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Alexakis Hotel is located in Loutra Ypatis with a view of Mount Iti and the valley of Spercheus. Being just 17km from... More Info »
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Spam Destroyer Really Works To Kill WordPress Spam
WordPress comment spam is a never-ending problem, and this keeps me constantly on the hunt for the best spam killing plugin. CAPTCHA's can sometimes work but we all hate them with the fire of a thousand suns. Even the fancy ones with images and game are just lame and inconvenient…
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...[Visit Original Article]

subset: commoncrawl


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The 98th Amendment allows the government body of Talladega County to collect a special school tax not exceeding three-tenths of 1 percent on the value of taxable property within the county. Section 40-12-4 of the Code of Alabama 1975 authorizes the countywide sales tax.
The tax proceeds are allocated exclusively for public school usage.
District 3 Commissioner Kelvin Cunningham abstained from voting due to his role within the Talladega County Board of Education.
"The schools are going to use the money for capital improvements and refinancing some debts," Cunningham said. "It's good for them to take advantage of some of the lower interest rates because it extends the value of the school systems' dollars and allows money to be applied elsewhere within the school systems."
Attorney Alan Zeigler, who represents the county board of education, presented the resolutions and the board's pledges via three Special Tax School Warrants on how the money will be spent.
The cumulative dollar amount allocated to the board totals approximately $14,715,000.
The tax is nothing new, said Attorney Barry Vaughn, who represents the commission.
"It's a smart move by the board to capitalize on these lower interest rates," Vaughn said. "They'd be crazy not to do so."
The commission also voted unanimously to accept the liquid asphalt bid by Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions, Inc. while authorizing Tim Markert, county engineer, to negotiate with the company in an effort to get a better rate.
Markert did not disclose the amount of the bid during the meeting, but deemed the rate to be "competitive."
At the April 8 commission meeting, the commission unanimously approved rejecting the previous liquid asphalt bid awarded to Vulcan Asphalt in September 2012 due to Markert's recommendation citing "substandard asphalt" as the primary reason.
Markert claimed this was the second year in a row Vulcan Asphalt had been awarded the bid and the second time the company failed to live up to expectations.
"I've taken samples from the most recent bid," Markert said. "The asphalt wasn't sticking to the ground. If we can use the samples to prove the company did a substandard job, then we may take them to court over it."
Other commission actions included:
• Amending the agenda to include discussing the April 23 budget work session.
• Approved minutes from the April 8 meeting. District 2 Commissioner John Luker abstained from voting.
• Voted 5-0 to cancel April 23 budget work session.
• Unanimously approved County Emergency Management Director Deborah Gaither's request to transfer 911 building surveillance and door access equipment to the county 911 center.
• Voted 5-0 to approve a Hazard Mitigation Plan drafted by Gaither.
• Unanimously approved a request from Gaither to surplus a bucket truck and use the proceeds to purchase a smaller bucket truck for use by EMA.
•Voted 5-0 to approve an Agreement of Understanding between Talladega County and the Anniston Water Works and Sewer Board.
• Unanimously approved an administrative contract with East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission.
• Voted 5-0 on a request by County Administrator Wayne Hall to surplus an IBM 6400 printer because it no longer functions properly and was no longer in use.
• Unanimously approved Hall's request to surplus a 2009 Chevrolet Impala to be used for spare parts.
• Voted 5-0 on a request by Hall to send four Talladega County Jail employees to the Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy's Jail Management Course in Shelby County July 8-18. The course is included in the county's budget.
• Unanimously approved eight personnel changes, including two resignations, one new hire, three promotions and two transfers.
• Voted 5-0 to approve expeditures.
•Approved convening meeting for an executive session with Vaughn regarding potential litigation.
• Upon reconvening, Voted unanimously not to take action regarding discussion in the executive session.
• Announced the next meeting to be held May 13.
• Announced the Greater Talladega and Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce holds the National Day of Prayer May 2 at noon on the front lawn of the courthouse.
Contact Shane Dunaway at email@example.com


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Found the same room at a different price? Tell us, and we'll offer to match it.
Eurotel Le Grand Bleu
The reception is at your disposal to help you to enjoy your stay in Paimpol : tourist brochures and informations are available and we can give you all the advices required.


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Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
The specific aims of this module are:
• To introduce students to the study of the Americas in broad terms.
• To introduce students to the variety of different approaches used in the study of North American, Latin American and the Atlantic World via the study of five main areas: indigenous societies and colonial encounters; slavery and race; independence and nation-building; inter-American relations; and racial and ethnic identities.
• To provide an opportunity to acquire a sound general knowledge of the subject, reading widely and critically in the primary and secondary literature associated with it and to develop the capacity for independent study.
The module is structured around the following five themes:
1. Indigenous societies and colonial encounters.
2. Slavery and race
3. Independence and nation-building.
4. Inter - American relations.
5. Racial and ethinic identities
Depending on who is teaching the module, the lectures will focus on examples in the Atlantic World, Latin America and North America that highlight these themes (e.g. lectures will be offered on slavery and race in, respectively, the Caribbean, Brazil and the American South)
This introductory module is designed to provide a foundation for the School's Stage 2 modules on different aspects of the history of the Americas. Students completing the module will have developed a knowledge of the range and variety of approaches to the study of the Americas and an awareness of the importance of the four areas detailed above to the history of the Atlantic World, from colonial times to the present day. These should have developed an understanding of the specific historiography, methodology and historical sources related to these. They should also have developed a new way of approaching the subject of history generally by establishing links between the histories of different nations yet within a fairly tight structured framework designed to help them make such links with reference to the history of the Americas.
Students successfully completing the module will have had the opportunity to develop the following key skills: written, electronic and interpersonal communication, teamwork, planning and organisation, problem solving, bibliographic initiative, numeracy, computer literacy.
Development of capacity for independent study and critical judgment and of the ability to respond promptly, cogently and clearly to new and unexpected questions arising from this study.
Graduate Skills Framework Applicable: | Yes |
Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 74 | 1:00 | 74:00 | 45% of guided independent study |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | N/A |
Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 74 | 1:00 | 74:00 | 45% of guided independent study |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | Seminars - up to 16 groups |
Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 16 | 1:00 | 16:00 | 10% of guided independent study |
Total | 200:00 |
Lectures impart core knowledge and an outline of knowledge that students are expected to acquire and they stimulate development of listening and note-taking skills. They explain historical concepts and set out historical debates and problems. They introduce a range of source material and set out and help evaluate its historical context and worth. Listening and note-taking are practised in lectures.
Seminars encourage independent study and promote improvements in oral presentation, interpersonal communication, problem-solving skills and adaptability. The group presentation further promotes the development of team-working skills.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
Written Examination | 180 | 2 | A | 100 | N/A |
Exams test acquisition of a clear general knowledge of the subject plus the ability to think and analyse a problem quickly, to select from and to apply both the general knowledge and detailed knowledge of aspects of the subject to new questions, problem-solving skills, adaptability, the ability to work unaided and to write clearly and concisely.
ERASMUS students at Newcastle have the option of writing one 3,000 word essay to be handed in by 12.00 p.m. of the Friday of the first week of the assessment period. This will replace all assessment work required of domestic students. If they wish to take up this option, they need to discuss it with the module leader. It remains the case that, if an ERASMUS student wishes to do the same assessment as the domestic students, that option remains open to them. No variation of the deadlines will be allowed except on production of medical or equivalent evidence.
Study Abroad students (i.e. non-EU exchange students) are required to complete the normal assessment under all circumstances.
Note: The Module Catalogue now reflects module information relating to academic year 15/16. Please contact your School Office if you require module information for a previous academic year.
Disclaimer: The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver modules in accordance with the descriptions set out in this catalogue. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, however, the University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal or restructuring of modules if it considers such action to be necessary.


