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Stop-motion iPad also magical, revolutionary
The magical, revolutionary iPad is not just in and of itself magical and revolutionary, of course; it also inspires people to be magical and revolutionary, as in this marvellous stop-motion video of a plasticine iPad produced by 26-year-old Ukrainian Svetlana Shokhanova. It was made for the "Post Digital Brief at the British Higher School of Art and Design (Moscow), Interactive and New Media course." We really love this.
Of course, as commenters say on YouTube, a plasticine iPad does have its advantages-while it has a pretty lousy FPS, it can be jailbroken with Play-Doh. Read on for the video (as commenters note, it looks even better in YouTube 1911 mode).
[Via Mashable]
Software Updates
more updates- Apple Remote Desktop updated with Yosemite support
- OS X Yosemite 10.10.2, iOS 8.1.3 updates now available
- Sports Illustrated 120 SPORTS channel comes to Apple TV
- Logic Pro X update brings AirDrop support, new effects, tools, and more
- Parallels Access 2.5 released, adds file manager, computer-to-computer remote access
- The Google Translate iOS app is about to get a lot smarter


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We are excited to announce that in March 2015 we will be opening our 8th location! Our 8th location will be located at 14902 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75254. Stay tuned for more information and until then "Make it Snappy".
Every day, each location features a salad, homemade soup, and grilled flatbread. See what's on the chalkboard for today.
See FeaturesENEWS SIGNUP
Stay up-to-date on all things Snappy including events, new features, and maybe even some free stuff every now and then.
Sign Up NowSNAPPY SWAG
Purchase the official Snappy Swag that shows your true passion for eating good food.
Buy NowMENU FAVORITES
It's all good, but these items really make your what-to-eat this-time decision difficult.
What People Say
Can you imagine craving a salad?!? Well this one you will! The quality of the produce is amazing and the price really can't be beat either. I love Snappy Salads and constantly recommend it to my friends and family

subset: commoncrawl


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Blog | Orange & Blue
Tavares named Hart Trophy finalist
Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013
By now you know John Tavares is the Most Valuable Player on the Islanders. He has been a major catalyst for the team in the middle of a playoff run against the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. On Friday it was officially announced that he is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP as well.
"Dougie [Weight] broke the news and it means a lot coming from him," Tavares said during Friday's morning practice. "I was a little shocked; a lot of emotion. It's a tremendous honor to be recognized, especially with those two. They are great players. I've gotten a lot of support since I was a kid, and I appreciate everyone who has gotten me here since I first put skates on at 3-years-old."
This season Tavares, 22, led the Islanders in scoring for the fourth straight year. He scored 28 goals and added 19 assists for 47 points in a shortened year due to the work stoppage.
Tavares was the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft and has recorded 249 points in 291 regular-season games.
In their long and prosperous history, the Islanders have only had one Hart Trophy Winner. Bryan Trottier won the honor in 1978-1979, the season before the Islanders went on to win four straight Stanley Cups.
The other finalists are Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin.
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To Mr. Jack Parr: I am doing a family study of the Tunks family, it's a continuation of a study by Omar A. Tunks. Hanna Tunks is in my tree and maried to a Robert Whiting, if this is the same marriage please contact me and I will give you all of the information I have to date. I would be endebted to you for any information you have with this part of my tree. Thanx: Dave
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Sharon Hunt Partnership Raises EGUS Awareness
Norbrook hosted a successful equine stomach scoping day on 9th February at GB Eventing stalwart Sharon Hunt's Suffolk yard to raise awareness of gastric ulcers in horses.
Norbrook® is very proud of the fact that it is the only company in the world which is licenced by the United States Food and Drugs Administration to manufacture sterile injections for veterinary use outside the USA and import them for sale in USA territory. This is an exceptional achievement which underlines not only the company's outstanding manufacturing capabilities in Northern Ireland but also its unparalleled knowledge and expertise in regulatory and licencing requirements.
Our company is a strong believer that the Veterinary Pharmaceutical industry requires a self-regulatory body which is modelled on tried and tested systems. It is of the utmost importance that this industry takes a responsible approach for Health and Safety of the individual and the Environment and works in close co-operation and synergy with the relevant regulatory bodies.
Our Company is regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the EMEA; whichever is appropriate in the circumstances. We uphold their standards of advertising and we adhere at all times to their standards of "Safety, Quality and Efficacy". In this way the products we produce are manufactured to the same and/or better standards required of our competitors by the Regulatory Authorities.
We have taken a view not to become involved with any of the existing "trade" member organisations as they do not have any statutory powers devolved from the VMD or EMEA to regulate industry standards or enforce legislation in the public's interest. In doing so we in no way compromise on the high standards set by the Regulatory Authorities, nor could we choose to even if we so wished. Indeed, our Company prides itself in being the only European company licensed to import its sterile injectable pharmaceutical products into the United States of America. We are able to do this because we have satisfied the very highest standards imposed by the US Food and Drug Administration for this purpose. This is a standard that none of our European Competitors has yet achieved.
Ballyedmond Castle Farm is a key component of Norbrook's Research and Development. The research farm, which is the only one of its kind in the United Kingdom and the largest of its kind in Europe, provides the ideal environment for confidential research. All studies conducted at Ballyedmond Castle Farm conform to international GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) standards, fulfill the requirements of the regulatory authorities and adhere to relevant legislation.
Arlene Foster, MLA Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has recognised Norbrook's expertise in Research and Development as well as the company's innovative new product development in an article that can be found at www.northernireland.gov.uk.
The company is a true innovator and dedicated to novel research and revolutionary processes and products. In true entrepreneurial fashion, Lord Ballyedmond identified an opportunity with the implementation of the Medicines Act 1968 and subsequently pioneered contract manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in the UK. Forty years on, Norbrook continues to lead the world in contract manufacture, by not only meeting the high regulatory demands, but also through an on-going commitment to research and development.
Norbrook's entrepreneurial spirit continues to be at the heart of the operation today. Its most recent development has been the launch of a revolutionary new product, Closamectin, a unique combination of Ivermectin and Closantel, which is on course to revolutionise the treatment of fluke, worms and lice in cattle and sheep. Available as an injection for sheep and a pour-on solution for cattle, the company anticipate half a billion sales of the product worldwide annually within the next three years. (for more information about Closamectin visit www.closamectin.com)
Please note: Product information presented on this website is intended only as a brief summary of Norbrook products for your convenience. Not all products or indications are licensed in every country and may be subject to further local variations. For specific product information you should always consult a healthcare professional from your region. Please see our terms and conditions for further information.
