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Phocuswright Research
Australia and New Zealand Online Travel Overview Sixth Edition: Suppliers Consolidate - and Lead
The past two years gifted the Australian and New Zealand travel markets with quick recovery from the recession and steep currency appreciation against the U.S. dollar. But this financial volatility evened out in 2012, and the maturing ANZ travel market will maintain steady growth through 2015. Australia and New Zealand Online Travel Overview Sixth Edition: Suppliers Consolidate - and Lead sizes the two countries' total and online travel markets and provides analysis and projections through 2015 by segment and channel, including mobile
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China Consumer Travel Report
In some respects, China's travel market is not as well developed as many Western markets. Yet with twice as many travelers as the U.S. and a new breed of consumer that is ready, willing and able to get out and see the world, China represents a rather large and unique opportunity. Phocuswright's China Consumer Travel Report provides a comprehensive profile of Chinese travelers' attitudes and behavior throughout the travel lifecycle. Key metrics include frequency and duration of trips (both domestic and international), travel spend and travel component purchases, and the impact of social media and the emerging mobile platform on travel-related activities.
[ view more details ]
Japan Online Travel Overview Report
Japan ceded its leadership of the Asia Pacific travel market to China in 2012, and it will remain the regional runner-up for the foreseeable future. But as the country makes slow, steady progress toward recovery from its losses during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the unique characteristics of its travel market - partly mature, partly developing - will continue to attract attention from global online travel agencies and hoteliers.
[ view more details ]
India Consumer Travel Report
Phocuswright's India Consumer Travel Report provides a complete picture of the new Indian traveler: who are they, how they travel, how they shop, and what they want.
[ view more details ]
Travel Innovation and Technology Trends: 2012 and Beyond
Heads up, travel companies: 2012's host of technology trends – including new developments in social e-commerce, business intelligence and content fragmentation – will have huge effects on the future of travel distribution.
[ view more details ]
Asia Pacific Mobile Trends
This article delves into the key mobile trends in APAC and examines how they will affect the travel industry.
[ view more details ]
Emerging Online Travel Marketplace in China
In 2008, the total Chinese travel market was estimated at US$61.1 billion and is projected to grow to $65.3 billion by 2011. Now is the time to take advantage of this rapidly evolving, multi-billion dollar opportunity.
[ view more details ]


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Happy Friday! Just wanted to share a quick and fun post with you all about my New York Fashion Week ultimate wish-list! Here are 5 things that I may or may not be bringing with me to the big apple, but definitely want to! What's on your NYFW wish list? Leave a comment below or tweet me @Icon_Concierge. Read on for Where to Shop info!
The Statement Necklace
Wear with a tank, a silk blouse or with all black. I promise you, you'll be making a statement—even if it's just, "stare at me." Erickson Beamon, available here.
The Oversized Tote
If I spend on ANYTHING, it's a good bag. I'd rather go hungry than not have a bag I love. Well, you know I love animal print, and you know I love color, so when I saw this beauty by Balenciaga I almost fell out of my chair (okay, maybe I did, so what). Balenciaga, available here.
The Clutch
Although I don't know how practical a clutch would be for a fashion blogger during NYFW, it's worth a try. Hey, you never know what dinner you may have to pop into. You don't want to be schleping a huge bag do you? Well, if it's that Balenciaga beauty above… 3.1 Phillip Lim, available here.
The New Trench
Here's another item that made m
e say the "s" word. Everyone knows that everyone needs a good trench. Whether it's to surprise unsuspecting NY-ers with a flamingo, or just feel French, it's a necessity. Add some animal print, a leather trim, a pop of yellow and baby you'll get an "A" in style. Rebecca Minkoff, available here.
The Burgundy Shoe
While I thought it would be burnt orange, burgundy seems to be the color du jour. Rich, exciting and mysterious, you need to add something burgundy to your wardrobe now, or else! Or else what? Nothing, it's just fashion. Edmundo Castillo, available here.
More Options
P.S. I'll have a full update on my September fashion month plans for you next week! And if you've read this far in my post you deserve to know that I'll be hosting an IFB panel!

subset: commoncrawl


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5 New Hairstyles to Try for Spring
This season is all about going shorter, bangs, and choppy layers.
By Megan Cahn
Grown-Out Layers
For those keeping their hair long like Jennifer Lopez, it's all about long bangs and lots of different lengths. We're not quite in "The Rachel" territory yet, but layers are making a major comeback, according to Reboh.


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Regions :: Western Europe :: Netherlands
Chemical Industry Weekly News Round-Up, November 19
1:15 PM MST | November 19, 2010 | Vincent Valk
This Week on CW: BHP Billton has withdrawn its bid for PotashCorp in the face of opposition from Canadian regulators. Talks to sweeten the deal, which must provide a "net benefit" to Canada under that country's laws, broke down this week. ACC has announced its 2011 legislative agenda. It will focus TSCA overhaul, postponing greenhouse gas regulation, and boiler rules. Indian Oil is investing $17.7 billion to build out its petrochemicals business. The business, which is currently less than 2% of the company's revenue, is forecast to be 15% of revenue by...
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Copyright © 2014 IHS, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


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Cynthia Woolf writes commercial fiction with historical settings. Whether set outside Creede and Golden, Colorado or Deadwood, South Dakota, her books are fast paced, romantic and suspenseful.
Available Now
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Best Reviewed Books – Capital Bride & Fiery Bride
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Weather for Mobile Smartphones & Tablets
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Download WeatherBug to access the world's largest network of real-time weather sensors for forecasts, alerts and more. Get the industry's most accurate pinpoint forecasts for your neighborhood and around the world. Benefit from the fastest, most advanced early warning system, powered by the largest nationwide weather and lightning network. Know Before™.
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New Arrivals
mouse over photo to zoom click for larger image
Flavia Long Necklace
A row of shiny nuggets in a dramatic size and longer length.
- Adjusts from 39" to 43".
- Metal and synthetic materials.
We're so sorry: this item sold out sooner than expected. For an equally chic substitute, please call our Personal Service Associates at 1.888.855.4986. Or click on Chico's Chat below for immediate assistance.


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Call us toll-free: 866-482-8919
Via Fax toll-free: 866-339-4787
Online: www.deiequipment.com
The R. H. Forschner high heat collection is made with stainless steel blades and handles that can withstand temperatures up to 450°F. Forks are for the holding and maneuvering of bulky foods. The length is to allow the cook to handle the food item in the cooking area, without removing it, while keeping a safe distance to prevent hand burns. The deeper and hotter the cooking area is; the longer the fork needs to be.
Cook Fork: The fork has two spear prongs that allow you to reach into a hot oven to move and rotate meats quickly during broiling.
Carving Forks: The two prongs are slender and long to allow you to gently puncture the meat as you hold it to cut. The carving fork holds the meat in place enabling even slicing during the carving process.
Pot Fork: The fork has two spear prongs that allow you to reach into a hot pot to move and rotate bulky foods quickly during the cooking process. The pot fork prongs are narrower than the cook fork prongs.
This item cannot be shipped via UPS and must be shipped via Common Carrier (Truck), curbside delivery only. Additional charges apply for Lift Gate or Inside Delivery and must be requested at the time of order. Please call for a quote if these services are needed.
For other detailed information about item Kt63330 including dimensions, additional photos, available colors and more, please download the PDF cutsheet Here.
Disclaimer: Due to monitor variations, product's colors shown might not be exact. Photos shown for representation purposes only. Product specifications, availability, and pricing are subject to change without notice.


