text:
Category: news
09/22/05 06:45 - 76ºF - ID#28178
Blue Cross Building article
Beauty or beast? Beholders differ on new architectural creation
Design of BlueCross BlueShield's next home strikes some as suburban intrusion into classic cityscape
By MARK SOMMER
News Staff Reporter
The first privately funded building in downtown Buffalo in well over a decade would keep more than 1,300 employees in the city and clean up a brownfield.
One might expect some excitement.
But in some circles, people are concerned that in a city known for buildings designed by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, the new headquarters for BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York will look like just another suburban office park.
The architect, though, envisions a landmark building that melds Buffalo's past with its future.
At the heart of the controversy is a modern glass and concrete design that has a 60-foot stone facade, the sole remnant from the Gas Works factory of 1848, in the foreground.
The project has received approval from the city's Planning Commission, but it still faces a vote from the Preservation Board today. Although that board's vote is nonbinding, a thumbs down could put the matter before the Common Council.
"I think people will be poking fun at it for decades to come. I think it will be a new Buffalo punch line," said Cynthia Van Ness, president of the Preservation Coalition of Erie County and a member of the Buffalo Preservation Board.
Preservation Board member Sam Gurney, however, thinks the building will be a wonderful addition to downtown.
"The design fits very well with the city," Gurney said. "I think it blends the old with the new."
The dominant feature is a 350-foot-long curved glass front on the southern portion of the building, facing Lake Erie.
"The main presentation of the skyline [from the Niagara Thruway] is going to be this building. It's a behemoth," said architect Matt Maier of Hamilton Houston Lownie Architects.
Christopher F. Guerra of the Preservation Board sees the building making a valuable contribution. "Overall, I think it's going to be not a landmark structure, but a nice-looking structure," he said.
The sprawling, L-shaped complex includes an eight-story tower, a six-story operations building and seven-story atrium linking the two, plus a 1,500-space parking garage connected by bridges to the main building.
The $86.3 million project by HealthNow New York, the parent company of BlueCross BlueShield, marks the largest private office building to be built in Buffalo since the Key Towers were built in Fountain Plaza in the late 1980s.
Architect Steven R. Risting of CSO Schenkel Shultz, and Duke Realty Corp., the building's developer and owner, both of Indianapolis, have partnered on mostly suburban projects in the Midwest.
Architect defends design
Risting said the HealthNow New York corporate headquarters was designed to be a "distinctive landmark" building that is also sustainable and energy-efficient.
"We chose to be a modern, 21st century building, with a respect for the historic architectural and urban design legacy of Buffalo," Risting said.
He rejects the notion his design resembles a suburban office building.
"That's where you get into the variety of opinion concerning what architecture is," Risting said. "The level of detail that is being put into this building you're not going to find out in the suburbs. It is a building that I think is of Buffalo, that references Buffalo, and is of this site."
One challenge was to integrate the 19th century landmark stone wall with a 21st century building. Risting said that it was not used as a prime entry, as some assumed it would be, because the factory wall never served that purpose. Instead, the wall is connected to the main building, with a second-floor terrace behind it.
"One of the most surprising things to me about that facade is how much it was lacking in window openings," Risting said. "It was an exquisitely detailed garden wall, and we've kind of treated it as a garden wall."
Some critics say the facade looks like a fish out of water.
Matthew Moscati of TRM Architect is disappointed in how the wall is used, and with the project as a whole.
"My impression of the building is that the design is an opportunity lost," Moscati said.
Guerra, who is also an architect with Hamilton Houston Lownie Architects, said Risting did well with a difficult task.
"It's not an easy thing to design around a piece of history like that," Guerra said.
Risting said many of his decisions were meant to pay homage to Buffalo's classic architecture.
A reference to Buffalo's brick Great Northern grain elevator, for instance, was made by the use of a vertical shaft of bricklike concrete. It intersects the horizontal mass of glass meant to suggest the lake, Risting said.
A connection to Larkin
Likewise, the building's use of daylight and places for interaction are meant to mimic Wright's Larkin Administration Building, demolished in Buffalo a half-century ago, he said.
For some, those connections are too general or elusive.
Maier, for instance, likes the grain elevator tie-in. "Anything else is rather simplistic," he said.
"I don't see the references [Risting] said are there," Van Ness said.
Several Preservation Board members also complained that the self-contained site would not be urban- or pedestrian-friendly. Risting was asked to address some of the board's concerns at today's meeting.
"My biggest disappointment with the building is the insensitivity to the street and the pedestrian. It really isn't an urban building; it has a suburban office feel to it," Guerra said.
Risting said he believes that many of the criticisms will cease if there is more development west of City Hall.
"The comments are in reference to it being a detached building," Risting said. "Hopefully, the city can continue to grow to meet the building so it isn't so isolated."
BlueCross BlueShield's new quarters are expected to be ready for occupancy in August 2007. That is a few months before the company must vacate its current headquarters at 1901 Main St., next to Canisius College.
But first, the site is being remediated for coal tar and benzene, remnants of when the site was used to convert coal into gas.
Dennis T. Gorski, former Erie County executive and now BlueCross BlueShield's vice president of government programs, says the company's decision to invest in the site will pay great dividends for Buffalo.
"We are remediating a site that was contaminated, we are preserving a facade and we are bringing in close to 1,300 employees," Gorski said.
Point, counterpoint
Risting said he believes that the building will eventually take its place alongside Buffalo's architectural treasures.
"I've read where past buildings here were criticized for being too bold, too modern, and those buildings have gone on to become landmarks, as places of excellence," Risting said.
"Whether you like it or not, I guess, it will turn your head. That's good architecture."
Van Ness isn't so sure.
"It always amazes me that out-of-town architects first come here and gush about our architectural heritage," she said, "and then deliver designs that clash with everything around them."
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Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28178/Blue_Cross_Building_article.html
Words: 1289
Location: Buffalo, NY
09/21/05 08:28 - 75ºF - ID#28177
first e:peep
Ok the picture of ladycroft works so it must something on my end and not (e:strip). Hopefully I'll figure it out in a couple days. I tryed publish and I get a message that it needs to have and ending like jpg and it does not sure what is going on now sometthing funky.
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28177/first_e_peep.html
Words: 156
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: travel
09/19/05 07:32 - 76ºF - ID#28176
Here are some pictures from Toronto and the hard rock cafe. I hope they look ok since I had to shirnk them. I also found it odd that there was an ad in the mens bathroom. If I would have been in there alone I would have like to take a picture of it. About 6 minutes till the two Monday night football games start.
I tried to upload pics but It gave me some message about them not being and excepted file type. That is odd in any event I had fun and will try to post them later.
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28176/Toronto.html
Words: 219
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: news
09/17/05 03:49 - 71ºF - ID#28175
Casino Article
Area casinos up the ante
Growth of gaming facilities around the falls creates competition to attract clientele
By BILL MICHELMORE
Click to view larger picture
Charles Lewis/Buffalo News
Casino Niagara bartender Matt Jones does some fancy bottle juggling in front of some of the 26 high-definition TV screens featuring global sports events.
Click to view larger picture
The casino wars on both sides of the border have begun. Let the chips fall where they may.
Four casinos already are taking wagers in the Buffalo Niagara region and a fifth is expected to open by 2007 in Buffalo. As they grow and mature, they will need to take on their own identities to develop and protect their markets, gambling experts say.
The region's first casino - Casino Niagara, built in 1996 in Niagara Falls, Ont. - is a case in point.
On Friday, it unveiled its new look: a $10 million (U.S.) sports betting lounge, poker room, two new bars and classic blues-style restaurant.
The casino opened its wallet to compete with the hugely successful, year-old Fallsview Casino Resort on nearby Murray Hill.
A new hotel also will bolster Casino Niagara. The DiCienzo family, which owns Canadian Niagara Hotels, recently said it would build a 59-story hotel next door.
Meanwhile, hotel development continues to flourish alongside the Fallsview. Canada's DiCosimo family, which owns the Hospitality Hotels chain, plans to extend its Hilton Hotel opposite that casino to 58 stories.
On the American side, Seneca Niagara Casino will open the first 10 floors, including 300 rooms and three restaurants, of a 26-story, $200 million-plus hotel on New Year's Eve. Two more hotels also are planned near the Seneca Niagara.
The Seneca Allegany Casino, which opened in Salamanca in May 2004, will begin construction of an 11-story, 220-room hotel before the end of the year.
In Buffalo, the Seneca Nation will announce this month the downtown location for a 120,000-square-foot casino. No hotel has been mentioned so far in any of the Buffalo casino negotiations, but gambling experts say they won't be surprised to see one, or more, nearby in the years go come.
