text:
STARmeterSEE RANK
Up 3,506 this week
Wellesley Wild
Wellesley Wild was born on April 27, 1972 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA as Henry Wellesley Wild. He is a producer and writer, known for Ted (2012), A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) and Family Guy (1999). See full bio »
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info: View agent and legal
Represent Wellesley Wild? Add or change photos


text:
- Global Voices - https://globalvoices.org -
Work on the Panama Canal Grinds to a Halt
Written by Ariel MorenoTranslated by Victoria Robertson On 6 February 2014 @ 16:41 pm | No Comments
In Breaking News, Citizen Media, Economics & Business, Latin America, Panama, Politics, Spanish, Weblog
[Links are to Spanish-language pages except where noted.]
The GUPC (Grupo Unidos por el Canal), a Spanish-led construction group, has completely stopped work on the Panama Canal expansion project [2] [en]. After more than 15 days of negotiations [3] [en] the consortium decided to make good on its threat to shut down construction when its demands were not met.
Jorge Quijano, the canal administrator, indicated that while conversations between the parties could continue [4], the window of opportunity was closing and that prompt action should be taken.
It did not take long for patriotic outrage to make itself heard.
To better understand the stakes involved, it helps to know that for Panamanians, the Canal is sacred. It was born hand in hand with the nation. More precisely, Panama seceded from Gran Colombia and became an independent country in 1903 with the primary objective of opening up the Canal. As a result, Panamanians feel this crucial stretch of water to be part of their DNA, and since it was opened, they have defended it tooth and nail. Some have gone so far as to call it "the religion that unites all Panamanians [5]."
This notion was reflected in social media, where politicians of all stripes showed their support for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), which remains firm in its determination to not negotiate outside the terms of the contract.
The journalist Manolo Álvarez collected the various statements made by Jorge Quijano, who guaranteed that Panama would not let itself be blackmailed by the GUPC and that the ACP was prepared to face them in court.
Canal no se someterá a ningún chantaje de Gupc y los enfrentaremos en cualquier terreno @radiopanama [6] @canaldepanama [7] pic.twitter.com/86r7Almr06 [8]
— Manolo Álvarez C (@manoloalvarezc) February 5, 2014 [9]
The Canal will not be subjected to any extortion by the GUPC and we will face them no matter the circumstances
Isabel St. Malo, who is running for the vice-presidency under the banner of the Partido Panameñista [10] [en], tweeted her support for the ACP, pledging that the expansion of the Canal would be done with or without the GUPC.
Respaldamos mensaje del administrador Quijano, terminaremos ampliación con o sin GUPC. ACP, orgullo nacional!
— Isabel St. Malo (@IsabelStMalo) February 5, 2014 [11]
We endorse the message of Administrator Quijano, we will finish this project with or without GUPC. ACP, national pride!
Martin Torrijos, former President of Panamá and son of General Omar Torrijos—the man who signed the Torrijos-Carter treaties that returned the Canal to Panama—also indicated he stood behind the Administrator and commented that if they were able to make the Canal Panamanian, then surely Panamanians would be able to expand it.
La ampliación es nuestra,ellos se van nosotros nos quedamos,como dijo Quijano.Cumpliremos con Panamá.Si lo recuperamos,sin duda lo ampliamos
— Martin Torrijos (@MartinTorrijos) February 5, 2014 [12]
The expansion project is ours; they will go, we will remain, as Quijano said. We will fulfill our duty to Panama. If we got it back, there's no question we can expand it.
Popi Varela, a Partido Panameñista deputy, points out that the mistake made by Sacyr, the Spanish firm leading the GUPC, was to believe that the ACP was just like any corrupt government they could blackmail.
Sacyr piensa que está negociando con un gobierno corrupto no se han dado cuenta que la ACP es autónoma del Gob Central por constitución!
— Popi Varela (@varelapopi) February 5, 2014 [13]
Sacyr thinks they are negotiating with a corrupt government and haven't realized that the ACP is independent of the central government according to the constitution!
With its typical sarcasm, El Gallinazo requests that Panamanians not let "gringos" finish the work and that they themselves pick up the tools and complete the expansion project.
Panamá te necesita! No dejemos q los gringos terminen la ampliación. Agarren sus mazos y coas y vamos a terminar esa vaina nosotros mismos!
— El Gallinazo (@ElGallinazo) February 5, 2014 [14]
Panama needs you! Don't let the gringos finish the expansion. Grab your hammers and shovels and we'll finish this job ourselves!
Quintín Moreno opines that the GUPC should not be given any more chances and that another company should be found.
La ACP debe contratar una nueva empresa para finalizar la ampliación, el GUPC demostró ser desleal y oportunista.
— Quintín Moreno (@quintinmoreno) February 5, 2014 [15]
The ACP should hire a new firm to finish the expansion; the GUPC has shown itself to be opportunistic and disloyal.
The impact is being felt in Spain, where the share price of Sacyr plummeted when news hit the financial markets. This is how Mi Diario describes it:
Caen acciones de Sacyr en la bolsa española || http://t.co/86Rk3s0iWN [16] || pic.twitter.com/AHJycga4QW [17]
— Mi Diario Panamá (@MiDiarioPanama) February 5, 2014 [18]
Shares of Sacyr fell on the Spanish stock market
R.A. Benta says that this is the beginning of the end of the Spanish "brand" and that the real question is, "Who is going to pay for it all?"
Hoy Sacyr con el canal de Panana, mañana Arabia Saudí con el Ave,quien pagará estas megafiestas? #MarcaEspana [19] #SíSí [20] pic.twitter.com/wZqDrYbmgy [21]
— R.A.Benta#SISI||*|| (@R_A_Benta) February 5, 2014 [22]
Today Sacyr with the Panama Canal, tomorrow Saudi Arabia with the Ave [high-speed train], who's picking up the tab for these megaparties?
Quijano's statements, assuring there is still wiggle room in the negotiations, indicate the ACP believes that the GUPC can complete the work. However, when it comes to Panamanians, patience for the manoeuvres of the consortium seems to have run out.
Article printed from Global Voices: https://globalvoices.org
URL to article: https://globalvoices.org/2014/02/06/work-on-the-panama-canal-grinds-to-a-halt/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/albumdobruto/5023250936/
[2] , has completely stopped work on the Panama Canal expansion project: https://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/01/15/panama-canal-expansion-faces-a-new-challenge/
[3] 15 days of negotiations: https://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/01/21/work-on-the-panama-canal-continues-for-now/
[4] conversations between the parties could continue: http://www.prensa.com/uhora/locales/quijano-gupc-ha-mantenido-posicion-inflexible/271497
[5] the religion that unites all Panamanians: http://www.prensa.com/impreso/economia/canal-panama-religion-que-une-todos-panamenos/258266
[6] @radiopanama: https://twitter.com/radiopanama
[7] @canaldepanama: https://twitter.com/canaldepanama
[8] pic.twitter.com/86r7Almr06: http://t.co/86r7Almr06
[9] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/manoloalvarezc/statuses/431077362290417664
[10] Partido Panameñista: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partido_Paname%C3%B1ista
[11] February 5, 2014: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panameñista_Party8
[12] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/MartinTorrijos/statuses/431086159448784896
[13] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/varelapopi/statuses/431089705795735552
[14] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/ElGallinazo/statuses/431087182111993856
[15] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/quintinmoreno/statuses/431095324258471936
[16] http://t.co/86Rk3s0iWN: http://t.co/86Rk3s0iWN
[17] pic.twitter.com/AHJycga4QW: http://t.co/AHJycga4QW
[18] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/MiDiarioPanama/statuses/431046942131363840
[19] #MarcaEspana: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MarcaEspana&src=hash
[20] #SíSí: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23S%C3%ADS%C3%AD&src=hash
[21] pic.twitter.com/wZqDrYbmgy: http://t.co/wZqDrYbmgy
[22] February 5, 2014: https://twitter.com/R_A_Benta/statuses/431093016426983424
Click here to print.
This site is licensed as Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. Please read our attribution policy: http://globalvoicesonline.org/about/global-voices-attribution-policy

subset: commoncrawl


text:
ASU BASEBALL: Rams win another walk-off to take series over Cameron
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Walk-off wins are starting to become the norm for the Angelo State baseball team at Foster Field this season.
Backed into a hole after being shut out 3-0 in the first game of a Lone Star Conference doubleheader against Cameron, the Rams responded by securing the final game of the series 7-6 in walk-off fashion after Christian Summers led off the ninth inning with a double and scored on a two-base error by the Aggie pitcher on a Brett David bunt to end the game.
ASU (22-14, 12-11 LSC) has won four games on walk-off wins in its past eight games, including three the past two Saturdays after claiming a pair of walk-off victories last weekend against Eastern New Mexico.
"It was a good win for us, especially coming back after we lost the lead late in the game," ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. "Nehwon (Norkeh) had a big home run and Christian had the two-strike double to set it up in the ninth. Brett David executed the bunt and we got a break with them throwing it away. This team has always shown the ability to fight with their backs against the wall."
ASU won the three-game set 2-1 after an 8-0 win Friday and is now 5-2 this season against the Aggies (12-20, 7-14 LSC). The Rams, who are 11-6 in one-run games, will return to action with a nonconference doubleheader against McMurry at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Foster Field before traveling to face Tarleton State next weekend in a three-game LSC set in Stephenville.
Cameron took a 6-4 lead by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh on two hits and two ASU errors, but the Rams continued showing their late-game heroics on their home field where they are now 13-6 this season. ASU got one of the runs back in the seventh when Summers walked, stole second and scored on an error. Norkeh led off the eighth with his third home run of the season to tie the game 6-6.
Jake Feckley (5-2) earned his first win of the season out of the bullpen, after going three innings of relief with four strikeouts. He was on in relief of Graylon Brown who entered the game after only two batters faced by starter Dillon Becker. Brown went 6.0 innings, striking out three and surviving three walks and three hit batters to allow only three runs.
Cameron's Brian Schawabe (3-2) stifled the Rams throughout the first game and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before JP Zapata hit a two-out double down the right-field line to break it up. The Rams were blanked for the third time this season after stranding Zapata.
Blake Bass (3-2) received the loss despite throwing a complete game and allowing only six hits. The Aggies got their runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings.
Subscribe to the San Angelo Standard-Times
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-304-7763.
Monday-Friday: 6am-8pm / Saturday: 6am-12pm / Sunday: 6am-1pm


