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CSBG Archive
Comic Book Legends Revealed #211
Welcome to the two-hundred and eleventh in a series of examinations of comic book legends and whether they are true or false. Click here for an archive of the previous two hundred and ten.
Comic Book Legends Revealed is now part of the larger Legends Revealed series, where I look into legends about the worlds of entertainment and sports, which you can check out here, at legendsrevealed.com.
You know, I think last week was the FOURTH anniversary of this column. Pretty neat, huh?
Let's begin!
COMIC LEGEND: Uncanny X-Men #401 had a scene where a government official shown being with a prostitute was changed from Rudy Giuliani to Bill Clinton.
STATUS: True
Uncanny X-Men #401 was, like all the other Marvel books that month, a "silent issue," that is, an issue without any dialogue or thought balloons or captions.
A couple of issues earlier, writer Joe Casey introduced us to Stacy-X, a mutant who also happened to be a prostitute (who worked at a ranch with all mutant prostitutes, similar to the Mustang Ranch in Nevada).
In Uncanny X-Men #401, we see Stacy-X with a client, and although it is a silent issue, you can still pretty plainly see that artist Ron Garney has drawn former President Bill Clinton.
But here's the kicker – as a novelty, Marvel posted (partially at the end of the issue and in full on their website) the SCRIPTS for these issues, so you would know what the artist had to work with. And on the Marvel website, we got the following description of pages 11 and 12…
Panel 1.
Inside the bedroom now. Candlelight causes eerie, flickering lighting. Angle on the door, carefully being pushed open by Wolverine, who is already taking a cautious step into the bedroom. He's already seeing something off-panel that puts a look of extreme disappointment on his face.
Panel 2.
Big panel on the page. Wolverine's POV, looking into the master bedroom of the mansion (so it's pretty big). Candles lit all over the room. Lots of shadows. Zooming in on the king-size bed, which is completely trashed. Drenched with sweat. Sheets wadded up at the foot of the bed, pillows ripped apart, feathers leaking out. There are night tables on either side of the bed (upon one is a beeper/pager that you might want to establish here). In the middle of the bed, completely laid out on his back, spread eagle like a sexual slave, is Rudolph Giuliani (since this is the silent issue, we can get away with this if we're smart about it… not naming him by name, try to get his likeness as close as possible. Those in the know should absolutely get the joke… the one or two X-Men readers who might be at all politically aware…). Giuliani is wearing only boxer shorts, a torn wife-beater T-shirt and his designer dress shoes. He's also wearing one of those "sleep blindfolds" that rich people sometimes wear (why, you might ask? Because even though we're not naming names, I've been told we need to be very careful with the Guliani likeness… thus, the blindfold partially hides his face). He's so whacked out, he doesn't even know where he is. He's got a dizzy smile on his face. Some serious sexual stuff has been going on in this bedroom…
Panel 1.
Wolverine walks over to the bed, in the flickering candlelight. Giuliani doesn't even register his presence. Wolverine is looking down at the Mayor, disgusted.
Panel 2.
Small panel. Angle on the beeper/pager on the night table, which is now vibrating and lighting up.
Panel 3.
Another small panel. Wolverine's head whipping around as the beeper (off-panel here, obviously) gets his attention. The candlelight flickering on his face.
Panel 4.
The beeper in the foreground, at the bottom of the panel. Wolverine above it, looking down at it, reaching down with one hand to pick it up. The shadows of the room in the background behind him.
Panel 5.
Wide panel. Action shot. Wolverine (now holding the beeper) in the foreground, whirling around as Stacy X (wearing her skimpy X-uniform) leaps out of the shadows in a kung-fu style kick. She looks pissed off. Wolverine doesn't look surprised at all… he was waiting for her to make her move.
So yeah, there was a change from the script to the book.
The natural presumption is that it had something to do with 9/11, but I do not know for sure.
Joe, if you're reading, let us know!
Thanks to my CBR pal worstblogever for posing this one to me the other week!
COMIC LEGEND: Marvel was planning to turn Starfox into a villain during the late 1990s.
STATUS: False
The Titan known as Eros was a longtime Marvel supporting character (mostly in relation to his brother, the evil Titan known as Thanos) when he eventually joined the Avengers in the early 1980s during Roger Stern's run on the book.
Starfox had the ability to stimulate the pleasure centers in nearby people's brains. This made them very keen on helping him.
Well, as you might imagine, for a guy like Starfox who was known to sleep with a lot of women (including some of his teammates), later writers began to think, "Hmmm…that's a little troublesome, as far as powers go."
In the late 1990s, Starfox appeared with all then-living members of the Avengers when the title restarted with Kurt Busiek and George Perez on the book.
Like most of the Avengers, Starfox was written off in Avengers #4, when Busiek had to pare the group down.
Busiek killed two birds with one stone when he had Starfox and fellow Avenger Tigra go off together on an outer space jaunt.
Tigra and Starfox showed up again a couple of years later in a Cosmic Avengers mini-series, written by Roger Stern…
But in the time between, there was going to be a Starfox one-shot written (and drawn, I believe) by Tom Brevoort's former assistant (I dunno if he was actually former when the issue would have come out), Gregg Schigiel.
Marvel's numbers guys eventually killed the project due to the fact that they didn't think anyone would buy a Starfox one-shot.
In any event, the one-shot had a lot of buzz due to the fact that Schigel gave an interview about the upcoming project talking about how Starfox's powers would really lend themselves to villainy, now wouldn't they? Controlling people's minds and the like. And Schigel said that he would be giving the readers a whole new take on Starfox.
So soon, Schigel's one-shot became known as a "Dark Starfox" project.
Schigel talked about the project a bit with Jamie Coville at the time (I'd love to give you a link, but it seems like the Collector's Times is down at the moment)…
Coville: You have a Starfox One shot coming out soon, can you tell us about it?
Schigiel: Oh, sure I can tell you about it.
The first thing I can tell you is that it looks like it might not be coming out after all. Actually, that might be an exaggeration. I've just recently learned that the marketing/sales folks at Marvel have decided they "can't sell" a Starfox one-shot, and that it'd lose money, so it's been put on indefinite hold. Suffice it to say, I'm not thrilled by the news. It's a project I've been wanting to do for years now and it was happening. Now, it apparently is not. Then again, I haven't given up on it. I'm still gonna see what I can do with it, see if there's some way to have it see print. I mean, I've talked to Mark Powers about it and he feels the same way I do. We want this thing to happen.
Barring that, I can say that the story is something different, a type of story Marvel hadn't done in a LOOONG time. A lot of fun. It'll catch all the online folks by surprise, definitely. I want the people who've been talking about it to actually see it, you know? I've been reading the posts, I've been seeing what people have been saying about how I described the one-shot. I want desperately to read those same people's comments after this thing comes out…whenever it comes out.
But anyway, just for the sake of answering the question, I can tell you the one shot stars Starfox and Thanos, predominantly. Avengers, X-Men and members of the Fantastic Four appear and play a role as well. But even with all these characters, it's a very basic, simple story, something I think a lot of people would relate to in some way, and enjoy, even if they don't necessarily agree with it.
Basically, I look at the character and I think one thing, and that's the thing everyone thinks of him. I took that one thing and spun a story out of it. Again, it's a different kind of story. It's NOT traditional. It's NOT typical. It's, well, again, I don't want to give anything away with it. Within the first five pages though, the premise is well established and all the mysteries will fall away. It's gonna be a scene, baby, a straight up scene. People will love it or hate it, but this book's got merit. Now if only the people that can help prove that would get off this "unsellable" kick. It's not a good thing.
It presumes that something IS "sellable". Now, I don't mean to be a pessimist, honestly. I love comics, I hate saying this stuff myself, but here it is. Basically, the claim is that a one-shot starring Starfox won't sell, or rather, won't make money. OK, that presumes SOMETHING can sell. I've seen the numbers. I know how they're going. They're going down, some more drastically than others. There was a time when books were selling, easily, in the multi-100,000 copy range. Heck, books were breaking a million copies sold! Now, a #1 issue opens at MAYBE 50 to 60,000 copies. Even books like X-MEN or AVENGERS have declining sales. It's a slowly slipping slope, and it's scary. But the point is that how can one claim to not be able to sell something when there's not really proof that they can sell ANYTHING?
Because of the book never actually being made, Schigiel never got the chance to talk about it more than his initial interview, and as you can see from his talk with Coville, he makes it clear that the initial interview was intentionally misleading.
So it was left to his former boss, Tom Brevoort, to clear the air on USENET back in 2003…
Since it no longer really matters, there was a one-shot, titled something like STARFOX'S SPRING BREAK SPECIAL, which would have been a light-hearted romp, heavy on the comedy. It also was somewhat influenced by the then-current Andy Kaufman mania surrounding the release of "Man On The Moon." So when Newsarama got wind of the project, creator Gregg Schigiel gave a bizarre nonsensical interview purporting to tell what the project was going to be about. He intended to keep doing odd interviews about the thing, in order to confuse and befuddle everybody, up untitl the book came out. But at some later date, the decision was made not to proceed with the project, and so all that was left was the nonsensical cover story.
Dan Slott ultimately did a storyline in She-Hulk where he addressed Starfox's "pleasure" powers.
Thanks to Tom Brevoort for the inside info! That Brevoort's such a helpful guy, isn't he? And thanks to Jamie Coville and Gregg Schigel for the info, too!
COMIC LEGEND: Fabian Nicieza and Erik Larsen had a proposal in to be the creative team on X-Factor before Peter David got the nod.
STATUS: True
As you all saw from the Chris Claremont Comic Book Legends piece a few weeks ago, things were definitely a bit up in the air at Marvel regarding the X-Titles circa 1991, with different creative teams set to take over basically every title in the whole X-line of comics (except for Wolverine – and, I suppose New Mutants becoming X-Force was a change of TITLE, not creative team).
Well, one of the pitches for X-Factor was by Fabian Nicieza and Erik Larsen, who were working under the basic set-up that the book was going to be by Marvel editorial, which is that it would be a replacement for Freedom Force.
This is what Nicieza and Larsen came up with…
First off, you might notice a familiar face – Horridus, a character Larsen later used in Savage Dragon and Freak Force…
Horridus was to have been a to that point unseen member of the Morlocks.
Also, as you can see, the fellow with the Stars and Stripes costume is basically Larsen's later creation, Super-Patriot…
At the time, though, that was Crimson Commando, who had been badly hurt in a story that appeared in the 1991 X-Annuals (New Mutants Annual #7, Uncanny X-Men Annual #15 and X-Factor Annual #6), which was written by Fabian Nicieza.
As it turned out, Commando suffered those injuries as SET-UP for this pitch…
According to Larsen…
He [Nicieza] suggested that we screw around with a character named the Crimson Commando and turn him into a half cyborg guy. Fabe sent me a drawing of a guy with a flag wrapped around his face at an angle and other oddly inspired components from various sources. I junked it from the neck down, straitened [sic] out the flag and gave it somewhat of a skull look and we had our new improved Commando (Fabian even went so far as to screw up the Crimson Commando in the pages of the X-Annuals…)
Notice that they were even using the "strong woman" version of Polaris, which was what she was set up as at the time in the X-Men boosk.
However, for whatever reason, Nicieza and Larsen did not get the gig and it went to Peter David and Larry Stroman, instead.
Peter David stopped by in the comments to note that he was actually assigned the book, rather than pitching for it. That makes sense, as I've seen other reports that Nicieza and Larsen's pitch went a bit further than just a "pitch," and they actually had done cover mock-ups featuring basically the same X-Factor team lineup that David took over, so it's likely that their pitch went a bit further before they were taken over and the book given to David.
Larsen took the Crimson Commando character and had him show up in the pages of Larsen's Spider-Man, as Cyborg X.
If you note, Cyborg X's dialogue is actually taken directly from Crimson Commando's last appearance.
In addition, his teammate Avalanche's name? Dominic.
Eventually, Super-Patriot and Horridus DID end up on a team together, Freak Force…
That Freak Force cover reportedly has the same basic design as Larsen's cover mock-up for his first issue of X-Factor, just put Guido in place of Barbaric (the big red guy), Polaris in place of Rapture (the electricity lady), Havok (?) in place of Mighty Man and I guess Dart and Ricochet taken out of the picture all together.
It's also worth noting that Marvel eventually went with the cyborg route with Crimson Commando, as well, when J.M. DeMatteis was writing X-Factor (he was now just plain ol' Commando)…
Thanks to Lia Brown's nifty Freedom Force site for the head's up and thanks to Superpouvoir.com for the helpful scans. Oh, and of course, thanks to Erik Larsen for always being so helpful with his comic book history. Also, thanks to Peter David for sharing a bit of HIS comic book history, as well!
Okay, that's it for this week!
Thanks to the Grand Comic Book Database for this week's covers! And thanks to Brandon Hanvey for the Comic Book Legends Revealed logo!
Feel free (heck, I implore you!) to write in with your suggestions for future installments! My e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com.
As you likely know by now, at the end of April, my book finally came out!
Here is the cover by artist Mickey Duzyj. I think he did a very nice job (click to enlarge)…
If you'd like to order it, you can use the following code if you'd like to send me a bit of a referral fee…
Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed
See you next week!
63 Comments
When did Polaris become "strong girl"? I thought that the relaunch of X-Factor took place shortly after the Muir Island saga with the Shadow King mess and in the run she still had magnetic powers. Was this going to be explained during the Nicieza/Larsen run?
"Those in the know should absolutely get the joke… the one or two X-Men readers who might be at all politically aware…"
Ow! Burn!
" When did Polaris become "strong girl"? I thought that the relaunch of X-Factor took place shortly after the Muir Island saga with the Shadow King mess and in the run she still had magnetic powers. Was this going to be explained during the Nicieza/Larsen run? "
IIRC, Polaris lost her magnetic powers in favor of being bigger and stronger around Uncanny 250, amidst the Zaladane story. I don't remember when she switched back, but it's possible that at the time this Erik Larsen relaunch was planned, it was before the Muir Island Saga and they could have gone with that direction.
Seeing that image makes me very, very grateful that we got David/Stroman instead.
When did Polaris become "strong girl"? I thought that the relaunch of X-Factor took place shortly after the Muir Island saga with the Shadow King mess and in the run she still had magnetic powers. Was this going to be explained during the Nicieza/Larsen run?
The relaunch took place after the Muir Island Saga, but when the pitches were being made (late 1990, I suppose), Polaris was still sans-magnetic powers and had super strength and invulnerability, instead.
