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Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation review: the price of chains
|Game Info
|Platform PS Vita, PS3, 360, Win
|Publisher Ubisoft
|Developer Ubisoft Sofia
|Release Date 2012-10-30
Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation is self-conscious about its identity.
This handheld spin-off of Assassin's Creed would like you to believe that it belongs in the main pantheon of the series. It has a lot of tricks to try to convince you. Progressing past the far-aways and long-agos of Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed 2, Liberation centers on New Orleans in the late 18th century, when control of the city was traded between the French and the Spanish, and moral boundaries were tested by slavery and the rise of capitalism.
Big as its ambitions are, Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation contains them in a rather small game. New Orleans and the surrounding bayou areas are nearly the size of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood's Rome, but Liberation's conceptual promise goes unfulfilled, and a myriad of bugs, gimmicks and baffling design choices wear down the experience.
Liberation's core storyline follows series newcomer Aveline de Grandpré, a female assassin of mixed heritage whose home is the setting of a power struggle between the Templars and the Assassins. Liberation takes the sci-fi framework of previous Assassin's Creed games a step further by presenting the game itself — the one you're playing — as propaganda software produced by a Templar organization within the Assassin's Creed universe. The "real" history of that universe is twisted in the game in order to portray the Templars as the good guys. So Liberation is a virtual representation of a virtual representation of a corrupted retelling of history.
With so many layers of abstraction at work, the story asks for more heavy lifting than the game is able to provide. Aveline mixes together southern belle, freedom fighter, and businesswoman into a compelling character portrait, but her motivation is lost in the momentum of a plot where she possesses little influence. Liberation fumbles numerous opportunities to deal with serious issues that should affect Aveline's character development, including her reliance on passing.
Instead, the game focuses on a conflict between Templars and Assassins that's more confusing than ever. Between frequent plot twists and reminders that much of what the game presents is not "what really happened," I found it difficult to pinpoint who my real enemy was. Is this latest assassination target actually a Templar? Is Aveline being misled by an untrustworthy friend? Or are the Templar creators of the game-within-a-game misleading me into believing Aveline was misled? It's difficult to keep it all straight.
To help sort through the lies, Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation introduces a literal deus ex machina: Citizen E. This hacker supplants the fabricated Templar history with cutscenes of what really happened — if you can find and kill special characters he's planted in the game.
Citizen E's revelations illuminate the plot and are required to unlock the game's true ending. They're also a pain to hunt down since Citizen E locations don't show up on your map. The Assassin's Creed series has always had out-of-the-way collectibles, but I've never had to rely on them to form even a basic understanding of the game's story.
Confusing as the plot is, Liberation's core gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has played a previous entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise. Aveline climbs buildings, mingles unseen in crowds, and stabs people in much the same fashion as previous protagonists Altair and Ezio. Her arsenal includes a whip, which allows her to swing across wider gaps and trip up enemies. Beyond that, the biggest addition to the formula is Aveline's personas. Aveline can disguise herself as an upper-class socialite or a slave depending on her objective. Each persona comes with benefits and drawbacks as well as its own notoriety meter to let you know how much guards will be watching you.
In theory, the persona system supplies more potential approaches to each mission, but in practice it's severely limited for roughly half of Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation. Early missions force you into a single persona and set you on a hyper-linear path, where even walking in the wrong direction can earn you a restart. The missions sticking you with the "lady" persona are especially frustrating. This disguise removes Aveline's ability to climb walls or fight, subsequently removing a good chunk of what makes Assassin's Creed fun. As a strategic option, it provides some interesting possibilities; as something the game forces on you a few too many times early on, it's infuriating.
While Liberation's virtual recreation of 18th century New Orleans is detailed and pretty, its strongest moments send Aveline away from the city. The recurring bayou area is a lengthy, slow-paced slog, but other chapters have more polished excursions to unexpected locales. These bits trim the mechanics to their basics — platforming, melee combat, and a tiny bit of stealth — but the gameplay is more fun, and the game is better for it.
Liberation's multiplayer mode suffers from the game's failure to communicate its systems
The New Orleans portions of Liberation open up and improve eventually, but the game is often in conflict with itself. It wastes time tutorializing obvious elements, yet barely explains many of the complex systems going on behind-the-scenes. Some additions seem superfluous, such as the ability to run Aveline's shipping empire via a management simulation — a mode where you can rake in tons of money despite the game's lack of much worth buying.
Liberation's multiplayer mode in particular suffers from the game's failure to communicate its systems and how they work. Essentially a confusing social game where you choose a side (Templars or Assassins) and a home town, you send lackeys to perform tasks with lengthy cooldown times. Though it would seem more at home on Facebook or a cellphone, Liberation's multiplayer toys with some interesting concepts. But the utter lack of documentation makes it impossible to parse how everything works, what your end goal is or how you can best aid your side at any given moment.
Wrap Up:
Liberation tries to transcend low expectations but still feels like a second-rate port
Confusion defines Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation. Ubisoft's desire to transcend low expectations for handheld spin-offs is clear, and I can respect that. Liberation accomplishes that every once in a while. But those stretches were inevitably shattered by restrictive missions, unexplained systems and an unintelligible story. For all its noble efforts to the contrary, Liberation still feels like a second-rate handheld port where it counts.About Polygon's Reviews
Score History
Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD update
Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD presented Ubisoft with an opportunity to fix the mistakes that dragged down the original PS Vita version of the game — to wring out more of the promise that existed in an often broken and frustrating experience. But for the second time, Liberation fails to deliver.
Ubisoft has improved Liberation's looks in the transition from the PS Vita to the Xbox 360, but they only took those improvements so far. Liberation HD is still full of blurry textures and goofy-looking animation, failing to match or approach Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag or even Assassin's Creed 3.
Surprisingly, Liberation HD suffers from the same texture pop-in problems that plagued the PS Vita release. Buildings, people, docks — even the ground — are sometimes invisible until a few feet away. On the less-powerful PS Vita hardware, this was annoying but acceptable; on console hardware, it's unforgivable.
Ubisoft also hasn't addressed myriad bugs that range from tiny to game-breaking. In a half-dozen hours of testing Liberation HD, I twice managed to accidentally push Aveline outside of the game world and into a strange unmapped limbo. I also ran into invisible walls constantly, got stuck in animation loops several times and even hit a full crash where I had to restart my system.
Amid so many frustrating remnants of the PS Vita version, Ubisoft has made only minor changes to the game. The shift away from a touchscreen device means that the poorly implemented minigames of the original version are now gone, replaced by more standard (and more consistent) Assassin's Creed gameplay. In addition to this, some of the missions have been streamlined, with some frustrating objectives tweaked or even removed entirely.
Even in slightly improved form, Liberation's missions stand out as bland, limited interpretations of the Assassin's Creed basics, leaving us with the same stale experience. Technically, it's a just-barely-better game than the original release. But between the raised expectations of a shift to consoles and the movement of the industry in the year-plus since Liberation's original release, Liberation HD is more disappointing.


