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Katie Ellsweig recently gave us a wonderful interview she did with Avail front man and solo artist Tim Barry. She explained:
Tim Barry doesn't know why he writes songs. Sometimes it's because he's lonely, sometimes he's angry and sometime's he's had one too many beers down by the river James. Whether he's singing in seminal punk band Avail , or writing folk songs with his siblings, Barry makes sure that whatever comes out of his mouth also comes out of his heart. "Rivanna Junction," his debut solo effort, is a collection of acoustic guitars, violins, pianos and stories about a life lived hopping trains, driving trucks, writing songs and trying to keep up. Go ahead, ask Tim Barry if he's happy.
You work at the Richmond Ballet Theater, what do you do there?
You can walk down the street [in Virginia] and there are some of the most redneck mother fuckers you will ever meet, and then on that same street, you find some of the brightest.
I love ballet; it'??s very strange. We'??re doing The Nutcracker, so I'??ve got Tchaikovsky running through my head all day. I'??m a carpenter, but not quite the master carpenter so when I say that it seems deceiving. I take care of set pieces and drive a lot of trucks. I'??m in charge of a crew of about twelve people. The show opened on Friday but we'??ve been on tour with it since the beginning of the month.
How'??d you fall into that? Were you always interested in ballet?
I just kind of happened. I swear, everything in my life just happens. Years ago, the whole band lived in the same house and then one of the guys got married so everyone started bailing. We weren'??t touring like we were (9 months out of the year) so I was trying to find extra money. I started working as a stage hand and somehow after learning all the union shit and doing Wrestling matches, area concerts and Disney on ice, I started working at the ballet and never left.
I never really thought much on it (ballet). I worked my way up from a shop in the basement of the ballet just doing things here and there, and then I started running shows. If you listen to a band and you like the people in it, you pay more attention. You know, it'??s the idea that one day your friends start a band and you like them a lot so you'??re more interested in the music and where they'??re coming from. I got to know a lot of the dancers pretty well and I began to enjoy it. I don'??t know how you make a living out of dancing on your toes; these people have done it their whole lives and their bodies are just destroyed. It'??s got to be weird for them to quit at age thirty; those are the top dancers. They'??re unbelievable. I love this bizarre, fucked up, twisted life of going out on the road, getting in fist fights and drinking and then coming home and working at the ballet. I play music and then I come home and help entertain the social elite.
You don'??t even have a computer, right?
Actually, I just got one and it has a virus. It barely works. I'??m that guy who never had a computer and still doesn'??t have a cell phone. I manage Avail and do all this solo work on my own and it'??s really more work than I think anyone would understand so when I'??m home, I feel swamped. Even having a cell phone or the ability of bringing a phone with me would ruin that peace I feel when I leave my house. I think it becomes compulsive; I just got the computer and already I'??m checking it four times a day whereas when I didn'??t have one, I did it maybe once. My brother lives in Astoria, he'??s a classical music composer making $10 per hour and he'??s got one of those Blackberries. Basically, it'??s an anchor. He'??s always working and anywhere he goes, he is expected to be working because the company gave it to him.
Well, you never leave your house so a Blackberry wouldn'??t exactly be practical for you.
I live three blocks from the river. The Neighborhood is called Oregon Hill. I don'??t have a lot of money, I like to drink, I don'??t like to go to bars and spend all of my money so I don'??t really leave. The beer store is right in the neighborhood and I spend all my time with my friends. When I'??m on tour, I'??m in bars and clubs every night and every day. I love it. Actually, I don'??t know if I love it or not anymore but it'??s such a normal part of my life that it'??s almost like I'??m as comfortable on the road as I am at home. Doing this solo tour is totally different. I have more autonomy and I don'??t have to be at some big venue at 3:00pm to do a sound check when we go on at midnight. It'??s just my sister, my friend Josh and I, and whomever else we want to bring with us.
Your brother and sister both played on the record. I know you mentioned your brother has a professional music background, but what about Caitlin?
She teaches violin. Also, anyone who'??s classically trained makes a lot of money playing weddings and sitting in for different orchestras and symphonies. It'??s almost sad how good she is and we just sit around drinking and playing. She can do anything. After friends will pass through town, we end up just playing music all night; she can be there playing with the best of them while I'??m sitting out because I can'??t understand the chord progression. She'??s such an inspiration.
That'??s so great that you can just play music with your family. Did you all grow up playing together?
I'??m 35 and my sister just turned 24, so there'??s an eleven year difference there. I grew up playing with my brother, and my mom played in the church Choir. I still have her guitar that she played while I was growing up. Of course, my sister is so much younger that she didn'??t stumble into it until much later. I'??m trying to get her to sing more, but she'??s just lacking the confidence. She has a beautiful voice; a younger voice. I think after another year or so she'??s just going to nail it.
Your sister lives in Richmond as well, did you all grow up there together?
We all grew up in Northern Virginia. I'??ve been down here for about 17 years; I just bailed right after high school. My mother is kind of like an '??earth mother'?? and the place where we lived is supposed to be this Utopia where everything you need is right there and no one needs cars or anything. It'??s the worst of suburban sprawl now. My sister followed the same path and so did my brother, he was the first one to move down here in the mid 80'??s.
Have you ever thought of moving out of Virginia?
I wouldn'??t have the money to anyway, but no. I'??m not the type of person that could work to live. What I do with the ballet is seasonal and I work as much as I can during the season. I'??m not under a contract, so there'??s no issue with my leaving. I'??ll be on the road from the beginning of January until March. I'??m doing an Avail tour with The Draft on the west coast and then I start a solo tour. I'??m going to do an easy coast run with Smoke or Fire in April.
The Smoke or Fire tour'??s going to be solo, and not with Avail?
We had a busy year last year and we just came back from Australia so I think everyone'??s ready to ease up for a minute. They all have real jobs and two of them have kids. I'??m the only one who can be so readily available. I never got married, never had kids and never kept a girlfriend.
Never kept a girlfriend? Never got married? Was that your choice or just the way it ended up?
I have the ability, I just have no interest in it. I don'??t like feeling tied down and I'??m not saying that women make me feel that way, but I have a job that'??s not real. I work when I'??m home. I don'??t like feeling trapped in anything, but with kids and relationships even if the person is beautiful and perfect, I just feel that way.
But, are you happy?
Half the time. Who the fuck is happy? I'??m happy half the time. I have close, great friends and really that'??s all you need. As long as I get by and have my friends and the river, I don'??t really need much else. I don'??t like shopping. I talked to my mom the other day and she goes "What do you want for Christmas?" I don'??t need anything. I don'??t want a lot of the things people seek in life like commodities; toys and shit. I just want to pay my rent, drink and play music. I don'??t need fucking fancy clothes, fancy televisions or cable. Every year I buy myself one present and I just recently bought a DVD player. The first thing I did was break the VCR part of it. It was like $80.00 and that'??s a lot for me to just spend on a DVD player! I'??m buying myself a nice guitar this year for all these tours coming up. I'??ve always played but I never had my own.
Yeah, living up here it'??s not easy either. I just bought a new car because of my commute to work. Now there'??s so much to worry about.
Yeah, you'??re locked into payments now. I put gas in my car maybe every two months. You don'??t need that shit around here. I have no idea what the price of gas is like and the last time I did fill up, it was around two bucks. You know what'??s sad? The amount of people who are part of this work force, and that'??s all that they do. They wake up, commute their forty minutes to their 9-5 job, go home and watch TV. There are different types of people; those people all feel frustrated and they don'??t know why. I'??m working right now with the notion of being able to go out there and play music. I'??ve got friends who do the same, but they'??re working to write books or make paintings.
Or to write in magazines. I have a younger brother who comes home from school every day, sits down in front of the video games and won'??t move until he goes to sleep. I can'??t imagine what he thinks about every day, how there'??s nothing more for him.
There was an article in the paper the other day, I can'??t remember exactly what the numbers were but they said America'??s teenagers spend as much as five months of the year with some sort of electronics device in their faces. It sort of sucks everything out of a person. I have a friend whose kid must have been one or two years old and he was teaching me how to use a remote control. Right from the time he could stand up and start saying "Ma Ma" he was using electronics. What direction is this kid going to go in? It'??s a great way to foreshadow how difficult it'??s going to be for kids to keep an attention span beyond a thirty-second song. Not to be critical of parenting, but it'??s too much.
Right, and then doctors will diagnose every other kid with ADD and put them on some sort of medication. It makes you wonder if they even look for the root of the problem.
I think people do but they just don'??t know how to address it. How do you tell a kid who is always surrounded by their friends playing video games or constantly being satiated through some sort of outside stigma that they can'??t do it? It'??s normal now, as normal as being outside making forts when I was a kid.
When I was a kid, I wasn'??t allowed near video games. We read books.
Well thank god for Harry Potter! If that didn'??t exist, kids wouldn'??t read at all. A friend of mine is a second grade teacher and she'??d addicted to those books. Imagine, being so bright that you'??re able to get children to read obsessively. What a good thing for America! Americans aren'??t as stupid as you think.
I think she was English.
Oh, right. English people are as stupid as Americans. They'??ve got Tony Blair, we'??ve got George Bush. Actually, Americans aren'??t stupid at all. Politically, yes. They know the stats and names of every football player in the NFL but they can'??t tell you the name of their own senator.
That'??s another thing, I'??ve lived in New York all my life. You'??ve lived in Virginia all of yours. People up here have such a generalized opinion of people down there; you know, that they'??re all stupid rednecks.
If you ever come down to Richmond, I will prove to you that they are right and they are wrong. You can walk down the street and there are some of the most redneck mother fuckers you will ever meet, and then on that same street, you find some of the brightest. We'??ve got guys wearing Real Tree camo jackets and driving pickup trucks. People are always going to talk shit, that'??s just how it goes, but the dichotomy over the north and south is funny. People write letters to the editor about these '??damn Yankees.'?? It'??s highly entertaining.
John K. Samson from The Weakerthans talked about his hometown of Winnipeg and why he always writes songs about it. He said that it'??s his place, and that it'??s a place the he loves and hates but still doesn'??t fully understand so he'??ll be writing about it for the rest of his life. I'??m wondering if that'??s how you feel about Richmond?
That probably sums it up pretty closely. I would say that I can'??t write about things that I don'??t understand, and I don'??t understand a lot of things outside of Richmond. What I draw inspiration from comes from my interactions with people around here; the locals, the college students and the changes that are happening throughout the United States with urban renewal, and censorship running rampant. Those are the things I understand. I also understand that I won'??t be able to stay here much longer because the rent is doubling. I travel so much that maybe I feel a deeper connection with this city because I don'??t get to be here that much. I feel both a deepness and a frustration with the river and the people and the things that happen around here.
In one of the songs on the record, the narrator kills his sisters abusive husband and goes to prison for it. You said you take inspiration from the people around you, is this particular song just a story, or did it happen?
Let'??s just say a buddy of mine was just sentenced to 28 years in prison. That song came out of nowhere. I don'??t even think I wrote it; it just came to mind one night when I was sitting down at the river by myself. I had gotten a call from a family member of his and it just hit me like a brick. As I was writing these verses, I realized I was being way too personal and telling a person'??s story that wasn'??t my place to tell. I switched it up a lot so that it couldn'??t be traced to him. I mean, he would know where I was going with it.
It'??s amazing how all of the songs seem to have such a deeply personal story behind them.
The last song on the record, that'??s personal. I decided if I was going to start doing this solo shit for real, I'??d have to learn to play live. I went over to Europe for a while and played solo. It was lonely and it was sad and I wrote that song in Milan, Italy. The second track, too. It'??s so simple. I was working for the ballet and I had to drive up to Brunswick to pick up some lights and next thing I know I'??m sitting in this hotel room. I was schizophrenic, insane and neurotic. That'??s how it all comes out, me sitting down at the train tracks getting drunk. One of the local women who just lost her house because the neighborhood was coming up so much it basically got stolen from her, is now homeless and lives down by those train tracks. She was down there one day trying to jump in front of a train. I watched her try to kill herself. She was screaming, blacked out drunk. I doubt she remembers anything about that but the song is directly about her, I came home and started throwing it down on a piano which I can'??t play at all. People might listen to them and get something completely different, but each song is really personal.
You know, I didn'??t even write questions for this interview. I just kind of blindly hoped you'??d be able to have a great conversation with me.
If two people can'??t have a conversation, than it just shouldn'??t happen. It shouldn'??t be formatted. A lot of people in bands though are self righteous ego ridden fucks. It'??s obscure to me and I don'??t understand why people are that way. It'??s just fucking music.
I can'??t even imagine some of the things you'??ve been asked in interviews like that. Things like "what'??s your favorite color?"
You wouldn'??t believe some of this. I'??ve been doing interviews for so long. Someone requested an interview by computer recently because people are lazy and they don'??t want to transcribe. When it'??s all there in front of them all they have to do is cut and paste. I'??ve done some wonderful interview that way because the questions evoked a strong answer or a strong opinion. But that'??s more like writing or what you would call corresponding.
Interviews are like art to me. I'??m trying to put together a book of interviews I'??ve done.
That'??s cool, man! I always wanted to do a book called "Letters to a Band," and print all these letters we'??ve gotten as a band. Before anyone started doing things via e-mail, the P.O. box would be stuffed full of letters, and some of them were so personal. I remember in the mid 90'??s I got a box in the mail. It was about eight inches tall and four inches wide with a heart on top. It was from South Dakota and was addressed to Avail. I opened it up and it was a human heart inside that formaldehyde with the woman'??s name on it and everything. It was truly disgusting. Who the hell sends a band they like a human heart? I felt like I had to bury it or something.
Was there a return address? What did you end up doing with it?
I was trying not to write this guy, but about three weeks later, Joe (Guitarist) answered the telephones and it was the detectives in South Dakota. They'??d caught this kid who had stolen it from a morgue. We gave up the address and sent it back immediately. I was so close to burying it!
Wow, I think that book idea is great. You should seriously consider it.
I'??m so absolutely drained creatively. I re-typed it all and put them on a disc. A lot of them are very old, so it'??s not like some kid would be like "I wrote you that last week, what the fuck." I'??m thinking that one the next record I do, I'??m going to put a hidden track on it and just include a full spoken word monologue of a freight train riding story or maybe the time when I got beat up by skinheads in Germany and put in jail.
You were beat up by skinheads in Germany and put in jail?
I'??ve lived a life of chaos. I kind of always cut those stories short, but I could actually go into detail and do a twenty minute monologue. I was telling a buddy of mine down by the river and I said I'??m going to write a solo record every year until I'??m 40 and then once I'??m 40 I'??ll just write books.
Then you can do book tours. Don'??t you have a ton of press to do tonight?
I'??m doing an interview for Chuck D'??s radio show. Evidently I get to do one for Steve Earl'??s radio show as well. He tells you to pick four songs you want to play, other people'??s songs, and then talk about them. I'??m thinking about choosing one Richmond artist and then a couple others that are personal to me.
Wow, a radio station that let'??s you choose songs. That'??s rare. I thought Clear Channel had taken over.
We have one independent station around here. But yeah, Clear Channel is fucking genius. They bought up the entire Virginia market, used and abused all the stations and now they'??re selling them privately. They changed FDC regulations so that they could make a monopoly and flip them.
I interned for a radio station a while back and I realized that all the DJs do now is walk into the studio and push a button.
The way you said "button," you just had your first Yankee moment! Not that I'??m invalidating what you said, you just said it funny. I was at work today making my charges for the show and some of the crew came over to talk to me and I said I just did an interview with a yankee and told them what you said about the south, and they were like "you tell that damn uppity yankee lady to go stick it where the sun don'??t shine!" I work with a lot of rednecks. They have those redneck names too; Earl, Smitty, Wilbur, Big John, Bubba'?¶you know what I mean.
That'??s too funny.
They'??re all hunters, but not the way you'??d think. They live east of the city, and if you recall the civil war, the early part of it was when the Yankees landed out east by the Chesapeake Bay and tried to move on to Richmond. They were halted on the James River about 70 miles down and the confederates turns them around and sent them home. Those guys live around there. When they go hunting, they go civil war hunting. They have metal detectors and they go out in the woods to find rifles, belt buckles, buttons, cannons etc'?¶
If you don'??t live, you can'??t sing about living and it'??s not even worth it. Pretty boys and pretty girls who get scooped up at eighteen to be rock stars, they haven'??t lived enough to have created anything.
I had no idea people could still do that, and there was still so much to be found.
Think about the war and how many people died; how many people were involved. Essential, all the males that were in particular towns and regions. The war started in South Carolina, but it was mostly fought in Virginia. The South didn'??t really go north of Pennsylvania, so shit'??s everywhere. Just in the last year, I had two neighbors dig up cannon balls in their back yard. I found a bullet down by my house, too.
Incredible! I'??m going to need to come down for a tour sometime.
Absolutely. When I'??m home, I only hang out with good folks, so there'??s always people to show you around. There are different Virginias. There'??s northern Virginia, which has nothing in commons with the rest of the state, and then there'??s the beach area which really has nothing in common with the rest of the state either. I always say there should be four Virginias.
Something I'??ve been thinking about when it comes to your solo music. It'??s folk music, and it'??s so unlike anything Avail did which really has this power to bridge so many age and genre gaps. I played it for my mom who is a huge fan of country and she loved it. I'??m a huge fan of Avail, and I love it as well.
I certainly do like that you said folk music. I'??m a little concerned about people calling it country or bluegrass. I read a couple reviews and they actually referred to it as bluegrass music. This is not it. It'??s certainly not a Merle Haggard rip off. I like the word "folk" used as a description because it'??s just telling people'??s stories. Crossing genres? I'??ll use Myspace as an example, which I never learned about until Avail put out some re-releases and Jade Tree insisted on it, it'??s really a great tool for someone like me who doesn'??t have the money for real publicity. I'??m surprised about the demographic of people who have been writing me on there: 45 year old women with families and 15 year old punk kids. I'??m surprised about the people who have no knowledge of Avail enjoying it.
The way I see it is that you play in Avail but you aren'??t Avail. You'??re Tim. Of course there'??s more to you than Avail, this is just that something more.
Hell yes, Katie. I don'??t know if people ever understand that people in bands do a lot outside of that. When I go to a bar people go "oh, it'??s that dude from Avail," but thank god I have friends who don'??t even think about that. Music comes so natural to me because I always played it. It'??s how I was raised. My mom listened to folk and my dad listened to classical and I'??m not really great at any of it but I like it and I like to make it. The roots of Avail songs are exactly the same with Joe playing a guitar and then him and I throwing lyrics together with heavy drums. A lot of people don'??t go to the roots of music, this isn'??t really a departure, it'??s just a stripped down version of what I already do.
That'??s something to really think about. It must be hard to know who is being real with you or who is just trying to be around you because of who you are.
That is one of the biggest nightmares in my life. Now knowing who is who. I remember this girl I used to hang out with and we hooked up a lot. I always liked her so much. We lost touch at some point and I saw her four or five years later when she was older and I was older and had more miles under my belt. I was talking to her and telling her how much fun I had hanging out with her and she laughed and said the only reason she wanted to hang out with me was because I was in Avail. It'??s so upsetting because I actually really liked her.
Sometimes I wonder if all of that is because there'??s just too much music out there. It'??s a giant rat race now in the music industry.
There certainly is too much music. I hate to bring up the '??old guy" shit, but when I was a young kid in the mid-80'??s there was a band that came from my high school and they had a vinyl album come out. It was the biggest fucking deal in the world. Then, we all learned how to make demo tapes and that was even a big deal. Now you can burn a CD off your computer after writing a bunch of songs, give it to your friends and put it up on Myspace. I wonder if it'??s overkill. It used to be you had to be pretty talented to have a record out.
Now you just have to be pretty.
I'??m glad I'??m old and ugly. I think it gives more depth to the music and looking at some of my heores like Steve Earle, he is not good looking. But he'??s a great songwriter and that'??s all I need. I don'??t want to look at some good looking guy with no soul. You can'??t sing about going to jail if you haven'??t gone to jail. You can'??t sing about heartbreak if you'??ve never had your heartbroken. If you don'??t live, you can'??t sing about living and it'??s not even worth it. Pretty boys and pretty girls who get scooped up at eighteen to be rock stars, they haven'??t lived enough to have created anything.
It must be pretty frustrating reading reviews like that. Or just reading reviews in general'?¶
I don'??t mind them at all. I just don'??t like to read them because I don'??t want what other people say to push me in a different direction with my writing because I only write for myself. The most important thing that anyone in a band or anyone who writes or paints or whatever, the most important thing is for them to know that not everyone is going to like it and you can'??t let that get to you.
It'??s in everything. I tell myself that all the time, even with writing articles, it'??s hard to stay true to yourself sometimes.
You'??ve got t keep those ethics. One of the proudest things I am about this band is that we'??ve never done any of that corporate shit. We always kept it independent and it'??s made our lives so much easier. We'??ve never signed a contract that'??s more than one record, and I manage the band. It'??s hard when there'??s all that outside pressure. There'??s a band we grew up with that has spent the last six years trying to write a record and every time they bring it to the label, it gets rejected. It'??s scary shit trying to pay your rent doing something you love.
Smoke or Fire is from Richmond, too. Are you guys friends?
They'??re a funny story; a success story. I always try to use my position as someone who has been doing this for a while to help people out, people like Josh Small who just got signed to Suburban Home Records. I put his foot in the door, but his strength in playing music and in songwriting is what got him signed. But, I met Smoke or Fire years ago in Louisville, Kentucky when we played Crazyfest. Avail left me there and I was going to hop trains down to New Orleans. I woke up in the hotel I was staying at and was just drinking a beer on the balcony when I looked over and there were these two guys on another balcony drinking beer. They turned out to be Smoke or Fire, or at the time, Jericho. They said they had a bathtub full of beer and I had nothing better to do so I hung out with them for a couple days before leaving. They gave me a CD and I really like it. I forgot all about it until I heard they moved down here and I started hanging around their house all the time. They recorded this demo and I sent it over to Vanessa at Fat Wreck Chords just because I like to send her new music. I guess she played it and everyone was into it and that'??s what signed them.
That'??s great! I guess that'??s when they changed their name.
I realized the integrity of this group was insurmountable before that. We were on tour on the east coast with The Curse when they decided to break up in Philadelphia. We still had two weeks left of the tour and I called the Jericho (Smoke or Fire) guys who had never been on tour before or had a sound check before or anything and asked them if they could meet us in North Carolina. Their singer, Brian, called me back a half hour later and all of them quit their jobs, got in the van and finished the tour with us. It was so great to see them open this huge show in North Carolina, and then when we came back and played South Carolina, those same kids were there singing along.
Is it strange that you'??ll be opening for them now?
Hell no! I told them a long time ago that my favorite day in the world would be when Avail opens up for them. Just the idea of getting to be onstage with my homeboys every night is going to be amazing. Man, I keep calling this "Solo Shit" but this is for real. This is my retirement plan, I should take it more seriously.
Did you know that being a solo artist is a trend now?
I'??m so out of the loop with pop culture that I didn'??t know it was a trend until my record came out and I read reviews where people said "following the trend of so and so'?¶" I told someone in an interview that I'??m thankful I didn'??t know. I can see how it'??s easy to get caught up in that, but it'??s just my music.


