text:
Enter Shikari drummer Rob Ralfe has told Gigwise that fellow UK band Arctic Monkeys were the worst festival headliner that he'd ever seen, following Shikari's set at the UK's Reading Festival.
In the interview, which you can check out below, frontman Rou Reynolds and drummer Ralfe spoke about the possibility of the band one day headlining the festival, with Reynolds saying "Obviously it's not something that we're expecting or particularly striving for but who knows?" The band had been booked as the headliner for the festival's "Lock Up Stage."
When asked what makes a good festival headliner, Rob told the interviewer "You need good production. Sometimes I feel a bit cheated when a headline band don't have any production. You've got to put on a good show." When the interviewer asked who the worst festival headliner they'd ever seen was, Ralfe replied "Arctic Monkeys. I'm not a big fan of them anyway so maybe I'm quite biased."
With the Arctics keen to tour soon, perhaps they'll have a chance to prove Enter Shikari wrong?
(Via Gigwise)
Watch: Enter Shikari Gigwise Interview At Reading Festival
Read More
- Stream Enter Shikari's New Single 'The Last Garrison'
- Enter Shikari Announce Fourth Album 'The Mindsweep'
- 9 Things Everyone's Talking About After Reading & Leeds Festival 2014
- Arctic Monkeys Respond To Tax Avoidance Claims
- Josh Homme's Awkward First Meeting With Arctic Monkeys Crushed Any "Cool-Guy BS"
- Arctic Monkeys Involved In Tax Avoidance Scheme


text:
Have you been able to input your sim provider data connection details, similar to the ones you have to use on a phone?
I have contacted Yojia to verify that the F4 is compatible with UK mobile frequencies but have read elsewhere that someone has put a SIM in their F4 & got a signal level reading, just not sure that they were UK based.
The current software for this model is downloadable from http://www.yojiatech.com/a/Support/D.../0921/247.html but I have heard that this only has the Asian satellite lists in it so you will need a separate channel list download (lots of local sources) for your chosen satellites.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I bought Chloe on a hot summer day.Unfortunately this appaers to be the only type of weather on which I like to smell this citrussy and clean. Other days it reminds me too much of insect repellent to wear it with confidence.
Chloe edp has been my most used fragrance in the 2 years since it was given to me. I'm generally not a fan of rose in perfumes, with very few exceptions. Chloe has a spicy note to temper the soapy-clean primness that keeps it appropriate for any occasion or season. While I lean mostly towards white florals and warm orientals, there is a femininity and consistency to Chloe that I never tire of. The scent does not fade or change, nor is it overpowering-though a little goes a long way in my experience.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
This is 100% the scent of my dreams. It is a feminine scent but not overly sweet, smells extremely fresh and enticing. I love love love this perfume so much that sometimes when I'm at home I will pick up the bottle for a sniff!
The only downsides are that it is pricey and for me, it does not last as long as I would have liked.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
I fell in love with this scent at Sephora. Then I went on Amazon and purchased it. Beautifully clean and feminine fragrance. Say what you will about it smelling like fabric softener but I think is smells expensive and chic. Took me exactly 1 sniff to know this was right for me. No other fragrance has made me put down my Dior J'Adore. Well done Chloe.
An older, most lust-worthy gentleman told me I smelled exotic with this fragrance. I think this is the one. Very expensive but it lasts all day. It is so worth it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
I wear this scent everyday and I get so many compliments, it is very feminine but also not too similar to any others I have tried. I also love the bottle it comes in although the metallic coated part does fade over time. I know this perfume isn't right for everyone because my sister tried it on for a day and it didn't suit her at all, but definitely worth trying on in store and seeing how it develops throughout the day. It is my personal favourite and I have repurchased this twice already! Love Love Love
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
This is now my signature scent. I feel as though I have been searching my entire life for a scent just like this and I am so glad I finally found it. The price is the only thing that made me a little hesitant to purchase but in the end I do not regret it.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
More reviews by Meshmmesha772000
I got a rather good sized sample and this is simply GOREGEOUS , so womanly and exactly my style , I am a floral girl to the bones and I am not shy or ashamed to admit it , powdery notes and mild fruity accords are always winners in my books .This is like your chic , comfortable dress which isn't new or the latest trends but it suits you wonderfully and you always get compliments on ...People who are talking about "laundry smells " ...Well as Chanel once said : " Fashion changes but style endures " this is stylish and beautiful not just a crazy trend or another creative idea for a perfume ..Does roses go out of style ??...I don't think so .
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
More reviews by beastandbeauty
What can I say - clean ironed laundry with a bit too much fabric conditioner used - that's exactly what the smell is! I used to work with a girl whose clothes always had the smell of overdosed fabric conditioner, we all commented on it, it was neither pleasant or unpleasant, just noticeable. It did not even cross my mind that it could be an expensive fragrance of her choice! Now that I have tested Chloe the mystery from years back has been revealed. I would only use it on my laundry if I forgot to add conditioner to my wash!
For a while I've kept smelling this lovely scent from others which made me perk my head up. However I didn't know what it was, until one day in the perfume section i realised it was Chloe EDP. This has been my go-to scent ever since for special occasions or when i want to feel special.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
More reviews by AlohaPandaXOXO
Chloe EDP and I have had a journey that started with a lot of love, a long period of separation, and now a happy reunion. I remember first smelling Chloe in 2008 and being obsessed with it completely and it fueling many other Chloe brand purchases. Anyway, I eventually snagged a great gift set with a 2.5 oz bottle of the fragrance, a lotion, and a really cute clutch.
Then, I started wearing it and I went from adoring the floral fragrance to having it turn into really strong smelling laundry detergent on my skin. A type of smell that'd just hang around me, way too strong of a sillage. If I smelled it on another people, I'd have a similar reaction. It just made me sick to my stomach to be near it and was really mad at myself for having spent over a hundred dollars on something I couldn't use. So it sat on my vanity for years, untouched, until this month. I'd highly advise anyone who wants to purchase this get a sample before and try it out before spending quite a bit on a perfume that can cause some pretty major headaches.
I decided to retry Chloe after purchasing Elizabeth and James' Nirvana White and realizing that Lily of the Valley no longer made me get a headache and thought it was time to try out Chloe again. Such a pleasant surprise, thankfully Chloe now works for me again and is not causing headaches or any other sort of reaction. I can't pin point what was causing the problem, but perhaps it was whatever body wash I was using at the time was interacting with Chloe to cause such an overpowering, chemical smell. Now I can enjoy this sophisticated floral and how long it lasts without feeling icky.
My only small complaint now is that the oxidation of the silver on the bottle is kind of a pain to deal with without getting the ribbon dirty cleaning it. Normal silver polish can clean off any discoloration on the top, but be careful with the beige ribbon as it'll absorb any grime from the silver polish quickly. I wish a coating had been put on the top to prevent this from happening, but I suppose if you're using proper silver plate this is inevitable.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No


text:
|American Miniature Schnauzer Club, Inc.
By Jaime F. Modiano, Ph.D.
Melanoma is a type of cancer that occurs commonly in dogs with pigmented (dark) skin. Melanomas can occur in areas of haired skin, where they usually form small, dark (brown to black) lumps, but can also appear as large, flat, wrinkled masses. Melanomas also can occur in the mouth, toes, or behind the eye. In general, skin melanomas tend to be benign, and those in the mouth, toes, or eyes tend to be malignant. However, there are many exceptions to this rule.
The term cancer refers to a large number of diseases whose only common feature is uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation (multiplication). This loss of cell growth control results from an accumulation of mutations (errors introduced into the DNA code) in genes that control cell division and cell survival.
The most common mechanism that introduces mutations into the DNA of somatic cells (non-reproductive cells) is the inherent error that occurs during normal cell division. In mammalian cells, there is an error rate of about 1 in 1,000,000 to 1 in 10,000,000 bases during each round of replication. The genome consists of many millions of base pairs, so each daughter cell is likely to carry at least a few mutations in its DNA. Most of these mutations are silent; that is, they do not present any problems to the cell's ability to function. However, others can disable tumor suppressor genes or activate oncogenes that respectively inhibit or promote cell division and survival. Given the fact that cell division is responsible for most mutations, it is not surprising that the most common cancers arise from cells that divide frequently in the performance of their function.
Fortunately, the body has many built-in safeguards that mandate that abnormal cells be destroyed. For that reason, before cancer can take hold, a malignant cell must eliminate or evade these safeguards. The reliability of these systems is evident in the fact that our pets are not "walking tumors". Still, cancer is the most frequent cause of death in dogs.
Melanoma arises from melanocytes, cells that impart pigment or coloration to the skin. In humans, melanoma arises due to mutations induced by repeated, intense exposure to ultraviolet light (for example, frequent tanning or working outdoors). This does not seem to be a major factor in dogs, as in most breeds the hair coat affords them protection from sunlight. However, pigment cells divide every time there is injury to the skin, or if there is constant trauma (for example, areas where dogs constantly scratch or lick). Nevertheless, risk factors for canine melanoma are not well established.
Mutations that contribute to cancer can also be inherited. An inherited mutation in a single gene that is important in cell growth control will increase the risk of that individual to develop cancer. This can be due to reducing the overall number of acquired mutations that must accumulate before a cell becomes cancerous, or it can be due to disabling a critical safeguard gene that normally prevents cells from becoming tumors. Specific genes that are responsible for familial melanoma have been identified in humans and in mice. In dogs, there appears to be a predisposition among certain breeds or families to develop specific types of cancer, suggesting that a hereditary component may be important in the development or progression of the disease.
The laboratory of Dr. Jaime Modiano at the AMC Cancer Center has an ongoing program to define the role of genetics in canine cancer. With support from the Canine Health Foundation of the American Kennel Club and specific breed clubs, Dr. Modiano is evaluating the role of various target genes in canine melanoma. For additional information on this project, or to inquire if your breed can be included in Dr. Modiano's study we encourage you to visit the CHF web site at www.akcchf.org, or contact your breed club's health representative.
The foregoing article is reprinted with the kind permission of Dr. Modiano. Dr. Modiano completed his veterinary training and PhD in Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, a residency in Veterinary Clinical Pathology at Colorado State University, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. He was appointed to the faculty in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University as Assistant Professor between 1995 and 1999. Currently, Dr. Modiano is a scientist in the Center for Cancer Causation and Prevention at the AMC Cancer Research Center in Denver, Colorado, and a Full Member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His work is supported through federal and private sources, including the following grant from the AKC Canine Health Foundation:
No. 1626: Significance of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Canine Cancer
Last Revised: April 8, 2002


