text:
New Minnesota Stadium
Location | 900 South 5th Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415 |
Coordinates | 44°58′26″N 93°15′29″W / 44.97389°N 93.25806°WCoordinates: 44°58′26″N 93°15′29″W / 44.97389°N 93.25806°W |
Owner | Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority |
Operator | Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority |
Capacity | 65,000 (expandable to 73,000)[1] |
Construction | |
Broke ground | December 3, 2013[2] |
Opened | Projected 2016[9] |
Construction cost | $1.024 billion[3] |
Architect | HKS, Inc. Vikings Stadium Consortium (Studio Hive, Studio Five & Lawal Scott Erickson Architects Inc.)[4] |
Project manager | Hammes Company[5] |
Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti[6] |
Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc.[7] |
General contractor | Mortenson Construction[8] |
Tenants | |
Minnesota Vikings (NFL) (2016–) (planned) Super Bowl LII (2018) |
New Minnesota Stadium is the working title for a new stadium under construction for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) in Minneapolis. Located on the site of their former home, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Downtown East, the stadium will be their third permanent home.[10]
It will be the first new fixed roof stadium in the NFL since Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, opened in 2002. As of August 2014, the overall budget is estimated to be $1.024 billion, of which $348 million is coming from the state of Minnesota, $150 million from the city of Minneapolis, and $526 million coming from the team and private contributions.[3]
New Minnesota Stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018[11] and the 2019 NCAA basketball men's Final Four. The stadium is also expected to bid for WWE's WrestleMania 33.
The new stadium is a fixed roof stadium with a translucent roof and movable front windows. The translucent roof and windows allow natural light to enter the stadium, as well as giving fans a view of downtown Minneapolis. The roof is slanted for easier snow removal as it allows snow to accumulate in areas that are more safely and easily accessible. The movable windows will allow the stadium to experience some of the outdoor elements while providing protection from the snow, rain, and the cold winter weather. While the Vikings' owners wanted an outdoor stadium, the government would have only provided funding for an indoor stadium that is able to host major events like the Super Bowl and the Final Four, and a retractable roof would have been too expensive.[12]
The stadium will seat approximately 65,000 people for most games, roughly the same as the Metrodome. However, it will be expandable to 73,000 for special events such as the Super Bowl.[1]
Metrodome lease[edit]
The Vikings' lease with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), as signed by both parties in August 1979, kept them in the Metrodome until 2011.[13] The lease was considered one of the least lucrative among NFL teams; it included provisions where the commission owned the stadium, and the Vikings were locked into paying rent until the end of the 2011 season. For several years prior to the Metrodome's demolition, however, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission waived the team's nearly $4 million rent.[14] The Vikings paid the MSFC 9.5 percent of their ticket sales; the commission "reserve[d] all rights to sell or lease advertising in any part of the Stadium," the team could not use the scoreboard for any ads, and the team did not control naming rights for the building. Additionally, the commission controlled the limited parking and its revenue and paid the team 10 percent of all concession sales while retaining roughly 35 percent of concessions sold during Vikings games.[15] The Vikings were 30th out of 32 NFL teams in local revenues in 2005.[15] The Vikings, as well as the stadium's other tenants, continually turned down any proposals for renovating the Metrodome itself.[15] A plan for a joint Vikings/University of Minnesota football stadium was proposed in 2002, but differences over how the stadium would be designed and run, as well as state budget constraints, led to the plan's failure.[16] The university would eventually open its own TCF Bank Stadium in 2009.
Downtown Minneapolis[edit]
From the outset, Zygi Wilf, a billionaire from New Jersey and principal owner of the Vikings since 2005,[17] had stated he was interested in redeveloping the downtown site of the Metrodome no matter where the new facility was built.[15] Taking into consideration downtown Minneapolis' growing mass transit network, cultural institutions, and growing condo and office markets, Wilf considered underdeveloped areas on Downtown's east side, centered on the Metrodome, to be a key opportunity and began discussing the matter with neighboring landholders, primarily the City of Minneapolis and the Star Tribune.[15] An unrelated 2008 study explains that the effect of the media, in this case an uncritical Star Tribune, matters a great deal in helping a stadium initiative.[18] As a result, once negotiations for a different location had been put aside, the Vikings focused on proposing a stadium that would be the centerpiece of a larger urban redevelopment project.[15]
Wilf's Vikings began acquiring significant land holdings in the Downtown East neighborhood around the Metrodome. In June 2007, the Vikings acquired four blocks of mostly empty land surrounding the Star Tribune headquarters from Avista Capital Partners (the private equity owner of the Star Tribune) for $45 million; it is also believed the Vikings have first right of refusal to later buy the paper's headquarters building.[19] In May 2007, the Vikings also acquired three other downtown parking lots for a total of $5 million, and have made a bid for a city-owned, underground parking ramp next to the neighborhood's light rail station.[19]
Proposal timeline[edit]
On April 19, 2007, the MSFC and the Vikings unveiled their initial plans for the stadium and surrounding urban area, with an estimated opening of 2012.[20] The plan included substantial improvements to the surrounding area, including an improved light rail stop, 4,500 residential units, hotels with a combined 270 rooms, 1,700,000 square feet (160,000 m2) of office space and substantial retail space.[20]
As of 2007, the stadium would have held approximately 73,600 people and was to have been complete by August 2011. The initial proposal did not have the final architectural design renderings, but did include key features that were to have been included in any final plan, including the plans for neighboring urban development. These included demands for a retractable roof, an open view of the surroundings (particularly the downtown skyline), a glass-enclosed Winter Garden alongside the already-existing adjacent Metrodome light-rail stop, leafy urban square with outdoor cafés and dense housing around its edges, aesthetic improvements to roads connecting the stadium to nearby cultural institutions, and adaptive reuse of neighboring historic buildings.[21] The roof would have allowed Minneapolis to remain a potential venue for the Super Bowl and Final Four, both of which had been held at the Metrodome. The proposed urban plan itself was received with cautious welcome.[22]
The 2007 proposed cost estimate for the downtown Minneapolis stadium was $953,916,000.[23] The total broke down to $616,564,000 for the stadium, $200,729,000 for a retractable roof, $58,130,000 for parking, $8,892,000 for adjacent land right-of-way, and $69,601,000 to take into account inflation by 2010.[23] The estimate compared to then-upcoming stadiums in Indianapolis at $675 million (retractable roof, completed 2008), Dallas at $932 million (retractable roof, completed 2009), and New York at $1.7 billion (open-air, completed in 2010).[23] In addition, according to Wilf, taking into account the costs for the surrounding urban developments put forth in the proposal would have brought the estimated total to $2 billion.[19] The estimated costs were based on projected 2008 construction and material costs, so it would have been possible that the stadium costs could have hovered near $1 billion if the Minnesota State Legislature had not approved the project in the 2008 session.[24][dated info]
No proposals were made, at that time, for paying for the stadium.[20] The MSFC and Vikings made initial pitches to the Minnesota State Legislature during the end of the 2007 session, but expected to make serious efforts during the 2008 legislative session.[25] The Vikings proposed creating a Minnesota Football Stadium Task Force, which they expect would take 24 months to plan the stadium.[25]
Following the September 2008 MSFC vote to start feasibility studies for re-using the Metrodome, an unrelated study released for 38 U.S. cities[26] found that "when a [NFL] team wins, people's moods improve,"[27] and that personal income for residents of a city with an NFL team with 10 wins increases about $165 per year.[27] While true for NFL football, for comparison, professional baseball and basketball gain no personal income for residents.[27]
Feasibility studies for Dallas-based design and local construction of a new stadium were expected in early 2009.[28] Roy Terwilliger, a former Republican state senator from Edina, Ray Waldron, an AFL-CIO leader, and the Dome engineering expert and CEO, Bill Lester and Steve Maki of the MSFC selected architectural firm HKS of Dallas and construction manager Mortenson of Minnesota over the objections of Paul Thatcher and Timothy Rose of Minneapolis-St. Paul, who preferred Ellerbe Beckett and Kraus-Anderson, both of Minnesota. Loanne Thrane of St. Paul, the sole female member of the commission, voiced opposition and later voted with the majority.[29]
In December 2009, commission chairman Terwilliger said, "We know what the art of the possible is at this particular location." A new proposal for 65,000 seats with a sliding roof was unveiled at US$84 million less than the previous proposal, but with US$50 million per year more scheduled for each year that construction is delayed.[30] Vikings officials boycotted the presentation which estimated the total cost at US$870 million, or US$770 million if the sliding roof were omitted.[30]
The 2010 Vikings stadium proposal was dealt a setback on May 5, 2010, when a Minnesota House panel defeated the proposal by a 10–9 vote.
The stadium debate was revived in the aftermath of the Metrodome's roof deflation on December 12, 2010, which forced the relocation of the Vikings' final two home games of the 2010 season and led to more calls for a new stadium from various sources in the local and national media.[31][32] Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton discussed the matter with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but said "any new stadium must first benefit the people of Minnesota".[33]
City of Minneapolis Proposal[edit]
After Hennepin County stopped their pursuit of a Vikings stadium,[34] the city of Minneapolis submitted a plan for a Vikings' stadium at the downtown Metrodome site. The Minneapolis plan was for a fixed-roof stadium costing an estimated $895 million. The proposal also included funding solutions for $95 million in renovations to the Minnesota Timberwolves' Target Center. The team reacted with skepticism to the proposal and did not want to play at nearby 50,000-seat capacity University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium during three years of construction.[35] Because the Minneapolis dome site is a cheaper option, football fans were expected to return to the Minneapolis plan if the shortfall in the Ramsey County plan were not realized.[36]
Ramsey County Proposal[edit]
In May 2011, Ramsey County officials announced they had reached an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings to be the team's local partner for a new stadium, subject to approval by the Minnesota Legislature and to approval of a sales tax by the Ramsey County Board.[37] The site of the stadium would be the former Twin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant in Arden Hills, which is about 10 miles from the Metrodome in Minneapolis and is a Superfund clean up site. The agreement called for an $884 million stadium and an additional $173 million for on-site infrastructure, parking and environmental costs.[38]
Ramsey County said the Vikings would commit $407 million to the project, which would have been about 44 percent of the stadium cost and 39 percent of the overall cost. The county's cost would have been $350 million, to be financed by a half-cent sales tax increase.[38] The state of Minnesota's cost would have been $300 million.[37] This totalled about $1.057 billion, leaving at least a $131 million shortfall.[36] Minnesota Vikings and the State of Minnesota agreed the total of fixing roads would have been $131 million.[39]
On March 1, 2012, Governor Dayton announced an agreement for a new stadium to be built on the site of the Metrodome, pending approval by the state legislature and the Minneapolis city council.[40] The $975 million project, half of which would be publicly funded, would be patterned after Lucas Oil Stadium. It would utilize part of the footprint of the Metrodome and would only require the Vikings to play at TCF Bank Stadium during the final year of construction.[41] The agreement met with mixed reaction, and some criticized the proposal as being unfair to taxpayers and a giveaway to team owners.[42]
On May 10, 2012, the Minnesota Legislature approved funding for a new Vikings stadium on that site. The project is projected to have a $975 million price tag, with the Vikings covering $477 million, the state covering $348 million, and $150 million covered by a hospitality tax in Minneapolis. The city of Minneapolis must pay a total of $678 million over the thirty-year life of the deal, including interest, operations, and construction costs.[43] The bill was signed by Gov. Dayton[44] and received the approval of the Minneapolis City Council on May 25, 2012.[45][46] The Vikings played in the Metrodome through the 2013 season, as construction did not require the dome's immediate demolition. The Vikings then moved to TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus until the new stadium is complete.
On May 13, 2013, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), the Minnesota Vikings, and HKS Sports & Entertainment Group together unveiled the new stadium's design.
In January 2014, a lawsuit was brought forward by former Minneapolis mayoral candidate Doug Mann and two others to block the construction of the new stadium. The suit questioned the constitutionality of the stadium's funding plan and delayed a $468 million bond sale. Officials warned the delay could stall the project's timeline and add costs.[47] The lawsuit was later dismissed by the Minnesota Supreme Court.[48]
Charitable gambling funding shortfall[edit]
