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Express Yourself
The 33rd Annual Poetry and the Children Day
Andrei Guruianu stands on the Osterhout Concert Theater stage before 400 kids and their teachers, families and friends and raises a thick 8.5" by 11" book with a light-blue paper cover.
"How cool is this that your poems are in a book already?" the recent graduate of Binghamton University's English doctoral program excitedly asks the clapping, cheering children, each of whom has a poem in the book. "Keep writing so you can be in other books!"
It's the 33rd Annual Poetry and the Children Day and Guruianu shares the stage with Harpur College Dean Donald Nieman, who relishes this creation and sharing of poetry among the hundreds of young people in grades 2 to 8 from 38 schools.
"When I began writing poetry about 10 years ago," Guruianu says from the stage, "I discovered something that I never really knew was inside of me. Maybe you guys started realizing this as well when you began writing poetry. I had so much to say about everything. I wanted to write about everything, about the weather, about my family and friends, about things that made me happy, but also about things that made me upset."
After his presentation, the audience breaks into five groups and noisily spreads to the many theaters in the Anderson Center. At the head of one of the groups, Dean Nieman smiles and asks, "isn't this fun?" and starts a conversation with a teacher. He heads to Studio B, an intimate, dimly lit theater with less than 10 rows of seating. The kids sit in front, the parents in back.
From next to a microphone on the low stage, Nieman calls out a name and greets the children with a big smile, and outstretched hand and a "Hi. How are you?" as they walk up to read their original poetry, some reciting from memory, proclaiming loudly to the room, some quietly reading from a piece of paper and hurrying off the stage, each having a moment in the spotlight to show off their talent and express themselves to family and friends.
As a published author and assistant professor of English at North Central College in Illinois, Guiruianu calls their poems "a testament to the power words have over us and the power of language to bring us all together despite were we come from, economic, religious and cultural backgrounds. These are poems of sadness, of joy, of contemplation. Most of all, they are poems where the listener or reader gets to know what is really inside the poet's mind."
After the readings the kids gather in the Grand Corridor to share stories over cookies and juice. A group of sixth graders from Ann G. McGuinness Intermediate School in the Union-Endicott School District talk about their poems and the event.
"I've liked writing for awhile," says Matt Simmons, who read his tribute to Haiti. "It's a good way to express myself and it's fun to make people think and laugh."
Natalie Murphy writes poetry regularly, too, and says the event is a good forum to share ideas. "I liked hearing different things from different schools," she says. "You could tell that some of them had themes and I liked hearing the different ways kids wrote about them."
Poetry and the Children Day was established as a memorial to Robert Pawlikowski, a published poet, creative writing instructor and campus administrative assistant who drowned in 1975 while on vacation with his family. The event is a tribute to the efforts that Pawlikowski made during his lifetime in nurturing the expressive and intellectual powers of his students as well as those of his own children.
Partially underwritten by the Oakdale Mall and Susan Clark-Johnson, the anthology held up by Guruianu was prepared by the Office of the Dean of Harpur College and is distributed to each participating student, teachers and local libraries.
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Puerto Montt, the capital city of the Los Lagos region is a frequent stopping point for travelers venturing into southern Chile. South of this city, the coastal mountain range sinks into the ocean and creates thousands of small islands and inlets named the Austral Channels.
Located just over 1,000 km south of Santiago, Puerto Montt was founded in 1853 by Vicente Péres Rosales at its current location on Reloncavi Hill, a strategic location between Llanquihue Lake and the channel that separate the island of Chiloe. It is an active port, in large part to the salmon farming industry. The city's downtown area attracts visitors as does a sculpture of lovers that commemorates a popular song. The city is also the starting point of numerous routes to the south in the Aysén and Magallanes regions.
Main Attractions
Visitors should be sure to visit the Coastal Range and Pier. The Coastal Range stretches 6 km from the Peluco Zone to Angelmó's end along beautiful beaches and old fishing coves where many species of birds can be spotted. Downtown, in the center of the city, sites include: various monuments remembering German colonialists, the country's first train engine, a Chilote fishing boat, a sculpture named Sentados Frente al Mar (Sitting in Front of the Ocean), the train museum, and the region's Juan Pablo II Museum. The last museum chronicles the history of the town, including the 1960 earthquake, and the Pope's visit in 1987. The Pier is an excellent place for taking pictures in front of the Plaza de Armas, overlooking Tenglo Island and the port.
One arrives at Angelmó Market after walking 20 minutes west of the Coastal Range. This distance is less than 2 km. Many people consider the market to embody the soul of the region because it unites both food and art – two features that the region is known for. There are three main areas in the market. The first showcases both local and international arts and crafts. The second is only open for dinner and serves exquisite regional cuisine and wine served in teacups. The third is the market itself, which sells a wide variety of seafood, including salmon. Beyond the products available at the market, what stands out the most is its distinct and unique atmosphere.
The Cathedral, which was built in 1856, is constructed entirely from birch, with a copper copula. It is inspired by the Greek Parthenon and located in the central plaza. Due to its significance and central location, it is a popular place for various social activities.
Tenglo Island is located across a small canal before arriving Angelmó. Once on the island, a short 20 minute walk along a path brings visitors to the Cross of Tenglo, from which point there is an excellent view Reloncaví, as well as, the Osorno, Calbuco, and Tronador volcanoes. The island is also a place where native trees like Alerce, Mañío, Ulmo, and Ciruelillo grow. While on the island, it is recommended to sample the currants, meat, vegetables, and other local fare prepared on hot rocks and covered with leaves. Also, barbequed lamb is a popular dish at the Los Galpones de Tenglo restaurant. The phone number of the restaurant is (09) 4632641.
Nearby Attractions
Pelluco Bay is the main local beach. It is situation 4 km east of the city and has the best nightlife in the area. The beach is known for its calm water and soft waves. A little known place to visit is the Punta Pelluco Nature Sanctuary where at low tide 111 birch tree stumps are revealed dating back 50,000 years.
The Town of Calbuco is located 55 km southeast of Puerto Montt. Since 1602, it has been a small fishing town full of local tradition. Important sites include San Miguel Church and the La Vega fishing cove where several traditional restaurants are located. Perhaps the most appealing part of the area is the 14 nearby islands that form the beginning of the country's archipelago. Passengers are treated to an adventure when they travel in boats that navigate the islands. The town also hosts several popular annual festivals, including: The Night of the Lights, celebrated on September 28th; The Night of San Juan, celebrated on the 23rd of June; and the Indian Religious Festival, which is celebrated 40 days following Easter.
Andean Birch National Park is located 46 km east of Puerto Montt. On its nearly 40,000 protected hectares of land, various native tree species thrive, including birch, tineos, mañíos, canelos, helechos, and lianas. The park also contains over 50 small lakes nestled among the forests and mountains, particularly in the area south of the Chapo River and between the Seno and Reloncavi rivers. In this area, a wide variety of bird species can be spotted. Also, hiking trails lead all the way to campsites at the foot of Calbuco Volcano.
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TrashMutant.com reviews "Definition Sickness"
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TrashMutant.com reviews "Definition Sickness"
Definition Sickness is available NOW:
Here's the first album review to come through and the writer paid a great attention to details. Always good to see:
- by Señor Editor, 11 November 2013
No Bird Sing are an indie hip hop outfit from Minneapolis, consisting of drummer/producer Graham OBrien, guitarist/producer Robert Mulrennan and emcee Joe Horton. Its been announced earlier this Fall, that the trio have signed with Sage Francis underground juggernaut Strange Famous Records, and tomorrow they will drop their first release on the label Definition Sickness.
Though theyre already well established on the highly potent Minnesota hip hop scene, Im new to NBS, and this release (their third) is my introduction to the group. I did hear the singles, and so I had some very vague idea what to expect from the record, but I wanted to wait and see if the rest of Definition Sickness measures up to the two songs promoting it. Turns out it does more than that.
The voice of the group, Joe Horton, is an emcee with a deep and heavy vocal, and the man has plenty to say. Hes got a monotone type of rap voice, but its very strong and works really well with his style. On slower songs, like the opening Breathless, it has a nice calming quality to it, fitting the reflective nature of the track. On more up-tempo songs, like the banging Reality Hunger, where he proclaims Motherfuckers talk shit, but never bet against us, its commanding and aggressive, sounding properly badass.
Its not mostly the voice, though. Its at least equal parts that and the lyrics, because Joe Horton is a damn impressive writer. I mentioned that he has a lot to say here, and he touches on some very thought-provoking concepts. One of them (and, as I understand, its what the title of this album alludes to) is 'Defining versus Understanding'. How language limits our experiencing of reality, how we tend to equal knowing what the definition of something is, knowing what to call it, with understanding it. The definition sickness of society, is how it lost sight of language not really being reflective of reality. Its very interesting, and its just a part of what Horton raps about. The songs on Definition Sickness are rich with verses that seem to be just waiting to get picked apart, layer by layer, with each listen. Ive only had the album for a couple of days, but its very rewarding every time I notice something new and wrap my brain around it.
What about the production all this heady stuff is rapped on, though? This is really where the band aspect of No Bird Sing comes into play for me. Its obvious that these three have worked together long enough to really complement each other, and know how to make their music sound the way they want it to. Mulrennan and OBrien are doing much more than just making beats on here, its very well thought-out production with a live music feel. Things like the strings at the end of Breathless or the guitar in Friday really add a lot to the songs, and the heavy drums nicely contrast with the, often mellow, soundscapes. Theres an interlude of sorts on the album (with guest vocals by Adam Svec), called Rapture Muffin, where the production really takes center stage for a moment. Its very cool and its a nice touch, giving the listener a pause before the And War single (watch the video below) begins.