"If the clientele is purely local, you're just picking your own pocket," explained William N. Thompson, a University of Nevada professor who specializes in the gambling and hospitality industry. "Casinos are only healthy for the local economy if you bring in people from outside."
More hotel rooms
It helps to have a Wonder of the World in your neighborhood. The two skyscraper hotels that will rise on the Ontario side in the next two years will add 850 rooms to the more than 16,000 that already exist for the 10 million people who visit the falls every year from around the world.
Niagara Falls, Ont., Mayor R.T. "Ted" Salci sees the number of visitors doubling in the next five years, particularly with a new advertising campaign targeting the Asian market.
"In mainland China, you have 30 million people on the move each year," Salci said. "The potential here is so great I don't see a limit at the moment on the number of hotel rooms we can have."
The Seneca Niagara Casino hotel, when fully opened in March, will add 600 rooms on the American side. "The new hotel will strengthen our impact on the local economy by allowing us to aggressively market our property to individuals from around the world," said Philip J. Pantano, Seneca Niagara's public relations manager.
Casino Niagara, in going ahead with what general manager Drew Chamberlain calls a "drastic" makeover, recognizes the international appeal of the Fallsview Casino Resort and plans instead to aggressively go after a more regional market from Hamilton to Buffalo.
If this were a game of Texas Hold 'em, the Buffalo casino would be the all-important river card - the fifth community card dealt face-up - the make-it-or-break-it card, where a player can win or "drown at the river."
With the gambling pot growing bigger, is there a chance Buffalo will drown at the river?
No way, the experts say.
A sure thing
The local population alone - people living within a 50-mile radius or an hour's drive - could easily support five casinos in the Buffalo Niagara region, Thompson said.
"If you bring in people from outside that ring, you could double the number of casinos and hotels in the area before you reach any kind of saturation point," he said. "If you include patrons from Toronto, you could triple that number."
With five casinos, the Buffalo Niagara region would rank 10th nationwide among cities with the highest concentration of casinos, far behind Las Vegas, with 84 casinos, but not too far behind Atlantic City's 12, Lake Tahoe's 10 and the nine in Tunica, Miss., and beating the Detroit-Windsor area by one.
Niagara Falls, Ont., is by far the region's leader. Since opening at the base of the Clifton Hill tourist district, the three-story Casino Niagara has seen 68 million patrons pass through its doors and taken in millions of dollars in revenue, said Chamberlain.
When the 30-story Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort opened, attracting entertainment stars and high rollers, Casino Niagara felt the competition.
Both casinos are owned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., an agency of the provincial government, and operated by Falls Management Co., a private outfit, but they still compete for patrons by carving out a particular niche.
Gambling revenue and patrons at both casinos continue to increase every year, with a combined take of $129 million (U.S.) for the first quarter of this year, said Teresa Roncon, the gambling corporation's manager of public relations.
The new look Casino Niagara features a wall of 26 high-definition TV screens beaming in global sports events, a ticker tape with the latest scores and results, and Canada's only wagering facility covering all sports, including horse racing.
The Senecas own both Western New York casinos, and will own the one in Buffalo, too. Like the provincial government in Ontario, their challenge will be to make sure the casinos are different enough to maintain financial stability.
Flagship in the Falls
"In terms of size, the Seneca Niagara Casino and hotel will continue to be the flagship of the three properties," Pantano said. "Each of the properties, however, will have its own distinctive personality, which will diversify what we have to offer."
Niagara Falls has a high-limit gambling room and Salamanca does not, Pantano said. He said other changes will occur as the Seneca casinos continue to evolve.
Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel announced Friday it's embarking on an aggressive hiring campaign to fill 1,000 jobs at the new hotel, adding to the 2,400 people already working there, and the 850 in the Salamanca operation.
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Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28175/Casino_Article.html
Words: 1169
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: photos
09/16/05 08:02 - 69ºF - ID#28174
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28174/Pics.html
Words: 54
Location: Buffalo, NY
09/13/05 08:24 - 77ºF - ID#28173
No Voice
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28173/No_Voice.html
Words: 115
Location: Buffalo, NY
09/10/05 11:06 - 64ºF - ID#28172
dagger Blue
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28172/dagger_Blue.html
Words: 218
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: football
09/08/05 06:40 - 73ºF - ID#28171
The Raiders
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28171/The_Raiders.html
Words: 119
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: news
09/08/05 06:29 - 73ºF - ID#28170
Katrina article
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28170/Katrina_article.html
Words: 84
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: war
09/07/05 07:33 - 78ºF - ID#28169
Over there
Permalink: http://estrip.org/articles/read/metalpeter/28169/Over_there.html
Words: 258
Location: Buffalo, NY
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The Tom Dougherty Blog
Now, Dollar General wants in
Update: Turns out Family Dollar has rejected Dollar General's takeover bid because of anti-trust issues. Still, the problem still stands. No one knows the difference between all the dollar stores, so who cares?
Now, this is hilarious. Earlier, I posted that Dollar Tree was planning to buy Family General – and I said that it didn't matter because, in the eyes of consumers, they are one and the same anyway.
Now, Dollar General wants into the game. Reports say that Dollar General also wants to buy Family Dollar and its unsolicited offer is actually greater than that of Dollar Tree.
The reason I find this so funny is that there isn't a whisker of difference between all three. The only reason for greater market share from one to the other is simply location, which is why Dollar Tree and Dollar General are so hot to buy Family General. They want to have the most real estate.
They know it makes no difference because none of the brands bring any value to the purchaser or the seller. It's like Pluto and Goofy joining forces. Aren't they the same dog? (Oh, that's right. Goofy wears clothes.)
If one of the buyouts happen (and, in my mind, they should just all join forces into one company), there is opportunity. The dollar stores compete against other discount shops, even the giants of Walmart and Kmart.
The idea is that the competition isn't the other dollar stores. Or, at least, it hasn't been because none of them have developed a differentiating brand that would present an emotional choice.
The aim is to create preference so that customers would inconvenience themselves to come to their stores. That means understanding that your competitors are all the ones that fulfill the want or need that you fulfill. If you sell a cheap plastic cup, then your competition is anyone who sells a plastic cup – including online retailers.
However this shakes out, the future of the combined retailer will have to uncover what makes a customer go to a dollar store that goes beyond price. What are the emotional undercurrents driving that action?
Right now, the dollar stores seem to understand that they are all alike. Which is why they are all trying to out-bid each other for the table scraps.
Should you accept the ice bucket in the Ice Bucket Challenge?
If you've been on Facebook at all recently, there's one ongoing thread you haven't missed:
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
While I find it hard to deny the spectacular goodness of this movement, there are bits of the idea that seem backwards to me.
In case you are not aware, the Ice Bucket Challenge is a fundraiser to fight ALS and raise awareness of the disease. Basically, this viral movement begins with a person accepting a challenge to dump a bucket of ice water over their head or donate $100 to the ALS Association. That person who accepts the challenge then chooses three more people to take on the task.
So far the campaign has raised an incredible sum of $1.35 million. Last year, the ALS Association raised just $22,000. That's a hefty leap and a lot of money for a vital cause.
Yet, the brand guy in me sees a fundamental problem with this campaign. You see, the videos highlight the wrong people. Sure, it's fun to see your friends' reaction to being doused with a heaping container of ice water — but folks, the action suggests they are choosing NOT to donate. (To be fair, most say they are donating as well, especially those among the celebrity/sports set.)
But considering it from a pure marketing standing, the celebration should be for the people who gave the money, not those seemingly unwilling to.
Despite my two cents, the outcome from the ALS Fundraiser is a wonderful thing. I just wish the viral component had a little more clarity to it.
The Trivago guy is just plain weird
It seems I can't turn on the TV without seeing the Trivago campaign. If you are not familiar with Trivago, it is a web site that searches other hotel booking Internet sites and lists all the pricings for the same hotels as listed on the bucket shops like Hotels.com and Expedia.
OK, it seems like a reasonably useful site and one I would probably use – except for one thing. I just hate the character that Trivago has scripted as its spokesperson. Rolling Stone wrote that he was the "rare pitchman capable of haunting your dreams while simultaneously enflaming [sic] your loins." Slate says he is "a shallow avatar of middle-aged masculinity, a found object and a cult item, an accidental enigma."
