text:
Nice Prize
Fiction, Exhibitionism
Author's infos
Gender: Male Age: 48 Location: South Africa
Posted: 2012-06-25
A Prize Leads to a Surprise
Nice Prize
It had come as a complete surprise; Gill had never won anything in her thirty years so it was with total bewilderment that she found out that she had won an afternoon at a leading beauty spa. Gill had never before been to a beauty spa and had no idea what to expect, she was a plain, no frills kind of woman who never pampered herself. She had found herself looking forward to the unexpected pampering.
It had all begun fairly normally, when she had arrived Gill had been introduced to the various people (all of them in their late teens or early twenties) that worked at the spa and had been told that she would be starting with a sauna followed by a facial and full body massage and finally a hair and make-up re-do. Obediently Gill followed the girl whom she had been introduced to as Sandy. They entered the sauna room and Sandy turned to Gill and asked her to get undressed while she prepared the walk-in sauna. Gill was taken a bit by surprise; she had brought nothing to wear in a sauna. She asked Sandy to explain the procedure.
"Oh, it's pretty simple really. You sit naked in the walk-in while we control the temperature to a comfortable level." She must have seen the worried look in Gills eyes "Don't worry, the male staff are not allowed into the female saunas and you are the only booking for today, so relax and enjoy yourself" she smiled as she left Gill to strip.
Once naked Gill wrapped one of the huge, soft bath towels around her body. She was not really the shy type and she was quite proud of her body. Her firm 36C tits had dark, puffy nipples which were very sensitive and she loved them sucked. She often came just by having her nipples sucked and on more than one occasion her boyfriends had made her cum numerous times without even getting their hands into her pants.
She had a neat figure, not thin but not overweight at all, handles in all the right places. The apex of her thighs showed a neatly shaved strip of dark hair just above her clit but her pussy lips were shaved clean. Gill enjoyed masturbating her smooth pussy, especially when her juices made her puffy lips all slick and slippery.
Sandy stuck her head around the door and told Gill that she was ready for her. Gill followed her into the next room and walked through the steamed up glass door which Sandy held open for her, leaving her towel with Sandy. She was very conscious of Sandy watching her firm ass and tits as she walked past. Clouds of steam greeted her, she could hardly see and it was HOT. Carefully making her way to the wooden bench which see could dimly see through the gloom she sat down and tried to get comfortable. The slats of the bench pressed into the firm mounds of her ass and she could feel that her pussy was positioned between two of the slats.
"Just as well no-one is looking from below" she thought to herself "They would be able to see up my twat."
She smiled to herself, and shifted, trying to get more comfortable. Gill decided that lying on the bench would be most comfortable. She was sweating profusely already, streaks of sweat running freely off of her. Gill was enjoying the feeling as the heat seemed to draw all the tension from her muscles. She relaxed and concentrated on the ticklish feeling of the sweat rolling off of her. Glancing down Gill could see her dark nipples, wet and glistening, she traced around her one nipple with her finger and gasped as her nipple hardened, rising outward from the centre of her puffy areola. That was unexpected, she did the same to her other nipple with the same results only this time as she watched her nipple harden she felt a familiar burning in her lower belly which gradually sank down between her thighs. Gill could feel her outer pussy lips swelling as she became aroused, her inner pussy contracted making her clench her fists with pleasure.
Gill felt really naughty, she was becoming unexplainably aroused lying here alone. She had only ever had sex in private and only ever masturbated on her own so this felt really erotic to her. She lifted her one knee and let her thighs fall open slightly, her nipples tightened as her pussy lips began to part slightly. Gill knew that if she opened her legs her lips would part, exposing her entrance completely, she did not need to use her fingers to open her pussy; nothing was left to the imagination when her legs were open.
Gill could feel her clit swelling, thickening and extending until the sensitive pink tip was showing clearly at the top of her slit. Gill was soooo tempted to reach down and slip a finger between her lips and tease her little friend into what she knew would be a mind numbing orgasm.
Just then Sandy opened the sauna door to inform her that the time was up, Gill wasn't sure how long she had been lying there but she was certainly glad she had not gone ahead and made herself cum. As it was Sandy couldn't seem to keep her eyes off the area between Gills thighs. Gill had often fantasized about doing another woman but had never taken it further than fantasizing. Sandy handed Gill her towel and she covered up, her pussy burning but she tried to ignore it, she could feel her juices flowing as she followed Sandy. She was so aroused that she found herself eying Sandy's ass as she walked ahead.
The next room was very obviously the facial and massage room. Sandy asked Gill to lie on a massage bed in the centre of the room, face up. Gill obliged, rearranging her towel so as not to let any of her squishy bits show. In came a very attractive girl that had been introduced to Gill as Abby. Gill saw Sandy whisper something to her as she approached the bed. Abby was dressed in the same attire as Sandy, tight fitting shorts and a cotton tank top, under which it was very obvious that the girls wore no underwear.
As Abby drew closed Gill noticed that the seam of her shorts had pulled up between the lips of her pussy to reveal the beautiful shape of her slit. Gill could not help staring and she found her mouth going dry as the young girl got nearer, her sex clearly defined behind the thin fabric. Abby explained that she was going to apply a face mask before beginning with a full body massage. Gill was wondering just how full the body massage was going to be. She had never been touched by a woman before and she wondered what the result would be in her aroused state.
Abby made Gill lie back and began gently massaging her entire face. Gill melted, it was so relaxing that she momentarily forgot about the burning need between her legs.
She let herself drift as Abby skillfully worked on her, pausing briefly to apply the mask before carefully spreading it over her entire face. Her fingers felt like feathers on Gill's skin.
Gill felt Abby touch her shoulder.
"I need you to turn over now please, undo your towel as well please" ask Abby with a grin on her face.
Gill turned over and loosened her towel, her naked mound was now against the toweling cover on the massage bed and the rough material teased her sensitive nipples as she moved. At last she was comfortable and she was aware of Abby folding the towel upwards from her legs to cover her buttocks and expose her legs up to the fold at the top of her thighs. Gill held her legs closed, she knew her pussy was visible to anyone standing below her. Abby told Gill to relax and after a short pause she felt Abby at her feet and two strong hands on her ankles. Abby began massaging Gills ankles and feet in slow, firm motions. Again Gill melted. It was divine, the girl defiantly knew what she was doing and Gill began to relax, reveling in the sensation of the warm aromatic oil and the firm fingers on her naked skin. Abby worked up Gills legs and down again, each time going higher until her fingers reached the curve of Gills buttocks, Gill gasped as Abby touched her, waiting to see what would happen next. Abby retreated back down Gill's legs. Gill found herself suddenly getting very aroused again as Abby edged upwards again, stopping at the fold at the top of her thighs but this time Gill felt her fingers slip slightly deeper between her thighs, almost touching her bare pussy lips.
Gill flinched slightly and could not help sighing as she felt her vulva respond to the intimate contact. She found herself hoping that Abby would do it again, only this time, actually touch her pussy. She waited as Abby neared her ass and bit her lip in anticipation, her pussy lips were swelling and her clitoris was now fully erect.
"Touch me dammit" thought Gill
She almost cried out as Abby slowly and deliberately allowed her hand to travel up the inside of Gill's thigh, higher she went as Gill prayed that she would not remove her hand. Abby didn't, she kept it between Gills legs as she moved her hand higher. Gill felt her oily fingers slide onto her closed pussy and hissed through her teeth. She lifted her hips slightly and parted her thighs as Abby's finger slid along the length of her juicy slit.
"Nice and wet already and I've only just started" whispered Abby as she pressed deeper between Gills willing thighs, probing with her fingertip and separating Gill's lips. Gill spread her thighs further, allowing Abby easier access to her desperate cunt. Her clit was throbbing and so swollen that she could feel the tip rubbing against the toweling cover of the bed. Abby suddenly removed her hand from between Gill's legs and Gill felt her lift the towel covering her ass and a wet sensation as Abby poured oil over the gap between her thighs and into the cleft between her buttocks. Again Gill lifted her hips slightly, causing her cheeks to part and allowing oil to dribble over her puckered anus. Abby then replaced her hand rubbing the slippery oil all over Gills firm mounds and tracing the crease between them. Gill was in heaven, she spread he legs as far as the bed would allow and angled her ass upwards, opening her ass and pussy. She knew that her opening would now be exposed because she felt the moment her lips parted, showing off the deep pink inner lips and small opening of her vulva.
Abby slipped her well lubricated fingers between Gills's upturned ass cheeks and probed her warm anal opening, pressing her fingertip against the tight resistance but stopped just short of penetration. Gill moaned loudly as she felt the intrusion; she consciously relaxed her anus, inviting the teasing finger inside. Gill couldn't believe that she was behaving this way but she could not help it, she was so turned on. Abby must have felt her tight ring relax because she gently pressed inward, not deep, just inside the elastic entrance before she turned her finger in Gill's ass, round and round, stimulating her anal opening and causing a flood of pussy fluids to erupt from the entrance just below the probing finger.
Gill's anus tightened around Abby's finger as she felt the first signs of an approaching orgasm. Abby realized what was happening and gently removed her finger from it's tight prison.
"I don't want you cumming before I have felt that gorgeous pussy of yours, you had Sandy so hot just now I bet she had to go and finger herself when she left you with me." teased Abby.