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San Juan 101 in Birch Bay
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 6
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Jacob's Landing
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 1,050 - $ 1,225 / week
$ 4,200 - $ 4,900 / month
vacation rental description
As close to the beach in Birch Bay as you can get! Classy 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo -1000 square feet. Views of the water and the San Juan Islands from almost every room! TV-DVD-CD-RADIO, upgraded granite countertop kitchen, spacious and open floor plan, close to coffee shops, restaurants, golf, and markets.
vacation rental location
property availability
- dates with deals
- unavailable dates
Last modified on 08-19-2014 at 4:26 PM.
email owner view full calendar
Diane Butts 209-658-5878
condo rental amenities
Indoor pool and jacuzzi and tennis courts avaliable on site. Large greenbelt for Bocce Ball and/or kids play area. Games, books, movies in condo for your enjoyment. Beach chairs and other recreational equipment can be found inside the condo for a day at the Birch Bay State Park (clamming shovel and buckets, sandcastle toys, and frisbees)BUT BRING YOUR OWN BEACH TOWELS PLEASE This is a home way from home with new fridge, microwave, toaster, blender, milk-shake machine, coffee maker, and range.
activities and attractions in Birch Bay Washington
Hike, bike, canoe, kayak, comb the beach, fly a kite, photograph sea birds right outside your condo! Spend the day at Birch Bay Waterslides, or the Go-Cart track nearby. Wakeboard in the tidal pools right across the street. Visit beautiful Peace Arch Park 5 miles north - a botanical garden sure to please. Play a round of golf at the world reknown course at Semiahmoo Resort, just down the road. Pick up pizza, ice cream or homemade candy at the C Shop 2 blocks away. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner on the deck of CJ's Beach House - a short walk away. Catch the MV Plover ferry from Semiahmoo to Blaine. Visit Whatcom Falls, the fish hatchery, and the Pig Fort in Whatcom State Park in Bellingham. Window shop through the quaint towns of Fairhaven and Lynden, both within 30 miles. There's Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale, 20 minutes away. Schedule a day trip to the San Juan Islands by ferry. OR just sit back and enjoy the sites of Birch Bay from your front row patio lounge.
vacation rental rates
Off Season (September 14 - April 15)
$150/night - $1050/week 2 night minimum
On Season (April 16 - September 15)
$175/night - $1225/week 2 night minimum
$250 nonrefundable deposit
to secure your reservation
$ 85 cleaning fee, refundable $250 security/damage deposit, and balance
due two weeks prior to arrival
Diane Butts 209-658-5878
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center
Top things to do in Birch Bay
- beachcombing/clamming
- golf
- canoeing/kayaking
- bicycling
- visit the C Shop for candy
Top things to do on a budget
- bike or walk around the bay
- build sandcastles/ fly a kite on the shore
- picnic at Birch Bay State Park
- enjoy a good book
- hike at Mt. Baker/Whatcom Park
Top things to do with a family
- tour San Juan Islands
- visit Peace Arch Park
- picnic at Whatcom Falls Park
- swim in bay or indoors at JL
- ski or hike Mt. Baker
Diane Butts , owner

subset: commoncrawl


text: Doodle Kart Multiplay Rating: Doodle Kart developed by j2sighte is a fun, doodle style driving game. You guide your car around the track with the chance of gaining weapons and unlocking different stages. It is a great, addictive game! When you first launch the app on the main menu is … Read the Full Story →


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Swallowable perfume—! Is this the logical outcome of precarity, atomisation and hyper-individualism—to reassert yourself, now, as a human atomiser? The vagaries of genetic difference and skin chemistry now allow you, as the ad breathily encourages, to "Go beyond accessory. Express uniqueness. Swallowable perfume: a new cycle of evolution." Only five years after the Lululemon sweatable perfume hoax debuted, it has already become reality.


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Having choices, and finding benefits that suit your needs and desires, is what My Carolina is all about. That's why your Carolina Alumni Association offers programs, services and interactive tools to serve each of our more than 250,000 Carolina alumni, from Columbia residents to international Gamecocks!
Membership in your Alumni Association makes Carolina stronger! Membership dues enhance the My Carolina's outstanding programs, events and services; and keep you informed about the University through publications like the Carolinian magazine and our electronic newsletter. Even better, your dues may be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor)!
Join Today!
Jonathan Jones, Life Member
Senior Director of Membership
"My Carolina is a beautiful walk through the Congaree Swamp, the warm weather, and working with the wonderful people at the Alumni Association."
Carolina Alumni Association | 1600 Hampton Street Annex | Suite 305 | Columbia, SC 29208803.777.4111 (main) | 800.476.8752 (toll-free) | 803.777.6263 (fax)


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mei, roshi, dodai, kurotsuchi
hashirama and yamato
restrictions: pollen.
conditions: roshis able to work with goku fully as they made up with each other before goku got sealed up. team 1 is immune to the effects of mei's boil release.
distance: 20m
knowledge: darkness genjutsu, and yamato knows about kirigakure no jutsu


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SEATTLE, June 4, 2013 – A free seminar about living kidney donation, titled 'Create a Miracle,' will be held Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in Glaser Auditorium on the Swedish/First Hill campus (747 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122; first floor).
Swedish Response to Release of CMS Pricing Data
SEATTLE, May 8, 2013 – We fully support the government for taking action toward making our health care system more affordable and accountable. Today's release of data showing significant variation across the country and within our communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient Medicare services is a good initial step in reforming the healthcare system.
Response to Security Incident at Swedish/First Hill on April 13, 2013
SEATTLE – On Saturday, April 13, 2013 an incident occurred involving a woman wearing a scrub top, who posed as an employee and entered two patient rooms on different clinical floors at Swedish/First Hill (747 Broadway, Seattle) and attempted to alter Patient-Controlled Analgesia pumps to obtain pain medication.
Swedish Chief Executive Kevin Brown to Take Top Post at Piedmont Health in Atlanta; Marcel Loh Named Interim Leader, National Search Begins
Kevin Brown
Marcel Loh
SEATTLE, April 1, 2013 – Swedish Health Services today announced that Chief Executive Kevin Brown is leaving Swedish to take a new position as CEO of Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta.
New Cancer Center to Open April 1 at Swedish/Edmonds; Outpatient Facility to Provide Medical Oncology, Infusion Services Close to Home
Swedish Cancer Institute at Edmonds opens to the public at an April 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Swedish/Edmonds campus. (Left to right) David Loud, aide from Congressman Jim McDermott, M.D.; Swedish Cancer Institute Medical Oncologist Richard McGee, M.D.; Swedish/Edmonds Chief Executive Dave Jaffe; and Swedish Cancer Institute Executive Director Thomas D. Brown, M.D., MBA, cut the ribbon during the event that attracted 250 visitors. The two-story facility, located at 21632 Highway 99 in Edmonds, provides high-quality and comprehensive medical oncology to patients through an infusion unit, laboratory, pharmacy, and access to Swedish's electronic medical record system.
EDMONDS, WASH., March 21, 2013 – Swedish Health Services will open a new outpatient cancer center at the Edmonds campus on Monday, April 1, 2013 in response to the growing need for medical oncology and infusion (chemotherapy) services in the south Snohomish and north King County area. The new two-story, 17,102-square-foot facility is anticipated to handle as many as 175 patient visits each day and provide increased access to cancer-care services for people living north of Seattle.
KOMONews.com Posts Article on Newly FDA-Approved Surgical Procedure for Acid Reflux
SEATTLE, Feb. 25, 2013 - KOMONews.com posted an article today about a newly FDA-approved surgical procedure for acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) called LINX that Swedish is now offering to patients.
Minor & James Medical OB/GYN Interviewed on KING 5 TV about Preparing for Motherhood
SEATTLE, Feb. 19, 2013 - As part of a week-long series on childbirth-related topics, KING 5 TV's (NBC) morning newscast featured a live, in-studio interview about preparing for motherhood with Minor & James Medical OB/GYN Robin Cole, M.D.
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Was Quentin Tarantino Disappointed by Prometheus?
Kaley Cuoco Shows Off Her Tennis Skills
27 Fascinating Movie Facts You Never Knew
Metal Gear Solid Movie Gets Director
Did HBO Accidentally Spoil 'Game of Thrones?'
5 TV Shows For Your 'Game Of Thrones' Withdrawal
Check Out The New Video from Batman v Superman
Terminator Reboot Wraps Production
What's The Deal With Jupiter Ascending?
8 Movies That Turn to Crap After 20 Minutes
10 Movie Characters You Can't Root for Anymore
Can't Wait for The Prometheus Sequel?
7 Biggest 'Friends' Mistakes and Bloopers
A New Batman and New Batmobile for 2016 Movie
Exclusive Batman Details You Never Knew
They Are Rebooting Twilight Already?!?
Batfleck: One Year After
The First Official Look at the Villainous Ultron
The Hottest Women on TV Right Now
Optimus Prime Made from Old Car Parts
10 Actors Who Do The Same Thing In Every Movie
Jessica Alba Sizzles in A Dame To Kill For
The Return of Peggy Carter
Movie Characters from Our Childhood That Still Give Us Nightmares
10 Movies So Bad, They're Good
Deadpool Set Visit Was Awesome
12 Mind-Blowing Documentaries to Watch On Netflix


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Full-time carer 'juggles everyone and everything'
Forty-eight-year-old Swati Yap quit work to care for her mother, who has lived with Swati and her family since 2006.
Swati's mother is in bad health, with lung problems and memory loss.
Speaking to Daybreak, Swati said she is constantly stressed, and spends her days juggling "everyone and everything."
Swati used to work in pharmaceutical sales, but was forced to quit her career to become a full time carer.