All indicators are that the campaign is working. But it can't work in the long run. Sometimes when you are launching a brand, it helps to have a quirky, even annoying, personality presenting your goods. It makes it memorable, which is exactly what you want when a brand is launched.
But long-term growth is built upon affinity. How much the target audience identifies itself with the brand. Somehow, I can't see how this pretentious coolness can be accepted as believable. I can't help but think, every time I see the ads, that this overtly cool guy is not winking at me and trying to pick me up. This is not a guy you would want to have a beer with. It is a guy who drinks vodka martinis and flirts non-stop with your date.
His demeanor is unbelievable and, as a result, condescending and irritating. In a blog I read in the Wall Street Journal, one reader commented this: "You ever get that vague sense that something is not right, that the universe is somehow off? Then you realize you just saw the Trivago guy?" I could not have said it any better myself.
The Amazon Local Register is truly an extension of Amazon's brand
Amazon has unveiled a mobile payment app complete with a card reader that can be used on any smart phone or tablet. While this is in no way a novel technology (Square and PayPal have had them for some time), it nonetheless is a big deal for both retailers and Amazon.
The Amazon Local Register further cements Amazon as the retail leader from both a business and brand perspective. Square and PayPal, though earlier in the process, are nothing more than transfer agents. Amazon is retail – all things retail, including managing the monetary transaction.
Plus, as it stand now, Amazon is going to process transactions for less than Square and PayPal, a big deal for the small businesses who use mobile payment. A half a percent can add up pretty fast.
Even to one of my colleagues who had used Square to take payments for Cub Scout popcorn, a half percent is a lot (it's a full percent cheaper until January 1, 2016). Unlike the Amazon Fire phone, which was a departure from the core Amazon brand, the Local Register demonstrates a clear understanding by Amazon of the business of its brand. It is a clearinghouse of all things retail – even if Amazon is not actually selling the product. In true Amazon form, you can even spend the money you are taking in directly for Amazon products.
This is a good move by Amazon, one that will force Square and PayPal to respond – if they can overcome the power of when Amazon stays on brand.
Why Robin Williams will not be forgotten
Robin Williams' passing is hitting me hard.
There are moments in life when a shake up can make you see clearly again. Most times, sadly, this happens in the face of tragedy.
I can, for example, remember everything that happened around me the morning the Twin Towers were hit. I can still see in my mind's eye the way the sky looked on the way into work. I can remember what I was wearing, people's expressions and what I ate.
And so yesterday evening, when I read the news on William's death, I gasped. Time stood still for a little bit. And my heart broke.
It's hard not to think of Robin Williams and smile. It was his brand. He exemplified boundless and childlike energy. I can recall almost every time I saw him on a late night talk show, too. Each time I wondered, "How does this guy do it? How can someone be that quick-witted and energetic?" He was inspiring.
Robin Williams was fearless and complete. He was a Picasso. He was an Elvis, and a Michael Jordan.
Yet, it isn't that unprecedented talent that breaks my heart. No. It's the sadness behind the comedy. I think of Tony Soprano calling himself the "sad clown," and see that in Williams. And it breaks your heart.
I think it's easy to forget, when we are caught up in the comings and goings of the day-to-day, how our true brands affect others. We forget how each of us is a unique piece of thread that, when woven together, makes a beautiful tapestry. With Robin Williams, his thread was a shining and recognizable one. One that all the other threads in the tapestry loved dearly.
In reading the reports, Williams' agent said how sad Robin was of late, and how he felt alone and depressed.
My friend, if you can hear these words somewhere, remember this: you were always with us. You had the ability to make us present with laughter. You helped us lose time, if for just a short while, and connect with something more pure and divine.
Robin Williams, I can never thank you enough for that.
National Car Rental shows how to do it right
If you caught any of the PGA championship yesterday, you saw Rory McIlroy come back to win the tournament in impressive fashion, golf played in near darkness and one of the more effective ads I've seen in quite some time.
National Car Rental unveiled one that showed a golf pro teaching the hackers like me to play, all the while the narrator tells him (us) that he's a pro. A businessman. A professional.
Once he shows up at National, he can pick out the car he wants because he's a preferred member with the ad ending with "Go like a Pro."
There are missteps. I could've done without the golf pro, seeing the car he likes, saying, "Nice drive." A little too clever and the tone is a tad off at the end, but the ad follows the basic tenet of all marketing: Be an emotional reflection of your target audience. A tenet many marketers simply miss.
Being a golf pro, of course, fits into the time slot in which it aired. But it's more than that. A large percentage, maybe even most, of car rentals go to the business traveler, "the pro" of the ad. It isn't just enough to have a businessperson in the ad, so the "go like a pro" suggests that you know exactly how to do it.
The ad was designed to promote National's app that allows you, as the pro, to bypass the counter and go directly to a car of your choice. Of course, all rental car outlets let their members bypass the counter (unless there's a problem) but the feature of picking your own car is new.
The first question you might ask is, "How can National do that?" It's simple. Because it knows you are a pro. You know what you're doing, the emotional element for most business travelers.
For those of us who travel for business, we lament the people in front of us at airport security who seem clueless at how to get their belongings and themselves through. We feel expert when we arrive at the car rental with our membership, and even when we collect points at the hotel.
National's ad builds on that self-perception. It's not often that I applaud a new ad. But that's because few ever really get it, even when it is so simple.
Marketing products does not work. Today, we must market ideas.
Think about this for just a moment. The way in which products are marketed, even just a decade ago, has changed. Yet, marketing still has adherents to the old model and that model is broken.
If you believe you can sell a product by highlighting its advantages, ingredients or abilities, you will find yourself up to your hind quarters in the quagmire of competitive claims.
It does not matter what you are selling. Today, if you want to be successful, you must sell an idea, not a product.
There are many smartphones for sale, but the iPhone is an idea. It is not a product. Point for point and feature by feature, what differentiated the iPhone from its competitors has nothing to do which what it does (anymore). It gains its preference, which is evident in its price point, from the idea of Apple. Love them or hate them, Apple is an idea.
Breakfast cereals used to differentiate themselves by ingredients. Corn Flakes, Rice Krispy's and Shredded Wheat are examples. Today, they need to sell an idea — a place of importance in the brand's eye of the consumer. Without looking, can you tell me what Special K is made from? Its is no longer about what goes into a product that gives its marketing a boost. It is the idea of it that creates preference.
Marketing an idea is harder than marketing benefits, ingredients or processes. It is less tangible and, as a result, demands greater focus, discipline and an understanding of the target audience that is bigger than demographics and needs. Today, to be a successful marketer, you must identify a seminal belief that is held dear by the people you need to influence. It must be something that they cling to as a self-description of whom they believe they are or is aspirational to what they hope to become (as opposed to what they think they can achieve).
It really is a brave new world when it comes to marketing. I don't care if you make birdseed or run an airline, if your marketing is talking about benefits and features, someone is going to eat your lunch.
Amazon Drones. It's in the DNA.
There has been a lot of talk recently about the Amazon drones being used for personalized delivery. It's too bad that, when we think of drones today, the first thing that comes to mind is the deadly drones that deliver lethal payloads on the battlefield.
From what I have read, Amazon is working on miniature 8 propeller-driven drones that look very much like the tiny remote-controlled helicopters we see at hobby stores and specialty retailers. According to Amazon, the only bug still to be worked out is with FAA regulations. When that happens, our local skies will begin to resemble the world of the Jetson's from Hanna-Barbera.
I can see these dedicated birds making deliveries on the front porches in suburbs and rural communities. All they need, apparently, is a GPS coordinate and off they go. But how on Earth would this work in NYC? Can you imagine looking down from the Empire State Building, where the roads are a sea of yellow cabs and, at the same time, looking at drones buzzing up and down the streets like so many mosquitoes?
My prediction is that we are only a few years away from Amazon Prime guaranteeing half-hour delivery to your front door by an unmanned drone. Amazon promises convenience and has never worried about the things that the rest of us concern ourselves with. Amazon is concerned with profits.
Amazon is in the business of stealing share. The payoff has a longer horizon than most businesses. In many ways, it would be amazing what we could accomplish if we had longer vision and were not always so fixated on the next quarter's financials. For some reason that I don't fully understand, Amazon is immune to the Wall Street quarterly system. As a result, watch what innovation means at Amazon. Right now it means drones because the brand promises immediacy. And remember, Amazon delivers!