text:
all sports
- football
- cricket
- rugby league
- rugby union
- golf
- formula 1
- tennis
- cycling
- boxing
- horse racing
- darts
- snooker
- athletics
Wasps officials were left shocked and angry on Monday night after Saracens signed their number eight Billy Vunipola on a "long-tern contract".
Saracens have also signed Harlequins prop James Johnston in a double transfer coup for the Aviva Premiership club - but there is bad feeling betwen the London rivals.
Wasps had been expecting Vunipola to remain with them, believing that at a meeting today with the player and his agent would see a new contract being discussed, with Wasps prepared to give the 20-year-old exactly what he asked for.
But it is understood Vunipola actually signed his deal with Saracens last week. Wasps say they discovered he was leaving just half an hour before Saracens made the formal announcement.
A Wasps statement said: "The club has been informed this afternoon that Billy Vunipola has decided to leave at the end of the season.
"We are incredibly disappointed that he has chosen to leave and we will make a full comment on his departure tomorrow."
Vunipola is one of the most exciting young players in the Aviva Premiership and he has been fast-tracked into England's RBS 6 Nations plans.
The dynamic number eight will join brother Mako at Saracens, who is one of 12 players to have agreed contract extensions with the Men In Black.
Harlequins, it is understood, were equally as taken-aback that Johnston had decided to move across London to Saracens.
While the loss of Vunipola will hit Wasps hard just as Young looks to have finally got the club moving in the right direction, Johnston's departure is a similarly huge blow to Harlequins.
The Samoan international was the cornerstone of Harlequins' title triumph last season and he has developed over the last year into one of the most dominant tight-head props in the Premiership.
England internationals Richard Wigglesworth and David Strettle have also agreed new deals with Saracens along with Saxons squad member Will Fraser.
Eoin Sherriff, Ben Spencer, Nils Mordt, Duncan Taylor, Ben Ransom and James Short have also extended their stays at the club.


text:
main index
Geneon Entertainment—or as it's now known, Geneon Universal—is one of the world's major anime producers and distributors. The birth and death of their North American division illustrates the current instability and unpredictability of the American anime industry.The story began in 1993, when Japanese technology giant Pioneer Electronics decided to start an entertainment division in both Japan and America. While Pioneer Entertainment distributed tapes and Laserdiscs in a variety of genres, from music to documentaries, the company became best known as an anime producer and distributor. The company also became a major DVD supplier when the format became available. Titles first released during the Pioneer years included Tenchi Muyo!, Serial Experiments Lain, Last Exile and Trigun.In 2003, Pioneer decided to sell off its entertainment division. The buyer was another Japanese corporate giant—Dentsu, an advertising firm. They renamed the company Geneon, which is a portmanteau of the English words generate and eon. (There was a transitional period, during which new releases carried both the Pioneer and Geneon logos on the packaging.) The new name was meant to signify innovation and longevity, which became bitterly ironic in light of what happened next.Geneon USA began running into financial problems, despite being a popular and respected name among anime fans. Possible reasons for this included the increasing popularity of fansubs, Geneon's support of the doomed Mini DVD format, and the company's tendency to license arty Mind Screw series with limited commercial appeal (such as Paranoia Agent, Texhnolyze, and Ergo Proxy) alongside more mainstream titles such as Hellsing, Samurai Champloo, Higurashi: When They Cry, and Black Lagoon. Whatever the explanation, by 2007, Geneon was in trouble. After an attempted alliance with ADV Films (who were having problems of their own) quickly fell apart, Geneon USA announced that by the end of 2007 it would no longer manufacture or distribute DVDs. Not only did this leave several of its announced but uncompleted titles in limbo, it led many fans to assume that Geneon USA was completely out of business, when it actually still existed as a licensing firm. Still. American and Canadian anime fans spent the better part of a year wondering when—and if—the Geneon catalogue would find a new home.The story has a happy ending. In 2008, Geneon licensed several of its titles (including most of the incomplete ones) to FUNimation, who rereleased them. Select properties were picked up by other labels. (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit went to Media Blasters/Anime Works (it eventually went to Viz Media in 2014); AKIRA went to Bandai Entertainment/Honneamise (and later to FUNimation when Bandai folded); Sentai Filmworks, the successor to ADV Films, wound up rescuing several licenses in 2009 and 2010; El-Hazard: The Magnificent World was reissued by Nozomi Entertainment; Discotek Media released Panda Go Panda in 2012.)Geneon's Japanese corporate parent continues to be one of that country's major entertainment producers and distributors; their properties include not only anime but several mainstream films from around the world, including America. In November 2008, Geneon Japan merged with Universal Pictures. The company is now known as Geneon Universal.note In 2009, Anime News Network did an excellent podcast in which former Geneon USA executive Chad Kime talks about the reasons for Geneon America's decline; these include anime series that failed (Heat Guy J cost as much as Fullmetal Alchemist but sold a fraction), budgeting for titles they did not own, and licensing titles because the previous titles didn't make money.
Anime licensed by Geneon include:
** Rereleased by FUNimation.
*** Both of the above.
+ Rereleased by Sentai Filmworks.
Tropes associated with Geneon Entertainment:


text:
- Critic & User
- Videos &
- Codes
& FAQs
- Gameplay
- Similar
Critic & User Reviews
Above Average
Wrath indeed!!
posted by DirtyDan (CANYON COUNTRY, CA) Sep 30, 2007
Member since May 2007
26 out of 27 gamers (96%) found this review helpful
1: Swordplay is not as responsive as per say Zelda! the game play is more combo based (i.e swing left then right and then up for a 3 hit combo)which will sometimes not really register the correct motion. Also you can not attack and run at the same time which makes for some frustrating times when you a perfectionist since the game keeps track of all hits taken and applies it to your overall level percent!
2: voice acting is actually good!! BUT!!! they use it only in the beginning of the game which makes the rest of the game feel a little empty.
3: Many of the bosses are far to easy. Lets just say that with the first two strikes you pretty much have their pattern down pat.
1: Swordplay is actually fun. Well...to a certain extent. unlike zelda not every swing is registered, but if you slow down your swing and time it, it really does feel a little more accurate.
2: The dragon powers rocked!! Kind of like a mega man game in which after you beat each boss you get to use their dragon ability. After defeating the first boss you receive what i call the "dragon fist" which you can use to unlock sealed doors and wreak havoc on some beasts.
3: The graphics are actually very good despite what most people will say. I loved the many different atmospheres you had to enjoy through the course of the game although some can feel a little empty and feel like the developers forgot something here and there, hey I'm not complaining its in the pro section
well that pretty much wraps it up. please rate this review for me and much thanx for reading.
Really Bad
Uninspiring and unremarkable in every way!
posted by nbowling (MACKINAW, IL) Jan 22, 2008
Member since Aug 2007
2 out of 2 gamers (100%) found this review helpful
Dull And Flawed Game
posted by TuxBobble (EDISON, NJ) Oct 1, 2007
Member since Dec 2006
11 out of 13 gamers (85%) found this review helpful
The controls work sometimes, but not always. After playing for a bit, I was able to get MOST of the controls right (up/down vs. left/right) with the exception of thrusting forward. For some reason, it would tend to act as if I were thrusting when I would shake side to side. While possible to overcome, the controls are an annoyance while you're adjusting, because you need to swipe once per swing on screen, not shake the Wiimote like crazy as per most other Wii titles available right now.
On another note, a bigger problem is that this game is just not fun. The very small move set gets old very fast, even with the weapon upgrades. There is no voice acting during some cutscenes, and poorly written dialog that comes off as ridiculous. Essentially, the game has cliche's after cliche's, and to a mature person who can look at the game critically, it's a huge disappointment.
If you're interested in buying a game for children, it MIGHT be okay. I say this because I don't know how long it would take a child to learn to execute the proper motions patiently enough for the game to recognize them. Other than the controls, it'd be great for a kid. But ironically, the game is rated T for Teen, which means that once you're old enough to be allowed to play this game, you probably won't want to anymore.
There are a few redeeming characteristics, because the visuals are somewhat nice, especially given some of the other Wii games released in the past year. But ultimately the game falls flat to a 4/10, in my opinion.
Very Good
Good, solid Game
posted by Mrniceguy8 (BROOKLYN, NY) Sep 29, 2007
Member since Sep 2007
8 out of 12 gamers (67%) found this review helpful
The game can be hard at times, and you may find yourself starting over a 5 minute check point over and over until you've mastered how to defeat every single enemy, but the combat is so engaging and just plain fun, that you won't mind much. It's simply wonderful to watch as you completely annihilate 20 swarming enemies with your powerful and gorgeous dragon techniques.
The graphics may not be top notch or incredibly detailed, but they get the job done and they certainly follow a mood. The CGI is nothing more or less than you would expect with a budget game such as this one and there is no voice acting, which may be disappointment for some.
The story line is not the best, but it is original and compelling.
What really disappointed me the most is that the game is a bit short, but it makes for a perfect rental, and I recommend that you rent it.
Just not worth the effort
posted by HippyVock (SEATTLE, WA) Sep 29, 2007
Member since May 2006
5 out of 8 gamers (62%) found this review helpful
The beginning of the game is a great to place to start complaining. They throw the plot at you in boring, static cutscenes with a seeming unending voice narration to shift to a moving, decent looking cutscene with no voice action whatsoever. I've already lost interest.
As other previews had noted, the sword swinging (the heart of the game) is fairly unresponsive with my hand moving easily two or three times to fast for the Wii-mote and game to agree upon. If I don't move that fast, I find your character likes to stand and wait to get hit. All the while the camera is fairly quirky, sometimes obeying your command and at others spinning on its own with a blurred effect thrown in from time to time.
The control scheme for the Wii-mote is equally poor as the buttons are too spread out and fighting to get the sword right and then have your hand in place is just to tiring on the wrist to put much effort into getting it right. That might sound lazy, but after dying multiple times at a "boss area" because even though I was locked onto an enemy, my character went the opposite direction, I got hit, fell and in getting up rolled into an enemy or got stuck in a corner facing the wrong way, etc. and died. The dragon power looked cool and I bet sequential powers are even better, but the power meter drained way too quickly for it to be effective very long and I had trouble gaging the distance between the character and the enemies as to not swipe midair. All of these things were making me long for a different game, so I quit Dragon Blade:WOF and put in that different game. I feel much better.
Dragon Blade: Where's the Fire?
posted by Areskar (MARSHALLTOWN, IA) Dec 29, 2008
Member since Mar 2008
1 out of 2 gamers (50%) found this review helpful
I thought wrong.
posted by pkessler (LOUISVILLE, OH) Jan 25, 2008
Member since May 2007
1 out of 2 gamers (50%) found this review helpful
Above Average
Kill them all and let Wii put more in my path
posted by brockly (MODESTO, CA) Sep 30, 2007
Member since Aug 2007
2 out of 6 gamers (33%) found this review helpful
this game has what you need for what it offers. I have to tell you I didn't care for the game. but it doesn't make the game any worst that it is. the Game Play is fun. you swing that Wiimote like a sword. It will take you 10 to 20 min. to understand don't swing it like a freak and throw out your arm. hehhe like I all most did. pick your shots and move your guy where he need to be. remember press C to get the front view of what your going to hit. and blocking is very important in this game. It not swing that Wiimote and see what falls. The story line is OK. could have been better. but I like when you kill the boss's and get another moves. your kids will love playing this game. Me I don't like swing a Wiimote like a freak and my wife looking at me like "what are you doing?" hehehe.
Pro's: fun game. swing the Wiimote like a sword. nice boss fights. nice upgrades make the game fun.
Con's: bad camera angles, bad camera angles, BAD camera angles
All in All: If you like swords games, you will like this one. and your kids will have fun with this one. the game reminds me like Tomb raider. good game but you have to fight with the camera angles.
1 out of 10: 6
soooo bad
posted by cookieman (GREENSBORO, NC) Nov 11, 2007
Member since Oct 2007
1 out of 4 gamers (25%) found this review helpful
The Wii Needs More titles Like These! BUY!!
posted by miko25 (LARGO, FL) Sep 29, 2007
Member since Nov 2004
1 out of 5 gamers (20%) found this review helpful
Very Good Story, Sound and Graphics!
And it is not a port; this is designed for the Wii and it shows!
I like it very much! However it can be a bit difficult and it is a pretty short story (compared to Zelda). And the camera rarely gives you a problem! I just might buy this one.
Please be kind and buy the game or send them back within 2 days of recieving them!
Above Average
Great Gameplay and Wrongly Judged
posted by ThaSquare (ROSEVILLE, CA) Feb 12, 2009
Member since May 2007
The real bread and butter of this game is the combat system. You swing the Wii Remote (and also thrust) in appropriate directions to swing the sword and link together combos. On the third swing, you complete the combo with a powerful attack that will do a different amount of damage according to the way you swung. You can also attack and do more specific swings in the air and that's just the surface. Once you gather together more of the Dragon Blade pieces, you can launch attacks according to the piece you use. There are several pieces to get, including the head, two arms, and wings among others. From clapping together the dragon's hands to sprouting his wings and flying, this seriously is one combat system I doubt many games have ever tried.
It's too bad this game hasn't gotten the attention is deserves. It got such a brow beating for some very insignificant problems like the reused enemies throughout the game and the fact that the strongest attack, the thrust, is rather hard to pull off. These, to me, are minor problems when compared to the rest of the game. Like the combat system; I think the sword swinging aspect beats The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' set up. In Twilight Princess, you must hold the direction you wish to swing down with the Nunchuck and then perform a swing; in Dragon Blade, you just swing.Anyways, if you're searching for an action-packed game for the weekend, look no further than Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire.
if you want a challenge this is the game for you
posted by dooger (SYRACUSE, NY) Dec 16, 2008
Member since Jul 2008
It had potential
posted by Bellezarna (JAMESTOWN, ND) Oct 26, 2008
Member since Dec 2007
Really Bad
posted by JPCCool (Shiloh, OH) Aug 10, 2008
Member since Aug 2007
Its OK
posted by ThanatosAz (LAKE ARIEL, PA) Mar 14, 2008
Member since Oct 2007
Why it got a 4 rating
posted by banerh (FILER, ID) Jan 7, 2008
Member since May 2007
Controls are infantile.
posted by Coaster (EAU CLAIRE, WI) Dec 31, 2007
Member since Nov 2007
Sword fighting in this game means randomly swinging the Wii remote usually twirling it in tight circles while simultaneously resting your elbow on your knee to prop up your head letting your fingers claw at your lip... oh wait... yeah that last part was a consequence of the sheer disappointment I felt while swinging my fire sword. There is simply nothing to it. Shouldn't there be some skill involved in wielding a sword?
The universal problem of course is that your "BIG SWING" and your "little flick" are both interpreted as the same move. So why take the BIG SWING? Especially if you get in five little flicks to one BIG SWING. It doesn't make for very engaging combat.
Successful combat strategy in this game comes down to targeting, passive defense and dodging. Sword moves might as well be random... which they practically are anyway given the inaccuracy of remote.
All other sword games for the Wii have been a let down and this one is no exception. I hope dearly that I am proven wrong in the future and that someone comes up with a way to make swordplay with the Wii work.
if it just fell on your lap...you know youd play
posted by kuldotha (OMAHA, TX) Dec 8, 2007
Member since Dec 2007
i mean look at it this way...its nice and lengthy for the kind of game it is...this game is by no means whatsoever boring. while i will say its almost an exact remnisc of its similar genre friend....the playstation 1 video game dragon valor...which was nice and fun but by no means worth buying for its release price...which is the exact problem i have...and hence my title...if it fell on your lap free of charge you know youd go ta town on dis game.
and my only other problem was its..''cough''values as far as games today go....this looks like a game playstation 2 would have released as a console launch game...so overall..biggest problem is its sorta....dated gamestyle...
DO NOT BUY!....only rent.
Mediocre at best
posted by Googa009 (JOHNSTOWN, PA) Dec 7, 2007
Member since Jul 2005
It could be better.
posted by Tiennu (COLUMBIA, MD) Nov 24, 2007
Member since Jul 2007
Blah... avoid this game.
posted by SFeigley (SAN PEDRO, CA) Nov 12, 2007
Member since Jul 2007
So after popping this rental into the Wii, a few things became abundantly apparent. First and foremost, this game is extremely unpolished. I sat hopeful on my couch and watched the intro play instead of pressing start. Little did I know that after I did press start, I would get treated to the exact same video again, this time minus color and also minus a way to skip through it.
I was hoping this would be the last random annoying thing that would pop up. Unfortunately, it was not. I soon found that you can not really expedite hardly any of the dialog which seems to assume the gamer reads at a 4th grade level and therefore takes absolutely forever to advance on it's own. In addition, the lack of voice over narration is extremely noticeable and detracts from the game quite a bit. At some points, as I was watching the characters mouths move with nothing more then an unskippable text box up on the screen, it became comical.
The actual controls for the most part feel good. However, I noticed two things fairly early on, the first was that combat soon becomes EXTREMELY repetitive. At one point I died and realized I was going to have to play that whole section over and so I turned off the Wii rather then do it again. It simply was not fun. The second, was that there is a very noticeable lack of features and therefore, replayability... or in my case, even basic playability.
This game truly felt extremely rushed and I think had the developers spent another 6 months to a year on this game, it could have been very good. As it is though, too many little furstrating quirks add up to form a very unsatisfying gaming experience.
Unimpressive to Say the Least
posted by Cent1ty (BROOKLYN, NY) Oct 25, 2007
Member since Jul 2007
Think of this as a slightly expanded on version of the story mode in MK: Armageddon. You advance through the poor looking linear levels riddled with enemies and fight them with your almighty dragon sword.
As you get through the levels you get more power moves you can do which is the only thing this game has to offer. These moves are at times fun to pull off however when you think about it all of the games fun revolves around that. It does not take long until you realize there is not much to this game and it looks like the very early stages of game development because no aspects of it feel complete.
The voice acting is poor and I don't believe anyone could play the game long enough to get a lasting impression of what the rest of the sounds are like.
The controls are not all together and the stabbing motion is poorly recognized even though it is one of the more important actions your character can do.
Conclusion: don't even think of comparing this to games like GOW. There is little if anything good about this title and it is not worth the rent.
Could be so much more
posted by Prime79 (POTTSTOWN, PA) Oct 22, 2007
Member since Oct 2007
The game that could have been more
posted by Guardian42 (GRAND RAPIDS, MI) Oct 22, 2007
Member since Sep 2007
Sadly, it seems that this game needed to sit in the oven a bit more.
The graphics feel slightly dated, the only thing that really really feels amazing graphically is the sheer size of the dragons and the great fire and flame effects. Story is nothing special, and is told mostly in the opening cinematic and text boxes. Sound and music is basic.
Controls however are where the love/hate relationship starts. The mote is supposed to sense if you swing left/right, up/down, or stab. Yet, sometimes the systems senses a stab instead of a swing, which can cost you health and time. That's basically it. It does work sometimes, but your attacks seems so slow and sometimes they don't sense right. Sometimes, it might be best to just swing like crazy, but this game does require different swings at different situations. One minotaur monster can take half your health in one hit if one of your swings is the wrong one. This leads to too much frustration to be fun.
Although a good idea, the controls needed to be tightened or perhaps more forgiving. Also, this is supposed to be next gen, let's keep it next-gen.
Too much waggle, not enough story
posted by RKDynamic (PLANO, IL) Oct 22, 2007
Member since Feb 2007
The Good:
-Wiimote seemed to respond properly (ie, upward motions yielded the correct action)
The Bad:
-I found myself just swinging the wiimote wildly to succeed in some places
-mapping attacks to motion controls seemed cool, but it got tiring (literally) rather quickly.
-Story dind't pull me in
-Level design was predictable
-Enemy AI was horrendous. Enemies would wait in the distance until you came accross an invisible line before they would attack you.
I'd say skip this one... it didn't yield much enjoyment for me.