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How Felton, Calif., Achieved Water Independence
page 2
Food & Water Watch has studied the effects of water-system privatization and has helped Felton and other communities turn—or return—to public control. In a 2009 report that examined nearly 5,000 water utilities and 1,900 sewer utilities, the organization found that the private entities—which have a fiduciary obligation to shareholders—charge up to 80 percent more for water and 100 percent more for sewer services. Privately owned utilities cost more to operate, too: They typically have to pay income and property taxes, while public utilities are exempt. In all, according to Food & Water Watch, operation and maintenance costs of privatized water systems can spike 20 to 30 percent, when dividends, taxes, and profits are factored in. It follows that corporations make more money if more water is used; conservation and repairs, then, can fall off the priority list. When Stockton, Calif., privatized its wastewater system, higher-than-promised rate hikes, poor maintenance, and sewage overflows followed. When 8 million gallons discharged into the San Joaquin River, the spill went unnoticed for 10 hours and unreported to the public for three days.
According to a 2002 Century Foundation survey of 245 municipalities, 73 percent of them ended private water contracts because of poor service. In Lee County, Fla., officials realized that after five years of control by Severn Trent Services, a British multinational corporation, the county needed $8 million to repair improperly maintained systems, which could have jeopardized environmental and public health. The county lost money on the deal and didn't renew the five-year contract once it ended. Other cities that privatized sewer systems—including Woonsocket, R.I., and Wilmington, Del.—have discovered chronic pollution problems.
Meanwhile, some cities turn to water-system leases. But under a lease, the city retains control of the infrastructure, so the corporation has even less incentive to perform proper maintenance. If spills or overflows result in environmental damage, it is often the municipality that has to pick up the tab on any fines.
In 2008, the city of Milwaukee was looking for solutions to an impending $100 million shortfall when the city's comptroller recommended a lease of the Milwaukee Water Works. He hoped a private company would pay the city $500 million for the right to lease the utility for 99 years. "The driving reason wasn't that our water system was falling apart or in need of maintenance," said Deputy Comptroller Mike Daun. "We wanted a public-private partnership that would result in a very large transfer of funds to the city up front, which we'd use to create an endowment and address the deficit."
Take Back Your Water
To learn more about one community's fight against privatized water, visit Felton Friends of Locally Owned Water (FLOW).
Food & Water Watch advocates for healthy food and water through a variety of programs. The nonprofit also helps communities gain—or regain—public control of their water systems.
Join the movement of individuals, communities, and businesses who are promoting public water over private profits. You can find out more at Corporate Accountability International's Campaign, "Think Outside the Bottle."
But not everyone shared that vision. Research by Food & Water Watch revealed that for every dollar the city received from the lease, residents would end up paying $1.60 to $5.40.The organization aided a grassroots effort in Milwaukee that helped defeat the privatization plan, at least for now.
Cities such as Chicago continue to contemplate privatization, while many others are reverting to public control or fighting privatization at the outset.
Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, says that her organization advises communities to focus on who is able to stop the privatization threat, usually the city council or water board. That means doorbelling, working with the media, releasing reports that challenge the company's claims, and working closely with labor groups and community groups. If cities need to make improvements to ailing systems, municipal bonds are usually a cheaper option than private financing, and they can seek public-public partnerships (PUPs), an alternative to public-private partnerships. PUPs, according to the Transnational Institute, are "a collaboration between two or more public authorities or organizations based on solidarity to improve the capacity and effectiveness of one partner in providing public water or sanitation services." Essentially those communities with well-run systems offer their expertise to managers of utilities in need of some help.
But for many, the issue of water privatization isn't just about money. Felton FLOW member Barbara Sprenger said she was motivated to act primarily "because it was water." Private ownership, she said, meant extra costs without the necessary monitoring and transparency.
"The people on our water board manage our water as part of a watershed," she said. "They care, and they are local—we see them at the grocery store. You really have to have local control over something so vital."
Tara Lohan wrote this article for Water Solutions, the Summer 2010 issue of YES! Magazine. Tara is senior editor at AlterNet and editor of Water Consciousness.
- Protecting Our Commons: Keeping the air, the water, the Internet and other commons out of corporate hands and in our own. A YES! Magazine interactive graphic.
- How to Get Local Control: Taught by people who've done it.
That means, we rely on support from our readers.
Independent. Nonprofit. Subscriber-supported.


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LIFELINE USA Triple Grip Handle - Pair
|Eligible for Free Shipping, No Minimum! (see promotion details)
|Members of The League get 5% back when you spend $100! (see promotion details)
Product Details
Hold 1, 2 or 3 cables at the same time using the LIFELINE USA® Triple Grip handle. The simple, patended design allows you to stack up to 300 pounds on a single pair of handles. You'll experience intense resistance for explosive results!
Get your new LIFELINE USA® resistance cable handles today from Sports Authority.
- Plug and Pocket design holds up to 3 cables
- Change resistance quickly and easily
- Train every major body part
- Intense resistance for explosive results
- Includes 2 handles
Product Recommendations
Product Reviews
Reviewed by 3 customers
Sort by
- Easy Storage
- Easy To Use
- Quiet
- Strengthens
- Sturdy
- Uncomfortable
Best Uses
- General Fitness
- Resistance training
Comments about LIFELINE USA Triple Grip Handle - Pair:
I don't have enough cables to use multiple handles so i have to switch them in and out. The one design flaw i would point out is that the cables stay in really well...too well that it takes me a little while to switch them out during my workout!
I bought these initially so i could workout in my room. I'm too far from the gym to go every single day and i didn't have enough money to buy the interchangeable dumbbells from bowflex. Surprisingly, these work very well. I have the 40 and 60-90 lb cables with these also. With the three slats in each handle, you can add more weight without having to buy more cables: just use the ones you already have!
My biggest complaints however are that:
1. The handles dig into your wrists while curling. I sometimes got light bruises from this the next day, but i easily remedied the problem by wearing wrist bands.
2. The grips are a little thin and not coated. The grips are plastic and the higher the resistance, the harder it is to hold onto them. If the grips were wider and/or coated in rubber or something grippy it would improve the experience a whole lot.
Other than that though, i have to say this was a very good value!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Comfortable
- Easy Storage
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy To Use
- Quiet
- Strengthens
- Sturdy
Best Uses
- General Fitness
- Low Impact Exercise
- Performance Training
- Strength Training
Comments about LIFELINE USA Triple Grip Handle - Pair:
Great handles, very durable, very versatile. These handles get a lot of wear and tear in our weight rooms and they constantly stand up to the job. 496 personnel- 0 complaints.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Digs into wrists
- Hard grip
Best Uses
Comments about LIFELINE USA Triple Grip Handle - Pair:
these things are completely horrible and unusable. after 1 curl I wanted to return them. They dig into your wrists, no matter which side you hold the handles. uncomfortable as hell. As no foam handles. the whole thing is just lame hard plastic.