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The Only Podcast is back, discussing the Boise State and CMU games.
MSU makes three appearances on the list: the Outback Bowl at #26, the Big Ten title game at #12, and Rocket at #3 (behind only the Iowa State-Oklahoma State game and Baylor's 50-48 victory over TCU to start the season).
Freshman William Gholston out for rest of the season after having surgery on his shoulder— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) November 16, 2010
Matt Charboneau is reporting that William Gholston is having shoulder surgery and is out for the season. Dantonio said he could have fought through it but would have missed all of Spring practice. Shame, as some extra bowl practice reps would have helped prepare him for next season.
The Only Colors previews Saturday's huge matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers.
An in-depth look into how turnover differential, close wins/losses, and offensive line starts will affect Michigan State and its opponents in 2009.
"If all else fails, I just want my health, man," he said. "I just want to be able to walk without crutches. I just want to live a normal life again without restrictions, without worries. "But there's still that itch in me. Football is in me. I can't give it up. I can't just wake up and be like, 'Maybe I don't want to play.' I do. I can play this game."Your dose of perspective on Memorial Day Weekend via an excellent article by Adam Rittenberg on Arthur Ray Jr.
A review of Michigan State's Spring Game, and why said review might be hilarious in six months.
"Ashton is the smoothest running back out of all of us, even when I was here," said Ringer, who watched Michigan State's practice on Tuesday and even helped the running backs during individual drills. "A lot of people say he resembles Jehuu a lot, but no. He's a completely different runner than Jehuu was.Adam Rittenberg, in yet another good MSU Football Article, this one on Ashton Leggett
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Stardock has released the first version of there new Windows Vista DreamScene companion named DeskScapes. Please note this application is only for Windows Vista Ultimate users.
Quote -
Dreams are high quality visualizations from Stardock that run exclusively on Windows Vista Ultimate and transform the static wallpaper users spend all day looking at, turning their PC desktop into a world of motion and activity.
Dreams are subtle, looped motion videos or animations that bring new life to the desktop without slowing down your PC. Watch a serene nature scene while you type an email. Glance at a meteor shower as you work on a document. Make your desktop interesting again with a Dream enhanced for Windows® DreamScene and Windows Vista Ultimate.
Download: Stardock Deskscapes
News source: WinCustomize


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Big batch of SF archival films new on YouTube, featuring 'Hello Girls' of Chinatown, bay swimming 'Frog Man', city-stopping strikes, and more!
Media company British Pathé uploaded thousands of archival films to its Youtube channel, and in the batch are hundreds of vintage newsreels showcasing San Francisco history as far back as the 1906 earthquake.
The films cover milestones in Baghdad by the Bay's history, but more obscure films like "Hello Girls" of Chinatown (1929) and Frog Man Swims Under Golden Gate Bridge (1954) offer a look at quirky San Franciscans of the past.
The news-radio style announcers on film vary from droll and monotone to Kentucky Derby levels of excitement:
"San Francisco's rail commerce is at a virtual stand still, warehouses are full!"
"San Francisco's ever smoldering railway war breaks out anew. Twenty-seven department store operators have united to squelch union demands for a 35 hour week!"
"After five years of work the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is completed."
"San Francisco lies under a blanket of snow, its heaviest in 75 years."
"Alcatraz... it doesn't seem possible that they'd close it down."
A nod to Curbed for the great find. Below we've embedded some of our favorites, but there are hundreds more at British Pathé's YouTube channel, here.
San Francisco Cable Cars Threatened (1954)
San Francisco Strike(1938)
Golden Gate Bridge Open (1937)
Fine Arts Palace Demolished (1964)
Frog Man Swims Under Golden Gate Bridge (1954)
"Hello Girls" Of Chinatown (1929)
San Francisco Earthquake (1906)
Alcatraz - Everybody Out! (1963)
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Mayor Ed Lee pushes back against ballot measures for affordable housing, transportation funding


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|GOP showing inconsistencies
By Robert Reich
SOON AFTER President Obama's second inaugural address, Speaker of the House John Boehner said the White House would try "to annihilate the Republican Party" and "shove us into the dustbin of history."
Actually, the GOP is doing a pretty good job annihilating itself. As Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal put it, Republicans need to "stop being the stupid party."
The GOP crack-up was probably inevitable. Inconsistencies and tensions within the GOP have been growing for years — ever since Ronald Reagan put together the coalition that became the modern Republican Party.All President Obama has done is finally find ways to exploit these
|Tuesday, February 05, 2013 5:33 PM


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By Richard Gaines
Staff Writer
---- — A 48-page report on a four-month investigation by a former state attorney general has found allegations of wrongdoing by Vito Giacalone in his role heading the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund "without merit" or with no "credible basis."
But in clearing Giacalone of any taint, the report by former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger confirmed finding that the New Bedford brothers, Richard and Raymond Canastra, made a $100,000 loan to a Gloucester fisherman to take his business to the Canastra's auction outlet in Gloucester, on property owned by Giacalone and operated by his three sons, from another one on the Gloucester waterfront.
Questions of collusion between Giacalone, the Canastras and Carols Raphael, a major fishing business owner in New Bedford, have been swirling in both ports for more than a year, sparked by a letter claiming Giacalone, the Canastras and Raphael — alpha figures in the New England fishing industry — had effectively begun functioning as a "cartel."
In his report, Harshbarger wrote that Gloucester attorney Paul Muniz made a similar claim about financial inducements to fishermen to leave auction acquired by Kristian Kristiansen from the Ciulla family, whose pyrrhic victory against federal fisheries law enforcers in 2010 and 2011 was achieved with Muniz as attorney for their Gloucester Seafood Display Auction.
Muniz also represented the Ciulla family in interviews during the Harshbarger probe and before the Ciullas sought bankruptcy protection and sold the business to Kristiansen in September 2011 — months after they and 10 other fishing businesses were given a cabinet level apology and reparations for prosecutorial harassment by the federal government.
The investigation and report released Tuesday, filled with compliments and praise for Giacalone, in one place noting that his many admirers consider him a "genius" of foresight, was commissioned and financed by the Preservation Fund. Fund officials would not disclose the price it paid for Harshbarger's work.
The report was presented to the Times Tuesday morning in a meeting and joint interview at the newspaper attended by the author, former Attorney General Harshbarger and the Preservation Fund board — Giacalone, Jackie Odell, who is also executive director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition, Dale Brown, a senior staffer in the administration of former Mayor John Bell, and Angela Sanfilippo, president of the Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association.
Expanding board
In upholding Giacalone's actions at the fund which was organized as a non-profit corporation in 2007 and vested with $12 million from the state to serve as a permit bank for Gloucester boats, the Harshbarger report did recommend that the board be doubled in size to eight.
And Harshbarger also reported that Giacalone's overlapping roles in the fishing industry were destined to raise questions and suspicion.
"Whether these (conflict of interest) questions should be raised was never in question. These were legitimate questions to be answered," Harshbarger said during his presentation to the Times.
Giacalone was the president and full-time executive director, and remains executive director, paid $72,000 for his full-time work for the Preservation Fund in 2010, the last year for which the Times has a copy of the public financial statements of the nonprofit.
Along with heading the preservation fund, Giacalone has served as a volunteer policy official and board member of the seafood coalition, an active fishing boat owner, owner of the property on Harbor Cove that is used by the Canastra brothers as the site for landings to be sold via their BASE (Buyers and Sellers Exchange) auction system headquartered in New Bedford, and landlord to the preservation fund of office space at his Home Port Self Storage facility on Witham Street.
The first allegation against Giacalone was made in a letter by a New Bedford fisherman, Paul Kavanaugh, to then NOAA Regional Administrator Pat Kurkul in December 2011. In his letter Kavanugh said Giacalone, the Canastras and Carlos Raphael, the largest groundfish and scallop fishing business owner in New Bedford, were engaged in "cartel"-like activities.
Harshbarger said Muniz had told his investigative team that "the Canastras, through Giacalone, offered fishermen $100,000 to take their business to his sons during an informal meeting of carefully-selected fishermen."
Loan deal
We were able to confirm that Richard and Raymond Canastra provided a loan of approximately $100,000 to Joe DiMaio, who had expressed interest in leaving Kristiansen's auction but could not do so without paying off an existing loan from Kristiansen," Harshbarger wrote. "The conditions of this loan provided that DiMaio would drop his fish at (Giacalone's) Fishermen's Wharf for a period of one year.
"After receiving the loan, DiMaio did in fact patronize Fishermen's Wharf (the Canastras' BASE Gloucester) for a short time, but shortly thereafter repaid the loan and returned to Kristiansen's auction after Kristiansen offered DiMaio more money for his fish if he returned."
Richie Canastra could not be reached. Kristiansen said while it is not uncommon for "some (fishermen) to need help in the form of loans," he considered these agreements to be "all private," and declined comment on the situation discussed by Harshbarger.
Giacalone, however, said Tuesday night that the loan was just a "standard business practice" had "nothing to do with" any allegations that he was offering "cash payments" to land at the BASE auction.
"That allegation was found to be completely false, and it was," Giacalone said.
Harshbarger's report identified Muniz as the lead accuser against Giacalone and sought to discredit the accusers as naive to the proper operation of the preservation fund and the 13 sectors or business cooperatives organized under the aegis of the Northeast Seafood Coalition.
The investigation by Harshbarger for and into the preservation fund last August following a report in the Times on a letter to Giacalone and former Mayor Bell, president of the Northeast Seafood Coalition, who catalyzed the creation and financing of the preservation fund, from state Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante.
Lawmakers' letter
The Harshbarger report said that Tarr and Ferrante dismissed their own February 2012 letter to Bell, president of the seafood coalition, and Giacalone as full-time paid Preservation Fund director as nothing more than "a formality." The letter, however, "strongly recommended" the two organizations which have interlocked boards of directors, "seek advice from legal counsel regarding their respective obligations under the law."
Harshbarger's report went further, asserting the lawmakers said they wrote it only "to cover them" in case "the allegations were substantiated."
A senior counsel in the Boston office of the New York City based international law firm, Proskauer Rose LLP, Harshbarger wrote that Giacalone and Bell "insisted" that Tarr and Ferrante "must have leaked" their letter to the Times, "since there was no other way that the newspaper could have gotten a copy of it.
In fact, however, the Times was informed of the letter by an official of the seafood coalition, then provided a copy on request by the lawmakers.
Tarr and Ferrante issued a statement to the Times Tuesday saying, their letter "was intended to memorialize in writing the advice provided to them verbally at a meeting they had requested, and to document that we had responded fully to their request and counseled them to seek the type of independent review necessary to ensure that neither the presence of a conflict of interest or the appearance of one were possible.
"Far from being a leak," Tarr and Ferrante said, "it was the release of a document in response to a formal request by the Times.
"Given that a discussion between the recipients of the letter and the Times about its existence and contents had led to the paper's request," the lawmakers said, "they certainly had reason to anticipate that request."
Richard Gaines can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3464, or at email@example.com


