text:
Racing Roundup
By admin ~ August 1st, 2013. Filed under: Racing Roundup.
Being the skipper of an America's Cup yacht has its glory days, its challenges, its successes, and its risk. The Cup's legend was that the skipper who lost the Cup would replace it in the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) trophy room with his own head. Any skipper who heard this would probably smile, but it was a nervous smile to be sure. The NYYC took its Cup ownership very seriously.


text:
Most of us are worried about the carbohydrates and proteins entering the body. These food stuffs are very important for the body. However, alongside them, one should be concerned about their consumption of food items with micronutrients in them. Micronutrients help different processes of the body and their lack can lead to serious illnesses. For example, iodine is extremely important for the functioning of the thyroid glands and its lack can lead to a problem like goiter. Similarly, calcium is very important for the bones and enamel. Iron is important to maintain the level of hemoglobin in the body and its lack can lead to anemia.
You can now buy different kinds of health food stuffs online which are rich in micronutrients. These food stuffs are prepared using fresh produce which ensures that the level of micronutrients in them is at their peak. You can get good discounts if you use a nutrisystem coupon discount code. The code can be gotten for free from various websites. These codes are revised every month to attract newer customers. The codes can fetch you free delivery, 40% discount on the meals ordered or even free meals for a week. The food is sealed in air tight packages and delivered to you every morning.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
An alleged bout of shoe mania over the weekend led to the death of a college professor and the arrest of his girlfriend. Anna Trujillo, 44, faces a murder charge after police say she stabbed her boyfriend, Alf Stefan Andersson, 59, to death with a stiletto heel.
A Houston man is charged with murder and abandonment for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend Cecilia Sanders, 27, to death and leaving her two young daughters alone with her body. Sanders' mother, worried after not hearing from her daughter all of Sunday, went to visit her Yale Street home. There, she found Sanders' body next to a crib where 7-month-old Khya lay unharmed. Kymora, 3, was crying in a closet.


text:
The EMU chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon was featured in the Spring issue of that organization's national magazine for their "A Walk in Her Shoes" event this past April. The event raises public awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault. Funds were raised for the EMU Women's Resource Center and the SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor.
Ypsilanti, MI, USA 48197


text:
I know the London Olympiad is soooooooooo day before yesterday over, but I've been a busy guy. So, just a few of the highlights for me.
Then I'll get on to college football the way the Good Lord means it to be . . . now that he's wearing a hounds tooth hat.
* * * * *
The USA vs. Canada semi-final in women's soccer was as good a game in any sport as I've ever witnessed. Intense. Exciting. Twists and turns. The good gals win. Plus, what's really neat about the women's game of futbol is they don't flop. When the ladies are hurt, unlike most of the men, they're really hurt.
Almost as good . . . well, okay, really good but not almost as good as the one previously mentioned: Men's Volleyball final. Brazil was up two games to naught. And had two gold medal points in game three. And those Russkies came back to win it in five.
Apparently the Russian coach displayed some off the wall strategy and used line up changes that were the equivalent of playing Tyler Chandler at point guard and letting Russell Westbrook check Pau Gasol.
* * * * *
Awhile back I expressed admiration for the athleticism and talent of the synchronized swimmers.
But there's another silly looking sport that is truly not sport at all. That's that rhythmic ballet gymnastics thing, where women wearing too much makeup and sequins, prance around with a stick with a ribbon on the end.
* * * * *
Loved that Aly Raisman won her gold medal while doing a routine to "Hava Nagila," and then paid tribute to the Israeli wrestlers who were murdered during the games in Munich.
* * * * *
Manteo Mitchell is indeed The Man.
He's the USA sprinter who ran half his leg of the 4×400 meter relay prelim with only half his legs. I walked around for a year on a broken leg, so I have personal knowledge of how much it hurts. Running on one in world class time is . . . well . . . world class.
* * * * *
Angel McCoughtry sure didn't get much PT in the semis and final.
* * * * *
What's so stunning about Usain Bolt is that he always kind of slows up and turns sideways near the end of his races.
* * * * *
From hip hip and Pimm's Cup to tap the keg and wooooooooooooooooo pig sooey.
And so we bid a fond adieu to Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Goodbye London Bridge — Oh, wait a sec, isn't that somewhere in Arizona? — hello John L. Smith and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
– Seedy K


