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From the Pages of Vine Line: The Cubs are giving 100 Gifts of Service
(Illustration by Jerry Neumann)
Most people looked at the Cubs Convention as the official kickoff to the Party of the Century, but the festivities actually began a few days earlier at the annual Cubs Caravan, when the team launched their new 100 Gifts of Service initiative.
Cubs associates, players, alumni and corporate partners will celebrate the 100th birthday of Wrigley Field by performing acts of service and volunteer projects in the community throughout the 2014 calendar year. So far, activities have included visiting hospital patients, serving lunch to active military at the USO and volunteering at local schools.
"The 100 Gifts of Service give everybody in the organization the opportunity to get out and interact with our fans and with families and kids in the community and see the result of having an impact on their lives," said Jennifer Dedes Nowak, manager of Cubs Charities programs.
The Cubs are no strangers to community service. Every year, the team and Cubs Charities fund about $2.4 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and programs serving youth and families in need. They also donate thousands of autographed items and tickets to charitable organizations supporting health, fitness and education.
The Cubs are tracking their 100 Gifts of Service progress on the WrigleyField100.com website and through social media. The goal is to perform 100 hands-on projects—both large and small—in 2014, but the Cubs hope to surpass that number before the year is out.
Future gifts include renovating Chicago playgrounds with Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Plays! program, helping get kids active with the Cubs on the Move Fitness Trolley, and hosting a summer camp cookout at the Lakeview YMCA.
"We're all part of this monumental year," Dedes Nowak said. "We just want to come away with a great story and leave a legacy that we made an impact on the community in 2014."
Cubs Charities launches the Diamond Project to improve local ball fields
Cubs Charities, in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago, announced the launch of the Cubs Charities Diamond Project. The Diamond Project marks the third signature program Cubs Charities has launched. In 2013, they introduced the Cubs Scholars program and the Cubs On The Move Fitness Trolley.
The Diamond Project aims to improve the quality and safety of local baseball fields in the Chicago area. The project will expand opportunities for children to play baseball, create or preserve green space, and foster a love of the game, particularly in the inner city where baseball has experienced a significant decline.
"The Diamond Project aligns with our mission to be good neighbors and Cubs Charities' goal of providing health and physical education activities for our youth," said Cubs Charities Chair Laura Ricketts. "We're thrilled to invest in our communities and offer the opportunity for children to continue to develop their love and passion for the game of baseball."
Cubs Charities, with technical assistance from LISC Chicago, will identify communities in need of new or improved baseball fields and provide grants to facilities that will be used to promote health and wellness through baseball. In addition to monetary support, the Wrigley Field Grounds Crew will advise Cubs Charities Diamond Project grantees during projects and maintenance.
"Public recreational spaces are essential to the health of every neighborhood," said Susana Vasquez, LISC Chicago's executive director. "We're honored to partner with Cubs Charities to support new or renovated fields that will serve as tremendous community assets, especially for young people."
An information session for nonprofit, neighborhood-based organizations and schools in the Chicago area will be held at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, April 30, at 10:00 a.m. in the Budweiser Bleacher Suite. Please email email@example.com if you wish to attend. For additional information on the Cubs Charities Diamond Project and how to apply, please visit http://www.cubs.com/diamondproject.
Cubs announce new free remote parking lot
As part of an ongoing commitment to ease vehicle traffic and reduce the number of cars near Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs are launching a free remote parking lot operation two miles west of the ballpark during night and weekend games. The new remote parking lot is located at 3900 N. Rockwell St., just east of the Chicago River and immediately south of Irving Park Road. The lot has a capacity of 1,000 vehicles and will be secured by Cubs personnel. The parking service includes free shuttle transportation to and from the remote lot and Wrigley Field.
"We believe free parking is a great incentive for our guests and encourages fans to take advantage of this new remote parking lot," said Manager, Government & Neighborhood Relations Kam Buckner. "We recognize many fans drive to Wrigley Field, and this easy-to-use remote parking operation will help alleviate traffic congestion in the neighborhood before and after games."
Shuttles will begin running two and a half hours prior to the start of games and will run continuously for approximately an hour postgame. At the conclusion of night and weekend games, the shuttle bus will pick up fans at the designated drop-off location on Addison Street.
This shuttle service will also be available for postseason games and night games of a day-night doubleheader. The Cubs' first day-night doubleheader of the season will take place Sat., June 28.
This newly introduced free remote parking lot replaces the team's previous remote parking operation at DeVry University.
Live at CubsCon: Down on the Farm
Dave Otto is doing his usual hosting duties. He opens up by introducing the panel with Smokies announcer Mick Gillespie, SVP of scouting and player development Jason McLeod, farm director Jaron Madison, and Cubs pitchers Blake Parker and Justin Grimm.
Madison talks about the 2013 draft and how happy they were to land the people they targeted (Kris Bryant, et.al.).
Otto gives a recap of the minor league system, including the Daytona team that won the Florida State League championship.
Otto talks about how there used to be only one or two guys on the farm fans could get excited about. Things are different now with guys like Albert Almora, Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, C.J. Edwards, Corey Black, Pierce Johnson, Jen-Ho Tseng, etc.
A fan asks about the plan with Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters. McLeod says the organization still has belief in both of them, especially Vitters, who has hit wherever he's been and is still only 24. But both had rough seasons last year and were hampered by injuries.
Both Parker and Grimm talk about how rewarding it is to finally break into the majors and the belief they have in their ability. It's a lot of work, but it's worth the grind.
Gillespie talks about how hard Parker worked back when he was with the Smokies in Double-A, and how much he enjoys seeing the players in their developmental phases. He remembers being the first guy to interview Darwin Barney after he got called up to the big leagues.
McLeod talks about the "Core Four" and how good they can be, but that the organization is much deeper than just them. Generally, you feel pretty good if you feel you have two guys who could become stars. He says the Cubs have multiple guys who could get there. Some won't make it, but that's why volume is important. Guys like Jeimer Candelario and Arismendy Alcantara could really make an impact.
McLeod talks about how he drafted Grimm out of high school and brought him up to Boston, but Grimm decided to go to the University of Georgia instead. McLoed jokes that Grimm just wanted a free trip to Boston. McLeod and Epstein went to see Grimm pitch in the SEC tourney the following year, and Grimm was pumping 97 mph fastballs. Epstein joked that he was going to fire McLeod for not signing Grimm. McLeod thanks Grimm for almost getting him fired.
Asked about routines and superstitions, both Grimm and Parker defer. Grimm does say he check through some pitching checkpoints on his iPad before games. It's just stuff that helps him stay focused on his mechanics, etc.
One fan asks about the potential of Dustin Geiger. McLeod talks about how Geiger has been very solid but has been overshadowed by guys like Soler and Baez. He's a big guy, so they are working with him on flexibility at first base. The front office doesn't think he's under the radar, but he doesn't tend to get a lot of press. Geiger hit .281/.365/.458 at High-A Daytona last season.
McLeod talks about breaking the curse in Boston and how it's better than he ever imagined. He also talks about the 2007 World Series team and how it was built with guys they drafted and developed. That's what gets them excited and what they live for.
Parker explains the tradition of the youngest pitcher taking the pink backpack out to the bullpen. It's just filled with supplies—gum, candy, etc. The guy with the least service time has to carry it out every game. It's light rookie hazing.
McLeod talks about Arodys Vizcaino, who the club acquired from Atlanta in 2012. He had a setback after Tommy John surgery last year. He's throwing well now but is not 100 percent yet. He was in the rookie development program this week and was really popping the glove (note: we were there, and he was). They are being conservative with his rehab to try to get him back into form.
McLeod responds to a question about the lack of system depth at the catcher position, and he says it's definitely a concern. They have some young guys coming up, but they're not quite ready yet. That puts some pressure on Welington Castillo this season.
Gillespie talks about how many guys there were at Tennessee who just need to take a step and they'll be knocking on the door—guys like Matt Szczur and Christian Villanueva. Gillespie raves about Villanueva's defense at third base, saying he's better than most major leaguers. McLeod seconds how well Villanueva is progressing. The 22-year-old had 41 doubles, 19 home runs and 72 RBI last season at Double-A. He hit .261.
One fan asks about where Baez will play and if there is a path to the majors this year with Starlin Castro in the fold. McLeod says they'll look at him in Spring Training and probably have him play multiple positions. But he will be the starting shortstop at Triple-A Iowa this year, and they see him playing short for the foreseeable future. He's developing well at the position and has great instincts.
We get the obligatory question about Japanese free agent Masahiro Tanaka and about how his numbers will translate in the majors. McLeod says he's incredibly talented, and they've been scouting him for years. The evaluation process is complete, and they met with him last week in LA. They'll find out soon where he chooses. But any team will be happy to get him.
Madison says they generally want each player to "dominate" the level they're at before they move up. They don't want to rush players if they don't have to because that can be damaging. It's a lot of decisions to make about who goes where and when guys move forward, but there's an entire staff in place to handle it.
Gillespie and McLeod talk about how complicated it is to put guys in a position to succeed. Roster management with the minor league system can be tough. Games are going on all over the country, and each roster only gets 25 guys. If one guys moves up, another guy needs to take his place, and keeping it all in order is tricky.
McLeod runs down the 2013 draft. The team was definitely looking to stockpile pitching. In 2012, they focused on high school arms. Last year, they focused on more mature college arms. In players' first years, the organization really limits innings. Most of the new guys only go about 20-30 innings. But they did draft a lot of big-bodied, high-velocity pitchers.
McLeod talks about Mike Olt's struggles last year with vision problems and concussion after being hit by a ball. He was untouchable at Texas a few years ago when they were looking to deal Ryan Dempster. Olt's been meeting with specialists and is feeling very good. His swing looks strong, direct and fast. All the talent is still there, but he needs to start facing live pitching.
That's it for Vine Line at the 2014 Cubs Convention. We'll see you next year. Thanks for following along.