The trio is joined on the record by guest vocalists Chastity Brown, Aby Wolf, James Diers, Adam Svec and Molly Dean, as well as such emcees as label boss Sage Francis, Kristoff Krane, Sadistik and Crescent Moon (who Trash Mutant readers may remember from Numbers Not Names). On paper, that may seem like a lot of guests for an album that's fourteen tracks-long, but everybody fits in perfectly well, and you never lose sight of this being a No Bird Sing record, which is commendable and just the way it should be.
As far as album highlights go, there are many, but Ill name a few that stayed with me the most. The brooding Dont Think single (above) with Sage is definitely one, and Target Practice (with Kristoff Krane), where Horton raps lines like Why does one man have more beds than he can sleep in? Where's the line between competition and preying on people's weakness? (...) Why is advertising good, propaganda bad and sexual desire painting lines inside my lonely head? is another. Both Flag Waver and the sinister-sounding Fashionable Cannibal got to be two of the hardest tracks on the album, and theyre also among the songs Ive been playing the most. While not EVERY song is one I'm attracted to (and honestly, that's something that happens very rarely), this record really has a lot to offer, and I suspect that current favorites will be changing a lot.
Definition Sickness has been a surprising release for me. I didnt know the band before, but it turned out they just dropped one of the most intriguing albums in recent months. Hopefully, theyll get a whole lot more new listeners when their album drops tomorrow, because it deserves that. Its haunting, very fresh and pretty much the perfect autumn listening. Get it while its hot.
Definition Sickness drops November 12th on Strange Famous Records, and you can get a copy on the SFR website. Make sure to follow No Bird Sing on Twitter, and check them out on their website.
Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:32 pm
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Another long weekend
The spoils are shared
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, was present during the 0-0 draw agains Kelantan FC last night. He was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah.
One of the best stalemate games I've seen from DPMM FC. The 0-0 may have not been a good result but the performances by DPMM FC proved otherwise. The host came off with a clean sheet though they could have scored at least three to four goals if it wasn't for the heroics of Kelantan FA 's goal keeper Muhamad Syazwan. This was DPMM FC's third friendly match and currently DPMM FC has a track record of 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss.
Though DPMM FC lacked in the finishing department, they have showed promise with their constant threat in goals. Steve Kean fielded a different first eleven with regulars Shahrazen Said, Azwan Salleh and Adi Said not being featured as the head coach was focusing more on the imports on trial - Nathan Fontaine, Frederic Nimani and Andrea Augusto Mendoza.
It was interesting to know that Steve Kean has changed the tactical formation of DPMM FC. He has scrapped off the usual 3-5-2 formation and gambled on a 4-4-2 tactic which seemed to work last night as well as the game against Phuket FC after trailing 2-0 in the first half. It was good to see Steve Kean making changes with the experimental squad and see what he can learn from the friendly matches.
DPMM FC had a fruitful first half apart from the forgettable penalty kick effort by trial import Nathan Fontaine whose soft spot kick was easily saved by personal man of the match Muhamd Syazwan in the 5th minute. As for DPMM FC, one player that stole the show was the industrious Azwan Ali who was impressive down the left wing. His work rate was phenomenal and I could see a lot of maturity in his game play. He could have earned himself a hat-trick and he was a constant menace in Kelantan FA's defense. Let's hope Steve bring the best out of this young lad.
The only Brunei professional club could have bagged a few more in the first half. Captain Rosmin "Bobby" Kamis just missed his free kick curling effort while DPMM FC import player Rodrigo Tosi wasted multiple chances and he also had his goal effort disallowed for infringement by his team mates. Kelantan FA couldn't muster a real challenge to the host defence but it was a more balanced performance from either side in the 2nd half.
Steve Kean kept his promise in rotating his three trial strikers in every third of the match. The one that showed promise to me was Andrea Augusto Mendoza who used to under the youth academy of Marseille, France. He quickly made an impact with two stunning shots being saved in a space of two minutes with 20 minutes remaining. It remains to be seen if any of the trial imports will be chosen.
Kelantan FA had a better possession outing than the first half. They beefed up the midfield by introducing Mohamad Shawky and their star player Mohd Badhri. Despite the changes, DPMM FC's defence pairing of Shahrulrizal Abd Rahman and Boris Raspudic seemed to gel. They had better communication with DPMM FC's keeper Wardun Yussof and from what I could see, the keeper wasn't fully tested by the visitors.
I was quite impressed by the turnout last night but the 12th man effort could only muster a draw against the Malaysian cup holders. DPMM FC will be proud of their efforts nonetheless and gave the crowd the run for their time too. According to Steve, they will be training harder and have a few domestic matches with the local clubs before the S•League season kicks off.
The friendly match was entertaining and a lot of positive things can be learnt from the match alone. Give it a few more games and DPMM FC can adapt easily to the formation and the tactics instructed. A good start for Steve Kean indeed.
Follow @officialdpmmfc on instagram for other updates.
The penalty effort that was saved by Muhamad Syazwan of Kelantan FA in goal
Rodrigo Tosi was bemused when his goal was ruled out late in the first half
One of the import players from DPMM FC, being squashed
A very strong crowd despite it being a friendly match
The DPMM FC bench
The aerial challenge between Rodrigo and Mohamed Faiz
Trial player Frederic Nimani being challenged
Referee Hadiman Hj Shahbudin signaling to the medics
Tosi's goal was ruled late in the first half. Another chance gone begging
The double save from Kelantan FA's outstanding keeper Muhamad Syazwan late in the first half
The glue effect between Tosi and Tuan Muhamad Faim
Azwan Ali of DPMM FC was a constant threat down the left and he has been praised by many on instagram @officialdpmmfc
Syazwan measuring his defense as DPMM FC was awarded a free kick
Andrea Augusto Mendoza had a reasonable outing as a trial player and he had two good efforts saved
The crowd reaction after the double save from Kelantan FA
DPMM FC's first time line up
Kelantan FA's midfielder Wan Zaharulnizam with Sairol Hj Sahari
Kelantan FA's manager Zahasmi Ismail handing over souvenir to DPMM FC's team manager Md Ali Hj Momin
DPMM FC at the dressing room prior to the match
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Gong Xi Fa Cai
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, HRH Prince Abdul Muntaqim and HRH Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah with the host Mr. Jackson Ting and family at his residence today
The Year of the Horse had a royal touch as His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, HRH Prince Abdul Muntaqim and HRH Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, visited a few residence of the Chinese community.
One of the residences was at the Ting's family. Jackson Ting, the Managing Director of D'Sunlit Sdn Bhd, and Mrs. Ting welcomed the royalties at his residence at Kota Batu.
I shall be posting more pictures tomorrow.
Come and support DPMM FC's first friendly match on home soil against Kelantan FA tonight
A lot more awareness and education is needed to understand and learn about the upcoming Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 which will come into effect 1st April 2014
Last night I did some coverage at the Chinese temple located at the capital area. People slowly flocked to the Teng Yun Temple, the only temple I believe around the capital, to pray and get blessed in conjunction with the lunar year. As usual, I bumped into many familiar faces at the temple. The temple didn't get busy until the midnight mark and a friend of mine hinted me that this is normally the case where it can get crowded by midnight or just before midnight.
Today there won't be any lion dance performance at the Chinese temple or even at any residential houses but the lion dance performance will begin tomorrow and the performers are given a 3-day grace period to perform.
I noticed that the crowd last night was a bit subdued as compared to previous years. One reason being is that it's a long weekend and mostly like some families travel abroad to take advantage of the long weekend. I also realised the decorations of the Chinese new year celebration are quite limited. The usual NBT decoration of the festive season is missing as the public was looking forward to it. This year marks the Year of the Horse and if you notice at the departmental stores, the decorations are subdued and there are no signs of horse objects being depicted on the decorations.
To all my Chinese friends and family friends, Happy New Year :D I shall be making my round visits starting afternoon.
The Teng Yun Temple was pretty busy last night
Mr. Cheong Huat Joo offering his prayers last night
Metis Wong offering his respect and prayers
The biggest incense available at the temple
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Thunder struck
An Apology Note
I, Rano Iskandar, founder of Ranoadidas.com, would like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere apologies to the Ministry of Development and the stakeholders involved in the current facelift of the Serasa Beach Recreation Park. The apology is with regards to the typo error with no pun intended in my blog entry post entitled "Facelift on Serasa Beach" yesterday.
My error has caused embarrassment to the Ministry and the stakeholders. I take full responsibility for my actions. The error is regretted. Once, again my apologies to the Ministry of Development and the stakeholders of the Serasa Beach Recreation Park project. I wish the best in the progress and the development of the said project for the benefit of the community of Brunei Darussalam.
Yours Sincerely,
Rano Iskandar
Founder of ranoadidas.com
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Steve Kean giving instructions during training session yesterday
DPMM FC was back to training yesterday after their weekend trip to Phuket, Thailand for the Saksee Phuket Tournament which DPMM FC had one win and one loss. Tomorrow, DPMM FC will have another friendly match and this time it will be against Kelantan FA and that will be another tough opponent but a great build up for the S•League season when it commences in February 2014.
Steve Kean, DPMM FC's head coach, felt that they learnt some new such as tactical moves but the most he learnt was the competition when DPMM FC had the friendly matches at Phuket, Thailand, recently and the intensity was great and the pace was slightly faster than the S•League. In that respect, the preparation has been very good for DPMM FC. He credited the management as well for putting a great pre-season matches especially with the upcoming one with Kelantan FA tomorrow at the Hassanal National Stadium.