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For a Limited Time…Caribbean & Costa Rica for $99 or Less!
September 19th, 2013
Travelers looking for an island or nature-inspired getaway can head to the Caribbean or Costa Rica this fall or winter with amazing rates from participating Hilton Worldwide hotels and resorts. But they have to act now!
For a limited time, travelers can take advantage of incredibly discounted rates starting at $99 or less* for stays through Dec. 19, 2013. They just have to make their reservations between Sept. 23 and Sept. 25, 2013.
Travelers who book this limited-time offer now for travel through Dec. 19, 2013 will receive special rates at the following hotels:
Caribbean & Costa Rica Hotels:
- British Colonial Hilton Nassau, The Bahamas from $99 per night (pictured above right)
- Hilton Curaçao from $99 per night
- Hilton Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from $89 per night
- Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre from $99 per night
- Hilton Barbados from $99 per night (includes up to $200 back in free spending money)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cariari San Jose, Costa Rica from $99 per night
- Hilton Garden Inn Liberia Airport, Costa Rica from $99 per night
All-inclusive Resorts:
- Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa from $99 per person per night (plus kids stay free)
- Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa from $99 per person per night (pictured above left)
- DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Central Pacific from $99 per person per night
For reservations and full terms and conditions, visit www.hiltoncaribbean.com/99-sale.
All rates are starting rates only and are subject to availability. Rates vay by property and date, and do not include resort charge, taxes, gratuities or incidental charges. Valid for bookings made from


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A commentary on Subway's "pile on the veggies"
A reader sent me this commentary on yesterday's post, source unknown.
If you know who created this, please send.
Enjoy the weekend!
A reader sent me this commentary on yesterday's post, source unknown.
If you know who created this, please send.
Enjoy the weekend!
Right after Christmas, the Wall Street Journal wrote that McDonald's had taken down its website advising employees how to eat more healthfully—by not eating McDonald's core products.
Nothing on the Web really disappears, in part because of screenshots. The website Russia Today, of all places, had done just that (thanks Ben Kelley, for sending).
Here's an aggregation of what else got sent to me from other donors who prefer to remain anonymous:
After yet another PR headache, McDonald's has taken down its employee resources website following what it deemed "unwarranted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary."
My favorite comment comes from a tweet from Center for Science in the Public Interest, @CSPI:
Too bad re @McDonalds' McResource site. We liked its sensible #nutrition advice for employees (not to eat fast food) ow.ly/s5RXj
Enjoy and happy new year!
If McDonald's apparently generous support of Ronald McDonald House Charities leaves you with warm feelings about the company's philanthropic efforts, it's time to rethink those feelings.
Michele Simon's latest report, Clowning Around with Charity, should destroy all illusions about McDonald's charitable giving.
The report comes to some interesting conclusions. McDonald's, it finds:
If you think about it, none of this is surprising, but it's fascinating to have it all in one place.
Here's today's coverage so far:
At the White House Convening on food marketing to children a couple of weeks ago, representatives of food companies repeatedly stated that advocates are not giving them nearly enough credit for how hard it is for them to make and market healthier products. They have shareholders to please. They need positive reinforcement.
Pressures on advocates to applaud food companies' efforts may explain the furor last week over McDonald's latest promises to go healthy. In a deal brokered with the Clinton Foundation's Alliance for a Healthier Generation, McDonald's announced its new initiatives in full-page newspaper advertisements (read the text here):
Among other promises, McDonald's said it would:
Promote and market only water, milk, and juice as the beverage in Happy Meals on menu boards and in-store and external advertising.
I did not participate in any of the press events so I can't vouch for what was said. But it must have left the impression that McDonald's was dropping sodas as the default drink in Happy Meals (if parents wanted a soda for their kids, they would have to order one).
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), for example, issued a press release: "Removing Soda from kids' meals among McDonald's improvements."
Ronald McDonald's slow march toward healthier meals made a major advance today, but a long road lies ahead for the company. Getting soda out of Happy Meals is historic progress that should immediately be adopted by Burger King, Wendy's, and other chains. Soda and other sugar drinks are leading promoters of obesity and diabetes and one day it will seem crazy that restaurants ever made this junk the default beverage for kids.
USA Today quoted CSPI's Margo Wootan:
The prospect of being able to easily order a value meal at McDonald's that's comprised of a burger, a small salad and bottle of water is a huge step forward, says Margo Wootan, director of nutritional policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "It takes a meal from being a nutritional disaster (burger, fries and soft drink), to something that will fit a healthy diet.
But then folks started looking at the fine print of McDonald's actual agreement with the Clinton Alliance.
Uh oh.
CSPI issued another press release the next day: "McDonald's, Alliance for Healthier Generation, misled public and media re: soda and Happy Meals."
McDonald's and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation misled the media, CSPI, and families when they stated that the company would not feature, promote, or market soda in connection with Happy Meals. In briefings to health groups and in their press release and full-page newspaper ads, McDonald's and the Alliance claimed that the company would "promote and market only water, milk, and juice as the beverage in Happy Meals on menu boards and in-store and external advertising." But small print in McDonald's formal agreement with the Alliance states that "McDonald's may list soft drinks as [sic] offering on [sic] Happy Meal section of menu boards."
In any case, as McDonald's explains in its press release, don't hold your breath for any of its promises to happen soon:
All pieces of this commitment will be implemented in 30-50 percent of the 20 major markets within three years and 100 percent of the 20 markets by 2020.
In other words, McDonald's intends to carry out these promises in a third to half of most of its major national and international markets by 2016—three years from now. It will fulfill the promises in these particular 20 markets by 2020—seven years from now.
Food companies, alas, do not make it easy to applaud them.
Promises are one thing. Now, if they would actually do something to make and market healthier products….
Addition 1: Let's Move! director and chef Sam Kass has this comment on McDonald's promises:
We are encouraged by the progress announced today…. Making it easier for families to choose a healthy beverage in kids' meals, and providing a salad option in the value menu are positive steps. A great deal of work remains to be done if we are going to ensure our children have the nourishment they need to live healthy lives and reach their full potential.
Addition 2: Here's an explanation of how the discrepancy was found, from its finder, Casey Hinds of Kentucky Healthy Kids. Casey sent the link to Michele Simon who forwarded it to Margo Wootan (and I read about the exchange on Twitter).
Update, October 11: McDonald's clarifies its commitment; it will not advertise sodas with Happy Meals.
For an average take of $5,500 (that's all?), McDonald's will be open on Christmas day. So says an investigative report by Advertising Age, which managed to get a hold of some internal McDonald's memos.
And no, they won't get overtime pay.
Happy holidays, everyone.
On the eve of the Olympics, The Lancet has published a special issue on physical activity.
Since this is too small to read:
Physical activity:
Worldwide, we estimated that physical inactivity causes 6-10% of the major non-communicable diseases…physical inactivity seems to have an effect similar to that of smoking or obesity.
The issue is packed with carefully researched commentaries and papers on the benefits of physical activity.
But it starts out with a tough editorial, Chariots of Fries:
The Games should encourage physical activity, promote healthy living, and inspire the next generation to exercise. However, marring this healthy vision has been the choice of junk food and drink giants—McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury's—as major sponsors of the event
Health campaigners have rightly been dismayed. On June 20, the London Assembly (an elected body that scrutinises the work of the Mayor of London) passed a motion urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to adopt strict sponsorship criteria that exclude food and drinks companies strongly associated with high calorie brands and products linked to childhood obesity.
Meanwhile, the UK's Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has said that the presence of McDonald's and Coca-Cola at the 2012 Games sends out the wrong message to children.
This morning, I received an e-mail from the Coca-Cola Civic Action Network (CAN), described on its website as
a non-partisan group whose purpose is to provide information to the Coca-Cola family about national, state, and local issues that could affect us. Whenever an issue comes up that could change our day-to-day lives, CAN goes to work getting important information to its members.
The message lists Coca-Cola's Olympic actions:
The e-mail says:
Coca-Cola will be refreshing and hydrating the 14,000 athletes, 7,000 officials, 20,000 workers and volunteers and more than 6 million spectators that are expected to flock to the Olympic Park. From one product in one size offered at the 1948 Olympic Games, to today's more than 500 brands at the London 2012 Games, Coca-Cola will provide the widest range of drinks and sizes ever offered at an Olympic or Paralympic Games, to suit every lifestyle and hydration need.
Should soda and fast-food companies be sponsoring the Olympics? Is this the message we want sent to kids? I don't think so. You?
My monthly (first Sunday) Food Matters column is in answer to a question about the deeper meaning of the fuss over McDonald's "healthier" Happy Meals.
Q: Wouldn't it be the best form of activism to encourage people to buy McDonald's slightly-less-bad-for-you Happy Meals? If the new formulation flops, do you really think McDonald's will take more baby steps in the same direction? Aren't you letting perfect be the enemy of the good?
A: The question, for those of you ignoring national media, refers to McDonald's announcement that it plans to restructure its Happy Meals for kids by adding fruit, downsizing the fries and reducing calories by 20 percent and sodium by 15 percent.
Skeptic that I am, I took a look at McDonald's lengthy press release. The company does not claim to be making healthier changes. It says it is offering customers improved nutrition choices. This is something quite different.
At issue is the default meal – the one that gets handed to you without your having to ask for anything. Plenty of research shows that although customers can request other options, most take the default. So the default is what counts.
McDonald's says its new default will include a quarter cup of apple slices (how many slices can that be?), less sodium and 1 ounce less of french fries (thereby reducing calories and fat). These are steps in the right direction, but tiny baby steps.
The rest is up to you: hamburger, cheeseburger or McNuggets.
As for beverage, the press release says, "McDonald's will automatically include produce or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal."
This sounds great. "Automatically" makes me think the default Happy Meal will come with low-fat milk. No such luck. It's up to you to choose from soda or low-fat chocolate or plain milk.
Want something healthy? You have to ask for it. And the meal still comes with a toy, although the meal isn't healthy enough to qualify for a toy under the San Francisco's nutrition standards, which are scheduled to go into effect in December.
The McNuggets meal meets the San Francisco standard for sodium, overall calories and for saturated fat – if you choose low-fat white milk. It fails the other criteria. Fat provides about 40 percent of the calories (the standard is 35 percent), and fruit misses the mark by 50 percent. The hamburger and cheeseburger meals fare worse. And even if french fries count as a vegetable, they don't reach the three-quarter-cup standard. Sodas, of course, have too much sugar.
No toy for you, San Francisco kids.
So let's get back to the underlying question: Isn't perfect the enemy of the good? Aren't baby steps like these in the right direction and, therefore, deserving of support?
I don't think so. McDonald's proposed changes are a reason to ask a different question: Is a better-for-you Happy Meal a good choice? Wouldn't your child be better off eating something healthy, not just slightly healthier?
Couldn't McDonald's, the largest fast-food maker in the world, come up with something genuinely healthy that also tastes good?
"Better for you" is a marketing ploy, and McDonald's must need help. Although its annual sales are $24 billion from its 14,000 outlets in the United States, Happy Meals have not been doing well.
Business analysts attribute declining sales since 2003 to the unsophisticated toys. Toys are the only reason kids want Happy Meals, but more parents are ordering adult meals and splitting them with the kids. But what if Happy Meals appear healthier?
Let's be clear: McDonald's is not a social service agency. It is a business. Its business interests come first. This means selling more food to more people more often, viewing food choice exclusively as a matter of personal responsibility and pretending that the company's $1.3 billion annual marketing expenditure has no effect on consumer choice.
I suspect McDonald's actions are attempts to appease Michelle Obama's healthy eating campaign and perhaps to attract health-minded families to its outlets.
But surely the changes are also part of a calculated public relations effort to discourage other communities from enacting nutrition standards like those in San Francisco.
What McDonald's actions make clear is the need for federal action to make it easier for people to make healthier choices for their kids. This means putting some curbs on marketing below-standard foods to kids and insisting that default kids menus be healthy.
If McDonald's were serious about promoting kids' health, it would offer default Happy Meals that meet San Francisco's nutrition standards and advertise them to the hilt. Until the company does that, I'm reserving applause.
Marion Nestle is the author of "Food Politics," among other books, and is a professor in the nutrition, food studies and public health department at New York University. E-mail her at firstname.lastname@example.com.
This article appeared on page G – 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle
McDonald's sent out a press release yesterday to announce "healthier" changes to its Happy Meals.
Healthier? Not quite. The company is announcing a "Commitment to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices" [my emphasis].
The comprehensive plan aims to help customers — especially families and children — make nutrition-minded choices whether visiting McDonald's or eating elsewhere.
Menu changes underway include the addition of more nutritionally-balanced choices that meet McDonald's reputation for great taste and affordability, along with an increased focus on providing nutrition information that enable customers and employees to make simple, informed menu decisions.
McDonald's says that by the end of this year it will automatically include produce or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal. It will:
I emphasize "automatically" because it means the default. If you order a Happy Meal, that's what you get. Research shows that most people stick with the default. If the default is a healthy meal, kids have a better chance of getting one.
Everything else is your choice:
The press release says: "McDonald's will automatically include produce or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal."
Doesn't that sound like the Happy Meal will come with low-fat milk?
The meal comes with a choice of a soda or low-fat chocolate or white milk. Soda remains an option. And the meal still comes with a toy.
So all the fuss—and McDonald's has gotten huge press over this—is about 3 or 4 small slices of apples, one ounce less of French fries, and less sodium.
These may be steps in the right direction, but I'd call them tiny baby steps.
So what's going on here? Much of this is about responding to Michelle Obama's call for action on childhood obesity.
But according to the Wall Street Journal, business matters may also be at stake. Happy Meals account for less than 10% of McDonald's U.S. sales, but sales have been declining since 2003 for a funny reason: "gadgets for children have become more sophisticated and the toys less desirable." Of course the only reason kids want Happy Meals is for the toys.
But kids have to eat. Instead of Happy Meals, parents have been
ordering adult-size items off the 'dollar menu' and splitting them between two children rather than buying two kids' meals.
Kids' meal orders at fast-food restaurants have declined 15% since 2006 to just under a billion, while dollar-menu items ordered by or for kids have increased 29% in the last five years.
The Wall Street Journal quotes a restaurant consultant who comments that
Making [apples] a forced decision is a pretty unusual thing for a restaurant to do…If they can get to a place where parents associate them with healthy offerings in a world of increasing fast casual options that are perceived as healthier, that will be good for them.
But will it? McDonald's tested healthier meals with disappointing results. So this has to be about McDonald's trying to appear to do something to promote kids' health. In reality, it can't. McDonald's is a business and its business interests come first.
If McDonald's were serious, it could offer a truly healthier Happy Meal as the default and back it up with marketing dollars. When the company does that, I'll cheer. Until then, as I told the Times, "I'm not impressed."


