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FCA Bank is a finance company that offers customized financial solutions as well as insurance services to meet the various needs of Fiat's large customer base.
The services provided by the Autonomy Programme have been designed to make driving and travelling more comfortable and safer in any condition.
An innovative, revolutionary system which analyses the consumption and emissions of cars in real time, on the basis of driving style, and provides advice for reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The Blue&Me™ system lets you communicate and keep yourself entertained in your car in complete safety and complete compliance with legal requirements, because you can use it without ever taking your hands off the wheel.
Where the innovation is born.
Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth and Jeep will be starring in the event from June 11 to 14. In addition to the motor show in Italy's first public park, an extraordinary selection of classic cars will be parading to the gardens of the Reggia di Venaria on Sunday.
On the occasion of the World Environment Day, FCA - the Official Global Partner of Expo Milano 2015 - is organising a round table on the topic of "The Environment: driving change and innovation". Speakers include experts from the environment and energy world and high-ranking academics. At this event, FCA is set to present its tablet and smartphone application dedicated to sustainability, the first in its kind for the automotive sector. It contains a fun game that measures the owner's responsible use of our planet's resources.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Fiat presents three world premières at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva: the 500L Trekking, the 500 GQ and the two-tone Panda 4x4. In addition, the Fiat booth will also be showcasing some other popular models to represent the extensive and well-articulated Fiat range: the 500S, the Punto 2013 with 'Sporting' Pack, the Freemont Lounge AWD and the Sedici with the new Nitro Kit.
The booth will also be featuring the new 500e, the small zero-emissions electric car that will be available for purchase solely in the United States from the second quarter of 2013. The Swiss event is also the opportunity to illustrate the financial products offered by FGA Capital and the accessories produced by Mopar®.
Lastly, during the show, visitors will also get the chance to admire the Panda Monster Truck prototype housed at Geneva airport.
Intended for sports enthusiasts and outdoor activity fans, the new Fiat 500L Trekking combines off-road looks with smart front-wheel drive thanks to "Traction+" technology, an innovative traction control system that improves handling on difficult and slippery terrain thus guaranteeing excellent performance when setting off. All this, without compromising the space and functionality features of the 500L model, the Fiat 'City Lounge' that can contain all those little pleasures and life's greatest emotions all together: children, friends, travelling, music and the web community.
Available for purchase across Europe from next June, the new 500L Trekking will contribute to consolidating the excellent performance of the Fiat City Lounge which in only five months has totalled approximately 38,000 orders in Europe, over half of which outside Italy. Particularly in Italy, it is the best-selling medium sized car and ranks second among the diesels. What is more, even before the entire launch plan has been completed across Europe, the Fiat 500L is the only model to be experiencing a constant rise in its segment in Europe despite the difficult economy of the continent. Among other things, the new Fiat car was recently named 'New Model of the Year 2013' by the readers of the Italian car magazine Quattroruote ahead of the best German competitors.
Off-road look, high ride and specific interior To emphasise its outdoor character, the 500L Trekking is supplied standard with specific bumpers with protective shield, for an even more aggressive and dynamic look, and a high ride to enable it to drive over rough ground more effectively. Also supplied as standard, the new 17" diamond alloy rims with 'snowflake' M+S tyres ensuring maximum road holding and traction, even in the toughest grip conditions. On the exterior, new details also stand out, which embellish the style of the version, such as the stone effect burnished wing mouldings, the satin handles and the brushed steel side mouldings.
On the interior, the Trekking version features a new high-tech fabric seat upholstery with eco-leather inserts. Customers can choose between two different combinations: magnesio grey fabric with leather inserts for an all-road atmosphere, or black fabric with white inserts for a more metro-chic personality.
Lastly, the 500L Trekking comes in 6 different body colours - white, dark metallic grey, black, sand, burgundy, dark metallic green and the new exclusive Sole yellow - teamed with a black or white roof.
Traction+ system The key feature of the new Trekking version of the Fiat 500L is its adoption of "Traction +", Fiat's innovative traction control system that improves traction over harsh and slippery terrain and costs far less than conventional 4x4 drive.
The new "Traction +" system uses the advanced hardware present on cars equipped with ESC, but is far more than a simple extension of ESC. Thanks to special algorithms for controlling and managing the braking system, the control unit electronically simulates the behaviour of a self-locking electromechanical differential. Software optimisations and the fact that force is applied through the normal (hydraulic) braking circuit makes the system's action more progressive than that of conventional systems.
Though performance is easily comparable, the system is much lighter. The system is activated using a button on the dashboard, and can be operated at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
This is how it works. Under conditions of low or zero grip from any drive wheel, the control unit detects slip and commands the hydraulic circuit to apply braking force to the slipping wheel, thus shifting drive to the wheel on the surface offering better grip. This makes it easy to drive, maintains directional stability and control, and ensures the best possible traction even over the roughest surfaces with poor grip.
Engine options The new Fiat 500L Trekking will be available, depending on the markets, with the 95 HP 1.4 16v, 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo and 105 HP 1.6 MultiJet II and 85 HP 1.3 MultiJet II turbodiesel engines (also with Dualogic gearbox). Specifically, a brilliant engine like the new 105 HP 1.6 MultiJet II turbodiesel is needed to propel the 500L Trekking in all driving conditions, in cities and out, securing fun, remarkable range, low running costs and reduced servicing frequency. Equipped in this way, the new version reaches a top speed of 181 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 11.3 seconds. All this with reduced fuel consumption and emission levels: the data recorded on the type-approval combined cycle were 4.5 litres/100 km and 117 g/km of CO2 respectively.
Excellent performance levels are also ensured by the new combination of the 85 HP 1.3 MJet with the Dualogic 5-speed robotised gearbox which, compared with the same engine version with manual gearbox, improves fuel consumption and emission levels: from 4.2 l/100 km to 4.0 l/100 km (combined cycle) and from 110 g/km to 105 g/km. The latter figure ranks the 500L at the top of its segment, even among diesel engines, after first setting the record in the petrol engines with the 112 g/km of CO2 afforded by the 105 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo.
Equipment The new Trekking version affords a broad range of standard and optional equipment. This includes the latest three contents now available for the entire range of Fiat 500L: the 520 Watt Beats Hi-Fi Audio System, the 'Lavazza 500 Espresso Experience' kit and the 'City Brake Control' system
520 Watt Beats Hi-Fi Audio System The Fiat 500L is the first Fiat Group Automobiles car and the only European car fitted with a 520 Watt Beats Hi-Fi Audio System, the finest in audio quality, which saw the sound engineers of the Fiat Group work alongside the founders of Beats, the legendary rapper and producer, Dr. Dre and the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records and record producer Jimmy Iovine.
Specifically, the system boasts a total power of 520 Watts - split between two 80 Watt mid-woofers, two 40 Watt tweeters, two 60 Watt full-ranges and one 80 + 80 Watt subwoofer - and an amplifier with DSP and 8 channels integrating an advanced equalisation algorithm developed by Beats, designed to recreate the entire sound spectrum that an artist experiences during his/her studio recordings. So the Beats Hi-Fi Audio System on the Fiat 500L, with its clean high definition sound, is revolutionising the way music can be experienced inside the car.
Lavazza 500 Espresso ExperienceFor the first time ever on the automotive scene, the Fiat 500L is the first standard production car to fit an authentic espresso coffee maker with Lavazza 'A Modo Mio' pod system that is perfectly integrated in the passenger compartment in a deck Fiat has specially designed for it. So for the first time you can enjoy the high quality, rich taste, body and creaminess of genuine Italian espresso coffee in a car. While comfortably seated without any wiring and in total safety. Fitted with a 12 V plug which fits in the central console, the coffee maker only works when the engine is running - for safety reasons the car must be stationary - and it dispenses espresso coffee in less than two minutes. Designed in close collaboration with Lavazza, the 500L coffee maker can be ordered as a normal optional at just Euro 249.
'City Brake Control' The Fiat 500L is one of the safest cars in the field of motoring as a whole, as demonstrated by the prestigious Euro NCAP 5-star rating with an overall score of 83/100. Affording all-round protection, now enhanced with the innovative 'City Brake Control' active safety system which detects the presence of obstacles in front of the car and automatically brakes if the driver fails to intervene promptly to avoid collisions.
Designed to help negotiate city traffic and driving at speeds of under 30 km/h, the 'City Brake Control' device - depending on certain parameters such as the vehicle dynamics, the steering angle, the position and pressure on the accelerator pedal - can avoid impact completely ("Collision Avoidance") or minimise the consequences of a possible impact ("Collision Mitigation").
In addition, the sophisticated device on the Fiat 500L incorporates three additional functions: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Prefill and Brake Assist. The former, while respecting the driver's wishes and leaving full control of the car in his/her hands, is triggered by emergency braking when impact seems inevitable and the driver has not managed to react, thereby anticipating him/her. The "Prefill" function instead prefills the braking system to provide a quicker response both when Automatic Emergency Braking intervenes and if the driver brakes. Brake Assist, on the other hand, recognises emergency situations and alters the brake pedal's response to achieve quicker braking.
The Geneva International Motor Show witnesses the world début of the special series Fiat 500 GQ resulting from the collaboration with Gentlemen's Quarterly, the men's magazine edited by Condé Nast which sets the style and culture trends across the world each month. Available for purchase next June, a showcar of the new version will be on exhibit at the Fiat booth. This model stands out for its exclusive and refined two-tone matt grey/carbon black livery.
Resulting from the partnership with the world-famous men's magazine, the Fiat 500 GQ is dedicated to the metropolitan man of the third millennium: a fan of sophisticated aesthetics and uncompromising style, he's a young customer who's always connected to his web community, who enjoys what life throws his way to the full, experiencing the fun, the culture, and the social life of the modern city.
The new special series about to be marketed is based on the 500S, yet the exterior differs in the two-tone paintwork (metallic grey/black), the chrome-plated mirror covers, the specific 16" alloy rims and the 'GQ' logo on the pillar, as well as some exclusive features of this version: an orange 500 logo on the hub caps, orange brake callipers (only on the 100 HP 1.4 engine version) and grey aesthetic liner.
Similarly, the car features the exclusive orange Fiat 500 GQ logo fitted on the dashboard and leather seats with matching stitching. Specifically, the new upholstery was designed to offer the best possible ergonomics, guaranteeing comfort and character in a single solution. The internal look of the Gentleman's Car is completed by the sports pedal unit with aluminium effect and the leather gear knob.
Available in the saloon and convertible configurations, the new Fiat 500 GQ can be equipped with the 69 HP 1.2, 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir and 100 HP 1.4 petrol engines, as well as the 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet (all combined with a manual gearbox).
With the new 500 GQ, the range of the iconic Fiat 500 is completed, having recorded over a million sales across the world since 2007. A genuine expression of style and personality, the 2013 range includes 2 bodies (saloon and convertible) and 5 engine versions (69 HP 1.2, 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo, 100 HP 1.4 16v, 69 HP 1.2 EasyPower and 95 HP 1.3 MultiJet 16v).
The Fiat 500e The icon of Italian-made cars with a 111 HP (83 kW) electric battery-powered engine. Fiat meets the actual needs of its clientele, whatever the market or policy on CO2 emissions. Available for purchase solely in the USA from the second quarter of 2013. Less than 4 hours to 'fill up' and a range of 140 km. Consumption levels of just 29 kilowatts/hour for 160 km and an annual battery recharging cost estimated at 500 Dollars.
Visitors of the Geneva International Motor Show will get a chance to see the European première of the 500e, the small zero-emissions electric car recently presented at the Los Angeles Motor Show, which will be available for purchase solely in the United States from the second quarter of 2013.
Together with the brand new 500 GQ and 500S versions on show in Geneva, the 500 continues to raise eyebrows for its ability to reinvent itself relentlessly. The new zero-emissions city-car emphasises how the Fiat brand is able to respond to the need to reduce CO2 emissions, whatever the market or government policy.
Unique style harnessed for efficiency Designing cars which are compact on the outside and large on the inside, with an empathetic, eco-compatible design yet which are still fun to drive: this is the 'Simply More' styling and design approach implemented by the Fiat brand. The same approach applied to the new 500e, projecting its Italian design into the future, through a silhouette modelled in the wind tunnel and futuristic retro references with a spotted matrix for a look at the very cutting edge. To achieve an aerodynamic improvement of 13%, the Fiat 500e offers eight exterior refinements and over 140 hours of testing and honing in the wind tunnel.
Inside, the 500e 2013 merges a futuristic retro design with the unique features of Electric Vehicle technology, making for a simple yet innovative interior. A new 7" TFT digital display embellishes the instrument panel where, thanks to clear and accurate colour graphics, all the vehicle functions are displayed, along with the battery charge levels and the trip summary. In addition, a new TomTom navigation system allows the driver to see the vehicle charge programme, the capacity and energy flow measurements, and he or she can even find the nearest recharging stations in real time.