I believe it was the addition of Guido to the team that was the impetus for the return of her magnetic powers.
a Starfox one-shot written (and drawn, I believe) by Tom Brevoort's former (I dunno if he was actually former when the issue would have come out), Gregg Schigiel.
Brevoort's former what?
Brian (from the Starfox piece):
"But in the time between, there was going to be a Starfox one-shot written (and drawn, I believe) by Tom Brevoort's former (I dunno if he was actually former when the issue would have come out), Gregg Schigiel."
Brevoort's former what ?????
" "Those in the know should absolutely get the joke… the one or two X-Men readers who might be at all politically aware…" "
I'd hardly dispute the narrow interests that super-fans tend to suffer from, but come on, thinking they wouldn't recognize Rudy Guliani ( even pre-9/11 ) is hitting below the belt.
Man I'm so glad they didn't go with that pitch for X-factor we would have lost both excellent David X-Factor runs. And Larsen would have left anyway, leaving that revamp dead in the water. That team would be a 90s footnote at best.
The Larsen X-factor designs are horrible.. except for Pyro.. He actually looks pretty cool.
While that particular X-Factor pitch doesn't count, I'd love to see a Comic Book Legends post (or even a Top 5 List) of interesting proposals that never got the go-ahead. Besides all that interesting Claremont stuff from a couple weeks back and the Superman 2000 pitch Grant, Mark and Tom did. Keith Champagne did a very cool Royal Flush Gang proposal that he posted on his website a few years back. Stuff like that…
Wow, many thanks for that X-Factor piece. Always interesting to see "how things coulda turned out" and the origins of random comic book characters who were meant for somewhere else…
The Crimson Commando/Cyborg X stuff is equally interesting. (Has CC appeared since then?)
BTW, that is Pyro in the group shot right?
…And of course, we X-Factor readers got the better end of the deal when the book went to PAD. Larsen's take looks like something Liefeld would have puked up in a convention hall bathroom while bummiing for his next coke fix.
So wait, doesn't that mean that Fabian Nicieza should get co-creator credit for Super-Patriot?
From what I'd heard, Marvel planned the silent issues before 9/11, but they were released afterward (a strange coincidence). Maybe the scene was written pre 9/11 and drawn post 9/11 (or had changes post 9/11). Having Rudy in such a position at such a time would probably have raised a shitstorm. And well, it's just Bill…
I dunno!
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That Freedom Force back-up story was intense at the time. The team was just butchered.
While that particular X-Factor pitch doesn't count, I'd love to see a Comic Book Legends post (or even a Top 5 List) of interesting proposals that never got the go-ahead.
I think in general that would be a great premise for a "What If?" or Elseworlds anthology series at either of the big 2. Reunite writers and artists to do storylines based on rejected proposals they came up with in the past.
I'd hardly dispute the narrow interests that super-fans tend to suffer from, but come on, thinking they wouldn't recognize Rudy Guliani ( even pre-9/11 ) is hitting below the belt.
I don't think it's an issue of recognizing Giuliani or not, but of being aware that one of the things he was known for was having an affair. If you want a famous philanderer, it's hard to find a bigger target than Clinton…
I might be wrong, but i believe Crimson Commando's next appearance was, strangely enough, in X-Factor. It was after Peter David left, #102. And actually, he looks kind of similar to Larsen's design.
packy, that's right. It was actually X-Men Annual #2 from 1993. I believe that appearance followed his Cyborg X appearance in Spider-Man but he visually more resembled his old red costume with the cyborg improvements similar to SuperPatriot.
Re the What If/Elseworlds idea, I both enjoyed seeing in print, but was also dismayed, at the What If which was based in part on Claremont's original Death of Phoenix plans. It included Jean having the Phoenix removed, but it also included the later retcon of Phoenix as a different entity and Jean at the bottom of the bay, and of course it didn't lead up to Jean refusing Magneto's temptation to get the power back, but was another grim ending instead.
Yeah, Crimson Commando debuted his new cyborg look in X-Men Annual #2 (as did a new look for Avalanche). I think he was called just "Commando" after that, which was a shame. I think he ended up as event canon fodder somewhere down the line.
I assume the guy in black in the X-Factor proposal is Larsen's redesign of Havok? The look presages his Age of Apocalypse look a bit.
If nothing else (and there probably was nothing else), Commando's new look made for a helluva cool toy when I was a kid:
Hey Brian.
The latest Comics Critics comic got me wondering.
What *WAS* the deal with the introduction of a new Jim Corrigan during Gotham Central (was it?). You know, the one who looked just like the original Jim Corrigan but ended up killing Crispus Allen. Why did they even bother doing that? Was there something else to it? Was there a plan to re-invent The Spectre?
And by "re-invent the Spectre", I mean "not with the Crispus Allen character".
All in all, I'm asking, "was Crispus Allen really originally intended to become The Spectre, and why did they involve a Jim Corrigan if it wasn't the original?" Was there just something spiritually zen to it, or was something else in the works that never saw the light of day?
Commando – the hero without underwear.
That Flash Gordon-looking design of Larsen's is pretty cool looking. Don't know much about X-Factor–is that Havoc?
Yeah I'm curious too, is the "other guy" Havok?
And I absolutely loved that annual where Freedom Force got taken out, Mainly because Avalanche going back for CC. Was hoping we would see more of a "bromance" with them, kind of like Catman and Deadshot in secret six
The new Corrigan was a red herring. That's all.
I like the Pyro thumbs up.
Pyro looks sick. They should consider that look for someone else..mayb a dark young avengers "Melter" mayb??
I mean he rolling around in a spider man tee shirt wit a rag on his face.
I wasn't really reading comics back in the 90's..I was worried about grade school and listening to Nas cd's but g'zzz I sure missed out on some interesting stories.
And I can obviously see that's Bill Clinton and not Rudolph G. I mean look @ the family foto by the bed. Its Hillary and Chelsea..does Rudolph even have a red head daughter???
I see they've worked out a way to use the auto-links to sites that mention your blog into a marketing mechanism.
Book review: TASSAJARA DINNERS AND DESSERTS. | Scandinavian Ways | Winesworlds Blog
…has nothing to do with this site, but takes you to one with a box on the side saying Make Big Money Writing Blogs: it's just a scam to drive readers to their site, as far as I can tell.
That's interesting. I had no idea that Fabe and Erik had a pitch in on "X-Factor."
Me, I never did a pitch on it. They just came to me and said, "Here's the team, we'd like you to write it."
Come to think of it, it looks like Erik adapted Pyro's mask into Star, too. The eyepieces, anyway.
The other Corrigan as a red herring… Well, that explains why the whole thing fell so flat to me. Having him in there *just* as a red herring — without, say, some deeper story meaning, or even explanation — bleah.
What's a boosk?
That She-Hulk cover is horrific. Greg Horn, ugh.
@ o.t.o. – You were better off in school. Mainstream comics in the '90's sucked. SUCKED. Ask anybody. The '80's were better. (Right, fellas? Or Prove Me Wrong.) Hell, the '70's were better. (This may be debatable.)
I was sixteen when I first met the Crimson Commander. I never knew he became a cyborg and later, a creation of Erik Larsen. (Of whom, I will not say a bad word EVER, for his is … Kirby's Man! Dare I Say It? 'NUFF SAID!)
Keep them columns comin', Brian! We'll GET you that winner at Pimlico, Billy! Just you wait!!!
See, that's just it. I can't see the point of adding a Jim Corrigan who even looked like the same guy and just outright make it a red herring. I think he BECAME a red herring, but was originally intended to be something else.
It's like if, during the Kyle Rayner GL run, they introduced a blonde crew-cut police scientist background character named Barry Allen.
I don't see why they had to use any real political figure in that X-Men issue. It is almost as bad as how Marvel was going to originally have Princess Diana come back to life as a mutant in X-Force.
Me, I never did a pitch on it. They just came to me and said, "Here's the team, we'd like you to write it."
That actually makes a lot of sense, Peter, as apparently, by the time Fabian and Erik were no longer going to do the book, their team lineup was basically your team lineup.
Interesting how similar the X-Factor and Freak Force logos are. Never noticed that before.
For what its worth, I think a government built cyborg Commando could have been a great addition to X-Factor.
Ah, synchronicity. I picked up a collection of David's 'But I Digress' essays from the early nineties this very afternoon. In addition to making me feel freakishly old, there's a mention of Larsen's infamous quote about how the Image boys were on the verge of dazzling the world with their unfettered creativity, since they had been holding back while toiling in the coal mine that Stan built.
It was obviously a pile of horse-pucky hype – and not even the most egregious example of the kind of baloney that was flying thick and fast in those days – but it's still amusing to see that the fellas really had nuthin' up their sleeves, even if it's almost 20(!) years after the fact.
>>> I'd hardly dispute the narrow interests that super-fans tend to suffer from, but come on, thinking they wouldn't recognize Rudy Guliani ( even pre-9/11 ) is hitting below the belt.
I have a sneaking suspicion that this is why the character that appeared in the story was actually changed – the assumption that comic fans in general were too stupid to recognize Giuliani, so they'd better use a more recognizable politician instead. Plus, well, Clinton sort of lends himself to sexual jokes, doesn't he?
>>> Well, as you might imagine, for a guy like Starfox who was known to sleep with a lot of women (including some of his teammates), later writers began to think, "Hmmm…that's a little troublesome, as far as powers go."
That was actually present almost right from the beginning – right after he first revealed the fact that he HAD that power, Wasp spent a fair amount of time feeling incredibly awkward around him, and eventually told him outright that not only was it disturbing that he could do that, but that he also never bothered to tell anyone (or deliberately kept it secret). His defense was something along the lines of "I never do it to friends… unless they ask!", and it was probably the earliest attempt to head off people complaining about his magic rape power.
>>> When did Polaris become "strong girl"?
It's already sort of been explained, but just to flesh it out a bit more, in Uncanny X-Men #250, Polaris is basically abducted by Zaladane, and has her magnetic powers stolen from her. Right after, she immediately becomes super-strong and grows taller. At the time, it was implied to be a secondary mutation – but later, during the Shadow King storyline, it's implied her actual power was to become a battery for negative emotional energy, both absorbing and amplifying it. Her strength came from channeling that energy into her body, and when the Shadow King was killed and she was freed from the psychic web he'd put her in to drain her negative energy (in Uncanny #280), she'd reverted back to her normal magnetic powers.
So she was basically "Strong Girl" for about 30 issues, from 1989 to 1991 or so. Though she wasn't actually IN many of those issues. If the decision to change her back was a late one, it makes sense that they would have been planning to have her be the super-strong and really tall version instead of the normal magnetic one.
I definitely seem to recall talk about making Starfox a villain because of the way his powers work. I remember reading it in the pages of the Comic Buyers Guide way back in the 90's and thinking it would be a stupid idea at the time. (Mainly because so many 'heroes' were turning bad- Hal Jordan (Parallax), Tony Stark (The Crossing?) Not sure what creators were supposedly involved.
You're thinking of Schigel's initial interview, Sherman, which was all the information anyone had to go on because the project was canceled soon after.
"A couple of issues earlier, writer Joe Casey introduced us to Stacy-X, a mutant who also happened to be a prostitute (who worked at a ranch with all mutant prostitutes, similar to the Mustang Ranch in Nevada)."
I'm in the process of buying a plane ticket to the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. Who knew all mutant prostitutes… co-mingled there? Thanks!"
Thanks for the kudos on the Stacy-X legend, Cronin!
And the X-Factor pitch tale blows my mind. I always wondered why the last Freedom Force story felt… weird, you know? It was so intense, like FF got turned into the Suicide Squad. And then… it went nowhere. Just the end of the team. But there was a beginning pitched for 'em.
And we were THIS CLOSE to having Pyro on an X-Team. Huh.
I hate DC guys writing about Marvel…
Had UXM 401 used Giuliani I probably would have to be told who he was. A President of the United States is more recognizable than the Mayor of New York, sorry east coast bias.
I always wondered if Crimson Commando, Stonewall, and Super Sabre were supposed to be stand-ins for some Golden Age characters or something. When I originally read their stories as a kid I figured I had missed their early appearances, but it seems UXM #215 is their first appearance. Maybe it was just Claremont creating characters that already had a lot of history.
Layne, it's funny, I was going through my old Image issues recently and remarking that the VAST majority of those early titles were blatant knock-offs of the stuff the artists were doing at Marvel. I mean, come on, the Wildcats analogues were so obvious (Spartan = Cyclops, Voodoo = Psylocke, Warblade = Wolverine, Maul = Colossus, Emp = Professor X, etc.), and the Cyberforce ones weren't much different (I'm still kind of shocked there wasn't a lawsuit over Cyblade and Psylocke, or Wolverine and Ripclaw, or whoever the big metal guy was and Colossus). Visually Spawn was a merge of Dr. Strange and Spider-Man, with a little Ghost Rider thrown in for the skulls and chains. For all the big talk of creativity they sure put on a little show, didn't they?
Wait, so the recent "Smash" nonsense wasn't anything new? I never realized that Image was a knock-off company.
Uggh! That is one horrendous piece of "art" by Greg Horn.
OMG, I didn't notice till now, but even the lighting on the two figures is coming from slightly different angles, thus making it look even more like some kind of weird cut-and-pasted photocollage.
[…] happened next is what led to the following appearing in a column titled "Comic Book Legends Revealed" in June of this year, […]
"the one or two X-Men readers who might be at all politically aware…"
Speaking of being aware, I'm not sure it's great to insult your readers intelligence in a story where your big contribution is adding the X-Hooker to the mythos….though if he was making a point on people paying money for his stories, he may have had a point.
Do you think he knew this script was going to be published? I wonder if it was a case where he was asked "Hey, mind if we publish one of your scripts?" and he said "Yeah, okay," not remembering the little shot he'd taken.
The point isn't that he's taking a shot at readers that he knew was going to be published, but that this is what he thinks about his readership…and comic book readers in general. And he obviously holds himself to a higher intellectual standard than those "unaware readers". At the same time he's adding such high-brow fair like the X-Hooker to the mythos. Glass houses at least, a giant disregard for the customers who support him at worst.
Clinton makes a lot more sense for such a story than Rudy. Maybe Rudy had an affair or whatever, but other than maybe Ted Kennedy, no other politician of the day was better known for sleazy womanizing than Bill. Not that it was a great story idea in the first place, but whoever made the call to switch Rudy to Bill was probably the only bit of good thinking involved with the entire thing. Stacy-X, yuck, what a terrible character.
Isn't "evil Starfox" just the Purple Man? Seems pointless to force an alignment-shift on a hero when it just renders an existing villain redundant.