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In the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, there is One area of interest that we are monitoring for further development in the Atlantic Basin.
A broad area of low pressure is located about 200 miles NNE of Bermuda and producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The low is expected to move NE along a frontal boundary over the Central Atlantic during the next couple of days.
Environmental conditions remain unfavorable for Tropical or Subtropical development. This system has a LOW chance (<10%) of becoming a Tropical Cyclone during the next 48 hours and the next 5 days.
Elsewhere, development is not expected during the next 48 hours.
For a continued look into the tropics, follow the link below to the First Alert Hurricane Center.
Meteorologist Dorrell Wenninger
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Feels like forever since I've been down to the woods, but it was beautiful today.
Caly 3 Carbon Fiber...
and Manix...
Thanks for lookin'.
- best wishes, Jazz.
Feels like forever since I've been down to the woods, but it was beautiful today.
Caly 3 Carbon Fiber...
and Manix...
Thanks for lookin'.
- best wishes, Jazz.
Interesting team to take into the woods.
Thanks for the pictures. Glad you got some good weather.
A distinguished lurker. Waiting on a Squeak, Pingo, and Cliptools with a Split Spring!
Chat with us. Sharpthings - A Blog Site
Went for a walk and saw a Kingfisher WAY early this year. Anyway, this is just a test to see if I can post pics with the new format...
Hopefully I'll get some good pics soon. I was really hoping for some good winter pics, but there's no snow this year.???
- best wishes, Jazz.
Last edited by Jazz; 02-13-2012 at 04:33 PM. Reason: Why not?
Jazz - I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your nature shots. I can tell you have a real zest for the outdoors.
Worry less - Breathe more...
My trusted companion, a Spyderco Solo SoO1PS, black micarta, Peter Atwood Lanslide, capped off with a diamond knot.
Spydie Fanatic #185
This convinced me to get a tasman salt, when i get money haha, great pictures.
Thanks guys. I love being down there. Last night it snowed a lot - it figures.
- best wishes, Jazz.
Jazz, those are some terrific images. You really have an eye for blades in their natural environment.
My 's:
Native, Manix 2 (BD1,154CM,S30V,M4,XHP,S110V,Cruwear), Delica 4 (White,Red,Brown,Blue,BRG,G-10), Spyderhawk, D'fly (H1,G-10,SB), Police3, Volpe, Military (S30V,XHP,D2,M390,BG42,440V,Cruwear), Superleafs, Forager, D2 Para, Kopas, Kiwis, Caly (JR's,3,3.5), Para2 (XHP,204P), Stretch (SS,FRN's,CF), Rescues, Dyad Jr, Pingos, Southard, AIR, Jess Horns, Forum N5, Lil Matriarch, Barong, Superhawk, Chinook II, ATR, SPY-DK, Captain, Ti UKPK, Mules
Love this thread, great pics,
its got a real "lazy" sunday morning feel to it.
In sal we trust
Couple of nice walks - one with snow and one without...
Bonus pic is of a planet you can actually see with the naked eye in bright daylight - Jupiter. I found it by accident whilst looking at a jet with binocculars. It's a first for me...
It's a tiny dot almost in the middle of the pic between the two branches. Look hard and you'll see it. I wish I had a better zoom for this pic.
Thanks for lookin'.
- best wishes, Jazz.
- best wishes, Jazz.
Really enjoyed the pics!! Thanks!! John
A great rabbit chase ends with a.. BANG!!!
Never too old to relive your youth!!
Life is to short to carry a cheap knife!!!
Awesome thread Jazz! keep'r updated
Phil Wilson Smoke Creek s110v, SouthFork, Gayle Bradley, Chaparral 1, Chaparral 2, Native 5, Manix 2 LW, Para2, Para1 SE, Caly 3, Dragonfly 2, Dragonfly 2, Delica 4, Ladybug 3
Nice pictures! A good thread continues...
Join Today!
Thank you, sirs. I need a better camera.
- best wishes, Jazz.
Thanks for sharing Mr. Jazz. It's a shame that you haven't left the house since March 5th of last year.
It looks like the Enuff wasn't enough. I like how the gray Endura looks with the stonewashed clip. Might be a good mod for a Superblue!
Maybe you should try to use your walking stick as a Monopod. This is how I envision you! =D
I believe there are few things you cannot do, even with a cheap camera... by just using lighting and knowing the limitations of your camera. Show off what a lower end camera can really do!
A distinguished lurker. Waiting on a Squeak, Pingo, and Cliptools with a Split Spring!
Chat with us. Sharpthings - A Blog Site
Jazz, what mode are you using your camera in? I made the jump to a DSLR a few years ago and haven't felt like touching a P&S yet. The size is sometimes a downfall, but I'm willing to put up with that for the performance.
Click here to zoom: Under the Microscope
Manix2, Elmax MT13, M4 Manix2, ZDP Caly3, ZDP Caly Jr, SB Caly3.5, M390 Para2, Cruwear MT12, Techno, XHP MT16, South Fork, SB Caly3, Manix2 Ltwt, Salt I, 20CP Para2, Military Left Hand, Perrin PPT, Forum Native5, Squeak, Manix 83mm, 440V Military, Gayle Bradley, Swick3, Lil' Temperance, Cruwear Military, VG10 Jester, Terzuola SlipIt, XHP Native Ltwt, Domino, CPM154/S90V Para2, SB Stretch, D2 Para, Dfly2 Salt, Tasman Salt
I always try to picture Jazz as an Asian woman.
It's possible that his camera is smaller than that, too.
A distinguished lurker. Waiting on a Squeak, Pingo, and Cliptools with a Split Spring!
Chat with us. Sharpthings - A Blog Site
- best wishes, Jazz.