text:
Offical team blog for SSDT, a tool for on and off-premise database development
This release of the Data-Tier Application Framework (DACFx) brings fixes for several customer-reported and high-priority issues including:
The team thanks you for your feedback in reporting these issues!
With this release, we've also made significant improvements in overall operation performance and stability when targeting Windows Azure SQL Database with DACFx.
You can obtain this new version of DACFx and its dependencies from our Microsoft Download Center page here. This version of DACFx supersedes all previously available versions. This new version of DACFx supports in-place upgrade from previous versions, so it is not required to remove previous DACFx installations before upgrading to this new release.
(Update 11/19) If you are on an x64 machine, you will need to install both the x64 and x86 versions of the MSIs from the DACFx November download page linked above.
This release of DACFx is fully compatible with the November 2012 release of SQL Server Data Tools released on 11/7, available here. This release is also compatible with SSMS of SQL Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 SP1.
If you experience any issues or have any feedback, please let us know via the forum or Connect. We look forward to hearing from you!
After upgrading the Data-Tier Application Framework, SQL Server Data Tools upgrade dialog still pops up for me when starting Visual Studio 2012. It claims 11.1.2816.0 version is installer instead of 11.1.2820.0. I checked the c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin\Microsoft.SqlServer.Dac.dll file and it has 11.1.2820.0 version.
We are looking into this issue this morning. Please see this thread for more details - social.msdn.microsoft.com/.../9af0e749-65e2-4fa8-a4ee-d2035260dc7a. I will update that thread if we uncover any new information.
Thanks Adam - installling x86 resolved the problem.
If i'm on a x64 machine, do I really have to install all 6 .msi files?
Hi Adam,
Can I make a suggestion? When you post these blogs about updates to either DacFX or SSDT that you tell us how to determine what version of those are already installed. Give us screenshots about what we should see *after* the update has been installed.
The reason I suggest this is that I am currently trying to do an audit of all our developer workstations & servers to determine what version of SSDT, Power Tools & DacFX we are running to make sure we are consistent. I don't actually know how to do that because I do not know how to determine this information.


text:
- This blog is intended to be gently thought-provoking. It is not intended to substitute for competent, professional, personalized therapy, coaching or consultation. If something you read here evokes a strong response that hinders your ability to cope with life, please seek professional help.
Subscription Options:
Tag Archives: championship
Rules for Resolutions
Like any good coach with a blog, I'm offering suggestions for transitioning to the new year. This will be a series of posts, and despite the threshold of 2012 tonight, your change can begin anytime. In fact, I'm not even … Continue reading
Posted in Goal Setting, Living Life on Purpose, New Year's Resolutions, personal change, transformation, Uncategorized Tagged championship, gratitude, gratitude list, living a life of purpose, living joyfully, living life fully, meaningful life, New Year's, New Year's resolutions, positivity, purposeful life, pursuing desires, resolutions, self improvement, setting goals Leave a comment
Hope Springs Eternal Until Someone Breaks A Nail
We'll know soon enough if the hope that this is THE year is going to burst beccuase of an elbow, a shoulder or a blister. We can always wait until next year for things to get better, or we can start from here, with what we have. Continue reading
Posted in Hope Tagged baseball, championship, Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, injured players, opening day, self improvement 1 Comment


text:
|Targeted Industry
Development Studies
Economic and Fiscal
Entrepreneurship and Small
Overview of Economic Trends
Overview of Economic Trends in Workforce Investment Areas, South Carolina
Communication & Information Technology
Community Informatics Resources
Workforce Occupations and Skills Projections
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development
Markley, Deborah M., David L. Barkley and R. David Lamie. Case Studies of E-Commerce Activity in Rural and Small Town Businesses. UCED Working Paper 10-2007-04, EDA University Center for Economic Development.
Barkley, David L., Deborah M. Markley and R. David Lamie. E-Commerce Project Lessons Learned, UCED Working Paper 10-2007-02, EDA University Center for Economic Development.
Lamie, R. David, Deborah M. Markley and David L. Barkley. E-Commerce Project Curriculum Guide. UCED Working Paper 10-2007-03, EDA University Center for Economic Development.
Barkley, David L., Mark S. Henry, and DooHee Lee. "Innovative Activity in Rural Areas: The Importance of Local and Regional Characteristics."Community Development Investments Review, Vol. 2, Issue 3; December 2006, l
Barkley, David L. The Value of Case Study Research on Rural Entrepreneurship: Useful Method? Presented at the joint ERS-RUPRI conference, Exploring Rural Entrepreneurship: Imperatives and Opportunities for Research, Washington,DC, October 26-27, 2006.
Barkley, David L., Mark S. Henry, and Santosh Nair. "Regional Innovation Systems: Implications for Nonmetropolitan Areas and Workers in the South." Growth and Change, 2006, 37(2): 278-306.
Robinson, Kenneth L., Ralph D. Christy, and Ntam Baharanyi (editors). Empowering Rural Communities through Entrepreneurship: Experiences from the 1890 Land-Grant


text:
- Filed Under
Stephen Kalinich and Jon Tiven, 'Yo Ma Ma: Symptomology; Shortcuts to Infinity'
This two-disc set proves to be an inspired pairing of two veteran artists. Stephen Kalinich is a lyricist and longtime Beach Boys collaborator. Brian Wilson called him "a poetic genius." Jon Tiven is a producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with an affinity for R&B; he has helmed terrific comeback albums by Wilson Pickett and Philadelphia's Garnet Mimms, among others.
"Symptomology" is credited to Yo Ma Ma, an alter ego that allows the duo to play younger than they are. It's full of dirty, horn-accented rock 'n' roll delivered with snarl and swagger, as you can gather from such titles as "Let's Get Stoned," "Grow a Pair," and "Once My Zits Go Away." It all packs a visceral punch, enhanced by the fact that Kalinich and Tiven, for all the wit here, never display any ironic distance from the material.
The second disc, "Shortcuts to Infinity," brings out more rootsy touches and can hit just as hard, as with the Bo Diddley-esque thrust of "Climb Some Walls" and the chugging rock of the seven-minute-plus centerpiece "Out of the Darkness" (with Queen's Brian May on guitar). But there are also more laid-back moments, like the pop-soul duet with soul man Willie Jones on "God Helps Those." On this disc Kalinich's lyrics tend to be more earnest, in an introspective and idealistic way, but they never go soft, or softheaded.
- Nick Cristiano, The Philadelphia Inquirer


text:
Save 15%
Become a Zoot Insider
New product releases. Special Promotions and Giveaways. Event info. Athlete Updates.
View our Privacy Policy.Valid for first-time subscribers only; cannot be combined with any other offer.
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
Residence: Philadelphia, PA
Personal Blog: http://michellemighdolltriathlete.blogspot.com/
Personal Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=610193
Twitter Account: http://twitter.com/#!/mmighdoll
Career Highlights:
2010 Ironman 70.3 World Championships - 5th AG
2010 The Triathlon at Pacific Grove - 1st AG
2010 Chicago Triathlon - 1st AG
2010 Ironman 70.3 Mooseman - 2nd AG
2010 Ironman 70.3 Lonestar - 1st AG
Personal Bio:
I'm a 25-year-old med student from California, but I go to school in Philadelphia (and I'm doing research at Hopkins for the next year). I originally was a soccer player, and played professionally for a year. But after tearing my ACL for a third time, I needed to change things. I found a passion for triathlon. It allows me to focus my energy and challenges my body and mind. And I love sharing my passion with others: from coaching to helping friends. I am so honored and excited to be a part of the Zoot Ultra Team; I have met so many incredible athletes, and they constantly inspire me!
5 things we should know about you:
- I'm in medical school
- I'm a Cat 2 cyclist and PA state time trial champion
- I played D1 soccer in college and also played one year professionally
- I am so lucky to coach an inner-city youth tri team (Cadence Cycling Foundation)....these kids are really incredible!
- My favorites: family, friends, surfing and the beach
How did you first get into triathlons?
When I studied in Australia, my boyfriend and I did some open water swims at the beach, and I learned about triathlon. So, I decided I wanted to do one when I came back to the U.S. Luckily, three former pros swam with the Masters team that I sometimes swam with, and they were so supportive and taught me how to ride a bike. My very first ride was on a borrowed bike, 50 miles of pure climbing, and I fell down A LOT. But, I loved it, and well, I was instantly hooked with my first win a few weeks later!
What was the first race you ever participated in and what place did you finish?
2007 Quakerman Triathlon, 1st AG
What is your favorite race?
Chicago Triathlon (but Wildflower is awesome too!)
What is your favorite workout?
Three times thru:
15' ride all out
10' run all out
What are your favorite Zoot products and why?
Zoot Ultra Race 3.0 shoes - comfy, good fit, light, quick, and bright
Zoot CompressRX Sports Bra - the most comfortable sports bra ever, and totally wicks away the sweat!
Zoot CompressRX tight - the best compression tights on the market (I wear mine to sleep in AND to run in when it's cold!)
Zoot Prophet wetsuit - best fitting wetsuit I've ever worn and has lots of flexibility in the arms
And all the Zoot run clothing (especially shorts and tank tops)!
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Graduating from The Wharton School of Business, and also going to medical school.
What motivates you?
Training with the male pros and my coach. They challenge me to be the best athlete and also the best person that I can be. The energy is fantastic. And we remind each other that: "Real champions make their own way".
What is your pre-race meal?
Puffins cereal + banana
What is your pre-race ritual?
I just try to stay calm and sometimes listen to music (anything but rap and classical). I check my bike probably 20 times to make sure it's working properly and nothing is rubbing or loose! Then I say a little prayer.
What is in your triathlon bag that you cannot live without?
Zoot CompressRX socks; Zoot recovery sandals; strawberry-banana GU; Gamin 310xt watch; Powerbalance bracelet; Burts Bees chapstick; iPod; sunscreen
What are your goals for the 2011 season?
- Qualify for elite/pro license
- Top 10 overall amateur at Ironman 70.3 Worlds
- Top 10 OA at AG Nats
- break 36 min in a 10k
- no more broken bones!!!
Events you are racing in this season:
Ironman 70.3 Muncle (July 9), Ironman 70.3 Racine (July 17), Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead (August 14), Ironman World Championship 70.3- Las Vegas (September 11), Jarden Westchester Triathlon (September 25), Ironman 70.3 Pocono Mountains (October 2), Rohto Ironman 70.3 Miami (October 30)
SheRox Philadelphia Triathlon - Aug 7
USAT Age Group National Championship - Aug 20
Chicago Triathlon - Aug 28
Nickel City Triathlon - Sept 24 (pending because of Westchester)
Rev 3 Anderson, SC - Oct 9
New product releases. Special Promotions and Giveaways. Event info. Athlete Updates.
View our Privacy Policy.Valid for first-time subscribers only; cannot be combined with any other offer.