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14 December 2011
Investing in railway stations can provide a major boost for urban regeneration, drive up employment levels and increase property values by up to 30%, according to a new study by Network Rail.
The company, which manages 18 of the biggest and busiest stations in Britain, has collaborated with international transport consultants Steer Davies Gleave to demonstrate the economic value of investment in railway stations.
The repor [http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Media-Library/SDG-stations-investment-report-1497.aspx]confirms that station investment can have a major impact on urban regeneration within the surrounding area, stimulate development, and increase economic activity and employment levels.
Based on interviews with over 60 stakeholders, economic modelling and case studies, the key findings of the research show station investment can:
Increase property values in the immediate vicinity of a station by 30% or more.
Directly support the overall growth of city centre economies and deliver employment opportunities.
Enable stations to act as a gateway to towns and cities, improve the image of the location and make them more attractive places to live, work and invest.
Act as a catalyst for wider regeneration.
David Biggs, Network Rail director of property, said: "This report confirms that investing in stations not only delivers improvements for passengers, but also boosts economic activity and leads to further investment in the local economy.
"The continued growth in passenger numbers has allowed Network Rail to attract partners to regenerate the areas around major transport hubs. Birmingham New Street is a great example; we are delivering a radically new station gateway in partnership with the council and John Lewis, transforming the south side of Birmingham city centre."
Network Rail commissioned Steer Davies Gleave to carry out this research early in 2011.
Network Rail is one of the largest land and property owners in the country and will generate over £1bn in the next five years from commercial activities, all of which will be re-investment in the railway.
Some current development projects include multi-million pound commercial schemes at London Bridge (The Shard), Cannon Street and Queen's Street Glasgow.
Solum Regeneration is a joint venture between Network Rail and Kier Property set up as a vehicle to regenerate a number of railway stations in the south east of England. Initially, seven sites at Epsom, Enfield, Maidstone East, Twickenham, Walthamstow, Wembley and Guildford have been identified and these will form the basis of this ten-year £500m venture.
As part of the continued investment in stations to increase capacity and improve the station environment for passengers, 75,000 sq. ft of exciting new retail space is being created at Waterloo, Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and King's Cross stations.

