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You don't remember Lance Easley by name, mostly because in our busy lives, mental memory real estate for such meaningless information is scarce. Knowing that little Sally has a dance recital tonight is much more important than the name of a replacement referee.
But although you may not recognize Easley's name, you certainly know what he did. This…
Easley is the fellow who rather hilariously called the conclusion of that play a touchdown. There was outrage, disgust, profanity, and then the end of the replacement officials due to their incompetence. Easley's blown call gave the locked-out referees the ultimate leverage, and they were back on the field the following week.
Easley may now be attempting to do exactly what any fine American citizen would do: try to turn his tomfoolery into money through being publicly visible. Emphasis there is on attempt, and his first appearance was at Richard Sherman's charity softball game yesterday where he executed the finest Packers troll job in Internet history by posing for this picture alongside Golden Tate…
Former replacement ref Lance Easley confirms Golden Tate TD months after MNF #Seahawks #Packers pic.twitter.com/OcUVErndgN
— Aaron Levine (@AaronQ13Fox) July 7, 2013
But oh, it gets better. When he spoke to the assembled media, Easley dutifully stood by his convictions and said that even after watching multiple replays, he stands by his touchdown call.
Never admit failure, Lance. It's the ultimate sign of weakness.


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Summary: The commercial airline industry is one of the most volatile, dog-eat-dog enterprises in the world, and in the late 1990s, Europe's Airbus overtook America's Boeing as the preeminent aircraft manufacturer. However, Airbus quickly succumbed to the same complacency it once challenged, and Boeing regained its precarious place on top. Now, after years of heated battle and mismanagement, both companies face the challenge of serving burgeoning Asian markets and stiff competition from China ...show moreand Japan. Combining insider knowledge with vivid prose and insight, John Newhouse delivers a riveting story of these two titans of the sky and their struggles to stay in the air. ...show less
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In 1967, the year Mike Nichols' film "The Graduate" came out, Time magazine, unable to name an individual as Man of the Year, gave that honor to the entire generation of Americans under the age of 25. In its own way, "The Graduate" was also an expression of messianic faith in the young. Its then-subversive plot, about a college boy bedding an older woman - one of his parents' best friends - reflected a belief that liberating ourselves sexually would usher in an era free of neuroses, a time of genuine peace and love. Now that we no longer harbor such illusions, why, you might ask, do we need a stage version of the movie? I wish I could tell you. The prime reason seems to be a chance to see Kathleen Turner, playing the sexually ravenous Mrs. Robinson, in the nude. Always on the lookout for progress in the theater, I am delighted to report we have made big strides from Nicole Kidman simply displaying her tushie for about 10 seconds. With Turner, we get easily 15 seconds of full frontal nudity as she flaunts her 46-year-old, big-boned body, admittedly in dimmer light than Kidman allowed. Later, we have an opportunity to see her elegant breasts in clear light as she sports with Benjamin Braddock (played by Jason Biggs) in a mechanical bedroom romp. Although I have tried to live up to Time magazine's expectations in other ways, I have not shared my generation's obsession with building better abs and biceps. So I can only envy what Turner has achieved. Whether you want to sit through two hours and 20 minutes of a not-very-amusing play for this display is up to you. Our world is totally different from that of 1963, when "The Graduate" is set. Almost none of what made Charles Webb's novel or Nichols' film shocking makes any sense today. Nor does the adaptation by Terry Johnson (who also directed) help much. To begin with, Turner's Mrs. Robinson is not the wildly neurotic, uncontrolled creature she was in Anne Bancroft's hands. Here, she has the demeanor of an Army drill sergeant putting a recruit through his paces. This is apparent in the daunting way she stands and in her booming voice. (Is she auditioning as a replacement for "Bea Arthur on Broadway"?) Her domineering tone seems fueled by an anger that makes the character unnecessarily unattractive. What she exhibits toward Benjamin is not desire, but relentless libidinal demand, which makes it almost inevitable that Biggs responds with an equally one-note defensiveness that grows quickly tiresome. As their two-minute ballet in bed indicates, there is no emotional component in this relationship. That being the case, why should we care? As the Robinsons' daughter, Elaine, Alicia Silverstone has a surprisingly whiny voice that undercuts what is supposed to be her innocent appeal. Nor do we ever understand why Benjamin pursues her so urgently. The actors work hard, but the writing invariably turns them into cartoons. Every scene has the monotonous verbal rhythm of a listless game of badminton. Unable to find a stage equivalent for the film's surreal ending, Johnson has written a ditzy final scene that only points up the meaninglessness of Benjamin's unmotivated courtship of Elaine. Rob Howell's sets are monotonous. His costumes do little to suggest the period. In 1967, the times provided the subtext for "The Graduate." Neither the times nor the actors seem capable of that today, making its transition to the stage an exercise in hollowness.
When was the last time you saw a successful play made from a movie? Not a musical, but a straight play. Last season's "Judgment at Nuremberg"? Hardly a success. "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial"? Close, but no cigar.
That said, Terry Johnson's "The Graduate," which opened at the Plymouth Theatre last night, is not as good as one hoped it might be, but not quite as bad as one feared it could be.
Creditably mediocre would probably be the phrase for it - mediocre, with a few incidental pleasures along the way, not least of which are its stars, the formidable Kathleen Turner, Jason Biggs (of "American Pie" fame) and a cute and funny Alicia Silverstone, that sometime Batgirl.
The 1967 movie, directed by Mike Nichols, made Dustin Hoffman a star, raised Anne Bancroft to an icon, gave Simon and Garfunkel an imperishable hit, and was the ultimate coming-of-age movie - the coming of age not of a person but of a particular generation.
With "The Graduate," Nichols and his screenwriters marked and commemorated the change in the '60s to a more open, wilder America in which authority was questioned. This manipulative and predatory play does no such thing.
Johnson, a British playwright and director, has adapted his text from the original novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry.
Comparisons with the movie might be invidious, but the play wouldn't be on Broadway - or indeed, anywhere else - had not the fame of the film preceded it. And that movie can still be rented for a few bucks, rather less than even a discount seat to a Broadway show.
Johnson has tried hard to instill new life into this very '60s story of a graduate (Biggs) being seduced by a woman twice his age (Turner) only to fall obsessively in love with her daughter (Silverstone).
But it doesn't really work in either tone or energy. Even the choice of the sappy happy ending, with the newlyweds in bed flicking cereal bits at one another, has nothing of the awful and apt ambiguity of the movie's conclusion.
Using a recording of "Mrs. Robinson" as exit music just adds a crass insult to unnecessary injury.
But the Broadway cast is better than OK - rather better than the cast I saw in London, after Turner had departed from the original West End production - but still doesn't bear comparison with the movie itself.
Turner, with a rusty voice that makes Lauren Bacall sound like a shrill pennywhistle, is unzipped, bullying and pitiless fun as Mrs. Robinson.
She also, in the play's notorious nude scene, no-nonsensically reveals a great deal more than a coy Nicole Kidman did in similar circumstances. Mind you, Turner has a great deal more to reveal.
What she doesn't have is Bancroft's super-cool, dry-martini insolence, any more than Biggs, quite charming in his way, has the awesome, gawky charisma with which Hoffman diffidently announced that a star was born.
The West End designer Rob Howell has produced, with his cathedral-walled setting, an American scene that no American is likely to recognize, although it does have a certain cinematic utility value in its quick dissolves. Unfortunately, though it may move fast, it always looks very much the same.
The lesser roles, apart from the cheerfully giddy Silverstone, are often well done, particularly Victor Slezak as the dignified cuckolded husband. Am I the only one who remembers Buck Henry as the hotel desk clerk?
But enough of the movie - and, for that matter, enough of the play. Perhaps too much.
Twenty seconds.
That, give or take a few seconds, is how long the beauteous movie star Kathleen Turner stands stark naked in ''The Graduate,'' the weary new comedy that opened last night at the Plymouth Theater.
This dimly lighted moment of exposure generated heavy-breathing headlines in London when Ms. Turner appeared there two years ago in the same play (inspired by the 1967 film of the same title), and it is presumably one big reason the show's New York incarnation has a $5.3 million advance ticket sale. (It doesn't hurt that the production features Jason Biggs and Alicia Silverstone, the young stars of the hit films ''American Pie'' and ''Clueless,'' respectively.)
With top seats for ''The Graduate'' going for $76.25, those 20 seconds cost close to $4 each for theatergoers interested only in full-frontal star gazing. So for those who have yet to purchase their tickets, the following series of questions and answers is intended as a helpful consumer guide.
Q. Is she really entirely naked?
A. No, she is wearing high heels.
Q. What is the lighting like?
A. Good question. You might be interested to learn that the London production garnered only one Olivier Award (the English equivalent of the Tony), and that was for lighting by Hugh Vanstone. In her nude scene, Ms. Turner is bathed in tactful but forbidding twilight that, like most of the show's humor, is blue.
Q. Cut to the chase. How does she look?
A. Terrific, although not so much luscious as imperial. Think of a marble statue of some vengeful Roman deity (Juno, perhaps) in a courtyard in old Pompeii.
Q. Is she holding in her stomach?
A. Opinion is divided here, but it would appear she is. Under the circumstances, wouldn't you?
Q. Can you buy those cool Mrs. Robinson bath towels (in honor of the lascivious housewife played by Ms. Turner) that were on sale in London, to commemorate this moment?
A. Alas, for now, no.
And there you have the crux of ''The Graduate.'' Otherwise, the play feels barer -- and certainly less substantial -- than Ms. Turner in the altogether. Inspired by Mike Nichols's benchmark movie and the earlier cult novel by Charles Webb, this leering, undercooked show is the most cynical specimen to date of the theater's current vogue for cannibalizing Hollywood classics.
In shaping the production, its adapter and director, Terry Johnson, has dipped deeper into Mr. Webb's original novel, adding scenes that were not in the movie. Overall, though, it's the same story that won the hearts of young and misunderstood-feeling moviegoers 35 years ago while pushing Dustin Hoffman into instant stardom as the disaffected college graduate of the title.
Once again you find Benjamin Braddock (Mr. Biggs) fretting over his future in empty, materialistic Southern California, and marking time by going to bed with Mrs. Robinson (Ms. Turner), an alcoholic friend of his parents, and falling in love with her daughter, Elaine (Ms. Silverstone).
That the movie today seems less dated than most anti-establishment films of its time has much to do with its cinematic inventiveness. Mr. Nichols and his cinematographer, Robert Surtees, made California sunlight seem suffocating and turned backyard swimming pools into sterile isolation chambers.
And of course there was the sublime Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson, creating an entirely new paradigm for the all-American vamp: a hard-drinking, vulpine, glacially composed woman who despite her evil ways became a serious sex object for moviegoing suburban youths.
The film may have been schematic in its disdain for the grotesqueness of the affluent society, but it still pulses with emotional energy and conflict. The stage version, on the other hand, turns the same plot into what is essentially a long-running dirty joke. Nearly everything seems as flat and two-dimensional as construction paper, as if this were ''The Graduate: The Board Game.''