text:
Quotes & Info
|MPAA > SEC Filings for MPAA > Form 10-Q on 9-Aug-2013
|All Recent SEC Filings
Quarterly Report
The following discussion and analysis presents factors that Motorcar Parts of America, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("our," "we" or "us") believe are relevant to an assessment and understanding of our consolidated financial position and results of operations. This financial and business analysis should be read in conjunction with our March 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 17, 2013, as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013.
Disclosure Regarding Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to our future performance that involve risks and uncertainties. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the bankruptcy of the Fenco Entities, concentration of sales to certain customers, changes in our relationship with any of our major customers, the increasing customer pressure for lower prices and more favorable payment and other terms, the increasing demands on our working capital, the significant strain on working capital associated with large Remanufactured Core inventory purchases from customers, our ability to obtain any additional financing we may seek or require, our ability to achieve positive cash flows from operations, potential future changes in our previously reported results as a result of the identification and correction of errors in our accounting policies or procedures or the potential material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, lower revenues than anticipated from new and existing contracts, our failure to meet the financial covenants or the other obligations set forth in our credit agreements and the lenders' refusal to waive any such defaults, any meaningful difference between projected production needs and ultimate sales to our customers, increases in interest rates, changes in the financial condition of any of our major customers, the impact of high gasoline prices, the potential for changes in consumer spending, consumer preferences and general economic conditions, increased competition in the automotive parts industry, including increased competition from Chinese and other offshore manufacturers, difficulty in obtaining Used Cores and component parts or increases in the costs of those parts, political, criminal or economic instability in any of the foreign countries where we conduct operations, currency exchange fluctuations, unforeseen increases in operating costs, the strategic cooperation agreement, and other factors discussed herein and in our other filings with the SEC.
Management Overview
We are a leading manufacturer, remanufacturer, and distributor of alternators and starters for import and domestic cars, light trucks, heavy duty, agricultural and industrial applications.
Subsequent to the bankruptcy filing of the Fenco Entities, we began selling wheel hub assemblies and wheel hub bearings. These operations were not significant during the three months ended June 30, 2013.
The aftermarket for automobile parts is divided into two markets. The first market is the do-it-yourself ("DIY") market, which is generally serviced by the large retail chain outlets. Consumers who purchase parts from the DIY channel generally install parts into their vehicles themselves. In most cases, this is a less expensive alternative than having the repair performed by a professional installer. The second market is the professional installer market, commonly known as the do-it-for-me ("DIFM") market. This market is serviced by the traditional warehouse distributors, the dealer networks, and the commercial divisions of retail chains. Generally, the consumer in this channel is a professional parts installer.
Our products are distributed to both the DIY and DIFM markets and are distributed predominantly throughout North America. We sell our products to the largest auto parts retail and traditional warehouse chains and to major automobile manufacturers for both their aftermarket programs and their warranty replacement programs ("OES"). Demand and replacement rates for aftermarket remanufactured automobile parts generally increase with the age of vehicles and increases in miles driven.
Historically, the largest share of our business was in the DIY market. While
that is still the case, our DIFM business is now a significant part of our
business. In difficult economic times, we believe consumers are more likely to
purchase lower cost replacement parts in both the DIY and DIFM markets. We focus
on supplying both these channels with the most cost efficient replacement parts
for the consumer to purchase.
As a result of the deconsolidation of Fenco, we now have one reportable segment based on the way we manage, evaluate and internally report our business activities.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere herein. The following table summarizes certain key operating data of our continuing operations for the periods indicated: Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 2012 Gross profit percentage 31.9 % 31.7 % Cash flow used in operations $ (3,072,000 ) $ (10,606,000 ) Finished goods turnover (annualized) (1) 7.2 6.7 Annualized return on equity (2) 0.4 % 6.9 %
(2) Annualized return on equity is computed as income from continuing operations for the fiscal quarter multiplied by 4 and dividing the result by beginning shareholders' equity of continuing operations. Annualized return on equity measures our ability to invest shareholders' funds profitably.
Net Sales and Gross Profit The following table summarizes net sales and gross profit of our continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012: Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 2012 Net sales $ 50,245,000 $ 46,799,000 Cost of goods sold 34,231,000 31,980,000 Gross profit 16,014,000 14,819,000 Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales 68.1 % 68.3 % Gross profit percentage 31.9 % 31.7 %
Net Sales. Our net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2013 increased by
$3,446,000, or 7.4%, to $50,245,000 compared to net sales for the three months
ended June 30, 2012 of $46,799,000. The increase in net sales was due primarily
to increased sales to our existing customers.
Operating Expenses The following table summarizes operating expenses of our continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012: Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 2012 General and administrative $ 9,632,000 $ 5,914,000 Sales and marketing 1,731,000 1,772,000 Research and development 549,000 436,000 Percent of net sales General and administrative 19.2 % 12.6 % Sales and marketing 3.4 % 3.8 % Research and development 1.1 % 0.9 %
General and Administrative. Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2013 were $9,632,000, which represents an increase of $3,718,000, or 62.9%, from general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 of $5,914,000. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) $1,560,000 of increased loss recorded due to the change in the fair value of the warrant liability, (ii) a loss of $733,000 recorded due to the change in the value of the forward foreign currency exchange contracts subsequent to entering into the contracts compared to a loss of $91,000 recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2012, (iii) $493,000 of increased legal fees, (iv) $178,000 of increased general and administrative expenses at our offshore locations, (v) $155,000 of increased consulting expenses primarily related to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and (vi) $111,000 of increased share-based compensation expense. These increases were partly offset by $750,000 of decreased bonus expense due to the payment of one-time awards under our Chief Executive Officer's new employment agreement during the three months ended June 30, 2012. In addition, general and administrative expenses increased during the three months ended June 30, 2013 due to (i) $814,000 of Fenco-related legal and external audit fees and (ii) $304,000 in professional fees incurred in connection with the restructuring of FAPL.
Sales and Marketing. Our sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2013 decreased $41,000, or 2.3%, to $1,731,000 from $1,772,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease was due primarily to $131,000 of decreased advertising and catalog expenses partly offset by $79,000 of increased commissions.
Research and Development. Our research and development expenses increased by $113,000, or 25.9%, to $549,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 from $436,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The increase was due primarily to $75,000 of increased consulting fees and $31,000 of increased purchased supplies.
Interest Expense
Interest Expense. Our interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2013
increased $1,029,000, or 35.5%, to $3,925,000 from $2,896,000 for the three
months ended June 30, 2012. Our prior year interest expense reflects $896,000 of
interest income in connection with the long-term note receivable from Fenco. The
remaining increase in interest expense was due primarily to increased
outstanding loan balances and interest on certain vendor payable balances. In
addition, our interest expense during the three months ended June 30, 2013 was
favorably impacted by lower discount rates on the factored receivables and by a
lower balance of receivables discounted.
Income Tax. Our income tax expense from continuing operations was $74,000 and $1,434,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The income tax expenses reflect effective income tax rates of 41.8% and 37.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The income tax rates were higher than the federal statutory rates primarily due to state income taxes, which were partially offset by the benefit of lower statutory tax rates in foreign taxing jurisdictions.
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations. Our income from discontinued operations was $100,877,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to a loss from discontinued operations of $12,229,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The income from discontinued operations during the three months ended June 30, 2013 consists of (i) a $118,095,000 gain on the deconsolidation of Fenco, (ii) a loss of approximately $20,464,000 in connection with the guarantee of obligations to certain Fenco suppliers, and (iii) losses of approximately $5,910,000 incurred by Fenco from April 1, 2013 to May 31, 2013. In addition, we recorded income tax benefits of $9,156,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2013.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At June 30, 2013, we had working capital of $30,573,000, a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of 1.5:1, and cash of $15,191,000, compared to working capital for our continuing operations of $32,676,000, a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of 1.5:1, and cash of $19,346,000 at March 31, 2013.
During the three months ended June 30, 2013, we used cash generated from the use of our receivable discount programs with certain of our major customers. This source was primarily used to pay down our accounts payable balances, build up our long-term core inventory, repay our term loan, and pay for capital expenditure obligations.
We believe our cash on hand, short-term investments, use of receivable discount programs with certain of our major customers, amounts available under our credit agreement, and other sources are sufficient to satisfy our expected future working capital needs, repayment of the current portion of our term loans, capital lease commitments, and capital expenditure obligations over the next twelve months.
Cash Flows
Net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations was $3,072,000 and $10,606,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The significant changes in our operating activities from continuing operations were due primarily to less significant decreases in accounts payable and accounts receivable during the three months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2012.
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations was $391,000 and $405,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our capital expenditures from continuing operations during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were $381,000 and $398,000, respectively, primarily related to the purchase of office equipment and equipment for our manufacturing and warehousing facilities.
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations was $664,000 for
the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to net cash provided by financing
activities from continuing operations of $23,148,000 for the three months ended
June 30, 2012. This decrease was due to the repayment of our term loan during
the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to additional borrowings and the
net proceeds received from our private placement during the three months ended
June 30, 2012.
We have the following outstanding credit agreements.
Financing Agreement
We are party to the Financing Agreement, which consists of the Term Loans and the Revolving Loans. The Loans mature on January 17, 2017. The lenders hold a security interest in substantially all of our assets.
The Term Loans require quarterly principal payments of $600,000 per quarter beginning April 1, 2013 and increase to $1,350,000 on October 1, 2013 until the final maturity date. The Term Loans bear interest at rates equal to, at our option, either LIBOR plus 8.5% or a base rate plus 7.5%.
In June 2013, we entered into the Sixth Amendment, under the terms of which the agents and lenders agreed to waive any event of default that would otherwise arise under the Financing Agreement due to the qualification in the opinion by our certified public accountants with respect to the financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. In addition, the Sixth Amendment (i) added a reporting requirement with respect to our liquidity levels and certain inventory purchases and (ii) added a financial covenant under which we must maintain the following levels of liquidity on the following dates unless otherwise consented to by the lenders: on June 28, 2013, an aggregate amount of at least $25,000,000, subject to certain adjustments; on July 31, 2013, an aggregate amount of at least $26,000,000, subject to certain adjustments; and on August 30, 2013, an aggregate amount of at least $27,000,000, subject to certain adjustments. As of June 28, 2013, our liquidity balance exceeded the minimum required amount, subject to certain adjustments, by $6,141,000.
The Financing Agreement, among other things, requires us to maintain certain financial covenants including a maximum senior leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, and minimum consolidated earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization expenses ("EBITDA"). We were in compliance with all financial covenants and reporting requirements under the Financing Agreement as of June 30, 2013.
The following table summarizes the financial covenants required under the Financing Agreement as of June 30, 2013:
Financial covenants required per Calculation as the of June 30, Financing 2013 Agreement Maximum senior leverage ratio 2.09 3.05 Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio 1.67 1.15 Minimum consolidated EBITDA $ 40,258,000 $ 30,500,000
There was no outstanding balance on the Revolving Loans at June 30, 2013 and
March 31, 2013. As of June 30, 2013, $14,389,000 was available under the
Revolving Loans. We had reserved $476,000 of the Revolving Loans for standby
letters of credit for workers' compensation insurance and $1,522,000 for
commercial letters of credit as of June 30, 2013.
In August 2012, we entered into the Agreement with the Supplier and FAPL. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Supplier agreed to provide a revolving credit line for purchases of automotive parts and components by Fenco in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000, of which $2,000,000 would only be available for accrued interest and other amounts payable. Payment for all purchases became due and payable 120 days after the date of the bill of lading. Any amounts remaining unpaid following the due date would bear interest at a rate of 1% per month. The Fenco Credit Line would have matured on July 31, 2017. After July 1, 2014, the Supplier has the right to settle up to $8,000,000 of our outstanding Obligations in exchange, at our option, for (i) shares of our common stock valued at $7.75 per share, subject to certain adjustments, or (ii) cash in an amount equal to 135% of the amount of the outstanding Obligations sold to us. Any outstanding Obligations settled by the Supplier would reduce the Fenco Credit Line. Pursuant to the Guaranty, the Obligations under the Agreement are guaranteed by us and certain of our subsidiaries. Under the terms of the Guaranty, the Supplier also has the right to sell accrued interest to us for shares of our common stock at a price, subject to certain adjustments, that is the lower of (i) $7.75 per share and (ii) 105% of the market value of our common stock, which market value is defined in the terms of the Guaranty.
On July 9, 2013, we received notice from the Supplier that the filing of the voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware by the Fenco Entities constituted an "Event of Default" under the Agreement. As a result of the Event of Default, all amounts outstanding under the Agreement together with all accrued interest and all other amounts payable automatically became immediately due and payable subject to the terms of the subordination agreement described below. In addition, subject to certain adjustments, the interest rate applicable to all amounts remaining unpaid will increase, to the extent permitted by law, to 1.25% per month, compounding monthly, on December 10, 2013, and to 1.50% per month, compounding monthly, on June 10, 2014. As of June 10, 2013, there was approximately $19,864,000 outstanding under the Fenco Credit Line. Pursuant to a subordination agreement between the Supplier and Cerberus, the lender under the Financing Agreement, the Supplier may not take any enforcement action against the Company until the earlier of July 31, 2018 or the date on which all obligations under the Financing Agreement are satisfied, and any payments made by us pursuant to the Guarantee are subject to such subordination agreement for the benefit of Cerberus under the Financing Agreement.
In connection with the Agreement, we also issued a warrant to the Supplier to purchase up to 516,129 shares of our common stock for an initial exercise price of $7.75 per share exercisable at any time after two years from August 22, 2012 and on or prior to September 30, 2017. The exercise price is subject to adjustments, among other things, for sales of common stock by us at a price below the exercise price. We are obligated to issue no more than an aggregate of 1,032,258 shares of our common stock in connection with the Receivable Sale Option and Supplier Warrant, and no more than an aggregate of 1,572,342 shares of our common stock in connection with the Unpaid Interest Sale Option. The Obligations under this Agreement are subordinated to our obligations under the Financing Agreement. The fair value of the Supplier Warrant using the Monte Carlo simulation model was $2,779,000 and $1,639,000 at June 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively. This amount is recorded as a warrant liability which is included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013. During the three months ended June 30, 2013, a loss of $1,140,000 was recorded in general and administrative expenses due to the change in the fair value of this warrant liability.
Receivable Discount Programs
We use receivable discount programs with certain customers and their respective
banks. Under these programs, we have options to sell those customers'
receivables to those banks at a discount to be agreed upon at the time the
receivables are sold. These discount arrangements allows us to accelerate
collection of customers' receivables. While these arrangements have reduced our
working capital needs, there can be no assurance that these programs will
continue in the future. Interest expense resulting from these programs would
increase if interest rates rise, if utilization of these discounting
arrangements expands or if the discount period is extended to reflect more
favorable payment terms to customers.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2013 2012 Receivables discounted $ 44,208,000 $ 45,972,000 Weighted average days 332 337 Annualized weighted average discount rate 2.4 % 2.7 % Amount of discount as interest expense $ 978,000 $ 1,181,000
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
At June 30, 2013, we had no off-balance sheet financing or other arrangements with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships (such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities) established for purposes of facilitating off-balance sheet financing or other debt arrangements or for other contractually narrow or limited purposes.
Capital Expenditures and Commitments
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures were $381,000 and $398,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our capital expenditures were primarily related to the purchase of office equipment and equipment for our manufacturing and warehousing facilities. We expect our fiscal year 2014 capital expenditures to be in the range of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. We expect to use our working capital and incur additional capital lease obligations to finance these capital expenditures.
Related Party Transactions
Our related party transactions primarily consist of employment and director agreements and stock option agreements. Our related party transactions have not changed since March 31, 2013, except as described below.
During the three months ended June 30, 2013, we incurred $304,000 of expense payable to Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital, Inc. in connection with the restructuring of FAPL. Scott J. Adelson, a member of the Company's Board of Directors, is a Co-President and Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance for Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital, Inc.
Critical Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates that are presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013, which was filed on June 17, 2013.


