text:
Abused women "demand" their abuse: How MRAs make the abusers' arguments for them
An Orlando man, Faron Thompson, was recently charged with battery and child neglect after an altercation in which he allegedly tried to force his fiancée to swallow her engagement ring when she tried to leave him. (More details here.)
This sort of abuse is depressingly commonplace when women try to free themselves from abusive and controlling men; indeed, if I posted every news account along these lines on this blog I wouldn't have time to do anything else.
No, I mention this case because something that Thompson reportedly told police reveals a lot about the mindset of abusers. When they arrested him, police say, Thompson complained that:
Women always claim assault, but never accept responsibility for provoking someone.
That is how abusers think.
It's also how a lot of MRAs think.
Indeed, when I read Thomson's reported remarks, the y immediately brought to mind something written not that long ago by Karen Straughan, the YouTube videoblogger who goes by the name of Girl Writes What. Straughan describes herself in her A Voice for Men bio as "the most popular and visible MRA in North America," and given the rapturous reception her videos get on You Tube and on Reddit, this may not be an idle boast.
In the rather revealing Reddit comment I'm thinking of (which I blogged about earlier), Straughan suggested not only that abused women regularly "demand" the abuse they receive, but that many of them also get some sort of sexual charge from it. Oh, I'm sure she'll deny that she really meant all that, but I can't see any other way to read the following.
Oh, and in case you were wondering what article she's referring to in the last paragraph — the one she says isn't "seriously ethically questionable" — it's a post from the repugnant Ferdinand Bardamu arguing that men should "terrorize" their partners because that's the "the only thing that makes them behave better than chimps." For more about that charming piece, titled "The Necessity of Domestic Violence," see my post here.
I'm having less and less of a problem with calling the Men's Rights movement "the abusers lobby."
I'm sure there are some MRAs who are as repulsed by Straughan's argument as I am. If you're one of them, and want your movement, such as it is, to be remembered as something other than "the abusers lobby," you need to call out all those MRAs who make such arguments. Might I suggest that you start by challenging the "the most popular and visible MRA in North America," otherwise known as Girl Writes What?
Posted on January 25, 2013, in a voice for men, a woman is always to blame, antifeminism, domestic violence, excusing abuse, FemRAs, GirlWritesWhat, misogyny, MRA, victim blaming and tagged antifeminism, men's rights, misogyny, MRA, reddit, victim-blaming. Bookmark the permalink. 326 Comments.
Poor Daveeeeeed, relegated to his little treefort, raging impotently at the world.
Wooly Bumblebee: prime example of how atheists are not automatically superior to xtians for beliefs/reasoning ability.
Creating conflict out of willful misunderstandings with friends and family members, then demanding that the partner take their side in the conflict, is one of the most common isolating techniques that abusers use.
Erin Pizzey… back in the day, I worked for Women's Aid, both at a local level and at the national office. She ran Refuge, I think, based mostly in London. She was a very contentious figure as she wanted to appropriate the entire refuge movement as her invention and made some pretty problematic statements. She was not well liked within the broader, more regional and grassroots based collection of organisations that was (and is) Women's Aid.
Disposable man, I didn't "dox drop" anyone. Straughan/GWW has started to identify herself with her real name on AVFM. It's in the bio at the end of her articles, which she wrote herself.
I like how TheDisposableMan followed the comments just enough to catch Wooly Bumblebee's real name being used, but not enough to realize that I "doxxed" her by quoting John The Otter.
Daveeeeeed,MRAs, relegated to histheir little treefort, raging impotently at the world."
Because it's the MRM raging that women vote. And work. And aren't forced to choose between marriage and starvation. And own our own property and wages. And are being heard. And know fucking losers when we see you and are free to laugh in your faces.
*votes, works, owns property, laughs in MRA faces*
Wow, these guys are super easy to beat, aren't they? I just exploded their hopes and dreams by doing my normal routine. That's like… wet tissue levels of "easily defeated."
Aren't they just? They think they can stop the world on its axis by threatening to hold their breath till they turn blue.
Go ahead, sonny, cobalt will suit you perfectly.
I lived in London during the time period BigMomma is talking about, and although I never worked directly with Women's Aid, I knew people who did, and lots of activisty types in general. I never met anyone who had anything good to say about Erin.
Nope, when I was in London I was so in love with the city that I hardly ever left it except to visit family in Scotland. But yeah, I knew a lot of people who were working on women's issues back in the day, and even then everyone seemed to be side-eyeing Erin. Compare her organization to one like Southall Black Sisters and it's not hard to see why.
She seems to be confused about a lot of things. The idea that you can deal with domestic violence in a top-down way is just inherently stupid. In reality you need to ask the victims what they need, rather than telling them what you think they should want, and that seems to go against Erin's fundamental personality.
Oh, they're made of awesome. If you were only going to donate to one woman-focused org in the UK, that's the one I'd recommend.
Am I the only one who finds Fatrelle kind of adorable, in a "toothless puppy trying to bite you" kind of way?
Argenti, come over to the combat zone thread, there is the dumbest of dumb trolls flailing around.😀
——-"Poor Daveeeeeed, MRAs, relegated to his their little treefort, raging impotently at the world."
Because it's the MRM raging that women vote. And work. And aren't forced to choose between marriage and starvation. And own our own property and wages. And are being heard. And know fucking losers when we see you and are free to laugh in your faces.———
MRAs are influncing legislation in countries across the world. The spectre of feminsim is diminishing, thanks to our efforts. What is Little David doing other than posting on his shitty little blog? Maybe he's aiming to lose his virginity.
What is "influncing legislation" – it sounds like legislation fail.🙂
LOL at the spectre of feminism, which would make MRAs what, James Bond?
I guess that feminsim is a simulation of feminism, maybe part of some sort of VR experience?
I want someone to give me a dollar every time a troll does a drive by "You don't haz logic" while not engaging with logic at all.
I have a full-time job with insurance/benefits, but I am unable to commit to this financial expense. It happens too damn often!
"What is "influncing legislation" – it sounds like legislation fail."
Sounds like an ingrown flounce, which pretty much summarises the MRM.
As for fathead's claim of the MRM influencing legislation around the world – sorry, nope. Not happening. The anti-women countries were never remotely feminist. My country is better than some, has a long way to go, but even the worst of our conservative politicians would laugh you morons to scorn if they'd ever heard of you.
@David Futrelle
"extremely problematic victim blaming"
I get it. Your site -> Your rules. However, feminists have been using "victim blaming" as excuse to silence debate for a very long time. If you're asserting that in all altercations between a man and a woman the victim is always the woman and she is always 100% blameless then you won't have to ban me. I'll leave voluntarily.
If this is not your assertion and furthermore you allow challenges to your assertions/axioms then I look forward to further debate.
Disposable, we each are in control of our own behaviors. When a person is being verbally abusive to you, you have the option and the right to determine how you respond/react. Your "blame the women" mentality shines through even to my fogged brain. Stop blaming others for your inability to control yourself. Take responsibility for once in your life.
@mxe354 et al.
OK, I take a "mia culpa" because after re-reading my own post. My point wasn't as clear as I had intended and it is clear that after reading your post as well as others we're talking past each other. Furthermore my tone probably invited some of the vitriol I got in return.
I acknowledge that (1) there are men that chronically abuse women, this abuse is wrong and as a moral society we should work to prevent it, (2) these chronically abusive men tend to use physical abuse and so their victims can and do suffer serious injuries up to and including death, (3) these chronically abusive men try to justify their actions by blaming their victims for the abuse they perpetrate.
Contentious bit:
My assertion is that, in North America at least, these chronically abusive men are rare especially with respect to the group I was clumsily referring to in my first post: chronically abusive women.
Chronically abusive women tend to use verbal abuse, lying to manipulate or defraud and destruction of personal property instead of physical abuse although slapping, pinching, kicking and thrown objects are not uncommon.
Firstly, the abuse perpetrated by women is often seen as, if not acceptable, at least permissible. If you disagree, try to slap a man in public. You'll probably get giggles if not cheers from the public. A man hitting a woman…well lets hope he can run fast.
Secondly, the abuse perpetrated by women is pervasive, chronic and often low-intensity and subconscious. Evidence for this is indirect but easily demonstrable in how men describe their relationship with these abusive women: "nag, nag, nag", "it's just easier to do whatever she wants", "I wouldn't want to sleep in the dog house", etc. It is remarkable that such comments are almost never made by women about their relationships with men. Also the pervasiveness of male self seclusion from their abusers provides further indirect evidence.
Thirdly, abused men don't have socially acceptable, gender appropriate support mechanisms to deal with the abuse perpetrated on them by women. With a feminist's perspective, you may be unable to appreciate the difficulty a man would have finding support for the abuse of being repeatedly called a loser, having household items thrown at him and periodically having his clothes burned in the backyard.
Consequently, the only avenue for these many abused men is to "be a man, grin and bear it". Eventually, however, some men after being hit in the head for the umpteenth time just snap and retaliate in the most instinctual, primal way, with violence.
TLDR; Also the crux of my argument..
When you read about a man force feeding a woman a ring you see a "Chronically Abusive Man". I don't jump to that conclusion when reading the same material. I give him the benefit of doubt that this could just be him snapping after potentially years of abuse by the "Chronically Abusive Woman".
Now to address your assertion that despite the abuse perpetrated on a man he has no excuse to retaliate with violence. This is a reasonable demand for a feminist to make of an ideal feminized man but is totally unrealistic of an actual man. This post is too long as it is. I'll have to defend my last statement somewhere else.
>> Abused people, male or female, are not responsible for the abuse they suffer. Their abusers are.
This is something you tell some abused person to make YOU feel better. The relationship between the abuser and the abused is complex especially if the abuse is chronic over a lengthy period. To make an absolutist statement about such a thing is irresponsible.
>> Even if someone, male or female, says something "provoking" to their partner, male or female, that partner *doesn't get to hit them*. Plain and simple.
That's feminist dogma. I DO accept that after a hundred years of indoctrination it has become culturally and legally normative at least in the United States. However, if you were to account for biology, anthropology and psychology it is neither plain nor simple.
I recognize that you either believe these statements are self evidently true and you don't need to prove them or you wish these statements were universally accepted as true and you shouldn't have to defend them. However, although I accept them as mostly true, there is nuance in there interpretation.
@ Tina
>>Stop blaming others for your inability to control yourself. Take responsibility for once in your life.
I think David Futrelle would like a word with you.
>> Abused people, male or female, are not responsible for the abuse they suffer. Their abusers are.
The disposable man keeps responding to arguments I don't see being presented here.
This guy is the internet equivalent of the dude who stands on Market Street in San Francisco with the sign that demands the impeachment of all the dead presidents, or the other sign which is all about how the Dalai Lama keeps slaves. No answer is necessary or expected, he just wants a platform on which to rant.
David…thank you for highlighting these people who are part of the problem of domestic violence.
Self-defense implies that there is a threat which one is defending oneself from. What threat requires or even suggests that a response of "make person eat ring" would be a reasonable and/or effective form of self-defense?
MRA logic.
"Honey, could you try to remember to mow the lawn this weekend? You've been saying that you were going to for the last few weeks and it's starting to look kind of unkempt."
Abuse! Nagging is the worst form of domestic violence there is!
Punching someone in the face because they said something that upset you – totally understandable, you can't blame the guy for defending himself. Unless the person doing the punching is a woman, in which case obviously that's real abuse.
He actually used the word "nag" in one of his comments, and characterized it as a form of abuse. Also apparently women "subconsciously" abuse their partners.
"Secondly, the abuse perpetrated by women is pervasive, chronic and often low-intensity and subconscious. Evidence for this is indirect but easily demonstrable in how men describe their relationship with these abusive women: "nag, nag, nag", "it's just easier to do whatever she wants", "I wouldn't want to sleep in the dog house", etc. It is remarkable that such comments are almost never made by women about their relationships with men."
The reason that women don't complain about their male partners "nagging" them is that "nagging" is a gendered term that can mean pretty much anything up to and including "talking". I've heard requests for partners to help with housework described as nagging. "Please remember to pick up your socks and put them in the laundry basket rather than leaving them on the floor" – nagging.
Putting stuff like that in the same category as actual violence and using it to justify the violence is a trick that abusers have been pulling for a long time.
My favorite abuser's lobby argument is the one that calls women "withholding sex" a form of emotional abuse. Don't want to fuck your partner for a while for some reason? You're now an abuser.
Thanks for the responses. I hope everyone noticed I made a conscious effort to be civil and non-accusatory in my posts.
The careful reader would have noticed that in my response to David's assertions…
>> Abused people, male or female, are not responsible for the abuse they suffer.
>> Even if someone, male or female, says something "provoking" to their partner, male or female, that partner *doesn't get to hit them*. Plain and simple.
my response was…
>> However, although I accept them as MOSTLY TRUE, there is nuance in their interpretation.*
*corrected grammar, emphasis added.
I never said that reacting violently to abuse is a "right" nor did I say it shouldn't be punished nor did I say as a moral society we don't need to reduce the incidences of this behavior.
What I did say is that one day an abused man "snapping" and responding with disproportionate violence is normal abused male behavior – the abuse metered out on him should be considered, where evidence warrants it, for at least partial justification whenever you see a news story of a man assaulting a woman. (NOTICE: I didn't say he had a right.)
What you often see in the news is "Man beats up wife; sends her to hospital, man arrested". What you don't see is for the last two years she would routinely slap him on the back of the head and called him an idiot at every turn. Key point here, the man's reaction was not self defense (at least not in a strict legal sense), I never claimed that it was. Her abuse was never life threatening but it was cumulative. His reaction was disproportionate to the latest incidence of abuse and irrational but these burdens are never placed on female victims of abuse.
OK, I'm done with this thread. There are other threads I'd like to comment on. If you still have a beef with something I said (which I suspect some of you may) we can attempt to resolve it there. You have the last word if you choose to use it.
One last thing…
@Sweet Dreams 893
>>David…thank you for highlighting these people who are part of the problem of domestic violence.
I don't want to seem presumptuous but I deserve a little credit too, no?
So much angry… I can't even.
To the author of that awful article, who the f*ck do you think you are? As an abuse survivor, I don't need help blaming myself for what happened to me. My silly overthinking brain does that perfectly fine on its own, thank you.
Rationally, I know it wasn't my fault. In my case (in two of my cases), I was a little kid who couldn't possibly consent. Tell that to the voices in my brain.
If I punch someone in the face, it wouldn't be because someone made me do it. I've been blindingly livid many times in my life, but have never physically abused someone ONCE. I've screamed at people before, but not with the intent to control them or make them feel like dirt. I have some f*cking self-control, which I expect from all rational adults, especially those I choose to date.
Abuse, including rape, is all about the abuser's need to feel powerful and to exert that power over someone else. It's not about liking kinky sex. It's not about how much the victim turns the abuser on or how much the victim irritates the abuser. It's about power. Full stop.
To keep things sane, if you honestly and truly like the kinky stuff, perhaps safety words, agreements and/or out-clauses should be involved instead of unexpected violence or forced sex. *shudder*
This is who an abuser is: http://www.domesticviolence.org/who-are-the-abusers/
Why the hell are you trying to rationalize and excuse the behaviour of abusers? F*ck you for being so damn patronizing.
P.S. You'll notice that I didn't use any specific genders at all in the main part of this post. Even though I am female and the most damaging abuse I suffered was from four separate males, I'm not going to let that make me assume that all victims of abuse are female and all abusers are males. I know better than that. The MRA needs to stop turning everything into a stupid gender war just because. This attitude of "Well women do it, too, so it's okay" is childish, stupid, and doesn't solve anything. IT IS NOT OKAY. ABUSE IS BAD AND RETALIATION IS NOT THE ANSWER. Done and done.
OK, I made one last cursory glance at the responses to my post and I'd like to add one more thing (I'm a hypocrite, I know, because I said in my previous post that it would be my last. Being a hypocrite is just part of my male burden I guess.)
When I said abused men say things like "nag, nag, nag" and "I don't want to be in the dog house" to describe the verbal abuse perpetrated against them to their friends, they are using clichéd euphemisms to describe language from their abuser like "You worthless piece of shit, why do I have to do everything" and "If you ever do that again I'll cut your dick off".
Just to be clear I'm talking about abused men not all men. When most men say these things they're not describing abusive language just as was mentioned, "Please pick you socks up off the floor."
Off point but needs to be said…
Even though I know that most, if not all of you, vehemently disagree with my views, I do appreciate that at least some of you consider what I have to say and respond thoughtfully. I apologize for the invective nature of my first few posts (see glossary) but I was expecting to be labeled as "troll" and perma-banned (ip blocked) almost instantly as has been my experience on other pro-feminist sites.
Shorter disposable bore: what about the menz?
They can't help themselves, they're suffering from menz rea. It's similar to diarrhoea, but the fingers are the body part affected.