Live at CubsCon: 30-Year Anniverary of the 1984 Team
The Cubs took their fans down memory lane Sunday morning. Eight members of the 1984 squad took to the podium, reminiscing about the squad that made a postseason run 30 years ago.
Bobby Dernier, Tim Stoddard, Steve Trout, Jay Johnstone, Rick Sutcliffe, Gary Matthews Sr., Scott Sanderson and Lee Smith spend the hour telling tales, complimenting each other and campaigning for Smith's Hall of Fame induction.
A sentiment stressed throughout the seminar was that the squad shared a brotherhood through the success of the season.
"1984 team was not my team, they were my family," Smith said.
Sanderson set the mood of Spring Training that season, describing it as a veteran group of guys coming together, understanding the task at hand.
He noted the club brought Dernier, Matthews and Ryne Sandberg over from Philadelphia, along with Stoddard from Baltimore.
"It was brand new to us, and there were a lot of veterans, there weren't a lot of rookies on the team," Sanderson said.
Johnstone said that he had won three World Series rings and yet he said this was the best side he ever played on.
On numerous occasions Matthews was said to be the leader of the team, and was viewed as the player who constantly pushed the club to be better.
Trout relived a game during the summer where he pitched well, but gave up a late homer in a 6-1 win. After the game, the pitcher went up to Matthews' room to have a drink, Sarge kind of got on him, asking why he surrendered the home run.
"You gotta play for the shutout," Trout remembered Matthews saying.
It couldn't be stressed more how good Smith was that '84 season.
Sutcliffe described handing the ball off to Smith to being a nervous freshman in high school, but then remembering "your brother is a senior, and he's the starting middle linebacker on the football team."
And of course there were jokes made, at many members of the panel's expense.
Matthews described his Spring Training trade to Chicago from Philadelphia, as he was the only set outfielder in Phillies camp prior to the move. He and Dernier—a fourth outfielder who was likely facing demotion—were sent to Chicago midway through preseason camp.
"Bobby comes over and said 'You're coming with me to Chicago,'" Matthews said. "And I said, 'No Bobby, you're coming with me.'"
Dernier wrapped up the forum by giving Leon Durham praise for his efforts throughout the season, and asked fans to let the play go. During Game 5 of the NLCS, Durham let a ball go through his legs while playing first base, allowing a Padres comeback.
Live at CubsCon: Celebrating 100 Years of Wrigley Field
Len Kasper is moderating and opens the panel by introducing Pat Hughes, stadium announcer Andrew Belleson, Cubs historian Ed Hartig, groundskeeper and scoreboard operator Rick Fuhs and senior director of marketing Alison Miller.
Miller shows a quick slide presentation about what the Cubs are doing to celebrate the Party of the Century in 2014. The theme is 10 Decades and 10 Homestands. Each of 10 homestands (starting after Opening Week) will celebrate a different decade in Wrigley's history.
At each of the 10 homestands, there will be a themed Friday bobblehead giveaway: 1910s Joe Tinker, 1920s Red Grange, 1930s Babe Ruth, 1940s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, 1950s Ernie Banks, 1960s Gale Sayers, 1970s Jack Brickhouse, 1980s Rick Sutcliffe and lights, 1990s Kerry Wood's 20K game, 2000s TBA.
On Sundays, the team will wear throwback uniforms. Unis being represented are 1914 (not a Sunday but the birthday game on April 23), 1929, 1937, 1942, 1953, 1969, 1978 (baby blue road jersey), 1988, 1994, 2008. The opponents will also wear throwbacks.
There will also be retro toys on Sundays for kids 13 and under. Each will represent the top toy from that decade from yo-yos to Viewmasters to Mr. Potato Heads to Etch-a-Sketches.
There will be themed food and beverages at the ballpark to represent the decades. This will include cocktails, like a Manhattan for the 1930s.
Organist Gary Pressey is working with the Cubs on decade-specific music.
The ballpark will be decorated, and the players will have sleeve and hat patches commemorating Wrigley's 100th. The game balls will also be stamped.
For each decade, there will be special guests at the ballpark, from former Cubs and Bears players to celebrities.
The official birthday is on April 23, 2014. The Cubs will wear old Federal League Chi-Fed uniforms, and the Diamondbacks will wear Kansas City Packers unis (the team the Chi-Feds played that day). Everyone will also get cake. Yep, everyone. And the first 30,000 fans will walk out with a Chi-Feds jersey.
The Cubs are working with MLB on developing WrigleyField100.com to celebrate the ballpark. The site will feature historical facts, fan stories, ballpark facts and more.
Hartig talks about the ballpark's beginnings as Weeghman Park for the independent minor league Federal League. For more info on this, check out the January issue of Vine Line.
Hughes talks about his first major league game as a broadcaster—an exhibition game between the Cubs and Brewers in 1992. He was immediately struck by Wrigley Field's atmosphere. He's now in his 19th season with the team.
Fuhs talks about how he runs the scoreboard and how he's so fast putting up balls and strikes. He watches the umpire's movements. If the ump moves his foot, it's going to be a strike. He knows most of the characteristics of most of the umps in the league. He also credits Curt Huebert, who designed the scoreboard in 1937. Fuhs has been operating the scoreboard for 26 years, and there haven't been any major problems with the electronics. He's still using the original panel from 1937. Fuhs also credits Bill Veeck for helping design and plan the scoreboard. He complains about how slow umpire Tim McLelland is with his calls. Apparently, Quick Rick would like to take the day off whenever McLelland is umpiring.
Fuhs talks about Lee Smith and the closer's relationship with the groundscrew. Those were Smith's best friends on the team. After being repeatedly asked, Fuhs went down and visited Smith in Louisiana last year. Reiterates that Smith deserves a Hall call.
Belleson talks about getting the job at Wrigley Field. He was only 24 (he's 27 now) when he got hired. Says he has the greatest job in the world.
Back to Hartig about ballpark history. Weeghman Park was originally just a single-story grandstand, and it seated 14,000. The scoreboard was originally in left field. For more on the original park, check out the January issue of Vine Line.
The team actually tried to install lights in the early-1940s. They had already bought them, but after Pearl Harbor, Mr. Wrigley donated them to the war effort. They were supposed to be used to play twilight games so people could attend after work.
One fan wants to bring back smoky links and Ron Santo pizza. There is something in the works on the smoky links front.
One fan asks if Wrigley Field will be the last park to turn 100. Kasper mentions Dodger Stadium was built in 1962, so it's halfway there. But other than that, it's not likely. Hughes agrees that no other park will last that long.
Belleson said he doesn't emulate anyone in his job, but likes the simple style of guys like Paul Friedman.
Kasper compares Wrigley Field to Central Park in New York—a green oasis in the middle of the city. He says he loves coming into the ballpark before everyone else arrives. You can hear the sounds of the city around the park. Once baseball starts, it drowns out those city sounds.
Hughes talks about the possibility of being the only announcer living Cubs fans have ever heard say the words, "the Cubs win the World Series." Kasper thinks about it too.
Someone asks about biggest pranksters. Rick Sutcliffe, Greg Maddux, Ron Santo and Keith Moreland all get mentions.
Asked about most exciting players to watch, Hughes brings up Derrek Lee as one his favorite ballplayers. Cites his defense, power hitting, modesty, friendliness and more. Kasper agrees that Lee was one of the best. Fuhs remembers Sosa in 1998 and the buzz around the ballpark.
Hartig's favorite event at the ballpark happened in 1944—a ski-jumping event at the ballpark. They set scaffolding up behind home plate and trucked in ice. The skiers took off from about the current home television booth and landed at second base.
Asked about the most memorable seventh-inning stretch renditions, Fuhs talks about the infamous Jeff Gordon incident. Gordon called the park Wrigley stadium, possibly because Fuhs asked him about the "stadium" right before that.
Belleson talks about how scared people are before they sing the stretch, no matter how big the celebrity. And says no one did it better than Harry Caray.
And that's it for us on Saturday at the 2014 Cubs Convention. Thanks for following along. We'll be back up with the 30th anniversary of the 1984 season and Down on the Farm tomorrow.
Go Cubs go.
Live at CubsCon: Welcome the New Skipper
Jim Deshaies welcomes the crowd and the entire—mostly new—coaching staff. Mike Borzello, Bill Mueller, Mike Brumley, Jose Castro, Brandon Hyde, Chris Bosio, Eric Hinske, Gary Jones and new manager Rick Renteria. The ballroom is packed. Standing room only.
This is mostly a Q&A session with Deshaires moderating.
First question: First impression of Chicago and CubsCon. Renteria says it's truly unbelievable. The amount of support and the love for Cubs is amazing and wants to prove this team deserves your support.
Renteria says every person on the staff has a tremendous quality of imparting information and confidence, and an array of knowledge. They all have compassion and understanding for players.
Bosio says pitching has made great strides in last few years with Samardzija, Wood, Rondon, etc. They now have more depth, big arms and a lot of talent coming in the system. He wants the staff to give the team a chance to win every game by the sixth inning. They definitely have more depth in the 'pen with Wesley Wright, who should take some pressure off Russell, and other guys. That should give them more flexibility.
Borzello talks about Welington Castillo's development as a catcher. He's really built trust with the pitchers and is helping get the best out of each one. He thinks last year was a great start on a solid career.
Each coach takes a minute to give his bio.
So the big question: Jose Castro. What is a quality assurance coach? Answer: He's a jack of all trades, master of none. Castro jokes he will probably do some cleaning in clubhouse, laundry, whatever. In reality, he's an extra pair of hands wherever they're needed.
Renteria says Veras will anchor the back end of the bullpen. He has confidence that he can get the job done in the ninth inning. That's why he's here. But the team should have some flexibility to mix and match in the 'pen before Veras.
Renteria says the focus shouldn't be on him. It should be on the players. He wants to be like a little mouse that no one pays attention to. The team and players might at times feel disheartened but he will not let them quit. It's not in his nature to quit. He's a fighter. And he doesn't believe he needs to beat people up to motivate them. If you ever see him quit, he welcomes fans and the media to "come and stomp on him," but it won't happen.