So do tell your friends of tomorrow's friendly match, Friday 31st January 2014 and the kick-off is 8:15pm and the entrance is FREE. I know it falls on the the first day of Chinese New Year too. You will get a sneak peek of what to expect from the new look of DPMM FC. They have yet to finalise on more import player. However, there are three import players on trial as we speak. Let's hope DPMM FC can find that final piece to the squad.
DPMM FC players in action during training yesterday
Gamble being interviewed by RTB
Taking a rest after training
The guest of honour Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohammad Yasmin Hj Umar launching the Business Integrity Campaign. He was accompanied by Ken Marnoch, BSJV Companies and Shell Country Chair and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau YM Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Juanda Hj A. Rashid
I learnt something new yesterday. Well, I would love to learn something new every now and then. Yesterday Brunei Shell Joint Venture Companies (BSJV) held an event to launch a Business Integrity (BI) campaign at the Empire Hotel and Country Club. The campaign is in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and BSJV. As you know ACB practises "zero tolerance policy" when it comes to corruption.
You may have heard of the major news a few years ago when Musfada Enterprise was charged for corruption which also involved BSP employees. A total of $101,843 in bribes were given to Shell employees in return for them securing over $3.2 million in contracts for his company, Musfada Enterprise, between 2007 and 2009. The manager of Musfada Enterprise, David Chong, a key Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) contractor, was jailed for six years and four months after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of bribing Shell employees.
It's a good initiative by Brunei Shell Petroleum in creating the "Business Integrity" campaign and this is a good tool to remind ourselves to be on our toes and be alert of any advances being it big or small, it can be regarded as a form of gift which will be then interpreted as a bribe. For instance, you might accept a small corporate gift as a kind gesture or even a dine-out as a form of hospitality. These actions will be seen as unfavourable in terms of Business Integrity.
The arrival of the guest of honour accompanied by BSJV Companies and Shell Country Chair at The Empire Hotel & Country Club
Pehin Yasmin declared upon entering the event
The Brunei Times reporter Rachel and Debbie pledged theirs too
I did declare too
Pehin Yasmin with his key note address
The invited guests yesterday
Quite a majority of them pledged online. Thumbs up!!
Yesterday the event was launch by the guest of honour Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohammad Yasmin Hj Umar, The Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office and he gave an insightful overview of the BSJV companies performance in Brunei Darussalam which I shall post separately from this article.
Prior to the key note by the guest of honour, Ken Marnoch, BSJV Companies and Shell Country Chair, shared his statements and pledged to combat corruption and practise a "No Gifts Policy", as simple goodwill gestures can often times be overshadowed by perceptions of influence or wrongdoing, dangerously close to corrupt behaviours.
During the event, the invited guests were encouraged to take a few minutes to pledge their commitments to practise Business Integrity. This was done through a Pigeon Hole Live software yesterday and by mid-morning, there are a handful of pledges from BSP and BSJV companies which are great reminders not only to themselves but the public as well. Even upon entering the event, I signed a declaration that I won't be influenced by the gestures and hospitality given by the organisers. This will be a new practice by BSP whenever they host an event in the near future and it's a good way to spread awareness on "No Gifts Policy" to the public.
I shall post more on Pehin Yasmin's key note in my later post as I found the findings quite interesting.
Ken Marnoch highlighting the corruption case that involved one of the contractors
The promotional campaign poster for the event
Interesting video on the insights how BSP become more mindful on advances
Congratulations Minul and Amal
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I knew Minul first among all his family after I graduated from Brisbane back in the early 2000s (Now that feels like a long time) and thanks to his cousin Sue for introducing me to him then. I remembered he picked me up in his classic Subaru car and we would go for our meals before playing a few games of snooker at Scout Centre. Oh yea, those were the days and fast forward to the present, things really have changed. I tend to see him less and ironically I bumped into him more on my Singapore trips *lol*
All the best to Minul and Amal and may Allah bless your new journey together. Thank you also to Sheikh Hj Abas bin Sheikh Mohamad and his family for the invitation. Hope you like the pictures.
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The event that happened last Monday
The workshop took place last Monday at Relentless Studios and it was very well received. The Capoeira workshop was in high energy (or in Capoeira, they call it Axé). There was a short music workshop with Capoeira instruments before ending with a short impromptu roda game with Contramestre Tucum, Baiana and I.
The organiser hopes the participants can gain from these workshops and hopefully to begin introducing the sport to Brunei. It can be practiced by all ages. With Capoeira, you can expect greater control over your body, better flexibility and as we play in pairs, take communication and understanding one other to another level. These skills are useful which many Capoeristas take over into their day to day life.
For your info, Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art which incorporates elements of dance, acrobatics and music. It is identified by graceful and complex movements combined in fluid motion. Speed and incredible body control form the basis for kicks, spins and escapes in the beautiful art of Capoeira.
Contramestre Tucum, a Capoeira instructor, is currently in Brunei to run various workshops. He is currently based in Singapore and he has 15 years of experience, instructing Capoeira classes for all ages. His origin is from Bahia, Brazil.
Images courtesy of Widari.
Contramestre Tucum, a Capoeira instructor, conducting a two-hour workshop at Relentless Studios
Energised faces during the Capoeira Workshop
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Ready for the Horse?
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Dennis gets certified
Dennis Lim, trainer at GetFit CrossFit (centre) with the coaches at Columbus Weightlifting Club in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Image courtesy of GetFit CrossFit
Recently, 22-year old Bruneian, Dennis Lim returned to the Sultanate having just attended an Advanced Weightlifting Technique Certification by Columbus Weightlifting Club, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
This Certification has been designed by 2012 Head Olympic Coach Mark Cannella, who is often referred to as one of the best technicians when it comes to Olympic Weightlifting. Mark is also the organizer of the Olympic Weightlifting at The Arnold, the largest gathering of athletes outside of the Olympics.
Mark Canella, head coach and president of Columbus Weightlifting Club, CWLC (http://www.columbusweightlifting.org) in Columbus, Ohio, USA and Drew Dillon, currently ranked top ten in the USA 85kg-class, both ran this workshop bringing together a wealth of experience and skills.
This workshop also covered Russian and Chinese methods of lifting, and as the sport of Olympic lifting is an element of CrossFit, coaches will find it useful to develop this skill base.
Dennis, trainer at GetFit CrossFit (GFCF), comes back to Brunei with more experience and skills in lifting and coaching - "I am extremely excited to share what I've learnt, with the rest of Brunei. To be honest, the programme and technique we apply at GFCF is very close to what Mark & Drew shared with us. But they work with the best in the world, and have tweaked our methods to make it even better!" Other GFCF coaches trained by CWLC are Ilyas Rory Teo and Gavin Singh Sekhon, who attended their USAW Certification in 2013.
CNY greetings from Audi (T.C.Y. Motors Sdn Bhd)
Today is Amy Wong's final day at T.C.Y. Motors. A message from John Tan and behalf of everyone on 3rd floor office, TCY Kiarong HQ - "Good luck, all the best and don't forget us". Image taken during the launch of Audi A7. We'll definitely catch up, yea? :D
Facelift on Serasa Beach
Haji Muhd Lutfi bin Haji Abdullah, Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the Ministry of Development, unveiling the new look of Serasa Beach. Image courtesy of Achong Tanjong of Borneo Bulletin.
Serasa Beach Recreation Park is having a major facelift with the implementation of a $3 million project that will see the park temporarily closed to the public from yesterday until the work's scheduled completion in March this year.
Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the Ministry of Development Awang Haji Muhd Lutfi bin Haji Abdullah as the personal representative of Minister of Development in an interview yesterday said the project aimed to further enhance the area which is prone to flooding during heavy rains and high tide.
The Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation, Ministry of Development in an effort to provide a more conducive and safe recreational area are is implementing the upgrading work and building the additional facilities in the area.
He said the project was expected to be completed within two months and will be open to the public during first term school holiday in March.
He urged the public not to enter the area during the construction work for safety reasons. No activities are allowed at the beach, including fishing, swimming, loading on boats and retail activities. When the project is completed, it will provide 40 retail stalls.
The project's scope of work includes building a car park, a cycling track, a playground, gazebos, sports facilities, toilet/shower facilities, surau and landscaping. He said the entrance road will also be upgraded.
Asked if the authorities were planning a similar project at other beaches, he said this is the first project of Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation to upgrade a beach. Other recreational beaches may be considered for upgrade.
The department also reminded the public, especially residents in Mukim Serasa, that the department has provided a new place for the disposal of domestic (private houses) wastes located at the entrance to the beach. The department hopes that the public will use the facility properly and obey the rules set by the authorities when the project is completed. Text courtesy of Achong Tanjong of Borneo Bulletin.
For your info, the Yacht Club won't be affected during the facelift and business will continue as usual.
How the facelift for the Serasa Beach Recreation Park looks like by March. Click image to enlarge.
Group photo with Dean of Students from the Student Affairs Section Ahmad Faisal Hj Zainal, the guest of honour of the PMUBD Showcase @ Campus last Monday
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) launched an exhibition of its student clubs' activities last Monday. Organised by UBD's Students' Association, the exhibition consisted of 40 clubs and student bodies, where booths were set up.
Performances and workshops were also organised by some of the participating clubs during the event.
Chairperson of the event, Ak Muhd Nur Azmi Pg Hj Safri, who is also the head of Media and Public Relations at the Student Representatives Council, said the showcase served as a platform for UBD students to share knowledge with one another.
The exhibition, he said, will showcase arts and culture, leadership, religious and spiritual, social services as well as sports and recreation from UBD students. Present as guest of honour during the launching ceremony was Dean of Students from the Student Affairs Section Ahmad Faisal Hj Zainal.