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Goldman Sachs Cuts 2010 S&P 500 Forecast to 1,200
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lowered its year-end forecast for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to 1,200 from 1,250 and reduced its 2011 earnings projection, citing weakening economic forecasts.
S&P 500 companies will post combined profit of $89 a share next year, compared with Goldman Sachs' prior estimate of $93, according to David Kostin, the New York-based equity strategist. Jan Hatzius, the firm's chief U.S. economist, lowered his prediction for 2011 growth in gross domestic product to 1.9 percent from 2.4 percent on Aug. 6.
"The weak GDP growth forecast and specter of deflation means top-line sales increases will be hard to achieve," Kostin wrote today in a note to clients. He raised his 2010 earnings forecast for the S&P 500 to $81 a share from $78.
The S&P 500 has rallied 9.7 percent since July 2 as profit growth that exceeded analyst estimates helped overcome concern the economy will slip into the second recession in three years. Growth in the U.S. slowed to a 2.4 percent annual rate in the second quarter, less than forecast, reflecting an easing in consumer spending, according to Commerce Department data.
Before today, the average estimate of 12 strategists tracked by Bloomberg called for the S&P 500 to rise 20 percent in the last six months of 2010 to 1,242. U.S. earnings will increase 35 percent in 2010, the biggest annual gain since 1988, more than 8,000 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg show.
The Federal Reserve may return to "unconventional" monetary stimulus as early as this week's policy meeting as the U.S. economy continues to lose momentum, economists led by Hatzius wrote Aug. 6. The firm raised its estimate for the jobless rate as growth slows and the "reacceleration in U.S. output" expected for 2011 is made more doubtful by congressional resistance to fiscal stimulus, the note said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rangers' Traverse City Roster Released
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 8/30/2016
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 8/30/2016
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 8/25/2016
Hearing NYR to sign Brandon Pirri. One year approx $1.1M — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC)
0 comments by mike lazzaro on 8/19/2016
The Hobey Baker award winner as the NCAA Men's Hockey MVP signed with the New York Rangers this afternoon after deliberating for weeks on which team to join. The final three teams in the Vesey sweepstakes were speculated to be the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers. Boston for the local nostalgia […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 8/16/2016
Quick break from summer vacation to report on Jimmy Vesey, who was selected in the third round of the 2012 draft by the Nashville Predators, had his rights traded to Buffalo a few days before the 2016 draft and became a UFA at 12:01 this morning. As far as the Rangers are concerned, they're in plenty […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/26/2016
There seems to be a common phrase that's being uttered so far amongst a few Rangers and that's coming back this fall with "chips on their shoulder." As far Kreider is concerned, new and higher expectations will be placed squarely on his shoulders next season as Rangers management and fans alike will be looking for […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/24/2016
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/22/2016
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/20/2016
Salary Arbitration numbers New York Rangers/ Chris Kreider. Club offer $3.2M / Player asking $4.75M
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/19/2016
Now that we've had a chance to sleep on Brassard getting shipped to Ottawa yesterday, I wanted to re-iteraate my position yesterday and perhaps add some clarity on the move which shook the Rangers and its fanbase to the core. "I really like the look of this team. I'm very happy to join the Sens […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/18/2016
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/15/2016
A bunch of Rangers news has broken in the 10 AM hour, as a flurry of signings came down all at once. OFFICIAL: at least 42 games next season in order to avoid UFA next summer. Given the Rangers commitment to team speed in the lineup, whether or not McIlrath has a future beyond 2017 […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/14/2016
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/13/2016
1. So now that the arbitration dates are set, what are we thinking with cap hits? Kreider at 4 million, Miller 3 million, Hayes 2 million and McIlrath at 1? Too easy? Most times, and this applies more so to Kreider of the four RFA's, the disagreement between team and player comes in the UFA […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/12/2016
Salary arbitration dates for
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/8/2016
While Ranger fans anxiously sit and wait for the team to make their next move, the Devils were busy yesterday re-signing their lone arbitration eligible RFA, Kyle Palmieri to a new 5 year contract worth $4.65 per. Why is this significant? It potentially sets the bar for contracts on a few players around the league, […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/6/2016
24 Players elect salary arbitration. https://t.co/UrtrUZ3Hpj — NHLPA (@NHLPA)
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 7/1/2016
Happy Canada Day!! And to those of us in the States, it's Christmas in July as the unrestricted free agent market opens at noon. I'll keep this thread active for a few hours before I have to attend real life duties. So sit back with your favorite alcohol of choice, hope the Rangers do nothing […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 6/30/2016
It took less than just 25 minutes on Wednesday for the league to go completely off the rails, sending shockwaves around the NHL with a pair of huge trades and the top free agent coming off the market all at once. First up, which featured an extremely odd trade, with the Oilers sending Taylor Hall […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 6/29/2016
1. A bit more from prospect camp yesterday… Pavel Buchnevich gave his first interview to the Ranger beat writers, which you can see here. Two parts of this that fascinated me. First were some of his answers regarding the transition from the bigger ice over in Russia to the rinks in North America and whether physicality […]
0 comments by Neill Fowler on 6/28/2016
The Rangers had until 5PM yesterday to qualify their RFA's and the team is letting a good chunk of prospects go. Kreider, Miller, Hayes, McIlrath, Hughes, Bodie, Hrivik, Jensen issued qualifying offers by the