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Showing 193-288 of 1,903 items found in Places to Stay
City Suites Hotel - Neighborhood Inns of Chicago
This vintage Boystown hotel features turn-of-the-century architecture and art deco furnishings. Gay-friendly restaurants and nightclubs are close by (Berlin dance club is right down the street), and hotel guests have access to Bally's Total Fitness. Popular with entertainers, musicians and savvy travelers.
CITY: Chicago
Peace of Earth Lodge
Peace of Earth (an eco-friendly lodging experience) offers you the chance to relax and enjoy nature in a comfortable homey atmosphere in all seasons of the year. Guest rooms, cabins, and the ever-popular Tree House include queen-sized beds and a sitting/ reading area. All our lodging accommodations are television, telephone and internet free. Our great room in the Lodge includes a common area and dining room, both of which feature amazing wildlife viewing through the south-facing forty-foot-long window wall. Cedar decks wrap the Lodge and offer tree-top dining or relaxing. Take Highway 24 north of Rushville Middle School to Route 4 (Ray Road). Lodge is mailbox 41 on Ray Road.
CITY: Rushville
Cogan's Valley Ridge
Seven acres of peace and privacy, long valley views, affordable for up to eight people, near Territory homeowners' club, new pool and fitness center; new furniture, TV and gas barbecue.
CITY: Galena
Davie School Inn
This 1910 schoolhouse features spacious suites with nine-foot-tall windows overlooking Anna Park. Each guest room contains an original chalkboard and bookcase from the old school days. Located near Carbondale, the Davie School Inn makes a great base for exploring the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and Giant City State Park.
CITY: Anna
Comfort Suites Springfield
Beautiful all suite hotel. Whirlpool bathtubs, microwaves & refrigerators in every room. Indoor heated swimming pool. Continental breakfast included.
CITY: Springfield
Fairfield Inn by Marriott - Gurnee
Enjoy the convenience of walking to Gurnee Mills and various restaurants and a quick drive to Six Flags Great America. This hotel offers comfortable guest rooms, including 16 suites, at a superior value for both business and leisure travelers. Indoor pool and Jacuzzi, free passes to Gold's Gym, free in room high speed Internet and a free deluxe continental breakfast, including fresh-coffee, freshly made waffles, cereals and fresh fruits are all included with an overnight stay. A 480 sq. ft. meeting room is also available.
CITY: Gurnee
Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center
Nestled along the coastline of Lake Michigan on 4,100 acres of natural beauty in a protected state park, the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center will sweep you away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life and into a scenic paradise. The resort is the only hotel in the state of Illinois located directly on Lake Michigan. Many of the 92 guestrooms and suites, have lakeviews. We also offer 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a full-service restaurant and lounge, a full-service health club and Jacuzzi.
CITY: Zion
Brixen Ivy's Victorian Mansion
An authentic Victorian mansion estate, no highway noise, walk to downtown. Quiet, peaceful, luxurious accommodations. Four large parlors, tastefully furnished, comfortable beds, wonderful breakfast. Outdoor hot tub spa, spectacular gardens.
CITY: Galena
Barren Creek Cottages
Located at Bay City, at the Smithland Pool on the Ohio River. Boat launch, hook-ups and floating docks. Completely furnished.
CITY: Golconda
Lucy Mae's Guest House
Built at the dawn of the 20th century this two-story home retains its turn of the century charm while offering the convenience of modern pleasures and comfort. The home offers 2 units, upstairs & downstairs with an adjoining stairway that can be opened for large groups.
CITY: Grafton
Camp Lakewood
Come out to Camp Lakewood and enjoy the views of Lake Pauline plus all the creature comforts. Camp Lakewood is an RV campground. The sites include cable, WiFi, 30/50 AMP. They also offer a one and two bedroom cabin that is fully furnished and self contained. The newest cabin sleeps five and includes Cable TV. They do offer tent sites as well for those who want to be a little closer to nature.
CITY: Effingham
Canyon Log Enterprises/Carriage House
Experience log home living at Apple Canyon Lake. Great couple's getaway, one bedroom suite, full kitchen, all linens provided. Access to amenities, lake, golf, restaurant. Call for extended stay rates.
CITY: Apple River
Prairie Lakes Country Club & Inn
Prairie Lakes offers a 9 hole golf course and a full service restaurant and hotel. Hotel and Golf packages available and banquet facilities. Golf opens daily at 7:00am and the restaurant is open 11:00am - 10:00pm daily. Call for seasonal hours.
CITY: Marseilles
Senator's Inn
Step back in time as you experience the peaceful atmosphere of the Senator's Inn, offering clean, affordable, comfortable guest rooms and amazing spa services.
CITY: Savoy
Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center
Situated on Rend Lake in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, this modern resort offers cabins and boat rental suites, courtesy boat docking slips, restaurants and more. Guests can enjoy golfing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming and other water sports.
CITY: Whittington
Mission Impossible - The Drake Hotel
In this fast-paced action thriller, a secret government agent is wrongly accused of the death of his espionage team and must find the real spy killer on his own. In the movie, the head of the Impossible Missions Force stays at Chicago's historic Drake Hotel, located at the northern tip of the Magnificent Mile.
CITY: Chicago
Drury Inn and Suites - Springfield
The Drury family has provided travelers like you with squeaky clean rooms, friendly service and good value for over 25 years. Family ownership makes Drury Hotels distinctly different and assures you of quality and consistency everytime you stay.
CITY: Springfield
Tomcat Hill Cabins
Located off the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and 2 miles from Cedar Lake (in Carbondale), this cabin will accommodate 6. Some special features are a gas fireplace, hot tub, satellite TV, WiFi, DVD/VCR Player, central air & heat. A complete full kitchen featuring all the amenities to make your stay a comfortable & enjoyable experience.
CITY: Carbondale
Lofty Acres Bed & Breakfast
Master bedroom/bath on main floor, queen bed, whirlpool tub. 2 rooms/baths upstairs. Fireplace.
CITY: Dongola
Mark Twain Hotel
Rooms and amenities at the Mark Twain Hotel are designed with you, the guest, in mind. Borrow a DVD from a collection of over 300 classic and contemporary titles or perhaps have a nightcap in the Two25 Lounge. In the morning, fuel your body for the long day ahead with the complimentary Daybreak full, hot breakfast buffet which includes made to order omelets and waffles. The Mark Twain Hotel is not merely a place to sleep, it's a place for you to relax during down time in Peoria. The Mark Twain Hotel's small size - 110 rooms - gives staff members the opportunity to recognize guests and provide unique, personable service. The hotel wants you to feel at home and will do everything in their ability to help you enjoy your stay. If there is anything you need to make your stay more comfortable or convenient, be sure to let them know. The Mark Twain Hotel will take care of you during your visit to Peoria!
CITY: Peoria
The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center
Recreational options are plentiful at the Chateau Hotel & Conference Center. Guests can swim in the indoor pool, relax in the sauna or whirlpool, workout in the exercise room, jog on the twelve mile Constitution Trail that connects to the property, or visit the nearby Shoppes at College Hills outdoor mall. The property offers complimentary wireless high speed internet access, 7am-10pm complimentary transportation service, 24-hour airport shuttles, coffee makers, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, electronic keyless entry door locks, banquet and conference facilities for up to 500 people and free parking.
CITY: Bloomington
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel
Experience refined style where stunning modern design and architecture blend with impeccable service. Our 500 spacious rooms and suites offer imaginative & colorful décor. The 148,000 square feet of modern meeting space is perfect for all events.
CITY: Schaumburg
Lost Coyote Camp
One room cabin rental near hunting, fishing, biking and horseback riding areas.
CITY: Simpson
Blackhawk Valley Campground - Rockford
More than 130 units in developed campground located in a wooded and secluded area on the Kishwaukee River with mini golf, pedal carts, a playground, weekend activities and hayrides for the kids.
CITY: Rockford
Arrowhead Lodge
Affordable family lodging in the heart of the Shawnee Forest. Furnished lodges include kitchenettes, private baths with amenities. Perfect for travelers, hunters, fishermen, hikers. Excellent hunting and fishing on both private and federal land. Minutes from Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock Trail, Pounds Hollow Lake, High Knob, River to River, Jones Lake/Saline Recreation Area, Cave-In-Rock, Lakes Tucumseh & Whoopie Cat, Iron Furnace, Tower Rock, Stone Face, Ohio River and much more. Children and pets welcome. Centrally located 6 miles North of Elizabethtown and 4 miles South of Karbers Ridge.
CITY: Elizabethtown
The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms and Copperstone Inn
The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms and Copperstone Inn are a unique venue for an unforgettable wedding ceremony, reception and rehearsal dinner. An Orchard Ridge Farms/Copperstone Inn wedding offers the combination of rustic charm and sophisticated elegance that will create extraordinary memories that will last a lifetime. Our one hundred and thirty acres creates a majestic stage for your special event, a refreshing change from the average banquet facility.
CITY: Rockton
Courtyard by Marriott - Springfield
Located 1/2 mile south of White Oaks Mall. A unique courtyard area designed for your relaxation.
CITY: Springfield
La Quinta Inn & Suites - Gurnee
La Quinta Inn strives to make your visit comfortable with outstanding accommodations and excellent guest service. This hotel offers a wide array of amenities, including indoor pool and whirlpool, lobby continental breakfast, and clean, comfortable rooms. Just a short mile away from Six Flags Amusement Park, walk to a variety of great restaurants, head to nearby Gurnee Mills Mall and visit Libertyville Sports Center for golf and indoor activities.
CITY: Gurnee
Troll Hollow Campground
Troll Hollow is the "summer home" to campers who come back year after year after year to make new memories with family and friends. In fact, the campers at Troll Hollow have become such good friends that they feel like family. Nestled in the beautiful Illinois Valley area, Troll Hollow is just minutes away from fun for every member of your family, whether they prefer biking, hiking or kayaking in the great outdoors, or strolling the charming streets of nearby Utica searching for the perfect antique.
CITY: Marseilles
Cozy Creek Family Farm
Family vacation farm
CITY: Waggoner
Radisson on John Deere Commons
An award winning riverfront hotel located in the heart of John Deere Commons and right across from the John Deere Pavilion and John Deere Store. This hotel is in downtown Moline and is near restaurants, shopping, riverfront biking and walking trails and next door to the i wireless concert/sports arena. Centrally located, this hotel property is a quick drive to major attractions including the Celebration Belle Riverboat, museums, and historical attractions. You can even board the Channel Cat Water Taxi right behind the hotel which is connected to a TGI Fridays restaurant.
CITY: Moline
Mississippi River Lodge
Our Mississippi River Lodge is located right on the banks on the Mighty Mississippi River between Savanna and Thomson Illinois and offers awe-inspiring views from every angle. We offer 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, living room with fireplace & big screen TV, deck with grill, a fully stocked kitchen and much more! If you are a river lover, this is the place for you. Fishing, water skiing, tubing, or cruising up the river, it's all here for your enjoyment. Since we are located on Big Slough, off of the main channel of the river, you can have fun without having to deal with a lot of river traffic. Access to the main channel is easy if you want to cruise the river. Only five miles up the river is Lower Sabula Lake which offers a great new sand beach. There is a public boat launch only a quarter mile from the house and a dock is provided to moor your boat at the house. If you do not have a boat, you can fish off the dock or the bank.
CITY: Thomson
Stoney Creek Inn
Come and experience the Great Outdoors...indoors. Stoney Creek Inn's unique Northwoods décor, atmosphere and incredible service create a truly enjoyable lodging experience! Guests love our extended continental breakfast and our 'Wilderness Park.'
CITY: Galena
Blackhawk Trail Lodge
Hospitality abounds! Nestled along the beautiful Rock River, this cozy six-guestroom lodge offers a wonderful all-season porch with fireplace. Perfect for your next group retreat. Offering breakfast buffet for groups. Close to many attractions. Guest are welcome to use our private boat ramp. Or just relax and fish from our quiet river bank, or in a hammock at the river's edge. At Becky & Don's small but quaint lodge, it's all about relaxation and "Old Time Hospitality". Visit us on our FUN Web site for more information. Pets welcomed. Open year round.
CITY: Byron
Annie Wiggins Guest House
This romantic 1846 mansion welcomes you to its whispers of the past and its unique historical experience. Beautiful new luxurious bathrooms, finest linens and antiques, yet casual and comfortable.
CITY: Galena
W Chicago Lakeshore
Overlooking Lake Michigan, this hip hotel is close to Navy Pier, Oak Street Beach and the Magnificent Mile. Indulge in the hotel's Bliss Spa, sip a cocktail at the 33rd-floor Whiskey Sky bar that offers amazing panoramic views and dine on Mediterranean dishes at Wave.
CITY: Chicago
Hyatt Place Chicago/Naperville/Warrenville
Designed for the busy lifestyle of today's multi-tasking, business traveler, Hyatt Place provides casual hospitality in a well-designed, high-tech and contemporary environment. Signature features include a coffee and wine bar and 24-hour guest kitchen.
CITY: Warrenville
Inn at Lincoln Park
This European-style boutique hotel features 71 guest rooms and three suites. Located on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview, the Inn is within walking distance of hip shops, bars and restaurants, and close to Boystown.
CITY: Chicago
Holiday Inn Express - LeRoy
The Holiday Inn Express is the newest hotel in LeRoy. The hotel is situated just off I-74 and only 15 minutes from the Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) in Bloomington-Normal. While staying in LeRoy, hotel guests have easy access to I-74, which makes visiting spots such as Moraine View State Park or Clinton Lake a breeze. The hotel offers a 24-hour business center, free high-speed Internet access, complimentary Express Start hot breakfast bar, indoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness center.
CITY: Le Roy
Comlara County Park Campgrounds
The scenic Comlara County Park campground offers 144 campsites including: 94 electrified sites (Both 50 amp & 30 amp), 23 non-electric sites, 11 primitive / walk-in sites in the Main Recreation Area (MRA), and 16 primitive / walk-in sites in the White Oak Area (WOA). Water is conveniently located throughout the MRA modern campground. Hot showers and a sanitary dump station are also provided in modern areas. Firewood, ice, and fishing worms are only available during the regular business hours of the Visitor Center and MRA Campground Station. The campground is open year-round.
CITY: Hudson
Janet's Place Bed & Breakfast
A vintage bed and breakfast in Evanston's lakefront district, Janet's Place is located in a tranquil neighborhood close to shops, restaurants and public transportation. Northwestern University, beaches and Evanston's city center are just blocks away.
CITY: Evanston
Jacuzzi Cozy
Centrally located in The Galena Territory, this vacation home sleeps eight: one king, two queens and two twins. TVs in all rooms. Enjoy the huge in-home Jacuzzi and our new upgrades.
CITY: Galena
Windy Hill Acres Inn
Windy Hill Acres Inn is located in the Shawnee National Forest. The Inn is a Rock Potato House which has been remodeled into a beautiful 5 room house with deck. The Potato House was built in the 1800's and used to store the farmers' sweet potatoes.
CITY: Cobden
Lake of Egypt Carriage House
There are 2 units. Some facility amenities include free parking, outdoor pool, on-site fitness center, and hot tub/jacuzzi. The Carriage House is located on one of Lake of Egypt's finest waterfront homes. Enjoy three acres manicured grounds with rose garden, waterfall, fountain, swimming pool, boat dock, paddle boat, private patio with a stunning view of the Lake of Egypt.
CITY: Marion
Red Roof Inn - LeRoy
The Red Roof Inn in LeRoy is conveniently located just off I-74 and offers small town hospitality, yet is close to all the conveniences of the major cities. Guests will enjoy free WiFi internet, complimentary daily breakfast, coin laundry, alarm clocks with MP3 jacks, cable television with HBO, hairdryers, in-room coffeemakers, microwaves and refrigerators. A jacuzzi suite is also available.
CITY: Le Roy
Alto Wine Trail Loft
Located on Main Street in historic downtown Alto Pass, the Alto Wine Trail Loft provides 2 new units, both with 2 bedrooms offering unique accommodations for experiencing the wineries and wilderness of Southern Illinois. An alternative to cabins in Southern Illinois, the Wine Loft is a vacation loft rental in Southern Illinois. A unique getaway in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, the Loft is a private vacation rental, close to Giant City, Southern Illinois University, and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. The historic building that is home to the Wine Loft was constructed in 1912 as a general store. The Loft renovations used environmentally friendly material and preserved as much of the original brick work and exterior as possible.