The State of Minnesota's portion of the cost of the stadium was to be funded by revenue from a proposed new charitable gambling source, which was dubbed electronic pulltabs. When the stadium funding bill was passed in the legislature and signed by the governor on May 14, 2012, the new revenue from the games was estimated to be $34 million for 2013, and rising each year thereafter.
November 2012 revenue forecast[edit]
Six months later, the first budget estimate from the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget was released, revising the projected revenue from the electronic pulltab games. This first revision cut the estimated revenue from the game for 2013 by 51%, to $16 million (versus the legislation's estimate of $34 million).
From page 15 of the Minnesota Management and Budget Complete Forecast, November 2012: "For FY 2013, the projected reserve balance has been reduced from $34 to $16 million. Projected new gambling revenues from stadium legislation are expected to be $18 million (51 percent) below end of session estimates." "The forecast reduction reflects a slower than expected implementation of electronic gaming options and reduced estimates for daily revenue per gaming device."[49]
February 2013 revenue forecast[edit]
In March 2013, the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget released another updated budget forecast for fiscal years 2013 to 2017. Included in this forecast was another revision in the projected revenue from charitable gambling sources, from the previous estimate of $16 million, down to $1.7 million, a further 90% reduction in the estimate for 2013 revenue. This total a 95% reduction from what was estimated in the stadium bill passed in May 2012.
From page 12 of the Minnesota Management and Budget Complete Forecast, February 2013: "The forecast for lawful gambling revenue has been reduced $15 million in FY 2013 and $46 million in FY 2014–15. Slower than expected implementation of electronic gambling options and a reduction in estimates for daily revenue per gambling location were the reasons for the revenue reduction".[50]
Political fallout from projected shortfall[edit]
As a result of the projected shortfall, members of the Minnesota Legislature and the Governor's office began discussing ideas to fix the shortfall.[51] The legislature decided to impose an inventory tax on cigarettes to make up for any shortfall over the next year of construction and closing of a corporate income-tax loophole for the following years.[52]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Construction of Vikings Stadium. |
In August 2012, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA)—the stadium's newly created owner—received bids and plans from five architectural and engineering firms, all nationally-recognized stadium designers, including Populous, AECOM, EwingCole, and HNTB.[53][54] On September 28, 2012, the MSFA selected the Dallas firm of HKS, Inc., which had designed both AT&T Stadium and Lucas Oil Stadium within the previous decade, to serve as the project's architect.[55] HKS also designed Globe Life Park in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers; the Milwaukee Brewers' Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and renovations to the Chicago White Sox's U.S. Cellular Field. Initial design plans were not immediately released to the public, but Viking officials said they hoped the budget would allow the new stadium to include a retractable roof, walls, or windows. The design team also planned to incorporate interactive technology into some elements to create a more engaging fan experience.[56]
Construction of the facility was originally slated to begin in October 2013, but was delayed until December 3, 2013, as an ongoing investigation of the Wilfs' finances continued to take place after a 21-year lawsuit against them came to a conclusion in late August.
Demolition of the old stadium required removal of 4,910 truckloads of rubble. By completion of the new stadium, approximately 7,500 people will have worked on-site.[57]
Potential soccer-friendly modifications[edit]
There has been discussion about making the stadium soccer-friendly, conforming to FIFA standards and recommendations, thereby making the field slightly larger to accommodate United States Men's National Soccer Team matches, international friendlies from large European soccer clubs, and soccer tournaments (regional or international), as well as even attracting a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. Those reports have mentioned Minnesota's current NASL team, Minnesota United FC, playing at the site either as part of the NASL (minor league), or with promotion to MLS. If designed properly and a financial fit, it could match CenturyLink Field, home of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders FC of MLS. This would provide the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area with another sports team and MLS with a presence in the upper Midwest outside of the Chicago Fire, and another tenant for year-round activity at the stadium. The soccer field will be 121 x 72 yards.[58][59]
Major events[edit]
On May 20, 2014, the NFL awarded Minneapolis the 2018 Super Bowl. Indianapolis and New Orleans had also made bids for the game.[11] On November 14, 2014, the NCAA announced the stadium will host the men's basketball Final Four in 2019.[60] In February 2015, officials for Meet Minneapolis, the city's convention authority, and the stadium authority were preparing a bid for Wrestlemania 33 to be held in 2017.[61]
- ^ a b "New Vikings Stadium Facts and Figures". Minnesota Vikings. May 13, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ^ Meryhew, Richard; Walsh, Paul (December 3, 2013). "Vikings Ceremonially Break Ground on New Stadium". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ a b Belden, Doug (October 10, 2014). "Vikings kick in $518K for Stadium Tweaks, but Not Bird-Safe Glass". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ DePass, Dee (January 18, 2013). "Vikings Stadium Engineering Firms Reflect Diversity". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ Meryhew, Richard (August 3, 2012). "Madison Firm Gets Job to Oversee Construction of Vikings Stadium". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ Vomhof, Jr., John (October 26, 2012). "Thornton Tomasetti Selected as Structural Engineer for Vikings Stadium". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ "Metropolitan Sports Facilities Authority Regular Meeting". Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. January 18, 2013. p. 3. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ Meryhew, Richard (February 15, 2013). "Vikings Pick the Home Team -- Mortenson -- to Build New Stadium". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ Associated Press (December 31, 2012). "Vikings Stadium: Selection of Construction Manager Delayed". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Metrodome Next". Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
- ^ a b Patra, Kevin (May 20, 2014). "Super Bowl LII Headed to Minnesota". National Football League. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "Vikings Unveil Design of New Stadium". ESPN. May 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Scheck, Tom (November 20, 2006). "Anoka County Walks Away From Vikings' Plan". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved November 20, 2006.
- ^ Weiner, Jay (November 17, 2009). "As Interim Solution, Stadium Commission Offering New Deal to Keep Vikings in Dome". MinnPost. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Anderson, Jr., G. R. (January 3, 2007). "Eye of the Beholder". City Pages. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
- ^ Scheck, Tom (February 18, 2002). "Committee Kills Vikings Stadium Plan". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ Borzi, Pat (August 19, 2005). "Vikings' Owner Makes a Name for Himself". The New York Times. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ Delaney, Kevin; Eckstein, Rick (February 2008). "Local Media Coverage of Sports Stadium Initiatives". Journal of Sport & Social Issues 32 (1): 72–93. doi:10.1177/0193723507311674. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c Levy, Paul (June 21, 2007). "Vikings, Star Tribune Close Land Deal". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved June 21, 2007.
- ^ a b c Levy, Paul (April 19, 2007). "Vikings Stadium: Great View, But Who Pays?". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved April 17, 2007.
- ^ "The Plan's Key Ingredients". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). April 19, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2007.
- ^ Peterson, David (April 19, 2007). "Urban Planners See Sketches As First Step". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved April 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Cost Comparison". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). April 19, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2007.
- ^ Levy, Paul (June 21, 2007). "Stadium Could Cost $1 Billion". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved June 21, 2007.
- ^ a b Levy, Paul (May 19, 2007). "No Vikings Stadium Bill Now, But Next Year, Maybe?". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Davis, Michael; End, Christian M. (n.d.). "A Winning Proposition: The Economic Impact of Successful NFL Franchises" (PDF). Economic Inquiry (planned) via Copley Press. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c Stetz, Michael (October 4, 2008). "Winning Football Season is Found to Convert Into Cash". San Diego Union Tribune (Copley Press). Retrieved October 4, 2008.
- ^ Vomhof, John (September 26, 2008). "Commission Picks Designers for Metrodome Project". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ Weiner, Jay (September 26, 2008). "New Vikings Stadium: High Drama at Stadium Commission". MinnPost. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ a b Bakst, Brian (December 18, 2009). "New Vikings Stadium Proposal: $870M, No Pay Plan". Google News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ Erskine, Chris (December 13, 2010). "Metrodome Roof Collapse Had to Be a Sign From Above". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- ^ Borzi, Pat (December 14, 2010). "With Their Dome Deflated, the Vikings Still Need a Home". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- ^ Kaszuba, Mike (December 17, 2010). "Dayton Meeting with NFL Commissioner". Star-Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved December 17, 2010.
On December 26, 2010 the Zigi Wilf the Vikings owner agreed to accept an outdoor stadium.
- ^ Duchschere, Kevin (May 5, 2011). "Vikings' Stadium Options Narrow". Star Tribune (Minnapolis). Retrieved May 5, 2011.
- ^ Duchschere, Kevin; Olson, Rochelle; Brandt, Steve (May 9, 2011). "Minneapolis Kicks Off $1 Billion Stadium 'Game Changer'". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ a b Lambert, Brian (May 11, 2011). "Plenty of Doubts Ramsey County Can Pull off Stadium Deal". MinnPost. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ a b Duchschere, Kevin (May 10, 2011). "Ramsey County Vikings? $1 Billion Stadium Agreement Says Yes". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ a b Associated Press (May 10, 2011). "Vikings, Ramsey Co. Announce Stadium Deal". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ Olson, Rochelle; Duchschere, Kevin (May 18, 2011). "MnDOT: Stadium Road Upgrades to Cost $131 Million". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ "Gov. Dayton, Legislative Leaders, Minneapolis, & Vikings Announce Stadium Agreement" (Press release). Minnesota Vikings. March 1, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ^ Dyste, Leslie (February 15, 2013). "Vikings to Play 2 Cold Seasons at TCF Bank Stadium". KSTP (St. Paul). Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ Goldstein, Tom (March 4, 2012). "New Vikings Stadium Proposal Isn't For The People". City Pages. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ Ozanian, Mike (May 23, 2012). "Minneapolis City Council President Uses Bizarre Math To Push New Stadium For Vikings". Forbes. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ 2012 Minn. Laws Ch. 299
- ^ Hall, Brian (May 10, 2012). "Vikings Stadium Approved by State Lawmakers". Fox Sports North. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ Roper, Eric (May 25, 2012). "Stadium Gets Final Sign-Off". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ "Vikings Stadium Authority Hits Back at Lawsuit". ABC News. Associated Press. January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- ^ "Supreme Court Tosses Lawsuit Over Stadium Funding". WCCO (Minneapolis). January 21, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Minnesota Financial Report November 2012" (pdf). Minnesota Management and Budget. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "February 2012 Forecast" (pdf). Minnesota Management and Budget. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ Meryhew, Richard (April 9, 2013). "Time for a Plan B for Vikings Stadium Financing?". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ Grow, Doug (May 31, 2013). "Vikings Stadium Backup-Funding Controversy: General Funds or Not". MinnPost. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Meryhew, Richard (August 31, 2012). "Bids Are in on Vikings Stadium Project". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- ^ Nelson, Tim (September 7, 2012). "Architects Make Pitches for Vikings Stadium Contract". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- ^ Meryhew, Richard (September 28, 2012). "Dallas Firm Chosen to Design Viking Stadium". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- ^ Keller, Tracy (October 17, 2012). "Minnesota Vikings to Build New Stadium for Team, Fans, Community". Concordia University. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ Olson, Rochelle (April 19, 2014). "Stadium construction is guided like an orchestra". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ Anderson, Jeff (Dec 27, 2013). "New Vikings Stadium News and Notes - December 27". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Greder, Andy (June 10, 2014). "Pro soccer: Vikings go public with push for MLS team in Minnesota". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- ^ Verges, Josh (November 14, 2014). "Minneapolis: New Vikings Stadium to Host Final Four in 2019". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ Halter, Nick (February 25, 2015). "WrestleMania in Minneapolis? Officials plan to fight for it". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vikings Stadium. |
- New Vikings Stadium - Vikings.com
- Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority
- Construction cam
- November 2012 Budget Forecast
- February 2013 Budget Forecast
- Viking Owner Zygi Wilf's statement regarding the proposed stadium
- Tom Goldstein - City Pages - March 4, 2012 - "New Vikings Stadium Proposal Isn't For The People"
Preceded by TCF Bank Stadium |
Home of the Minnesota Vikings 2016 |
Succeeded by future |
Preceded by NRG Stadium |
Host of Super Bowl LII 2018 |
Succeeded by TBD |
Preceded by Alamodome |
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 2019 |
Succeeded by New Atlanta Stadium |