All this felt less offensive in London, where you could shrug the play off as another instance of those wacky English people making fun of those wacky cartoons called Americans. There was also the fascination of the feverish gratitude that Ms. Turner's nude scene (like Nicole Kidman's several years earlier in ''The Blue Room'') inspired in the press. ''O gracious and glamorous celebrity,'' went the subtext. ''Thank you for doffing your kit for us.''
On American shores, ''The Graduate'' seems more blatantly exploitative, suggesting Broadway's own answer to the Tonya Harding-Paula Jones boxing match. The show trafficks easily and cheaply in memories of the movie and the Q ratings of its stars, while gloating over the more relaxed sexual attitudes of the 21st century. Hey, you didn't get to watch Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman simulate oral sex.
Rob Howell's minimal set, a wall of louvered doors of the kind you would find on a poolhouse, suggests a world in which clothes are removed quickly and everything stays casual.
Visual and physical jokes that blended into the mise-en-scène of the movie (e.g., Mrs. Robinson's blowing smoke from her mouth after Benjamin kisses her) are heightened into sight gags. The show relies heavily on associative triggers that stir memories of the movie and let you fill in the blanks.
Thus the evening begins with the amplified sounds of Benjamin's breathing in a scuba diver's mask, which in the film was famously rendered through the character's glassed-in perspective. The uttering of catchwords and phrases from the movie (like ''Plastics'') are set up laboriously and presented in capital letters. The fabled Simon and Garfunkel music is used mostly in teasing phrases, with fuller use of songs by groups like the Beach Boys and the Mamas and the Papas.
Benjamin's youthful angst and Mrs. Robinson's middle-aged anger have been turned into stepping stones to punch lines. Mr. Biggs and Ms. Silverstone often give the impression that they are inventing their dialogue on the spot in an acting class.
Mr. Biggs has some funny line deliveries, but they never seem to connect to a character. Ms. Silverstone looks pretty and gives a squeaky, frightened performance. Their scenes together limp along blandly, never building. Still, how could anyone make palatable the play's version of Elaine, who is one of those dewy, exceedingly whimsical 60's-style waifs. (She loves taxi drivers because she believes they are all ''fallen angels.'')
There are other performers who embody in shrill satirical ways -- with costumes to match by Mr. Howell -- the hypocrisies of the older generation and period trendiness. (Don't even ask about the Timothy Leary-like guru.) But only Ms. Turner is any fun at all to watch.
In keeping with the tone of the evening, she plays Mrs. Robinson on one single deep-voiced note, evoking infinite jadedness and bottomless appetites. She tends to plant herself solidly and defiantly on the stage as she delivers withering, deadpan epigrams, occasionally whipping back her head like a restless mare.
Hers is a commanding presence, all right, although it might have been more appropriate in a guest spot on the late lamented ''Xena: Warrior Princess.'' At any moment you expect her to say, ''Foolish mortal, how dare you defy me.''
Still, in the terms of what this ''Graduate'' is selling, a star is a star. And Ms. Turner definitely gives off starlight. There are also a couple of moments -- one when Mrs. Robinson kicks off a shoe; another when she leaps springily into bed -- when Ms. Turner exudes a delighted, sprightly energy that make you realize she may be enjoying herself. It's nice to think that someone is.
Just about a year ago, a new stage adaptation of a 1960s film classic fully recaptured, and added to, the magic of the original. That's because a) The Producers offered the kind of broad, bawdy comedy and larger-than-life characters that can readily translate to a big Broadway show, and b) the creative mind behind the movie did the translating, with help from the most inventive director/choreographer in contemporary musical theater.
The new stage adaptation of a 1960s film classic that opened at Broadway's Plymouth Theatre Thursday night does not, unfortunately, benefit from any such asset. The Graduate (** out of four) is not a complete disaster, but it provides a needed reminder of the risks posed by reworking a big-screen favorite for live audiences.
Like The Sweet Smell of Success, another film that recently became theater fodder, 1967's The Graduate relied greatly on the kind of nuances of mood and expression most keenly conveyed through a camera lens. It's no discredit to Calder Willingham and Buck Henry's screenplay that some of the movie's best moments lay in flickers of emotion that only register close up, and the atmosphere — so redolent of a certain point in American culture — that director Mike Nichols distilled so brilliantly.
In the play, which Terry Johnson adapted from Charles Webb's novel as well as the film, that resonance is lost. Rob Howell's functional set design could, but for a few period flourishes, represent any late-20th-century, upper-middle-class environment just as easily as the 1964 California that Ben Braddock is thrust into.
More significantly, the story of Benjamin's social and sexual awakening has retained little of its wry poignancy. Johnson, who also directed the play, apparently decided that the quirks and shades of gray that made the characters in The Graduate hip, funny and moving would not be accessible on stage. What he has given us is essentially a morality tale — one that ultimately focuses less on Benjamin than on his love interest, Elaine Robinson, an insecure young woman who must be rescued from her selfish, oppressive parents.
Ironically, the only full-blooded performances are those given by the actors cast as the almost-cartoonish villains. As Mrs. Robinson, the troubled alcoholic who seduces Benjamin and tries to destroy his relationship with her daughter, Kathleen Turner wisely avoids emulating Anne Bancroft's cool, sly screen presence, which would have been swallowed whole in this production. Turner's Robinson is formidably, delightfully vampy, but she is also haunted, and the regret that consumes her becomes more palpable and profound as the show progresses. Victor Slezak is similarly effective as her callous husband, who takes out his frustrations on his wife.
As the younger couple, Jason Biggs and Alicia Silverstone are intermittently endearing, but neither is polished nor confident enough to transcend the limitations placed on them. Biggs, who starred in the American Pie movies, is pretty much a one-note stage actor. His Benjamin is all nervous energy, with none of the deft dryness that Dustin Hoffman brought to the role. Silverstone also seems drained of the intelligence and charm she has shown on screen; even her wholesome attractiveness is diminished by this Elaine's whining, whimpering demeanor.
Clearly, it takes more than a fondly remembered tale and a few snippets of Paul Simon's music to make a compelling play. Mrs. Robinson should have stayed sitting on her sofa this time around.
Considering that it re-creates one of the most famous seduction scenes in film history, Terry Johnson's stage adaptation of "The Graduate," now on Broadway after a long and successful run in the West End, is remarkably low on charm. It's lacking in a few other things you might recall from the 1967 picture, too. It's not witty or moving or smart or sophisticated, for instance. Indeed, this workmanlike slog through an iconic story is not much of anything -- other than a hit, of course.
On the strength of affection inherited from the movie, and with an assist by a few stars of varying degrees of luster, the production is already selling well enough to start marketing ultra-high-end tickets, at $250 a pop. Downbeat reviews aren't likely to cause too much of a dent in the B.O., either. As with the season's other marketing triumph of dubious artistic merit, "Mamma Mia!," auds are likely to register their reservations only after they've satisfied their curiosity.
Johnson's adaptation, which draws on both the screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry and the novel by Charles Webb, dutifully re-creates the most famous exchanges from the movie (one half-expects the audience to chime in, "Rocky Horror"-style, when young Benjamin Braddock is given that infamous single word of advice). But it is drearily explicit where the movie was suggestive, spelling out things Mike Nichols' direction more slyly illustrated. In the opening scene, for instance, the angst-ridden Benjamin, played by "American Pie" star Jason Biggs, explains his reluctance to join the fete celebrating his graduation by telling dad, "Those people down there are grotesque! … You are grotesque, I'm grotesque and we're all grotesque."
The advances of Mrs. Robinson actually are. Ardent fans of the movie may be surprised to note that these are somewhat implausibly initiated in this opening scene, in Benjamin's bedroom and while the party is in full swing downstairs. It's here that Kathleen Turner famously -- albeit briefly -- disrobes, revealing a figure that's in rather better shape than her acting, I'm afraid.
As the predatory Mrs. R., Turner seems content to perform an exercise in self-parody. Moving with a vaguely masculine swagger, her sandpapery contralto issuing from a mouth permanently set in a grim, disgusted moue, Turner's Mrs. Robinson is not remotely alluring -- or for that matter human. In fact she's rather frightening -- Nurse Ratched in a cocktail dress -- making Benjamin's capitulation to her overtures seem less a sign of emotional confusion and need and more an indication of a particular sexual predilection.
Not that there are many sparks flying between the two. It's hard to resist the observation that the likable Biggs shared more real chemistry with that famous pie than he does with either Turner or Alicia Silverstone, the "Clueless" star making her Broadway debut as the Robinsons' daughter, Elaine.
Biggs wisely doesn't attempt to re-create that unforgettable, dazed inarticulacy of Dustin Hoffman's star-making turn in the picture. He's more like a diffident young Woody Allen -- albeit one onto whom Brad Pitt's body has been mysteriously grafted. The performance is physically a very funny one, and Biggs is at his best in the farcical scene in which Benjamin and Mrs. R. repair to a hotel room to consummate their peculiar relationship.
But in Johnson's reductive dramatization, Benjamin comes across not as a young man of passionate if inchoate idealism rebelling against the soul-killing conventions of bourgeois culture, but as an idle brat who just can't be bothered to join the dreary old rat race. ("My life is bullshit" is about as introspective as he gets, and he later dismisses the rather wide subjects of "politics and history and art" as "that crap"). Given glib material, Biggs is unable to suggest the tortured inner life that Hoffman did with such beautiful economy.
More is less when it comes to the character of Elaine, too. She's much more loquacious onstage than in the picture, but, as with Benjamin, also far shallower. She can get mildly worked up about such diverse topics as the Mona Lisa and civil rights, yes, but in a cutely superficial way that's not much alleviated by Silverstone's cutely superficial performance. (And the mother-daughter drunk scene near the end of the first act must be one of the least funny in stage history.)
The whole production seems content to shellac a shiny plastic surface over a story that was both lighter on its feet and vastly deeper in its emotional resonance on film. Rob Howell's stylish set, handsomely lit by Hugh Vanstone, surrounds the playing space with three walls of white slatted doors, but the show itself doesn't attempt to open any new windows on its material. (It even recycles some of the famous Paul Simon soundtrack, albeit in bizarre bits that suggest some kind of legal wrangling, and fills in the gaps with other hits of the era from the Beach Boys and the Mamas & the Papas.)
The play's flat conclusion finds Benjamin and Elaine in bed, newly married, chattering cutely about Cheerios. This puerile finale is particularly deflating given the knockout ending of Nichols' picture, surely one of cinema's most beautifully rendered. Of course, Nichols' subtle, open-ended last shots, in which we see the elation of their flight from the church slowly fade on Benjamin and Elaine's faces as they confront the daunting question marks of the future, probably wouldn't make it in Hollywood today either. At the movies, as at the theater, entertainment only seem to get more juvenile with each passing season. What can you do?
Pass the Cheerios, I guess.


