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Modern Phoenix specializes in the primary source documentation of midcentury modern design in Phoenix. We also cover contemporary architecture and rehabilitations of old structures of the Modern era. We often acquire reprints of articles written and published elsewhere (sometimes long ago) with the author's consent. This page features our articles with substantial interviews and commentary by text, or in-depth photo essays. If you can't find what you're looking for here, try the Google Search on the right, or browse our
pages for less text-heavy material, deeper links and external resources.
Tucson Modernism Week 2014 Home Tour Wrapup
Tucson Preserves its Neon Legacy
Warner House by Charles Montooth AIA
seeks a new owner
A Night of Neutra
celebrated the work of Neutra and Alexander in the Painted Desert, as well as the rehabilitation of the Phoenix Financial Center Rotunda for docomomo_us Tour Day
The Kramlich House by Al Beadle
in Paradise Valley was demolished
The Richert House
by Blaine Drake
Camelview Theater
by Edo Belli is threatened, and yet still stands
Apache Country Club Estates in Mesa
has marvelously intact tiki style tract homes
Dean Coffman's Drawing Portfolio
Bennie Gonzales FAIA: Modern Southwest Master
The Breech House by Ard Hoyt in Clearwater Hills gets a complete refresh for 2014.
You can see it today, or
compare then and now
Modern Adobe Home by Robert J. Peterson is demolished
to make way for new homes, despite being on 2013 "Endangered Dozen" list
by Al Beadle has been recently rehabbed into Melrose Marketplace
Ferguson's Cafeteria
designed by Al Beadle was the pinnacle of casual dining in the early sixties
The HOA at
Arcadia Courtyards
turns 90s Spanish back into a sharp 60s vibe
We take a trip up to see
Richard Neutra's Painted Desert Visitor Center
in Northern Arizona.
Alison King of Modern Phoenix receives the American Express Aspire Award
for emerging preservationists at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference 2013
The drama of saving the David Wright House is over. If we forget the lessons of the past, here's our
chronicle of the events
as they unfolded.
Remembering Frank Henry 1934 - 2013.
Includes biography and memorial information.
Our favorite buildings on the
wacky and wonderful West Side.
17th Avenue Parkwa
Garden Apartment District. Who even knew there was such a thing?
Ard Hoyt's House of Light
in Marion Estates was intended to exploit "All Electric Living" when electricity was cheap and abundant in his Gold Medallion Homes.
The Marion Estates neighborhood
is an enclave of custom, semi-custom and tract homes near the head of Camelback Mountain at 44th Street and Stanford Drive. Features homes by Blaine Drake, Ralph Haver, Al Beadle, and more.
Sands West
, a polynesian themed subdivision by E.T. Wright
Phoenix's Street of Dreams:
The Visual Extravaganza that was Van Buren
Van Buren in the 1990s by Michael Levine
Our interactive map of Vintage Van Buren
Vintage Neon of Arizona by Jim Hale
The Phoenix Financial Center
by W.A. Sarmiento, a Phoenix Icon
When good intentions fall short of expectations: the new paint job at the
Bank of America makes 20th and Camelback
even more of a heartbreak.
The fiercely independent neighborhood of Sunnyslope celebrates its 100th year.
Discover the history and architecture of this charming hillside area.
Superlite Concrete Masonry Units
helped shape Phoenix into the concrete block capital of the world. The architecture that happened along the way is distinctly Phoenician, and modern by virtue of its cost and form.
Shaffer residence
by Ard Hoyt in Clearwater Hills was another home in danger of being scraped for something better.
5302 Doubletree Ranch Road
by Alfred Newman Beadle in 1955
The Van Ess House
from 1964 receives a landmark dedication in Arizona
Architect DK Taylor
settled down in Scottsdale and built a beautiful home in Paradise Valley. He even designed the Sandra Day O'Connor house, a work so distinctive it was disassembled brick by brick and rebuilt in Papago Park!
Beef Eaters Restaurant
has been vacant for years. See what it looked like before Changing Hands and Southern Rail saved it.
There's a reason why
exterior lighting
looks so funky in Phoenix. Meet James Salter AIA, lighting design virtuoso of the 60s.
Watch as the façade to
Beadle's 341 building
on Camelback gets scraped for something "better".
Farewell, Mountain Bell. On September 27, 2009,
Phoenix witnessed the demolition of Al Beadle's Mountain Bell Building
. Our 360º coverage of the event includes historic photos, interviews with preservation specialists and the design community, a talk with Nancy Beadle and high-quality video of that fateful day.
The Stewart Motor Company
aka Circles Records by W.Z. Smith
Piecing Together Paradise Gardens on its 50th Birthday
. Al Beadle didn't want to be cited as the architect behind Paradise Gardens in North Phoenix, so why is he still getting credit 50 years later? David Tyda ventures out to set the record straight, and finds it's still kinda crooked.
A trip to the Getty Research Institute unearthed hundreds of
photographs of Arizona architecture by reknowned photographer Julius Shulman, and we brought over 70 of them back
. In loving memory, we present this tribute featuring his Arizona work rarely found in printed anthologies today.
Fred Guirey, FAIA,
designed some of the most unique homes in the Phoenix area, and much of the roadside architecture we drive by every day. Includes original photos from the 1940s, a roster of his built projects and an interactive map of his architecture in the Valley.