text: Texas actress first accuses husband, but she's arrested in ricin caseBy Michael Martinez. Susan Candiotti and Carol Cratty, CNNUpdated 1300 GMT (2000 HKT) June 11, 2013 6 photosActress arrested in ricin case – Shannon Richardson, a Texas actress, was sentenced Wednesday, July 16, to 18 years in prison, after admitting last year that she sent ricin-tainted letters to President Barack Obama and then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.Hide Caption 1 of 6 6 photosActress arrested in ricin case – Richardson, also known as Shannon Rogers Guess, was accused of possessing a toxin for use as a weapon. She faced up to life in prison before the prosecution and defense reached a plea deal under which she would serve no more than 18 years.Hide Caption 2 of 6 6 photosActress arrested in ricin case – In May 2013, the letters were mailed from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Obama, Bloomberg and to a foundation founded by Bloomberg that opposes illegal guns.Hide Caption 3 of 6 6 photosActress arrested in ricin case – Law enforcement officials said they believe Richardson may have sent the letters because she was angry at her husband.Hide Caption 4 of 6 6 photosActress arrested in ricin case – Investigators found that her computer storage devices contained the text of threatening letters sent to the president, according to an FBI affidavit.Hide Caption 5 of 6 6 photosActress arrested in ricin case – Richardson had minor roles in TV series, including "The Walking Dead" and "The Vampire Diaries."Hide Caption 6 of 6Story highlightsShannon Richardson, 35, initially told FBI her husband sent ricin-tainted lettersBut she failed polygraph, and husband said she wanted to end marriage, FBI saysBefore her arrest, she allegedly admits to mailing letters, but says husband forced herHer husband files for divorce; she's also pregnant, divorce lawsuit saysA Texas actress in a troubled marriage was arrested and charged Friday in connection with ricin-tainted letters that were mailed last month to President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, authorities said.Shannon Richardson, 35, also known as Shannon Rogers and Shannon Guess, initially told the FBI that her husband, Nathaniel, sent the ricin-laced letters, but a polygraph exam found her to be "deceptive" on the matter, court papers said.Investigators found that her computer storage devices contained the text of threatening letters sent to the president, but the couple's computer records show her husband couldn't have printed them out because he was at work at the time, an FBI arrest affidavit said.On Thursday, Shannon Richardson told investigators she mailed the ricin-tainted letters, but she claimed that her husband typed the letters and forced her to print and mail them, the affidavit said.New poison letters put ricin under microscopeHer husband denied involvement and claimed his wife wanted to end their marriage and leave him, the affidavit said. He told investigators that his wife was "intentionally misleading" them, the court papers said.Just WatchedWoman arrested in ricin letters casereplayMore Videos ...Woman arrested in ricin letters case 02:09PLAY VIDEOJust WatchedCNN Explains: RicinreplayMore Videos ...CNN Explains: Ricin 01:51PLAY VIDEOShannon Richardson is accused of mailing a threatening communication to the president and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney John M. Bales' office in Texas.Also on Thursday, Nathaniel Richardson filed for divorce. His wife is pregnant, and the anticipated birth date and sex of the fetus is not known, the divorce lawsuit said. The couple married on October 8, 2011, the suit said.Shannon Richardson allegedly also mailed a third letter with the toxin ricin to Mark Glaze, director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which was founded and co-chaired by Bloomberg, the FBI arrest affidavit said. The group's office is in Washington.She made an initial appearance Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in Texarkana, Texas, the prosecutor said. She was arrested in Mount Pleasant, Texas, authorities said.The three letters were mailed from Shreveport, Louisiana, last month, federal authorities say.The FBI found "very low concentrations" of ricin on the letters, a spokesman said last month.Richardson has had minor roles in TV series, including "The Walking Dead" and "The Vampire Diaries." A law enforcement official told CNN that investigators believe Richardson sent the letters herself. She was angry at her husband, the official said.CNN reported early in the investigation that the FBI considered Richardson to have serious credibility issues when they began interviewing her.What is ricin?More from justiceObama: We need to respect policeFeds prepare corruption charges against Sen. MenendezBoston bombing trial: Life or death?Powered by Livefyre