text: At 04:15 AM 11/7/2002 , you wrote: >That's not the way to stop vacation replies. I can se Jeff uses a faulty >vacation entigine for 2 reasons: > >- There is no trach on the source and the reply addresses of the messages. >If it keeps track of those addresses, then the list would only see 1 (one) >vacation message. > >- There is no 'this is a vacation' headerfield added. Most vacation systems >add a header like 'Precedence: junk' to indicate the message is just >informative. Most maillistengines have a filter on these headers so the list >does not see any vacation message. The vacation program I use will only respond to a message if: 1) My address appears in the To: or Cc: field. This eliminates all mailing lists, as well as most spam. 2) No auto reply messages have been send to the sender of the original message in the past week. This makes sure that you don't keep notifying someone that you are on vacation. These options (especially the first one) should be standard in any sane vacation program. I get the feeling this was not a standard vacation program. That being said, I want to restore this list to being about VNC, and not mailing lists or vacation programs. I don't particularly blame anyone for what happened, but I'm sure everyone has learned something in the process. I would even welcome Jeff back to the list... I strongly doubt he will be using that vacation program again. I assume he is a bit embarrassed about this whole fiasco. -Ben :)


text: Welcome all the new fifth graders. You may have met me or maybe you haven't, but you will meet me this year. I used to man the blog, but now that I am in 6th grade, I can't. Hopefully, all of you will love the blog as much as me, but even if you don't please stop checking the blog!


text:
News Unions Support 'Revolution' of Occupy Wall Street
As the Occupy Everything crowd marches in dozens of cities nationwide, it's obvious their goal is nothing less than "global revolution." It's the phrase that headlines the live video feed. It's the sentiment that flows through their entire series of events – from signs to guest speakers. Egyptian speaker Mohammed Ezzeldin encouraged the crowd with comments such as "We have nothing to lose but our chains," and "Long live revolution." One-time comedienne Roseanne Barr simply called for bankers to be "beheaded."
But anarchists, socialists, anti-capitalists and Hollywood idiots chanting "Vive la revolution" isn't big news. What is news is that the news industry is behind them. This isn't simply the case of select individuals in journalism supporting the protests. They always do. The Washington Post ran four separate pro-Occupier op-eds in the Sunday Oct. 9, paper. And that's just on one day. CNN's Roland Martin called the protesters "American patriots." The big news here is that two separate news unions, including the newspaper guild, the recognized union for many print and online journalists, and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) are fully behind the radical message of Occupy Wall Street.
The newspaper guild is part of the Communications Workers of America, listed prominently among 16 union supporters of Occupy Wall Street. CWA is an omnibus group made up of several smaller unions such as The Newspaper Guild, which "merged with CWA in 1997, as did the Independent Association of Publishers' Employees." They joined the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, also part of CWA. CWA, in turn, is also affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the International Federation of Journalists. Look for the union label and you find it on a card in the wallet of many journalists.
The newspaper guild isn't subtle about its support either. The guild's website leads with a Paul Krugman pro-protest piece headlined: "Confronting the Malefactors." That's just above an AP story on the protests, describing how unions are aiding the movement.
Even more obvious is the lead story for the guild's publication, "The Guild Reporter." Editor Andy Zipser combined the Wisconsin union battle with hopes that it would continue and complained that "right-wing governors and legislators in a score of states pushed an asylum's menu of loony legislation."
The journalists' publication went on to criticize "Republicans," "the Tea Party," "the Kochs," Republican Wisconsin "Gov. Scott Walker," the "radical right," the "GOP" and "its rabid right wing" at least a dozen times by name in about 700 words.
I love objective journalism.
Naturally, that conflicts with the organization's own constitution. Article I of the Newspaper Guild's constitution describes its purpose to include promoting "industrial unionism" while also able to:
- "Guarantee, as far as it is able, equal employment and advancement opportunity in the newspaper industry and constant honesty in news, editorials, advertising, and business practices.
- "Raise the standards of journalism and ethics of the industry."
Honesty and ethics always sound better in theory, I'm guessing.
The other union is the Writers Guild of America, East, (WGAE). It describes itself as a "labor union of thousands of professionals who are the primary creators of what is seen or heard on television and film in the U.S.," and that includes "everything from big budget movies to independent films, late night comedy/variety shows to daytime serials, broadcast and radio news, web series, documentaries, and animation."
That guild led its own website with a picture of the guild banner flying at an Occupy Wall Street protest. According to the site, "Writers Guild members joined thousands of other union members and students in support of Occupy Wall Street at a rally in Foley Square on October 5." Inside, the guild featured more pictures, including one guild member wearing a Writers Guild of America, East T-shirt and holding a sign saying: "No Bulls, No Bears, Only Pigs."
Both organizations have a large volume of information for the profession on their websites, from job postings to how to join to information on strikes. There's no code of ethics included on either site.
Fortunately, the Society of Professional Journalists has an ethical code. It's only voluntary, but still useful. It contains a few guidelines that both unions might find useful. Journalists should:
- "Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived."
- "Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility."
- "Disclose unavoidable conflicts."
- "Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage."
Get back to me when journalists have done any of these things regarding Occupy Wall Street.
Instead, we are expecting them to cover these protests like they are unsympathetic, not involved. Their own unions prove that to be a lie.
Meanwhile, the obvious extreme left-wing aspect to the protests is hard to find in news coverage. Nearly nine out of 10 news stories on the protests leave that pesky detail out.
When Hugo Chavez spoke to the protesters, it barely raised a media eyebrow. As the Socialists strongman "addressed the crowd live from Venezuela a giant hammer and sickle was hoisted from the crowd in New York," according to Examiner.com. That would certainly seem, um, newsworthy.
In a web video example, an unhinged protest supporter dubbed "AnonGuyNYC," declared "bankers are the problem," called them "scum of the earth" and wanted them "brought to account." One scenario he mentioned was "a real run on Wall Street where the public goes into their offices and dispenses frontier justice on their person." Imagine if a Tea Party video had said such things. You couldn't have read all the media coverage in a month of Sundays.
It's important to understand that journalistic love for these protests isn't just the standard lefty support for such stupidity, like you get from a lib company such as Ben & Jerry's. (Corporate motto: "We make over-priced ice cream and use some of the profits to bash capitalism.") They aren't just backing ordinary protesters who might be down on their luck and in need of help. This isn't even the standard media worship for all things loony left – the kind usually reserved for Democratic presidents and Socialist dictators.
No, this is a pure unadulterated endorsement of the radical left – those who hate America, capitalism, free markets, success and, of course, anything conservative. The kind that openly call for "revolution" and few in the media seem to notice. That's who these journalist unions are marching in lockstep with.
You say you want a revolution? Apparently, journalists sure do.
Dan Gainoris the Boone Pickens Fellow and the Media Research Center's Vice President for Businessand Culture. His column appears each week on The Fox Forum. He can also be contacted on Facebook and Twitter as dangainor.
- Dan Gainor's blog
- Login to post comments
MSM rushing down that slippery slope
Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:13am.
The so called MSM are rushing down the slippery slope to total irrelevancy. They are rushing toward bankruptcy faster and faster. The only question that remains is how long will it take for the bulk of them to go bankrupt?
- Login to post comments
Here's another guy saying violence will be necessary:
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:32am.
Violence will be necessary to achieve our goals.
And these "journalists" accused the Tea Party of fomenting violence.
Sure journalists want a revolution. Then Obama (with their support) can declare Martial Law and take over the banks and anything else he wants to.
This liberal would be about social....uh.....taking over your companies..... Maxine Waters
And it ain't just the oil companies any more!
- Login to post comments
First Martial, then....
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:41am.
Yeah, it'll be Martial Law first and then it'll be replaced with Sharia. Just like it was in Egypt and elsewhere in the ME.
The similarities are not a little disturbing.
- Login to post comments
Burka, anyone?
Submitted by Uruk Hai on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:05pm.
The ONLY upside is that I can't wait to see Rosie O'Donnell, Joy Behar, and Whoopi Goldberg in a Burka. Of course, you won't be able to tell it's them but the thought alone is satisfying.......
- Login to post comments
Difference between here and Egypt
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 8:53pm.
We have plenty of armed people on our side. And, I, for one, think liberal men are, for the most part, wimpy and not real fighters. Honestly, I could beat up a lot of those guys at the OWS protests. Conservative men, when called to action, are more than able to defend their rights, and not afraid to take a few punches.
- Login to post comments
Oh yeah, Rad?
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:15pm.
I could handle you with one hand tied behind my back. [Of course that's assuming I had a big club in the other hand and sneaked up behind you.]
- Login to post comments
Only 53 Attend OccupyDC
Submitted by Free Stinker on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:46am.
Bwu ha ha ha ha!
- Login to post comments
Too Funny, Free
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:56am.
And pretty typical. At Allen West's Town Halls, there is always a contingent of "protesters", whom the local media typically describe as "MoveOn.Org" protested Rep. West"....leading one to believe it's a HUGE protest. The fact is, it's usually about five or six old hippies with idiot signs (I think I have a picture somewhere).
The truth of the matter is that these protesters have absolutely nothing better to do....they think it's hip and cool to be out there slacking, twitting (yes, I wrote it that way on purpose) and texting. They are a bunch of sheep, and about as bright.
- Login to post comments
Blonde, you give sheep a bad name
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:34pm.
equating these "people" with sheep. They're much more like lemmings than sheep.
Our local "news" media showed the Occupy Grand Rapids crowd, claiming "dozens had camped out". Looking the pic over, I guess dozens means 18 or 19. After all, it is more than a dozen, but I don't think more than 12 means "dozens".
- Login to post comments
You can only protest in
Submitted by Edhenry on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 10:32am.
You can only protest in capitalist countries
- Login to post comments
washington post
Submitted by markprice1983 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 1:08pm.
I remember when the Post's pressmen were on strike in the 1970s. The Newspaper Guild showed its support by having the Post's reporters and editors withhold their "excellence" to back the strikers. What a blow that was!
- Login to post comments
Oh, Man, I really pissed off the "Occupiers."
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 1:21pm.
Yesterday I ventured downtown and ran across the "Occupiers" here in Minneapolis. After listening to their rants and raves against "corporate America" and their demands for a job, any job, which pays "living wages," I offered several of them temporary employment, at 15 dollars an hour, to clean my gutters! Not only were they not willing to do so, several of them reacted with anger at my offer, even after I told them that I'm not a corporation or a Wall Street stock broker.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
- Login to post comments
And there it is!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 2:19pm.
That's a perfect example of why I was calling those idiots "gimme-thats," a new group in conjunction with the "haves" and "have-nots."
- Login to post comments
Submitted by kata on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 5:08pm.
The apple growers in my state went to college campuses looking for students to pick apples this fall. They offer thirty five dollars an hour for picking. Granted, this is a max peak efficiency wage since so it depends on how hard you want to work. But the growers received ZERO takers for their effort..
- Login to post comments
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 8:58pm.
Funny, I was just commenting to my husband that I was surprised how many of my daughters friends at her school have jobs. She goes to a pricey Catholic college. Although we're middle class, we are poor compared to the kids at her school. Yet a lot of these kids have jobs at school. And the service trips over breaks are always filled. I wonder why some of these kids are such lazy a$$ brats and others, well, aren't.
- Login to post comments
my jobs program for my college age daughter
Submitted by kata on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:53pm.
was to heap the nastiest, grossest most awful chores on her each day. I told her that as soon as she was gainfully employed she would only have to be responsible for her week on dishes, her bathroom and her room.
It took only 6 days for her to find a job.
- Login to post comments
Ah, creative parenting!
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 10:00pm.
In high school my daughter wanted to drive to school. We had an extra car. My first question was "how are you going to pay for gas?" You can imagine her response, having had an adolescent girl of your own. My response prompted her to find a job.
My kids know that my responsibility is to feed, clothe, and educate them. The law doesn't specify which clothes and food I must supply, so it's a good idea for them to supplement what I give them.
She also found herself a job at college.
- Login to post comments
Kata, I had a similar student loan program
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 10:03pm.
for both of my sons. I told both of them, if you get a 3.0 GPA in high school, mom and I will help with college. If you drop to a 2.0, you're on your own.
One of them graduated in June of 1989, he enlisted in the USMC in December of 89, and is still in the Corps. The other son ended up taking out a student loan to get himself certified as a police officer, has been in that field for 7 years, has the loan paid off, and is pretty much debt-free.
Neither had a good GPA when they graduated, needless to say. They did enjoy their social life. But, both admitted we would have been throwing good money after bad if we'd helped them, at that stage of their lives.
- Login to post comments
Of course the MSM is supporting the commies
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 4:15pm.
Birds of a feather...
Vote for the American in November
- Login to post comments
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 8:59pm.
Wasn't a surprise to me.
- Login to post comments
So what we have here are
Submitted by dscott on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 5:07pm.
So what we have here are groups openly advocating the overthrow of the US government, endorsing revolution is advocacy of the end game.
Occupy L.A. Speaker: Violence will be Necessary to Achieve Our Goals
FBI and NSA, are you paying attention???? The enemy is now within the gates...
- Login to post comments
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 6:16pm.
I'd like to call the illegal Occupiers sub-human, but even felines know to clean themselves and bury their feces, and they earn their keep by being good mousers. So, I'll have to settle for calling the illegal Occupiers 'sub-feline'.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read "Leftism As Psychopathy" by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
- Login to post comments
Now you've done and did it,
Submitted by dscott on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 10:27pm.
Now you've done and did it, you insulted Jer by referring to cats.
Just a visualization for you know who to upchuck.
- Login to post comments
goodness gracious
Submitted by shferg on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 8:43pm.
Honestly the hypocrisy is mind-blowing. The double standard is egregious. Sometimes I just have to shut it down because I cannot believe what I am reading and seeing from the MSM.
- Login to post comments
now's a good time as any...
Submitted by OldJoe on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:36pm.
To cancel that pesky newspaper subscription.
- Login to post comments