If you are a veterinary surgeon and would like additional information on any of our products please email email@example.com


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Like topic says, i bought SC with steam vallet few hours ago and still havent received them ingame. Purchase shows in my SOE account page but SC is not credited.
Have you logged completely out of, then back in to the game since purchasing the SC? If not, give that a shot, and if it's still not there please contact support.
Have you tried logging out and logging back in? If they are still missing, please submit a support ticket so we can figure out what's going on.
Same issue. I bought 1000 SC through Steam, logged out, shut down the game, re-started and logged back in. Still no SC. I've seen a few people complain about this in-chat, too.
Best thing is to put in a support ticket to :- http://help.station.sony.com/app/ask/ Please remember though that it can take while to be answered .
Create a support ticket explaining the situation and include the following to speed up the process Steam Account name: Planetside 2 Account name: Server: Character name: Copy of the receipt/email from Steam: Date of Purchase: Time of Purchase: I think that should just about be everything they need saving the case of them replying when your not there and you having to send another one and get in the queue again
No , if you have already placed a ticket from the ingame access , it goes to the same place . The link i gave above is the webside access to it . The ingame just opends a browser in game to the same place , so your good as far as that goes
I'm having the same problem. Bought SC through steam and have yet to receive it. SOE account page shows the transaction so I'm pretty worried.
I would put in a support ticket as already said in this thread , to the Account and Billing section if you haven't already done so . Even if it is just because of a delay in processing with buying through Steam , if you put in a ticket , they become more aware that there is a problem with that method , so they can look further into it .
Have you got your issue sorted yet? Mine was escalated to tier 2 billing. Until further notice i would keep from purchasing SC from steam side as it seem its not registering correctly at SOE account.
Haven't heard back from anyone yet. If it goes on into next week I might as well just put the money toward a new Steam game instead.
If it has hit the 24hr mark , send a pm to one of the TSRs on here ( conversation option ) with your ticket number and ask for them to look into it, the team do chase them up on request , but please give them ( TSRs ) chance to respond to you if you do send a pm as i know they often have over a load of convos on the go at once . They do generally try to aim to at least give an initial response within 24hrs ( not just the automated response ) , even if they can't actually fix it within that time frame .
My issue was resolved by very helpful support person. Thank you very much for friendly support personnel SOE. On the other hand he said that there were a system error when i bought the SC from steam.
Also make sure to add screenshot from your soe account purchases page and from the email you get from steam for the wallet purchase. Did speed up the thing greatly.


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See the Tuition & Fees page for detailed cost, refund, and payment information.
Tuition and fees are assessed and payable at registration each semester. Registration is not considered to have been completed until all assessed tuition and fees have been paid. Tuition and fees paid by check are not considered to have been paid until the check has cleared the bank. Students who have not met all financial obligations to the college will not be permitted to attend classes. No student will be permitted to re-enroll, graduate, or receive a transcript until all financial obligations to the college have been satisfied. All tuition and fees are subject to change by direction of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The current semester class schedule should be consulted for current tuition and fee rates. Any student who has a question or problem concerning tuition, fees, or other monetary transactions pertaining to the College should contact the Business Office.
Capital Equipment and Sensitive Items Checkout Transfer Authorization
Roane State Community College is a TBR and AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.


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There will be an event targeting to moms here in my town and I was thinking of sending media kit to the vendors. I know my blog is not at the rate that these vendors are willing to pay for an ad space. Right now most of my income or gig is from paid post and giveaways, and that's what I would like to focus on when sending my pitch. I guess I would like to know from my fellow blogger, at what level of traffic (# of visitors, twitter follow, facebook likes, etc) would you consider selling or pitching your blog to companies?
Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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August-September 2010
First Koshu Wine Exported to UKThe first batch of 650 bottles of Koshu-labelled wine to be marketed in Europe left Japan for London, reported iStockAnalyst on 21 July, with a further 2,000 bottles expected to follow by September. |
Financial AllianceChuo Mitsui Asset Trust and Banking Company has formed a strategic alliance for reciprocal asset management services with Standard Life Investments Limited, reported the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on 29 July. |
Papers' Digital ChargeThe Times became the UK's first non-business daily newspaper to charge for digital content, several Japanese media outlets reported in July. |
PM Vows FDI SupportPrime Minister David Cameron said the ability to continue to attract and retain inward investment from Japan, the US and other countries is at the heart of the government's economic recovery plans, according to a London Press Service report on 16 July. |
Low Carbon Energy DealMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) agreed to develop low-carbon and wind energy, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on 21 July. |
Ramen Chain Up For SaleMajority owner Lion Capital is trying to sell Pan-Asian ramen restaurant chain Wagamama for up to £250m, The Sunday Times reported on 1 August. |
Brand's 20th BirthdayThe Body Shop celebrated its 20th anniversary in Japan, Mode Press reported on 16th July. |
Nagasaki Memorial EnvoyDavid Fitton, acting head of the British Embassy Tokyo, accepted an invitation from the governor of Nagasaki Prefecture to attend the city's annual memorial prayer service on 9 August for victims of the atomic bombing, the Nagasaki Shimbun reported. |
New Cosmetics BrandHigh street fashion retailer Topshop will launch its own original cosmetics brand in Japan in September at a new store to be called Topshop/Topman Miraza Shinjuku, the Nihon Seni Shimbun reported on 15 July. |
Hague Drives Leaf EVForeign Secretary William Hague test-drove one of Nissan's new Leaf electric vehicles that will be manufactured in Sunderland and go on sale in Japan in December, according to several media reports. |
Hybrid Production Starts in DerbyshireToyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) has started making the Auris Hybrid, the first hybrid manufactured in Europe, the Daily International Automotive Affairs website reported in July. |
Strong Yen Hits SalesToyota Motor Corporation said it could import to Japan its UK-made Avensis model due to the strong yen, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 13 July. |
Two Years Before London OlympicsThe British Embassy Tokyo held an event on 27 July to mark two years before the start of the London 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games… |
Cover Story BIG IN JAPANAn entire wall of the lobby at the IBSC JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center is taken up by colourful pamphlets declaring "Fascinating Kanagawa: Best place for your business", and "Saitama City: Business hub in the new era", plus the more prosaic "Industry of Ehime". Clearly, Japanese prefectures want foreign business. |