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Roselyn Sánchez dishes on 'Devious Maids,' singing and new Spanish comedy
Makes appearance at Venue Magazine's cover party at Cavalli Restaurant & Lounge
While the verdict is still out on whether or not Lifetime will renew its infectiously popular drama, "Devious Maids," for a third season, one of the show's leading ladies, Roselyn Sánchez, had no problem basking in the limelight at her Venue Magazine cover party at Cavalli Restaurant & Lounge Wednesday night.
The party's VIP crowd included Univision's Tanya Charry and telenovela star Jason Canela. Thankfully, we did not hear any spoilers from last Sunday's season finale of "Devious Maids."
Maybe the free drinks and loud music had something to do with that.
Anyway, Sánchez reflected on her character, Carmen, a Latina maid and aspiring singer, her own musical path and an upcoming role in a MundoFox Spanish television series.
Roselyn, talk about Carmen's character development over the last two seasons. Were you hesitant at first to play a Latina maid, considering the stereotypes?
I wasn't...I knew we were doing something very special...I didn't concentrate on the "maid" word (laughs). This is about Latinas telling a story, they're three-dimensional characters. I read Carmen's (script) and I laughed so hard and I was like, you know, I understand her spirit of leaving your country to try to make it as a star, so I think I can do something cool.
You had a single, "Pick Up Your Game," with Flo Rida drop late last year. What's next for you in the music realm?
I did the video (for "Pick Up Your Game") two weeks ago. It's about to come out. I just did it for fun, honestly. You know, I love singing; I did my record ("Borinqueña" in 2003) many years back. I'm going to do one single at a time, I'm not thinking about anything else, I just wanted to do something for people to dance. If it flies, wonderful, if it doesn't, my job is acting.
What can you tell us about your role on MundoFox's "Familia en Venta" (Family Sale)?
I did the pilot for "Devious Maids," then I went to Colombia, Bogotá, for three months to shoot my first television show in Spanish. It's a comedy, international cast, and it comes out on MundoFox Aug. 10. And, it is so calming. I am very, very proud of that one. I play Lili, she's incredible. It's about this couple, we've been together for like 20 years and we're going through a divorce but because of financial problems we are forced to live together while we're going through the divorce...it is bananas how funny it is!
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- Bon Jovi puts on private concert for SiriusXM in Miami Beach
- Sarah Jessica Parker gets her Basel on for the first time
- Cheech Marin is promoting a new 'substance' in Miami
- Heidi Klum: She's an artist, too