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Our world awash in ignorance and irrationality, torn by war, terrorism, religious bigotry, etc., with millions of neglected, abused and deprived children, how manic the mind, how distorted the vision to assert abortion is "our tragedy."
Again, in their dogged insistence on sticking their self-righteous noses in other people's business, moralists try to justify their intrusive arrogance and pretensions. Lane Filler's self-serving look into the future is one of these, his "guess" regarding 2113 textbook contents so inane, spurious and hokey as to defy understanding.
For instance, if abortions are, by his own admission, "not the problem," then how can they be "our murderous tragedy"? And to argue that cutting unwanted pregnancies will cut abortions, oh, duh! Another novel restatement of the obvious.
Much more likely in 2113, the world swarming in several more billion people, no one will understand how any rational person could have opposed abortion.
Despite sanctimonious, obtuse right-to- lifers and slithering politicians, abortion is not a social issue; it is a personal issue based on a woman's right to an autonomous body and her own reproductive decisions. All else is a violation of individual privacy and conscience.


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Lately some residents may have seen an out-of-county car driving aimlessly around town in search of some destination that even the youngest kiddo could find in a matter of seconds. That car would be mine, and the driver, who on occasion has nearly turned the wrong way down one way streets would be me, Lindsay Owens. Fear not though. I have GPS and a collection of maps Columbus would have envied.
So maybe you haven't seen the car but you've noticed a new byline in the paper. I am the new "Andrea." That phrase automatically makes me think about one of my favorite movies, "The Devil Wears Prada," except my boss isn¹t like Miranda Priestly, and I don't work at a fashion magazine, or have a fancy desk or work in New York. Ok, so maybe that wasn't the best example but I did replace an "Andrea" and I'm very happy to be part of Times Herald staff nonetheless.
For the record, I would much rather be interviewing members of our community than writing about myself. In fact, it's probably taken me twice as long to write this column as it has to write all the stories I've covered in the last week. Unfortunately though, this is supposed to be about me so here goes.
I grew up just outside of Oaktown, on the Knox and Sullivan County line in "watermelon country." I graduated from Vincennes Lincoln High School in 2004 and attended Vincennes University for two years before earning a bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University. I've spent most of the last five years working at a high school with at-risk youth, earning a teaching licensure and helping with the greenhouse and farm my family owns and operates in Oaktown.
Through it all, writing has always been my passion. I knew in sixth grade I wanted to be a journalist and while it's taken five years for that to become a reality, I'm excited about future. I'm even more excited to be meeting people and sharing their stories with the rest of the Daviess County community.
Lindsay has two house cats, Webster C. Honeycut and Oliver Wendell Holmes and one house dog, Brezel.
She is a huge NASCAR fan and has an extensive collection of high heels.
She can be reached in the newsroom at 254-0480 ext. 123 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Boxerwood - a Nature Center and Woodland Garden located in Lexington, Virginia - is the legacy of Robert S. Munger (1911-1988). It is situated in a rolling Virginia valley nestled between the Allegany and Appalachian Mountains. The site contains habitats ranging from wetlands to forests to fields and fifteen acres of mature, naturalistically planted trees and shrubs, featuring both native and unusual plant specimens.
The Boxerwood Education Association (BEA) is the non-profit organization founded in 2000 which oversees our activities in line with our mission "to educate and inspire people of all ages to become effective stewards of the earth."
Our education programs for preschools through middle schools take place on site or at local schools and along local rivers. We also lead periodic programs for adults.
The BEA sponsors special events for families and the community. To see some of our special past events or find out more of what we do, click on any of the rotating images.
Each garden visitor experiences something new and amazing in every season. There are as many experiences as there are people to experience them. Please come to sit, stroll, explore, enjoy!
The garden is open every day of the week during daylight hours. Winter hours are roughly 8:00 to 5:00. Maps and other information are at the Welcome Kiosk at the top of the driveway. Come down to the Lodge most weekdays for a "touch it" center and other information.


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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Master's in Development Practice degree?
The Master's in Development Practice (MDP) is a two-year degree providing graduate-level students with the skills and knowledge required to better identify and address the global challenges of sustainable development, such as poverty, population, health, conservation, climate change, and human rights. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation committed $16 million to create MDP programs at 20 universities worldwide. The MDP degree has been been established, self-funded, at several additional universities.
2. Why did the MacArthur Foundation create the Master's in Development Practice degree?
In 2007 the MacArthur-supported International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice, found that worldwide, many people working in the field of development are not sufficiently prepared to tackle the challenges they face. The creation of MDP programs is an acknowledgment that addressing extreme poverty and sustainable development throughout the world requires expert knowledge and an interdisciplinary approach.
3. Why create a new degree, and how is it different from other programs in sustainable development?
Currently the bulk of development leaders are trained in narrow fields, usually in the social sciences, such as economics. By broadening their training and providing them with a knowledge base including health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, and management, and by taking an integrated, holistic approach to finding solutions to development challenges, they will be able to more effectively understand and address the root causes of extreme poverty and the challenges of sustainable development.
4. What type of student pursues this degree?
A wide range of early and mid-career development professionals are pursuing the degree, including officials with inter-governmental organizations, developed and developing-country ministries, aid agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector. The broad array of MDP programs, worldwide, provide these individuals with training beyond the typical classroom study of economics and management found in most development studies programs.
5. How long has it taken to get these programs up and running?
The first MDP program, at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), conferred degrees to the first cohort in May of 2011. As of September 2012, twenty-three programs have admitted students—with graduates to finish within two years of starting.
6. What are the qualifications needed for being accepted into the Global Network of MDP programs?
The universities that have been accepted to offer the MDP were selected for a number of reasons, including support from top university leadership and the quality of faculty across four core competencies: natural sciences, health sciences, social sciences and management. They also were chosen because of the strength of their infrastructure and academic programs; their ability to serve as a regional hub; the geographic representation among students; and a timeline and business plan for financial sustainability.
7. Why did the MacArthur Foundation select Columbia as the first program and what role does Columbia play in the Global network of MDP programs?
John W. McArthur, then-CEO of Millennium Promise, and Jeffrey D. Sachs, the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, were instrumental in creating the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice, which the MacArthur Foundation supported. The Commission provided the insights and recommendations that ultimately led to the development of the MDP degree. As an outgrowth of that preliminary work, Columbia University's Earth Institute, in cooperation with the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia, created the first MDP program that launched in the fall of 2009. In addition, MacArthur established a Global Master's in Development Practice Secretariat based at Columbia. The Secretariat helps manage the development of the MDP programs, is developing an open-source repository for the MDP curriculum and other teaching materials, and offers an online, 14-week global classroom on sustainable development for students in the worldwide network. The Secretariat also manages the MDP association of universities; maintains and updates its Web site; organizes and facilitates its annual Summit; and initiates additional programs for MDP faculty, students, and graduates, including cooperative workshops, task forces, curricular material design, and networking to help graduates find meaningful employment.
8. How do I find out more about the MPD programs throughout the network?
To learn more about the Master's in Development Practice programs offered at the more than 22 universities in 16 countries, on six continents, click here.
9. Beyond the number of students graduating, how will success of the program be determined?
By September 2012, close to 400 students had enrolled in programs worldwide. Beyond that, in the future we hope to see over the MDP become an internationally recognized degree, much like a Master's in Business Administration (MBA). Quality assurance processes are being put into place for the entire Association.
10. How competitive were the original seed money grants?
The grants were very competitive. There was widespread global interest in establishing local MDP programs; the MacArthur Foundation received 140 letters of interest the first year the request for proposal was put out, and more than 100 the second year. Ultimately, over 250 universities in North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America submitted proposals. The quality and diversity of the proposals indicated strong interest in expanding development studies around the world.
11. How did this grant fit into the rest of MacArthur's work?
This program is the natural outgrowth of the MacArthur Foundation's commitment to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. MacArthur is an international foundation with offices in the United States and four other countries - and works in 60 countries. The challenges of sustainable development touch every aspect of the Foundation's work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, support reproductive health, and make cities better places to live.
12. What do these grants mean for the regions where the universities with MDP programs are located?
The grants give recognition to some of the very fine universities across the globe that have the infrastructure, interest, and ability to strengthen their expertise as world leaders in the future of development. Every one of the universities that was selected to establish an MDP program was well positioned to create a program that attracts strong regional, national and international support in terms of students and faculty. These universities are developing innovative, inter-disciplinary programs that will become models for other institutions of higher learning to emulate.
We understand that you may have questions that are not addressed by the FAQs. If you have further or additional questions, please let us know at the Global Master's in Development Practice Secretariat: firstname.lastname@example.com


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It's interesting to follow the American debate over women in the armed forces. I am an officer in the Danish army. I served as an infantry platoon commander under British and subsequently American command in Iraq 2007 and in Afghanistan in 2009. Both places we were engaged in heavy fighting; both places women served in my infantry platoon alongside males. They were not numerous, but they were there: One in Iraq, two in Afghanistan.
They met the same physical demands as the males.
In Muslim countries having women with us enabled us to get contact with the local women – a feast not possible with a unit composing only of men.
In my opinion only skills count. If you are skilled enough to join the combat arms you are welcome. Men and women alike.