Calvin C. Straub, FAIA
inspired thousands of students in who attended his World Architecture lectures at Arizona Sate University. An accomplished architect in his own right, this "father of California post-and-beam architecture" fused the arts and crafts tradition with modernism.
The Scoville House by Blaine Drake: A Requiem in Shades of Grey
. How Phoenix lost a rare custom home to marketing, monsoon and miscommunication.
Tearing down the Arcadia / Camelback Legacy
Holy Houses! Midcentury Modern Churches from the Iconic Age of Phoenix
Saguaro High School campus photos
before demolition in 2007
Charles and Arthur Schreiber: Modern for the Market
Walt Lockley's research into the work of the Schreiber brothers, architects of familiar tract homes of Village Grove, HIdden Village and Vilage Meadows. Includes printable souvenir PDF.
Al Beadle's Executive Towers
. in 1962 Alfred Newman Beadle designed the tallest highrise residental structure ever in uptown Phoenix.
Uptown garden apartments in the shadow of Executive Towers and the Clarendon Hotel
The Cedar Street Residence
by coLAB
Washburn Piano
building's date with demolition
The ASU Campus
is chock full of 1960s modern architecture
Banking on Progress: The Valley National Banks of Phoenix, Arizona
Hoskin Ryan Consultants and Jack Black
Rehabilitate a Midcentury Modern Valley National Bank
The Ralph Haver Archive
NOTE: Your favorite pages may have been moved and now reside in the archive.
Biography of Ralph Haver
Jimmie Ray Nunn FAIA: An Honest Architect
James Salter AIA: Design Director of Haver's Firm
Brief Chronology of Ralph Haver's life and work
Homes and Buildings
by Haver, Nunn and Associates
The definitive directory to all confirmed Ralph Haver neighborhoods we know of. If it's not in here, it's not confirmed.
The professional portfolios of Haver, Nunn & Jensen
. And Nelson. And Collamer. And Associates. According to his staff it was still
"Haver, Nunn-the-less"
. View over 27 of the firm's award-winning projects in Arizona (many of them long gone) including the Cine Capri theater, the Koko Club, First Federal Savings and Loan, Barrow's, The City of Phoenix Municpal Complex and Coronado High School.
Do you have a Haver Home? Use our
Ralph Haver Taxonomy
to find out.
Growing Up Haver
all new and charming vintage photography
to update our classic oral history by Bucky Haver.
The Arizona Bank by Ralph Haver & Associates
on Thomas Road is transformed into Sherwin-Williams paint store
Terra Del Sol
by Ralph Haver for Perfect Arizona Type Homes: Wilmot Vista, Donna Vista and Grande Vista in Tucson are included
Carlos Terrace
by Cheuvront Homes in Tucson features a Haver or three
A time capsule in Janet Manor
shows original finishes useful for future Ralph Haver restorations.
The Rancho Ventura Haver Hive in Town and Country 1 learns what it is like to build community in
Claudia Hartman's Story of RE
The Pueblo Bonita neighborhood
by Haver, Nunn and Collamer is chock full of triplexes and may be one of Phoenix's best-preserved 1960s neighborhoods.
buildings by Ralph Haver's firm
Ralph Haver's Koko Club
was a swank hot spot near the Biltmore in the mid 50s
The Revlon factory
by Jimmie Ray Nunn FAIA still stands today, but now in lipstick red
Jazz Standard: The Lorna House
. See Shawn Kaffer's transformation of a Haver Home in Starlite Vista. Published in partnership with Desert Living, includes audio with the architect
Jazz Standard, Track 2: Original Photos of The Lorna House
. View Shawn Kaffer's Haver home
it was transformed into a modern gem.
What happens when a savvy MoPho acquires Ralph Haver's own family home without the sellers knowing it? Pure ModPhx Magic.
Triangle Building
, suspected to be by Ralph Haver
Ralph Haver's original
office building on Architect's Row
, long demolished
Country Club Apartments
by Ralph Haver in the late 40s
Marlen Grove radio spot on NPR
The Evertson House
in Marion Estates by Ralph Haver, a rare two-story "Swedish Modern" home
The Grebles Residence in the 50
s; a Haver tract home in Northwood modified by the Grebles Family
The Hobza + Bageant remodel
in Ralph Haver's Marlen Grove
History of the Hopkins House
, an original 1946 Ralph Haver brick home
Ralph Haver's Hopkins House updated in 2008
View Modern Phoenix website founders Matthew and Alison King's 1946 Haver Home about 2.5 years into rehabbing.
The back patio porch at The Hopkins House
is finally on its way to restoration after decades of enclosure.
St. Charles Vintage Steel Cabinet Installation
at the Hopkins House, a 1946 Haver design
Save our Soleri!
The Santa Fe Indian School Armphitheater by Paolo Soleri Amphitheater is out of the woods but far from declared saved
9th Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2013
Left of Central tour featured homes west of Central Avenue in Phoenix
8th Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2012
Marion Estates neighborhood and nearby homes of Frank Lloyd Wright
7th Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2011
Secrets of Sunnyslope tour focused on the Sunnyslope nieghborhood in the north central mountains and foothills of Phoenix
6th Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2010
Return to Paradise tour featured midcentury modern homes in Paradise Gardens, Paradise Valley and Uptown Phoenix
5th Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2009
Founding Fathers of Modern Phoenix tour featured the Uptown Phoenix and Arcadia neighborhoods including homes designed by Ralph Haver, Al Beadle, Blaine Drake, Calvin Straub, Ned Sawyer, Harold Ekman and Don Woldridge
4th Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2008
Village Grove tour featured homes by Art and Charles Schreiber for Allied Homes
3rd Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2007
featured Marlen Grove by Ralph Haver in Phoenix
2nd Annual Modern Phoenix Week 2006
featured Paradise Gardens by Al Beadle in North Phoenix
1st Annual Modern Phoenix Home Tour 2005
featured Windemere by Ralph Haver in Phoenix
50 fun photos by fans on our 2012 home tour in Marion Estates
Jacob Lichner's photos of our 2012 tour homes.