subset: commoncrawl


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Another unique entertainment option at The Winter Park Playhouse is our Spotlight Series of cabarets in the beautiful lobby piano bar. Enjoy an assortment of beverages from the Tuscan inspired mahogany bar while experiencing true "New York style" cabaret. Each show is approximately 55 minutes in length and features a different professional singer.
Tickets for this very popular offering are $18 plus a one drink minimum. Advance reservations and early arrival are strongly recommended as seating is limited to 54. Tickets can be purchased online or by visiting or calling the box office at (407) 645-0145. Once sold-out, standing room tickets are available for $10.
August 27 & 28 at 7:30 pm
Todd Allen Long debuts his first solo cabaret at The Playhouse with How Did I Get Here? Our patrons will know Todd from his numerous performances on the Mainstage in shows like Forever Plaid, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical, Dames at Sea, and many more. This cabaret is sure to sell out quickly, so get your tickets for this evening of the twists and turns in life!
Upcoming Spotlight Cabaret Artists
September 17 & 18
October 29 & 30
Frank Siano
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Collecting Medieval Swords
I found this blog post while cruising the web and though it raised some interesting points that those looking to start a sword collection might want to consider.
Here is the original post: http://www.kiwonwang.com/shopping-and-product-reviews/collecting-medieval-swords/
"I'm just now learning about collecting medieval swords. I'm not sure what I should buy as my first sword. The longsword looks great, but it looks so long and hard to hold. I'm not sure I could handle it, and I want to learn how to use the medieval swords I collect. I might try a backsword as my first purchase, since they still look dangerous but seem easier to handle.
Ultimately, the sword I pick will have to look good in my home as it will be a display piece as well. I might put it over my mantel, but it would also look good on the wall downstairs. Of course, if I turn this into a real hobby and collect them like I want to, I can always get a floor fan display that will hold all my swords. Problem is, where will that look good? I may cap my 'collection' at two or three swords. That way I can strategically place them throughout my home so they add to the overall decor."
So here are a few things I'd like to add for you to consider:
What style of combat interests you most?
If you're trying to match existing decor, you can most likely find a sword that will fit.
Think about learning to use a sword by practicing with a wooden sword first, then once you're comfortable buy a real sword.
Are you looking for a sword you can use in a practical way? You'll need to buy a sword that is designed for your intended uses not just for display.
Be sure you know how to take care of your sword. Different types require different methods of maintenance.
Think about these things when buying your swords. If you have any questions about sword buying I'm here to help.


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Last fall, a rather interesting project was coming together based around a script from actress/screenwriter Emma Thompson. Titled "Effie," the film lined up a solid cast with Saorise Ronan, Orlando Bloom, Imelda Staunton, Greg Wise and Thompson herself in the strange-but-true story that centers on the wedding night between Victorian artist, architect, poet and political thinker John Ruskin and his wife, Effie Gray. Ruskin was long infatuated with Gray and married her when she was 17. However, when it came time to consummate their marriage, something so reviled Ruskin that Gray remained a virgin until after they divorced and she remarried his protege, painter, John Everett Millais. While it has never been established just what disgusted Ruskin to the point he refused to have sex with his wife, theories over the years have speculated it might have been pubic hair or menstrual blood.
Ronan and Wise were set to play Effie and Ruskin respectively but production is now being held up as playwright Gregory Murphy has taken the film's producers to court citing copywright infringement.
You see, back in 1999 Murphy's play "The Countess," also about the Effie/Ruskin/Millais affair, hit stages to strong reviews and was even revived in 2005. Murphy feels that Thompson's script is too close for comfort to this work and thus, the ensuing legal battle. Thompson's camp maintains she never had access to Murphy's play and didn't copy it.
Regardless, this throws a major wrench into getting the film underway. "In order to close financing to produce a motion picture based on Effie, [the plaintiff] must be able to demonstrate that there is no validity to Mr. Murphy's claim of infringement," says the complaint in the lawsuit. No word yet on how long this might take to resolve (attention lawyers, throwing Murphy a story credit might be the quickest way to get him off your back) but Ronan and Bloom can chat about it on the set of "The Hobbit."
goldfarb | February 9, 2011 12:52 AM
"...remained a virgin until after they divorced and she remarried his protege..."
should be just 'married'...
Vinetti | February 8, 2011 9:49 AM
Hope this resolves soon... This is oscar material for the brilliant Ronan!!
Jean Robie | February 8, 2011 8:30 AM
I'm afraid Mr. Murphy is going to lose his case. His play is solely about the time Millais spent in Scotland with the Ruskins. While the screenplay includes that sequence, it also covers a much longer span of Ruskin's life. Which is not to defend the screenplay which, I think, does a very poor job of showing why Ruskin was so important--and why he remains so today, despite the fact that he isn't much read. I'd like to see the movie get made if only to encourage people to read him.


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The trick here is to cook the garlic slowly—just until it turns golden so that it mellows and gets sweeter. You can use this as a dip for almost everything, from bread sticks to celery sticks. I like to use it to lighten up my spread by putting out a mix of veggies (such as carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli) around the dip.
Cut the cream cheese into a few pieces and toss them into a large mixing bowl. Leave at room temperature to soften.
Squeeze the garlic cloves through a press, stopping every few cloves to scrape out the garlic left behind in the press.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until it is nice and golden, about 8 minutes.
Add the spinach, raise the heat to high, and stir until it wilts. The spinach will turn bright green and start to give off liquid. Cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Season the spinach with salt and pepper and scrape it onto a cutting board. Let stand to cool a bit.
Chop the spinach finely with a chef's knife. Scoop the spinach into the bowl with the cream cheese, leaving as much liquid behind on the board as possible. Add the sour cream and lemon juice, and mash with a big fork until well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.
You can make the dip up to a few days in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Before serving, bring to room temperature. The longer that it sits in the fridge, the stronger the garlic flavor will become.
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Desperate to reverse the falling output at its KG-D6 block, Reliance Industries has proposed to drill the first exploration well in almost five years in the flagging gas fields at its own cost.
Dhirubhai-1 and 3 (D1&D3) gas fields, the largest among the 18 gas finds on the KG-DWN-98/3 or KG-D6 block, have proved to be more difficult to produce than previously predicted and RIL now wants to drill a probe well on the fields to study reservoir characteristic, sources said.
Fearing that the Oil Ministry may not give it permission to drill exploratory well 'MJ1', RIL has proposed to sink the well on sole-risk basis. Sources said RIL, as a onetime exception, is willing to drill at its sole risk and recover the cost only if the discoveries are assessed to be commercial.
RIL believes that an exploration well is clearly allowed in any mining lease area under law and the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) also supports it.
This concession by RIL amounts to giving up its rights for cost recovery available under the PSC in order to provide comfort to the Government in the spirit of taking things forward.
The company has, however, pointed out that such delayed and conditional cost recovery would not be taken as a precedent in future, they said.
The D1&D3 reservoir has seen sharper-than-expected drop in pressure and water and sand ingress in production wells, leading to a drop in output.
RIL, sources say, proposes to drill exploration well in the D1-D3 development area to probe the Mesozoic synrift clastic reservoir lying below the D1-D3 (Pliocene) Mining Lease area.
D1&D3 have seen output fall from 53-54 million standard cubic metre per day achieved in March 2010 to about 23 mscmd this month. Together with 6 mscmd output from MA oilfield in the same block, KG-6 is producing about 29 mscmd.
The output from KG-D6 is short of the 70.39 mmscmd-evel (61.88 mmscmd from D1 and D3 and 8.5 mmscmd from the MA field) envisaged as per the field development plan approved in 2006.
While Reliance holds 60 per cent interest in KG-6, UK's BP Plc holds 30 per cent and Niko Resources of Canada holds the remaining 10 per cent.
Sources said in its proposal to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), RIL pointed out to the block oversight panel, called the Management Committee, resolution of December 12, 2006 that approved the $8.8 billion development plan for D1&D3, for seeking approval for the exploratory well.
The resolution had stipulated that consent of the DGH was needed for all future exploratory wells in the D1-D3 Development Area.
So, RIL has submitted the proposal for the exploratory well to the DGH along with all the required information/ data in the requisite format, they said.


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Alright, this is what I had been waiting to see since Spring Practice started yesterday. Thankfully I saw it on the second day, and I arrived just at the right time to see it 15 minutes into practice: UCLA Quarterback Rick Neuheisel throwing spirals to his players. Yup, the secondary was working on intercepting the long throws, and guess who decided to be the one who threw them?
And mind you, this wasn't just the quarterback coach throwing to the players in jest. This was a serious drill working the entire dozen or so secondary. "Go!" *run* *long bomb* *catch*...and repeat in rapid succession with the next cornerback or safety ready to go. And of course, Coach Neu wasn't simply just standing there throwing the ball. When he yelled "Go!," he himself also went into perfect quarterback motion, with a quick dropback, look left/right, maybe a pump fake for good measure, and then a perfect 40 yd+ spiral. He has for sure not lost what he once had, and I only wish I had my video camera with me.
Speaking of which, that makes me now want to see/own a copy of the amazing 1984 Rose Bowl Game where QB Rick Neuheisel was the MVP of the 45-9 thrashing of the Fighting Illini. 300 yards and four touchdowns? Really? Even two of them to a wide receiver named Karl Dorrell? I really have to see this now.
Do any of you fellow Bruins Nation guys/girls know how I can acquire such a thing?
As a side note, there were far fewer spectators today at practice than yesterday. Even though its Friday, I think the overcast, cold and windy day kept fans away. Here's to believing that what with Saturday's practice at 1 PM, literally 2 hours before the very important Final Four game, there will be ZERO Bruin spectators tomorrow at Spaulding Field. But after our Ben Ball warriors win the big one on Monday, let's all divert our full attention to the amazing things that our happening on the turf field outside.


