text:
Other drugs that your particular selected drugs communicate with alicylates for instance aspirin, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Kaopectate, KneeRelief, Pamprin Cramp Formula, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, Trilisate, among others For me personally it worked better than Viagra, Cialis cheap cialis on line and i also& ve even tried injectables Generic Name: am LOE di peen Get hold of your doctor in case you experience signs and symptoms of low hypertension like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, cialis canada cost flushing, headache, or possibly a rapid pulse or heartrate However, clinical studies are convinced that such intermittent use could be associated with hemodynamic rebound during withdrawal and decreased exercise tolerance throughout the latter area of the nitrate free interval Usually do not alter your medication dose or schedule without a medical expert s advice anagrelide Agrylin, cilostazol Pletal, clopidogrel Plavix, dipyridamole Persantine, Aggrenox, eltrombopag Promacta, oprelvekin Neumega, prasugrel Effient, romiplostim Nplate, ticagrelor Brilinta, ticlopidine Ticlid That's well-documented just for this product The end results of any " Buy Cialis Online Wthout Prescription herbal viagra" are unlikely to become much like the drug Viagra ymptoms of BPH frequently include difficulty urinating, extreme urge to urinate, and an increase in requiring you to urinate, notably at is generic viagra good night Fastest Shipping, FDA Approved Pharmacy! Myalgia Buy Cialis Without A Perscription % arthritis, arthrosis, bone pain, myasthenia, synovitis, tendon rupture, tenosynovitis ildenafil citrate is usually a leading drug indicated for that It is challenging to maintain a bigger harder erection for a long period, particularly when we switch positions frequently that atherosclerotic risk what does generic viagracheap online cialis generic factor modification could favorably Nitroglycerin may cause severe headaches, specially when first you start employing it Tend not to cialis canada health breast-feed your baby while taking Incivek Cialis is utilized to help remedy the cialis canada cost subsequent conditions: , The security of sildenafil in combination with alpha blockers can be affected by other variables such as intravascular prescription frr viagra volume depletion and use of other antihypertensive medications In case you manipulate other narcotic medications, you might still have serious negative effects from methadone Should you become dizzy or nauseated during sexual acts, or in case you have pain, online cialis scam numbness, or tingling with your chest, arms, neck, or jaw, stop and call your doctor immediately Viagra sildenafil: Tried an example from my doctor, wound up wasting from the due to the wife& s buy cialis generic pharmacy online waffling moods Take each dose that has a full glass of water I'm years You might feel hook Discount Viagra 20mg burning or stinging with your mouth by using NitroMist .
Lily Lcos Cialis Online
Cialis Tadalafil Canada
Cheap Cialis Softtabs
Cialis Dosagem Minima
Private Prescription Viagra
Viagra Coupon Code