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The Zambia Federation of Employers is a free association of employers, non political, non-sectarian and totally opposed to any discrimination on grounds of race, colour, creed, nationality, sex, origin, social group or class or any other apparent distinguishing factor. In short, ZFE was formed purely to promote and protect the interests of its members that are the employing enterprises, both in the private and parastatal sectors. Hence, the principal objectives of ZFE are the protection of members' interests; and the establishment, promotion and maintenance of good relations between employers and employees throughout the country and to be the highest and central organisation representing Employers to the Government and the Labour movement.
To be the voice of employers and business for concerted economic development in Zambia
To protect and promote the interests of employers and business through the provision of development services and advocacy for sustainable enterprises and conducive business environment. Read more...


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Goal 8 - DCC 49 - Indicator 49.2
This indicator is part of Protected civil rights.
Indicator description:
This indicator notes the rate of citizen complaints filed against municipal police officers per 100,000 citizens. The number of police complaints in each jurisdiction is affected by many factors, including the training and professionalism of police officers, call volume and the number of citizen-police contacts, the ease with which citizens may file a complaint, the citizen's perception that the complaint will be investigated in a fair manner, and time limits within which complaints must be filed, among other factors. In Albuquerque, complaints may be filed via e-mail, letter or facsimile, but must be filed within 90 days of the incident complained about.
Rollover and click the interactive graphs to make comparisons
Why is this indicator relevant?
Studies suggest that complaints against the police are linked to civil rights, and by extension, the extent to which government is working to protect the civil rights of citizens. On the one hand, filing a complaint against a police officer or any government official is an exercise of one's civil rights, however, a percentage of all police complaints stem from incidents in which the citizen's civil rights were violated. Most complaints against the police do not rise to the level of an allegation of civil rights violations, but rather deal with allegations of discourtesy or other policy violations. Only a very small percentage of all such complaints result in civil rights lawsuits being filed. Allegations of civil rights violations committed by police officers which have the most egregious facts sometimes go directly to court, without the filing of a citizen complaint against the officer. Such cases would be included in Indicator 49.1 Civil Rights Violation Lawsuit Filings.
Data Sources:
Citizen Police Complaint Data was obtained directly from individual police departments. Oklahoma City does not differentiate between citizen filed and internally initiated complaints, and is therefore not included.
What can we tell from the data?
- Complaints filed against Albuquerque Police Officers have remained stable over the past four years, but are up since 2003.
- Compared to peer cities, Albuquerque's rate of citizen police complaints per population is lower than average.
For Help in understanding this page, see Understanding Indicators.


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To me, a luxury travel tour sounds like the stuff of fantasies. I doubt I will ever be able to afford such a thing.
Having someone available to basically give you whatever you want sounds like something reserved for royalty. I really don't know if I would be comfortable with someone paying that much attention to my every need. I have gotten used to taking care of myself, so it would be a little weird for me to have a sort of paid servant for the duration of my vacation.


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Jukebox Jury: Does Judging 'Idol' or 'The Voice' Help or Hurt Artists' Careers?
Welcome to Jukebox Jury, our new music debate show where experts face off and a jury of fans decides the winner. THE CASE: Last week, American Idol returned with a whimper instead of the bang […]
Jukebox Jury Web Series: Should There Be A Rock & Roll Retirement Age?
Welcome to Jukebox Jury, our new music debate show where experts face off and a jury of fans decides the winner. THE CASE: After 50 years on the stage, should classic rockers consider hanging it […]
Steven Tyler To Nicki Minaj: "I Am No Racist"
When it comes to American Idol, even the judges are judged. But in an effort to quiet the rising Idol chatter and talk of "racist comments," Steven Tyler has apologized for calling out Nicki Minaj and the current crop of AI judges.
Five Diane Warren Songs That Should Be On Broadway
Diane's songs were just optioned for the Great White Way, but which ones would be perfect for the big stage?
Carrie Underwood Duets With Aerosmith On Their New Album 'Music From Another Dimension!'
The two "American Idol" alums trade verses on "Can't Stop Loving You," which appears on the veteran rock band's brand new album.
Aerosmith To Boston: "Mom! We're Home!"
"This is where it started and this is where it will never end!" Steven Tyler at Aerosmith's free concert in front of 1325 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston: the apartment where the band began about four decades ago.
Oops, Britney Spears Takes Over 'Glee' Again
Tonight's episode is another tribute to Ms. Spears.
Steven Tyler To "Let Go Of My Mistress 'American Idol' Before She Boils My Rabbit"
"After some long…hard…thoughts…I've decided it's time for me to let go of my mistress American Idol before she boils my rabbit." – Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler Speaks On Aerosmith Backstage at 'American Idol' Finale
Gearing up for the American Idol finale, Steven Tyler spoke backstage about the show and its contestants and also gave an update on Aerosmith's new album and upcoming tour. When asked about the two finalists […]
The Story Behind "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"~
A favorite on The Nite Lite, I Don't Want To Miss A Thing was Aerosmith's first number one song. How they came to record this hit is a different story. Check out the story […]