Gill felt Abby move her hand downward and cup her swollen mound, finding the thick shaft of her clit Abby began to gently circle the swollen nub causing Gill's hips to jerk as pleasure shot through her pussy. Gill began to thrust her mound into Abby's hand in time to the touch of her finger on her clit. Gill was very close to cumming as Abby released her clit and slipped her finger into the slit of Gill's pussy, following the deep groove until she felt the soft opening of Gills willing hole, dripping pussy juice and begging to cum.
Abby pressed her finger inward, inserting it fully into Gill's tight hole. She positioned the tip of her finger over the soft spongy spot just below gills clit and began to stimulate it. Gill squealed as her pussy contracted around Abby's beautiful finger, she moved her hips in time to Abby's finger, her whole cunt on fire as Abby relentlessly manipulated her g-spot. Gill knew that there was no way she could prevent herself cumming, she grabbed on tight to the bed, lifted her ass and pressed back against Abby's hand. She felt her inner pussy swelling as it gripped Abby's finger tightly, tensing up for one of her extra wet orgasms. Abby, without missing a stroke, quickly slipped a second finger into Gill jus as she felt her inner muscles begin to convulse, squeezing her fingers as she continued to rub Gill's cum button. As Gill came her whole body danced and twitched, her pussy ejaculating a hot juicy stream of sweet female cum as she experienced one of the most mind blowing orgasms of her life.
Abby kept her fingers inside Gill's pussy for a while as she came down off of her orgasm. She felt her vulva relax and her hips dropped down on the bed. Abby slowly withdrew her hand, caressing Gill's firm buttocks and still convulsing anus, helping her to relax. Gill opened her eyes to see Sandy standing wide eyed, watching her. Her eyes glued to the very wet pussy between her legs.
"I hope you didn't miss the show?" Abby asked Sandy.
"No, I came in just as you began to finger her ass" breathed Sandy. "This woman has got the most beautiful pussy, can I feel her?"
Gill was still trying to recover from her orgasm and here these girls were discussing her as if she wasn't even there. She didn't care, she had just had an amazing orgasm and her pussy was still on fire. She wanted more; she wanted to fuck both these young girls together.
Gill felt two pairs of hands on her, caressing her from her ankles to her butt. Now and then a hand would venture further, probing between her cheeks to tease her newly penetrated asshole or slip briefly along the length of her sensitive inner cunt, parting her lips to feel the soft opening that was begging to be entered.
Not to be outdone Gill used her newfound sexual confidence and dropped her hands down off the bed and ran a hand up the leg of each of the girls standing on either side of her. When the girls felt her touch they moved closer, eager to find out how far Gill was prepared to go in exploring their young, eager bodies.
Gill reveled in the sensation of four warm hands exploring her deepest folds, growing ever bolder as they realized that she was on the brink of complete sexual release. The girls massaged Gill's firm ass cheeks, spreading them to expose her aching pussy and twitching ass ring to their hungry gaze and teasing fingers. Gill eagerly felt upwards with her hands, Abby and Sandy's firm legs were warm to her touch as she ventured upwards. She felt the curve of two hard ass cheeks as she caressed the girls, feeling them respond by turning sideways toward her hand, making it easier for Gill to touch their pussies.
Gill gasped as her hands found the two pouting mounds ready for her trembling fingers. Both girls parted their legs slightly to allow Gill easy access to their waiting slits. It was wonderful to feel the firm outline of the girl's lips beneath their panties and gentle pressure allowed Gill to press her fingers between their lips and find both girls had very prominent, erect clitorises. Gill rubbed her fingers over the hard nubs and heard the girls sigh with pleasure, the heat from their arousal made Gill want to plunge her fingers deeper up inside both pussies to feel their tightness around her.
Before Gill got the chance to do any further manipulation of the two wanton cunts Abby and Sandy pulled away, Gill taken by surprise did not resist as the girls turned her on her back and bent forward, each taking one of Gill's erect nipples in her mouth, tonguing it erotically. Gills nipples reacted by stiffening further, swelling inside the warm mouths that sensuously teased them to full erection. Gill moaned and held the girl's heads, pressing her tits against the indecent pleasure that worked at the peak of each of them. Involuntarily Gill drew her knees up, her burning pussy indirectly stimulated by the infuriatingly arousing sucking that her tits were receiving.
Abby felt Gill raise her legs and hooked her arm under Gill's knee, lifting and holding Gill's leg level with her head. Sandy did the same, opening and exposing Gills highly aroused cunt. Gill felt her outer lips and ass cheeks spread as her legs parted and she could feel her warm juices dribble from her open hole and run teasingly over her puckered anus. It was the most erotic feeling Gill had ever experienced, she was literally being fucked by two gorgeous young girls, something which she had never imagined in her wildest dreams. Her most secret place was being flared open for anyone to see and for these girls to take advantage of. The realization made Gill moan with pleasure and her pussy reacted by contracting tightly as the treat of an impending orgasm approached.
Sandy released her grip on Gill's nipple and moved down to stand between Gills wide spread thighs. She hesitated momentarily to remove her panties before she bent forward and placed her mouth firmly over Gill's exposed pussy hole. Gill momentarily stopped breathing as she felt the warm wet sensation of Sandy's mouth at her opening. Sandy probed with her tongue, tracing the rim of Gill's vulva before forcing the firm length of her thick tongue into Gill's depths. Gill sighed as Sandy hungrily tongued her pussy, moving in and out of the wet entrance with her teasing tongue, pausing now and then to run the tip of her tongue along the thick, stiff shaft of Gill's clit. Sandy sensed that Gill would not be able to hold out much longer before she came in her mouth and slowed her assault on the still uninitiated Gill.
Abby now also released Gill's nipple and moved to stand over Gill's head. Gill watched as Abby dropped her panties and, placing a knee on either side of Gill's head, straddled Gill with her pussy mere millimeters from Gill's face. Gill reached up and took hold of Abby's ass cheeks, parting them, pulling them gently apart to expose the completely shaven slit hiding between Abby's thighs. Gill reached further around Abby's ass and holding her upper thigh she pulled gently and watched eagerly as Abby's pussy lips parted and exposed her soft inner pussy, the stiff nub of her clit and the wet opening of her cunt. Gill's own cunt tightened around Sandy's tongue as Abby bent forward causing her pussy and ass to open fully to her stare. Gill took her example from Sandy, lifted her head slightly and, sticking her tongue out, tasted pussy for the first time. The tangy, coppery taste was pleasant and Gill probed deeper, finding the puffy, pink opening which released a stream of warm pussy juice into Gill's mouth as she penetrated the elastic entrance.
Things became a bit of a blur from then on as Abby began humping the length of her slit against the firm resistance of Gill's tongue, fucking her pussy hard into Gill's mouth, making her taste every juicy contraction of her vibrant opening. Sandy had now pushed a finger deep inside Gill's cunt, searching for and finding her swollen "G" spot. Gill felt her clitoris swell to an enormous size and Sandy took it into her mouth and sucked on it like a miniature cock. Abby was furiously fucking Gill's tongue and reached down between her thighs to rub her middle finger over her erect clit as Gill tried to shove more of her tongue up inside her.
Gill felt Sandy shift position and was disappointed to lose the delicious friction against her clitoris but it wasn't to be for long. Sandy climbed up on the table and placed a foot on each side of Gill's pelvis, one between her legs under her ass and one to the side of her hip. Gill still had her legs high in the air so when Sandy squatted it placed her open pussy squarely over Gill's. Gill moaned into Abby's gyrating cunt as she felt the smooth, wet lips of Sandy's pussy pressed against her own open slit. She was amazed to feel the firm pressure of Sandy's stiff clitoris as it came in contact with her own erect clit for the first time. Sandy began sliding her well lubricated pussy along Gill's swollen, upturned peach. Allowing just enough pressure to grind their swollen cum buttons together, by moving her hips in a circular motion Sandy managed to rub her clitoris around Gill's, causing both immense pleasure.
Abby was fast approaching orgasm as she furiously frigged her clitoris as Gill licked and teased her hole. Sandy was fucking Gill's cunt faster as she too approached orgasm, Gill pulled her mouth from Abby's cunt and drove two fingers deep into the tight opening. Abby bucked against the intrusion and cried " Yessssss." Her inner muscles contracted tightly around Gill's fingers as she began fucking them in and out of Abby's willing hole.
Gill looked up and saw Abby's puckered anus winking at her just above her pumping fingers. Wanting to return the earlier favour, using her other hand she placed her middle finger against the firm, warm resistance of Abby's asshole and, feeling the probing digit Abby relaxed as Gill easily slipped her finger deep into Abby's rear entrance. Gill could feel the extreme tension approach as her thrusting fingers brought Abby to the brink of an explosive orgasm. Both her openings clamped down on Gill's fingers as Abby bucked and thrust, riding the hot waves of orgasmic pleasure erupting from deep inside her pussy.
Seeing her friend cumming was enough to drive Sandy over the edge and she drove her cunt hard against Gill's, releasing a hot stream of liquid lust which burst from her pussy and drenched Gill, squirting into her open pussy, flooding her to a point where she overflowed, spilling Sandy's warm cunt juice down the crack of her ass and all over her enraged clit.. The sensation of the warm cum shooting into her cunt released Gill's own orgasm, an orgasm so intense that she felt for the first time the welling up of her own ejaculation, the moment of release hovering as she experienced for the first time what seemed to be perfect control over her pussy as she came.