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Elizabeth (Lise) Strickler
Elizabeth (Lise) Strickler MBA '86
Lise began her career as investor relations coordinator with Merrill Lynch Energy Investments, Inc., in Houston, Tex. After two years in the energy sector, she returned to her native New York to pursue an MBA in finance at Columbia Business School.
Following graduation from the School, Lise became a financial analyst with Tri-Star Pictures, a publicly held entertainment studio that subsequently merged with Columbia Pictures. In 1988, she was promoted to director of investor relations with responsibility for the company's communications with the investment community. Following Sony's purchase of Columbia Pictures, Lise served as an executive consultant to Sony Entertainment's New Technology Group until 1993.
After stepping down from the corporate world, Lise has focused her energies on raising her children and on not-for profit work in education and the environment. She currently serves on a number boards, including the Middlesex School in Concord, Mass., Environmental Advocates of New York and the Adirondack Mountain Reserve. In addition, Lise is a member of the advisory boards of St. Simon Stock School, a K–8 elementary school serving a low-income population in the Bronx, and the Adirondack Trail Improvement Society.
With her husband, Mark Gallogly '86, Lise has three daughters: Katharine, Grace and Nell. Lise graduated in 1982 from Yale University with a B.A. in English.
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ACI's 11th National Forum onPrepaid Card ComplianceEssential Compliance Strategies and Best Practices for an Evolving Regulatory and Enforcement ParadigmThursday, January 29 to Friday, January 30, 2015
Mandarin Oriental, Washington, DC
Be a part of the premier
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- click image for pdf - Dates: Thu, Jan 29, 2015 Fri, Jan 30, 2015 Location:
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text: Young Solar - Walk Around The Club By Young Solar Posted Aug 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM 0 0 0Comments 290 Views Share Tweet gplus thumblr pinterest 1 Walk Around The Club Young Solar Follow Artist Embed Me To Playlist Download Songs Mixtapes Videos 0 0 0 290 Powered By HOTNEWHIPHOPhotnewhiphop.com Edit Colors Full Player Simple Player Embed Script Copy Short Link Copy Iframe Copy Preview Full Player Simple Player Embed Code Copy NOTE: Minimum player width is 370 pixels, height is 50 pixels. Back Full Player Simple Player NOTE: Player width is 450 pixels, height is 50 pixels. Title Artist Back 01:23 04:56 Embed Code Copy