text:
Updated 09/26/2013
Dark-wood paneling, a serpentine bar, and a mixture of tables and booths give this restaurant a comfy British-pub vibe. It's in the same building as the Excelsior hotel, but with a separate entrance. British food isn't that far off from Czech—meat and potatoes are still front and center—but there are also decent pastas and salads to be had. Winston Churchill once visited Mariánské Lázně, which is the inspiration for the theme and name.
Hlavní 121, Mariánské Lázně, Bohemia, 353 01, Czech Republic
Website: www.orea.cz/en/orea-hotel-excelsior
Restaurant Details:
Updated 09/26/2013
No Thanks


text:
I enjoy hunting, fishing, cooking and baking, and spending time outdoors.
Student involvement
My favorite Lourdes people
My favorite people at Lourdes are the athletes. They have so much heart for the game they are planning. I also like the staff because they are some of the kindest people and they always have a smile on their face.
Advice to new students
Find an organization that you like and get involved. You will make some of the greatest friends!


text: Body recovered from collapsed Roy grain silo Share this story email Share this story «Previous 5 of 11 Photos Next » Read the story « » Silo Collapse Family of the missing worker and managers from Wilcox Family Farms wait at the site of two collapsed grain silos in Roy, Wash., Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013. A fire chief says a worker is presumed dead after the silos collapsed on Monday. Cranes are being brought in to stabilize the structures before the piles of grain can be moved. (AP Photo/The News Tribune,Peter Haley)


text:
American Legal Thought Since 1880
Spring 2014
American Legal Thought Since 1880
Charles W. McCurdy
This course explores the main patterns of American legal thought since publication of The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Emphasis will be on private law. Virtually all assignments will be in primary sources, and virtually all class sessions will be devoted to discussion of works that all have read or to student presentations of works that only they (and the instructor) have read. There will be very few lectures.
Weekly reading assignments will average 150 pages per week. Students will make at least three presentations during the term. Three or four papers will be required.
Prior enrollment in HIUS 3752 or HIUS 3753 is strongly recommended.


text:
Refurb. 26-inch Westinghouse LCD HDTV, now $179
PCconnection.com's deal of the day for today is on the refurbished 26-inch Westinghouse LCD HDTV (model no. SK-26H730S-B) which is priced at $179.95. That's a $70 price cut from the original MSRP of $249.95, and $50 less than their normal refurb. price. This is also around $50 less than the lowest price we could find on this HDTV anywhere else. FREE shipping is included and sales tax applies for residents of Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
If you prefer brand new items over refurbs, then head to CompuDirect.com for the 24-inch Samsung touch of color widescreen HDTV/ display, which is available for $249. Or if you want something a bit larger, try the Toshiba 32-inch LCD HDTV with 1080i resolution, now priced at $375 with FREE shipping at BeachCamera.com. Dell.com has the even larger 42-inch Sharp LC42SB45UT 1080p LCD HDTV for $899. Some prefer the full, rich colors that a plasma screen can provide, the Panasonic Viera TC-P42X1 42-inch plasma HDTV carries a reduced price tag of $589.99 with FREE shipping at JustBuyElectronics.com.
The refurbished Westinghouse 26-inch LCD HDTV offers a maximum display resolution of 1366 x 768, with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and an 8ms response time. It features viewing angles of 160 degrees horizontally or 150 degrees vertically, with noise reduction technology and an approximate Lamp life of 60,000 hours. Connectors include four RCA audio inputs, two RCA video inputs, two HDMI and one D-Sub. It is backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty for parts and labor. Dimensions: 25.2" x 8.4" x 18.4"; weight 27lbs.


text: Soccer Star Busted in Mexico Kidnappings Omar Ortiz allegedly helped gang identify rich targets to kidnap By Mark Russell, Newser Staff Posted Jan 9, 2012 8:05 AM CST STORY COMMENTS (0) (Newser) – A disgraced Mexican soccer goalkeeper has been arrested for allegedly helping a gang of kidnappers, reports MSNBC. Omar Ortiz, known as "El Gato" ("The Cat"), is accused of helping a gang identify rich targets for kidnapping, earning more than 10% of each victim's $73,000 ransom. Ortiz was goalkeeper for many years for the top division Monterrey team, but he was banned for two years in 2010 for testing positive for steroids. If convicted, Ortiz faces up to 50 years in prison. "I'm speechless," said one Mexico expert. "I suppose it's an indication of the possible ubiquity of organized crime." Monterrey is one of many Mexican cities that has been mired in heavy violence from the ongoing drug cartel wars. Click to read about Mexico's bloody toll in 2011. Suspended first-division soccer goalkeeper Omar "El Gato'' Ortiz, right, arrested for alleged participation in a kidnapping ring, is escorted by state police along with alleged accomplice Hector Eduardo... (AP Photo/Hans Maximo Musielik) Suspended first-division soccer goalkeeper Omar "El Gato" Ortiz, arrested for alleged participation in a kidnapping ring, is guarded by state police during a presentation to the press in Monterrey, Mexico,... (AP Photo/Hans Maximo Musielik) Necaxa's goalkeeper Omar Ortiz celebrates their goal against Pumas, during their Mexican league football match in Mexico City, on February 24, 2008. (Getty Images) ADVERTISEMENT(Click Prev or Next to continue viewing images.) « Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow MSNBC (Source Grid ») Crime & Courts • Sports • World Mexico • kidnapping • soccer • Mexico violence CLICK BELOW TO VOTE 3% 11% 3% 63% 6% 14% RETURN TO THE STORY To report an error on this story, notify our editors.


text:
Trend: If this financial crisis and recession are really "different this time", investors won't be able to rely upon traditional strategies to accumulate wealth or protect savings.
Here's an excerpt from Michael Panzner's new book, When Giants Fall: An Economic Roadmap for the End of the American Era. This vision is unpleasant to contemplate and I hope he's wrong, like the Y2K predictions of disaster. Unfortunately, he's been right on the mark about the financial crisis.
Link: Financial Armageddon: When Giants Fall Has Arrived!
...[recent] developments constitute a clear and present danger to the economic well-being of every American, especially those who have been conditioned to believe that life can only get better in future. Dramatically changing times will require new ways of dealing with everyday routines. People will need to factor in the likelihood that livelihoods will be continually at risk. Many will be forced to expend a great deal of time and energy figuring out new ways of getting around and getting by. Living arrangements and lifestyle choices that once seemed second nature will have to be completely rethought when efforts to acquire the basics—fuel, food, water—are much more time-consuming and difficult than before.
Those in the United States and elsewhere will have to pay better attention to where and how they live, who they depend on, and what their options are when things go wrong. They will also need to think about the steps they need to take now in anticipation of the upheavals that will occur in future. Health-and security-related concerns, for example, will have to be a key focus of attention when deteriorating public finances, widespread business failures, and crumbling infrastructure boost crime, disrupt safety nets, and leave critical services, including medical care, that much harder to come by. No doubt the world will also be a more perilous place when competition for scarce resources is intensifying and powerful interests at home and abroad are vying to gain the upper hand—in any way they can.
Most, if not all, businesses will quickly discover that existing models either are irretrievably broken or will have to be dramatically reworked to accommodate the risks and challenges associated with a more uncertain and unstable operating environment. Unlike during the era of globalization, bigger won't necessarily be better. In fact, large size will likely be a serious disadvantage when flexibility and fast response times are imperative. Growth for growth's sake will be the road to ruin when the costs and risks of boosting payrolls, increasing plant and equipment, and taking on hefty financial obligations more than outweigh the potential benefits.
Mounting logistical disruptions, tighter borders, heightened geopolitical instability, rising costs of key inputs like water and energy, and an assortment of dislocations will shoot holes in many of the old theories about how to improve efficiency and boost growth. For most firms, approaches that might once have increased the odds of success, including just-in-time inventory management, the development of long and intricate supply chains, and outsourcing of functions to other locales, will lead to their undoing. What is more, instead of focusing on aggressively pruning back operations to reduce costs, owners and managers will be forced to strike a tenuous balance between what they might be able do without and what they must have on hand to remain in business when disaster strikes.
Needless to say, investors will have a much more difficult time preserving and expanding wealth under these sorts of conditions. Not only will economic and financial circumstances create a far more treacherous trading environment than has been seen before in modern times, but even ostensibly correct decisions could prove calamitous when other, previously less likely developments intervene. Betting against the dollar, for example, makes sense on many levels. However, the risks stemming from investing in or moving funds into other currencies, markets, and economies during a time of turbulence and growing geopolitical conflict may well offset all of the potential rewards—and then some. Paradoxically, having what others really want might not necessarily be such a good idea in the new scheme of things. At a time when everything is suddenly up for grabs, some things are best left out of reach.
In the end, the road ahead will be fraught with myriad dangers that will be impossible for anyone to ignore or avoid, regardless of current circumstances. Even worse, developments that have brought us to this point make it clear that a new, far more challenging environment is not just a passing storm, poised to quickly blow over. Instead of looking forward to a return to the way things once were, Americans—and investors in particular—will have to get used to a "new normal, " where only those who are flexible, open-minded, resilient, and fully prepared for the worst will be able to survive, let alone come out on top. Those who refuse to take these threats seriously risk losing everything. Now more than ever, it is time to become attuned to an entirely unique roadmap.