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Zions Bancorporation, which failed the Federal Reserve's annual stress test, deferred giving Chief Executive Officer Harris Simmons a cash bonus until after the bank learns the results of its resubmission.
Bankers at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. had a tumultuous 2012. The firm cut 900 jobs, promoted the fewest executives to the exalted post of partner in more than a decade and slashed the portion of revenue set aside for compensation to 38 percent from 42 percent a year earlier.
Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s chief executive officer, faces another test of his leadership this week when he addresses the firm's annual shareholder meeting 10 days after a showdown with U.S. senators.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the fifth- biggest U.S. bank by assets, named James J. Schiro to succeed John H. Bryan as lead independent director, tapping an executive with accounting and insurance experience.
The deal came together behind the doors of a Louisiana psychiatric ward. John Skannal, 74, signed a document in October 2003 authorizing the sale of land handed down through eight generations of his family.
It's just after 8 a.m. on Nov. 11, and Peter Ackerman is staring at red numbers flashing on an electronic board. He sees 2,008,069.
Citigroup Inc. shareholders rejected its executive pay plan, a first among the six largest U.S. banks, amid criticism it lets Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit collect millions of dollars in rewards too easily.
Male chief financial officers at U.S. companies are paid an average of 16 percent more than their female counterparts of similar age at companies with comparable market values, according to a study.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lloyd C. Blankfein 's $19 million compensation for 2010, almost double the prior year, ended two years in which the firm's top executives gave up cash bonuses.
"I find it refreshing."
- Eleanor Bloxham on Apr 17, 2014


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Not a day goes by on terptalk.com without many visits from fans looking for more info on the life of King Corcoran. If you are interested just google King Corcoran and terp talk and most of the articles and comments will come up immediately.
The King lives on forever. As always I welcome all comments and stories about the King. Perhaps we might be ready for another King Corcoran Tribute Show. Let me know your thoughts.
Not a day goes by on terptalk.com without many visits from fans looking for more info on the life of King Corcoran. If you are interested just google King Corcoran and terp talk and most of the articles and comments will come up immediately.
It is incredible that 1 year has passed since the all too soon death of Terrapin Legend King Corcoran. I promised a year ago that I would continue to keep up the talk about the King. If anyone reading this blog has any new stories about the King feel free to add them in the comments section. "LONG LIVE THE KING"
The Legend lives on. But in this Steve Sabol produced special on King Corcoran, several issues were set clear:
The King was not the best family man according to his son and daughter who had very little to do with their father in his later years.
The King was not of Indian heritage and was not born with the name Running Wolf.
The King never had a drug or alcohol problem.
For whatever reasons everyone wanted to be friends with King.
The King was uncoachable but certainly could play the game.
Those fascinated by Jim "The King" Corcoran would indeed enjoy watching the show. I will find out when it is on again and let everyone know.
The late King Corcoran lives on in the memory of his legions of fans. Steve sabol discusses the King's career at College Park in the film that will air today. On Terp Talk tonight we still would like to hear any special stories you might have about the King. Call in at 1-866-950-5225 tonight between 6 and 7 PM. Listen in on the web at terptalk.com.
For those of you who can't enough of the King here are two lengthy articles on the King from the 2 Washington Dailies.
Washington Post and the Washington Times Note on page 2 , Tom Laverro refers to the Terp Talk website.
I never thought that the site would be blanketed by emails from King Corcoran fans all over the USA and Canada. Thursday night on a special edition of Terp Talk, I will relay many of the stories I have been told and hopefully we will have several phone interviews concerning the flamboyant life of the Man who spread the Terrapin name around the country, King Corcoran.
There will be a memorial service for King Corcoran at Sligo SDA Church on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at 7 pm. This is located at 7700 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Their phone is 301-270-6777. Donations towards his funeral arrangements can be sent to them, c/o King Corcoran arrangements.
University of Maryland Legend James King Corcoran has passed away. Corcoran attended the University of Maryland starting in 1962. He played as a back-up quarterback behind Dick Shiner and Alan Pastrana. An injury benched Corcoran for the 1963 season.[1] In 1964, he led the Terps to a 27-22 victory over Navy in the 1964 Crab Bowl Classic against Roger Staubach. In 1969, Corcoran signed a 3 year, $125,000 contract with the Pottstown Firebirds. Corcoran would lead the Firebirds to back to back championships in 1969 and 1970. His last NFL experience was with the Philadelphia Eagles, which released him in 1971. Tune in to TerpTalk Thursday night for much more on why the King was the most flamboyant QB ever at College Park.


text: Alleged Ohio gunman rarely spoke about 'trouble' at homeBy the CNN Wire StaffUpdated 0255 GMT (1055 HKT) February 29, 2012Students who witnessed Monday's school shooting told CNN that the suspect was student T.J. Lane.Story highlightsThe motive behind the shooting remains unclear, police chief saysA newspaper reports that Lane's father was arrested for violent crimesWitnesses say T.J. Lane shot 5 people, 3 fatally"He never would go into detail. He just said he had family trouble," a friend says T.J. Lane didn't belong to any particular clique in the schools he attended, fellow students said. Those who knew him described him as quiet, someone who was guarded and rarely spoke about his tumultuous family life.But they never would have thought that he'd be described as a killer -- until Monday, when students say they saw Lane walk up to a table in the cafeteria of Ohio's Chardon High School with a gun.Police have not named the alleged gunman, a juvenile, but many witnesses have identified the attacker as Lane.One victim died Monday. Two others were declared dead on Tuesday. One other remained hospitalized Tuesday. A fifth victim was released, officials said. Lane made an initial juvenile court appearance Tuesday afternoon, during which he was ordered to remain in custody. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Tuesday that the suspect would likely be tried as an adult.Prosecutor David Joyce predicted that the 17-year-old sophomore will face three counts of aggravated murder "as well as other counts."Just WatchedPsychologist looks at shooter's poemreplayMore Videos ...Psychologist looks at shooter's poem 01:12PLAY VIDEOJust WatchedAttorney: Shooting suspect 'remorseful'replayMore Videos ...Attorney: Shooting suspect 'remorseful' 00:43PLAY VIDEOJust WatchedShooting suspect to remain in detentionreplayMore Videos ...Shooting suspect to remain in detention 02:05PLAY VIDEOJust WatchedOhio student: 'We were at a loss'replayMore Videos ...Ohio student: 'We were at a loss' 03:25PLAY VIDEOJust WatchedShooting suspect went to other schoolreplayMore Videos ...Shooting suspect went to other school 02:09PLAY VIDEOJust WatchedFriend: Alleged gunman had sad look replayMore Videos ...Friend: Alleged gunman had sad look 02:01PLAY VIDEOHe said Lane has admitted taking a .22-caliber gun and a knife into Chardon High School on Monday morning and firing 10 rounds, choosing his victims randomly.All Chardon schools closed Tuesday; counselors on hand Teresa Hunt said her niece rode the school bus each day with Lane, and he displayed no warning signs of the violence allegedly to come."He was a really nice kid to her," Hunt said. "He wouldn't start up a conversation, but if she talked to him, he would hold the conversation with her.She said her niece noted no personality changes in Lane in the weeks leading up to Monday's shooting.Haley Kovacik, a friend who talked with Lane a few times a week, said the violence left her and others who knew him in "complete shock.""He seemed like a very normal, just teenage boy," Kovacik said of Lane. "He did have a sad look in his eyes a lot of the time, but he talked normally, he never said anything strange."Yet for all their talks, Kovacik noted there was a lot she didn't know about Lane. Lane lived with his grandparents and was slow to open up about his personal life, according to friends. While he was known by many around Chardon High School, located 30 miles east of Cleveland, at the time of the shooting he was there to be transported to Lake Academy Alternative School in nearby Willoughby. The school describes itself as a place for "at risk" students who are "reluctant learners" struggling with problems such as "substance abuse /chemical dependency, anger issues, mental health issues, truancy, delinquency, difficulties with attention/organization, and academic deficiencies."Lane may have been dealing with his own family problems, according to reports by The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland. Lane's father, Thomas Lane Jr., has been arrested several times for violent crimes against female acquaintances, including Lane's mother, the newspaper reported citing court documents. Between 1995 and 1997, the first two years of Lane's life, his father and his mother were both arrested for domestic violence against each other, the paper reported. His father also served prison time for assaulting a police officer and he also was charged with holding a different woman under running water and bashing her head into a wall, the newspaper reported.It was unclear how much contact Lane had with his father. He rarely opened up about his family, some said."I've asked him once or twice, but he never would go into detail. He just said he had family trouble," Kovacik saidEvan Erasmus, who said his family knew Lane's family, was among several students who said what happened Monday took them totally by surprise."I was really shocked when I found out it was him," Erasmus said. "He was quiet, but was one of the nicest kids there. You could talk to him really easily. He was funny."According to Kovacik, Lane told her that "he enjoyed hunting, he enjoyed video games, just normal things.""Everybody was in disbelief. Nobody could believe that T.J. (shot the students)," Kovacik said. Recent posts on Lane's Facebook page show him sharing links to music videos from groups like Grimes and Blood on the Dance Floor, listing his sister in his profile and uploading photos of himself.Yet one long, poetic rant, from December 30, appears to be darker.The post refers to "a quaint lonely town, (where there) sits a man with a frown (who) longed for only one thing, the world to bow at his feet.""He was better than the rest, all those ones he detests, within their castles, so vain," he wrote. Lane then writes about going through "the castle ... like an ominous breeze through the trees," past guards -- all leading up to the post's dramatic conclusion."Feel death, not just mocking you. Not just stalking you but inside of you," he writes. "Wriggle and writhe. Feel smaller beneath my might. Seizure in the Pestilence that is my scythe. Die, all of you."After getting three positive reviews, Lane wrote: "much obliged to all who 'liked' this. Wrote it myself in class one day ..."More from justicePetco employee fired after video shows rough groomingFight for handicapped spot sends 71-year-old to hospitalBourdain: Nemtsov believed notoriety would protect himPowered by Livefyre