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WASHINGTON-Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, has been honored by the National Retail Federation with its Gold Medal for 2012.
The award is given annually to an individual who has achieved a national reputation for excellence and gained the respect of fellow retailers. NRF said in a statement, "Under Bezos' leadership Amazon continues to re-invent both itself and entire industries." Along with its online retailing business now encompassing a wide variety of products, "Amazon even empowers companies and governments in over 190 countries around the world with the leading cloud computing infrastructure through its Amazon Web Services offering," the statement said.
In addition, NRF has named John McCarvel, president and CEO of Crocs Inc., as its Retail Innovator of the Year, an award which honors executives who use new, innovative or imaginative techniques, formats or services. The International Retailer of the Year award has been given Christine Day, CEO of lululemon athletica, for her efforts in developing and reinforcing lululemon's position in the retailing of yoga-inspired women's athletic apparel.
Also, Ken Bonning, senior executive vice president of logistics for Kohl's, has been named the recipient of NRF's Silver Plaque, for his work in the retailer's logistics area and for his role as former chairman of NRF's Strategic Supply Chain Council and his work in helping to launch the organization's Global Supply Chain Summit in 2011.


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Gloria Wright (Callis) Gardner died peacefully at her daughter's home in Maryland on the morning of Sunday, June 29, 2014. She was 90.
Gloria grew up in Havertown, Pa. and was the daughter of Margaret Smith and J. Earl Callis.
She was a resident of Moorestown, N.J. for 55 years, where she volunteered in numerous organizations including the Moorestown Garden Club and Home and School Association. She served as president of the Cooper Hospital Woman's Junior Auxiliary and Warden of Trinity Episcopal Church. From 1970 to 1982, she was employed by the Moorestown Township School System and served as Adult School Director for many years.
Gloria was preceded in death by her first husband of 33 years, Howard L. Wright, and her second husband of three years, Robert H. Gardner, all of Moorestown, N.J.
Gloria is survived by her only child, Margaret 'Midge' Wright Ingersoll and son-in-law, Jon E. Ingersoll, of Cambridge, Md., formerly of Moorestown; two grandsons, Daniel (wife, Stephanie) of Bryn Mawr, Pa. and Douglas (wife, Jennifer) of Moorestown; and two great-grandsons Henry and George.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22 at Trinity Episcopal Church. Interment in Trinity Churchyard will be private. A luncheon will follow at Riverton County Club.
Memorial contributions should be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Moorestown, for Building and Grounds maintenance. Thomas Funeral Home,
Cambridge, Md.


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I may lust for him, but I totally respect DDL's devotion to his wife Rebecca Miller. She's the daughter of Arthur Miller, and the two met when he appeared in the movie version of her father's play "The Crucible." They've been married since 1996 and have two children. In his Oscar speech on Sunday, DDL acknowledged that Miller had lived with many men over their years together and dealt with it well, a nod to the vast array of characters he's inhabited since they met.
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J.D. Power 2012
Booking.com rated highest in customer satisfaction among 10 popular travel-booking websites.BBB accredited business
Booking.com USA: "Meets BBB accreditation standards … to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints."This modern 5-star hotel is next to the historic Naschmarkt square and Old Town Hall in central Leipzig. It offers a large spa, soundproof rooms and free Wi-Fi. More
In the very heart of Leipzig city center, InterCityHotel Leipzig provides comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi just 320 yards from Leipzig Train Station. There are 6 people looking at this hotel. More
Just 655 ft from Leipzig Train Station, this classical-style, 4-star hotel offers spacious rooms with flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and private parking. The Old Town district is 330 ft away. There are 4 people looking at this hotel. More
This designer hotel is in the heart of Leipzig, just 500 ft from the Gewandhaus Concert Hall and Augustusplatz tram stop. It features a 24-hour gym and stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi up to 512 kb. There are 2 people looking at this hotel. More
This centrally located, elegant hotel in Leipzig boasts elegant accommodations and a wonderful spa area with indoor pool. More
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Featuring Leipzig's largest hotel swimming pool and an award-winning restaurant on the 27th-floor, this hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Leipzig Central Train Station. There are 2 people looking at this hotel. More
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Just 3 tram stops from Leipzig Central Train Station, this modern, 4-star hotel in the Gutenberggalerie office and business center offers a restaurant with great skyline views and spacious, air... There are 3 people looking at this hotel. More


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Most Raptors fans assumed that the team would pursue an older, veteran type point guard to play behind Kyle Lowry as the primary backup.
Then most fans assumed that the team would find said veteran point guard to act as an insurance policy as a third stringer behind Lowry and Julyan Stone.
Wrong again, as on Friday, reports emerged that the Raptors have added point guard Dwight Buycks, who just finished off a four-game stint with Oklahoma City's Summer League team in Orlando (where he averaged 9.5 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals in about 21 minutes).
Congrats to my fellow @MarquetteU alum @BuycksWorld23 on signing with the Raptors and becoming a teammate!!! Hard work pays off!#MILWAUKEE
— STEVE NOVAK (@stevenovak16) July 13, 2013
For what it's worth, the Thunder were also reportedly interested in bringing Buycks in as their third point guard.
The 24-year-old Marquette product went undrafted in 2011 before enjoying a cup of coffee (28 games) with the D-League's Tulsa franchise in the 2011-12 season. Most recently, Buycks enjoyed a successful season in France with BCM Gravelines, where he averaged 17 points on 46 per cent shooting and 36 per cent three-point shooting in 51 games.
Like Stone, I haven't seen Buycks play before, and the only thing we can really deduce from the numbers available is that Buycks is a fairly consistent three-point shooter. But as Eric Koreen mentioned earlier, for a young team, there's nothing wrong with taking a chance on an unproven young player as opposed to taking a chance on a veteran who you know won't do much for you.
On that note, here's hoping Stone and Buycks prove to be solid depth additions at point and less like the infamous Will Solomon/Quincy Douby experiment of the 2008-09 season.
In any event, with a couple of unproven 24-year-olds brought in to back him up, this seems to be a clear message that from a point guard standpoint, the Raptors are going to be Kyle Lowry's team.
I'm cool with that. You?
UPDATE: Perhaps this sheds some light on things. Doug Smith reports that Julyan Stone "has physical issues and won't sign now." If Stone's issues take him out of the mix, then signing another inexperienced young point guard doesn't seem that odd, as Buycks would simply be sliding into the spot the team originally had planned for Stone.


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Lenkey - 5 million
Lenkey - 5 million
My American Hero
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Milwaukee Bucks
I was thinking 7.5 million.
I'd post a fine for GP33, but he already punished himself with that Rose trade, as well as swapping Thabo for Corey Brewer.
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"From the forthcoming record "Imagine"… consider this a little present for all of you who have been waiting all these years. "What If" is one of our personal favourites from the album… all we can say is we hope you like it as much as we do!" – RyanDan
Welcome to our new site!! It feels like it's been so long, but after years of finding the right sound, penning new material for our fans, we are back with a new site, new look and a new album "Imagine". The 10 track album features some of our most favourite songs we have ever written; we only hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Our hearts and souls have been poured out in the creativity of this project; the music is who we are, written from the heart, and we are thrilled to say the on November 8th, 2011, your lives and ours will cross as we open our hearts to you with Imagine. See you then." – … Continue reading


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Belk Hotlogic
Discover an exceptional HotLogic selection from the latest brands at Belk. Find popular styles with the latest designs in our HotLogic collection. It is easy to find the HotLogic you want from the amazing assortment that we offer. Choose from a wonderful variety of styles from our HotLogic selection at Belk.