text:
Narrow your search
CloudMe - The European Sync / Storage ServiceCloudMe is a secure European cloud sync/ storage service that gives you anywhere access to your files...
icloud is a web site that turns your web browser into an online computer.Use your iPhone or iPod Touch to:- Check who is online right now- Change...
Share your files in the cloud.
Phoenix-based VoIP provider iCloud Communications abandons lawsuit that claimed Apple's online storage service infringed on its name.
Arizona VoIP provider claims Apple's use of the iCloud name copies its name and causes confusion over competing products.
While Apple was showing off the new features in iOS 5, iCloud, and OS X Lion, it was quietly buying up at least 50 domain names with mentions of the features from those products.
WWDC 2011's keynote is in the can, and we know all the details on iCloud, iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion. CNET takes a look at how the pre-show rumors panned out.
The company, which is rumored to have paid $4.5 million for the domain, is scheduled to unveil a cloud-based storage system of the same name next week.
You can't name a product these days without making sure you have the rights. Apple's done that in Europe, filing for a trademark for iCloud.
The company plans to unveil a "cloud services offering" along with the Lion version of Mac OS X. CEO Steve Jobs, on medical leave, will be on hand for the announcement.
A report claims Apple bought the iCloud.com domain from Sweden-based Xcerion. However, neither company has confirmed it.
Apple is a company that likes to keep a secret, so why did it out the name of its new product ahead of actually telling people what it does?
Swedish company shows the potential of a browser-based desktop. But will the little guys stand a chance against the likes of Google and Microsoft?


text:
Ectaco Jetbook Color e-book reader due in January for $500
updated 12:25 pm EST, Wed December 7, 2011
Ectaco Jetbook Color due with lots of software
Ectaco will ship its first color e-book reader in mid-January, and the device is now ready for pre-order. The Jetbook Color sports a 9.7-inch, 1600x1200 Triton Color E Ink touchscreen and a Wi-Fi connection. It's actually a re-brand of China's Hanvon reader that's available in Eastern Europe.
The US gets its own firmware and educational apps, along with a 50-state reading list and interactive SAT course. There is a text-to-speech feature that can read e-books to users, and the tablet supports Adobe DRM 9.1, ePub, Mobi, PRC, RTF, TXT, PDF, FB2, and djvu text along with JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP formats, with even more promised later. A microSD memory card slot promises to expand storage by up to 32GB. Reference materials for math and the sciences are preloaded, as are dictionaries, translators and speech recognition and analysis software. Graphic and scientific calculators are also built-in.
The device is priced at $500, which is high for an e-book reader considering the Kindle Fire, albeit smaller at seven inches, trades for just $200. A case is included, however. [via The Verge]
Ectaco tablet on left, Hanvon original on right


text:
County Agencies
& News Releases
2015 County-Wide
Reappraisal Status
RE, Tax
& Reduction
& Tags
Data, Archives,
& County Employee Resources
Changes To Homestead Reduction
Changes to the Homestead Reduction occurred in the new State Budget. The homestead real estate tax reduction saves the applicant in Coshocton County an average of $300 to $400 per year and offers a significant savings to our taxpayers. Prior to the change, if one owned and lived in ones home, and were either 65 years old or totally disabled you were eligible for the reduction. The new law that took effect with HB 59 added one more requirement for eligibility
the total income must be less than $30,500.
Adjusted gross income for both the owner and the owner's spouse for the year preceding the year in which application for a reduction in taxes is made will be used as means testing. The $30,500 limit will be reviewed and adjusted each year by the State Tax Commissioner.
Anyone who has already qualified under the old requirements in 2013 will be grandfathered in and will not have to pass the income-level test to receive or continue to receive the reduction. Those who have already qualified and have already filed an application with the Auditors Office will continue to receive the reduction. Also, the grandfathered homestead reduction follows the applicant into new homes if they own and occupy them.
State law says that the Homestead Application period, for either new or late filers, shall be filed after the first Monday in January and not later than the first Monday in June. Applications cannot be accepted until this window. This is a reduction that is reimbursed by the state and the county jeopardizes receiving proper reimbursement or a finding for recovery if applications are accepted outside of the statutory period.
A taxpayer who owns and lives in their home as of January 1, 2014 and turns 65 any time during 2014 or was determined to be totally and permanently disabled as of January 1, 2014 will also be able to file a late application to qualify without means testing. Late file applications will be accepted between January 5, 2015 and June 2, 2015 ONLY!
Application Maximum Income Level
2014 - $30,500
2015 - $31,000
Homestead Reduction
Are you 65 years or older or permanently disabled?
Do you own and live in your home?
The homestead reduction averages a tax reduction of $300 to $400 per year.
The Homestead Exemption Program is offered to all homeowners over the age of 65 or who are permanently and totally disabled. A renewal application is mailed annually so that the property owners can report any changes. If there is no change, the renewal does not need to be returned.
The application period is
1st Monday of January through the 1st Monday of June each year.
Property owners who will be turning 65 years of age by December 31 of any year may apply in that year. If the owner is under the age of 65 and considered 100% permanently or totally disabled is also eligible for the reduction.
Applicants will have to show proof of income that cannot exceed the maximum income level.
New applicants, must as of January 1st of the year for which they are applying:
1) Be an owner of the property by:
- being listed on the deed OR
- being a purchaser on a recorded Land Contract O
- having a Life Estate in the property (the right to live in the property for their
natural life)
- being the settler of the trust, if the property is held in trust O
- being the mortgagee on a recorded mortgage on the property.
NOTE: If the property is in the name of a Corporation, LLC, Partnership, or Company, it is not qualified because it is not owned by an individual.
2) Be living in the home as your primary residence.
3) If qualifying under disability, have documentation certifying the date of disability.
Applications will be available in our office when issued by state.
To show proof of age, we require picture ID.
We will accept copies of the following:
1) Driver's License
2) State of Ohio ID Card
3) Passport (current or expired)
To show proof of disability, a Certificate of Disability (DTE 105E) (which needs to be included with the application) must be signed by a physician or your original award letter from SSI Disability.
To show proof of income either bring in an Ohio 2013 income tax form or other documentation of 2013 income.
Coshocton County © 2015
All rights reserved.


text:
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, file)On sale Fri., July 18.D.L. Hughley: 8 p.m. Jan. 23, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, $34-$40.
- Filed Under
Most tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com, www.livenation.com, www.aeglive.com or www.ticketweb.com. Additional services charges may apply.
On sale Thursday, July 18On sale Thursday, July 18
Switchfoot: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Royal Oak Music Theatre, $25-$35. ...