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What's Kendall Select?
Kendall Select is our way of making sure you have everything you need to make the right decision. That's why we've put together a purchase process that takes out all of the guesswork.
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Six Simple Steps to a Great Deal!
At Kendall, we want you to feel like you're part of the family-because you are! You'll be greeted upon arrival. While you may be "just looking," our friendly sales staff can help direct you toward what you're looking for.
Don't want company? Just tell us. You're free to look around and a sales consultant will be waiting for you when you need a question answered or a car opened up.
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We'll give you all the information that you need so that you can come back at your convenience whether it's tomorrow, the next day or whenever. We want you to know that we're here for you whenever you need us.


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Kansas Hair Transplant Surgery
Unfortunately, we do not have any Hair Loss Specialists or Hair Transplant physicians currently listed in Kansas. However, that probably means we
have not had a chance to fully list them yet. Please call us at 866.471.8869 or contact us using the form on the right and we will put you in touch with
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SMS Siemag Process Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of  SMS Siemag AG  which itselves forms an integral part of German  SMS group of companies, which - rooted in more than 150 years of tradition - is one of world's largest and leading providers of technologies, engineering, machinery, plants and services for the metal production and metal forming industries.
Based in Vienna, Austria, SMS Siemag Process Technologies is SMS Siemag's center of competence for acid based chemistry and hydrometallurgy serving markets in the steel and non-ferrous metals industry with expertise, technologies, plants and services that contribute to our customer's long term success by rendering their production and recycling processes distinctively sustainable: both, ecologically and economically.
Founded at the dawn of the millennium to serve the steadily growing demand for hydrometallurgical technologies and plants our division has since then successfully realized challenging industrial projects on all continents - designing, building and commissioning a wide range of facilities in the field of chloride based hydrometallurgy.
Our vertically integrated chain of value-adding services starting from an in-house hydrometallurgical laboratory, a strong process- and project development department capable of taking your project from rough scoping studies through pre-feasibility and refined feasibility confirmations to a bankable level, an experienced engineering department, a world class project management and order execution unit which has delivered jobs of a wide range of complexities and magnitudes and a team of seasoned field service professionals are strongly committed to meet and exceed your expectations.
SMS Siemag Process Technologies' esteemed customers include some of the leading companies of the metal production and engineering world such as ThyssenKrupp, Salzgitter, Voestalpine, ArcelorMittal, JFE Steel, Tokyo Steel, Tokyo Rope, Hyundai Hysco, C.D. Waelzholz, MMK, NLMK, Severstal, CSN, SSAB, Sahavariya Steel, G-Steel, Bhushan Steel, Gazi Metal, Habas, Duferco, Danieli and Voith.
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Planting spruces in Rocky Mountains 7500'
I have been a half- year resident in the Rocky Mountains at 7500' for several years. I live in Indiana the other half of the year where I have been an native plant garden for over 20 years and pretty much have that nailed. Here is a different universe! My main question at the moment is proper planting and watering of Blue Spruce Trees. And also tips for the most successful spruce at this altitude. Thanks in advance!
Blue spruce will work - they need a fair amount of regular watering for the first three years until their roots are established, but after that, a few good waterings a summer will see them through.
Thanks David 52 about the watering of spruces - now I'm afraid I might be over-watering them. On one tree the new "fronds" (I have no idea what they are called) are yellowing and a slight bit twisted. They're are a lighter shade than the shade of new "fronds". Is there a way to tell if the trees are being under-watered or over-watered? Thank you in advance. JWD
PS I will gladly accept all spruce suggestions!!
I water all my baby trees once a week, tapering off in mid summer to once every two weeks.
For the blue spruce, now that they're 6-8 feet tall, I water them copiously once every 3 weeks.
Those growing tips that are changing color might also be some sort of bug - there's a whole host of bugs that eat the growing tips of conifer trees, at the link is just one.
Here is a link that might be useful: Link
Are you looking to plant and then leave for 6 months? That's a very tough way to get a plant established. With new plantings I put a finger in the soil near the root ball twice a week to check for moisture. I do that for several weeks to get a feel for how much water the plant is taking. The soil is so variable around here that I think it's the best way to make sure I'm not over or under watering.
The key with new conifer plantings here is fall and winter watering the first year. If you let them dry out, you'll lose them. Spring or early summer planting is best at your altitude. Fall plantings may not have enough time to establish before winter kicks in.
Abies concolor (white fir) and Abies Lasiocarpa arizonica (corkbark fir) are similar to spruces, but are more narrow if that's something you're interested in and should do well at your elevation. There are a few good cultivars of blue spruce like Bakeri, Montgomery, Fat Albert and Baby Blue Eyes. Check them out and see what makes your toes curl, as one of the folks on the conifer forum likes to say.
Have fun and good luck!
To david 52 and tree barb ; Thanks to both of you for your advice. I'll be looking for those bugs tomorrow, and I never gave it a thought that being away for 6 months would be a problem - I had hoped they would be established before we leave in October. In fact, I had assumed they would be. It's all a matter of learning a different climate!
As an aside, when we bought our place there was a 4' high blue spruce planted in the shade of several globe willows, and I thought I could move it safely. Started to dig it up, and the tap root, instead of going down, had taken off to the east for about 20 feet towards the irrigation canal.
That tap root was incredible. Mama nature finds a way. Did you move or leave it?
What I should have said above was that if we have a dry fall/winter with little or no snow cover the trees will need supplemental watering. If you get good snow that stays around a long time the trees might not need any water over winter. If your place is near enough to the river that the soil absorbs it, that's a plus.
Far be it from me to discourage anyone from planting a tree! Although, I have killed a bunch myself.
I forgot to mention a blue spruce cultivar called Hoopsii. It's gorgeous!
How many are you looking to plant and what have you planted so far? Can you post a pic of the tree with the yellow, twisted buds (fronds)? Is that a newly planted one?
Water the heck out of them before you leave, lol!
Hello to david52 and treebarb,
The 12 spruces we planted in the spring seem to be doing fine. Should I have expected new growth by now, if any? About how much? Treebarb, your suggestion to feel the soil a couple inches down from the base of the trees is the method I used for watering. david 52, the yellowing on one of the spruce was "solved" by me cutting off the yellowing branches. It has not reoccurred and that may be dumb luck. The tree looks good so far.
Now I have a new question about other native trees. I would love advice for our 7500' altitude, lovely trees and fast growing. Do these exist? How about lovely oaks? I expect they would not be fast growing judging by our mid-western oaks. There are fast growing junk trees out there that I would not be interested in. I guess what I should say is that I am looking for good-looking, hedge-forming trees (or even shrubs), tallish.
Thank you in advance.
You put in 12? No messin' around. Good job!
No I wouldn't expect new growth just yet. They'll probably spend this season putting down their roots and may take a few years to get going. How was your weather this summer? It seems like the mountains got more rain than we did down here. I'm glad you're using the finger watering method. It sounds like it's working. If you've not seen anymore yellowing on that one tree, it may have been a damaged branch and it's good you cut it out.
What varieties did you plant? The straight species, picea pungens? The reason I ask is that some of the cultivars grow more slowly. The straight species Colorado Blue Spruce will grow a foot or so per year, once it establishes. I would mulch and water the trees well before you leave in October.
Cut and paste this site. it'll give you good information on the types of trees and shrubs that'll like it where you are.
Let me know what grabs you.