Under the dashboard panel, the Fiat 500e 2013 features a new easy-to-use electronic gearbox with a drive selector push-button. And for an additional touch of style, the passenger compartment is available in black or white, all underscored by bright elettrico orange features which further accentuate the distinctive personality of this particular 500.
Best-in-class performance Designed to be an Electric Vehicle without compromise, the Fiat 500e 2013 relies on the winning formula of offering a compact car - a characteristic trait of the 500 - adding a new electric battery-powered engine which develops a horsepower of 111 (83 kW) and which is recharged in under 4 hours thanks to the 240 V level-2 (OBCM) on-board charging module.
The EPA - the US Environmental Protection Agency - has valued the performance in the extra-urban cycle of the new Fiat 500e: the result is 108 MPGe, a value yet unbeaten by any electric vehicle on the US market. In detail, the MPGe is the measurement unit developed by the EPA to determine how many miles an electric vehicle can cover with a quantity of electricity generated by a battery, with the same energy content as a gallon of petrol.
The tests carried out by the EPA showed that, on a full charge, the Fiat 500e has a range of approximately 140 km, the best value among all electric vehicles on the US market produced by the major car manufacturers.
In addition, the Agency estimated the annual cost to power it to be in the region of 500 Dollars. This estimate was calculated by forecasting the price of electricity during a mileage of over 24,000 km with the performance specifications on the combined urban/extra-urban cycle of the car. The Fiat 500e boasts an index of 116 MPGe on the urban/extra-urban cycle and 122 MPGe on the urban cycle. Lastly, the EPA tests report the car's energy consumption to be just 29 kW/hour for 100 miles.
Passengers can access information about the Fiat 500e using a new smartphone application, compatible with iPhone and Android, which shows the condition of the car in real time, managing the battery charge levels, recording the energy consumption, locating the car and the nearest battery recharging stations, planning and sending routes for the vehicle and sending text message warnings and notifications.
Lastly, to make sure the new Fiat 500e 2013 offers first-class manoeuvrability and braking capacity, the engineers devised a new chassis and suspension for the electric motor, consolidating the outstanding European driving dynamics for which Fiat and the 500 model are known the world over.
Custom-made technology for all the needs of the international markets Where growing awareness of environmental issues brings together consumers and governments from the various continents, customer requirements differ considerably due to national culture and policy. This is the reason for the unique alliance between the Fiat and Chrysler groups for the joint development of innovative programmes which satisfy a sustainable custom-made mobility in the various markets in which both groups operate.
For this reason, Chrysler is the centre of expertise for electrifying cars for both Groups, with special focus on marketing these products in the United States where this technology is now consolidated. In Europe, on the other hand, Fiat Group Automobiles pursues the containment of polluting emissions and of the level of CO2 by developing its own technologies (TwinAir, MultiAir and MultiJet II) applied to its petrol and diesel engines, in addition to the distribution of alternative power supplies using methane gas and LPG, which are concrete solutions within everyone's reach and now available for all.
The spotlights will also be trained on the Panda family, presented here in Geneva in the Trekking 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir, Panda 4x4 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir and 75 HP Panda 4x4 1.3 MultiJet versions. The cars on exhibit stand out for the three unique high-impact liveries: two of them are 'clad' with a sophisticated three-layer paint - one is white and the other red - whereas the Panda 4x4 MultiJet stands out even more for its exclusive two-tone body: Toscana green for the body and Accogliente beige for the roof, a combination that recalls the world of nature and the great outdoors, the ideal habitat for the Panda 4x4.
This is no mere exercise in styling but a genuine experiment to identify some of these colour combinations for a production model. After all, colour has never been simply a matter of aesthetics for the Panda model. On the contrary, it is an integral part of a product philosophy that incorporates personality, creativity, style and Italian appeal.
Awarded the prestigious title of 'SUV of the Year 2012' by the English magazine Top Gear, the Fiat Panda 4x4 is the only 4WD model in segment A and it is winning over the entire region of the Alps, just like the previous two generations did. Just think, ever since it was launched, the new Panda 4x4 and Panda Trekking versions were the choice of more than 10,000 European customers (70% outside Italian borders), representing 17% of all Pandas sold in Europe. This percentage rises to 50% in Switzerland and exceeds 70% in Austria. So the new 4x4 and Trekking versions will contribute towards consolidating the leadership of the new Panda in segment A in Europe: in 2012 the new model was confirmed to be the most popular citycar sold in Europe with over 185 thousand new registrations and a share of 15.7%.
The only '4x4 citycar' on the market, the new four-wheel drive Panda is the successor to a best-seller which first appeared 30 years ago and made its name as the smallest and most interesting "explorer" in its class. Today, the new Panda 4x4 is confirmed to be a Jack-of-all-trades car, ready to tackle mountain mule tracks and the urban jungle with the same cool. Furthermore, from a technical point of view, the new Panda 4x4 improves itself once again and reasserts its admirable capacity to compete with off-road cars of much greater dimensions (as well as much higher prices).
Designed for motorists who love adventure and outdoor living, the new Panda 4x4 fits "Torque on demand" traction which cuts in automatically when needed to tackle any situation with ease. The Panda 4x4 also features the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system with ELD (Electronic Locking Differential) function as standard. This system provides additional assistance while driving and setting off on slippery terrain.
In addition, the Panda 4x4 also offers all the dynamics and comfort you need to complete long and challenging routes, thanks above all to the revised suspension - an independent MacPherson wheel arrangement at the front and interconnected wheels with torsion beam layout at the rear - and to the six-speed gearbox with low first gear combined with the 85 HP TwinAir Turbo engine which, thanks to the generous torque, accentuates the model's off-road features. Excellent performance levels are also afforded by the other engine type in the range: the 75 HP 1.3 MultiJet II turbodiesel.
Lastly, the Fiat booth at the Geneva International Motor Show will also be featuring a Panda Trekking, the link between the 4x2 and the 4x4 version, combining off-road looks with smart front-wheel drive and "Traction+" technology. From the point of view of style and standard equipment, the Trekking version is perfectly in line with the 4WD version: the only differences are the aesthetic treatment of the alloy rims (aluminium instead of burnished) and the absence of a skid plate and respective protection under the engine.
500SThe Geneva catwalk sees the Fiat 500S, the new version distinguished by 'Sexy', 'Stylish' and 'Seductive' positioning values, all enclosed within the letter 'S'. With a tough look and complete standard equipment, the models on display in Geneva fit the 85 HP 0.9 engine (cabrio version) and the brilliant 100 HP 1.4 16v engine with a top speed of 182 km/h and 0-100 km/h in only 10.5 seconds.
You can recognise the new 500S by its exterior, with the rear spoiler, the new side skirts, the specific spots bumper (front and rear), tinted windows, 15'' alloy rims with sports design (16" rims available upon request) and the burnished finishes. The interior on the other hand stands out for the new and exclusive sports seats with bubble wrap effect fabric, with red stitching and the '500S' logo on the backrests (leather upholstery available upon request).
In addition, to give the car more muscle, it can be equipped with optional spoiler and black roof. In keeping with the seductive spirit of the new version, the passenger compartment of the Fiat 500S also stands out for the unprecedented racing steering wheel, the specific gear knob and the matt silver treated dashboard. Similarly, the extensive range of standard equipment includes manual climate control and Blue&MeTM system with radio controls on the steering wheel.
The Punto 2013 and the new 'Sporting' PackThe Geneva International Motor Show will also be the opportunity to admire the Punto 2013, the evolution of the Fiat best-seller of which over 8.7 million units have been sold across the world since 1993. The new range offers a more rational line - in terms of trim levels and engines - while retaining the possibility of personalising every single Punto thanks to the new optional packs designed to accommodate the needs of a broad, multifarious clientele with different inclinations, ages and requirements.
Depending on the markets, the Fiat Punto 2013 range comprises two bodies (3- or 5-door), 2 trim levels (Easy and Lounge, with the addition of the Pop Star trim level in Switzerland), 8 engine types, 4 fuel systems (petrol, diesel, methane and LPG), 2 types of gearbox (manual and Dualogic robotised) and characterising optional packs - for instance Function, Comfort, Sporting and Sport 1 / 2 for the Swiss market - allowing for maximum personalisation, with a significant advantage for the customer.
The Fiat booth will be exhibiting a '3-door' Easy version with 105 HP 1.4 MultiAir engine personalised with the new 'Sporting' Pack which includes: a glossy black painted roof, dedicated 16" alloy rims with glossy black finish, burnished headlights, glossy black pillars and mirror covers, side skirts and low ride. The same sporty feel is found in the interiors, where the leather sports steering wheel with aluminium insert and grey stitching stands out, along with the leather trim on the hand brake lever and gear knob. The interior look is completed with the black "ceiling" and the "Tarmac" dashboard finish. In addition, the version on show features the exclusive white paintwork, which emphasises the model's bold styling personality.
The Fiat Sedici and the new Nitro KitA Fiat Sedici equipped with the new Nitro kit will be on display in the Fiat booth. Indeed, following on from the success on the Qubo Trekking model last year, Fiat has decided to restyle the kit with new graphics and new contents, and to extend the availability of the Nitro kit - developed with the American leading snowboard maker - to the Fiat Panda 4x4 and to the Fiat Sedici.
Recently launched onto the market, the new Nitro kit is targeted to the most dynamic customers who want a car for enjoying all the sorts of open-air sports with its 490 litre Freebox, its roof bars and its "Road Warriors" Nitro snowboard. All this and more, with style details like body stickers and the handy backpack with cool "Nitro - Fiat Free Style Team" graphics.
This consolidates a partnership established in 2009 between FIAT Freestyle Team and Nitro Snowboards with a European agreement which will continue in 2013. More specifically, the FIAT Freestyle Team supports "Nitro Road Warriors", a team of very talented rookies and expert riders, with the team's official Fiat cars for their travels across Europe seeking out the coolest destinations.
The Freemont Lounge AWDThe Fiat booth at the Geneva International Motor Show will also exhibit the Fiat Freemont in the Lounge AWD 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet trim level combined with the 6-speed automatic transmission, the version which has bowled over European customers and which became the most popular in 2012, becoming the best-seller in the range, with over 30% of the mix.
Ever since it was launched, the Freemont model has been able to accommodate the needs of the modern family to perfection: customers who preferred estates, minivans and crossovers were won over by its multifarious soul, by its notable value for money and by its outdoor spirit. Approximately 44,000 Freemonts have been ordered to date, ranking sixth in its category in Europe in 2012. In Italy, it tops the sales chart with a considerable share of 27.5% in its segment in January and retaining its solid leadership as the best-selling 7-seater in the Italian market.
FGA Capital Visitors will be introduced to the products of FGA Capital, a finance company specialising in the automotive sector, through illustrative materials and dedicated media at the booth. The finance company is operative in all the major European markets, and in Switzerland with Fidis Finance, with a sole mission: to support the sales of all Fiat Group Automobiles brand vehicles by offering innovative financial products with high added value services targeted to the dealership network, private customers and companies.
Mopar® Both the cars on show and a dedicated area of the booth will host the exclusive accessories produced by Mopar®, the Fiat Spa and Chrysler Group LLC division that deals with Customer Service activities and Parts & Service operations. Specifically, for the 500L version, some of the over 140 products that make the 500 the Fiat Group Automobiles car with the largest number of accessories available from the catalogue will be presented: among these, white 17" alloy rims, branded valve caps, velour mats, moulding on the bonnet, the rear number plate holder, the aluminium pedal unit and the kick plate with 500L logo. There will also be room to present the accessories in the Nitro Kit, which distinguish the Fiat Sedici on exhibit, whereas the Panda 4x4, offers the useful longitudinal roof rack bars and the innovative 'Blue&ME TomTom' navigation system.
The Panda Monster Truck During the show, public transiting in the reception area of Geneva airport will get the chance to admire the exclusive Panda Monster Truck, an enormous monster truck built by Fiat with the collaboration of Mercurio Cinematografica, set designer Andrea Faini and the Fabio Gementi workshop.
This fully functioning prototype combines a Panda 4×4 with a Jeep CJ7 4200 floor panel and features road tractor wheels with "High Speed" tyres, 150 centimetres in diameter and 50 cm wide, fitted with specially turned solid steel flanges. The end result is a 'bigfoot' Panda, towering at 390 centimetres ('wither height'), 380 cm long and 250 cm wide. It took just over two weeks of work to build it, paying the utmost care when connecting the steering system, clutch, accelerator and brakes between the two cars.
The Fiat Panda Monster Truck plays the starring role of the latest advertisement dedicated to the new Panda 4x4. The video footage tells the story of four friends who set off for a weekend in the mountains aboard a Panda 4x4. The car, transforming into a Monster Truck, climbs nimbly up to the hostel, stunning everyone with its performance. And when the driver, thinking he's in a normal Panda 4×4, gets out of the car, he ends up falling two metres onto a cushion of snow, to the laughter of his friends.
Fiat at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show
Mopar® at the 2013 Frankfurt International Motor Show
Fiat Group Automobiles at the fourth edition of the "NGV 2013" show
The new European MOPAR® site debuts in preview at Geneva
Fiat at Beijing exposition
Fiat at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show