Gill contracted her inner pussy and was amazed to feel a thick stream of hot cum spurt from deep inside her. She felt the torrent force its way out past her opening and upward into Sandy's still convulsing entrance. To Sandy it felt as if a thick, warm flood had suddenly been released into her and she screamed as her pussy convulsed again, prolonging her orgasm. The two women ground their pussies together, milking every bit of pleasure from each others orgasms. Abby had begun to come down from her intense orgasm, her ass and pussy still chewed on Gill's fingers as she slowly relaxed, enjoying watching the two of them cumming on each other.
It took quite a while to disentangle the three of them and Gill could look at the two girls standing before her, unashamed at what had just happened, fidgeting as their pussies still tightened uncontrollably now and again. Gill smiled, cupped her saturated, sensitive pussy in her hand and said "Well, that was a nice prize, good for a start but I hope you can do better next time"
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2 comments
2012-06-29 17:14:23
Awesome!!! I am so hard... this story got my dick up and hard as a steel rod quickly. I am gonna cum soon.
anonymous reader
2012-06-29 13:06:15
so fucking hot!!!!!!!
make more like this please!
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Coghlan's 0225 Lightstick 4 Kids - 4-pack
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Compact LED Flashlight
Original Price:$24.99 Current Price: $19.99Tough torch design with aluminum case delivers bright LED light. Includes carrying strap. Learn More

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Baby Potatoes with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
6 servings of potatoes (and 1½ cups aioli)
Savory Spice Shop Ingredients
Use the drop down to choose the amount of times you would like to make this recipe.
This will automatically recalculate the amount of product you will need to purchase.
Uncheck the box to the right of the product if you do not need to purchase that particular item at this time.
For potatoes:
- 1 lb. baby potatoes
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. parsley, finely chopped
- salt and pepper
For aioli:
- 1-12 oz. can roasted red peppers, drained
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. Wash Park All-Purpose Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Wash and halve potatoes and place in a saucepan. Cover with cold water, add a dash of salt and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 7 to 8 min. until potatoes are just tender. Drain and set aside. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and saute for 3 to 4 min., stirring, until potatoes are well coated. Sprinkle potatoes with chopped parsley and place in a serving bowl. Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse all aioli ingredients together until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and serve alongside potatoes.
6 servings of potatoes (and 1½ cups aioli)Thanks to:
Mike Johnston, Savory Spice Shop founder
This recipe has been tested for accuracy by the Savory Spice Shop Test Kitchen.
Baby Potatoes With Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
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Maine man has stroke at office, spends 5 days alone, dies
Relatives and authorities say a 45-year-old computer specialist had a stroke in his office and wasn't discovered until five days later.By: Associated Press report, Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine — Relatives and authorities say a computer specialist had a stroke in his office and wasn't discovered until five days afterward. He later died at a hospital.
Forty-five-year-old David Norton, of Portland, was barely alive when police found him Oct. 10 inside his University of Southern Maine office. He died Oct. 15 at Maine Medical Center.
Linda Norton says her son had a stroke the Friday before Columbus Day. University police found him in his locked office the following Wednesday, the day a co-worker reported he had missed a meeting and couldn't be reached.
Norton's mother has asked the school to develop a policy for police to check offices every day. University officials say they're reviewing policies to determine if changes are warranted.
Norton worked for the University of Maine System.
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Mar 7, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson (14) runs to third after he hit an RBI triple during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Using the CAD feature tree inside the CAM system makes the programming process fast, the company says, because the CNC programmer has a more accurate description of the workpiece to be machined.
Comments are reviewed by moderators before they appear to ensure they meet Modern Machine Shop's submission guidelines.
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Articles About nonprofit
Village Council— Funding for nonprofits considered
How should Village Council respond to funding requests from local nonprofits? Council members held an initial discussion on the issue at their Jan. 7 meeting, although the topic was discussion only, with no action taken at this time.
Family philanthropy benefits Yellow Springs
Many Yellow Springs nonprofits have a friend in the Morgan Family Foundation, which has contributed several million dollars to local groups since 2003.
Local women who make a difference
The organizers of 100 Women Making a Difference in Greene County want to make a difference in the lives of community members by donating most effectively to the nonprofits who serve them.
Nonstop fun at Nonstop fundraiser
The Nonstop Institution hosted a fundraising gala last night with a diverse lineup of acts.
I've got the Blues
The AACW Blues Fest went off without a hitch last weekend at the Antioch Amphitheater.
Scott welcomes village's young-old
In a town with a growing demographic of healthy retired people with skills to offer, the Yellow Springs Senior Center has an important role to play, according to the center's new executive director, David Scott. During his first day on the job last week, Scott talked about his idea to broaden the center's membership…
Glen Helen fundraiser dinner—Finally, a use for honeysuckle
When the barred owl sings its inquisitive call "whoo cooks for you?" this weekend, the folks at Glen Helen will have an answer. At a long dinner table at the Raptor Center on Sunday, July 18, area diners in support of the Glen will sit down to enjoy a meal whose origins are both known and local with the area chefs and farmers who grew and prepared the food.
Telling stories to save the land
Eric Wolf remembers the moment he made an emotional commitment to supporting farmland preservation. He had returned to Shelter Island outside New York City, the place where as a child he went to hunt scallops and wonder at the expanse of cornfields.
Recession knocks local nonprofits
Almost a full year after the national economic seizure, nonprofit organizations in the village are feeling the squeeze in their budgets. The crash affected most markedly the heftily endowed, and it hurt most cruelly the service-oriented groups. While contraction to reduce expenditures is an option, many local nonprofits are choosing to maintain or expand their programs in hopes of riding out a temporary financial slump.
Sunday liquor sales sought
There is a small movement afoot to allow Sunday liquor sales and consumption in the downtown business district, which could significantly affect village restaurants and also local nonprofit organizations. The local option issue is one for the November ballot that needs approval from a majority of registered voters in the village to allow businesses in the downtown precinct to sell liquor on Sundays.


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Rain hampers Tunbridge Wells clash
The weather continued to dominate Kent's LV= County Championship match against Hampshire at Tunbridge Wells.
After a rain-ruined opening day restricted the action to just 15.1 overs, only 18.3 overs were sent down today before play was again abandoned with the visitors on 90 for three in their first innings.
Hampshire - resuming on their overnight total of 50 for three - went on to grind out a further 40 runs through fourth-wicket partners Simon Katich, unbeaten on 43, and Liam Dawson, who was 22 not out.
The pair extended their unbroken partnership to 53 before the rain came down shortly before the scheduled lunch break.
With heavy cloud cover and high humidity the conditions appeared ideal for seam and swing bowling - but the Kent attack rarely beat the bat.
The hosts left the field when the rain arrived clearly frustrated by the weather and the obdurate performances of Katich and Dawson.


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On a day when Google launched Gmail Motion and LinkedIn was offering to connect users with "activist/chief fundraiser at Nottingham" Robin Hood, Korean websites were engaging in April Fools' waggery of their own.
In a gag somewhat similar to LinkedIn's, Cyworld users opened their accounts to discover friend invites from the likes of 2PM star Nichkhun and 아이유. Clicking on these "friends," alas, led to nothing more exciting than an invitation to a Cyworld music festival. Cyworld also changed its name to 쵸재깅 (chojaeging) for the day, using the nickname that appears if you attempt to type "Cyworld" in English with the hangeul text left on.


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T quiet car program begins smoothly
MBTA General Manager Richard Davey says the implementation of the MBTA's pilot "quiet car" program is going smoothly.
"So far, so good. The early reports I've received are positive," Davey said in a telephone interview. "The morning commute tends to be quieter anyways. I think tonight will probably be a good test as folks are unwinding from a long day."
The T and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad are beginning the program today on peak morning and evening trains on the Fitchburg and Franklin lines of the commuter rail.
Customers in the designated quiet car the car closest to the locomotive will be expected to refrain from using cellphones; to keep their conversations with other riders brief and whispered; and to set phones, laptops, pagers, and other devices to silent or vibrate.
If the 90-day pilot is a success, which officials expect, the program will be extended to all commuter rail lines.
Davey said some commuters this morning didn't seem to know of the existence of the quiet car. They'll be reminded again this afternoon by announcements in the station and by conductors on the trains.
"We've got to get the word out," he said.
On the beat
Shirley Leung says Boston mayor-elect Martin J. Walsh should focus on middle-class housing. Read more |


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Chancellor Kristensen was appointed to lead the University of Nebraska at Kearney in July 2002 following a distinguished career in the Nebraska Legislature. He represented the 37th legislative district and, at the time he retired from office, was the longest serving Speaker of the Legislature. He brings to the position a unique knowledge of the issues affecting higher education in the State of Nebraska, a record of dedication to Nebraska citizens, and a long familiarity with the University system in general and the history and mission of the Kearney campus in particular.
During his tenure as Nebraska State Senator, Chancellor Kristensen was instrumental in passing significant legislation and numerous constitutional amendments. He sponsored legislation that created the Nebraska Court of Appeals and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, and was also one of the sponsors of legislation that brought then Kearney State College into the University of Nebraska system. At the time he held political office he practiced law and was a partner in the law firm of Lieske & Kristensen in Minden, Nebraska.
An enthusiastic advocate of everything UNK, Doug Kristensen, since his appointment as Chancellor, has directed a number of dramatic residential renewal projects. These include construction of Antelope and Nester residence halls; refurbishing Men's, Randall, and Mantor Halls; the Cope Stadium/Foster Field project; comprehensive upgrades to the Central Utilities Plant; improvements to campus dining facilities; extensive landscaping; and significant renovation of Bruner Hall of Science.