Investment Time to Buy into Japan?Japan has been in a bear market for nearly 20 years. With a stock market index at one quarter of its 1989 value, it looks as though the world's second-largest economy may soon lose that place to China. |
Business Risk Mitigating against Corporate Fraud in AsiaIt is generally true that fraud is harder to conceal when credit is tight or during a major financial crisis. Corporate fraud occurs when there is a clear opportunity and detection appears remote, or when the corporate culture is insufficiently robust and people believe dismissal is the worst that could happen. |
Great British Brands Grosvenor's 1,000-Year HistoryThe floors are burnished hardwood and the kitchen surfaces flecked marble. The architect's clever use of light lends the apartments a sense of space and airiness. The over-sized windows take in the green expanse of Yoyogi Park, while the night view from the roof garden… |
Great British Brands Unilever - CSR and Global PioneerEver since the predecessor of Unilever was founded in 1884 by Lord William Hesketh Lever, it has had priorities other than profit margins and the bottom line. Lever Bros. was one of the few firms of the day that cared about its workforce… |
Visiting Japan Sir Robert Fry KCB, CBEWhat will the next strategic shock be? When, and where, will it occur? Those were the unsettling questions posed by Sir Robert Fry, former deputy commander of coalition forces in Iraq and newly appointed executive chairman of the British global business performance advisers, McKinney Rogers. |
Hospitality Convenience is KeyAs Tokyo vies with New York, London and Asian capitals to be the global business center, MORI LIVING is innovating to help exceed the expectations of international and local residents alike by offering the convenience and comfort of all-in-one central locations. |
The Case for ArbitrationThe fine art of arbitration has been a formal part of the legal landscape since it was recognised by England's Arbitration Act of 1697 — although this form of dispute settlement was in use long before then, notably by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks — and it has become an increasingly important part of doing business in a multi-national world. |
Embassy New UK Bribery LawsThe UK has passed new legislation on bribery (the 2010 Bribery Act) and, like the existing law, it will also apply to UK citizens and businesses based overseas including in Japan. |
Politics Championing UK Business AbroadUK firms operating in Japan and elsewhere overseas are to be given a significantly greater helping hand from the British government, said Foreign Secretary William Hague at the British Embassy in Tokyo on 15 July. |
My Day Roland Buerk: BBC Tokyo correspondentRoland Buerk became the BBC's Tokyo correspondent in January 2009, following five years in South Asia covering war, poverty, elections — and the Indian Ocean tsunami that he survived. |
CSR NPO Helps Vulnerable FamiliesWe know a number of families in Japan have problems, as families do in all countries. Some here face disability, health problems, depression and stress. Mothers in particular can feel isolated at home with babies or young children and there are significant problems with poverty, child abuse and neglect. |
Education Global Learning in Japanese SchoolsFor Japanese and foreigners with children here, living in Japan offers a safe, clean environment and the opportunity to pursue numerous pastimes. However, when it comes to education, the picture often looks less rosy. |
Open to Ideas |
Review Dyson DC31 MotorheadI gave my mum the new Dyson DC31 motorhead vacuum cleaner because she has owned another Dyson model for a few years. She adores it for the powerful suction and unmistakable — if rather eccentric — design. |
Everybody's Talking at Me |
BCCJ Success Stories |
UK and Japan: Financial Partners |
Industry Getting from There to HereThe dramatic changes in hiring seen since January in the area of logistics and procurement accurately reflect the lively movement in market prices. While many businesses are still understandably cautious, there is a growing optimism in supply-chain businesses, as they seek to better position themselves for the expected period of expansion with selective hiring. That said, salaries have not grown to levels seen in previous years. |
Industry How BI Software Drives Intelligent BusinessA survey conducted in January by Gartner, Inc. predicts that the list of spending priorities for technology chief information officers will continue to be led by software for business intelligence (BI), the umbrella term applied to methods and technologies used to gather and analyse information for improved decision-making. |
Industry IT with ServiceIT is changing before our eyes. Thus, firms looking for new systems or upgrades should know how to navigate relevant changes to remain competitive; this means, for large firms, ensuring the accessibility and efficiency that lead to customer satisfaction. |
British Business Awards 2010 BCCJ British Business AwardsNominations are invited for the third annual BCCJ British Business Awards to be held at the Conrad Tokyo hotel in Shiodome on 19 November. |
Community |


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by Paul Sanders
Buying a brand-new computer is exciting but not always practical. Fortunately, you can upgrade the computer hardware on your existing desktop computer or laptop to boost performance and save money. Here are five components that can give your computer more speed, storage space and new capabilities.
RAM: Your computer uses RAM, random access memory, to perform functions and operations. More RAM allows your computer to perform more tasks simultaneously and run faster. You can boost performance by installing additional RAM or replacing the existing computer hardware with larger memory sticks. RAM is easy to replace on a desktop, but you may have to check your user's manual for instructions to add or remove RAM on a laptop.
Hard drive: Hard drives on most laptops and desktop computers are modular and can be easily swapped for a faster model with a larger memory capacity. With a larger hard drive, you can store more programs, music and photos. You can even install more than one hard drive in a desktop computer to expand storage or back up files.
Optical disc drive: Upgrading to a new DVD burner or a Blu-ray disc drive will give your computer new capabilities. An optical drive is easy to install, and you may even be able to install multiple drives on the same desktop, with one drive as the master drive and a second as a "slave" drive.
Processor: Your processor has a large impact on the speed and performance of your laptop or desktop computer. It's also a very simple component to change. Before you choose a new processor, however, check the processor socket type on your computer's motherboard. Your new processor needs to match that socket type to be compatible.
Video card: Graphics processing units, or video cards, are for computers that handle heavy image processing in video games and 3-D rendering software. A new video card can boost the graphics processing ability, allowing you to play the latest games or use your computer as a high-definition entertainment center with your HDTV.


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New flavour from the Swedish premium vodka producer. Absolut Wild Tea has a rich, fresh aroma with hints of black tea, elderflower, red apples and citrus. The taste is rich and fruity with tones of black tea, natural sweetness and smoothness.
Wild Tea Negroni
:25ml ABSOLUT WILD TEA
25ml Aperol
25ml Sweet Vermouth
Stir all ingredients.
Strain over cubed ice into a rocks glass.
Garnish: Orange Twist
Wild Smokey Tea
50ml ABSOLUT WILD TEA
20ml apricot brandy
20ml lemon juice
15ml egg white
2.5ml gomme
(Ardbeg 10yr old rinse in Coupette)
Pour all ingredients into a boston glass.
Dry shake.
Add ice & shake.
Strain into a chilled coupette glass that has been rinsed with a peaty single malt whisky.