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Welcome to Hi-Gear Plant & Tool Hire
We are an independent hire company with over 50 years experience based in Leicester with depots at Freemens Common in Leicester, Melton Road Thurmaston and we have a hire desk in EH Smith Builders Merchants in Enderby
We pride ourselves on being able to supply all your small plant and tool hire and site toilet requirements offering a friendly and personal service. All our plant and tools are maintained to the highest standards by our skilled and trained fitters.
We also offer a huge selection of professional, high quality and heavy duty power-tools, hand tools, gas and consumables from our public and trade shop available for purchase. We are main dealers for Bosch, Karcher, Paslode and Stihl.
We are able to service and repair most makes of power tools and PAT test all electrical equipment

subset: commoncrawl


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The Dallas Cowboys traveled to the University of Phoenix stadium Sunday to take on the Arizona Cardinals in a game with big playoff implications for the Cowboys.
On the other side of the ball, the Arizona Cardinals aren't officially out of the playoff picture quite yet, but the road ahead seems impassable. Realistically at this point in the season they know they're simply hoping to turn their season around and charge into 2012 with good momentum.
Although many predicted a blowout by the Cowboys, the Cardinals were able to hang in the game up until the very end, when they blew the opposition out of the water. The offense had some exciting moments, but the real stars were on the defense.
Over the next 12 slides, we will go over some lessons that we learned about the Cardinals in their 19-13 win.


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L.E. Smith Company Southern Belle Lamp
browse these categories for related items...
All Items: Vintage Arts:Decorative Art:Glass:American:Depression Glass: Pre 1940: item # 385496
Please refer to our stock # MG84 when inquiring.
The Glass Cupboard
New York
Guest Book
$80.00 each, 2 available
|This figural glass lamp was produced by L.E. Smith Company during the 1940's - 50's. The color was fired on over clear glass, giving the opaque finish. This style is referred to as the 'Southern Belle' lamp. I have 2 available. Both have been re-wired so they work fine. The shade clips on the light bulb. (Bulb not included, I recommend 25 or 40 watt bulbs so the glass doesn't get too hot.) Please specify which you'd like. All are in good shape.


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A structure is attached to the ocean floor as shown in Fig.P2.58. A2m diameter hatch is located in an inclined wall and hinged on onehedge. Determine the minimum air pressure, P1, withingthe container that will open the hatch . Neglect the weight of thehatch and friction in the hinge.
Ignore the line that is almost perpendicular to thehatch!


