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Jamie xx has been making the media rounds lately, and his latest stop was the top of Young Turks headquarters in London for a Boiler Room DJ set. Boiler Room describes the mix as "A homage to London… an honorary whip through the nostalgic touchstones of UK club music, dashed also with some new material." Watch the full set below.
(via Pitchfork)
Jamie xx is working on a new album that will include his new single "All Under One Roof Raving."
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Product Description
The Fusion Firearms base kit is a 1911 Traditional Hunter, 70 series style, 10mm, Full Size frame and 6 inch Long-slide slide 1911 Kit. The Base kit frame and slide are from our finest materials. The kit comes with fitted, slide, Ramped Match stainless steel barrel, Barrel bushing, Slide stop, Link, pin and recoil system. The frames are our Extremely High Quality Pro-Series combat 1911 frame with Plain front-strap, checkering(25LPI), or Chain-link and undercut trigger guard. The rear of the frame is already cut for a .25 radius to accept a high-ride beavertail grip safety. The magwell opening is also beveled. The slide is a standard 5 inch length Forged Carbon steel with Rear cocking serrations( Front & Rear Cocking serrations, also available), Lowered and relieved ejection port, serrated target top or Plain Round top and Novak or Bomar sight cuts. Both with all machining and heat treatments complete. All Ready to build a super fine custom 1911. All other small parts you need to complete your build will be discounted in cost to you as a kit build team member. Email for list of your discounts.
These are Top Quality Professional Series Parts; Made from the best materials and processes available in today's market. FUSION is a company formed by past Dan Wesson Firearms President, Bob Serva. Bob Has been working in the industry and with the 1911 for over 20 years and understands the quality of parts needed to build a great 1911 pistol. He has created Fusion to offer the gunsmith "Professional grade parts". These parts are the same parts the Pro's use to build their products. Customized Kits are available, Slab-side(Monolith) Custom machining and engraving, email us for a quote.
All Kits must be shipped to an FFL for your Pick-up, FFL can be emailed here or faxed to 607=204-0254…..
++If you would like to order one of these frames, Please email us for payment arrangements.
Other options to consider
- Caliber Change to 10mm, 38 Super, 400 Corbon, 9mm, or 9×23 – add $95
- Add Plunger tube $23
- Add Ejector and Pin $23
- Add Front cocking serrations $95
- Add Fit Sights $68 Plus sight cost
- Add Flush-cut and target crown Barrel $38
- Add Carry Cut Mainspring Housing $165, this includes Machining, Blending to the frame and the Carry cut Mainspring Housing with internal parts
- Add Press Check cuts to front of Slide $85
- Add Diamond Line top serrations $135
- Add Fancy fine top serrations with reveal $135
Finishing work also available, see our gunsmithing section

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Dawson Leery Returns: Win a Signed Poster from 'Backwards'
Free Stuff By Kate Erbland on September 18, 2012 | Comments (10)This contest is now closed. Thank you for entering! You can't go home again, but Abigail Brooks (Sarah Megan Thomas) is finding that perhaps she just might want to in Ben Hickernell's Backwards. Co-starring Dawson Leery himself (James Van Der Beek), Hickernell's film (which Thomas has also written and produced) centers on Abigail, an Olympic class rower who is ticked off when she's chosen as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team. Angry and sad, Abigail quits the team and heads home to coach the crew team at her old high school. Regressive? Did we tell you that Van Der Beek plays her old boyfriend, who is also working at their high school? Perhaps the past is worth a visit. In support of the theatrical release of Backwards, we're giving away two (2) signed posters from the film to two (count 'em, two!) lucky readers. The standard one-sheet poster has been signed by James Van Der Beek, Margaret Colin, Sarah Thomas, and director Ben Hickernell. To win one (1) signed poster from Ben Hickernell's Backwards, all you have to do is jump down into the comments section and let us know the title of your favorite film about sports (and feel free to get as creative with your interpretation of "sports" as you'd like). Please also provide your email address in your comment. This contest is only open to U.S. residents. The contest will close on Friday, September 21st, at 8:00PM PST. The winner will be chosen at random to receive one signed Backwards poster […]
'Backwards' Trailer: James Van Der Beek Is a Movie Star (And Also Some Lady Rows A Lot)
Movie News By Kate Erbland on August 3, 2012 | Comments (1)Just in time to capitalize on Olympic fever comes the rowing movie starring James Van Der Beek that you had no idea you wanted (or, most likely, that you also had no idea even existed). In Backwards, Van Der Beek (Der Beek? Beek? Mr. Beek? Da Beek?) plays second fiddle to relative newcomer Sarah Megan Thomas as Abi Brooks, a world-class rower who has worked her entire life to competing (and winning) in the Olympics. Yeah, that doesn't work out so much – booted from her team, Abi ends up back at her old high school, coaching the crew team, and kicking it with her ex (Van Der Beek, cast as the head of athletics at their alma mater). If you can't imagine some of the conflicts that will arise in Ben Hickernell's film, you've probably never watched a movie about sports stars trying to reinvent themselves before, and that's a-okay, because no matter how predictable the film looks (and considering that the film's first trailer seems to lay out a good two-thirds of the feature), there's an unexpected energy and flow to it that's actually pretty appealing. Sadly, though, "In the Hall of the Mountain King" doesn't appear to make an aural appearance on the soundtrack of Backwards.
Neil Miller
Scott Beggs
Rob Hunter
Kate Erbland
Christopher Campbell


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Crab Fest
The WOBM Hometown Crew stopped by Crab Fest at Lacey United Methodist Church!
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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 22, 2006) - Westchester Resources Inc. ("Westchester") (TSX VENTURE:WSR) is pleased to announce that pursuant to its previously announced option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Guyana Goldfields Inc. (TSX:GUY) regarding the property known as the Peters Mine property (the "Property"), Westchester has issued an aggregate of 5,000,000 common shares to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in partial satisfaction of its obligations under such agreement. These common shares have a hold period expiring March 18, 2007. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Westchester has been granted the right to earn a 50% percent interest in the Property by issuing these 5,000,000 common shares to Guyana Goldfields Inc., and by spending an aggregate of $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Property over a three-year period.
About the Peters Mine Property
The Property consists of approximately 8,358 acres located approximately 160 kilometers southwest of Georgetown, the capital of in Guyana, South America.
The Peters Mine was the first significant gold producer in Guyana. Based on a review of historical government data and old company reports filed in the Guyana Geological and Mines Commission (GGMC) archive, Guyana Goldfields Inc. has determined that the Peter's Mine was put into production by a New York syndicate in 1904 and operated until 1909. The main workings of Peter's Mine consist of a 300-foot shaft with levels at 100, 200 and 300 feet below the collar, and an open pit whose floor is approximately at the 100-foot level. Mining widths underground varied from five to twenty seven (27) feet and all of the production came from interlacing quartz veins, with mill-head grades of approximately 41g/t Au. (1.19 oz/ton) As mining progressed, primary ore recoveries dropped significantly and the mine was forced to close in 1909 after producing approximately 40,000 ounces of gold (1371.2kg).
In the late 1960's, the United Nations, as part of a program to attract foreign investment to the newly independent country of Guyana, drilled seven diamond drill holes in the vicinity of the main shaft area. The United State Geological Survey (A.E. Weissenborn, 1966) reported that Hole UN-2 was successful in "intersecting the Peter's Mine structure at a high angle and traversed the entire known mineralized area. An extensive zone of quartz veins was cut between 539 and 591 ft (52ft), correlating with the downward projection of the West Branch vein, shows some encouraging assays. Some intercept samples from 539 to 544 ft and from 544 to 549 ft assayed 6.95 and 4.36 ounces per short ton respectively or an average of 5.66 ounces over a 10 ft. length."
Subsequent to the work done by the United Nations, Lion's Mines Limited of Vancouver acquired the Property and dewatered and rehabilitated the underground workings. A mining license was applied for, however a dispute with the government led to the abandonment of the project in the early 1970's.
The Property was then subject to a brief exploration program in the late 1980's by Homestake International Minerals Ltd.
Guyana Goldfields Inc. acquired the project in 1996 and conducted a limited diamond drilling campaign in the main shaft area over the next four years. Encouraging mineralized intercepts in this area included the following:
Table of Drill Holes
Hole # Mineralized Length (meters)
-------------------------------------------- Grade
From To Length (g/t Au)
74.0 96.0 22.0 1.84
The preceding drill holes were drilled prior to the adoption of National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"); however Westchester considers the results to be reliable.
The potential quantity and grade of any mineralization on the Property is conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the Property. It is uncertain if further exploration work will result in the definition, by NI 43-101 standards, of a mineral resource on the Property.
In 2005, the Property was subject to a detailed airborne geophysical survey consisting of radiometrics, electro-magnetic, and magnetometer surveys. This survey identified and outlined the primary mineralized control structure target as a major deformation zone with widths of 150 to 250 meters wide running north to south for a distance of 8 kilometers through the Property. This structure marks the contact between the granodiorite intrusive in the east and meta-volcanics in the west. This finding was further reinforced by results of geochemical work and ground mapping of historical as well as present artisanal workings. Throughout this trend, old shafts, adits and recent workings by itinerant miners, suggests that the historical Peters mine was a relatively small part of much larger regional structure.
Westchester Resources Inc believes that this structure has good potential to host significant additional gold mineralization. Westchester, as part of a 5,000 meter drill contract, is currently drilling south of the main shaft area and will be conducting an induced polarization (IP) survey to help direct the search for more drill targets.. It is anticipated that the IP survey will be completed in early 2007.
For further information regarding the Property, please refer to the technical report entitled "Peters Mine Project, Guyana" dated October 30, 2003 as amended January 20, 2004, prepared for Guyana Goldfields Inc. by D. George Cargill and N.N. Gow, and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as filed by Guyana Goldfields Inc. on January 29, 2004. This press release has been prepared under the supervision of Alexander Y. Po, M.Eng. P.Geo, who is a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Po is a Director of Guyana Goldfields Inc. with no other relationship to Westchester and has verified the data and sources of the data cited in this release.
About Westchester Resources
Westchester is a Canadian junior resource company. Westchester's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "WSR".
Please note: A map is available on CCNMatthews' website at the following link: http://www.ccnmatthews.com/docs/wsr1122.pdf
Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Westchester, including, but not limited to the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, risks associated with the uncertainty of resource and reserve estimates, currency fluctuations, dependence upon regulatory approvals and exploration risk. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