text:
With a stay at Hotel RegaLees in New Taipei City (Danshui), you'll be close to Aletheia University and Danshui Fisherman's Wharf. This hotel is within the vicinity of Fort San Domingo and Guandu Temple.
Make yourself at home in one of the 168 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Take advantage of recreational opportunities offered, including a spa tub, a sauna, and a fitness center.
Enjoy a meal at one of the hotel's dining establishments, which include 2 restaurants and a coffee shop/café. From your room, you can also access room service (during limited hours).
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. Free self parking is available onsite.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Good Lord, & Taylor! Of Course You Need to Disclose Native Ads
On March 15, 2016, national retailer Lord & Taylor agreed to settle FTC charges that it "deceived consumers by paying for native advertisements." The settlement is the first of its kind following the December 2015 guidance memorandum, Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses, issued by the FTC. Under the terms of the settlement, Lord & Taylor is prohibited from "misrepresenting that paid ads are from an independent source, and is required to ensure that its influencers clearly disclose when they have been compensated in exchange for their endorsements".
On the day the settlement was announced, the FTC also published a copy of the underlying complaint. The complaint alleges that Lord & Taylor developed plans to promote a clothing line for women which included a comprehensive social media campaign of blog posts, photos, native-advertising editorials in online fashion magazines, and a team of "influencers" recruited for their fashion sense and audience on social media. The FTC alleged that Lord & Taylor edited, pre-approved, and paid for a favorable Instagram post that was uploaded to the account of a fashion magazine called Nylon. The regulatory agency further alleged that Lord & Taylor reviewed, pre-approved, and paid for a favorable article in Nylon. In both cases, however, Lord & Taylor failed to disclose its commercial arrangement with Nylon. Similarly, the FTC alleged that Lord & Taylor gifted a dress from the clothing line to fifty "influencers" who were paid between $1,000 and $4,000 to post favorable photos and comments about the dress on social media. Again, Lord & Taylor did not disclose or require influencers to disclose that they had been paid for their posts. Based on Lord & Taylor's alleged misrepresentations and failure to disclose, the FTC accused Lord & Taylor of engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
What is Native Advertising?
Native advertising, also known as sponsored content, is designed to fit in with original online content in a seamless, non-intrusive manner. It allows advertisers to directly reach online consumers, without severely interrupting the original content on the publishing website, video game, or mobile app. In the past few years, this advertising has reached all corners of the internet.
FTC Concerns With Native Advertising
As native advertising has grown, so have the FTC's concerns about the possibility of deceiving consumers. Therefore, at the close of 2015, the FTC released the guidance memorandum, Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses, which provides details and illustrative examples for businesses that use native advertising as part of their online marketing campaigns.
Native advertising creates a particular challenge for advertisers. Advertisers want to design an advertisement that appears native to the original content, but must do so without potentially confusing the consumer, who may mistake the advertisement for non-advertising content.
To assist advertisers in complying with these rules, the FTC issued its December 2015 guidance memorandum with examples and tips to ensure advertisers remain compliant. Most of the memorandum focuses on seventeen examples of advertising, including on news sites, in videos, through content recommendation widgets, and in video games. These examples illustrate how and why consumers might be confused by certain native advertising tactics. Most of the examples show how a native advertisement might bear too much similarity to the original content, which means the consumer might not understand that what they are viewing is, in fact paid-for, sponsored content.
Complying With FTC Native Advertising Requirements
The take-away from the Lord & Taylor settlement is that advertisers should avoid placing paid ads that appear to be independent editorial content. Put simply, advertisers must choose between control and disclosure. In other words, advertisers who want to make use of native advertising and "influencers" on social media must either relinquish influence or control over the advertising content or disclose the nature of the marketing arrangement. Bottom Line: Paid advertising must be identifiable as advertising.
The FTC's December 2015 memorandum provides a variety of tips on how to appropriately disclose native advertising. The disclosures should be three things: (1) placed near the advertising; (2) prominent; and (3) clear. By ensuring that native advertising follows these disclosure guidelines, companies will avoid misleading consumers into thinking their native advertisement is non-sponsored, publisher content.
Finally, the memorandum specifically notes who is affected by these disclosure rules. The enforcement is not limited to just the sponsoring advertiser. Advertising agencies and operators of affiliate advertising networks are also obligated to adhere to the FTC's disclosure requirements.
Put simply, if a reasonable consumer might see your native advertising and believe it to be non-advertising content, the FTC will likely take issue with your native advertising tactics. This is exactly what we saw in the Lord & Taylor settlement.
Deceptive Advertising, Internet Law, Uncategorized
Amazon Pursued Fake Reviews In 2015, What Will It Pursue In 2016?
In 2015, Amazon filed suit against over 1,000 unnamed individuals for allegedly offering to sell fake online reviews (positive or negative) on Fiverr.com ("Fiverr"). The unnamed defendants offer to provide 5-star reviews and some defendants even encourage sellers to provide their own text to use in the review. In order to avoid detection, defendants offer to submit reviews from multiple IP addresses, utilize multiple Amazon accounts, and to complete a Verified Review (which means the reviewed has purchased the product, even though they don't always require the actual product to be shipped for review). In short, the allegations are that these reviews for sale violate Amazon's Customer Review Guidelines (which prohibit paid reviews), Fiverr's own Terms of Service (which requires compliance with third party guidelines), and deceptively provides false reviews to consumers (which violates consumer protection laws).
Interestingly, Amazon did not name Fiverr as a party to the complaint. Instead, Amazon went after the individual sellers and indeed explicitly stated in the complaint that "Amazon will amend this complaint to allege their true names and capacities when ascertained."
In contrast to Amazon's approach, the Metallica Plaintiffs in a previously filed case against Napster, sued Napster directly and not the individual users (and eventually obtained their desired result). Indeed, Amazon has not always omitted operators from its case captions. Last April, Amazon filed a similar lawsuit against a number of companies that operated websites to promote the sale of Amazon reviews. That lawsuit contained very similar allegations to this recent suit against individuals and alleged selling positive reviews, offering a Verified Review, a slow posting of reviews to avoid detection by Amazon, etc. Similar as well to the Napster case, the first Amazon lawsuit also yielded a successful result because the websites targeted in that case were all closed down.
So why is Amazon now going after the individual sellers? And why did Amazon omit Fiverr in this lawsuit?
One possible explanation is that Amazon, like Napster, first attempted to take down the providers (i.e. the website owners) that enabled the fraudulent review process. While that was successful, Amazon likely realized that it was insufficient because the individual reviewers would easily migrate to sites like Fiverr to continue their activities. So, Amazon was forced to file suit against the individual users.
At the same time, Amazon did not include Fiverr as a named defendant because it is more likely to get Fiverr's cooperation in providing the identities of the unnamed defendants, and, because Fiverr is a legitimate global online marketplace offering tasks and services- in sharp contrast to the defendants in the prior Amazon lawsuit that operated sites and companies for the sole purpose of providing fraudulent Amazon reviews (and further antagonized Amazon by utilizing the Amazon logo on their sites). Additionally, as noted in the current Amazon complaint, Fiverr itself prohibits paid reviews and has tried to prevent them- again in sharp contrast to the companies in the first Amazon lawsuit, whose entire business was selling Amazon reviews.
Or it may be that Amazon has embarked on a process to stop paid reviews and these are the first steps in that ongoing process. As noted in this complaint against the Fiverr sellers, the lawsuit is "the next step in a long-term effort to ensure these providers of fraudulent reviews do not offer their illicit services through other channels." Thus, Amazon may have simply first pursued the enablers (i.e. the company websites dedicated to fraudulent reviews) and then it pursued the individual reviewers on Fiverr.
The extent to which Amazon will continue to pursue questionable reviews remains to be seen. In 2015, Amazon limited its lawsuits regarding fraudulent reviewers to paid reviewers. In 2016, we may see an assault on the groups of independent people who exchange positive reviews on Amazon (i.e. each party agrees to submit a positive review of the other's product). This type of arrangement also violates Amazon terms and poses similar concerns to the reliance of consumers on Amazon reviews. Amazon may also question whether this prohibited practice merits attention.
Deceptive Advertising, Internet Law
TCPA Trouble Continues: FCC Slams Lyft and First National Bank for Terms of Service Requiring Consent
Most of the attention involving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA") has centered on the stream of class actions around the country. It is important to remember that the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") and state attorney generals can, and do, enforce the TCPA. In fact, the FCC recently issued citations to Lyft, the ride-sharing service, and First National Bank ("FNB"). Under the Communications Act, before the FCC may issue monetary penalties against a company or person that does not hold an FCC license or authorization, it must first issue a citation warning the company or person.
The TCPA requires prior express written consent for telemarketing calls/texts to mobile phones utilizing an autodialer or prerecorded call and for prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential lines. FCC rules mandate that the "prior written consent" contain certain key features. Among these requirements is the disclosure informing the consenting person that "the person is not required to sign the agreement – directly or indirectly – or agree to enter into an agreement as a condition of purchasing any property, goods, or services."
For years, the FCC focused on actual consumer complaints of having received telemarketing calls/texts without the required prior express written consent. Interestingly, here, the FCC did not allege that either Lyft or FNB sent texts/robocalls without the required consent. The FCC's accompanying press release indicates that its Enforcement Bureau initiated the two investigations after becoming aware of "violative provisions in those companies' service agreements." The citations issued to Lyft and FNB, along with recent correspondence by the FCC to Paypal concerning similar issues, represent new FCC attention on terms/conditions of service in the TCPA context, particularly on "blanket take it or leave it" agreements. The FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief, Travis LeBlanc, put all companies on notice, urging "any company that unlawfully conditions its service on consent to unwanted marketing calls and texts to act swiftly to change its policies." The FCC directed Lyft and FNB to take "immediate steps" to comply with FCC rules and the TCPA – presumably meaning that the companies should immediately revise their terms and practices.
Lyft Citation
According to the FCC, Lyft's terms require customers to expressly consent to receive communications from Lyft to customer's mobile numbers, including text messages, calls, and push notifications. The messages could include Lyft-provided promotions and those of third party partners. The terms advise customers that they can opt-out by following the "unsubscribe" option, and that customers are not required to consent to receive promotional messages as a condition of using the Lyft platform or the services.
However, the FCC found that contrary to Lyft's terms of service, Lyft does not actually provide "unsubscribe options" for consumers. If a consumer independently searches and gets to Lyft's "help center," the only option to opt-out subsequently prevents consumers from using Lyft's service. Thus, per the FCC, "Lyft effectively requires all consumers to agree to receive marketing text messages and calls on their mobile phones in order to use services."
The FCC concluded that while Lyft's terms of service stated that consumers were not required to consent as a condition to using Lyft, in actuality, consumers could not refuse consent and remain Lyft users. Thus, the FCC cited Lyft, warning that it would be liable for any advertising text messages for which it did not collect proper, prior express written consent. The agency further stated that it would continue to monitor Lyft's practices.
FNB Citation
In FNB's investigation, the FCC noted that consumers wishing to use FNB's online banking services are required to agree to receive text messages and emails for marketing purposes at consumer-provided phone numbers. FNB customers wishing to enroll in the Apply Pay service are similarly required to consent to receive marketing-related text messages and emails. The FCC objected to FNB requiring consumers to agree to receive marketing text messages in order to use the online banking and Apple Pay services, and failing to inform consumers that they have the option to refuse consent. The agency reiterated that under FCC rules, prior express written consent to receive telemarketing messages requires that, among other things, consumers receive a clear and conspicuous disclosure informing the consumer of his or her right to refuse to provide consent.
Our Recommendations
When it comes to autodialed/prerecorded telemarketing calls and texts to mobile phones and prerecorded telemarketing calls to residential lines, companies need to be diligent in ensuring they have proper, defensible prior express written consent. The FCC's citations to Lyft and FNB make clear that organizations may not rely on blanket mandatory opt-in agreements. While it may be acceptable to seek consent in terms of service, consumers must be informed of their opt-out abilities, and must be able to access the opt-out and still use the service or make the purchase.
Companies should review their service agreements and the operational mechanisms to make sure consumers have information on opting-out. Further, any opt-out mechanisms must work as promised. A user's opt-out should not block services/purchases. Of course, the best way to obtain consent is to seek a separate, prior express written consent in an agreement that contains all the required elements, as follows:
- Is in writing (can be electronic);
- Has the signature (can be electronic) of the person who will receive the advertisement/telemarketing calls or texts;
- Authorizes the caller to deliver advertisements or telemarketing messages via autodialed calls, texts, or robocalls;
- Includes the telephone number to which the person signing authorizes advertisements or telemarketing messages to be delivered;
- Contains a clear and conspicuous disclosure informing the person signing that:
- By executing the agreement, the person signing authorizes the caller to deliver ads or telemarketing messages via autodialed calls, texts or robocalls; and
- The person signing the agreement is not required to sign the agreement (directly or indirectly) or agree to enter into such an agreement as a condition of purchasing any property, goods, or services.
As a reminder, the FCC repeatedly takes the position that the company claiming prior express written consent will bear the burden of providing that consent.
The Key to Steering Clear of the FTC's Crack Down on Car Dealership Advertisements
Car dealerships are notorious for running loud, flashy ads with too-good-to-be-true offers for outrageous deals to buy or lease cars. Some dealerships downplay or even hide the seemingly endless list of qualifications on those offers which render many potential buyers ineligible for the deals, much to the irritation of misled consumers. The FTC has taken action to stop these misleading practices by continuing its effort to crack down on deceptive advertising among automobile dealerships, which began in 2014 with the FTC's "Operation Steer Clear," a nationwide sweep of deceptive car dealership advertising. The FTC's efforts in this area have continued, most recently resulting in settlement with two Las Vegas auto dealerships.
Planet Hyundai and Planet Nissan of Las Vegas were the subject of FTC enforcement actions alleging that the dealers' ads misrepresented the cost to buy or lease a car by omitting critical information or deceptively hiding it in fine print. For instance, Planet Hyundai advertised a car for sale with "$0 Down Available," but fine print revealed that a buyer would have to trade in a car worth a minimum of $2,500 or meet other qualifications in order to take advantage of the offer. Planet Nissan's advertisements ran purportedly reduced prices side by side with former prices which had been struck through ("Was
$12,888, Now $9,997"). However, the ads did not adequately disclose the qualifications which buyers had to meet to get those prices. Similarly, the ads touted that the cars were for "Purchase! Not a lease!," when in fact many of the cars were leases. In both cases the FTC alleged that the prominently advertised prices are not generally available to consumers. The dealerships both entered into consent agreements in which they did not have to admit guilt or pay any fines or penalties, but were obligated to abide by relevant laws and regulations pertaining to deceptive advertising.
Further automobile enforcement efforts may be on the horizon. In a late July regulatory filing, GM disclosed that it is currently the subject of an ongoing FTC investigation regarding "certified pre-owned vehicle advertising where dealers had certified vehicles allegedly needing recall repairs." GM and the FTC declined to comment further, so it is not immediately clear whether the individual dealers were following GM corporate policy when certifying the pre-owned cars in need of recall repairs, or specifically how the ads were allegedly deceptive.
