, and higher sales velocity. If you are just starting out you do have the benefit of learning from others' mistakes…so take full advantage of the research on implementation success. There is no time to waste.
Visibli displays your identity when you share links
I first saw this used by Eqentia, a curated site that, per best practice, displays a thumbnail of an article and then links the reader to the original article. It is a bar, what visibli calls an "engagement bar", about a half inch thick that sits at the top of your screen and carries the brand identity of the referring site (and, of course, links back to the site).
An alternative approach, used by Adobe's curated site, www.cmo.com, is much less preferable. On that site, when you click on a story you want to read, a window to the referring site pops up and you can read the original story. However, you can't navigate elsewhere in the site you've been referred to. You are captive on the CMO.com site. Very annoying for those of us who like to follow up to get to know a blogger better or navigate to their other stories on a topic.
The possibilities with visibli go beyond retaining your identity when link sharing. Think about trying different offers. It introduces a whole new dimension to link sharing that I am just beginning to get my head around. Let me know what you think.
Eqentia's bar has this identifying information the left:
7 not 3… actions for marketing automation implemenation success
Jeff Ernst from Forrester has just come out with a new report, "B2B Marketers must Prepare Better for Marketing Automation," that raises a critical issue but doesn't go far enough. He points out that marketers, "… need to prepare for the use of the technology by having 1) a lead-to-revenue process model to automate; 2) content to support the message and responses; and 3) a marketing organization that is ready to support the technology."
Without question this is true. But there is more. As I described in my post earlier this week, there are seven priorities for B2B marketers considering marketing automation and all of them should be started before a system selection is made. In rough order of priority, the seven steps are:
Establish clear objectives, performance measures, and metrics
Agree on the end-to-end lead management process
Have a champion in senior management
Improve the sales-marketing relationship
Develop a process for lead scoring and updating lead scoring
Build skills in segmentation and targeting
Develop a content strategy and plan
The five steps that the Forrester report didn't mention are critical to success. Moreover, all seven should be substantially underway before a marketing automation system is purchased.
Making a purchase decision before moving forward in these seven areas sets unrealistic expectations for the implementation process. In fact, many marketers have been overwhelmed by the pressure from management to deliver the results promised, while at the same time implementing the process and organizational changes needed to succeed.
If you are interested in this topic and want to read more about implementation readiness, check out this report.
Three Ways Data-Driven Marketing Improves Performance
According to a survey just completed by ITSMA and Patricia Seybold Group, today's B2B marketers recognize the importance of data-driven marketing. So what? Well, now we have statistically significant findings supporting that view.
Data savvy organizations outstripped the others in "significantly or somewhat" improving their market share, average time to revenue, and sales costs per order dollar over the last two years. That's hard data that associates leadership in data-driven marketing with market and sales performance increases. While we found no such relationship to revenue or profitability, that may come in time as marketing data gets more widely used in organizations.
There is a thoughtful post by Neil Mason republished in ClickZ this week on this subject. His title: The price of light is less than the cost of darkness. The cost of darkness (i.e., not knowing information gleaned from the data) is getting higher. As more companies invest in the technologies, processes, and leadership needed to excel at data-driven marketing, the harder it will be to compete if you haven't adopted new practices.
The ways that marketing organizations get data savvy, is the topic of an upcoming webcast by ITSMA and Patricia Seybold Group. It answers the question, "what does it take to become a data savvy marketing organization?" and addresses survey findings on technology, processes, organization, and more. Mark your calendar for May 17, 2011 at 11 a.m. Complimentary for ITSMA members. Register here.
If you want to learn more about the results and can't make the webcast, send me an email.
7 Steps to Success with Marketing Automation
Nobody wins when marketing automation system implementations don't yield expected results. Yet it happens so frequently that some industry observers predict slow adoption of this important technology because of implementation problems.
Recent research by Patricia Seybold Group and McKittrick Associates shows that there are more than 20 skills, practices, and organizational practices important for a success implementation. While suppliers, consultants, and marketers have amply documented what needs to be done and often how to do it, the extent of the changes that may be needed makes if hard to focus on what to do first. Unfortunately, many turn to system selection as their first step.
Views of five suppliers, representing more than 2000 marketing automation implementations, show remarkable similarity and point to seven steps to success with marketing automation. Significantly, all seven can be substantially underway before selecting a system. In rough order of priority, the seven steps are:
Establish clear objectives, performance measures, and metrics
Agree on the end-to-end lead management process
Have a champion in senior management
Improve the sales-marketing relationship
Develop a process for lead scoring and updating lead scoring
Build skills in segmentation and targeting
Develop a content strategy and plans
The suppliers indicated that these are areas in which a) their less successful customers struggle most, b) their more successful customers excel, and c) experienced customers continue to face difficulty. Yet marketers can, and should, begin making the changes within marketing and between marketing an other stakeholders before selection of a system.
More information is in the full research report, available for download at no charge.


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Matt Jenkins
The Salem News
---- — WORCESTER — More than 10 quarters had passed since Vinny Clifford felt and looked comfortable shooting a basketball.
Typically a coldblooded 3-point sniper for the Danvers boys basketball team, Clifford's smooth stroke had abandoned him in the Falcons' North final win over Wayland and their state semifinal victory over Martha's Vineyard at the TD Garden.
The Falcons were forced to grind out those wins, and it seemed like they were destined for another ugly slugfest with Smith Academy in Saturday afternoon's Division 3 state final at the DCU Center.
Clifford was 0 for 6 — 0 for 3 on 3-pointers — through the first two quarters and seemingly losing confidence with each misfire.
Then late in the third quarter, Clifford hit one ... and, as he is prone to do, kept hitting them.
Clifford buried his final four shots — three triples and one long jumper — to guide Danvers to a 66-50 victory that made it two straight state titles for the Falcons.
"I had been shooting bad all game. It felt good to finally hit a shot," Clifford said. "I haven't been shooting the ball good the last few games, so I was just trying to focus on what I've been doing all year."
The shooting slump was clearly weighing heavily on the sophomore before he broke the ice. He became hesitant to shoot, and his normally crisp passes started lacking zip. But as his confidence cooled, his coaches' and teammates' encouragement grew.
"We always tell him to shoot. No matter what, keep shooting through the bad streaks," said teammate Nick Bates, who finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds. "Vinny came out in the second half, I took him aside myself and told him to keep shooting because they were going to fall and we needed him right now. Every time he hits a 3, it's a big momentum swing."
Smith Academy adjusted its defense to a triangle-and-two in the second half, chasing Nick McKenna and Bates all over the court while sitting in a three-man zone. When Danny Connors caught the ball in the post, the zone collapsed on him.
Danvers' lead was only six points (38-32) when Clifford hit his first 3, but his Falcons' teammates knew that could be enough to ignite their long-range specialist.
"If he takes his time and makes his first one, it's a snowball effect; it just keeps rolling for him. He doesn't miss once he gets going," said McKenna, who led Danvers with 20 points.
"It's pretty amazing to watch a kid who's only a sophomore, so young. He still barely talks around us, and the kid's hitting huge 3s in a state final. It was pretty cool to see."
True to form, like a raw egg on a hot skillet, Clifford got warm quickly. Before Smith Academy had time to blink in the fourth quarter, Clifford had dropped two more 3s and another long jump shot off the dribble to push the lead to double digits.
The Falcons could taste the title repeat.
"We knew he was a shooter, we lost him and he made us pay a few times, which opened up the game," Smith Academy coach Matthew Zerneri said. "We went to a triangle-and-two, and I thought that gave Danvers a lot of trouble. In the fourth quarter, he was able to come out and hit a couple shots, which knocked us back out of (the defense).
"Those shots were real big."
Shut out through the first 21 minutes, Clifford finished with 11 points, joining the other four Danvers starters in double figures.
The Falcons' players and coaches were rewarded for sticking with their sophomore shooter. They knew it for sure as they grabbed their second consecutive state title trophy on the DCU floor.
"You just gotta stay with him. He's a shooter, he's hit 70-something 3s," Danvers coach John Walsh said.
"I talked to the Watertown coach (Steve Harrington) after the (state semifinal) game in the Garden and he said, 'The only thing is, I don't think you shot enough 3s.' I thought about it, because I value his opinion so much, and he was right. We just had to keep having Vinny shoot 3s. He did, and he shot his way out of it."
Matt Jenkins is a staff writer at The Salem News. Contact him at email@example.com or 978-338-2648, and follow him on Twitter @MattJenkins_SN.