Bosio talks about how the staff used to be a bunch of veteran guys. It's much younger now. The players call the games. It's about getting them to believe in following the scouting reports and pitching to a plan. Sometimes players go off plan because they have confidence in themselves, but the goal is to follow the scouting reports. They spend countless hours on them.
There's a question about returning to small ball—steals, sacrifices, hit and runs, etc. Renteria says the game will dictate what they can do, and Mueller talks about the need to really understand the players and what they can do. Then they'll try to start working on these kinds of skills.
Renteria talks about the role of prospects. Says when a game-changing prospect arrives, it's probably because he's going to play. He's not getting brought up to sit on the bench. Some guys make a splash immediately. Some don't. He says dealing with prospects who succeed or struggle is all about communication in the system. Even if guys struggle and get sent back down, it can be a valuable experience—a learning experience.
Renteria says he's not a micromanager. His staff is all very gifted and he'll leave their jobs to them. But he likes to be active, throw BP, etc. He used to take infield with the players.
In response to a question about finding an everyday third baseman, Renteria throws his support behind the Murphy/Valbuena combo. He says he hates to hear people complain about what they don't have. Let's work with what we have and make it work.
In response to the usual World Series question, Renteria says he can't answer to the past. He's focused on moving the team forward. And he's looking forward to the party in this city when it happens.
Mueller talks about really learning the players and finding their strengths and weaknesses, how they handle pressure, how they handle emotions, etc., so they can better help the players understand how to improve at-bats. Every player is different. Swings are very personal. They really need to get in the trenches so they can understand each player's strengths and weaknesses.
Renteria cites Johnny Lipon (former Tiger infielder and coach) as a big influence because he was so positive. He never let anyone doubt themselves. Says Jim Leyland and Dick Williams were very firm. He tries to combine all of the good things from his former coaches and get rid of the bad traits.
Hinske cites Joe Maddon, Terry Francona and Bobby Cox as big influences. Players can struggle with confidence. Coaches can play a big part in keeping them upbeat.
Jones talks about how his dad taught him how to play to win, but he tried to learn from every coach and manager and take things from them.
Renteria says Starlin Castro is Starlin Castro. We want you to hit the pitch that you can hit, in reference to the push to make him more patient. He says Starlin had some "horrible" at-bats last season where he was swinging at balls in the other batter's box, but he's a guy who puts the bat on the ball
Renteria says the team needs to have better at-bats. It's unacceptable to strike out with the infield back and a man on third.
"We mistake the idea of being a selective hitter with being a good hitter. We're trying to expand the ability to be a good hitter."
Renteria's passion for working with young players is the same as it would be with veterans. His passion comes from being told he wouldn't play in the majors. While going through process, he never thought his first-round selection was a mistake. His passion comes from proving everybody wrong. "You can beat me up, but you're going to know you were in a fight."
Finally, Renteria believes the team has the arms to get from the six through the ninth innings. And he believes any team that takes the field has a chance to win.
Live at CubsCon: Cubs Business Operations Update
President of Business Ops Crane Kenney takes the stage to welcome a sizable crowd. Says they usually start by taking questions, but instead they're starting with a short presentation this time.
Crane gets a smattering of applause for reference to going to Notre Dame. Talks about his history with the team, starting out representing them as a young lawyer. His job has always been trying to grow the business as fast as he can to support baseball ops.
He calls the Cubs a "100-year-old startup." Like most start-ups, they started in an old garage (meaning the new front office space, which used to be a garage). They had to build the business side from scratch. 165 of 277 members of the Cubs team have been hired in the last four years—60 percent of workforce.
The goal is to become the best organization in baseball on and off the field. He offers a big thanks to the crowd for their loyalty and support.
If the Cubs are a start-up, then the fans are the investors. Your investment is helping build the team.
So how do you become the best off the field? By better serving fans, better serving players, better serving partners, better serving communities and giving the team the resources it needs to win a championship.
They did an in-depth study of how companies like Nordstrom's, Starbucks, etc. provide customer service. Talked to 9,000 fans, 500 ballpark staff, then engaged the Disney Institute to help train the team.
To be the best, the also need first-class facilities for players to train, rehab, prepare for games, etc.
The Cubs have four principle facilities: Wrigley Field, administrative offices, Spring Training facility, Dominican Academy. They've made great strides in the last three.
Wrigley Field is still the best ballpark in America. The Ricketts family is ready to invest $500 million in the stadium and surrounding areas without public support. Kenney says not many teams do that. References how the Braves announced they could no longer play in their 17-year-old obsolete ballpark (to some laughter).
Thanks for mayor, City Council and Cubs fans for their support so they can stay at Wrigley for the foreseeable future with the operating flexibility they need. They've had lots of meetings in the last year.
They're done with the night game ordinance, done with the landmark approvals, done with the zoning for the ballpark and plaza, done with the approval for new signage inside and outside, done with the traffic and parking plan and done with security/sanitation issues. So what's the hold-up?
The remaining issue is the rooftops. They need to settle four issues:
1. Enforcement of current capacity limitations
2. Protections against ambush advertising
3. Ability to expand and add bleachers and signage
4. No lawsuit
There's been lots of progress in last two weeks.
Kenney calls the rooftops a $20 million yearly drag on their business.
So which comes first—championship baseball or an abundance of economic resources? It's a chicken-or-egg question. Every day, they're thinking about how to outpace the other 29 teams, to grow the business and to put the best team on the field.
The Cubs play in the third-largest media market in an iconic ballpark. They're the No. 3 tourist attraction in Illinois. They're ranked fifth in baseball in revenue, which they're using to make long-term investments. The vast majority of the revenue goes to building the major and minor league system. Kenney touts the minor league growth. The Cubs are No. 1 in MLB in spending on first-year and international amateur talent.
Kenney says just about every system at Wrigley needs maintenance and upgrades just to keep the team standing still. They can't keep putting Band-Aids on the stadium.
Taxes are also a big drag. Of the five team-owned stadiums, the Cubs pay 17 times what the Giants pay in amusement taxes and three times what the Jays pay. The Red Sox and Dodgers pay no taxes.
Revenues come from gate receipts, media rights, corporate partnerships, and non-game revenues.
Gate receipts: The Cubs have held tickets prices flat for the fourth-straight year. They're not looking to add new seats, but they do want upgraded seating options. Kenney also talks about moving to digital tickets.
Media rights: The WGN contracts expire after the 2014 season. They expect to have an announcement on the radio contract before opening day. They're very thankful for the relationship with WGN. The Comcast contract expires in 2019. He says he wants to continue the relationship with WGN but can envision a smaller relationship or moving elsewhere.
Corporate partnerships: Kenney touts the Under Armour partnership. They're looking to add other partners like it to provide a resource advantage. They will be adding a video board in 2015 for highlights, replay, etc.
Non-Game revenue: This can generate significant revenue for the club when the team is not in town. Corporate events, concerts, other sporting events, etc. The Cubs love this revenue because they don't have to share it with the other clubs. Baseball-related revenues get shared throughout MLB.
Kenney finishes by talking about Cubs Charities and being a good neighbor. This includes the Fitness Trolley, Scholars Program, Diamond Program, etc. He feels they've made some good progress on being the best off the field, but they're making the long-term investments to be the best on the field.
Kenney thanks the fans and brings up Mike Lufrano, Carl Rice, Colin Faulkner and Alison Miller for a question-and-answer session.
The first question is, of course, about Clark the Cubs, the new mascot and will they consider getting rid of him. Miller's response: Clark took 18 months to develop and is here to stay.
One fan wonders why parts of the Wrigley rebuilding plan, specifically the player facilities still haven't been started. Carl answers about getting things settled with the city and preemptive construction issues. But ultimately they need the whole plan done before they get started. Lufrano says they think they're getting close with the rooftop owners. Rooftops have said if they don't reach a resolution, they plan to challenge the zoning—in other words, the entire restoration of the ballpark.
One fan wants starter Wrigley vines for his house.
Fans want to know why the club can't build a strong minor league system while winning at big league level. The answer: They're working on it. But it all starts with building a strong internal foundation. He says 2003-08 was fun, but those big contracts hurt the team.
That's it for business. Next up is the Meet the Skipper session.
Live at CubsCon: Front office panel
In front of a nearly full ballroom, Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Shiraz Rehman, Randy Bush and Rick Renteria took the stage Saturday morning. The first set of questions were pointed at Epstein and Hoyer, discussing the current state of the organization and the hope for playoff baseball.
"The only way to make [the fans] happy is by playing October baseball on a regular basis, and that's the plan," Epstein said.
Hoyer continued that idea by saying World Series are won with sustained success, reaching the post season more times than not over the period of a decade, and that history has shown you don't get there by spending a ton of money one season and hoping to get lucky.
"You don't win a World Series with the lightning in the bottle, you win because you get there a lot and catch some good breaks," Hoyer said.
New manager Renteria made some early believers of fans, demonstrating his appreciation for the team, even as it stands right now. He says he used to look over to the other dugout during his time in San Diego and think "I'll take this team right now, and I know what's coming behind them."
"My personality is suited to young players, I've been raising young kids my whole life, they're my kids now," Renteria said.
Not a ton of new information regarding Japanese pitching phenom Masahiro Tanaka, as expected, as they don't discuss the progress of signing situations.
Though Epstein said they weren't going to spend for the sake of spending, he did say that if money wasn't fully utilized this offseason, that it would be used at some point.
Epstein is also adamant that the Ricketts are in it for the long haul and not wavered by the criticism they've received thus far.
Finally, when asked about bringing up former top prospect Brett Jackson, Epstein admits it might have been a mistake to bring him up. At the same time, former manager Dale Sveum wanted to work exclusively with him on his swing.
From the Pages of Vine Line: Cubs in the Community
Before things changed—before the day she sat at a table, signed on the dotted line and received a Cubs jersey with her name emblazoned on the back—Virginia Garcia-Rico was feeling lost.