Held at the Taman Rakis, Central Lecture Theatre (CLT) and CLT Foyer, the exhibition will run for three days starting from 9am to 4pm. The exhibition is held every year to UBD students to participate in extra-curricular activities. Text courtesy of Waqiuddin Rajak of The Brunei Times and images courtesy of UBD's Students' Association.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be their final day. Do check them out. You can also check out their PMUBD wordpress here.
Ak Muhd Nur Azmi Pg Hj Safri the chairperson of the event saying a few words
Launching the event
Guest of honour touring around the booths
With a favorable response from last year's Golden Wrap promotion, KFC is once again bringing the promotion back this Chinese New Year with a new flavor. This time, a featured New Orleans flavor with a blend of South American herbs and spices.
KFC Golden Wrap Chicken consists of New Orleans marinated 2 pieces chicken on a bed of juicy, mouth-watering, sliced button mushrooms wrapped in a special paper, then cooked to perfection. The Golden Wrap chicken goes well with the delicious butterscotch bun and KFC's favourite sides. So if you remember last year, the quarter chicken was served for the Golden Wrap Chicken. The other difference you can tell is that it's less spicier than last year's. I had a food review this noon and I do like the taste of it and it goes well with the mushroom.
The KFC Golden Wrap combo includes one Golden Wrap chicken which consists two pieces of chicken and a Revive drink, and it is priced at B$6.90. Customers have the option for an add-on of a butterscotch bun and a regular whipped potato; or a bowl of rice for only B$1.00. For the group dine-in, the feast comes with 3 Golden Wrap chicken, 3 butterscotch buns, a large whipped potato and coleslaw, a large fun fries and a bottle of 1.5L Revive, which only cost B$27.90.
In conjunction with the celebration of the Chinese New Year, KFC is also introducing the celebration bucket for families to share and enjoy the moment. The Combo A includes 2 Golden Wrap chicken, 5 pieces of chicken, a large whipped potato, a fun fries and a bottle of 1.5L Revive, at B$27.90. While Combo B has 3 golden wrap chickens, 9 pieces of chicken, a large whipped potato and coleslaw, a large fun fries and a bottle of 1.5L revive which cost B$44.50.
Additionally, KFC Brunei is also introduced their limited edition Doraemon plush toys in this season. There are another 3 designs, Chinese New Year, Valentines, and Kadazan, followed by the last season which is Christmas, Hari Raya, and Deepavali. For those who like to do collection, don't miss out the opportunity to collect them all!
The KFC Golden Wrap chicken is now available at all KFC outlets in Brunei.
Double promotion at KFC - Golden Wrap Chicken and Doraemon plush toys
The KFC Golden Wrap Chicken
2 pieces marinated (with New Orleans flavour) chicken on a bed of juicy, mouth-watering, sliced button mushrooms
Coey Loh, Marketing Executive of KFC, assisting the media today
Aziz Idris holding a Doraemon plush toy
Ak Fairol holding a Doraemon plush toy
Muiz holding a Doraemon plush toy
Doraemon plush toys now available at KFC
You can have a takeaway Yee Sang from Dynasty Restaurant or Emperor's Court
It's almost Chinese New Year and you will see many cafes and restaurants running food promotion. This year Royal Brunei Catering (RBC) Sdn Bhd are having their own special promotion. This year, Emperor's Court and Dynasty Restaurant, are having special dishes and ala carte for their patrons. Chinese New Year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday celebrated in the Chinese calendar. Though celebrations are slightly muted in Brunei, it's a good thing that food promotion are not affected.
Of course, the highlight of the dishes will be the Prosperity Yee Sang with your choice of Abalone, Pacific Clam, Shredded Roast Duck and Jelly Fish, Salmon or Vegetarian. One complimentary glass plate will be presented in a gift box for those taking away orders on the Prosperity Yee Sang promotion.
The prices starts from BND 28 for medium and BND 48 for large and it goes up to $98 for medium and $148 for large. Do check out the poster below on the prices and menu for the Yee Sang. If you are dining in, the prices for the set dinner starts at $398, $498 and $598. This promotion will be available until the 14th February 2014.
Presentation of the Prosperity Yee Sang at RBC
I had my first taste of the year last week :D
Now you can takeaway the Yee Sang and it comes in different sizes and you will also get a complimentary glass plate. Check poster for the prices.
Connie demoing how it will looked like once it's packed in a box. Easy to carry and ideal for gifts for friends or families.
Our advanced Yee Sang lunch
Emperor and Dynasty will also be offering Chinese New Year 'Set Menus'. There will also be New Year A La Carte and Dim Sum menu during the promotion, on January 25 to February 14 this year. The New Year A La Carte will be available from 9am to 2pm and 6pm to 10pm. The Dim Sum Special will be from 9am to 2pm. One dish that I am super craving for is Golden Fried Salted Egg Yolk Bun *yum, yum* This dish is from the dim sum menu and there's also the bamboo charcoal Har Kau (interesting colour and taste).
Promotional ala carte dishes at Dynasty Restaurant and Emperor's Court
All eyes on the food :D
Golden Fried Salted Egg Yolk Bun - my favourite dish, period!!
Bamboo charcoal Har Kau
RBC also welcomes patrons to enjoy their CNY at The Airport Restaurant and Coffee Shop where they will be offering the public 'Prosperity' buffet dinner which takes place on January 30 to February 1 from 7pm to 10pm. The carvery station will host the Roast Lamb with choices of three sauces.
For seafood cravers, Seasons Restaurant is bringing you 'Seafood Nite' buffet dinner on January 30 to February 1 from 7pm to 10pm. A selection of food and colourful desserts are on display ready to be indulged on.
For Baiduri Bank, HSBC and Standard Chartered credit card holders, special discounts are applicable to these promotions with terms and conditions. RBC Dining Privilege Card members will get a 10 per cent discount upon presenting the card.
Lunar Year or CNY is the main traditional Chinese holiday in the Chinese calendar celebrated from the first day of the New Year until the day of the Lantern Festival the 15th day of the month. CNY is popularly known as 'Spring Festival' in China and it is the longest festival in the Chinese calendar.
You can call Emperor's Court 233 2880 or Dynasty Restaurant 243 0185 or you can reach Connie 867 9350.
For the Prosperity buffet dinner, you can call 233 9207 The Airport Restaurant and Coffee Shop and for Seafood Nite, you can call 242 2291 at Seasons Restaurant.
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Peugeot Prosperity drive is back!! And they are giving away iPhone 5s and iPad minis on select Peugeot models. Click image to enter Facebook page.
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I had the privilege to be invited for Leonard and Jackie's wedding two weeks ago. Well, I missed the first reception since I was outstation and attended their second reception. I'm quite impressed with the reception as well as the entertainment value they had that night. Kudos to the wedding planner and you guys look stunning too. Great job by the performers from SMSS and SMSIS. I love the performances especially the black theatre one. Super touching :D I wish the newly weds the best in your new journey and thanks for hosting me lunch the other. I deeply appreciate your kind gesture.
How the journey began
Welcoming the wedding couple
The dancers are pretty energetic
The traditional chinese "Yam Seng" but not to worry, the drinks here are non-alcoholic
Toast to a prosperous marriage
As you know Leonard is into sports while Jackie is into fashion
Hi Jackie, sorry, I forgot to reply your text about CB last night :p
Their nephews were pretty sporting
One of the highlights of the night
Leonard and Jackie thanking those involved in the preparation
They hired great videographers and they deliver pretty efficiently
Photo session with Jackie
PMUBD Showcase @ Campus at the CLT Foyer & Taman Rakis. Tomorrow's the final day at UBD
Daft Punk's Random Access Memories won Best Album of the Year
I'm pretty happy that Daft Punk won the Grammy last night. I'm a big fan of their music ever since the 90s and still amazes me that they are still around and more successful than before. Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo consisting of musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. You will normally see them dressed as robots in events and gigs. It was no surprised that both of them appeared in their robot helmet attire, living up to their reputation.
Daft Punk won 5 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year for Random Access Memories and Record of the Year - Get Lucky. I enjoyed the other performances too during the Grammy. You can check out Daft Punk's performance here at the Grammy Awards featuring Pharrell and the legendary Stevie Wonder. Perhaps this was the best performance of the night followed by Imaging Dragons & Kendrick Lamar's performance.
So if you haven't downloaded Get Lucky, please do. It's pretty catchy and it's also featured in this year's Just Dance 2014 game on the PS3/4. Awesome!!
The worst booking in a long time when WWE allowed Batista to win the Royal Rumble and he looked our of sorts even entering at No.27. Appalling indeed by WWE.
I was simply appalled by the product delivered by WWE for yesterday's Royal Rumble. Yea, you guys can laugh at me for actually talking about the sports entertainment (in other words, wrestling is fake) but I feel in love with the sports ever since Hulk Hogan was in his prime in the late 80s. Royal Rumble has always been an above average Pay-Per-View and I'm thankful that Kristal Astro have this PPV in their box office. However, the overall experience wasn't that great because of a number of things. One is the missing link in the actual 30-man Royal Rumble which was Daniel Bryan who can draw huge attention from the crowd. However, he was snubbed and booked in singles match instead.
Secondly, I was pretty tired of the John Cena vs Randy Orton feud. The match was not bad actually but I was kinda tired watching them. And guess what? The crowd showed their dissatisfaction by booing during the match and I could hear loud chants "boring" to "this is awful" and even "end this match". Wow, this was very interesting coming from the crowd of Pittsburgh and this looked very bad for WWE when you see the fans of wrestling booing their own favourite show.