Civic and professional awards include the Nebraska State Bar Association Award of Merit; UNK Friend of the University Award; League of Nebraska Municipalities Distinguished Service Award; President's Award, Nebraska Association of County Officials; Outstanding Young Men of America; University of Nebraska Innocents Society; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; and Acacia National Fraternity Order of Pythagoras.
Current memberships include the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) President's Council; NCAA Division II Academic Requirements Committee; Nebraska Information Technology Committee; Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Company Board of Directors; Economic Development Council of Buffalo County Board of Directors; Museum of Nebraska Art Board of Directors; and Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He formerly served as national Vice President of the National Conference of State Legislatures; Executive Board Member of the Council of State Governments; State Legislative Leaders Foundation; Nebraska Constitutional Review Commission; Federal Communications Commission Local and State Government Advisory Committee; Rowe Sanctuary Board of Directors; and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Presidents Council.
Chancellor Kristensen received his baccalaureate degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Doctor of Jurisprudence from Drake University. He and his wife, District Judge Terri S. Harder, have two daughters, Morgan and Paige.


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WPL Point Leaders |
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(Note that the below stats conflict with USA Rugby's, but individual coaches have confirmed that the following are correct.) The first round of the Women's Premier League has concluded, and teams that posted the biggest scores of the weekend see their players highest on the points leaderboard. The Twin Cities Amazons put the most points between itself and opponent, downing crosstown rival Minnesota Valkyries 62-10. Zons flyhalf Rebecca Radtke slotted six of the 10 tries scored, one of which she dotted down herself. Teammates Lynelle Kugler at outside center and flanker Amanda Kingzett each put a hat trick on the books. Berkeley turned it on in the second half of their DC Furies match, and some better ball production allowed the All Blues' always dangerous backline unfurl. Kelly Griffin had a big day with three tries, and she ties Kugler and Kingzett for the #2 spot on the list.


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Dow drops 1,147 points over three trading days. Is that a 'crash'?
The Dow has lost 9.13 percent of its value over three days of trading. It's bad, but investors have seen much worse in previous sell-offs. Still, 'crash' versus 'correction' is a matter of debate.
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After Black Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929, Variety declared "Wall Street lays an egg," to describe a drop of 23 percent in the stock market over two days. In the stock market "crash" of 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 22.6 percent of its value in one day. On Monday, the Dow dropped 634.76 points to 10809.85. Does the sharp decline qualify as a "crash?"
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To some market observers, the latest decline is merely a "correction," compared with what happened in 1929 and 1987. Despite the large drop – some 513 points last Thursday, as well – the Dow is down 9.13 percent over three days of trading.
"A stock market crash is in the range of 25 percent or more in one day," says Fred Dickson, chief investment strategist at D.A. Davidson & Co. in Lake Oswego, Ore. "We're down about 10 percent in 10 days."
Here are some of the worst market sell-offs:
Oct. 19, 1987, also called "Black Monday." Over the weekend before, Iran had fired missiles over the Persian Gulf, causing some nervous moments. But then, an article in The New York Times claimed that the US wanted a lower-valued dollar. This prompted foreign investors to start to dump stocks because they would be worth less money in dollar terms. The markets at the time did not have any circuit-breakers, which now stop trading after about a 10 percent decline in one day.
Instead, the falling markets resulted in yet more selling, which basically snowballed as computer-generated trades kept pressure on the market the entire day. "The only thing that kept the market from melting down even more was the closing bell," recalls Mr. Dickson.
The next day the Federal Reserve Bank stepped in, reducing interest rates. The stock market reversed itself, moving higher.
Oct. 28 and 29, 1929. On Monday the 28th, the stock market fell 12.82 percent and then dropped another 11.73 percent the next day. The stock market of the 1920 had a lot of "wild West" in it, with little supervision over trading. The public had become enthusiastic buyers of stock, using "margin," or borrowed money, to finance their purchases. Thus, when the market dropped sharply – in an era when stock prices were not instantaneously known – the public lost most of their savings. This lead to the Great Depression and, eventually, to reforms such as the formation of the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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The intent of this position statement is to:
The position of the New York State Nurses Association is:
Violence is a public health emergency that pervades all socioeconomic segments of society and is recognized as a global problem. In response, workplace guidelines define workplace violence; strategies for prevention and follow up; and acknowledge the need for employers to have a responsive comprehensive approach to the reality of workplace violence. These have been developed by organizations including the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), OSHA and the Joint Commission. More research is required regarding the effectiveness of violence prevention efforts and what evidence supports revision and/or improvement of existing prevention programs.
In 2001 the ANA released the Bill of Rights for Nurses to emphasize that nurses and their patients have the right to a safe work environment (The American Nurse, 2002). In 2006, the ANA adopted principles related to nursing practice and a healthy work environment. The resolution advocates for a comprehensive approach to workplace security and violence prevention program and the right to a healthy work environment free of abusive behavior and reprisal (ANA, 2006).
Research supports a variety of reasons for registered nurses not reporting episodes of violence including a persistent perception of violence being part of the job, episodes of non-injury or nonphysical violence, lack of support by the employer or fear of reprisal, difficult reporting mechanisms, and poor documentation or investigation by employers (Gallant-Roman, 2008a).
Disruptive behaviors, which can include horizontal/lateral violence, vertical violence(superior to subordinate), bullying, gossiping, undue criticism, bickering and blaming, undermining and scapegoating, all add to an unhealthy workplace, as well as contribute to staff dissatisfaction; patient complaints, and the potential for errors (Joint Commission, 2008; Longo, 2010; Weinand, 2010). Literature demonstrates that disruptive behaviors are sustained by disrespect in the workplace and affect every member of the healthcare team. Socialization of student and graduate nurses can be affected leading to disillusionment of the profession (King-Jones, 2011). King-Jones (2011) noted in a literature review of bullying towards student and graduate nurses that many reported verbal abuse and considering leaving the organization or profession, as a result. The behaviors are often justified by the perpetrator as the result of poor staffing, workload or stress (Thomas & Burk, 2009). When organizations and leadership allow these behaviors to continue through tolerance and indifference, it indirectly promotes the behavior as acceptable (Longo, 2010; Pontus & Scherrer, 2011). These behaviors have become part of the nursing culture to the point of acceptance as part of the job (Longo, 2010; Sellers, Millenbach, Kovach, & Yingling, 2009-2010). When the behaviors are demonstrated or allowed by leadership, the results can include underreporting; increased turnover; absenteeism; a hostile work environment and compromised patient care (Longo, 2010; Olender-Russo, 2009; Pontus & Scherrer, 2011).
In response to nurses who reported disruptive behaviors at their workplace, in 2008, the Joint Commission released a Sentinel Alert. Recommendations within the alert suggest healthcare facilities develop policies addressing disruptive behaviors; implement a systems approach to address disruptive or intimidating behaviors; increase employee awareness of bullying behaviors and its effect on the workplace; provide training and support for employees; and conduct assessments, interventions and document follow through (Joint Commission, 2008). In 2010 the American Nurses Association House of Delegates reaffirmed full support of the previous resolution in 2006 to work proactively towards the reduction of abuse, harassment and bullying of nurses, as well as consequences related including reprisal and retaliation. The ANA also resolved to explore collaborative relationships to ensure resources for education and research (ANA HOD, 2010).
Gallant-Roman notes young inexperienced nurses are more at risk as are nurses who work in the emergency room, geriatric settings and mental health settings (2008a). Several studies indicate violence often takes place during times of high activity and interaction with patients, such as meal times, during visiting hours, and patient transportation (CDC, 2002, Publication 101). Additional risk factors for violence include but are not limited to tolerance and indifference towards intimidation or disruptive behavior; individual and emotional factors; embedded healthcare environment dynamics such as fear of litigation or retaliation, increased productivity demands, and limited resources (Joint Commission, 2008).
While risk factors may differ in each setting, the approach to comprehensive assessment, intervention, and prevention workplace violence is of upmost importance (Joint Commission, 2008; OSHA, 2004). Registered Nurses are expected to actively collaborate with healthcare leadership in conducting proactive risk assessments to assess environmental, behavioral, and practice factors that contribute to the occurrence of violence.
Establishing an effective and comprehensive violence prevention program requires employer support at all levels. Ongoing education includes assessment techniques and identification of the types of violence that may be encountered by the employee; methods to avoid or diffuse potentially violent situations; mechanisms for reporting and documenting episodes of violence; and recognition of risk factors and continuing assessment of the environment by interdisciplinary teams (OSHA, 2004). In the event of an incident the process should include but not be limited to immediate medical attention as indicated; reporting and dissemination of information to the appropriate individuals including law enforcement; debriefing and referrals for employees involved or witness to an incident; and thorough documentation and evaluation of the situation to identify contributing factors to help in prevent reoccurrence (ERCI, 2005, p. 13)
The consequences of violence are serious for both an employer and employee. Victims of workplace violence are at increased risk of long-term emotional problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder which is common in combat veterans and victims of terrorism, crime, rape and other violent incidents. Although specific physical symptoms have not been widely researched, a large number of studies have examined the relationship between psychiatric symptoms, social effects and health- service outcomes and PTSD in both the veteran and general populations (American Psychiatric Association, 2011). Literature that has generated data regarding the associations between physical illness to PTSD including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders in victims of violence, have been self-reported, indicating the need for larger epidemiological trials in the general population (Qureshi, Pyne, Magruder, Schulz, & Kunik, 2009). For more specific information regarding the clinical diagnosis of PTSD and other resources go to http://www.healthyminds.org/Main-Topic/Posttraumtic-Stress-Disorder.aspx
Organizations are significantly affected by low worker morale, increased job stress and turnover, reduced trust of management and coworkers, and hostile work environments (CDC, 2002). "Working in fear for your personal safety can function as a major occupational stressor, and indeed, violence in the workplace has been cited as a common reason for resignation in nursing" (Opie, et al., 2010, p. 22).