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, I quit my job as a barista for one of our competitors with a couple of bucks more an hour. Two hours after I'd handed in my resignation, my boss approached me just to let me know that if I hadn't resigned, I would've been offered my own café. FML
by thecasbah / 10/06/2010 at 9:58am / Norway (Oslo) / Work
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How does an Aspergers Mom home-school an Aspergers son when he gives up so easily?
I have Aspergers, and high IQ and OCD. My husband was actually considered slow throughout his school years, though does not show it much until something more technical comes up (specific writing, math, etc.). We chose to pull our two older children from public school due to bullying and lack of discipline (son discovered he was in charge at school!), and because of the school's failure to move our daughter ahead as needed. Neither of them have any issues. Our third child (no issues) and her younger brother have never went to public school although all of them attend the enrichment classes through the home-school programme. Our youngest, 5 year old son, has Aspergers so I thought it'd be very easy since I have the same thing. Like me, he gets frustrated very easily but UNLIKE me, he gives up and refuses to try again. I have a card with the words "Learn, Practice, Review" on it which helps at times when it comes to writing and phonics but not always. While I'm usually very creative, my mind seems to have stalled repeatedly on ways to give him the encouragement needed to continue the lesson. Do I move on to something else, or back to something he CAN do or what, because he can shut down anywhere from a couple of minutes to the rest of the day as far as schooling. Anyone have ideas?In Topics: Homeschooling, Special needs, Autism & Aspergers Syndrome
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Office of International Programs
Commercial: (719) 333-3452; DSN: 333-3453
In order to meet the Air Force's increasing demand for officers with cross-cultural and foreign language skills, the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) offers cadets the opportunity to participate in several international education programs ranging from one week to one semester. The Academy also broadens perspectives by bringing international students and officers to study and teach at USAFA.
The Office of International Programs (DFIP) manages international education programs offered to USAFA cadets, including Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program (CSLIP), Cadet Semester Exchange Abroad Program (CSEAP), Cadet Semester Study Abroad Program (CSSAP), and Foreign Academy Visit (FAV) Program, as well as the Cultural Immersion Program (CIP) supported by the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation and USAFA's Class of '81 Endowment. Interested faculty and cadets should look for the call for applications, which is published each fall.
The Office of International Programs also oversees international semester exchange cadets studying at USAFA (approximately 25 per year) and four-year international cadets who attend from Basic Cadet Training through graduation (limited to 60), as well as international officers teaching at USAFA under the Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP).
Farewell ceremony for cadets from Singapore's Nanyang Technological
University and Germany's Offizierschule der Luftwaffe (Spring 2014)
USAFA Cadets on Chilean Academy Exchange –
ruck march in the Atacama Desert (Fall 2013)
Chinese Language Summer Immersion at the Great Wall (Summer 2013)