CITY: Alto Pass
Motel 6 - Normal
Amenities at this Motel 6 include free local calls, free morning coffee, free expanded cable, kids stay free, pet friendly, accessible rooms, outdoor pool, and truck parking.
CITY: Normal
Riverbend Retreat
Riverbend Retreat is a fully renovated 1919 bungalow farmstead surrounded by the Embarras (Embraw) river valley, pasture and farmland. The house is divided into two suites, one on each floor. It features original wood floors on the first floor, mission light fixtures and furniture, and free use of the washer/dryer and foosball table in the basement. Outside features include picnic tables, a grill, two campfire circles, outdoor lighting (60 amber bulbs) and a riverfront lawn. Wedding, reunion or other big get together coming up? Put up the family at Riverbend Retreat, cook some of your own meals and have a great time!
CITY: Tuscola
The Lil Cottage
Located between Arthur and Arcola in the small group of houses called Chesterville. This is a one bedroom house, with living room, full kitchen and bathroom. The bedroom has a queen size bed and the living room has a queen size sofa bed. It also has air conditioning and a washer & dryer, it is newly remodeled.
CITY: Arthur
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Chicago - Lombard
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Spacious rooms & suites, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, high speed wireless internet, coffeemakers, hair dryers, ironing boards, swimming pool, hot tub,exercise room, and more. Adjacent meeting space is available.
CITY: Lombard
Big Sky Cabins
Big Sky Cabins is a private 4 bedroom vacation cabin available for nightly rental in Southern Illinois. Currently 2 cabins are available for a getaway to peace and nature. Located in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the cabins are perfect for large groups, weddings parties, honeymoons, or just a nice getaway. Big Sky Cabins provides the most private getaway on the Southern Illinois Wine Trail. At night, build a big fire and look up at all the stars in the sky.
CITY: Alto Pass
Champaign Courtyard by Marriott
The staff at the Courtyard by Marriott is 100% focused on providing you with an exceptional level of customer service! Conveniently located near the University of Illinois and many great local attractions such as Market Place Mall, Memorial Stadium, Staerkel Planetarium and much more!
CITY: Champaign
Shabbona Lake State Park Campground
Shabbona Lake State Park Campground is a semi-wooded area with 150 Class A sites with electricity, showers, vehicular access, boat launch, playground, kid's fishing area, and The Camp Store. Bring your own poles or use The Camp Store's loaner fishing poles! We also have paddle boats that you may rent to enjoy a scenic view of Shabbona Lake. Each campsite has a gravel parking space, picnic table, and a campfire ring. Shabbona Lake State Park has two cabins available for rent. The cabin consists of two rooms that total approx. 200 square feet. Cabins are located near the shore of the lake and are fairly secluded.
CITY: Shabbona
Leisure Lake Resort
Resort with 212 campsites, in-ground pool, 24 acre stocked fishing lake, 2 acre beach, on-site convenience store, activities throughout the year and much more.
CITY: Joliet
Cedar Lake Ranch
Cabin rental near Cedar Lake, horse campground, tack store and outdoor recreation
CITY: Vienna
Magnolia Studios
Situated on a quiet, tree-lined street in Chicago's Edgewater/ Andersonville neighborhood, Magnolia Studios offers a choice of three unique Chicago accommodations only five minutes from the beach and thirty minutes from downtown Chicago. All three units offer fully equipped kitchens, luxury en suite bathrooms, plasma TVs with full cable package, laptops with free wireless internet, exceptionally comfortable queen sized beds beds with luxury mattresses/ linens and in unit laundry. You have exclusive use of all amenities, which makes your stay relaxing and private.
CITY: Chicago
Longhollow Point Condominiums
Fully furnished studio and one-bedroom condos featured at a private vacation resort equipped with an indoor pool, spa/hot tub, exercise facility, game room.
CITY: Galena
Main Street Inn
Located in the original Standard Cigar Company building (ca.1850), the family-operated Main Street Inn has six luxurious rooms that provide an ambiance of 1850's Galena's historic Main Street.
CITY: Galena
Mission Oak Inn
Mission Oak Inn, country bed and breakfast, offers a quiet, comfortable getaway from the stress of life. The inn is located on 120 acres nestled next to the private 7-acre lake with abundant wildlife. Wake to the sound of visiting Canadian geese and enjoy a full gourmet breakfast while looking out over the lake, field and woods.
CITY: Henry
Stonehouse Park - RV & Campground
The park has approximately 100 water, electric and sewer hookups. Each electric hookup has 20amp, 30amp and 50amp service. These hookups can be used with RV's, vendor vehicles, booths, tent or camp setups, and other purposes. Ample space is available for open or primitive camping. Rates may vary depending on group size and facility requirements.
CITY: Earlville
Hostelling International
Newly renovated dormitory-style accommodations in the downtown area. For less than $30/night, guests can enjoy our fully-equipped kitchen and dining hall, internet room, 2 in-house restaurants, information center, and free programs.
CITY: Chicago
Three Sisters Guest House and Sweet Shoppe
Three Sisters Guest House is located just minutes from Galena in historic Elizabeth. The guestrooms are elegantly decorated and each features a private bath and Wi-Fi internet at reasonable rates.
CITY: Elizabeth
Fox River Bed And Breakfast
Fox River Bed and Breakfast is a historic Victorian farm house located 90 miles West of Chicago, and eight miles North of Ottawa, Illinois in the country on 17 lovely acres. We are surrounded by more things to do than you could ever imagine. The area is rich in history and the food is hot and delicious!
CITY: Ottawa
Economy Inn & Suites
Well established, friendly hometown motel. Queen beds, specials, kids free under 12, free coffee and tourism information. Close to Shawnee National Forest and Garden of Gods Recreation Area.
CITY: Harrisburg
Chicago's Essex Inn
Floor-to-ceiling windows afford beautiful views of the Museum Campus at this South Loop hotel. Chicago's Essex Inn is close to downtown shopping and museums, and features an all-season, sky-lit rooftop pool with an adjacent outdoor garden. Dine in at Tribute, a classic American restaurant with a modern culinary edge. Offers breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as "grab and go" options for on-the-go business people.Free shuttle to the exclusive Magnificent Mile shopping district.
CITY: Chicago
Best Western Hawthorne Terrace
This Boystown vintage hotel is located close to historic Wrigley Field (home of Chicago Cubs baseball), as well as gay-friendly restaurants and nightclubs. Enjoy breakfast on the terrace during warm-weather months.
CITY: Chicago
Unique Suites Hotel
For this locally owned hotel, showing guests special attention is our goal to make your stay as comfortable as possible. We have connections with caterers and plenty of ballroom area to host your next party or conference. We are a 77 room hotel with ballroom facilities, seasonal swimming pool, free WIFI and continental breakfast. Located in Charleston, Illinois near Eastern Illinois University.
CITY: Charleston
Burr House Bed & Breakfast
The Burr House Bed & Breakfast is located in Bloomington's historic district across from Franklin Park. Six rooms are available, including one suite with a private bath and sitting room, three rooms with private bath and two with a shared bath. The home has four marble fireplaces, ornate plaster ceilings, original black walnut floors and woodwork and a formal dining room where breakfast is served.
CITY: Bloomington
Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort
308 newly renovated rooms and suites. Full-resort amenities: 27-hole championship golf course, 50,000 sq ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting/banquet space, indoor/outdoor pools, Precor Fitness Center, Spa Vargas, restaurants, lounges and much more.
CITY: Bloomingdale
Cloran Mansion & Antonio's Cottage
Named the 3rd most romantic bed and breakfast in the country, the Cloran Mansion blends modern comfort with historic charm. Five distinctive rooms and a secluded cottage. Fireplaces, private bath with luxury double whirlpool tubs, CD, videos, stocked complimentary mini-fridge, TV/DVDs, A/C. Full country-style breakfast. DSL wireless.
CITY: Galena
Brightwood Inn
Country inn, luxurious rooms with Jacuzzis/fireplaces. Near state parks. Stress free quiet, romantic. Packages. Complimentary hot breakfast with room.
CITY: Oglesby
Fish Lake Beach Campground
This campground has been family owned and operated since 1939. This is a great place to spend some quality family time or just to get away for some fishing, swimming and picnicking. All of the campsites have water, electricity, and fire rings. Campers can use the swimming pool, kiddie pool, hot tub, laundry facilities, rent a row or paddle boat, watch a movie Friday and Saturday nights at the outdoor movie theatre or play a round of mini golf. There are also family activities including Bingo, ceramics, crafts, pool games and story time. The campground also has 2 basketball courts, a baseball field, playground and a teen recreational center with video games. Come for a day, a week, a month or stay all season.
CITY: Volo
Timmerman's Hotel & Resort
At Timmerman's Hotel & Resort, we provide the little comforts that make you feel at home. Conveniently located to nearby attractions; such as, shopping, skiing, golfing, gambling casinos and more. Come see our newly-renovated property.
CITY: East Dubuque
Timber Ridge Inn
A rustic retreat featuring 3 bedrooms (sleeps 6), 2 bathrooms, a kitchen with microwave and refrigerator, and a fireplace, on 80 wooded acres.
CITY: Jonesboro
Ramada Inn Lake Shore
Designed for business and leisure travelers. Clean, comfortable, and large rooms with a magnificent view of the Chicago skyline from the shore of Lake Michigan.
CITY: Chicago
Hampton Inn - East Peoria
The Hampton Inn Peoria, located East of The River Boat Crossing within walking distance from the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino, is one of Illinois' best casinos. Explore the Riverfront area from our East Peoria hotel, home to quaint galleries, restaurants, shops, live music and festivals or head downtown for antique and collectible shopping. Catch a game at the EastSide Center or visit during The Festival of Lights for a spectacle like no other. Our East Peoria hotel is also just two miles from the Peoria Civic Center offering convenient and comfortable accommodations for those attending an event at the venue. Count on our Peoria hotel to offer everything you need for a productive and relaxing stay like free WiFi in each guest room and Hampton's free hot breakfast each morning. Maintain your exercise regime at the fitness center and enjoy a relaxing swim in the indoor pool at our East Peoria hotel. Catch up with work at the business center, taking advantage of the useful services and equipment and hold a meeting for up to 40 guests in one of three event rooms.
CITY: East Peoria
Arthur's Country Inn
Conveniently located on IL 133, this facility is a short distance from an Amish pastry and coffee shop, a cheese shop, woodcraft store, and a family restaurant. The 16 modern rooms are all moderately priced.
CITY: Arthur
Gregory's Resort Motel and Cabins
Come stay in one of the 12 clean, comfortable rooms or a cabin after a long day of fishing or playing! 60 seconds from boat launch. Adjacent to Lithia Campground and Marina. Boat hook-ups, bait shop & store. Pavilions, grills and fire pits. Borders U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property. Open April 1st - October 30th every year. Has free Wi-Fi.
CITY: Shelbyville
Oak Terrace Lodge
Four bedrooms, 3 baths with 2 fireplaces, patio grill, deck overlooking lagoon. One loft master suite w/whirlpool, sauna, and large gathering room. Lower level is for large gatherings with a wet bar and small refrigerator. Nestled in rustic timber overlooking a pond.
CITY: Pana
Drury Inn
As home to the world's largest catsup bottle, Collinsville is not to be missed! Located just across the mighty Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis. The Drury Inn is also not to be missed, with all of our FREE extras! Hotel Services • Free Hot QUIKSTART® Breakfast • Free 5:30 Kickback® - Hot Food & Cold Beverages • Free Wireless Internet • Free 60 Minutes of Long Distance • Free Soda/Popcorn in Lobby (daily 3-10 pm) • Free Local Phone Calls • • HBO, Our Exclusive Premium Movie Channel • CNN, ESPN, Weather Channel & More • Free Parking • Free In-room Coffee Service • 24 Hour Business Center • Exercise Room • Fax Services • Guest Laundry • Guest Voice Mail • Hair Dryers in All Rooms • Indoor Pool • Iron & Ironing Board in All Rooms • Meeting Rooms • Microwaves & Refrigerators in All Rooms • Two-line Phones & Data Ports
CITY: Collinsville
Rose Hotel State Historic Site
The Rose Hotel is believed to have been constructed around 1830 by James McFarland, and operated as a tavern and inn serving Ohio River travelers. It is currently run as a bed and breakfast.
CITY: Elizabethtown
Rocky Comfort Cabins
Walk to beautiful Blue Sky Vineyard from your very private, secluded, luxury cabin. Their premium location on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is the perfect point at which to settle in for a few days while exploring the natural beauty and diversity of southern Illinois. Private hot tub pavilion, luxurious fluffy bathrobes, cozy gas fireplace, stone fire pit, wrap around porch, gourmet coffee beans, two full bathrooms, two bedrooms, solar powered....so many extras. Romantic ambiance, upscale amenities, and spectacular views will help you Relax and Reconnect in the brand new Creole House, available now.
CITY: Makanda
Marsha's Vineyard Bed & Breakfast
Built in spring 2000 by a local Amish contractor, this 1 1/2 salt-box cottage includes two spacious siutes, private baths and kitchen located in the heart of Illinois Amish Country.
CITY: Arthur
Carleton Hotel of Oak Park
Whether you're visiting the Chicago area for business or pleasure, The Carleton of Oak Park offers gracious accommodations in the Oak Park tradition. The hotel is nestled in a residential historic district and within walking distance of downtown Oak Park. The Carleton, has been providing area visitors with exceptional service for over eighty years. The Carleton hotel is the perfect venue for weddings, social events and corporate meetings. Over 6,000 square feet of event space, four unique function rooms along with our professional staff, will make your event a success.
CITY: Oak Park
The Younker House Bed & Breakfast
3 rooms, smoke-free facility and free breakfast.
CITY: Decatur
Harmony Hills Bed & Breakfast
A relaxing country getaway for all seasons. Enjoy country hospitality and charm at this 5 acre retreat in Northern Illinois designed especially for couples seeking time away or small groups wanting to share time together. Also available for meetings, bridal or baby showers, or teas. In addition it can host small weddings, receptions, or reunions on wooded acreage.
CITY: Oregon
Water Valley Inn
Water Valley Inn can accommodate individuals, couples, families and groups up to eight, based on double occupancy. The main floor of the farmhouse includes two bedrooms with queen size beds and one bathroom. The upstairs has three rooms set up with twin beds.
CITY: Cobden
Carl Spindler Campgrounds
Nestled adjacent to the beautiful Illinois river and Spindler Marina. On the bank of the picturesque Illinois River, you will find Spindler Campground and Marina in East Peoria open year round. We offer 52 paved sites with electricity and varying combinations of water and sewer hookups and 26 primitive sites also with electricity. Shower and laundry facilities are available to campers along with a shelter, fire rings and playground equipment.
CITY: East Peoria
Super 8 - Harrisburg
Hot tub- suites available free continental breakfast- non smoking & handicapped rooms available.
CITY: Harrisburg
Blue Sky Suites
Suites over the tasting room at Blue Sky Winery, with beautiful views of the vineyards and pond.
CITY: Makanda
Paula Switzer Lodging
2 bedrooms with sleeping accomodations for 5, a full size, and 2 twin beds and a rollaway. A stocked kitchen
CITY: Golconda
The Cabins & Cottages at Shale Lake
There are four different cabins in various sizes to choose from and each one comes with a beautiful view of the lake. All the cabins have a screened in porch, a/c, full kitchen, 3/4 baths and an open floor plan.
CITY: Williamson
Holiday Inn Rock Island Hotel & Conference Center
Full service hotel that has 175 guest rooms and suites. Full fitness center with over 200 pieces of equipment. 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, on-site restaurant and bar and indoor swimming pool. Close to restaurants, clubs, and more. This hotel is located in the downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District and is centrally located and a quick drive to such attractions as Black Hawk State Historic Site/John Hauberg Indian Museum, Quad City Botanical Center, Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum, and John Deere Pavilion.
CITY: Rock Island
The Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel
Unique guest rooms featuring upgraded room amenities, Irish themed artwork, complimentary breakfast, day spa, pool, Wi-Fi and live entertainment in Frank O'Dowd's Pub. Suites w/whirlpools and valley views.
CITY: Galena
Quail Creek Country Club and Resort
This 18-hole facility is a former PGA Tour site. Quail Creek also features a resort with 34 beautiful room options for golfers and non-golfers. The 19th Hole offers casual and fine dining.
CITY: Robinson
The LaMarsh House
Stay at one of the oldest guest houses in Grafton! This guest house boasts historic charm and modern amenities. Located in the center of downtown Grafton, it's within easy walking distance to restaurants, shops, wineries, and the riverfront.
CITY: Grafton