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Miami International Film Festival Announces Full 2014 Lineup
With 30 years of festivals in its past, the Miami International Film Festival will mark the start of its fourth decade with some changes. It's been a gradual growth process to bigger and better things since festival director Jaie Laplante took the helm of the festival in 2011. Photo by Hans Morgenstern Jaie Laplante announcing line-up of MIFF 31
"Last year was the 30th year, which was really about looking back at our history," said Laplante following a news conference Tuesday morning on the Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus that included not only new spotlights on two new countries (Germany and Mexico) but also local filmmakers. "Now we are in our fourth decade, and we can really look forward and create lot of new memories so that in our 40th anniversary we can celebrate things that we're doing now," he continued.
Laplante first took the stage to announce the high-profile gala events, which will include films starring Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Andy Garcia, Woody Allen and Sofia Vergara as well as a career tribute to John Turturro. Lapalnte then offered a slide show highlighting competition films and the return of recent new categories including the popular Mayhem category, specializing in the Midnight film variety, and Lee Brian Schrager's Culinary Cinema, which pairs food-centric films with specialized dinners at high profile restaurants.
The highlight came when he invited several local filmmakers to the stage and asked them them to offer a single word describing their feelings about being a part of MIFF 31. True to the revolution of the Miami film scene, they could hardly hold themselves within the restriction. "Super excited" said Ronnie Rivera, director of International Noise Conference 2013. O Cinema's co-founder and director of Cherry Pop: The Story of the World's Fanciest Cat, Kareem Tabsch was even more colorful with: "Fuck yeah."
Though MIFF has gradually come to embrace local film talent, it's never given it such a prominent presentation. Monica Peña's surrealistic documentary Ectotherms will have its world premiere at the festival. She said, "By championing local filmmakers, MIFF situates our work within broader trends in independent film. And the independent film industry seems increasingly intrigued by the distinct point-of-view of Miami's filmmaker-- a Miami Wave, a Miami School, supported locally at every level, from funding to production to exhibition at our city's world-class festival."
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Edna principal to move to Victoria's Patti Welder
May 17, 2012 at 12:17 a.m.
Updated May 18, 2012 at 12:18 a.m.
A total of 66 people applied to become superintendent of the Victoria school district.
Superintendent Bob Moore is retiring at the end of this school year.
Board members pored over the applications in a closed meeting Thursday night and will select some to interview next week.
Forty of the applicants are from Texas, and candidates came from 16 other states.
Members of the firm said they were impressed with the quality and quantity of the applicants.
Edna's high school principal will soon be a Patti Welder Panther.
The Victoria school board at its Thursday meeting approved hiring Richard Wright as the new principal of Patti Welder Middle School.
Patti Welder has "great kids, and I know several people here (in VISD)," Wright said. "It's just a great educational opportunity to come over and start a new lifestyle."
Wright has been with Edna High School for 12 years - 10 of them as principal. In April, the Edna school board voted not to extend Wright's contract, a move that sparked confusion and outcry among parents and students.
Supporters circulated petitions calling for Wright's contract to be extended, and several showed up at a special board meeting to voice their support for their principal. Edna ISD Superintendent Bob Wells told parents and students Wright's record was unblemished but said he could not comment about a personnel issue.
According to a Facebook group, "If it's not Wright, it's wrong," supporters were planning to show up to Monday's Edna school board meeting in full force again to fight for his contract extension. The group has more than 300 members.
Thursday night, Wells said he knew about Wright's potential employment with Patti Welder, but he had a duty to remain professional throughout the questioning from the community. He wished to assure Edna citizens the district has been and will continue to be committed to providing a quality education to every student.
Wells said he's convinced the board will be able to hire a new principal before next school year.
"I just wish Richard Wright the very best," Wells said. "Victoria is to be congratulated on hiring a talented school administrator."
Though Wright said he'll miss his time in Edna, the husband and father of two teenagers said he's ready to get to work helping Patti Welder reach its full potential.
"It's so hard for schools, and especially teachers and kids not to have some kind of structure and to not know what tomorrow's going to be," he said. "I think stability and leadership are going to be my two greatest strengths."
Wright will begin training and meeting students and staff in the summer. He'll take over the reins at the beginning of the next school year.
Trey Edwards, principal at Mitchell Guidance Center, has served as the school's interim principal since December.