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For an easygoing, moving-day look that still boasts superb style, be sure to don this green and white top! This colorblocked, short-sleeved blouse flows gracefully with your every step as you unload boxes, greet new neighbors, and gleefully decorate your new abode. Pair the pocketed top with a large-faced gold watch, cropped denim, and patent peach flats for a look that's sure to receive a warm welcome from all who catch sight of it!
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2nd week of Oct 2013 blogging
Just cause I'm holding office hours at "the Creamery" and have started a new blog – doesn't mean I'll forget this blog. Dave Winer helps me publicize my "office hours" - so then I reciprocate…
Concinnity: A Digital City Exchange Platform – this looks awesome and is a really milestone in my world. I know nothing about these people – so God Bless my Google search bot – which looks for ANY mention of "Digital City" – as soon as it gets into the Borg.
Sustainability and Judaism in Montreal – by my son Aryeh
"People don't want to buy a quarter-inch drill.They want a quarter-inch hole."
MyTime (here's another review) looks like the kind of hyper-local code we need to build the distributed open web. Now lets see if they'll open up their ID system and play well – with others?
Hmmm – Samsung mobile developer's conference. Hmmm
Lowering Your Standards: DRM and the Future of the W3C
OK so first Apple hires Kevin Lynch from Adobe – who many could argue really did nothing – for a long time – and now they're hired this guy from CableLabs. Ever heard of DOCSIS? I wonder what Apple sees in these guys?
Native vs. HTML5: How the auto industry is forcing change for the mobile web Legal extortion – via MugShots. Pay to have your photo removed…..
I guess – based upon this advice – its time to buy Twitter
Minecraft is indeed – a happening platform for young people. My daughter Lucy rocks in it.
RSA Animate = re-imagining work Here's evidence that by being honest and forthright with customers – they actually appreciate it – and stand on YOUR side!
McKinsey Wants Your City To Be Great Ford acquires in-car connectivity startup
A new player in the Gigabit networking game – C Spire
U-Verse connects to iOS and Android
Evernote officially becomes a platform Indie game developers are now able to self-publish on XBoxOne and Playstation4
Tor: the second generation onion router
the Internet is International – TV is not. So dealing with this – is going to be really important moving forward
I believe Intel TV are the only ones within shooting distance of Google Fiber TV – all the "patch-quilt the old model" boxes are doomed.
Revolution Ventures will invest $200m outside Silly Valley
The battle over playlists commences – Beats is coming Film Projection is going away
May have just found perfect X-Mas presents for our girls. We've bought them phones – but they don't use them!
General Assembly is abandoning coworking spaces and ONLY doing training/workshops and education
Richard Branson Explains How Involved He Really Is In The Day-To-Day Operations At Virgin
Two Economic Development Lessons from Danville, VA's Fiber Network
Larry Ellison and Michael Dell – a perfect match MongoDB rising
Happy first anniversary to the Startup Village in KC.
Core18, Galaxy Gear, Korean accelerator SparkLabs, Mashape, Evernote Market, Amazon Set Top box, Fremont Project,
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When You Need A Stopper, Call The Big Guy…
You talkin' to me?…
After dropping two games to the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees averted a sweep by clobbering the O's 13-3 on Sunday. As usual, the stopper was CC Sabathia. It wasn't a great performance but it was enough to help CC pick up his 17th victory of the season (against 7 losses). CC went 7 innings and gave up 5 hits and 3 runs. He walked 4 and struck out only 1 batter. Still, CC showed why he is the ace of the staff…
Mark Lennihan/AP
The game saw the ejections of Alex Rodriguez and Joe Girardi. A-Rod took a called third strike to end the fourth inning with the bases loaded. He felt that the pitch was outside. He continued jawing with the umpire, Marty Foster, about the call, particularly after watching a video replay following the top of the 5th which confirmed his belief that the pitch was outside. Foster finally had enough and tossed A-Rod and then Manager Joe Girardi, who argued very animatedly the umpire.
Mark Lennihan/AP
There is bad blood between the Yankees and Foster, who also made a bad call on Derek Jeter in July.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Chris Faytock/The Star Ledger
Eric Hinske took over for A-Rod at third after the ejection, but fortunately, it worked out in the end. Thanks to an 8-run 8th, which included a three-run homer by Matsui, the Yankees put this one away and assured a return to the win column.
Mark Lennihan/AP
Nonetheless, they will still lose a ½ game to the Boston Red Sox, who swept the Tampa Bay Rays today. The Yankees now lead Boston by 7 games. How sad is it that the Rays have now lost 11 straight games? The magic of 2008 is definitely gone.
Winslow Townson/AP
The Yankees' lead over the Los Angeles Angels for best record in the league stands at 5 games.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
This is an interesting week schedule-wise. The Yankees will play one game against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. This is a make-up of the May 3rd rainout at Yankee Stadium. I remember that day well considering that I was in attendance at Yankee Stadium. I won't be able to take advantage of my ticket tomorrow since I've since relocated from the East Coast to California, but I'll definitely be there in spirit. The last time the Yankees faced the Angels, they were swept (final series before the All-Star Break). This is just one game, but the Yankees have a chance to make a statement against the Angels. Joba Chamberlain (8-5) faces Jered Weaver (15-5).
Taylor Public Relations
Then, the Yankees close out the home stand with two games against the Toronto Blue Jays. They travel across the country on Thursday to open a three-game weekend series in Seattle against the Mariners.
Congratulations to Brett Favre for his first victory with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns and Favre's former coach, Eric Mangini, 34-20, on Sunday.
Mark Duncan/AP
His stats weren't great (14-for-21, 110 yards, 1 TD), but when you have Adrian Peterson in your backfield running for 180 yards and 3 TD's, there's not much you need to do.
Mark Duncan/AP
I was excited that Favre's lone passing TD was to Percy Harvin. I am excited about what Harvin means to the Vikings offense, and hopefully, this is the start of something special…
Mark Duncan/AP
3 Comments
Come on! Your guys couldn't be nice and let the Orioles get a sweep? You know – I can see better this morning!😉 I saw the last quarter and a half or so of the Vikings game. Favre didn't look bad. And hey – the Vikings' win earned me a point in my football pool – so thanks! My Red Sox have a well deserved night off which is a good thing – I can give all my attention to the Patriots tonight! I know that Brady will help your Fantasy Football Team.
*I guess Brad Childress wasn't lieing, huh? He had said that in Minnesota, Favre "wouldn't have to do as much" – and Adrian Peterson DEFINENTLY kept that thought alive. 180 yards with 3 touchdowns… Amazing.
As for the Yanks – it was great to see us avoid the sweep. That 8th inning gave us hope that the recent losses in Baltimore were flukes, and there's no need to panic down the stretch. With Anahiem next on board, we better keep it in the exact same gear…
Well, I'm still holding off an any Super Bowl talk until the Vikings actually make the playoffs. Or at least beat a decent team. But AP and Percy Harvin are going to be really fun to watch this season. It's been a long time since the Vikes have had a team this good, and right now they definitely look like the team to beat in the North. -Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.blogspot.com