text:
The Leading Source for Indie RPGs
Log In
My Library
New Account
Log In
Hide my password
Get the newsletter
You will lose your chance to get the free product of the week.
One-click unsubscribe later if you don't enjoy the newsletter.
Log In with Facebook
Log In
I am new here
Forgot password?
Remember me
Error: No match for E-Mail Address and/or Password.
Password forgotten? Click here.
Log In with Facebook
Narrow Results
Pay What You Want
to $
Publisher Info
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Publisher Average Rating
See All Reviews
Publisher Homepage
Other products (47)
What's New?
Armor: Shields
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Average Rating:4.6 / 5
Click to view
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Kevin P.
Verified Purchaser
Date Added: 01/18/2008 15:48:20
When you need a quick fill-in when your players are tramping across country, this is your pigeon. The writing is very good, the descriptions are above average, and if you only usethe ideas presented, you'll get your money's worth.
The bits are very useful as "improv", the shards are great for inserting into your "grand plan" for an adventure or campaign.
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Natalya F.
Verified Purchaser
Date Added: 04/17/2007 00:00:00
Nice idea and useful to have around; provides lots of descriptive possibilities and while I wouldn't use it randomly, I find it great to get me out of my writers block when I need a little descriptive inspiration.
: Lots of material.
: Some of the material is not exactly up my street or usable, but then this is to be expected, right?
: Very Good
: Satisfied
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Jerry F.
Verified Purchaser
Date Added: 04/07/2006 00:00:00
Another home-run by my favorite pdf outfit. I use 100% of these books, which is why I will continue to buy them. Let me ask my fellow consumers: when you buy a book of 100 feats, monsters, whatever, how many of those 100 or 101 do you use? I love splat books, don't get me wrong, but these Bits and Shards thingies get ya a big bang for the buck.
: Professional quality editing. I'm a former newspaperman, so it means a lot to me.
: I need more!
: Excellent
: Very Satisfied
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Peter I.
[Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/17/2006 00:00:00
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open is a 74 page pdf product that is aimed at providing busy and harried GMs with plentiful descriptions and ideas related to open grasslands, plains and the like. Into the Open forms part of Tabletop Adventures' 'Harried Game Master' line, each product in the line related to another terrain or theme. This particular product features 100 bits (descriptions that can be randomly selected to describe open terrain) and 84 shards (more lengthy descriptions that are meant to be selected rather than randomly picked) of very flavorful and well-written descriptions.
The cover art for the product is identical to that of other products in the Bits of the Wilderness line, providing a 'series' feel to the whole line. It's by no means spectacular, but it captures the theme. Interior art is good, including a number of photographs used in an article about the plains and open terrain. The layout and writing cannot be faulted in this product, with excellent descriptions all round and solid presentation. Note that this product is not system-specific, in other words it hasn't been designed for d20 or GURPS or any other system, but provides generic descriptions for any fantasy system and setting.
After providing a useful introduction to the product and guidelines for its use, the pdf jumps into the 100 bits of the wilderness. While each bit is described in the main body of the pdf, each bit is also provided in a handy card format at the end of the pdf, so that it can be printed and randomly selected from a pack of 'cards'. The cards themselves provide descriptions only, so should be no more difficult to print than any black and white text. This is a useful feature for those wanting to make full use of the product. I think one of the best things about this product is the index - a list with page references that makes it really easy to select a particular bit or shard from the product. Want something about a tent, select bit 28. Want something related to flash flooding, then perhaps shard 65 will do. An extremely useful addition to the pdf.
The bits themselves are great. Very descriptive, evocative, inspiring and full of ideas to use and expand upon. Some of them were perhaps a bit leading, in the sense that instead of offering a simple description, it's almost certain that the descriptions contain something the characters may want to take a look at. While nothing wrong with that, some GMs may not wish to waste time waiting for characters to examine things when the intent was merely to provide a flavorful description. The bits are divided into a number of different sections related to different topics - general, signs of inhabitants, animals, weather, waterways and miscellaneous sights. It's very pleasant to read through these refreshing descriptions.
The pdf next deals with shards, longer bits that require DM considered selection before use. These include the same topics as the bits, although several other categories have been included such as times and seasons, campsite and prairie fire. These, like the bits, are wonderfully detailed and well-written, and each shard is provided with its own title to make the shard more unique. Shards provide some nice ideas to work with and the descriptions are useful to mine for other ideas and thoughts.
Lastly the pdf provides a very useful article entitled 'The Many Faces of the Plains'. A color version of the article is included in the product in addition to the normal copy in the main pdf text. The article examines a variety of aspects of plains, detailing them and explaining them with the aim to help GMs create their own plains environments and write their own descriptions. Very useful, informative, detailed and with lots of advice to DMs on using the plains in campaigns and adventures. Truly a strong pdf with lovely descriptions and ideas.
: This is a very good pdf with evocative and inspirational descriptive bits and enjoyable shards that can be used in any campaign. It's a valuable resource to any GM looking to add a good description to a game or setting, and there's more than enough information in here to keep any DM going for a long time. It's thoroughly enjoyable to read, the index is a great addition, there's plenty of variety, the article on plains was very informative and the cards for the bits make this even more useful.
: Not much can be said on the negative side, except that perhaps a few of the bits were too leading instead of being purely descriptive and probably more suited as perhaps shards, and one or two may blend in with others in a similar vein.
: Excellent
: Very Satisfied
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Derek H.
Verified Purchaser
Date Added: 03/15/2006 00:00:00
As with Bits of the Swamp, this product not only has descriptions for encounters (mostly of the non-monsterous type), it also has essays on the various types of land dominated by grass.
I have found the series so far as useful not only for off the cuff descriptions, but also as hooks and seeds. I hope there are many more to come.
: Excellent
: Very Satisfied
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Bits of the Wilderness: Into the Open
Tabletop Adventures, LLC
Andrew B.
[Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/13/2006 00:00:00
In a nutshell, Into the Open is a book about adventuring through the plains. It doesn?t contain any game rules (and doesn?t seem to be written for any specific system at all). What it does contain are a lot of well-written terrain descriptions, encounter ideas, and tips for improving the realism of plains in your game setting.
The book starts off with short descriptions, which the author calls ?bits.? Each bit is fairly brief but full of flavor. The way they?re written, they could easily be rolled at random whenever the PCs wander in a direction that the gamemaster didn?t expect. There are enough out of the ordinary descriptions here that a random roll could easily turn an unexpected divergence from the main plot into a plot or subplot of its own. When I read through the various ?bits,? I was almost always left wanting to find out more. The book doesn?t tell you, of course, which leaves the GM creative freedom to continue in whatever direction works best for his campaign.
After the ?bits? come the ?shards? which, as the name implies, are larger and slightly more detailed descriptions. Shards tend to describe larger regions, and aren?t meant for random generation. Instead, each shard could be used as a building block for creating an adventure in or around a plains region. Like the bits, the descriptions in this section are also great inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration, I can?t tell you how many cool ideas sprang to mind just reading through the descriptions. What?s up with the green bees? Who or what killed all these humanoids and left them here to rot? I guarantee at least some of these descriptions will find their way into my D&D game as fleshed out plots. An ambitious GM could take this book and, with a nice sheet of hex-paper, easily create an interesting plains region ready for a campaign?s worth of encounters and adventures.
After the encounters (and there are close to 200 of them), the remainer of Into the Open is devoted to advice on the actually structure and ecology of plains and plains-like environments in the real world. This section doesn?t get too bogged down with scientific detail. It gives you just enough information on the what, why, and how of plains to give them an air of realism (and thus increase verisimilitude) in your games.
Into the Open concludes with a handy index and a section with the various encounters formatted so that they can be printed on cardstock for ease of use. The download includes a print-friendly version and a color version of the ecology section.
: I love this book. The descriptions are creative, yet generic enough to fit in nearly any fantasy campaign. Into the Open is good both as inspiration for the homebrewing gamemaster and as a source of clever random ideas for the group that takes an unexpected direction during a planned adventure.
: Negatives are hard to find. The cover art leaves something to be desired, and some of the interior art (what little there is) doesn?t inspire. There are some photographs in the ecology section, which lose quite a bit in black and white. There is a color version of this article included in the download, however, which makes up for things.
: Excellent
: Very Satisfied
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Result Pages:
You must be
logged in
to rate this
0 items
Gift Certificates
Get Your Favorite Gamers What They REALLY Want
Shipping Information
Common Questions (FAQ)
Contact us
Login/Create Account
My Library
Affiliate System
How to Sell on RPGNow.com
Gift Certificates
About Us
Privacy Policy
Our Latest Newsletter
Product Reviews
New Product RSS Feed
Newsletter RSS Feed
SEK (kr)
How Can We Improve?
Can we respond to you about this?
> Submit Suggestion


text:
If you go:
What: "A Rather Grimm Fairytale," written and directed by Madeleine Barrett
When: Friday, June 29; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: Al Myers Theater at Williston Central School
It took 14-year-old Madeleine Barrett two months to write her first independent play. On Friday, she will watch her final product, "A Rather Grimm Fairytale," come to life on the stage of Al Myers Theater at Williston Central School.
A cast of roughly 15 students have been practicing since June 16, the last day of school, Barrett said. The recent eighth-grade graduate of Williston Central School said that directing the show and compiling a cast were the hardest parts.
"Getting people together to do something over the summer on such short notice was hard, but it turned out so well. It's a great production even though it's so small," Barrett said.
The plot centers on three main characters; each of them are from the stories of The Brothers Grimm: Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Clever Grethel. They have become common criminals throughout town. The government takes charge, and demands that they stop their corrupted ways or Hans Christian Anderson will win copyright. Therefore, the Brothers Grimm try to help the characters become good again.
Barrett said she has always liked writing, and cites Les Miserables as her favorite piece of literature. When she moved to Williston from New York City two years ago, she was consistently told how well she wrote. Then at the beginning of this past school year, Barrett participated in the Eighth Grade Challenge, a year-long project aimed at enriching the community. She and her teacher wrote the play "Clowns and Crooks" together, which was performed in January. Suddenly, what began as a hobby became a future career choice.
"It was a relatively short period of time that I decided this was something I wanted to do with my life. So, I thought I should do something on my own."
That is when she began writing "A Rather Grimm Fairy Tale." Barrett said she frequently draws inspiration from books she reads, and references them in her own work. Though hectic at times, Barrett said she really enjoys directing.
"I like the directing because when you write something, there are so many different ways to interpret that writing. By directing, it's making sure that what you meant in your writing is displayed," Barrett said.
All of the people involved are very passionate, Barrett added, and she said she feels lucky to have gone to a school with such a great theater program. Hopefully "A Rather Grimm Fairytale" will leave an impression, she said.
"Maybe some kids in the audience who want to be involved in the arts will take some inspiration from this and want to go out and do it," Barrett said.
There are two showings on Friday, June 29. The matinee starts at 1 p.m. and the evening show begins at 7 p.m.


text:
S.Amdt.661 to S.Con.Res.8113th Congress (2013-2014)
AmendmentHide Overview icon-hide
|Amends Bill:
|S.Con.Res.8 — An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023.
|Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA] (Submitted 03/22/2013)
Description: S.Amdt. 661 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)
The Text tab links to the submitted text of this amendment printed in the Congressional Record. When the amendment is proposed for consideration, a purpose will be available.


text:
Sinead O'Connor Writes Miley Cyrus Third Open Letter, Threatens to Sue
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor made headlines on Wednesday after posting an open letter to Miley Cyrus on her website, calling for the young pop star to stop "allowing yourself to be pimped," and saying that "the music business doesn't give a sh-t about you."
O'Connor penned the letter after Miley revealed in her latest Rolling Stone interview, that the highly publicized "Wrecking Ball" music video was inspired in part by O'Connor's classic "Nothing Compares 2 U" video.
The letter wasn't all negative as O'Connor offered some encouraging words and kept her focus on female empowerment, even telling Miley that her Hannah Montana image is long gone "not because you got naked but because you make great records."
However, Miley obviously didn't take too kindly to being called out and went on Twitter to clap back at the 46-year-old.
Before Amanda Bynes…. There was…. pic.twitter.com/6JZPVnunPc
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) October 3, 2013
Miley calls O'Connor's mental health into question, throwing shade at the Irish singer as well as Amanda Bynes, who recently was hospitalized for mental health issues.
O'Connor wasted no time responding to the 20-year-old singer in two subsequent open letters on her Facebook threatening to take legal action and actually confirming that the tweets Miley posted did in fact come from her account two years ago "when I was ill and seeking medical help."
Miley responded on Twitter and refused to back down:
Sinead. I don't have time to write you an open letter cause Im hosting & performing on SNL this week.
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) October 3, 2013
So if youd like to meet up and talk lemme know in your next letter.
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) October 3, 2013
O'Connor posted her third open letter early Friday morning, letting Miley know she has no desire to meet her and questioning her choice to mock mental health issues:
You have no business abusing Amanda Bynes or anyone else. How do you think you made her feel yesterday? How do you feel when your friend Britney Spears is mocked and humiliated for having had mental health problems?
In the latest letter, O'Connor again threatens legal action unless Miley removes the tweets and issues a public apology.
We can barely keep up with this feud! Whose side are you on? Is Miley in the wrong? Share your opinion in the comments below!