2014 Tucson Modernism Week
2011 DoCoMoMoTour
featured the Phoenix Financial Center, Valley National Banks, homes in Sunnyslope, Paradise Gardens and Clearwater Hills
Student Shelters
are a practical part of the architecture curriculum at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
Jane's Walk 2011
featured the Calle 16 business and mural district
Jane's Walk 2010
featured early industrial midcentury architecture by familiar names like Weaver & Drover and Ed Varney.
2007 Rancho Ventura Fifty is Fab Home Tour
, including audio of guest speaker panel
2008 AIA Home Tour
2007 AIA Home Tour
2006 AIA Home Tour
2005 Tucson AIA Home Tour
2004 Tucson AIA Home Tour
Mezzo in Modern Phoenix
Cal Straub Alumni Reunion
at the Whiffen Residence
v2 Launch Party 2006
Guidelines for taking photos for ModernPhoenix
Photos from the Ernest A. and Billie W. Uhlmann Family Archive illustrate
the glory days of the swingin' Safari Hotel in Scottsdale
Photos from the Ernest A. and Billie W. Uhlmann Family Archive illustrate the
glory days of the Bali Hi Motor Hotel
Vintage postcards from the golden age of roadside hospitality
in the Valley of the Sun
Chef Joe LaVilla's collection of vintage menus from Valley restaurants
showcases impressive and whimsical design. They just don't make menus like they used to, do they? Nor can you get Prime Rib for three bucks anymore.
Not only do we have menus,
we have restaurant ads, too
. Check out the charming signage, renderings and gimmicks used to draw midcentury diners in.
Dean Coffman's Drawing Portfolio
Al Beadle's
Safari Hotel Vintage postcards
Village Meadows Brochure
from the early 60s
Our obsession with vintage graphic design goes even further with our
favorite local vintage illustrations
Roadside Relics
— Neon sign photography in Tucson in Kingman by Jim Hale
The Paradise Gardens marketing brochure circa 1960
, compares the model home illustrations to how the homes look today.
A Survey of Multifamily Condos and Apartments
in Central and Uptown Phoenix, featuring great design by familiar architects. Produced using resources compiled by the Historic Preservation Office of the City of Phoenix.
The Guirey House gets some desperately needed TLC
after it's wood was painted over by an owner that just didn't get it. Glass-blasting was the answer.
The Summer of Sandblasting
. Three MoPhos relate their experience and advice on sandblasting block.
Sandblasting 101
by Bill Tonnesen, Landscape Architect
Dress it up! Flooring options for midcentury modern concrete floors
Tour of the Superlite block manufacturing plant
Good Modern Fences Make Good Modern Neighbors
Superlite Headquarters
on Seventh Street (demonstration yard was demoed in 2007)
Research your midcentury modern home
using primary sources. A visual guide by Alison King with 50 minutes of audio by John Jacquemart
Vintage brochure of The Valley National Bank
by Weaver and Drover at Indian School and Central Avenue.
The Phoenix Municipal Building
put out a neat little brochure about their Haver and Varney-designed building to help educate the public.
The Lou Regester (now Copenhagen) furniture store
by Ralph Haver put out some swanky ads in its day.
Fifteen full reprints of the AIA's vintage magazine Arizona Architect from 1957 to 1959
in PDF format. Watch the Founding Fathers of Modern Phoenix debate, develop theories, party and gain national recognition for their architectural accomplishments. Reproduced with kind permission of the Arizona AIA.
1960s coverage of the award-winning Phoenix Municipal complex
by Ralph Haver in downtown Phoenix by Arizona Architect magazine by the AZ AIA.
A Student's-eye view of their brand new high school, Ralph Haver's Coronado High.
From the 1967 Cononado High yearbook themed "Our Town".
Multifamily housing designs by Ralph Haver
Extensive documents from a
1946 Ralph Haver home
Aerial Phoenix
as seen through vintage postcards including the Phoenix Municipal Building by Ed Varney and Associates, and the Phoenix Financial Center by W.A. Sarmiento
The Parade of Homes
circa 1956 and 1957, photographed 50 years later
Coronado High School 1967 Yearbook
scan of Ralph Haver's Architecture [PDF]
The Steel and Glass Man
by Gene Garrison, an Al Beadle interview from the 80s.
Architect of old Cine Capri left design legacy in Valley
By Johanna Haver
Learning from LeCorbusier
at his Studio/Apartment in Paris, 1931
The Modern Mecca of
Sarasota, Florida
The Ticky-Tacky Boxes of Westlake, CA
Rice House by Richard Neutra
in Richmond, Virginia
A collaboration between Tonnesen, Inc. and the Kings creates a
modern steel fence around their vintage Haver Home
How to
remove your midcentury grass lawn
by Scott McMahon.