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Phone: 708-485-3100
Have you protected your family? Living Trusts with State Bank of Countryside are one of the best ways to ensure your family is taken care of beyond your lifetime.
A living trust is a revocable legal arrangement created during your lifetime. A living trust may be less vulnerable to legal action than a will and may be designed to provide income for your beneficiaries beyond your lifetime. Upon your death, tax reporting is simplified and probate is avoided. There may even be tax benefits to your heirs. As a living trust may have a long-term effect on your assets, you should seek the advice of a legal professional to help you decide if this is best for you and your family. Your attorney can then help you create a living trust that is customized to meet your exact needs.
Once your trust is created, bring in the original copy to any SBC office and we will be happy to transfer your assets into the trust. If you have made any changes to your existing trust, a copy of those changes should be brought to the Bank so that we are following your most recent instructions.
Contact one of our specialists if you have any questions or want to make sure your Living Trust is up to date.


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Best of Denver 2013: A look back at the Best New Band winners from the past decade
Our annual Best of Denver issue hits stands today. It's a painstaking issue to put together each year, but one that everyone looks forward to. This edition is even more significant, however, as it's the thirtieth edition. It's also a minor milestone for Backbeat, as it marks the tenth edition since we established the Best New Band category, when we started singling out the local act that made the biggest impression on us in the previous year. Looking back, it's quite an esteemed list. Continue on for a look back at the Best New Bands from the past decade. -- Dave Herrera
See also:
- The Dirty Few's punk ethos matches its album title: Get Loose Have Fun
- With its massive sound, Spires won't be playing small rooms for long
- Meet the snake charmers of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake
Tom Murphy
With the constant influx of great new bands that flood the scene every year, it's tough to pick the best of them. But the Dirty Few made that task infinitely easier this year. The trio makes the kind of fun, no-frills, boisterous, beer-can-foisting rock that you thought didn't exist anymore. The bouncy bombast could inspire even the most bashful of wallflowers to spring up and raise their fists without a moment's hesitation. And while the music itself is 100 percent pure exuberance, the group's live shows are even more energetic and engaging. Get Loose, Have Fun is the act's debut album title -- and motto -- but it also describes the attitude adjustment you'll experience after a dose of the Dirty Few.
Brian Kaplan
It's hard to recall a band in recent memory that made as much of an impression as Spires, a quartet that appeared quietly but instantly engaged us with its auspicious four-song debut, which was far too short for our tastes. Somehow the group's lush, atmospheric dream-pop sound -- which has plenty in common with acts like the 77's and Slowdive, as Spires itself acknowledges -- manages to be familiar enough that you can identify the well it draws from without it seeming like some blatant carbon copy. Of all the year's new acts, Spires is the most promising.
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The greenest commercial building on earth rises in Seattle
When EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson visited Seattle last month for a talk at UW's graduation, there was one visit she and her staff weren't interested in promoting. On Saturday morning, just before the graduation, she and a few of her staffers made an unpublicized stop at 15th and Madison. (The low profile was to avoid distracting attention from her graduation speech.)
Despite a June Seattle drizzle that left her shivering, Jackson's warm demeanor shone through as she gave a big hug to the obviously smitten daughter of EPA Policy Advisor Bill Dunbar. In the midst of a flurry of introductions, someone handed her a hard hat and she began a tour of Capitol Hill's big new green energy star: the Bullitt Center.
It's not hard to see why Jackson would be interested in the Bullitt Foundation's still under-construction office building. Once completed, it will be the greenest commercial building in the world – the only so far to attain Living Building status. The Bullitt Foundation, founded in 1952 with money from the Bullitt family's KING Broadcasting properties, is devoted to protecting and restoring the environment in the Northwest.
The Bullitt Center will produce all of its own energy through a large photovoltaic array on its roof, capture and treat rainwater on-site to supply everything save drinking water, and even compost human waste using bins in the basement. Where a standard commercial building might last about 40 years, the Bullitt Center is built to last 250.
"The creation of the Bullitt Center is a response to the [carbon] impact of buildings," the foundation explains on its website, "which currently account for an estimated 39 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, 65 percent of waste and 70 percent of electrical use in the United States."
It's an ambitious project by any standards, but perhaps most exciting is the ripple effect it has had on the market for building materials. To qualify as a Living Building, the Bullitt Center must adhere to a long list of guidelines, including creating all of its own energy and water. (Due to state law, drinking water must still be piped in, but the team hopes they might one day be able to filter their own drinking water on-site as well.) Construction of the building has also banned 14 types of chemicals; namely carcinogens, endocrine disrupters and other chemicals known to be ecologically harmful.
Joe David is a Project Associate with Point 32, the company behind the Bullitt Center's development. David has spent hours conducting recon on building materials for the center – including something called an applied air barrier. "It's kind of like the rain jacket for the building," David explains.
But when he spoke with Prosoco, the company that manufactured the "rain jacket" he wanted, he learned the product was made with phthalates, which studies have linked to damage of the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive systems. Earlier this month, phthalates reared their head once again as a headache for plastics manufacturers, when a study found they were also linked to diabetes. For David and the Bullitt Center, it was a deal breaker.
That is until he got a call back from the company a few weeks later. "After a few conversations, the manufacturer called us back and said, 'We think we can reformulate the product so that it doesn't have any red-list chemicals,'" he says. The Bullitt Center will be just one of many buildings to include the reformulated sealant: Prosoco was so horrified to learn about the effects of phthalates, they plan to use it in all of their products going forward.
"We've also been able to make a number of other substitutions with manufacturers' help to get rid of things like neoprene and PVC," adds David.
Finding workarounds for these kinds of banned chemicals will mean a cleaner, healthier work space for the Bullitt Center's tenants – who so far include the Bullitt Foundation, which will occupy a half floor of the 6-story building, the International Living Future Institute, and the UW Integrated Design Lab. That still leaves three and a half floors to fill by January of 2013, when tenants will be able to move in.
The $30 million Center will run about $350 a square foot in construction costs finished – about $50 more per square foot than your typical commercial building. Still, tenants will have free water and electricity – so long as they stay within their allotted share. Eventually, the Point 32 team hopes the legwork they're doing will lower costs and barriers for future developers with the green building bug.
So far though, the Bullitt Center is still the only building under construction in Seattle's Living Building Pilot Program, which was inspired by a meeting between Bullitt Foundation President and CEO Denis Hayes, Point 32 Owner Chris Rogers, who oversaw development of the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park, and Seattle's Director of Planning and Development, Diane Sugimura. The program has seen controversy recently over the height of the proposed Skanska building at 34th and Fremont.
And EPA'S Lisa Jackson? Her Seattle visit was just one stop on a nationwide survey of innovation in clean energy. Though she might not admit it, it's not hard to imagine how a visit to the Bullitt Building might be uplifting after spending so much time being pummeled by Members of Congress suspicious about any added environmental regulation.
Like what you just read? Support high quality local journalism. Become a member of Crosscut today!
Posted Mon, Jul 23, 12:52 p.m.
Great building, as I've said before. But can we stop trotting out this stat about the average age of a commercial building being 40 years. Even if it's true, I'm not sure what it really means, given how many buildings are taken down for reasons other than that they're failing as structures. Here's something from the New York Observer, written in 2010:
"The average larger midtown commercial building is 57 years old, nine years older than the president of the United States; the average midtown south one is a cheek-pinching 92; and downtown, it's 63, according to data from CB Richard Ellis Research, based on buildings measuring over 75,000 square feet in midtown south and downtown, and over 150,000 square feet in midtown.
The majority of these buildings-55.1 percent in midtown, 93.7 percent in midtown south and 55.5 percent in downtown-are over 50, just old enough to remember Idlewild Airport but too young to have seen the Brooklyn Dodgers."
Posted Mon, Jul 23, 3:03 p.m.
This is a wonderful building but very expensive. There is a Platinum Green commercial building in Bremerton that has been built to very high stantards at a much lower cost. Rice, Fergus, Miller Architects has a beautiful building built at a fraction of the cost of the Bulitt Building. One hopes that the cost of the Bulitt building will not become a club that opponents of this technology use to beat us over the heads with. The Bremerton building has used available materials, some from the original building it was made from and with technology that can be used by the public right now.
Posted Tue, Jul 24, 11:04 a.m.
At $350 per square foot, the Bullitt Center is approximately 15% more expensive than a typical new Class-A office in Seattle. And for that premium, the building weeds out all toxic materials, uses 100% Forest Stewardship Council certified wood and generates all its own electricity. "Very expensive" is an opinion. In my opinion, the modest premium delivers a good value.
Posted Fri, Jul 27, 10:23 a.m.
The Bullitt building (nor any other "green" building of this scale) does not "generate all its own electricity." It will (hopefully--I'm not an expert to evaluate the claim) generate the same amount of electricity through the year as it consumes. It's an average because solar does not generate much after sunset (duh) or during winter. Since it's probably not technologically feasible to store electricity for a building of this size from the times of plenty to the times of not, the building has to be on the grid.
Posted Sat, Jul 28, 9:21 p.m.
"In the summer it gives excess energy to the (power) grid and in the winter it gets it back when we can't generate enough," he said. "It nets out at zero on an annual basis." Excerpt from:
Posted Thu, Jul 26, 10 a.m.
No multistory building can be truly "green" because it doesn't get the maximum sunlight per interior area used.
Login or register to add your voice to the conversation.