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Why Mangaatha audio release delayed?
The ace musician claims that a tune composed by him earlier was not liked by the makers of the film, which delayed the the audio launch. Explaining this to his fans on Twitter, he said ,"The reason for the delay in Mangaatha audio is we had to scrap 1 tune n record a fresh. I wasn't happy with the old tune for but now da new 1 sounds much better...."
Talking about the audio launch, Yuvan Shankar Raja wrote, "Mangaatha"s audio, in all probability, will be released next month, we are told." Meanwhile, Dhayanidhi Alagiri has said that the movie unit is not delaying intentionally. He tweeted, "The team is not delaying the audio release wantedly ! Work is goin on day n night ! We don gain anything by delayin it ! UNDERSTAND !"


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For U.S., Nov. 1 Seen as the Last Straw
Despite all the focus on a Oct. 17 deadline for Congress to strike a deal, that's really just the day the U.S. loses the ability to borrow more money.
According to Treasury Department estimates, the country likely will hit its debt cap on Oct. 17, leaving the government with about $30 billion in cash to pay its bills. Without a higher debt ceiling, the countdown to a much-feared potential U.S. default begins.
"If we pass that date without an agreement, in our opinion, the market concerns are likely to increase quite sharply as by that point the prospect of default would be on everyone's mind," say strategists at Nomura Securities.
They took a look at payments owed by the U.S. after Oct. 17, pinpointing the last straw on Nov. 1, when over $55 billion in social security and Medicare payments need to be disbursed. Oct. 31 also poses a challenge, with $6 billion in maturing debt and interest payments due.
Rates strategists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch reach a similar conclusion, calling Nov. 1 the "unsurmountable payment cliff." The bank estimates the U.S. will have just $22 billion left after it makes good on its Oct. 31 debt payments.
For those who define default as missing only debt-related payments, BofA points to Nov. 15 as the biggest potential default date, when $31 billion coupon payments are owed.


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Product Description
The term "classic" is often overused, whether applied to films, literature, or games. However, Acquire has been thus described for decades, and is rightly enshrined in GAMES Magazine's Hall of Fame, alongside such American stalwarts as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Diplomacy. And now this American institution is back in a new, improved edition emphasizing a beautiful board and playing pieces depicting highrise hotels and the world's prime real estate.
Acquire is still the same empire-building game which has enthralled several generations of financial strategists. Each player builds and strategically manipulates hotel chains. As each group grows, players invest in them, merging smaller ones into more dominant chains to collect bonuses in a calculated race to acquire the greatest wealth.
Supplementing this time-honored basic game are the addition of five new variations to provide new challenges to veterans of the financial wars. A simple game of complex strategies, Acquire is highly playable by would-be tycoons of all ages.
Product Awards
5th place, 1993
Nominee, 1979
Product Information
Sid Sackson
Avalon Hill
Year: 1995
Players: 2 - 6
Time: 75 minutes
Ages: 12 and up
Weight: 1,210 grams


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Online Buoys Global Growth by Paring Distance: Cutting Research
Trading more online could help boost global economic growth, according to a paper published this week by the Centre for Economic Policy Research.
Four economists used data from San Jose, California-based retailer EBay Inc. to "breathe new life into the 'death of distance' hypothesis," which maintains advances in transportation and communication should make international trade cheaper and easier.
Their study of transactions featuring 40 product categories and 62 countries from 2004 to 2007 shows the impact of distance on trade to be 65 percent smaller when business is conducted online.
Reducing trade frictions to the Internet level by, for example, paring the need for multiple telephone calls, improving access to information or reducing the need to attend trade fairs would increase real income by 29 percent in an average country, said the University of Oxford's Pierre-Louis Vezina and Switzerland-based economists Andreas Lendle, Marcelo Olarreaga and Simon Schropp.
Remote countries with high levels of income inequality and inefficient ports would benefit the most as online business would help overcome market and governance weaknesses, they said.
"In a world where search costs are greatly reduced, the role of distance in explaining trade flows is smaller," the economists wrote.
* * *
International companies are hunkering down again after rebuilding leverage following the financial crisis.
Zurich-based UBS's World Inc., which consolidates the balance sheets of the companies the Swiss bank monitors, suggests forecasts for 2012 dividend growth of 5 percent and capital spending of 8 percent, both slowing from 15 percent last year. Share buybacks are set to shrink by more than 30 percent after firms repurchased nearly 200 percent more stock last year than in 2010. Companies are also slowing merger activity and some are selling assets.
Europe's debt crisis, doubt about the strength of the global economy and the appeal of conservative cash management explain the "stalling out of the re-leveraging cycle," said strategists Christopher Ferrarone, Nick Nelson and Jerry McGuire in the Aug. 20 study.
The slowing in leverage helps explain why returns on capital may decline this year for the first time since the financial crisis, they said, adding that a recovery is imperative for earnings growth.
UBS's World Inc. features about 1,000 companies, which represent about 70 percent of the market capitalization of the world's non-financial companies.
* * *
The European Central Bank may draw on lessons learned in the 1990s and avoid enforcing explicit targets to restrain surging bond yields.
So says Goldman Sachs Group Inc. London-based economist Huw Pill, a former ECB official, as the Frankfurt-based central bank prepares for a Sept. 6 meeting of policy makers. Maintaining specific caps would leave the ECB in a bind if governments reneged on austerity commitments, handing investors a "one way bet" in which the central bank would be purchasing large amounts of debt just as its value would be deteriorating, he said in an Aug. 22 report.
The ECB could avoid that fate by taking inspiration from the 1990s when central banks were trying to protect the Exchange Rate Mechanism, a precursor to the euro. They replaced narrow target zones for currencies with wider bands and kept exchange rates close to the center of the range with occasional interventions.
"The system was reconstituted to avoid offering the market a 'one way bet' situation on the exchange rate, making the system more resilient," Pill said. "Over time, governments' pursuit of macroeconomic policies convinced the markets that a single currency was a viable project."
Pill predicts the ECB will now eschew narrow target zones for debt yields and instead establish "softer and wider" ranges to go with broader guidance on the market borrowing costs they deem appropriate. "The ECB is likely to signal a willingness to steer market rates in that direction over time," he said.
* * *
The recession-hit U.K. economy isn't finding much uplift from a decline in its currency.
While sterling has fallen about 20 percent since the financial crisis began in 2007, U.K. exports have risen only about 5 percent, about a third of Germany's gains over the same period and below the increase of the euro area as a whole, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Nick Bate in an Aug. 17 report.
Pricing behavior explains part of the puzzle as British traders have raised prices more than 25 percent over the period, five times the rate of euro-area rivals, Bate said in London. That means little improvement in the country's competitiveness even if profit margins are increased.
Although bigger margins may have helped support employment and investment, the boost will have been smaller than higher export volumes would provide, the report said.
The economy is also being hurt by the way the weaker pound boosted consumer prices about 7 percentage points since 2007, Bate said. That may be curbing output by as much as 5 percentage points, he said.
The U.K.'s experience highlights issues facing euro-area members considering an exit from the 17-nation currency bloc, the report said. Some Southern European countries may struggle to contain prices following devaluation and lack the flexibility in capital and labor markets needed to harness export-led growth, it said.
"Those factors, taken alongside the U.K.'s experience in recent years, pose risks that the assumed benefits to a country from leaving the euro and having a materially weaker currency could often be overstated," Bate wrote.
* * *
Investors may still have a taste for risky assets such as stocks even if the euro-zone crisis intensifies.
That's the conclusion of an Aug. 21 report titled "Does Europe Matter?" by Nomura Holdings Inc. New York-based currency strategists Jens Nordvig and Charles St-Arnaud.
They compared recent revisions to growth forecasts and found economies such as the U.S., Japan, Australia and Canada experienced only moderate cuts even as the euro area slumped. That's different from 2009 when declines were more synchronized.
One explanation is that financial conditions tightened globally in 2009, while the current contraction has been more concentrated in the euro area.
Reasons cited by Nomura for why euro-zone shocks have had a declining impact on investors worldwide include the ECB's shoring up of banks, the length of the crisis and the expectation it won't spread.
While the euro's woes will still pose a threat to global growth and trade, "from a trading perspective, Europe is likely to be a less dominant driver," said Nordvig and St-Arnaud.
They suggest investors may favor buying stocks and selling the yen, while saying that Spanish and Italian bonds could offer value.
* * *
The third surge in food prices in five years is set to pressure inflation and household budgets, dealing a blow to global economic growth, according to HSBC Holdings Plc.
The worst U.S. drought in decades, weak rainfall in India and poor harvests in Russia and Ukraine have helped propel the price of wheat about 30 percent higher since the start of the year and the cost of corn 25 percent.
The biggest losers will be emerging markets, where food plays a bigger role in budgets and inflation measures. Food forms 31 percent of China's consumer price index basket, double the U.S proportion.
Policy makers will nevertheless probably view the food shock as a threat to growth rather than inflation, HSBC London-based economists Karen Ward and Zoe Knight said Aug. 20. Workers are unlikely to be confident enough in their jobs to seek wage hikes, they said.
"In this environment, policy makers are less likely to respond with higher interest rates," said the economists, who added the greater inflation threat may still be a barrier to aggressive monetary easing.