Garnish: Orange Twist


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Robbins & Myers And National Oilwell Varco Receive Second Request Under Hart-Scott-Rodino Act
Robbins & Myers, Inc. (NYSE: RBN) and National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) announced today that they each had received a request for additional information and documents from the U.S. Justice Department (often referred to as a "second request") in connection with the proposed merger transaction in which National Oilwell Varco would acquire all of the outstanding shares of Robbins & Myers for $60.00 per share in cash. The second request was issued under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act").
The effect of the second request is to extend the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after Robbins & Myers and National Oilwell Varco have substantially complied with the second request (unless that period is extended voluntarily by the parties or terminated sooner by the Department of Justice). Robbins & Myers and National Oilwell Varco intend to respond expeditiously to the Second Request and expect to close the transaction soon thereafter.
In addition to expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, the proposed merger remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including approval by the shareholders of Robbins & Myers.
About Robbins & Myers
Robbins & Myers, Inc. is a leading supplier of engineered, application-critical equipment and systems in global energy, chemical and other industrial markets. About National Oilwell Varco National Oilwell Varco is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling and production operations, the provision of oilfield services, and supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry. Forward-Looking Statements Statements set forth in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Robbins & Myers and National Oilwell Varco, which could cause actual benefits, results, effects and timing to differ materially from the results predicted or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the failure of the Robbins & Myers' shareholders to approve the merger; satisfaction of the conditions to the closing of the merger (including the receipt of regulatory approvals and completion of certain compliance due diligence); uncertainties as to the timing of the merger; costs and difficulties relating to the proposed merger; inability to retain key personnel; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; and other important risk factors discussed more fully in Robbins & Myers' preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 31, 2012 in connection with the merger, Robbins & Myers' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2011; National Oilwell Varco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, their respective Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K; and other reports filed by either of them with the SEC from time to time (including Robbins & Myers' final proxy statement relating to the proposed merger). Neither Robbins & Myers nor National Oilwell Varco undertakes any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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Lisa Murray
Smooth transfer belies undercurrents
PUBLISHED: 16 Mar 2013 00:36:25 | UPDATED: 16 Mar 2013 04:40:23PUBLISHED: 16 Mar 2013 PRINT EDITION: 16 Mar 2013China's new leadership team has been tasked with managing the slowing economy, volatile property market and increasing public angst over pollution, food safety and corruption.
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The Mink Pink Cleopatra Black Print Dress is coming at ya, so get ready to steal the show! A knit sleeveless bodice is fitted to perfection, with an exquisite black, white, and gold abstract print that's worthy of Cleopatra herself. A full woven skirt in classic black completes this classy fit and flare look, with an exposed back zipper for a chic dose of metal. Unlined. Model is wearing a size x-small. Self and Contrast: 97% Cotton, 3% Elastane. Lining: 100% Cotton. Machine Wash Warm. Imported.
NEED HELP CHOOSING A SIZE? See measurements & fit info for this garment in the Size & Fit dropdown!
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS: Compare these measurements to your own body measurements. We measure each item "relaxed" on a flat surface, not stretched on a person's body. It is helpful to consider the material of the item, as some stretchy materials may give an inch or two.
Size | Bust | Waist | Hip | Length |
X-Small: | 29" | 26" | 36" | 32" |
Small: | 31" | 28" | 38" | 32.5" |
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Because sizing and cut will vary between brands, please use this information as a general guide. Use our Size Chart to help determine your size. If you are between sizes or need help finding the proper size, please Chat with a Stylist.
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-"I like to look like a person. It drives me crazy when you see women in movies playing teachers, and they have biceps. It totally takes me out of the […] Continue reading Trouble The Dog Dead At 12; Patti LaBelle & Lady Gaga Make Beautiful Music Together; & Other Thursday Crunch Crumbs
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Patti LaBelle will be recognized for her five decades in music and Steve Harvey will be honored for his philanthropic contributions at this year's … Continue reading Patti LaBelle, Steve Harvey Honored at BET Awards


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Dedicated to the coverage of UND Hockey. The team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux.
This is an awesome picture - I only wish you were still with us Andrew, we will miss you but at least you got the opportunity to do this. THANK YOU!!Jeff S, Cary, IL (327)


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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
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"The flexibility given with creating invitations through Wedding Paper Divas is great! We love our invitations and how they turned out."


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Looks like it was made by Tommy Tedesco's son, maybe. I like how the "reviews" page is members of the Wrecking Crew saying "it's about time they made a movie about us." I wonder if it will be as big as Standing In The Shadows Of Motown?
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 6 March 2008 14:31 (6 years ago) Permalink
NYC Wrecking Crew movie FAP y/n. Any hints when it's showing?
― ian, Thursday, 6 March 2008 15:09 (6 years ago) Permalink
Ah, here's a list of songs these L.A. studio guys played on...
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 March 2008 15:52 (6 years ago) Permalink
What, no "Bernadette"?
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 6 March 2008 15:56 (6 years ago) Permalink
Too soon, myself!
Is it actually playing in NYC, ian? I can't figure that out from the website.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 6 March 2008 15:57 (6 years ago) Permalink
Anybody seen the Dean Martin movie with this title from 1968 or so?
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 March 2008 16:40 (6 years ago) Permalink
Matt Helm movie? I think I saw a few seconds of it out of the corner of my eye once while driving past the Whitestone Drive-In.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 6 March 2008 16:47 (6 years ago) Permalink
That's a few more seconds than I saw. I think there's also a Brit film with this title.
Are remaining Wrecking Crew members gonna tour like the Motown Funk Brothers did? With Sinatra and the Ronettes on video, or some young vh1 baby boomer-friendly singer substituting!
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 March 2008 19:34 (6 years ago) Permalink
For some reason I don't think it is going to strike the same chord with the public.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Friday, 7 March 2008 19:51 (6 years ago) Permalink
It's got to sooner or later, right? I figured you know, cuz you're onna dem film peoples.
― ian, Friday, 7 March 2008 19:54 (6 years ago) Permalink
Did any of these folks have, uh, interesting experiences when working with Phil Spector?
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 March 2008 21:30 (6 years ago) Permalink
That song list has Turn Turn Turn listed. It goes against the party line that they only ever played on Tambourine Man.
― Officer Pupp, Sunday, 9 March 2008 23:39 (6 years ago) Permalink
Howdy. My name's Jon and I am one of the producers of "The Wrecking Crew" film.