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BALTIMORE - A Laurel man has pleaded guilty to robbing four banks in Maryland during a five-month period.
Fifty-six-year-old Jeffrey Wayne Malcolm entered the plea on Friday. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at sentencing July 1.
According to his plea agreement, Malcolm robbed banks in Laurel, Sykesville and Monrovia between October 2011 and February 2012.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood • Page 2
New multiplayer map for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood with Facebook milestone
This is the kind of social network gaming we can really get bgehind. Ubisoft has promised that if it can get one million likes on the Assassin's Creed Facebook page, then everyone gets a new multiplayer map for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – among other delightful bonuses.8
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood takes home 2010 WGA crown
A hushed silence on stage. The gentle fumble of the envelope. The crowd draws its breath as one, and… Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood walks away with the 2010 Writer's Guild of America award for videogame writing.9
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Animus Project Update 2.0 DLC now available
Ubisoft has announced that its free DLC for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Animus Project Update 2.0, is now available.16
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood patch disables Xbox 360 multiplayer
The latest title update for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood fixes this, polishes that – and breaks multiplayer on Xbox 360 consoles.9
Call of Duty: Black Ops tops NPD's 2010 best sellers list
The NPD has released a top ten list of the best selling games of 2010 and amazingly, Call of Duty: Black Ops is royally serene at the very head. Other notable entries include Black Ops' precursor, Modern Warfare 2, at eighth place; Red Dead Redemption at fifth; and NBA 2K11 sneaking in at tenth.5
Donglu Yu's Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood concept art is rather lovely
Donglu Yu, an artist who worked on Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, has released some of the artwork she created for the game. It's very nice too.0
Limbo, Red Dead Redemption lead GDCA nominations
GDC organiser ThinkServices has announced nominees for this year's Game Developer's Choice Awards, with Limbo and Red Dead Redemption taking the lead.9
Writer's Guild of America VG Award nominees include AC: Brotherhood, God of War 3, New Vegas
The Writers Guild of America has nominated Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, God of War 3, and Fallout: New Vegas among others for its annual Video Game Writing Award, which is to be handed out on February 5.11
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood sells 1 million in EU, series hits 20 million
Ubisoft's confirmed it's sold 1 million units of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood within a week of its release in Europe.9
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood reviews get rounded-up
Reviews are starting to go live for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and we've got the list for you below.32
AC: Brotherhood multiplayer launch trailer gets stabby
Ubisoft's released the multiplayer launch trailer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, as it hits today in the US.6
First 15 minutes of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood videoed
Someone's uploaded the first 15 minutes of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood to YouTube, showing what to expect when you put it in your disc tray. Spoilers, obviously.13
AC: Brotherhood SP launch trailer tells tale of vengeance
Ubisoft's released the official single-player launch trailer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and rather impressive it is, too.5
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood videos show Rome, Ezio
FirstPlay has released a couple of videos for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and the spotlight is on the city of Rome and Ezio's mad skills.3
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood TV ad shows lift full of dead people
With Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood releasing this week, Ubisoft's decided to show off the game on TV with a load of contemporary corpses. Ours is not to reason why.3
Ubisoft teases "Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"
When you can't even rely on the games themselves to hand out solid answers, expecting a cryptic teaser trailer to give you anything other than a wink and some brief eye candy is probably going too far. Such is the case with a recently posted video of an animated series called "Assassin's Creed: Ascendance." It […]2
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood dev diary discusses multiplayer characters
Ubisoft's released the fourth developer diary for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and we've posted it for you below.1
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood getting a dose of Raiden
How would you like some Metal Gear Solid in your Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood? Sure, you would. Don't deny it.7
Ubisoft announces PS3-exclusive DLC for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Ubisoft's announced it's releasing PS3-exclusive DLC for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.17
There will be co-op for Assassin's Creed "eventually," says Ubi Montreal
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood game director Patrick Plourde has told GamesRadar that co-op will come to the series "eventually".3
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Latest
AC: Brotherhood multiplayer launch trailer gets stabby
First 15 minutes of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood videoed
AC: Brotherhood SP launch trailer tells tale of vengeance
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood videos show Rome, Ezio
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood TV ad shows lift full of dead people
Ubisoft teases "Assassin's Creed: Ascendance"
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood dev diary discusses multiplayer characters
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood getting a dose of Raiden
Ubisoft announces PS3-exclusive DLC for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
There will be co-op for Assassin's Creed "eventually," says Ubi Montreal
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood goes gold – new trailer
AC: Brotherhood isn't a 12-month game, assures Ubi
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood beta ends with promised tweaks to chat, kill cams, more
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood sets Ubisoft pre-order record
New Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood trailer shows nemesis
The first few hours of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – hands-on impressions
AC: Brotherhood PS3 will be the same as 360 version, says Ubi Montreal
Brotherhood: Harlequin and Officer revealed in multiplayer trailers
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Facebook game now live
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood dev diary is all about Ezio's nemesis
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood MP beta now open for all US PS Plus subs
EG Expo 2010 – AC: Brotherhood gets MP footage as beta opens to all
Ubisoft releases a mission trailer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy for Facebook will unlock content in Brotherhood
Eurogamer Expo 2010 – what to expect and what to play
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood gets beta launch trailer
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood MP beta goes live for PS Plus members
Brotherhood: Rome is the largest city ever created for an Assassin's Creed game, says Ubi
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood beta to open early for PS Plus subs on Monday
Danny Wallace to return for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood


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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Games We Forget About
I called my buddy (and game group member) Matt.
"What was the problem with HARP--who had a problem with it?" I asked.
"HARP--like Rolemaster Lite?"
"Yeah, like right before our second season. We all talked about it, but someone didn't care for it."
I let my thoughts percolate. Someone had objected to playing HARP, but damned if I could remember.
I spoke with Matt yesterday after work.
"Maybe it was Loud Joe". Loud Joe is known for his penchant for abilities his characters shouldn't have and rune weapons (which his characters also shouldn't have). He loved Rifts.
"I don't know."
"Well, what do you think of it?"
"Looks good".
Point is, HARP is a very good game, one that simplifies some of the Rolemaster bits without going too loosey-goosey (while keeping those open-ended percentiles we love). But since I've been back in Indy, we've used Palladium Fantasy, Epic Roleplaying, Rolemaster, and Castles & Crusades. HARP came up, was rejected for a reason no one can remember, and was forgotten about.
What we have here is an embarassment of riches. There are so many game systems to discuss and try out, it can be easy to dismiss one out of hand or forget about it. Before we choose our next system, I'm going to make sure we take the time to review all the options. If you're forgetting about games you've had fun with in the past, you might be going in a few too many directions at once.
12 comments:
- Bonemaster said...
Never played HARP. Didn't feel like giving my money to ICE. After the RMSS disaster (yes it was in the end a disaster), it was hard to take anything ICE put out seriously. At least in the groups I've played with there was no desire to do anything with HARP. I know I took a brief look through a rulebook, but it didn't do anything for me. ICE has had almost no presence anywhere I can think of. I was quite surprised to see that HARP actually had it's own website with an announcement of a new licensee. I wonder how expensive it is to become one or if ICE gives them away.
Ok, enough harping on HARP. (ok sorry, I thought that was clever). But you are correct, There are variety of games out there to play. Any people should always review their options before starting a new game. It doesn't have to be just some version of DnD nor a D20 system.
- January 28, 2009 at 8:34 AM
- noisms said...
HARP is an excellent game - it's just what I want in a fantasy RPG. Much more so than D&D, really. The only thing that keeps me going with D&D is the sentimental attachment.
d20 was such a disaster for the RPG industry in many ways. Just think of all the potential HARP fans lost to mundane d20 fantasy games.
- January 28, 2009 at 8:56 AM
- Gleichman said...
We attempted RM after DragonQuest but right before throwing in the towel and creating a home grown ruleset to play fantasy games with.
After that I looked at MERP but never saw HARP.
The failing points for us was that the complexity of changing or even understanding what the crit tables were actually doing was too high. Plus the system put a lot of focus on elements that weren't of interest to us.
ICE however did the best Middle Earth modules ever...
- January 28, 2009 at 10:01 AM
- Golgotha said...
We gamers are a flighty and petulant bunch. I suspect that the same reason we bypass good systems (that might just do what we are looking for) is related to the same mindset that will make a gamer state how he refuses to play a non-d20 game because he "doesn't want to learn a new system" then--in the same breath--talk about how much he enjoys learning 4e.
- January 28, 2009 at 10:46 AM
- Zachary The First said...
@gleichman: We ended up gutting a lot of stuff out of RM when we played it. Didn't use maneuvers as intended, simplified/stopped level stat increase/decrease (like you've mentioned, I believe, I like changes on the character sheet to come through play, not instant levels, though you can do that to a point with in a leveling framework, I believe).
I believe I had a copy of Age of Heroes on my old desktop, but have lost everything on that comp. If you were ok with it, would you be able to email me a copy of AoH to look over? I'd like to check it out again.
PS--Hooray for Pete Fenlon's maps!
- January 28, 2009 at 10:48 AM
- Gleichman said...
Golgotha- I think it's a cost/benefit thing. To be honest most new rpgs these days don't often anything you couldn't get from others that you might already be playing. But a new edition of what you're currently playing offers a bunch of new products (if of the scale of 4E) to what is in effect it's current users. Of course they will for the most part change.
Zachary- I'll shoot you the old copy I used to post online. I have a newer one that I intend to use LuLu to make myself a hardcopy, but it's in pieces and has been a long process with much delays.
- January 28, 2009 at 11:05 AM
- Badelaire said...
I've got the HARP hardcover and picked up a couple of the magic supplements. It's not a bad system, but for me it suffers from an attempt to make an "RM Lite" but still being juuuuust complex enough to turn away people who aren't used to its crunch. I also think they abstracted / generalized some things they shouldn't have, like the weapon tables, which weren't complicated or hard to use - just another level of detail.
You're right though - there's a lot of good systems sitting along the sidelines that just quietly chug along, ignored by most but loved by a few.
- January 28, 2009 at 12:34 PM
- Yax said...
Embarassment of riches. It's true. For me trying out a new set of rules is not fun and unless someone strongly suggests something new I'll stick with D&D. I'm lazy like that.
- January 28, 2009 at 12:57 PM
- Steve said...
that's funny, because I remember you really selling HARP back in the first incarnation of your blog.
- January 28, 2009 at 12:58 PM
- Zachary The First said...
@ Steve: Precisely! The only reason we didn't pick it up when I came back to the States is *someone* had an objection to it. Now we can't remember what it was, and HARP still sits there.
I ran a GREAT game with HARP when in Spain.
- January 28, 2009 at 1:12 PM
- Johnn Four said...
I loved RM. Played it infrequently for a decade. A friend recommended HARP and I scooped it up, but then never gamed it. It sits now in box, dying a dusty death.
Dudes, when we get old enough for catheters and diapers we have to all hookup at the same palatial retirement centre for endless gaming.
- January 29, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Our group abandonded DnD 3.5 when we heard about Harp. Our group liked RM 2nd ed though (never played the RMSS or RMFRP) so we gave it a go and it had all the elements we liked about RM without the hassles we had...
We havent looked back.
Ok we did once but we came back when ICE released Cyradon, the HARP world. Its gritty and allows for any monsters without the whole "super high magic" things that always annoyed me about DnD worlds.
- January 30, 2009 at 9:36 PM