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Felicity is a wife, mother, and most importantly she is a servant of the Most High God. "She is a woman of integrity, not only on stage, but in life." Felicity knows that she has a purpose and she understands the responsibility to serve the Lord with the gifts He gives.
Felicity Cunningham was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. The daughter of a school principle. She grew up loving to perform.
Dancing over 21 years and in more than 15 countries, she has experienced different lives in many places. Her gift of dance began at age 6 at City Ballet School in her home town and she continued on to received her Solo Seal Certificate while attending the University of Cape Town.
At the age of seventeen, to further her career she moved to Canada and studied at the National Ballet School. It was not long before she took another major step in her life and moved to the Big Apple and joined up with Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theater of Harlem. Dancing as a professional in places as Russia, Italy, Germany, London and Egypt, her experience proved to be principle and soloist status.
Married at 26 to NFL great and now Pastor Randall Cunningham, Sr. Pastor of Remnant Ministries Church International, a church founded by the Cunningham's. Their lives have been enriched, they feel blessed to have had four wonderful children. Felicity has moved on from professional ballet to become a dedicated woman to God and to her family. She was recently Ordained and is a Pastor and teacher to the women at Remnant. Her desire to dance has not gone away and she continues to pursue her purpose of touching the world with Christ's love for mankind through His Word and praise dance.
It is now that Felicity understands the responsibility to serve the Lord with the gifts He gives. Quoting her husband Randall, "this is a woman of integrity, not only on stage, but in life. Felicity is a wife, mother, and most importantly a woman of God. The love of God shines through every time you look at her."
Felicity is a servant of the Most High God.


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I know this is ridiculously early, but I wanted to get one done before the regular season started.
Although stronger than 2009, the class of 2010 is still relatively weak.
Sam Bradford headlines a QB class that's sure to be full of underclassmen defecting to the NFL in lieu of the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations that are sure to do something about the ridiculously high rookie salaries.
2010 Mock, One Round
The order was determined by splitting up the teams ranked 1-5, 6-16, 17-27, and 28-32 and then drawing out of a hat.
The reason is that the bottom five teams are pretty well labeled, as well as the top five, but what order those teams will be in or how well the other 22 teams will do is all speculation.
I left it up to chance as opposed to hurting my head trying to predict why team X is 12 while team Y is 15.
Also, I'm not predicting any trades until after the scouting combine. Obviously, official trades will be observed.


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She was 30 when she started playing Kathy Beale but 57-year-old Gillian Taylforth looks as good in a bikini as she did back then.
And the former EastEnders star has revealed her slimline figure is down to a strict regime that means she never has a day off from some form of exercise.
Gillian reveals: "In the past couple of years, I've started doing Zumba three or four times a week, which really keeps me in shape.
"I have a set of three hand weights from Argos, so I try to do a few reps of those every day."
Gillian adds she is "shocked" that people find her sexy. "I'm actually not good at accepting compliments," she admits.
The full interview appears in this week's Closer magazine, on sale now.


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Judge Allows Yakima Lawsuits To Proceed To Trial
June 28, 2013 — While a lot of our attention has focused on immigration, dairy policy and the farm bill, June Dairy Month is also winding down with some environmental news. DairyBusiness Update's Dave Natzke joined us on Friday's DairyLine to share with us the latest news regarding a dairy lawsuit in the Pacific Northwest:
That lawsuit, or more precisely five separate suits, has potential implications far outside the Pacific Northwest. Late last week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice, in the Eastern District Court of Washington, denied motions to dismiss environmental lawsuits against several Yakima Valley, Wash. dairy producers, allowing the lawsuits to proceed to trial.
The judge's ruling covers lawsuits filed In February by two environmental advocacy organizations. The lawsuits were filed against five Yakima Valley dairies, alleging they violated the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Since the lawsuits were filed in February, those dairies have signed agreements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address manure management issues. No trial date has been set.
According to the Washington State Dairy Federation, the lawsuits seek to have routine manure management activities at dairies classified as solid waste dumps and, if successful, they could set legal precedent affecting livestock farms throughout the U.S.
From the courthouse we go to the school house.
USDA released its new "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards this week, designed to ensure U.S. students will be offered healthier food options during the school day. A 2010 law required USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools – beyond the federally-supported meals programs. Among the highlights, the standards require more whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and leaner protein, as well as foods with less fat, sugar and sodium. According to USDA, the standards establish minimum standards, and will allow significant local and regional autonomy by schools and states.


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Replacement 1.7mm micro nozzle for use with 21-14270.
21-1045 - Rosin Core Solder 60/40 Tin/Lead 6OZ.
Rosin Core Solder(six ounces)
Ideal for general purpose electronic repair and assembly use. Tin/lead formulation provides the lowest possible melting point.
21-14270 - Desolder Pump with 1.7mm Micro Nozzle
One handed operation desoldering pump with spring loaded piston and aluminum tubing for removing solder and components from circuits. 1.7mm micro nozzle for precise or delicate work. Safety guard for user safety.
21-310 - Chem-Wik Lite - .075'' x 5.5' Green Desoldering Braid
As the standard desoldering braid for service and repair, Chem-Wik® Desoldering Braid ensures fast and safe desoldering. The ultra-pure, oxygen free copper braid quickly and completely removes solder from circuit boards and components. Its fast wicking action prot...
21-3450 - SMD Remover Kit
Safely removes SMDs using low heat. Fast and easy to use. Heat can be applied with a soldering iron, warm air pre-heater, or heat gun. The SMD is then easily removed with tweezers or a pick-up tool. Check out the attached video to see how easy it is!
MCM is a great company with a large selection of good quality products.


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Despite not showing up until the fourth quarter, the San Diego Chargers lost by one touchdown at Sports Authority Field to the Denver Broncos, 24-17, in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The Broncos had the game in complete control for three quarters, dominating the Bolts to the tune of 17-0 on the scoreboard, but it felt like it was much, much worse.
San Diego's defense made huge stops at the end of the first half and held the Broncos to a field goal to start the second half to keep the game within range. There was a very real possibility the score could have been 28-0 by the time the Chargers touched the ball in the third quarter, but there was the slightest glimmer of hope for a comeback.
It was all for naught, however, as Peyton Manning and the Broncos were able to hold for the win and advance to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game next week.
As for San Diego, there is plenty of blame to go around in this loss as the Chargers now head into the offseason.