Research indicates that nurses may predispose themselves to violence, because of learned behavioral patterns, lack of autonomy and control over the practice environment (Gallant-Roman, 2008a). Further research is required regarding the impact of workplace violence on retention and recruitment of nurses in all healthcare settings.
Taking steps to improve healthcare environments will improve patient outcomes, improve retention and recruitment of registered nurses, reduce costs and improve patient and staff satisfaction, and reduce costs. Registered nurses and the public can advocate for safe and quality healthcare, but without creating safe and healthy work environments for employees, the perpetuation of these issues will continue to erode healthcare delivery systems.
The New York State Nurses Association recommends that:
Approved by the Board of Directors on September 27, 1983; April 8, 2005; August 25, 2011.
Reviewed and revised by the expanded Council on Nursing Practice on January 21, 2005; Council on Nursing Practice June 17, 2011.
Note: The use of the term "patient" anywhere in this document is intended to be generic and refers to the recipient of nursing care.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. (2004). Workplace violence prevention. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs/Workplace_Violence.pdf
American Nurses Association. (2002). Know your rights: ANA's bill of rights arms nurses with critical information, The American Nurse, 34(6), 16. Washington, DC: Author.
American Nurses Association (2006) House of Delegates Resolution. Workplace abuse and harassment of nurses. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MemberCenterCategories/ANAGovernance/HODArchives/2006HOD/ActionsAdopted.aspx
American Nurses Association (2010) House of Delegates Resolution. Hostility, abuse and bullying in the workplace. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MemberCenterCategories/ANAGovernance/HODArchives/2010-HOD/2010-Actions-Adopted/Hostilty.aspx
American Psychiatric Nurses Association. (2008). Position statements: Workplace violence.
Retrieved from http://www.apna.org/files/public/APNA_Workplace_Violence_Position_Paper.pdfAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2011). Healthy minds. Healthy Lives. Posttraumatic stress disorder. Retrieved from
http://www.healthyminds.org/Main-Topic/Posttraumtic-Stress-Disorder.aspxCenter for Disease Prevention and Control. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2002). Violence: Occupational hazards in hospitals (NIOSH Publication No. 2002-101). Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services.
ECRI. (2005). Healthcare risk control system. Violence in healthcare facilities. Retrieved from
http://www.fha.org/acrobat/JohnW/ViolenceinHealthcareFacilities.pdfGallant-Roman, M. A. (2008). Ensuring nurses' safety in violent workplaces. American Association of
Occupational Health Nurses Journal, 56(2), 51-52.Gallant-Roman, M. A. (2008a). Strategies and tools to reduce workplace violence. American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal, 56(11), 449-454.
International Council of Nurses. (2004). Guidelines on coping with violence in the workplace. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Retrieved from http://www.icn.ch/publications/guidelines/
Joint Commission. (2008). Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety. Retrieved from http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/SEA_40.PDF
King-Jones, M. (2011). Horizontal violence and the socialization of new nurses. Creative Nursing, 17(2), 80-86.doi:10.1891/1078-45184.108.40.206
Longo, J. (2010). Combating disruptive behaviors: Strategies to promote a healthy work environment. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 15(1), 3. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
New York State Penal Law. (2010). Title H, Article 120, Assault and related offenses, §120.05, Assault in the second degree.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2004). Guidelines for preventing workplace violence for health care & social service workers (OSHA Publication No. 3148-01R). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2011). Hospital eTool: Administration. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/admin/admin.html#Recordkeeping
Olender-Russo, L. (2009). Reversing a bullying culture. RN, 72(8), 26-29.
Opie, T., Lenthall, S., Dollard, M., Wakerman, J., MacLeod, M., Knight, S., Dunn, S., & Rickard, G. (2010). Trends in workplace violence in the remote area nursing workforce. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27(4), 18-23.
Pontus, C. & Scherrer, D. (2011). Is it lateral violence, bullying or workplace harassment? Often, it is one and the same. Massachusetts Nurse, 16-17.
Qureshi, S. U., Pyne, J. M., Magruder, K. M., Schulz, P. E., & Kunik, M. E. (2009). The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and physical comorbidities: A systematic review. Psychiatric Quarterly, 80, 87-97.
Sellers, K., Millenbach, L., Kovach, N., & Yingling, J. K. (2009-10). The prevalence of horizontal violence in New York State registered nurses. Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, 40(2), 20-25.
Thomas, S. P. & Burk, R. (2009). Junior nursing students' experience of vertical violence during clinical rotations. Nursing Outlook, 57, 226-231. Doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2008.08.004U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2006). Workplace violence prevention strategies and research needs (Publication No. 2006-144). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-144/
Weinand, M. R. (2010). Horizontal violence in nursing: history, impact, and solution. JOCEPS: The Journal of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, 54(1), 23-26. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Abuse – "Abuse is behavior that humiliates, degrades, or otherwise indicates a lack of respect for the dignity and worth of an individual" (ICN, 2004).
Horizontal Violence - Vessey, DeMarco, and Budin (2007) as cited in Sellers, Millenbach, Kovach, and Yingling define horizontal violence as "Repeated, offensive, abusive, intimidating, or insulting behavior, abuse of power, or unfair sanctions that makes recipients upset and feel humiliated, vulnerable, or threatened, creating stress and undermining their self-confidence" (p. 21).
Physical assaults - "Attacks ranging from slapping and beating to rape, homicide, and the use of weapons such as firearms, bombs, or knives" (CDC, 2002, p. 1).
Threats - "Expressions of intent to cause harm, including verbal threats, threatening body language, and written threats" (CDC, 2002, p. 1).
Workplace Violence - "According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workplace violence is an act of aggression directed toward persons at work or on duty and ranges from offensive or threatening language to homicide" (CDC, 2002, p. 1).
For more information on nursing practice, contact NYSNA's Education, Practice and Research Program at 518.782.9400, ext. 282 or by e-mail.


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Contact Info: 375 Ghent Road | Akron, Ohio 44333
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Posted by Smilie2772
JOLIET, ILLINOIS -- Don't waste your time with this store. My husband purchased my wedding and engagement rings from JBR and had no complaints at the time. However you must have them inspected every 6 months to keep up the ...
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Don't Waste Your Money/Time of Warranty Poor Repair
Posted by Adalena
STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN -- 02/27/00 Purchased ring and insurance for approximately $240. Ring had to be inspected every six months to keep warranty coverage. Total cost $3112.00. 03/28/09 Ring needed prong repaired; I missed ...
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11 Replies -
Latest reply
on 04/25/2011
J.B. Robinson jewelers BATE & SWITCH on DIAMONDS
Posted by Luvyourpets10
WALDORF, MARYLAND -- To all those who have been victimized by JBR I hope my info helps, I feel your pain. Try to not let the anger and suspicion get you because then you are still allowing this store to victimize and control ...
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6 Replies -
Latest reply
on 10/03/2010
JB Robinson St. Charles Mall Waldorf Maryland Eye Opener
Posted by Gldc
WALDORF MD -- JB Robinson St. Charles Towne Center Mall Waldorf Maryland; I was scammed by the Sale Pregnant Sale Lady on June 15, 2010 this sale pregnant sale lady approach me and said she is in a store contest and ...
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8 Replies -
Latest reply
on 07/07/2010
Buyer Beware
Posted by William130
OHIO -- If you are planning on purchasing from JRB or if you have already don so, such as myself, please consider this. My following experience, described below, show that JRB do not stand behind their product. My ...
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Diamond Inspections
Posted by Diadey
OHIO -- The treatment that we received from Mary the manager at a JB Robinson's OH is nothing short of unacceptable and a disgrace to the company. We went in for our bi-annual exam for my diamond warranty, and ...
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on 08/13/2004
Posted by Stevenber21
AURORA, ILLINOIS -- JBRobinson has the WORST customer service of any company I have ever dealt with! The customer is NOT their first priority, their commission is! BE WARNED! Here is my story: I bought an engagement ...
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Poor customer service at store
Posted by Edgar67147
WESTLAND, MICHIGAN -- I went to JB Robinson Jewelery on OCT 21st 2011. I walked in the store with my girlfriend and checked out a few engagement rings.... As I was talking to the sales lady she mentioned a ring on sale for ...
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on 12/06/2011
Posted by
SAGINAW, MICHIGAN -- At the very least I would like a response from your company regarding this incident. I have done business with J.B. Robinson for over 25 years. Today I took a ring in that I bought 5 years ago. During ...
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2 Replies -
Latest reply
on 08/22/2006
Faulty Jewelry
Posted by DaLa
This is the worst jewelry store ever and I will NEVER purchase anything from there again. I bought a watch from them that was appearently scratched when I purchased it. When I tried to return it they ...