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The X-Men are reunited following the death of a teammate, and are summoned by Charles Xavier to Japan following the abduction of Hisako Ichiki (Armor). There, they confront the U-Men, a lunatic cult that steals and transplants mutant organs to further strengthen their own army, and the battle for justice is on.
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Hello. My name is Lindsay. I am a mother of 2 boys. I have a great boyfriend and my favorite band in the whole world is defenitely Korn! My profile picture is actually my tattoo on my left thigh. Hard to get a good pic of it. I have seen Korn 14 different times over the years but have yet to meet them because of my luck. Hopefully, one day this dream will come true!
Ok. I've been thinking and I actually found the Here comes the bride done by an electric guitar so I'm thinking of having a Korn song play after me and my fiancé are married and we are walking down the isle together. Any suggestions for this instead of korn playing as I am walking down the isle alone? Thanks!


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9Kelly Osbourne Calls Lady Gaga "A Great Big Hypocrite"
Kelly Osbourne never really bothered me but her interview with Cosmopolitan changed my mind about that. Now I think she's almost insufferable. Really, insufferable is too strong of a word. But look at this from their latest issue,
[On what she wants moving forward in her life] Happiness and a Golden Globe. What? I'm fabulous. I need a Golden Globe. What is life if you're not going to live it to the fullest? People think this is my 15 minutes. F-ck you. I've got an hour.
What the hell? Maybe this sounded funnier and less annoying in person. What the hell would you get a Golden Globe for?
Then she called out Lady Gaga for some stuff (again).
I loved Lady Gaga. I totally believed in everything she stood for, until I realized she's a great big hypocrite. Don't say, 'When you see bullying, intervene,' while letting your fans send me death threats. If my fans did that, I would not stand for it. You can say whatever you want with your millions of monsters. I know the truth. You bells and whistles mean nothing to me. You're feeding on the freaks and geeks to further your career? Do you really care about the gay community? Because if you did, you'd stand up for it more than you do
LOL at "if my fans did that, I would not stand for it." Good for you, Queen Elizabeth. Mustn't let the serfs get out of bounds. Other than that, I don't really disagree with anything she's saying about Gaga here.
Oh, bonus. When asked, "do you want kids?" She replied,
I do want babies, but I don't want a great big vagina.
Thanks for that image.
May 28, 2013 at 4:29 pm by Catherine St. Ives
9 Responses to "Kelly Osbourne Calls Lady Gaga "A Great Big Hypocrite""
what happened to this now sad and crappy site ???
didn't pay your site manag bill … bye
I don't know about being a hypocrite but I see GaGa as the biggest copy cat in show biz. She has to wear those attention seeking outfits to get noticed coz I sure don't hear anything new coming out of her that hasn't been done before and a whole lot better. Kelly hasn't added anything lately to get a Globe except a lot of snark about people she doesn't like and kissing butt if she likes them.
For someone so worried about having a big vagina, she sure does act like a huge c#nt.
lol, that's the only thing that's made me laugh on this site in a while.
I do not Know that why does Kelly is calling a Lady gaga?
And Kelly Osbourne's talent is? Another overly entitled celebrity offspring who has no clue.
This is the smartest thing ever said by an Osbourne.
Kelly photoshops nicely.


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The Seahawks Super Bowl win means they will host the NFL's Thursday opener. Will it be against the 49ers? Here's the case against that.
The 49ers will likely find themselves on prime time quite a bit in the 2014 season. Which games will get the nod?
The 49ers regular season is a wrap, which means we now know their 2014 list of opponents. We break down the home and away schedule for next season.
The 49ers 2014 schedule of opponents is still being sorted out, but we have an early look at who they will be playing next season.
The 49ers head into December in the middle of a wild race for the wildcard. We take a look at the remaining schedules of pertinent teams, and focus on the 49ers final five games.
The NFL flexed the Week 14 Panthers-Saints matchup into Sunday Night Football. We break down the TV schedule implications for the 49ers.
The San Francisco 49ers will move into their new stadium in 2014, but will likely have to wait until 2015 to show off the stadium in a week-day prime time game.
The NFL announced their first flex scheduling plans for the 2013 season. We take a look at the changes to the Week 11 schedule, and how it might impact the 49ers.
We break down NFL picks against the spread for Week 9 of the 2013 season, which happens to be the 49ers bye week.
We break down the 49ers 2013 schedule with a look at their travel miles. The 49ers will lead the league in air miles in 2013.
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What's Cool in Your Schools features unique students, teachers, and programs at schools across the Bluegrass. Do you know of anything "cool" happening in Kentucky schools? If so, send us an email at email@example.com or, call ABC 36 @ 859-294-6028
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He needs to get control of his emotions. No way he wins with a mind set like this.
There was a group not too long ago saying that they wish the old Tiger of throwing clubs etc, would return...well I think we got an answer to that ....matter of fact I welcome it...I don't care if it is at some sacred tournament or not...he was upset to say the least....get over people....I welcome him returning to his old self and could careless what people think he should do or not do.....bottom line folks..he is not the first to kick a club, throw a club, etc., quit trying to put him up on some perfect role model pedestal...he needs to be himself on the course and when we see more of this we will also see more wins..it is what makes Tiger ..Tiger.


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Aquarium Introduces Toddler Tuesdays
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 25 February 2014 20:32
- Written by Super User
KURE BEACH – The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher introduces Toddler Tuesdays to beat the frosty February blahs. Pint-sized visitors will enjoy coloring and crafts, as well as free play with toys and books, offered in the Freshwater Wonders from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
Little ones and their caregivers can gather to hear a fish tale during a 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. storytime. A toddler–friendly dive show follows at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Toddler Tuesdays are free with aquarium admission Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25. For more information visit ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days). Admission: $8 Ages 13-61, $7 Ages 62 and up, $6 Ages 3-12, free for children 2 and younger, NC Aquarium Society members and pre-registered North Carolina school groups. General information: ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.


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WHISTLER, British Columbia—Bode Miller makes no apologies for his high-risk, high-reward style. It's what earned him three medals in the first three races at the Vancouver Olympics, and what caused him to ski out in the giant slalom on Tuesday.
"I'm taking more risk than everyone else. That's partly why I'm able to get medals. It looks easy when you make it," Miller told The Associated Press in an interview after missing out on becoming the first man to win four Alpine medals at one Winter Games.
He's constantly on the accelerator going down the mountain, taking takes chances few others would, and that gambler's mentality has paid off richly for him in Whistler.
Until Tuesday, of course, when his attacking nature cost him. The other side of Miller surfaced, the one that was on display in Turin four years ago.
Miller chalked up his failure to complete the first run of the giant slalom to his aggressiveness.
Losing time on the upper section of the course, where he narrowly avoided a crash, he tried to make it up by going faster on the bottom.
This time, the 32-year-old from Franconia, N.H., couldn't correct his line with that much speed. He came out of a right-hand gate in the second half of his run, and simply couldn't bring it around in time for the next gate. He said he hooked his glove on a gate and "that's all there is to it."
Miller also told the AP that he had trouble picking up the bumps on the course because of the overcast conditions.
"This light - I knew I had an issue this morning. I'm not one of the better skiers in flat light. I tend to move a lot more," Miller said. "Some of those guys are so squared up and solid, the bad light doesn't affect them that bad. ... I hit any of those little bumps while I'm moving, if I can't see them, I blow out."
Miller blew off the media after his run, electing to ski down the hill rather than stopping in the interview area, as skiers typically do.
With his giant slalom day over, Miller was intent on sneaking in some rest. He has one final chance, in Saturday's slalom, to add a fourth medal.
"That's what we're focusing on now, I guess," Miller said. "I knew I had to ski great today to give myself a chance. I came out of the gate doing it. There's very small margin of error for me on this course. Slalom is the same way. ... I'll have a good chance to rest now, get charged up for it."
Four years ago in Turin, Miller had a forgettable Olympics. Touted as the star of those games, he left empty-handed, more attention on his social life than his skiing.
Vancouver has been a completely different experience. His charging style has been well suited for this mountain.
"When I look back on my career, it's hard to believe the (stuff) I've been able to pull off," Miller said of his aggressive approach. "I take everything with a grain of salt. There are a million variables. But I also take some credit for it. I do go that way, all the time. I am willing to deal with the consequences, when a lot of guys aren't willing to deal with those consequences. So they don't take the risk."
Jarome Iginla scored twice and new goalie Roberto Luongo was good enough to get the Canadians back on track and into a colossal quarterfinal game against Russia, a matchup many expected for the gold-medal game.
"Hopefully it's not our biggest game this week," Luongo said.