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Want to know how addictive UFC 2009 Undisputed is? Take a look at this:
That's my hand, a day after playing THQ's upcoming mixed martial arts game for an extended period of time. That disgusting pink spot in the middle of my palm is the blister I got from a result of that extended play session. Yes, I got a blister playing a videogame. I can't remember the last time that happened to me.
Why that blister appeared on the middle of my palm (and not, say, on my thumb) I'll get to in a bit. First, let me set the stage for you. Last week, we received the PS3 version of the upcoming downloadable demo for UFC 2009 Undisputed. The game, being published by THQ and developed by Yuke's, is the first licensed UFC game since 2004's mediocre UFC Sudden Impact. The demo, which will be available on PSN and XBL on April 23, features two modes: an extensive tutorial to get you used to the game's in-depth controls, and a single exhibition fight between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Chuck Liddell.
The Liddell/Rua exhibition--which will be a highlight of this weekend's UFC 97 in Montreal--proves to be a fantastic exhibition of UFC's gameplay and the different fighting styles found in the game. Liddell, a pure striker is as deadly as can be when standing up, capable of an awesome barrage of kicks and punches-- including that vicious overhead right hook--any one of which can take Rua out in a single shot. Rua, while no slouch in the kick department, is much more adept at clinching, mat work, and submission. Pit these two different styles of fighting, both equally dangerous, against one another and you've got a chess match in the UFC 2009 demo that speaks volumes about the strategic depth this game contains.
Over the past few days, I've played the demo over and over against both the CPU and against other folks in the office. The demo is passable in single player, though the AI lack of aggression and skill leaves something to be desired. And while I'm hoping the AI poses a stiffer challenge in the final version, Undisputed really comes to life when playing with a friend, preferably side by side on the same console, where the smack talk and the non-stop shouting can flow.
Undeniably, there is a lot to learn when you first pick up the UFC demo. The game's controls are deep yet have a logic and flow to them that unfolds the more you play it. Striking is simple--the four face buttons are tied to left and right punches and left and right kicks, with the L1 and L2 buttons modifying your strikes high and low, respectively.
For your first few fights, these controls will likely be all you need to end a fight, especially when playing with the hard-hitting Liddell. Much as in the real thing, fights can end quickly in Undisputed, with a punch or kick landing in just the right spot to send a guy crumpling to the mat, out cold. The fact that a lucky strike can end a fight acts as a pretty clever balancing act in the game; something to keep even expert players wary of their opponents, who might be able to end a fight with a single well-placed punch. Early on, you'll learn to defend early and often in Undisputed. The R2 and R1 buttons are for blocking low and high respectively, and you'll need to get your defense together if you hope to last more than one round in this game.
Stand-up fighting in Undisputed is a lot fun but I'd argue that the game really begins to come alive strategically once both fighters hit the ground. Depending on the position you find yourself in, you can still punch your opponent but there's also a ton of jockeying for position on the mat that ups the strategic jockeying in the game. There's mat-specific controls, and most are centered on the right analog stick. Essentially the idea on the ground is to continually improve your position on your opponent. To do so, you trace circles on the outside edge of the right analog stick. A successful motion (known as a transition) will mean you'll improve your position on your opponent. For example, when crouching above your opponent while your opponent is on his back, a successful transition might result in your fighter moving to half guard, side mount, or reverse mount. When a fighter is on his back, a successful transition means moving from guard to an escape or even to a submission (such as when catching the arm of your foe as he's punching and instantaneously transitioning to an arm lock submission). Defending against these transitions is also tied to movements on the right analog stick.
Submission attempts can happen at practically any time. To attempt a submission, you simply press the R3 button; if the attempt is successful, you'll transfer to a submission animation. The gameplay changes here dramatically--going from a cat and mouse game of careful feints into an all out frantic button masher. To submit an opponent (or defend against a submission attempt), you can either move the right stick around in rapid circles or press the face buttons like a madman.
It's those submission moves that did my right palm in. You see, it wasn't until later that I realized you could use the buttons to defend against submissions so, in my zeal to protect my fighter from a tapout, I palmed the top of the right analog stick and moved the stick around as fast as I could. It wasn't until an hour later that I realized that the motion was slowly eating away the skin of my palm, leaving a disgusting weeping wound in its place.
I spent the following weekend in pain and cursing the game's addictive nature, yet still not able to get it out of my head. I've played the game against other GameSpot editors since and it seems like no two fights have ended in the same way. From the time I accidentally leaned forward with Shogun Rua just as Shaun McInnis was throwing a vicious Chuck Liddell kick into his face, to the time I actually managed to make Homer Rabara's Shogun tap out while playing as Liddell, every fight in UFC Undisputed will have a storyline all its own. Considering the demo features just two fighters from the game's 80-plus-strong roster--each with his own combination of strength, stamina, and style--it seems like Undisputed's dead-serious focus on MMA styles and realism is paying gameplay dividends.
I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the roster once the game is released on May 19 to see how the different fighters play. The game's single player experience will have a career mode but, as with other fighting games, Undisputed's best chance at longevity is in making sure the online play is flawless and lag-free. The game's subtle and engaging fighting engine deserves that kind of extra special online attention.
One tip for THQ: You might want to consider packing in some sort of palm protectors once the game is released on May 19. FYI, I've heard UFC has some nice gloves available…