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2 Replies -
Latest reply
on 03/03/2011
Sterling JB Robinson EEOC Discrimination Case
Posted by Pangongbastos
WALDORF MD -- PRESS RELEASE 9-24-08 STERLING JEWELERS SUED FOR SEX DISCRIMINATION EEOC Says Jewelry Retail Giant Discriminated Against Thousands of Women Nationwide BUFFALO, N. Y. – Sterling Jewelers ...
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1 Replies -
Latest reply
on 07/13/2010
Terrible Customer Service, Rude managers
Posted by Stephie101
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA -- My son bought a ring from them for his girlfriend, the diamond was damaged, so she took it up to have it fixed. The ticket was put in her name. My son went to pick up the ring when it was finished and ...
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on 09/22/2010
Posted by Eislemike
My Fiance purchased a citizen watch at JBR for my Christmas present. Before I realized it isn't worth it to me to have a watch(I have a cell phone). I decided to comparison shop. I found it for $200 cheaper at multiple reputable sources online. When I went to return it 14 days after she purchased it. The sales lady would not accept it back until I got on the phone with Customer service and threatened to go to every review site I could find and write about my experience. She then reluctantly took it back per their 30 day full refund policy. Even if they were not way over priced there is no way I would go back to them or their affiliates.
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on 01/11/2012
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Posted by Lhoffman
I bought a ring Nov 2009. I had it cleaned and inspected every 6 months or so per the warranty instructions. However, the last time that I had it done, 8-13-2011, the employee, Mitch, did NOT record the cleaning in the computer or give me documentation.(Everything was alright when he checked it out). As a result, when my diamond fell out 9-13-11, the warranty was voided because this employee did not document it or give me a receipt. As a result of this, I am complaining to everyone I know NOT TO SHOP AT JB ROBINSONS. He had my info pulled up, but couldn't type it in? I suspect this was done intentionally to void the warranty.
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on 09/14/2011
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Total Experience was unprofessional, to say the least.
Posted by Apage.design
UNIONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA -- December 2010 I dropped my ring off in the Uniontown, Pa JBR store to have it resized. After waiting three weeks, I received a call from them explaining that a diamond had fallen out and it would be ...
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5 Replies -
Latest reply
on 12/19/2011
JB Robinson Misleading Company Representation
Posted by Misay
WALDORF, MARYLAND -- JB Robinson Waldorf Maryland Sale Lady with a very dark haired Asian selling her own jewelry while working. I was approach while buying a ring. Then when I came home I was very surprise she called me ...
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6 Replies -
Latest reply
on 09/01/2010
I Understand Marking Up The Price But Get Real
Posted by Graphix
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA -- My sister purchased two 14k gold wedding rings and they tried to charge her $1100.00 each. She found the original paperwork which sold the rings at $699.00 each. When she questioned them about the pricing ...
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8 Replies -
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on 01/05/2009
They've Ruined My Wedding Ring
Posted by Marihand
TAYLOR, MICHIGAN -- In May 2008 I took my wedding ring to JBRobinson Jewelers to have the shank repaired as it had broken. The ring sat in the shop for 2 weeks. They said it would be back in 10 days. After I inquired they ...
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2 Replies -
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on 07/06/2009
Poor Craftsmanship and Care
Posted by Lauren_alloway_08
ZANESVILLE, OHIO -- My fiancé ordered my ring from JB Robinson on May 11, 2013 and they told him that since it was a custom designed ring that it would take a few weeks to get it made and in the way that he wanted. He picked ...
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Posted by Lennonclock
My husband and I have done business with them for several years and have had great experiences. The staff is wonderful at the store at the century 3 mall in Pittsburgh, especially Barbara. My rings are beautiful and I've never had an issue with the gold or diamonds :)
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Our third exclusive Agent Preference Survey offers agent input on the most important incentive program decisions you make: where to go and what to do when you get there.
Why aren't you booking Australia? For the third time, the Land Down Under ranked as insurance agents' most-desired international incentive destination--and by an even wider margin than in our last survey. Meeting planners concerned about how long it takes to get to Australia should note that "flight time to destination," while ranked as an important factor in a participant's enjoyment of an incentive trip, nonetheless was considered less important than guest rooms, meals, recreational facilities, hotel service, and airline service.
A fascination with Australia is but one of the past results confirmed by our third Agent Preference Survey. Other findings have been contradicted, while we've also added a couple of new questions this time around--for example, do attendees want kids along? (Respondents were almost evenly split: About a third do, about a third don't, and about a third don't care.)
California Dreamin' Asked to choose their favorite domestic destinations, agents were most likely to pick sunny spots, as in our two previous surveys. California, Florida, Hawaii, and Arizona take the top four spots this year, as they did in 1996, with California leapfrogging over the Sunshine State for this year's top position. New to the top ten is Washington state, in at number eight, and dropping out of the top ten this year is Texas, ranked 13th.
As mentioned, Australia solidified its number-one position in the international rankings, which otherwise showed some new contenders, partly because of new choices we presented to respondents.
In previous surveys, Great Britain was offered as one of the international choices. Agents ranked the isles third in 1996. For the current survey, we offered these separate choices: England, Scotland, and Ireland. All three made the top ten. England came in at number four; Scotland was ranked seventh; and Ireland came in at number ten.
As in 1996, the Caribbean was the second-most-popular international destination this year. France, ranked number six last time, moved up to the third position. Bermuda, the Bahamas, Italy, and Germany all returned to the top ten this year, while New Zealand dropped from seventh to eleventh and Austria moved down from number ten to the 17th spot.
Fun or Folly? We said it after our 1996 survey, but we'll say it again: Think twice about "beach Olympics." Asked to choose their four favorite activities from a list of 24 possible incentive program events, agents put beach Olympics dead last (tied with tennis). On the other hand, there may be some latent adventurers among your group, so don't discount deep-sea fishing or white-water rafting as recreational options. Both activities were chosen by almost one-third of respondents as one of the four activities they'd participate in if offered the chance. (Careful, though. Women put deep-sea fishing way down at number 13.) Topping the activities list was a decidedly less adventurous activity, golf, selected by 44 percent of respondents; and a typical itinerary component, sightseeing, was chosen by 34 percent.
What Women Want One thing we'll say about the agents you motivate--they're doers! We sent out 1,300 surveys and received 478 usable responses--a remarkable 37 percent response rate, our best ever. The male/female breakdown is the same as in our last survey (86 percent male, 14 percent female). We thought you'd like to know how women's responses compare to the overall results on a couple of key questions.
On activities: If you've got female qualifiers, give them time to book facials and massages. Women agents put spa treatments second only to sightseeing as the activity they'd be most likely to choose during an incentive program. Golf, which was ranked number one overall and number one by male agents, came in at number 12 among women agents. Still, don't discount golf's increasing popularity. Its number-one position this year represents a dramatic leap from the fifth spot in 1996. More evidence of the Tiger Woods effect: Respondents chose "golf resort" as the third-most-desired type of property for an incentive trip, up one spot over its previous position.
Men and women do agree on some activities: Both groups put sightseeing, white-water rafting, and snorkeling in the top six.
More interesting, when asked to rank four types of incentive rewards--cash, merchandise, individual travel, and group travel--on their motivational effectiveness, male and female agents showed a pretty dramatic split. Women put cash last, while for men cash was number one. Women rated group travel most effective, followed by merchandise, individual travel, and cash. Men put cash first, followed by group travel, individual travel, and merchandise.
What Makes the Biggest Impression? In addition to asking agents about their itinerary preferences, we also asked them to prioritize the elements of a trip. In other words, what is most important to their enjoyment of an incentive program? As they did last year, guest rooms and meals took the top two spots with almost equal ratings. (And most qualifiers want those nice guest rooms at beach resorts, again agents' top-rated type of property.)
Some other interesting findings: Airline service is more important to agents than the time it takes to get to a destination. And though the whole purpose of an incentive trip is to recognize agents' achievements, "recognition event" came in last in order of importance.
Kids: Love 'em or Leave 'em? As for the prospect of sharing an incentive travel experience with kids, most attendees want the option to bring them along or they say it makes no difference if kids are invited or not. One respondent suggested a minimum age requirement. Look out for the significant segment--30 percent--of respondents that prefers an adults-only experience. Some of them feel pretty strongly about it. One respondent wrote, "No! No! No!" next to the question.
If You Could Ask 1,000 Agents One Question . . . We've added a few new questions to our agent survey this year, but we're interested in knowing what you want to hear from this group of top-producing respondents. Please write, fax, or e-mail your suggestions and we'll consider incorporating them into our next survey.
Send to: Alison Hall 60 Main Street Maynard, MA 01754 Fax: (978) 579-5927
How This Survey Was Conducted The survey, designed by the staff of Insurance Conference Planner and reviewed by insurance industry planning professionals, was mailed to 1,300 top-producing life insurance agents around the country. We compiled the mailing list with the help of five insurance companies, each of which contributed from 100 to 300 names of producers who regularly qualify for their incentive travel programs.
We thank the following companies for their support: Kansas City Life, The Franklin, National Life of Vermont, Safeco Corporation, and Sun Life of Canada. We received 478 useable responses--a 37 percent response rate. Research Results of Fitchburg, MA tabulated the results.
Two new survey questions asked agents how they feel about upscale adventure travel. To give them an idea of what we mean by "upscale adventure," we offered some examples: biking through French wine country, heli-skiing in Canada, a multi-day rafting trip on the Colorado River, and hiking in Switzerland. These are just examples, of course. No doubt as many colorful brochures land on your desks as on ours, advertising all manner of eco-tours and "soft" adventure trips around the world.