subset: commoncrawl


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Preserve the memories important to you! This beautiful Antique Red Distressed Rustic Wood Photo Frame is perfect for displaying important moments in time. Great as an accent piece on a desk, a bookshelf, a dresser, and more, this frame will add color and livelihood to your home or office.
With the ability to rest vertically or horizontally, thanks to the convenient easel back, and the capability to be hung on the wall vertically or horizontally, this photo frame is functionally diverse and perfect for any large photo you may have.
Photo Opening:
Full Frame:
Hanging Hardware: Two small triangular hooks are conveniently located on the back to allow for either vertical or horizontal display.
We have a 3-5 day in-house process. There will be an additional 1-7 days for delivery. **During peak Holiday Seasons (Mother's Day & Christmas) it can take an additional 1-2 business days to get your order shipped.
We do not accept International orders online.
To place an order with an International billing or shipping address:
You will need to order by calling 405-745-1275. Customer Service is available Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 CST.
Your order will need to ship to a US Destination, such as a freight forwarder. By doing so your order will be eligible for our US shipping rates which often include free shipping.
If you would like for us to ship your order directly to you, you will be charged the actual postage amount. That amount is calculated once your order is picked, packed and ready to ship. International shipping address are excluded from all shipping discounts. All orders shipped to an International location are charged the actual cost of shipping.
Please note that this policy does not include Military Addresses, Guam, Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands. We will accept and ship orders to these destinations.
Expedited shipping is unavailable at this time.
Shop Hobby Lobby Attention Customer Service 7717 SW 44th St Oklahoma City, OK 73179
If you wish to exchange an item(s) you ordered for a new one:


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I Love Thee Shark Toof
Oh Shark Toof, how I love thee. I first fell in love with you when your wheatpasted sharks invaded Manhattan, and every piece you do in the studio makes me realize that you are more than just a stencil/wheatpaste artist.
I'll take any of these original paintings, please.
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Check out my new daily blog!
©2011 Jennifer's Website Design
Christian Resources
Internet Services
Florida Council of Teachers of English
I serve as the Recording Secretary on the Executive Board for this prominent organization.
Lake City Community College
The place where my six year college career began. I graduated from LCCC summa cum laude, and I even had the opportunity to speak at graduation!
National Council of Teachers of English
I recently received the NCTE Leadership Development Award. I hope to become more involved with this professional organization.
Nova Southeastern University
My dad went to Nova, some of my friends went to Nova, and I graduated from Nova with a 4.0 GPA, receiving a Master of Science in English Education.
University of Florida
Yes, I am a Gator. I graduated from UF in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Go Gators!!!
Back To Top
The ultimate source for amateur and professional songwriters. In addition, I am a registered BMI writer.
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Jeff & Sheri have such anointed vocals and are one of my favorite artists.
Karen Peck & New River
Karen is a dear friend of mine, and she is undoubtedly one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.
Sandi Patty
Sandi Patty needs no introduction! :o)
Sheila Walsh
Sheila has such a heart for God, and her love for Jesus Christ flows through every note she sings.
The Whisnants
This family loves each other, they love God, and they believe what they sing. I know their music would be a blessing to you.
Singing News Magazine
The source for Southern Gospel Music news. One of my favorite magazines featuring great music.
SGN SCOOPS Digital Magazine
The first Southern Gospel Music magazine to go to online-only publishing. I serve as a Contributing Writer for this publication.
Suwannee Democrat
The source for all Suwannee County news. Find out what's happening in my corner of the world!
A wonderful Christian organization, helping to strengthen the faith of women around the world. I am proud to serve as a Group Leader for this organization that is truly changing lives.
This Web site lists all of my web design clients, pricing, and other information.
A great place to find a variety of books, music, and gifts.
Yet another place to purchase a wide assortment of books, audio, video, and more.
If you need it, Ebay is guaranteed to have it.
The place to go for all of your favorite "tunes!"
Wal-Mart. An American Icon.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line." The best part about a Carnival Cruise vacation is EVERYTHING!
An extraordinary theme park west of the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Be sure to see HeartSong, a heartwarming 4-D presentation.
Go Smokies.com
The title says it all: Go Smokies! Peaceful, Majestic, and Relaxing are just a few of the words to describe a vacation in the Smokies.
Holland America Line
Another great cruise line!
Mount Rainier National Park
From Sunrise to Paradise, Mount Rainier is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Yet another great cruise line!
Princess Cruise Lines
My favorite cruise line...also home of the original "Love Boat."
Walt Disney World
"M-I-C-K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E..." Need I say more?