The Danleys'
Dramatic New Landscape in Haver's Windemere
Desert Landscaping Tips for the DIYer
David Kenyan's
Delicious Ranchburger Makeover in Tempe
Mr. Natural's Desert Aquarium
in Haver's Marlen Grove
Contemporary Landscaping with Xerophytic Plants
by Thomas Park of Xerophytic Design
Choosing a Landscape Pro Who is Apropo
s, by Allen Kalchik of DesertDesigners
20 Questions with Environmental Designer Troy Bankord
by Alison King and Daniel Germani
Modern Quilts
by Artist Regina Alexandra
Steel Sculptor Al Glann
Jason Hill's Retro-Future Looks Bright
, an art exhibition and interview
Phoenix Contemporary Design Fair 2008
Contact Design Show 2007
Not sure what the
are all about? Education, urban planning, architecture, neighborhood associations, real estate, historic preservation, DIY and gentrification are all addressed here with a healthy sense of humor. And pigeons. Boy, do we have pigeons.
What happens when a savvy buyer acquires Ralph Haver's own family home without the sellers knowing it? Pure ModPhx Magic.
Reinventing the The Lorna House
. Ongoing discussion since 2004 about the role of the architect, whether architecture is supposed to be transcendent, and why Haver Homes are so darn neat.
Just when you thought all was lost, Project White Gates kicks it up again
. Find out what happens when a dozen strangers stop being complacent and start getting real (serious) about saving one of Al Beadle's early family homes.
Are Haver Homes Post and Beam?
Our community attempts to collectively settle this topic once and for all. Lavishly illustrated.
Anyone Else Sick and Tired of this Crap?
Conversation explodes in outrage over midcentury ranches being leveled and built upon in Arcadia and across the city.
The Battle for 44th and Camelback
It's been a long and tough battle, but we finally made an impact in preservation of Frank Henry's Valley National Bank design. The new condo proposal on the park space was DENIED by City Council.
The MoPho SinkHo
Find out what happens when a 60 year old cesspit septic system collapses in your backyard. Laugh out loud hilarious.
Be Careful what you Wish For
Michael and Stacy boldly go from bad to worse on their master bedroom renovation.
Washburn Piano Building Slated to be Demolished
Watch the story of Washburn unfold from the first mention of its threatened status in 2005 until the building's demolition in March of 2007. Includes gory photos of the demo at the end.
Second Story Addition on a Haver Home (April Fools)
We had everyone including our neighbor across the street believing this hoax. It caused quite a stir in the preservation community for the 24 hours it circulated. And yes IT WAS A JOKE!
I'm Having Pigeon Issues
Some humane and not so humane ways of dealing with those pesky modern pigeons that like to crap on our perky modern homes.
The Modern Phoenix Dictionary
. Crackerbox? Valeian? SoSco? Walrus? Get all the neighborhood vocabulary answers you need here.
Modular and Pre-Fab, would you buy or build one?
An excellent ongoing dialogue about infill, affordability and prefab in Phoenix.
Renovating a Haver Home -- Historical and Contemporary challenges
Attempting to answer the essential question of how much one owes to one's midcentury modern home's original integrity.
The House for Me?
Unearthing public opinion about neighborhoods and the role of the realtor.
The Notorious Animal House of Windemere Debate
. One of our best conversations when the market was at its peak and declining in 2005. It goes to prove that just because it is a Haver doesn't mean you can push the market.
Haver in the 'Hood for Sale
Putting the 'Hood back in Haverhood. Conversations and humor about a decidedly transitional neighborhood about to pop -- Rancho Ventura.
Shawn and Tiffany Danley buy in Windemere
. Another classic success story from a home search facilitated through ModPhx in the early days.
The Kings land the ultimate 1946 Ralph Haver Home.
A powerful success story that probably never would have happened without ModPhx in the first place.
What do Modern Phoenicians listen to?
A thread about the music we love. Find out how much you really do have in common with our clan!
Alison King takes you
Where Cantilever Meets Coyote: Postwar Architects in Post-Wright Arizona
Saving At-Risk Architecture
: Local modernism gets the spotlight during Architecture Week in Tucson
Three Architects' Approach to the Arizona Desert
, including Judith Cahfee and Will Bruder
Simple, Contemporary Lines Perfectly Suit Couple
Remodels turn three foreclosure homes into gems
Rediscovering the midcentury modern look
A Modernist Update in Marlen Grove featuring architects Jim Koehler and Roberta Clay
Investors' remodel turns Willo home into modern showpiece
Valley's Midcentury Modern properties draw a following
Is Paradise Gardens a genuine Beadle design, or just suffering from Beadle Mania?
Exploding Downtown
(From 2003, but still relevant)
The Buena Terror on
and Allan Gruber's
of the same on YouTube
Cinema Treasures
celebrates the Cine-Capri
A proper obituary for John F. Long
, the man who built up Phoenix
History of Van Buren Street
, including lots of info on the modern era and its motels
History of Yesco
: the Young Electric Sign Company, responsible for much of the midcentury neon signage in Arizona
The wikipedia entry on Ralph Haver
, co-written by Modern Phoenix members.
Is the
Kon Tiki
hotel doomed for demolition?