text:
Video review of close plays sounds great in theory but, if and when it becomes standard practice, it very likely will force even the best umpires to refrain from using their own experience and initiative to make a bold borderline call. If this change takes place, umps actually may grow to welcome expanded replay as a simple way to avoid controversy. "By-the-book" may become the watchword, and – most importantly for us as Cubs fans – replay review and a companion reduction in umpire initiative may wind up eliminating one of the Cubs' best hopes for ending a century of postseason failure.
The 2008 debacle shows us that, in addition to fielding the league's best team, the Cubs also need significant breaks in order to navigate multi-level playoffs and overcome the franchise's built-in handicaps. But while a walkoff home run, spectacular outfield play, or 13-0 victory in a playoff series opener might be more than enough to send other teams on a roll, history shows that the Cubs will need something more.
That's right, in order to overcome decades of mismanagement and Cubbie occurrences, our team ultimately may require the help of an umpire's honest-but-controversial judgment call – the kind of decision that gives one team a shot of instant momentum and, at the same time, cuts the heart out of its opponent – a call that might indeed level the playing field for a Cubs team that, no matter how talented, likely will enter any playoff series assuming that the worst will happen.
Sure, the lack of video review means we won't be able to appeal bad calls that go against us but, given the rotten karma that surrounds the Cubs from the moment the team begins any postseason competition, what have we got to lose by continuing the current system of umpire discretion? Just look at how well the traditional setup has worked for others: Going all the way back to the dawn of the Wild Card Era, remember when Baltimore appeared headed for a vital opening game victory at Yankee Stadium before Rich Garcia's call on a Derek Jeter "home run" helped the Yanks overcome nearly 20 years of team futility and begin a 15-year run of success that continues to this day?
There may be no crying in baseball, but there's certainly no shame in accepting a little unintentional help. Very likely, even the mighty Yankees needed that extra boost from a bad call to get over the legacy of the club's lost generation. Who knows? Without Garcia and Jeffrey Meier, the Yanks might have blown that division series while provoking George to fire Torre and order his "baseball people" to start using Pettitte, Posada, Mariano, and even Jeter himself, as trade bait.
The White Sox are another well-known beneficiary of umpire initiative, as seen in Doug Eddings' reaction to the famous Pierzynski Bluff, which saved the Sox in 2005 just when the team appeared primed for a typical Chicago collapse – potentially down 0-2 at the Cell and headed for the abyss in Anaheim. One stolen base and a Joe Crede walk-off hit later, and the Sox knew they were sitting at the right hand of the baseball gods, ready to run the table 8-0 and bring Chicago a much-deserved championship.
So, when it was time to put that 2005 Series win on the board, were the Sox and their fans ready to t'row it back because Eddings possibly made a bad call? Were the Yankees ready to demand replay review to make sure that every step of their '96 playoff run was legitimate? Certainly, our reaction would have been no different in 2003 if Mike Everitt, instead of making the safe, by-the-book call that he did, had stepped up to call fan interference on the Castillo popup simply because Alou was set to make the catch.
Had interference been called, remembering that play seven years later might lead us to think of how Everitt's wise and courageous decision had kept some ignorant, but thankfully anonymous, fan from destroying Mark Prior's momentum as our ace closed out the Marlins for the NL pennant. Someday soon, the Cubs and their fans are due for a momentum-shifting call to go their way in the playoffs. Here's hoping that when that bold call is made, it doesn't get kicked upstairs for review.