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Principal Jason Wenschlag the Richfield School District at the end of the 2010-11 school year to take a position in the Wayzata School District as the principal of .
Wenschlag spent five years as assistant principal at (RHS) before being appointed by to the Sheridan Hills principal position two years ago.
Richfield Patch's Caitlin Burgess sat down with Wenschlag to talk about his reasons for leaving, his memorable experiences in Richfield and his last words to his school community.
Richfield Patch: Why did you decide to take another position?
Principal Jason Wenschlag: It was a really hard process … There was a lot of anguish on whether or not I would even apply. It was difficult for me because I love Richfield and the staff is fabulous. But, [Wayzata is] a larger district, they have numerous resources that can help you as a leader and I just think it will be a new challenge and opportunity for me.
Richfield Patch: What are you going to miss the most about Richfield?
Wenschlag: The relationships … Schools are all about relationships. Anytime you leave a job, with [the kinds of relationships I've build], it's hard … There are great, great people here. There are wonderful families, great teachers. The opportunities that I have had to be a leader have been wonderful.
Richfield Patch: What's your favorite teaching moment while working in Richfield schools?
Wenschlag: Oh boy, there's been so many. I think my favorite moment is when you work with a student who has everything going against him or her and you see the switch go on and you see them experience some level of success that allows them to move forward.
Richfield Patch: If you hadn't become an educator, what do you think you would've become?
Wenschlag: There's two dream jobs I've always had. One was to be a financial advisor and the other was to be a general manager of a professional sports franchise.
Richfield Patch: What would you like to say to your students, parents, staff and faculty members?
Wenschlag: No. 1, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be the leader of this school community. No. 2 [thank you] for allowing me to learn and grow as I made the move to elementary [education] and No. 3 [thank you] for the wonderful and genuine relationships that I have been able to establish here over the last couple years.
Wenschlag's last official day with the district will be June 14, before taking the remainder of the month as vacation. He is currently working to hire a fifth-grade teacher at his new school.


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Mr. HUANG Haiming, CEO
Chairman and CEO of YOUBISHEHNG PRC and responsible for Strategy and Product development
Mr. HUANG Haiming has 23 years of working experience. In July 1987, Mr. HUANG Haiming graduated in Food engineering from Fuzhou University and started working as technician in a food factory (PRC). In 1993 he established two food companies in the PRC. In July 2000 he founded YOUBISHENG PRC.
He is a permanent member of the Fujian Paper Manufacturing Industry Association and Vice Chairman of the Fujian Paper Manufacturing Academy. In December 2007 he obtained the National Light Industry Model worker award.
Mr. David TSUI, CFO
Responsible for Finance, Accounting and Investor Relations and CFO since November 2013.
Mr. Tsui is a Chartered Accountant from Australia. He gained his masters degree in Economics at Macquarie University at Sydney in 1988 and qualified as Chartered Accountant in 1989 having gained his professional firm audit and tax consulting experiences in Australia.
Mr Tsui returned to Hong Kong in 1992 and joined the FMCG operations of Inchcape plc in particular handling the finance function of the Timberland and K-Swiss brands. In 1995, he was assigned by Inchcape to establish the finance function for FMCG operation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and was then promoted to the Asia Pacific regional role team at controllership level reporting to the regional directors to oversee all FMCG units in the SE Asia region. David went on to hold a number of key executive posts for Inchcape subsidiaries in Hong Kong, including Executive directorships at Inchcape Motors Ltd, Branded Lifestyle Ltd, and Director position of the joint venture with Mitsubishi Motors in Shanghai.
He was also country CFO for China for Inchcape from 2000 to 2002. Prior to joining the Dragon Sportswear Holdings Ltd. Group in January 2011, he worked as the Group Finance Director with Petrocom Energy (HK) Limited at Shanghai and also as the CFO/Finance Director of various Chinese companies listed on AIM: Asia Ceramics Holdings Plc, China Eastsea Business Software Ltd. and Geong International Ltd.
Supervisory Board
Mr. Gernot Kugler
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Mr. Gernot Kugler is a German attorney based in Hamburg. In 1978, he became partner of the law firm Lindner & v. Dreber, Hamburg. In 1986 he established with partners his own law firm in Hamburg and in 1993, he founded the partnership KMP Kugler März & Partner GbR, lawyers and tax counsultants in Hamburg.
Over the last five years, Mr. Kugler has been a partner in the following partnerships or a member of administrative, management or supervisory bodies of the following companies outside the Company:
- Partner of KMP Kugler März & partner GbR, lawyers and tax counsultants in Hamburg
- Vice- Chairman of in the Managing Board of the Dr. Hans Ritz and Lieselotte Ritz Foundation, Hamburg
Ms. Verena Dylla
Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Ms. Verena Dylla has broad experience in the banking sector. Ms. Dylla has been working at Deutsche Bank AG for 26 years. During her profession at Deutsche Bank, which started as trainee in 1982, she acted as credit analysts for corporate loans both abroad (headed the respective department in the branch in Osaka, Japan) as well as in the headoffice in Frankfurt. She also established the credit risk management department for Deutsche Bank in Poland and worked as credit risk manager for the Private Banking section of Deutsche Bank worldwide. In 2002 she assumed the function of a compliance officer and was the project manager for global projects at Deutsche Bank.
Mr. ZHANG Daopei
Member of the Supervisory Board
He is a well regarded professorate senior engineer in the Chinese paper industry with broad experience as lecturer at Henan University and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.
Mr. ZHANG Daopei graduated from Northeastern University of Technology in 1966 and has since served in several engineering positions in the paper manufacturing industry in the PRC, including senior positions with Fujian Paper Industry Company, Fujian Paper Research Institute, Fujian Nanping Paper Co., Ltd., Shixian Bailu Paper Making Co., Ltd.
His vast practical experience is complemented by academic and official roles such as President of the Fujian Paper Association (from 1994 until 2007), professorships of Henan University (since 2004) and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (from 1994 until 1998). He currently holds positions as Honorary President of the Fujian Paper Association, Deputy Director of the Paper Making History Committee and Director of the Recycle Committee of the China Technical Association of Paper Industry. Furthermore, since 2010, Mr. ZHANG Daopei is a non-executive director of Youyuan International Holdings Ltd., a leading wrapping tissue paper manufacturer based in China and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.