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Sweet write up man, thankyou!
How to paint over chrome.
I get asked this quite a bit.
I guess there are a few people who aren't happy with their chrome rims and want to give them a colour change.
I have heard of Plastidip but I guess there are thousands of colours and effects available in paint that plastidip cannot provide.
This guide is applicable when painting most bare metal surfaces. Also includes different paint types.
**Step one. Prep**
Using 240g Dry sandpaper, by hand or on an air or electric disc sander.
Sand the chrome so that the gloss is completely gone. (no shine on the chrome at all.)
Then clean with wax & grease remover on a rag. And clean again with a dry rag.
**Step two. Primer**
Apply an etch primer. 3 coats waiting 10 minutes between coats.
If you are using a 2 Pack finish you will need to us a 2 Pack Etch Primer (2Pack means 2 parts, paint and hardener. Hardener is hazardous so a 2K mask is recommended at a bare minimum)
If you are using a 1K finish you can use 1K etch primer. (Most spray cans are 1k unless the can has an activator button on it)
**Step three. Sanding**
Allow the etch primer to dry for at least 2hrs. Overnight is better.
Lightly spray the primed area with a guide coat. (Any contrasting colour eg. black, white whatever)
Using 600g wet sandpaper, sand off all the guide coat. This will ensure the whole area has been sanded and you wont get a rough finish in your final coat of paint.
Use 800g wet if you are spraying a metallic colour.
Fine sanding sponges are also a good option as they are more flexible for hard to reach areas.
As a guide 1 sheet of sand paper per rim.
Then clean with wax & grease remover on a rag. And clean again with a dry rag.
**Step four. Paint**
Apply 3 to 4 coats of your colour if using a spray gun.
Apply 5 to 6 coats if using a spray can. (Most spray guns have a nozzle of 1.4mm to 2mm, spray cans are about 0.4mm so spray cans apply a lot less paint on the job.)
Wait 10 minutes between coats. You only need to sand in between coats if you have runs or chunks in your colour coat.
**Paint types.**
2 Pack Solid paint.
Available in non metallic colours only.
A hardener must be mixed in
Once the paint is applied it will dry with a full gloss unless a matting agent is added to it.
Can be baked for 1hr at 30 to 40 degrees C or left over night to be touch dry.
2 to 3 coats, 10 min between coats
Uses a spray gun from 1mm to 1.5mm
2 pack Base coat or COB (clear over base)
Available in both solid and metallic colours including pearls and xirallic pearls
No hardener is needed only thinners needs to be added.
Once dry it will have a flat look but will be easy to scratch, mark and wont be UV resistant
A 2 Pack or a Single pack clear coat must be applied over it.
2 pack clear will dry with a full gloss unless a matting agent is added to it.
Can be baked for 1hr at 30 to 40 degrees C or left over night to be touch dry.
2 to 3 coats, 10 min between coats of base and clear should be applied.
Uses a spray gun from 1mm to 1.5mm
Acrylic or 1K paint.
Available in solid & metallic colours.
Not as much range in colour cleanliness or metallic & pearls as base coat.
Must be mixed with acrylic thinners if using a spray gun.
Most pre made spray cans are acrylic
Metallic colours need an Acrylic clear coat to be applied over them.
Solid colours, clear is optional.
Acrylic will be touch dry in 20 min.
It will dry with a semi gloss finish for a full gloss it must be sanded with 1500g wet sandpaper and buffed with a course cutting compound and a woolen pad by machine or hand. After a minimum of 3 days of warm weather.
Acrylic is not as strong or durable as the 2 Pack paint. It is also not solvent/fuel resistant.
2 to 3 coats, 10 min between coats with a spray gun
Uses a spray gun from 1.8mm to 2mm
Enamel Paints
Enamel Paints are mainly used for trailers, trucks, concrete
and machinery because it is cheap and is
great for the jobs where the finish dosn't need to be perfect.
You are limited to the colours that can be mixed in Enamel
eg: no metallics or pearls Solid colours only
There are two types of enamel paint
1. Quick Dry Enamel - Equipment Enamel
QD Enamel is the cheaper of the two, it is the quicker drying.
QD Enamel also fades Quicker.
A hardener can be used to make the paint dry stronger
2. Automotive Enamel
Auto Enamel is a bit more expensive, but the finish is a lot stronger
and lasts a very long time.
(if painted correctly)
A Hardener can be used, the paint is only fully cured in a couple of days
Enamel will dry with a full gloss.
Uses a spray gun from 1mm to 1.5mm
Hope this helps anyone who was thinking about painting.
I heard from an Automotive trade Sales Rep that it is legal to spray 15 minutes in every hour. This makes sense as there are companies like Smart Guys and The Touch Up Guys who spray 2 Pack clear out in the open every day of the week.
I have gathered all this information from working in an auto paints store for 10 years and asking experienced spray painters.
Check out my website below for videos on painting.
Check out CustomSprayMods on YouTube.
Sweet write up man, thankyou!
Good on ya dave for doing that writeup! All your helpful tips in your vids is also very much appreciated and has helped me and others immensely!
Just wondering if this is the same for shadow chrome rims or should I follow the MCM guide on how to paint rims?
Current: 2007 Ford Focus Xr5 Turrbbroooo
Originally Posted by Moog
1st- Ex "The Gypsy Cart" - 2003 Mitsy Magna Sports - now retired.2nd-Ex: "Laura" - 2001 VeeDub Bora 4-motion - For sale.
If the rims are painted and the paint is all chipped and rubbish then follow the mcm guide.
If the paint is in good condition just sand with 600 and paint. If its any kind of chrome use this guide. Cheers.
Check out CustomSprayMods on YouTube.
Thanks Dave. I will be painting my rims soon and it has a rashed chrome rim :/ so will be painting that
Awesome write up! sounds like this is my plan for the weekend! =) as i have (chrome)silver/black rims and will need to get rid of the chrome,
SO glad to have found this!!! Been trying to sand THROUGH the chrome, I didn't realize I can just scuff it up like a regular painted surface for paint.
"power is nothing without control"


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Phono Solar and Sybac Solar sign strategic agreement25. April 2012 | Markets & Trends, Global PV markets | By: Jonathan Gifford
Chinese module producer, Phono Solar and German EPC, Sybac Solar signed a 500 megawatt (MW) strategic supply agreement at the vast Hannover Messe industry trade show yesterday. The agreement underpinned a broader theme prominent at the diverse trade show, which was the cooperation between Chinese and German firms.
The strategic agreement between the two and will see the state-owned Phono supply 500 MW of modules to Sybac, over a five-year period. Sybac is an EPC specializing in utility-scale installations and large commercial rooftops. Sybac intends to develop photovoltaic projects primarily in Germany under the agreement.
"It's a strategic sign to the market," Roland Menken from Phono Solar Germany said to pv magazine. "It shows our common interest to a strategic, long-term cooperation." Christian Rautenberg, CEO of Sybac Solar AG added, "It shows our trust in the future."
Phono has a production capacity of approximately 450 MW per year and it completed a new fab towards the end of 2011. At present, it has around 700 MW in the field, with 130 MW of these having been installed by Sybac in Europe.
With this track record, both companies believe that bankability is not an issue. "We have some banks which have provided the finance," Rautenberg explained.
In a period of intense price competition, Phono's Menken was also keen to point out that the company is not involved in a "race to the bottom" in terms of pricing, but rather values investment in innovation and the ability to service 25-year warranties in the future. "We can say that we are competitive on price, of course we have to," said Menken, "but we are not the cheapest or the most expensive."
Sybac has plans to install 175 MW of new capacity in 2012, with that number expanding to 200 MW in coming years. Rautenberg said that the company is not interested in constructing projects for them then to be onsold, but rather to sell the energy from the installations themselves. "We are really close to grid parity. We have a strategy to sell our current out of the EEG." Rautenberg said that local municipalities and businesses are prospective buyers of the electricity.
Phono and Sybac are not only looking to develop projects in Germany however. Rautenberg indicated that 10 or 15 percent of the modules supplied to them by Phono, could go to markets such as the U.S. or France.
China is also of interest and the Sino-German partnership may indicate to other firms how to access China's emerging downstream market. Cai Jibo, the President of Phono Solar told pv magazine that by partnering with Chinese suppliers, European developers and EPCs could find a place in the market.
"Yes there are lots of projects installed in China, but frankly the quality of the power plant and technology integrated into the power plant is not good enough," said Cai Jibo candidly. "So I think the performance is not as good as in Europe, including key componenets like inverters and also the integration technology. So I am sure there is lots of space for partner cooperation like Phono Solar and Sybac."
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2014 Spring Student Honors Program
Division of Economic and Risk Analysis
Position Number: 14-DERA-ER
Location: Washington, DC
Compensation: Volunteer
Grade: SK-00
The mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.
Within the SEC, the Division of Economic and Risk Assessment (DERA) integrates financial economics and data analytics to the core mission of the SEC. In doing so, DERA is involved in the entire range of SEC activities, including policy-making, rule-making, enforcement and examination. For more information about the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, please visit http://www.sec.gov/divisions/riskfin.shtml.
The SEC's Student Honors Program is a semester program for college students, graduate students and law students to become acquainted with the regulation of the securities market. Honors students work with SEC Staff members on projects covering a broad range of the Commission's mission such as conducting investigations of industry and issuer practices, assisting in the litigation of enforcement actions, and drafting proposed statutes and rules, to name a few responsibilities.
DERA is offering unpaid training opportunities to undergraduate/graduate students in the Washington, DC area. We ask students to work at least 10 weeks at a minimum of 15 to 20 hours per week. We also encourage applications from students who are able to work 40 hours per week. Students will establish their work schedule with their supervisors.
To Apply:
For important information about this position, including details on duties, qualifications, and how to apply, please visit https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/353869700. You must apply for this position by November 1, 2013 through www.USAJobs.gov.
If you need additional information contact Jeffery Anoka, Outreach Coordinator, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) at 202-551-6086 or email@example.com.
The SEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer


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A slowing global economy and, most worryingly for Australia, a slowing China, means that commodity prices have taken a hit. Our mining sector has seen big falls and former darlings of the stock market such as BHP and Rio are now relatively out of favour.
But is this sell off justified? In the case of BHP, we think not, and the 20 per cent or so potential upside makes right now a good time to consider buying back into this diversified mining giant.
There is no doubt that the outlook for iron ore exports to China and Asia – one of BHP's core drivers of earnings in recent years, is in decline.
In fact the annual demand growth rate will most likely fall from a stunning 15-20 per cent a year in recent years to 2-4 per cent a year in future.
Therefore, a recalibrating of the business is essential and a focus on cost cutting becomes imperative.
In its most recent half-year report BHP announced asset sales of $4.3billion. In the past year it has put projects on hold estimated to cost around $68billion.
New chief executive Andrew Mackenzie, who took over from Marius Kloppers, spoke about productivity in an environment where China's demand for minerals will remain strong.
Mackenzie said there is appetite for "only the best projects so we…get some of the highest capital productivity."
So they are looking to areas where they will get the biggest bang for their buck.
That's not to say the fall in demand for iron ore will not hurt – the price of iron ore averaged 27 per cent lower in the second half of 2012. Prices remain volatile and have fallen by about $20 a tonne, from $150 to $130, and could fall further. To put this in perspective – every $1 fall per tonne equates to a hit to FY2013 net profit of about $110million. But it means refocusing much of the business in more profitable areas.
So where are the opportunities?
Shale gas is an area of incredible opportunity for BHP over the next few years and provides clear differentiation from some other big miners including Rio Tinto.
BHP is spending $4billion this year on its US shale gas assets after acquiring them for $20billion in 2011. The US is experiencing nothing short of a shale gas bonanza as the country aims to become energy self-sufficient and take away dependence on the middle east. The long term potential of these assets is extremely promising.
In addition, despite short-term volatility, management anticipates a short-term modest improvement in global growth and the longer-term outlook for copper in particular looks favourable because anticipated demand is far outstripping supply growth.
As one of the very few Australian companies that are truly global leaders in their sector, BHP remains a core holding for diversified portfolios. It is trading at a discount of 18 per cent to Clime's $41 valuation for 2013 rising to $47 in 2014, and as such remains a good buying opportunity.
BHP Billiton
Current price $3.25 (May 9th 2013)
Forecast value $41-$47++
Potential upside: 19-37%
Readers of Yahoo7 Finance can obtain a free 14-day trial offer of the MyClime online share valuation and research service at www.clime.com.au/
+ Investors should not rely on this information alone and should seek independent financial advice from a qualified expert before considering any share market investment.
++ Fair or forecast value is the price placed on the share after calculating a range of factors including profitability, assets, debt and, most importantly, Return on Equity – the same measure used by Warren Buffett to assess long-term value.
Shares are assessed by Clime Asset Management to calculate which companies are undervalued or over-valued based on their return on equity. History has shown that the most successful companies are those that produce the highest returns per dollar of shareholders' equity, yet this is not typically how shares are valued. This system highlights shares that are undervalued on this key measure. Shares are expected to reach this value in 3-5 years, as price tends to follow value in time.
Information is intended as a guide only. For specific advice contact your financial services professional.


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The American Lawyer has posted six excerpts from the outtakes of lawyer Steven Donziger in the "documentary" Crude that Chevron claims demonstrates an attempt to corrupt the Ecuadorian justice process.
"Chevron in Ecuador -- the Tapes the Plaintiffs Don't Want You to See"
Related Entries:
- Chevron-Ecuador and Steven Donziger update
- Stratus Consulting and Chevron-Ecuador
- Chevron videos on Lago Agrio
- Around the web, March 13
- Setback for Chevron in fraudulent Ecuador litigation
- House Judiciary Subcommittee holds hearing on enforcing foreign judgments
- Lago Agrio lawyers lobbying state AGs?
- Patton Boggs v. Chevron dismissed again
- Around the web, July 12
- "Litigation-Finance Contract Reveals How Investors Back Lawsuits"
- Parloff on Lago Agrio
- Chevron wins preliminary injunction in Ecuador Lago Agrio fraud case
- Around the web, February 17
- Around the web, February 10
- "An Ecuadorian racket"
|Isaac Gorodetski
Project Manager,
Center for Legal Policy at the
Manhattan Institute
|Katherine Lazarski
Press Officer,
Manhattan Institute


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Everyone that fished the smokies have been truly lucky to be in such amazing place. I grew up in Illinois up until college in which I came down to UT...spent four years fishing in heaven. The mountains taught me, then my brother, then my dad how to fly fish. You all are truly lucky who live so close to the mountains....even if you dont get any fish...standing up on you favorite stream with not a single person in site...casting your three weight to eager brookies cant be beaten....thats hard to be beat...anywhere
tight line
Re: MTNS
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My mother was born in Sevierville and my family spent a part of every summer up there back before the onslaught of Dollywood. I would watch my grandfather fish in the Park while we picniced and jumped rocks. I caught my first trout when I was 13 and have traveled back to these mountains every year since for the last 45 years in search of those wiley trout. My son is now 13 and has been fishing on the same waters as my grandfather taught me for the past 7 years....the last two he has gone purely to the long rod. While all around the Park has grown to be one big tourist mecca the one thing that remains constant is the magic of these wonderful mountains and the pull of its waters. My son has been able to enjoy and know this part of my youth without having to listen to me say how it used to be....for this I am eternally thankful.
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Long-time beer drinker and The Sip editor Ross Lewis casts his eye over the kegs from here and abroad. Here The Sip visits Scotland for a look around.
The brewery might have been around since 1556.
But even Tennents, the producers of one of Scotland's favourite brews, understands you have to move with the drinkers.
The Glasgow-based operation continues to produce one of the better lagers in the UK, albeit so much better from a tap than a can.
However, next door to their castle a new, microbrewery has opened to cater for the new breed of beer lover.
Tennents has a large share in Drygate so it isn't as thought the enemy is operating within the shadows.
But Drygate is different. It is as modern as Tennents is traditional. As the large brewer sticks with recipe, Drygate likes to experiment.
And the younger premises is very keen on food-beer pairing.
Drygate are big on craft beer. Whether it is the three they produce on site – Gladeye IPA, which is delightful, Outaspace Apple Ale or the Bearface Lager – or a raft of specialty beers on tap, Drygate is bringing a new phenomenon to Scotland.
This isn't your normal gastro-pub. It might be something familiar to Australians. However, it is a new phenomenon in the northern UK.
Tennents is in 72 per cent of Scottish pubs.
And it has had strong success with a brew that might also appeal on our shores.
The Tennents Lemon T is a 2.9 per cent lager that gives a bit of taste without the alcohol kick.
But the Tennents Lager remains the core brand. Maybe it is the renowned soft Glasgow water but the beer does have a solid flavour.
Indeed, of the raft of Lagers consumed during The Sip's visit to the UK, Tennents was clearly the most rewarding.
Its operation is well worth a visit if you're in Scotland.
Make sure you finish at Drygate because there are so many tastes on offer.