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+44 (0)1425 615485
Vital Information
Full English Breakfast
Onsite Free Parking for 8 cars
Licensed Bar
Beer Garden
Pets Considered
Free WiFi
Local Amenities
Railway Stations
New Milton 2.0 miles
Hinton Admiral 3.0 miles
Sway 6.5 miles
Bus Stops
within a 5 minute walk
Local Restaurants & Cafés
(within walking distance)
The Bay Restaurant - 1 min
Beachcomber Café - 10 mins
Pebble Beach Café/Bar - 10 mins
The House Martin Pub - 14 mins
Local Attractions
Markets in surrounding towns
New Forest National Park - 3 miles
Isle of Wight Ferry Terminal - 6 miles
Shingle Beach - 3 minutes walk
Click here
for more Local Attractions
Find us on the map
We are close to the town of New Milton with direct rail links to London Waterloo. Also surrounding towns of Highcliffe, Christchurch, Milford on Sea and Mudeford Quay in Dorset with great charter fishing trips (see
local attractions
page). Hoburne Naish Holiday Park is a few minutes walking distance, with great evening and childrens entertainment, Indoor Swimming Pool and various other leisure facilities.
From the cliff top there is access to miles of walks and cycle rides along the cliffs and beaches with spectacular views of the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Barton Golf Club is at the end of Marine Drive East which is approx 1/2 mile distance.
We have 7 bedrooms, 2 rooms on the ground floor with en-suite, 4 rooms on the first floor with en-suite and 1 family room on the first floor with its own spa ensuite bathroom, capable of sleeping 5 (2 adults, 3 children & travel cot). More information on our rooms is available on the
page. Check in is from 2pm - 4.30pm and check out is by 10.30am on day of departure (check in for any other time is to be arranged prior to booking)
There is a great dining room with spectacular views to look upon while you enjoy your breakfast.
We make all of our guests feel welcome and like to add a personal touch to our service wherever possible.
There is off street parking, for 8 spaces available on our private driveway. Children are very welcome and we will consider small well behaved pets @ £10 extra per night.
We also cater for golfing breaks, with have a store room available for equipment.
Watersedge is the perfect base for your stay in the New Forest area and we look forward to seeing you here soon.
Deposits are taken at booking (first 2 nights rate) via Cheque, Bank Transfer or Paypal and the remaining balance of your stay will be taken as Cash or PayPal upon arrival.
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Solent Coast B&B | Barton on Sea Accommodation | Highcliffe B&B | Barton on Sea Bed and Breakfast | Solent Views | New Forest Bed and Breakfast | Bournemouth Air Show Accommodation | New Forest Show Accommodation
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:57 pm
Post subject: ahh so dissapointed:(
i did a preg test last night like i said.
i bought one late last night got myself all sikkked up went for a wee to take it , weeed on the sick and u never quess what the witch turned up there an then iv never felt sooo sick in my life .
even tho we only been trying 3 munth my bf sed last night sarah im getting scared incase we actually cant fall and im sad to say to i felt it toooo.
ive beeen soooo down today i can feel myself inside ready to blow at stupid things my bf does ahhhhhhhhhh
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:53 am
Post subject:
hi sarah, im sorry i know how you feel, with my second baby and the one i miscarried i got pregnant the first time we tried!
with this one it took 3 months and i was starting to think i would never get pregnant but i did on the 3rd month, so keep going, you will get there soon!!
Chloe Jade 12
Holly May 9
Lacey angel 3


text: hey im TJ im 15 and im realy intrestd in boxing. i train at home with my weights and often have sparring with frends i dont train gym as i dont want traineer ruining my style cos i av ad 10 boxing matches and have won all by knokout nd i hav had like 20 streetfights and won mostly all. i think i have wat it takes to go all the way and becum heavywait champ. im 5''8 and i way 144 pounds, is this heavyweight materials? also how do i becum profesinaol boxerr? do i hav to becum gym boxer? or can i just go to competiton and sign up to fight on the day? also, wat if im not heavywait material? im not small enuf to be lightwait? maybe a middlewait? but i kno i hav wat it takes to be heavywait champ also with training i usually just do 3 reps of 25 kg benchpress and then hav a boxing match with one og my frends. we go by profesiaonl rules were we box for 12 mins and whoever is hurt most at end looses or whiever gets knockd out for 10 seconds looses .my style is mostly power and strength and tuffness thanks alot and i look foward to heklping newbies to boxing on forum


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Ac Cord - News
The Fed Asserts its Independence—Again FOXBusiness
ABC NewsThe Fed Asserts its Confidence—AgainFOXBusinessIt isn't Instead, the Monday afternoon statement bears a strong resemblance to one of the most impressive documents in the history of monetary policy: the Treasury-Fed Accord of 1951, known simply as "the Agree." How important was it? Video: Geithner on Toxic Assets Plan, Bonuses Fed-Treasury Be in harmony Stocks Soar on Geithner Plan
Nigerian Oil Unions Close to Accord With Government Bloomberg
RTT NewsNigerian Oil Unions Almost to Accord With GovernmentBloombergBy Dulue Mbachu March 24 (Bloomberg) -- Oil unions in Nigeria, Africa's biggest immature exporter, are close to an accord with the government on issues over which they have threatened to strike, a union official said. "We have to sign an agreement with Nigerian oil workers shelve proposed strike


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- Kick it With the Fade!
- Currently Unavailable
Bold ball that's easy to spot on the field. The Nike Mercurial Fade Ball holds its shape and offers high visibility on the field with a durable construction and vibrant graphics.
COVER: 26 panels of laminated, machine-stitched TPU.
BLADDER: Reinforced rubber bladder for enhanced shape retention. 2 year manufacturer stitch and shape guarantee.
Note: All of our balls are shipped deflated. This helps in keeping our shipping costs low, savings that we can pass on to you.
CUBIERTA: 26 paneles de TPU laminado cosido a máquina. VEJIGA: Butilo.