text:
Summary: Those who serve the public trust must take special care to ensure they make ethical and responsible decisions. Yet the realities of bureaucracies, deadlines, budgets, and demands for quick results make the payoffs for dealing formally with ethics seem unclear. Since its original publication, The Responsible Administrator has guided professionals and students alike as they grapple with the challenges of making ethical, responsible decisions in real world situations.
...show more
This new edition includes information on coping with new demands for accountability, as well as new cases and examples, an examination of current issues relevant to administrative ethics, and supplementary materials for professors.
Cooper's theoretical framework and practical applications and techniques will help you consider all of the factors involved in a decision, ensuring that you balance professional, personal, and organizational values. Case studies and examples illustrate what works and what does not. The Responsible Administrator helps both experienced and novice public administrators and students become effective decision makers, provides them with a solid understanding of the role of ethics in public service and the framework to incorporate ethical and values-based decision making in day-to-day management. ...show less
16 more offers below.
Filter by: All (16) | New (2) | Like New (2) | Very Good (4) | Good (7) | Acceptable (1)


text:
National BLM > OR/WA > Salem > Planning
NEPA Project Details
Project: Special Forest Products Program
|Project Status: Planning Completed
|Office Location: Salem
|Resource Area: Marys Peak
|NEPA #: DOI-BLM-OR-S050-2011-0007-CX Categorical Exclusion / Decision Record
|Document Publish Date: 1/17/2012
|Summary: The Bureau of Land Management, Marys Peak Resource Area, has completed a Categorical Exclusion and Decision Record for the Special Forest Products program. The program, which authorizes the sale of permits for recreation, personal, and commercial use of various forest products, will be implemented throughout the resource area.
|Public Review Start Date : 1/18/2012
|Public Review End Date : 2/02/2012
|Contact: Stephanie Larew
|Contact Phone: (541) 375-5601
|Program Areas: Other


text:
What does WEF mean in Colleges & Universities?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand WEF in the Academic & Science field in general and in the Colleges & Universities terminology in particular.
Wharton Extension Finance
Find a translation for WEF in other languages:
Select another language:
Discuss this WEF abbreviation with the community:
Use the citation below to add this abbreviation to your bibliography:
"WEF." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2014. Web. 25 Dec. 2014. <http://www.abbreviations.com/term/1444316>.
WEF also stands for:
- Water Environment Federation
- Welding Extravagances Of Fort
- Wellesley Education Foundation
- Wellington, Florida
- Western Forest Products Inc.
... and 14 more »
Nearby & related abbreviations:
Alternative search:
- Search Wharton Extension Finance on Amazon.com
- Search Wharton Extension Finance on Google


text:
Lane Frost Memorial Belt Buckle
Lane Frost Memorial Belt Buckle from Cheyenne Frontier Days. Brand new. I purchased this several years ago in Wyoming. I've seen these sell online anywhere from $200 to $500. Wanting $300 for mine. Please call 801-888-2526
Dec 10 -
Lots of Items
Lamps, TV table or also can be used in Ketchen,Tall Stools, Antique Dresser, Etc. New Lighting, Home SPA, Antique Table Round 4.5 round.bottom unscrews so it makes it easyer to get in and out Atari 60s Call 801 596-7609 1224 Gillespie Ave 540S1224 W Salt Lake City, Utah
Dec 5 -
Salt Lake City
3"x3/8" solid Congress Drives pulleys
These pulleys usually are sold for around $4-$8. We are selling them for $1 per pulley. Contact me for details on how many you would like to purchase and shipping information.
Most of the pulleys are in the original boxes. The pulleys are old, but in good condition.
The ...
High cycle garage door springs 10 yr warranty
Garage door springs replaced same day service. Service fee $25.00
Call Gary (801)940-7971 or (801)940-7904
Dec 1 -
Liftmaster 1/2 hp chain drive garage door opener lifetime warranty
Lifetime warranty on motor. Installed with 2remotes and keyless entry
Service fee $25.00
Call Gary (801)940-7971
All pro 50000/85000btu propane torpedo
Electronic igination, adjustable heat output.hardly ever used
Nov 20 -
Salt Lake City
Crick mason level
This is a 2ft level .Great condition
This wreath will brighten up any room you choose!
40" inches wide, this wreath is packed with flowers, roses and grape vines in all their glory! Whites, Pinks, Reds, and Purples surround a large twig wreath. The flowers, rose and grape vines give your room an elegant rich ...
Nov 15 -
MARINCO Boat Shore Power Cord
Boat Shore Power Cord Adapters.Shorepower Reverse "Y" Adapter (2)30A to (1)50A
Product Features
Provides a boat with 50A 125/250V power from two 30A/125V locking receptacles at dockside.
The Reverse "Y" Adapter (167RYN) has two male plugs with special power isolation ...
Nov 12 -
Two 20 hp shot nozzles. Is currently set up for Kawasaki KFX 700 ATV. This has the computerized extra fuel injection system(when using nitrous it adds extra fuel into the nozzles from a separate 16 oz bottle that you fill with gasoline). It also comes with the blue 20 lb. ...
Dec 20 -
Idaho :
16R Solar storm tanning bed
Built in MP3 hook up and Fan
Only 32 hours on bed and bulbs
In brand new condition
Located in Eureka
$2500 Obo
Dec 9 -
Elko :
I've had a love and passion for cloth diapering since I started with my own daughter 3 years ago. I've used those years of trial and error to develop this pattern for you to create your own cloth diapers. As easy as cloth diapering is, it's even easier to custom make your ...
Nov 23 -
Eastern Idaho :
Saint Anthony
we have all kinds of wood with different prices. Willow,Russian olive,pine, and mixed woods. Delivery can be arranged. Call (329-0239)
Nov 17 -
Idaho :


text:
Is Education the Answer to Social Mobility?
10th Jul 2012; 18:30Listen to the audio
(full recording including audience Q&A)
Please right-click link and choose "Save Link As..." to download audio file onto your computer.
Read the Blog: Is education the key to social mobility?
The RSA / Teach First Education Matters DebatesDue to unforeseen circumstances, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP is now unable to take part in this event. Stephen Twigg MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education will join the panel.
In setting out the latest phase of the government's social mobility strategy, Nick Clegg placed an emphasis on what he termed the "great rift in our education system" between our best schools, most of which are private, and the schools ordinary families rely on. Arguing that this gap in educational opportunity is corrosive for our society and damaging to our economy, Clegg claimed that healing the rift would be essential to ensuring that the school system as a whole promotes fairness and mobility, and that all children are given the chance to get ahead in life.
It has become axiomatic to state that education is the key to future success in life, but many would argue that the dice are irrevocably loaded well before children arrive at the school gates. Yet more than a decade of government investment in early-years programmes has failed to make significant progress in narrowing the income-determined gap. So what really are the key drivers of social mobility, and in what environment and at what stage of life are interventions best introduced? If we believe schools have an important role to play in enhancing mobility, how can we be sure investment is channelled most effectively?
And is social mobility really the right goal in any case? The wealthy will always have the financial and social capital to cement their advantage, so should we instead be focusing on social justice, taking steps to tackle inequality in more radical ways, in order to level the playing field and make the race genuinely fair?
As part of its 10th Anniversary year, Teach First has started a national conversation about why education matters. The charity is looking to understand what collective impact is needed to close the gap between children from low-income communities and their wealthier peers. In this second event in a new series of Education Matters Debates, Teach First and the RSA bring together a high-profile panel to ask: what is the answer to social mobility, and is education enough?
Panel to include: Stephen Twigg MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education; Jo Shuter, head teacher, Quintin Kynaston Community Academy and Anna Vignoles, professor of economics of education, Institute of Education.
Chair: Matthew Taylor, chief executive, RSA.
See what people said on Twitter: #EduMatters
Get the latest RSA Audio
Subscribe to iTunes | RSS | Mixcloud
You are welcome to link to, download, save or distribute our audio/video files electronically. Find out more about our open access licence.
There are no books.


text:
Family Literacy Day—January 27th
Posted by Laura Best on January 22, 2012
Everyone Loves Free Stuff
Goodreads or not Goodreads?
25 Comments
Congratulatons on Bitter, Sweet being included on this list! And well deserved I must say. The importance of reading to and with children cannot be underestimated. I worked full time while raising my two children and often worked long hours, but we always had reading time, usually just before bed. When they got old enough to read themselves, I would read a page and they would read a page. I got to revist my old favourites like Little Women, Black Beauty and Anne of Green Gables to name a few. As adults they tell me it was the most special time and they remember it fondly.
Well, thank you for pointing this out to me on Facebook, Darlene, and thank you for being such a wonderful support to not only me but pretty much every writer out there. :) I'm so pleased that all my kids love reading. Makes me feel that all that time we spent reading together paid off big time.
Congratulations (again) on Bitter, Sweet making the list! Yay!
Thanks, Melanie (again). It was nice to see my book on the list. :)
Laura, that's great news about Bitter, Sweet. I ditto Darlene and loved that when I introduced the classics to the kids, I got to enjoy them all over again. What is really great is that my son continues the tradition with his three. Don't you wish EVERY day was Family Literacy Day?
That's nice to know that when our kids grow up they are passing along their love of reading. I agree, every day should be Family Literacy Day, but choosing a specific date simply helps raise our awareness. :)
Congratulations, Laura! Books are an important part of daily life at our house. We're big library users, too. I have to give full marks to our local library system for all that they do to promote reading, and also to my son's school librarians for making the school such a wonderful place to explore and learn.
Thanks, Heather. It's nice having recognition, especially from the CCBC. :) Our libraries are so important. It's something we need to keep in mind with so many struggling these days. It's great to see libraries taking an active role in promoting reading.
I wish I knew if the States had a literacy day! It's such a great idea that can bring awareness to literacy while also pulling families together. I love it! :-)
Here's a link you can check out, C.B. http://www.readwriteact.org/aboutscale which seems quite similar. Getting the word out about these programs is important.
That's a great list of books! Congratulations on having Bitter, Sweet included!
I still read aloud with my son every night, and I love that he still wants that. (He's 13.) So Family Literacy Day will find us reading together at bedtime, and maybe it's the perfect day to pass to my older son the great YA book I just finished. :)
Thanks Shari! It's always nice to be included in lists especially those comprised by the CCBC.
I think it's wonderful that you still read to your son. Some people never get tired of being read to. It's a great way to spend time with our kids. :)
I'm experiencing an overwhelming sense of pride knowing that I can actually tell my family that I know one of the authors on the list. Fabulous. This is so exciting, Laura. Bravo!
Aww, Joylene, you're so sweet…And thank you. :)
Congrats on having Bitter Sweet included in this list of amazing books!
Thanks, Julie! It felt pretty good to be on this list… :)
I was subbing earlier this week, grade 3 immersion, and I read them a Robert Munsch book (en francais!), and despite being a fairly energetic group, they loved it and sat quietly for the whole story. I'm always happy to see signs that the computer hasn't completely taken over the world (yet…)
My hope is that there will always be a place in this world for books, Jan. Computers are great, but reading from a book is an experience in itself.
I read somewhere, "A home without books is like a house without windows." Not sure who said it but it rings true.
Sounds about right, Darlene!
Ann Best/ January 25, 2012
I'm SO happy to see your book on the list!
Reading and Writing. Very important for everyone. It's crucially important to help develop in children a love for both.
Thanks, Ann. I almost didn't see it myself, but luckily a few facebook friends mentioned it in their status.
Definitely something we can help along as parents. Granted that doesn't insure that your kids will be avid readers but I hear so many adults say they just don't read at all. I silently gasp, feeling sorrow for all they are missing.
Congratulation, Laura. Not only is it an honour to be listed as an ideal book to read, but the recommendation should increase sales. I know sales aren't the point here — reading is — but the more books you sell, the better.
We're definitely a reading house. There are books tucked into every corner. Each child has their own small book shelf in their room for their favouite books. I think it's important for a child to have their own space to display their books. Not only will the books be easily accessed but every time the child walks into their room, they see books and think about reading.
Diane, it makes me so happy to hear each child has a book shelf in their room. I remember in our small farm house, my Dad made me a book shelf for my bedroom and it was so special. I used to think if there was ever a fire in our house, I would first open the window and through out all my books, before climbing out myself. That was how important books were to me as a child.
Thanks, Diane. In the beginning I stated that I didn't want this whole experience to be about sales, and it hasn't been. It has been about so much more.. That said, sales also means that more people are reading our words. Yes, we do want as many people as possible to read what we've written. If we didn't we wouldn't even bother having our stories published we'd simply write them and put them in a drawer.
I agree that children should have their own place for books. What a great idea, Diane. :)
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
- Follow Laura Best on WordPress.com
my novels
Laura Best
Blog Stats
- 61,160 hits
Add me