Movie about
Joe B. Wong
, an architect who helped shape midcentury Scottsdale, on YouTube
Roadside Peek Arizona
has classic midcentury roadside architecture and signage
Sands West
: Hawaiian living in Phoenix
Everyday Modernism in Phoenix
by ASU's Dan Hoffman
by Nan Ellin
Postwar homes in Scottsdale
slated for historic status
Return to the Usonian House
by Matt Taylor
The Jocobs House
, a 1936 Usonian design and now vacation home in Wisconsin
Usonian Style at everything2.com
A. Quincy Jones and Pueblo Gardens
: The First Modern Tract in Tucson
The Photographer's Right: Architectural Photography and Copyright
Homes with a History:
Phoenix architect Harold Ekman
Facades and gates
of Ralph Haver's Rancho Ventura by Hector Acuna
The Desert Speaks
offers landscaping solutions for several climates in Arizona
Gammage Auditorium by Frank Lloyd Wright
turns 50
A Factual and Fictional history of the
Financial Center in Mesa
by Tim Boyle
The Modern Phoenix® website is owned by Modern Phoenix, LLC. All content is ©2001-2014 Modern Phoenix, LLC unless otherwise credited or a vintage reprint. Individual photographs may be owned by third parties.


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Alright, alright, alright. I already know what you're going to say. So go ahead and say it. Whatever it is, it's totally valid. To narrow down to ten pedals was nearly impossible-- but that's what makes it fun to whip up these lists. We're surrounded with pedals-- there are thousands of unique pedals out there in the world and thousands of each of those thousands. If you picture PGS like one of those ball pits from Chuck E Cheese, but where it's effects pedals instead of little plastic balls, you'd be pretty much on the money. With the proliferation of pedals out and about, we sat down to narrow down to 10 totally classic, totally
Chapman Guitars has been steadily growing since they arrived on the scene several years ago. Champan is adding four guitars to their roster just in time for NAMM 2014. Watch the video below to hear Chappers himself introduce the new instruments (two seven string electrics and a limited edition ML-1 Hot Rod and limited edition ML-2 Classic):
Scottsdale, AZ (January 16, 2014) -- Guild is proud to announce new guitars and basses in the Newark St. Collection and Guitar Special Run (GSR) series. The Guild Newark St. Collection marks the return of classic Guild electric favorites from the 1950s and '60s—once again putting the distinctive Guild styling and voice that helped shape popular music into the hands of today's guitarists. GSR series guitars are distinctive limited-edition versions of some of Guild guitars' most sought after and revered models. These exceptional instruments feature special and exotic wood selections and custom appointments not available on standard models, resulting in exciting new guitars that take the Guild legacy to new heights of elegant sound and
10. Brownie Strat, Eric Clapton, $450,000 It's the "Layla" guitar. Enough said. This '56 Strat was with Clapton during Cream (briefly) and Derek & the Dominoes and now resides at Paul Allen's Experience Music Project in Seattle, WA. 9. Gold Leaf Strat, Eric Clapton, $455,000 Another Clapton guitar on the list (it won't be the last, or even second to last!) – this gold leaf Strat was built for Clapton by Fender master builder Mark Kendrick, purportedly because Clapton wanted a guitar he could "hang in a museum." EC used it on the Legends tour in '97 and again in 2001 on the One More Car, One More rider tour, after which it was
Earthquaker Devices makes some of our favorite pedals—and they've just added two new ones to the stable: the Pitch Bay Harmonizer and the Terminal Fuzz. See below for the full press release from EQD about these two killer additions to their lineup. Akron, OH (January 13, 2014) -- The Pitch Bay is a three part polyphonic harmonizer and distortion generator in one compact enclosure. It features two voices of adjustable polyphonic pitch shifting, one above the root and one below. Each voice can be adjusted by stepped semitones, from 1 semitone to 12 semitones (one full octave) above and below the root. Each voice (Pitch up, Pitch down and Root) has an adjustable
After launching the wildly successful Ditto Looper last year, TC Electronic is back at it with the Ditto X2, which adds a two-button enclosure, stereo I/O, plus a couple of toggle switches that allow the user to set loop speed/direction (1/2 speed or reverse) or access backing tracks. And we thought the original Ditto was jampacked with features! Here's the full press release from TC Electronic: TC Electronic press release TC Electronic announces Ditto X2 Looper, the logical heir to the looping throne after the smash hit Ditto Looper. Ditto X2 Looper houses all the features that made the original Ditto Looper such a runaway hit, while adding key additions such as a
Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes will both exit the Allman Brothers Band after 2014 says ABB drummer Butch Trucks. The Allman Brothers Band celebrates its 45th Anniversary in 2014. Here's the full statement from Trucks & Haynes: "For 25 years and 15 years respectively, we've had the honor and pleasure of playing, living, learning, and traveling with the Allman Brothers Band, one of the truly legendary rock and roll bands. We will be forever grateful for the opportunity and the experience, and for the love, enthusiasm, and support of the incredible fans. We are both preparing to dig even deeper into our various creative and musical endeavors and, as a result, 2014 will be our final year as part
We've been waiting for this one for a little while. Fender has finally announced a production model of Jim Root's wildly non-traditional Jazzmaster. Following suit from the existing Jim Root signature guitars (a Stratocaster and Telecaster, respectively), this instrument is stripped down to the bare bones and has the specs we've come to expect from a Jim Root signature: monochromatic aesthetics, EMGs, hard tail bridge, simplified electronics, and that awesome, fat 70s style Strat headstock. This one seems like a guitar people are going to either love or hate (I fall in the former category myself!). What do you think about this instrument?!!! For more info head over to Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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Angelina Jolie did yoga workouts to prepare for her flying scenes in "Maleficent," but did them begrudgingly.