text:
Last Updated: August 8, 2014
Carey Pays $114M to Acquire Total's Norwegian HQ
STAVANGER, Norway�Net lease investment in French energy giant's Norwegian headquarters adds to Carey's global portfolio.
You can now be notified via email if this story is updated by clicking on the "Follow this Story" link. You must be a registered member to take advantage of this "members only" benefit.


text:
"Business is fun as a Capitalist Pig. Build and run your own business under authentic economic conditions in this exciting simulation. Experience the challenge of business, scandals, fires, terrorists and more, as you battle for bankruptcy or billions. . . . You never knew business could be so stimulating!"
-- Promotional copy for a software program called Capitalist Pig, appearing in Mac's Place, a software catalog* * *
Published on: Feb 1, 1993


text:
- Filed Under
Grant helps compile tree inventory in Red Hook
RED HOOK - The Town's Tree Preservation Commission announced it has completed inventory of the quantity and quality of various tree species in the town.
The inventory - made possible with a two-year, $7,982 grant through the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Urban Forestry grant, which provided for tree purchases and hiring a team assembled by Cornell Cooperative Extension to perform the inventory - will be converted into a booklet and is the first step in formalizing a written Forestry Management Plan to complement the town's local tree ordinance.
The grant also provides for 32 tree plantings. So far, 21 trees have been planted and 11 more are scheduled to be planted in the spring.
The commission orders and distributes bare-rooted tree seedlings to the community during Arbor Day, Appleblossom Day and Hardscrabble Day and hands out booklets and general information about the care and health of trees. Since its inception four years ago, the commission and community volunteers have planted 354 trees.
Those interested in volunteering services or goods can contact Chairman Nancy Guski at the Town Hall at 845-758-4600.
County's Toys for Tots to host Stuff the Bus event on Friday
MILLBROOK - Dutchess County Toys for Tots will host a Stuff the Bus event from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Troop K Headquarters.
New, unwrapped toys will be collected for needy children in Dutchess County. Hosted by First Sgt. L.E. Moore. The group hopes to stuff three buses this year.
For more information, call Troop K at 845-677-7300.
Troop K is at 2541 Route 44.
Four Pillars Charter School to host information forum
Four Pillars Charter School, a tuition-free public charter school for students in kindergarten through grade eight, will hold a public information forum at 6-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lateef Islam auditorium at the Family Partnership Center, 29 N. Hamilton St. in the City of Poughkeepsie.
For more information, call Allison Withers, 845-473-2375.
Holiday Cabaret planned Sunday at FDR High School
HYDE PARK - The New York Theatre Organ Society and New York Academy of Ballet will present a Holiday Cabaret at 3 p.m. Sunday at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, 156 S. Cross Road.
The event will feature holiday music by John Baratta and the music department, a holiday sing-along, the "Nutcracker Suite" and other dance performances.
Tickets are $15 or $12 for seniors and children ages 16 and under and are available at Malloy's Pharmacy on Route 9, or by calling the academy at 845-802-3703.
Proceeds benefit the society's Arts in Education programs.


text:
Cyril Auvity, Marie Lenormand, Stephanie Novacek, Monica Whicher, Olivier Laquerre, Alain Coulombe
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Chamber Choir, Hervé Niquet, directed for stage by Marshall Pynkoski
Subtitles: English, German, French
DVD Video
Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.
September 2005
"While visually handsome, the amount of stage magic in this very commendable production of Lully's Persée (composed 1682) is fairly minimal: Mercure and Venus appear, appropriately enough, on elaborate flying clouds, but dramatic tension evaporates when Andromède is menaced by a sea monster that would not have been out of place in an episode of The Clangers. Musically there is much to admire: singing and playing are enjoyably idiomatic."
"A warm welcome to the first opera by Lully to appear on DVD. Staged performances of his tragédies lyriques being rare, at least in the UK, it's good to be able at last to assess one of them as a drama. Persée, to a libretto by Philippe Quinault, Lully's usual collaborator, was first performed in 1682, a year before Phaëton. As with all such works the purpose was to flatter, none too subtly, the person and the reign of Louis XIV; indeed, the subject was chosen by the Sun King himself, and the sycophantic composer made an explicit comparison between Louis and Perseus in the dedication.The story, taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses, is a conflation of two legends: Perseus' slaying of Medusa and his rescue of Andromeda. Cassiopeia has incurred the wrath of Juno, who sends Medusa to terrorise the country. With Medusa dead, Juno causes Cassiopeia's daughter, the princess Andromeda, to be chained to a rock at the mercy of a monster. Perseus swoops from the sky to kill the monster, Venus descends as a dea ex machina to take the hero, his beloved and her parents up to heaven, and everybody lives happily ever after. Everybody, that is, except for Merope, fruitlessly in love with Perseus, who dies accidentally; and Phineus, Andromeda's betrothed, whom Perseus turns to stone with Medusa's head.As a drama, then, there's not much going for Persée, especially as Perseus benefits from divine assistance: a sword from Vulcan, a shield from Athena, a helmet from Pluto, not to mention the presence of Mercury, who sends Medusa to sleep. But there's much pleasure to be had from the choral and balletic contributions to the divertissements and from individual scenes.This production from Toronto is dressed and choreographed in traditional style and the direction is both lively and respectful, the characters encouraged to gesture expressively. Monica Whicher and Alain Coulombe are good as the disappointed lovers; Olivier Laquerre, stentorian as Andromeda's father, has a fine old time camping up the transvestite role of Medusa. Cyril Auvity's Perseus, rather pinched in tone, is outsung by Colin Ainsworth's Mercury, who is nonsensically given a solo belonging to one of the mortals.Hervé Niquet is a sympathetic conductor, moving seamlessly through recitative, air and ensemble; the orchestra suffers from a recorded balance that favours the theorbo.A short scene for Medusa's fellow Gorgons is pointlessly cut. The entire allegorical Prologue is omitted, too; no great loss, perhaps, but it should have been mentioned in the booklet. But let's not end on a carping note: this enterprising issue is cause for celebration."
Copyright © 2002-15 Presto Classical Limited, all rights reserved.


text:
|Influence of muscle glycogen availability on ERK1/2 and Akt signaling after resistance exercise in human skeletal muscle.
MedLine Citation:
|PMID: 15879168 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE
|Two pathways that have been implicated for cellular growth and development in response to muscle contraction are the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and Akt signaling pathways. Although these pathways are readily stimulated after exercise, little is known about how nutritional status may affect stimulation of these pathways in response to resistance exercise in human skeletal muscle. To investigate this, experienced cyclists performed 30 repetitions of knee extension exercise at 70% of one repetition maximum after a low (2%) or high (77%) carbohydrate (LCHO or HCHO) diet, which resulted in low or high (approximately 174 or approximately 591 mmol/kg dry wt) preexercise muscle glycogen content. Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis before, approximately 20 s after, and 10 min after exercise. ERK1/2 and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase phosphorylation increased (P < or = 0.05) 10 min after exercise, regardless of muscle glycogen availability. Akt phosphorylation was elevated (P < 0.05) 10 min after exercise in the HCHO trial but was unaffected after exercise in the LCHO trial. Mammalian target of rapamycin phosphorylation was similar to that of Akt during each trial; however, change or lack of change was not significant. In conclusion, the ERK1/2 pathway appears to be unaffected by muscle glycogen content. However, muscle glycogen availability appears to contribute to regulation of the Akt pathway, which may influence cellular growth and adaptation in response to resistance exercise in a low-glycogen state.
|Andrew Creer; Philip Gallagher; Dustin Slivka; Bozena Jemiolo; William Fink; Scott Trappe
Related Documents :
|3693208 - Effects of gluconeogenic precursor flux alterations on glycogen resynthesis after prolo...
19124898 - Muscle glycogenolysis and resynthesis in response to a half ironman triathlon: a case s...
10562618 - Skeletal muscle metabolism during high-intensity sprint exercise is unaffected by dichl...
10644538 - Effect of carbohydrate ingestion on glycogen resynthesis in human liver and skeletal mu...
17750318 - Reliability of minor planet satellite observations.
25436628 - Comparison of inflammatory responses to a soccer match between elite male and female pl...
Publication Detail:
|Type: Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Date: 2005-05-05
Journal Detail:
|Title: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) Volume: 99 ISSN: 8750-7587 ISO Abbreviation: J. Appl. Physiol. Publication Date: 2005 Sep
Date Detail:
|Created Date: 2005-08-16 Completed Date: 2005-10-27 Revised Date: 2013-09-26
Medline Journal Info:
|Nlm Unique ID: 8502536 Medline TA: J Appl Physiol (1985) Country: United States
Other Details:
|Languages: eng Pagination: 950-6 Citation Subset: IM
|Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State Univ., Muncie, IN 47306, USA.
Export Citation:
|APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex
|MeSH Terms
Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
Glycogen / metabolism*
Knee Joint / physiology
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism*
Muscle Contraction / physiology*
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
Physical Endurance / physiology*
Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
Signal Transduction / physiology*
|Grant Support
Reg. No./Substance:
|0/Dietary Carbohydrates; 0/Proto-Oncogene Proteins; 9005-79-2/Glycogen; EC 184.108.40.206/AKT1 protein, human; EC 184.108.40.206/Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases; EC 126.96.36.199/Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; EC 126.96.36.199/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; EC 220.127.116.11/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Influence of gender, menstrual phase, and oral contraceptive use on immunological changes in respons...
Next Document: Heat extraction through the palm of one hand improves aerobic exercise endurance in a hot environmen...