text:
PARKLAND SQUARE HIGH PUB TABLE (Item #W80407A)
now $159.98
The Parkland Square High Pub Table is simply beauty at its finest. Rich, warm walnut finish on top of solid wood construction guarantees the piece is sturdy and inviting. Ideally sized for up to 4 saddle stools (not included) and works great in kitchens and small dining areas. Assembly is required. Dimensions: 33.86" x 33.86" x 38.98". *Extra $20 shipping.
Click Here to purchase coordinating Ladder Back Stools
Tell a friend:
- Pin It
Enter your email address below to let a friend know about this great product!
Recommended Products
inflatable salad bar white
Your Price: $9.98
non stick oven liner
Was $19.98
Your Price: $9.98
three tier can rack shelf
Was $17.98
Your Price: $14.98
retro kitchenware
Your Price: $14.98
amazing glove
Your Price: $19.98
Live chat available between the hours of 9:00 A.M to 9:00 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday and 9 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Saturday and Sunday
There are no FAQ for this product. Have a question? Click here!


text:
Proud Affiliate of the YES Network
Subscription Options:
What we're talking about
- Otto on What free agents do Yankees fans want for Christmas?
- olie on The 2015 Yankees: Better or worse than yesteryear?
- gcorcoran on The 2015 Yankees: Better or worse than yesteryear?
- Celerino on The 2015 Yankees: Better or worse than yesteryear?
- Celerino on The 2015 Yankees: Better or worse than yesteryear?
- Bomber4life on The 2015 Yankees: Better or worse than yesteryear?
Rumor Central
- David Robertson Rumors
- Chase Headley Rumors
- Brandon McCarthy Rumors
- Hiroki Kuroda Rumors
- Max Scherzer Rumors
- James Shields Rumors
- Jon Lester Rumors
- Pablo Sandoval Rumors
- Yoan Moncada Rumors (Cuban Shortstop)
- Kwang-Hyun Kim Rumors (Korean Lefty)
- Jung-Ho Kang Rumors (Korean Shortstop)
- All Yankees Rumors
Useful Links
Support BBD and buy Yankees gear
- 161st and River
- An A-Blog for A-Rod
- Bats
- Bleeding Yankee Blue
- Blogging the Bombers
- Bombers Beat
- Bronx Goblin
- Bronx Pinstripes
- Cot's Baseball Contracts
- FanGraphs
- Gotham Hub Baseball
- HardballTalk
- It's About The Money, (Stupid!)
- Joel Sherman's Hardball
- Ledger on Yankees
- LoHud Yankees Blog
- MLB Trade Rumors
- My Pinstripes
- NoMaas.org
- Pinstripe Alley
- Pinstripe Pundits
- Pinstriped Bible
- Pinstriped Prospects
- Replacement Level Yankees Blog
- River Ave Blues
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog
- Sliding into Home
- Subway Squawkers
- The Captain's Blog
- The Greedy Pinstripes
- The Sommer Frieze
- The Stirring Straw
- The Yankee Analysts
- Thunder Thoughts
- Trenton Thunder Blog
- Yankees Fans Unite
- Yanks Go Yard
- YESNetwork.com
- Zell's Pinstriped Blog
TagsAdam Warren AJ Burnett Alex Rodriguez Alfonso Soriano Andy Pettitte Austin Romine Brandon McCarthy Brett Gardner Brian Cashman Brian McCann Carlos Beltran CC Sabathia Chase Headley Chase Whitley Curtis Granderson David Phelps David Robertson Dellin Betances Derek Jeter Eduardo Nunez Francisco Cervelli Freddy Garcia Hiroki Kuroda Ichiro Suzuki Ivan Nova Jacoby Ellsbury Javier Vazquez Jesus Montero Joba Chamberlain Joe Girardi Johnny Damon Jorge Posada Manny Banuelos Mariano Rivera Mark Teixeira Masahiro Tanaka Michael Pineda New York Yankees Nick Swisher Phil Hughes Rafael Soriano Robinson Cano Russell Martin Shawn Kelley Vidal Nuno
Author Archives: Peter Menking
Series Preview: Yankees vs. Phillies
Starting Pitchers: RHP Roy Halladay (8-4, 1.96) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (6-3, 4.01) RHP Kyle Kendrick (3-2, 4.80) vs. AJ Burnett (6-4, 3.86) LHP Jamie Moyer (6-6, 5.03) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (8-1, 2.46) Notes: Alex Rodriguez will "hopefully" be in the starting lineup on Tuesday but my guess is that he probably won't be. The rest of the Yankees ...
Posted in Yankees News 4 Comments
Series Preview: Yankees vs. Orioles
Starting Pitchers: RHP Javier Vazquez (3-5, 6.86) v. LHP Brian Matusz (2-5, 5.76) RHP Phil Hughes (6-1, 2.70) v. RHP Brad Bergesen (3-3, 5.96) LHP CC Sabathia (4-3, 4.16) v. RHP Kevin Millwood (0-5, 3.89) Notes: At the time I posted this I could not find a single preview for even the first game of the Yankees and Orioles series ...
Some Humor to Ease Worries
So I know everyone who is a Yankee fan has been on edge lately. Bullpen this, Rays that, whatever. Anyway since I feel like I have been locked in a library for a week writing two research papers and studying for 2 exams, the only two scheduled exams I have, which are both conveniently scheduled ...
Series Preview: Yankees vs Tampa Bay
Probable Starters: RHP AJ Burnett (4-1, 3.31) vs. RHP Wade Davis (3-3, 3.38) LHP Andy Pettitte (5-0, 1.79) vs. RHP James Shields (4-1, 3.00) Notes: Joba Chamberlain's stellar performance against Boston last night marks the third time in 19 appearances that he has given up 2 or more earned runs and the second time in as many appearances that ...
Dallas Braden v. Arod: The End.
Fueled by the media, Dallas Braden's perfect game, and Braden's grandmother's infamous "Stick it A-rod" comments this spat has grown out of control. It even has Darryl Strawberry coming out of the woodwork to chime in on the affair. Anytime someone asks Strawberry for a comment, you know the situation has gotten out of control. ...
Dallad Braden Throws a Perfect Game on Mother's Day
Well well, I guess Dallas Braden showed everyone that it is HIS MOUND! Seriously though, that was a fantastic performance by Braden. Obviously you have to have a lot of respect for anyone who can throw a perfect game, especially against an offense as potent as the Rays. Not much you can really say ...
Yankees and Mets Fans Differ. Who knew?
Everyone. That's who. A survey of 650 people from Public Opinion Strategies was conducted to figure out what the differences were between the two fan bases. There couldn't be two different teams and two different fan bases in the same city. The only other two teams that even come close are the Lakers and the ...
Series Preview: Yankees vs. Red Sox
RHP Phil Hughes (3-0, 1.44) vs. Josh Beckett RHP (1-0, 6.31) LHP CC Sabathia (4-1, 2.74) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (3-2, 2.97) RHP AJ Burnett (4-0, 1.99) vs. LHP Jon Lester (2-2, 3.93) Notes: Don't expect the games to go quicker even after umpire Joe West called the length of the games between "embarrassing." Yanks-Sox games always go long ...