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TPG's Teoh hits back at NBN Co over fibre competition
PUBLISHED: 26 Mar 2014 07:38:00 | UPDATED: 26 Mar 2014 10:38:03PUBLISHED: 26 Mar 2014 PRINT EDITION: 26 Mar 2014NBN's Ziggy Switkowski and FIS chair David Murray. Photo: Louise Kennerley
David Ramli and James Hutchinson
TPG Telecom chief executive David Teoh has hit back at calls from NBN Co executive chairman Ziggy Switkowski to stop the construction of competing fibre networks, arguing the telecommunications market should be open for the good of Australia.
Mr Teoh, whose company is building a rival fibre-to-the-basement network that could break the business model of the $41 billion national broadband network, said NBN Co should compete with players like TPG and Telstra for access to homes and businesses.
"If [NBN Co] is a commercial entity it must stand on its own two feet," he told The Australian Financial Review. "The most important thing is to get your costs down and compete in the marketplace – not to disadvantage one player.
"It's not the commercial way of doing things, you have to be fair to everyone."
Mr Teoh's comments came after Mr Switkowski told the Financial Review JPMorgan Chanticleer Lunch Tuesday that NBN Co should retain exclusive rights to connect homes and businesses to faster broadband "at least for some time".
TPG has begun connecting 500,000 apartments in Australia's five capital cities to faster broadband by extending its existing corporate fibre network to the basements of those buildings. Mr Teoh said it had customers trialling the service and was ramping up construction.
The move, which would be replicated by major players Telstra and iiNet if TPG is allowed to proceed, takes advantage of a legal loophole included in 2011 laws that let telcos extend their existing networks to within a kilometre of their pre-2011 footprint.
But the threat of competition places pressure on the NBN's business model, as it would need to compete for high-value broadband consumers in urban areas, which are needed to subsidise broadband access to rural and regional users.
It is one of a number of regulations being considered by a cost-benefit analysis, led by Michael Vertigan, which is due to in June. A decision on the loophole itself could be brought forward, however, as pressure mounts to determine whether companies other than NBN Co can compete for access to consumers.
Competition good for country
"It's not a loophole," Mr Teoh said. "What we're trying to do is what's good for consumers – competition. What is good for this country is competition as well. We shouldn't try to create protected industries because I don't think it's healthy for this country moving forward."
But Mr Switkowski has argued that NBN Co should remain the only company building fibre networks to homes, warning competition could "compromise" the business case. "In a way, many of us viscerally believe in letting the market rip, competition going forward and at the end of the day we'll get an outcome that's perhaps better for the economy as a whole," he said on Tuesday.
"Until there's a policy shift which I do not foresee, NBN will be built to be the monopoly wholesale provider of fixed line access to the internet for all Australians." He said the issue, introduced under former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, had been made worse because the NBN was being rolled out much slower than forecast.
"Many of these things wouldn't be issues if NBN had achieved more and we were moving faster, because then you wouldn't have other players in the industry believe they had a window of opportunity in time to go in there and provide an alternative to end users," Mr Switkowski said.
Mr Teoh said he was surprised at resistance from Telstra and SingTel-Optus, which have called on the government to close the loophole. He was also critical about the NBN's model of cross-subsidising the construction of broadband access in regional areas by charging city-dwellers higher prices. "What we ask for is that you be fair and use what is best to drive your costs down and then you compete," he said.
"The benefit will flow to the consumer and that's what we want. Don't inflate the costs for the 80 per cent [of users] because of the 20 per cent. There are ways of doing thing – how do we get the costs down, which is good for this country."Sources close to the crucial renegotiation of the $11.2 billion deal between Telstra and NBN Co have also warned that indecision on the issue could affect conclusion of the deal
The Australian Financial Review
Read more
Companies | Telstra Corporation., iiNet Ltd |
People | David Teoh, Ziggy Switkowski, Michael Vertigan, Stephen Conroy |
Topics | Technology /Telecommunications |