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With a suggestion from Cajun (and because I consider myself a HUGE movie buff, and a relatively well-read guy), I am going to attempt to review movies perhaps once or twice a week. Don't worry, I won't give out any plot spoilers. I'll give my genuine opinion, and perhaps what to expect out of the movie. Feel free to agree or disagree!
With the beginning of the blockbuster season upon us, perhaps a good movie to start with is one that can be qualified as the first summer blockbuster: Ironman.
Robert Downey Jr. plays very rich military industrialist/weapons designer Tony Stark, owner of Stark Industries. Gwyneth Paltrow plays his assistant Pepper Potts. Jeff Bridges plays Obadiah Stane, kind of the 2nd-in-command in Stark Industries.
As the movie starts out, Tony Stark is riding riding in a convoy in Afghanistan with soldiers that he's just demonstrated his latest weapon design to when he's caught in the middle of an ambush. He's captured by the enemy and forced to built one of the weapons he's just demonstrated from basically the ground up.
Instead, he builds a suit of armor and escapes from the enemy. However, his time in captivity has changed him. He's changed from a self-centered, money-loving playboy to someone who has finally realized the consequences of his "former" life and lifestyle, and vows to save the world and the people he once sold the weapons to, and for.
Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast in the role of billionaire Tony Stark. His I-am-filthy-rich-and-I-don't-care-what-you-think-about-me attitude in the beginning is perfectly contrasted with the new person he becomes - he finds his "heart" - literally and figuratively. He becomes a modern-day Scarecrow in that sense.
The special effects add to the experience of the movie, rather than distract you, and the movie has a sense of humor - and heart - running throughout. When he gives a speech about his father after escaping from the enemy in the desert, I teared up. There were genuine emotions in that scene that showed that the character really was beginning to see the error of his ways.
There is a running joke in the movie about his robot assistant - you'll laugh when you see the movie and understand what I'm talking about.
Overall, I give the movie 4 horns up out of 5!!!


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Stream switching system
The Gen II R-max Stream Switching System is a multi-functional system designed to control gases and liquids in analytical systems
The Gen II R-max Stream Switching System is a multi-functional system capable of integrating both stream switching and filtering into one compact, modular assembly. The Gen II system features enhancements to the R-max Stream Switching System and is backwards compatible. Enhancements to the Gen II system include a captured vent that prevents cross-contamination; improved position indicator for quick recognition of valve actuation; easier removal of cartridges for maintenance; and an atmospheric reference vent module. The Gen II R-max is designed to control gases and liquids in analytical systems ranging from vacuum to 500 psig.
Parker Hannifin Corporation
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Average salary across all job titles for plant floor management rose 3.5% to $95,446, and bonus compensation jumped to $15,162, a 4.2% increase from the 2010 level and double the 2011 total, which showed a sharp drop in bonus.


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Mass Effect 2 is the second game in the Mass Effect Trilogy of games. You can download full version of Mass Effect 2 for free from the link given at the bottom of this page. The previous game Mass Effect and the new game Mass Effect 3 are also available for free download on this site. We recommend you to start the first game before moving on the 2nd and 3rd parts as it will make you better understand the story and not confuse you. You may as well play Mass Effect 2 directly on its own its a great game without any dropbacks on the story but you will enjoy it more once you get to know the characters from the first game. Mass Effect 2 free download is given at the end of this article.
Mass Effect was one of our favorite role playing games in the last decade or so. It had its fare share of technical problems but the developers had given us something new to play and the game was a great success. In comes Mass Effect 2 with all the problems of the first game ironed out and with a much better gameplay. Mass Effect 2 is better than its predecessor in every way that you compare it. You will be sucked right in as soon as the game starts and the decisions that you made during the end of the first game will be accounted for in the beginning of this second game. The great promise that the first game showed for this series has been fulfilled by the second game without any doubt and taken it even further. Mass Effect 2 PC download is available for free from the link given at the end.
You play the lead role of Commander Shepard who has been resurrected by the Cerberus to save humanity and other species of this entire galaxy. A machine species called Reapers are intent on cleaning up the entire world and start a fresh. Commander Shepard has fought against the Reapers and won the last time. But this time the enemy is stronger and your mission as the leader of the crew is to take the fight to them. The mission that you will go on this game is called as suicidal from the beginning and hence you need to pick your crew members correctly and improve their skills for them to survive. You need to convince the crew to sacrifice themselves in order to save the world. Mass Effect 2 free download is given at the bottom of this page.
Mass Effect 2 has some great characters; all of them have some story which they will tell you once they start to trust you. Once you listen to them and help them achieve their goals they will become loyal to you. Sometimes there will be fights in the crew members which you need to resolve peacefully and not take sides otherwise you will lose loyalty of one of the members. Other non playing characters also have been developed well and give you enough interest so that you will explore all parts of the universe and talk to all the people. Download Mass Effect 2 free for PC from the bottom of this page.
The conversation options in Mass Effect 2 are varied and give you some depth. You have quick options to respond in conversations which give you Paragon points and Renegade points, this makes for some very interesting encounters. When the conversations features were first seen in Mass Effect, it was kind of a revolutionary and the effect still remains in Mass Effect 2 as well with further improvement.
The character voice acting is superb and some of them make it like a cinematic experience to play the game. The main feature of this series is the personal element that has been added to it, which includes the importing your character from the last game with all the decisions and mistakes taken into account. The main story will not be affected much but the certain conditions will definitely change the way you play the game. Mass Effect 2 free download is given below for everyone.
Mass Effect 2 is certainly one of the great games and you will not see such a game for a long time. You can play Mass Effect 2 for hours but you will feel nothing but enormous pride in saving the world. Take any aspect of the game like the voice acting or the music or the graphics all are top-notch. The story which spans the trilogy is the best that we have seen in many years. Mass Effect 2 fulfills all the promises shown by its predecessor and some. One of the fantastic video games to have come out in this decade and nobody we mean nobody should miss it. Following link will give you Mass Effect 2 free download for PC.
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thanx a 1000 times
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thank you for the games . i hope it work