The real world was coming at her fast, but the Lake View High School junior had no idea how to keep up, even though her classmates seemed to be racing ahead with ease. Her parents wanted to help, but they didn't know much about applying to college.
Then, thanks to an impressive résumé and solid performances in a challenging round of interviews, Garcia-Rico caught a big break. She earned a spot in the first-ever lineup for a new Cubs Charities program called Cubs Scholars. Along with four other talented teens from Chicago-area inner-city high schools, she's receiving a $20,000 scholarship, personalized college prep help from a mentor and a guarantee of guidance through all four years of college.
And Garcia-Rico is getting something else too. As a Cubs Scholar, she's privy to a firsthand look at how the team leaves a footprint in Illinois that's much bigger than pitches, hits and outs. Not long ago, the 17-year-old was there as the Cubs held an event to feed the homeless and young runaways.
"I thought that was amazing," she said. "The Cubs do all these amazing things—and now I'm a part of it."
Since 1991, the Cubs and Cubs Charities have donated more than $19 million to groups across the Chicago area. And since 2009, when the Ricketts family took control of the organization, giving back has become one of the team's three cornerstone priorities, right up there with winning a World Series and protecting Wrigley Field for future generations.
The Cubs—from staff members to volunteers to the players themselves—regularly show up at schools, hospitals and community centers; they rebuild ballparks, playgrounds and classrooms; and they work hard to make sure kids have access to education, fitness and fun. These days, it's hard to find a Chicago neighborhood that hasn't been touched in some way by the ballclub.
And the team's charitable efforts extend beyond Chicago's borders. After tornadoes toppled buildings in several Illinois towns in November, the Cubs were quick to react. Within days, representatives from the organization had partnered with the community to fill a semitrailer full of supplies, which they hand delivered to Peoria, Ill., along with a sizable check for the Red Cross.
"I think the team takes its responsibility of being a Chicago team seriously enough to consider the boundaries of our giving to be not just in Chicago but across the state," said Connie Falcone, vice president of development for Cubs Charities. "We're blessed to be a team with a national following, and it's important that we give back."
Many of the team's charitable relationships have stood the test of time. For about 14 years, the Cubs have given thousands of teens with the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs a chance to step up to the plate. Several reports have shown that fewer inner-city kids are choosing to play baseball—opting instead for football, soccer and basketball—but the Cubs are working to change that.
The RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program supports 16 teams around the city, each with about 15 to 20 players on its roster. These kids get an opportunity to play a sport that can often be too expensive for low-income families. Over the years, the program's impact has been "huge," said RBI program commissioner Emilia Nichols.
Several players have used their time on RBI teams as a springboard to college. Last year, 11 athletes landed college baseball scholarships because of their performance in the league.
"The coaches are really engaged in getting [the players] seen, making sure they have opportunities, bringing something that is sometimes so unattainable," Nichols said. "For a lot of them, it's so special knowing, 'It's the Cubs that are sponsoring me.'"
Other groups have joined forces with the Cubs more recently, and getting the team's stamp of approval creates a ripple effect of giving. In the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago's West Side, the nonprofit organization Breakthrough Urban Ministries works to keep neighborhood kids on track with sports and after-school tutoring. Bill Curry, the Breakthrough Youth Network's chief program officer, said it's a particularly challenging effort in a neighborhood that's struggled with poverty and violence for decades.
"We try to create a new normal experience for kids in our neighborhood," he said. "Right now, the normal experience is that you're more likely to go to jail than go to college—more likely to have a child as a teenager."
Three years ago, the Cubs offered up some help, donating $30,000 to expand Breakthrough's efforts. Since then, the ballclub has pitched in the same amount each year, which has allowed the nonprofit organization to boost its tutoring program participation from 75 to 90 students.
All the while, Breakthrough has been busy trying to raise money for a new, $13 million facility. Back when the Cubs began contributing to the group, it was still searching for about $3.5 million. After partnering with the Cubs, that number started shrinking fast.
"It was really interesting," Curry said. "As we showed who our funding partners were, and when the Cubs came on board and people saw their logo, for some reason people thought, 'Breakthrough must be legit.'"
The funding came through, and the new facility is expected to be open by early 2015.
Across town, a new organization called the Illinois Mentoring Partnership can tell a similar tale. The group provides guidance to about 150 mentoring entities across the state. In its first year of operation, the partnership got a deal from the Cubs it couldn't pass up: more than $70,000 worth of free game tickets to hand out to its mentors and their young mentees.
Season ticket holders donated the tickets back to Cubs Charities, who, in turn, gave them to the Illinois Mentoring Partnership. The seats ultimately went to more than 2,000 children and volunteers, including many who had never seen anything quite like Wrigley Field.
"Most of our kids had never been to any kind of professional sporting event before," said Sheila Merry, the organization's executive director. "A lot of them had never been outside of their neighborhoods before, so it really was an incredible opportunity for them."
Plus, having the Cubs tickets made it easier to get connected with other mentoring efforts across the state. Since then, about 90 groups have taken advantage of the partnership's training programs.
But it's not just the Cubs front office doing the heavy lifting. Cubs players have been making regular visits to the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital) for years.
They often stop in at a classroom on the 12th floor that's named for the team (the Cubs donated $2 million to make it a part of the brand new facility). There, young patients who are well enough to keep up with their schoolwork get help from tutors and participate in games, classroom science experiments and other kid-friendly activities.
There's a mural on the wall that depicts Wrigley Field—if Wrigley were some kind of magical classroom where you could also play baseball. The scoreboard on the mural features math equations teachers can incorporate into lessons, and a map used for geography is dotted with cutouts of players' faces. Every time a Cub comes to visit, he picks out his favorite location and marks it on the map.
During the season, players are around every month, said Elizabeth Wolcott, the hospital's corporate giving officer. Anthony Rizzo, himself a cancer survivor, is the most frequent visitor.
"The Cubs have always been really fantastic partners with the hospital," Wolcott said.
For players like Darwin Barney, this kind of hands-on help is more than just good PR. The Cubs infielder said he enjoys going out on the Cubs Caravan every January to meet people at schools, hospitals and YMCAs.
"It's a way to connect with the fans and make a difference in their lives," he said. "And not just in wins and losses."
Last summer, Cubs Charities incorporated a new program called the Cubs on the Move Fitness Trolley, which visited summer camps across Chicago. The Trolley is an initiative designed to curb childhood obesity by teaching kids about all aspects of fitness, including healthy eating. The goal is to encourage kids to "play every day" with 60 minutes of vigorous activity.
Becca Martinson, a program coordinator with Urban Initiatives, a group that partners on the Fitness Trolley, said her group has been working with local schools for about 10 years to keep kids occupied during the summer break. But last year, organizers decided to step up their efforts to get young participants interested in fitness.
At four schools spread from Chicago's far West Side to the far South Side, when the trolley pulled up, it was time to get moving. The Cubs brought professional fitness trainers from Chicago Athletic Clubs to lead warm-up exercises and players to oversee baseball-related games and activities.
"We'd do different games with passing the ball," Martinson said. "We'd work on sportsmanship and teamwork."
Throughout the summer, the kids learned about good nutrition and kept detailed fitness logs. If they filled out the logs properly, the Cubs would hand out prizes, ranging from water bottles to T-shirts to a trip to the Friendly Confines for a game.
Martinson said the activities were so popular that program leaders started noticing larger-than-expected crowds. It wasn't just the camp kids showing up to work out; it was their siblings and parents as well.
"I think what was so special about it was having this huge Chicago institution coming to these schools and giving individual attention to students," she said. "It made them feel valued and special, because they are."
Martinson said the Cubs even managed to win over some tough audiences at schools on the South Side. She recalled one boy named Justin, who announced at the beginning of camp that he was strictly a White Sox fan. But by the end of camp, she said, he was wearing Cubs temporary tattoos on his cheeks and a big smile. It turned out learning about fitness also provided a lesson in being open-minded about people he thought were very different from him.
"He began to associate feeling good about himself and being fit with the Cubs," Martinson said. "He could think, 'These are the people who taught me that really fun game I play with my brothers now.'"
And while the network of giving stretches well beyond Chicago's city limits, the Cubs have a particular affinity for the neighborhood that has supported the team for a century. In Wrigleyville and Lake View, Cubs associates pitch in to help solve problems with parking, littering and crime around Wrigley Field.
Recently, the Cubs donated $25,000 to nearby Greeley Elementary School. After years of expansion, the school had outgrown its playground and needed a new, safe space for its youngest students. At the playground's dedication last summer, students sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The school's principal, Carlos Azcoitia, said he's lucky to have a good neighbor like the Cubs right around the corner.
"We're grateful they're investing in the neighborhood school closest to Wrigley Field," he said. "We're very fortunate."
And that's exactly how many organizations around Chicago and Illinois feel to be associated with a side of the Cubs many people never even see.


text:
Washington National Cathedral
Washington, D.C.
Designed in 1990 by George Frederick Bodley and Henry Vaughan
photo by Carol M. Highsmith
The American Institute of Architects and Harris Interactive selected Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. as one of America's Favorite Structures, based on interviews with AIA members and a poll of about 1,800 adults.
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Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Even before there was "Keeper of the Seven Keys", the German power metal titans Helloween were flying high. Although they hadn't yet redefined the genre with which they would be most associated, there are plenty of monumental riffs and falsettos to behold in the band's early canon. Drawing upon the styles of Judas Priest and the melodic gallop of Iron Maiden, Helloween's debut EP sets a solid foundation for the glorious power metal to come. For any fan of Helloween, or slightly thrash-infused speed metal, this self-titled release shouldn't be missed.
As opposed to the more refined atmosphere and fantasy vibe of their later work, the Helloween of 1985 are much more in tune with the typical topics and sounds of metal. As opposed to singing about mythology, quests and autumnal holidays, Helloween are writing about Satan, murder, and war. As you might guess, "Helloween" is a fair bit darker and more aggressive than their future sound. Anyone who has heard Iron Maiden's "Killers" before should know what to expect. In twenty six minutes, Helloween manage to run the gamut of human misery. In contrast with the subject matter, Helloween bring many of their trademark choruses to the mix here. In particular, "Starlight" and "Warrior" stand out as great tracks that could have fit on later albums.