text: CRI has developed and implemented a state of the art Quality Management System, combining both simplicity and regulatory compliance. This system includes a Quality Manual consisting of only 3 pages, which is the road map for all of our employees to follow, to stay on track within the system. You will find this roadmap hanging in all areas, as a quick reference to procedural guidance. The document numbering system is designed to allow for quick retrieval and reference to quality procedures, manufacturing and inspection procedures, work instructions and forms. All new hires at all levels receive FDA QSR (GMP) and ISO13485:2003 training within their first week, ensuring critical requirements are understood. This training is repeated quarterly to re-emphasize critical objectives.


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Contemporary Music from Breitkopf & Härtel
The composers presented here are only a few of the many composers featured in our catalog "Contemporary Music 2010", which you can order under Catalogues.
Under email@example.com, you can request further work catalogues, commentaries etc.
Please note the respective akcnowledgement of copyright of our composers' photographs. Publication is allowed only after previous consultation with us. Reproduction-quality photos can be obtained via the email address mentioned above.


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LuxBite and Bonbons Bakery
Location: 38 Toorak Road, South Yarra, VIC
Contact: 03 9867 5888
Bonbons Bakery
Location: 248 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Contact: 03 9663 3666
When E and I were younger, mum and dad would send us off to language school in the hope that we'd soak up all the knowledge and benefits that a 2nd language would bring. Sadly, over a decade later, we're still completely hopeless at it, and if you put me in that foreign country at this very moment, there's a very good chance that I wouldn't be able to get by without speaking a drop of English. Hindsight is a bit of a pain, isn't it?
That being said, we do fondly remember looking forward to our lunch breaks & sinking our teeth into the canteen lollies on offer – 10c red skins and toffee apples galore. They might have been sickly sweet & the type that would horribly stick to the crevasses in each tooth, but they were so good and peppered our notsofun memories of language school back then.
So, after all these years, who would've thought that someone would have the brains to make a cake that capitalises on those old school favourites? After spotting the famous LuxBite "lollybag cake" on a spot of Masterchef, E was absolutely sold and M kindly ordered one for her birthday.
Lollybag cake ($75)
The 7-layer cake was a sight to behold – a pretty pink, dense attraction featuring gorgeous pops of colour and 100s and 1000s throughout. The cake itself comes in various sizes, starting from small ($30 for approximately 4 serves), to medium ($45 for 6 people), to large ($75 for 10 people) and extra large ($225 for 30 people). Quite a pricey cake, though it's definitely one of those that's guaranteed to wow any guest.Lollybag cake ($75)
Lollybag cake ($75)
The cake itself is full of nostalgic flavours, from banana lolly jaconde to a mandarin jaffa ganache, musk mallow and a spearmint buttercream. The pink glaze sitting over the top is the standout – gorgeously smooth and shiny, it's a sweet yet subtle redskin flavour. Bits of popping candy explode in the mouth in the form of a crunchy freckles layer, adding a bit of surprise to a vibrant mix of flavours.De Bortoli Black Noble
M paired all of this off well with a gorgeous dessert wine – De Bortoli's Black Noble.Lollybag cake ($75)
German cheesecake
Given there were two birthdays in one, we also ordered a German cheesecake from BonBons Bakery. Not too sweet (and even quite light), the smooth cheesecake batter melted in the mouth.German cheesecake
Lollybag cake ($75)
As you can tell, we unabashedly stuffed ourselves silly with delicious cakes and ohsosweet dessert wine. What a perfect way to celebrate turning another year older.


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Hot Shotz Sports Bar & Grill is a full service sports lounge with the NFL Sunday ticket, The MLB Baseball ticket displayed on 11+ LED flat screen tv's. Also in the lounge you will find a billiard table, shuffleboard table, electronic dart board, and other coin-operated video games for your entertainment.
THURSDAY: 9PM-CLOSE – Karaoke with John Charette
FRIDAY: 9PM-CLOSE – Karaoke with Christine
SATURDAY: 9PM-CLOSE – Karaoke with Christine
$1.25 (10 oz Bud Select & Natural Light Draft)
$2.25 Well Liquor Drinks
We have an OUTDOOR SMOKING PATIO with speakers so you can still be a part of the Hot Shotz fun while taking a smoke break.
Book your private party at HOT SHOTZ and your guests are sure to have a great time in our "CHEERS" atmosphere! We have had birthday parties, office parties, bachelor parties, bridal showers and even baby showers in our "Back Lounge" with great food buffets and even greater fun!


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Lesson Seven: Dealing with specific health issues
Many people turn to the Blood Type Diet because it can make a powerful difference in how they deal with specific health issues in their own lives. Though not a replacement for the services of a physician, using the Blood Type Diet in conjunction with conventional or complementary health care can provide a powerful advantage: One that can often separate the exceptional patient from the average one.
If you choose to include Blood Type specific supplementation as part of you plan, remember to discuss this with your doctor, especially if you are currently taking medication.
Well, we've gathered a few resources to help you out.
RESOURCE: The Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia
Key Point: The Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia is the A-Z Reference Guide for the Blood Type Connection to Symptoms, Disease, Conditions, Medications, Vitamins, Supplements, Herbs and Food covers over 400 entries on treating symptoms and illness according to blood type. This is the ultimate encyclopedic blood type guide to conditions, herbs, supplements, medication and food. Look up everything from asthma to sore throat, from cancer to thrombosis to find out which the risk for each blood type, how to attempt to heal the condition through blood type recommendations. Each condition entry will also cite rigorous studies showing frequency and severity in each blood type. Food, herb, and supplement entries give specific information by blood type on efficacy for different conditions as well as overall health and will help readers find out what is helpful or harmful to their blood type. You can find the Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia at most major booksellers, public libraries, and the online NAP store.
Click here for more information and to order online from NAP The Complete Blood Type Encyclopedia
RESOURCE: The D'Adamo Clinic Key Point: You may decide that you require personalized, expert care. In that case perhaps consider becoming a patient of the D'Adamo Clinic. Under the guidance of Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo and Dr. Natalie J. Colicci, clinic patients enjoy the benefits of cutting-edge research and treatment while also receiving compassionate care and support. The D'Adamo Clinic blends time-honored natural healing techniques with state-of-the-art diagnostics and proprietary software personally written by Dr. D'Adamo to develop a genetically tailored diet specific for each patient. Click here to visit the website of The D'Adamo Clinic.
Key Point: Dr. D'Adamo has recently released a series of eight books (The D'Adamo Health Library) each of which addresses a specific health topic in light of the differences between the blood types. The eight books cover Allergies, Anti-Aging, Arthritis, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Fatigue, and Menopause.
RESOURCE: The Determinator Key Point: The Determinator is an artificial intelligence program written by Dr. D'Adamo that provides you with advice about NAP products that may be worthy of your consideration based on the input you provide.
RESOURCE: PATHbase: The Blood Type Disease Database Key Point: The website features an extensive on-line database of medical studies that link blood type to specific diseases. If you would like to research the link between a particular blood type and certain diseases, you can search the extensive listings.