"I was forced to do yoga because [to fly] you have to have your core strength to be able to hold yourself," Jolie told USA Today.
Jolie's close friend, trainer, and longtime stunt coordinator Eunice Huthart (who is the godmother of Angelina's daughter, Shiloh) put her through the paces with yoga moves.
"She made me do yoga," said Jolie. "And I have no patience for yoga. It's not something I do easily, because I'm not a still person."
In the end, the Maleficent flying sequences turned out beautifully, and Angelina had lots of fun. "I feel like the luckiest girl in the world that I get to fly," she said. "I really feel like I'm flying!"
Jolie is doing well now a year after getting a preventive double mastectomy, but plans to undergo more surgery to ward off ovarian cancer.
In February 2013, Angelina underwent a preventive double mastectomy after genetic tests revealed she was a carrier of the BRCA1 gene, which gave her an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 percent chance of contracting ovarian cancer.
As a result of her mastectomy, Jolie's breast-cancer risk has dropped to under five percent. Jolie's mother, aunt, uncle, grandmother and grandfather all died from cancer, forcing the Oscar winner to take the radical step of preemptively removing both her breasts.
Angelina will soon get her ovaries removed. The ovary-removal procedure, called an oophorectomy, will lower the risk of ovarian cancer by 80 to 90 percent by reducing the amount of estrogen and progesterone circulating in the body.
Jolie revealed she got a preventive double mastectomy in a widely read May 2013 New York Times op-ed. Looking back, Angelina is happy she went public because it raised awareness of cancer prevention. She said she's touched by all the people she meets who share their own cancer stories with her.
"Wherever I go, usually I run into women and we talk about health issues, women's issues, breast cancer, ovarian cancer," she said. "It makes me feel closer to other people who deal with the same things. I was very, very moved by all the support and kindness from so many people."
The mom of six, who has been a United Nations goodwill ambassador since 2001, discussed how her charity work changed her outlook on life in her memoir, Notes from My Travels.
Suggested Links
- Jennifer Aniston envies Gisele Bundchen's body: Her low-carb diet & yoga workout
- Kim Kardashian resumes low-carb ketogenic weight loss diet after gaining weight
- Maria Menounos 40-pound weight loss secrets: Vegetarian diet and exercise
- Drew Carey maintains 80-lb weight loss with low-carb diet and running workouts
- Dr. Oz reveals inexpensive anti-aging wrinkle creams and weight loss secrets


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ALL HALLOWS EVE 2012 – GUEST AUTHOR: Sharon Lynn Fisher "Ghosts? Um, well, you see…" & Giveaway (ends 31/10/12)
Ghosts? Um, well, you see . . .
I love ghosts. I'm pretty sure I saw one once. I have a big lump of hematite a friend gave me for when I go to spooky old hotels, because apparently I have some kind of shininess that departed souls like. (Though not sure if I'm supposed to offer it as a gift, huck it at them, or what.)
I've done the ghost walking tour in the French Quarter at least four times, plus the one in Savannah just for good measure. Nancy Drew and Scooby Doo used to irritate the crap out of me because there was never REALLY anything ghostly going on.
But I have a confession to make. I think I snuck into the All Hallow's Eve event on a technicality. Because the ghosts in my debut novel, GHOST PLANET . . . they're actually aliens.
Yes, it's true. But wait!!!
They DO look and act just like someone you know who died. And they DO follow you around wherever you go. If you try to force them to stay behind they wail in agony. And that's pretty creepy, right?
Add all that to the fact my heroine, Elizabeth, dies just as the story opens, and on page 29 discovers she's destined to spend the rest of her life "haunting" Murphy, the sexy psychologist who was supposed to be her boss. Really, I'm feeling less guilty by the moment.
And how about this — Elizabeth sees her own body!
My breath stuck in my throat as I saw the neat row of dark zippered bags, inert amidst the hurricane of activity. A tunnel of silence connected me with those bags, and a pull in my chest drew me across the tarmac.
I gazed down at the first of the oblong, lumpy forms. A strip of white tape stretched across one end of the zipper. Something had been written on the tape in black marker.
A. Nakagomi.
I walked slowly down the line, my eyes moving from tag to tag. Only three more to go . . . and suddenly I stopped.
A voice broke through the silence. "Hey, move away from there!"
Blood surging in my ears, I bent and gave the zipper a yank, ripping the white tape in half. I peeled back the edges of the bag.
Vertigo knocked me backward onto the tarmac. I couldn't breathe.
I'd expected blanched, waterlogged skin. Purple lips. Sunken eyes. But she looked peaceful. Like she was sleeping. I crouched over her and grazed her cheek with my thumb, then recoiled at the temperature of her skin.
Someone pulled me away from the body and started shouting in my face. I couldn't make sense of anything coming out of his mouth. Murphy moved into view and spoke quietly to him. The official's words froze on his lips and his gaze darted to the unzipped bag, then back to me.
He released me abruptly, like I was coated with biocontaminant, and both of them moved away.
A boxy cargo ship roared in over the trees and settled like a fat hen next to the passenger ship. Big block letters on the rear cargo door read, "Cold Transport."
I think I slid in fair and square. How about you?
(And tell me your ghost story if you've got one. I LOVE them!)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharon Lynn Fisher is a three-time RWA Golden Heart finalist and the author of GHOST PLANET, coming from Tor/Macmillan on Oct. 30. The book is a sci-fi/romance blend that offers a "fresh and fascinating take on the human-alien problem" (says author Linnea Sinclair). Sharon has a passion for world-building and twisty plots. One theme that recurs in her writing is what it means to be human, and she's also fascinated by symbiosis in human relationships.