― jonnyo, Friday, 21 March 2008 12:45 (6 years ago) Permalink
I am new to your forum, but was pleased to hear folks discussing The Wrecking Crew movie. It had 3 screenings at SxSW in Austin last week and was very well received. It is now on the film fest circuit, next one being Buffalo Niagara Film Festival 3/24-3/29. It's playing there because Niagara Falls is the hometown of Tommy Tedesco. Yes, his son, Denny, directed the film. The film will move on to the Nashville, TN., Film Fstival, where it has the honor of closing the event on April 24.
Officer Pupp is correct that The WC did not play on turn turn Turn (at least according to Roger McGuinn). We'll have to fix that on the song list.
To answer ian's query, we'd LOVE to show the film in NYC, but part of our process now is to get the film sold to a distributor so we can share it with the world. It's forums like this that will help get word of mouth going, and hopefully the film will get a limited thetrical release soon.
Responding to James Redd, if past screenings are any indication, the film has a good chance of resonating with an audience. There are some good Phil Spector stories in the film, as The Wall of Sound is covered extensively.
As to the question of The Wrecking Crew touring, there are no such plans, but you never know if the thing takes off. Some have passed away, some are involved in different endeavors, some are infirm.
If you were around in the 1980s, you may have seen the documentary short (28 min) we made about Tommy Tedesco and his legendary career. It played on some PBS stations. Tommy was an absolute monster guitar player and is quite possibly the most recorded guiarist in the history of the recording industry. He was a great guy, with a heart as big as his talent. He went out of his way to help other guitar players. He passed away in 1997, and we miss him very much.
Anyhow, I'll check back in when i can to follow up on any thoughts or questions ya'll may have. I hope you all get a chance to see the film, for it is an important cultural document and gives credit where credit is due.
― jonnyo, Friday, 21 March 2008 13:05 (6 years ago) Permalink
RIP Jerry Cole
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 9 June 2008 18:46 (6 years ago) Permalink
Here's some more http://www.surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=376
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 9 June 2008 18:52 (6 years ago) Permalink
Cole can be heard on the Beach Boys' 1966 album "Pet Sounds," the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" single and the band Them's self-titled 1965 album.
Plus on the Champs "Tequila".
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 June 2008 01:16 (6 years ago) Permalink
Too bad you can't see all the cats in The T.A.M.I Show. Although you can see Hal Blaine a few times on his riser, Jimmy Bond (I think) on upright and Jack Nitzsche once very clearly.
― King Creole Love Call (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 4 April 2010 23:41 (4 years ago) Permalink
Ah, haven't gotten the TAMI show dvd yet and only have vague memories of the bootleg I saw years ago.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 4 April 2010 23:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
RIP Billy Strange
― Literal Facepalms (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
Although I was one of those who initially sneered at the Monkees, known then as the Prefab Four, cos they were like plastic and bogus man like didn't even play their own instruments--it eventually dawned on me that some or all of the same cats on their first album may have played on the Byrds debut as well. The TAMI Show seemed awesome when I first saw it on TV, not long after its 70s release (was there a 60s release, or did they leave it in the can that long?) The newbie-to-America Stones managed to follow althose titans, Jagger jittering through "I'm Alright"(bit of a question, but yeah you're alright kid)
― dow, Thursday, 23 February 2012 19:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
Billy Strange RIP
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
Re: don's commentsdidn't the Stones delay for hours so they wouldn't have to go on right after James Brown?
― Can You Please POLL Out Your Window? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 23 February 2012 21:58 (3 years ago) Permalink
― tylerw, Tuesday, 28 February 2012 17:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
Author Hartman is doing some March 2012 west coast appearances for the book I see:
Friday, March 2, 7:00 PM: Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA (with special guest Wrecking Crew guitarist Don Peake)
Saturday, March 3, 3:00 PM: Bookstar (Barnes & Noble), 12136 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA (with special guest Wrecking Crew keyboardist Michel Rubini)
Sunday, March 4, 2PM: Chaucer's Bookstore, 3321 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA (with special guest Wrecking Crew producer Bones Howe)
Tuesday, March 6, 7:00 PM: Books Inc. (Opera Plaza location), 601 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, March 13, 7:30 PM: Powell's City of Books, 1005 West Burnside,Portland, OR (with special guest Wrecking Crew bassist/ukulelist Lyle Ritz)
Thursday, March 15, 7:00 PM: Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA (Seattle Area)
Friday, March 16, 7:00 PM: Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Bellingham, WA
Thursday, March 22, 7:00 PM: University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle, W
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 February 2012 17:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Read a bunch of this last week, some good stories and photos, the guy obviously had access. Some misspellings of non-Wrecking Crew musicians's names and other infelicities.
― MIke Love Battery (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 6 April 2012 15:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
Just watched the documentary The Harmony Game mentioned on this thread this is a poll to decide which is the best track on bridge over troubled water by simon and garfunkelwhich features interviews with Hal Blaine and Joe Osborn along with a photo of Larry Knechtel.
― Ian Hunter Is Learning the Game (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 00:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
So author Hartman is gonna try to turn the book into a movie
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 15:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
B-b-but there is already a movie.
Came to say RIP double bass player Jimmy Bond, who passed away last April unremarked by us.http://irom.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/an-appreciation-jimmy-bond-1933-2012/http://jazztimes.com/community/articles/41068-jimmy-bond-music-architecture-a-bonded-design
Check it out, when he was coming up he went to Julliard and played with Monk and Bird. http://www.theloniousrecords.com/bios/Bond,%20Jimmy%20web.htm
And check out this awesome photo:
― The Teardrop ILXplodes (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 15 January 2013 01:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Some good info and photos here: http://classicstudiosessions.blogspot.com/and here:http://www.rigorousintuition.ca/board2/viewtopic.php?p=484106
― The Teardrop ILXplodes (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 15 January 2013 01:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
Think that is Ray Pohlman on electric bass behind Jimmy's newspaper.
― The Teardrop ILXplodes (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 15 January 2013 01:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Award winning music doc needs to pay final licensing costs to be released.
― fit and working again, Wednesday, 4 December 2013 06:41 (1 year ago) Permalink
Just received this link, from Ben Greenman's good blog http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/12/the-session-musicians-who-dominated-1960s-pop.html The film is currently only a little more than halfway toward its two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar goal, with a stated deadline of December 21st. But because the Internet has magical powers when it comes to content distribution, much of what Tedesco has created can already be viewed online. On the film's official Web page,http://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com/ entering your e-mail address will give you access to dozens of outtakes from the film, including interviews with Leon Russell and Glen Campbell, and vignettes on everything from Phil Spector's famed holiday album "A Christmas Gift For You" to Perry Botkin's discovery of Harry Nilsson. This featurette, produced for the Nashville Film Festival, includes Tedesco's summary of the film and content from it, including footage of his father.