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weapons of mass destruction
- Weapons of Mass Destruction is a continuation project of "mass destruction chorus kit" ,in my various web projects gallery. The idea came from the song of Faithless,called Mass Destruction.It is a term project for 3D Computer Animation class and of course a fan-art as well.
Art direction, modeling, illustration, character design and animation by me.Music by Faithless - Mass Destruction - Screen Captures


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From the August 2010 Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report
Solicitation Train
"Make one gift now and we'll never ask for another donation again!" If you receive a solicitation in the mail from any charity that makes the above promise, you would be wise to be skeptical. No donor should ever feel obligated to make a contribution in order to not be solicited.
A fed-up donor contacted AIP to let us know that she had asked Smile Train, a charity well known for its ads of children with cleft lips and palates, in September and November of 2009 to remove her name from its mailing list. In early December of the same year she received a letter with Smile Train's promise that in exchange for a contribution they would cease further solicitations to her. So to get the charity off her back she sent them a contribution--yet she continued to receive Smile Train solicitations (one more in December and two more in April 2010) despite notifying Smile Train of her wish to be removed from their list each time she received a solicitation. Rubbing salt into her wounds, this May she received another solicitation with the same offer to not be solicited.
AIP contacted Smile Train regarding its policy for donors who do not wish to be solicited. Michele Sinesky, Donor Relations Manager at Smile Train, told us: "It is our policy and our practice to remove all names from both our acquisition file and our retention file as soon as we receive a request from a donor When we receive a donation from a donor who receives a 'once and done' solicitation, we add a mail code that guarantees we will not solicit them again." She adds that since Smile Train's mail solicitations are produced several months in advance, donors sometimes receive additional pieces before the mailings are stopped.
In the past AIP has disputed the meaningfulness of Smile Train's claim that "100% of your donation goes to program - 0% goes to overhead." Smile Train defends this statement by saying: "All non-program expenses, such as overhead and fundraising, are paid for with start-up grants from our Founding Supporters." The problem with this reasoning is that any charity could ask a portion of its loyal supporters to use their donations to cover overhead. But overhead expenses will not disappear! Money is fungible, regardless of its source; what is spent on one function is not available for another function. The bottom line is that more donations could go toward treating children with cleft palates if the charity were operating more efficiently, regardless of whether or not some donors earmarked their donations for overhead.
This AIP B rated charity with a fiscal 2009 overhead rate of 30% not only continues to make its "100% goes to program" claim but a recent teaser on a Smile Train solicitation envelope went so far as to quote Smile Train's president as saying, "I run the most cost-efficient charity on Earth." Brian Mullaney, the President and Co-Founder of Smile Train, moderated slightly his boast in his appeal letter inside the envelope by saying " in spite of the downturn in the economywe're probably the most cost-efficient charity in the world." The letter does not tell you that Mullaney's total compensation skyrocketed 61% from $420,210 in fiscal 2007 to $678,058 in fiscal 2009also in spite of the downturn in the economy.
A Wink and a Smile Train
- published in the December 2008 issue of the Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report
100% of your donation goes toward programs -- 0% goes toward overhead.
Many AIP members have seen the above language in solicitations from Smile Train, a charity that treats children born with cleft lip and palate. One may wonder how a group that spends about $15.5 million or 34% of its cash budget on overhead, and receives a B- from AIP, can make such a claim.
Smile Train promotes its no public contributions to overhead claim by stating in its solicitations: "All non-program expenses, such as overhead and fundraising, are paid for with start-up grants from our Founding Supporters." The problem with this reasoning is that any charity could ask a portion of its loyal supporters to use their donations to cover overhead. But overhead expenses will not disappear! Money is fungible, regardless of its source; what is spent on one function is not available for another function.
Smile Train's fiscal 2005 audit shows that 99% of its $48 million fund balance is unrestricted. This means that Smile Train had discretion to spend just about all of its reserves on programs and did not have to hang on to these funds for future overhead costs. AIP had previously made this point in the August 2005 Guide.
Smile Train, like most large charities, reports its net assets as being either unrestricted, temporarily restricted, or permanently restricted. A charity may use its unrestricted fund for any organizational expense, but may only use its restricted fund for a specific purpose, or within a certain time-frame, as designated by a donor or governmental authority.
So how could Smile Train's reporting of the same 2005 unrestricted balance be so different in its fiscal 2005 ($48 million) and 2006 audits (negative $5.5 million)? The fiscal 2005 unrestricted funds were shifted into its temporarily restricted fund, increasing this account from $50 thousand in the fiscal 2005 audit to nearly $51.5 million in the fiscal 2006 audit. The charity's fiscal 2006 audit letter states that "during the current year management of Smile Train discovered errors were made in the classification of certain donations ." A note to Smile Train's 2006 audit says that " 2006 and 2005 [fund balances] have been adjusted to reflect the reclassification of two major donations that were received during the early years of Smile Train."
Smile Train might have reason to say that these donations were misclassified so that it can claim in its solicitations that overhead costs have already been funded. The group's fiscal 2007 audit states that about $36.8 million of fund balances reflect "two major donations received during the early years of Smile Train with the stipulation that these funds be used to support the organization of Smile Train and its non-program expenses such as administrative and general and fundraising." Smile Train's management has been unwilling to explain how it discovered five years later that its founding contributions were incorrectly reported.
The two major donations cited above were $27,250,000 from the Charles B. Wang Foundation and $26,833,749 from the Walter Haefner Foundation, according to Smile Train's fiscal 2001 tax form. Hana Fuchs, Smile Train's VP of Finance & Administration, told AIP in June 2008 that it was the founding donors' intention that their contributions be used for overhead expenses. When we asked Fuchs for a copy of any letter or written communication from the donors expressing their intentions at the time the multi-million dollar donations were made, she said that they did not put it in writing. She said that they verbally communicated their intentions. Smile Train has not been forthcoming with providing to AIP any written internal memos or documents which contain a record of the donors' wishes.
In June 2003 Fuchs told AIP that the "two large unusual and exceptional gifts in FY '01 were restricted for future use, but which were recorded as current income for accounting purposes." She said that $27,500,000 from a securities donation was "to be converted over time for use in our programs as well as to pay overhead and administrative expenses." A $20,833,749 donation, which was restricted because "it was promised in future years," was also cited by Fuchs. In other words, the restrictions on donations described in Fuchs's email are time restrictions--not purpose restrictions, such as ones that would limit their use to only overhead expenses.
(Note: The $20,833,749 donation was ambiguously reported as the total restricted fund balances in Smile Train's fiscal 2001 tax form. At the time of publication, AIP did not have a copy of Smile Train's fiscal 2001 audit to see if it reported whether these funds were purpose or time restricted. Smile Train's fiscal 2002 audit stated that its total restricted fund balance of $13,668,160 was all time restricted.)
AIP traced the $27.5 million securities donation to Smile Train to a fiscal 1999 donation of $120,327,621 from the Charles B. Wang Foundation to the Sagamore Hill Supporting Organization. Sagamore, as it reported on its 2000 tax form, later transferred $27,719,000 of Computer Associates shares to Smile Train. The stated purpose listed on Wang Foundation's tax form for its donation was "GENERAL PROGRAM." If the Wang Foundation intended its donation to be used for overhead, why does its tax form say it is for program? Fuchs declined to answer this and other questions as of the time of publication.
Donors that are not thrilled about funding the $420,209 compensation package of Smile Train's President & Co-Founder, Brian Mullaney, ought not to take much comfort from this note in the charity's fiscal 2007 tax form: "100% of Mr. Mullaney's compensation, benefits and all travel expenses are paid for from the temporary restricted funds set up by the founding board members to cover overhead and fundraising (non program) expenses." Being that Smile Train's audit allocated $190,775 of Mullaney's fiscal 2007 compensation to program services, how can 100% of his salary be paid for by a fund that is restricted for only non-program expenses? All else aside, if Mullaney's compensation were lower, then more of the temporarily restricted funds could be available for other expenses.
Bottom Line: More of Smile Train's total donations could go towards treating children with cleft palates if the charity were operating more efficiently, regardless of whether or not some donors had earmarked their donations for overhead.


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Female Standoffs: RAF Electronic Hardware is a full service manufacturer of female standoffs, captive panel screws, spacers, standoffs, jack screws, precision shoulder screws, thumb screws, circuit board supports and handles, handle ferrules and more. Products are available in metric and American standard dimensions.
The basic standard for PCB mounting, female standoffs are available in round, hex, and square styles with regular or swaged ends. Swages include plain and knurled shanks, and front, back, or front and back faced knurls. Male-female models come in round and hex profiles. A male-male standoff also is offered.
RAF Electronic Hardware, a Division of MW Industries, Inc.
95 Silvermine Rd., Seymour CT 06483
203 888-2133 Fax: 203 888-9860
Home Products Online Catalog Distributors Check Stock Request Print Catalog
Request Quote Request Samples Order Online Engineering Data RoHS Compliance DFARS Statement


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White Gators are Back
Snowball and Snowflake, two white American Alligators, had so much fun on their last visit that they've decided to return to Newport Aquarium.
These are two of the rarest animals in the world – each gator measures roughly six feet in length, with the female Snowflake weighing approximately 65 pounds and the male Snowball weighing 85 pounds. There are less than 100 known white alligators in the world.
Plus, get eye-to-eye Mighty Mike and meet his bayou buddies in the Gator Alley Exhibit. At 14 feet and 800 pounds, Mighty Mike is the biggest, baddest gator in the country outside of Florida and longer than most cars. While visiting Gator Alley, you'll discover how their survival has been threatened and how these prehistoric creatures have managed to survive.