Although Kai Hansen was the driving force behind what made early Helloween so good, it shouldn't come as a great surprise that his vocals aren't as technically impressive as those of Michael Kiske or Andi Deris. Although his singing ability would ferment and mature in his time with Gamma Ray, Hansen's vocals don't have the same operatic bravado that later Helloween vocalists would bring to the table. That's not to say, however, that he is a bad singer. Kai Hansen's raspier style fits the early Helloween's thrashier leanings. Particularly on the Judas Priest-esque "Victim of Fate", Hansen pulls off a few pretty impressive falsettos. The latter vocalists' contributions may have brought a greater finesse to the band's sound, but Hansen's more weathered voice gives Helloween an added sense of heaviness that they may have partially lost as the years went on.
Especially considering this is the band's debut EP, the quality of the production is surprising. While not as fine-tuned as the either "Keeper of the Seven Keys", the sound quality would not sound out of place on a professional full length. The guitar duo of Hansen and Weikath are, without a doubt, the strongest aspect of Helloween's sound. Although they were both in their early twenties at the time of the EP's recording, they already have a firm grasp of the neoclassical leads and speed-oriented riffs that would define the band's later sound. As far as the lingering question of whether Helloween were already innovating power metal as early as this EP (as opposed to pioneering it with "Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. I"), the essential elements of power metal were already in the mix, but the songwriting and slight thrash edge may lure the style closer to being rightfully called speed metal, or perhaps a Teutonic adaptation of NWOBHM. Regardless of any arbitrary genre-tags however, "Helloween" is a fitting companion to "Walls of Jericho", and precursor to the band's better-known "Keeper of the Seven Keys" duology. Although it may be a pre-debut EP with the appearance of a fans-only apocrypha, "Helloween" is an excellent album and one of the better releases from one of metal's best-loved acts.
Hot damn, if there ever was a song that justifies an EP's price it's that one. Truly magnificent speed/power metal.
There's 5 songs (plus one joke song,) in total and just like the Death Metal songs, these too kick copious amounts of ass. Based on the solidness of the songwriting and how goddamn awesome they all are I'm tempted to give this a 90+, but something brought it down.
Silly intro kicks the album off, is it necessary for us to hear some dude waking up to the tune of "Happy, Happy Halloween!"? Well at least the rest of the EP is relatively free of bullshit and speeds along at around 150 BPM for 3 songs and then end with 2 'epic' songs (meaning they occasionally slow down just a smidge.) "Starlight" owns you, "Murderer" owns a bit less, "Warrior" just made you his prison wife, "Victim of Fate" owns except for one problem, "Cry for Freedom" ends the EP magnificently.
"Starlight" is the first Helloween song I heard and one of my favorite songs ever because it truly personifies all that is speed/power metal. Long solos, riffs that aren't piss-poor "Freewheel Burning/Ram It Down" rip offs, totally boss bass-playing, everything that is metal is found right here folks. Also the double bass is used tastefully...not like Sonata Arctica or something equally Finnish *koff*Stratovarius*koff*
"Murderer" and "Warrior" is pretty much the logical continuation of "Starlight" and thus should keep you headbanging and air-guitaring 'til the pumpkins come home.
On to "Victim of Fate." Ya see, the problem with this EP is the fact that Kai still has not learned how to sing. His voice is weak, "Victim of Fate" could have been an epic on par with the Keeper epics and "King for a Thousand Years" but his voice is awful here, especially during the chorus and that whispering mid section is very lacking. The version with Michi is so much better than the one here, trust me even if you don't like him the added melodic solo makes up for it.
"Cry for Freedom" starts of all slow and epic but then at 1:52 the band kicks into 78th gear and leaves other bands in the dust. Harmonized solo is also very nice, X-Japan took notes from this band, you should too!
Production is much better than the Death Metal demo (obviously,) and is on par with the following LP. Guitar tone is clearer than Walls of Jericho, or the Death Metal demo so it's not quite as heavy as either of them. Bass is very clear, you can listen to Maggi's b-e-a-utiful bass playing on ALL the songs not like modern metal where the bass is an afterthought. Ingo is very cleverly mixed, loud enough to be heard, soft enough to not bury the other instruments. Kai's voice is prominent, but the guitars are more prominent. Thanks Herr Producer!
Very nice EP, and since you have Walls of Jericho this EP's in there too! Ah yes, I forgot about the surprise track. It's "White Christmas," though it starts of with the Halloween theme (yes the one with Shatner, er Mike Myers, er that serial killer bloke) apparently Michi's on it, didn't know that.
For an EP it really doesn't get any better than this. Get it, not rare at all since it's in every reissue of Walls of Jericho.
The first Helloween EP already holds some good songs and ideas. Though not as heavy yet as they would become on their full length debut "Walls Of Jericho" this EP has some more NWOBHM elements left in the songs but manages to rage from time to time as well.
The problem with opener "Starlight" is that it takes about a minute to sit through the intro which is fantasticly dull. The song itself reminds of NWOBHM orientated early Metallica songs except for Hansen's vocals obviously. The vocal lines are memorable and the chorus is strong. The song could have been slightly shorter though.
"Murderer" has a very strong intro before going into a strong uptempo speed metal anthem. The vocal lines are catchy and the chorus is fairly simple but great. Good harmonies in the middle section by the way. This song could have easily made it unto Walls Of Jericho and would have even been one of the best songs.
"Warrior" is almost a pure NWOBHM song. Galloping riffs and horribly bad lyrics. Some nice things to be found here but just like Cry For Freedom the song just doesn't stand out and is easily forgotten.
Now one of the best songs here is "Victim Of Fate" which, apart from some Clive Burr-ish drums, is reminiscent of the somewhat heavier Walls Of Jericho style and is strong speed metal from start to finish. Only weakspot on the song is the weird first middle section with spoken lyrics which lacks atmosphere and suffers from poor vocals. The Iron Maiden solo section however makes up for this.
"Cry for Freedom" has a lengthy intro before plunging into a nice speed metal song with especially some good riffs. The vocals are unfortunately somewhat motonone and the chorus is lacking. One of the lesser good songs here.
Well, 3 out of 5 songs are great and the other two aren't really bad but adequate fillers. Quite a decent start.
This EP needs no introduction, so let's go straight to the music.
In retrospective, it is quite obvious that this EP along with Walls of Jericho represent a sound that will not be found on later albums. This is normally considered 'speed metal' but since that doesn't describe very well what the music is about, I think of this release as a sort of 'melodic thrash'. There are a bunch of thrash elements here, but with a more melodic approach.
The production is actually quite poor, but it is understandable since it is the band's first release and also this was recorded in 1985, so you can't expect much more. Anyway, it does not help at all.
Kai's voice is very immature and not very good, he sounds like a teenager trying to imitate Halford's screams. Luckily the whole band would realize that they needed a real singer and hire Michael Kiske a couple of years later. This songs with Kiske at the helm are even better, check out the Kiske rendition of 'Victim of Fate' found on the remaster of the Keeper I album. Also Kai's higher (falsetto) notes are not good and he doesn't hit every single note. This is easily noticeable at the end of 'Murderer'. However, he is not crappy and is bearable throughout most of the EP or mini-LP or whatever.
The guitar work is very very good and quite developed for a debut - it is quite hard to find a verse that features a single-note pattern, which is good. The riffs are highly complex and well achieved, as well as the twin guitar leads.
The album is full of catchy guitar lines, especially in the choruses. For a good example check 'Victim of Fate' chorus riff, the same one that is used on the intro.
That song also features the only slow-down moment at the 2 minutes mark. It is a very good idea because it adds something more and takes away the repetitiveness feeling of an album made of pure speed. This one is not repetitive anyway, but this slow-down adds something not usually found. Unluckily it also features some very annoying vocal lines by Kai, who tries to sound evil with an almost black-metalish voice but fails miserably.
Cry for Freedom also starts slowly and seems to be a sort of epic until you reach the 1:53 mark, where all the fury of the speed is unleashed and a ooooh-ooooh chorus takes over. This song is very complete, with a very nice verse and a ball-grabbing solo.
Overall, this is a great EP. Highly recommended to fans of melody and speed.
The connection between heavy metal music and horror films has been present since the beginning of the genre when Black Sabbath took their name from the famous 1963 Italian movie of the same name, and then penning one of the most horrifically metal songs of all time. In a similar fashion, after existing with a somewhat varied line-up and a host of other names, Helloween formed and began with a concept inspired by the 1982 Halloween sequel "The Season of the Witch", one which enjoys a rather comfortable place in my library of old VHS tapes. To this day fans chant the famous Silver Shamrock jingle when the band takes the stage, as the melody can be found in full or fragmented form on most of their studio albums.
The contents of this debut EP are in many ways comparable to Black Sabbath's debut, albeit a lot faster and showcasing a vocalist with a higher range. It opens with "Starlight", which begins with an unsuspecting person waking up and turning on the television and encountering the commercial depicted in the Halloween movie that inspired the band's name, followed by a gut wrenching scream out of Kai Hansen and a wild free time intro. What follows is heavily NWOBHM influenced, featuring a simple signature riff somewhat reminiscent of Judas Priest.
The comparisons do not end with the lone horror inspired moments of the first track, as Helloween goes to cover other subjects including murder, war, crime and struggle. "Victim of Fate" features a lengthy spoken part in the middle where Kai puts on his best evil sounding whisper voice, which does come off a bit corny. "Cry for Freedom" has a slower acoustic guitar intro that could be compared a little bit with Manowar's "Battle Hymns", although with a somber atmosphere rather than the triumphant one associated with the Kings of Metal. But aside from these occasional sections of contrast, this album is one rapid speed assault from start to finish, featuring an onslaught of back and forth solo duels and tons of nasal sounding high wails courtesy of founder Kai Hansen.