text:
Choco-Scotch Marble Cake Recipe
This recipe was given to me many years ago by a friend. Teaming chocolate with butterscotch for a marble cake makes it more flavorful and colorful than the usual chocolate-vanilla combination. This rich family favorite is very moist and keeps well. -Pam Giammattei, Valatie, New York
- 1 package yellow cake mix (regular size)
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 1-1/2 cups butterscotch chips, melted
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 5 to 6 tablespoons half-and-half cream
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream and oil; beat on low speed for 30 second. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Divide batter in half; stir butterscotch chips into half and chocolate into the other half.
- Spoon half of the butterscotch batter in a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan; top with half of the chocolate batter. Repeat layers. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.
- Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For frosting, in a small bowl, combine butterscotch chips and chocolate. Beat in enough cream until the frosting is smooth and reaches desired spreading consistency. Spread over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans. Yield: 12 servings.
Originally published as Choco-Scotch Marble Cake in Reminisce January/February 2002, p49
Reviews for Choco-Scotch Marble Cake
Please Log In or Join to add a rating and review.
Click stars to rate
Any changes to your rating or review will appear where you originally posted your review
Sort By :
Reviewed Jan. 30, 2014
Excellent cake !!
Reviewed Jan. 12, 2008
Reviewed Jan. 11, 2008
Reviewed Jan. 11, 2008
Reviewed Jan. 11, 2008
Similar Recipes
More Recipe Collections
- Baby Shower Recipes >
- Bridal Shower Recipes >
- Bundt Cake Recipes >
- Cake Frosting >
- Cake Recipes >
- Cakes >
- Chocolate Cake Recipes >
- Chocolate Dessert Recipes >
- Chocolate Desserts >
- Chocolate Frosting Recipes >
- Chocolate Icing Recipes >
- Chocolate Recipes >
- Comfort Food Desserts >
- Comfort Food Recipes >


text:
EYEWITNESS LOCAL NEWSInmates At Prison In Scioto County Mount Tribute To Military Veterans
from Eyewitness News Online
Reported: Mar. 9, 2014 4:50 PM EDT
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Inmates and staff have put up murals and military paraphernalia at a southern Ohio prison to create what they call a "Veterans Corridor" in tribute to people who served in the U.S. military.
The Portsmouth Daily Times reported wall murals at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville include a depiction of a tank in a fiery scene and a calmer image of George Washington kneeling in prayer next to a horse.
Those murals were created by inmate Mike Shane, who says the artwork keeps him focused and out of trouble.
Corrections Officer Darren Mustard says the tribute corridor created by Shane and other inmates and staff includes flags and military patches along the walls.
It's getting some attention from veterans, including a local group that recently toured it.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Send email to email@example.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.
Copyright ©2014, WCHS-TV8. Portions are Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.
WCHS ABC 8 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Charleston and nearby towns and communities in the Tri-State area, including Huntington, Dunbar, Marmet, Montgomery, Nitro, South Charleston, St. Albans, Cedar Grove, Chesapeake, Clendenin, East Bank, Glasgow, Pratt, Cross Lanes, Elkview, Pinch, Sissonville, Big Chimney, Cabin Creek, Chelyan, Davis Creek, Institute, Jefferson, Loudendale, Mink Shoals, Pocatalico, Quick, Quincy, Rand, Buffalo, Eleanor, Hurricane, Nitro, Poca, Winfield, Culloden, Fraziers Bottom, Hometown, Red House, Scott Depot, Teays Valley, Danville, Madison, Hamlin, Logan, Chapmanville, Man, Delbarton, Kermit, Gilbert, Matewan, Williamson, Summersville, Richwood, Flatwoods, Gassaway, Sutton, Spencer, Ravenswood, Ripley, Mason, Point Pleasant, Ashland, Pikeville, Ironton, Portsmouth, Gallipolis, and Athens.


text:
This is it............
Yeah, we won the Cup. The uninspired hockey that has followed was predictable. This team and market went from the place to play.............to the place to play around. JR felt he needed to reward some guys. They got soft. It couldn't have been more obvious. As soon as the kids were brought up, bam they out played most of the Vets. As a season ticket holder, I could not be happier that there has been almost complete turnover.
A whole season of hungry youngsters who may lose(a lot) is much better than a bunch of spoiled millionaires sauntering through another season. BORING!!!!!
I personally think we have the makings of a very fast, very exciting, high energy group. This could be a very interesting season. I would not be surprised to see this team get to the playoffs and do some serious damage.
To me, this will boil down to one thing. Coaching. If Maurice and company really work the young guys at a pace that puts them ahead of most teams, they will win early and often. If the coaching staff is ok with going home early and the minimum of prepartation, they will lose early and often.
How a guy can coach for that long and still be the wild card is really strange. Here we sit again, wondering if the coach is good enough to get this team to the playoffs. Once in, the youth can carry us a long way....its getting there.


text:
Anybody know about climbing in the Pyrenees?
www.8a.nu has a map function that shows a few crags. mostly on the Spanish side of the border. I bicycled through that area in 2001 and had the impression of a range of small, very chossy mountains.
There is amazing climbing of all kinds around the Pyrenees. What are you looking for?
Small? It is not the Sierra or the Rocky mts. but there are more than 200 peaks over 10000 feet...so maybe small is not the word. Sure, you will find good and bad rock quality in the range. Take a look to places líke Ordesa, Vignemale, Midi d'Ossau... And a bit more in the south, Prepirineo, look for Riglos, Rodellar, Alquezar, Montrebey, Terradets...not for summer, too hot.
More climbing than you could do in a lifetime. We'll need a bit more information... start with what country you'd like to visit.
Here is a good site to get some basic info about the areas around the Pyrenees. Spanish side: www.climb-europe.com/RockClimbingSpain.html French side: www.climb-europe.com/RockClimbingFrance.htm I climbed briefly in Spain last summer at Montserrat. What a beautiful place!
I recall seeing some massive cliff faces on the road from Gavarnie towards Vignemale. Gavarnie also has some of the best water ice in Europe.


text:
LAS VEGAS -- Metro Police is asking for the public's help in identifying a man who robbed a bank near Rainbow Boulevard and Robindale Road Thursday.
According to police, the robber entered the bank just before noon. He approached a clerk, demanded money and said he was armed. The clerk complied and the robber left.
The man also robbed a bank near Durango Drive and Warm Springs Road the afternoon of Sept. 27 in the southwest valley.
The robber approached the teller window, placed a handgun on the counter with the barrel facing the teller and demanded money, the police said. The teller complied and the robber left.
The robber is described as a white man in his 20s, about 6 feet tall with a thin build, red hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a light blue Kansas City Royals ball cap, a white button down shirt and dark jeans.
Anyone with information is asked to call Metro's Robbery Section at 702-828-3591 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. Tips directly leading to an arrest or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.
Some medical providers say they often deal with Hispanic patients who are afraid to seek medical care. It's hoped the opening of a new medical clinic will change that.


text:
Be reminded about this event
Thursday Evening Hours
Open Thursdays until 9 p.m., sponsored by Constellation Energy.
Special Exhibition is FREE
Every Thursday, 5-9p.m.
Just walk in and enjoy!
Discover how the Walters comes alive at night! Join us on Thursday evenings to unwind with art and libations. Wander the galleries, eat in our cafe and find the perfect gift at the museum store. We now offer California wines and regional beers for $5 each! Special events and programs available on select Thursdays.
Join or renew your membership, and enjoy your first drink on us and enjoy discounts from nearby restaurants and shops.
Photo by Walters Enthusiast, Devin Trent
Sponsored by:
Add to Calendar
09-05-2013 17:00:00
12-18-2014 21:00:00
Thursday Nights at the Walters
Discover how the Walters comes alive at night! Every Thursday from 5-9 p.m., you can wander the galleries, see special exhibitions for FREE, eat in our café and find the perfect gift at the museum store.
600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201 (The Walters Art Museum)
The Walters Art Museum
Remind Me
NextBack to list view
Seeing Music in Medieval Manuscripts
Date: 06/28/14 - 10/12/14
Time: 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM
This exhibition, composed of approximately twenty manuscripts and objects, will explore music in its relationship with philosophy, religion, and the arts during the Middle Ages. Musical harmony and dissonance were thought to mirror the perfection of heaven as well as the disorder of evil.
Member Tour - The Doris Duke Collection: Treasures and Treatments
Date: 09/03/14
Time: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
We invite members to join Meg Craft, Head of Objects Conservation, and Stephanie Hulman, Assistant Conservator of Objects, for a look at the Doris Duke collection and its necessary treatment.
In the Galleries: Words and Jazz
Date: 09/04/14
Time: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Join us in our Renaissance and Baroque galleries as we explore musical interpretations of some of our most dramatic works of art. Visitors will engage in dialogue about the art in the galleries with John Shields, the Walters' Manager of Docent Programs, and jazz violinist David Schulman, who will provide musical interpretations. You won't want to miss this unique gallery experience.
The Walters Art Museum brings art and people together for enjoyment,
discovery, and learning. We strive to create a place where people of
every background can be touched by art.
The Walters Art Museum | 600 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 | 410-547-9000 | Rights, Reproductions & Terms | Privacy Policy | Site Map


text:
The new residents of this striking 25 year-old custom-built colonial will experience the full effect of luxurious living, from driving through prestigious Pigeon Hill Estates, as they approach the property's elegant circular drive entry and throughout its magnificent interior design. Created to accommodate both formal and casual living, this lovely home boasts a fluid floor plan with oversized rooms for seamless entertaining and warm, inviting features and conveniences for family comfort. Its crossover is flawless and will easily adapt to the evolving needs and growth of its residents.
The 19 x 14 square foot fireplaced living room and 19 x 14 square foot dining area are both superbly elegant settings for holidays, families and guests. The 24 x 20 square foot sunken family room will likely experience frequent use with its relaxed, rustic features that include a cathedral ceiling with skylights and exposed beamed and a wonderful floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The 19 x 14 square foot eat-in kitchen is a gourmet culinary center with premier ingredients, such as cherry cabinetry, granite surfaces, stainless steel appliances and tile flooring. A 19 x 14 square foot fireplaced study offers a great private and cozy escape while the 20 x 11 square foot office with a half bath is a great alternative for home employment with its separate entrance.
The second level hosts a spa retreat for its owners with a 19 x 14 square foot fireplaced master suite with a dressing room, walk-in cedar closet and full, private bath with a double vanity and granite surfaces. This floor also includes three generously-sized bedrooms at 14 x 11 square feet and a full family bath. The walk-out lower level caters to residents recreational and leisure preferences with a 29 x 26 square foot fireplaced game room, a 14 x 12 square foot media room with a wet bar, a 12 x 11 square foot gym and a full bath.
Luxury meet comfort, elegance meet contentment. The incredibly effective blending of the broad features of this property will fulfill the current and shifting phases of a family's daily schedules and interests. Its custom design and fabrication was ingenious to accommodate shifting needs but even more impressive is the graceful style in which it was done.
Location: 8 Forest Park Dr.
Price: $975,000
Rooms: 13
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 4 full, 1 half
Living Area: 5,788 sq. ft.
Lot Size: 21,807 sq. ft. (.5 acre)
Fireplaces: 5
Listing Agent: Christina Perdiki-Lord, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage-Waltham, 781-367-4042
If you are a Realtor or a home owner selling a home and want to be featured in an upcoming Home of the Week, please email Michele Taranto at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Good news for local parents - a popular play spot is expanding. Sylvania's 'Playland' is an indoor playground and bounce house. It's especially popular in the colder, wetter months when parents are looking for activities to do with kids.
It's an affordable rainy day activity that's only going to get bigger and better over the next year or so. The owners of Sylvania Playland bought the property next to their building, demolished a house, and now they plan on adding 75 new parking spots.
Mobile users, click on the
"Video" button in the app to watch this story. Download our app here.
Copyright 2013 Toledo News Now. All rights reserved.