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Vic refines planning
PUBLISHED: 14 May 2012 00:05:49 | UPDATED: 14 May 2012 05:53:24PUBLISHED: 14 May 2012 PRINT EDITION: 14 May 2012Rebecca Thistleton
Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy says red tape will be slashed as part of the state's review into its planning system, responding to a report that has called for a simpler process and a clear, long-term vision.
The Victorian Planning System Ministerial Advisory Committee released its findings into the system last week, after receiving 547 submissions last year.
The system would be updated to simplify and speed-up the cumbersome planning process, Mr Guy said. "Red tape is stifling the economy in Victoria, particularly in the construction industry."
The Property Council of Australia's Victorian director, Jennifer Cunich, said the system had to be overhauled to provide clarity and consistency, with appropriate timelines and a clear long-term perspective.
"The Victorian planning system must set the vision and provide clear strategic direction as to what the Victorian government wants to achieve," she said.
"Increasingly, there is a significant mismatch between government, industry and community expectations of the consistency and outcomes of the planning process.''
The Australian Financial Review
Read more
People | Matthew Guy, Jennifer Cunich |
Topics | Politics /Victorian Politics , Property - Residential /Infrastructure & Town Planning , Property - Commercial /Infrastructure Development |


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10 Sleek Accessories for Festival Hopping
With festival season officially here, we've compiled some of our fave gadgets and gizmos that make the long days and nights of partying far more user-friendly. You don't bring a backpack to an after-party at a club in Miami and there's no room in your carry-on to pack speakers for hotel room late nights in Texas. Got it?
VIBE has the answer to your festival accessory and gadget needs here. -->
Compiled by Bianca Mukhi & Danielle Desmond


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Okay....so I neglected my garden this summer because of my procrastination on my Koi pond and a new swimming pool build....The Spanish needle TOOK over a large portion of my "naturalistic" garden areas.....But WOW....I am loving it....so many butterflies, Monarch, Queen, Sulphers, White peacocks, a variety of skippers, a very cool cantalope worm moth, DID I mention VERY cool, and a zillion itty bitty tree frogs......I think I have been doing a diservice to nature yanking it out every chance I get....I will definately keep a "large patch" in my butterfly area from now on. We are watching Queens, and Monarch cats now on the Milk weed....also a small green cat of some sort I haven't been able to identify...not sure if he's there for the milk weed or the aphids LOL. I must take some pics...all very exciting! |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by misssherry Z8/9MS (My Page) on Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 13:32
Thanks for posting this about Spanish needles - 'sounds like another "weed" that'll go in my "meadows"! Sherry |
- Posted by misssherry Z8/9MS (My Page) on Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 13:39
I just looked it up, and it's a very invasive weed that has a thick mat of roots that keeps other plants from growing. I don't think I want it after all. The flowers do look like small zinnias, though, so I can see how butterflies love it. Sherry |
- Posted by pensacolarobin z8NWFla (My Page) on Wed, Sep 21, 11 at 11:09
I have seen butterflies all over it and have thought about transplanting it for a couple of years. Whenever I see it in ditches around it and have checked it out, it seems to have a singular type root and not matted down. I expect to pull stray ones, but what I see from the plant in the wild it should be less trouble than my passionvine. I'm going to get a couple today.Keep us updated if you start having regrets. |
- Posted by fighting8r 10 Fort Myers Florid (My Page) on Wed, Sep 21, 11 at 12:54
It's TERRIBLE!!! They like it but not more than beach sunflower, or blanketflower, or many other things. What Sherry said: it has a thick mat and sort of spreads into everything. And if you mow it, it just spreads lower and is even worse. IT'S TERRIBLE! And it will be in everything. Every flower bed, every potted plant, in your house, and the little stickers all over you and your pets, your shoelaces... |
- Posted by misssherry Z8/9MS (My Page) on Wed, Sep 21, 11 at 14:30
I ordered and planted a beach sunflower in the spring, fighting8r, and I love it. The flowers are so cute the way they face sideways! Unfortunately, they're not as popular with the butterflies as other nectar plants in my garden, but it'll still have its spot, and I've been spreading the seed in my meadows. Sherry |
Oh gosh..... I would never endorse it... In fact it is the biggest headache I have in my garden..... #2 being my passion vine.... But passion vine is beautiful and a butterfly attractant....Spanish needle doesn't compare in beauty.... It is a host for a few smaller skippers, and with all the action it is fun to watch..... The only thing that makes it bearable.... I don't fing the type of roots they say... Mine pull right out root and all, but there are thousands..... So when I say I'll keep some, it's cause I have no choice.... Believe me I pull out way more than I'll keep.... But it is nice to see the benefit to nature.... I'm not so neat and tidy and have some room, leaving weeds in the back half isn't a bad thing really....for me... It does grow lil flowers , feeds the bf's and well is upkeep free.... I can see some good in that.... But that's just me..... If you get it.... U will never ever get rid of it.... It seeds everywhere..... And yes they stick all over you like tag alongside.... Uuugh...... So really think that through... I did not plant it... It is very natural here.... Everywhere |
Story reminds me of one of my "finds." Back in the '90s, I was doing some zoning work. Had a property that was surrounded by an overgrown hedge of something that was just covered with butterflies. No one was around to tell me what it was. Sometime later, I found someone in my neighborhood that had the same bushes. The owner told me it was privet. I planned on planting loads of it. Then I found out it is a foreign invasive so no go. Too bad because it is a hostplant for quite a few cool moths on top of being a great nectar plant. Must grow like crazy to withstand all the caterpillars that will eat it. KC |
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Common English Bible (CEB) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 Sarah lived to be 127 years old; this was how long she lived. | 1 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. |
2 She died in Kiriath-arba, that is, in Hebron, in the land of Canaan; and Abraham cried out in grief and wept for Sarah. | 2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. |
3 After he got up from embracing his deceased wife, he spoke with the Hittites: | 3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, |
4 "I am an immigrant and a temporary resident with you. Give me some property for a burial plot among you so that I can bury my deceased wife near me. | 4 "I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead. |
5 The Hittites responded to Abraham, | 5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, |
6 "Listen to us, sir. You are an eminent man of God among us. Bury your dead in one of our own select burial sites. None of us will keep our own burial plots from you to bury your dead." | 6 "Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead." |
7 Abraham rose, bowed to the local citizens the Hittites, | 7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. |
8 and spoke with them: "If you yourselves allow me to bury my dead near me, listen to me and ask Ephron, Zohar's son, | 8 He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf |
9 to give me his own cave in Machpelah at the edge of his field. Let him give it to me for the full price, to be witnessed by you, as my own burial property." | 9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you." |
10 Now Ephron was a native Hittite. So Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham publicly in order that the Hittites and everyone at his city's gate could hear: | 10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. |
11 "No, sir. Listen, I will give you the field, and I will give you the cave in it. In front of my people's witnesses, I will give it to you. Bury your dead!" | 11 "No, my lord," he said. "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead." |
12 Abraham bowed before the local citizens | 12 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land |
13 and spoke to Ephron publicly in the presence of the local citizens: "If only you would accept my offer. I will give you the price of the field. Take it from me so that I can bury my dead there." | 13 and he said to Ephron in their hearing, "Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there." |
14 Ephron responded to Abraham | 14 Ephron answered Abraham |
15 "Sir, what is four hundred shekels of silver between me and you for the land so that you can bury your dead?" | 15 "Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead." |
16 Abraham accepted Ephron's offer and weighed out for Ephron the silver he requested publicly before the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver at the current rate of exchange. | 16 Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. |
17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah near Mamre—the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the field's boundaries—was officially transferred | 17 So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre--both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field--was deeded |
18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of the Hittites and of everyone at his city's gate. | 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. |
19 After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, that is, Hebron, in the land of Canaan | 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. |
20 The field and the cave in it were officially transferred from the Hittites to Abraham as his burial property. | 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. |
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible (Common English Bible) | 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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Such finds are rare, and getting to be more so. "Practically everything in Tibet has been picked over," Nick laments during dinner at the Snowlands Hotel, once the favored roost of smugglers. Eight years ago, I watched them gather with piles of carpets and artifacts, comparing prices and plotting strategies for slipping the goods out. Now, nearly all of them are gone. "This could be my last run, too," Nick says with a sigh. "It's hardly worth the trouble. In the eighties, there was so much good stuff in Lhasa, you didn't even bother to look." Since then, the demand has exploded and the supply has dried up. Prices for the best pieces have skyrocketed over the last 20 years, says Handel Lee, an American lawyer who owned a Tibetan art gallery in Beijing and is opening another in Shanghai next year. "Tibetan art has become faddish over the past 10 years," he says. "That tends to drive up prices—and encourages the looting of temples."
The Chinese government, prodded by world opinion, has in recent years tried to curb the pillage, making more arrests and seizures, closing stores, and registering important works to establish their provenance. Too little, too late, say critics. They contend that the trade has merely been diverted to underground channels. In 2000, Lee was forced to close his Beijing gallery when the number of good pieces started to dwindle and unsavory characters began muscling into the trade. "My partner was threatened with death if he made any more deals," Lee recalls. "Art can be a brutal business, but these guys were real thugs. They went to Tibet and told our suppliers that if they continued to sell to us, they'd kill them and their families, too."
Threats like that have diminished since early 1999, when bandits looted Yumbu Lagang Palace in southern Lhoka prefecture. Originally built in the second century B.C., this was the home of Tibet's first king, where, according to local lore, religious texts fluttered from the sky onto the roof, heralding the first appearance of Buddhism in Tibet. The theft of three dozen artifacts from a national monument was apparently the last straw. China arrested Tsering Tashi, a prominent Nepalese dealer, and jailed him for nearly two years. Whether he was actually involved in the robbery remains unclear, but Beijing intended to demonstrate that it was cracking down.
Yumbu Lagang seems like a good place to see both the early origins of Tibetan art and its current state of affairs. Driving there from Lhasa takes most of a day and is like a voyage back in time. I pass fishermen in canoes made of yak skin; some of the woolly beasts pull carts set upon what look like the world's first wheels. The road becomes bumpy dirt after Tsetang, a dull highway town that isn't even marked on some maps, though it's Tibet's third-largest city. The views improve as I roll into the lush Yarlung Valley, where green fields filled with yellow rape flowers are flanked by mountains. More stunning still is my initial sight of Yumbu Lagang. In the distance a sheer ridge rises, fluttering with prayer flags. The ancient palace—rebuilt in 1982—sits atop a jutting pinnacle that resembles a finger pointing to heaven.
Both the palace and a small adjoining temple provide a glimpse of regal life in Tibet more than 2,000 years ago. There was little luxury in this small, rugged fortress, but it commanded views over all approaches. That didn't protect the temple's ancient relics from modern-day bandits who, say the monks there, came at night and tied up a watchman. The sacred relics they stole, originally from a shrine dating to the seventh century or earlier, haven't been seen since. Now all that's left at Yumbu Lagang are tiny statues of Tibet's ancient kings and Buddhist sculptures made of yak butter.
Throughout Tibet, reported thefts have declined since the 1999 arrests. Still, security doesn't seem to be a high priority. Returning from Yumbu Lagang, I stop at Mindroling, one of the oldest monasteries of Nyingmapa Buddhism. It is rarely visited, perhaps because it was dynamited during the Cultural Revolution and there isn't much to see (it was a reproduction, anyway—Mongols had razed the original building centuries earlier). Yet an amateur anthropologist in Lhasa tipped me off to a rare sight: ancient relics that have reappeared. "I noticed all of a sudden, on one visit, some very old stupas," he told me with great excitement. "They have to be twelve hundred years old, and they simply weren't there before." I find the stupas, small bronze bell-shaped sculptures with elaborate geometric detailing, around a big Buddha, and they are spectacular: perfectly proportioned and artistically rounded. They were hidden in a nearby village, says one monk, until elders felt that conditions were safe enough to bring them back. Yet these treasures are tied together with a single strand of string, vulnerable to anyone with the speed and inclination to snatch them away.
the monks seem unworried; they are Buddhists, after all. But friends of Tibet—specifically, Columbia University professor Robert Thurman and the other founders of Tibet House in New York—have been troubled enough to do something. Tibet House has assembled 200 pieces of art that it hopes it will someday set up in a national museum in a free Tibet. If and when that day will come is impossible to predict, but with the removal of so much of Tibet's artistic heritage, and the closure of so many temples, there is little left to inspire new generations of craftspeople. "Some things have been totally wiped out," says a Western art historian in Tibet. "The Chinese not only destroyed the art, but they chased away the old masters. There is no one to teach the new artists. And all the great works are gone."
Or going fast. The next time I see Nick, he's in Hong Kong, trying to sell a precious teapot. He paid $800 but expects to get $40,000. "The secret is, I have two buyers interested, but they're using the same agent. He gets them both worked up, telling them other buyers are interested. It's what we call 'cooking,' " he says with a farewell wink. "It's all a big game." But in Tibet, many fear, the game is already over.