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More Info
Jump into the DUST 514 battlefields on December 1st, between 19:00 and 23:00 UTC (2:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET) to take part in CCP's Server Swarm stress test event and earn yourself four permanent exclusive Skinweave dropsuits.
DUST 514 is Sony's upcoming free-to-play MMO FPS game which is currently in closed beta until early 2013 when it is expected to go into open beta. If you live in the EU and don't have access to the beta but would like a code come visit me in the forums and PSU will hook you up.
Before you go, check out the second vehicle developer diary which further elaborates on their role in DUST. Tanks, buggies and dropships play an important part in battle, whether you are piloting, supporting or destroying them.


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119 of 130 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Series,
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
I've always been a bit of a fan of action but not so much horror. Supernatural is the exception. Not only is it full of action and monsters of every kind you can think of, and a whole lot you've never heard of, but the plot line is brilliant and intriguing. The chemistry between this cast is excellent and the acting is such that you're engrossed from the opening to the credits. It's enough to believe that there really are two brothers fighting out there to keep "the evil sonuvabitches" out. I've even got a couple friends into the series. I recommend Supernatural to anyone. It's got an amazing storyline and characters, action, thrills, and humor that will never leave you bored.
The only BAD thing about the series is the strong attachment that one grows to the characters and the immediate urge to watch another episode.
67 of 72 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Supernatural is Back in the Saddle Again.,
This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
I have been watching Supernatural since the show started in 2005. Its the only show on televison of its kind and it has become my all time favorite. Supernatural blends together seamlessly the sci-fi, horror genre with healthy amounts of drama and sarcastic comedy weaved in thats is very unique. The action is in my opinion feature film quality and the monsters this season are to die for ranging from djinns, to shape-shifters, vampires, faires, dragons, demons and the Mother of All baddies, Eve from Purgatory. We are still waiting to see how the Mother of All mystery continues to unfold, but so far its been wild.
In season six you will get to see Sam's dramatic struggle over his very soul while dealing with the introduction of the Campbell family. Dean's couragous attempts to help his brother while dealing with his own family drama with Lisa and Ben. The first episode directed by Jensen Ackles all about great supporting character Bobby Singer called Weekend at Bobbys. Along with all that you'll get to see Sexy Sammy shirtless in Third Man, Dean getting abducted by fairies and turned into a vampire, the first Old West episode where Winchesters finally meet Samuel Colt the maker of the very special Colt gun the boys used, and a super hilarious meta episode where Sam and Dean enter the real world of Jared, Jensen and Misha the actors behind the scenes of this great drama. Yet, still at its core continues to be the relationship between Sam and Dean, especially in episodes like the premiere Exile on Main Street or Like A Virgin. That is what you will find the most thrilling is after all these two boys have been through over the years the Winchester brothers chemistry is undeniable and unbreakable. It will have you begging for more. I definitely want to see a Season 7. The brothers are modern day cowboys with stunning good looks and even better acting talent to boot especially when you add in the incomparable Jim Beaver as the loveable grumpy Bobby Singer and the endearing Misha Collins as the confused angel Castiel you have a team free will that can't be stop. Not to mention they ride around in the coolest Metallicar on the road a black 1967 Chevy Impala it would make the General Lee jealous lol. Overall, Supernatural Season 6 is Back In the Saddle Again with enough crazy angst ridden adventures to keep you guessing where the show will go next.
86 of 96 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Show on Television -- It has EVERYTHING!!,
By Elizabeth Smith "AZEditor" (Glendale, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
Supernatural is far and away the best show on television, and it has been since its inception in 2005. The awesome acting (by the superb Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki -- later joined brilliantly by Jim Beaver and Misha Collins) is, simply, out of this world (no cliche intended)! Put these wonderful actors together with great production values, writing that is some of the best ever done for television, directorial brilliance every week, and the viewer experiences totally absorbing wonder, chills, and delight.
Season 6 is everything I had hoped it would be, and if you haven't seen Dean vs. vampires and Tinkerbelles, Sam go darkside big time, Bobby handle a wood chipper, and Castiel learn the secrets of a pizza delivery man, then you are REALLY missing out! I own every season on an Amazon-purchased DVD; they are the best, and I look forward to getting mine every year, including Season 6, which I just ordered, thank you! Long Live Supernatural, and may the gods of Warner Brothers and The CW give us a Season 7, please!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jensen Ackles is a funny guy,
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This review is from: Supernatural: The Complete Sixth Season (Amazon Instant Video)
I always enjoy the comedy episodes of Supernatural and "Clap Your Hands" was one of the best. Loved the X-Files spoof intro, and it's always a pleasure watching Jensen Ackles at his goofiest. The Dean-cam bit where he was frantically running from the fairy in the dark back streets and alleys had me laughing out loud. For a show that's been on for as long as it has, the writers are still coming up with fresh ideas.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
By Charlie Gee (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
Similar to many other avid SUPERNATURAL fans, I am a bit disappointed with Season 6. I just finished watching the DVD set (which, by the way, is once again well produced: it has easy to navigate discs, great sound and picture quality, interesting special features, and a great cover photo -- love the snake crawling up Sam Winchester's arm) and I have to tell you it was an uneven ride. As other reviewers have noted, the first 17 episodes are very scattered. Some are excellent while others, like "The French Mistake" are just plain bad. Taking Sam and Dean and placing them on the production stage of SUPERNATURAL takes the viewer out of the mythology and erodes the integrity of the characters for a bit of cheap self-adulation by the production staff. The introduction of the Campbell cousins opened up some new possibilities for story archs, but the writers/producers/whoever decided to squander that by rapidly dispatching them in short order. (Bright spot: once dead characters return to life all the time on the show, so maybe we haven't seen the last of the Campbell cousins.) One episode has Dean Winchester running away like a scared little boy from a man who is following him. The next episode he's bad-mouthing a monster and staring him down. It's these types of character inconsistencies that have to leave us SUPERNATURAL fans scratching our heads and asking: "Why?"
On a more positive note, as with previous seasons, the acting overall is very good. Jim Beaver remains a true gift to the show and Jensen and Jared remain as charismatic as ever. The last five episodes I really liked. They helped to restore my faith that this show can continue to be great, although whether or not the character of Castiel is being developed wisely remains open for debate. Despite what I see as some weaker moments in Season 6, SUPERNATURAL is still a noteworthy show that manages to capture the imagination of its audience. It is worth adding to your collection. Hopefully Season 7 will see the boys returning to what I consider the series traditionally stronger characteristics: consistently high quality episodes, great monsters, tight pacing, addictive storylines, and less calling for help to angels.
45 of 58 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
By Charlotte A. Hu "Former Marine 4321, former S... (San Antonio, TX, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
We started watching this series to help my husband expand his English vocabulary with something mindless and somewhat simple, but entertaining. Of course, all immigrants need to learn such critical vocabulary as werewolf, poltergeist, etc.
What my husband said is this is the only horror genre that attempts to maintain a logic. Dizzy girls don't (usually) follow a bloody killer deeper into a dark and scary house or forest while screaming and shaking. The series tries to maintain an internal logic and set of physics logic for the alternative worlds the mere mortals engage in and they even leave room for things they don't know -- telling a ghost they don't actually know where the ghosts go after they salt and burn the bones. This series is a guilty pleasure -- fun to watch!
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best, but feeds a need.,
By JOHN F. "Barkless Dog" (oak brook, il United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)
I was going to give it only three stars till I viewed the finally episode (which was really good). This has to be Sam's best & Dean's worst season, in my opinion. Soulless Sam is well written & well acted. Sam always had a menacing side to him & this season really capitalizes on that. Dean however lost all his humour & became really whiney. Dean used to be wise cracking, fun & perverted. Now he just whines all the time. What happened to the bromance? They killed that part of the show. Cass becomes a "cooler" character, which is welcome. Mark Sheppard is always a plus for the show (any show really).
Season 6 only gives a few fun filled filler episodes which have fun with the characters, but these are weak compared to years past. Another thing missing is the Classic Rock Sound Tracks, guess they needed to cut costs. That was as much a part of the show as the Impala. Who could ever forget the Groundhog "Heat of the Moment" episode. You can tell the writers where going through the motions in 75% of the season. Just mediocre writing with little feel of the little details that made the show excellent. I like the idea of guest writers, like Stephen King taking a crack at this next season. I only hope it does not turn out to be a big spider in the end! Overall I recommend it for fans who has seen the rest of the series, but in no way would this be a good place to start. Soulless Sam & Cass makes it worth the money. Dean should of stayed at home this season.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Supernatural Still Delivers,
By Teresa K. Botkins (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
Season Six of Supernatural marked the passing of the leadership torch from Eric Kripke to Sera Gamble, and it showed. I compare this season to watching a kid learning to ride a bike without training wheels. It started out pretty wobbly and uncertain, but as time passed it gained more confidence and momentum. Supernatural has always been rock solid, and even at its worst it is more worth watching than some other shows are at their best, so I am more than willing to forgive this season's stumbles.
Please note: this review does contain spoilers for season 6. As a genre tv watcher for many years, I have learned that shows like this almost always suffer from the lack of a solid antagonist. This was what season 6 lacked the most. The "Mother of All" was a markedly lack-luster "bad guy" after having such deliciously nasty advesaries as the Yellow Eyed Demon and Lucifer himself in previous seasons. Additionally I thought the "Alpha" story-line failed utterly, and I think I sing along with the choir in having an intense dislike of the whole Campbell family angle - and that was introduced in a previous season. Having Sam and Dean come from a whole family tree of well respected hunters of evil was always a little too trite for me. That they were victims of tragic circumstance read better. The stand-outs in season 6 could have been played up a little more. Soul-less Sam would have been a better heavy than half the Alphas and the Mother of All combined. Jared Padalecki brought on his A-Game to portray the cold, calculating Soul-less Sam. His performance was delightfully subtle when it could have easily been taken too far over the top. This subtlety made the character quite unnerving. I would have liked to have seen him stick around for a little bit longer, to give Dean more of a challenge as he picked away at the mystery behind his brother's odd behavior. Another stand-out I'd like to see more of (because I can't accept the notion that he won't return) was the Alpha vampire. Forgive me for not knowing the actor's name, but the man was phenomenal, and his characterization of this ancient vampire couldn't have been better. He was positively chilling. Death returned in Season 6 too, and did not disappoint. A quick note regarding the Ben and Lisa storyline - alot of fans disliked both these characters and Dean's relationship with them, but I did not. Seeing Dean's awkward attempt at domestication only underscored the underlying angst inherent to his character. As he will come to admit himself, he cannot have that life - ever. Supernatural will always be a dark tragedy, and to tell the truth I'm a little surprised Sera didn't kill either Lisa, Ben or both off completely. Somehow, though, I think knowing they are alive but untouchable may be more torture to Dean than if they'd simply died, so maybe Sera is more vicious than I'm giving her credit for here. In conclusion, although I liked Soul-less Sam, the better part of season 6 begins roughly mid-season when the show actually starts to "feel" like Supernatural and not something just going through the motions. I myself tend toward the dark and angsty, but in this season the better episodes are those lighter offerings such as Clap Your Hands if You Believe, and the delightfully off the wall French Mistake. The writers and producers have described this season as "noir" and one of the best examples of that in my opinion (it's not a genre I know particularly well) would be Live Free and Twi-Hard. Not to be left off this season's best list is Jensen's directorial debut of Weekend At Bobby's. Though it's Sam and Dean light, Jim Beaver shows his chops and carries this episode with aplomb. It's fun, and witty, and who doesn't love it when Rufus Turner turns up? Oh, and did I mention Jensen directs? Ha ha! And although I have nothing against Sera either as a writer or in her new role as head honcho, my absolute favorite episode of this season was the finale - The Man Who Knew Too Much penned by Eric Kripke himself. I felt as if he pulled together all the jangle and whine, tied up all the frayed ends left by some weak storylines, and paved the way to what could be Supernatural's best season yet. That is why despite its shortcomings, I still give season 6 a four star rating. People need to keep watching. I do not want to discourage anyone. The boys have a lot left to do.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good but uneven sixth season-exceptional looking Blu-ray set,
By Wayne Klein "If at first the idea is not absu... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)
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This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)
"Supernatural" was always meant to be five seasons long so when the show was renewed for two additional seasons the five year plan that creator Erick Kripke had in mind went out the window and so did Kirpke who although is still a consulting producer (and wrote the season finale for season six)stepped aside and writer/co-producer Sara Gamble took the reins.
Although not as consistent as previous seasons "Supernatural" struggled to establish a consistent tone during the sixth season of the series. Nevertheless, the sixth season had a number of strong episodes including a couple of tongue-in-cheek classics written by writer/co-producer Ben Edlund ("The Tick"). Introducing Sam and Dean's relatives as hunters was a great concept that wasn't developed as fully as it could have been; Sara Gamble and the other writers introduced a number of interesting characters including Sam and Dean's grandfather returning but didn't develop the characters as well as they could have. It's a pity because I think they could have built a couple of good episodes around the "hunter" family exploring their dynamic and relationship and eliminated a couple of the weaker episodes involving Sam & Dean's characters (or had them as peripheral characters much as they are in the episode "Weekend at Bobby's"). SPOILERS: When we last saw Sam he descended to Hell with Luicifer's personna trapped inside him. Dean adopts a normal family life finding a peace he never had when he was raised. This lasts for a year but it seems like an eternity to Sam. When Sam mysteriously returns he lures Dean back into hunting but Dean finds Sam has changed--he's amoral and seems to delight in the torture of others something Sam would never do. Dean discovers that Sam has returned in body but he has no soul. END OF SPOILERS: The Blu-ray looks positively stunning--with a sharp, desaturated presentation true to the look of the original broadcast. Audio is presented in HD 5.1 lossless quality. The extras include commentary tracks on Ben Edlund's amusing "Clap Your Hands If You Believe" and "The French Mistake" (by Edlund, producer Sara Gamble and director Robert Singer). The latter has an interactive trivia track for the Blu-ray. We also get a featurette on Jensen Ackles turn behind the camera for "Weekend at Bobby's"; the last two episodes for "Supernatural: The Animated Series" "All Hell Breaks Loose" parts I and II are also include; we also get outtakes/alternate takes for "The French Mistake". The Blu-ray also includes "The Hunter's Guide" an interactive feature with exclusive featurettes on the production of the series buried within it. The special features are wrapped up with "Supernatural: The Quest for the Soul" a featurette on season six and the gag reel for the sixth season. While season six was a bit uneven taking awhile to find it's footing, once the sixth season did discover the tone for the season there were a number of outstanding episodes. Part of that issue was due to the switch over in producers but the main reason was that the show was originally designed as a five season series. Recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing that this show can still maintain this quality 6 seasons in,
By LadyD (UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Supernatural: Season 6 (DVD)
Supernatural is a seriously underrated show. It is on a tiny network, gets ratings that the NBCs of this world wouldn't get out of bed for, and is never considered for awards. Yet it is still here - six seasons and renewed for a seventh. The reason? It is a great show; brilliantly acted, brilliantly written, great stories. It is made by a tight team in front and behind the cameras, and even after 6 years they still care about making a quality show.
This season has a different feel to the earlier seasons, but maintains the quality we have come to expect. The storyline twists and turns and takes you places you never thought it would go. And it has some of the best eps of the show ever; the hilarious The French Mistake, Dean and Sam go to the old west in the great fun Frontierland, we get an excellent Bobby-centric ep directed by Jensen Ackles, the moving and wonderful Like a Virgin (including the best scene the show has had for 2 or 3 years), and many, many more. Buy it. You won't regret it. |
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The Philippine government has warned residents of 19 provinces in the eastern part of the country that tsunamis could hit their areas Sunday afternoon, a full 24 hours after the earthquake that struck Chile.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a "Tsunami Alert Level 1" shortly before midnight on Saturday over the east coast of the country and urged the residents in these areas to "keep watch" and to prepare for possible evacuation.
"People from threatened communities are strongly advised to coordinate and follow safety instructions from the Office of Civil Defense and local disaster officials," the institute said, referring to the government agency that usually handles disaster preparations.
Renato Solidum, the director of the institute, said an earthquake in Chile in 1960 created 6-meter-high tsunamis that slammed into the Philippines within 24 hours. "We cannot lower our guard here," he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Saturday.