text:
Shelbyville Daily Union
---- — Ashton Agney and Richard Gordon announce their engagement and upcoming marriage.
The bride-to-be is the daughter of Brad Agney and Cindy West of Shelbyville. The groom-to-be is the son of Rohn and Laura Gordon of Mattoon.
An August 23 wedding will be held in Charleston.


text:
Chelsea's strikers were without a goal so far in the season, and they were also without an assist. That changed when some excellent forward play from Demba Ba allowed the Senegalese striker to play in Oscar, who met the ball with a laser-guided finish with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area.
Norwich were already annoyed by the perceived flow of decisions from the officials appearing to go against them, which came to a head when they seemed to be denied a penalty after a backtracking Ramires brought down Anthony Pilkington in the area.
Norwich's efforts were to prove successful shortly afterwards, following an excellent turn and pass from Robert Snodgrass to release Pilkington down the left wing, who found Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the area to head the ball back on for the Irish winger, who bundled the ball past Petr Cech from close range to level the scores.
Even after the goal, Norwich continued to enjoy the upper hand, and Pilkington was close to picking out van Wolfswinkel after the hosts found more space down the flanks, although the intervention of Terry prevented the opportunity.
Eden Hazard was introduced as Chelsea moved to an unconventional 3-6-1, and before too long he had a wonderful chance to retake the lead. Branislav Ivanovic somehow found himself in the left channel, cutting inside and sending in a powerful strike which John Ruddy could only barely keep out, and in the same passage of play, a deflected cross fell kindly for Hazard, dead-center of goal, just 12 yards out and unmarked, but his turning volley failed to connect and he could only scuff it wide.
The game was increasingly end-to-end, and it was Norwich who were enjoying the better chances. Nathan Redmond in particular was enjoying the space down the flanks, but as a corner from the home side was cleared, Willian found Oscar, who launched a hopeful ball forward for Eden Hazard, only for Alexander Tettey to slip and let the Belgian send in a right-footed shot which Ruddy got a hand to but could only watch as it trickled over the line.
Norwich had no time to mount an offensive to restore parity, however, as immediately after the goal, Willian latched onto a loose ball outside the area to curl a superb effort into the top corner to make sure of the result.
Norwich City: John Ruddy; Russell Martin, Sebastian Bassong, Michael Turner, Martin Olsson; Jonny Howson, Alexander Tettey, Leroy Fer; Anthony Pilkington, Robert Snodgrass (Nathan Redmond - 81'), Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Gary Hooper - 73').
Chelsea: Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, David Luiz, John Terry, Ashley Cole (Eden Hazard - '75); Ramires, Frank Lampard; Oscar, Juan Mata (William - 81'), Andre Schurrle; Demba Ba (Samuel Eto'o - 73').


text:
When it comes to Valentine's Day, two words come to mind: flowers and chocolate.
Annie Rupani can't help you with the flowers, but she sure can help you with the chocolate.
Six months ago, Rupani started Cacao & Cardamom. It's a chocolate company featuring beautifully crafted chocolates with some unusual fillings.
Houston food writer Amber Ambrose recently talked to Rupani about Cacao & Cardamom.
"I was studying for my law school admission exam , and told myself I needed to take a year off," Rupani said. "I decided to travel and do some charity work. When I was in Malaysia I took a chocolate making course, and when I got back last April I said 'Let's do this'".
And thus began Cacao & Cardamom. What makes her chocolates stand out are the fillings. She uses a lot of spices and fruit she grew up with in a South Asian home or found during her travels around the world.
"When I went to China I fell in love with Sichuan pepper corns and when I went to Hawaii guava and tamarind were so prominent there," she told Ambrose. "I just tried to put it in chocolate, and it works!"
For Valentine's Day she is creating heart and lip shaped chocolates filled with ingredients that are said to be aphrodisiacs.
Currently, you can order Rupani's chocolates online and get them at Relish Fine Foods. By the end of the month, they will also be available at Revival Market, Central Market, and Whole Foods.
For more information, go to: https://www.cacaoandcardamom.com/
To read Amber's blog, check out : www.amberambrose.com


text:
Electronic Stability Control Problems of Audi A6
Audi A6 owners have reported 6 electronic stability control related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common electronic stability control problems. The number one most common problem is associated with the vehicle's electronic stability control (6 problems).
|Problem Category
|Number of Problems
|Electronic Stability Control problems
Electronic Stability Control problem #1
The vehicle is a 2008 Audi A6. The VIN of this vehicle was WAUDH74F08_. Multiple issues on this car that all came on about the same time. The amb/parking brake module/esp warning lit up, and a few days later the car was not shifting into gear on startup, and when it did shift into gear it shifted irratically and went into neutral on occasion. The transmission control module, abs sensors both went bad on the car and the car was unable to shift into gear. The car sat at Audi len stoler in owings mills, MD for 2 weeks for problem to be diagnosed. They said it was the transmission control module and the abs sensor that was bad. They replaced the abs sensor in the hopes that it would resolve the transmission problem! it did not. The bill for the abs, and a failed driver door lock switch replacement was almost $1400! the transmission control module is a small black box that has the circuitry that controls the transmission. The part alone costs $2600 and with labor it costs almost $4000 - quote from dealer. A 2008 wit 70k and a tcm fails? according to Audi forums, this is a prevalent issue. Audi needs to do the right thing and recall these cars and get this serious issue fixed. It is a design/quality control flaw. The tcm issue also causes the car to not shift right, or go into neutral while car is being driven. Recall these cars before lifes are lost (if they have not already been lost). These are significant safety issues and is happening with newer cars. My car has been dealer maintained since new and I am a meticulous owner that does not abuse the car. These are premature failures that should not be occurring at this age and mileage. This problem occurred on Thu., Jan. 3, 2013.
Electronic Stability Control problem #2
The car involved was a 2005 Audi A6. Driving 55 mph on the express way and the engine shut off completely. The car stalled until it came to a complete stop. The esp light and engine light came on. Restarted the car and problem continue 4 times. After the 4th attempt, I managed to get the car to the side of the road. After waiting several minutes, I restarted the car. The car still feel at times as if its going to stall. This electronic stability control issue occurred 01/11/2012.
Electronic Stability Control problem #3
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is WAUDL74F25_. My 2005 Audi A6 has water damage. Some how over night heavy rain seepage left an inch of water behind driver seat. Car was parked in driveway at a slight incline. All windows and doors where closed. This has caused $2,700 electrical damage to modules located under front passenger seat. These modules alert me about esp/abs and park brake as well as a module that powers the vehicles mmi/navigation and stereo system. None of these function anylonger. I don't know where the water entered my vehicle. Is Audi responsible? this appears to be a design flaw. This electronic stability control problem happened on May. 5, 2012.
Electronic Stability Control problem #4
The vehicle involved was a 2001 Audi A6. Abs/esp light would come on after driving for 60 minutes or more, usually went off if vehicle restarted, this became more frequent over course of 10 months until light stayed on all the time, wheel sensors had to be changed at significant cost to fix problem. This problem occurred on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
Electronic Stability Control problem #5
The vehicle involved was a 2001 Audi A6. The abs module in Audi's 1998-2001 is a common problem. One day it was fine and the next the abs light and brake light came on the dash and went away after some driving. At first the abs light would come and go. But as a week passed from the 1st day of the indecent it started to appear more often and longer. After 2 weeks the abs light and brake light stayed on. This electronic stability control problem happened on 08/03/11.
Electronic Stability Control problem #6
VIN of the vehicle was WAUJT64B13_. I have locked my brakes and had a near accident. My abs and esp has stopped working on my 2003 Audi A6. I was told the abs control units are known to go bad, and will cost over a $1000 to fix. I cannot afford to fix. If this is a widespread problem, shouldn't Audi be held accountable for any traffic accidents due to failure, and should there be a recall?. This electronic stability control problem happened on Oct. 5, 2010.


text:
The administration didn't reveal details of the trip until he touched down in the country because of security concerns.
And while the visit took many by surprise, it isn't the first time that a sitting president has made such a clandestine trip. In fact, Obama himself had a similar trip to the country in 2010.
From George W. Bush to Abraham Lincoln, there have been a number of presidents who knew how to keep their trips on the down low.