While many of the FTC's enforcement actions focus on lower-cost products with a large national customer base, such as dietary supplements sold over the internet, these cases serve as a reminder that the FTC's advertising requirements apply equally to big-ticket items sold locally. Merchants and service providers of every type, whether operating online or in brick and mortar shops, must ensure that their advertisements adequately disclose all material terms and conditions in a way that is not misleading or deceptive.
Free* to Play Means Only If You Pay
As online gaming companies compete for business, they are offering customers increasingly large incentives to play on their websites, often in the form of deposit bonuses. These deposit bonuses allow players to play with the bonus money as if it's cash and keep the winnings (although players cannot cash out the bonus itself). However, some players and regulators believe that some of these promotions are misleading, because they allegedly do not clearly and conspicuously disclose all of the material terms of the offer.
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently banned an advertisement by online gaming operator Betway which allegedly failed to disclose the material terms of the offer. Betway's homepage prominently advertised a "£50 Free Bet*." By clicking on the asterisk, users were taken to a tab listing the bonus terms, which stated that the operator would match new customers' first deposit, from £10 to £50, with a bonus that must be used within a week from the initial deposit.
The ASA determined that the "£50 Free Bet" advertisement was misleading because it did not disclose the material terms and conditions of the offer in a clear and conspicuous manner. The ASA asserted that the "£50 Free Bet" advertisement would lead the average user to believe that they would receive a truly free bet—not that they had to first pay £50 before they could receive the "free" bet as a deposit bonus.
Gaming companies, like all advertisers, must be vigilant in ensuring that their advertisements fully disclose the terms of any offer up front. This includes information such as how much money the customer will receive (in this case, a matching deposit bonus up to £50), what the customer must do to earn the bonus (make a deposit), when the customer will receive the incentive (whether they receive it in a lump sum immediately upon deposit, or whether additional milestones in play or deposits must be reached), and how long they have to use the bonus funds. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission and state Attorneys General may bring actions for alleged deceptive advertising offers, and in many states customers may bring suit for the purportedly misleading offers. In operators' quest to compete for customers and make attractive offers, they should proceed with caution and err on the side of full disclosure in doing so.
Even In The UK, Think Twice Before Using Celebrity Endorsements
Photo at vi.wikipedia.org
A recent legal case in the UK between singer Rihanna and fashion retailer Topshop has highlighted differences between publicity rights in the UK and some US jurisdictions. Rihanna sued Topshop for its sale of a t-shirt bearing a large photograph of her. Rihanna had not approved or endorsed the sale of the t-shirt; rather, an independent photographer had taken the picture and licensed it for use on the shirts.
In the United States, many jurisdictions have laws governing the right of publicity; that is, the right to control the use of your image for commercial gain, or to be compensated for the commercial use of your image. The UK, however, does not have corresponding laws on image rights. Instead, Rihanna had to allege that Topshop engaged in "passing off" the shirts as being endorsed by the singer, thereby damaging her goodwill and business. In support, Rihanna argued that the circumstances of the sale of the shirts were likely to mislead customers into thinking that she had endorsed the product because the photograph was similar to those used in official album promotions, the nature of the shirt itself, and the fact that Topshop is a major and reputable retailer.
The lower court considered Rihanna's prior connections to the store in considering whether passing off occurred. It noted that Topshop had previously run a competition in which the winner was awarded with a shopping trip to Topshop. Also, only weeks before the shirts went on sale, Topshop tweeted that Rihanna was shopping at one of its locations. Against that background, the court noted that the particular photograph on the shirt could have led her fans to believe that it was associated with the marketing campaign for the album, since the particular hairstyle and scarf worn by Rihanna in the photograph were widely used in a music video and associated publicity.
Ultimately Rihanna's passing off arguments were successful, and the court granted an injunction prohibiting Topshop from selling the shirts without informing customers that they had not been approved or authorized by Rihanna. However, it is interesting to think what the result might have been in an instance where it was more obvious that Rihanna had not endorsed the product; for instance, if the t-shirts were sold, not through a trusted retailer which has been associated with the singer but instead by an independent seller hawking t-shirts on the street corner. In such circumstances the case in favor of passing off may have been weaker and Rihanna might not have been able to control the use of her image.
In contrast, the outcome under such a scenario might be very different in a state like California, which has strong right of publicity laws. California Civil Code §3344(a) forbids the use of another's likeness "on or in products, merchandise, or goods, or for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products, merchandise, goods or services, without such person's prior consent…" The law establishes liability $750 or actual damages, whichever is greater, as well as "any profits from the unauthorized use that are attributable to the use and are not taken into account in computing the actual damages." Punitive damages and attorney's fees and costs are also available under the statute.
While Rihanna's victory in UK court does not establish a right of publicity in the country, it does provide an interesting case study in the workarounds that celebrities must use in order to protect their image from being improperly used in jurisdictions which do not have a right of publicity.
Affiliate Marketing, Deceptive Advertising
Celebrity Endorsements, Online Poker and the FTC
Last week, without much attention, four new regulations affecting online gaming operations in New Jersey became effective under the authority of the Division of Gaming Enforcement. The rules include changes to directives on funding from social games, requirements for exclusivity, and operator server locations.
However, the fourth rule is an addition which deals specifically with celebrity endorsements. What is most notable about this tenet is not the content, but the fact that regulators in New Jersey believe that iGaming will soon become an industry that uses celebrities to promote and market itself to consumers.
Because we're lawyers, here is the actual language of Rule 13:69O-1.4 (u.):
Internet gaming operators may employ celebrity or other players to participate in peer to peer games for advertising or publicity purposes. Such players may have their accounts funded in whole or in part by an Internet gaming operator. An Internet gaming operator may pay a fee to the celebrity player. If a celebrity player is employed and the celebrity player generates winnings which he or she is not permitted to retain, such winnings shall be included as Internet gaming gross revenue in a manner approved by the Division.
It may be argued that the word "celebrity" is being used loosely in this context, as there isn't exactly a line of blockbuster A-listers or superstar athletes waiting for their chance to be the face of online poker. Yet the addition of this specific provision importantly points to the fact that the Gaming Division not only anticipates a future where iGaming will carry big name endorsers, but that it wants to encourage effective advertising and publicity for the industry, which has had a slow start in its first year since becoming legal in the state.
Regulators looking to update this rule in the future should consider adding language geared toward consumer protection – namely, prohibitions against the use of celebrity endorsements in a deceptive or misleading manner. Last year, the FTC updated its advertising guidelines to account for the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising, specifically in the context of paid social media endorsements. Those guidelines provide, among other things, that celebrity endorsements must be truthful and accurately reflect the opinions of the celebrity, that paid celebrity endorsements must be adequately disclosed, and that the celebrity be a bona fide user of the product or services he/she is endorsing.
These guidelines should equally be applied by regulators in the context of iGaming, where increased competition, as more operators come on board, may lead operators to one up each other by throwing money at celebrities to endorse their games. The key to effective iGaming regulation is not just limited to overseeing how the game is played, but also to ensuring that the operators don't play games that would unfairly hurt the competition and mislead the playing public. Updating these regulations so they are more inline with the FTC's advertising guidelines will further these goals.
Deceptive Advertising, Fraud
School Scams: FTC Cracks Down on Florida Online Diploma Mills
Online diploma mills, which require little or no coursework to complete a degree have recently garnered much attention within the online education realm. Websites which offer questionable diplomas for hundreds of dollars target vulnerable consumers seeking a degree to improve their life prospects, while simultaneously casting a shadow over legitimate online educational institutions which offer accredited programs and a complete educational experience including coursework, teacher interaction, and grading. In the latest crackdown on online diploma mills, the Federal Trade Commission obtained a temporary restraining order against Diversified Educational Resources, LLC and Motivational Management & Development Services, Ltd., companies which generated millions of dollars by selling worthless high school diplomas to thousands of consumers.
According to the allegations of the FTC's complaint, the defendants have been operating purported online education sites since 2006, under the names Jefferson High School Online and Enterprise High School Online. The FTC alleges that the websites misleadingly represent that these are accredited schools by saying that the defendants "[p]rovide a respected and recognized high school diploma equivalency program," that students completing the program will be "high school graduates," and that the schools are registered with the Florida Department of Education. While the latter statement is technically true, the websites do not reveal that registering with Florida's School Choice Program does not mean that the programs are accredited but rather, according to the complaint, registration is merely a "ministerial act, based solely on their own self-reported answers to Florida's annual private school survey" which the Florida Department of Education does not verify. The truth of the accreditation status can only be found buried in dense paragraphs of text, in which the defendants note that they are "actively pursuing accreditation options" although they have not applied for any yet.
Consumers paid $200 to $300 to register on the websites. Those fees did not entitle them to any coursework, education, or test preparation. Rather, customers were immediately prompted to take a "test," which was nearly impossible to fail because the websites provided hints to ensure that customers passed. After passing the test, customers received diplomas bearing the name "Jefferson High School Online" or "Enterprise High School Online."
The "diplomas" that the defendants issued to customers were useless, according to the FTC. Many customers learned that their diplomas were invalid after unsuccessfully attempting to use them to apply to jobs, enroll in college, or join the military. Further, unsatisfied customers who sought a refund were refused, according to the FTC. Through this scam, the complaint says, the defendants collected over $11 million since 2009 without providing a real education product or service.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a temporary restraining order and asset freeze in response to these allegations, suspending the domain names and prohibiting any material misrepresentations regarding online education. The case remains pending in the Southern District of Florida and the defendants' responsive pleadings are due in October.
Deceptive Advertising, Fraud
Broken Promises: A Glimpse at the Dark Side of Crowdfunding
The fact is that social media has connected us to each other in ways which seemed unimaginable only a few decades ago. Take for example the progression of social activism through online fundraising. Over the course of two short months the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge ("IBC") went viral with millions of videos being posted by people drenching themselves in ice water in order to spread awareness and raise money for the research and treatment of ALS. To date, the total amount of donations made to the ALS Association through the IBC is an unprecedented $114 million. The Association's FAQs webpage regarding the IBC indicates that this amount is almost five times its annual overall budget.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is also a good example of the online phenomenon of crowdfunding, where numerous individuals and groups pitch in to fund a project, cause or idea. Simply put, crowdfunding is fundraising through social media. There are several popular crowdfunding websites, however one of the most well-known sites is Kickstarter.com, which was launched in 2009, and boasts the facilitation of $1 billion in contributions by seven million backers who have so far funded 69,000 "creative projects" through the site. However, as is common when dealing with new technology, there are often unanticipated legal aspects of such innovation which can be problematic.
Earlier this year, the first crowdfunding consumer protection lawsuit was filed in the state of Washington (State of Washington v. Altius Management, LLC; Edward J. Polchlopek III (No. 14-2-12425-SEA)). In late 2012, defendant Ed Nash, as he is known, and his company Altius Management, were successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign to produce a limited-edition playing card game called Asylum. According to the campaign page, backers exceeded Nash's goal of raising $15,000, giving more than $25,000 in total for the promise of the card game to be made. In addition, many of those who funded Nash's campaign expected certain perks for contributing, referred to by Kickstarter as "rewards," as was detailed in his campaign's backer pledge amounts, which included multiple card decks and custom artwork according to varying contribution levels. However, two years later the card game has not been produced, backers have received no rewards or refunds and there has been no communication from Nash regarding the status of the Asylum project since July 2013.
Each project "creator" who signs up their campaign on Kickstarter is required to agree to the site's Terms of Use, which includes language stating that the creator must fulfill all rewards promised to backers or issue refunds. If the creator fails to deliver on both of these fronts, Kickstarter advises them that they may be open to litigation by backers. Now, the Washington State Attorney General's Office wants Nash to pay for breaking his promise to these backers under the state's Consumer Protection Act ("CPA") [RCW Chapter 19.86]. The filed lawsuit seeks up to $2,000 per violation of the CPA in civil penalties for restitution to the backers, and also includes all state costs and attorneys fees.
With this being the first case of its kind, there is no precedent to see exactly how these proceedings will develop or how this case will affect Kickstarter and other crowdfunding websites. We suspect it will proceed like many of the other cases we write about in the internet space. One thing is certain, whether they are made online or in person, people don't like broken promises.
Deceptive Advertising, Fraud, Internet Law
$3.5 Million Cactus Juice Settlement Should be a Warning to Advertisers
In this health-conscious age, consumers are always on the lookout for new products which will improve wellness and quality of life. Marketers attuned to this trend may be tempted to increase sales by extolling the virtues of their products, even if health claims are unsubstantiated by scientific testing. A recent FTC case, however, demonstrates the price that advertisers pay for overstating health claims.
The FTC filed a case against TriVita Inc., a dietary supplement company, for its marketing of the Nopalea cactus juice drink. The beverage was widely advertised in television infomercials and online as an "anti-inflammatory wellness drink." Nopalea includes juice from the nopal cactus, also known as the "prickly pear." TriVita's "Chief Science Officer" stated that the nopal cactus is proven to reduce inflammation, which he linked to Alzheimer's disease, allergies, diabetes, and heart disease. TriVita sold each 32-ounce bottle of Nopalea for $39.99, plus shipping and handling.
According to the FTC's complaint, the Nopalea infomercial was one of the most frequently aired commercials in the United States. The ads stated that the juice would relieve pain, reduce swelling in joints and muscles, and improve breathing. Infomercials featured "customer testimonials" in which individuals stated that Nopalea helped relieve them of symptoms of a wide variety of conditions, including inflammation, chronic pain, respiratory conditions, and skin conditions. However, the FTC alleged that these individuals were paid for their endorsements, a fact not sufficiently disclosed in the advertisements. When customers called the toll-free number advertised, sales representatives told customers that Nopalea would make them "pain-free," according to the FTC's complaint. The health representations had not been substantiated with scientific studies at the time they were made.
The FTC filed its complaint and request for permanent injunction on July 10, 2014. On July 11, the FTC filed a stipulated settlement order in which TriVita agreed to forfeit $3.5 million to the FTC. The order prohibits the defendants from marketing Nopal cactus products using unsubstantiated or misleading health claims, and from using paid endorsers unless any material connection between the individual and the company is clearly and prominently disclosed.
The multi-million dollar settlement in this case should serve as a warning to marketers who are tempted to overstate health claims in order to generate traffic and sales. The FTC takes health claims seriously and reviews health-related ads with extra scrutiny, so specific claims should only be made when supported by solid, scientific proof, and any paid testimonials should be clearly disclosed. As the cactus juice company learned, failure to comply with these standards will lead to a prickly situation.
Cactus Juice, False advertising, FTC, TriVita