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You Belong at the ROM!
I've just celebrated my one year anniversary here at the ROM. It's been a fantastic year for me and the Museum, as we've spent much of the time working together on our plans for the future. I've decided to start my second year with some very exciting news that kickstarts the countdown to the ROM's centenary in 2014!
Starting today, it will cost much less to visit the Museum! We believe that everyone belongs at the ROM and have significantly reduced our prices to make it easier for you. Here's a look at what you can expect to pay when you walk through the doors:
Visit our website for new pricing.
How did we come to this decision and why?
Being more accessible by lowering the cost of admission is the first step towards our centennial goal to become more welcoming, more relevant, and an essential destination for everyone who cares about world culture and nature.
We've recently undergone a very interesting strategic planning process where we asked ROM staff, recent visitors, past visitors and people who have never been to the Museum what they thought we could do to encourage and enhance their experience once they walked through the door. The research showed that our admission prices were having a negative impact on attendance, particularly families.
The research also indicates that lower prices will attract more visitors. By having more visitors come, even though they each pay less, this new strategy still allows us to create remarkable exhibitions and events, and support our world renowned curators and research programs.
What has and hasn't changed?
Reduced Friday night admission has become more affordable than ever thanks to support from Sun Life Financial, a longstanding supporter of the ROM. From now onwards Friday night admission will be only $9 for an adult.
For our members, the cost of memberships has not changed. Your family/dual membership (2 adults plus up to 4 children 17 years of age and under) still pays for itself in under two visits. This year, your membership includes free attendance to two special exhibitions, as well as unlimited access to the Museum.
For our families, the cost of your visit (2 adults and 4 children 14 years of age and under) has been reduced from $80 to $54 and from $101 to $84 for major exhibitions.
There will no longer be a free two-hour period on Wednesday evenings. This lets us extend savings to all visitors every day of the week, all year round, and allows us to provide more free access to benefit communities who truly need it most.
We are increasing our ROM Community Access Network (ROMCAN) program by a full fifty percent, from 50,000 to 75,000 tickets a year.
We've expanded the age range for student pricing at the ROM to encompass students 15 to 25 years of age. Students are the audience of the future and are extremely important to us. We will continue to offer free admission on Tuesdays for Ontario post secondary students.
The ROM is one of the world's greatest museums – a place we want our audiences to feel at home, a place for all Ontarians and visitors alike to feel they truly belong.
We hope you share our excitement and look forward to seeing you at the ROM!


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September 11, 2007By: Mary Winston Nicklin
September Savings at The Little Nell, Aspen
The time for an Aspen getaway? Just about now. When the busy summer crowds have dissipated, the foliage begins to shimmer yellow and red, and a slight September slowdown means deals at Aspen's renowned luxury hotels, like The Little Nell. The town's legendary five star, five-diamond hotel is offering 30 percent off their regular rates for the entire month of September, so you can enjoy all that Aspen has to offer, all that luxury for which The Little Nell is famous, without the crowds.
Posted in: Articles, Featured Luxury Hotels, Romantic Travel, Luxury Spas, North America, Special Luxury Travel Offers, The Practical Traveler, Luxury Ski Resorts
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Who's your Grandpa...?
Don't have time to look? Curious who your great grandparents, or great-great ancestors are? Not sure how to get started looking?
Can help!
Let us do the research for you and help you find your relatives.
How does genealogy work? - It is said patience is a virtue; with genealogy it is a requirement. Researching your deceased ancestors can take hours, or days or months or even years to fit the jigsaw of your family together. The beauty of genealogy is you can select one or several people to research at your convenience. Genealogy research starts by taking all the information you have, beginning with yourself, and moving back through your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and on up the tree to find your ancestors. Even though our research is only done on the deceased, information from the living relatives can sometimes shed a light on the past. You may find one person, a multitude of persons or sometimes no one at all. At this point, the research results are just names. To be sure they are actually your ancestors, a deeper research of each person needs to be done. This is the area that patience is most needed.This is when you especially need Doorway To Your Past to help.Whether you are doing the research yourself, or having someone help you walk through that Doorway To Your Past, the final results can be very rewarding. Your family tree is something that future generations will appreciate and enjoy. It is important to remember that research results are not guaranteed. Until you begin, you do not know whom you will find.


text:
UGI, city discuss paving, communication
December 19, 2013
It costs the city between $30,000 and $70,000 to break down and resurface the average city block with asphal....
fromtheport: Loyalsock had a timetable in which homeowners in different sections had to have their laterals done. Loyalsock paved after the work was done. I believe the problem being addressed here is a utility digging up a street after it has just been paved, ie. Grampian Blvd was paved this summer and already there are at least six cuts from UGI in the new pavement.
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And South Williamsport! These roads all*****now.
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What about all the ma and pa plumbers that tore up loyalsock to replace sewer lines?
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text: Filson has tapped French bootmaker Le Chameau for a collaborative effort in the form of the durable Field Bag. Produced as a heavy-duty affair meant for toting much of a person's daily needs, twill and Mackinaw wool give way to a sturdy rubber bottom indicative of the rainboots from the Cherbourg-nurtured footwear specialists. The Field Bag features a full-width open rear pocket, two expandable front pockets, two open side pockets and can be purchased online for $350 USD.


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Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce
ThisWeek COmmunity News - Wednesday February 12, 2014 10:51 AM
Brinsley Lewis (left), president and chief operating officer of Mount Carmel Hospital East accepts the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award from Craig Hohnberger."
Mardi Gras celebrations got a jump start Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Hickory Lakes Conference Center for the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual 2013 Awards Dinner.
The event, sponsored by Diley Ridge Medical Center and Fairfield National Bank, included a silent auction, entertainment and dinner and was highlighted by a brief awards ceremony given to the most outstanding Pickerington area businesses in their respective categories.
"It was a really good, very decorative and festive event," said PACC President Helen Mayle.
"The food had a Cajun theme," she said. "We had about 200 people and they didn't care that it was Ohio weather."
Four major awards were presented to business and individuals in recognition of their achievements in 2013. The awards included:
Recognized for its unwavering commitment to the health of the Pickerington/Violet Township communities, Mount Carmel Health Systems took home the PACC's "Business of the Year" Award.
"They are extremely involved in the Pickerington community and will continue to be involved," Mayle said.
Mount Carmel Health System helped to facilitate the first Mount Carmel Health Fair in conjunction with the Taste of Pickerington event last October.
The health fair featured a wide array of free health and wellness offerings including blood pressure and bone density screenings as well as demonstrations about nutrition and strength training.
Additionally, Mount Carmel served as the title sponsor of the annual Mount Carmel Pickerington Violet Festival, which attracted more than 30,000 people to Pickerington's Victory Park in 2013.
Brinsley Lewis, president of Mount Carmel East, accepted the award in behalf of the company.


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Joan Rivers issued an apology, of sorts, for dropping the F-bomb and a scatological reference in the same breath on a live British TV show.
"Yes, I swore, and I'm so f------ sorry," the comedian, who has publicly admitted to being in her 70s, said in a statement – though the statement actually spelled out the same offending gerund Rivers used on the chat show Loose Women (a kind of British version of The View.
Rivers went code blue when she was asked about the challenges of interviewing celebrities on the red carpet. She said, "Get ready to bleep this," before using the offending words while talking about Russell Crowe.
Only the show didn't bleep it.
"We do apologize for that," the host said into the camera. "Joan didn't realize that we were absolutely live."
Rivers, who was promoting her live show Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress By a Life in Progress, which will open the Edinburgh International Festival in August, was then asked to leave the set during a commercial break.
"No one told me the TV show Loose Women was a reality show and that I would be voted off," said she later in her statement. "It's funny: offstage, I hardly ever use profanity. My favorite four-letter word is 'shop.' "
Joan Rivers: 'I'm So (Bleep)-ing Sorry' for Swearing on Live TV