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text: Stayed for a week in June. The condo's are older, they have the dark walls of the 70's/80's, but the furniture was comfortable and so was the bed. We could not believe how well stocked the kitchen was! We could not see the lake very well, but that did not distract from the view from the patio. One bad thing,... More


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Flick through the ads in women's magazines these days and you could almost be reading a medical journal, with terms such as "clinically proven", "dermo-clinical trials", "in vitro testing" and impressive-sounding chemical names bandied around. Pharmacy and supermarket shelves are crammed with cosmetics that promise to wage war on wrinkles, and the minuscule print on the packaging invariably claims some scientific basis. There are even references to so-called clinical trials, with subject numbers and results – all that's missing is the test-tube-wielding boffin in the lab coat. Do these fancy claims have any substance or are consumers simply being seduced by a sophisticated new form of marketing dressed up as science? CHOICE looks at some of the tricks of the trade and the regulations in place to keep the advertisers in check.
Please note: this information was current as of April 2009 but is still a useful guide today.
When, how and why did science become the new sex? Cosmetics ads in the 1980s started to include high-tech references to clinical trials and fancy chemicals. Meanwhile, the increasing presence of science in popular culture has taken it out of the lab and into the mainstream – think MythBusters, Al Gore and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. As the community becomes less science-phobic, advertisers have exploited science on a whole new level, using science that people can sort of understand to add respectability to products in a crowded marketplace. An ad that can "prove" a product works thanks to scientific-sounding tests and ingredients seems to give this product an edge over its competitors. However, people claim to be sceptical of science used in advertising. One large survey found that more than half the respondents thought the scientific claims used in cosmetics ads weren't accurate, and fewer than one in 10 thought they were completely truthful. More in-depth research found that the use of pseudoscientific language caused people to react negatively towards the ad and product advertised. Whether any of this affects people's shopping habits is a different matter: evidence from research suggests it doesn't Ad man and commentator Adam Ferrier told us: "These claims work because people use them to help justify a decision they have already made at an emotional level. "Because there is a strong desire to purchase (vanity), the scientific claim doesn't have to be very strong for the person to justify the purchase to themselves. They're willing to go along with it – even though, when pressed, they probably know that the science behind the scientific claim is often very weak."
If you see an ad for a cosmetic product or a complementary medicine you think stretches the limits of the claims it can make, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com, or the CRP. For more information and a link to the advertising code, see the Complaints Resolution Panel's website: www.tgacrp.com.au.
26 Jul 2012 | The jury is still out on the risks associated with nano ingredients in sunscreens and cosmetics.
24 Jun 2009 | There's a lot of websites listing chemicals to avoid in cosmetics, some with convincing reasons for doing so, such as cancer, infertility and general toxicity.
4 May 2007 | How can consumers work out what has been tested on animals and what hasn't? And what are the alternatives to animal testing?
15 Jun 2007 | The current buzzword in the world of anti-aging is cosmeceuticals. But is there any real science behind the hype?
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Discussing: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Gimli. Oh yeah.
Dim Genesis
Message: 1475
13 Dec 02 4:59 PM
Original Post
General Audience
Message: 1475
13 Dec 02 4:59 PM
Original Post
General Audience
What sort of female dwarf do you think Gimnli would be interested in? Where would she be from? Would they be in lurve before the War of the Ring or fall in Aglarond?
Opinions, anyone?
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I think she need not be neccessarily a lady Dwarf. I think a neat romance with a hobbit lass that was just too tall or bigboned for the hobbit gentles to think of her as pretty might be cute. Sort of a Cinderella story. She might be a servant for the Sackville Baginses and Gimli met her by chance when visiting Sam while traveling with Legolas. Frodo is already gone over the sea. And the Sackvilles come a calling to verbally abuse Sam and his Rose and generally make nuisances of themselves...Obviously it is the latest generation since Lobelia wouldn't have been around to harrass anyone. But surely she had some sour tempered offspring to carry on her tradition. And they might have a servant lass, say her name is.....
Tanta Grubb from Sackville. (that is what my name is when you run it thru the Borrowdowns converter. I just ran hope hoover thru and it gave me Tanta! I think it's cute)
Anyway, I think she might be cute, just a bit on the burly side, even for a hobbit and she just isn't very well thought of by the Sackville Bagins'. And Gimli is there with Legolas visiting Sam and he sees her one day as the Sackvilles make a bad showing of themselves. Gimli is, of course, quite smitten.
I like!
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I have a story in development with Gimli and a Dwarven lady, who gets introduced to Legolas at some point. More than that I will not tell, but it has odd connections to the story of the Raven.
Dwarves keep secrets very well. But Legolas will finally understand why people would think Dwarven women have beards. It's a religious thing.
Anyway, of course Gimli is a romantic! Dwarves are rather sentimental where wives and children are concerned, from my POV.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Bua ha ha! Yes!!
Not that I dislike Lina or anything (credit where credit is due, I think Miss Cam's Lina was the first OFC to fall for Gimli), but I want to see a believable Dwarf-woman. And I want to see Gimli being Dwarvishly in love with her.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I'm with Dwim here, my problem isn't finding Gimlli romance, but GR with a dwarf-woman. They're constantly ignored (more than the usual ignoring dwarves get) but, the way I see it, if dwarf-ladies have beards, the dwarf-gentlemen will find that beautiful. And love them for it in that very dwarvish way, hopelessly romantic, but kept to themselves.
So that makes three of us writing Gim romance, right? Because, EW, you doomed yourself just like Mike over there at the Denethor thread. Perfect scenario and setting, now I want to see that dwarf/hobbit written!
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Hobbits are really small compared to most every other being, particularly the women. When the tallest Hobbit male (about 4' 2") barely reaches a Dwarf male's shoulder, we're talking major proportion difficulties. And then we have bulk issues, too. A tall Hobbit woman would be 3' 7", and weigh perhaps 45 - 50 pounds. It is not an impossible combination, mind you, but it would not be likely.
I posited that a "tall" (5' 3-4") average human female who lived in a community (such as Dale) that had regular business with dwarves might develop a relationship with a Dwarf who had been known to her family for a generation or two, particularly if she had some great craft skill but had another problem that might render her unmarriageable among humans.
I also thought that a Dwarf might acept a female slave as part of a business trade from one of the southern or eastern human trade caravans, and then would be stuck with her. He would have accepted the trade because (being a Dwarf) he is reverential towards females (so few among Dwarves, and so prized) and might have considered it a matter of honor to remove her from slavery. However, a deal is a deal, and he woudl not wish to loose property by simply freeing her.
So, we batted around the idea of indentured servitude, with her working her way to freedom. Affection could grow. She might be reluctant to go back to living among humans because of previous slave status and fears of being re-enslaved. At some point, something might happen.
I can't really see Dwarves hiring human prositutes unless very bored and/or very drunk. Elves? Getaouddaheere.
So, that's Auntie Ang's thoughts on the matter.
The Gimli story would be short (No, really!) and would be set in Aglarond after the War. Dwarven mythology would be featured. But I might need to redo Lions first. Argh.....
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Looking forward to seeing your story, Ang.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
And the Wife conviently dead. Sigh.
In canon, for the major players -- Faramir presumably outlives Eowyn, but he stays in Minas Tirith. OK
Eomer and Lothiriel -- I don't know. OK
Arwen withdraws herself to faded Lorien after Aragorn dies. Well, I've discussed that at obessive length umpteen times.
Rosie dies before Sam, so he can go west and join Frodo. Sigh.
Merry and Pippin are both widowers when Eomer recalls Merry to Rohan before his death. Isn't that special?
So these potential romances tend to squick me, because JRRT has already gotten 3 wives out of the way, which I already don't like. Shall we add more? Sigh
I suppose with a human lifespan, if either hooks up soon after the Ring War having the OhumanFCs die before Aragorn is less of a stretch that all three relevant hobbit wives living significantly shorter than their husbands (aren't they all born after their husbands? -- the social norms seems to be toward slightly younger wives).
I'm babbling. Someone hooks up Gimli with an OFC Dwarf, however, I'm probably going to groan.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I think I would love a post Ring War romance with Gimli.
I think she need not be neccessarily a lady Dwarf. I think a neat romance with a hobbit lass that was just too tall or bigboned for the hobbit gentles to think of her as pretty might be cute. Sort of a Cinderella story. She might be a servant for the Sackville Baginses and Gimli met her by Bagins'. And Gimli is there with Legolas visiting Sam and he sees her one day as the Sackvilles make a bad showing of themselves. Gimli is, of course, quite smitten...
I stopped reading there. The temptation is to write this thing out is too great... argh... must get nuzgul vaccine...
Re: And the Wife conviently dead. Sigh.
Estella Bolger and Diamond of Long Cleeve both lived reasonable life spans for Hobbit women. Diamond would ahve been 87 - 89 when she passed away, and Estella would probably have been in her early 90's - very respectable ages. Rose Cotton was 98 when she died, after a long marriage (62 years). Romances for the men afterwards would be unlikely as they are also pretty far advanced.
In terms of Gimli, "wife conveniently absent" makes much more sense than for almost anyone else, as Dwarves appear (after the Ents) to have the most gender-divided social lives. Hmm, interesting thoguht - Dwarves are the children of Aulë and Ents the children of Yavanna, and they both have some problems getting the sexes to stay together in the same place.
Anyway, if Gimli is in a romance (and, yes, Auntie Ang had a brain flash on that one), it would be reasonable that he might spend many years away from his spouse without this being odd or objectionable by Dwarven standards. However, dallying with someone else whilst married would be a very bad faux pas. I don't think any Dwarf-mother would take such an insult .
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Average height Dwarf male = 5' 2"
Human male, non Dunedain - 5' 7-10"
Human male, Dunedain - over 6', up to 7'
Elven male - over 6', probably up to 7'
Go mark it on a stick or on a door jamb. That's a hell of a big difference in size - almost two feet. We're only talking height here, too. When you start factoring in bulk, then they are even more different.
A tall Hobbit male might be an edge over 4'. For example, in my Hobbit stories, I am assuming that Bilbo and Frodo are about 3' 11" tall, and that their cousins Sara and Mac are 4' 1-2", putting the tops of their heads about on level with the top of Dalin's shoulder. Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took was only 4' 5", and was the tallest Hobbit in memory until Merry & Pippin, who were probably 4' 10", 4' 11" after the Ents. I think both of them would have been @ 4' before the Ent draughts. Sam, in contrast, with no Fallohide lineage, would have been 3' 6-8"
A small Hobbit female might be only 3' at full maturity (I imagine my OC Dilly, Mac's wife, to be 3' 2-3" - tiny compared to her tall husband), while most women would be 3' 4-6". Average males would be 3' 6-9". A woman from a strong Fallohide family, such as Gilda or Esmie, would probably be about as tall as Harfoot/Stoor males - 3' 6-9", with an occasional very tall woman of 3' 10-11".
JRRT also posited that the overall height of the Hobbit population was moving downwards, which indicates to me that the earliest "Hobbits" were probably much closer to human and Dwarf heights, in the upper 4' lower 5' range.
I'm really crunched for programming right now (rushing to finish major site revisions before end of year and beginning of story rush), but I do have a document in the works to show relative sizes between the peoples.
Toodles - Ang
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I LOVE tall women, no reason very tall Hobbit lasses can't find love too.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
As for size difference being an impediment to marriage, I don't see it. After all, most basketball and volleyball players end up hooking up with considerably shorter mates.
(who took several courses in growth and development at uni)
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I keep thinking of the wide range in the human race alone. For example the Bushmen in Africa: They are very small, but since they don't live today as isolated as they used to do, there is much interbreeding with other, that means: much bigger men and women, up to the point of likely possible extinction as a racial and cultural group in the near future.
So I think height differences can be overcome.
In Swabia, where I come from, there is a folk saying regarding love between a big man and small woman: " a mouse never suffocates under a haystack."
(Sounds much more charming in the swabian dialect.)
About Gimli romances in general:
Write them! I will read them!
Of course Gimli is a romantic character. He has an eye for beauty and is very able to get enthusiastic.
Dagmar, sometimes a rabid Gimli fangirl
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Sure, but it's not just absolute differences, it's also proportion. I won't repeat all Ang's stats, but JRRT described Hobbit height as "variable, between 2 and 4 feet of our measurement." (I think that's the exact phrase, but don't have book to check.) So... whatever he meant by "child of nine summers," it would still be 4 feet max.
Taking the assumption that an average female Hobbit would be, say, 3' 5" (which may be on the high side!), and that an average male Dwarf would be perhaps 5' 2" (as per Ang's workings-out), then we have not only a 21" height difference, we also have a situation where the woman is only 2/3 the height of the man.
A 21" difference between a 5' 1" woman and a 6' 10" man (short woman, tall basketball-player type) means the woman is nearly 3/4 the height of the man - not as big a stretch. And virtually all modern pairings are a lot closer than that, often only 6-8" difference at most (I am only about 2" shorter than my SO, fwiw).
So it would undoubtedly be physically possible for a Dwarf man and a Hobbit woman to get together, but size differences would make it unlikely, IMO. And the cultural and social problems would be an even bigger difficulty to overcome.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Thinking about the people I dated before I got married, about the only thing they had in common in terms of physical appearance is size - none were a great deal taller than I, perhaps 4-5 inches at most. I didn't consciously notice it at the time, but thinking it over, I suspect that for me, a great difference in size would alter the balance in the relationship and make it inequitable, simply because of the potential (physical) power of the one. Of course, I'm sure there are many people out there for whom that would be a positive rather than a negative...
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
A Dwarf is not only going to tower over a Hobbit female, he is going to be massive next to her. OTOH, a Hobbit baby, no matter how small, is a heck of a lot larger than any (ahem) male appendage. So, I think that it would be a problematic situation, but not physically impossible for sexual relations to occur, and even be pleasureable for both partners.
However, I'm still unconvinced that any relationship could work out. I am not someone who thinks "love conquers all". I could see a human/Hobbit relationship more easily than Hobbit /Dwarf.
Besides which, what is wrong with putting a dwarf male together with a dwarf female? I'm getting a bit bemused at the mental gymnastics over putting two different species together rather than simply trying to imagine what a Dwarf woman is like, and putting someone like Gimli into a relationship with said Dwarf female. Besides, I think you are going to find Dwarven m/m relations long before you would find Dwarf/ any other species you care to name relations.
Why the desire to pair a Dwarf with something pretty, rather than with another Dwarf?
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I agree that dwarves will keep to each other. Male dwarves will find women without beards unattractive.
Dwarf women are a very underwritten species. So far, I know some stories by Deborah here on HASA, who interprets Gimli as a female dwarf, and Honesty's new story "Warg Hunt" on FFnet has a very nice portrayal of Narvi's mother. That's all I can think of. I would like to see more dwarven women.
Unlike other women in Middle-earth, they have the advantage that it is very easy to send them off on adventures with a big axe in hand, if you wish to.
I think Terry Pratchet borrowed the whole concept of dwarf biology and culture from Tolkien and used it to the best in his novels.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Unlike other women in Middle-earth, they have the advantage that it is very easy to send them off on adventures with a big axe in hand, if you wish to.
I think Terry Pratchet borrowed the whole concept of dwarf biology and culture from Tolkien and used it to the best in his novels. ~ Dagmar
Yes, he did, and I have borrowed his interpretation in turn - the "relationship" between Gimli and Tir (the OC) is quite solemn and rather more focused on enigneering than anything else. This is Dwarves we are talking about, after all.
Now let's hope I don't fall flat on my face.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
My reference to "pretty" is our perspective, not the Dwarves perspective. A Dwarven woman is going to very, very closely resemble a Dwarven man, and they are certainly not in accord with stadards of "fairness" -either our own, or Tolkien's. However, they would find each other quite attractive.
I think I am the only person here who takes Gimli's comment about Dwarf women having beards as a joke, tweaking the gullibility and ignorance of his friends in a gentle way. I explain the beard as a type of "veil" that Dwarven women use in the presence of outsiders, to hide the fact that they are female, but with a cultural importance that preceeds any interaction with non-Dwarves. Overall, Dwarves are secretive about their society, and are going to go to great lengths to hide it from non-Dwarves. I suspect that the different divisions of Dwarves (petty Dwarves, Broadbeams, Longbeards, Firebeards, etc.) are going to be secretive between each other as well. A Dwarf would be amused at misleading an outsider as to Dwarven habits and customs. Their sense of humor is sly.
As for women dwarves in stories, my short work, "Treasures" has Bilbo meeting both a Dwarf woman and a Dwarf child. It is available on HASA.
I also have a longer story, "Lions of Khazad-Dum," which is an AU of the flight of the Hollin elves from Sauron during the first Ring War in the 2nd Age. One of the main characters is the consort of Durin, a Dwarf woman known only as The Raven, and dwarven women in general appear in the story.
In a subsequent story, Legolas asks Gimli about this quasi-mythical character, and Gimli (grudgingly) talks a tiny bit about Dwarven belief concerning the divine consort of Durin, her sacred origins, and her role in Dwarven society. Email me about a URL to either of these.
I have an OC male Dwarf, Dalin, in my beta story "On Merry Yule," available here on HASA. Chapter 10 is mostly given over to him explaining to the Hobbits the conflict between Dwarves and Elves, and is very much the Dwarves take on the whole thing. Made up almost whole cloth, but with attention to the tone of writing about Dwarves found in the Silmarillion, and playing off of notes about Dwarves in the "History of Galadriel and Celeborn." I also use the essay "Of Dwarves and Men", HoMe XII for this chapter. There are oblique references to Dwarven women. The chapter is mostly meant to explore Dwarven mind-set, and to illustrate the parochialism of Hobbits.
Finally, somewhere in the forums, I posted the opening to a Dwarf story from the perspective of Dis, Thorin Oakenshield's sister, as she leads a trade delegation to Lake Town from the Iron Hills while Smaug is still alive.
Dwarf women would not be sent on adventures, axe in hand, because they are so precious and so few (like Dwarven children), but they would certainly be perfectly trained in how to use one. Not someone an orc would want to meet in a dark passageway, no. They would also be well trained in crafts and metal work, as well as (keeping with the JRRT universe of what females are particularly graced in doing) in more "domestic" talents with weaving, sewing, cooking, etc.
I take much of this from his notes on Elves, and the way in which certain things (healing, making Lembas, Arwen weaving the banner for Aragorn, too many things about Luthien to itemize) are done by women by virtue of their, well, virtue - there is a sacred component to certain types of care for others and of acting upon and in the world. Thus, Dwarven women have a sacred task of maintaining hearth and home that has very little to do with our modern notions of stay-at-home moms. The making of things and the making of life (invention and natality) are more closely allied in Dwarven thought than they are in Elven or Human, as their myth of origin does not begin with their awakening, but with their crafting by Aulë.
Oh, dear, this is turning into an essay on the sacred and Dwarven home life. Sorry!
In short, no, I can't imagine Gimli being romatically involved with anyone except another Dwarf, and I just don't buy Dwarven women having beards. So, gotta go write some stories to explain why. ;-)
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Gimli is clearly an incurable romantic. A late 19th-century style romantic. If Gimli had a favorite composer, it would be Mahler. My fiance (with whom I am currently reading LOTR out loud) thinks that Gimli is very Prussian. I think it would be lovely to see a Gimli romance, preferrably with a dwarf woman.
The only female dwarf I ever remember reading about was a character in the Dragonlance universe, who had a nice little romance with whatever the dwarf character's name is in that series (sorry, it was a really long time ago). It was one of the sidebar novels that dealt exclusively with the dwarf character and his non-quest activities. I thought it was a cute story, and when I think of dwarf women in the Tolkien universe, I tend to imagine them in the same sort of way, since Dragonlance is very Tolkien-derivative.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
Well, I refer you to the following, quotes from the Q&A from The Green Books at TORN (becaue it's quite handy and I'm at work and thus don't have the books with me ^_^):
"The passage in Return of the King says that "[Dwarf-women] are in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other people cannot tell them apart." … In Peoples of Middle Earth there is draft material from that Appendix, and the draft version of this passage says that "There is no difference in substance in the present text, except for the statements that they are never forced to wed against their will (which 'would of course be impossible'), and that they have beards." Why JRRT chose to omit this information cannot be guessed.
In the post-LotR Quenta Silmarillion is a section containing "the words of Pengolod concerning the Naugrim" (pp. 203+ of The War of the Jewels, US Edition at least). In paragraph 5, we learn that "no Man nor Elf has ever seen a beardless Dwarf–unless he were shaven in mockery, and would then be more like to die of shame than of many other hurts that to us would seem more deadly. For the Naugrim have beards from the beginning of their lives, male and female alike; nor indeed can their womenkind be discerned by those of other race, be it in feature or in gait or in voice, nor in any wise save this: that they go not to war, and seldom save at direst need issue from their deep bowers and halls."
So there you have it. I myself love the idea of the bearded female Dwarf, and that's what I use in my own stories, mostly because of underlying psychological and mythological considerations which I'm not going to go into here, and partly because Pratchett put this to such good use that it's almost impossible for me to go any other way.
certain things [snip!] are done by women by virtue of their, well, virtue ~ Ang
Well, as someone who's had much nastier experiences with women and girls than with men and boys, I am not very receptive to recycled Victorian pieties about womanhood ^_^ Judging by Eowyn's confrontation with the inner beast, which I will try to take to its logical conclusions in the aforementioned 4th Age fic I'm writing, at least as it came to humans, Tolkien was probably inclined to agree. Elves and the Golden Age may be another kettle of fish altogether (though, for example, Galadriel (that says it all)), but I don't write about Elves nor the glorious Homeric past. Writing about the advent of the Human Age is, I find, much more interesting...
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
I look at this information and I think that the beards on Dwarven women is the one element in the 1951 writings that are out of keeping with the rest of his comments on Dwarves, and appears to be the one thing he himself was quite uncertain on. It does open up these characters to lampooning, or turning them into side-show freaks. At best, I think JRRT himself is of two minds on this matter (what Pratchett says is, of course, irrelevant), and, if the redlining is definitely older than the the first essay, clearly he changed his mind on the question, leaving it more ambiguous - outsiders cannot tell male from female.
Why? Is this because of facial hair or disguise? There must be some kind of facial covering that resembles a beard, because all Dwarf males have them, so how can they be accounted for? Would Aulë truly have made females with beards, when no other (known) female creations had them? Why/why not? How many ways can we account for them? Wouldn't Dwarves have been able to fashion this kind of "wig"? Would it amuse a Dwarf to know a non-Dwarf was being fooled?
Anyone may, of course, write about dwarf women with beards, especially if they wish to copy Pratchett. My point is that more interesting stories may arise from presuming that Dwarf females are like other females in this regard. Then the similarity between male and female in the eyes of outsiders requires artifice and craft on the part of Dwarves. I just find that a more interesting situation than "Hey, look, a bearded lady!"
As per "Victorian pieties" - I used the term "virtue" in the classical sense of a particular excellence, talent or quality. I don't mean females with intact hymens.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
As per "Victorian pieties" - I used the term "virtue" in the classical sense of a particular excellence, talent or quality. I don't mean females with intact hymens. ~ Ang
Lol! I was referring to the classical sense of "virtue" myself, e.g, the Victorian notion that women are pure angels of light, an idea which immediately makes me reach for my sick bag, so insufferable it is.
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.
By the same token, such properties as an inclination to organize, to heal, to make peace, towards precision, all are in themselves morally neutral, but may be used for good -- or for bad -- depending on the personality and will of the individual posessing the qualities/virtues/traits. The urge to nurture can lead to overprotectiveness; the urge to peace can lead to papering over of irreconcileable differences; the urge to precision can lead to obsessively controlling nitpicking; the urge to organize can lead to a loss of proper goals. These "good" qualities are at one and the same time occupational hazards as well as prerequisites for teachers, medical practitioners, and parents (and Powers, too.)
Re: Gimli. Oh yeah.