text:
The White Sox won't have to go back to the drawing board when it comes to their new coaching staff.
Third-base coach Joe McEwing is staying after all with the news Sunday that the St. Louis Cardinals hired Mike Matheny as their new manager. McEwing was given permission to interview with the Cardinals after he had been hired by the White Sox.
Drafted by the Cardinals in the 28th round in 1992, McEwing played his first two big-league seasons in St. Louis starting in 1998.
McEwing is one of three new members of the White Sox's coaching staff, not counting new manager Robin Ventura. Other new faces are bench coach Mark Parent and hitting coach Jeff Manto.
The manager at Triple-A Charlotte last season, McEwing is heading into his first season as a major-league coach.


text:
Sign In or New Customer
Get insider deals first, exclusive promotions
and more delivered to your inbox each week!
We respect your privacy and take
it very seriously. View our privacy policy.
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Be sure to check your email for exclusive
offers and discounts.
Select at least 2 products. Add up to 3 items.
Unexpected error encountered. Please try again later.
A price quote has been sent to this email address:
C2G 6ft 3.5mm Right Angled M/M Stereo Audio Cable - Audio cable - stereo mini jack (M) to stereo mini jack (M) - 6 ft - shielded - black - right-angled connector
Creative Sound Blaster X7 - Sound card - 24-bit - 192 kHz - 127 dB SNR - 5.1 - USB / Bluetooth - SB-Axx1
Free Shipping
StarTech.com 15 ft Thin Toslink Digital Optical SPDIF Audio Cable - Digital audio cable (optical) - SPDIF - TOSLINK (M) to TOSLINK (M) - 15 ft - fiber optic - black
Free Expedited Shipping
Belkin MIXIT Aux Cable - Audio cable - stereo mini jack (M) to stereo mini jack (M) - 3 ft - red - flat - for Apple iPhone/iPod
Install your aftermarket DIN radio with this universal under-dash mounting kit that features high-quality ABS plastic for a durable mounting system.
BOSS BRS65 - Speaker - 40 Watt - dual cone - 6.5"
BOSS BRS69 - Speaker - 60 Watt - dual cone - 6" x 9"
RCA ANT800 - HDTV antenna - plate - outdoor
Ships For Only $9!
Atlantic - Stand for speaker(s) - titanium - floor-standing ( pack of 2 )
TIC Architectural Speakers ASP60 - Speaker - 75 Watt - 2-way - black
TIC Architectural Speakers ASP60 - Speaker - 40 Watt - 2-way - white
BIC America M-PRO6W - Speaker - 150 Watt - 2-way
Fully automatic operation with two speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 RPM. # Included cables connect to your stereo or powered speakers.
Accell - Audio cable - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm (M) to mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm (M) - 7 ft
Accell - Audio cable - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm (M) to RCA (M) - 6.6 ft
The mountable PDMN38 is ideal for surround sound or sound monitor applications. Place it on a wall or ceiling to optimize your listening experience.
Sangean-PR-D5 - Portable radio - 1.6 Watt - black
Belkin Stereo Cable - Audio cable - RCA (M) to stereo mini jack (M) - 7 ft - for Apple iPhone/iPod
Belkin Car Stereo Cable - Audio cable - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm (M) to mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm (M) - 3 ft
It's never been easier to get high quality audio with your computer! Home, office, anywhere — the Snowball iCE USB microphone delivers audio quality that's light years ahead of your computer's built-in microphone.
Russound Acclaim 5 Series OutBack 5B45 - Speaker - 2-way - black
The Tile Bridge Support Ring (TBCR) is designed to offer additional mounting support for a variety of installations involving clamping type ceiling speakers
X-mini MAX v1.1 - Speakers - for portable use - 4 Watt (total) - red
Sangean-FB-100 Fatbox - Portable radio - 14 Watt - red
Sangean-LB-100 LUNCHBOX - Portable radio
When you buy selected software from MacMall, you have two delivery options: you can have it shipped, or you can download it straight to your PC. Downloadable software consists of two parts: 1) a product key and 2) the software files. Both are provided once your order has been processed. Download time will be dependent on your connection speed.
Applies only to items marked as "Same Day", and which do not require configuration, and which are available for delivery in the contiguous United States. The "Same Day" indicator is not a guarantee that your order will ship the same day you place it. This only indicates that the item in question was located in a warehouse at the time the website was last updated, and that we may be able to ship the product to you today if it is available pending credit approval and receipt of your order at the warehouse-if all applicable guidelines are met
This indicates that the product was located in a warehouse at the time the website was last updated, and that the warehouse is closed for shipping at this time, and that we may be able to ship the product to you on the next business day. Your order will usually be shipped the next business day if it is available, pending credit approval and receipt of your order at the warehouse-if all applicable guidelines are met.
This product is not currently available for shipment from any of our warehouse locations based upon information available to us at the last time the website was updated. Please call us at (800) 622-6255 for an estimated arrival date.
Product availability information presented on our Web site is the best, most current information we have, but errors do occur and this information does not represent a guarantee or promise of availability.
If a product is not in stock when you place your order, we will do our best to let you know. We will also provide you with our best estimate of when the product will be available. Anticipated delivery dates are dependent on our suppliers and other factors beyond our control, and are subject to change.
Please wait while we add your item(s) to cart....
MacMall is the #1 Apple Direct Reseller. We sell more Apple-branded products than any other direct Apple reseller. Since 1987, MacMall has been supplying Mac computers, iPads, Mac software, iPods, iPad accessories, and more Apple brand products and consumer electronics to consumers, businesses, and creative professionals. At MacMall, we understand the increasing demand for the best quality consumer products at huge discounted prices. That's why we are proud to offer the lowest prices on our extensive selection of best-selling products, and hard-to-find Mac and iPod products you crave. Get yourself the new iPad or the new Apple TV for your family. Looking to upgrade your MacBook? Or just want to find out the best suited iPod/iPhone accessories for your hot gadget? Keep your iPad up-to-date with function and technology with our line of top-brand iPad accessories. Compare brands. Equip your Apple products. More than the innovative products, MacMall goes beyond commerce and into affordable, high-quality business solutions. From customized business sites to financing & leasing to software licensing, technology certifications, configuration services, packaged service programs, and more. Enjoy easy management, easy installation, and easy implementation. Discover a whole new way to create and re-create your business. Plus, with our 24/7 customer service hotline, we're always just a phone call away no matter when you want to reach us. Get the MacMall Advantage. Don't miss out on the best deals, special prices, rebate savings, exclusive bundles, and dedicated service you won't find anywhere else!


text:
realmagick.com The shrine of knowledge.
Solidworks Assemblies
A selection of articles related to solidworks assemblies.
Original articles from our library related to the Solidworks Assemblies. See Table of Contents for further available material (downloadable resources) on Solidworks Assemblies.
- Religious Tolerance In Springfield and the Greenleaf Coven
- Religious intolerance is alive and well in Springfield Missouri. The question is, to what degree, and in the terminology of "The Burning Times", how high are the flames? In 1999, the court case of Jean Webb vs. The City of Republic was a headliner...
Paganism & Wicca >> True Stories
- An Overview: What is Atheism?
- Atheism is non-belief in the existence of god or deities. It originated from the Greek word "atheos" which means 'without god'.
Religion & Philosophy >> Philosophy
Solidworks Assemblies is described in multiple online sources, as addition to our editors' articles, see section below for printable documents, Solidworks Assemblies books and related discussion.
Suggested News Resources
- The Growing Demand For On-Demand CAD Licensing
- To choose the CAD program that would become his business' backbone, Spoering spent 45 days (the typical free trial period for CAD software) modeling parts and assemblies in several different programs. One of ...
- The Ultimate 1:1 BB-8 Build Guide
- BB-8 is not only a cute little droid but also presents dandy of a challenge for hackers 'round the globe to try and recreate in the garage. Nonfunctional models are a dime a dozen and the novelty has long worn off the Sphero toy.
- First Look: Monitor Ahead of the Curve
- While curved screens have been pushed to consumers for entertainment (immersive games would be enhanced), the ability to see parts, assemblies, or buildings should offer a more realistic experience for engineers and architects.
- 3D Part Viewer Enables CAD Display, Annotation, Analysis
- According to the company, both novices and experienced users can build virtual unified prototypes or 3D models imported from a wide range of file formats, including Catia, NX, Parasolid, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, STEP and IGES.
Great care has been taken to prepare the information on this page. Elements of the content come from factual and lexical knowledge databases, realmagick.com library and third-party sources. We appreciate your suggestions and comments on further improvements of the site.
Solidworks Assemblies Topics
Related searchesscrum management simplified scrum
lawrence block books for writers
nama people
vor v zakone
doris day
1666 census of new france
sir apirana ngata
About - Contact - Advertising
© 2000 - 2016 Realmagick.com, All Rights Reserved.
© 2000 - 2016 Realmagick.com, All Rights Reserved.