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no flash? and no flash + EVF? come on... that's sad!
what would you do if you could not complain eh?
To me it looks like a built in pop up flash, much like the S120. On the right of the EVF there's a rectangular cut out
yep was my first impression too. let´s wait and see before we go all "blahblah lame".


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With less than one hour until the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the list of inactive players for each team has been released.
Here they are:
WR Kenbrell Thompkins
OG Chris Barker
LB Steve Beauharnais
DE Jake Bequette
DB Justin Green
DT Isaac Sopoaga
TE D.J. Williams
QB Zac Dysert
RB Ronnie Hillman
DB Marcuice Cole
OG Chris Kuper
OT Vinston Painter
TE Joel Dreesen
DT Sione Fua
Be sure to keep it locked here all Sunday afternoon because we will have complete Patriots vs. Broncos results, including quarter-by-quarter updates, from kickoff to final whistle RIGHT HERE.


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Style Map
Daily Dispatches From The Global Scene
At the CFDA Awards last June, a decade's worth of Swarovski Award winners joined Diane von Furstenberg and Nadja Swarovski on stage. The prizes recognize emerging talent in womenswear, menswear, and accessories, and are voted on by members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, along with a broad cross section of the fashion community that includes leading retailers, journalists, and stylists. A quick count tallied up 18 men and three women at the podium. Not every winning designer from the last ten years was present, but further research didn't improve the numbers much. Adjusting for design duos and groups, slightly more than a quarter of the winners have been female. The stats are similar for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The Fund's selection committee, which brings together highly respected men and women from several different fashion fields, has given its top award and accompanying six-figure prize to female designers—Doo-Ri Chung and Sophie Théallet—twice in its eight-year history.
"We call it the lucky boys' club," said designer Victoria Bartlett, remembering the sea of tuxedos on stage at the CFDA Awards that night. Luck, to be sure, isn't the whole story. But considering that 85 percent or so of graduates at Parsons The New School for Design, arguably the number one fashion design school in America, are women, a question begs asking: Is it easier to succeed in New York fashion as a man?
Of course, New York has plenty of driven, powerful women designers—in addition to CFDA president von Furstenberg, there's Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, and Vera Wang. Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, at the other end of the age spectrum, turned The Row into one of American fashion's most talked-about brands by the time they were 25, but they had the advantage of being famous since birth and millionaires to boot. (They've been nominated for this year's Designer of the Year Award.)
Aside from the designing sisters, New York's current under-30 success stories belong to men: Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Joseph Altuzarra. Why the shortage of female counterparts?
"Given that fashion, unlike film and art, is run by women, you'd think it'd be the one creative industry that champions women, but for some reason, most of the prominent artists are men," says Sophie Buhai, who launched Vena Cava with Lisa Mayock in 2004, shortly after they graduated from Parsons. Earlier this month, after not producing their Spring 2012 collection, they announced a new partnership with Li & Fung, the trading company behind the Rachel Zoe collection, to generate capital for brand expansion. "We see a lot of women who don't get as much attention as the male designers who are adored by editors," continues Mayock.
Let's call the phenomenon the editor/designer dating game. The launch parties, the magazine dinners, and the pairing up with celebrities at charity galas (the last of which is almost strictly the bastion of male designers) can keep a fashion boldfacer out five nights a week, and on BFA.com and Patrick McMullan every morning. A gorgeous actress, the prevailing logic goes, is put into further relief by a tuxedoed designer. Then, of course, for female designers, there's the issue of familial obligations. "There was a point in my life, I had to stop and think, do I want to have children or do I want to do this?" says Norma Kamali. "I didn't think I'd have healthy kids if I had kids and had a business."
Continued (page 2 of 2)
Daryl Kerrigan, who shot to fame in the mid-nineties on her butt-uplifting skinny pants, believes that her own young children put her out of the running for the Celine job she was up for. "Tom [Ford] was in charge of Gucci at the time," she says, explaining that she believes the thinking was: "Are we going to share her with her kids, or are we going to hire this man who'll be able to go out every night?" The job went to Michael Kors in 1997.
Fast-forward to March 2012, when an eight-months-pregnant Phoebe Philo slashed her Celine show invite list—to howls from magazine editors and cheers from her designer peers. "The pinnacle of success shouldn't be to have a business like a guy," says Maria Cornejo. "In my way of thinking, it's not that guys are better or worse; it's that women have a different way of working, a different business model. Bless Phoebe. She's saying, you know what, I'm having a kid and that takes priority." Still, Philo's ability to scale back for a season may be less a sign of general progress than of the clout she's earned with her incredible success at the label.
In addition to the after-hours courting match, the clothes that designers make also count for a lot when it comes to press coverage. "When you look at clothes that women design, it's usually things they'll wear. It's about the feel, the fit, comfort," says Victoria Bartlett. "For a male designer, it's more visual. Take McQueen, it was like theater. It's incredible visually, not just for his shows, but for press, for editorial."
As the founder and president of The News showroom, Stella Ishii has shepherded plenty of up-and-coming designers, including Jane Mayle, whose eponymous label, defunct since 2008, is still lamented in fashion circles. "When men are designing women's clothes, there's a lot more fantasy, whereas women design because it's something we'd wear ourselves; it's a more practical way of thinking," Ishii says. "It could be to your advantage that you don't have these limits."
Part of the story seems to be that male designers strive for art while female designers strive for humanity, and this difference influences, even defines, the success they achieve. Rodarte's Kate and Laura Mulleavy are the exception that proves the rule. From the beginning, the designing sisters, now 33 and 31, were championed for their imagination and creativity. The flip side is that their designs have often been criticized for lacking a sense of realism or practicality, areas in which women designers supposedly excel.
Beyond accolades and awards, there's another important measure of success: dollar signs. Ohne Titel's Flora Gill points out that in the cases of Alexander Wang and Joseph Altuzarra, at least, "their families are huge parts of their business, and you can't find a better investor than a mom or dad." Financial backing, she continues, "makes a huge difference, more than being a man or being a woman."
The good news here, says Daniella Vitale, the chief women's merchant at Barneys, is that a designer's gender is immaterial to the store's customers. "They respond to the design, quality, fit, and aesthetic," she says. "It's not gender-specific." Ikram Goldman, the Chicago retailer, agrees. "I love Ohne Titel, I love Sophie Theallet. Erin [Beatty] from Suno is so hip," Goldman says. "Are they getting the press? Maybe not, but they sell, they sell beautifully."
Still, says designer Tess Giberson, "more press recognition directly affects the power of a brand. People buy a name they recognize more." Words to contemplate with this year's CFDA Awards fast approaching on June 4.
Daily Dispatches From The Global Scene