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The Daily Troll: Mess at Snoqualmie. Gates back to No. 1. More NW pro sports teams? Transpo proposal pushed forward.
Pass: Do not pass
Updated at 5:34 p.m. Blasted by two feet of new snow over the weekend, Snoqualmie Pass remained shut down through most of Monday. According to the WSDOT blog, crews managed to reopen it at 4:30 p.m., but traffic cameras and sensors showed it was still a slow go for those venturing over the divide as sunset neared. The state Department of Transportation, which closed I-90 over the pass late Sunday night, had 17 plows and 48 employees working all day on avalanche control and removal of downed trees to make the pass safe for travel. At noon today the line of cars and trucks waiting to cross the mountains at I-90 stretched for three miles.
With Stevens Pass also periodically closed today for avalanche control, it was, in the words of a WSDOT blogger, an "extremely challenging" day to try and cross the mountains. — C.H.
Gates: Back on top
Bill Gates is the world's wealthiest man. Again. Forbes magazine reports that a bounce in Microsoft shares pushed his net worth up to $76 billion, surpassing Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim Helu. Forbes' 500 richest people are collectively worth $4.4 trillion — a record. Joining the Gates family on the most monied list are Warren Buffet (#4), Oracle's Larry Ellison (#5) and the two conservative Koch brothers (tied for #6). Walmart heiress Christy Walton is the only woman in the Top 10 — at #9. (Disclosure note: Crosscut is a recipient of Gates Foundation funding.) — J.C.
Today in Olympia
- The Senate Majority Coalition has finally put its $12.3 billion transportation package into a bill for consideration. The proposal, formally introduced late Friday, features an 11.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax hike, compared to a 10.5-cents-per-gallon increase in the House Democrats' $10.5 billion package. Democratic leaders want a guarantee that a majority of the 26-member coalition supports Republican Sen. Curtis King's bill. So far, an internal caucus head count has showed 13 supporters. Two caucus members, King and Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom, D-Medina, have actually signed on to the bill. — J.S.
- House Democrats may make teacher cost-of-living raises and how to pay for them part of their supplemental budget proposal, according to House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, D-Covington. That tactic could make it more difficult for the Senate Majority Coalition to keep proposals to close four tax breaks out of the upcoming negotiations over the supplemental budget. The Majority Coalition already passed a $96 million supplemental budget; the Democratic-controlled House is looking at a $219 supplemental budget. The cost-of-living adjustments (a.k.a. COLAs), which are already in the House proposal, are expected to add $51 million in 2014-2015; the Democratic plan to close four tax breaks would raise $101 million in 2014-2015, more than enough to pay for the COLAs. — J.S.
Portland Raiders?
The owner of the Oakland Raiders football team mused rather generally to a San Francisco writer about the difficulties he has had getting a deal for a new stadium with the East Bay city. He didn't talk about any "Plan B" sites, although he acknowledged a visit to the neighboring city of Concord. That hasn't stopped Portland sportswriters from fantasizing about Raiders in Oregon. On OregonLive and elsewhere, John Canzano is already looking at suburbs that might be quicker to jump at a deal than Portland itself. It seems like a longshot, but it'd certainly make for a good Northwest football rivalry to have another team that close to Seattle. As for resuming the Portland-Seattle pro basketball rivalry: Seattlepi.com notes that the new NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, says he is "open" to putting a team in ... Europe. One more nail in the coffin of a certain arena proposal? — J.C.
Student Athlete
Just when the TV hype around a few men's college sports threatens to obliterate all perspective about the proper relationship between sports and school, somebody like Washington State University's Jason Monda comes along. The aspiring doctor is a star on the Cougars baseball team, and has come back this year despite being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Spokesman-Review says Monda was a 6th round pick. At that level, almost every athlete signs up for a chance to play in the bigs. But Monday, says the paper, "values his degree" — to the tune of the $200,000 he rejected. (Ironically, according to a Philadelphia report that was highly critical of the Phillies and the NCAA, the team tried and failed to get Monda in trouble with the NCAA. (Monda had the temerity to engage in the general — and prudent — draftee practice of having a financial adviser look at the proposal, which is apparently questionable under existing NCAA rules.) — J.C.
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Posted Tue, Mar 4, 10:43 p.m.
Who is his financial advisor, Gracie Allen?
He signs a contract for $200,000 and he loses his full-ride scholarship. But let's assume he has two years to go on his college. WSU does not cost $100,000 a year, even throwing in a bar tab of $5,000 a year (average, from what I understand). But seriously, sign the $200,000 and pay for your own college. You take the bird in the (uninjured) hand rather than the two (Tommy John surgeries) in the bush. Or did the financial advisor promise that the player would remain uninjured?
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"God knows us before we were in the womb," said Father Michael Paris. God "loves each baby in the womb and has a plan for their life, no matter how hard a situation they might come from."
"We are not accidents, Amen!" the priest said in his homily to thousands of youth at a Jan. 22 Mass at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The Mass, organized by the Archdiocese of Washington, followed an early morning pro-life rally.
During his remarks, Fr. Paris, who hails from St. Patrick's Church in Rockville, Md., stressed God's love for mankind.
God "loved us so much that he wanted to become like us. He wanted to feel what we feel and see what we see, to know the joys and sorrows of our life, and to even suffer the pain of our sins and die on the cross. Because his love for us is so intense, God's Son became a man in Jesus Christ."
He explained that Christians know God "loves us and has a plan for each of us" because "he became one of us, he became an unborn baby in the Virgin Mary's womb!"
Fr. Paris cited Pope Francis' words about abortion: "Every child not allowed to be born, but unjustly condemned to be aborted, has the face of Jesus Christ."
The priest said that abortion "cannot stand" if every person believes that God loves them, became a man and died for them.
"But how can we help the world around us understand?" he asked. "We are so young, so weak, the culture of death is so strong."
He noted the Mass reading from the Book of Jeremiah, in which God tells the prophet not to say "I am too young."
"To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you," God told Jeremiah.
The priest reiterated to the young people that God loves them and has a plan for them.
"Whether you are a courageous cardinal, or a shy middle-schooler, you got this," Fr. Paris continued. "The Holy Spirit will give us everything we need. We can help the world understand that no one is an accident, all have a purpose and are loved because each person has the face of Jesus Christ."
The rally and Mass preceded the March for Life, which draws hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates each year to mark the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which led to the legalization of abortion throughout the U.S.
Tags: Abortion, Pro-life, Roe v. Wade
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Consultant, Author and fond of communication, social media and change.
I'm in to all things digital + political communication + engagement and power of networks. Am always curious about why people do what they do - be it buy, vote or act.
Veronica Belmont - about.me user since 2010
"First, customize your page. It's easy and fun to design!"
Hi! I'm currently living in (City), where I work at (Work Place) doing (Job Title). When I'm not working I like to (Hobby), (Interest) and (Passion). Connect with me!
"Next, connect services and send people to your page."
"That's it! Let about.me do all of the work for you."
Showcase a 360 degree view of who you are
Help people find and follow you on your social networks
Be found for new opportunities


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- Better Roads - http://www.betterroads.com -
MSA™s College Logo V-Gard® Caps: Wear it to work or the stadium
Posted By admin On February 6, 2008 @ 12:00 am In Boomerang | No Comments
PITTSBURGH, November 2006 Workers can now display loyalty to their favorite college team with MSA™s new Officially-Licensed College Logo V-Gard caps with 1-Touch® suspensions.
Wear it to the stadium and on the job site as these caps meet all applicable requirements for ANSI Z89.1-2003 for a Type I helmet.
Currently, seven college team V-Gard caps are available including the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Louisiana State Tigers, Michigan Wolverines, Alabama Crimson Tide, North Carolina Tarheels, and Miami
Article printed from Better Roads: http://www.betterroads.com
URL to article: http://www.betterroads.com/msas-college-logo-vgard-caps-wear-it-to-work-or-the-stadium/
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2009 Better Roads. All rights reserved.


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Baltimore Favorites
- Baltimore Bio Diesel a non-profit organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, dedicated to the promotion and sale of environmentally sustainable biodiesel fuel.
- Baltimore Bio Mass Baltimore Biomass' mission is to educate Marylanders on the benefits of locally grown biomass energy and to provide a reliable source of environmentally friendly, economically sound, sustainable energy to the Baltimore metropolitan region
Green Organizations
- 1Sky national advocacy on climate change
- Chesapeake Climate Action Network regional global warming advocacy group
- Green Guild Biodiesel Coop serving the community and environment through promoting and producing quality biodiesel fuel in the Washington DC metro area.
- New American Dream consuming less and consuming better for individuals and institutions
- Responsible Purchasing Network esponsible Purchasing Network (RPN) is an international network of buyers dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing. Our membership program and consulting services provide institutional purchasers with cutting edge procu
- Save Our Sky Home Heating Cooperative (DC area) aka the "corn coop", members have corn burning stoves and collectively purchase local, sustainable corn
- Takoma Park Green Building Group a yahoogroup
Local Companies
- Amicus Green Building Center (Kensington, MD) green building show room and retail supplier and more
- Community Forklift (Edmonston, MD) building materials reuse warehouse – donate to and purchase salvage, surplus and some green building materials.
- Deconstruction Services, LLC (Fairfax, VA) disassembly of structures to maximize recycling and reuse of materials
- Greener Than Green Gardens (Takoma Park, MD) specializing in natives, edibles, woodland gardens and ecological gardening practices, and storm water management.
- Helicon Works (Takoma Park, MD) ecological architecture, consulting and building services
- Home Energy Tune-uP national energy audit program providing training and software to home inspectors. Get unbiased recommendations customized to your home.
- Nature Neutral (Edmonston, MD and Charlottesville, VA) – green building construction supplies and more