Although quite a revolutionary album from a band that coincided with a large number of other groundbreaking German acts, it is obviously not free of flaws. Kai's voice is extremely thin sounding on here and lacks the mature texture that can be heard on Gamma Ray's post-Scheepers. And like their American speed metal rivals Overkill and Metallica; this album has a less than stellar production. The rhythm guitar tracks are too loud, the leads are too quiet, the drum sound is large but dry, and the vocal tracks are a little to much on the high end.
Nowadays this EP can be found merged together with the debut LP that followed it "Walls of Jericho" and the former only available on 12", which I personally am not fond of as it destroys the listening experience. If you acquire this version, it would be prudent to listen only to the first 5 tracks, take a break and then listen to the other stuff later. The overall flow of the newer version gets tedious as these once separate albums were not paced out to be a 70 minute plus speed fest. If you can find the original version by some twist of fate, it would be worth picking up. This EP is highly recommended to fans of older speed metal, it shows its age in certain areas, but the songs are solid nonetheless.
This release fueled the fire of the German speed metal invasion. It has enough balls to break buildings and is mind-blowingly fast. Helloween's finest is found in this little mini-LP. This is before they become cheesed up and tamed down (when Weiki took over as the driving force). This is raw, fast, ugly, and heavy; what Metal's all about. You should bow your head in shame if you don't have this headbanging ecstacy of phenomenal proportions. Get ready to have your head blown straight out its socket, 'cause here we go.
It kicks off with a long, lame intro (typical Helloween), and then comes Starlight. Kai's blood-curdling scream and blistering guitars rip you apart and from here on you're under their control. Thousands of deadly riffs will brutalize you till no end…well, the end of the EP. Be warned though, Kai has a unique singing style. He has a raw, raspy voice, but can definitely hit the high notes and godly screams.
Murderer is more or less the same as Starlight, pure speed with no signs of remores. The solos on these first two tracks just simply shred. Plus, the bass is very audible. Warrior slows things down a bit, and offers an opening galloping riff (ala Kill 'Em All). Also, the solo on Warrior is the best one so far.
Now, the song you all know and love (or sure as fuck should), the epic Victim of Fate. This is nearly 7 minutes of pure, grade A speed metal. Riffs fly by you faster than you can fathom and all exponentially crush you. It has the catchiest chorus on the EP. The song gets better as you continue to listen. The spoken part in the middle is pure evil, and then comes the first unhumanly, Rob Halford-worthy scream: You will burn in HEEELL!!! Following this is a flashy Kai solo. After that extraordinary solo, you get that damn great chorus again folowed by probably the best riff on the mini-LP. And then the boys devour your soul with another long virtuoistic solo. This killer of a song ends with another spine-tingling scream: You will DIIIEEE!!!!
If you survived that trip to Hell and back, then you're in for Cry For Freedom. Starting with acoustic guitars, you're thinking that you can finally regain your breath and health and that Helloween's firm deathlock will loosen. Think again. After an emotional solo by Kai, the riffs come back, smashing your skull in. The highlight of this track is the 3 minutes worth of smoking solos. And to end the second best metal release of all time is another soaring scream that finally snaps your neck in two.
A myriad of aggressively fast riffs, earth-shattering drums, a lethal double-bass attack, extraordinary bass, and solos that impress and nearly outdo the gods themselves, Tipton and Downing, is what this Hell ride is all about. The all-mighty Lucifer himself commands you to buy this album and to bow down and worship its (and his) ever-lasting supremacy. And you must obey.
The earlier speed/thrash bands seemed to come from the US, Metallica, Anthrax, Exodus... But what the Europe had in 1985? Nothing bigger except Kreator at least. This group hailing from it's native Hamburg was regarded as a pure speed metal (No one had heard the term power metal) band. After featured on Noise Records's Death Metal (No one had heard about that either!) split album alongside Running Wild, Hellhammer and Dark Avenger, this quartet finally recorded their debut ep (or mini-lp or what?).
Helloween's melodic speed metal was something new. It isn't too heavy, but it's heavier at this phase than on it's future albums after Walls of Jericho. The music is overall fast and heavy. Kai Hansen works as the guitarist/vocalist. He manages to do his job well, thought his voice is thin, weak and hoarse.
Intro is somewhat goofy. The guy awakes, opens a can of beer, opens his tv, and there are little squirrels singing "Happy happy Halloween halloween halloween", the guy gets excited. Kai Hansen suddenly starts screaming and hoarsely groaning the band exploding behind him. The brilliant guitar riff begins, but then the song really starts up. "Starlight" is a fast and memorable song. "Murderer" follows. It isn't slower than "Starlight" at all. The mighty backing vocals give some support to Hansen's thin vocals.
"Warrior" is a bit slower, but that doesn't mean that it's slow. It still fast. The guitar riff is much alike to those power metal bands that Helloween will influence on. "Victim of Fate" is the ep's highlight. It's fast guitar and double bass drum attacks boost it's power. The guitar riff is the best on this ep. The song even slows down, but that is short lived. Hoarse Hansen whispers hoarsely, and he sounds like a dying old man. In the middle of the guitar solo the song suddenly speeds up again to it's normal speed. The second is one the best solos I have ever heard. The future albums have solos which are much alike to this one. "Cry for Freedom" is an yearning half-ballad with acoustic start. Electric guitar cries in the background. But this isn't a full ballad. The song turns to fast and furious speed metal anthem. When listening to it, the word "ballad" doesn't spring to mind.
A great debut from the great band. I wish this was a full album.
These five songs are actually more speed than power metal, but they still got that distinct Helloween sound.
This lineup works perfectly together, but they've had one even better lineup- the one with Michael Kiske.
But on this one, it was Kai Hansen. And he is not bad, not at all. Actually, he is bloody amazing! But I have to warn those who haven't heard him - he has a very special voice, and it takes some time getting used to it. But when you do, it's definitely worth it. His raw, high-pitched voice fits the raw, melodic speed metal on here perfectly.
It starts out with Starlight, which is just furious speed metal. Fast as hell guitar and bass riffs, with insane vocals, mindblowing solos and great lead guitars. An insane opener for an insane album.
Next up, we have Murderer, which is slightly better than Starlight. A classic intro here- First comes guitar number one, then guitar two, then the bass, and finally the drums. This can never go wrong as an opening.
This song is just as fast as Starlight, and it has a much better chorus, with great backing vocals. The solo here is incredible. Very melodic and fast as hell, just the way I like it.
Warrior is the third song, and the second best of the bunch. Mindblowing shit!
It begins with sounds of machine guns, and soon a crazy guitar riff kicks in.
The song contains a bloody fast, galloping riff.
Another brilliant guitar solo accompanies this song as well. This album contains some of the best guitarwork ever, that can't be denied.
Now, we have reached the best song on the album by far, and Helloween's in my opinion best song, tied with Halloween.
The song opens with a crack of thunder and maybe the best fucking guitar riff EVER! It totally rips!
Kai's vocals here are amazing, and the lyrics are great too.
The chorus is filled with such, anger, emotion and intensity, it amazes me more with each listen.
And after a while, comes the evil, and most excellent bridge. Kai whispers the evil words, and sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it, and is closed by a menacing scream, brought to you by the one and only Kai Hansen. After this bridge, we get two amazing guitar solos, with a chorus in the middle. And I almost forgot to mention this - the drumming on this song is insane! This song, my friends, is musical perfection.
Now that I'm done praising Victim Of Fate, we can move on to the final song of this little EP: Cry For Freedom.
It begins with a beautiful guitar melody, and Kai Hansen shows the more emotional side of his vocals. But, after a while, it speeds up. Of course.
Crazy guitar riffing, piercing vocals and great background choirs accompany this song.
The entire song is more melodic than the rest of the album, and just as great.
The song, and EP, is closed by a totally mindblowing scream in a way no one but Kai Hanses could deliver it.
The EP was later to be added to Walls Of Jericho on a cd edition, which also contains the single Judas from 1986 (I own that version). It's all crammed up in one amazing cd, which is a must-have for all fans of speed and/or power metal.


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Brian J Giordano
Main Address:
Old Oaks Country Club
Purchase, NY 10577-1619
(914) 683-6050
Purchase, NY 10577-1619
(914) 683-6050
Brian Giordano is a PGA Professional in Purchase, NY. The PGA of America comprises 27,000 men and women professionals with one singular goal in mind - to make the game of golf more enjoyable for you.
Services Offered:
- Instruction
Professional has not entered award information.
(914) 683-6050


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Williams sees red in Glovers romp
The Glovers took a 20th-minute lead through Gavin Tomlin's penalty before Williams added a stunning second with a curling free-kick that went in off the post. Sam Collins' own goal put the result beyond doubt but Williams then saw red before Dean Bowditch added a fourth for Yeovil late on. The hosts went in front when Peter Hartley was harshly adjudged to have handled in the box, handing Tomlin the opportunity to convert from the spot. Williams doubled the lead in style and the on-loan Bristol City midfielder also had a hand in Yeovil's third as his lob bounced off the bar before Collins inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. Williams was then dismissed with 25 minutes remaining for a foul on Andy Monkhouse, but Bowditch extended the Glovers' lead with 19 minutes remaining.
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If you like your holidays to be hassle-free and soaked in sun, then our selection of Summer Holidays in 2015 have been designed just for you. Does relaxing by the pool while the kids make a splash at the in-resort waterpark sound appealing? How about basking on a serene, white-sand beach next to a loved one? Our wide range of destinations and holiday types ensure your summer break in 2015 is every bit as perfect as you would hope.
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friendly clean -we will definitely stay there again we enjoyed the breakfast , great choices of eating close by, we have2 small pets & were very welcomed .when we arrived we were warmly greeted , and we checked out with ease.
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Contact Sports Desk: Call: 603-516-2949 / E-mail: email@example.com Portsmouth 11-12s respond versus Lamprey River
Sunday, June 30, 2013
PORTSMOUTH — A bit of adversity hit the Portsmouth 11/12 Little League All-Stars quickly in Saturday's game against Lamprey River, and Portsmouth wasted no time in answering.