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What's Going On At The New England Cannabis Convention This Weekend?
10 Rock Songs For 420
For more than people realize, marijuana has been a longtime companion of some of the greatest artists to ever grace the stage.
Chris Cornell, Rob Zombie, Korn, 311, Matisyahu, Keifer Sutherland, David Bowie: The WAAF Word On The Street
Thursday 3/10
#Local420Meeting: Ricardo Baca Has My Dream Job Of Being The First Ever Denver Post Marijuana Editor
King Richard's Faire, 3rd Annual Labor Day Weekend Fireworks, New England Cannabis Convention: The WAAF Word On The Street
Saturday 9/5
Official Jimi Hendrix Marijuana Products Announced!
Nutritional High, an edible cannabis company recently announced that it has reached a licensing agreement to manufacture and distribute a
Harpoonfest, Robert Kelly, New Hampshire Renaissance Fair, New England Cannabis Convention: The WAAF Word On The Street
Tuesday 5/12
#Local420Meeting: The Knockout Will Help You Wet Your Pants While You're Passed Out At Your Next Party
#Local420Meeting: Everything You Need To Know About The New England Cannabis Convention
The WAAF Word On The Street For 9/14/14
Sunday 9/14


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MORGANTOWN - Should West Virginia University and third-year head coach Dana Holgorsen turn around its fortunes following last year's 7-6 campaign, it will do so with a lot of new faces dotting the Mountaineers' lineup.
One position which could see the greatest impact is at running back where no less than three newcomers - Charles Sims, Dreamius Smith and Wendall Smallwood - could see significant playing time.
"We're just competing until the last day," Smallwood said. "We're going to work hard every day in and out and whatever happens, happens. I just know that each running back has the potential to play, and that's what we're all going to do."
The cupboard wasn't completely depleted following last season, however, as juniors Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison return and both will figure into the rotation - when one is finally announced by the coaching staff.
"The thing about running back is a lot of them are going to play," offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said.
"That is a position that, if you watch college football, you need a lot of running backs to withstand the season.
"It is a physical game, a physical position, and those guys take a beating. To have multiple of them that can play so you are not giving 90-percent of the reps to one guy will make you better."
Good enough to replace the offensive production missing with the departure of Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey to the NFL?
"The offense does not change," continued Dawson. "The thing that changes is the makeup of the team. The pieces change and the focus of the offense might change.
"An example may be if you are thin at running back, and there was a time last year that we went into games banged up and with one healthy guy, we would go empty a lot. We didn't run any different plays, we just ran them out of different sets, because that is who was healthy.
"The focus is going to be different because of the personnel we have. If you have a lot of running backs that are capable then you want to get them the ball in every way possible and as much as possible. We are just trying to get the ball to the best players. The easiest way to get a running back the ball is to turn and hand it to him."
One of those will be Sims, who has already drawn a lot of attention around the Big 12 after being selected as the conference's preseason Newcomer of the Year.
And, why not? The former-University of Houston standout led the Cougars with 851 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and finished with 37 receptions for 373 yards and three touchdowns, earning second team all-Conference USA honors.
"I feel comfortable coming here (WVU)," Sims said. "I sat down with my family and made the decision to come on a visit, and it just felt comfortable."
Of course getting an opportunity to play under a coach that recruited him to Houston didn't hurt.
"That played a big part in my decision, and I am familiar with the offense already," continued the player. "I have basically been running this offense since my freshman year; it is just different terminology you have to learn.
"I just want to make plays and be put in position to do so. I just want to help the team, however, I can."
Something Mountaineer fans are hoping all three will do when the season opens against visiting William & Mary on Saturday, Aug. 31.


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FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) — A plan to bring a natural gas pipeline from Jay to Farmington is getting a boost from the University of Maine at Farmington, which has formally announced its interest in becoming a customer. Summit Natural Gas of Maine officials have said the company needs to have enough "anchor" customers lined up before committing to building the system, given the cost of the infrastructure. The Morning Sentinel reported the university recently notified Summit that the school would like to bring natural gas to the campus. County officials have been lobbying Summit to come to the area since last year.
Location, ST | website.com


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Senate Republicans Eye 'Grand Bargain' on Budget
A group of Republican senators who have been meeting privately with top White House officials have concluded that they want to try again to reach a sweeping budget deal that would cut deficits and make changes to Medicare, according to participants in the meetings.
The Senate contingent met for more than two hours at the White House on Thursday and got an unexpected visitor. President Barack Obama joined the meeting in White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough's office and stayed for about an hour.
The senators had been uncertain about whether to seek a more modest deal that would simply replace the across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester, or to pursue a more ambitious "grand bargain" aimed at shoring up the major entitlement programs, among other goals.
Previous attempts to strike a grand bargain have faltered over familiar partisan disagreements over spending and taxes.
But the senators seem determined to try again.
Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) who is part of the group of eight GOP senators taking part in the talks, said in an interview after the session at the White House: "I think we're looking at something larger than [replacing] the sequester."
Another person familiar with the meeting said: "The sentiment in the room is that it has to be a bigger deal in order for both sides to buy into it and to prove to the markets that there is a long-term fiscal sustainability plan here."
The senators have sent written proposals to the White House to review. Mr. Obama, in his appearance at the meeting, had clearly been briefed on the group's work, Mr. Corker said.
"He is up to date on the kinds of things that an overall framework might look look like. He seemed very engaged," Mr. Corker said.
The two sides agreed to find a way to meet during the August recess.
Mr. Corker made clear that the senators are simply a "sounding board" and that differences between the two sides persist. The meetings are an outgrowth of a series of private dinners hosted by Mr. Obama in the spring, when he made overtures to Senate Republicans who have blocked his legislative goals.
The senators had also met with Mr. McDonough and other top White House officials on Wednesday.
"We have a lot of work to do and I don't think anyone ought to be too excited about where are," Mr. Corker said.


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Reviewed by 2 customers
I think its safe to say everyone would die over these. The top of the shroom is dark chocolate, the bottom half milk chocolate. The cookie is nice and crunchy. It's very rich and super cute. Love it.
A great little snack, and, as another reviewer said, addicting. Just the right amount of chocolate paired with the right amount of cookie. I got on sale, but even at full price they are a good value. Yummmmm. They would look pretty in a candy jar or dish, but around my house they'd never last long enough to admire. So why bother? Just chomp 'em down and get some more!
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This week I was given 1 kg of cherries. They were a sample from Angus Park. I love glacé cherries but many people don't, including the person who slung them at me saying how much she hated them. I assured her that she would change her mind, when I made something with them. I dug out an old Cherry Ripe Slice recipe and then iced it with 80% Callebaut chocolate. You can ice yours with any dark chocolate
All of this slice was gone in a very short time. There has been a change of heart for the cherry hater. How many pieces did she have……….?
Cherry Ripe is easy to make………….
- Oven 170 1 x Paper lined brownie tin 10 x 7 in or 18x 25 cm
- 1 cup Self raising flour (130 gm/ 4.60 oz)
- 4 Tablespoons cocoa ( dark Dutch cocoa)
- ⅓ cup of caster sugar / 80 gm/ 2.8 oz
- 150 gm melted butter ( 5.4oz)
- 100 gm biscuits ( Marie, granita, or any sweet plain biscuit will do)(3.5oz)
- 1½ cups coconut ( desicated unsweetened)
- 300 gm glacé cherries ( or a 200 gm bag- the more cherries the more colour)(10.5 oz)
- 1 x 400 gm tin condensed milk ( or skim condensed milk) (14.11 oz)
- 150 gm (5.3 oz) dark chocolate chopped
- just under 100 ml (8 Tablespoons) thickened cream
- First add the flour, biscuits, sugar and cocoa. Blitz this till you have a fine floury mass.
- Pour in the butter and blitz till combined . ( the mixture is relatively dry).
- Press into the brownie tin, and bake for approx 15 minutes . Take out of the oven and put aside for a few minutes.
- Next put the cherries into the food processor and pulse until they are chopped. Add the coconut and condensed milk and pulse till pink and well combined.
- Pour this mixture over the base and spread out.
- Bake this for approximately 30 min. Don't let it brown too much, I take it out when the outside edges have just started to brown but the centre is softer.
- Cool the slice completely before icing.
- Chop the chooclate into very small bits. Warm the cream in a bowl over a double boiler , or in the microwave to warm/ hot without boiling. Take off the heat and add the chopped chocolate and stir till melted and the chocolate mixture is glossy and smooth. Don't over heat the mixture or it will split (If you find that you may have done this and the mixture is not smooth and it looks a little separated then shock it with a tablespoon of very cold cream and stir through quickly. trick is not to overheat the cream). Pour over the slice and spread with a pallet knife.
- Let this set in the fridge for up to an hour or overnight before slicing for the best results
Do you like cherries? What's your favourite slice recipe?


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An alternative to the Internet term 'newbie' or 'noob' or variations thereof; it essentially has the same meaning but is generally a much cooler way to say it. Not used widely, but very pro.
*~kewld00d~*: soleik......wut r we sposd 2 do here neway?
GrungeRock: Oh no, not another newbi.
Hawk: D: Rly.
GrungeRock: Oh no, not another newbi.
Hawk: D: Rly.
by StarLink May 12, 2007
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Top Definition
The official licking out and or cleansing of the butthole with ones tongue.
Ryan Nelson gave me a big wet sloppy newbis last friday.
by Newbisluvr4life:)<3 November 14, 2011
an inexperienced gamer who thinks he is good but sucks real bad at the game. Commonly called during a Halo 3, Call of duty 4, Grand theft auto 4,or guitar hero game.
Wow Alex you are the biggest new bi in this room.
by Gvs finest August 27, 2008
an inexperienced gamer who thinks they are good at a game but actually suck at it.
by lilphantom August 25, 2008