In fact, you might get the most interesting adventure travel ideas from your own attendees, more than four out of five of whom said an upscale adventure travel experience would appeal to them. We asked respondents to suggest their own upscale adventure ideas, and more than 50 of them did. The response that cropped up the most: an African safari, suggested by 12 agents. Others got a lot more creative. How about gold mining in Alaska? Riding Harley-Davidsons across Europe? Or houseboating on Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah?
Variations on the fishing theme (Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, South America) were mentioned by nine agents; and seven agents suggested trips revolving around snorkeling, scuba diving, or surfing. Other suggestions: horseback riding through Ireland, mule riding in the Grand Canyon, and white-water kayaking. Some respondents chose adventurous destinations (China, the Nile, the Australian Outback), while others had a unique reading of the question: One agent's idea for adventure travel was "a limo through wine country."
Adventurous, indeed!
* The vast majority of agents report that their companies hold educational sessions during incentive meetings, even a few more than in our last survey (up to 95 percent from 92 percent in 1996).
As for the speakers who address them during those or other sessions, this year's respondents prefer motivational pre-
senters, as did agents in 1996. However, our last survey's
number-two topic, sales and marketing, takes a back seat this year to two topics that have more to do with an agent's personal well-being than his or her business acumen. Humor took the second spot, followed by "personal and professional balance."
"The insurance industry" again occupies the sixth spot--only ten percent of respondents chose it as the speaker topic they most prefer.
Insurance agents are a stable bunch. We found the exact same male/female breakdown and nearly the same age breakdown as in our last survey, two years ago. Slightly fewer agents are between 40 years old and 49 years old this time around, while slightly more are between 50 and 59 years of age. Exactly the same portion (12 percent) are 60 years old or older.
Again, we've surveyed an extremely well-traveled group of achievers. More than nine out of ten have attended an incentive program during the past 18 months. Far more remarkable: As in our previous survey, half of all respondents has attended ten or more incentive trips. It's easy to see why a meeting planner's greatest challenge is to continue to impress these perennial qualifiers.
* More agents than in our last survey (45 percent this year versus 39 percent in 1996) said it was "unlikely" that a compelling incentive trip would motivate them to sell one product in preference to another to qualify for that trip. Emphasis on compliance has peaked over the past two years, perhaps accounting for the jump in agents who do not report an outside influence on selling decisions.
Still, most agents (57 percent) consider incentive travel to be "highly effective" as a motivator while 40 percent consider it "somewhat effective." Only three percent believe incentive travel is "ineffective." As for the effect of "1099-ing" agents for the value of an incentive program, either they're getting used to it or it's another part of a new spirit of compliance. In our last survey, more than one-third of the respondents said that if an incentive trip were considered income to them, it would affect their efforts to qualify. This year, fewer than one-fifth felt that way.


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Sons of Italy, Water Street, July 4, 1922
Dublin Core
Sons of Italy, Water Street, July 4, 1922
Order of Sons of Italy in America (Wakefield, Mass.)
Wakefield (Mass.) -- Societies, etc. -- Pictorial works.
Wakefield (Mass.) -- History -- Pictorial works.
Photo courtesy of Wakefield Historical Society.
"Members of the Sons of Italy, Lodge 359, were among the representatives of fraternal groups that participated in the annual Fourth of July Parade sponsored by a special committee of the Chamber of Commerce. The two mile parade began at 10 a.m. and was held despite threatening skies that later postponed the highly anticipated $1,000 fireworks display. The parade divisions included military, fraternal, industrial, automobile, and horribles. Musical accompaniment was provided by Gallo's Band, Teel's Band, Waltham Watch Company Band, Chapman's Band, St. Joseph's Band, and the Wakefield Fife and Drum Corps. In addition to the Sons of Italy, fraternal organizations included the Holy Mary del Carmine Society, The Moose, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Hibernians, Eagles, and the Elks, all of whom wore 'special effects.' The Italian societies turned out in large numbers, wearing regalia and carrying banners. The money for the 1922 parade was raised by popular subscription. Because there were showers in the early morning, the parade committee was able to collect $1,000 in insurance, even though the parade went on as planned. The Executive Committee of the 4th of July parade committee of 1922 voted in May 1930 to give the surplus money to the Tercentenary committee and 4th of July parade committee of 1930." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
[Wakefield, Mass.] :;Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department,
Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)
Wakefield (Mass.) -- History -- Pictorial works.
"Sons of Italy, Water Street, July 4, 1922 ," Digital Commonwealth , accessed March 12, 2014, http://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/items/show/3278.


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The New Jersey Devils have reportedly re-signed defenceman Mark Fayne and avoided an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Aug. 2.
According to the Bergen Record in New Jersey, Fayne signed a two-year deal worth $2.6 million on Friday.
The 25-year-old blueliner had four goals and 13 assists while playing in all 82 games for the Devils last season. He also had three assists in 24 post-season games during New Jersey's run to the Stanley Cup Final.
The new deal more than doubles the $555,000 that Fayne earned last season. He will reportedly earn $1.2 million next season and $1.4 million in 2013-14.
Martin St. Louis is a Ranger, Matt Moulson is a member of the Minnesota Wild and the Montreal Canadiens have Thomas Vanek. Look back at all the big name deals that went down.
Complete Trade List
Photo Gallery: Behind the scenes at TradeCentre
Download the TSN Hockey App
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Get in-depth player stats, real-time on the ice matchups, Twitter Trender and so much more. Follow every play for every game.
GameTracker - Full Schedule
Are you ready for the Challenge? Select your roster of 6F, 4D and 2G each week during the regular season and you could win a new 2014 Kia Forte 5! Compete against the nation and your friends. Play Now! Play now!


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Coral LLC EcoPure Bio-available Coral Calcium -- 4 oz
Not bad
Probably not as economical as capsules, however there are no fillers whatsoever. A good positive. Not difficult to take, even the kids can drink it without great concern. I chose to mix it with water as it reacts a little with juices.
August 22, 2011
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BeerAdvocate on your phone?! True story. Try the beta now.
Tickets for American Craft Beer Fest are on sale now! (May 30 & 31 in Boston, MA)
Arcobrau Hefe-Weisse Beer - Arcobräu Gräfliches Brauhaus
Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse. |
Ratings: 12 | Reviews: 6 | Show All Ratings:
North Carolina
3.5/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12-ounce bottle aggressively poured, swirled, and poured into a 22-ounce weizen glass yields a hazy orangeade body crowned with three huge fingers of fine, soft white foam that retains at a thick finger and leaves fat swatches of lacing on the glass.
The smell of the drink is tangy and wheaty with a touch of spice and citrus. Very wit-like.
The drink is tangy and sweetly wheaty with a subdued bit of banana and crisp peaches.
This hefe is light and crisp, but not close to the fluffy softness of the top-notch brews of its kin. Thin, juicy feel. Pervasive dryness in the aftertaste.
Serving type: bottle
08-09-2008 16:12:12 | More by cvstrickland
United Kingdom (Scotland)
3.58/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
With a clinical name that almost sounds like a laxative for pensioners this little Aldi find doesn't do too badly.
Light sweet bottle nose, and in the glass, in time this does bring a slight sulphury quality to the nostrils.
Light fading very hazy yellow there is some banana in there along with some rough earth and a slightly carbonic quality which ends with some fiery acidity which isn't all that pleasing.
I've had better, I've had worse.
Serving type: bottle
03-31-2012 20:40:59 | More by Zimbo
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Grabbed a few of these at the Durham Beerfest for the road. I'm a huge hefe fan, but this just missed a bit. Great pour, fluffy head, deep orange chunky body, smell was the clovey-banana that one would expect, but I was lost on the taste. I got a tang from the get go, a metalic tang that carried to the end. Good beer, loved the way it looked, but the tang got to me.
Serving type: bottle
11-12-2010 03:01:49 | More by chickencoop
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Light to mid carbonation, golden color and high clarity for a weisse beer. Lots of fine to medium lacing as the glass is consumed, white to light grey head; almost champagne-like bubbles.
Smell - Very light hints of banana in the nose, has a creamy scent to it.
Taste - Unlike the smell, no banana, but lots of warm, honey like flavors.
Mouth feel - Very pleasant to drink, but it leaves you with a distinct coating on the tongue (not unpleasant); almost like the honey is there in the beer. The up front is a bit watery.
Overall - This is a great find in the Lufthansa Lounge in Athens, Greece. Pair this with the other foods, and this is something I am looking forward to next connection.
Serving type: on-tap
04-22-2012 11:59:50 | More by banesong
3.95/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured, then swirled, and poured into a pint glass.
A: Hazy golden in color. About a fingers worth of head that dissipates to a nice ring.... no lacing.
S: Very Hef like... citrus, wheaty just a little clove and spice.
T: Again very Hef like sweet yet tangy. I'm getting some clove in the finish.
M: Light to Mid bodied... Crisp and refreshing, yet has a dry finish. Carbonation is right for the style.
D: ABV seems very light to me.... I could drink this all day. Very refreshing and very drinkable.
Very good Hef... Look for this one this summer. Great summer brew.
Serving type: bottle
04-11-2010 21:37:10 | More by mralphabet
United Kingdom (England)
3.95/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
S: Smells nice. Oddly no banana though.
A: Looks exactly the same as every other wiessbier to me, if not slightly duller and darker. Creamy slightly off-white head.