text:
Professional Consensus
One well-known problem in the field of
/programming/what-have-you (and alleged to be one of the
, though this is ultimately a
problem) is the set of terms used within the profession. Many terms (like
) are words borrowed from ordinary English (like it or not, English is the
lingua francia
of computer science discourse) and given different meanings in our field. In many cases, these terms arrive via way of other fields of steady (most notably electrical engineering and mathematics), and the definitions used in CS may differ than in these other fields. For example, a
to a mathematician is an abstraction describing an unordered collection of unique identities; to a computer scientist it can mean that, or an object/module intended to model a mathematical set, etc.
In many cases, practitioners cannot agree on the definition for a term; there are many
which have been proposed, and the debate over which ought to be correct is frequently heated and fractious. (In many cases, moreso than necessary; much of the debate seems to be caused by one particular segment of the OO community seeking to exclude competing technology that they deem inferior). Other disagreements are caused by vendors trying to hawk products and redefining terms to suit their commercial purposes; or just by harmless and unintentional happenstance (authors providing precise definitions which they only intend to apply to their work; with multiple such authors developing multiple such definitions -- which often overlap but are not identical).
In other professions, such as law, accounting, and medicine; a standard set of terminology exists which is generally followed. While conflicts and interpretations do come about, these professions have ways to resolve these conflicts. In all three professions, there are professional societies with legal authority over practitioners which can serve to mediate conflicts -- bar associations, licensing boards, the FinancialAccountingStandardsBoard
(in the US), etc.
Would such
be beneficial to us? What if the cost of having it were to replace the relative "anarchy" and freedom from regulation with a professional organization, similar to FASB, whose pronouncements were to have legal weight (and disregarding them would be considered professional malpractice)? And if that were done, how would international disputes get resolved?
Such a thingie was already tried and already failed (or is on life support?). It is called SWBOK (
). Well, I'd rather not be standardized with UML and CMMi
, so I was more than happy when ACM retired its support for the project.
It should be pointed out the SWBOK (which I've never heard of before, which kinda proves both points) was a
organization, with no power whatsoever. I'm sure that numerous similar societies have been proposed, created, and subsequently ignored by all and sundry. A society with teeth might have different results - though they might not be good. (Many regulatory agencies are well-known for attempting to benefit the large players in the domain being regulated, rather than the profession - or society - at large).
Note: the IEEE has continued SWEBOK which can be found at
SWEBOK Guide Set - Volunteers are gearing up to refresh the Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge—SWEBOK—intending to add new knowledge areas (KAs) and to revise others.
Developed concurrently, the SWEBOK Guide, the Software Engineering 2004 (SE2004) curriculum guide, and the Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) certification each provided a characterization of the discipline of software engineering. Despite nearly independent development, the three instruments agreed to a remarkable extent. The primary purpose of the current revision of the SWEBOK Guide is to perfect the correspondence between the three items, notably by adding a KA on professional practices—a subject currently covered by the CSDP—and adding "foundation" KAs on related subjects that software engineers learn about during their undergraduate education—subjects currently covered by SE2004.
To achieve this alignment and to maintain the currency of the SWEBOK Guide, the IEEE Computer Society's Professional Practices Committee agreed in 2008 to the following changes:
a new KA on Professional Practice—similar to material currently in the CSDP
four new education KAs: Engineering Economy Foundations, Computing Foundations, Mathematical Foundations, and Engineering Foundations—similar to material currently in SE2004
removal of three related disciplines: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Software Ergonomics—obviated by other changes
added material about Human-Computer Interfaces in the Software Design and Software Testing KA
removal of the Software Tools section from Software Engineering Tools and Methods, and distributing it to the other KAs
a renamed Software Engineering Methods KA to focus on methods that affect more than one KA
redistribution of some other material into different KAs.
The problem is that
. There are multiple possible definition models for the same thing. One would have to be arbitrarily chosen over the other, which may slant thinking and tick off fans of alternative viewpoints.
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October 31, 2011
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31 Halloween Craft Projects
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Spooky Beaded Spider Ring
By: Tamara Borland
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Use these Halloween crafts ideas to whip up a spooky beaded spider ring, the perfect way to top off a spooky Halloween ensemble. Turn beads into a creepy spider in a jiffy!
- Beading Mat
- Beading Thread (I use Fireline)
- Size 15 beading needle
- Size 11 seed beads (preferably two different colored Delicas)
- Size 15 seed beads (same color as the size 11's)
- 6 mm Bead (spider abdomen)
- 4mm Bead (Spider head)
- Bead stopper (I used size 8 bead)
Key: Front - side facing toward bead stopper
End - Side facing away from bead stopper, and toward the front.
Ring Procedure:
- Thread about 1 yard of beading thread onto your needle. Attach a bead stopper to end leaving a 6 inch tail. This will be sewn into beadwork later.
- Add six size 11 seed beads onto thread. Put on two black beads, then two orange beads, and then two more black beads. Slide beads to end.
- Point needle toward the end. I will label the beads one through six. The first bead (closest to your needle) is bead one, and the last bead (near bead stopper) is bead six.
- Put one black bead (size 11) on the string. Skip bead one and go through bead two only. Pull the string tight, and you will see that two beads are now sitting on top of each other
- Now, add an orange bead. Do this by skipping bead three and going through bead four.
- Add another black bead, by skipping bead five, and going through bead six. You should now be at the end.
- Turn needle around (toward the front) and add another black bead, by skipping bead six, and going through bead five.
- Add an orange bead, by skipping bead four and going through bead three.
- Add another black bead, by skipping bead two, and going through bead one.
- By now you should see a pattern: Go through the beads that are sticking out. To gain a better understanding of how this ring will be made, the Front and End I referred to, are actually the top and bottom of the ring (when put on your finger). The first six beads are the ring's width; beads one through six will become rows one through six.
- Continue this pattern (of steps 4-9) until the beadwork is long enough to wrap around your preferred finger. Make sure to tighten the thread often, to make the beadwork free of gaps.
- Once you believe the ring is the right length, with your hands, pull the ends together. If beads 1, 3 and 5 fit between beads 2, 4 and 6, you are done adding beads to your ring. If not, add one more row (or column) of beads, so that the ends fit together as described.
- You should be exiting bead one. To sew the ends together, go through bead one (on the other end of the beadwork) in the direction of the bead stopper. Then go through bead tow, and three etc. To do this you go back and forth between the last columns of beads on either end. The ends should look like this •○•○•○ (• being one end, and ○ being the other)
- Sew the string in to the beadwork to hide it. Do the same with the 6 inch tail made at the beginning. You are now finished with creating the ring. Next you will decorate it with the spider.
*The procedure to make the spider is a little vaguer than the ring, because the directions depend on how much you want the legs to be bent. Attaching the spider just requires common sense.
Spider Pocedure:
- Using about one yard of beading thread, (with a bead stopper on the end with a six inch tail) string on the 6mm bead.
- String on one size 11 bead, and eight size 15 beads.
- Skip the first size 15, and then sew back through all the beads (even the 6mm). You have created one leg.
- Do the same on this side of the spider. You now have two legs.
- Repeat steps two and three until you have four legs.
- Repeat steps two and three, using only seven size 15's, until you have six legs.
- If you want to detail the legs further, draw on them with a permanent marker.
- Now that you have six legs, sew through to the "foot" of one of the first pair of legs you created. This will be attached to the bottom row of beads on your ring.
- To do this, sew upward, from a bead on the bottom row, through your ring until you reach the middle row. The leg should now be attached. Work your way to the 6mm (when spider is positioned correctly) and go through it.
- Starting at the middle row of the ring, sew downward until you reach the bottom row where you want to attach the other bottom leg. This should secure the spider's abdomen (6 mm bead.)
- Go through the leg, starting at the foot, to the 6mm. You are now on the other side of the spider.
- Sew the sting into beadwork, secure the thread to the ring with knot, and cut the string. This will secure the spider further, and finish attaching the spider's body.
- Now, using the six inch tail you created earlier (after removing the bead stopper) sew into the ring, from the middle row, up one row.
- String on the 4mm bead (the head) and sew into the beadwork where you exited the head.
- To secure the head further, work your way through the beadwork and go through the head again.
- Sew through the beadwork on the opposite side, secure the thread to the ring with a knot, and cut it. You are now finished with the project.
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starry902 0373085
Jun 18, 2011
very good peyote directions! thanks-will try this later on
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text:
PHILADELPHIA—In an excruciatingly painful way, it was fitting.
The Bulls' fate in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series—and in their postseason, period—rested in the hands of the replacements for Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
It didn't go well for C.J. Watson and Omer Asik, though.
Thus, there was pain in the visiting locker room in the Wells Fargo Center Thursday night, in the moments following their 79-78 elimination by the eighth-seeded 76ers, halting their season about three rounds short of their goal.
The pride the Bulls' players felt in getting to this game, and to the final seconds with a lead, without Rose and Noah, couldn't override the disappointment in their season coming to an abrupt, premature, undermanned end. "The last two weeks were so tough," Carlos Boozer said at his locker, as teammates trickled somberly in and out of the room. "Pooh (Rose) going down, Jo (Noah) going down. I tell you one thing, it didn't break our spirit, though. You saw us fighting every day, scrapping, against a team that's completely healthy, that has a lot of talent. I give us a lot of credit for that."
Still … "I thought we were gonna win the game, straight-up," said Taj Gibson, feeling a lot more pain from the defeat than from the sprained ankle on which he played 29 minutes.
The Bulls will have a hard time forgetting the chances they had Thursday, much like they won't forget the big lead in Game 3 they lost after Noah went down, or the chances to tie the game in the final minute of Game 4.
This was the worst, though, because they were seven seconds from Game 7 on their home floor, a chance to turn negative history (the fifth No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8) into positive (the ninth to rally from a 3-1 series deficit).
Oh, they also led by three with 2:03 left, after maintaining possession for an insane 1 minute, 17 seconds, thanks to three offensive rebounds and a pair of 76er fouls. ("That's when I thought we had it; I thought we had the will. Guys wanted it," Gibson lamented.)
And they led by three with 25.8 seconds to go, when the aforementioned Watson and Asik combined for a dunk that seemed like a dagger.
Before the final buzzer even sounded, though—even before Andre Iguodala's free throws gave the 76ers the winning points—both Watson and Asik were being battered in cyberspace for their late-game gaffes. Watson, with the ball and under 10 seconds left, the lead at one and the 76ers with no choice but foul, went against all logic and passed to Asik—45.6 percent from the line during the season, 2-for-10 in the series going into the game.
"I thought he had a clear dunk, so I passed him the ball. I thought that was the best play," said Watson, one of the last Bulls to leave the locker room. The easy defense for him, and the team, is that the Bulls didn't become title threats because Watson was making the big late-game decisions. Except that they did, since Rose missed 27 regular-season games.
76ers stun Bulls in final seconds
Garnett leads Celtics into second round
Sixers-Celtics series begins on Saturday
Watson was a huge reason for the 18 wins without Rose. And Asik hardly shamed himself as his role and minutes expanded while Noah tried to get back.
He went 39 minutes Thursday and gave 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. It would be ridiculous to ask a whole lot more from either.
It was just as ridiculous to believe, going into the series, that the Bulls would reach a point where Rose couldn't even make it to Philly for a do-or-die game, or that Noah would never get off the bench except to clap.
Not to mention Gibson being questionable until tipoff, or Luol Deng missing a chunk of the first half when an elbow opened up a cut under his left eye. Throughout the last five games, coach Tom Thibodeau repeated the mantra,
"We have more than enough to win with." After this game, he said he still believed it: "When I look at our team over the last two years, we have a lot of injuries, and we have always been able to get through things. I am disappointed in the loss, but I am not disappointed in our team."
Realistically, without Rose and Noah, the best team in the East looked a lot like … the eighth-place team in the East.
The Bulls and 76ers, in this series, were separated at birth.
How else does one explain the 76ers winning Games 4 and 6 while shooting below 40 percent? Or how they were held under 80 points three times, and won two of those games?
The Bulls were built and nurtured and coached for a long playoff run, longer than last year's, which ended in an Eastern Conference finals defeat by LeBron James and Miami.
The world was primed for a rematch, and it seemed on track right through the blowout of Game 1 in Chicago.
Until Rose's ligament popped in the final minutes.
Now, like Rose, the whole franchise is off for the summer, and it's hurting badly.
"We feel like we should still be playing," Boozer said.
They Bulls are not, and it's not because Rose and Noah's fill-ins played, or how they played.
It's because they had to play.
Heat-Pacers series breakdown: Who has the edge?
Slideshow: Greatest NBA playoff upsets