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Take a sneak peek at the new NIST.gov and let us know what you think!
(Please note: some content may not be complete on the beta site.).
NIST Authors in Bold
|James R. Baker-Jarvis; Michael D. Janezic; Donald C. DeGroot;
|High-Frequency Dielectric Measurements: A Tutorial
|April 01, 2010
|KNOWLEDGE of the response of materials to electromagnetic (EM) fields in the frequency range of radio frequency (RF) through terahertz (THz) is critical to numerous research projects and electronic product development activities. Electromagnetic waves in this high-frequency range achieve behaviors that low-frequency signals cannot achieve, such as the ability to travel through guided-wave structures, the ability to launch from antennas as propagating waves, the ability to carry broadband information over long distances, and the ability to propagate through materials. When applying high-frequency EM fields in scientific exploration and product development, researchers and engineers demand accurate material parameters in order to extract experimental results and to predict their products behavior[1-3].
|IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine
|pp. 24 - 30
|Dielectric, microwave, nanoscale, PCB, resonator, transmission line
|Research Areas:
|Measurements, Electromagnetics


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OKCupid's Best Questions For a First Date
I recently stumbled upon an interesting graphic in Newsweek
highlighting a study from the dating site OKCupid, suggesting great questions for a first date.
The questions showed a high percentage of compatible people agreeing, which is why OKCupid uses the questions to match people up — the questions are "not too personal" but might lead to more personal discussion.
Here are a few of the questions:
Question #1: Do you like scary movies?
Of compatible respondents, 74% agreed they like scary movies
I am a scary movie geek and I get way too excited talking about them. I think it makes me look creepy — I should get geeked up about puppies instead (actually, that's kind of creepy too).
My favorite is the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. First dates including the words "chainsaw," and "massacre" in succession usually don't go too well. "Texas," however, is totally fine. It's polarizing: you either love or hate scary movies. And if I can connect with someone on the "chainsaw massacre" level without scaring them off, then we may have something.
People who like scary movies are also likely to agreed with the statement: "I enjoy pain in bed."
Just because I love scary movies doesn't mean I like pain or human suffering. The sensuality of scary movies appeals to me: the political undertone and pacing of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the sadness and romantic shroud of The Others. I love the suspense, surprise, and anticipation in horror films-and a great relationship (and great sex) are rife with suspense, surprise, and anticipation...not pain (at least in my opinion).
Question #2: Would it be fun to chuck it all and go live on a sailboat?
Of compatible respondents, 68% agreed they it would be fun to chuck it all and go live on a sailboat.
Um, no. I don't want to get rid of everything I've earned and isolate myself on a sailboat with no internet, no Ravens, no Chic Fil-A. Plus, people who think it would be fun to chuck it all and go live on a sailboat are likely to agree with the following statement: "I'd be comfortable being poor the rest of my life."
Am I missing something here? That would suck. Maybe I'm just not compatible with someone who wants to be poor, alone and on a sailboat.
Question #3: Do you believe in miracles?
Of compatible respondents, 73% agreed they believe in miracles.
Yes, I do believe in miracles — after all, I did actually find a way to graduate from high school and college.
Respondents who believe in miracles are likely to agree on: "Is there a God?"
What's the best question someone has asked you on a first date, and what's the best question you've ever asked on a first date?


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- Report: #581335
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: Asset Acceptance - LLC Debt Collection
Asset Acceptance - LLC Debt CollectionP.O Box 2036 Warren, Michigan United States of America
Asset Acceptance - LLC Debt Collection I filed Bankruptcy in 2006. One of my accounts sold the account to this company Warren, Michigan
*Consumer Suggestion: Has this been resolved?
*Consumer Comment: advise
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This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/15/2010 03:18 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Asset-Acceptance-LLC-Debt-Collection/Warren-Michigan-48090-2036/Asset-Acceptance-LLC-Debt-Collection-I-filed-Bankruptcy-in-2006-One-of-my-accounts-so-581335. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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#1 Consumer Suggestion
Has this been resolved?
AUTHOR: protecting consumers - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, December 14, 2011POSTED: Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Once you let us know the all of the details of the case, we will put together a case for you.
Are you an owner, employee or ex-employee with either negative or positive information about the company or individual, or can you provide "insider information" on this company?
#2 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: John - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, March 16, 2010POSTED: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
How to stop collection agency harassment for a debt that is not yours:
Send the collection agency a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt (do NOT use regular mail) stating:
Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, cease all communications with me about this alleged debt. Receipt of this letter is officially being time stamped via Certified Mail. I will pursue each subsequent phone call from your office with a $1,000 per incident penalty for Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations
To speed things up, fax this same letter to the collection agency.
Next time they call, read the following statement:
Pursuant to [your state] state law, this is to inform you that this phone call is being recorded. If you do not consent to being recorded, you need to terminate this call. Pursuant to [your state] state law, continuation of this phone call after officially being informed that it is being recorded implies consent to be recorded. This recording will be used to pursue Fair Debt Collection Practice Act violations in a court of law.
There is a statute of limitations for credit card debt, which is the amount of time that they can successfully take legal action against you for the debt. This time period varies for each state. You can find this time period for your state by going to the link below and looking under "Open Accounts."
If the number of years since you defaulted on this account and stopped making payments on it is greater than the number listed for your state, then they can no longer defeat you in any court
Are you an owner, employee or ex-employee with either negative or positive information about the company or individual, or can you provide "insider information" on this company?
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Monday, 29 August 2016
Instead of hoping that your lobbyist negotiates another carbon tax exemption for your industry, you could be preparing your business for the low-carbon era. A decisive competitive edge can be expected for those businesses that begin managing and thus professionally reducing their carbon emissions now, rather than maintaining outdated oil age thinking - read how to do this here. Furthermore, get an...
Hi Nigel, Thanks for your questions. I've seen your comments and contribution also on the ...ByMartina Prox, May 27, 2016
I would be keen to know if Ecoinvent have plans to return to publishing Multioutput proces ...ByNigel Howard, May 26, 2016
In reply to Ajay: Hi Ajay, Moritz, the author of the above article is now working fo ...ByMartina Prox, May 2, 2016
Hello. Do let me know status of your project for electric cables / PVC, copper separation. ...ByAjay, May 1, 2016
Good write up. A related follow up. Though certainly not healthy nor desirable, fact is mo ...ByAjay, May 1, 2016
atmospheric carbon measurement
comparative life cycle assessment
corporate material flow modeling
Corporate Social Responsibility
customer-driven sustainability
energy efficiency in production
Environmental Goods and Services Sector
Environmental management accounting
environmental management system
environmental performance indicator
environmental product declaration
environmental product declarations
environmental profit and loss statement
Environmental Sustainability Index
environmental technology verification
Environmentally Extend Input Output modelling
Environmentally Harmful Subsidy
Environmentally Weighed Material Consumption
European Green Cars Initiative
European Sustainable Development Strategy
integrated resource efficiency
internalization of externalities
mechanical-biological treatment
OECD Environment Policy Committee
Online Resource Efficiency Platform OREP
product environmental footprint
Production-based CO2 Productivity
remuneration of environmental performance
renewable energy in manufacturing
Sustainable Resource Management


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Much of the money $347 million will come from a $20 billion state transportation bond voters approved in November. Bay Area transit agencies, including BART and AC Transit, will also receive $922 million directly from the state under that Proposition 1B bond measure rounding out a total of nearly $1.3 billion for area transit.
About half the money will augment large mass transit projects: $100 million for the San Francisco MUNI Central Subway, $45million for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's bus rapid transit project and $17million apiece for the BART extension to Warm Springs and eBART, a commuter rail link to BART's Pittsburg/Bay Point station from eastern Contra Costa County.
The $34 million for the BART projects will
actually come from Proposition 1B transportation bond funds that the state will give directly to BART, which has pledged the money to MTC to satisfy funding rules that require outside funding for extension projects.
Some advocates for poor and minority transit riders expressed disappointment that the package the commission adopted unanimously scaled back an earlier proposal for funding "Lifeline" transit services for transit riders who don't have other means of transportation.
The commission approved adding $143 million to the $91 million the commission had previously agreed to spend on the Lifeline program over the next 10 years. A proposal the commission considered in May would have added another $10 million to the program. Commissioners also agreed Wednesday to add that $10 million if state budget negotiators now meeting in Sacramento restore excess gasoline sales tax revenue, known as the "spillover," to a statewide public transit fund.
With that possible reduction, some advocates questioned whether the commission's priorities weren't skewed away from the kind of services that serve the transit-dependent.
"How is it that Warm Springs fits into the urban core?" asked Raphael Durra, chairman of the Minority Citizens Advisory Committee, which advises the commission.
Bob Allen of Urban Habitat, which advocates for poor and minority communities, echoed that doubt and lamented that the public had not had adequate chance to review the new proposal:
"We don't see how eBART and Warm Springs are going to benefit the urban core."
Commissioner Federal Glover, who is also a Contra Costa County supervisor representing the area to be served by eBART, took umbrage at the suggestion that the area was insufficiently urban.
"Next time, please make sure that you have your facts together when you come here," Glover said.
After the meeting, he explained that the area, which he represents on the county Board of Supervisors, has been accurately designated an "area of concern" by the MTC.
"If you look at the demographics, there are a lot of poor and minority residents that do not have access to transportation" in communities like Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood.
The package will also provide $32 million more funding for the Bay Area's smaller transit operators, such as the Livermore Valley's Wheels bus service and Contra Costa County's WestCat bus agency, down from the $41 million proposed in May.
Read Erik Nelson's Capricious Commuter blog at http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation.


text: Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV (and former recipe writer for Mademoiselle and amateur paremiologist), sheds light on MTV's target demographic: "When you have a child (mine is12), it's a gift, and a live-in focus group. She was doing her homework while listening to music online. She said, 'Mom, found this band called Jefferson Airplane. Who are they?' I thought, in the words of Justin Timberlake, what goes around comes around." [NYT]