― dow, Wednesday, 4 December 2013 18:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
― That's How Strong My Dub Is (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 7 June 2014 17:15 (8 months ago) Permalink
― That's How Strong My Dub Is (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 7 June 2014 17:18 (8 months ago) Permalink
― That's How Strong My Dub Is (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 7 June 2014 17:23 (8 months ago) Permalink
― That's How Strong My Dub Is (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 7 June 2014 17:32 (8 months ago) Permalink
― That's How Strong My Dub Is (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 7 June 2014 17:38 (8 months ago) Permalink
3 Oklahoma screenings coming up
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 7 June 2014 18:11 (8 months ago) Permalink
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 11 July 2014 04:35 (7 months ago) Permalink


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this spill and some of the concepts touched on in this article, indicate that we really know very little about so-called environmental impact. pity that really scientists don't go into these fields, for the most part, instead of environmentalists.
"Did a bit of research on this uru86. "
haha...no life much?
Oil spill economic and size lessons are nothing compared to other factors.
Thank goodness for the business cycle. When the China economic bubble bursts, oil prices will collapse, along with much else, and the so-called North, especially America, will have all the low-cost oil it will need until the next upside business cycle, which may be many years coming.
Meanwhile, time is the enemy in the Gulf of Mexico. The longer it takes to cap the BP blowout, the more the risk of total wellhead collapse that will make the current situation seem like body gas in a hurricane.
Interview with survivor from the rig. Sounds convincing.
jernich, please drop me a line at firstname.lastname@example.com
Will you be writing the software? I sure hope it's been properly debugged. And no sneaking in and rewriting the code to your benefit, OK? Promise?
Planned economies dont work because humans plan them. Let a computer do the job, and we can efficiently allocate the resources and energy for the world. Take out consumerism and educate the people, you solve almost all of crime, overpopulation, starvation, greed, corruption, and the senseless need to constantly buy unecessary goods and services. No shit this is a bold claim and this would take over hundreds of years before this could become a reality. But it starts from spreading the word. This Oil Spill is just ridiculous...
Thanks bradshi,
I guess oil may be a little bit too different to compare, as any given drop can be moved many times in several systems under the control of several different owners. E.g., delivered through A's borehole, transported through B's pipeline, trucked to C's refinery, to distribution centers through D's rail system, to retail through E's trucks.
cb65 (thanks!),
I'm no skimmer expert either, but other issues (I think - just making informed guesses here):
- the operator will often spread dispersal agents over the slick, like a detergent of some sort, to break up the oil;
- oil will often coagulate and congeal as volatile components are lost to the water or atmosphere;
- oil can form an emulsion with the water, in which the oil floats as tiny suspended droplets in water
Probably the technology is there to recover oil in any or all of the cases bradshi and I mention. The issue is probably more one of commercial viability. Whatever form you recover the liquid in, you have to
1) pay a crew and boat/equipment rentals to mobilize and get to the site
2) pay a day rate while on site
3) pay to transport a large volume of liquid (probably mostly water) to somewhere it can be processed, probably requiring a larger vessel
4) pay to separate water and other impurities (detergents?) from raw oil slurry
5) deliver processed oil to a buyer (or buyers - some might only want light oil, others may take heavier forms)
I'd take a wild guess (no idea really) that this might cost a few tens of thousands per day, let's say $20,000. At $85 oil, you'd need to recover 235 barrels of quality oil daily just to break even, or maybe 300 to make it worth your while. i'd guess it's probably not viable, but would be interested to hear otherwise. But maybe if you're out there mopping up the mess anyway, and you have to do something with it, the incremental cost of processing and selling it might make sense.
jenrich, the gold standard for manufacturing defects would be Six Sigma or 0.00034%.
That said for most companies (including mine), failure rates of 0.004% would be very welcome since in my experience Six Sigma is hard to achieve except for a few highly targeted processes.
Certain classes of equipment such as aircraft or nuclear reactors easily better the Six Sigma rate (the commercial aircraft hull loss rate per million departures is about 0.84 or 0.000084%), but do so through redundant systems.
cb65, I don't claim to be a specialist on oil skimming, but from what I've seen the actual process is by turns messy and frustrating.
Consider that the oil is spread out over a huge area (currently reported at 2000 square miles), some points thicker but other points really thin, to the point that you have to cover a huge amount of ground to recover much.
Bad weather: wind and waves can break booms and make the process of skimming fraught at best. In addition the wave action (such as the 7 to 10 ft waves in the gulf over the last few days), hasten the oil breakup.
I was reading a report today that the visible area of the slick has dropped from 3400 sq miles to 2000 sq miles due to the wave action. This is pretty much the start of the natural process whereby the oil is broken up by the environment (as well as some evaporation). As the report notes it is hard to say what quantities will actually reach shore.
Jernich and Prudent Green,
Thanks for all the input. Delightful, Exceptional, and Educational.
I know I'm asking a foolish question.
Dollars and cents(sense) and all that.
Is there a technology for skimming the oil from the water like cream. That crude oil is a big pile of money.
On historic spills... just for a bit of perspective.... the list posted below totals about 22 million barrels spilled over the last 20 years. During that period there were about 540 billion barrels of oil produced. So the "failure rate" using just those spills would be 0.004%. There were more spills, but then again some barrels were moved around more than once.
What's a typical defect rate for a typical manufacturing industry? I don't know... just curious.
uru86 is a kid, obviously, and his constant references to his intellectual superiority bespeak a deep seated insecurity. I've seen a lot of discussions like this over the years. Uru is pretty typical of a young and bright person who believes that the world can be quantified by theoretical abstract (e.g. a financial model is accurate to within 1%) and neatly categorized in books. For him, experience is irrelevant, because you can google everything you need to know. Evidence is unimportant if it violates theory, because you can always find something online to support you. This reliance on web searches as a substitute for intelligence is a little disturbing, and I have to hope it's not a widespread symptom of the first generation raised in the internet era. He'll mature, hopefully, as he grows up. If not it would be a waste of a promising mind.
Third spill I believe after Ixtoc-1 (PEMEX) and Shell Bay Marchand (1970). Biggest by far PEMEX, a nationally owned oil company.