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When iOS 8 ships next month it will offer a feature you can't see—yet it could radically alter your day-to-day life more than any other function on your iPhone.
It's HomeKit: a developer framework built by Apple to enable the smart devices in your house to unify around your iOS. We spoke to five leading device manufacturers to find out how Apple's unifying the unruly world of intelligent things and how, in the process, it will make your house into a very smart home.
Segregation On A Digital Scale
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a broad term that encompasses the increasing number of smart devices that have begun replacing the "dumb" non-connected appliances around our homes. These are devices like Kwikset smart locks or the Nest Thermostat or Philips' Hue smart lights. Devices that give the impression that by obtaining more and more of them you are turning your house into a fabled "smart home."
Yet as "smart" as these devices are on an individual level it's quickly become evident that simply throwing them all together under one roof doesn't make your house into a smart home. That's because a true smart home is one that has a universal interface that grants you effortless control over—and seamless communication between—all the elements inside your house.
But as it stands now, that's not possible. Instead every smart IoT device in your house currently requires its own proprietary app to control it. There's one app for the lights, another app for the thermostat, and yet another for the TV. Each app has a different interface, a different communication protocol, a different way of telling your smart device what you want it to do. It's segregation on a digital scale and the lack of a unifying ecosystem and centralized control hub between these individual smart devices means it's not possible for them to equal anything greater than the sum of their parts. Thus, a true "smart home" remains elusive.
The solution to this digitally segregated state of the smart home, of course, is a centralized hub that allows all your IoT devices to talk to each other and be controlled via one unified interface. And that is exactly what Apple hopes to do with its new HomeKit framework coming to your iPhone in iOS 8.
Giving Home Automation A Voice
"The concept of the smart home has been around for quite some time, but implementation has been slow," says Mike Watson, vice president of product strategy at Cree, maker of smart lighting products, and one of the first companies to sign on to Apple's HomeKit initiative. "With the introduction of HomeKit and other similar devices, we're excited that there's finally the recognition that there needs to be interoperability amongst multiple types of devices and manufacturers, with a focus on providing actual consumer value—that's a fundamental difference between today's smart home market and the past."
Indeed, "consumer value" could be the tagline for HomeKit as the unifying framework will not only allow users better control of their homes—it also has the potential to reduce their energy costs and lighten their environmental footprint as well.
But perhaps the most shocking thing about such a major and promising feature of iOS 8 is the fact that though HomeKit is a unifying hub, it has no app. That's right: It's all done through Siri. Thanks to HomeKit you'll now be able to tell Siri to "Turn on the kitchen lights" or "Lock my back door" and—as long as the smart device you are using supports HomeKit—your will be done.
On the user's end HomeKit works by grouping your smart devices by location, name, and action. First you name all the rooms in your house, which is how HomeKit (via Siri) knows what devices are in which rooms. For example, you may name one bedroom "master bedroom" and the other "son's bedroom." Next you give your smart devices names. So if you have two Kwikset locks—one on the front door and one on the back—you'll want to name one "front door lock" and the other "rear door lock." Finally you want to give the actions your smart devices support names as well. So if you have a smart shower faucet you might call its action "run the bath." Once all this is done you'll be able to control any smart device in your home—indeed, even multiple ones at the same time—simply by telling Siri, for example, "Turn off the lights in the kitchen, lock the back door, and run the bath upstairs."
And, like magic, the smart devices in your house have now unified to create your very own smart home.
"Integration with Siri will allow for added convenience to users and a more hands-off experience," says Chris Allen, CEO of iDevices, makers of the popular iGrill and Kitchen Thermometer, when I ask him what the biggest benefit of Apple's approach to home automation is. "The user experience will be very easy and adaptable with the ability to securely pair and control devices throughout your home. The integration of HomeKit into iOS 8 will ensure the best possible user experience—a change from what we have been seeing in the home automation market today."
Bringing Order To The Internet Of Things' Wild West
And a change in the home automation market is exactly what's needed according to other developers I spoke with.
That's because HomeKit firmly sits at the intersection of two major—and lucrative—trends in the tech industry that were in danger of becoming too convoluted to operate in. IDC estimates that the Internet of Things market will be worth $7.1 trillion by 2020. Add to that GSM Association's prediction that the connected home sector will be a $44-billion-a-year industry by 2017. Yet with no clear standards or unifying ecosystem, each of these sectors were at risk of becoming a coder's version of the Wild West.
"From a developer's perspective, having a common standard to develop toward brings development clarity that makes meeting a standard more attainable," says Cree's Watson. "Apple's approach fosters interoperability, but allows for differentiation of value from each manufacturer. Most importantly, coalescing toward a standard brings a known and technology-friendly consumer base to all connected device manufacturers. During this process we've found the platform to be well-thought-out. [But] what we're most excited about is being able to see it in implementation and learn how HomeKit makes consumers' lives easier and better, not ours."
Carlos Raventos, lead Mobile developer for Netatmo, maker of smart weather stations and thermostats, agrees with Watson.
"HomeKit is making it easier to develop reliable, high-quality apps at a faster pace," he says. "We anticipate a new category of apps to appear that control most of the smart devices at home despite different types of devices and varying manufacturers. This was extremely hard to accomplish before HomeKit. Developers either didn't have access to APIs or had to implement proprietary APIs from manufacturers individually." But all that's changed now thanks to HomeKit.
Is An iHome In Your Future?
Then of course there is the big question: If the smart home and Internet of Things industry is really going to be worth over £7 trillion combined in just five years' time, why did Apple—a hardware company—choose to create a software framework that enables better interoperability between existing third-party smart home devices instead of getting their hands in the hardware game themselves? After all, Google—a software company—just plunked down over $3 billion for smart thermostat maker Nest.
Many developers I spoke with, who did not want to go on record, said that it's very likely that with Apple's vast resources it will enter the smart home market with hardware offerings in the future. What these hardware offerings might be is anyone's guess, however.
It's hard to see Apple making a smart version of every device in your house—from toilets to toasters to door locks—even though our smart home will eventually contain all those things. What the company is probably doing, according to multiple developers, is playing the "sure-and-steady card" like it did with the MP3 player: seeing what others do first and then radically revolutionizing the hardware it thinks it's capable of disrupting.
And though Apple could easily become a competitor with any of the companies its HomeKit framework is making life easier for today, all the developers I spoke with are glad Apple has their fingers in the smart home game now.
"There are a broad range of products within the smart home market: locks, garage door openers, light bulbs, thermostats, cameras, switches, and more," says Netatmo's Raventos. "Each of them have an important role within the future of the connected home. It was a smart move for Apple to trust manufacturers that have experience within each of these individual categories. Now industry players can devote all their energy and resources, while leveraging the HomeKit platform. We're excited to see how this will transform the category—and homes of the future."


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On Monday night, the Redwood City City Council is set to revisit and refine its commitment to streets that are safe for walking and bicycling.
Recently, after hearing mixed feedback about making Farm Hill Blvd safer, the City Council wants to define more clearly the process and scope of the Complete Streets strategy that it adopted in its General Plan in 2010. On Monday night there is a study session for City Council to reconsider how to make improvements to make streets safer and better for walking, bicycling and transit.
Council will discuss how they will provide input on Complete Streets project development, and what public and decision-making process should be followed.
Complete streets support driving, transit, walking and bicycling for people of all ages and abilities. Over the years, the city has implemented many safety improvements on streets including Alameda de las Pulgas, Middlefield, Veterans, and more. The City Council continues to support more housing and jobs downtown, so Complete Streets will help accommodate more people without more cars and gridlock.
Council needs to hear from the Community. If you can, come on Monday and let City Council members know how improving streets for walking and bicycling makes Redwood City better for you, your family, your friends and neighbors. How do "complete streets" help you go shopping, get to work, and send your kids to school? How will improving the streets help kids and seniors? How will safer streets make your community more livable and neighborly. Council needs to hear that the demand for "complete streets" is not from a small special interest group – it is a mainstream need that provides benefits for a broad cross-section of the community.
Come if you can to the City Council meeting and speak to the importance of Complete Streets.
City Hall, Middlefield and Jefferson, Council Chambers
Complete Streets is #9 on the agenda and should come up around 7:30 or so.