text:
Even on a damp and overcast morning, Angelica Papio's garden is a pretty place, a wonderland of effervescent flowers and foliage.
And yet nothing in this small space gets to just sit around looking gorgeous. They have to earn their keep, and ideally, each will multitask.
Papio has selected each plant to serve a purpose, either as food, as medicinal herbs, to attract beneficial birds and insects, or as nitrogen fixers to fertilize the soil.
Sunrise Ridge Gardens
Like a wildland in nature, this garden set in a temperate, hilly zone above Sebastopol is a mini-ecosystem, designed based on the principles of "permaculture."
It's a word that is only slowly starting to enter the common horticultural lexicon as more people turn on to sustainable landscapes. A mash-up of "permanent" and "agriculture," the term was coined in the late 1970s by Tasmanian field biologist Bill Mollison to describe a new approach to agriculture and community design that brings together elements that sustain and support each other.
Many of the ideas of permaculture would later be embraced in the sustainability movement. But Erik Ohlsen, of the new Permaculure Skills Center in Sebastopol, said permaculture goes beyond sustainability to actually enhance or regenerate land, from replenishing water tables to enriching soil.
"Permaculture," he explained, "is a design science that is all about designing and creating sustainable human habitat and infrastructure that takes care of the environment."
"The original intent was permanent agriculture — how can we have sustainable agriculture," said Toby Hemenway of Petaluma, a leading writer and educator on permaculture. "Now we think about it as permanent culture because the design lessons from the garden can be used in the design of houses and businesses and communities. The garden is where we start."
Hemenway's book "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture" is the top-selling book on the topic. In September he will begin teaching a nine-month permaculture design certification course through the Petaluma-based nonprofit Daily Acts, as well as speak at Santa Rosa's National Heirloom Exposition.
Hemenway said one of the practical advantages to permaculture is that it is self-sustaining: Once you set up a garden system, using perennial food plants like fruit trees, berries and herbs mixed with plants like yarrow that build the soil naturally or attract birds and beneficial insects, it can last for years.


text:
Best Buy (BBY): Amazon's (AMZN) Showroom?
by Invictus - March 25th, 2011, 12:00pm
Bloomberg television ran a brief segment in which they posited that Best Buy (BBY) has effectively become Amazon's (AMZN) biatch. And I think there's some truth to that. This is no doubt one of the consequences of a population that walks around with smartphones running barcode scanning applications that allow us to see, touch, examine, try out a potential purchase and then, if it is to our liking, immediately search the web to find its best price — possibly (probably?) elsewhere, and maybe even order it before we leave the site at which we went to go see it in the first place. Unless it's an impulse buy — walk in for a $12 thumb drive, walk out with a $700, 50″ flat panel? — why wouldn't you:
- Pay a lower price
- Pay no tax
- Probably get free shipping
- Have your purchase in just 2-3 days
And the proof of the pudding seems to be in the performance:
I'd postulate this trend is a contributing factor to this news item about weaker BBY sales in general, but which contained this interesting tidbit (I'd guess the sale of mobile devices has a much higher immediate, on-site close rate than, say, digital cameras or other higher-end electronics) :
The chain is also pushing hard to open smaller stores. The company is opening 150 smaller-format mobile only stores by the end of the year, nearly doubling its total to 325.
"We are exploring and redefining what the optimal big-box footprint is for us," CEO Brian Dunn said on a call with analysts.
And yes, I'm aware of Amazon's far more diverse offerings — consider this post as applicable only to electronics.
BR adds: I have been playing with the Amazon PriceCheck barcode scanning app — it spells the end of retailing as we previously knew it . . .
Category: Consumer Spending, Markets, Retail, Technology, Web/Tech
Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor implied. If you could repeat previously discredited memes or steer the conversation into irrelevant, off topic discussions, it would be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.
33 Responses to "Best Buy (BBY): Amazon's (AMZN) Showroom?"
Guillermo says:
Absolutely. I've been doing this for years. When I first got a digicam i used to carry it with me to B&N and sit around reading and checking out computer books, which were very pricey for my budget at the time. I would just find the ones I wanted, take pics of the covers and then take them home to order on AMZN. Then it was DVDs and CDs. Eventually electronics.
Camera phones and now smart phones with barcode readers (comes with every bberry) just make this process more efficient. My little sister, to avoid renting a a truck for a day, even managed to order her living room furniture on AMZN. For many people, just having big items delivered is worth ordering online.
It'll be interesting to see if retail shrinking will negatively impact online retailers. I suspect the Sony stores were way ahead of their time and products displayed at Apple stores will hugely benefit. Products that can't be seen / touched /played with in a store are likely to lose exposure and sales to those that are.
wally says:
Maybe Best Buy ought to build very small stores and just pass orders on to Amazon for a percentage fee. Let Amazon do the warehousing for them.
I think that the 'no tax' part is likely to change very soon. The states have a right to the tax, but individuals dodge it by not reporting such purchases. This is too large a loophole to go on much longer.
Greg0658 says:
hey what happened to the YellowBook ad? when your on the hunt for something weird – well not really – rainbow wind sock (company colors) I gotta get 1 a year (they wear out) – and how many times have I bounced from store to store and can't find – and I claim out loud I shoulda let my fingers do the walkin
KidDynamite says:
i completely agree, Invictus – I buy everything on Amazon, and I don't even need the BBY showroom.
and to Wally's point: Jeff Matthews wrote about this today: BBY's CEO thinks that when Amazon custys have to pay tax, which might happen soon, that it will level the playing field. I don't really think so, but it certainly won't hurt BBY
Mark E Hoffer says:
BBY has, also, been substituting they own ("Private Label") goods (G*rabage) into their selling line-ups..
AMZN's range of offerings, just, might be a larger factor than BBY wants to admit..
and, "it's the Tax-Cheats' will sound correct, until it's (easily) disproved..
BBY's CEO, whoever s/he is, is an Idiot…wait until he starts dealing with .. http://financialsense.com/contributors/russ-winter/chinese-exporters-going-down-western-importers-ambushed
Mark E Hoffer says:
O, re: BBY
get used to this picture..
(Invictus, nice post~)
Invictus: Thank you. Appreciate that.
forwhomthebelltolls says:
I like this model that Lululemon has been using.
Go to a demographically appropriate retail area, rent a space on a one year lease, open your showroom, conduct some classes, open houses, etc. get people buying your products and move on to another space in another town.
No retailer in their right mind is going to tie themselves to a big box location any more.
Irwin Fletcher says:
Amazon, what a great company.
I buy just about everything there. My kids NEVER go to retail stores. There is your future.
Regarding Amazon, here are some cool things we buy in case any of you haven't done it.
1. Used books. I buy all "used" books these days. Amazon has them all really cheap. They were brilliant in creating the exchange for people to sell their books through the clearing house.
2. Movies. For those of you who collect DVD Movies, buy them used through Amazon. They are cheap cheap.
3. Watches.
4. Golf clubs.
Pretty much anything you want. It's there.
dead hobo says:
Agree that no-tax is going to end soon. BBY charges too much. I bought my Slingbox from Amazon not only because it cost under retail, but BBY charged OVER retail. I can buy DefTech on eBay under retail. Ditto with receivers. Returns through Amazon are easier than driving 15 miles to BBY.
I still find good buys on computers there although accessories are costly. TVs are a commodity. I got my 50″ plasma (new model for that year, too) for free somewhere else when I bought some furniture, which was also reasonably priced.
They need to analyze their fixed costs in order to cut them to the bone and adjust their stores accordingly. And they need to stop pissing people off by charging less online than in the stores unless the customer catches it first and complains.
Ted Kavadas says:
Good post…this type of thing speaks to increasing price sensitivity of consumers…
econimonium says:
Absolutely agreed. The worst part about it is BBY doesn't get it! Witness the "we don't want people who are buying just based on price, we are offering more services". What service? They stink, they stink, they always have, and no one cares. What they care about is price and these apps will totally end retailing as we know it. Internet == disintermediation. That's all anyone has to remember when it comes to down to one thing.
Also BBY is missing out on something with price. It's OK to be around $50 higher if I can get it NOW and don't have to wait for shipping. I'll pay that for a TV say. But when they are, literally, $300 more, then I won't. And it's proportional to the price of the item. So call it a 10% NOW premium and I'll take it. But for most electronics I do what is described…I go to BBY look at it in person, go to my app and see what the prices are. If BBY is out of line and doesn't meet my NOW premium, I simply but it on line.
What companies don't realize is that, since they have no loyalty to employees any more, customers have no loyalty to them. It works both ways. They made it this way. So BBY really shouldn't act like customers want service plans, geek squads, etc. They don't. They care about one thing: price. That's what big box stores started their premise on. Now they are the victims of their own strategy. When I was in school, we used to say about WalMart "I wonder what the long term plan for a company is who's customers yearn for the day they can move upmarket?" Think about it.
DC says:
BBY is in a no-man's land. I can get it cheaper from Amazon, B&H, Newegg, Tiger Direct or, for some items, Sams or Costco. The bonus with Costco for my TV purchase last summer was an additional year of warranty (on top of Amex's extra year when using Costco's Amex). Extended warranties can make the sales tax savings a wash but there's an extra element of security with the warranty.
Best Buy also made a big wager on Geek Squad. But "tabletization" and easier home networks will render PC geeks irrelevant for the masses, and the guys who build water-cooled super gaming machines don't need the Geek Squad in the first place. I feel a little guilty using Best Buy as my try-before-I-buy-elsewhere store, but at least I give their staff someone to talk to.
I'm surprised the stores are letting people scan barcodes. I guess they don't have much of a choice because folks will just walk out but I would suspect a desperate move would be to ban the barcode scanner so at least not to 'teach' other customers how to do it
Stuart Douglas says:
""I wonder what the long term plan for a company is who's customers yearn for the day they can move upmarket?" Think about it."
I read that, and then I thought to myself about the last time I was in Wally World, and realized Walmart is in no immediate fear of most of their customers moving that far "upmarket".
The Curmudgeon says:
Forget Apple; forget Facebook; forget Groupon (huh?); forget Tweeter, and especially, forget anything that is or resembles Best Buy.
Amazon.com is the bomb. It is the one internet/technology retailer that adds real value (not just cool as in Apple or banalities per minute, as in Tweeter and Facebook).
Hell, with Amazon's bookstore, you could just forget college, too. Just buy the best-rated books on the subjects you're interested in and read and learn and then sell them back.
This is not a recommendation to buy stock. It is just the opinion of one fairly-constant consumer of Amazon.com-sold products that has stepped his last into Best Buy, refuses to even begin using Twitter or Facebook, but does have an iPod though nothing else with a bitten apple on it.
If you want stock advice, always follow the herd of cool people. They'd be owning Apple about now. It'll be something else in a few months.
Ghillie Suit Clothing says:
The people who buy at Bestbuy usually want the item right away and don't care about saving a few bucks.
Ghillie Suit Clothing says:
Also, the no tax issue is definitely a nice to have when purchasing anything over $100 (which is pretty much everything now). As Amazon keeps increasing their ship center locations, the shipping times will become less of an issue. As for the barcode scanning, I was once in a Silo (remember them?) and I was writing down a product number and the guy asked me what company I was from. I told him I wasn't with any company and he said I still couldn't do that. So I never went back there and we all know what happened to Silo. :)
Redcoat75 says:
I would agree with some of the posters' suggestions about the service at Best Buy, and I would add that it's only gotten worse since they put Circuit City out of business. In my little town, Modesto, CA (yes, the fourth most miserable city in the US according to Forbes), there used to be at least four or five decent places to buy electronics. Now Circuit City and The Good Guys are gone, and RadioShack is a shell of its former self. Best Buy is pretty much the only game in town, and it is flexing its muscles. I think the only real competition they have now is Amazon.
Data Room says:
Its amazing that they are offering bar-codes scanning. I think Amazon can do a good job for Best Buy. Through this they can touch a wider audience..
Livermore Shimervore says:
I'd love to see a break down of which folks are buying the higher ticket items at Best Buy and Amazon.
Young consumers are hurting in this recovery…the ones most likely to opt for the online retalier vs the old school gymnasium full of cd's no one buys. Meanwhile the boomer by and large are not using multiple Apple products to finalize their purchases, or are they? I'm guessing th guys in the middle the 30 somethings who are doing a little better probably are abandoning Best Bust. But this is also the same group that just made big committments on home purchases and new cars and leaves little room for a fourth Apple product or the newest Xbx accessory. The gray hairs still want to go into a store and fondle a new tech toy or front-loading washer.
Eric Sebille says:
found the macbook pro and demo'd it at best buy then bought through amazon. saved me about $70 alone on sales tax. The REIT market sure disagrees though as all stocks have moved up exponentially.
investorinpa says:
There are 2 occasions where Best Buy has come in handy in a pinch:
1) Had to get a last minute holiday gift
2) had to buy a computer because my current one stopped working (hard to buy off of Amazon when you don't have a working computer!)
In my area, HHGregg is popping up and they seem to be making a Circuit City out of Best Buy.
VennData says:
We need to keep the Dodd-Frank fees on card purchase at the Durbin levels. Frictionless capitalism.
I don't care about "Rewards" make things cheaper.
tude says:
Interesting. I use Amazon for a lot of things, but not electronics. For that I go to Costco, which for me has the benefit of getting it now, getting to touch and feel and play with it, and usually has as good a price if not better than Amazon, and a great warranty/return policy!
lalaland says:
I think Best Buy should change it's clerk model. Do away with the cheap labor and hire people who know their shit and offer free service on what you sell. The problem is there's nobody with a solid in-store customer service model except Apple – they get it. If BBY put it's effort into finding – or training – salespeople to know their sh*t instead of clerks you might get somewhere, but a bigbox version of Amazon? There's that whole sales tax thing of course, plus it's just obviously a bad idea.
Greg0658 says:
1st – its still cool to shop in stores – its called 3D shopping with fellow humans
2nd – I've shopped Amazon* (some) and when I've been on there I get the feeling they are an aggregator
so who's to say the supplies don't come via a BestBuy – in a generic box tho – a sale is a sale with www cut in
* you suppose theres an Ebayer "Buy It Now" corridor of order fillers ?
Jojo says:
For those price shopping through your browser and who use Firefox, there is a great add-on called Invisiblehand. When you go to sites like Amazon, IH puts a banner at the top showing you the price at other sites and allowing you to see if the site you are on has the lowest price.
You can get the add-on here:
RC says:
"pay No Tax"
- this is the key.
- Depending upon the state and county this is almost 8% margin right there.
- Why in the world is AMZN allowed to CHEAT on taxes ???
It is grossly unfair to every other tax paying business. This is an outrage.
AMZN must be made to play fair and pay its fair share of taxes. The inter state commerce, or whatever applicable laws need to be upgraded to the realities on the internet age. It is high time.
blakwolf says:
I suspect RC and possibly others are possibly misunderstanding who is cheating on taxes. Amazon does not have to pay sales tax when they sell a good, it can only be accused of being guilty of not collecting sales tax that the CONSUMERS are not paying. It is the responsibility of each consumer to pay state sales taxes for the state they live in. Currently, the way this is supposed to work is that consumers are supposed to report the sales tax they owe for online purchases when they file their taxes. The fix the states would like to implement is to have Amazon collect taxes for them at the time of sale. This has always been a historical advantage of catalog sales over local stores.
The only unethical players in this discussion are the consumers who are not reporting sales taxes owed on online purchases. I'd suspect there needs to be a change in the model for sales tax collection or interstate commerce regulation. Perhaps sales tax collected at the national level would be the logical solution, but then the turf wars over who gets to keep the money would have to be decided.
FYI, there are areas where sales tax can almost hit 10% nowadays.
honeybadger says:
"pay no tax"…
Am I wrong? I did not think an individual had to pay state sales tax on goods purchased out of state. In the great day of mail-order calalouges, one of the features was no sales tax. I do not see how putting the business on-line is legally iis any different– instead of mailing a form into the company, you send it electronically.
Unless RC is suggesting that the US institute a national V.A.T?
Regarding COMPANIES not paying their taxes, may I suggest that RC reads today's post regarding GE?
RC says:
I am not suggesting a VAT at all. All that needs to happen is that the online retailer should charge tax based on the state that the goods will be delivered to. Now this is easier said then done because the law requiring such change has to be at federal level.
Proposal #2,
Make AMZN and others pay taxes @ rates of tax in state where their warehouses are. In case of AMZN their warehouse is equivalent to a BBY store. Only difference is AMZN doesnt need retail employees and sales staff.
GE finding all kinds of loopholes to not pay taxes is actually a bigger outrage. Immelt is now on some kind of Obama administration Job commission… so no ones going to try to address these loopholes.
kaleberg says:
We live in Washington, so we pay tax on Amazon stuff. We shop at Amazon all the time. They usually have good prices. They have a good selection. They usually have things in stock. They have a good no hassle return policy. They have editorial and user reviews which are amazingly helpful and surely more trustworthy than what the guy at Best Buy would tell me. With Amazon Prime, we get two day shipping included, so we'll buy things like tables, printer paper, brazil nuts and lawnmowers. Having to pay tax just doesn't make enough of a difference. Besides, we like stuff like roads, schools, prisons, health departments and the like. It's not like the wealthy or big corporations like Amazon are paying for any of this stuff.
Las Vegas Tax Accountant says:
You have to be very careful buying things from Best Buy. If you purchase a laptop, they will try to up-sell you with things like overpriced antivirus software.
Another trick Best Buy engages in is overpricing accessories and other small items. They will run ads and have some good deals to get you into the store. As soon as you need an accessory like an ethernet cable or a memory card, they are usually far more expensive (sometimes double!) than Amazon or WalMart.