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The Broncos destination likely comes down to a debate between two destinations and similar opponents.
The Broncos could end up in New Mexico on Dec. 21 the first bowl of the year. The opponent likely would be Washington State (6-6). The game would allow the Broncos to wrap up their season and begin sorting out a new coaching staff.
They also could end up in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve in Honolulu. The opponent likely would be Oregon State (6-6) in a matchup created by ESPN shifting some teams among the bowls it owns. The Pac-12 has two extra bowl teams, and a Hawaii deal would accommodate one of them.
Its unclear when the bowl matchups will be released. It could take until Sunday night because of uncertainty about which conference will get the last Bowl Championship Series spot.
In the Mountain West, Fresno State will go to the Las Vegas Bowl (likely vs. USC) and Utah State will go to the Poinsettia Bowl (possibly vs. Northern Illinois), a source told the Statesman.
That leaves five teams for four spots. Theres debate about which team should be left out, but the favorite is Colorado State (7-6). The Rams have the weakest resume of the bunch zero wins vs. winning teams.
National Championship Game (Jan. 6, Pasadena, Calif.): Florida State vs. Auburn
Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1, Glendale, Ariz.): Baylor vs. Central Florida
Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif.): Stanford vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2, New Orleans): Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Orange (Jan. 3, Miami):Ohio State vs. Clemson
Mountain West tie-ins
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 21): Fresno State (MW No. 1) vs. USC (Pac-12 No. 5)
Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 26, San Diego): Utah State (MW No. 2) vs. Northern Illinois (MAC)
New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 21, Albuquerque): Boise State (MW) vs. Washington State (Pac-12 No. 7)
Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24, Honolulu): UNLV (MW) vs. Marshall(Conference USA)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 21, Boise): San Jose State (MW) vs. Buffalo (MAC No. 3)
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 30, Fort Worth, Texas): San Diego State (MW) vs. Navy


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Most of you know that I've recently taken a position with a company in their marketing department. Part of my new position is building our online social media presence. To stay on top of your efforts, and consistently analyze your reach is an important part of that.
Omniture offers search engine marketing management. The Adobe Digital Marketing Suite offers business analytics. It consists of applications, services, and data management products that facilitate collecting, distributing, and exporting data.
Use Adobe website analytics and online optimization to:
- Know how, and what to measure to align metrics with business goals
- Draw actionable conclusions from interactions across growing online channels
- Fulfill ad hoc requests for information and business insights in a timely manner
- Drive enterprise adoption of standard search analytic metrics for decision makers
- Define online strategy based on insights gained through web site analysis from online interactions
Omniture offers a/b testing and target marketing. Marketers need to present relevant content and offers that appeal to the individual preferences of each online visitor. Adobe's conversion optimization products, featuring Omniture® technology, allow online marketers to test key messages; target specific segments with relevant messages; combine attitudinal data with analytics to better understand behavior and leverage merchandising strategies to sell products and services.


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Have you ever worked on a craft project with your children and gotten swept away, watercoloring or glue-sticking with as much enthusiasm as the kids? If so, this months parent-and-child art workshops at J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh might be just the thing for your family.
Orange County artist Emily Reece, who has many years experience teaching art, will lead two sessions this month that encourage both parent and child to discover their creativity.
The first is Sunday from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and will explore several different techniques for watercolor painting. The second is March 10 at the same time, and will focus on collage. Parent and child will each create an artwork.
Reece said the class will provide some basic instruction in technique but will be more about experimenting, playing and exploring than about creating a perfect finished product. Reece said the biggest lesson most people need to learn about art is that it has nothing to do with talent or skill. The best art comes from letting go of perfectionism and allowing yourself to try whatever comes naturally.
You cant make a mistake; you cant go wrong, Reece said. Its just about seeing what happens You can have so much joy just experimenting.
Reece said this is the first time she has offered a parent-child workshop. She said she hopes it will inspire adults to rediscover the creativity that comes naturally to children.
Registration is required for the workshops. The cost is $54 per parent-child pair. To register, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 919-513-7007.
If you have older children, Reece will hold a drawing workshop at the arboretum for kids 12 to 16 on March 15, an early-release day for Wake County schools. The class runs 1-4 p.m., and Reece will help teens observe and draw objects from nature. No drawing experience is needed.
Cost for that session is $44, and registration is required.
• If your children enjoy fairy tales, the Raleigh Little Theatres production of Snow White begins today and runs through March 10.
The show is based on the original oral folk tale, which differs a bit from the well-known versions, so there will be surprises including an unexpected ending.
Tickets are $10 for kids and $15 for adults. Go to raleighlittletheatre.org for tickets.
Send Family Picks suggestions to firstname.lastname@example.com


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What is Anibar?
Anibar, is the name that represents the only International Animation Festival in Kosovo which is being held from 22nd to 27th of August. Peja, is the name of the venue where Anibar is taking place, and it has a lot to offer to people who visit it. With its natural and cultural beauties, Peja makes a fine venue for our festival to function very well.
Being its third year Anibar has earned the prestige of having a large number of animated films that are being screened in the open-air and closed cinemas created by the enthusiasts that organize Anibar. Anibar was established by the need of having animated films that would be produced in Kosovo and for screening films to the public.
During the last two years Anibar has been the organizer of a series of cultural events which promote the production of animated films and their screening. With its cinemas organized for being the venue of screening the films, Anibar has shown emotions to the public and has stimulated the flow of their imagination. Films that are projected in Anibar cinemas have themes of social, economic, environmental, and exploit various animation techniques. An important component of Anibar is also holding training sessions, the goal of which is to develop animation and different techniques.
Vullnet Sanaja- Executive Director
Rron Bajri- Artistic Director
Petrit Gora- Technical Director
Fiona Beqiri- Project Manager
Vesarta Haxhaj- Financial Administrator
Rozafa Imami- Events Manager
PR & Media
Vullnet Gusia
Fjolla Kondirolli
Burim Panxha- Coordinators Leader
Doruntina Berisha
Fitim Topalli
Bardh Sanaja
Workshops and Talks
Granit Lika- Coordinators Leader
Sokol Gashi- Talks Coordinator
Ori Beqiraj- Youth Leader
Ariana Nila- Youth Leader
Ani O'Muzika and Camp
Granit Gashi- Ani O'Muzika Coordinator
Gent Gorani
Mirand Kelmendi- Camp Coordinator
Kastriot Grapci
Milot Bardhi
Guest Service and Information Table
Fiona Beqiri
Rozafa Imami
Era Kuraja
Alba Kondirolli
Jim Hagan- Projection Leader
Nol Ramizi
Gent Shoshi
Melos Gashi
Ilir Gruda
Parësim Sanaja
Albert Daci
Ardian Kasapi
Camera and Photography
Vesa Muhaxheri- Camera and Photography Coordinator
Luan Kotori
Sokol Kastrati
Mirsad Krasniqi
Era Kuraja
Vullnet Gusia
Alba Kondirolli
Promotion Package