T: Woah, immediately different from every other wiessbier I've tried. Banana virtually absent, replaced with a warm honey/caramel flavour and a woody, walnut finish. Very nice beer. Mouthfeel is pretty good. Smooth concentrated carbonation. Lacing better than many other wiessbiers. Even has a touch of whisky maltness to it too.
O: One to rival Weihenstephaner, or at least to act as an interesting alternative to it. Recommended.
Serving type: bottle
02-25-2012 17:24:30 | More by Hoppsbabo
Arcobrau Hefe-Weisse Beer from Arcobräu Gräfliches Brauhaus
out of 100
based on 12 ratings.


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Good one! Share your favorites and earn zulily credit. see detailsconnect
Brilliant colors and a lively print make these knee-highs steal the the spotlight in addition to being everyday essentials. Quality cotton-blend fabric is strong yet soft, while reinforced toes and heels protect toes from the usual wear and tear.


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Product Review: 'Level Up' with a tidy video game tower
Budgeteer editor Matthew R. Perrine takes a look at Slam Brands' Level Up Storage Tower for the Xbox 360. PLUS: A "reprint" of Perrine's now-legendary* column from 2008 about video game dorks.
May 4, 2008, is a date I will never forget. That was when I officially came out of the closet as a "video game dork." I wrote a column for the Budgeteer (attached below) in which I confessed, among other things, my undying love for the medium.
Happily (embarrassingly?), what I wrote then is probably even truer today. Ever since that fateful day, my collection of video game systems, games and accessories has only grown — and I'm guessing that, if it were up to my understanding (to a point) fiancée, the word "exponentially" would be used to describe said growth….
If you're in a similar situation, wishing to avoid future domestic squabbles about "clutter" as well, I suggest you check out Slam Brands' line of space-saving storage towers for video game addicts of all colors.
Though Slam Brands manufactures storage solutions for all three of the major video game systems, the product I got my hands on was the Level Up Zig-Zag, a tower that handles Xbox 360 consoles, games and controllers (both of the standard variety and those cumbersome "Guitar Hero" peripherals).
In more-precise terms, if you have one console, 13 games, four regular controllers and two fake guitars and don't know what to do with yourself, this is the product for you.
Without further ado, here are my findings:
The good
• In all honesty, the Zig-Zag looks pretty cool. While the product isn't officially licensed by Microsoft (unlike the Wii and PS3 models, which carry their respective system logos), this tower does sport a fancy black-and-neon-green color scheme that's welcome in my "man cave" anytime.
• The storage bay for the console is both recessed and ventilated. This is a good thing. Lord knows how much Microsoft has struggled with overheating-hardware complaints.
• The two hooks on the side for "Guitar Hero"/"Rock Band"/"Rock Revolution"/"Rock of the Dead"/et al. guitar controllers are a nice touch. Nothing is more annoying than tripping over plastic instruments.
• Assembly was a snap — literally: The Zig-Zag model primarily consists of a dozen plastic pieces that snap into place. (You will need a screwdriver to attach the two guitar "holsters," but, honestly, if you don't own one of those yet, you probably shouldn't be playing with anything electrical.)
• Its plastic components are pretty tough. Not that I already knocked my tower over or anything….
The bad
• The slots for game storage are a little tight. If some disgruntled gamer out there tries to extract a title that's wedged into his or her Zig-Zag, the whole tower might come down in the ensuing battle.
• In its "recommended" configuration (games on top, Xbox on bottom), the Zig-Zag holds only 13 games. Now, you can remove the console from the equation and double that figure, but, honestly, even space for 26 is a little limiting for most hardcore gamers — especially now that most software prices seem to get slashed in half mere months after their release dates.
• Something I didn't mention earlier about assembly is that there is a slightly annoying step you're supposed to go through if you want your Zig-Zag to be prim and proper. There are two neon-green "gaskets" (big rubber bands, basically) that run around the top and bottom of the tower and are kind of a pain in the butt to install. Now, these are purely aesthetic in nature, so you could easily forget them, but … you'd only be cheating yourself. And you wouldn't want to lose sleep over that, now would you?
• If you wish to house your console in this tower, there's no place to put your HD DVD add-on player. … What? I'm the only one still rocking this dead format? Nevermind, then — scratch this entire entry.
The ugly
• Nothing, really. Outside of the funky neon-green rubber bands, this is a pretty solid setup for most gamers' needs.
… But you don't have to take my word for it
On the Toys "R" Us website's page for this product (www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4275710, to be accurate), "Mom of Two Great Kids" from Arlington, Texas, wrote: "This product was a great purchase. … It has helped my son keep a lot more organized than before. Plus, it has helped with the problem we had with the Xbox from tipping/falling over and scratching the disc [inside]."
See www.levelupgear.com for more information on Slam Brands' complete line of video game storage towers.
*This "now-legendary" business isn't true … not in the slightest.
Unleash your inner video game dork
Note: This column (also by Matthew R. Perrine) was originally published in the Duluth Budgeteer News May 4, 2008.
For fans of "Grand Theft Auto," it's sure a great time to be alive.
The latest installment of the popular video game series, "IV," released Tuesday, is blowing up on the spot. It has received almost flawless reviews across the board — threatening to dethrone "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" as the best-reviewed game of all time — and, proving that Rockstar Games' rumored $100 million spent on production was worth it, Guinness World Records is closely watching its launch (as the game is expected to beat out "Halo 3's" $300 million first-week sales mark).
As someone who started with the original "GTA" a decade ago, the release of this monumental game is indeed a time to celebrate.
In fact, I had originally wanted to call this column "Video Games Have Warped My Fragile Little Mind" and delve into the greater social aspects of the series, but that "noble" idea failed for one very important reason: I'm not that deep.
If you want to find out if all that simulated violence is actually detrimental to one's health, I suggest you read Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson's "Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do." I haven't had the chance to check it out myself yet, but the authors were interviewed on G4's show "X-Play" and they both appeared very informed and level-headed (i.e. no vendetta against the game industry).
Instead, I'm using the release of "GTA IV" as an opportunity to take a trip down memory lane. For people who grew up with Mario and the other inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom — and who appreciate the music of the Advantage and every second of Kyle Cease's comedy masterpiece "Generation Nintendo" — this is where we get nostalgic.
My first video game memory, similar to that of many 20-somethings, is of playing "Super Mario Bros." and "Duck Hunt" on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I can't say exactly when my parents broke down and bought my sister and me one (I vaguely remember begging for one for a few years), but, seeing as how its cheapest model retailed for $199 at launch, I feel extremely privileged just to have had one in the first place. Considering inflation, the latest generation of consoles — which range from $249 to $399 for the base models — almost seem like a steal in comparison.
From the NES and the myriad memories it produced (I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention "Super Mario Bros. 3," "Bionic Commando" and "A Boy and His Blob"), my sister Emily and I then graduated to Sega's 16-bit Genesis system in the early '90s.
While it was a technically a birthday present for her, I managed to get my hands on it from time to time — in all honesty, probably way too often for her taste.
Solitary affairs like "Lightening Force" were great fun, but it was the two-player action of "Zombies Ate My Neighbors," "Streets of Rage II" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" that was really memorable.
I mean, if you're going to be wasting away your life sitting in front of a TV, you may as well be doing it with a friend … right?
However, those games' multiplayer action was nothing compared to that of the SNES staple "Super Mario Kart," which my good buddy Dan had ready access to.
Needless to say, we spent hours on his parents' big-screen throwing turtle shells at each other. (Don't ask; this was well before girls....)
Little did we know that, just five years later, that same TV would play host to an all-out grab-all-your-friends revolution. Of course, I'm talking about the four-player "GoldenEye 007," which, until "Halo: Combat Evolved" dropped on the Xbox during our freshman year of college, was the multiplayer game of choice.
Nothing — I repeat, nothing — brings together friends like the ability to snipe and throw proximity mines at one another: Generation Nintendo had officially grown up. (At least a little; I mean, we were still playing video games and all.)
Of course, then came said girls, so electronic entertainment took a backseat for a while.
For space considerations, I'll gloss over the next couple years (please forgive my sins, "GTA," "Twisted Metal" and "Crash Bandicoot") and skip to my reintroduction to the medium, which came with the aforementioned "Halo."
See, whenever I'd go home to visit my girlfriend at the time, her brother and his friends were always playing that game. I was so out of touch with the scene — again, girls will do that to you… — that I had no idea how huge it already was.
Regardless, I liked it. A lot. Its stellar graphics and insanely inclusive nature (up to 16 players via four linked Xbox systems) blew "GoldenEye" out of the water.
Since then, my appreciation for the medium has only grown. From (even more) addictive multiplayer games, like "Fuzion Frenzy," to the furious (fake) fretwork found within the "Guitar Hero" series, I've spent entirely too much time and money on what are usually considered "toys."
But I don't regret it one bit. Video games have a way of bringing family and friends together — especially with the Wii or "Rock Band" — and, at least for me, they provide a nice escape from today's doom-and-gloom headlines (how's that for biting the hand that feeds?).
While it feels great to officially be "out" as a bona fide game nerd, I gotta say: I'm really glad I "secured" a lady like mine before volunteering all of this information.
There are plenty of fish in the sea, but how many would be "cool" with their man going to Wal-Mart's midnight release of "GTA IV" and using vacation time at work to take off the entire next day?
Tags: budge a and e, video games, product reviews, online exclusives, level up, slam brands, xbox 360, duluth, reviews, gaming, tower, storage, archives, column