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Vello Systems Announces Optical, "Green" Technology ("AOSR") that Converts 10G into 40/100 G Networks
Vello Systems Delivers CX16000 Adaptive Optical System
CX16000 based on innovative Adaptive Optical Service Routing (AOSR) technology enables simplified high-capacity networks over existing infrastructure for lower costs.
Milpitas, CA, January 12, 2010 � Vello Systems, a leader in high performance optical networking systems, today announced that the 40G/100G CX16000 Adaptive Optical System has been deployed at several Tier 1 service providers to deliver high bandwidth capacity over existing 10G optical networks. The Vello Systems CX16000 is designed to meet the requirements of service providers worldwide who need to efficiently upgrade existing 10G fiber networks to 40G and 100G to support growing demand for bandwidth intensive services for homes and businesses. The CX16000 is based on Vello Systems' Adaptive Optical Service Routing (AOSR) technology.
AOSR employs advanced multiple carrier photonics to deliver 40G and 100G bandwidth per wavelength over any type of optical network from metro to ultra long haul, while maintaining compatibility with the characteristics of today's 10G optical infrastructure. The new AOSR-based CX16000 delivers Zero-touch Capacity Expansion to as high as 16 Tb/s. The CX16000 allows service providers to upgrade their existing 10G network incrementally with 40G and 100G wavelength overlays, which can be injected into existing network elements as external wavelengths, delivering substantial CAPEX and OPEX savings as compared to conventional 40G technology.
�The CX16000 Adaptive Optical System with AOSR technology provides the massively scalable bandwidth capacity along with the service flexibility that service providers need to meet the emerging demands from their subscribers,� said Karl May, Chief Executive Officer, Vello Systems. �The CX16000 is the ideal platform for service providers facing subscriber demands for high-bandwidth services and needing to respond quickly and cost-effectively.�
Vello Systems' AOSR technology also features advanced multi-level routing, including integrated packet switching and aggregation, to deliver bandwidth-intensive services such as High Definition Video, Video on Demand, Wireless Backhaul, and Data Center interconnection quickly and cost-effectively. Packet aggregation significantly improves network capacity utilization and simplifies network hub locations by reducing the need for external routers. The CX16000's optimized, cost-effective support for Gigabit Ethernet is critical for emerging 4G/LTE wireless backhaul based on IP/Ethernet.
Thomas Eibeck, Chief Technical Officer of PrimaCom, a leading service provider in Germany, stated, "AOSR technology gives PrimaCom the scalable bandwidth capacity and the adaptable service flexibility we need to deliver advanced video, Internet and telephone services for our subscribers.�
The Vello Systems CX16000 is based on a low latency, inherently non-blocking converged fabric supporting all protocols transparently, and is implemented using Vello Systems' Large Scale Photonics Integration for high bandwidth density, low space requirements, low power consumption and low heat dissipation.
"The CX16000 really does hit the mark for a highly economical and scalable option for 40/100G migration. The Vello Systems CX16000 allows carriers to deliver 40G or even 100G services over their existing 10G infrastructure without changing fiber type or the network equipment attached to it," said David Emberley, Research Manager for IDC's Telecommunications Equipment Practice." Of note, the CX16000 meets the growing demand for flatter networks by collapsing multiple routing functions into a single device on the edge of the network, which translates into lower cost and lower power consumption for 'greener' network operation."
Michael Howard, principal analyst, carrier and data center networks, Infonetics Research, added: �Operating expenses � in particular, power � are becoming more critical components in calculating total cost of operating transport networks. Combining higher layer network functions with Large Scale Photonic Integration means Vello Systems' solutions can eliminate significant power cost from network operations. As we like to say, the glass is always greener!�
The 40G Vello Systems CX16000 Adaptive Optical System with AOSR technology is currently available.
About Vello Systems
Vello Systems provides high performance adaptive optical transport network systems to worldwide service providers and data centers for massively-scalable Zero-touch Capacity Expansion. The Vello Systems CX16000 Adaptive Optical System utilizes patented Adaptive Optical Service Routing (AOSR) technology to provide industry-leading bandwidth over existing fiber infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive network redesign and allowing service providers to offer new services cost-effectively. Vello Systems is based in Milpitas, CA.
For more information, please visit www.vellosystems.com.