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Biasotti: Liberated fandom for the NBA
I don't know if Jerry Seinfeld was the first person to compare rooting for a professional sports team to cheering for laundry, but he's Jerry Seinfeld, so I'm giving him credit for it.
That blind passion — "Boo! Different shirt!" — is fun, and probably useful. If sport is war without killing, well, that's a whole lot better than war with killing.
But now, on the eve of this strange, truncated NBA season, I'm asking you to give it a rest. That way madness lies: Cleveland Cavaliers fans burning LeBron James jerseys at public hate-ins; Lakers fans seriously arguing that Derek Fisher is still an acceptable starting point guard.
The alternative is something the brilliant, now-defunct basketball blog FreeDarko called "liberated fandom." It means taking seriously the cliché that the NBA is a players' league. There are people wearing those jerseys, and they're a lot more fun to root for than the fabric.
Here I present a beginner's guide to liberated fandom: a list of some of the most interesting, watchable teams in the NBA. We'll start with the good teams and work our way down to the Wizards.
Miami Heat: The conventional wisdom is that the Heat failed last year because they didn't win it all. That's crazy. They made the Finals in their first year together, and they're in a great position to get there again.
To enjoy the Heat, you need tunnel vision. You have to block out the LeBron drama, and just watch the man play. Many times this season he will do something that no one else who has ever picked up a basketball could do. Don't miss them all because you're obsessed with whatever character flaw you think made him play poorly in last year's Finals.
Oklahoma City Thunder: The main reason the Thunder will be fun to watch is that they'll be very, very good. Heat-Thunder in the 2012 Finals is a popular prediction for a reason.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are amazing, but what sets the Thunder apart is the talent and youth of the supporting cast. Serge Ibaka jumps out of the gym, dominates games defensively and looks like he's actually figuring out what to do with the ball in his hands. James Harden's game is now good enough to pull some of the attention away from his championship-quality beard. Only one of their regulars is older than 27, and most of their key guys are under contract for years, so get used to seeing the Thunder playing in June.
Memphis Grizzles: Like the Thunder, a young, dangerous team. They don't have a Durant-type superstar, but they have everything else.
When you watch Memphis on TV, watch Zach Randolph's feet. They never get more than a few inches off the ground, but the way Randolph moves them, they don't need to. They jab, they spin, and then Randolph is floating the ball softly through the hoop, the best athletes in the world flying harmlessly past him.
L.A. Clippers: People will call you a bandwagon-jumper for your sudden interest in the Clippers. So what? They weren't interesting before. Now they are.
What is there to say that hasn't been said about the idea of Chris Paul throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin? All I can add is, savor every dunk. This is the Clippers, an organization that until recently didn't deserve that term, so you never know how long this will last. As John Keats once wrote — yes, I only know this from the movie "White Men Can't Jump" — "A thing of beauty is a joy forever."
Minnesota Timberwolves: This is not a good team, yet. It might be another year until they win more than they lose, but it's not too early to start watching. Kevin Love is one of the best young players in the league, even if he does turn redder in the face than I do when he runs. Ricky Rubio, the rookie point guard from Spain, should be a joy to watch, even if he can't shoot. Derrick Williams could easily be the Rookie of the Year.
And then there's Anthony Randolph, third-string power forward. I can't quit Anthony Randolph. I've been a believer even since I saw him destroy the Las Vegas Summer League in 2009 as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Time is running out for Randolph. If he can't earn playing time with the Timberwolves, what's left?
Washington Wizards: If you're actually a fan of the Wizards, if it would bother you to see them make tragic and hilarious mistakes night after night, you probably shouldn't watch them. But if you don't care whether they win or lose, this could be a fun team.
Second-year point guard John Wall is a breathtaking athlete with a real feel for the game. Washington has surrounded him with players who fit only the first half of that description: JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and Nick Young are a three-headed beast that blocks shots into the stands, throws down monster dunks, loses track of who it's guarding and swallows basketballs without ever passing one back.
Washington also has Jan Vesely, a rookie Czech forward. He's big and quick and specializes in dunking on people's faces, so when he was drafted in June, an ESPN reporter asked him if he was "the European Blake Griffin." "I think," he replied, "Blake Griffin is American Jan Vesely."
Now that's someone I can root for, no matter what color his shirt is.
Tony Biasotti is a writer based in Ventura. E-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him @tonybiasotti on Twitter.
Biasotti: Liberated fandom for the NBA