I guess the one that had the icing on the cake (being sarcastic here) was the actual Royal Rumble match. How in the world Batista won the Royal Rumble? Why did WWE risk in giving him that spot? He returned to wrestling after many years of absence and my oh my, he looked pretty rusty indeed. The saddest part of Daniel Bryan missing from this event and the crowd chants just went negative and booing on Rey Mysterio who was the 30th entrant with no sign of Daniel Bryan. This was definitely an embarrassing moment for WWE and I do hope WWE can rectify this problem before the fans take actions with their own hands.
Roman Reigns deserved this for his new record setting of eliminating 13 wrestlers but he got dumped by Batista
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Leon Hiebert was pastor of Andover Assembly of God (Generations Church A/G) from 1989 to 2009. He is a Viet Nam veteran who spent 10 years in the US Navy most of the time as a corpsman serving with the Marine Corps. A native of Belleville, Kan., Hiebert is semi retired and lives in Andover with his wife, Sharon. He is a school bus driver for USD 385, Andover, Kansas.
Scripture: Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Observation: If I call Jesus Lord, then I am also claiming that I am his servant. And if I am his servant, then my goal is to please Him!
Application: Ira Stanphill's song says, "I don't know about tomorrow…" I am finding that many times I do not even know about today! But one thing remains constant; I want to please my Lord. If the day is boring, or full of surprises; if everything goes as planned, or nothing works as planned, I want to please Him!
Prayer: Lord, the end of the song says "I know who holds tomorrow." I am glad I know You hold today! Amen
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!


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- Feb 13:
- Mercury News editorial: Obama's State of the Union sets a solid reform agenda
- FACT CHECK: Overreaching in State of Union speech
- Feb 12:
- State of the Union 2013: Analysis: President Obama isn't in the mood for compromise with GOP in Congress
- Mercury News editorial: Obama's State of the Union strikes chord with gun regulation
- Apple mentioned during Obama's State of the Union speech
- State of the Union 2013: Obama: Nation stronger, GOP should back his plans
- Feb 11:
- Apple CEO to sit with first lady during State of the Union
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address included an impromptu water break to quench his thirst.
Rubio appeared to wipe away sweat during his rebuttal from the Speaker's conference room in the U.S. Capitol shortly after Obama's address. At one point, Rubio reached out with his left hand and took a quick swig of water from a small Poland Spring water bottle.
The brief sip of water lit up social media outlets such as Twitter, with people commenting on Rubio's thirst.
Garrett Jackson, Mitt Romney's personal aide during his 2012 presidential bid, tweeted that he "would have had that water bottle closer, had it been the Gov. Haha. Marco needs an aide."
Rubio tweeted a photo of the water bottle.


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$1 million order for xG Technology
Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 8:44 p.m.
SARASOTA - Wireless communication developer xG Technology Inc. announced Tuesday that it has received a $1.03 million order from a Texas firm that plans to offer wireless voice and broadband services in Oklahoma.
Phone and Internet service to be offered in
Assist Wireless LLC, of Fort Worth, Texas, becomes the latest rural telecommunications carrier to deploy xG's xMax technology.
In 2012, the Sarasota-based xG received orders for about $20 million for military applications here and abroad and from rural carriers, among others.
In all, the purchase brings the total announced backlog of orders and reseller agreements for xMax equipment and services to over $30.6 million, officials said.
"We are pleased to see xMax being adopted by a growing number of (Competetive Local Exchange Carriers) and independent telco operators who do not own licensed spectrum but understand the importance of offering wireless Internet-based services to their customers," Chris Whiteley, xG's vice president of business development, said in a statement.
Assist Wireless operates in Arkansas, Maryland and Oklahoma, with expansions planned for 10 other states, including California, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas.
The company offers subsidized wireless service for low-income subscribers through a federally mandated assistance program.
"We view xMax cognitive radio technology as a new way to grow our existing business, diversifying into new areas such as municipal mobile broadband, schools, hospitals and first responder applications," said Byron Young, Assist Wireless' CEO.
"The xMax system offers us a low-cost, carrier-grade solution for deploying new internet-based services that our customers want, without requiring access to cost-prohibitive licensed spectrum."
XG's technology can provide broadband service in rural areas via networks created without massive infrastructure, using Federal Communications Commission bands made available for cordless phones.
XG is expected to deliver the xMax equipment to Assist Wireless in the second quarter of this year.
This story appeared in print on page D1
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research
1a.Objectives (from AD-416):
The main objective of this project is to develop a stock of honey bees that have increased resistance to parasitic mites as well as being good honey producers. The specific objectives are:.1)to identify population of Apis mellifera syriaca that are mite-resistant and possess good beekeeping traits,.2)to compare A. m. syriaca with the mite-resistant ARS Primorsky (Russian) honey bees from the United States,.3)to develop A. m. syriaca x Russian mite-resistant honey bee hybrids, and.4)to determine mechanisms of resistance.
1b.Approach (from AD-416):
The project will serve as an additional testing for the Russian honey bees outside the United States.
3.Progress Report:


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About the Book
The Red Diary, an erotic tale from rising romance star Toni Blake, takes readers on a sensual adventure in a story of seductive retribution.
Lauren Ash keeps a private journal filled with her deepest, most intimate sexual fantasies... When house painter Nick Armstrong finds it, he plans to use the red-hot content to break Lauren's heart—a proper revenge for the wrongs his family suffered at the hands of Lauren's father so many years ago.
Racy and fun, intimate and touching, The Red Diary features rich, compelling characters and a suspenseful, passionate escapade that you won't want to put down.
Sun, sand, and one woman's private fantasies recorded in a seductive red book . . .
Prim and proper Lauren Ash has a secret side no one else sees: she records her sexual fantasies, in intimate detail, in a very personal book meant for her eyes only.
When hired hand Nick Armstrong finds the red diary, he's shocked . . . and aroused. Never before has he come across anything so private—or so sensual. And, given the way the Ash family has hurt his, he soon begins to see this as a potent weapon for righting an old wrong. Wouldn't it serve the haughty Lauren right if he used her own fantasies to seduce her, make her fall in love, and then break her heart?
But there's much more to Lauren than Nick expects, and before he quite realizes it, he's opening himself—and his heart—to her. Can Nick let go of the past and surrender to Lauren, body and soul?
Educator and Librarian Resources
Critical Praise
"Toni Blake is a star on the rise! Her books are sexy and full of heart!" — NYT Bestselling author Teresa Medeiros
"Toni Blake writes wonderful books!" — NYT bestselling author Jennifer Crusie
"Toni Blake writes the kind of book I want to read!" — NYT bestselling author Elizabeth Bevarly
"One hot story" — Romantic Times BOOKclub praise for THE RED DIARY
"A book you will not want to put down…Nick and Lauren's encounters scorch the pages…an evocative and touching novel that will clog your throat with emotion even as it simmers through your blood." — A Romance Review, 5 Roses, praise for THE RED DIARY
"Heart-stopping sensuality! A sexy, compelling romance you'll want to savor!" — bestselling author Lori Foster
Product Details
- Imprint: Avon
- On Sale: 01/29/2013
- Trimsize: 4.188 in (w) x 6.75 in (h) x 0.96 in (d)
- Pages: 384
- List Price: 7.99 USD
- BISAC1: FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
- BISAC2: FICTION / Romance / General


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Tottenham Hotspur Message Board
Silverware or league position...
AVB has made no secret of both his desire to win the EPL and to also do well in the Europa. That's fine. But what would you class as being acceptable this year?
Personally, I'd rather have a push for the league position than pushing to win the Europa, on the simple assumption that 4th or above will get CL (and the Europa doesn't pay that much - what £6m to win?).
If AVB can get Europa silverware AND 4th or above then I'd be over the moon.
I can understand AVB wanting some success in his first year to 'cement' and maybe justify his appointment, but for me, he doesn't have to do it all in the first year. I'd be quite happy to see him bed in his system, produce good football, and start moving up the league. I wonder what targets the board have set?Sort: Newest | Oldest | Most Replied Expand all replies
I would go for trophies every time, and Im sure most clubs fans would. It is good to finish in top 4 and play CL because its glamour, but realistically only one of the top clubs are likely to win it, so we end up with nothing as fans except to say we were in it, whereas the club makes a lot of money, but not enough to compete with the Arabs, Russians. Take the Arse as an example, 15 years on the trot of CL football, but no trophy for a long time, are their fans happy? but I bet their shareholders are. Any trophy guarrantees european football, and its only the profile and money that makes the CL so glamourous, but the europa league has some great names in it, and is nearly just as difficult to win IMO.
- 1 Reply to john
For me its the other way. I know no one remembers you as a 4th place team and if you only get to the group stage of the CL, but I like to see us pitted against the so called best teams. It seems like a way of judging how far we've come (or not as the case may be).


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The KBE-498V28-20U from Bosch is a outdoor prepackaged camera, 1/3-Inch Day/Night, 2.8-10MM Lens, 24VAC, 60HZ, UTP. The KBE Series Prepackaged Cameras are complete surveillance systems that include a camera and lens installed and pre-wired into a Bosch housing which includes a feed-through wall-mount. All packages feature Bosch's signature line of Dinion, DinionXF, or Dinion 2X cameras. Each package offers choices of a varifocal lens to fit a wide range of surveillance applications. Outdoor models are enclosed in a Bosch housing with an IP66 enclosure rating. The Dinion Series cameras deliver unsurpassed pictures under even the most difficult light and scene conditions. The 20-bit digital signal processing found in the Dinion 2X Day/Night camera series enhances sensitivity; the 2X Dynamic extends the dynamic range. This unique combination provides a sharper, more detailed image with outstanding accuracy in color reproduction even under harsh light conditions.