text:
HTTP/1.1 200 OK Date: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:22:42 GMT Server: Apache/1.3.31 (Unix) mod_auth_tkt/1.3.11 PHP/4.3.8 mod_ssl/2.8.19 OpenSSL/0.9.7d mod_perl/1.29 X-Powered-By: PHP/4.3.8 Set-Cookie: cookieConsent=X; path=/ Connection: close Content-Type: text/html
We use cookies to make your experience of our website better. To comply with EU regulations we need to ask for your consent to set these cookies. I agree | No thanks | Find out moreSkip navigation
Images - Sunset reflected in the bay at Bird Island
Home » Images » Video Clips »
Leopard seal
A leopard seal lying on a beach as some Chinstrap penguins walk by.
Crabeater seal
Aerial shot of crabeater seal on and ice floe and another exiting the water.
Elephant seals
A pod of elephant seals lazing on the beach.
Fur seal
Juvenile fur seals playing in the water.
Back to Top Email to a Friend
Change Text Only Settings
Graphic version of this page


text:
An organization consisting of young professionals who are active in the community is working on nailing down concrete goals for 2013.
IGNITE's members include professionals in their twenties, thirties, and forties who actively work on bettering the community. In the upcoming year, the organization hopes to focus on several things, including attracting and retaining young professionals, educating members on issues the community faces, developing members professionally, and getting members more involved in the community.
The organization will also continue to host special events, allowing young professionals, including those who are involved with IGNITE and those who are not, to network and make connections.
Many IGNITE members currently sit on several boards throughout Rockford, some of whom were included in the Rockford Chamber of Commerce's 40 Leaders Under 40.
For more information on IGNITE and how to get involved, visit www.igniterockford.com.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 WorldNow and WREX. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service and Mobile Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Administrative Assistant Trista Truesdale at (815) 335-7856. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
In May of 2012, Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College was one of 17 schools out of 70 to receive the CCHA/NEH Bridging Cultures grant. The importance of this grant was bridging the humanities and cultures of our school, community, country, and globally in the classroom.
The materials listed here are a breakdown the case study, syllabi, assignments, and other items used to either promote the class or record what has happened in them.


text:
The Future of the Automobile Accident Attorney
Law professions look impressive and leave great influence on the common people but the other side of the picture is totally different as pursuing this profession isn't easy at all. Auto Accident Attorney In Los Angeles are in great demand these days. The reason behind this fact is very simple. In fact, the automobiles are increasing every day and little acts of carelessness lead to accidents. Those who seek justice and legal help contact the accident advocates. The profession of an accident attorney requires lot of passion, hard work, intelligence and sense of responsibility for others.
The journey of an Automobile Accident Lawyers Los Angeles begins from academic schedule. First the candidates appear in the law entrance test and only those who score good marks get admission into the law school. The actual study of law begins at the law schools where candidates learn about different laws and legal know-how. Even after passing the law school, the phase of learning does not stop for an accident lawyer as he starts gaining the practical knowledge. At this stage, pupils are often advised to join any law firm for their internship. Joining law firms is very helpful as it provides the practical lessons of law to any student who has got a thirst for learning law.
The future of an Accident Attorneys In Los Angeles is bright if he has mastered the subject of law and has gained good experience in the relevant field. Many people think that becoming an advocate is easy but in reality this career of an automobile accident solicitor demands great amount of hard work during the academic period and as well as during the practical practice time too. Those who aspire to become an attorney should keep this fact very well in their minds that studying law is not easy and so they will have to devote ample time and hard work to this profession so that, the profession brings glory, respect and praise to them.
If you have been attacked by a dog and that has resulted in severe injuries than it is your legal right to get compensation for your medical treatment as well as for other damages or losses that have taken place because of that attack. A dog bite attorney can help you obtain the right amount of compensation for your injuries. A ferocious dog can attack anyone and can put an individual into serious physical condition that requires immediate medical attention. The dog mauling and the attacks resulting into life-threatening wounds directly influence the life of the victim. Sometimes the scars are so deep that even after the medical treatment, they appear clearly on the victim's skin. This result in a much reduced level of confidence of the victim and the same can develop a permanent fear for dogs in the victim's mind.
The La Dog Bite Attorney understand the physical as well as the medical condition of the dog bite victim. Therefore, these dog bite lawyers are always ready to help their clients in every possible way. They explain their clients about the right amount of compensation that has to be claimed and the evidences that have to be presented before the jury. Various states and provinces follow different dog bite laws. That is why it becomes quintessential to seek help of LA dog bite attorneys.
Any Dog Bite Attorney Los Angeles is an expertise of dog bite laws and so he carefully and accurately explains the law, the legal rights of the victim and the legal formalities to victim. You can find experienced and hard working dog bite lawyers at reputed law firms like, Beverly Law Firm in Los Angeles. You can also search for the attorneys online. Hiring an experienced and reputable attorney for your case is very much important as this legal professional plays the most significant role in deciding the fate of your case. You can also look for the advocates in the yellow directory or can discuss with your closed ones or friends that if they have availed the services of any Personal Injury Attorneys La! So, find an advocate now if you or your loved one has been attacked by a dog.
It is very much essential to contact Dog Bite Attorney Los Angeles if you or your closed one has been bitten or attacked by a dog. Contacting dog bite lawyers helps the victim protect his rights.
According to motorcycle accident lawyers Los Angeles, the bike accidents are one of the riskiest types of accidents as they can result in many serious injuries including brain hemorrhage, loss of limbs or other severe injuries to the rider. Though the severity and pain of these injuries is undeniable but still there are some other injuries which can cause even more problems or pain
The car accident attorney proves the fault of the offender party and helps the victim to get the right financial compensation which the victim deserves. It is indeed a clear and simple fact that seeking help of car crash lawyers become indispensable and imperative when the victim suffers major physical injuries and overall huge losses.
Automobile accidents are one of the major causes of serious injuries and deaths in United States of America. Despite taking many precautions like improvement in road conditions, road safety rules, driving rules and others, the process of automobile accidents is not slowing down.
If you have suffered personal injuries and damages because of careless behavior of other person or group of persons, you are entitled to claim financial compensation for the same with the help of personal injury lawyers.


text:
Argosy University
Work in HR? Unlock Free Profile
Argosy University Jobs & Careers in Alameda, CA
Show: All Results Last 7 Days
Adjunct- Graduate Counseling/Psychology-San Francisco
Argosy University – Alameda, CA
of this position. Key Job Elements • Provides competency-based education which aligns with the EDMC… CareerBuilder
Updated Sep 01, 2014
See What Argosy University Employees Are Saying
Employees say it's "OK" 44 ratings
0% of the CEO 2 ratings
Craig Swenson
1 person found this helpful
Pros: "Manager was a great leader" – Full Review
If you're searching for Argosy University jobs and careers — we can help! Here you'll not only find the latest Argosy University job openings, you can also see what Argosy University employees have to say about a career at Argosy University – salaries, reviews, and interview questions all posted anonymously by Argosy University employees and job seekers.


text:
News: Kanye West Has All The 'Answers' In Rare Interview: "I Understand Culture, I Am The Nucleus"
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013 10:15AM
Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West recently gave an extremely rare media interview to the New York Times in which he touched on everything from preparing for parenthood with pregnant girlfriend Kim Kardashian to analyzing his place in society.
While he did not delve too much into his personal relationship toward Kim K, Mr. West did discuss the love they have for one another.
"Any woman that you're in love with or that loves you is going to command a certain amount of, you know, energy. It's actually easier to focus, in some ways. ... I'm the type of rock star that likes to have a girlfriend, you know? I'm the type of soul that likes to be in love and likes to be able to focus. And that inspires me. ... [Parenthood?] That is a really interesting, powerful question. One of the things was just to be protective, that I would do anything to protect my child or my child's mother. As simple as that. ... I don't want to explain too much into what my thoughts on, you know, fatherhood are, because I've not fully developed those thoughts yet. I don't have a kid yet. ... Well, I just don't want to talk to America about my family. Like, this is my baby. This isn't America's baby." (New York Times)
Ye even boast about his knack for attaching himself to trend and culture-setting movements throughout his career.
"I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You have like, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, Nicolas Ghesquière, Anna Wintour, David Stern. I think that's a responsibility that I have, to push possibilities, to show people: "This is the level that things could be at." So when you get something that has the name Kanye West on it, it's supposed to be pushing the furthest possibilities. I will be the leader of a company that ends up being worth billions of dollars, because I got the answers. I understand culture. I am the nucleus." (New York Times)
Recently, Kim talked about her close-knit relationship with Yeezy and while they are expecting a child together there is no rush to have a wedding.
"[Marrying Kanye?] Don't you think I should slow down? I think I should slow down. I'm just really enjoying my time with Kanye right now and we wanna have the baby and when you know how it's gonna be in the end there's no need to really rush it right now. ... He also gets so defensive. He'll call and say 'Who's saying mean things?' And I'm just like 'Don't worry about it. I'm so used to it.'" (EXTRA)
After a publicized split, Kardashian legally had her divorce from NBA player Kris Humphries go through earlier this month.
Kim Kardashian is officially divorced from NBA player Kris Humphries -- just in time for the reality-TV star to give birth to her first child, a girl, with beau Kanye West. The judgment was entered in a Los Angeles court Monday, officially ending the 72-day 2011 marriage. The Brooklyn Net forward initially sought an annulment, claiming that the couple's marriage, including a televised wedding, was based on fraud. (NY Post)


text:
Sesame Street
Watch Usher and the 'Sesame Street' Gang Sing the Alphabet Song
The infectious, upbeat take on the tune features Usher and the show characters grooving to the hand-clap beat, creating a song that's sure to hit heavy rotation on many young children's personal playlists.
Watch Cookie Monster Cover Icona Pop's 'I Love It'
We don't care. We love it.
Al-Jazeera Explores Sesame Street Songs As Instruments Of Torture
Songs of War, a recent documentary produced for Arabic news agency Al Jazeera, explores claims that music from Sesame Street as well as heavy metal and rap songs were used in the torture of prisoners in […]