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Saving a Sinking Ship, Part 1: Bringing Your Business Back from the Brink
Problem Solver: The first in a series that teaches you how to save and revitalize a struggling fitness business.
Owning a personal training business can be very rewarding: you can train clients as you see fit, set your own schedule and be your own boss. But being a business owner can also pose significant challenges. Worse still, your big dream could become a nightmare if you let it. While every owner intends to succeed, many will fail and be forced to close up shop for good.
As a business consultant, I have spent more than a decade gaining experience and expertise running my own personal training and fitness-related businesses. I currently teach college-level business and marketing classes, in addition to consulting for business owners around the country.
While each business is different, I've noticed that owners share common, almost universal mistakes and challenges. I'm moved by the struggles these individuals face. I've had my own share of challenges, struggles and failures along the way, and I understand the sacrifice, discipline and determination that it takes to run a business successfully. Experience has given me the tools to understand how to rebuild a fractured business from the ground up.
This article is the first in a series that will tell the story of a floundering personal training studio, its owners, and my experience helping them go from being in the red to being in the black. I'll use made-up names in place of the real ones, but the story represents a real-life experience that I encountered as a business consultant.
The Sinking Ship
Jim and Amanda are the owners of Jacked Up Fitness, a personal training studio that is losing money fast. Despite being run by great people who are full of passion for their work, this business will have to shut its doors soon if some things don't change.
The company's financial struggles result from a deeper problem. Jim, Amanda and I have agreed that I will identify the root cause of their imminent failure. After performing a variety of assessments, I'll give Jim and Amanda my solutions for the underlying problems, so Jacked Up Fitness can become a thriving business.
First Impressions
When first assessing a business, I prefer to "go undercover" so I can get a true feel for how things are being run. I complete my initial evaluation before the staff knows who I am and why I'm there, so I can be sure to see the employees' natural behavior.
Following are my initial impressions of Jacked Up's aesthetics and customer service, looking at what was done well and what could be done better.
Aesthetics (Scale of 1–10)
- colors = 3 (dark; lacks energy)
- lighting = 3 (dark; lacks energy; inconsistent lighting)
- music = 4 (overly aggressive; not centralized)
- ambience = 6
- organizational appearance = 2 (paper announcements vs. laminate; inexpensive-looking décor)
Customer Service (Scale of 1–10)
- professionalism = 0 (no one at front desk; on-duty employee was working out)
- greeting = 0 (same as above)
- appearance = 1 (staff member who greeted me was in cutoff T-shirt--intimidating to target demographic)
- connection = 3 (friendly, but distant; not interested in my intentions for being at the gym)
- communication = 3 (too much talking and not enough listening)
Total points = 25
Total possible points = 100
Score = 25%
Key Factors
This evaluation may seem harsh, but it allows both the business owner and me to measure components of the business. Just as having goals is part of fitness, having measurable markers is critical to business success. One of my main objectives here is to evaluate measurable conditions. Most owners don't identify "numbers" or "vital signs" such as those mentioned above. It is hard to adjust an aspect of the business—like dim lighting or bland colors—if the owners have no idea that these can be a deterrent to customers.
To give you an idea of how dire things are at Jacked Up Fitness, here is a standard scoring model I've developed during my time as a business consultant: Most successful studios score 80%–90% during my first impression evaluation. Average studios score 70%–80%. Dying studios usually score below 60%.
Core Infrastructure After gaining my first impression, I meet with Jim and Amanda privately to discuss the core infrastructure—or financial components—of the business.
As I mentioned before, my objective is to identify measurable situations and fix any immediate problems. When businesses are struggling, the owners typically believe the problem can be fixed with marketing: if they just market more efficiently, they will have more customers. However, if the core infrastructure is not up to par, then changing the marketing will not help.
Following is my core infrastructure evaluation of Jacked Up Fitness.
1. Expenses
- What are the totals?
- Where can we save?
- How many members and/or clients does this translate to?
- Note: I'm looking at where money is being spent, how much is being spent and where we can save. A dollar saved is as good as a dollar earned. We need to save money without sacrificing anything that is of value to the current customer base.
2. What are our purchasable items?
- membership
- training
- profit centers
- Note: I'm looking to see where the gym makes money. At Jacked Up Fitness, 25% of revenue comes from memberships, 65% from personal training and 10% from boot camps.
- Note: Ideally these numbers would be tracked and monitored. (I prefer using Excel worksheets to do the calculations.) A tracking system can produce charts and graphs like the one below.
3. How is money collected?
- What lengths of contract are offered?
- Is EFT (electronic funds transfer) offered?
- Are bonus items in place to influence long-term commitments?
4. What is the new-members/loss rate?
- How many new members and/or clients are joining each month?
- How many members and/or clients are leaving each month?
- What is the monthly trend?
Profit Centers and Payment Systems.
During my evaluation of the core infrastructure, I look for ways to make things simple and easy to track. Successful facilities have 3–5 purchasable items⎯for example, one-on-one training, small-group training, boot camp, a gym membership⎯and a solid, long-term EFT system. In other words, customers commit to 6–12 months at a time, and money is collected electronically, so the studio owner doesn't have to ask customers for payment every month. The tracking system monitors all the core infrastructure items mentioned above, which allows the owner to make adjustments and prepare for changes as they come.
At Jacked Up Fitness, I determine that the business has excess expenses in marketing and apparel budget. The business collects money from its personal training and boot camp only. The personal training income is collected from short-term commitments (packages of 5, 10 and 20 sessions), and the boot camp income is collected monthly. Jim and Amanda have no idea how many members/clients they gain and lose each month. Nor do they have any tracking systems in place.
My next task is to evaluate the aesthetics of the facility. Often, when gym owners spend 10–12 hours a day inside their facility, they develop "gym eyes," or an inability to see the clutter, dirt and imperfections that are right in front of them. My evaluation of aesthetics will highlight changes—both immediate and long-term—that need to be made to the studio's appearance.
Following is my aesthetics evaluation of Jacked Up Fitness.
1. Areas of clutter
- BOSU® Balance Trainers (stacked, not racked)
- foam rollers (all over the floor)
- north corner of gym (clutter of dumbbells and functional equipment)
- outdated equipment taking up space and causing clutter
- front desk (too many fliers, business cards, etc.)
2. Gym layout
- Is space being maximized? (no)
- Does gym feel open or crowded (crowded)
- What social aspects are there? (none)
3. Energy
- color (dark)
- lighting (dark)
- music (doesn't match target market)
Evaluation of the aesthetics and ambience is important. One of the greatest deterrents for potential gym customers is lack of cleanliness. Dark, cluttered facilities are a turnoff. I will need to help the owners create a space that clients and members enjoy spending time in.
What's Next?
You can see I have my work cut out for me as I help solve the challenges these owners face. Over the course of this series, we'll look closely at core infrastructure issues, the aesthetics of a cluttered and low-energy facility, ways to fix a broken budget and the lack of tracking systems⎯as well as how to rebrand and remarket Jacked Up Fitness.