text:
Wade Fellows Pre-Professional Series: March 25, 2011
Money 101: Personal Finances After College
- How do I choose and sign up for a credit card?
- What is my credit score, and how will it affect my life?
- Should I be saving or investing?
- Do I need health insurance, and how do I get it?
Sean Kelly '95, an investment coordinator with The Kaleel Company, will lead a seminar for students on responsibly managing your personal finances. He'll cover a variety of topics, including how much of your income should go into living expenses, investments, and savings; how to navigate filing taxes; how to build good credit and the meaning of your credit score; and the ins and outs of taking out a loan. There will be plenty of time for questions following his presentation.
Refreshments will be served before and after the event.
Friday, March 25 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Pruyne Auditorium, Fayerweather Hall
Brought to you by the Wade Fellowship and the Amherst College Office of Alumni and Parent Programming


text:
After a valiant 6 year battle against cancer, Mom left this life on September
Our mother, Jean Bjorklund, passed in to glory on Sunday, September 25, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband and best friend Vider (July 2007.) She is survived by her daughter Cynthia and son-in-law Jeff Boster of Turlock, granddaughter Jennifer (husband Keith) Harlow, great grandchildren Kylie Anne and Aleck Jeffrey of Virginia, cat Fritz, and her honoring daughter Ann Canen and family, of Oakdale. She was retired from AT&T and a member of First Baptist Church of Turlock.
Horacio Adolfo "Chitos" Velasquez passed away due to a car accident in Tracy, CA. Chitos was a day away from turning 22 years young. He loved to be with his family. He is survived by his parents and two sisters. He was and will always remain a loving grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, brother and son. He will always be missed and live through his family
Gordon was born on February 12, 1936 to Edward and Mabel Peterson in Turlock, and passed away on October 4, 2011 after a brief illness.
Mary Arlene Stiles was born May 31, 1927 in Arkansas, the first child of Joe Johnston Stiles and Ida Estelle Badgett. The Stiles family moved to Briscoe, Texas where her sister Louise was born. They later moved to Omak, Washington and lived there for a time until they moved to Modesto. After High School, Arlene worked as the Boy Scout office secretary in Modesto.
Jack was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who will be missed more than words can say. He enjoyed selling his oranges so he could talk with everyone who stopped by. He also enjoyed bowling and taking care of his yard. Jack bravely fought a long hard battle with caner until his death.
Page 93 of 208
Paul Fernandes, 71, of Denair, passed away peacefully at home after an extended illness. Paul was born in Stockton California to Antone and Cecelia Fernandes ...
Harriet Alvernaz passed away peacefully on October 15, 2016 surrounded by her close family.
Doris was 95 when she quietly passed away.
Philip Alan Sederquist was born in Modesto, CA to Frederick and Luella Sederquist and passed away at the age of 66 in Turlock, CA. He ...
Jimmie Stamps, age 47, of Turlock passed away October 11, 2016. He was born in Modesto and raised in Turlock where he graduated from Turlock ...
Daniel was born in Turlock to William and Esther Rehana and passed away at the age of 66. He was raised in Hilmar and graduated ...
Timothy J. Amrhein, 43, passed away on October 6, 2016 in New York City, just two months after being diagnosed with cancer. Born in Seoul ...
Berwyn Lee Moren, surrounded by family, passed away unexpectedly at Emanuel Medical Center on October 10th, 2016 in Turlock, Ca at the age of 85.
Page 1 of 1
Contents of this site are © Copyright 2014 The Turlock Journal, CA. All rights reserved.
Privacy policy and Terms of service


text:
Drew Barrymore and her daughter, Olive, bond with yoga after Drew has confirmed her separation from Will Kopelman. Drew and Will recently announced their decision to split, but that isn't slowing down the celebrity mom. Barrymore and Olive enjoyed some bonding time together … [Read more...]
Alessandra Ambrosio: Family Yoga FunDay
Alessandra Ambrosio and her husband Jamie Mazur were photographed attending a family yoga class with their daughter Anja in Santa Monica, CA on Sunday (Feb. 21). The Victoria's Secret model was dressed casually in a a loose-fitting tank top and workout tights with … [Read more...]
Mila Kunis Looks Ready To Pop
Mila Kunis was spotted leaving a yoga class with a friend in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday (Aug. 23). The Ted actress looked ready to pop in a black maternity stretch top and yoga pants with sandals. She and her friend headed to lunch after their class. … [Read more...]
Jenna Fischer: Yoga Bump
Jenna Fischer was photographed leaving a prenatal yoga class in Los Angeles, CA on Monday (May 19). The Office actress dressed her baby bump in a black maternity top and long striped skirt. She accessorized her look with dark shades, flats and tote bag. … [Read more...]
Drew Barrymore: Saturday Morning Prenatal Yoga
Drew Barrymore was photographed leaving a yoga class in West Hollywood, California on Saturday (Nov. 30). Wearing a military jacket, blue shirt, vintage jeans and moccasins, the pregnant actress tried to hide by pulling her bag over her stomach. … [Read more...]


text:
Rep. Ed Perlmutter
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud the Honorable Elbra Wedgeworth for receiving the Community Impact Award from Metro Volunteers.
As an East Denver native, Elbra Wedgeworth has been a leader in Denver City Government for the past twenty-six years. In addition to her government service, some of her volunteer activities include Host Committee Member of the 2022 Denver Winter Olympics, 2011 Denver Region Sustainable Communities Executive Committee and founder of the African American Cultural Consortium and several other Boards and Councils.
The Honorable Elbra Wedgeworth is a highly admired individual who deserves recognition from the community for her leadership and the example she sets for others through her selfless service to those in need.
I extend my deepest congratulations to my friend the Honorable Elbra Wedgeworth for this well deserved recognition by Metro Volunteers. Thank you for making our community a better place for all of us.
Similar entries
Elbra WedgeworthSeptember 11, 2014
Charles Church MckayFebruary 25, 2014
Tribute To Elvin R. Caldwell, Sr.May 6, 2004
2000 Colorado Business Hall Of Fame Inductee, Allan PhippsJanuary 31, 2000
In Honor Of The Late Ms. Elizabeth Jean BainJune 17, 1999
Maro DimmerDecember 19, 2013
Celebrating Willie BrowningMay 12, 2016
Food For ThoughtApril 19, 2016
Food For ThoughtApril 20, 2016
Patsy MundellJanuary 8, 2014


text:
Reuters - Venezuela's flamboyant socialist leader Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, presenting a serious challenge to his near-total dominance of the South American OPEC nation since 1999.
Back in 2011, BlackRock's Larry Fink revealed one of the great unspoken truths of capital markets, namely that "markets like totalitarian governments." They also like authoritarian socialism, sprinkled in with a healthy dose of nationalization, because as Bloomberg reports, one of the biggest beneficiaries of over ten years of the "glorious socialist revolution" in Venezuela, coupled with over 1000 nationalizations by the bed-ridden and roughly 15 times deceased Hugo Cha
Reuters/Jorge Silva
Caracas (AFP) - A Venezuelan opposition leader was shot dead during an election rally, political leaders said Thursday, raising tensions ahead of a legislative vote that could weaken the major oil producer's socialist government.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to Venezuela early Monday, officials said, after a controversial extended stay in Cuba where he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor."We got here as the sun was rising. So very happy to be back home," Chavez said on Venezuelan state television as he arrived in time for July 5 bicentennial celebrations.
As Latin American leaders offered tributes to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez after his death Tuesday, a distinctly different tone emerged in the Northern hemisphere. "Good riddance to this dictator," said Ed Royce, a California Republican and chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Chavez was "a tyrant who forced the people of Venezuela to live in fear," Royce said in statement shortly after the socialist leader's death. "His death dents the alliance of anti-U.S. leftist leaders in South America."
Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Manduro says President Hugo Chavez has died, Reuters reports.
CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez is breathing with greater difficulty as a new and severe respiratory infection has taken hold, Venezuela's government said, describing the cancer-stricken president's condition as "very delicate."
A brief statement read on national television by Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas late Monday carried the sobering news about the charismatic 58-year-old socialist leader's deteriorating health.
LIMA, Peru — Venezuela is on the brink of political crisis as rumors swirl that President Hugo Chavez is on his deathbed just six days before he is due to be sworn in for his fourth successive term.
Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua said Sunday that President Hugo Chavez was not in danger of losing his life after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, and hopes to recover in time for next year's presidential election.The tumor has "never been life threatening," Jaua insisted to the El Universal newspaper, in a bid to contain the shockwaves felt over the firebrand leader's surprise announcement from Cuba last week that he had the tumor removed.
Bullfax.com - Market News & Analysis 2008-2011 Contact Us | About Us | Terms & Conditions


text:
Every Body Deserves the Gift of Massage.
Every body deserves the gift of massage! The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School and Clinic would like to help you share the relaxing gift of massage with your loved ones. We have made shopping easier this year with our online Gift Certificates. As a matter of fact, you might want to grab an extra one for yourself and enjoy. You deserve it!
Gift Certificates are available $40 each for a 1-hour student internship massage.
We can also take payment at the front desk during regular business hours or by credit card over the phone and mail them to you or directly to the recipient. Phone: (512) 453-2830. Payments purchased online Sat & Sun will be processed Monday.