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Maybe one has heard of the horrific Spring Festival Rush in China, referred to as the largest annual human migration in the world. During the period around Chinese New Year, everyone struggles to return to their respective hometowns to reunite with their families. It is a time when the whole country faces extremely high traffic load and terrible travel condition. There are also shortages of air, train and bus tickets. To some extent, the Spring Festival is not only a festival, but also a challenge for tourists coming to China. It is thus best to avoid coming to China during this period.
However, if you have already planned your itinerary, well-prepared and eager to witness China celebrating its greatest festival, take it easy! You will certainly have an exceptional experience during your travel since with her large territory. China has many distinctive landscapes and interesting festive customs in many parts of the country.
Beijing Local Snacks in Temple Fairs |
The most outstanding character of Beijing during the Spring Festival can be found in the many parks in the city where various temple fairs display their different themes. One would get to enjoy the local customs and imperial cultures, as well as a chance to purchase cultural products and a taste of local snacks. They are the best destinations to enjoy traditional Beijing culture.
Beijing Travel Guide
Xian City Wall Lantern Fair |
Xian Travel Guide
It is very distinctive to spend the festival in Harbin, a city covered with ice and snow during this time of the year. Enjoy both the local customs and the outstanding ice and snow shows. The Central Street is the best choice if you want to learn Chinese culture. Visit Harbin Ice and Snow World and the Ice Lantern Garden Party to enjoy the city's profound ice culture. Alternatively, enjoy an exciting experience by getting close to the Siberian tigers at the Siberian Tiger Park.
Harbin Travel Guide
Shehuo Performance in Pingyao |
The old town of Pingyao is decorated with red lanterns everywhere during the festival, just like having Christmas trees on Christmas Day. Red lanterns not only decorate houses, but also the cold and dark nights. Shehuo is a famous local activity and is the essence of Chinese traditional culture during the New Year celebration. It is thus a must see activity if you plan to go there. Staying in smalls inns operated by the local people, and spending the holiday with the locals would be a fantastic experience for foreign visitors.
Pingyao Travel Guide
Flower Fair in Guangzhou |
Guangzhou Travel Guide
If time permits, travel to Hong Kong or Macau. The Spring Festival Flower Fair in Victoria Park, Hong Kong, is a good place to find all kinds of flowers. Fancy decorated vehicle parade is the highlight on the first day of New Year. Horse Racing is also worth going. Macau attracts many people too because of the casinos. Even officials are able to gamble on New Year's Day.
Tips for Visitors coming to China during the Spring Festival
Spring Festival Rush |
2. Spending Spring Festival with local families is the most wonderful experience, because the local home is the best place to learn the authentic culture of this festival. So ask your Chinese friends for a chance to celebrate this holiday with their family members. If you are alone in some big cities of the country, you can choose to go to some parties held by some communities to enjoy the interesting festival.
Spring Festival Destinations Abroad
Celebration in Chinatown |
Alternatively, you may choose to go to Chinatown in your countries to enjoy the festive season. There are many Chinatowns in countries like Britain, USA, Singapore, Italy, Mexico and so on. The number is growing because of the increasing number of Chinese people going abroad. There are about 70 Chinatowns in America alone!
The Chinese communities in America usually hold performances, including art performance and writing couplets. There are dragon and lion dances in San Francisco Chinatown. In Washington, activities normally happen in a local shopping centre, attracting many local shoppers.
The Paris City Hall Plaza is usually decorated with red lanterns and you can also enjoy a Chinese style parade in Paris. Go to Chinatown in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, which is the earliest Chinese settlement. Since 1989, make-up parade held by Chinese organizations attracted more than 100 thousand people annually.
Finally, the Chinatown in Vancouver has the famous Chinese restaurants from around the world and you may join in the fun by having a reunion dinner there.


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"This recipe was quick and so very easy. I realized I had forgotten to purchase store bought cake for the first strawberries of the season. I was worried but it turned out wonderful. I was not expecting the dough to be so thick so I did put add in a couple extra tablespoons of whipping cream. I will never buy store bought cakes again!""