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- About IDCE
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IDCE Students Profiles
Carolyn Spitz (CDP '2011)
Carolyn Spitz (USA) recently graduated with a BA in sociology and a concentration in urban development and social change from Clark. Her area of interest includes issues involving urban youth and education. Carolyn's past research includes studying the educational achievement gap. She has also worked alongside organizations that serve to empower youth.


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dynasty league. 30-man rosters. 20 teams.
Team A receives Sidney Crosby, C
Team B receives Sean Couturier, C + Evander Kane, LW + Ashton Carter, RW
Carter was added from free agency just a few days prior and projects as a 3rd liner or maybe a fringe 2nd liner (maybe), so he's a wash -- equal talent is available for backfill on the wire making the deal a 2-for-1.
what about Crosby's concussion history? Kane's concussion history? where can Couturier go on that Flyers depth chart?
this deal was completed shortly after Crosby was cleared for contact (ie, just a couple days ago)


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Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, is a controversial psychotherapeutic approach that is utilized in a variety of settings, such as business communication. The system has not been empirically validated, so it is most often used by self-help advocates and life skills coaches rather than mental health professionals.
NLP was developed in the 1970s by a mathematician and a linguist who studied tapes of therapy sessions performed by Gestalt therapist Fritz Perls. The pair noticed that certain sentence structures and ways of phrasing ideas resulted in better client acceptance of the therapist's ideas. Working from Perls' Gestalt perspective, the founders brought in therapists to help them develop a new form of therapy.
Over the decades, NLP developed into a method for helping clients with desired life goals and changes, rather than focusing on specific diagnoses from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual).
This focus on the client's perceptions of the world is central to NLP techniques. According to NLP, what happens to you is less important than your reaction to it. Your reactions and behaviors are logical and make sense for you, but you have the power to change them at any time. It is the therapist's job to establish trust and rapport, and guide you through the necessary steps.
There have been a variety of criticisms of the underlying assumptions and efficacy of help. Although NLP shares much of the same focus as cognitive-behavioral therapy in its efforts to change learned behavioral patterns, it is best seen as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, traditional therapeutic techniques.


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Debate over "Ida" Hots up (D. masillae)
Darwinius masillae – Missing Link Debate Hots Up
Earlier this year, a paper published on the discovery of an ancient primate fossil from the Messel shales, a World Heritage site in Germany, attracted a great deal of publicity. It was heralded as an important discovery, the earliest example of a primate whose descendants were to become the higher apes and eventually the hominids. The species was named Darwininus masillae.
To read an article on the discovery of D. masillae: The Relationship between Hominids and Lemurs – Darwinius
The 47 million-year-old fossil, regarded as "humanity's long lost ancestor" and publicised as "the first link in human evolution", was unveiled earlier this year. The fossil was nicknamed "Ida" by Dr. Jorn Hurum, the scientist who revealed the fossil to the world, Ida is the name of the doctor's daughter. However, other scientists have refuted the claim that this fossil represents an early ancestor of the line of apes that were to lead to humans.
Darwinius Masillae – A Missing Link?
Picture Credit: Franzen et al
There was even a documentary on the discovery narrated by Sir David Attenborough and shown at peak viewing time on the BBC. Dr. Hurum and his team identified "Ida" as having lived at around the time the primates were splitting into two distinct branches, the Haplorhines, which includes the apes and a second group which includes the lemurs, lorises and pottos (Strepsirrhines).
Darwinius excited palaeontologists as this fossil lacked lemur-like characteristics, no fused teeth in the middle of the lower jaw and no grooming claw, suggesting that this material represented the newly developing "human branch" of primates. Dr. Hurum reported this fossil as being the "first link in human evolution", guaranteeing a great deal of media interest.
However, the significance of "Ida" is being called into doubt by a paper that will be published in the scientific magazine "Nature". A team of scientists, led by Dr. Erik Seiffert from Stony Brook University in New York, examined another primate fossil, a 37 million-year-old fossil very closely related to "Ida". Dr. Seiffert and his team have stated that both mammals belong to a group called the Adapoids, extinct primates that are believed not to be related to Hominids.
Dr. Seiffert stated:
"Phylogenetic analysis of over 300 characteristics across 117 living and extinct primates reveals that the Adapoids are not ancestors to higher primates but rather a separate lineage with no known descendants".
He went on to add:
"This means that the features they share with higher primates, such as the loss of the upper and lower second premolar, must have evolved independently."
This new paper is a little embarrassing considering the amount of publicity the unveiling of Darwinius generated. It questions the main findings of the earlier discovery. It seems that the importance of the Darwinius fossil will be debated for many years to come.
One Response to "Debate over "Ida" Hots up (D. masillae)"
Nice to see the 'Ida' PR job falling apart.
I watched the 'Link'documentary recently, initially very impressed and then a couple of hours later, considerable doubts began to raise their head:
1. Publication by Media… I'm sure there's plenty of palaeontologists who note the opening media overture side tracking the rigours of peer review or publication in 'Nature' with considerable amusement!
2. Seiffert mentions: "Phylogenetic analysis of over 300 characteristics across 117 living and extinct primates…" in his study. According to the documentary the Ida team 'world experts' went across the Atlantic to the zoo to have a look at a loris…! Presumably they don't have primate dentition charts in Norway?
3. The 'world experts' spent a considerable time- a year according to the documentary looking for 'a bone' that would prove the missing link. Surprise surprise they found one… A bone…Just one?? What kind of semi educated clod hoppers are these people?
Thankfully Seiffert introduces that teeny element of morphological process ie looking at 117 other primate bodies, y'know the results of 150 years of scientific research in the subject. [...going to the bl**dy zoo indeed!]
4. The sheer unlikelihood of finding a perfect and complete common ancestor fossil of the Haplorhines and Strepsirrhines, when there are divergent and parallel evolution characteristics probably present in hundreds of species adaptations over 20 million years or so.
The more you think about it, the more the 'Ida' team appear from their documentary as amateurish low grade academics after some cheap fame- a product of the prevalent TV culture. Sit back; watch them crash and burn, and praise the process of Peer Review as it wrecks a slick media PR exercise!


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Haymarket's Football Republic have produced an official souvenir programme for the opening game in Singapore's new National Stadium.
Haymarket Consumer Media's FourFourTwo is celebrating its 20th birthday with a special edition of the magazine guest-edited and starring Brazilian Ronaldo.
Haymarket Media Group is pleased to announce that its West Coast Labs (WCL) security business unit has been spun out to West Coast Labs LLC, a newly-formed entity owned and managed by Scott Markle
Haymarket Network's Forever Sports debuted as the fourth biggest-selling men's magazine in yesterday's ABCs.
Clothes Show Live's educational campaign Bright Young Things is celebrating its third successful year with a 'Class of 2014' photoshoot


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La Notte Blu Reviews
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Reviews & Ratings Explained
The rating percentage is calculated from customers who booked within the last 12 months.
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Very large room close to the major street in town. Quite a dark room as very little natural light. Enjoyed have a couch, kitchen facilities and couch.
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Democrat from Virginia
David Toscano, D-57th, is the minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. The district includes Charlottesville and part of Albemarle county. He was elected to the house in 2005 and became minority leader in 2011. He sits on the Transportation, Courts of Justice and Science and Technology committees. He previously served on the Charlottesville City Council from 1990 to 2002 and was mayor in 1994-96. Toscano was born in Syracuse, N.Y. Toscano received a bachelor's degree from Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y., in 1972, a doctorate in sociology from Boston College in 1979, and a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. His law practice in Charlottesville specializes in family matters. He has taught political science and sociology at several universities.
Recent statements involving David Toscano
Virginia "spends less per student today than we did in 2008."
We want to hear your suggestions and comments. Email the Virginia Truth-O-Meter with feedback and with claims you'd like to see checked. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.