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The Tonawanda News
Tonawanda News — Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of the summer concert season which means that it's time to start seeing your favorite artists indoors. One of the disadvantages of having so many artists routed through the area in the summer is that inevitably there is a time when there are two or even three shows in town worth seeing on the same night.
This fall is shaping up to be an interesting one, and I'll highlight a couple of my favorite venues that I don't get to visit much during the summer, The Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda and The Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls.
Between the two venues, you can see tribute bands for The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Genesis and Queen. I know many people aren't fans of tribute bands, but done well, it's still great to hear great songs performed live. When I was 12 years old I remember my father taking me to see a production of "Beatlemania" and I really enjoyed it.
The Riviera has some cool shows coming this fall, starting Sept. 11 when The Glenn Miller Orchestra performs there. My father was a huge fan of big bands, and before rock and roll acts dominated the live circuit, the big bands were the groups that toured the country.
On Oct. 18, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin will be at The Riviera. I am a longtime fan of Mary Chapin Carpenter and will certainly pursue an interview to preview this show. They are scheduled to perform as an acoustic duo.
The Riviera is also hosting Sinéad O'Connor, who will be at The Riviera on Nov. 12. O'Connor is supposedly a distant cousin of mine, and I would love to solve that mystery before she comes to town.
They are also hosting country legend Loretta Lynn on Nov. 14. If you are a fan of country music then you must see Loretta Lynn, she has such charm and grace.
If you have never been to a show there, The Riviera Theatre is a majestic theater with a great staff. Tickets for their shows are available on the Riviera's website, riveriatheatre.org.
The Rapids Theatre always gets a huge cross section of artists, many of them on the rise, but their first show of the fall season features two legendary performers, Blondie and X, both of whom have not performed in the area in quite some time (at least as far as I know, but my readers have proven me wrong before). The show is Friday.
Billy Talent and Hollerado will be at The Rapids on Oct. 6. I am not familiar with Talent, but I will never forget seeing Hollerado in Lockport; they were fantastic.
That same week, Five Finger Death Punch and Escape the Fate will be performing at The Rapids on Oct. 9, and later in the month on Oct. 17 The Rapids will host the 25th Anniversary of Danzig. That should be a great show.
If you haven't been to the Rapids, it is a great place to see a show as well, with high ceilings and a New York City feel. Unlike the Riviera, they have a full bar. Ticket information for the Rapids' shows may be found on their website, rapidstheatre.com.
Thom Jennings writes a weekly column on the music scene for Sunday Lifestyle. Email him at email@example.com.


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Fantastic vacation @ the Sun Palace!!!
We read both positive and negative responses before our trip, and was only slightly concerned. As soon as we stepped into the lobby we were sure that we had made the right decision to stay at the Sun Palace!! We were greeted with pina coladas and at the desk we met a couple from PA that had returned after a previous vacation there, and had only the best reviews about the Sun Palace! The staff were completely gracious, helpful, caring, professional & entertaining. We always felt welcome.
We were very sad to depart. We visited other hotels while there, but will return to the Sun Palace on a return vacation to Cancun!!


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Vienna Bread and Kaiser Rolls, to be more specific. Vienna is one of my favorite cities, and not just for the tortes. (For the record, I much prefer the Imperialtorte over the more famous Sachertorte… I find the Sachertorte … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: August 2011
Nothing like a little rain, a little dirt and white (and black / brown) puppies. They are, like all of their ilk, going back 5 generations, self-cleaning dogs. Which means they come into the house caked in mud and lay … Continue reading
It's finished. Well, almost, the posts need to be finished and painted, along with the bottom half of the house…. And there's always that last bit of trim…. The wall candle sconce is up, the table and chairs are moved … Continue reading
First….. Friday was The Glorious Twelfth! For those of you who don't know what The Glorious Twelfth is, in the interest of not repeating myself, yet again, please read about it here….. Yes, it is, in fact, more than just … Continue reading
Enquiring minds want to know…. Other bloggers get cook books to review, cases of barbecue sauce to enjoy, pastas to play with…. I get nothing. I've had offers; but nothing ever materializes. It could be because I'm not a proper … Continue reading
I don't often catch the girls calmly posing…. I thought I would share. They're getting to be such big girls. We made great progress this week, for however long it lasts. They're no longer terrified of the car. If I … Continue reading
We have a proper balcony! And mon mari thinks it will also work as a good spot for the lawn tractor. It doesn't have a railing, so no puppies at the moment. Bonnie rolled off the step during her nap … Continue reading
I was going to give you a brief primer on 'kebabs', the derivation of the word, differences between cultures, and so on. But after reading the Wiki entry on the kebab (or kabob, kebap, kebav, kebap, kebabie….), which was concise. … Continue reading
My garden is confused. We had cool, very dry weather all through June and the first part of July. We had cool, very wet weather for two weeks followed by hot, very wet weather. My garden went from barely growing … Continue reading
Last week, during our cool, rainy spell, I was in search of winter comfort food. The garden, of course, was producing summer food. We compromised. As I mentioned in my post on Mushroom Stuffed Chard, I was inspired by Taste … Continue reading


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- Andora
1616 Mt Nebo Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143
Segmented into several rooms, Andora offers quiet dining for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The menu has a variety…More of casual fare -- burgers, sandwiches and salads -- as well as higher-end choices such as seafood, steaks and daily specials. During good weather, you can enjoy your meal on a multilevel deck/patio dining area, and there is also a bar with seating to grab a quick burger and beer. Popular with locals, Andora has a large parking area.
- Asian Star
1 Quaker Village Shopping Ctr, Leetsdale, PA 15056
Located in Leetsdale's Quaker Village Shopping Center, Asian Star provides area residents with fast, convenient Chinese…More food available for eating in or take-out. Asian Star's menu contains an array of traditional Chinese favorites, including wonton soup and General Tso's chicken, as well as tasty beef and shrimp entrees, dumplings, noodles and more.
- Azul Bar Y Cantina
122 Broad St, Leetsdale, PA 15056
Azul Bar Y Cantina is a Mexican restaurant based in Leetsdale that serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include Mexican…More appetizers, burritos, soups, salads, combos, fajitas, enchiladas, carne asada and chiles rellenos. Daily specials are also available. Reservations are required for parties of 6 or more. The restaurant may open for private parties on Sundays. Visit Azul Bar Y Cantina's website for more information, including a complete lunch and dinner menu.
- B Gourmet
428 Beaver St, Sewickley, PA 15143
B Gourmet is a market and eatery located on Beaver Street in Sewickley. The location offers a wide range of options,…More including prepared foods, sandwiches, soups, cafe meals, dinners to go as well as retail products. Some options include BBQ pulled pork, veggie melts, chicken salad sandwich, grilled chicken wrap, crab cake sandwich, roast beef sandwich, pear and cranberry salad, cobb salad and more. Call for details on pricing or to place an order to pick up.
- Bruegger's Bagel Bakery
422 Beaver St, Sewickley, PA 15143
Beaver St's Bruegger's Bagel Bakery is nestled in a part of town where many shops and hometown landmarks sit.…More Seating at the front of the store lines the aisle to the food prep and order area. Choose from breakfast sandwiches, hot paninis or a salad. Guests can also pick a duo from the menu with choices of a sandwich, soup or salad. Wi-fi internet and booster seats for children are also available.
- Burger King
105 Ohio River Blvd, Sewickley, PA 15143
Burger King is the Home of the Whopper. At this burger place, you can "have it your way" and customize the toppings on…More any of Burger King's flame-broiled burgers. Too early for a burger? You can order from the BK Breakfast Menu, which includes biscuit, croissant and muffin sandwiches of egg, cheese and sausage. For the health-conscious, there are salads and grilled chicken sandwiches. Children can be ordered from the BK Kid's Menu. For the cost-conscious, Burger King has a value menu with items priced at $1.
- Cafe des Amis
443 Division St, Sewickley, PA 15143
Cafe des Amis is a French-style café that serves eggs, Belgian waffles, French toast, breakfast croissants,…More sandwiches, roasted chicken and Brie, pizza margherita and crepes, among other French delicacies and American favorites. The café can accommodate up to 50 people for business meetings, parties or bridal showers, and catering and takeout services for groups from 40 to 100 are available.
- Carmody's Restaurant & Lounge
Wexford Bayne Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143
With prime rib, surf and turf, filet mignon, stuffed pork chop and chicken Cordon bleu, Carmody's is a meat and potatoes…More (or pasta) sort of place that can please a range of diners. Its ample dining room space is bolstered by private banquet facilities and meeting rooms that allow for private parties, weddings or business meals (a minimum of 20 entrees are required for banquet facilities). There is ample parking to allow for special events. You can enjoy your meal in the restaurant or lounge areas, and there's a happy hour from 4pm - 7pm weekdays.
- China Palace
409 Broad St, Sewickley, PA 15143
China Palace offers both Chinese and Japanese cuisine. It's suitable for business lunches or family dinners and multiple…More sections allow for flexible seating. The restaurant's decor includes opulent artwork and sculptures adorning the walls and seating areas.
- Crazy Mocha Coffee Co
531 Beaver St, Sewickley, PA 15143
At Crazy Mocha Coffee Co, you'll have your choice of coffee and seating. Inside, pick from a wide variety of coffee and…More desserts, with couch seating available in the back and table seating up front. Outside, enjoy a nice selection of patio seating. Crazy Mocha's offers free Wi-Fi, and is great for groups to meet, sit and enjoy.
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In the second quarter against Wheeling Tuesday night, Deerfield pushed the ball up the court with gusto on nearly every possession.
The points quickly followed, and Wheeling never caught up as the Warriors ran away with a 68-49 win.
"We just wanted to stay aggressive after the (Glenbrook North) loss, and in that quarter we just all came together and broke the game open," senior guard Eric Porter said. "We didn't want them to stay close to us; we really played to our potential."
Porter had a game-high 19 points, nine of which came in that momentous second stanza when Deerfield quite literally blew past the sluggish Wildcats to take a 38-18 lead into the half.
Wheeling, led by the sharpshooting of junior guard Jeremy Stephani (team-best 14 points), managed to cut the deficit to 10 points in the third quarter and only trailed 54-43 with just less than seven minutes to play in the fourth. That's as close as Wheeling would get, however, as the blistering pace set by the Warriors in that breakneck second period proved impossible to overcome.
"Defensively in the first half, I thought that was one of the best defensive halves we've had," Deerfield coach Dan McKendrick said. "We were helping, we were rotating, we were scrambling. And then when we got the opportunity, we were running, which is kind of the game we need to play."
The victory pushed Deerfield to 4-4 on the season.