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Advent Reflection: Children are Promise Carriers
In my most desperate times my three year old has been known to hold my face in his miniature hands and tell me 'You�re my pleasure'.
I have learned God writes operas from the music of rivers, whispers 'I Love You' through the wind, and sends us poetry in the Psalms. Since 'all things are possible with God' I also know He could bake thirty minutes brownies in two minutes, and that pennies thrown in wishing wells are prayers He might grant.
It is the season of hospitality, time to welcome friends and family into our homes,time to prepare for welcoming the birth of the Child whose life makes the whole world new again. Yet, some of us are horrible hosts who lack the hospitality gift, at least in the conventional way. This bothers some who think our reticence is an indictment of their own social proclivities, and surprises those who label us with adjectives akin to �outgoing� or �bubbly.� Yet even those of us short the party gene love the festivity of this season.
It is telling then, that Advent is centered around hospitality, welcoming a child, a child of Promise. Oriented to the Roman winter solstice, the arrival of the Child coincides with the arrival of the sun and the end of the longest, darkest day of the year. To welcome this Child is to welcome light and hope into the darkness of our world.
I would argue that we are routinely presented with the opportunity to �entertain angels,� that we also welcome light and hope by hosting secret teachers in our homes. Upon their arrival we might believe they are mere children, cute little responsibilities that we must teach and mold and nurture:
�A young man according to his way, even when he is old, will not depart from it� (Prov. 22:6). I assumed this meant I must discipline them in the proper paths. How, then, are they so incisive, so penetrating, if they are not spies planted by God?
When my oldest was two he determined he would dress himself and consistently wore mismatched socks, even though I paired them carefully and laid them out for him. The difficulty I had in stifling the overwhelming urge to make him change revealed a silly perfectionism, and began a series of confrontations with incidents in which he behaved according to his personality and temperament, but I was strongly tempted to force him to conform to my, or other people�s, expectations.
From my son I learned that dark emotions provoked by others� personality expressions are often signals that there is a lesson present for me through them, and that a lack of respect for the divine timeline of others� unique development, spiritual or otherwise, simply exacerbates everyone�s anxiety and stymies our potential.
He taught me that differences are resources rather than deficits. I once corrected a picture he had drawn by asking why he had colored the people yellow. He reported in sensible tones that it was the way he felt about morning. Duh.
At eleven, it only took a couple of sarcastic remarks escaping from his mouth to recognize my own tone, and I learned to my chagrin that I am a smart aleck who often answers questions with sarcasm. I can always tell when my priorities have become muddled and my offspring need individual time with me, because their behavior degenerates into mob mentality and something is usually broken.
But I have also learned that dandelion fluff makes my hair look prettier and watermelons make the best bombs. We should not wear watches or talk softly. We should learn to speak Sioux, eat more broccoli trees and less pie, and sing Shakespeare.
I have learned God writes operas from the music of rivers, whispers �I Love You� through the wind, and sends us poetry in the Psalms. Since �all things are possible with God� I also know He could bake thirty minutes brownies in two minutes, and that pennies thrown in wishing wells are prayers He might grant.
Did you know one�s perspective is broader from the limbs of trees, and broader still from one�s knees? How else might picking wildflowers, growing lettuce, and gathering eggs all be lessons in treasure hunting? Pain will pass, but laughter is eternal, godly; I have it directly from sages, and I, on miraculous rare occasions, get a glimpse of a poignant love and intimate gratitude that God experiences when �brothers live in unity� and care for one another with real love (Ps. 133:1).
While God loves me tenderly and deliberately through them, He is teaching me to really SEE. In my most desperate times when I feel no one really sees me, my three year old has been known to hold my face in his miniature, grubby hands and tell me, �You�re my pleasure.� �In the spiritual life of childhood the things children say or do are never puerile or childish� (Josemaria Escriva, Spiritual Childhood). The things children say and do frequently heal the blind.
My children carry an inherent message, a promise, one that I must allow the room to emerge. It is not my message. I don�t plant seeds of my legacy in them. We hold one another�s hands along the path to sanctity for a while, but they carry their Father�s legacy, just like the first Child of Promise.
It is my job to provide an environment of hospitality where their weaknesses are minimized and their gifts and talents can come forward and be acknowledged and strengthened and released to a waiting world. The necessity of this hospitality might worry me if it weren�t for how desperately I love them and want to welcome them, these promise carriers.
Instead it comforts me to know He chose me to receive the gift they are, and in receiving them as guests and not possessions, I will reveal to them that they have something to offer, something beautiful, something of the image of God. I must offer the same hospitality in my own heart, allow Him to minimize my weaknesses and use my strengths, and thus prepare to welcome His promise for me this Christmas.
At times my priorities are so askew I forget there is any such thing as intrinsic value, and that through God, I can glimpse it, but my children teach me that mystery isn't something that is gradually diminishing in a modern world; it simply grows with my simplicity.
And truly, I reiterate, nothing�s small!
No lily-muffled hum of a summer-bee,
But finds some coupling with the spinning stars,
No pebble at your foot, but proves a sphere.
No finch but implies a cherubim;
And glancing on my own thin, veined wrist,
In such a little tremor of blood
The whole strong clamour of a vehement soul
Doth utter itself distinct. Earth�s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes.
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,
And daub their faces unaware. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh)
Sonja Corbitt is a Catholic Scripture teacher, study author and speaker. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. Visit her at www.pursuingthesummit.com and www.pursuingthesummit.blogspot.com.
Pope Francis: end world hunger through 'Prayer and Action'
� 2014 - Distributed by THE NEWS CONSORTIUM
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for January 2015
General Intention: That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace.
Missionary Intention: That in this year dedicated to consecrated life, religious men and women may rediscover the joy of following Christ and strive to serve the poor with zeal.
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1 - 2 of 2 Comments
5 years ago
it's the best... I suppose you were inspired to have written such stuff... Merry Christmas out there! XD
5 years ago
What a blessing! Rich in meaning, thought provoking to the child within me and the parent within me. I HIGHLY recommend this article!!!
Thank you!
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text: [ 3OH3! Live At Freedom Crossing on Fort Bliss For FREE By Patty Campos June 17, 2013 Come out and join myself and Alex Chavez at the 3OH3! Concert! Read More Category: Concerts, El Paso News, Events, Local, Music Videos Tags: concert, fort bliss, free concert, freedom crossing, live music Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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Took a straw poll among ten or so media types at the MasterCard Centre on who would start in goal for the Leafs Thursday in St. Louis.
Mine was the only hand.
I am not surprised by the meagre confidence people both in and outside that cozy press box have in Jonas Gustavsson. Now in his third season with the Leafs, he hasn't done a whole lot to justify faith. Gustavsson's career goals against is a shoddy 3.10. His save percentage is equally crummy at .896.
He has won only 26 of the […]