text:
*An NEH-Funded Project*
*American Geographical Society Library*
*University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries*
In 2010 the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) generously
funded a two-year project to preserve and provide access to the American
Geographical Society Library's seventy thousand nitrate negatives. These
invaluable images span every continent with the exception of Antarctica
and document a global range of peoples, cultures, and landscapes as seen
through the eyes of geographers, adventurers and professional photo
The AGS Library is the former research library of the American
Geographical Society (AGS), which was founded in the early 1850s to
promote the collection of geographical information and to establish and
maintain a library with a collection of maps, charts and instruments.
Through the years, the AGS Library succeeding in building a
distinguished photographic collection, with images dating from the
mid-nineteenth century to the present, which included a sizable number
of nitrate negatives. Cellulose nitrate film, introduced in 1889, was an
important innovation in photography and was popular for well over half a
century. It is, however, a volatile and flammable material, and it was
clear that the AGSL's deteriorating negatives required immediate attention.
The NEH-funded project enabled the AGS Library to rehouse, scan, create
metadata for, publish online and provide cold storage for these historic
To view the results of this project please go to :


text:
Is Target losing its cool and Wal-Mart finding its way at last?
This story first appeared in the January 31, 2008 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
For years Wal-Mart Stores Inc. struggled to find the right apparel formula as its competitor, Target Corp., solidified its reputation as the go-to discounter for affordable style. But the apparel fortunes of Target and Wal-Mart seem to have taken dramatically different turns of late.
Wal-Mart has tweaked its George collection to give it more currency and is selectively expanding its fast-fashion line, Metro 7. The company is also zeroing in on the under $10 price point for apparel. The latest move came earlier this week when the retail giant restructured its apparel organization, eliminating jobs in two divisions — sourcing and product development — while fortifying the areas of brand merchandising and buying.
A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, Linda Blakely, said the moves were all part of Wal-Mart's increased focus on what works in apparel. "Our goal is to strengthen the relevance of apparel for our customer and the speed of product to market," she said. "We are not stepping away [from apparel] at all."
John Fleming, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Wal-Mart, put responsibility for the success of a brand's survival squarely in the hands of the apparel division. "The restructured apparel organization is built around brands that make clear statements and whose teams are accountable for financial returns and fully leveraging suppliers to efficiently deliver the product the customer wants," he said.
As for the competition, the economic downturn has been squeezing Target's aspirational low- and moderate-income customers. The retailer's comp-store sales were down 5 percent in December, versus a 2.4 percent gain at Wal-Mart. Target said it expects same-store sales for January to come in at the low end of an earlier estimate of a decline of 1 percent to a 1 percent gain. The chain acknowledged its apparel sales were off in November and December.
Over the last year, Target's stock price has fallen 12.8 percent to close at $52.38. During the same period, Wal-Mart's rose 3.2 percent to close at $49.16 on Wednesday.
Now Target faces the task of replacing a major revenue generator for its clothing business: designer Isaac Mizrahi, whose contract is not being renewed at the end of the year and who is becoming creative director for the Liz Claiborne brand. Mizrahi's line did about $300 million at Target and analysts estimate the retailer will have to replace $400 million to $500 million of lost revenue upon his departure, given that shoppers buying Mizrahi clothes also bought other products while there.
Some experts said Mizrahi's collection — and Target's apparel in general — was beginning to look a bit tired. "I think it's always a challenge for someone like [Mizrahi] to continue to reinvent themselves," said Wayne Hood, a retail analyst at BMO Capital Markets. "I don't believe one designer should have such a large role that, if they falter, it creates a risk to the apparel offering. It's better to be diverse. Department stores stayed with certain labels for too long" and it hurt them.
Target has bigger issues to deal with, as well. First, its longtime chairman, Robert Ulrich, is retiring on May 1 and will be replaced by company president Gregg Steinhafel. And while for the last decade Target's performance has bounded past Wal-Mart's with an emphasis on design and style — at slightly higher prices — those attributes become less important to consumers as the economy slows.
The difficult macroeconomic climate seems to be working in Wal-Mart's favor as the Bentonville, Ark., giant benefits from its position as the low-price leader. Wal-Mart continues to hammer home its low-price message. On Tuesday, the retailer said it was cutting prices on "thousands" of items by 10 to 30 percent this week, calling the initiative an "economic stimulus plan for shoppers." Products include everything from grocery items to home theater systems.
"[Wal-Mart] is more in tune with their target customer than they've been for several years now," said retail consultant Robert Buchanan. "They're doing a better job of interpreting trends for their core customer. They're emphasizing juniors more in terms of floor placement. After all, juniors is the best trend opportunity they have, so why not lead with it? George is less dowdy than it was. The stores with their transitional products look better than I've seen them look."
For example, George features bell-sleeve blouses, Empire dresses and faux wrap dresses, many in black or geometric prints in a sophisticated color palette of black, teal and beige. There's also a black pinstripe one-button jacket and a navy jewel-neck cropped jacket.
"George has taken the spotlight in terms of trying to highlight a more fashionable look," said Neil Curry, a retail analyst at UBS Securities. "It's more about fashionable basics." The design direction seems to be "a relatively young look without taking too many risks. They're making good inventory decisions so they're neither out of stock on key items nor left with too many items. Wal-Mart has always been good on basics. Now they're trying to move toward a more fashionable look."
The company is intent on avoiding its fashion blunders of 2006 when it bet too heavily on skinny-leg jeans and jackets with faux fur collars in the Metro 7 collection.
Tuesday's restructuring of the apparel division is meant to avoid such miscalculations in the future. Brand merchandising, which is responsible for building private label brands, will be responsible for brand positioning, assortment development, textile design, vendor selection, sampling and cost negotiation. The group will be based in New York. The buying organization, which will continue to be based in Bentonville, will be responsible for maximizing space productivity; selecting the product, both private label and from national suppliers; setting pricing, and in-store allocation in conjunction with the planning and replenishment departments. Blakely declined to say how many jobs would be lost. "Some positions on teams were eliminated," she said. "The sourcing and product development positions were eliminated, but look for the team to grow in New York."
Buchanan characterized the overhaul as positive. "I certainly don't see Wal-Mart stepping back from its penetration in apparel or home fashions," he said. "Fashion is becoming faster and faster and faster. With the pace of change when it comes to fashion trends, the more Wal-Mart can do out of New York, the better. It's easier to do that out of New York than anyplace else."
According to industry sources, Metro 7, which is now sold in more than 500 doors, is being expanded in about 100 of those stores. "Wal-Mart has decided to expand the product offering substantially," said one source. "For example, if Metro 7 has six racks in a store now, they might double that to 12 racks. It's a broader assortment and point of view. It's giving the consumer additional options and developing an item-driven business. The focus of Metro 7 has shifted from a collection point of view to one of key items."
Asked about Metro 7, Blakely said: "We've been making changes in our apparel offering on an ongoing basis and our customers are responding well to some of those changes. We're flexing the floor all the time."
Some of the initiatives have been attributed to Dottie Mattison, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of women's, who was promoted after Claire Watts, vice president of merchandising, resigned in July. Mattison is based in the company's New York fashion office, which occupies a 50,000-square-foot space in the Garment District. The office had a staff of about 10, has grown to more than 80 people and will swell again.
"A big part of the [Metro 7] assortment is very accessible," the source said. "Dottie has made a point of saying that she wants to own the under $10 apparel market. Not 100 percent of Metro 7 will be under $10, but there can be polo shirts and great-quality T-shirts for that price. In balancing the assortment, the price-value relationship is being exceptionally focused on. Dottie understands that she needs to have accessible product."
George doesn't yet bear Dottie's imprimatur, the source said, adding, "You'll see new labels and new brands."
Wall Street analysts said inventory levels are substantially lower at Wal-Mart. "They entered the fourth quarter very light on inventory," one said. "They found themselves short on product."
"Wal-Mart has seen improvement," said Hood. "Wal-Mart got back to basics and is less aspirational. There is a focus on the $10 price. A year ago [apparel] was down 15 percent. In the fall season, apparel was down in the very low-single digits. Wal-Mart is rethinking the business. It's very good at basics and has dramatically improved the quality of the basics."
The refocusing at Wal-Mart comes as retail experts say Target lost traffic over the holiday season, a trend that may continue, given the retailer's strong focus on soft goods and home decor. "Wal-Mart has a much greater commitment to grocery than Target, and grocery does better when times are lousy," said Mark Lilien, a consultant at Retail Technology Group. Richard Seesel, a principal of Retailing In Focus LLC and a former executive of Kohl's Corp. and Dayton Hudson, said, "Wal-Mart had better performance, but it's selling more necessities and consumables and has less dependence on discretionary products." Target's designer and exclusive brands are believed to represent 6 percent of total sales of about $63 billion.
"There comes a time when the cycle could be working against them," Hood said, referring to Target. "As things begin to slow down, the average ticket price and traffic begin to fall. They have to worry about inventory levels. For that reason, we'll see continued gross margin pressure in the first quarter."
One criticism of Target is that "they're constantly making little bets with Go and other brands. Merona and Cherokee are the more basic parts of their program," said a retail consultant. "The problem is on overall trend identification." Mossimo, a multiproduct brand, has been a staple at Target since 2000 and is still very much a part of the assortment. And Target is said to be launching Whim by Cynthia Rowley in April, but there won't be any apparel, just novelty items such as outdoor games and inflatable pools.
Go International, the retailer's short-term tie-ups with young designers such as Proenza Schouler, Erin Fetherston and Behnaz Sarafpour, has long raised questions about how much revenue it generates in Target stores. While building the profile of the young designers, the collections generally aren't sold in all Target stores and are seen by many as primarily a marketing exercise. And even here, Target is facing increasing competition with fast-fashion lines: Where once it had the field to itself, stores such as H&M are now signing up the likes of Roberto Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney.
Erin Armendinger, managing director of the Jay Baker Retailing Initiative at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said the frequency of Go may be a lot for the average consumer to digest. "The collections were supposed to be out for three months, then they shortened it to six weeks," she said. "It's too much for the consumer, given that the designers are a little quirky and too out there."
What also may be ailing Target is what's ailing the industry at large: a decided lack of salable newness. A lack of novelty along with a tough economy is a double whammy for the discounter.
Bill Dreher, a retail analyst at Deutsche Bank, noted Target reined in its buyers as the economy worsened, which led to the drab assortments. "As far back as April, when they started recognizing the [economic] slowdown, management was clamping down on buyers to reduce risk in form of inventory levels as well as the variety of the product," he said. "We interpreted that to mean that they were limiting buyers to the more mainstream fashions and colors, those more likely to be accepted and have very strong sell-throughs. They limited the creativity of the buyers because they wanted to reduce inventory risk. They only wanted to go with the strong sellers."
Mizrahi's departure will put pressure on Target to inject some newness into its assortments. "I wouldn't be surprised if Target ends up picking one of the Go designers for a 12-months-a-year program," said Dreher. "Given the nature of the business, consumers are moving away from apparel. They're losing a designer in a category that's not doing well right now. It wouldn't behoove the company to find a household name who one day stood for premier fashion and no longer does. I suspect they're going to go out and find another has-been designer to provide class for the masses."
In addition to Mizrahi's business in stores, there's a large wedding and party shop on the Target Web site, featuring gowns, veils, headpieces, gloves, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, handbags and formal dresses. Many, but not all, of the products carry the Mizrahi label. "They haven't really disclosed what they'll do with Isaac's bridal business," Hood said. "Other [designers] will come in and do that. At least for the time being, they'll continue to grow it. Bridal is successful."
But, while the seesaw appears to be flipping, with Wal-Mart now on the rise, there's little doubt Target's apparel business will get back on a strong growth track. "They've got a strong track record developing merchandise content and developing ideas," said Seesel. "This is more macroeconomic."