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PINK Magazine is giving away tickets to see Lenka this coming Friday at the Subterranean. Email your name and telephone/cell number to firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Australian singer-songwriter has been on the go ever since the release of her debut – hitting 21 countries in 10 months, recording in London, Atlanta and Los Angeles and recently relocating to Brooklyn. This Friday, June 17th, Lenka will perform at the Subterranean, 2011 West North Avenue in Chicago.
Lenka recorded much of Two with producer David Kosten (Bat for Lashes), working at Ray Davies' Konk Studios in North London. "Tourists would come by and some were shaking they were so excited to see it," she recalls. "But, for us, it was cool because there were all The Kinks' original instruments in there and I got to use a mellotron from the 1970s." Her album is distinctly more electronic than her last, from the dance-friendly "Two," which was produced by Eg White (Adele) to the infectious lead single "Heart Skips a Beat" is one of three tracks produced by Guy Sigsworth (Björk, Seal). "Björk was the first artist that made me realize that it wasn't illegal to have a computer beat in a song – that it can still be beautiful and emotional," says Lenka, former vocalist/keyboardist for acclaimed Australian electronic/ambient band Decoder Ring.
Doors at 9pm, show at 9:30pm. Check out the clip, which recently premiered at TeenVogue.com.
source: press release


text:
Friday, June 11, 2010
Rifts: I Can't Say No
I know the Megaversal System as presented is unwieldy. I know the irritation of waiting years for titles that turn out to be vaporware. I have watched the power creep progress from Vampire Kingdoms to Atlantis to South America to Warlords of Russia and beyond.
So why am I running it again?
Well, for one, as I've stated before, it's my Mother's Milk in this hobby, along with Palladium Fantasy. I've run it long enough that I don't need the book (it used to be I could tell you how many skill selections all the classes in the main book, and what type). Things that bother other gamers I long ago learned to cope with.
Second, I'm not really a big system guy. All systems have their shortcomings, and Rifts is descended enough from old AD&D homebrew that I can tweak and tweak to my heart's delight. And since the game craps on Game Balance and nails its mom immediately afterwards, I don't worry about my tweaks causing widespread havoc.
Rifts is messy, but so are all-you-can-eat buffets. Much like a buffet, you can get a little something of everything you want there. And with Rifts still the standard in kitchen-sink gaming, that's a pretty important aspect.
But the most important thing about Rifts is still that passion. There's the excitement of the authors, which jumps off every page. As I've said before, I want game writers excited about their product--that comes across in reading, and gets me excited about the product.
Rifts has never been afraid to be about stupid fun. Let others create games about sodomite pirates or attempt to explore sexual abuse through gaming. Rifts is there, shirt untucked, Dorito-stained hands wrapped around a Mountain Dew, explaining to you that a Dog Boy, True Atlantean, and some dude with no possessions except a giant ion cannon have teamed up to kill vampires on the Rio Grande. Maybe there's a story there, maybe there isn't. Either way, Rifts is cool with it.
There's something to be said for picking a single premise and doing it well; Rifts is a game that picks all premises, fails at some, succeeds at others. To use that old standby, it is what it is. But sometimes I think that when I pick up Rifts, the system, the warts, and the way it's presented all work to remind me about what's really important in RPGs. It isn't art, it isn't going to be perfect; it's gaming. I wouldn't have it any other way.
(...I might change the Vagina Eyeball cover on Rifts Ultimate, but that's just because I am a Classy Guy).
18 comments:
- Jason Richards said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- June 11, 2010 at 11:18 AM
- Jason Richards said...
"And since the game craps on Game Balance and nails its mom immediately afterwards, I don't worry about my tweaks causing widespread havoc."
Hehehe. Welcome back, buddy. :)
- June 11, 2010 at 11:19 AM
- da Trux said...
"the game craps on Game Balance and nails its mom immediately afterwards"
you are my literary hero!
for all its faults, Rifts is FUN. and that is what matters most.
- June 11, 2010 at 12:42 PM
- ancientvaults said...
Save vs. Poison (the blog) is playing also getting into RIFTS. I ran it years ago and I do love the idea behind the game. The only problem I had was the wide range of classes and races. It was much easier to begin everyone on the same level (like Coalition troops) and branch out from there.
- June 11, 2010 at 12:44 PM
- Zenfar said...
Love it! Maybe I will run a Rifts game as my midelife crisis game...
- June 11, 2010 at 1:21 PM
- Helmsman said...
I'm basically in the same boat as you. I don't know how, but Palladium writes the only RPG's I know of that I actually want to turn to the next page to find out what's going on. No other game does that for me, I've played many other games and had fun with them, but Palladium games are the only ones I can read for enjoyment.
It's been an interesting exercise for me to create a new system for Rifts that keeps things as true to the original as I can tolerate. I'm very close to running something I hope will be really really fun.
- June 11, 2010 at 5:54 PM
- Zachary The First said...
Thanks, guys! :)
- June 12, 2010 at 12:38 AM
- d7 said...
I was just leafing through my old, dog-eared, original edition of Rifts a couple of days ago.
I never ran it though, so the system is impenetrable soup to me. The setting is equal heapings of wonder and awesome though, and I've always wanted to play in that sandbox. I'm a fan of the One Roll Engine and I'm seriously considering using that (in it's Nemesis incarnation) to run a Rifts game. I think it's flexible enough to capture the awesome and the gritty bits of Rifts, and it easy to pick up and modify.
Which is to say, thanks for the shot of enthusiasm!
- June 12, 2010 at 12:59 AM
- Zachary The First said...
Go for it! That sounds awesome!
- June 12, 2010 at 10:56 AM
- DNAphil said...
I spent my teenage years running the craziest TMNT campaigns ever. I did not even have Mega Damage for all the craziness I got into. Warts and all, I like the Palladium system.
Have fun playing Rifts.
- June 12, 2010 at 11:23 AM
- Helmsman said...
@d7 What's this One Roll Engine?
- June 12, 2010 at 11:46 AM
- d7 said...
I left off the link because I didn't want to proselytise in a Palladium system post, but since you ask…
One Roll Engine is a d10 dice pool system used in a number of games, originally Godlike. Instead of a target number, you look for sets of pairs or bigger of the same die value. The system uses the number of matching dice (calls it "Width") and the face value in the set (calls it "Height") as a way of determining a bunch of stuff with one throw of the dice. That's primarily why it's a fast system. (That, and combat uses simultaneous resolution, so you're never waiting on someone else's turn.)
Of the games that use it, Nemesis is free to download and covers 1920 to present-day/near-future well. I'd also be using the Company rules from Greg Stolze's Reign to model high-level action between Xiticix armies, DB towns, conspiracies, Coalition forces, mercenaries, or whatever, in between character-level adventures.
Mr Stolze has released a bunch of supplements for Reign under a ransom system, including a build-your-own-magic supplement. I'd use that with Nemesis since it doesn't cover magic much.
And I'll leave it at that. If you're curious, I can dig up some representative reviews on RPG.net, or you can just take a look at the material for download at Project Nemesis and Stolze's downloads page.
- June 12, 2010 at 3:56 PM
- Helmsman said...
Nice. The width and height has a few permutations that I like. Does it do hit-location?
- June 12, 2010 at 5:14 PM
- d7 said...
@Helmsman Yes, it uses the Height to determine where a hit lands, each location can take a fixed amount of damage before it's useless or results in unconsciousness/death, and damage done is usually Width modified by the weapon. (Pages 24 and 25 of the Nemesis PDF cover the entirety of the damage and hit location system.)
I mentioned running Rifts using this to one of my players and he was quite enthused. There really seems to be a lot of love for Rifts as a setting, regardless of how people feel about the system. I know intellectually that it's a kitchen-sink setting, but it does it so well that it doesn't feel like just an excuse to have everything in one game. There's something about Rifts that's very compelling as a setting.
- June 13, 2010 at 1:20 AM
- Helmsman said...
@d7 "There's something about Rifts that's very compelling as a setting."
Interesting thing is that when you look at Joss Whedon settings or Firefly the formulas that are used to create those settings run very similar to Rifts. The only difference is that Rifts usually has around 3x as many of them.
To illustrate:
Farscape: Blanket Villain: Peacekeepers - covers multiple worlds and is far bigger than any one bad-guy so they can never be defeated.
Thing Blanket Villain is scared of to justify it's villainy: Scarans.
Thing Blanket Villain Wants from PC's: Wormhole Knowledge.
Now Firefly:
Blanket Villain: The Alliance - same massive organization far bigger than any one bad-guy.
Thing Blanket Villain is scared of: Reavers.
Thing Villain wants from PC's: River Tam and her psychic abilities.
Now Rifts: Blanket Villain - the Coalition.
Thing Blanket Villain is scared of: Alien Subversion of Humanity.
Thing Villain wants from PC's: This is pretty diverse from a bit of Pre-Rifts tech, to the location of Erin Tarn, to a old book to something much bigger.
Phase World (actually my favorite)
Blanket Villain: Name it. I run parallels between the Consortium of Civilized Worlds as the Peacekeepers and the Transgalactic Empire as the Scarans, but there are 9 different major factions in Phase world so take your pick.
Thing the Blanket Villain is Scared of: There's lots to be scared of in Phase World, but it's usually faction vs faction.
Thing the Villain Wants from the PC's: The Cosmic Forge - which seems campy but the way it's kept shrouded in mystery but with the occasional hint that it might be tied to Rifts Earth (for the GM's convenience) makes it seriously awesome.
That's one of the things I've come to recognize in Rifts settings is that there's some solid storytelling in their books which I don't think is accidental.
- June 13, 2010 at 10:58 AM
- Scotty said...
I MISS MISS MISS Rifts gaming. Hell I miss gaming period.
- June 13, 2010 at 4:12 PM
- Scotty said...
I MISS MISS MISS Rifts gaming. Hell I miss gaming period.
- June 13, 2010 at 4:13 PM
- Zachary The First said...
Fine work, d7. Good explanation.
@Helmsman: Interesting comparison!
@Scotty: Hang in there!
- June 13, 2010 at 6:48 PM