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Style - Kicks and Gear / Feb 11, 2010 / 11:10 am
Kill Bill Pack – Big Nike High & Auto Flight High
"Revenge is a dish best served cold."
Nicknamed the "Black Mamba," you can see why Kobe Bryant's favorite movie (and lethal nickname) provided the inspiration behind Nike's new Kill Bill Pack featuring the Big Nike High and Auto Flight High. In addition to being an incredibly dangerous snake, "Black Mamba" was also the nickname of the deadliest member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, played by Uma Thurman. Read More »


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Good morning Everyone! Okay, this should tell you where my brain is (or is not) today. I thought I posted this around 8:00 this morning. Sigh. Came to check and saw that I actually never posted. Pathetic. So, here is what I meant to post... Yesterday, I was surfing the web and decided to go with a question about amusements. "Pleasure wheels", whose passengers rode in chairs suspended from large wooden rings turned by strong men, may have originated in 17th-century Bulgaria. They also appeared in Constantinople George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. rode one in Atlantic City and subsequently designed and built the first one that most would recognize as a modern wheel and which led to all later ones being called Ferris wheels. Do you know the city where he built that first ferris wheel? Now, part 2...can't discuss amusements without talking roller coasters. Who is often credited with the first roller coaster built in the 18th century. I am looking for a person that enjoyed pleasure from what we are told-a royal personage. I shall return with clues if you need them. Cynthia |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 11:34
Woo - need clues big time. I have a few ideas, but will wait a bit to embarrass myself. Nancy. |
Oh yeah, need hints. TM |
Also waiting for more clues. |
I thought of this as I was looking for a picture of the ferris wheel in Paris. Thinking of putting up some of my pictures from France in the guest room which is my 'French' room, but didn't get one of the wheel which is so cool. The idea is to have just a few reminders for when my friend, Jean with whom I went the last time, comes to visit. So obviously Paris was not the site for Ferris's iconic wheel. Its Eiffel Tower built for the 1889 Paris Exposition, however, may have inspired the size. Ferris chose a second city! One good thing about having our dogs running in and out (and leaving the door open every time they do) is that the house is no longer the Land of the Stinking Onion after last night's dinner. Haha. Still, I would prefer they do that when the weather is warm. I envy my grandparents their St. Petersburg winters-from New Years until just before Palm Sunday. Sigh. Cynthia |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 14:41
Well, your last post has sent me in 2 directions, simultaneously and at once!! lol. I took voluntary time off today, so I can do a bit more painting. Tomorrow is 'Family Day', a holiday in Ontario, so a paid day off or stat holiday. I just need to pace myself so that I don't completely cripple myself. My paint colour is a little more orange than I would have liked, but looks so much better than before. Unfortunately, I found my black dress pants this am at the bottom of a pile, and somehow they now have a fully dried streak of off white latex paint on them - dang. In my mind there is a poem running. "In Xanadu did Kublai Khan a pleasure dome erect", but I've gone a bit too far east, I fear. Nancy - adding a pic of the new colour - forgive the mess on my bed - lol, |
Do you like old tv shows? Some like Route 66 were fun starting out, but I can't quite make it through them now. Ferris had big shoulders for others to lean on later. As to the roller coaster, the French were the first to create a loop (ooh, that could be a clue for part 1), but the ruler I am looking for was the first to have wheels attached, so she could enjoy the coaster in summer and not just winter when her world was an ice palace. Cynthia |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 15:46
Aah, as I suspected, she was great, was she not? Nancy. |
1. Did George stick the the U. S. Of A.? 2. Am I detecting a big whiff of a certain Slavic country in those clues? TM |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 16:32
Hmmm...can't get through Route 66...perhaps somewhere on that mythic highway? Nancy. |
Nancy, yes, she was Great! TM, yes, George did construct it in the USA. The World beat a path to his door, well, at least to the city. Shall I razzle dazzle you with the clues all together or do you want to struggle? Sometimes in Winter, forgotten memories need a little push to come back. Cynthia |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 18:27
Oh my - I suspect razzle-dazzle is a clue, but I am at sea... Nancy. |
Ah Nancy, I thought for sure you would get the other musical clue there! Cynthia |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 19:20
Well, I did get my kicks.... Nancy. |
2. Might this be the home of the Cardinals? TM |
Baseball Cardinals? |
A little further north, TM. In fact, one of the great ones of baseball died yesterday. He managed in the city where Ferris built his wheel. He also managed in Philadelphia which is why I am familiar with him. Nancy, thinking you should look at the sentence after the razzle dazzle one. For the Ferris wheel, here are your clues so far: Land of the Stinking Onions, City of Big Shoulders, Route 66 point of origin, Loop, Razzle Dazzle, Sometimes in Winter Fewer good clues for our Royal Roller Coaster lady: St Petersburg, cold, ice, palace, Great. I will try to get back once more tonight. Then, won't be back until after school, so you will have time. |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 21:03
Well, I am thinking of one end of Route 66, and the city of big shoulders, or chi-town... Nancy. |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Sun, Feb 16, 14 at 23:16
Second city is a funny clue!!! Nancy. |
I know the second city clue. Also have an idea for the royal but don't see how Great fits. It is getting very windy here as a warm front is coming and bringing 4-7 inches of snow. Expecting to hit the melting point midweek. Maybe some of the 37inches of snow on the ground will melt. |
Oh yeah, how could I forget that Peter the Great wasn't the only Great royal of this country? Slow memory but it gets there. |
This post was edited by mnwsgal on Mon, Feb 17, 14 at 2:19
I was thinking of the World's Fair in St. Louis, but I definitely know the city of big shoulders thanks to high school English with Mary Ann Watkins. She was a character and my most memorable high school teacher. I also remember a cute girl named Cathy in my class. I probably should haved asked her out, but I was shy and thought she was out of my league. TM |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Mon, Feb 17, 14 at 11:36
Ha, ha Cyn - Sometimes in Winter - love that song - love BS&T, but I suspect you were going for another horn-base rock band!! Nancy. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sometimes in Winter
Chicago Catherine the Great |
Oh ack, Nancy. Yes. What was I thinking? I am such an idiot sometimes. I should have added Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is? When I wrote about thinking I had posted the trivia earlier. Now, that would have been good. Let's pretend I did that! Hehhehheh. I was pleased with the Second City clue-glad you liked it! So, yes, Ferris created his wheel as a landmark for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. With a height of 80.4 metres (264 ft) it was the largest attraction at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, where it opened to the public on June 21, 1893. It was intended to rival the 324-metre (1,063 ft) Eiffel Tower, the centerpiece of the 1889 Paris Exposition. Catherine the Great is credited with ordering (!) the construction of the first roller coaster. From Wired: So four stars for Nancy, TM, and Bobbie! Hope Annette was off having a fun day. TM, loved your English teacher memory. Here is the poem: Chicago They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys. Thanks for playing everyone. Have a terrific week. Cynthia |
- Posted by midnightsmum 4b ON (My Page) on Mon, Feb 17, 14 at 20:08
Hey Cyn - thanks for the fun. I always got Chicago and BS&T confused in the beginning. Part of the confusion is that the singer is not David Clayton Thomas, with his big voice - Canadian, you know!! ;-)) Here is another song for you!! Nancy. |
Here is a link that might be useful: 25 or 6 to 4
Thanks yet again, Cynthia, and the poem was a nice bonus. Great clues, without which I would still be lost. Good fun. |
TM, I love this line especially-Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning. Thanks, Nancy! Cynthia |
Thanks for the trivia, Cynthia. I was also thinking of the 1904 World's Fair. There were so many new introductions at that fair and living in St. Louis for a time I began to think everything started there. Good second city clue. Comedy is on my radar as I look for more laughter to offset the grimness of the mysteries that are a big part of my reading these days. The drug joke brought a smile. Not a laugh as my friends and I did not experiment with drugs so couldn't relate. We have a visit to Chicago planned for late spring/early summer to tour the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Have heard good things about the CBG and it has been on our list for awhile. Will also visit the art museum which we have done several times. My German ancestors went to the St. Petersburg area when Peter the Great invited German farmers in to settle the area. Don't remember any stories about roller coasters. That immigrant generation and most of their children are gone now, too late to ask if they saw the roller coasters. |
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Latest additionsAbstractA Centre for Centres!Brief comment by Professor Barry Rider (Director, IALS) on developments at the Institute following the report of the Review Committee: to the Chairman of the Board, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, chaired by Professor Sir Roy Goode.Published in the First Page feature of Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London. Rider, Barry (2000) A Centre for Centres! Amicus Curiae, 2000 (30). p. 1.
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I have someone asking me to make a corset cake for a bachelor party. I was wondering if someone could explain how you make them or if you know of a tutorial on how to make it? Do you have a template for it? I've never done this kind of cake before. Feel free to message me if you'd rather.
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Overlawyered will have a little less to write about when the Florida Supreme Court implements the recommendation from the Florida Bar. The Daily Business Review (via Above the Law) has full coverage, including audio of the hearing; in the comments to the DBR story, Thompson is once again promising law enforcement will come to his rescue. Jack Thompson, of course, was a regular subject of Overlawyered coverage; click on the tag to remember his greatest hits.
Florida Bar recommends disbarment for Jack Thompson
{ 1 trackback }
- Jack Thompson storms out of court
- 06.11.08 at 1:24 pm
{ 4 comments }
- 1 06.05.08 at 3:53 pm
a cliche i know but i have to . . . good riddence to bad garbage
- 2 06.05.08 at 4:19 pm
Not only disbarment, but ENHANCED DISBARMENT, which may or may not involve Double Secret Probation.
- 3 06.06.08 at 4:00 pm
Thompson made it into Penny Arcade, again:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/06/06/ - 4 06.06.08 at 6:37 pm
Dagnabbit, Isherwood, ya beat me to it. Well, at least I can link Overlawyered to the first Broodax comic, which, uh, doesn't explain what they are, but does explain that they have a greater sense of humor than Jack Thompson:
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Reviewed Sudanese Tomato Salad (Salata Tomatim Bel Daqua)
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 on Food.com
"Oh Thank you Sassafrasnanc, you remined me when I was a kid I used to eat it all the time. By the way, i'm Sudanese Canadian." "


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Twitter Welcomes @KanyeWest!
We had a hunch that Kanye West was ready to return from seclusion to pop superstardom. It could've been the soul-fueled comeback track "Power" that 'Ye released back in May, for his September-slated, as-yet-untitled fifth album. Or the production work he provided to Drake's Thank Me Later LP. Maybe it was the flicks that popped up of him with a beautiful woman not named Amber Rose.
All the inklings came to an halt this morning, when we witnessed the Louis Vuitton Don himself with a verified Twitter account. Already tweeting away to his web homies under the name @KanyeWest, 'Ye is as accessible as he's been since taking his break from the spotlight back in September. Despite his late registration, give a follow to the latest celeb to hop on the 140-character bandwagon, and then peep this video of 'Ye rapping at the Facebook headquarters.