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BGR Plays With The Motorola MAXX Ve
Next Story
LG SV260 Nags And Then Nags Some More
They've done it again! Our peeps over at Boy Genius Report got their paws on on a spankin' new Verizon MAXX Ve from Motorola. Equipped with an auto-focusing 2MP camera and MP3 playback, the MAXX looked like a promising phone until I scrolled down and saw this…
Nooooooo! The VCAST interface that plagues almost every Verizon phone! Well, it was nice knowing you MAXX. I, ah, hear my mother calling me for dinner. Gotta run!
Motorola Solutions
- Founded 1928
- Overview Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) is a data communications and telecommunications equipment provider that succeeded Motorola Inc. following the spin-off of the mobile phones division into Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. in 2011. The company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Motorola Solutions is composed of the Enterprise Mobility Solutions division of the former Motorola, …
- Location Schaumburg, Illinois
- Categories Enterprise Software
- Website http://www.motorolasolutions.com
- Full profile for Motorola Solutions
Verizon Communications
- Founded 1983
- Overview Verizon Communications is a broadband and telecommunications company operating 4G LTE network, 3G network, and information and entertainment services. It is a Dow 30 company that employs a diverse workforce of more than 180,000 dedicated employees around the world. It serves mass market, business, government, and wholesale customers by delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication …
- Location New York, NY
- Categories Mobile, Information Technology, Communications Infrastructure
- Website http://www.verizon.com/
- Full profile for Verizon Communications
- Website N/A
- Full profile for BGR