That's all Lamprey River got off Van Allen, as the Portsmouth ace didn't allow a hit the rest of the way in his five-inning stint. He worked around two base runners in the second, retired seven batters in a row and ended up with four strikeouts and two walks.
Johnson allowed five runs (three earned) on three hits, four walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.
"You couldn't ask for a better start," coach Hudson said. "We've given up two runs in three games and that tells you we're winning with defense and pitching."


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The Director, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), has sought the approval of the government to inquire into the 'mystery' behind the frequent pipe-bursts in the State capital in the wake of a directive of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission.
The Director, in a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary, Vigilance, said inquiry should be carried out into the irregularities being committed by the officials in connection with the frequent pipe-bursts.
The decision comes in the wake of the notice by SHRC chairman J.B. Koshy to the VACB to inquire into the pipe-bursts. The SHRC had recently registered a suo motu case on the basis of newspaper reports on pipe-bursts.
The SHRC's move came at a time when doubts were being raised about the possibility of a deliberate attempt behind the pipe-bursts, particularly the four simultaneous bursts on the 1,200-mm pre-stressed concrete transmission mainline from Aruvikkara to the Observatory Hills on February 25.
From February 16, pipelines in the city have had nearly 10 bursts, starting from one on the 1,200-mm PSC pipe from Aruvikkara on February 16 near the Kummi pump-house, which cut off water supply to a major portion of the city for over 24 hours. The four-point burst on this pipe near Peroorkada on February 25, the eve of the Attukal Pongala festival, threw water supply into disarray for two days. In the last one year, over 20 pipe-bursts have taken place in the capital.
Keywords: pipe-bursts, Thiruvananthapuram, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, inquiry, Kerala State Human Rights Commission,


text: Gangster's Choice Check your local listings. This week, the Lords of War are outside Houston, Texas. The guys see great items, including a blunderbuss pistol from the American Revolution, a detailed Bowie knife and a 1907 Winchester, popular with 1920s gangsters. More on This Episode: Overview Videos Photos Videos 2:23Drunken Mistake1:28Blunderbuss PistolNo Video Photos Gangsters Choice


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Take this Hahvid Implicit Association Test without thinking about test metrics and find out... https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.jsp Scroll down to the Race IAT and set aside 10 uninterrupted minutes. And here's the Science News article on this IAT and the controversey. Read afterwards as it shows you how to cheat. http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060422/bob9.asp
After taking this test I come up with: Your data suggest a moderate automatic preference for White American compared to Black American. Which is probably fairly accurate, did not need a test to come up with that though...
I got the same. Interesting test, but would be more meaningful if they explained their conclusions or showed some kind of curve to show where we fit in in each category. At any rate, as you said, a test wasn't necessary to come up with that. I suppose it's for research purposes.
I didn't take the test but I know I have a preference for Whites. Duh. I'm white. ON AVERAGE - I have more in common and a more similar upbringing. That doesn't mean I prefer every white to every black but I think 99% of any race has an inherent preference for similar people.
Yo, I bees a white ass honkey too but I scored no preference. Go figure. The 2nd link explains about such tests and how to 'beat' them if you're inclined to be dishonest. The test watches to see if you 'hesitate' in making reverse choices, thereby measuring implicit association of positive and negative attributes with target races.
Flawed test In my opinion and my test results proved it. Took one test - showed "slight preference for whites". Took second test - showed "moderate preference for blacks". Difference in tests is that the second test started with blacks on left. Reality - I have no racial preferences. Problems with this test that I noted right away...letter association. I assumed in beginning that 'E' was for "european american"...and that 'i' was used for blacks to enable ease in the test taking. In the first test I also had a hard time remembering where the words should go since I focused on the letters instead of the position. Second test, I just focused on the position instead of the relevant letters and went much faster. I also followed the directions so that my hands were in a typing position which again allowed for faster selections. There's also the problem of hand preference, I'm much more comfortable when typing involves letter selection from the left side of the keyboard rather than the right side [hence the "moderate preference for blacks" when the test began with blacks on the left side]. The contradictory results I got in this test in both direction AND intensity demonstrate its flaws. If I really had a preference for whites, that preference should have been strenghtened not weakened with familiarity. Assuming a preference for blacks, the first result should have indicated that regardless of familiarity. This test didn't define what it means by "preference for" although on the basis of the test it certainly appears it's a substitute phrase for preferential TREATMENT of [i.e. racism] not preference for "similar upbringing". Yet another problem with the test. People will accept it though since it provides confirmation of the obvious in a way that implies the characteristic is innate rather than learned.
I think that those are reasonable criticisms of weaknesses in the test. Great demonstration of critical thinking - quite rare in these parts. Me, I guess that my ultra-fast professional athelete reaction time coupled with unparalled ambidextrous ability evened things out for me.
Your data suggest little to no automatic preference between Black and White. I'm not sure what it means other than that I don't associate the word bad with black. That said, I was conscious of that while I was doing the test. I should point out that all of my friends are white and I choose to live in a neighbourhood that is overwhemingly white. I'm liberal but choose not to live in areas with high rates of poverty and crime, which is where the majority of black people live in this city. We are starting to get a black middle class but we are way behind the US in that respect. I work in such an area, though, so make what you will of that.
No, there are major character issues which mean that he will remain undrafted. For example, there is his selfishness in not giving me his season ticket and paying for me to fly to Boston each game day. Then, there is his rabid prejudice against Neil Entwistle, who is CLEARLY innocent (cough, splutter).
Your data suggest a strong automatic preference for White American compared to Black American. I dont however


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News and Features Related to ADD & ADHD
Do ADHD Drugs Stunt Kids' Growth?
May 1, 2006 - Kids who take stimulant drugs for their ADHD are shorter and lighter than their peers, a review of existing studies concludes. It's one of the most controversial aspects of treatment for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Stimulant drugs can be a great benefit to these ki
Read Full Article -
FDA OKs ADHD Treatment Patch for Kids
April 6, 2006 - The FDA has approved the first skin patch for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, despite ongoing debate about whether similar drugs should require stricter safety warnings. The agency announced Thursday that it had approved Daytrana for use by children aged 6 to 12. T
Read Full Article -
Tonsil Surgery Helps Kids With ADHD
April 3, 2006 -- New research suggests a surprising potential treatment for at least some children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- surgical removal of the tonsils. Children in the study who had their tonsils removed showed improvements in both behavior and sleeping, and half of thos
Read Full Article -
New Warnings Urged for ADHD Drugs
March 23, 2006 -- Government advisors urged new warnings and information for parents of children using drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though they avoided strong safety alerts backed by a separate panel last month. A committee of mostly pediatric experts urged the FDA
Read Full Article -
More Young Adults Taking ADHD Drugs
March 21, 2006 -- The use of prescription drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose again in 2005, mainly among young adults. So says Medco Health Solutions, which manages prescription drug benefit programs. Medco checked prescription data for 2.5 million patients nationwid
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Once-a-Day Concerta: Less Abuse Risk?
March 9, 2006 - Surveys suggest that Ritalin abuse is a growing problem among teens in the U.S., but there is increasing evidence that the risk of abuse is much lower with newer, time-released versions of the stimulant most commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Brain imagi
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ADHD: Out of Focus
In the five decades of his life, Peter Gregory has been a geophysicist, a marketing manager for an auto dealership, a self-employed executive recruiter, and a coach for people with ADHD. Gregory has taken pride in his openness to new ventures, but also knows it comes at a price. He changed careers b
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TV May Not Raise Kids' Risk of ADHD
March 6, 2006 -- Time spent watching TV may not influence young kids' risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers report. Experts from Texas Tech University in Lubbock studied 5,000 children. Data came from a national survey of parents, teachers, kindergarteners,
Read Full Article -
Experts Urge Stern ADHD Drug Warnings
Feb. 9, 2006 -- In a surprise move, an advisory panel urged the FDA to place strong warnings on all stimulant drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because of a potential risk of heart attacks, strokes, and sudden death. The experts voted unanimously, with one abstentio
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Narcolepsy Drug Shows Promise for ADHD
Dec. 6, 2005 -- A drug used to help people with excessive daytime sleepiness is showing promise as a treatment for children and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The stimulant modafinil was found to be both effective and well tolerated in a newly reported nine-week trial involving
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Google Buzz TheChaosProject Dec 02, 21:09 Check Out This Game And Also play Gaming Bros Jan 08, 04:44 us play turbo dismount part 1 game: Feb 26, 14:10 Turbo Dismount.
Lower back pain all weekend, this makes it a bit better.
What is Unity You'll be required to download the more frequently, otherwise you won't be able to play this game.
Try #TurboDismount by secretexit thomasp3mb3rton Jan 20, 20:17 Erikillstabyou o version but its still fun JackHammer92 Jan 19, 16:30 Going to waste a loooooooot of time playing this.
Oddie Puzon Jan 18, 01:07 Karina Kenji Jeremy Gabrielle Nicole Francesca Polly Corvin found somethin Ang problema niyo need niyo ng steam wahahhaha Nov 19, 09:51 Viime perjantain PS4-uutistulvan jalkoihin.
If you don't mind, it's up on secretexit Nov 22, 17:49 Turbo #Dismount Web Preview Update #1 now live!
Is it alright if we also show it on secretexit Nov 26, 19:53 RockLeeSmile indieimpression An excellent video, thank you!
Secure Form Enter the email address you use for your Big Fish account.
The game is all about executing stunts and crazy drives in the various levels and areas of the game.
( OhhJeffrey Nov 27, 11:52 Ich habe ein-Video positiv bewertet:).
The many options in the game and the thrilling game play combine to make the game a very special one.
Unity issues White screen or "Error launching Unity Player": Your internet browser most likely doesn't have enough rights to use the player.