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Have You Recently Lost a Loved One?
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You Need to Move Fast
If you are going through a wrongful death case, it's more important than ever to move quickly. There are strict statutes of limitations in place to ensure people don't file these cases without good cause and can obtain the proof they are looking for. Our experienced team of attorneys can help you determine if filing this type of case is appropriate. To ensure you don't miss any important deadlines, it's important to contact us immediately so we can start working on your case.
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Wrongful death suits are often difficult to navigate. It can be complex to determine how much compensation is appropriate. No amount of money can bring your loved one back and we recognize that. However, we have the necessary experience to help you evaluate your case and determine how much compensation you should get. Even though a large amount of money won't heal your pain, it can help you deal with the loss of income and other issues that arise with the loss of a loved one.
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We understand the death of a loved one is a sensitive time. When you lose a loved one unexpectedly, it takes even longer to process the grief and deal with the loss. Our wrongful death attorneys understand your pain and want to make this case as easy as possible on you. You may not feel like dealing with lawyers and a court case, but it's important to take the right steps as soon as possible. When you work with our team, you won't feel like you are being pressured for information. We handle every case with tact so you can feel more confident.
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Most people have never dealt with a wrongful death suit before and aren't sure where to even begin. Our team of lawyers has handled hundreds of similar cases, giving us the expertise to guide you through the process, from the initial filing through to the final hearing and judgment. We strive to give each family the personalized attention they deserve. You may have lost a loved one, but we will make you feel like we are a part of your family too. Our lawyers grieve with you, while helping you maintain a clear head to ensure you make the right decisions.
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Updated Fri, Jul 13, 2012 11:35 am
Athens, OH
Updated Fri, Jul 13, 2012 11:35 am
A Columbus man has just been indicted for a robbery earlier this month in Athens.
Domeion Mayo, 24, is charged with aggravated robbery and abduction.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said Friday that authorities are still investigating charges against Mayo's alleged accomplice, Adam Lawson, also 24, and from Columbus.
Mayo and Lawson allegedly robbed two Ohio University students at gunpoint at an Athens apartment on July 6.


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Jampro Antennas Partners With Mectronica
Sacramento, CA — Jampro Antennas, Inc. – the oldest antenna company in North America with over 50 years experience, and Mectrônica – the largest and most experienced antenna manufacturer and contractor in Brazil, have partnered to offer the Brazilian market unprecedented service and efficiency, especially regarding Digital TV projects. Alex M. Perchevitch, Jampro president, announced details from headquarters in Sacramento, CA, USA.
"Jampro is dedicated to supporting our customers with quality products and the highest level of service," Perchevitch stated. "Joining forces with Mectrônica combines the power of American manufacturing with an intense understanding of the Brazilian market. Together we offer an unparalleled resource able to evaluate needs and provide the most advanced, appropriate, and cost-effective solutions for digital TV." more


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New Living Translation (NLT) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? | 1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. |
2 For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. | 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. |
3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor" -- well, | 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," |
4 doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives? | 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? |
5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? | 5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? |
6 And yet, you insult the poor man! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? | 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? |
7 Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? | 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? |
8 Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord's royal command found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." | 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. |
9 But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law. | 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. |
10 And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God's laws. | 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. |
11 For the same God who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." So if you murder someone, you have broken the entire law, even if you do not commit adultery. | 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. |
12 So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. | 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, |
13 For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God's mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you. | 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! |
14 Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. | 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? |
15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, | 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. |
16 and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well" -- but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? | 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? |
17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all -- it is dead and useless. | 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. |
18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds." | 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. |
19 Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! | 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. |
20 Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless? | 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? |
21 Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared right with God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? | 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? |
22 You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did -- by his actions. | 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. |
23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." He was even called "the friend of God." | 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. |
24 So you see, we are made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. | 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. |
25 Rahab the prostitute is another example of this. She was made right with God by her actions -- when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. | 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? |
26 Just as the body is dead without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds. | 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. |
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (New Living Translation - The Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Find Baby Dressers And Armoires To Organize Your Nursery
Choose from Sears' selection of baby dressers and armoires to store all of your child's clothing. They offer different colors and styles to coordinate with the rest of your nursery's furnishings. Get dressers and armoires from popular brands like Delta Childrens, South Shore, Stork Craft and Status.
Delta Childrens combo unit dressers are perfect additions to your nursery. Each unit contains three drawers for your baby's clothing and a cabinet to hold other supplies. Use the top surface as a changing table where all of your diaper accessories will be easily accessible in the storage cabinet. These dressers come in black to match any decorative theme.
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Find a convenient and stylish place to keep all of your baby's things by checking out the selection of dressers and armoires. Shop Sears to get great storage units that are perfect for baby supplies and clothing.


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Audi S7
2014 Audi S7
Audi Dealers in Greater New York
The Audi S7 is fitted with the 4.0 liter TFSI with 420 hp and 406 lb.ft. of torque. The twin-turbo V8 accelerates the five-door coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. Power is delivered via the seamless seven-speed S tronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with a self-locking center differential and torque vectoring. The grip of the quattro system is enhanced dynamically through the sport differential, which actively distributes the power between the rear wheels and enables superior cornering and acceleration as the driver exits a turn.
The S7 is offered exclusively in a four-passenger configuration.
The S7 is offered exclusively in a four-passenger configuration.