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News >> Browse Articles >> Crime News
Woman arrested over 'bang' remark to Pc blinded by Moat
Source: bbc news
March 02, 2011
News >> Browse Articles >> Crime News
Source: bbc news
March 02, 2011
rhood , I'm with you. I always wondered why idiots like that can't walk down a flight of steps without falling. Happens all the time. I have even seen them trip over their own feet or a crack in the sidewalk.
over 3 years ago
23592 Comments
What a lowlife turd. I hope she fell down all of the stairs on her way out.
over 3 years ago
182 Comments
Right there with you wiseass. Might've been me doing the slapping.
Good, I'm glad she was arrest. And if one of the Officers had slapped her right in the teeth and I was there I wouldn't have seen a thing. Dirt Bag


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Mobridge New Car Dealers by Manufacturer
Directory of new car dealers and auto dealerships by manufacturer. Select the manufacturer you are interested in, then choose your state and city from there to find your local car dealership and request a free quote online.
View all dealers in Mobridge (0) , or narrow your search with one of the following manufacturers:
More new car manufacturers


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June 23 to July 4 1999
The National Mall, Washington DC
The living traditions of New Hampshire were presented at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC and the 2000 Celebrate New Hampshire Festival in a curated program called "Celebrating New Hampshire Stories."
The program was organized into themes-just like chapters in a book-each one representing an important way of exploring traditional culture in New Hampshire.
Old Home Day
Franco-American Day
Contra dance piano playing
Rug braiding
The themes helped organize the ideas and tradition bearers so that visitors to the festival could learn about New Hampshire in an interesting and fun way. The themes also helped to determine how the festival would be set up.
In both Washington DC and New Hampshire, most of the themes were organized around a central hub. The tents and buildings housing demonstrations and performances were placed around the hub-much like spokes of a wheel. Four of the themes had large entryways that helped symbolize what people would experience.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival was held June 23-July 4, 1999 on the National Mall in Washington DC. The New Hampshire program featured over 140 individuals who demonstrated and performed for the two-week event. Another 60-70 individuals joined the program to celebrate in two days of special events.
The Celebrate New Hampshire festival was held June 7-11, 2000 at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Contoocook, New Hampshire. It featured over 200 core participants, over 30 organizations and another 150 individuals that joined the event for special events and concerts.
The core themes were the same as those presented in Washington DC. Two new themes were created to accommodate the added organizations, state agencies, and individuals that contribute to the cultural life of New Hampshire.
View images of the 1999 festival site at the National Mall in Washington DC.
View images of the 2000 Celebrate New Hampshire festival site at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Contoocook, New Hampshire.
Check out the list of festival participants & presenters.
Contact NH Public Television for a copy of Hello New Hampshire, a documentary video with teachers' guide based upon the New Hampshire presentation at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and Celebrate New Hampshire festival.
Lilacs in bloom.
Franconia Notch.
When viewing images of the festival and publications, you will notice the use of purple, green and gray for banners, publications, and other things. These colors were chosen to symbolize New Hampshire and continue now as the official colors of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.
Here's why they were selected:
Green symbolizes New Hampshire's commitment to land stewardship and a sustainable working forest that today covers approximately 83% of the state.
Purple represents two of our official symbols.
The purple lilac-New Hampshire's state flower.
The purple finch-New Hampshire's state bird.
Gray represents the enduring strength of New Hampshire's granite bedrock and our nickname "The Granite State."
Photo credits
All: Photographer - Lynn Martin Graton


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For the first time this week, clouds have rolled in over The Olympic Club, shielding the sun from view. For the leaders, still about two hours from stepping onto the tee box, the overcast skies are a welcome sight. Without the sun baking the course throughout the day, the fairways and greens should stay somewhat receptive, though The Olympic Club is still playing firm and fast.
This morning, some of the greens were rolled again, and all were stimped as Mike Davis setup the course. Davis has yet to announce the Stimpmeter readings, but I'd assume the greens are still rolling at about 13, just as they were the last three days.
Still, the short grass remains rock hard. The 17th green feels like a driveway, with no real give in the ground. While 13 or so on the Stimpmeter is fast, the measurement doesn't tell the whole story: The greens haven't been terribly receptive all week, preventing players from spinning shots. Balls hit into the greens with a long iron roll out a significant amount, and wedges just aren't spinning as much as one would expect.
But with clouds overhead, the course conditions should stay a touch softer throughout the day instead of firming up even more by the time the leaders tee-off.
Fans can follow along with the action at The Olympic Club with the 2012 U.S. Open leaderboard from USOpen.com.
For all your news and updates in the run up to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic, visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.


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SEVILLE, Spain -- Chile midfielder Gary Medel scored twice to lead Sevilla to a 3-1 home win over Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league on Friday, spoiling coach Fernando Vazquez's debut with the last-place side.
After Ivan Rakitic headed Sevilla in front five minutes in, Medel doubled the hosts' advantage by side-footing home Jesus Navas's pass in the 27th.
Deportivo pulled one back in the 32nd when Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia scored an own goal while trying to intercept a pass for Ivan "Riki" Sanchez in front of the goalmouth.
But Medel sealed Sevilla's fourth straight victory at Sanchez Pizjuan stadium when he volleyed home a cross from Alberto Moreno five minutes before halftime.
Deportivo created various chances in the second half, only for goalkeeper Antonio "Beto" Bastos to come up with two big reflex saves down the stretch to protect the three points.
"Sevilla was simply better than us," Vazquez said. "My team never gave up, but even so, when you play against a team that is better this is what happens."
Deportivo, which spent last season in the second division, remained winless on the road this season and six points from safety after recording its fifth consecutive loss. The struggling club can fall farther into trouble over the weekend after the rest of the league plays out the round.
Vazquez became its third coach of this campaign on Tuesday, replacing Domingos Paciencia after just six games in charge. Vazquez last coached for Celta Vigo in 2006-07.
Vazquez said that Deportivo needed to win eight of its remaining 14 games to avoid relegation. So far, they have won just three of the first 24.
"We need to work harder and better," Vazquez said. "We have a difficult month ahead and we all know it, but we will keep fighting and try to get a win."
Luke, Jason & KJ recap the start to the EPL season, Crystal Palace's search for a manager, Malky Mackay, plus chat MLS as well.
Joined in studio w/Paul Desbaillets co-founder of annual soccer charity event GOAL MTL. We chat w/Susan Bell, Danny Smiles, UM02 Carlos & Heath Pearce
Fund Development Director of Tyndale St-George discusses GOAL MTL's legacy and the impact the funds raised have on her community
TSN.ca is Canada's exclusive home to highlight and feature programs from the Barclay's Premier League. Check out the latest programs on VOD below.
- Episode 2
- Week 2


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Im just curious to know what yall think. This is a real simple poll to determine when/if you think the Blazers will make a move or if they are finished making moves. There is still alotta speculation going around and most of it seems like we will make a move, but I wanna gauge eveyones thoughts as a whole. Please explain why you think what you think below but please lets not turn this into a CP3 post!
Thanks for your time, I appreciate it.


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Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 - Wii
- Genre: Fitness
- Publisher: Majesco
- Developer: 3G Studios
Description: In Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 players become new recruits in Jillian's boot camp where they enroll in a unique training program composed of challenging fitness tests and an ever-changing series of workouts. Players choose their workout from four types--Weight Loss, Strength Training, Intervals and Hill Climb--and set the intensity to light, medium or hard for a duration between 10 and 60 minutes. By completing exciting Wii Remote and Wii Balance Board motion-based challenges that range from crossing monkeybars to climbing ladders and rowing, players can also unlock lifestyle and fitness video tips from Jillian. Players can even track their progress based on calories burned and workout intensity. In addition, a Competitive Party Mode lets two players race against each other through entertaining individual challenges or through the entire Physical Training course to earn the winning time.
- Readers rate it: 60% ·
- Reader ratings and reviews ·
- Reader gameplay tips


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You can get a 400 pc K'nex Value Tub for only $10.97 (reg. $24.99) shipped FREE with Super Saver Shipping on orders $25 or more! Includes ideas/instructions for 20+ models or use your own imagination and storage tub! That is the selling point for me right there! A toy that includes it's own storage tub!
Thanks, The Coupon Trainer!