text:
A city in California. A former mercantile name retained.
(YFB-34: t. 1,653; l. 225'; b. 42'1"; dph. 17'1" (reg.); a. none)
San Leandro was built during 1923 by Los Angeles Shipbuilding Corp., as a 1,200 hp. ferry for service on the United States west coast. She was originally scheduled to be acquired by the United States Navy and designated YFB-34, but her acquisition was cancelled on 20 May 1942.
San Leandro was actually taken over on 26 May 1945 from her owner, Wilmington Transportation Co., for service based in the 12th Naval District and manned by a civilian crew. She was classified YFB-60 upon acquisition and dropped her name. YFB-60 operated from San Francisco and nearby naval facilities to Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond, Calif., and Marineship.
Corp., Sausalito, Calif. Transferred to the War Shipping Administration on 20 September 1945, YFB-60 was struck from the Navy list on 11 October 1945.
San Luis Rey, Mission see Mission San Luis Rey (AO-128)


text:
Workshop set for business owners
The Ennis Chamber of Commerce will host a free business owner workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, March 22.
The topic will be the Affordable Care Act set to go into effect in 2014. Seating is limited, so RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Posted by publisher on Mar 9 2013. Filed under Community calendar. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


text:
Cheese Stuffed Bacon Meatballs (Aaron Mccargo, Jr.)
Find a Conversation
|Fri, 02-22-2013 - 8:26pm
8 -10 slices apple-smoked bacon
1 lb ground chuck
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (1 1/4 ounce) packages onion soup mix
1/2 cup panko
1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
1 tablespoon beef stock
8 -10 bite-size fresh mozzarella cheese balls
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Arrange the bacon slices on a sheet pan. Put in the oven and bake until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pan to a cutting board and chop. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the beef, Worcestershire, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, black pepper, stock and the chopped bacon.
Form portions of the meat around the mozzarella to make smooth balls. Arrange the meatballs on a sheet pan with a rack and bake until thoroughly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve with Pasta and Marinara Sauce.
from food.com


text:
Red Hat sponsored Fedora Project has announced the release of Fedora 17, the latest version of its free open source operating system distribution.
The Fedora operating system is free of cost to download and includes free and open source software for users to enjoy and share. Developed by a worldwide community, the Fedora Project collaborates closely with upstream free software project teams to provide a compelling experience for users and to access and integrate improvements and innovation rapidly.
"I am extremely proud of the Fedora 17 release. The addition of projects such as oVirt and JBoss Application Server 7, enhancements in OpenStack, and continued support for fresh releases of desktop environments demonstrate the Fedora Project's commitment to deliver rich features and capabilities," said Robyn Bergeron, Fedora Project Leader. "This, combined with our leading-edge innovations at the operating-system level, truly makes Fedora 17 a comprehensive and robust operating system for all types of users."
New Features Of Fedora 17
Gnome 3.4, GIMP 2.8: Fedora 17 comes with GNOME 3.4 which introduces many user experience improvements, including new search capabilities in the Activities Overview, improved themes, and enhancements to the Documents and Contacts application; and GIMP 2.8, the newest version of the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), brings improvements such as single-window mode, layer groups, and on-canvas text editing.
Cloud, Virtualization, and Performance Features: OpenStack, a collection of services that can be used to set up and run cloud compute and storage infrastructure, is updated to the latest release, 2012.1 (Essex); oVirt, an open virtualization platform, provides a feature-rich virtualization management system with robust capabilities for both hosts and guests; and the Cluster stack includes numerous and significant updates for both high availability and load balancing applications.
Developer Features: JBoss Application Server 7 is a fast, lightweight Java EE-based application server, optimized for developing and launching Java EE applications; a pre-release of Juno, the release of the Eclipse SDK expected later this year; Java 7 (and OpenJDK7) is the default Java runtime and Java build toolset.
A complete list of Fedora 17 features is available on The Fedora Project community release announcement page here.
Also follow us on Google+ to keep an eye on Fedora development and review.


text:
BEFORE & AFTER: Gwyneth Paltrow's Music Room Makeover
The A-list actress shares a look at her music room before and after a designer makeover
By Alicia Brunker
Gwyneth Paltrow
It is a little known fact that Gwyneth Paltrow has beautiful, but extravagant taste. Just take one look at her lifestyle website, Goop, and you will find anything from Goop/Peter Dunham pillows to mouth-watering recipes requiring a brick oven.
So, it's only fitting that the Oscar-winning actresss home stays in tip-top shape. Paltrow called on the help of sought-after interior designer, Windsor Smith and her innovative online decorating service, Room In A Box for a custom redesign on her Amagansett music room. See it go from an untapped zone to the most popular spot in the house.


text:
Posted Sat, Jan 19, 2008 by Shayalyn
While playing a healer can be immensely rewarding, it can also be incredibly demanding and stressful. Due to this, many priests have switched allegiances from light to dark, and now focus on the power of death. Many never even need to switch, as shadow is the strongest solo build and therefore the most common while leveling. Once you become a shadow priest many players find it hard to go back. DPS is in general easier and less stressful than healing, and much more addictive. It can become very competitive when trying to top the DPS meters, which is very different than healing.


text:
Photo Credit: Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty Images
Before the second presidential debate, tongue in cheek, I wrote a short blog post titled "President Obama comes out swinging!" What were the first words by CNN's Wolf Blitzer after the debate? "President Obama comes out swinging!" The relief by the mainstream media was palpable.
It would be funny if the media were less predictable, and less obviously biased, in these situations. However, they're not, and the Republican inevitably finds himself debating both his opponent and the debate moderator. That happened again last night.
President Barack Obama got about two extra minutes to make his points last night, and Candy Crowley gave the president the last word after nearly every exchange.
Does this matter? How it matters practically, is that it enrages the base on the right. They feel abused by both the media and the Democrats. The debate moderators showing a clear preference for the Democrat makes Democratic viewers feel good. But I'm not sure it's helpful, ultimately, to their cause.
And what matters more than bias is the answers themselves. Each candidate experienced a palpable "losing" moment during this debate.
The first came when an African American man in the audience expressed his disappointment in President Obama and sounded genuinely exhausted by trying to pay for basic things in his life. The president's answer fell short and Mitt Romney exploited the moment to list the ways Obama failed to deliver on many of his boldly laid out promises.
The difficult time for Governor Romney came when Libya, of all topics, came up. President Obama obfuscated and Candy Crowley chimed in to defend the president. While post-debate spin may clear up misconceptions, Mitt Romney looked thrown.
However, Ms. Crowley's "help" may have hurt President Obama. Already, she's correcting herself correcting Romney saying, "He was right in the main."
For all the Benghazi talk, though, the economic portions of the debate got more play on social media by a 2:1 margin than the foreign policy questions. So, while the left may enjoy the Benghazi moment, it seems Americans are far more concerned about jobs and the economy.
It's still, after all these years, "the economy, stupid."
Will this debate move independents back to President Obama? I have no idea. I'm guessing that people are more set at this point than they are letting on to pollsters. I could be wrong. Certainly, this is a close race, but I don't think this debate decided anything definitively.
The left will believe that President Obama's lack of a clear loss was a win. It's notable how low the bar has become for President Obama. President Obama's supporters feared a repeat of the first debate. They can exhale after this performance.
Think about this notion: four years ago, President Obama enjoyed God-like status. He looks very much a man these days. He looks like a man who blew his opportunities. And yet, he at least looked like a man who was fighting for his job.
Will voters give him another chance?
WATCH: Debate Reaction: I Think I'm Going to Vote for Mitt Romney
Melissa Clouthier is a mother of three and political and cultural blogger of seven years from Houston, Texas. You can find Melissa at Melissa Blogs and on Twitter @MelissaTweets.


text:
Yesterday we announced the GA release of Percona Server 5.6, the latest release of our enhanced, drop-in replacement for MySQL. Percona Server 5.6 is the best free MySQL alternative for demanding applications. Our third major release, Percona Server 5.6 offers all the improvements found in MySQL 5.6 Community Edition plus scalability, availability, backup, and security […]
Search Results for: search mysql review
Virident vCache vs. FlashCache: Part 2
This is the second part in a two-part series comparing Virident's vCache to FlashCache. The first part was focused on usability and feature comparison; in this post, we'll look at some sysbench test results. Disclosure: The research and testing conducted for this post were sponsored by Virident. First, some background information. All tests were conducted […]
Virident vCache vs. FlashCache: Part 1
(This is part one of a two part series) Over the past few weeks I have been looking at a preview release of Virident's vCache software, which is a kernel module and set of utilities designed to provide functionality similar to that of FlashCache. In particular, Virident engaged Percona to do a usability and feature-set […]
Percona Server wins 'Top Innovator in SQL Technologies' award!
Percona Server has won a 2013 DeveloperWeek Best of Tech award, being named Top Innovator in the SQL Technologies category! We're proud to accept this award, which is determined by a combination of peer voting and review from an independent panel of judges. Thank you to everyone who voted for Percona Server! From our press […]
Tools and Techniques for Index Design Webinar Questions Followup
I presented a webinar this week to give an overview of Tools and Techniques for Index Design. Even if you missed the webinar, you can register for it, and you'll be emailed a link to the recording. I'd like to invite folks who are interested in tools for query optimization to attend the new Percona […]
Visualization tools for pt-query-digest tables
When you process MySQL slow query logs using pt-query-digest you can store samples of each query into query_review table and historical values for review trend analysis into query_review_history table. But it could be difficult to easily browse those tables without a good GUI tool. For the visual browsing of tables created by pt-query-digest you may […]
Spoiler alert: If your boss does not need an elephant, he is definitely NOT going to buy one from you. If he will, he will regret it and eventually you will too. I must appologize to the reader who was expecting to find an advice on selling useless goods to his boss. While I do […]
Recovery after DROP & CREATE
In a very popular data loss scenario a table is dropped and empty one is created with the same name. This is because mysqldump in many cases generates the "DROP TABLE" instruction before the "CREATE TABLE":
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `actor`;
/*!40101 SET @saved_cs_client = @@character_set_client */;
/*!40101 SET character_set_client = utf8 */;
CREATE TABLE `actor` (
`actor_id` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
`first_name` varchar(45) NOT NULL,
`last_name` varchar(45) NOT NULL,
`last_update` timestamp NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
PRIMARY KEY (`actor_id`),
KEY `idx_actor_last_name` (`last_name`)
) ENGINE=InnoDB AUTO_INCREMENT=201 DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;
/*!40101 SET character_set_client = @saved_cs_client */;
If there were no subsequent CREATE TABLE the recovery would be trivial. Index_id of the PRIMARY index of […]
How Percona strives to remain neutral and independent
Many of the prominent companies in the MySQL ecosystem are Percona customers, including hardware manufacturers, software developers, hosted service providers, and appliance developers. We perform paid and unpaid research on their products, and we publish blog posts related to their products or services. Independence and objectivity are core Percona values. How do we balance the […]
What is innodb_support_xa?
A common misunderstanding about innodb_support_xa is that it enables user-initiated XA transactions, that is, transactions that are prepared and then committed on multiple systems, with an external transaction coordinator. This is actually not precisely what this option is for. It enables two-phase commit in InnoDB (prepare, then commit). This is necessary not only for user-initiated […]