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Hotels near the Falmouth Week
Falmouth Week
Falmouth Week has grown from its earliest origins in the 1820s. It is now a major event held over eight days, encompassing all aspects of racing on the water and some serious partying around town.
Hosted by a different sailing club each day, there are six races culminating in the Regatta Prizegiving. The week ends with Falmouth Week Champagne Day, another race with prizes for each class (but no dinghy racing). There are plenty of family-friendly, land-based events too.
Falmouth Week Information
When: Aug 2013 (annual)
Where: Falmouth
Opening Hours:
Address: Falmouth
Content provided by Frommers Unlimited, copyright © 2012: Whatsonwhen Ltd, John Wiley & Sons, Inc


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Chief Keef - Stop Callin Me
Stop Callin Me Chief Keef
A snippet leak off Chief Keef's upcoming mixtape "Bang 2", which he's decided to drop since it looks like he is avoiding jail for the time being.
Give Stop Callin Me [Snippet] a spin - it's a new offering from Chief Keef. It was dropped on Friday, January 4th, 2013. Chief Keef's rap artistry continues to improve with every release, something which is most definitely evidenced on Stop Callin Me [Snippet]. His ever-expanding catalogue is definitely better for it, and we're looking forward to the next piece of the puzzle - aren't you?
Check out Chief Keef on I Got Cash, featuring Dro. If you're down, make sure to visit Chief Keef's profile page for the newest info, news, songs, and mixtapes. Follow Chief Keef on Facebook and Twitter, if you aren't already.
How does this compare to Chief Keef's previous work?


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About Hansen Ford
The Hansen Advantage
Hansen Ford is an independent, locally-owned and operated dealership in Grande Prairie. Serving Grande Prairie and the Peace Country since 1984, our family-owned dealership has over 30 years of experience in helping customers drive away happy.
Community Builders
If there's one thing we believe in, it's that good deeds bring good things to everybody. We're active supporters of our community, and believe in supporting local charities, non-profits and worthy causes. When you buy a vehicle from Hansen Ford, you're not just supporting us - you're building your community. Be sure to visit our Community Page to learn more about what we do.
Largest Ford Inventory in the Peace Country... and Growing!
Hansen Ford is proud to offer our customers the largest selection of vehicles north of Edmonton! When you come to Hansen Ford, you're guaranteed to have a lot of great choices to pick from. Our friendly and knowledgable sales staff are always available to help you find the perfect ride.
We're excited and looking forward to the expansion of our dealership in 2014 with a new Lincoln showroom and our brand new Used Vehicle Centre.
Get Service When It's Convenient for YOU
Our Service & Parts Departments are open seven days a week from 8am - 8pm.
While everybody claims they have great service, Hansen Ford lives up to that promise. We have the longest service hours of any dealership in the region to ensure our customers can get everything they need to keep their vehicle running in tip-top shape.
A Team You Can Trust
We believe in open and honest communication, full transparency, and serving YOUR needs. Prices are clearly displayed on our new vehicle inventory - we don't hide them. Our sales staff is always ready to help, or simply let you discover Hansen's great inventory on your own. Either way, we're about building relationships with our customers, and that doesn't happen without trust.
Easy Approvals & Financing
Our financing team is experienced and motivated to help you succeed. We can not only help you obtain a loan on a new vehicle, we can help you restructure an existing loan to lower your interest rate, payments, or term. First-time buyer? Student? Single mom? No problem - let us help you get what fits you best.
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When buying vehicles for your business, time is money. Hansen delivers the reliability, service and commitment required to help you grow. Our experienced commercial / fleet sales staff can equip your business with best-in-class fleet solutions, no matter how large or how small. From a delivery vehicle to customized fleet of transport trucks - we've got the inventory, service & support you need to see it through.