Dinion IP network cameras are designed to ensure the highest possible image quality at all times, providing DVDlike, high-quality MPEG-4 video, at up to 30 images per second. Dinion IP is a true hybrid camera with both Ethernet and BNC connections for network and analog video. Each camera is equipped with Bosch's innovative Bilinx bidirectional communication for remote programming. Bilinx uses standard video cable to transmit alarm and status messages, providing superior performance and simplified installation. The true advantage of the Bosch prepackaged cameras lie with the plug-and-play design. Installation is quick and easy, since these units include a factory-installed camera and lens with adjusted back-focus - all of which are pre-wired through the housing base. Coax and power cable (1 1/2 m or 5 ft) are fed through the included mount to the connection point.
- General purpose, high performance, and Day/Night cameras
- Network and analog cameras
- Various lens options available
- Bilinx bi-directional communication
- Outdoor versions (Outdoor IP66 enclosure rating)
- Camera and lens are pre-wired into a Bosch housing
- Plug and Play design includes feed through mount and 1.5 m (5 ft) of cabling
- Coax, Fiber, UTP, and IP outputs
Found a lower price? Complete this simple form:
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DOE Selects Missouri Cooperative as Wind Cooperative of the Year
March 16, 2007
DOE, in partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the Cooperative Research Network, announced on March 16th that they have selected the Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) of Springfield, Missouri, as the recipient of the 2006 Wind Cooperative of the Year Award. The award, presented at the NRECA's TechAdvantage 2007 Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, recognizes AECI for leadership, demonstrated success, and innovation in its wind power program. AECI is the first to bring utility-scale wind power to Missouri through its three 50-megawatt wind projects, which are expected to be operational by the end of 2007. The cooperative serves six generation and transmission cooperatives and 51 electric distribution cooperatives in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa.
Also recognized at the conference was the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, which has 990 kilowatts of installed wind power capacity, spread across 52 generating facilities that serve 52 small native villages in rural western Alaska. See the DOE press release, the AECI Web site, and the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative Web site.


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TripAdvisor ratingRead reviews
DoubleTree by Hilton London Westminster
Boasting stunning views of the River Thames and a bright contemporary environment. With easy access to the TATE Britain, London Eye and Houses of Parliament.
Based in central London, DoubleTree by Hilton London Westminster enjoys an outstanding location and provides guests with easy access to the best theatres and shopping districts.
The hotel believes in providing guests with a modern environment in which to relax, work or entertain. Each of the guest rooms are designed not only as bedrooms, but a fresh living space where guests can work or simply relax.
Attention to detail ensures comfort at every level with floor-to-ceiling windows, fresh air-conditioning, soundproofing, walk-in power shower, luxury bathrobes and toiletries.
The hotel combines a state of the art iMac entertainment system, with Sky channels, complimentary films, music and WiFi available throughout the hotel.
The hotel also offers the very best in modern British dining, in the critically acclaimed City Cafe restaurant, which has an alfresco terrace.
With easy transport links, DoubleTree by Hilton London Westminster is the perfect location from which to discover London.
Accommodation details
Address:30 John Islip Street
Victoria and Westminster
United Kingdom
Check-in Details:
Room types and facilities
Sleeps 2, Bed Type: Queen(s) In Room Movies, Bathtub/shower combination, Private bathroom, Satellite television, Separate Shower, Air conditioning, Separate Bath, Minibar, Television
Sleeps 2, Bed Type: Queen(s) In Room Movies, Private bathroom, Trouser/Pant press, Separate Shower, Air conditioning, Minibar, Television
General facilities
- Coffee shop
- Elevators
- Exercise gym
- Non-smoking rooms (generic)
- Internet services
- Off-Site parking
- Hair dryer
- On-Site parking
- Dry cleaning
- Safe deposit box
- Complimentary in-room coffee or tea
- Ironing board
- Laundry/Valet service
- Room service
- 1 Lounges/bars
- 1 Restaurant
Dining information
City Cafe - award-winning European cuisine.
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"Nice" (E840)
"I love this Warm up. My whole soccer team got them, and they love them as well. Highly rain resistant, and super warm to boot! Highly recommend." (E18684)
"Very nice padding on top to sit on. Easy to carry. Holds all of my things needed for coaching" (E5353)
Epic Sports
XD Fitness & Sports Training Hurdle Carry Straps [E54271]


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OAKLAND -- The gravity of the situation set in as James Roda's friends drove to Highland Hospital early Saturday. They rounded Lake Merritt Boulevard, where they saw a woman outside a Mercedes, surrounded by police.
"It was a really stirring image," Alex Riddle said. "The windshield was completely smashed."
Police were arresting Meghan Zato, a 26-year-old law student accused of striking Roda, a 25-year-old Oakland resident, with the car as she tried to run down a group of vandals; the cracks in the windshield had been caused by Roda's head.
Minutes earlier, Roda was leaving the Ruby Room, a dimly lit bar at the edge of Lake Merritt, and crossing 14th Street when Zato smashed into him, knocking him about 100 feet, police said.
Zato, who earlier was kicked out of the bar, had her sights set on a group of graffiti vandals who attacked her after she confronted them for tagging a wall near the steps of the Oakland Public Library, according to police. Driving on the wrong side of the road, she instead hit Roda, whom she mistook for one of the vandals.
Roda, an innocent bystander, suffered severe head injuries and brain swelling and is now in a medically induced coma in the intensive care unit at Highland. The effects of the collision -- which may include paralysis, brain damage or memory loss -- may not be fully realized until he wakes up, which could take several weeks.
His father, Jeff, said surgeons removed a portion of his son's skull to relieve swelling. James Roda is unable to move his right side, his father said.
"If there's a miracle, that would be great," said Jeff Roda, 60, who lives in Oregon. "It's difficult to see him lying there. He doesn't have a scratch on him beside this. He didn't break a bone, didn't get cut. He looks completely normal, except ..."
Riddle has been among a steady stream of friends and family visiting James Roda daily in the hospital.
"We are all trying to stay strong and be there if anything changes," said Riddle, 24, of Berkeley. "We want him to feel our presence."
Roda, a Berkeley native who turns 26 on Saturday, took steps in the past month to turn his passion for cooking into a career, visiting culinary schools in San Francisco. He is a cook at The Original Red Onion in Alameda and has worked part-time recently at 3000 Broadway, where he worked with Riddle.
Roda's friends have set up a website to take donations to help cover his medical bills at https://www.wepay.com/donations/help-support-james.
Zato, a student at Hastings College of the Law, was charged this week with assault with a deadly weapon with an enhancement clause of causing great bodily injury and felony leaving the scene of an accident. She also could face a DUI charge once the results of a blood test are known, according to police. Zato is free on bail and returns to court Friday for a 9 a.m. bail hearing.
Her lawyer said Tuesday that he thinks Roda was associated with the vandals despite what police say, then added that his client did not intend to harm anyone.
The fact that Zato is free on bail saddened Roda's second cousin, 58-year-old Janet Windesheim, of North Berkeley.
"He is just loved. He's just a gentle, good kid," she said. "Poor James is lying there and she's out."
David DeBolt covers breaking news. Contact him at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.
Friends and family of Roda have set up a fund for people to help James Roda cover his medical bills. Donation jars have been placed at The Original Red Onion, 1222 Park St. in Alameda, and Ruby Room 132 14th St. in Oakland. People can also donate by visiting https://www.wepay.com/donations/help-support-james.