text:
My smile and my clothing are the same in nature.
I wear my smile as I do my clothes
They are both necessary to survive in society
Yet they are surficial
Neither comes from my heart,
From my mind
Or from my soul.
They were manifested in the outside world
It is there I must live
And appear to be normal
So it is them I use
To make it through my day without suspicion
Before I come home
My clothes are easily removable
Nature did not intend us to wear them;
Primordial beings did not
Animals live without the unnecessary cloth
Thus is the unnaturalness of my smile
It's a show
A velvet curtain on the stage
Carefully concealing the chaos
That lies
Just behind.
| Email this Poetry
| Add to reading list


text:
Find a perfect balance of relaxation and beaching by renting our Fort Myers Beach gulf front cottage. Located at Paradise Point, our 2 bedrooms and two baths rental cottages in Fort Myers Beach, FL gives panoramic Gulf views.
Enjoy water sports such as jet skiing, swimming and kayaking, go for deep sea fishing or make sand castles on the beach with children. You can explore the other attractions on a bike, visit museums and savor Florida's nightlife too.
These beachfront Fort Myers Beach cottage offer a load of amenities such as designer furnishings, gourmet kitchen complete with accessories, private gas barbecue and deck. It also features TV, DVD, VCR and other facilities such as wireless Internet access for your entertainment.
The large windows on the walls, make our Fort Myers Beach vacation cottage bright and airy. You will also like the spot lightning in the wood ceiling. We provide luxurious king bed, two twin beds and a sofa sleeper in our designer rooms for as many as six comfortable sleeps.
We like to think that we offer our guests indulgences-special touches and fine details that the competition just doesn't think about. We love to go that extra mile so you can feel like you are at home while staying in our Fort Myers Beach cottage rental.
Paradise Point is a lovely little getaway on the much desired tranquil north end of Ft. Myers Beach. It's quiet enough to get some peace and yet brimming with local life.
A $50 charge will be assessed for returned checks. Note: COPP and Leisure American reserve the right to modify at any time and for any reason the Advance Deposit and Payment Policy. A reservation is considered confirmed once payment in full has been received and further reflects full acknowledgment and acceptance of the terms and conditions contained herein.Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be received in writing and are subject to an administrative fee of $100.00.Rules: Rates are subjected to change without prior notice.
The maximum occupancy of all COPP cottages is 6, exept the sun cottage (464 Estero) which has a maximum occupancy of 8. The reservation confirmation reflects the approved maximum occupancy for the specific unit reserved and includes small children and infants. Any exceptions to this must be noted on the reservation confirmation.
House parties and/or group gatherings are not allowed. Any guest under 25 years old must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian. Reservations obtained under false pretenses will result in the forfeiture of all funds paid and guests will be asked to vacate the rental property immediately and if necessary evicted according to F. S. 509.141.
For further information and to book this property, contact the
owner Dennis Greenspon
Please reference AlwaysOnVacation.com property ID : 332835