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Trip Chowdhry of Global Equities Research today argues Apple (AAPL) may have upside in the present quarter given that it appears the company's Mac computers are replacing some Sony (SNE) machines that are being phased out of corporate environments.
Chowdhry writes that it is "well known" that Apple had "blowout iPhone sales" in the December quarter, and goes on to say that he's "uncovered" something else, without citing sources.
Writes Chowdhry, he has "discovered pickup in Enterprise IT Spend" and that "Apple Mac Account managers have been very busy in the last 2 weeks of December."
From there, he expands to say "Comprehensive view is that Apple Mac's are replacing the SONY installed base within the Enterprise," with Sony having decided last February to exit the PC business.
Chowdhry claims to have found out that "Macs that are being purchased by the Enterprise is running Mac OS Yosemite and also Microsoft Windows 7 in the Virtual mode, running on VMWare Fusion product."
He concludes that "probably there is about 500,000 to 750,000 Mac units sales upside possible for December' 2014 quarter."
Apple shares today are up $1.18, or 1%, at $107.44.
[quote] AAPL [/quote]
The bullish note today on Apple (AAPL) from activist Carl Icahn wasn't the stock's only positive news; the shares also got a thumbs up from Oppenheimer & Co.'s Andrew Uerkwitz, who raised his rating to Outperform from Market perform, and set a $115 price target, writing "we expect the iPhone 6/6 Plus to be, by far and away, the most successful phone launch to date with excellent sales prospects well into 2015."
Uerkwitz raised his estimates for the fiscal year ended last month to $182.9 billion in revenue and $6.43 per share, up from $180.4 billion and $6.35. For 2015, he sees $208.1 billion and $7.31, up from a prior $189 billion and $6.65.
"We are in a new up-cycle for Apple," he concludes, citing the benefit of not just larger displays but also features in the recently released "iOS 8″ software update as making Apple's "ecosystem" stronger:
We believe iPhone 6 and iOS 8 will bring important features to AAPL's overall ecosystem that increases user stickiness: 1) Apple Pay, 2) HealthKit and Health App, and 3) integration between OS X and iOS, and 4) HomeKit. We believe these will drive market share gains.
Apple today closed up 22 cents, at $101.02.
ISI Group's Brian Marshall this evening cut his rating on shares of Apple (AAPL) to Buy from Strong Buy, while raising his price target to $675 from $600, writing that the 15% rise in the shares since early April means "upside potential is somewhat reduced with the stock now at ~$600.
The ISI rating structure requires 20% upsid to justify a Strong Buy, he notes.
Marshall notes the Apple ecosystem is proving "stickier" than he thought:
While we have always believed AAPL's ecosystem (e.g., iTunes, App Store, iOS, OS X, iCloud, etc.) was highly "sticky" for existing users, we are pleasantly surprised to see AAPL's user base expanding at a healthy pace (e.g., ~60mil new users in ~6mo, ~1/2 of iPhone buyers new to iPhone, ~2/3 of iPad buyers new to iPad, etc.). Importantly, iPhone 5S is also doing very well in emerging markets where per capital income levels are much lower than in AAPL's more established markets. This provides us incremental confidence that next generation iPhones / iPads can help continue growing the ecosystem (vs. simply serving as a refresh for the installed base).
Can the stock get back to $700, he wonders:
Possible to return to 2012 all-time highs >$700/share? In our view, ecosystem growth and size (i.e., installed base) are the most important metrics for the long-term potential of AAPL. We believe $700+/share could be a possibility in CY15 if AAPL can offer greater evidence/visibility on the rapid expansion of its ecosystem (vs. simply becoming a developed market upgrade cycle story). Until we see the bill-of-materials (i.e., BOM) of the upcoming iPhone 6 which will be the most important financial lever for AAPL in the near-term, we believe it's prudent to move to a BUY rating at the current ~$600 level.
Apple shares today slipped $1.05 to close at $587.99.
Shares of Apple (AAPL) are up $4.15, or 0.8%, at $524.01, as the Street offers up a fairly warm review of the company's refresh of the iPad lineup at a media event in San Francisco yesterday, which was accompanied by updates as well of the MacBook Pro line of laptops, the announcement Apple's software will be given away for free, and disclosure of pricing for the new Mac Pro.
Analysts today are not only reviewing the announcement but also looking forward to the fiscal Q4 report next Monday, October 28th, after the closing bell. Analysts have been modeling $36.83 billion in revenue and $7.91 per share in net profit, though some are forecasting a beat given that Apple said last month it was expecting results at the upper end of its forecast.
Goldman Sachs's Bill Shope reiterates a Buy rating on the stock and a $560 price target, writing that there were few surprises at the event, "other than some of the company's pricing changes."
We believe the new iPads could begin to reinvigorate Apple's revenue growth in the tablet category, and we view the company's increasingly free software model as an important long-term driver of its ecosystem breadth and installed base loyalty. Largely due to the large form-factor iPad upgrade and the company's higher price points for the Retina iPad mini, our overall iPad ASPs increase and units decrease more modestly. As a result, we believe guidance and out year estimates are biased to the upside, and we believe this will continue to drive a recovery in the share price.
Shope thinks Apple will beat September-quarter estimates, and the focus will be on the outlook offered for Q1. He's modeling revenue of $55 billion and EPS of $13.95, versus consensus of $55.5 billion and $13.82.
Barclays's Ben Reitzes, reiterating an Overweight rating, and $540 price target, thinks that making the latest OS X rerelease, "Mavericks," free is "a significant divergence from the industry standard."
"Taking into account its strategy to give away iWork as well, it seems that Apple's software strategy is aimed at driving more use of its ecosystem – wrapped around iCloud, which should spur loyalty and ongoing upgrades to new hardware by customers over time."
Reitzes notes the new iPads, with the mini's price raised from $329 to $399, should preserve profitability for Apple, though he notes some investors were probably disappointed that the iPads did not add the same fingerprint sensor technology that debuted last month on the iPhone 5S.
On the other hand, Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi, who has an Outperform rating on Apple and a $600 price target, is baffled by Apple giving away the software crown jewels:
While great for consumers, we were a bit puzzled that Apple decided to give away so much of its software for free – new Mac OS X Mavericks, iLife for iOS and OS X, and iWork for iOS and OS X. The upgrades represent very high margin business that users are generally willing to pay for. Moreover, providing free software upgrades for older generation offerings may elongate replacement cycles. By contrast, we believe that lowering the price of the entry level Macs by $100 (from $999 to $899 on the Air) may have resonated more with consumers and had a more positive financial impact on the company. We note that in the first year of availability (July 2012-June 2013), 35% of Mac users downloaded Mountain Lion OS X – which led to ~$560M in revenue and $500M+ in profit (28M users at $20). We are surprised that Apple is giving away high-margin software that users overwhelmingly pay to download instead of keeping software costs constant and reinvesting to lower hardware entry points to get users on the OS X or iOS ecosystem.
In fact, regarding software, it appears to be the key at the moment to sustaining higher-than-average tablet pricing, writes UBS's Steve Milunovich, who today reiterates a Neutral rating on the shares and a $520 price target.
"We surmise part of the higher iPad ASPs relates to the inclusion of previously a la carte software, such as iWork and iLife," writes Milunovich. "In our view, Apple's new approach of including its software for free in all new devices should help to maintain premium pricing and is another step in software / vertical integration coming full-circle."
Milunovich maintains an outlook for 84 million iPad units to be sold this fiscal year, but raises his average selling price for the device to $442 from $425, offering positive thoughts on the new specs of the devices:
Both the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display use Apple's A7 processor and M7 coprocessor with a 64-bit architecture, improving both CPU and graphics performance markedly from the A6. Despite having a smaller battery, the iPad Air (32.4 Wh) offers similar battery life as the Gen-4 iPad (42.5 Wh), while the iPad mini's battery is only slightly larger than last year's device. Improvement in both devices' connectivity impressed us. Apple now includes multiple antennas, known as multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), at both the transmitter and receiver that help to double Wi-Fi speeds up to 300bps. The new devices expand their LTE capability to 14 from 8 bands previously. The added bands should help iPad cellular adoption, particularly in Western Europe where many carriers operate on Band 7. The added bands also provide coverage in Japan (NTT DoCoMo), Hong Kong (China Mobile Hong Kong), and Indonesia (DiGi, SingTel).
One of the concerns Milunovich expresses is whether there will be a deal with China Mobile for the iPhone 5S in the new year.
That is a concern shared by BTIG Research's Walter Piecyk, who reiterates a Buy rating today and a $540 price target, while writing that good results this quarter could yield to disappointment come March if iPhone sales experience their seasonal slump absent a China Mobile deal:
With the iPad announcements now behind us, Apple has three possible catalysts for 2013: the Fiscal Q4 report on Monday, the launch of the new iPads across the globe on November 1st and a possible product announcement with China Mobile. If the last does not materialize, investor concern about how far iPhone sales could fall sequentially in the March quarter could start to surface in December. Undoubtedly, our peers will be reporting back from various trips to Asia as year-end approaches, citing "checks" about the direction of component orders. Absent the addition of China Mobile into the mix, those "checks" could turn out to be disappointing as the compression of the product cycle (which we have been writing about for the past year) is likely to deliver a predictable 20% sequential drop in iPhone unit sales in the March quarter. Yet, that might not be reflected by a consensus estimate derived from a very broad group of analysts. But first, let's talk about what we saw out in San Francisco yesterday and why we think iPad's could be a source of positive news for Apple.
You can read more of Piecyk's thoughts on the matter in his rather lengthy post on the BITG Web site, free registration required.
William Power with R.W. Baird reiterates a Neutral rating and a $525 price target, writing that while there wasn't much unexpected, it was still "a solid refresh."
"Given its slowing growth and lack of significant recent innovation, we view valuation as fair, but could consider getting more aggressive on any pullback," writes Power.
Power is modeling revenue last quarter in line, at $37 billion, and EPS coming in a few pennies higher at $7.94 per share. For the Q1 outlook, he sees revenue of $54.7 billion and EPS of $13.88, which he describes as "in line with consensus," though a lot depends on how fast Apple can get supply of the iPad mini into stores, as well as boosting supply of the iPhone 5S, still in high demand.
Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty today reiterates an Overweight rating on shares of Apple (AAPL), while cutting her price target to $600 from $630, after lowering estimates to reflect lower iPhone demand last quarter, plus the possibility of a pause in the June quarter in advance of an iPhone update in September.
Apple shares today are down 52 cents at $435.16.
Huberty's estimate for the fiscal Q2 ended last month goes to $41.38 billion in revenue and $9.59 per share in net profit from a prior $43.07 billion and $10.15 per share. Her projection for the June fiscal Q3 goes to $35.2 billion and $7.45 per share from a prior $40.07 billion and $8.76 per share.
Huberty notes Apple had its biggest-ever inventory build for the iPhone in the December quarter, up 84%, year over year, even as sales recorded by U.S. carriers showed some slowing of demand:
Our telecom analyst Simon Flannery estimates 9.5M iPhone activations in the Mar Q at AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. This implies 44% Q/Q decline, which is worse than -34% Q/Q a year ago. However, activations at the big three carriers will account for 29% of iPhone shipments in the quarter, which is higher than 26% a year ago, despite likely higher shipments into emerging markets.
She cuts her iPhone estimate for last quarter to33 million units sold, down from a prior 37-million projection, while also raising heriPad estimate to 21 million units from 19 million. It appears that because of the inventory build, production rates for the iPhone last quarter were trending at 30 million units — below her sales forecast, in other words.
Huberty holds out hope that other geographies, such as India and Brazil, will pick up some of the slack going forward, as well as new distribution with carriers such as Japan's NTT DoCoMo, and T-Mobile USA:
iPhone accounted for 16% of India's smartphone market revenue in the Dec Q or a 400% increase in share, according to IDC. Apple drove the improvement by increasing distribution, launching payment plans that lower the upfront cost of the phone, and improving the ecosystem as the iTunes Store went online in December. While shipments are still very low, it is important to prove success in other BRIC countries beyond China (see Brazil below) [...] We believe the price reduction is due to Apple's supplier Hon Hai producing Apple products in the country, which the local media reported on at least a year ago. Apple shipped 3.6M iPhones to Latin America in CY12, with the majority likely to Brazil in our view. Lower prices should drive significant growth off this base [...] T-Mobile starts shipping iPhones on April 12. In early April, Apple permanently lowered iPhone 4S and 4 pricing by up to 25% in Brazil. Historically, iPhone pricing is up to double the US due to import taxes.
Things to look forward to, she believes, are the June Worldwide Developer Conference Apple will host in San Francisco, when it may show off refreshes of iOS and Mac OS X, as well as new services, perhaps including streaming music and/or mobile payments; and the release in the September quarter of a new iPhone, a lower-cost model of the device; and refreshes of the iPad:
From our recent meetings with management, we believe Eddy Cue, Apple's head of Internet Software and Services, is working hard to improve Apple's existing Internet-based services, such as iCloud and Maps, and at the same time planning to launch new services. We believe Apple could charge either developers or users for some of these services, which could boost Apple's annuitized revenue stream and better monetize its large user base. For example, Apple could offer a streaming music service using a freemium model. Users could listen for free with advertisements, or pay monthly or annually to listen without advertisements and with potential access to more features. Kevin Lynch's move from CTO of Adobe (ADBE) to Apple is another sign that Apple could launch new services that leverage its large developer base. Lynch led Adobe's efforts in subscription-based services and wireless devices.
Apple (AAPL) last night announced a major renovation of top leadership, ousting John Browett, its head of retail operations, hired only last January, and saying Scott Forstall, its head of software development for the iOS operating system that powers the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, will leave next year, his duties being taken over by two senior executives, Jony Ive, the head of Apple's hardware design, and Craig Federighi, who has been overseeing development of the desktop OS X operating system.
Along with Forstall and Browett's departure, the company said former engineering director Bob Mansfield will lead a new group that consolidates Apple's chip design and wireless technologies, and it said Eddy Cue, who has run the iTunes store and other initiates such as the App Store, will take over responsibility for the "Siri" artificial intelligence assistant on the iPhone, and for the new Maps program that Apple introduced in September.
The Street this morning seems to be fairly happy about all of these developments. Browett's departure is generally regarded as necessary to save Apple's retail store from losing their reputation for service. Forstall's departure is more of a surprise to people, and somewhat mixed in terms of its implications. There is a tremendous amount of faith in Jony Ive, but also a sense that it's not a great thing for Apple to lose a talented veteran like Forstall.
Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, who has an Overweight rating on shares of Apple, and a $900 price target, expressed relief that the changes seem to imply that Jony Ive will stick around for awhile, which would have been a concern for investors given his prominence. He notes, too, that Cook has nine years remaining on his contract with the company.
Regardless of the exact circumstances of Forstall's departure, "what is known is Apple is consolidating leadership around core long term executives, and the probability that the key management is committed to Apple appears to have increased," writes Munster.
Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets, who has a Buy rating on Apple shares and $1,111 price target, writes that the shake-up "a natural evolution at Apple as the Company increasingly pushes for a more seamless integration across devices and even better, more integrated experience for customers."
William Power with R.W. Baird, who has an Outperform rating on the stock and a $750 price target, today writes that Forstall's departure was a surprise, and that it "appears to be part of Tim Cook putting his own stamp on the company," and that "he is still surrounded by several key long-time Apple executives and innovators."
Brian Marshall of ISI Group wrote last night, While we view Forstall as key to AAPL's success having been head of the "all-important" iOS platform and are very disappointed to see him go, there's no change to our current positive view on AAPL.
"We believe if the company can be successful without Steve Jobs, it can be successful without Scott Forstall."
The least satisfied of these five analysts is Keith Bachmann of BMO Capital Markets, who has an Outperform rating on the shares and a $730 price target. Writes Bachmnan, the change is "a disappointment."
Mr. Forstall, who ran the mobile operating system unit, was very successful even under the demanding and watchful eye of Steve Jobs. While the new mapping service in the new iPhone is poor, we believe that over the course of his 15-year career at Apple, Mr. Forstall added value. With Mr. Jobs, it was always clear who was in charge of almost every decision. With Tim Cook, our take is that he is a "leader of leaders," which likely allows for more give and take, or even dissent, on key issues amongst executives. The sustained value of the implied new organizational structure will depend on the abilities and personalities of Apple's leaders. With a large base of approximately 60,400 full-time employees, it would be easy to conclude that the departures are not important. However, we do believe the departures are a negative, since we think Mr. Forstall in particular added value to Apple. However, we are not surprised that he would leave in a post Steve Jobs organizational structure, given his very strong personality.
Tech Trader Daily is a blog on technology investing written by Barron's veteran Tiernan Ray. The blog provides news, analysis and original reporting on events important to investors in software, hardware, the Internet, telecommunications and related fields. Comments and tips can be sent to: email@example.com.


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A mayoral candidate drew attention to his campaign Wednesday by claiming he would hand out dozens of marijuana plants.
Jim Berns, who is running for mayor of Cincinnati, said he would distribute 48 free plants on a first-come, first-serve basis at Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive.
"I hope, with only 48 plants to hand out, people who want one should get there early," Berns said. "One publication predicts traffic will be snarled by those hopeful to score some pot."
Ohio is among 48 states that prohibit the possession, sale and use of marijuana for non-medical purposes.
Police declined to comment on the campaign stunt, but the candidate actually gave away tomato plants, as was apparent in photos he sent out prior to the event.