text:
Mister Rococo
I didn't realize until recently that Mister Rococo, a Japanese short film I had been anticipating, had already hit the Internet with English subs – I was so excited to finally watch it! Late as I am to see it, I really enjoyed the film and found it very inspirational, as well as a great view into one of the Japanese lolita-featuring movies since Kamikaze Girls. I bought the app, but you can watch it for free on Youtube below – great if you don't have any kind of Apple product!
Warning! Complete spoilers ahead! I really recommend you watch the video first!
As for aesthetics, I was thoroughly pleased with the look and feel of the film. It did remind me of Kamikaze Girls in style, making it feel a little like an unofficial sequel, but being such as Kamikaze Girls fan I enjoyed that. The shopgirl chasing her through the Japanese countryside at a wide angle particularly reminded me of days in Shimotsuma. The mix of girly anime "episode titles" and random shoujo art was also intruiging, making me yearn for a graphic novel rendition. Another note is that all of the clothing and the boutique provided in this movie was Baby the Stars Shine Bright, giving a much more fairytale feel than the pop-cute style of Deka Wanko, which was sponsored by Angelic Pretty. This also contributed to the Kamikaze Girls homage sense – the fashion and story of that film was also based around Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
Added to this, the song was inspired by and featured a song of Anna Tsuchiya's, Brave Vibration. You may know her by a different name – she's also the actress to play Ichiko/Ichigo in Kamikaze Girls. The song's lyrics, I felt, were very key to understanding the main theme of the movie – changing your life and not giving up.
I've heard that people were disappointed with the film because the heroine 'changes for a man', which we all know is feminist cardinal sin, and it's considered practically a mortal one to give up lolita for your partner (How many times has we seen lolita decry girls who give up the fashion to please their partner?). While one could argue that, I think what was more overwhelming was that Neko Hiroshi was only the catalyst for change. Their relationship isn't really stressed as very loving, and we don't really see them being affectionate as a couple. In the end, it's just not about him.
Yuri says at the end, "I am no longer just cute." She explains in the prologue that her whole life, she's been focused on cute and not cute, starting with her parents onward. While being cute and enjoying cute things has made her happy, it seems that she's never really felt a drive or passion to be anything more. This movie was about her realization that she can be something more. The metaphor she references, "I wanted to become a French doll", was particularly telling. It's pretty, sure, but dolls do nothing.
Her dumbbell covered in pink crystals, like her soft pink workout clothes and raw eggs drunk from a champagne glass, were particularly amusing – a little farcical stab at the lifestyle lolita, but accurate none the less – making her daily life, however "un-lolita", cute and lolita-like. One reason I love this movie alone is that when else will you get to see a sweet lolita do a Rocky montage? I'm only sad they couldn't run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
It also fits in with my current theme that I mentioned I love about Sailor Moon, that being cute does not make you weak. Being feminine doesn't make you fragile. The juxtaposition of masked wrestling, one of the most 'un-lolita' things, mixed with her absurdly feminine and princess-style fighting outfit, really connected the two for me. As she says, "I might have been delicate, but I have never been a wimp."
The other topic hinted at, if not by the film makers, but by the lolita watchers was body image. In the lolita community, I see us open to many things other groups wouldn't accept, like genderbending and a wide range of sexual orientation and expression – but one of the few roadblocks we still have in lolita is body image. Perhaps this is because lolita fashion is so oriented on being that cute, dolly girl, body-shaming and body inferiority is not an area we do well in. Several of my friends have had the misfortune of anonymous hate lately and I was shocked at how easily lolitas bandied about body-shaming for any part of the body, from "boob loaf" to fat knees to wide "cankles". I think this is why girls seemed dissatisfied with the film – it struck one our sensitive nerves.
In Mister Rococo, not only does she dedicate herself to something un-lolita-like, it even changes her body from her previous lolita ideal – i.e., brand-sized and delicate. One girl even commented she was appalled to see what Yuri had become after all her training left her looking bulky. (As a side note, you'll notice that her female opponent isn't nearly as bulky and musclebound. The reasons? Girls don't usually bulk up even with rigorous muscle training. "Mister Rococo" is obviously played by a hulking Japanese man for the body shots, and only the face in the mask is actually the actress, Aimi Satsukawa.) But you know, if that's how she was happy, that should be okay. For another, we only see her in her wrestling costume – who's to say her new bod wouldn't look cute in lolita still? Better yet, why do we have an "ideal lolita body" at all?
The last thing I want to mention is a little Easter egg – the tough-looking bald white guy in the film she originally sees pumping weights becomes her trainer or workout buddy, encouraging her. I'd liked to see more about their relationship! If you watch closely, you can see him carrying her teddy bear purse on the beach during their sunrise run. How hilarious is that?!
So, what did you think? Was it what you expected, better, or worse? Are you going to start a lolita cage wrestling club?! Leave a note (and where we can meet for lolita fight clu – DON'T TALK ABOUT LOLITA FIGHT CLUB) in the comments!
4 Responses to "Mister Rococo"
Honestly, I loved it. It wasn't about trying to fit into the Lolita mold. It was about doing what she wanted. She wanted to prove that she was strong. Just because she is a Lolita, didn't mean she didn't have courage and strength. She was a woman that wanted to be whatever she wanted to be while still having what she loved. It definitely inspired me to finally get off my butt and dive more into the Lolita world :) Now I have to read and watch Kamikaze Girls~
~ Kieli ~
While I understood the messages and such, it felt too short and rushed. I also felt it was too exteam of a change for me; from Lolita to wrestler is pretty 180 to me. Another reason I may not have liked it is because, besides the loving Lolita part, I couldn't relate at all to the movie.
haha….wow. that was a little…weird. lol! it was kinda funny, but strange :P
Funny, cute, and a little odd. There was definitly a Kamikaze Girls vibe to it. You bring up great points (especially about body image). I look at it like this: while she does change, she doesn't nessecarily give up what she loves but goes after what she wants. Changes help you grow as a person. I really wish there had been more with the trainer – like their first meeting and such. I loved the training montage.


text:
Dave Robinson Named To NFL HOF
Former Penn State two-way end Dave Robinson was voted into the 2013 class of the NFL Hall of Fame today. While at Penn State, he was a three-year letter winner and a first team All-American his senior year. He was then drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 1963 draft where he became the mold for the future athletic NFL linebacker. He made three Pro Bowls and was named an AP first team All-Pro once during his 12-year career. Congratulations!


text: Biopic 1 to 10 of 39 articlesPrevious page1234Next page The reviews for Grace of Monaco are in... and it's a real turkey News post details 4:43 PM, 14 May 2014 Nicole Kidman stars in Oliver Dahan's biopic of the movie star-turned-princess which the critics are calling a "breathtaking catastrophe" Morrissey biopic being developed by makers of The Voorman Problem News post details 12:13 PM, 09 May 2014 Mark Gill co-wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated short starring Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander. Now he's turned his attention to the former Smiths frontman... Danny Boyle and Leonardo DiCaprio to reunite for Steve Jobs biopic? News post details 12:26 PM, 22 April 2014 The director and star of 2000's The Beach are reportedly teaming up once again to work on a script penned by The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin David Bradley, Daleks and the Tardis appear in retro posters for Doctor Who 50th anniversary biopic News post details 2:54 PM, 29 October 2013 "This is my love-letter to Doctor Who," says writer Mark Gatiss of BBC4 drama An Adventure in Space and Time Mike Leigh JMW Turner biopic turns Timothy Spall into obsessive painter News post details 1:07 PM, 28 October 2013 Actor has been painting for three years to "find" the character of the great Romantic painter he is playing in January movie, RadioTimes.com can reveal Tom Hardy to play Elton John in Rocketman biopic News post details 11:57 AM, 24 October 2013 From Batman's Bane to the bespectacled pop icon - the British actor will play pop icon Sir Elton Elderly Idris Elba appears in new poster for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom News post details 5:47 PM, 02 October 2013 The Luther actor stars as the former South African president alongside Naomi Harris as his second wife Winnie WikiLeaks leaks script to Benedict Cumberbatch movie News post details 10:56 AM, 20 September 2013 Julian Assange's organisation has released an early draft of The Fifth Estate - along with a 4,000-word memo detailing its apparent inaccuracies Diana review round-up: the five most scathing comments - and the one critic who loved it News post details 12:23 PM, 06 September 2013 From "car crash cinema" to the portrayal of a "sad sack singleton even Bridget Jones would cross the street to avoid", some bitesized reviews for Diana, starring Naomi Watts Benedict Cumberbatch's Australian accent finally revealed in Fifth Estate trailer News post details 1:34 PM, 29 August 2013 Compare the Sherlock star's take on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with the real thing 1 to 10 of 39 articlesPrevious page1234Next page


text:
Erlich/Ram Win On Return To Barcelona
Doubles 2012
by ATP Staff|
Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, making their team's first appearance at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in four years, edged Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo and Eduardo Schwank 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in one hour and 42 minutes Tuesday. The Israelis, runners-up in the 2012 season opener at Chennai, next face No. 3 seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Nenad Zimonjic.
Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares, champions this past February at the clay-court tournament in Sao Paulo, needed one hour to dismiss Americans Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-3.
Two seeded duos fell in first-round action at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest. Australians Paul Hanley and Jordan Kerr prevailed against third-seeded Italians Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 in one hour and 34 minutes, while recent Houston finalist Treat Huey and Dominic Inglot ousted No. 5 seeds Xavier Malisse and Dick Norman 7-6(4), 6-4.
Fourth seeds James Cerretani and Fabio Fognini made a winning partnership debut, defeating the Italian duo of Andreas Seppi and Filippo Volandri 7-6(3), 6-4. They saved 10 of the 11 break points faced on serve.