text:
Topsy Turvy style cake covered in BC & MMF. Shoe is made of gumpaste. White feathers on top are wafer paper. "feather" on sides of top tier is BC & fondant. All other decorations are MMF.
CakeCentral.com is the world's largest cake community for cake decorating professionals and enthusiasts.
(if this is a private computer)
Yes please, register now!


text:
These are a few of my favorite Etsy shops. There are so many out there though, this is only a very small sampling of all the amazing items they have to offer.
This is where I bought my all time favorite Etsy purchase. You just email in the picture you want to use and what colors you would like. This is what Spencer's sign looks like, I love it!
- I bought my all time favorite head band from her, and I always get a ton of compliments when I wear it.
- Various items, headbands, embroidered onesies, art, ornaments, etc. The prices are reasonable and I have gotten a ton of compliments on the headband I bought.
Lots of doo-dads, hair accessories, and all types of jewelry. I bought these vintage bobby pins for only $7 and they are very sturdy.
This is limited edition Joom Calendar I bought!
--- I'm always finding really great stores on Etsy, and I will continue to post them if they catch my eye. If you have any favorites let me know!


text:
Located just three miles from the hustle and bustle of town, The Homestead Bed & Breakfast at Rehoboth Beach sits on two acres of beautifully landscaped property. We are a pet friendly and adults only inn. Choose from four beautifully decorated guest rooms in the main house all with private bathrooms or our spacious 800 square foot private cottage featuring a large fenced-in backyard. Guests enjoy a full breakfast in our dining room including the hot entree of the day, homemade breads, fresh fruit, yogurt, gourmet coffee and additional continental fare. All of our rooms and the Cottage have a refrigerator, HD TV's, DVD player, hair dryer, and personal climate control settings. Additional amenities include a wrap-around screened in porch, free WI-FI, an expansive DVD selection, books to borrow from our library, a large selection of games, ice maker, bottled water, beach chairs and umbrellas, beach towels, free parking, and an outdoor shower for use after a day at the beach.
4.0 on October 12, 2016
Our stay at The Homestead at Rehoboth Bed and Breakfast was delightful! The innkeeper were friendly and went out of their way to make sure that we were happy. The breakfasts are excellent. Our dogs had a fenced play area to play with the other dogs. Would definitely visit again.
4.8 on September 06, 2016
125 year old farmhouse, lovely gardens, good yards, separate fenced dog "park". Clean, well-maintained, nice "clean-up" facilities outside, neat, well-sited (centrally located off main drag), run by knowledgeable locals able to make thoughtful dining, hiking, biking, dog-friendly suggestions for events, locations and attractions. Non-invasive, easy to talk to, friendly hosts. Excellent fresh, from-scratch breakfasts (fresh fruits, breads, yogurts, nice coffee/tea service, frittata, pancakes, omelettes), Joe & David run an excellent establishment.
5 on June 28, 2016
We stayed mid-week for two nights in the cottage in June 2016. Was beautifully decorated and relaxing with lots of nice details, and our own enclosed garden area and patio. The main house is wonderfully decorated, we saw all the bedrooms and each had it's own charm. David and Joe were brilliant hosts and the breakfasts were to die for!
4.0 on April 17, 2016
This B&B keeps improving over the years! It's a great set-up for those traveling with their dogs.
4.8 on April 02, 2016
This is the second time we have stayed at Homestead. It is very difficult to find pet friendly accommodations. Homestead goes above and beyond in catering to both human and pet needs. We LOVE the fenced play area. Breakfasts were great, and the room was perfect for our needs. We will come again!
5 on March 10, 2016
The Homestead is a wonderful bed and breakfast that allows pets and Joe and David are wonderful host. The breakfasts are so delicious and the food is so fresh. We stayed in the cottage which is separate from the house. It was very comfortable and cozy. We enjoyed the extra room and privacy.
5 on March 01, 2016
My partner and I enjoyed two peaceful days in Rehoboth Beach at the Homestead Bed and Breakfast. Joe and David were welcoming and helpful, and cooked two amazing breakfasts (custom omelettes and heavenly french toast!). Traveling from our apartment in the heart of DC, the bed and breakfast was truly a retreat. It sits on beautiful property, with trees, gardens, and greens. Our dog, Grizzly, thoroughly enjoyed frolicking around the grounds and running loose in the gated dog park. We stayed in the Sunflower room, which had its own calming effect. Even our dog, who basically never retires from his life duty of guarding doors and investigating suspicious sounds, realized that he was in good hands and took a much-needed break from his full-time job. We also found the Big Chill Cantina right around the corner from the bed and breakfast-- a laid-back bar with a great outdoor area that allows dogs to roam through freely. No vacation is complete without the pup, and we found the entire area catered to furry friends. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and we'll definitely return to Homestead for all of the peace that it offers!
5 on February 09, 2016
Cozy, comfortable, clean and close to beach and outlet. The hosts were warm and welcoming. Great breakfast with hospitality. We had a relaxing weekend and it was even better because we were able to stay at a place that welcomed our dog as well. We will be back!
5 on January 12, 2016
We had such a great weekend in Rehoboth when we stayed at the Homestead B&B. Joe and David were so nice and welcoming. The breakfasts were beyond delicious! It's always a fun vacation when you can bring your furry friend along and our dog had a blast! The room was very nice and when I walked in I immediately felt that they had thought of everything! From the pet sheet on the bed, the rubber mat for her food bowl, even the little basket of snacks and toiletries. We will absolutely be back!
3.0 on January 04, 2016
I love the fact that Homestead is a pet friendly environment. The owner Joe is very friendly and personable. Lots of space outside for your pets. Only down fall for me was the bed was extremely soft. Can't do soft beds very uncomfortable. Felt like I was sinking in the middle. I wish I had booked earlier to get a room with the bath inside the room. We had I ownyd private bath, but it was outside the room. Homestead sit on the corner of a busy intersection so if you are in the room in the front be prepared for the traffic.
45 miles from Dover Downs, 3 miles from Atlantic Ocean, Beach Community, 7 miles from Delaware Bay
Georgetown, DE (GED-Sussex County) 90 miles
From the D.C. - Baltimore Area Follow 50 East over the Bay Bridge to 404 East. Continue on 404 East past 113 into downtown Georgetown. Follow the circle until it says 9 East. Procede East on Route 9 until Route 1 in Lewes. Go South (right)on Route 1. Follow Route 1 to Route 24 (McDonalds on the corner ) turn right and go to the second traffic light, turn left onto Warrington Rd (Plantation Road ends and becomes Warrington Road when you turn Left). The Bed and Breakfast is the last house on the right. From Philadelphia, New York and points North Follow Routs 95 South from Wilmington, De. exit onto Route 1 south and follow it past Dover, Milford, Milton and Lewes. Follow Route 1 to Route 24 (McDonalds on the corner ) turn right and go to the second traffic light, turn left onto Warrington Rd (Plantation Road ends and becomes Warrington Road when you turn Left). The Bed and Breakfast is the last house on the right.
Amusement Park, Antique Shopping, Art Galleries, Beach, Casino, Concert venue, Gourmet/Fine Dining, Historical interests, Live Music, Movie Theater, National/State parks, Nature area, Ocean, Cape May - Lewes Ferry, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Dover Downs Nascar race track, Outlet Stores, Performing Theater, Picnic area, Religious Services, Vineyard, Winery
Bed and Breakfast
Board games, CD player, Computer, Library, Private entrance, Radio, Satellite/Cable TV, Videos , Well behaved pets welcomed, no children, Expanded continental breakfast
Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Ceiling fans, Coffee/Tea facilities, DVD Player, Fridge, Hairdryer, Internet Service, TV, Wi-Fi
Bicycle rental, Bicycle riding trails, Bicycles, Bird watching, Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Golfing, Hiking trails, Horseback riding, Kayaking, Sailing, Shopping, Sight-seeing, Swimming, Tennis courts, Video Arcade, Water sports
Joe Sterner / David Brinton
English, Spanish
Cats , Dogs
Vegetarian gluten-free, vegan


text:
The board announced Friday that none of the five lawyers working on the case are former employees or alumni.
University leaders say they didn't learn about a purported sexual assault against Menu Courey until she committed suicide 16 months later. They said they followed the law and didn't have specific knowledge of the incident or a victim to interview. The case has since been referred to Columbia police.