Did a bit of research on this uru86. He's got more adverts for his blog on Economist posts than comments on his blog if you care to check it out.
I wonder what he plans to teach as an academic, or whether he plans to do research. I wonder what skills uru86 would teach to justify parents and students spending and financing thousands of dollars to hear his opinions. Or perhaps he would prefer to teach where tuition is free. Then nobody knows what the value is! I suspect free/cheap tuition is a subject near and dear to the heart of uru86. Maybe he's even led student protests about it, who knows?
Why are you trying to argue with uru86? By his own words "I am in one of the most prestigious universities in the world, seeking to become an academic, a position you probably will never have. I suppose you hatred of 'intellectuals' will now come, a hatred justified by Hayek's diatribe on the 'intellectuals', a classic case of projection. These words are only "buzzwords", because YOU don't understand them and things you don't fully understand are nothing more but buzzwords. The fact is that what you saw on my blog is how you ARGUE scientifically in the social sciences. Interesting, you attack me, but you ignore my actual arguments in the blog. Go away, you aren't a serious competitor." plainly tells us that he is vastly superior to us as he is an academic as compared us worker bees. Heaven forbid he may have to try and get his hands dirty earning money. Do you not know we need his vast intellect to tell us how to think so that utopia comes?
Playing safe gets you nowhere. You have to push limits ot you stagnate.
Anyone who has been associated with the offshore drilling business knows just how far safety has come since I first entered it in 1981. Safety was just words back then, now they mean something.
People have one main fault, they are human. Things go wrong, fact of life. Just that the oil industry has drilled the huge number of wells offshore since the first one WITHOUT a major incident until this once is just amazing. Think about it for a minute - all those wells and this is first major spill in the Gulf. Can anyone think of another idustry that has that kind of record?
"Six of the eight mergers GAO modeled led to price increases, averaging about 2 cents per gallon."
LOLLOL Oh wow. What nonsense.
This is a pretty complicated model, right? It has lots of input variables, right? If we put an error bar on each variable, what do you think would be the error bar on the outcome? Let's assume that there were 50 input variables. Considering that error bars are generally additive, it means that they could measure each variable to within 0.02%. I'll bet there were a lot more than 50 variables, and if not it's a pretty simplistic model.
Here's what you and the GAO "analyst" are telling us, apparently with a straight face: that an economic model can predict that six to eight mergers have increased gasoline prices by (as of July 2004) by 1%(!). Not 2% less, or 3% more... exactly 1% more, and there is no margin of error.
My guess is that the legal fees for eight mergers and corporate costs to effect the operations mergers was far higher than any imagined gain of 1% on gas prices, when discounted to 2004 NPV. In other words, if the 1% result holds, the mergers were foolish.
"the change in wholesale price due to increased market concentration ranged from a decrease of about 1 cent per gallon to an increase of about 5 cents per gallon."
Again, applying error bars (sorry uru, but us laymen do that), this is a not a result, this is junk science. Which uru86 swallows hook, line, and sinker, because.... it fits! What did the FTC report say, uru?
"This preference, according to the officials, has motivated further consolidation in both the distributor and retail markets, including the rise of hypermarkets—a relatively new breed of gasoline market participants that includes such large retail warehouses as Wal-Mart and Costco. [INCREASINGLY A MONOPSONY, AS I STATED]"
What's the Herfindahl Index for the US retail and wholesale gasoline businesses, uru? Just curious.
"Six of the eight specific mergers we modeled—... generally( what does THAT mean?) resulted in increases in wholesale prices .... of about 2 cents per gallon, on average. .. Two of the mergers generally led to price decreases, of about 1 cent per gallon, on average."
Gosh. A stunning finding. Prices sometimes went up, and sometimes down! It's instructive that you think that eight data points is a statistically significant sample population.
uru86, why don't you go on over to peoplemagazine.com? Folks will be much more impressed with your brilliance over there.
Methinks Sarah Palin may alter her battle cry for 2012...
Seems your position is a little wrong.
"BP, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, Royal Dutch Shell, and ConocoPhillips: these five companies control 62% of the US retail gasoline market."
Incorrect. The majors have largely exited the retail gasoline business and are currently estimated to retain only about 3% of retail outlets. Their business largely ends with refining. The fact that 62% (or whatever number it is now) of US retail outlets sport majors' brand names doesn't mean the majors are getting income from those outlets.
"The same companies control 50% of the refinery capacity in the US."
The GAO report was from 2004. More recent figures show that that share has declined to 43%. Despite all that attractive value added you drool over, majors are reducing their exposure to the downstream. And on top of that, have exited the further value added represented buy retail business.
We could find a LOT of industries with this kind of concentration. Indeed, the Herfindahl Index at the national level for refiners would be below 1000; the DOJ would not even hear an antitrust case at this low level.
"..and 48% of the oil production."
Without looking through annual reports, I grabbed the most recent EIA listing I could find, for 2006. In that year, US production was 5.102 mmbopd, and your 5 companies combined for 2.06 mmbopd, for a share of 40% (note decline). However, this is really an irrelevant number, as foreign producers also compete for US share. Total US petroleum consumption was 15.2 mmbopd, so the market share by sales about 14%. The imports were largely dominated by Canada, Mexico, and OPEC, so the major's share of imported oil was probably pretty small.
In fact, in quoting all of these numbers the author fails to acknowledge that oil and refined products markets are international, so quoting US market shares is barely relevant. US gasoline imports, for example, have just about doubled in the past 10 years and now comprise about 10% of US supply. Adding these to the mix, US refiner market share would be smaller still.
I'll also quote for you the line at the bottom of the report's summary: "FTC disagreed with GAO's methodology and findings."
"But a major part of oil prices are under the control of the oil companies."
This is absurd. Prices are set on public markets. No knowledgeable person believes that oil companies control oil prices. If so, why do oil prices often fall? If they control oil prices, why do they allow their natural gas prices, which IS largely a domestic market, to plummet?
"Seems to confirm what I was saying all along."
But the FTC doesn't confirm it. The figures are wrong and out of date, and sometime irrelevant. You ignore all of this because it doesn't fit your mold.
"The concentration of industry has lead to the emergence of even further oligopolistic conditions, which forces out smaller firms, as predicted by economic theory."
You continue to ignore the fact that the largest publicly traded oil company has a 3% market share, and the top 6 publicly traded oil companies weigh in at 13%.
"See what your problem is that problem with lay-people, like you, is that you THINK that facts speak for themselves...they don't."