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Winners of my July print give away
Did you enter my free print give away? Find out if you have won a landscape print of your choice! Thank you very much to everyone who entered.Details
Did you enter my free print give away? Find out if you have won a landscape print of your choice! Thank you very much to everyone who entered.
Pirates descended on Battersea Park for the annual SunWalk London 2014. Waving their cutlasses and shouting "oooarrr" quite a lot drove the rain and clouds away. It's always so wonderful to see everyone really going to town on the decorations and add in the magic ingredient of kids beating their parents to cross the line – what more could you ask for!
Aly and Sage had arranged for a dog wash at the wonderful Wag N Wash in Camberley to raise money for charity. One of Sage's favourite vets, Fiona, passed away and this seemed like the ideal way to celebrate her life, raise some cash and have a lot of fun.
Find out more
I've been told I'm good at making both adults, children and animals relaxed in front of the camera – after all it's not something that you do everyday! I'm a father to a young daughter myself – so I "get" the whole child in front of camera thing! I don't really specify what you wear other than what you feel comfortable in. And that's the way I work: relaxed, natural photographs. As for a location, we will work on that together: indoors or out I don't really mind.
Find out more
You will not find endless complicated lists of what I charge, what I do and what I don't. I prefer an a la carte approach. we will work together to find out exactly what you would like and I'll quote you a price, all in, with nothing else to pay.
If you want me to travel, then I am happy to do so.
Find out more
Find our more
He made the shoot a complete pleasure – the kids all loved him and he was patient, fun and entertained them above and beyond the call of duty! Every family should have some Guy photos in their lives – thank you!" ~ Pamela


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I said it in 2008, in 2009 and I'm saying it again in 2010. We must step up to the plate when comes to taking responsibility.
Men, you must stop creating babies and walking away from them. If you care enough to lay down with a woman and have a child, then you must care enough to have a presence in that child's life.
Teach your child to be a responsible citizen, to be respectful of others, and the world doesn't own them anything just because they were born.
Now women, we must stop blaming everyone else for what has gone wrong in our lives. Remember the outcome of bad relationships is the direct result of bad choices we make. Nobody caused our problems, so we must stop being angry at the world for our poor decisions.
Yes we must take responsibility for what we don't have in our lives, in our homes, and in our communities. Our ongoing message must be, "yes we must" work and earn a paycheck or create opportunities for ourselves in order to have the things we desire.
We must stop making our problems those of others, honestly, speaking, everyone has their own issues to deal with... after all we are all gifted with the same 24 hours each day, how you use yours is up to you ... remember, there are no short cuts in life.
Barbara Pugh Mayes
12 East Delano Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36105
(334) 288-1212
FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


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Launch yourself into the center of the action when far away with a 24mm ultra wide angle 18x optical zoom lens, and an extended 1.3x Smart Zoom. Manual Mode gives you control over advanced parameter settings. With maximum capabilities built into its slim design, no other compact comes close.
See beyond the horizon
The 24mm Ultra Wide 18x Zoom captures objects in a wider shooting range, so your vision is translated, just as you imagined it. Take photos of distant people and landscapes and the results are right before your eyes. The 24x Smart-Zoom (18x Optical Super-Zoom) renders all the details, sharp and rich. And the 3.0" TFT LCD screen offers a wider, crystal-clear image with improved contrast and true-life color. You always get the best view possible. The Samsung WB700 fits everything you always wanted into the frame.
Get full control with Full Manual
Full Manual gives you the ability to take complete control and capture the photos exactly as you want them to be. Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority settings let you experiment with shutter speeds and depth of field, so you can shoot fast-moving images in low light. With Samsung cameras, your creativity counts most.
Say goodbye to shaky shots with Dual IS
Don't risk ruining that once-in-a-lifetime memory because of a shaking hand or a camera that's not up to the job. The Dual IS (Image Stabilizer) feature automatically adjusts to compensate for even the slightest hand or body movements, resulting in steadier photos.
What's more, the Dual IS can maximize the stabilizing area while minimizing shaking so you get crisp shots every time—even while you or the subject is on the move.
High Sensitivity ISO 3200
With a true ISO 3200 setting, your Samsung camera can effectively minimize noise for crystal clear images under low light conditions. Plus, ISO 3200 lets you take perfectly focused photos of fast-moving images, like during a sporting event.
When it comes to brightness, it's brilliant : 3.0'' Intelligent LCD
Its 3.0" Intelligent LCD provides improved contrast and color reproduction, which allows you to enjoy a wider and clearer image. And its Intelligent LCD brightness automatically detects environmental illumination and adjusts the LCD brightness for optimal image viewing. It does the thinking for you, which makes the WB700 a smart choice.
Make your own movies
You get 720p HD quality video at 30 frames per second and recording time 4x longer than MJPEG video. SoundAlive, with special zoom noise reduction technology, gives you crystal-clear, vibrant sound recordings.
Shoot like a pro with Smart Auto 2.0
Smart Auto 2.0 (still and movie) analyzes key elements in the composition and automatically adjusts its 16 photo modes and 4 movie modes to capture the best shot.
Built in HDMI Type D with Anynet+
Just one HDMI code is all it takes to connect your WB700 directly into your TV, computer or DVD player. With the WB700, making professional quality videos is just as easy as sharing them.
Smart Filter 2.0
Samsung camera's Smart Filter lens and color options make special moods easy for still shots and videos. Tilt & Shift Lens Effect adds a miniaturized look and the Vignetting Effect makes striking compositional contrasts. New special effects include Soft Focus to add an emotional feel, Half-Tone Dot to soften skin tones and Old-Film Effect to set up a retro mood or frame. Color Palette for movies, adds an ultra-vivid vibe. It's now a snap to get creative.