text:
Microsoft Surface Pro to Have Much Less Available User Storage Than Specified
Those who purchase a 64GB Surface Pro ($899) will discover just 23GB of available space for their own files, while the 128GB version leaves users with 83GB of storage.
Less storage space than advertised isn't something that's unique to Microsoft by any means, but the reason it's drawing so much Internet attention is because Surface Pro gobbles up more storage than most of its competitors, up to 45GB right out of the box.
Much ado about nothing?
"Surface Pro has a USB 3.0 port for connectivity with almost limitless storage options, including external hard drives and USB flash drives," Microsoft said in a statement. "Surface also comes preloaded with SkyDrive, allowing you to store up to 7GB of content in the cloud for free."
Surface Pro also comes with a MicroSDXC card slot for an additional 64GB of storage space, provided you pony up for a memory card. And yet another option is to create a backup bootable USB device and delete the recovery partition, Microsoft adds.
It's not just the OS, MS is including other software with the install... Exact details aren't confirmed but it won't be just a bare OS install. Especially, since they intend to market the pro toward Enterprise/Corporate users.
Also, the SkyDrive feature has a off-line sync folder... So that means up to 7GB will be taken up on the Internal drive if you make full use of the SkyDrive service... Though this is disabled in the 64GB and smaller systems and you'll need to be online to access the files then, but MS may have set aside drive space specifically for this service.
While eliminating the recovery partition should free up at least 15GB...
The whole point of a tablet is to have a single unit with everything you need in it, in a small, lightweight, portable rectangle. Microsoft could have avoided a lot of this criticism by simply omitting the 64GB unit and releasing only the 128GB (or a 128GB unit and a 256GB one).
Windows *is* bloatware. Get over it. Or give it a miss and get an Android instead. My 16GB Lenovo tablet has 12GB internal storage free; that's about 75% free space, vs. about 33% for the 64GB Surface Pro.
A bit of an exaggeration, as a desktop OS will always be far larger than a mobile OS. Even the apps are much smaller for a Mobile OS!
Try installing say Ubuntu on your Android tablet and you'll find a lot less free space! Even OSX isn't that much lighter than Windows!
Desktop OS is more powerful and offers more than a mobile OS can, larger install is just part of the trade off... along with needing higher performance to run it, etc.
SSDs are also still pretty pricey and they'd have to significantly raise the price to offer more. Besides, which, capacities higher than 128GB aren't that easy to squeeze into the smaller than 11.6" tablets. We're talking mSATA or smaller options and not large and roomy 2.5" drives that laptops use!
Such options are emerging but they're at a price premium, much like getting a 512GB SSD for a laptop.
So we'll not likely see such higher capacities until the later part of this year, but that's one of the things to consider for the Surface Pro because MS will release a Haswell updated version, probably by the end of the year.
While also keep in mind the ARM and Clover Trail tablets are using the low end eMMC storage instead of high performance SSDs. So the pro tablets are offering far greater drive performance, and it's not just a matter of capacity.
So people considering what's best for them should not over-simplify it to just one feature like drive space. There are other trade-offs that are important to consider too!
It's also not clear what apps Microsoft is including pre-installed on the Surface Pro, which can be easily uninstalled. I literally just finished setting up a new system for my wife the other day, and INCLUDING the pagefile and with hibernation enabled, the full Windows 8 Pro OS installation, along with Adobe Creative Suite 6, Office 2013, anti-virus, and a handful of other applications and utilities, 47GB of disk space is used. There's obviously more being installed than just the OS.
Now that MS is being raked over the coals for the disk space being consumed by desktop OS, a recovery partition, and whatever apps come pre-installed, I'm looking forward to the plethora of other articles that must be in the works holding Samsung, Lenovo, ASUS, and EVERY OTHER OEM that makes a Windows 8 Pro based mobile device to the same standard.
I am starting to think that Microsoft should have chosen 128GB as a baseline for Surface Pro than 64GB. It would have resulted in a more expensive device, sure, but who wants to spend nearly $1,000 on a PC and only have 23GB of storage space available to them? There are USB and memory card options, but those are hardly elegant - especially when you're on the go.
Microsoft really isn't at fault for this "problem" of hogged space, because it is what it is. There's not enough RAM in the device to support extracting of the restore ISO on-the-fly to cut down on space there - so the entire thing needs to be left extracted on the device itself (~8GB). Then there's the ~4GB swap file and ~4GB hibernation file (that is, if Microsoft is using hibernation in the traditional manner on this device). It all adds up.
Nonetheless, I'm interested in seeing how these sell. They are pretty attractive, though I personally have no need for a Windows tablet.
I don't understand the big hoopla at all...... If I buy ANY PC/Mac/laptop/ultrabook etc there is always a decent sized chunk of storage space missing that is just the way it is! Even my iphone doesn't come with the 32gb specified. The Surface is a COMPUTER in tablet form it is NOT like an Ipad tablet, Windows has always taken up a sizeable chunk of HDD spac*+
e and this thing comes with Windows8, office, and more. And guess what? You can uninstall any bloatware you like including office if you don't use it. Also Many of us go ahead and do a fresh format and install for ourselves and others if a brand name PC with a preinstalled OS is purchased and I am sure many will still take that same route with the Surface I know I would as long as I can get office back on there...
>> a desktop OS will always be far larger than a mobile OS.
>> Try installing say Ubuntu on your Android tablet and you'll find a lot less free space!
Not particularly. The base install for some desktop Linux distros is actually smaller than what you get on Android devices. They're both software bundles sitting on the Linux kernel. Even if you were to install the full Ubuntu desktop distro, you're looking at using maybe 3 or 4GB extra space used over an Android install, at most (which is not a drastic difference on a 64GB drive). And, if you customize it with a minimalist desktop, you'll end up right back at the Android install size or less.
The packaging and pre-requisite systems on Linux has led to an environment where you get a lot of re-use of common libs - keeping size down.
"Not particularly. The base install for some desktop Linux distros is actually smaller than what you get on Android devices."
Hardly, what you call base install is missing a lot of components and features. Any desktop OS can be optimized to pretty small sizes, even Windows can be shrunk down to a couple hundred MB but you eliminate range of capabilities and flexibility of the OS in exchange.
Really, if it was so easy to keep size down then full Linux distros like Ubuntu would not be multiple GB in size!
Besides, the equivalent base install of Android goes well below 100MB! There's no real comparison between a mobile OS and a desktop OS!
They don'y expect to sell many anyway. The RT already set the pace.


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Residents in Annapolis are preparing to vote for candidates for mayor and City Council.
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