text:
Profile Info
- Gender:male
- Member since:June 04, 2010
- Last Broadcast:July 19, 2012
- Sexual Preference:bisexual
- Age: 46
- Location: Canada
- Spoken language(s):English
BY WATCHING THIS: You acknowledge and agree that you shall not post, upload, publish, transmit or make available in any way content of this page including images and recording streamed live or video available for download. Penalties of Copyright Infringement: By reproducing, republishing or redistributing the work of a copyright holder without permission, you may be violating or infringing on his or her rights under the Copyright Act.
- raw_edge
- bisexual
Rate raw_edge's private show
Private Show Receipt
Show Length:
With Cam2Cam:
Total Tokens:


text:
DCM Telemarketing
This employer has taken extra steps to respond to reviews and provide job seekers with accurate company information, photos, and reviews. Interested for your company?Learn More.
Work in HR? Unlock Free Profile
DCM Telemarketing Fundraiser Hourly Pay
0 employee salaries Back to all DCM Telemarketing Salaries
DCM Telemarketing is Hiring! Check out the latest DCM Telemarketing Fundraiser jobs
No salaries found in Canada – However, we do have DCM Telemarketing Salaries in US
Be the first to Post a Salary
Be the first to get salary and job alerts
Explore Fundraiser Salaries
Looking beyond DCM Telemarketing?
Take a look at the latest Fundraiser Jobs or see Fundraiser Salaries at other companies.
See if they're hiring! Check out the latest DCM Telemarketing Jobs


text:
Is Robin Thicke naming his new album 'Paula?'
JUST ADDED: 5 Seconds of Summer will be rocking the stage at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival Village in Las Vegas! The band sat down with Ryan Seacrest to break the news.�Click here to buy your tickets now, before they sell out!
Check out the full lineup for this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival
Listen to Robin Thicke on iHeartRadio
Robin Thicke will stop at nothing to get back his estranged wife actress Paula Patton.
According to multiple reports, Robin is allegedly planning to name his upcoming album after his wife, calling it simply "Paula." He tweeted this week:
June 12, 2014
So, is he really naming the album after Paula? His latest single IS called "Get Her Back." Since their split was announced in February, Robin has also dedicated his song "Lost Without U" to Paula at some of his shows.
Robin Thicke will take the stage to perform a new single at the upcoming BET Awards on June 29th. The awards show will air live from Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. Live at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on BET.
Photo Credit Getty Images


text:
Hello Again!
I wanted to send out a short email to let everyone know that we are running a Buy 1, Get 1 Free theme sale at ThemeSnap.com. You can read more about the offer by heading here:
We've added some nice themes in the last couple of months like the Best Mobile, Retail Shop, Sencillo, and Clean Portfolio themes, to name a few. You can check out any of our newer themes from our main themes preview page:
Remember to enter "2for1" in the shopping cart's "discount code" field and then update your cart's total to receive your free theme with the purchase of one theme.
Best Regards,
Jason S.


text: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Arrested for DUI in Walmart By Crash December 12, 2013 I'm sure there have been plenty of DUI arrests in Walmart parking lots. Law of averages. But how many have been arrested for DUI INSIDE a Walmart...driving a motorized cart? One for sure. Read More|Comment Category: Articles, News Tags: Drunk, walmart Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


text:
Folks here in Western Mass. have a take on National Public Radio similar to that of NRA diehards in other parts of the country: you can take it away when you pry it from our cold, dead, hands. For the vast majority of people in my circle, whether or not you tune in has long stopped being a question; when someone says "Did you hear that interview with John Malkovich?" you know they're talking about Fresh Air and Terry Gross. Other names keep us company on our commutes, or over morning coffee, or during those interminable fund drives. No doubt about it: we like our NPR.
Mike Birbiglia may not have the name recognition of a Terry Gross, but the writer and comedian is one of the medium's stars nonetheless. With a laconic but cutting wit, Birbiglia's storytelling prowess landed him a gig on This American Life, another NPR staple that features slightly skewed looks at American everyman stories. He debuted there in 2008 with a piece drawn from his one-man stage show. Entitled Fear of Sleep, it told the hilarious and harrowing tales of his sleepwalking habit. It was a hit, and Birbiglia has been in regular rotation ever since.
Now the story of his nocturnal wanderings has been made into a feature film co-written by This American Life host Ira Glass. But make no mistake: this is a work of fiction. Or at least it's labeled that way. Birbiglia quickly pulls away the mask: the character he plays is named "Matt Pandamiglio," and right from the get-go he tells us that "I'm going to tell you a story, and it's true—I always have to tell people that."
That story is one giant metaphor: in it, Birbiglia/Pandamiglio is a stand-up comedian whose career has stalled in tandem with his personal life. The barely suppressed anxiety about it all manifests in increasingly dangerous yet hilarious sleepwalking incidents. (One revolves around a perilously high podium at the "Dustbuster Olympics.") Birbiglia the actor is a winning everyman; Birbiglia the screenwriter is a sharp craftsman who knows how to keep a story from rambling. The film version is a trim 90 minutes, and it's interesting, if you've heard his stage act or read the book—the story has had many incarnations—to see how and where Birbiglia makes his cuts to streamline the story and keep it moving forward.
Of course, none of that knowledge is necessary to enjoy the film. And despite that radio history, one needn't be an AM acolyte to enjoy it either. Indeed, one of the joys of Birbiglia's story is how traditional it really is, despite its sometimes outlandish outer appearance. In the end, he's still a guy from Shrewsbury worried about his job and his girlfriend—what could be more normal?
Also this week: Hadley's Cinemark theater is packing the week full of special events and new films. Picking up where Sleepwalk With Me lets off, Celeste and Jesse Forever is a modern tale about a couple who marry too young and then try to salvage their friendship during a divorce. Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation) and Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live) star as the troubled pair. The theater is also bringing back the double feature in time for the return of a cash-strapped student population. Showing this week is Wes Anderson's latest, Moonrise Kingdom, paired with Woody Allen's new To Rome With Love. One ticket will get you into both; check theaters for showtimes.
Also in Hadley are two classics: on the 13th, you can catch Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes in Chinatown, the hard-boiled detective yarn about adultery, murder, incest, and... water? One of the greatest films yet made, it's always worth seeing on the big screen. And on the 19th comes The Birds, the Hitchcock thriller here restored for a new screening and introduced by film historian Robert Osborne. You may want to leave the popcorn at home for that one.
Jack Brown can be reached at email@example.com.


text:
Close X
Savoy House 52-004-5 Capri Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Product Description
This Savoy House product is offered with a chestnut blade finish. It is available in an english bronze finish.
This classic outdoor fan has a stately Horseshoe Black finish and Wicker Blades. This design is UL Wet Location approved.
- 52" Blade Span.
- 14° Blade Pitch.
- Down-rod length: 6"
- Remote control adaptable.
- Light Kit adjustable.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
ENERGY INFORMATION with fan at high speed::
- Air flow: 4666.89 cubic feet per minute.
- Electrical usage: 55 watts.
- Air flow efficiency: 84.85 cubic feet/minute/watt.
- 36" to 48" ceiling fans have airflow efficiencies ranging from approximately 71 to 86 cubic feet per minute per watt at high speed.
- 49" to 60" ceiling fans have airflow efficiencies ranging from approximately 51 to 176 cubic feet per minute per watt at high speed.
Money-Saving Tip: Turn off fan when leaving room.
|Blade Finish:
|English Bronze
|120 volt
|16.75 Pounds
|Wet Locations [Explain]
|, CUL Listed, Quick Ship
Use this filter to see Ceiling Fans with Light Kits or Attachable Light Kits for Ceiling Fans.
|Ceiling Fan Light Kits
|Ceiling Fans Without Light Kit
Energy Efficient fans feature a DC (Direct Current) Motor. Standard fans feature an AC (Alternating Current) Motor.
|Fan Motor Type
|Standard (AC)
Energy Efficient fans feature a DC (Direct Current) Motor. Standard fans feature an AC (Alternating Current) Motor.
|Number of Blades
Would you like to update product info, give feedback on images, or tell us about a lower price?
Related Items
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed
Questions & Answers
Didn't get the answer you needed?
We'll respond to your question in three days or less
There are no questions from the community yet
Customer Reviews
This product has no customer reviews yet
Write an online review and be the first to share your thoughts with other customers
Write an online review and be the first to share your thoughts with other customers
Tag This Product
A tag is a keyword assigned to a product which helps describe the item and allows it to be found by other customers
Add a new tag:
Separate multiple tags with commasWhat's this?
Additional Details
|Mfr Part #
|Group #
|Outdoor Ceiling Fans - 937
|Traditional - 143
|Sales Rank
Your Recently Viewed Items
You have no recently viewed items. After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to products you are interested in.
Your Recommended Items
You currently have no recommended items. Browse a few more items to give us an idea of what you like.
©1999 - 2014 ATGStores.com.Copyright notice | Site Map | By using this site you agree to our Terms & Conditions of Use and Privacy Statement
Server: EASTWEB135 DBServer: EASTDB04 Created On: 12/28/2014 7:58:15 PM


text:
It was a 'GK/IQ' test - only by knowledge or intelligence - Madhya Pradesh minister Gopal Bhargav meant information about himself. And "inform" he did.
The 40,000 participants at the test organised by Bhargav on January 12 were given questions such as: 'Who is known as Vikas Purush?', 'Which is the most developed assembly constituency in the country?', 'Apart from Gopal Bhargav, is there any other cabinet minister in the country who has given more time to his constituency?', and 'Which minister or leader in India has served people by staying awake most nights?'
Those who won were those who got it "right": they had to answer either 'Bhargav' or his seat Rehli in Sagar district.
The social justice, panchayat and rural development minister participated as well, and won hands down. Bhargav scored 98 out of 100, failing to get only two questions right. One on the number of bhajan mandalis he funds; another that involved the calculation of compound interest.
While the class 10 student who came second is to get an Alto car, 500 more prizes will be given away, including bikes, laptops, LCD TVs, tablets, cycles and scholarships for engineering students.
The test was held at 75 centres across the constituency, supervised by 1,200 employees of the state education department. The youngest participant was 13, the oldest 70. "I did not set the paper and did not know the questions," said Bhargav.
However, the 'Swami Vivekananda Kshetriya Vikas Evam Jagrukta Samiti', floated by the minister's men, that organised the test did not leave anything to chance. The applicants who bought the Rs 20 forms were given a 116-page 'guide' containing 1,000 questions and answers for the test. The test coincided with the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The GK paper had some questions on history, geography, science, mathematic and politics.
Bhargav, who once laid 1,135 foundation stones in a day and routinely organises mass weddings, called the move "political innovation". People know a lot about things other than their surroundings, he said. "I wanted to find out is people in my constituency know me and my work. I am satisfied with the outcome."
As for the two questions he got wrong, he blamed it on the cameras "constantly focused on me". "I could not concentrate."