text:
Follow HitFix Follow @hitfix
Credit: FOX
'Lone Star' - 'Pilot': The house of cards
What did everybody think of the con man drama pilot?
By Alan Sepinwall @Sepinwall | Monday, Sep 20, 2010 10:00 PM
I reviewed FOX's "Lone Star" on Friday. Now it's your turn. What did you think of the pilot episode? Do you share my concerns about the show's long-term viability? Are you going to immediately download the Mumford & Sons album? And if you were Bob, which life would you rather have?
Keep up with Alan Sepinwall by signing up for the newsletter
Related Searches:
Lone Star, Alan Sepinwall
Lone Star, Alan Sepinwall
EJ (guest)This was one of the best hours of television that I've watched in a long time. Really, a fantastic pilot. Well acted, paced, shot, and written.
I agree that the premise is difficult to sustain. Adding real drama is going to kill the tone that the show set. But after seeing such a well-made hour of TV, I have faith in the show's creators.September 20, 2010 at 10:03PM ESTReply to Comment
alynchIt was absolutely great. I'll be in a for a while. As for the long term potential, there are far too many series with actual problems for me to get worried about a series with potential problems. I'll worry about those when they start existing.September 20, 2010 at 10:13PM ESTReply to Comment
erinpaytonHmm. I really loved the soundtrack, so I'm definitely with you there. And I think the actor who plays Bob is incredibly charismatic. But...am I supposed to feel sorry for the guy? Who's cheating on two women and regardless of what he says is embracing his con man lifestyle that might catch up with him at any moment? Because I don't know why I should (although that guy is working like hell to make me empathize with him). So yeah, I do believe I'm worried about the longterm viability of the show, and even if the show runners have a plan, I'm not sure why I should feel emotionally invested in the con man over the longterm. So to me, THAT'S the biggest problem...why should I care about the problems he's created for himself?September 20, 2010 at 10:15PM ESTReply to Comment
belindaSince I'm a big fan of Mumford and Sons, it was pretty delightful to see them be the soundtrack of the show! I like the show so far, but...
I agree with erin here. I do feel sorry for the guy because his dad sucks, and it's tough being a guy who wants a real life but wasn't raised to have one, etc. And Wolk is incredibly likeable, so at the beginning, I could get behind Bob. BUT with his last line "[I love them] Both!", I couldn't help but snort at his idea that to start of his 'real' life, it would of course mean that he should get married to two women at the same time, because yeah, sure, that'll make things right. So yes, why should I care about a guy who created an even bigger problem than his (and his dad's) original scam did? Especially when we're given the impression that Bob is a smart guy, and should know better. Instead, he chooses to turn over a new leaf by selfishly claiming two women in marriage without their knowledge, all in the name of "love". Which, come on, give me a break.
So now at the end of the episode, I'm not sure if I like Bob very much anymore. In a way, he's worse than his dad - because he's cheating money AND love from his ex-marks, all the while thinking he's doing the right thing(which is probably the most infuriating quality, now that I think about it).
But, it is a new show, so who knows what direction it'll take? I'll give it a few more episodes, but then, I guess the biggest question is whether Bob is interesting enough as a character to sustain my long term interest in a character I don't find likeable at all.September 21, 2010 at 6:56AM EST
JenniferI was with the show right up until the moment that Bob went back to Midland (after the gas station scene when he threw out the necklace/cell phone). I think there are two shows at war here, the very interesting show about Bob, wife #1 and Jon Voight's family/business empire--and a rather boring, reiterative show about Bob, now-wife #2 and the "working class" folks of Midland. I would keep watching if it would just focus on the first show, and perhaps added in side-cons to that storyline, but I have ZERO interest in the second story. I knew I was giving up on the show as soon as that storyline was introduced.September 21, 2010 at 10:33AM EST
TruckThieves always try to justify their actions by saying they'll pay it back tenfold later. Now he thinks he's going to pay back the Midland folks and he'll be absolved of his sin, but he's just stealing from another person to do it.
It's interesting that I thought this show was pretty decent until I actually THOUGHT about it afterwards. I guess all the sideways smiles and smooth talking had me just as fooled as his victims in the show.September 21, 2010 at 7:22PM EST
KenI dunno if I necessarily agree. While Bob is obviously a talented con-man, there's real innocence about the character... a boy always doing what he can to please the only role model he's ever had. Even though the boy is now an adult, he still has that child-like innocence, which is a big part of his charm.
When he's playing the con-man role, he's so slick with confidence... then we see the real Bob. A son seeking his father's approval. It's like the con-man life allows him to live his fantasy of a "normal" family man - except that even this isn't normal because he's living TWO fantasies.
Do I feel sorry for the guy? Hell yeah. He's doing the only thing he's ever known how to do and as despicable as this actions are, you KNOW that the two lives he's leading are more real to him than the con-man life that is his true reality.
Amazing set up that I hope they can follow through on because already, I feel a connection to Bob.September 25, 2010 at 7:04AM EST
OmagusI watched but wasn't particularly impressed. It seemed intriguing enough in some regards but like erinpayton says, why am I supposed to care about the conflicts that he's created for himself? And that's before we touch upon the long-term viability of the show.
I just found out that an actor friend of mind has a role in the third episode, so I'll probably watch until then. But if it doesn't become more compelling by then, I'll probably stop watching.September 20, 2010 at 10:21PM ESTReply to Comment
J (guest)Poor Tyra, she sure can pick 'em.
This was promising, but it's a bit of a false start. The new motivation is true love and stability, supposedly, but we're to believe this guy's been at this for a while, right? Just clinging to both lives means on some level he's a sociopath. And while the show works overtime to paint him as Mr. Nice Guy, and personify his dark past in his father, he's not going to be interesting until he's more than Mr. Nice Guy. We're rooting for him, so far, because it's a redemption story; but other than his circumstances, he's sort of dull.
Which is why the show this show most reminds me of -- Profit, which I know you never cared for, Alan -- was only 9 million times better than this. That too was a ultimately a twisted redemption story. It too had an outside con man entering a family business, haunted by a destructive parental figure (there, his stepmother/lover). But it was more compelling because it was upfront about his nature and because it allowed you to join him out in front of his nasty game and watch him struggle toward acceptance.
But I'll give this one a few more weeks and hope it stops feeling like Warm Fuzzies, The Con Man.
I guess it's standard to overwhelm TV soundtracks with contemporary indie tunes, but it seemed like there was a stretch in the middle where the songs were like 3 or 4 years old. Cold War Kids' "Hospital Beds," Jose Gonzalez' cover of The Knife's "Heartbeats." Has this pilot been on a shelf for a while?September 20, 2010 at 10:22PM ESTReply to Comment
Rogue Wave's "Eyes" (the first song used in the ep) is a few years old as well. I kind of like that they went with music that had a cohesive feel and didn't feel it necessary to jam up the show with something that isn't quite as perfect just because it's new. There are already enough shows around to do that.September 20, 2010 at 11:30PM EST
Kendra (guest)I was 50/50 on giving this show a chance but I'm glad I did. I am not usually a fan of pilots even for shows I eventually love but this one was making me very happy.
The lead was perfectly cast. He was doing things I'd normally hate but I couldn't be mad at him...he truly is the perfect conman.
As for whether or not there's a series here, I won't worry about that. It's not my business to necessarily worry about that. If I feel the show loses it, it does and it goes off my schedule. But this show is a soap so with the right twists and turns, it can go a while. All it needs is the right twist that these people need to be in each other's lives and those reasons might evolve over the course of the series.September 20, 2010 at 10:26PM ESTReply to Comment
Anoel (guest)I didn't actually find the long term prospects to be a problem. There's definitely a season here, maybe two but I do find it hard to imagine beyond that. However a con man can remake himself a LOT so anything's possible. My main problem is that as pretty as it is, most of the characters feel pretty stereotypical besides maybe Bob. It needs more character development and emotional resonance for it to really get me but that why I love TV because you have so much time to develop that.
My other issue is that the women are all just love interests and all the main characters are white. At least TRY for gods sake.September 20, 2010 at 10:27PM ESTReply to Comment
Lu (guest)hated it! stopped watching 1/2 way throughSeptember 20, 2010 at 10:32PM ESTReply to Comment
elizsLu - I'm with you. I didn't hate it, but it didn't do anything for me and I felt no connection to any of the characters, so I gave up 1/2 way through.September 21, 2010 at 9:52AM EST
JoannaI also gave up part way through. I didn't really have any interest in the premise but Alan's glowing preview made me rethink that. But, watching people be taken advantage of just doesn't interest me. As soon as the big show with the cowboy at the oil rig started, I tuned out. The idea of people losing everything to con-men really bothers me. It's not even a little bit entertaining...even if I know that it'll all be "okay" in the end. And, of course, I don't know that...and rather doubt that it will. I just couldn't watch it.September 22, 2010 at 12:16PM EST
Col Bat GuanoGreat soundtrack, shaky premise, but holy Coach Taylor/George Clooney! That guy can switch between those two so effortlessly that I'm thinking of starting drinking game. As long as he's Clooney when he's kissing Tyra I'm okay with it.September 20, 2010 at 10:40PM ESTReply to Comment
BingI was kind of distracted by the Kyle/George thing, but as far as issues go? It's a nice problem to have.September 21, 2010 at 10:34AM EST
MaureenI was also distracted by the resemblance to Kyle Chandler, which is almost enough to make me want to watch. But the actor seemed like he had some weird tics that I couldn't get past, and I thought the pilot was pretty slow going.September 21, 2010 at 4:40PM EST
MisterpuffReply to comment...September 21, 2010 at 4:41PM EST
DonBoyI may have hit an age bump or something, because my ultimate reaction was "this is going to take too much mental effort to follow".September 20, 2010 at 10:41PM ESTReply to Comment
Ronnie (guest)Mordor the Magician!September 20, 2010 at 10:46PM ESTReply to Comment
Hannah Lee (guest)I'm in. Thanks for the good recommendation Alan. This premise didn't grab me before your review (though I might have checked in out base on the name alone, shared with one of my favorite movies.)
I really liked this; the characters pulled me in, and even if the premise gets shaky down the line, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
On a superficial note, I was struck by how much Cat's brothers looked and seemed like brothers. Excellent casting (and writing and acting) there.September 20, 2010 at 10:46PM ESTReply to Comment
(guest)Maybe I've been watching too much Friday Night Lights, but there's no way the Thatcher kid is one of the top QB prospects in the state with that throwing motion. He makes Tim Tebow's delivery look like Dan Marino's.September 20, 2010 at 10:55PM ESTReply to Comment
UnHoly DiverI'm not sure why, but I couldn't make it past the first 15 minutes. Maybe I'll try and watch it again in the next few days and see if it strikes a different chord.September 20, 2010 at 11:11PM ESTReply to Comment