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There hardly seemed like a reason for another spin on sushi in Boise until I stepped into Dharma Sushi & Thai, the stylish, casual new restaurant in the Adelmann Building.
The concept is straightforward, so simple it could easily go crashing off the tracks: a fast-food version of Americanized sushi and Thai food, set up in this former Tully's Coffee spot. The execution is inexpensive, quick and tasty, accomplished by keeping the menu lean and playing the hits.
Counter service speeds the process. You choose from overhead digital menu boards with vivid images of the food. One night, the young, helpful cook took our order under the menu, coming out from the kitchen to make suggestions. On our next visit, my wife and I stood at the register to order, at the opposite end from the menu, making it unreadable - a traffic flow problem that needs to be fixed.
Dharma is open until 3 a.m. on weekend nights, and pretty much anything that late ought to be made as user-friendly as possible.
The hook was set that first night. When I stepped toward the register to pay I saw something that seized my imagination. On the counter behind the glass was a sky blue box, with a black label that said "SUSHI MACHINE." The worker explained the device. You load a piece of seaweed, pack it full of ingredients, and it twists up a maki roll. Next to the sushi machine is an automated slicer. These expensive "sushi robots" are capable of generating hundreds of rolls an hour, the ultimate secret weapon for a concept like this, run with a two-person crew.
The dining room is clean and modern and comfortable, with bright orange furniture against a gray palette. On the walls are cool black and white photographs and a TV that shows documentaries and old movies. Pickled ginger and wasabi are self-serve next to the beverage case; soy, Sriracha and chopsticks are on the tables.
The food comes to you on recycled disposable vessels, attractively laid out and garnished simply. The Cali ($6) is a good version of the standard California roll, with crab, avocado and cucumber, dressed up with sesame seeds, panko crumbs and sweet unagi sauce. You can get the Cali deep-fried by ordering a Lebowski ($7). (This punny irreverence is a clue toward the cuisine itself.) On both of these, the sushi machine left the big rolls a little loose, but not falling apart.
Slightly more ambitious was the Urban roll ($8.50) - yellowtail, avocado, cream cheese, jalapeno and cilantro, sprinkled with tobiko. The menu called for ponzu, a soy-citrus sauce that's a favorite of mine with sushi, but we were served bottled sweet chili sauce. (We must not have minded - we ate it all without remembering until we had finished.)
The best we tried was the Tree Town ($9.50), a huge roll with grilled eel, crab mix, tuna, cream cheese and avocado. The wide, oozy slices are streaked with spicy mayo and unagi.
Unique are Sushi Stacks ($9.50), three thick cakes of sushi rice filled with cream cheese, fried, topped with a bit of spicy tuna, yellowtail or salmon on top, then a slice of avocado. The end result is a little greasy and totally delicious, like fast food is supposed to be.
On that same note, we liked the fried appetizers we sampled as well. Money Bags ($5.50) are little bundles of crab and cream cheese in crispy wonton skins, served with Mae Ploy, a good take on the American classic crab rangoon. The staff-recommended Thai Bombs ($6) are halved jalapenos filled with a mixture of tuna, crab and cream cheese, battered in tempura and fried, dressed in spicy mayo and unagi. This dish gives you the Dharma philosophy in one bite: Authenticity is irrelevant if it tastes great. It's a menu item I will order every time I go.
Of the Thai dishes, we enjoyed the red curry ($7.50) served with jasmine rice. The curry is a spiced coconut milk broth with carrots, onions and bamboo shoots - with good flavor but a little thin, and I prefer some heat to balance the sweetness. You can add a surprising amount of chicken, tofu, or shrimp for just 50 cents more; our shrimp was brightly seasoned and cooked nicely.
The only dud we encountered was the Thai Lap Bowl ($6), which is served with a choice of protein, and was not itself bad - just not what was pictured. Based on the photo and description, we expected a green salad garnished with rice. We got the reverse: a full cup of white rice on just a few leaves of spring mix, buried at the bottom of the bowl. It's too bad, because we liked the mint and lime, and the dressing on the salad was good.
Dharma Sushi is not for snobs or purists, not wildly daring, not likely to replace your favorite sit-down sushi or Thai place.
But it fills a niche. Everything was fresh and made-to-order, and everything is priced more than fairly. The sushi machine should get a workout on New Year's Eve.