Trivia: Writes, mountain bikes, hikes, and breathes in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Battles writerly angst with baked goods, Irish tea, champagne, and craft beers. Labels: Aries. INFJ. Geek Mom. Shoe enthusiast. First accomplishment as a writer: Honorable mention for "Ice Age Adventure" from Cricket Magazine (age 10)
ABOUT THE BOOK: Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world—a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these "ghosts." She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet.
Reincarnated as a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy—creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone—oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love—Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence. But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man that she loves.
SHARON LYNN FISHER ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Google+
Tor Books are giving away THREE (3) copies of Ghost Planet.
To enter the giveaway please answer the following question then fill out the form below: If you could have a ghost follow you around, who would you choose? Or, if you could be a ghost and follow someone around, who would you choose? The latter can be anyone, dead or alive.
This giveaway is US/UK/Canada only and ends 31st October 2012
Oops! We could not locate your form.


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It was in an important, but not national, legislative session. A woman from another party was speaking of the need to address women's issues, and she was heckled by a Liberal Democrat. The man rather offensively challenged why the speaker was not married and pushing out babies. It created quite a public uproar, including an online petition to have the heckler censored by his own party leaders.
It also gives us an example of the problem with labels: this occurred in mid June in the Tokyo Japan legislature, where the government is led by a party called the Liberal Democratic Party. This has happened several times over many years; Japan has been experiencing negative population growth since before World War II, along with the accompanying aging population and the economic problems this creates. To many in Japan, a woman's raison d'etre is to have children, and if she is not doing this, she has no value in society no matter what else she does. (Author's footnote: my sister worked overseas for a Japanese international bank, but left because advancement was limited to those who, as she put it, "have slanty eyes, are men, and are born in Japan". It's a very real misogyny.)
The shocking part, for us, is not so much that such a comment was made in a Japanese legislature, but that it was made by a member of what is called the Liberal Democratic Party. In America, liberal Democrats consider themselves the champions of women's rights, and any suggesting that a woman ought to be married and having children would probably be drummed out of the party. That the two groups have the same label clearly tells us nothing of what either believes or what policies they pursue. Nor should we, as voters, support someone simply for wearing a particular label--whether Democrat or Republican by party affiliation, whether self-described or slandered as Progressive or Tea Party, the label is a label.
Every writer knows, or eventually learns, that genre is not a writer's concept but a publisher's concept: people who sell books, or movies, or television shows call them horror or science fiction or romance in order to sell product. They want you to think that if you like well-known books by famous authors, you'll also like unknown books by unknown authors who wear the same label. The same is true in the political world: political managers want you to vote for candidates they manage based on labels. Yet few of us (as we have noted in connection with coalition government) agree completely with the platform of any particular party; we are comparison shopping for that platform which best matches our position both in particular issues and in specific emphases. There is a degree to which supporting the party with whom you most agree is a wise choice; but it is also important to be certain that the specific candidate for whom you are voting agrees with you on the issues you think important--after all, it is entirely possible that you and your candidate both agree with seventy percent of the party platform and think half of that is worth a fight, but he does not agree with most of the issues for which you want him to fight.
A label is ultimately just a marketing tool. That someone is called a Liberal Democrat, or a Tea Party Conservative, tells you very little about what the candidate actually believes. As we approach our national election, pay attention to what the candidates genuinely support, and not just what labels they wear.
We will return in a future article to the problem of Japanese negative population growth, and its implications for us.


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Apple Inc. Now a Beloved Brand of China's Environmental Activists
Sterling Wong
Amazon.com, Inc. and McDonald's Corporation also make the news.
China Watch: Top Business News From the World's Second Largest Economy
Apple Inc.
(NASDAQ:AAPL) has suffered bad press in China this year because of customer issues, but one group that has become enamored with the brand is China's environmental activists, who now laud Apple for being "one of the most proactive IT suppliers" of all.
High-profile Chinese environmental activist Ma Jun praised Apple for being open to cooperating with his group -- the Beijing-based Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs -- on environmental work, reported
Ma's group shares pollution information on Chinese firms who are linked in the supply chain with Western companies so that they understand the environmental impact of the production process. Given the size of Apple, its cooperation in Ma's work sends a positive message to the rest of the industry.
"They have gone the furthest in motivating key suppliers [to adopt green policies]," Ma said.
The change in Apple's approach to the environmental impact of its production process is typically attributed to CEO Tim Cook, who "has been supportive of Apple's cooperation with environmental groups in a way that [Steve] Jobs was not," noted
Amazon Hardware Comes to China
Customers in China will soon be able to get their hands on the Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite,
Amazon.com, Inc.
(NASDAQ:AMZN) confirmed this week, reported the
Wall Street Journal
The move comes as Amazon has gradually expanded in China; the e-commerce giant opened a Chinese-language app store in May after previously introducing an online bookstore and cloud storage facilities.
Amazon will face tough competition in its bid to conquer the all-important China market -- and not just from usual suspects like Apple and
Electronics Co., Ltd.
(OTCMKTS:SSNLF). Local firms like
Alibaba.com Limited
(HKG:1688) and Beijing Jingdong Century Trading will likely provide the stiffest competition to Amazon, which has yet to establish itself in China. Amazon currently has only a 2.8% share in China's business-to-consumer online retail market.