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Working Capital Solutions for Businesses Nationwide
Home > Blog
Crestmark launched an employee education initiative with a nationwide Pep Rally on January 7 that was kicked off by Crestmark Chairman/CEO Dave Tull. All Crestmark employees (including TIP Capital) were enrolled into Crestmark University, an online dynamic learning portal.
Through this training platform, all Crestmark employees will have access to a library of more than 10,000 professional training videos and courses, including 300+ targeted videos on Crestmark's policies and procedures. Courses are assigned throughout the year to employees and managers based on their roles and responsibilities within the company.
Some Crestmark University course examples include: Microsoft Office training in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; compliance; business etiquette; supervision; teamwork; project and time management; and a full assortment of educational videos geared toward maintaining an effective and positive work environment.
"Crestmark University gives our employees the opportunity to learn more about their jobs as well as the jobs of others, and will lead to a broader understanding of how things work," said Scot Lund, First Vice President, Director of Program Management, who leads the Crestmark University platform. "Over the next several years, we will be creating and adding to our internally prepared educational material. In addition to helping with training, recruiting, and retaining employees; this will set us apart from other lenders in our market, and we feel a more educated staff will further benefit our clients."
Industry Financing
Many successful businesses in the U.S. turn their eyes overseas for new markets in which to grow their company, their client base and their finances. Some companies even take advantage of so-called "tax inversion" loopholes by merging with other companies and then moving their headquarters outside the U.S. in order to reduce their taxes.
Regardless of the method taken, businesses that traditionally deal solely in the U.S. can often faces challenges and hurdles when trying to expand abroad. The cultural differences alone can cause problems for some companies. But if you're thinking of growing your business and expanding into different countries, be on the lookout for the following potential pitfalls and follow these tips to avoid them.
1) Know your audience.
You could make a presentation to a client in the U.S., and that client could love what you've done and consider it a rousing success. But when you make that same presentation to an international client, it falls flat.
In this case, the problem is likely not with the presentation itself, but with the delivery. Be sure to edit your presentations and pitches to fit the local market to which you are presenting (Japan, China, Germany, etc.). You may need to adjust the content or format or even revamp the entire pitch if it does not fit the target audience.
Be sure to maximize your time, as well. American audiences typically prefer quicker pitches, while European clients likely want to absorb a presentation for longer than an hour.
Finally, one helpful tactic is to design a website for each market, rather than create a blanket international site for all overseas markets. This shows attention to detail to each market and would allow for easier communication to specific nations.
2) Emphasize your history.
You're presenting your company and your product to a new market, but you aren't completely starting from scratch. There are certainly financial, cultural and trend differences between the U.S. and international markets, but you should still be sure to emphasize the successes you have had domestically.
After all, you've reached the point of considering international expansion, so why hide from the success that brought you there in the first place? Just be sure to tailor your product or service to your new target audience.
3) Understand cultural differences in business relations.
Each market will have different cultural quirks that might go unnoticed but could hamper your efforts to expand abroad. For example, American businesses commonly give positive feedback on presentations, but that feedback might not amount to much in terms of making a deal. European clients, though, prefer to make presenters earn their praise, so take a statement of affirmation from a European businessman to heart.
4) Plan ahead.
International expansion can help grow your business, but it also requires funds to bring it to fruition. Legal fees, acquisition costs, marketing, advertising and new salaries are a few of the expenses necessary to spread your business abroad. Be sure to have enough money set aside to take care of these fees, and set limits for your business so that you have some left over to give yourself a head start once you debut internationally. This will allow you hit the ground running rather than having to work to regain the money you sank into the expansion.
International business expansion is a difficult process, but one that pays off if done properly. Be sure to prepare and execute properly in order to reap all the benefits possible.
Tags: business plan, small business, international business
When you're struggling with meeting the financial demands of your business, you may need access to capital. Whether you're a newer business or you've been established for quite some time, a shortage in cash flow can hinder your operations. It's important to decide exactly how much you need to borrow when you're worried about making payroll, securing supplies for an upcoming special project, or when you need to take care of unexpected equipment repairs. If you borrow too much, you're spending more than you need to on interest and loan repayment and that's money that you could be spending on other things. If you don't borrow enough, you'll be scrambling to cover your expenses.
Here are some tips for narrowing down your budget to help you determine the amount of working capital you might need:
Forecasting Your Future
• Use conservative estimates on leads, conversions, sales and profit margins.
• Analyze previous monthly, quarterly and annual reports for a comparable estimate.
• Learn your industry's high and low seasons; not only when they happen, but why they happen.
• Make projections for company growth, in both employee needs, equipment needs, and customer growth.
• When you're planning to borrow money for a new chapter in your company's history, factor in the method, fees and interest associated with your financing.
New Businesses
If your business is young, it can be even more difficult to estimate how much you'll need to handle growth. A common rule of thumb is to try to cover costs through the first six months of business, but it's a good idea to build in a safety margin even above the 6-month mark. Here are expense categories you should analyze:
• Payroll – Add up the salaries and wages for yourself, your employees and anyone else doing work for your company. Include sales, human resources and seasonal help. Don't forget the taxes and fees that must be paid to the government and to any associations.
• Marketing and Collateral Expenses – Include the costs of signs and business cards, marketing materials, and product or service development.
• Overhead – Estimate costs for your office and operations, including rent or mortgage, supplies, insurance plans and utilities, business licensure, vehicle registration and long-term equipment. Consider all of the necessities you'll have to purchase, even furniture and computers.
• Extra Expenses – Talk to someone experienced in your business or ask a mentor for advice. They would be a great resource for information about expenses, fees and pitfalls you may not have considered. Most business owners are willing to help with hints and experiences that will help other people avoid repeating their mistakes.
Established Businesses
If you've been in business for a while, you may be planning to expand your operations. If you want to get a loan or business line of credit, it's important to organize your books and understand where all of your money is coming from and where it's going. Ensure that you'll have enough funding by making a list of your current and future expenses, as well as your sources of income.
• Start with your routine expenses that are part of your monthly budget.
• If you're expanding, list any costs involved in additional personnel, equipment, office space and operating supplies.
• For special projects, total the amount of capital needed to fund. Look at supplies, personnel, shipping and transportation.
Borrowing the right amount of money can help you grow your business without the aches and pain of overwhelming expenses. Once you've mapped out all of your costs and projected your income, you'll have a better idea of how much you need to borrow. While there's no exact science to estimating the right amount of financing, doing your homework will get you closer to a reasonable estimate.
Keep in mind that you don't have to go through this process alone. The lending experts at Crestmark can work with you to determine the best solution. Give us a call today!
Tags: borrowing for business, asset-based lending, business plan, small businesses
Believe it or not, 2014 is already more than half over. It started out with a bang when sixteen companies had their financial coming out parties in January, and it's been a busy year ever since. There are 135 initial public offerings (IPOs) on the books so far for 2014. The step from being a privately held company to IPO has had a positive effect on some, but for others – not so much. Let's take a look at five debutantes of 2014 to see how they've fared.
Parsley Energy
Parsley Energy, Inc. (NYSE:PE), based in Midland, Texas, went public on the NYSE on Friday, May 23, 2014. With operations in the Midland Basin, the independent oil and gas company has grown significantly from a two-person start-up in 2008 to a solid producer of 12,000 barrels of oil per day. Parsley's initial offering of 50 million shares made their market entrance at $18.50. They closed last week at $23.73 with 117.81 million shares.
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SERV) debuted with an opening share price of $17 on Wednesday, June 25. It closed at $17.95 on its first day. The commercial and residential maintenance and service provider started with an initial offering of 35.9 million shares. As of Monday, June 30, it was selling at $18.75 per share.
Eagle Pharmaceuticals
Not all IPOs have done as well as they'd hoped. Eagle Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:EGRX) went public on Wednesday, Feb. 12. It sold 3.4 million shares. The New Jersey-based company opened at $15, closing on its first day at just $12.83. It has rebounded a bit, bumping up to $13.57 as of Monday, June 30. Eagle Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2007, develops and commercializes injectable drugs for oncology and critical care medicine.
Malibu Boats
Based in Malibu, Tennessee, this sporting boats manufacturer has made modest gains as one of the early IPO debutantes of 2014. Malibu Boats (NASDAQ:MBUU) opened at $14 on its first day, Friday, Jan. 31, closing at $17.03. It sold 7.1 million shares. As of June 30, the recreational boating industry continues to embrace Malibu, as its stock price was holding at $20.03.
One of the biggest splashes in IPOs for 2014 has been GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO). The innovative highline sports camera maker has gained a lot of attention with its recent offering, opening at $24 on Thursday, June 26. With much excitement around its first day, it closed at $31.34. It sold 17.8 million shares. As of June 30, GoPro was selling at $35.76.
As IPOs continue to garner attention in 2014, with many companies planning to go public before 2015there's hope for upcoming public offerings for the rest of the year. For companies that seek an increase in funding, the market has shown promise for some, but for others, it's just been a struggle.Going public isn't the only way to raise funding, however – if your business is in need of working capital, call us today to talk about options - we are happy to help!
Tags: economy
The Internet's impact on the U.S. economy is always growing. The share of online sales is slowly creeping up as the share of brick-and-mortar retailers continues to decline year over year.
E-tailers See Growth
A recent study by the Centre for Retail Research estimates that the online retail share of sales in the U.S. is expected to hit 11.6 percent this year. The figures for nine major countries, including G-8 nations France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, were based on estimated online retail sales of goods. This is good news for U.S. e-tailers, who rely on 55 percent of the country's population to shop online. Online sales that were ordered via mobile devices are estimated to be as much as 13.8 percent for 2013, and are expected to rise to 19.9 percent this year. These figures didn't even include restaurant food, insurance, tickets, and gambling purchases.
E-commerce Sales Are Up
The U.S. Census Bureau has also announced that for the first quarter of 2014, the total retail e-commerce sales are up 2.8 percent over the fourth quarter of 2013. That's in increase of $71.2 billion. The estimate is adjusted for seasonal variation, not price changes. When compared to the first quarter of 2013, the increase is 15 percent. Unadjusted, the year-over-year comparison is an increase of 14.9 percent for e-tailers, and an increase of 2.2 percent for all retail sales.
Retail Storefronts Decline during E-commerce Rise
While e-commerce increases amid promising signs of an economic recovery in the U.S., more retailers are expected to close their brick-and-mortar storefronts. Staples, Inc. has announced that it plans to close 225 office supply stores by the end of next year. RadioShack, known for selling electronic gadgets and trending tech toys, announced in March that as many as 1,100 of its stores worldwide would close. In recent weeks, however, the company has decreased that number, citing disagreements with its lenders over the best way to manage its poor performance. According to reports by USA Today, RadioShack announced a loss of $191 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 over its 5,524 stores and dealer outlets. With 4,300 brick-and-mortar locations in the U.S., the company still plans to close a large number of stores, but no longer one-fifth of its locations.
The shift from retail storefronts to ecommerce business is hardly over, as there's dust still left to settle in the broader shopping landscape. This transition is likely to bring more innovation to the marketplace, with brick and mortar stores finding new and creative ways to serve their customers, and internet based businesses working to take market share away from those same companies. This type of healthy competition is great for consumers though, and we look forward to seeing how things play out for the rest of 2014!
Tags: online, economy, economic affect
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I work out every morning at the gym. I usually "rub one out" before I leave so that I don't accidentally get aroused in public (working out makes me horny). I also always wear a tight pair of panties under my shorts to hide my shame (no lump is much less embarrassing than a tiny lump).
Last week, I got up late and didn't get a chance to play with myself before heading to the gym. While doing shoulder presses (wherein I'm seated and my arms are raised over my head) my mind wandered to thoughts of my wife pulling a train with a group of strangers. To no surprise, I got a raging little boner. I didn't think too much about it because, although the little tent I made in my shorts was sticking straight out of my lap, it was only about three inches high.
That was until I saw a lady a couple of machines down staring at my crotch in the mirror. She had a big smile on her face and was laughing with herself. That only made me harder. I didn't dare get up and walk to another location until she left. When I finally did move to another exercise machine, she moved to one next to mine (so she could stare at my little tent, I suppose).