The problem with lay people (i.e. those not in the oil industry) is that their knowledge is limited to searches that support their bias. Their knowledge has no depth, as we see when a dilettante quotes Texaco as a major industry force, and a federal announcement on offshore drilling as evidence that California exploration has now been permitted. There's nothing there.
"Facts need to be interpreted in order to make any coherent sense.."
Or, to put it another way, "Facts need to be manipulated to fit my preconceived notions." How, for example, do I claim that a 13% market share is a monopoly? Simple! I have an app for that!
"I am not going to win the popularity contest with you here, and I don't care. But, the GAO report confirmed just about all my theses."
And what does the FTC's opinion confirm?
uru86, you are not a serious person, and your opinions have no substance. To anyone who has even a basic knowledge of and/or experience level in the oil industry, your ignorance is fully exposed. It's been entertaining though. :-) I look forward to more.
uru86, so let me get this straight.
You claimed that western oil companies controlled the majority of world refining capacity. You were wrong.
You claimed that OPEC's influence has lessened and western oil companies had increased. You were wrong.
You claimed that refining margins were higher than those for oil and gas production. You were wrong.
You claimed that the western oil companies were an oligopoly. You were wrong.
You claimed they were allowed to drill off the California coast. You were wrong.
Now you claim that a study from the GAO (which the FTC, the body of government actually tasked with overseeing competition disagreed with both the methodology and findings), proves all your prior points. Guess what, you are wrong :P
The first part of your post whether by accident or design is made to sound like it came from the GAO report, when it was simply the opinion of a website that you happen to agree with. In particular the word "dominate" was never used in the GAO report.
Even if we are to take the GAO report at face value, the combined effect of the 8 mergers and reduction in competition amounted to about 12 cents a gallon (The sum of 6x +2, 2x -1 , (5-1)/2))) if you want the detail on the math.
For an oligopoly (which is your assertion), that's a pretty pitiful return on 8 mergers. I hope that if I was a power crazy CEO I could do a lot better than that for may shareholders.
You wrote: "See what your problem is that problem with lay-people, like you, is that you THINK that facts speak for themselves...they don't. Facts need to be interpreted in order to make any coherent sense and in order to do that you need a theoretical background. This is the first lesson an academic learns, facts mean nothing without a way to make sense of them in a coherent whole. I was applying neoclassical economic theory, with a critical twist, to understand what is happening in the markets."
Facts don't always speak for themselves but in this case when you make clearly incorrect statements, they really do. If you say that something is black when it is quite obviously purple, no interpretation is necessary.
I'm not sure how you can call some posters here "lay people" when clearly they have far more experience in the industry than you do. It's a lot easier to understand macro economics than it is to gain industry experience. From that perspective you are the lay person.
uru86, you'll recall another thing an academic learns is that one should not attempt to skew the facts sampled to fit a particular theory. Yet that is exactly what you've done over the past few days. You have an opinion (which is fine and you are entitled to), but then you either misrepresent or ignore the facts that disagree with your position. In my book that amounts to gross intellectual and academic dishonesty.
WRT neoclassical economics theory, I honestly don't much care which theory you used, since the factual basis for your analysis is wrong your resultant conclusion is hardly likely to improve. In my profession we often use CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). It makes lots of pretty pictures, but a good analyst knows to do some basic checks to ensure that the answer is about where he expects it to be. The reason is simply: all the pretty pictures tend to cause people to suspend rational judgment, leading to the "Garbage in, Garbage out" syndrome.
I apologize in advance to the other readers of this Blog in having to wade through 6 pages of garbage. Now please do as you promised and go back to whichever uncritical academic retreat you currently reside in.
From the actual GAO report:
"Based on data from the mid-1990s through 2000, GAO's econometric
analyses indicate that mergers and increased market concentration generally led to higher wholesale gasoline prices in the United States. Six of the eight mergers GAO modeled led to price increases, averaging about 2 cents per gallon. Increased market concentration, which reflects the cumulative effects of mergers and other competitive factors, also led to increased prices in most cases. For conventional gasoline, the predominant type used in the country, the change in wholesale price due to increased market concentration ranged from a decrease of about 1 cent per gallon to an increase of about 5 cents per gallon.
Since the 1990s, the U.S. petroleum industry has experienced a wave of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, several of them between large oil companies that had previously competed with each other for the sale of petroleum products.2 A few examples include the merger between British Petroleum (BP) and Amoco in 1998 to form BPAmoco, which later merged with ARCO, and the merger in 1999 between Exxon, the largest U.S. oil company, and Mobil, the second largest. In general, mergers raise concerns about potential anticompetitive effects on the U.S. petroleum industry and ultimately on gasoline prices because mergers could result in greater market power for the merged companies, potentially allowing them to increase prices above competitive levels.3 On the other hand, mergers could also yield cost savings and efficiency gains, which may be passed on to consumers in lower prices. Ultimately, the impact depends on whether market power or efficiency dominates. [BUT IT HAS NOT, AS THE GAO REPORT NOTES]
According to industry officials, two major changes have occurred in U.S. gasoline marketing since the 1990s, partly related to mergers. First, the availability of unbranded (generic) gasoline has decreased substantially. Unbranded gasoline is generally priced lower than branded gasoline, which is marketed under the refiner's trademark. Industry officials generally attributed the decreased availability of unbranded gasoline to, among other factors, a reduction in the number of independent refiners that typically supply unbranded gasoline. Second, industry officials said that refiners now prefer dealing with large distributors and retailers. This preference, according to the officials, has motivated further consolidation in both the distributor and retail markets, including the rise of hypermarkets—a relatively new breed of gasoline market participants that includes such large retail warehouses as Wal-Mart and Costco. [INCREASINGLY A MONOPSONY, AS I STATED]
Our econometric analyses, using data from the mid-1990s through 2000, show that oil industry mergers generally led to higher wholesale gasoline prices (measured in our report as wholesale prices less crude oil prices), although prices sometimes decreased. Six of the eight specific mergers we modeled—which mostly involved large, fully vertically integrated companies—generally resulted in increases in wholesale prices for branded and/or unbranded gasoline of about 2 cents per gallon, on average. Two of the mergers generally led to price decreases, of about 1 cent per gallon, on average. For conventional gasoline—the predominant type used in the United States except in areas that require special gasoline formulations—the change in wholesale price ranged from a decrease of about 1 cent per gallon to an increase of about 5 cents per gallon. The preponderance of price increases over decreases indicates that the market power effects, which tend to increase prices, for the most part outweighed the efficiency effects, which tend to decrease prices.
You can download the report here:
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