AngelaI felt a bit like you. I wasn't sure why I was watching it when my DVR is full with things like "Boardwalk Empire" that I haven't watched yet. But I did, and it was good, so next time I'll record it and save it for when I am in the mood for something like this.September 20, 2010 at 11:27PM EST
AngelaHuh. I was restless for most of this show, in part because I'm not into con stories, and because I didn't expect it to be worth watching. Yet I liked it.
James Wolk is extremely charismatic and Bob is hard not to like. Some people said they didn't know why should they care about him, but I'm willing to wait to find out. (Besides, it's only been one hour.)
Of the two live he leads, I liked the one he had to ditch (for now) the best. The characters were more down to earth and just easier for me to relate to. Heck, if I had just tuned in during the scene with the kid and his father inside the gas-station, I would have thought I was watching Friday Night Lights.
(BTW, does anyone know what song that was that was playing during that scene? I haven't a clue, was it Mumford and Sons?)
I thought some of the photography was wonderful. For instance, the shot where Bob pulls into the Shell station. Talk about barren, sterile and hopeless. But I don't know why they had to go back and shoot the inside of the trash-can. It sort of diluted the moment as it had already been explained. (Maybe I've been watching too much of "The Wire" and would rather wonder than be spoon fed.)
All in all this was much better than I expected. And if this had run in the summer, I wouldn't miss an episode, at least for awhile. I think it's tough right now because so many good shows that I already know and love to watch are filling up my head.September 20, 2010 at 11:21PM ESTReply to Comment
J>>the scene with the kid and his father inside the gas-station, I would have thought I was watching Friday Night Lights.
(BTW, does anyone know what song that was that was playing during that scene?
I think that was scene with the Cold War Kids' "Hospital Beds"September 21, 2010 at 12:39AM EST
AngelaThank you, J. I'll check on iTunes or Amazon and see if it was. I appreciate it.September 21, 2010 at 10:11AM EST
m2I'm trying to figure out that song, too. It's not Hospital Beds and it't not the Jose Gonzalez cover of "Heatbeats." The first part of the song was really minimal instrumentation and the lyrics were like, "I'll take care of you," or "I took care of you" and then it got much louder when he started flipping out and hitting the wheel.September 21, 2010 at 2:33PM EST
krishi guys ... we all we're looking for...THE ANTLERS - 'KETTERING' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvxBhzBHMUMSeptember 21, 2010 at 3:19PM EST
JThanks Kris! I must have just locked on the piano and the lyrics. I've been meaning to give 'Hospice' another chance.
m2, I think "Heartbeats" was used under the backyard BBQ.September 21, 2010 at 6:45PM EST
KadyThanks so much re The Antlers… I've just spent a half hour trying to find out what that song was! ;-)September 21, 2010 at 9:34PM EST
AmyYou guys are gems! Thanks for your comments and for helping me find "Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzales!September 24, 2010 at 1:19AM EST
DonBoyOK, wait now. How is that thing with the deed going to work? Whoever is going to check on it is expecting either a deed in Bob's name or, more likely, in the name of his "established" bogus company, and instead it's going to be in the name of the real big company. Unless he convinces the real company to make a real subsidiary with the same name as his fake one? And even then, deeds have dates, and a deed dated right around now might not line up.September 21, 2010 at 12:52AM ESTReply to Comment
rcgiffI thought this was a very good episode of TV, but I do worry about the long-term viability of the series. I think that the episode would've actually worked much better if it were a mid-or-late-season episode rather than a pilot, for several reasons. First of all, it simply would've given the show a longer shelf life without feeling padded. Seeing Bob work his way into both worlds would've been interesting to watch given how well written and acted the show is, and more would be gained by starting at the beginning than would be lost (there's no real benefit to starting in medias res as the pilot does). Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it would've given more context to Bob's actions and more depth to the character as a whole. Because the first glimpse the audience gets of Bob is of him at the moment he decides he wants a "real" life and that he wants to be a good guy (even if his way of going about that is strange) the audience knows that, whatever his quirks, Bob is a good guy, and the central drama is not going to come from conflicts within Bob's soul but rather simply from good-guy Bob trying to find a solution to his sticky situation. If the show had started from the beginning of the con, Bob could be a much more complex character: the show could start out showing him as an actual bad guy, a con man who's good at what he does, and does it without remorse--he could essentially be Don Draper in Mad Men's first season: ruthless, competent, without a real identity. Watching Bob discover "real" emotions, develop "real" attachments to the two women in his life, and begin to doubt some of his life choices would be an interesting ride to take, and it would make the crisis of conscience he underwent in the pilot all the more dramatic and real.
Nonetheless, this was an excellent pilot. I have my doubts as to whether or not it will make an excellent series, but I'm definitely along for the ride.September 21, 2010 at 1:42AM ESTReply to Comment
(guest)The music was so overbearing and annoying that I couldn't enjoy the pilot. There was too much "cool" indie rock and folk that I've grown to hate. The writing seemed fine, better than average but unremarkable. Wolk as the lead is overrated. He telegraphs the emotions of his character during scenes where he's keeping secrets. I won't be back for a second episode.September 21, 2010 at 2:42AM ESTReply to Comment
Jason (guest)I could only get one of this, The Event, and Hawaii 5-0 on my DVR. Went with this one, and was encouraged by what I saw.
I won't say that it's grabbed me, but I'll stick around for a few episodes to see where it goes.
Actually thought David Keith kind of stole the scenes he was in.September 21, 2010 at 4:13AM ESTReply to Comment
Dale Cooper (guest)Pretty good overall. Well-acted, great soundtrack, and overall very engaging. I look forward to the rest of the season although I'm not too worried about where the show will go after this point. I think its premature to say that the show isn't viable in the long-term (I know its just a concern because nobody knows how this will pan out) because we don't know enough about the world in 'Lone Star' that could provide different "exit strategies" for Bob in the future. In this way I was reminded of 'The Shield' (I just finished season 5 today, in fact). Despite their vast differences in scope and genres, I recognised a few parallels. While 'The Shield' shows us the process of how the Strike Team gets deeper into trouble, 'Lone Star' starts off with Bob (does he have last name we can use?) trying to get out of the hole he's dug for himself by going straight. I think I'll be disappointed if 'Lone Star' follows the formula of "how will Bob get out of this mess this time?" that has not been used too well in 'Dexter' but has been used fairly well (so far - up to season 5) in 'The Shield.'
But for now, I'll stick with it until the problems arise (or don't).September 21, 2010 at 4:52AM ESTReply to Comment
Kelli Oliver GeorgeI am having issues with him being with two women, but I can live with it. There is a great deal of disbelief that must be suspended to watch this show, but really not too much more than lesser shows have asked of us.
In short, I am in. A great soundtrack certainly helps!September 21, 2010 at 9:43AM ESTReply to Comment
Julie (guest)While I decent actor, I thought James Wolk was almost too cute. I was distracted by the sparkly eyes and smile during all of his scenes. And that isn't a good thing in this case.
I loved Adrianne Palicki as FNL's Tyra, but she seems a bit miscast here. Either that, or I'm stuck on her as a Tyra type.
And please, more scenes with Jon Voight or David Keith!September 21, 2010 at 10:23AM ESTReply to Comment
sepinwallDan will have the full ratings report up in a bit, but the premiere was a ratings catastrophe: a distant distant fourth place in both total viewers and, especially, in the 18-49 demo, where it did a 1.3 rating. (To put it into perspective, Chuck has been clinging to life whenever it dips below a 2.0.) Barring some kind of miraculous turnaround, I don't think we need to worry about how they'll make this work long-term, because there won't be a long-term.
Oh, well.September 21, 2010 at 11:33AM ESTReply to Comment
That's actually the wrong perspective, Alan: renewal decisions are basically made by comparing the 18-49 demo ratings of shows within a network. A 2.0 might be enough on NBC, but on FOX the bar for renewal is much higher. And a 1.3 is an absolute disaster, if the ratings don't pick up (and frankly, that seems unlikely, considering how rock-bottom they are right now) this show just might be the first cancellation of the season.
I just don't get it. Everybody was saying that this is the best new show of the season and I was totally onboard for watching it and was expecting big premiere ratings. But 4 million and a 1.3?? I don't remember when a fall show premiered that disastrously!! This might actually be a new low.
I was really looking forward to watching this weekly, but I already have so many shows to watch that I can barely handle those: I just don't have room for a show without a future right now.September 21, 2010 at 12:18PM EST
JCan't say this is a surprise at all. With all those new shows premiering on a single night, and with at least a couple of them having decent hooks -- The Event promising a watercooler moment at its end, the comfort of Hawaii Five-O -- all the "Lone Star" ads seemed sort of bland. Tried to coast on critical quotes, and you can find quotes anywhere this age of zero authority.
I had to keep reminding myself this was one of the shows Alan had said to look out for, because my thinking kept drifting to "They made a series out of that John Sayles film?" and "It looks like they remade "Dallas" with Jon Voight.September 21, 2010 at 1:18PM EST
KenReally? I hope you're wrong. For me, this was the strongest pilot I've seen this season. Hawaii Five-0 was good - fun - but it was more about style and the opportunity for a decent story arc was ended when the bad guy was killed so quickly. The Event was somewhat interesting but I felt nothing for the characters. Tonight's Blue Bloods was decent but cop shows where the characters are blunt objects don't typically do it for me.
I dunno. I really clicked with Lone Star and will be sad if it gets cancelled.September 25, 2010 at 7:25AM EST
PopCandyI just watched the pilot, and really, really liked, and then I went to look for the ratings. God, I wish I didn't! Fox has awful luck with really good series...September 21, 2010 at 12:50PM ESTReply to Comment
ChicagoGirl (guest)This show really didn't click with me. I really didn't care about any of the characters, so it doesn't matter which life he choses. I didn't even make it to the end. This one seems to be a show that critics love, but the audience doesn't, as evidenced by the ratings.September 21, 2010 at 1:00PM ESTReply to Comment
(guest)Like it, but I'm preparing myself to be disappointed.September 21, 2010 at 1:51PM ESTReply to Comment
WeckLiked it except for one thing. I live in Houston, and one thing you won't ever see at a HS football practice is a guy inSeptember 21, 2010 at 2:46PM ESTReply to Comment
Weck(sorry accidentally entered comment before it was finished)
... a $2,000 suit and a fauxhawk.
(and there goes my comedic effect)September 21, 2010 at 2:48PM ESTReply to Comment
MZ (guest)I think where this show failed was that in trying to address the whole "Con man who's kind of a scum-bag but is really a decent guy" they just ended up with a character who comes off less conflicted than he does, well, muddled. I'd have watched this show if it were about a con man trying to go straight and I'd have watched it if it were about a con man running cons.
Trying to make it about both just makes it feel half-baked.September 21, 2010 at 4:39PM ESTReply to Comment
MisterpuffI was going to comment on the "young Kyle Chandler" but the George Clooney thing is valid too. Lots of charisma there.September 21, 2010 at 4:43PM ESTReply to Comment