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You don't need a farm to grow fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits. You don't really even need a garden. Plant breeders know that after taste, home gardeners want a high yield in a small space, so they've been developing more varieties that can grow in a small foot print or even live in containers all year long.
Vegetable gardening used to be the poor relation of ornamental flower gardens. Perennial borders reigned and vegetable gardens were hidden in the back yard, usually the domain of the man of the house. Vegetable gardens were about producing food, not beauty.
The Small Vegetable Plot
Now that vegetables have taken a more prominent place on the table, they are gaining more respect in the gardening world. And with the increased interest from home gardeners, there has been a surge in the development of new varieties: colorful novelty vegetables, heirlooms, ethnic varieties and compact growers.
You don't need a large area to have a vegetable garden. You do need good soil, plenty of sunshine, a water source and probably a fence. If you think the deer love your Hostas, the entire woodland community is going to enjoy your vegetable garden. If you plant it, they will come.
Sun: Vegetables need a good 6 or more hours of sun each day. Without sun, the fruits will not ripen and the plants will be stressed. There are a few vegetables that can survive in light shade, lettuce and other greens, broccoli and cole crops, but if you can't provide sun, you might want to reconsider having a vegetable garden.
Siting Considerations
Water: Vegetables also require regular watering. Without regular water, vegetables will not fill out and some, like tomatoes, will crack open if suddenly plumped up with water after struggling without for awhile.
You can't always rely on rain. If you have the means, a drip irrigation system is a definite plus for a vegetable garden. The new component systems are really quite easy to install and cost a lot less than most people think. And you'll save money on water, because it goes directly to the plant's roots. Less is lost to evaporation.
If you don't want to opt for drip irrigation, try and site your vegetable garden near a water spigot. You'll be more likely to water if you don't have to drag the hose out.
Soil: The final consideration is essential. Vegetables need a soil rich in organic matter. Soil is important to the growth of all plants, but more so with vegetables, because even taste is affected by the quality of the soil. That's part of why wine from the same grape variety can vary from region to region and why some areas grow hotter peppers than others.
If you can provide these three basics: sun, water and great soil, you can vegetable garden.
Granted, a small space vegetable garden may not be enough for subsistence farming, but it will be enough to grow great tasting tomatoes, some beautiful heirloom eggplants or an endless supply of cutting greens. If you have limited space, consider what vegetables you can purchase fresh in your area already and what vegetables you truly love and/or miss.
How Much Space Does it Take
Compact Varieties: If you must have a beefsteak tomato or a row of sweet corn, the variety in your small space vegetable garden will be limited. But you can choose varieties that are bred to grow in small spaces. Anything with the words patio, pixie, tiny, baby or dwarf in their name is a good bet. Just because a plant is bred to be small doesn't mean the fruits will be small or the yield will be less.
Most seeds and seedlings will tell you the mature size of the plants you are selecting. Knowing that, you can space things out and see how much you can fit into your space. More likely however, you will do what most gardeners do and squeeze in as many seedlings as you can fit into your garden and deal with the crowding later. That's one way to get a large yield from a small space.
If you are truly short of space, interplant your vegetables with your flowers. There's no rule that says you can't mix the two. It can be a bit harder to harvest, but many vegetables are quite ornamental in their own right.
Growing Up: If you do opt for a variety of vegetables in your garden, I would recommend the compact varieties and also vining crops that can be trained up on supports. Pole beans take up less space than bush beans. Vining cucumbers and squash, as aggressive as they can be, actually take up less area than their bush cousins.


text: 19May '11 0 Scenes From The Dog Park In: The Fido365 Project/By: Jay Stebbins/3 Comments/ I think we finally hit a breaking point in Boston with this wonderful weather. Mud or no mud, the dogs were let loose to play. I will have a few other photographs of these Boston dogs in action. Read More 14Jan '10 1 Off-Leash on the Boston Common In: Explore Boston, Where To Go/By: Jay Stebbins/5 Comments/ In my opinion the Boston Common and Public Gardens are the beating heart of Boston. On any day you will find Bostonians with and without dogs milling about, socializing and sometimes just catching a noontime nap under one of the fantastic trees or beneath the summer sun. The Boston Common Read More 10Sep '09 0 Off-leash at Peters Park Dog Run, The South End In: Explore Boston, Where To Go/By: Jay Stebbins/1 Comment/ In the South End of Boston you will find a off-leash dog run at Peters Park on Washington Street. With separate sections for large and small dogs this is one of Boston's best designed dog runs. One of the many facets which make the South End one of Boston's most dog friendly neighborhoods. Read More 31Aug '09 3 Paul Revere, the Charlestown Dog Park In: Explore Boston, Where To Go/By: Jay Stebbins/0 Comment/ Just a short walk from Charlestown, the Navy Yard and the North End, Paul Revere Park is an incredibly beautiful place to take your dog for playtime without having to leave Boston. Paul Revere is one of our favorite places to enjoy coffee and dogs. Read More


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Where are You Going to Store All That Big Data?
Insurance Experts' Forum, August 2, 2013
There's no end to the chatter out there about the power and awesomeness of big data. (Okay, I'm guilty of that as well.) And we're only getting started with things — Big Data has many applications we haven't even dreamed of yet.
But nobody is really talking about where insurance companies are going to put all that data.
The problem is, once data is converted into something meaningful — customer records, insights, communications, analyses — there's more of an onus to keep it around. In fact, there may even be legal requirements (or threats of legal actions) that necessitate holding data for seven years to life.
So, when an organization is dealing with 500 terabytes of data from various sources and for various purposes, guess what? That's at least 100 terabytes of disk space, when allowing for compression. The data needs to be stored on disks or tapes, and still be accessible. Then there's still metadata, or data about the data, on top of that.
So the numbers for disk storage systems, which could also include off-site or cloud-type storage, begin to add up. What is the smart way to handle all this overhead?
Bill Kleyman, writing in Data Center Knowledge, provides an excellent discussion of what needs to be considered when storing all that big data — especially for a distributed, "cloud-ready" environment:
Consider bandwidth. For efficiency, it's important to calculate bandwidth, Kleyman says, and this requires understanding a number of factors, such as "distance the data has to travel (number of hops), failover requirements, amount of data being transmitted, and the number of users accessing the data concurrently."
Develop a replication policy. "In some cases, certain types of databases or applications being replicated between storage systems have their own resource needs. Make sure to identify where the information is going and create a solid replication policy."
Pick the right storage platform. Factors to consider include whether the system can support planned or future utilization, and how easily data can be migrated, and data control mechanisms.
Control the data flow. "Basically, there needs to be consistent visibility in how storage traffic is flowing and how efficiently it's reaching the destination."
Use intelligent storage (thin provisioning/deduplication). An intelligent dedup strategy will free up immense amounts of space on disks, Kleyman advises. In addition, he adds, "look for controllers which are virtualization-ready. This means that environments deploying technologies like VDI, application virtualization or even simple server virtualization should look for systems which intelligently provision space – without creating unnecessary duplicates."
Joe McKendrick is an author, consultant, blogger and frequent INN contributor specializing in information technology.
Readers are encouraged to respond to Joe using the "Add Your Comments" box below. He can also be reached at maitlto:email@example.com.
This blog was exclusively written for Insurance Networking News. It may not be reposted or reused without permission from Insurance Networking News.
The opinions of bloggers on www.insurancenetworking.com do not necessarily reflect those of Insurance Networking News.
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Shortly after Peyton Manning finalized talks with his old buddy John Elway to become the next quarterback of the Denver Broncos, plans were put in place to ship Tim Tebow out of town.
Sure, he led the team to the playoffs last year, even defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard Round. But he was never fully accepted by the front office in Denver, least of all Elway, and when it became a very real possibility that Manning would come to town, the writing was on the wall. It was only a matter of where, when and who he would be traded to.
As it turns out, the answers are New York, today and the J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS!
Yes, Mark Sanchez now has competition for the starting quarterback spot, Rex Ryan has yet another headache to deal with, the New York media are gearing up for war, the Post is salivating at the headline possibilities and Jets fans are shaking their collective heads in disgust.
New York parted with a fourth round pick to make the deal happen.
So let's hear it, Maniacs. What do you think of Tim Tebow donning the green and white?


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Microsoft CRM KB Article - June Review
One of the things I do occasionally is review the new or updated KB articles relates to CRM – The following are some of the KBs that I found that were more interesting than others.
KB 916955 – CRM does not synronize the time you entered for the task in CRM with Outlook. If the task has a due date of today a reminder will not generate if the default task time has already passed.
KB 921389 – E-Mail from internal users not delivered when you configure a CRM queue to receive messages – This is due to Organization Settings – > System Settings – >On the E-mail Tracking tab, click No under Set whether to exclude e-mails between Microsoft CRM users, and then click OK
KB 911459 – Prompted to log back onto CRM in the Service Provider Edition of CRM – I've been Looking for this setting! Registry key AbsoluteTimeoutMinutes controls the timeout
KB 917930 – URL in a contact form does not appear as a hyper link – it's due to having the wrong type of field - this KB provides steps to fix.
KB 911392 – View in CRM doesn't work from Contacts form in the CRM Service Provider edition – We haven't seen this problem occur "View in CRM" works fine for our sites so there must be some condition that causes users to see this happen – Regardless it's apparently a known issue now!
KB 921388 – DNS problems can prevent Mobile Services from Starting – Resolution provided
KB 921544 -E-Mail messages don't get back into CRM from the Exchange Router due to user running routing service not being a domain admin or the exchange server not being in the PRivUserGroup
KB 910242 – Receive error message when try to send or promote an e-mail in CRM – Hotfix available
KB 918609 – A time-out occurs when you import large customizations into CRM – Resolutions provided.
KB 912061 – Some fields not available as search criteria on Advanced Find – We ran into this one glad to see a HotFix became available for it!


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WVU lost its first Big East game under Head Coach Dana Holgorsen Friday night. The Mountaineers fell to the Syracuse Orange 49-23. It was a domination on each of the three sides of the ball by Syracuse.
Syracuse retains the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy for a second consecutive year.
Watch Dana Holgorsen's entire postgame news conference by clicking on the video above.