McDonald's Plans Further Expansion, Introduces Customized Food Items
The world's top fast food chain will add some 75,000 new employees in China this year as it works toward its goal of having more than 2,000 restaurants in China by 2014.
To cater to local tastes,
McDonald's Corporation
(NYSE:MCD) will also add rice dishes such as chicken and beef rice wraps to its China menu on June 10, said Kenneth Chan, CEO of McDonald's China.
"Our new dining options are examples of how McDonald's innovates to bring more options to our Chinese customers, because that's what they want," said Chan, according to
. Chan added, however, that McDonald's core menu of staples like the Big Mac and McChicken will remain unchanged.
Boeing Dreamliner Arrives in China
The first-ever
The Boeing Company
(NYSE:BA) 787 Dreamliner was delivered to China last Sunday. The 228-seat plane, operated by
China Southern Airlines Co Ltd (ADR)
(NYSE:ZNH), landed at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou after a delay of close to five years.
China Southern is the tenth airline to take delivery of the Dreamliner. The plane will serve international customers from Guangzhou to Paris, Vancouver, London, and Auckland.
The airline is also the only one that operates both the Dreamliner and the Airbus A380, noted
. China Southern first took delivery of the double-deck A380 in 2011.
China is expected to become a key market for Boeing and Airbus going forward. An earlier Boeing report projected that the mainland will buy 5,260 new commercial aircrafts worth some $670 billion over the next 20 years.
No positions in stocks mentioned.
The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
Copyright 2011 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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KK Physio & Pilates is owned and run by Kirsten Kerr. Kirsten has been a chartered physiotherapist for 16 years and has spent 15 of those years treating musculoskeletal conditions. She has worked in the NHS and in private healthcare and has also worked with Alloa Athletic Football Club and Alloa Rugby Club.
Pump Technology
NNR is an acronym for Nishi Nippon Railroad Co., established in 1908 in Fukuoka, Japan. The early days were enjoyed as a public transport provider in the South West of Japan which is still a substantial part of our business. NNR has grown organically since through careful planning and a pragmatic approach. The Nishitetsu Group as it is often known today, is a worldwide corporation consisting of around 18,000 employees and 92 companies with around 130 offices, divided into 7 main business categories: Public transportation (Rail & Bus), Construction, Real Estate, Travel, Leisure - and our focus; NNR Global Logistics.
Providing IT Solutions for Business & Industry For over 30 years, companies across the UK have relied upon TMS to increase their efficiency, productivity and profitability. We are the leading provider of CAD Solutions in Scotland, with offerings based on the SolidWorks (by Dassualt Systems) and AutoCAD (by Autodesk) range of products. We are a successful Sage Business Partner, with our development expertise and in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing and construction industries allowing us to become a leading provider of Sage in Scotland, specialising in Sage 200 & Sage Manufacturing. Designed to integrate with Sage, we have developed a market leading contract costing / job costing application - Elite Contract Costing. We also provide a range of IT support services designed to provide clients across the UK with a cost effective approach to managing and maintaining their IT systems.


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Attention Houston area craft beer fans: You have yet another new beer available for purchase at stores, taverns, and restaurants. This new offering is a continuation in a series that started about eighteen months ago and rotates about once every three months. I am talking, of course, about Saint Arnold's Icon series and the time has arrived for yet another Icon release. Here is some information on this new Icon series brew:
Style: Texas Common
Packaging: Green, to distinguish from the previous Icon entry
Alcohol by Volume: 6.7 percent
Bitterness: 52 IBU
So what, exactly, is a Texas Common beer? Well, some may already be familiar with California Common beer, a style associated with Anchor Brewing's renowned Anchor Steam beer. Saint Arnold has taken the California Common style as its inspiration, adding some more hops to create a style all its own, Texas Common. The beer is fermented using San Francisco lager yeast, but at warmer temperatures that are more in- line with an ale. This makes the beer similar to those brewed using the steam style that Anchor Brewing perfected decades ago.
Saint Arnold Icon Texas Common is unique in one other way: It uses just one hop, Mosaic, in its recipe. The result is a beer that emphasizes the tastes of tropical fruit and citrus as opposed to the more malt- driven California Common beer. Craft beer fans will notice the difference immediately when those lip- smacking delicious hops register on the palate for the first time.
This latest Icon series entry is available right now throughout the Houston area and other places where Saint Arnold beer is sold. Like the other Icon series brews, it will be available for only a few months, so head to the nearest store or your favorite watering hole and grab a bottle or pint today!
Suggested Links
- Flying Saucer Draught Emporium presents Pints for Prostates
- Saint Arnold Brewing introduces 20th Anniversary Barleywine
- Big Beer Houston: A celebration of craft beer
- Anheuser- Busch discloses beer ingredients for the first time
- Smashburger reveals its burger and beer pairing secrets for National Burger Day


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Place: Boardman Center Middle School, Boardman Township, OH
When: Monday, May 26, 2014, 9:30 a.m.
Description: The Boardman Kiwanis will hold its 110th Memorial Day Parade and Service. Groups participating in the Parade will assemble at the Boardman Center Middle School at 9:30 a.m. and the Parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Mark Fulks will be the Grand Marshall and featured speaker at the Parade and Memorial Service.
Date Posted: April, 28 2014
Categories: Special Events
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