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Slate Oilfield Services is the division of Slate Holdings Inc. tasked with providing the nuts and bolts of oil and natural gas production and transportation to our clients. We do the work that keeps oil and natural gas flowing freely from reservoir to market. Some of the myriad of services we provide include:
Workover Rigs Onshore drilling rigs Drill Pipe Pumps Flow Control Equipment Oil and Gas Transportation Roustabout Fluids Fracing Completion We at Slate Oilfield Services understand that in the modern oilfield environment safety, reliability, and a drive to provide the most complete package of services possible is of the utmost importance. We strive everyday to grow our business and to help keep reserves flowing.


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Graphic Designer & Illustrator • www.facebook.com/cadzartdesigns
Graphic Designer & Illustrator • www.facebook.com/cadzartdesigns
I like 'z' art
Apr 16th, 2012Follow me on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LTArts Follow me on DeviantART: http://lt-arts.deviantart.com Lindsay Tiry is a digital artist & photography hobbyist, born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She first discovered her passion for digital art in 2008. With previous knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, she began her journey as a self taught artist. Her artworks have a wide range of genres some include; fantasy/dream-like , magical,mysterious, & dark imagery. She is inspired by all types of art and music, which inspires her to create a wide range of her own creations. Lindsay is a dreamer and reveals her dreams through art. Still learning new techniques everyday, she is determined to improve her skills. She is available to commission her artwork and will also take requests. Send e-mails to lindsaytiry.visualarts@gmail if interested.
Aug 15th, 2013Digital Art - Photography - Design WB: http://www.ivanpawluk.com/ BLOG: http://pawlukart.blogspot.com.ar/ Be: http://www.behance.net/ipawluk Tmr: http://ivanpawluk.tumblr.com/ SURREAL: http://www.surreal.ivanpawluk.com/ DA: http://ipawluk.deviantart.com/ PH: http://pawlukfotos.blogspot.com.ar/ YT: http://www.youtube.com/user/ivanpawluk TW: https://twitter.com/ivanpawluk PS: http://www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk/user/ipawluk Award: DAILY FEATURE: Salviantt DAILY FEATURE: El guerrero Daily Inspiration #382 #383 #384 #385 #386 #387 #391 #392 #393 #395 #396 #401 #465 #466 .....................
Mar 21st, 2012Hello .. Im Hero Mujahid is a graphic designer from Indonesia contact me if you interested for my works... CP : email@example.com
Jun 3rd, 2011I really, really, really like to draw...
Jul 22nd, 2011Ahoj :) i am Lucie and i love everything what has something with art and people :)) i am trying to take photos because this is my passion and matter of my heart but i have still a lot to learn :) wish you all wonderful day and hush hush to make your awesome art so i can enjoy it here :D ♥
May 3rd, 201126, French, psychologist. My hobby is the digital art
Sep 5th, 2010Hello ! I'm a graphic designer from Paris (France). I work with Photoshop since 2001. Music, literature and film inspires me a lot but generally, I love to inspire me from everything around me.
Mar 7th, 2011http://www.behance.net/itchyhand https://www.facebook.com/ChrisDalidaVectorArts http://pinterest.com/istian18kenji/ http://istian18kenji.deviantart.com/ http://www.wix.com/istian18kenji/istian18kenji
Mar 2nd, 2011


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60,000+ customers
Sunrun and its certified installation partners build a solar system every 10 minutes. That's a lot of happy, money-saving customers. Sign up
Our solar consultants can help you find out if solar can save you money.
Fill out this form or call us directly.
Your solar panels are talking. Are you listening? With our super cool tools you can monitor output on your desktop, tablet or phone.
Geek Out


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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Handbell Choir
Leigh-Ann Lethco, Director
Rehearsals on Thursdays, 11:30-12:45
We're always looking for ringers. Open to all UWO students by audition.
Music reading skills necessary. Contact
Dr. Lethco
Link to photos, videos and programs from previous events.
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
UW Oshkosh Deptartment of Music
This page is maintained by
Leigh-Ann M. Lethco
Last modified: January 5, 2012


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La Raza Chronicles, for April 7, 2009 - 7:00pm
Download this clip (mp3, 10.28 megabytes)
Play this clip in your Computer's media player
Tonight we feature a conversation with independent journalist Andrew Willis Garces about recent mobilizations in Colombia around water rights and offer an interview with pionerering OB/GYN Dr Dan Grossman, who has worked on women's reproductive autonomy issues in the US and Latin America about making birth control pills available over the counter.
We stroll through the Streets of Aztlan and hear music and spoken word of guest, Rico Pabon, and news from the Americas sin fronteras. We include a calendar of upcoming events in the Latino Community.
Produced by Vanessa Bohm, Carmen Andrea Rivera, Julieta Kusinir, Ctone, Ventura Longoria, Emiliano Echeverria and Nina Serrano.
More from this show: About the Show | Archives of this Show | Playlists from this Show


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PartitionMagic 4.0
The above may appear to paint a rather bleak picture—to some extent, this is justified. The types of operations performed by PartitionMagic are inherently dangerous and bugs in such a program are a serious matter. On the other hand, my suspicion that the bugs manifest due to something specific about my system may mean that others may have better luck. PowerQuest also has a good reputation for producing reliable software, so I have high hopes that they will correct these problems. Assuming this happens, PartitionMagic 4.0x will be an excellent program and a must-have utility for anyone managing multiple operating systems on one computer. The $69.95 price may seem a bit high, but if you have ever spent most of a day juggling partitions around using tape backups, removable disks or some similar mechanism, you'll recognize the appeal of being able to do that quickly and on the fly. If you own a previous version of PartitionMagic, the $29.95 upgrade price represents a true savings for any Linux user, since it radically improves on the program's utility for the Linux community.
The best possible way to use PartitionMagic seems to be as an exclusive means of managing partitions on a drive. Because of incompatibilities such as the one mentioned above with Linux's fdisk, I recommend using PartitionMagic to create all the new partitions on a disk. If you find yourself with a disk that PartitionMagic won't handle because of Linux-created logical partitions, you may be able to use Linux's fdisk to delete the offending partitions and recreate them in the correct order. If you're careful to create new partitions of precisely the correct size, your partitions will still be usable, but I strongly recommend backing them up before attempting such an operation.
If version 4.01 is not available by the time you read this, I recommend waiting for it unless you are in immediate need of Partition Magic's abilities. If you must use version 4.0, use it cautiously: back up all data before changing a partition, then run e2fsck, CHKDSK, or SCANDISK on any modified partitions immediately thereafter. (You may need to specify the -f option to e2fsck to be sure it runs on the partition.) A spot check of the integrity of the data after a modification would also be a good idea. Of course, these suggestions also apply to any program that does low-level operations on a hard disk, but given the problems I encountered with PartitionMagic 4.0, they apply even more strongly to it.
Roderick Smith can be reached via e-mail at email@example.com.
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As Linux continues to play an ever increasing role in corporate data centers and institutions, ensuring the integrity and protection of these systems must be a priority. With 60% of the world's websites and an increasing share of organization's mission-critical workloads running on Linux, failing to stop malware and other advanced threats on Linux can increasingly impact an organization's reputation and bottom line.
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- February 2015 Issue of Linux Journal: Web Development


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As an Optimum customer, you will receive a monthly personalized video of your Optimum bill statement. The video is designed to help you become familiar with your billing statement, and understand charges such as a pro-rate or partial month. With a personalized video bill statement you will have a better understanding of your bill, and will also learn about Optimum self-help features.
If you are a new Optimum customer or an existing customer who made a change of service within the last month, you will also receive an email advising you that your personalized video bill is available for viewing, with a link to the video.
The video bill is also available on Optimum.net or on Channel 900 and will be available continuously until your next billing cycle. To access the video bill on Optimum.net, simply click here, log in if needed, then click on View video bill. If you don't see the link at first, click on the Optimum logo, and then go back. To access the video bill on your TV, tune to Channel 900 and then select My Bill Explained.
The personalized video bill, available on your billing cycle, provides an itemized explanation of your Optimum billing statement as follows:
Account Summary
Monthly Charges
There may be times when your video bill is not available on Optimum.net or on Channel 900. This may be due to your bill not having been created yet. If your bill is not available, the following messages will display.


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App Description
This app is for entertainment purpose only!There are several boxes in this App. Each box has different funny, just for your entertainment of rest time.
Thanks all for support!!
App Changes
February 03, 2013 Price Decrease: $2.99 -> FREE!
October 11, 2012 Price Decrease: $0.99 -> FREE!
October 03, 2012 Initial Release