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Items Tagged with 'hedging'
ALM Helps CUs Tough It Out
Tools keep CUs from sacrificing future margins for higher yields today.
June 2, 2011
ALM involves constant planning for possible future scenarios.Read More
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Earlier today, the family of the late Congressman Murtha announced the establishment of the John P. Murtha Foundation to honor the legacy of Mr. Murtha. The foundation's focus is the creation of the John P. Murtha Center for Public Service, to be located on the Pitt-Johnstown campus.
This is a tremendous honor and we are extremely grateful to Mrs. Murtha and the Foundation on being chosen to house the Center. We look forward to working with Mrs. Murtha, the Foundation, and the community to make this a reality and to honor and sustain the legacy of our great Congressman.
Best,Jem Spectar


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Trees take root in holiday market
High Country Christmas trees are making their way across the
country, but tree shoppers are also making their way up the mountain to look for holiday
Meghan Baker, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service agent overseeing Christmas trees, said, "A lot of growers started harvesting about a week ago for the wholesale market. A lot of loads are leaving right now, and a lot of farms are opening this weekend for choose and cut."
J.D. Norris, owner of Norris Tree Farm on Meat Camp Road, said he always opens his choose-and-cut farm on Nov. 1, a few weeks earlier than many growers. While the Thanksgiving weekend is the traditional target for choose-and-cut customers, more and more farmers are opening at least a week before the holiday.
"It's been pretty good so far," Norris said, noting many of his customers are coming from the Piedmont. "Right now they're looking for the bigger trees. As the season goes on, they look for smaller trees."
Baker and Norris agree that the market will be more competitive this year, both because of the state of the economy and a flurry of tree planting that took place in the early part of the decade.
Trees usually grow about a foot a year, and it takes seven years for a tree to reach average market size.
"There are some challenges," Baker said. "A lot of shoppers are checking around for the best price."
Norris has been selling trees since 1986. He said that while his choose-and-cut prices are the same as they've been for the last five years, the wholesale market is competitive. "It's a pretty tight market," he said. "People want it a little cheaper than last year, and they're holding out longer."
Most wholesale trees grown in the High Country go to lots in the Southeast, but some growers ship overseas. Others take Internet orders and ship anywhere. But it's the choose-and-cut market that is drawing more interest and holding steady value, because a farm visit offers more than just a product.
"The county (tree) association is bumping up their marketing this year," Baker said. "We've got about 25 farms this year, and there are usually five to eight that aren't in our brochure. We've had a lot of interest from the marketing efforts we've done."
Baker said wholesale prices are ranging widely, but usually are between $20 and $24 for the average 6-to-8-foot tree. However, the Fraser fir that grows well in the High Country climate is still seen as one of the most desirable trees, and it tends to fetch added value in the secondary market.
"Of course, quality costs, and our growers believe they have a quality product," Baker said. "So they hold out for a good price."
A favorable growing year, with lots of wet weather and an autumn cold snap, means that Fraser firs will keep their needles longer, which allows for earlier harvesting and a longer lot life.
"I think people definitely see we have a good, strong choose-and-cut market," Baker said.
"Fraser firs tend to keep well, and hard frosts set the needles. One of their top qualities is that they have excellent needle retention."
Choose-and-cut trees usually run between $6 and $10 a foot, with a premium placed on the farms that offer hay rides, hot chocolate and other features. Baker said more farmers are offering additional attractions to entice customers to their farms.
Local tree farms are listed at http://www.wataugachristmastrees.org.


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Rich and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup870 Reviews 41 Pics
Prep10 m
Cook35 m
Ready In45 m
"The secret to the richness of this soup is to use real butter, fresh basil leaves, and heavy cream. Please do not substitute, or you will not have the same high quality end result."
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Adjust Servings
Original recipe yields 4 servings
- Place tomatoes and juice in a stock pot over medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Puree the tomato mixture along with the basil leaves, and return the puree to the stock pot.
- Place the pot over medium heat, and stir in the heavy cream and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Do not boil.
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Reviews (870)Rate This Recipe
Follow my train of thought here: When you go to a nice restaurant and the waiter describes the "soup of the day," it's this stuff that he is talking about. The consistency and flavor have the appearance of a four or five star restaurant! I used fresh basil out of our herb garden and fresh Roma tomatoes. I didn't bother to peel the tomatoes. Why? The recipe could not have been any better. Yes, it is fattening. Yes, it could be made healthy. But NO! Don't do it! If anybody ever ask for homemade tomato soup of any kind, let this be the definitive one; it would be hard to do better.
This recipe was excellent!! A restaurant near my house makes the best Tomato Basil soup, so I was looking for a recipe to imitate theirs. I would recommend only blending 1/3 to 1/2 of the soup, leaving some chuncks gives it a nice consistancy. Also pealing and seeding is not a necessity. I did it the first time and not the second time and could not tell the differece. Also if your in hurry canned tomatoes work well as a substitute. Dont skimp on the basil, thats what makes it wonderful. Overall A++ a really great soup for any occasion.
I loved this soup!!! I did not peel the tomatoes, just seeded them. I cut the cream in half as suggested by others & only used about 1/3 of a cup of butter. Since I am always on the lookout to make recipes healthier, next time I will decrease the butter to 1/4 cup & use half & half instead of cream & see if it alters the taste any. I did increase the basil some (practically butchered my little basil starter plants but it was worth it) & I garnished the soup w/ a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese & a sprig of basil. I served this al fresco on my patio w/ a salad & a glass of white merlot...just like dining at LaMadeline's!
Similar Recipes
Rachel's Tomato Basil Soup
Tomato Spinach and Basil Soup
Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup
Rich and Creamy Roasted Eggplant Soup
Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup
Tomato Basil Soup I
Amount Per Serving (4 total)
- Calories
- 473 cal
- 24%
- Fat
- 45.4 g
- 70%
- Carbs
- 16.8 g
- 5%
- Protein
- 4.4 g
- 9%
- Cholesterol
- 143 mg
- 48%
- Sodium
- 313 mg
- 13%
Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
previous recipe:
Rachel's Tomato Basil Soup
next recipe:
My Amazing Tomato Basil Soup (Like Applebee's(R))