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Submitted to: National Egg Products School Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: September 22, 2005
Publication Date: November 7, 2005
Citation: Jones, D.R. 2005. The role of egg products in crystallization. National Egg Products School Proceedings. Technical Abstract: Crystallization in a food product can be either beneficial or detrimental. Sugar, salt, lactose, tartaric acid and ice are examples of constituents than can crystallize in foods. Crystallization is of particular importance in candy and frozen desserts. The most common crystal in foods is sugar. This is of particular concern in the candy industry. Grape juice and wine manufacturers have some concern with tartaric acid crystallization. Lactose crystallization can be detrimental in nonfat dry milk. If the crystal reaches a certain state, it will make the dried milk difficult to disperse. Lactose crystals can also form in frozen dairy products if the amount of milk solids is too great. This can lead to a gritty texture. Another common food crystal is salt. There is a vast market for various size and textures of salt. What role do eggs perform in food crystal formation? Previous discussions have focused on the foaming and emulsification properties of eggs and egg products. Both of these also factor into food crystal formation. In this discussion, we will examine the role eggs play in food crystal formation in both confections and frozen desserts. In candy-making, eggs can contribute to air incorporation, water binding, and product structure. The major role for eggs in the candy matrix is to control sugar crystal growth. Fat and protein helps to reduce the size and number of sugar crystals that form in the candy by interfering with the orientation of the sucrose molecules. Eggs can provide either or both fat and protein in the candy matrix. Examples of crystalline candies would include: fudge, fondant, rock candy and divinity. Divinity candy is a special case for crystalline candies because the sugar crystals are dispersed in a foam. Albumen serves to not only disrupt crystal formation, but serves as a foaming agent helping to give divinity its distinctive texture. The small sugar crystal size and foam texture also serve to enhance the melting quality of the product in the mouth. Too little albumen would lead to a more dense, coarser texture due to the presence of larger sugar crystals and denser foam. The addition of too much albumen could lead to a "chalky" texture due to excessive foam formation for the sucrose syrup. One of the most common frozen desserts to contain eggs is ice cream. The first wholesale ice cream industry in the U.S. developed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1851. Egg yolks are the predominant portion of the egg found in ice creams. Egg yolk is the traditional emulsifier for ice cream. In 1949, Romanoff and Romanoff listed the following egg products as acceptable ice cream ingredients: dried yolks, dried whole egg, frozen yolks, frozen whole eggs, and fresh whole eggs. Also in this book is the following table depicting average percentage of egg solids found in different types of ice creams: Content of egg solids (%) Average commercial brand 0.25-0.50 Vienna ice cream 0.60-1.24 Neapolitan (New York) ice cream 1.42-2.90 With the current standards of identity, these percentages are not allowable, but it is interesting to see how the product has developed over time. The Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services has standards of identity for ice cream published in 21 CFR part 135. It states: "…Except in the case of frozen custard, ice cream contains less than 1.4 percent egg yolk solids by weight of the food, exclusive of the weight of any bulky flavoring ingredients used. Frozen custard shall contain 1.4 percent egg yolk solids by weight of the finished food: Provided, however, That when bulky flavors are added the egg yolk solids content of frozen custard may be reduced in proportion to the amount by weight of the bulky flavors added, but in no case is the content of egg yolk solids in the finished food less than 1.12 percent. A product containing egg yolk solids in excess of 1.4 percent, the maximum set forth in this paragraph for ice cream, may be marketed if labeled as specified by paragraph (e)(1) of this section." In further paragraphs, it states "(f) Nomenclature. (1) The name of the food is "ice cream"; except that when the egg yolk solids content of the food is in excess of that specified for ice cream paragraph (a) of this section the name of the food is "frozen custard" or "french ice cream" or "french custard ice cream"." Eggs serve many functions in frozen desserts. Eggs impart flavor to frozen desserts, especially frozen custards where they help to add "richness" to the flavor profile. They also improve the whipping ability and fat structure formation in the ice cream mix. From previous discussions on the emulsification ability of egg yolk, it is no surprise that yolks play this role in ice cream. Egg yolks are particularly desirable as an ingredient in ice cream mixes that do not contain added emulsifiers. The viscosity of the ice cream mix is increased when egg yolks are added. Increases in mix viscosity can aid in transportation within the processing plant (pump-ability), pasteurization (thermal conductivity), and final product texture. Eggs are generally added to frozen dessert mixes before pasteurization. The primary role of egg products in frozen desserts is to enhance the textural properties (mouth feel) of the product. The lecithin present in the yolk aids in emulsification. This is achieved by forming a film around fat globules in the ice cream mixture therefore allowing these globules to more readily adhere to other solids present in the mixture. The clumping of fat globules is therefore decreased which allows the whipability of the mixture to be improved. A table found in Romanoff and Romanoff (1949) presents the following information on the whipping time of ice cream mix with and without yolk: Whipping time (minutes) None 13 Sugared frozen yolk 9 Dried yolk 6 The increased interaction of the lecithin-fat globule complex with other solids present in the ice cream mixture leads to the increase in mixture viscosity. This increased interaction also suppresses ice crystal formation which leads to a smoother texture in the final product. Large ice crystal formation appears to be suppressed due to the interaction of the lecithin complex with other solids, thereby interfering with the formation of large ice crystals. A complete understanding of large ice crystal suppression currently can not be attained due to the nature of the freezing process and the instability of the product for laboratory testing once frozen. The formation of smaller ice crystals during freezing leads to a smoother, creamier frozen product. The presence of small ice crystals also enhances the mouth feel properties as the product begins to melt in the mouth. A sense of "grittiness" is less notable. There are negative factors to consider when adding egg yolks to frozen desserts. Eggs are high in food value which in turn makes them an expensive ingredient. There is the advantage of being able to market the product as "all natural", "premium", etc. In general, the use of egg yolk in frozen desserts presents a desirable, clean and pleasant flavor. Overuse of egg yolks in ice cream can lead to undesirable flavor notes. Egg products can also develop off-flavors similar to milk products during improper storage. This occurs due to the oxidized and lipolyzed flavor compounds that develop. Also, as the product melts, greater foaming is noted in ice cream that contains egg products. Egg products can be utilized to control crystallization in a diverse realm of food products. Albumen and egg yolk can aid in the control of sugar crystal formation in candies. Egg yolk can enhance the textural properties and aid in the control of large ice crystal formation in frozen desserts. In many cases, the food products that contain eggs are marketed as "premium" quality. This classification can be due to both the enhanced physical and nutritional quality of the prod


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The Israeli military said about 500 Palestinians threw rocks and rolled burning tires at soldiers who responded with tear gas during the main rally outside Ofer prison in the West Bank. The protesters called for the release of Samer Issawi, who has been on an on-again, off-again hunger strike for several months as he serves time for alleged terror activity.
Protests spread to several other West Bank flashpoints which turned violent as well. Palestinian medics said they treated dozens of people for tear gas inhalation and minor wounds sustained from rubber bullets.
The prisoner issue is an emotional one for Palestinians after decades of conflict with Israel. Palestinians generally view them as heroes, regardless of the reason for their imprisonment—even when their crimes have involved killing civilians. Last year hundreds of Palestinian prisoners used hunger strikes to seek concessions from Israel.
Issawi, 35, was initially released in 2011 in a prisoner exchange. One Israeli soldier was freed from captivity in Gaza in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were convicted of being involved in suicide bombings and other deadly attacks.
Some prisoners, like Issawi, were released on condition of travel limits.
Issawi is under medical supervision and eats periodically, she said.
Issawi's sister, Shirin, said he has been on hunger strike for 206 days. She said he has only been drinking water since January.
The Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs, Issa Qaraqe, said Issawi began his fast in August and has been observing it intermittently.
Qaraqe said Issawi had lost 35 kilograms (about 77 pounds), has kidney pain and has lost feeling in parts of the right side of his body.
He said there are four prisoners on hunger strike.
Human rights groups have warned of their worsening health.
"If, God forbid, any prisoner dies of hunger strike inside the prison, the situation on the ground will deteriorate," Qaraqe said. "People won't stand for any prisoner to die of a hunger strike."
Mideast envoy Tony Blair issued a statement expressing concern for the prisoner's health.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made an unannounced visit to a separate demonstration for prisoners near Ramallah. He said the prisoner issue would top his agenda in meetings with President Barack Obama, who is expected to visit the region next month.
Last year, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners won multiple concessions from Israel after going on hunger strikes—some that lasted weeks.
Last week, a Gaza man who carried out the longest-ever hunger strike by a Palestinian prisoner returned home. Akram Rikhawi ended his 103-day hunger strike last July in exchange for Israel's pledged to release him five months earlier than his scheduled release in June.
Rikhawi, 40, served a nine-year sentence for transporting suicide bombers.


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Showtime has always maintained that its Jonathan Rhys-Meyers starrer The Tudors isn't your father's stuffy historical drama, but the new ad campaign suggests maybe it is, if your father is into gay gladiator porn.
This first look at the Season 3 ad campaign comes courtesy of self-regarding Mario Lopez rival Nick Adams, who body-doubled for three of the nude, prone Chelsea boys that the time-traveling Henry VIII has seemingly conquered. There is certainly a Henry VIII/head joke to be made here, but we will demur (no doubt Showtime—with its double entendre of a tagline "Thy Kingdom Come"—will make it for us). Way to retain that Queer as Folk audience, Showtime!
- The Tudors [Nick Adams]


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OAKLAND -- The Bishop O'Dowd High girls basketball team is still holding out hope that it will have the chance to defend its Open Division state championship, but the Dragons' prospects don't look promising.
O'Dowd was disqualified from the North Coast Section playoffs after it was discovered that the Dragons had played 27 games, one more than the section allows. In a statement, the school said that it "failed to designate one of our contacts as a scrimmage."
O'Dowd athletic director Mike Bowler met with North Coast Section commissioner Gil Lemmon on Monday to determine if the Dragons might still be eligible for the Northern California Open Division regional playoffs. Bowler will contact Lemmon for an update on Tuesday, according to Carlos Arriaga, O'Dowd's associate athletic director.
A possible loophole in the CIF Open Division criteria may be the Dragons' last hope. There are four ways to qualify for the Open Division and only three mention the section playoffs. The final criterion, and one that O'Dowd satisfies, states, "A school was ranked in the Top Ten of Cal Hi Basketball, Cal Preps and/or MaxPreps Rankings (early March) the past two years (current year and previous year)."
But on Monday morning, a spokesperson for the California Interscholastic Federation, which runs the regional and state championships, said a team must participate in its section playoffs in order to advance to the regional playoffs.
"If a team can't qualify for its section tournament, it can't qualify for the state tournament because (the state tournament) is an extension of the section tournament," the CIF spokesperson said.
If O'Dowd is denied a spot in the regional playoffs, it's likely that the NCS will send Salesian, St. Mary's, Carondelet and Miramonte to the Open Division.
Before O'Dowd's disqualification, Miramonte appeared headed to the Division III state tournament unless it was able to beat O'Dowd in the NCS Division III finals. Each section can send a maximum of four teams to the Open Division.


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One man is dead and two people are wounded after a shooting in North Augusta. Tuesday afternoon investigators found the suspect's stolen car at the Sleep Inn near Highway 25 in North Augusta.
The man is described as a thin white male in his early 20's, with sandy blonde hair, brown eyes and about 5'4"-5'8".
The Sleep Inn is back open after investigators determined the suspect is not inside. Around 1:00pm Tuesday, investigators found the suspect's car by the Sleep Inn in North Augusta off Highway 25. A person who saw the car's description on the Midday News called it in to police. Meanwhile, the family of the man who died, Bill Powell, is looking to God to get them through this crime.
"This was a senseless thing. He would have given the guy the truck. He would have. It's senseless," said Mary Alice Powell.
Mary Alice Powell tries to understand why the man she was married to for 37 years was killed. Powell was shot at random while doing what he does most mornings, having a cup of coffee with friends.
"He just loved people. He loved going up to the Huddle House early in the morning and he was part of the board of directors quote on quote there with his friends," said Mary Alice said.