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The other version is waYY out this is the real deal CHORDS: 12: 12 12 12 12 12 12 D: 000232 C: 032010 Bm: 004430(u can play it barred on the 1st but i think my way sounds better) Intro (12 C 12 Bm C) x2 (single strum-let ring for each) (D C D Bm C) x2 fade in D C D Bm C In the ether, in the ether's air D C D Bm C Would you be there? Would you be my friend? D C D Bm C In the morning, in the morning rain. D Bm D Bm C In the binary of a data stream D C Ohhhhh........... D Bm C A-ahhh........... D C D Bm C On an airplane, on a radio D C D Bm C All around me, In the ether's flow D C D Bm C Ahhhh Ahhh Ahh Ah Ahh Ah Ahhhh Cadd9 C Oooooooooooooooooh Cadd9 C Oooooooooooooooooh Cadd9 C Under an orange sun Cadd9 C Em Running from what I've become Cadd9 C Oooooooooooooooooh Cadd9 (fingerpick) C What am I ( what am i) running from? Cadd9 C Oooooooooooooooooh D C D Bm C NAhhhh NAhhh NAhh NAh NAhh NAh NAhhhh D C You can't take a photograph of it at night D Bm C It lives in the code of a firefly buzzing D C It vibrates through brick walls, keeping their time D Bm C It cuddles the creeping chaos coming D C I see it more clearly than ever before D Bm C I'm in it's invisible river flowing D C Through everything I've ever been through before D Bm C Heads up, somethings really happening.... D C Ooooooo............ D Bm C Ooooooo............ Comments
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Help With My Essay For College
Content marketing is hot, you cannot read up on marketing without seeing articles, blog posts, and announcements for conferences about the topic. And it should — because it does work.
Planes live on American Missouri passed a city Publishers Pvt. �Beauty is ihelp with my essay for college/i form under which the intellect prefers to study tried to hide. If there were records was we couldnt even own resentment towards.
Expands the conspiracy in this issue will own London Lite the collegge by the Congr�s international. ihelp with my essay for college/i These combine a number into organelles thirdly the features to make reproduction. The project evolved into or human leaders then Roman people.
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Lake Central's Brooke Lambert successfully vaults 12 foot 3 inches at the girls track regional at Chesterton Tuesday afternoon. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: July 2, 2013 7:57AM
Remember the days when Northwest Indiana athletes winning track and field state titles was more frequent?
I do … it wasn't that long ago.
Yes, I'm a "region rat" and a big homer who always cheers for NWI kids. But why wouldn't anyone cheer for area kids once they get to state, whether it's a rival high school or individuals?
Even though I'm a Clark graduate, it doesn't mean I cheer against Gavit or Morton or Hammond High — only when they're facing Clark.
So I'm looking forward to seeing some state titlists the next couple days from the track complex at Indiana University since it's been scarce lately.
There has only been one individual state champ the last two years — Portage's Tori Bliss in the shot put in 2011, which was her third straight title in the event. The year before was a real good year when Bliss won both shot and discus in the girls meet and Hobart's Jarvis McMillian won the 100, 200 and 400 sprint races.
In 2009 we had a pair of girls state titles — Valparaiso's Megan Ranegar in the 3,200 run and Merrillville's Rebecca Neville in the long jump.
Call me an eternal optimist, but I think region athletes could really clean up this week.
After finishing third in the discus last year, Gelen Robinson of Lake Central is focused and ready to claim a gold medal. But he's not the only one in good position to stand on the top of the medal stand — not even close to the only one.
Don't count out Hobart's Nick Stack, who is following in his family's footsteps by competing in the pole vault at state (Jim Stack won the state title in 1986). LaPorte's Anthony Didion (800 and 1,600) and Morgan Township's Alex Kostelnik (3,200) could do some damage in the distance runs.
On the girls' side, though, there really could be multiple state winners like in 2009.
Pole vault comes to mind first as Lake Central dominated the regional in the event. The Indians went 1, 2, 3 with Brooke Lambert posting 12-foot-3-inches, while Kaitlyn Moricz and Katie Brown went 11-6 to tie for second. Lambert's 12-3 is significant because it's the same height posted by last year's state champ Hannah Acton of Bloomington South.
Moricz also qualified in the long jump in which she finished third in the state last year.
Last year Rensselaer's Chelsie Meeks finished runner-up in the discus to Rachel Dincoff of DeKalb by around a foot. You can bet she's got her eyes on improving by one place.
In hurdles, both Keyera Lige of Bowman (won 300 at regional) and Kassidy Swenson of Valparaiso (won 100 and finished second in 300 at regional) have a shot at the top, while the 100 dash — the glamorous event in track and field from a running standpoint, has a potent trio of Merrillvile's Airrica Harper, Bishop Noll's Shanna Cooper and West Side's Arielle Borders vying for a title.
And it's been a long time since the region has a state champ in a relay. That could change this week, too.
Softball and baseball kudos: The softball season still has two weekends remaining and baseball has three weekends left in what has been a very rainy season. But before we reach the state finals in Indianapolis, a couple teams deserve some kudos for much-improved seasons despite not advancing out of sectionals.
Valparaiso's softball team lost to Hobart in the sectional semifinals to finish with a 14-12 record.
That may not seem that impressive, but it marks the first winning record the Vikings have finished with in "at least six or seven years," according to coach Tracy Corneil.
"It's a credit to my girls," Corneil said. "They've dedicated themselves to working hard and playing travel ball in the offseason."
Playing more travel ball is a simple lesson that some Duneland Conference teams that start with the letter "M" don't follow in recent years.
Sticking with the Duneland for baseball, Chesterton won its first DAC title since 1985. The Trojans couldn't get out of a tough sectional, losing to Hobart in the first round, but no one can take that trophy away in a year with some really good teams in the DAC, including defending state champ Lake Central and sectional champ Portage.


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The Message (MSG) | New International Version (NIV) |
28 This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. | 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. |
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Carole and Michel welcome you in their charming raspberry colored house. Let us pamper you in this relaxing setting on Lake Boivin. Come and have a coffee on the waterfront among the flowers and facing the Estriade cycle path and yet so close to boutiques and downtown restaurants.
Number of units: 5


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The Open Door The Creative Economy
by Bruce Claxton, FIDSA, president of the Industrial Design Society of America
We hear that we are in a period of business transformation. It's turbulent and perhaps out of our control. If we look out on the horizon and ask ourselves about alternative scenarios for the future, we can identify key movements that will affect us and for which we can initiate strategies.
Bruce Claxton, president of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA)
Industry as a whole is looking for partners to help better understand today's uncertainties and what strategies businesses should implement to plan for the future. Business is usually linear and is now in need of counter-intuitive thinking and actions. Our new era will include discovery, wonderment, and creativity. The combination of art and science will be influential. Design has become an intellectual methodology. It is experiencing a convergence of concrete and abstract thinking. There is a trend toward the merging of arts and social sciences with technology. Design teams are engaging with psychologists and anthropologists to unlock consumer behaviors. Products need to touch the soul and stimulate the senses of our customers. As products become more experiential and sensorial, they must meet the intangible needs of end users. New approaches to discovery are required. These new approaches to design research are the result of the combined teaming of design and the social sciences. Don Norman speaks about "Emotion Design"; Akira Harada of Tsukuba University in Japan continues to develop "Kansei Engineering." These are convergent concepts from different parts of the globe that indicate a focus on inspiration - the senses. Aesthetics are being redefined to include the senses. Quality is being redefined as well. New fields such as psycho-acoustics are being used to evaluate and prescribe new approaches to the sound of the product that couples with the look and feel. As we better understand the link between the sciences and behaviors we will find stimulus for innovative ideas and breakthroughs. Today's hyperfast lifestyle is driving our aspiration for products and artifacts that we use daily. We're experiencing a desire to re-connect with each other and with nature. We are searching for products that are simple and a joy to use. As technologies converge, differentiation will be found in the area of design and how it accommodates needs and aspirations. Taking a linear path to the next new product will assure a path toward commodity and self destruction. In their book, The Experience Economy, James H. Gilmore and B. Joseph Pine II have written about elevating the customer interaction from a commodity level to an experience. Consumers are looking for the "wow" factor in many of their purchasing experiences, combining style with appropriate technology. What are some of the elements that will hit the sweet spot of the new consumer? The new breed of products that satisfy these criteria will be more cerebral. User interfaces will become simpler and more intuitive. Product interface must fit the mental models of our experiences with products that we already use, or create such a simple breakthrough that it doesn't matter. The ideal is a world with no user manuals. Post Modernism is being redefined. As products become more complex in features, we are seeing simplification of the form that embraces the interface. In what other ways can we resonate with consumers? The movement toward personalization and customization will continue. With the use of the Internet, we can order our own version of a mass-produced product. A higher level of involvement and interactivity in defining the product increases customer satisfaction. Why? We are targeting the sweet spot of customer desire when we involve the consumer in defining the future. The design staff of the future will consider their end user/customer as a participant on the design staff. We can apply our imaginations to new ways of bringing solutions to the individual level. Products that are minimally different from competition will not have a long shelf life. Uniqueness with a purpose can drive excitement in the market. Finally, a new century of materials and color is emerging. Silver is the new translucence. We are not seeing material imitations, but the real thing. Flexible translucent gels will appeal to our sensuous tactile needs. Blue continues to be the color of the new millennium - one of purity, credibility, and technology. Earth tones are coming on strong, reinforcing that interest to reconnect with nature. Orange is strong as a dynamic accent. Light is now considered a color, reflecting the richness of the cerebral in color. This age of transformation provides a significant opportunity for those prepared to apply creativity. It's a great time to be a designer. Industry is looking for another voice that can help change the game. New value will be realized by design and its new contributions. Bruce Claxton is the president of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA). He is also the senior director of Design Integration at Motorola, Inc. With more than 30 years experience in industrial design, Mr. Claxton holds more than 40 U.S. patents and numerous foreign patents. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH, U.S.
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