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The SEC Week That Was: Volume IIIPosted by Greg Mitchell on January 20th, 2015
For the next nine weeks or so, we'll run down a few weekly superlatives from league play, take a look at how conference teams look in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, and anything else that merits discussion. Here is Volume III, including games from January 12-18.
Team of the week. It took three rounds of this column to get there, but the league Colossus finally gets the nod. Kentucky did in the second week of SEC play what so many predicted it would do in the first — thrash its opponents. The Wildcats beat Missouri by more points (49) than it allowed the Tigers to score (37), and, as Brian pointed out earlier this week, it was the best defensive (points per possession) performance in conference play in the Calipari era. The 'Cats followed up that victory with an easy 22-point win against a good Alabama team. Its defense was again outstanding, but it was the Kentucky offense that caught my eye in Tuscaloosa. Just one week after a rough outing in College Station (28.1% FG, 32.1% 3FG, 25-of-35 FTs), the Wildcats were hyper-efficient in a slow-paced game (50% FG, 47% 3FG, 16-of-18 FTs). If that's a sign of the Wildcats' offense to come, it's worth wondering whether this team may actually cut down the nets in early April sporting a goose egg in the loss column.
Player of the Week. Let's follow the crowd and hand it to Tennessee's Armani Moore. The junior wing won the SEC's Player of the Week award and it was well-deserved. He contributed solid scoring totals in last week's wins over Arkansas (14) and Missouri (15), but more importantly scored crucial points late in both games. His two free throws sealed the Vols' victory over Arkansas, and he broke a tie-game in Columbia with under four minutes to go with a contested layup. The 6'5″ Moore also helped an undersized Tennessee front line win the rebounding battle in both games. Texas A&M's Jalen Jones, who played well in returning from an ankle injury, and Georgia's Kenny Gaines, who guided the Bulldogs through a crucial undefeated week, also deserve mention.
Tournament Chatter. Can you say mediocrity? The league currently has seven teams sitting at 2-2, and the only 3-1 teams (Tennessee and Florida) appear to be well behind several of those in the NCAA Tournament pecking order. None of the fringe NCAA contenders have yet played their way out of the picture but we could be headed toward the league's nightmare scenario. A team or two separating from the pack would lock in a few bids, but if the soft middle continues to beat up on each other without rhyme or reason, it risks damaging everyone's profile. Still, 10 (10!) teams are worth mentioning and that's not too bad.


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A car full of teenagers lead state police on a 100 mph chase, according to investigators. Click here to watch Porcha Johnson's report.
Video: State trooper fires weapon, chases car full of teens
Published On: Nov 12 2012 12:41:47 PM EST Updated On: Nov 12 2012 12:42:15 PM EST
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Coldplay is a band that needs no introduction. After scoring a hit on their debut album with the song "Yellow," each release since has gained them more success and notoriety. Driving this success has been a steady transition from their indie rock roots to a more polished pop-rock sound.
On their latest release, "Ghost Stories," it seems the band has fully embraced this transition, producing an album replete with the digital fluff of today's pop music.
Promoted as a concept album dealing with singer Chris Martin's divorce from actress Gwyneth Paltrow, you won't find anything but broad, painful lyrics to guide you through "Ghost Stories." Great breakup albums (Bon Iver's debut and Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" come to mind) afford the chance to confront issues and present exposed, inspired music. However, Martin refuses to dig beneath the surface, treating us to gems like: "late night watching TV/ used to be here beside me/ used to be your arms around me/ your body on my body."
Article Photos
Shown is the band Coldplay with frontman Chris Martin second from right.
Shown is Coldplay's latest album, "Ghost Stories."
The band refuses to dig deep musically as well, and most of the tracks find the group settling comfortably into one groove and passing the time. The opener, "Always in My Head," delivers a classic Coldplay sound and then does nothing with it. "Midnight" is even worse, featuring a pulsating electronic feel and driving bass drum that builds and builds only to deliver you back to where you started.
And while songs like "Magic" and "A Sky Full of Stars" are really catchy, the lack of substance will find the song out of your head within minutes.
There are a few redeeming moments on "Ghost Stories" that remind us that the songs are still in Coldplay somewhere. "Oceans" is a subdued track featuring acoustic guitar and a subtle electric piano pulse that is reminiscent of the music the band was writing on 2000's "Parachutes."
This is one of the only songs on the record to use an authentic string section sound instead of a digital one, adding an eerie, haunting feeling to this mysterious, moody track.
The other somewhat successful track is the closer "O," which finds Martin alone at an acoustic piano. The contrast between the pure, rich sound of the piano here with the preceding "A Sky Full of Stars" is stark, the latter being so filtered and digitally tampered with it loses most of it's acoustic warmth. The abandonment of acoustic instruments on this album isn't necessarily the problem, but it is definitely a sign of the flawed creative process at work.
There might be decent songs on this album, but you won't be able to find them under all the synthetic polish they are drowned in.
But honestly, why should Coldplay care? They're pop stars now, so they'll sell millions of records regardless.
2 stars out of 5.
DOWNLOAD NOW: "Oceans."


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U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell arrived in Israel for meetings with Israeli officials and later in Ramallah with Palestinian officials.
Mitchell arrived Thursday for a visit scheduled at the last minute following a meeting the day before between Israeli and U.S. diplomatic officials, Palestinian officials told Reuters.
It is Mitchell's first visit to the region since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama met in Washington a month ago in a meeting that appeared to publicly illustrate the deep differences between the two leaders and countries.
Mitchell will meet Friday with Netanyahu, as well as Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres. He is set to meet Saturday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Ynet reported.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Netanyahu has rejected an Obama administration call for a total construction freeze in eastern Jerusalem, but has agreed to implement other confidence-building measures toward the Palestinians, including transferring more West Bank territory to PA security control and discussing final-status issues during indirect negotiations.
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WILLIAMSTOWN - When Neil Bodley executed a quarterback keeper for an eight-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, the Juniata Indians were in business. After all, the Williams Valley Vikings came into the game 7-0 and were heavily favored to keep right on winning.
Bodley's sneak pulled the Indians within 13-6 with just over six minutes remaining in the third stanza.
Juniata's dreams of glory ended, however, when the Indians gave up a touchdown on the ensuing possession and ended up falling to the unbeaten Vikings by a 27-12 count.
On Williams Valley's decisive drive, Brendan Miller took the kickoff back to midfield. After four runs by Cole Barnhart netted 13 yards, Vikings quarterback Stephen Sedesse found Miller wide open down the middle for a 37-yard scoring strike. Miller again was the recipient on the two-point conversion pass and the Vikings held a 21-6 lead at the end of the third quarter.
"That was tough to come back from," Juniata coach Gary Klingensmith said. "But I'm proud of our kids. We played with a lot of fortitude."
The Vikings scored first in the contest as Barnhart slipped into the end zone from the two yard line. The PAT made it 7-0 Williams Valley.
Fact Box
*Juniata travels to Halifax Oct. 26
Following Jake Mika's second fumble recovery of the half, the Vikings were in business again from the Juniata 30. Barnhart ripped off a 25-yard scamper, and Williams Valley set up first-and-goal from the five yard line. Two plays later, fullback Trevor Whelski hit paydirt, staking Williams Valley to a 13-0 lead.
That lead would last into halftime.
However, with 1:44 left in the first half, lightning struck - literally - and the contest was suspended for about 35-40 minutes.
In the third, Bodley was a machine as the Indians mounted their comeback. He intercepted Sedesse in the end zone and then, from both the quarterback and runningback positions, he gained 24 yards (and two first downs) on four carries.
Bodley then calmly heaved a 49-yard strike to wing back Scott Sneath, setting the Indians up at the Williams Valley 8-yard line. Bodley took it in from there to make it 13-6.
Following the decisive drive by Williams Valley, the teams traded scores in the fourth.
Barnhart ripped off a 21-yard touchdown run to make it 27-6. Then Cole Kellison hit Sheldon Miller with a four-yard TD pass before the Vikings ran out the clock.
"I am proud of the way they played,"?Klingensmith said. "It took guts to do what they did."
Juniata is now 4-4 on the campaign, 3-4 in the TVL.