Investigators say as the sun rose, the gunman started his rampage. This composite drawing is what he may look like. Police believe the suspect was looking for a car. When 59-year-old Constance Davidson wouldn't give him hers at Burger King, police say he shot her in the back with a rifle. Investigators say the gunman then ran over to the Huddle House and shot Bill Powell in the face and his friend Reverend Earl Carter in the neck. Carter lived. Powell died at the scene.
"It's totally random, which makes this individual extremely dangerous," said Lee Wetherington, North Augusta Pubic Safety.
Police say the suspect then ran to the Bojangles next door and took a woman's car without hurting her.
Around 1:00 p.m., the stolen car was found at the Sleep Inn off Highway 25. Armed sheriff's officers and SLED members suited in bulletproof vests search each room inside. Outside, helicopters and bloodhounds search for the suspect in nearby woods.
Powell is survived by his wife Mary Alice and his daughter, Laura. Powell's funeral will be this Friday at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in North Augusta.


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Conflict Minerals
TTI Environmental
Initatives and Compliance
TTI is fully aware of U.S. Congress HR 4173, specifically with regard to section 1502-Conflict Minerals. We continue to monitor the ongoing SEC developments and are committed to helping our customers comply with all reporting requirements, where applicable.
To aid customers in determining the component manufacturer's Conflict Mineral position, TTI is providing links to our manufacturer's statements below:
Manufacturers have made it clear that their distributors are not authorized to provide this complex data to the end customer, as traditional component distribution activities are not within the scope of the bill's definition of reporting requirements. However, TTI realizes the importance of this initiative and fully supports its spirit. To assist our customers in their due diligence responsibilities, we have developed this program to compile and present our component manufacturer's positions.
Information from manufacturers is becoming more readily available. TTI continues our earnest efforts to facilitate the timely flow of information as it becomes available.
TTI's Statement on Conflict Minerals
Electronic Components Industry Association statement on Conflict Minerals
Supplier Conflict Minerals Statements
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Marketplace: Corporate Leap Frog
This lesson printed from:
Posted May 18, 2004
Standard: 9
Grades: 6-8, 9-12
Author: Cross-Curricular Connections
Posted: May 18, 2004
Updated: January 8, 2008
This lesson will focus on competition among sellers and the factors that can make one company more successful than another in the same market. Competition between K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Target will be examined to see what kinds of competition (price and non-price) can help one company "leap" ahead of another.
Advertising, Competition, Non-price Competition, Price
- Describe the competition among three major discount store chains: K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Target; and draw conclusions about how this competition, in part, led to K-Mart's bankruptcy in 2002.
- Identify examples of price and non-price competition among discount
store chains and how this competition influences consumer behavior.
- Evaluate companies' uses of the various price and non-price strategies on their web sites.
[Note to teacher: This lesson will discuss how competition, and K-Mart's difficulty competing with Wal-Mart and Target contributed, among other things, to K-mart's bankruptcy. Be prepared to discuss with students the fact that companies who file "Chapter 11 bankruptcy" (a specific type of bankruptcy, and the term students will hear in the audio clip) are often allowed to continue operation while they reorganize to try to salvage the company. K-Mart did this, and was able to come out of bankruptcy in July 2003.]
'Attention Shoppers!' Have you heard that before? Where? As consumers, we shop in a variety of stores and for a variety of reasons. This lesson will help students understand how businesses compete for their attention through non-price competition. Non-price competition is what companies do by appealing to consumers on a non-price basis for example, by emphasizing product quality, product design, customer service, variety, and advertising.
NPR's Marketplace Radio Segment - January 22, 2002: This radio segment discusses the factors that influenced K-Mart's decision to file for bankruptcy in early 2002.
Comparing Competitive Factors: students can use this interactive activity to organize their ideas.
K-Mart: Students will explore the web site of this retail chain to identify and evaluate examples of price and non-price competition examples.
Wal-Mart: Students will explore the web site of this retail chain to identify and evaluate examples of price and non-price competition examples.
Target: Students will explore the web site of this retail chain to identify and evaluate examples of price and non-price competition examples.
Kmart Comes Out of Bankruptcy: This article provides information on Kmart's struggle to come out of bankruptcy.
Kmart: Out of the Box?: This article talks about Kmart's accounting scandal.
Ames, Kmart hit comeback trail; for bankrupt retailers, the road to financial recovery will be long and arduous: This article provides information on the road to recovery for Kmart.
Explain that companies compete with one another all the time. Businesses that are similar to one another have to find ways to 'win' consumers in order to stay in business. Often this competition takes the form of lowering prices. But sometimes lowering prices is not enough. This lesson will help students to understand other forms of competition -- non-price competition. They will identify and comment on different forms of non-price competition as used by
Activity One:
Read the Marketplace segment from January 22, 2002.
- What do the people in this radio report think are the main causes of the K-Mart bankruptcy?
- Why did K-Mart have such a hard time competing with Target and Wal-Mart?
Activity Two:
How do companies that provide similar services or products compete with one another for customers? People interviewed in the story address some of the competitive strategies such companies use. K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Target are all discount retail chain stores. Each one depends on a variety of 'non-price' competitive strategies because as discount stores, their prices are already about as low as they can make them.
Here are some websites you might want to use:
Use this online tool to help you think through what competitors consider when they are designing their strategies. Each of these factors has different priority, depending upon the audience and the company. After each question, click the arrow to continue through all questions in the activity.
What do you think is the most important factor in choosing a store or product?[Answers will vary.]
Does the way a store look inside attract you more or less than the prices of the products?[Answers will vary.]
Is customer service an important factor to consider when you go into a store? Why or why not?[Answers will vary.]
Do you like a wide variety of products, or do you generally buy the same products when you shop?[Answers will vary.]
Are you influenced by advertising?[Answers will vary.]
- What kinds of advertising catch your attention?[Answers will vary.]
Activity Three:
Visit the web sites of each of the stores you are analyzing. Look for examples of the various price and non-price competitive factors and (price, quality, product design, variety, customer service, advertising) on the sites. Which chains seem to emphasize price more? Variety? Design/Quality? Have the students use this chart, Comparing Competitive Factors , to help organize their ideas.
When the students have completed the chart, have them pick one of the three companies to analyze in more depth. Considering each of the listed factors, they are to create a presentation to share with the class in which they highlight those factors they think that company uses effectively and those that could use some work. Ask the question: Why do you think your company uses one or two strategies more than the others?
Have students "Rate" each company's use of the non-price factors examined. For each factor, they are to assign a 1, 2, or 3 for each company's use of that factor. For example, they might decider K-mart does the best job of offering variety (1), Wal-Mart does the next best job (2), and Target needs to do a better job of that (3). When the students have completed your ratings, they will compare their answers with a partner to see where they agree or disagree.
Then, have the students write a one page summary of how companies can use price and non-price competitive factors to compete with other companies. Be sure they include specific factors examined during this lesson.
Have the students compare their results and predictions with information about company earnings for each of the three retail stores. Use the companies' corporate web information pages to determine earnings and stock prices. Look for evidence of various strategies and their relative successes:
Students will present their findings to the class. Have them discuss with one another which factors all of them found to be more or less important in choosing a store. Ask them if they agree with the radio assessment of K-Mart's quandary.
Which competitive factors do they think are most important in the discount retail business?
Activity One
K-Mart emerged from bankruptcy in 2003. Use the internet to do some research on the challenges K-Mart faced coming out of bankruptcy, and some of the strategies it employed for meeting them. Did K-Mart change its strategies? Did the other companies have to change theirs?
Use these web sites as starting points for your class research.
- Kmart Comes Out of Bankruptcy
- Kmart: Out of the Box?
- Ames, Kmart hit comeback trail; for bankrupt retailers, the road to financial recovery will be long and arduous
Activity Two
The retail industry is not the only one in which price and non-price competitive factors play an important role. Have students imagine that they are planning to enter the market. Have them pick two leading fast-food companies and visit their web sites.
Use this Fast Food Competition Chart to compare the strategies used. Be sure that students compare their answers with a classmate, and then work with that person to design a set of strategies that would be used to compete with both of the companies researched.


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Four arrested after find
Published 9:57 AM EST Mar 06, 2013
A police check on a sex offender led to an apparent marijuana trafficking operation in southeast Indiana.
Aurora police said they got a tip that Joshua Howe had moved to a location within 1,000 feet of a day care center, a violation of the sex offender law.
When officers went to the Cornwell Avenue residence to check on Howe, they discovered marijuana packaged for sale and evidence of marijuana use.
Howe, Felicia Brightwell, Jason Bice and Stephen Wirthlin are facing a variety of charges.
Three children in the home were released to a family member.
Copyright 2013 by WLWT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Holt alumni bass tournament is Saturday
Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:22 a.m.
TUSCALOOSA | Nucor Steel and the Holt High School Alumni Association will hold its annual scholarship bass tournament honoring Jack O'Bryant. The tournament is Saturday on Demopolis Lake.
For information, call Nucor Steel at 205-556-1310.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
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HP Slate 7 pictures and hands-on
Huawei MateBook review: 5-hours of friendship
Lenovo Yoga 900S review: Strike a pose
Acer Switch Alpha 12 review: Affordability is its ace
Best smartphone battery packs: Pokemon power and more
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- Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Flex 2: Release date, specs, price and everything you need to know
- Apple made wireless headphones called 'AirPods' for iPhone 7
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- Google might axe Nexus brand, including for new HTC-made phones
- Sonos now controllable via Spotify app, Amazon voice control coming 2017
- Amazon Dash Buttons available in the UK: One-touch order buttons for Prime users are here