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In 1976, armed with a college degree and a commission as an Army 2nd Lieutenant, Vinny Boles began his leadership journey. After 33 years of service, he has distilled this experience into his book, 4-3-2-1 Leadership ... What Americas Sons & Daughters Taught Me on the Road From 2nd Lieutenant to Two Star General.
Today he travels from Madison County, speaking about leadership to corporate and association audiences around the world. Full of real-life examples, his presentation is relevant to audiences as we all undertake tough tasks. A career leader and logistician, Vinny provided what our soldiers needed where and when it was needed. This will be an informative, inspirational and humorous evening, as Vinny shares his insight about your best getting better. Join us for beer, wine, heavy hors doeuvres, a presentation by Vinny and a signed copy of his book. Profits from the evening will be donated equally to two local charities: Still Serving Veterans of North Alabama and Merrimack Halls Johnny Stallings Arts Program.
There are no exchanges or refunds on ticket purchases. All seats are reserved.
Ticket Policies / FAQs
Tickets on sale July 23, 2013 at 10 am for Members, and July 30, 2013 at 10 am to the general public. To become a member, click here.
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. Copyright © 2007, Merrimack Hall Academy for the Performing Arts, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Taking sides: Is guerrilla music marketing effective in 2010? Or just annoying?
Earlier this week, the blogerati hurled criticism at Pink Floyd vet Roger Waters for a guerrilla marketing campaign promoting his upcoming The Wall Live tour. Turns out, street artists under Waters's employ had wheat-pasted a swatch of viral advertising onto a Los Angeles mural widely recognized as a memorial to the late songwriter Elliott Smith.
Waters later apologized for the goof-up, but maybe he should have apologized for launching such an uninspired "street" campaign in the first place.
In our weekly Taking sides column, Click Track's contributors tackle the question: Is guerrilla marketing an effective promotional tool for musicians in 2010? Or has it become an empty gesture? Cast your vote in the poll below and read our thoughts after the jump.
Allison Stewart: Guerrilla marketing is here to stay, but folks will need to get better at it to match the increasing sophistication of audiences. Twitter campaigns and "Cloverfield"-type mystery reveals have probably been ruined forever (and don't even get me started on Burger King's Subservient Chicken. Anyone remember the Subservient Chicken?).
Major labels, movie studios and anyone else representing The Man have proven especially clumsy at guerrilla campaigns. The idea of a Boomer-era icon like Waters bigfooting a Gen X icon like Smith using hipster-derived tools seeems to be what has gotten people so upset. That said, I think everyone is being a little too precious about the Elliott Smith Memorial Wall. I loved him, too, but come on. He might have found it funny. Probably not, though.
Sarah Godfrey: These guerrilla marketing stunts are so tired. What was once an innovative way to reach music consumers and stand out from the pack has just become obnoxious. I remember being blown away by the genius of the Biggie Smalls/Craig Mack promo cassette packaged in a B.I.G. MACK sandwich box back in the early '90s. Now you can't walk on a city sidewalk without stepping on a Ke$ha stencil. If everyone is doing this sort of thing, at some point it's no longer whimsical and cool -- it's just the standard way of doing business. I think we've reached that point. You know what would be really novel? Make great music, let people discover it, and build a following via word of mouth. Crazy!
Chris Richards: When it comes to music (or any other product), my biggest gripe with guerrilla marketing is that it's always been so painfully unfunny. In our post-Shepard Fairey cultural ad-scape, so much incredible prank potential ends up getting buried in a sluice of self-congratulatory, quasi-profound, pseudo-activist street art. It doesn't have to be like that. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails "leaking" his music by hiding a USB drive in a public bathroom stall? More of that please.
David Malitz: I liked it better when I found out about new albums by scouring the back third of Option magazine. (Grandpa Simpson voice.) But yes, this "guerrilla" marketing stuff is ridiculous. It actually makes me respect our old buddy Neon Indian -- at least he's straightforward with his billboarding efforts. These guerrilla campaigns are supposed to have more credibility than traditional ad campaigns (although I doubt Roger Waters is really fooling anyone), and they require just as much PR muscle. Guerrilla marketing is on its way to becoming the pop-up ad equivalent of album promotion.
Chris Richards
May 6, 2010; 2:15 PM ET
Taking sides
| Tags: Craig Mack, Elliott Smith, Neon Indian, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., Pink Floyd, Roger Waters
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But what about whoamiamwhoami.... Those videos garnered an amazing amount of publicity and I'm still not really certain who it is and remain a bit freaked out by some of those videos.
Posted by: M__N | May 7, 2010 11:33 AM | Report abuse
Simply calling it "guerilla marketing" makes it seem amateurish. When his old band floated a giant pig over Battersea, no one said it was intrusive, annoying, or ridiculous.
Ultimately, people are so self-consumed with their iPhones, Blackberrys, and oppressive need to save time/make money, that anything cool which distracting them from their work-a-day blinders is viewed negatively.
Here's a newsflash: Shepard Fairey shouldn't apologize. Banksy shouldn't apologize, and of all people ... Roger Waters owes nobody an apology for trying to be creative. Admittedly, the Elliot Smith thing was a mistake, but the campaign overall? Definitely not!
Getting into the hearts and minds of your audience is critical to success in today's marketplace. The direct-to-fan model is proving to be the only way for today's musicians to create a sustainable, viable career.
Without Direct-to-Fan (part of which is guerilla marketing!), you'll never find your way to that "four-star traveling daydream" that Roger Waters sings about...
Shameless plug here for nimbit.com -- providing direct-to-fan solutions for artists of all experience levels and genres.
And If Roger's reading this, we hope he plays more of his solo material when he comes through Boston in September. Radio KAOS? Pros & Cons? Yes please!
Posted by: ScottFeldman | May 7, 2010 12:17 PM | Report abuse
Who cares?
Posted by: backseatreviewer | May 10, 2010 12:45 AM | Report abuse
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Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
Hadassah 2007 Mission Highlights
Hadassah missions are a unique way to experience Israel. We combine our love of Israel - its beauty, history and spirituality - with our love of Hadassah. Enjoy this unique opportunity to meet with some of our most prominent guest speakers including Daniel Gordis, Herb Keinon, Tova Hartman, Maj. Gen. Giorra Eiland, Avraham Infeld, Gil Hoffman, Rina Quint and Gen. Yoram "Yaya" Yair. While you are exploring and learning, you'll also make new friends, enjoy good food and wine, ruach and celebration!