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Derek Price
CNHI News Service
— Let's say you've been successful in life and want a new car — a Lexus, of all things.
But you don't just want any Lexus. You want a Lexus convertible, the kind of car that lets you work on your tan while sitting in sublime comfort and never breaking down.
Until last year, that means you'd be taking home the SC 430, a $67,000 dream machine with stunning styling, a retractable hard top, and a V8 engine made from maple syrup. It was the Lexus designed for California cruisin'.
Today, though, you can't get the SC because it died and went to Lexus heaven, where it swims in pools of leather conditioner while listening to harp music played through Mark Levinson stereo systems.
It is survived by a different convertible, called the IS C that is in many ways better than the pricey SC ever was.
And, most shockingly, it's also $27,000 cheaper.
The IS C is a drop-top version of the two-door IS coupe, and — like the pricey SC — it has a hard top that folds away when you press a button. That means with the top up, it's almost as quiet as an ordinary Lexus sedan. And when you want the top down, it does a robotic dance to fold the roof into the trunk where no one can see it.
Pretty slick.
In fact, it's hard to find much to criticize in a car like this. Some people might want it to feel more like a hard-edged sports car, but we call those people BMW drivers.
Other people might not like how small the back seat is, but it's actually a lot roomier back there than the SC was.
Most of all, you get a sense of perfection in the IS C that's hard to find in other brands. Audi might make more exciting cars, and Mercedes might make more noble vehicles. But those German cars don't
seem like they'll last forever. This Lexus does.
In fact, it takes the usual Lexus chiseled-from-stone feeling and turns it up a notch. The cabin is a tactile buffet, with supple leather, perfectly fitted trim, and a headliner so soft it defies description.
The IS C gives you a choice between two V6 engines, a 2.5-liter and 3.5-liter, which make 204 and 306 horsepower. My test car came with the bigger engine and, while it lacked the carnivorous grunt of the
SC's V8, it still accelerated like a photon: quick as light.
Handling is fantastic, at least by Lexus' sleepy standards. It's more fun than the SC was, and it has a suspension that transitions nicely between comfortable cruising and corner-slicing.
So there you have it. The exclusive, rarified SC has passed its legacy on to the $45,000 IS350 C.
May the SC rest in peace.
Derek Price writes for CNHI News Service, which distributes his column. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 9
Handling: 8
Ride: 8
Comfort: 10
Quality: 10
Overall: 9
What was tested?
2011 Lexus IS350 C ($45,340) Options: Headlamp washers ($100), luxury package ($3,055), navigation/premium audio package ($4,015), trunk mat ($73), cargo net ($64). Price as tested (including $875 destination charge): $53,522.
Why buy it?
It's the most fun you can have in a Lexus. It's powerful, good-looking and offers the wind-in-your-hair thrills along with the brand's reputation for quality and reliability.
Why avoid it?
For $45,000, there are some awfully tempting performance cars from BMW and Audi.


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Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Nugent - #2 - K
|5' 10"/ 190 lbs.
|Centerville, OH
|Ohio State
|Years played
|2005, 2nd round, 15th pick by Jets
Bengals lose SLB Jeanty; WR Coles questionable to return vs. Jets
The Bengals suffered several key injuries in the first half of their wild-card game vs. the Jets.
Aces, jokers and other wild cards
PFW contributor Tom Danyluk says it's been an AFC league for years, but now, at least for a season, the heavies have shifted back to the National Conference. How many old guard clubs can win it all? Well, the ...
Fiancée of Bengals WR Henry will not be charged in his death
Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C) police announced Wednesday it will not charge Loleini Tonga, the fiancée of Bengals WR Chris Henry, in connection with his death.
AFC playoff primer
TE Dallas Clark is the Colts' player to watch in the upcoming playoffs, as PFW analyzes the offenses and defenses of the AFC's six postseason participants and speculates on what it will take for each to win the Super ...
Bengals place DT Sims on IR, sign CB Ratliff
The Bengals placed DT Pat Sims on injured reserve Monday and signed CB Keiwan Ratliff, whom they drafted in 2004, to take his place on the roster.
Bengals hoping second time is charm vs. Jets
The 37-0 thumping suffered at the hands of the Jets Sunday night raised more than a few red flags about the Bengals as they prepare for the rematch vs. New York in the wild-card round on Saturday.
Bengals' offense gets unexpected lift from TE Foschi
Out of football just two seasons ago, TE J.P. Foschi has emerged as a key contributor for the Bengals.
The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed place kicker Mike Nugent for two years, preventing him from becoming a free agent. No terms of the deal were announced Sunday.||||||| A nine-year veteran, Nugent has been with the Bengals for three seasons. A calf injury kept him out of the team's last four games of 2012 and its playoff loss to Houston. In 2011, Nugent set a Bengals records for points with 132 and field goals with 33 in one season. He tied a Cincinnati record with a 55-yard field goal against Oakland last season. Nugent has made 83.8 percent of his field goals as a Bengal, the second-best career percentage in club history.
Nugent has been placed on injured reserve.||||||| Josh Brown continues to take his place.
Nugent signed his one-year tender offer as the Cincinnati Bengals' franchise player on Wednesday.||||||| Nugent recovered from knee surgery and set team records with 132 points and 33 field goals last season, helping the Bengals to a wild card playoff spot. He was an unrestricted free agent after the season, but the Bengals used their franchise tag on him March 2.
Nugent was lost for the season after tearing a knee ligament during a successful onside kick play in the closing minutes of Sunday's 23-17 loss at Indianapolis.||||||| The Bengals have signed former Ohio State University kicker Aaron Pettrey to replace another former Buckeye.
Nugent was named the Bengals' kicker Saturday.||||||| The Bengals waived kicker Dave Rayner on Saturday, giving the job to Nugent. He replaces Shayne Graham, who left as a free agent after seven seasons in Cincinnati. Nugent was bothered by a groin injury early in camp but went 3 of 4 on field goal attempts, including two from beyond 50 yards.


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'Same old story' for Highlanders
March 29, 2013
The Highlanders' players after the final whistle © Getty Images
Coaches Ewen McKenzie and Jamie Joseph had starkly contrasting emotions after Queensland Reds' thrilling 34-33 win over the Highlanders in their Super Rugby match at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday night.
McKenzie and his players had ample cause to celebrate. He became the most-capped Super coach, overtaking Robbie Deans with his 121st game in charge, the Reds gained their first Super win in Dunedin and they achieved a four-try bonus point.
But Joseph must wonder where his first win is coming from after their fifth consecutive loss, and their fourth at home.
"In the end it was the same old story," he said. "We had an opportunity towards the end, we overthrew at a couple of line-outs and we knocked on. We released the pressure because of those mistakes and you can't do that at this level. The defensive lapses we had in the first half put us in a really difficult position. You might say because of that, that we really didn't deserve to win."
Joseph agreed that self-belief might be becoming an issue after their winless start.
"Every week I think it's in the back of the minds of the players, no matter how positive they are, that there's the pressure of wanting to win. I can imagine that that is telling on them a bit in awkward situations and I think we lacked experience at the end of the game. I thought our loose forwards, in terms of urgency, were a pace behind the opposition. I thought in the second spell when we got some go-forward, provided by TJ Ioane, that they got back into the game."
Hosea Gear continued his outstanding form and Joseph was disappointed he did not receive more regular opportunities.
"We got in a position to win the game but then those little mistakes slipped in again." Joseph rejected suggestions of radical changes for the Blues game at Eden Park next Friday night.
"No, we've just got to keep cracking on. The frustrating thing is losing by just a few points every weekend."
Queensland Reds showed great spirit to resist the charging Highlanders (video available only in Australia)
All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock left the field with a tight hamstring in the second spell and he may be a doubtful starter to play against his old franchise. Meanwhile, McKenzie was thrilled as the Reds hung on for their first win in Dunedin.
"Not a lot of people gave us much hope this season and we're pretty pleased with where we're at," he said. We're just plugging away. We've got the bye next week so we're pleased with five wins and two losses. The Highlanders are tricky to play. They kick the least, they run the most. The Bulls in Brisbane last week were the opposite so it was quite a difficult turnaround for us. We created a little bit of history for ourselves and got a bonus point so it was a pretty good night."
McKenzie was pleased to have Will Genia and Quade Cooper back operating together for a full game for the first time in almost a year.
"They both played well and we needed them to get through. It's also good to have James Horwill (Wallaby captain) back from injury and getting valuable game time."
© Sportal
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