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Okay, I've always struggled with this.....
How do you define "Intense enough to generate growth?"
I workout in my garage (somewhat nicely equipped) which has a squat rack, bench, elleptical trainer, and treadmill, along with dumbells up to 90 lbs.
I've never really worked out in a gym, or with another training partner, so I don't really know how to gauge when I'm getting it right.
Do you work for a pump, or a burn, or to failure?
Also, does your target intensity level change if you're hitting the same body part multiple times a week, or only one time per week.
Currently, I'm doing a MWF setup
Back/ Bi
Legs/ Abs
Chest/ Tri
With one day of cardio ~ after the Chest/Tri Day.
Working on contest prep ~~~ Show date June 15th ~~~~
Does this pose make my camera look big?
"We're not as good as we want to be, we're not as good as we should be, but thank God we're not as bad as we used to be..."
Soooo many variables. For bodybuilding purposes, a safe bet is training to concentric failure, or just shy of it, for relatively low volume (4-6 working sets for most body parts). Go to failure with the exercises that you can safely do so, and stop just short with the balance. If you train alone always make sure you have safety catches for movements like bench pressing and squats.
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Unfortunately I have rarely gone to failure (except on chinups, etc) ~ because of the lack of a spotter (even though I have safety catches on my bench and rack).
Also ~ just to clarify: When would you target concentric failure or the point just shy of it? I'm assuming that would be in the last set, but this may be because a big part of my early routines was centered around GVT ~ in which the first 6-7 sets were not challenging, and the last 3-4 got harder & harder).
I know you're not a fan of GVT, but because I'm training without a spotter, it's always been intellectually easier/ prefered even, for me to work with higher volume & less weight.
Does this pose make my camera look big?
"We're not as good as we want to be, we're not as good as we should be, but thank God we're not as bad as we used to be..."
Here's my personal opinion and it has nothing to do with reps or a training style. I try to leave it all in the gym, leave no stone unturned and that rep you quit on might be the difference between first and second place on that stage.
Now on to training.. How long have you been training for this show? Can you give us an example of you current work outs for each day? Is there a reason you don't have a day dedicated to shoulder development?
In my personal experiences, training to failure had yielded me the most gains.
Do you work for a pump, or a burn, or to failure?
None of the above if I can help it. Occasionally my assistance work will give me a little burn or pump, but that's just cause it is higher rep, it isn't something I try to achieve.
I know Chris already answered this for you, but he's not alone in it. I also try to avoid failure, and set myself up so I am always progressing. Also when I'm on like my last set where I am trying to get as many reps as possible, I don't do it till I fail, I do it just shy of that until you know you can't get another.
This helps in more ways than you think. You are setting yourself up mentally to succeed and some may think you are missing out or not pushing yourself hard enough but it is the opposite. By letting yourself fail you train yourself to do that more and more, and when it feels too hard you go to press it but not give it everything you got. Many times I have been on my last reps and pressed up stuff if I had a different mind set it would have buried me, you'll find you push up a weight that if you had been practicing going to failure, it would have been a missed rep.
I also always train to make later sets harder. And sometimes utilize "1 working set". Many times I will do less reps with lower weight and more reps with the higher weight as well. It works, always moving something or everything up, and moving up from session to session.
I have always been a proponent of training to failure, although there are different ways of reaching that point. Some individuals will use volume as a way to reach failure - whether all in one rest/pause set such as in DC Training or over the course of multiple sets like in GVT (German Volume Training). Others may use progressively heavier weights to reach a point of failure; and the final option would be to extend your sets using drop-sets, giant-sets, or super-sets.
Regardless of how you are working to failure I would still advise you to train with a high level of conviction and intensity if you want to optimize your gains. Just like with anything else the more you put into your training the more you will get out of it (assuming that you are following an effective program, eating appropriately, etc.).
ASC 105 Kg Pro Strongman | My Website | Facebook Fan Page
Weight: 218 lbs | Gym PR's -> Front Squat: 510 lbs / Overhead: 375 lbs / Deadlift: 700 lbs
Supplements: www.AtLargeNutrition.com
The reason there is no shoulder day is because "Chest/ Shoulders & Triceps Day" ~~~added to the fact that my shoulder is somewhat inflamed, and I'm in physical therapy 2x per week to address that issue.
Here is my routine by the numbers ~
Keep in mind that the last time I did a true shoulder workout (that wasn't Physical Therapy), was October 8th 2012, and the last time I was able to get in a true chest workout 28 October (and that was cut short due to shoulder tenderness) ~ so I'm losing here, but there's nothing that can be done about it, except give it time to heal, and follow the PT.
Incidentally, the shoulder issue started a few years ago, and has progressively gotten worse and worse over time. I slept on it funny, maybe a year or two ago, and it has not been right since. At one time I was Standing OHPing 185 lbs ~ which was starting to be an "not terrible number," but 6 weeks ago, I could not take my shirt off without pain, and any type of pressing movement was simply inconceivable.
The Orthopedic is convinced it was an inflammation issue (after looking at the MRI), and administered a cortizone shot and prescribed the PT. The PT guys are low weight, high rep guys, and my shoulder feels like it is on fire within 10 minutes of my arrival until I leave an hour and a half later.
Routine looks like this:
A Day: Back & Biceps
Chinups 2x15 1xmax
T-Bar Rows 5x12
1 Arm DB Rows: 3x12
Cross Face Hammer Curls: 5x12
EZ Curl Bar: 2xmax
Shrugs: 3x50 (light weights & high reps due to the shoulder)
B Day: Legs (My leg routine is limited by L-5 which was fractured" in 1991-ish, and has been herniated at least 10 different times since then (3 times deadlifting, 1 time squatting, 1 time sneezing, the rest playing soccer). I say that to say, that my leg program is catered to preventing back injuries ~ so squats are a light weight accessory in many respects. I played soccer competitively until I was 35, and also raced bicycles for about 3 years. Before I stopped riding, I had 27 - 28 inch quads and 18 inch calves, and a 30 inch waist (this was when I weighted about 175 - 180 lbs). Other than racing, and playing soccer, I never actually trained my lower body. I say all that to say that my leg development isn't tied to the squat (lol) ~ and my back is thankful. Unfortunately, my legs got smaller as became more of a bodybuilder (crazy I know, but it is what it is). Right now, my quads are 25.5 right now and calves at 17.5 inches ~~~ everything seems to be growing again now that I've added the elliptical sprint work.
Elliptical: (set on 30 degree incline, resistance at 6 of 12, walking backwards creates a hack squat movement, and a similar feel to cycling). Five 30 second sprints with an 85 second active recovery break between each sprint.
Reverse Lunges: 3x12
Straight Leg Dead lift: 3x12
Barbell Squats 1x20
Calves 3xmax
C Day: Chest/Shoulders & Triceps (Since October, the only part of this day I've been able to do is the BO Lateral Raises & Tricep Cable Press Downs):
Flat Bench: 5x10
Incline Bench: 3x20
Standing OHP: 5x5
Bent Over Lateral Raises 3x12 & 1xmax
Tricep Cable Press Down with Bar: 5x12
Tricep Cable Press Down with Rope: 5x12
(these two are done as supersets)
D Day: Cardio Day:
Elliptical Sprints exactly as described on leg day (with a longer warmup)
Immediately followed by Straight Leg Dead Lifts (light weights/ high reps)
Target BPM is between 120 - 150 ~~~ the BPMs during the last half of the sprints are well above the anaerobic threshold, but quickly come down into the aerobic range during the recovery phase.
@ Tom: This is when I get confused ~~~~ When I first got on here, I posted my workouts (to get feedback on why I wasn't growing), and many people thought I was crazy because "I was doing too much volume," "too many sets," "working out too often," etc."
So I was encouraged to "eat more" and workout less, take a look at Starting Strength, etc. ~~~ I took this advice, and it did make all my numbers jump. Had I not injured my shoulder, and herniated my disk a couple of times a year (this is as consistent as the setting of the sun ~ and comes without warning ~ and once when I sneezed) ~ anyway, I'm sure I'd be well ahead of where I'm at now. That said, now, the forum advice has changed and intensity and volume seem to be in vogue. I say all that to say this: that it has become hard for this 45 year old to find the balance of "intensity that leads to growth, but does not lead to injury, or burnout."
Last edited by Iplan; 02-18-2013 at 04:59 PM.
Does this pose make my camera look big?
"We're not as good as we want to be, we're not as good as we should be, but thank God we're not as bad as we used to be..."
I would not use volume or frequency as your primary gauge for intensity, as that can be misleading. Training with high intensity can be different for each individual based on a number of variables.
When I train with high intensity I will usually do one all-out set on a compound movement, and then typically a couple of sets to failure on isolation or accessory movements - but in those cases the reason for failure is typically muscular endurance rather than absolute strength.
Intensity can still be reached with volume or frequency meaning that if you wanted to perform 15 sets of squats with your bodyweight it would get pretty intense as you progress through the workout even though the load is not overly heavy for a lot of experienced lifters.
I would recommend looking at what you are trying to accomplish and then setting up your goals from there. Eating more and training less could work great for strength gains but would not be an optimal program for someone who is simply looking to improve body composition.
You may want to read up on 'auto-regulation' - basically they are programs that adjust based on how you feel and perform on that given day. If you are feeling strong then you can push the envelope, and if things do not feel right then you simply look to get some value out of the session.
Hope this helps...
ASC 105 Kg Pro Strongman | My Website | Facebook Fan Page
Weight: 218 lbs | Gym PR's -> Front Squat: 510 lbs / Overhead: 375 lbs / Deadlift: 700 lbs
Supplements: www.AtLargeNutrition.com


text:
Scott E. Hensley, Ph.D.
Scott E. Hensley, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor
- Member, Vaccine Center
- 215-495-6864, Office
- 215-495-6866, Lab
The goal of the laboratory of Scott Hensley is to combat seasonal influenza, which contributes to many annual deaths across the world. The Hensley laboratory uses basic virology and immunology techniques to understand how seasonal influenza eludes our immune system, making an annual influenza vaccine necessary. Hensley and his colleagues at The Wistar Institute Vaccine Center are also in pursuit of a "universal vaccine" for seasonal influenza, a single vaccine that will enable people to forgo an annual flu shot.
Hensley came to Wistar as an assistant professor in 2010 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health. Hensley studied biology as an undergraduate at the University of Delaware and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. In 2007, he began a postdoctoral fellowship at NIAID and subsequently distinguished himself in immunology circles for his work on antigenic drift, the evolutionary changes in the outer coating of the influenza virus that allows the flu to change from year to year.
Since returning to Wistar, Hensley has continued studying the molecular mechanisms that allow antigenic drift to occur and is determining how the human immune system generates antibodies to influenza. Hensley hopes to combine these two paths in order to create a vaccine that will generate antibodies that will attack targets that are less likely to mutate from season to season, which may make annual flu shots a thing of the past.
3 – Li Y, Bostick DL, Sullivan CB, Myers JL, Griesemer SB, St George K, Plotkin JB, Hensley SE. Single hemagglutinin mutations that alter both antigenicity and receptor binding avidity influence influenza virus antigenic clustering. Journal of Virology. 2013; 87(17):9904-9910.
4 – Das SR, Hensley SE., Ince WL, Brooke CB, Subba A, Delboy MG, Russ G, Gibbs JS, Bennink JR, Yewdell JW Defining influenza A virus hemagglutinin antigenic drift by sequential monoclonal antibody selection. Cell Host and Microbe. 2013; 13(3):314-323.