Twitter Buzz secretexit Jan 24, 15:19 Turbo Dismount web version also updated on s - Super 16X slow-mo mode GoatNHog Jan 22, 19:22 Did you ever spend hours playing #StairDismount.
DC Hans Zenjuga Nov 17, 13:41 I don't know why this is so addictive but I just can't stop playing this web preview of Turbo Dismount: Mr.
The main aim should be to beat best score records to get on top.
Dismount Nov 15, 17:43 Here we go - Mr.


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Results 1 to 5 of 5
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07-19-2012 #1
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Posts
- 2
firefox -> ssh -> tor on linuxbox
I have a linuxbox with tor and openssh server running (tor is listening on default port 38859 and the ssh server is running on 22).
I can successfully establish an ssh connection to this linuxbox from my localmachine. I have tried to use putty to route requests on localmachine to tor on linuxbox, but I have been failing for some time now, despite sifting through many guides and forums.
Please help.
Also, I have cntlm (to authenticate past ISA proxy) running on linuxbox, which is listening on port 3129. I would also like to be able to route into cntlm from localmachine, using ssh. Is this also possible?
07-20-2012 #2
- Join Date
- May 2011
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- 4,353
07-20-2012 #3
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Posts
- 260
When you say "route", you mean sending TCP/IP packets to the Linux machine via SSH, then forwarding those packets over the Tor client on the Linux machine? To the best of my knowledge, PuTTY cannot do this.
In terms of the OSI model, PuTTY works at the "Application layer": it presents to you the input and output of a shell program running on a remote machine while encrypting this information as it is transferred through TCP/IP. Firefox is also at the Application layer, and you can't just plug one application into the another application. Firefox uses your operating system's built-in networking functions to communicate with the Internet. If your operating system isn't set up to route packets to the Linux machine, Firefox cannot do it either.
If I understand correctly, what you need is packet forwarding at the "Transport layer" of the OSI model, i.e. it is handled by the operating systems (Windows and Linux), not by your applications (Putty or Firefox).
So what you are trying to do is setup a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to your Linux machine. VPN can use the same kind of encryption as SSH to forwards packets. Therefore you need to install a VPN server onto your Linux machine, for example PPTP (check out this turorial). If Linux is using Tor to connect to the internet, you can configure Linux to route the packets coming from Windows via the VPN onto the Tor network.
Then, set up Windows to connect to the Internet via the VPN server provided by the Linux machine. Then Firefox will be able to connect to the internet via the VPN channel from Windows to Linux, which will in then be forwarded to Tor by Linux.
07-20-2012 #4
I never did this, but I assume you would have to create a SSH tunnel to the server as described here:
HOWTO: SSH Tunneling Made Easy
If you open a tunnel like this:
ssh -f -L 80:your.home.server:38859 -N email@example.com
all local traffic going through port 80 will be actually sent to your homeserver at port 38859 where tor awaits data. Let us know if this works for you.
07-21-2012 #5
- Join Date
- Jul 2012
- Posts
- 2
Tried & failed
This is the type of thing I have been trying to achieve. So I fired up linux on localmachine to test your suggestion. (even though my goal is to accomplish this in windows on localmachine, hence putty). Was I supposed to set my firefox socks5 proxy to localhost:80? Doing this gave me the ssh tunneling error:
Code:channel 2: open failed: connect failed: Connection refused
I should instead go the VPN route then?
Thanks again everyone!


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Fall 2007
HIS 383 • Stalinist Russia
Unique | Days | Time | Location | Instructor |
41195 |
Wynn |
Course Description
The purpose of this graduate reading course is to introduce students to the literature and historiographic debates in Russian history from the end of the imperial regime to the beginning of the Stalinist era. The readings, a mix of older and newer works, will focus on both the "high" politics of the period and the social and political pressure from below.
Grading Policy
Five critical reviews of the readings, 4-5 pages in length each, constitute the written work for the course.
The final grade is based on both the written assignments (75%) and classroom participation (25%).
Kuromiya, Hiroyaki. Stalin. Viola, Lynne. Peasant Rebels under Stalin: Collectivization and the Culture of Peasant Resistance. Fitzpatrick, Sheila. Stalin's Peasants: Resistance and Survival in the Russian Village after Collectivization. Kotkin, Stephen. Magnetic Mountain: Stalinism as a Civilization. Goldman, Wendy. Women, the State, and Revolution: Soviet Family Policy and Social Life, 1917-1936. Fitzpatrick, Sheila. Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times. Northrop, Douglas. Veiled Empire: Gender & Power in Stalinist Central Asia. Conquest, Robert. The Great Terror: A Reassessment. Getty, J. Arch. The Road to Terror: Stalin and the Self-Destruction of the Bolsheviks, 1932-1939. Rayfield, Donald. Stalin and His Hangmen: The Tyrant and Those Who Killed for Him. Overy, Richard. Russia's War: A History of the Soviet War Effort: 1941-1945. Roberts, Geoffrey. Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953. Taubman, William. Khrushchev: The Man and His Era.


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Results tagged "Palestine"
Cards made by east London schoolchildren have been sent to the Israeli and Palestinian governments as part of a campaign to spread a global message of peace.
By Giles BroadbentPro-Palestininan campaigners clog up Blackwall tunnel in support of the victims of the Gaza confict. Jewish organisations report an increase in anti-Semitic attacks.
And what does the mayor of Tower Hamlets do? Tweet a picture of a Palestinian flag outside the Town Hall.
Tower Hamlets Council said a Palestinian flag placed outside its town hall was torn down in an act of "perceived vandalism".
In a move which saw it criticised by the government, council staff had put up the symbol at Mulberry Place on Wednesday following a decision by Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
Extreme Rambling, by Mark Thomas
Ebury Press, £10.99
This one offers an in-depth take on the Israel/Palestine question packed with pomposity-pricking prose.
Through the crackles of a recalcitrant iPhone, political activist, satirist and comedian Mark Thomas speaks of optimism and depression.
In March last year he decided for "fun, curiosity and a love of rambling" to take his first trip to Israel with the aim of walking the 472 mile length of its controversial West Bank separation barrier.


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Story Summary
Greenwood Prince Series: Deep in the forests of Mirkwood, dark creatures dwell…waiting for the chance to ensnare any elf that underestimates them…and the youngest prince is no exception. A Prequel to Surprises in the Greenwood and Shocks in Erebor. Draugris's story.
The Greenwood Prince Series #4 - It is recommended that you read the first four stories in this series before reading this one.
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text: Shades of Green- Chapter 12Shades of GreenChapter Twelve- Conquest of The LeaderPart Three- War of the HulksWakanda, AfricaDefeating the HYDRA soldiers and leaving all of them incapacitated for the time being, the three heroes searched through the campsite, each investigating anything that would be unusual. It was Hawkeye who discovered a large metal crate, setting a small explosive device upon its hatch, thus unlocking it and allowing the crate to be opened. What Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Gorilla-Man discovered within the metal crate caught their immediate attention, for within the metal crate was... a gamma-bomb!All of them were informed of The Leader's demads and broadcast, but they never thought that the psychotic gamma villain would be able to pull off such a threat! But it would seem that they underestimated The Leader, but how could they have known that the gamma villain was working with the likes of HYDRA and AIM? Regardless, they knew what had to be done, for if they were to have even the slighte


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We're Happy Campers! by Apartment Dynamics - over 1 year ago
"We're an apartment management company who recently all got together to work on our 2014 Budgets. Not so exciting, right? We wanted to make the experience as fun as possible, so we had a Budget Camp..." view full details
APM Biking Trip by Jessica - about 4 years ago
"Trip for work, biking in AZ" view full details


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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Tricon Global Restaurants Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Long John Silver's and A&W All American Food Restaurants from Yorkshire Global Restaurants for $320 million in cash.
In a March 11 release, the company also said it will change its name from Tricon to Yum! Brands Inc., upon completion of the deal.
The company's current brand trio of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell includes more than 30,000 stores generating more than $22 billion in annual sales.
The addition of the Long John Silver's fast-food seafood brand and A&W's hotdog, hamburger and root beer brand will add 2,316 stores (1,225 Long John Silver's, 970 A&W restaurants and 121 multi-branded Long John Silver's/A&Ws). Yorkshire is a privately held company, which reported sales of $1.1 billion in 2001. It is headquartered in Lexington, Ky.
Late last year, Tricon chairman and CEO David Novak told a gathering of investors and analysts that the company would aggressively pursue growth of the multi-brand component of its business in 2002. It currently has 1,500 multi-brand units in the U.S. and abroad.
In 2000 it entered into a license agreement with Yorkshire to test multi-brand options with Long John Silvers and A&W. The two companies since have opened 83 KFC/A&Ws, six KFC/Long John Silvers and three Taco Bell/Long John Silvers.
Topics: Public Companies


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Free Photo Archive of over 30,000 vintage photographs. Find people and the places were they lived. Search for your surnames. Find photos of your ancestors. Make connections with genealogy cousins. Add your family's photos. |
Roosevelt and Leona Wareham Cornelius
Roosevelt Cornelius and Leona Wareham's wedding day. They were married in Mercer in 1925, settled in Grove City, and had two children - Raymond and Rowena - before Leona died of blood poisoning in 1937.
Submitted by Lynn Schneider, granddaughter of Roosevelt and Leona Wareham Cornelius and daughter of Rowena Cornelius.
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Fire Bath Kit Sold by Laurie at Ravensrest
Tophatter is the world's most entertaining live auction marketplace.
Ships from United States within 2 business days of payment.
This item will sell on November 1, 6pm PDT in the Enchanted Arts: Pagan Goods auction.
This wonderful bath kit provides you with all of the items you need to invoke the element of Fire within your own ritual bath. The element of fire has long been known as an element of passion, romance, and vigor, and as such it can be used to instill ambition, help stir passions, and help you prepare for the casting of your love spells. Each kit contains a packet of Earth bath salts as well as 2 candles and 1 candle holder. Included with these items are instructions as to how to use them within your own ritual bath.