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You Decide On Emotion, Confirm With Facts
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It's a well known advertising and marketing fact that human beings make decisions based on emotion and then confirm it with facts. It's why salespeople are taught to sell benefits (how something helps you, what problems of yours it solves) rather than features (this thing can do this or that). Some sales tips say that rather than straight up selling benefits, get your prospect worked up and emotional about their problems… then hit them with benefits or solutions to those problems.
Emotions sell and facts confirm.
Want a prime money example of this idea at work? Consider Dave Ramsey's snowball approach to paying off debt, it's mathematically sub-optimal. By sub-optimal, I mean his approach does not result in the least amount of interest being paid and the shortest payback period. His approach states that you pay the smallest balance first, then take that payment and add it to the next smallest, etc. The optimal approach is to pay the highest interest rate balance first, and then moving to the next, the next.
His snowball approach has a huge number of supporters because it appeals to emotion (and the psychology of motivation). You feel the happiness of progress, of paying off your mountain of debt, of not feeling like you'll be in debt forever. Those feelings are very real and they are exceptionally motivational. The approach is backed up with facts too. While not mathematically the best, it works. You might pay more in interest but the end result is that you will be debt free and thousands have achieved this with this approach.
Another great example is whenever you buy a car. Car salespeople want you to get into the car and drive it, to make a connection with the vehicle and for you to picture yourself driving it. They want you to imagine yourself strapping your kids into the back, packing the trunk with your golf clubs or your vacation gear, and driving it down the street with the top down. Once you've imagined that, they take you into the showroom and give you the facts. You find out how much trunk space it has, how many cup holders, its horsepower, the fuel efficiency, and finally the price. If you can afford it, and sometimes if you can't, the facts merely confirm whether or not you want the car. If you don't like how it handles or can't see yourself driving it around, the MPG and horsepower won't matter. The facts just confirm your decision, a decision made on emotion.
Is it wrong to be swayed by emotion? No, unless you begin bending facts to justify a decision. Think about the political party affiliation on your voter registration card – mine says Democratic Party. Does that mean you blindly justify everything your candidate says? My emotion says that Barack Obama wants to bring change to Washington. I firmly believe he does want to bring change, however he, and his advisors, carefully planned his actions over the last two years such that he'd be at his political peak right now. He might be new to Washington but he's not new to the same old Washington politics. I could easily take that idea and say that Obama is new to politics but his advisors aren't, but I think that'd be naive of me to believe. He might be new, but he picked up on it real quick.
Just be aware that you decide on emotion and confirm with facts, that alone will protect you in many ways.{ 5 comments, please add your thoughts now! }


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Dewhurst Seeks Study on Intoxication Manslaughter Sentences
In his latest interim charge, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Thursday directed the Senate Criminal Justice Committee to study sentencing in cases of intoxication manslaughter.
"Having lost my own father to a drunk driver in my youth, I have a particular interest in this issue because I know the devastation it causes," Dewhurst, who is currently seeking re-election, said in a press release. "I am wholeheartedly committed to the safety of our citizens and believe that recent cases indicate existing sentencing options may leave justice undone."
Dewhurst directed the committee to focus on cases in which adults and ...


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Hi Point 45
Tools and Technologies
Handguns: Autoloaders
> Hi Point 45
October 28, 2007, 06:36 PM
Anyone have any experiences with the Hi Point 45. I know they are cheap. I was wondering how reliable they are?
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October 28, 2007, 06:37 PM
Search the forum. Lots of stuff on Hi-Points that will directly answer your question in spades.
October 28, 2007, 09:11 PM
very reliable at least with ball which is what I shoot with. Not nearly the fit or finish you'll see with other guns such as Glock, etc. sights are fine. Aftermarket support is almost non existant. Recoil is very manageable but feels different than other autos due to the heavy slide. Concealment is a challenge but I can manage it. I have no idea how many total rounds she'll shoot before a major failure. All in all I love my hi-point 45 but the next time I see a Glock 21 trade-in for 400$ I'll buy it if I have the cash.:)
October 28, 2007, 09:15 PM
I only shot one magazine of ball through a friends, but I thought it shot fairly well. Looks kinda funny, but the sights are easy to acquire, its dirt cheap, and all in all its fun to shoot.
I've heard of them going 'boom' on users, but haven't seen any failures first hand. Check this board for more user opinions :)
October 28, 2007, 10:07 PM
I had a Hi Point .45 and it never missed a beat from day one. Ate all ammo I fed it like candy. If they ever mess up they have the best customer support and warranty in the industry.
They are good guns "for what they are."
October 29, 2007, 12:30 AM
the one i had never failed me in well over 5000rds, FMJ, JHP. it was a fun and accurate pistol but isnt easy to carry or conceal. i use it with a sholder holster that was fine for field carry. i sold it and bought a compact 1911 for easyer CCW. im waiting for the 45 carbine though, should be loads of fun. ;)
October 29, 2007, 12:41 AM
I'm waiting for that carbine as well. Hope they release it soon. I heard it had some accuracy bugs they were working out and there's a big backlog of folks wanting the 9 and 40 which is slowing things up.
October 29, 2007, 08:03 AM
I've heard of them going 'boom' on users, but haven't seen any failures first hand.
This is the first time I have heard this. But since people are stuiped anything is possible.
They are good guns "for what they are."
For ~$200 not bad at all. However you may have to work on the mags a bit.
October 29, 2007, 08:17 AM
Exceptional value for the money. I have several pistols as well as their carbines. Those who have them, swear by them, the negative stuff out there is purely gossip from those who think that just because they are inexpensive, they must be poor in quality and reliability.
True, aesthetically, they look very utilitarian, and that is what they are suppose to be. I like the utilitarian non nonsense look.
I've never had a problem with them. I have the C9, the JC40 as well as the 45, as well several carbines.
They have been refered to on the web as "saturday night specials"., as die cast tin cans, etc., but in the end, those people have zero experience with them. Most of the firearms media, including gun tests, has given them excellent reviews. (not for aesthetics, but for reliability and function.). I like them, most of my students do as well, its a viable and inexpensive alternative for individuals on a budget. If I evaluated firearms simply on price, that would not be fair. True, usually one gets what they pay for, but with Hi Point, its certainly more than that. They are an exception to the rule. So it would be great if individuals with DIRECT experience with them commented to this thread and not simply gossip.
October 29, 2007, 09:58 AM
I don't have any experience with their pistols but do have a .40 carbine. Ugly but very functional. It eats everything I feed it and is accurate. I haven't had any malfunctions with it. I would say go ahead and buy one. Went to the range and let a couple of people shoot it and they changed theire minds about Hi Points afterwards.
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Ten of 28 crimes reported on Wednesday, Feb. 20, were related to marijuana. While voters approved decrimalization last year, a legal challenge by Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth has put it on hold.
Here are crimes reported Wednesday in Grand Rapids. The information is preliminary, and could change with further investigation. The information is available through Grand Rapids Police Department's crime-mapping system. Not every report is necessarily listed.
Related: Marijuana decriminalization in Grand Rapids on hold again
Related: Street robbers, burglars and bashers: Grand Rapids police crime log
Related: Marijuana busts, larcenies lead Grand Rapid police crime log
1:50 a.m.: Marijuana possession, Worden Street SE.
1:51 a.m.: Marijuana use, Worden Street SE.
2:14 a.m.: Marijuana use, Crescent Avenue NE.
3:29 a.m.: Larceny from motor vehicles, 100 block College Avenue SE.
6:45 a.m.: Burglary, forced entry of residence, 1200 block Griggs Street SE.
7 a.m.: Burglary, forced entry of residence, 1200 block Griggs Street SE.
8:30 a.m.: Purse snatch, no force, 3000 block Monroe Avenue NE.
9:56 a.m.: Assault and battery, 300 block College Avenue SE.
10:10 a.m.: Assault and battery, criminal damage to private property, 1000 block
Courtney Street NW.
10:13 a.m.: Larceny of gas at self-serve station, 2100 block Plainfield Avenue NE>
10:26 a.m.: Assault and battery, 300 block College Avenue SE.
11:15 a.m.: Assault and battery, 700 block Griggs Street SE.
11:19 a.m.: Criminal damage to property, 1300 block Franklin Street SE.
11:25 a.m.: Marijuana possession, 1800 block Tremont Boulevard NW.
12:55 p.m.: Assault and battery, 2800 block South Division Avenue.
2:49 p.m.: Larceny, 1700 block Jefferson Avenue SE.
3:10 p.m.: Marijuana use, Boston Street SE.
4:29 p.m.: Assault and battery, 900 block Caulfield Avenue SW.
4:30 p.m.: Marijuana use, Bridge Street NW.
4:55 p.m.: Marijuana sale, marijuana possession, 1100 block Michigan Street NE.
5 p.m.: Assault and battery, 2300 block Knapp Street SW.
7:26 p.m.: Marijuana use, 2000 block South Division Avenue.
8:17 p.m.: Assault and battery, 0 block Weston Street SW.
8:40 p.m.: Marijuana use, 800 block Dallas Avenue SE.
9:59 p.m.: Retail fraud, refund/exchange, 1900 East Beltline Avenue NE.
E-mail John Agar: email@example.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/grpressagar