text:
How to Get Your Lines Ready For the Spring Season [VIDEO]<Kat House
Spring season is a crucial time to keep your lawn movers, weed eaters and chain saws running. In this video, Tony from Rathbun Ironworks recommends how to do this by using ethanol-free gas and why it's important. After watching the video, answer a trivia question to earn 500 points.
Trivia Question: What type of gas is recommended?_


text:
"When I was at Leo Burnett, my problem was to make the creative product look good and to come up with cutting-edge ideas. The day we started Taproot, internet, electricity, water, a city-wide 'bandh', people not coming to office - became my problems. Now, if somebody is saying 'Give me 2 per cent of your stake and let me take care of all that', I'll be happy to comply." This came from Santosh Padhi, chief creative officer and co-founder, Taproot India, when we met him 10 days ago. That was just a hint at selling out, and the confirmed news of Dentsu buying 51 per cent stake in Taproot has just floated in.
Both parties seem to be happy. "Aggie (Agnello Dias) and Paddy (Santosh Padhi) are globally recognised and celebrated creative talents. This alliance will give a significant fillip to our growth plans for India," says Rohit Ohri, executive chairman, Dentsu India Group.
Post the acquisition, Paddy says, "Though we will still be involved in the daily management, we will now get more time to do justice to the creative product. Besides, Dentsu's digital expertise, financial prowess and client relationships will be an added advantage."
There has been a slew of takeovers in the past with the big ones like Trikaya-Grey, Clarion-Bates, Lintas-IPG, Ambience-Publicis and Zen-Publicis. More recently, the Omnicom-Mudra, Dentsu-Aegis and Publicis-BBH deals were nothing short of star marriages. And now comes the Dentsu-Taproot deal.
A good independent agency is worth its weight in gold. Three-and-a-half-year-old Taproot India, for instance, has been under the scanner in the fertile acquisition market more than once, for over a year now. Going solo is not a problem. What an independent agency has to answer is this: how long can it stay solo successfully? Why is it that, unlike other businesses (like the media publishing market), in the advertising or media industry, being independent for very long becomes a limitation and, therefore, selling out to a larger entity becomes the best - and often the only - alternative?
Timmy Kandhari, independent media analyst and former executive director, financial advisory services, PWC, says, "Often, for big networks, the only type of growth is to acquire smaller independents. They don't know how else to grow after a point. Individual agencies also stand to gain by being part of these networks." To understand the situation clearly, one needs to look at it from the buyer's and seller's perspectives.
The buyer's perspective is driven by external economic conditions that make the marketplace an ideal hunting ground. For starters, globally, there appears to be the need for agency networks to consolidate offerings and offer more uniform solutions to clients across markets. Acquiring agencies is an effective way to do this.
Nakul Chopra, CEO, Publicis Communications, South Asia, says, "Consolidation is happening at a global level. Going forward, we will see more acquisitions and successful independent agencies will find it worth their while to consolidate with larger networks."
Even if some clients are more willing than others to step out of their long term agency relationships and be more open to independent agencies coming in and doing projects for them, the networks that protect these clients' interests will, in turn, see how best they can acquire these smaller agencies.
As growth rates in European and American markets plateau and those in Asia and the emerging markets soar, networks are hungrier for a slice of this rapidly growing 'emerging market pie'. Acquiring successful agencies in the growing markets is the quickest way for these listed networks to up their value on the stock market and consequently enjoy incremental revenue.
Sam Balsara, chairman and managing director, Madison World, explains, "Whenever the global economy is down, mergers and acquisitions take place to get a leg-up especially in markets like India and China." From the seller's perspective, there appears to be a 'tipping' point, beyond which continuing as an independent becomes a limitation for an agency. Can this threshold, at which the inevitability of a sell-out is felt, be quantified? What is that exact juncture at which the 'For Sale' sign goes up?
BBH, for example, sold out to Publicis after 30 years when its global strength was around 1,000 people while Taproot sold out with 33 people after less than four years of being in the business. Arvind Sharma, chairman and CEO, Indian subcontinent, Leo Burnett, quantifies the threshold at a total staff strength of 100 people. According to Ashok Kurien, founder of Ambience Advertising, one can't start an independent agency "unless you find four or five partners, two big clients and have 12 months staying power in the bank". In the opinion of Prem Mehta, former chairman and managing director, Lintas Group, a creative agency may find it beneficial to tie up with larger organisations once its revenue crosses Rs. crore.
Mehta explains the Rs. 50-crore remark. He says, "That kind of billing implies that it will have 10-12 big clients. That's when it needs to start looking for more which means managerial, creative, strategy skills and also new services in order to survive." The critical determinants that could contribute to the decision to sell can be categorised into business and personal needs.
From a business perspective, most agree with the rubber band metaphor when it comes to agencies � functioning as an independent is like stretching a rubber band; overstretch it and it snaps� unless of course it is replaced with more elastic. This is the bandwidth that a larger network can offer. For most independent agencies this proverbial elastic typically means getting 'scale'.
Scale gives an agency access to big-ticket clients that are beyond reach. Independents are pitted against the big daddies that have a global client share of over 85 per cent. Once an agency has exhausted the clients within its reach, the only way to infiltrate the region that contains the big, globally aligned MNC clients is to belong to a larger system. In fact, 'scale' can be interpreted in another way when it comes to comparing creative and media agencies: The general sense is that scale is the reason it is becoming more difficult for media planning/buying agencies to remain independent as opposed to creative agencies. This is mainly because creative agencies are more about ideas and processes - things that don't require scale to sustain � and media agencies are more about tools and technology � things that thrive on scale.
"A creative agency could stay independent for life but a small media agency may find it difficult to stay independent beyond a point," says Nikhil Rangnekar, CEO, media and analytics, Spatial Access. Secondly, for an independent agency's growth needs, such as expanding into newer geographies or diversifying by launching new arms like design, digital or activation outfits, infrastructure and funding are a must. Belonging to a network brings in that support.
Thirdly, access to global knowledge, expertise, research and managerial tools and technology are other necessities for growth are more easily obtained by becoming part of a global giant. Mahesh Chauhan, co-founder, Salt Brand Solutions, sums it up, "Most businesses can be 'IPO-ed'. But agencies can't. So how does an agency go public, raise money for growth and expand? If you are not 'IPO-able' on your own, the only way to ahead forward is to sell out to a global buyer."
Nagesh Alai, executive director, India Operations, Draftfcb Ulka Group, says, "The tipping point is when one's entrepreneurial drive reaches a level of incompetence and one cannot take the pressures of ownership business any longer." In this case, the term 'level of incompetence' is not a negative phrase. It means 'peaking' or getting to the maximum performance point. This could mean that the founder has exhausted his business connections, the growth rate has reached a plateau or has begun to dip or the agency has lost a big account and needs to cash-out simply in order to stay afloat.
Mehta explains how the main business reasons for selling out have changed over the years. "The imperatives for the 'transfer of balance equity' (he prefers this term to 'selling out') to IPG from Lintas (2007) were very different from the reasons for smaller outfits wanting to sell-out today," he says. Back then, it was more a question of integration of services driven by the needs of networks that didn't have presence in India and needed to service their global clients who were finding their feet in the Indian market. Today, the sense is that a lot of the sellouts are happening because of valuation and monetary goals. "Financial considerations override everything else" he says.
However, there are some who view a sell-out as the most natural, prudent, self-preserving entrepreneurial move for an agency and not as something driven by mere monetary temptation. Srinivasan Swamy, managing director and CEO, RK Swamy BBDO, calls it 'Entrepreneurial Premium'. "If somebody can make money and get a premium from their enterprise, why not? A sell out is nothing but an entrepreneur extracting value for his entrepreneurship and getting rewarded for what he has created," he argues.
The agency business is a person-driven business and there are factors that have more to do with the individual needs of the founders.
A founder may decide to cash out when his personal goals have been met. This depends on the vision and pre-determined objectives that he entered the market with in the first place. In fact, the peak point is often linked to the age, motivation and ambition levels of the promoter. A founder's motivation may wane with age, he may not want to carry on with the responsibility of running a business or may simply burn out.
Selling out to a large network, especially in the absence of a succession plan of one's own, is one way of ensuring your business is sheltered after you. Subhash Kamath, managing partner, BBH India, says, "The founder's blood, tears, sweat and toil go into building a business. And as he walks away into the sunset he will want to leave his baby in good hands where it'll grow." He adds that an owner could also decide to sell because he feels the agency brand is bigger than the actual worth of the business and that with the backing of a large network it can finally reach its full potential in tangible terms. It could also be the general restless nature of today's entrepreneurs that makes them cash out. Spatial Access' Rangnekar reasons, "Many agencies are set up by brilliant people who have vision and ambition. After a few years they get bored and want to keep doing new things."
Not everyone wants to be taken over. "At Saints & Warriors," says Pushpinder Singh, founder, "we are acutely aware of this phenomenon. Hence, there is an urgency to scale up and de-risk the company with multiple revenue streams."
Soon, there could emerge a new type of agency network model � 'the network of independents' - in which a large number of small independent agencies could come together and compete with the biggies. "It is 'the mid-sized independent agency' that will be an extinct species soon. Small agencies will come together, decide to pool in their resources so that they can compete with the big networks while simultaneously reaping the benefits of staying independent," says Anirban Chaudhuri of Strategic Planning & Conversation Enablers Group, a Delhi-based consultancy.
Will the independent homegrown agency die out? "We'll see people setting up their own agencies, but it'll be in the hope that they'll get acquired at the right time," predicts Ohri of Dentsu. One has to wait and watch.
With Additional Inputs from: Praveen Kenneth, co-founder, Law & Kenneth, Vivek Bhargava, founder and managing director, Communicate2, Ashish Bhasin, chairman, India and chief executive officer, Southeast Asia, Aegis Media, Elsie Nanji, managing partner, and creative director, Red Lion and former partner and creative, director, Ambience Advertising, Nagessh Pannaswami, co-founder, Curry Nation, Nick Waters, chief executive officer, Asia Pacific, Aegis Media