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Because SkillsUSA is a certifying organization of the President's Volunteer Service Award, advisors, student members and registered alumni can earn recognition for community service activities and time spent as a volunteer.
This award is a presidential honor that recognizes the valuable contributions of volunteers nationwide who are answering a national call to serve others through their current volunteer activities or lifetime service. As a certifying organization, SkillsUSA can identify eligible recipients, verify their service hours and distribute the award to outstanding volunteers.
Given participation in ongoing service activities, advisors and students may already meet the requirements to receive the award. To qualify, SkillsUSA members, advisors or alumni can submit a record of their service hours. State directors are also encouraged to document service hours and apply for the award.
For details on qualifying hours and requirements for submission, visit: www.skillsusa.org/students/volsvc.shtml. Applications must be received (not postmarked) by April 1, 2014.


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By the way there are a few places in these sounds where I talk over them a little much (food Rocks loading comes to mind) anyone who wants to edit me out Feel Free!
I contributed some sounds to the sites download section. Theres a performance of the Jamitors, a performance of the now defunct Food Rocks, A few tracks from the lands interior sounds loop (the one where all the songs have sun or moon in the title, not the exterior land loop where the theme is more or less Americana/ folk songs), A recording of the behind the seeds tour (or at least a portion of it), the innoventions exterior music loop (or all but a small portion of it), and a portion of the Japan exterior loop. I have not been able to identify all the tracks from the lands interior loop, perhaps this mould be a good chalenge for the trivateers!
By the way there are a few places in these sounds where I talk over them a little much (food Rocks loading comes to mind) anyone who wants to edit me out Feel Free!
Ok so here's a list of what is on this recordingOriginally Posted by bigbrian-nc.com
Song 01. (partial) unknown title
Song 02. Sunny
Song 03. Moonlight Bay
Song 04. Blue Moon
Song 05. unknown title
song 06. Sunrise, Sunset (partial)
By the way that horrible background hiss isn't just a horible background hiss, what I mean is, it is the fountain in the Land pavilion. I imagine there are few places where you can record this loop where you can't hear this fountain.
I wish you the best of luck in creating new audio and video files in the Downloads section based on attractions I experienced in WDW back in April 2004 which was the worst time to visit due to Spring College Break!
That's because every attraction had long lines, my parents hated standing around all day long before getting onto the ride, plus we didn't know about the FastPass system until trying it out in EpCot and MGM Studios.
Speaking of which, I hope MISSION SPACE comes up soon, the attraction I never did experience due to long lines...maybe even THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE could come online soon, ROCK & ROLLERCOASTER, etc.
Good luck and as Doc Brown always says "Remember, the future is what you make it so make it a good one. See you in the future!"
Thanks for that animated reply, Belle. You have one great sense of humor!


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- Parenthood (60 pics) ... Party Chick
Amanda Lee Kimmel (born August 3, 1984) is an actress, model, and former beauty queen who has competed in the Miss USA and Miss Earth pageants. Kimmel gained international notoriety as a runner-up contestant on both Survivor: China and Survivor: Micronesia. She also competed on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Kimmel broke several Survivor records during her three seasons competing on the show.
Posted by greg fischer 1 year ago
Posted by Michael Wren 1 year ago


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Nice pics linh!!
Food looks deelleeesh also.
Is that little girl ripping off the head of that little man?
I think I would have gone with just a tad deeper depth of field on the first two, and the fourth. the fifth, sixth and last one are GREAT.
Looking good linh


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Thanks for all the positive feedback!
The darker wood is Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) and the lighter accents are Maple. I love Jatoba--finishes very nicely, It can be hard to get and is tough to work with because it's very dense and the grain can tear out easily on a router table or a planer. However, if you're careful and your tools are sharp, the end result can be beautiful--and heavy! That stand weighs a lot more than you'd guess. This helps to make it very stable even when it is holding only one set of cans.
Unfortunately, I've almost exhausted my supply of Jatoba and last time I checked, I could not get any more--unless I was willing to pay an ungodly amount of money for it...
Absolutely phenomenal! Among the best I've ever seen and that includes my own.


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