text: As Seen On TV Weider X-Factor Door / Home Gym $69.00 $97.00 + in store Shipping See Deal About this Deal Free shipping to store for pick up. Flag this deal Edit deal What's the matter? Choose a reason Dead deal Duplicate Bad link Spam Inaccurate No value Alive again Comments (1) chuckydealpl Dec 13, 2012 nice space saving workout apparatus, now if only i can get off the chair and use it. Reply Cancel Load More Comments


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National Advisory Council
Minutes, slide presentations, and video Webcasts from the November 4, 2011, meeting of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's National Advisory Council are available on this page.
Select for the meeting minutes.
Slide Presentations
- Director's Update (Carolyn Clancy, MD);
PowerPoint Version [ - 10.04 MB]
- What Do We Want Out of Physician Performance Measures? Developing a Conceptual Frame (Carolyn Clancy, MD, and Lisa Latts);
PowerPoint Version [ - 1.02 MB]
- Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report (Nancy Donaldson and Jan Wyatt);
PDF Version [ - 1.68 MB]
- AHRQ's Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Dissemination and Implementation Activities (Jean Slutsky, Howard Holland, and Barry Patel);
PowerPoint Version [ - 3.56 MB]
Access the meeting Webcast:
Page originally created May 2012

subset: commoncrawl


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In this city of 20,000 just 20 kilometers east of Tel Aviv, red flags of the Hadash party, a left-wing Arab-Jewish list, fluttered on the main road. Posters elsewhere featured Isawi Freij, a local who is No. 5 on the Meretz party list. Other posters showed Ibrahim Sarsur of the United Arab List, another local, who is also a veteran member of Israel's parliament, the Knesset.
On the drab, pothole-marked streets of the town, there were also black flags of mourning with the year 1956 written on them, memorializing the 48 civilians who were killed by Israeli border police as they returned from farming their fields after curfew in what became known as the Kafr Qasim massacre on October 29,1956.
Issa Morsi, 40, who owns an electric supplies store, voted on January 22 for the party he always votes for: Hadash. "It is the only party that wants equality and wants the rights of Arabs to be the same as those of Jews," he said.
The soft-spoken, bearded father of three took strong issue with the view of many Arab citizens who say that there is no point in voting because elections are a Jewish game and will not bring change.
"I want to play this game, too," he said. "My vote is the same as theirs. The vote is important in order to make a barrier against racist decisions. Every Arab ballot not cast helps the far-right, and this impacts negatively on the Arabs."
Morsi believes that pervasive anti-Arab racism is the main problem facing Israel's Arab minority, which makes up one-fifth of the population. "Apply for any job. Submit your résumé," he said. "As soon as they see you weren't in the army, you won't get the job. Schools aren't the same level as Jewish schools. Compare their budgets.
"Go to the airport. There is not a single time I have gone there and my pants didn't come down at the orders of security. It's humiliation."
Morsi says the goal of the 1956 massacre, in which he lost relatives, was to force Arabs to leave the country. "Today it's the same goal, but done in other ways by making people's lives difficult and causing despair. Netanyahu does not want Arabs here."
By contrast, he said, Yitzhak Rabin, the assassinated prime minister who reached the Oslo Agreement with the Palestinians, was a "man of peace" and "courageous," he said. "In his days Israel had a future with the Arabs and the Palestinians. This is real strength in my opinion, not Netanyahu's strength"
Truck driver Maher Budeir said he voted for Meretz, the left-leaning, dovish Zionist party of which he is also a member. Standing outside the stuccoed elementary school that served as a polling station, and holding the hands of his son, Rasmi, 6, and daughter, Lamar, 2, Budeir explained: "Meretz encourages Arabs to participate, and it is the only party talking about peace. It has a program for peace, and it was a driving force behind the Oslo Agreement."
Budeir views the outgoing Knesset as "the worst Knesset for us ever in all realms." He cited a law it produced that cuts government funding for any group that commemorates or recognizes the nakba, literally, the catastrophe — a day coinciding with Israel's independence day that Palestinians mark as a day of mourning for what they view as the loss of homeland that accompanied Israel's birth.
But the stay-away trend was also apparent. The Forward asked a young woman accompanying her mother to the polls for whom she had voted. She took the journalist's notebook and wrote: "For us, the elections in Israel are merely a facade of democracy."
Contact Ben Lynfield at email@example.com
Ben Lynfield
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Of course, the Galaxy Core Prima, Core Max, and Core Ultra might turn out to be carrier-specific versions of the LTE-enabled successor to the Galaxy Core, bearing the SM-G386F model number. The upcoming device is expected to come out by the end of March. According to recent rumors, the Galaxy Core LTE will come with a 4.5-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP back snapper, a 2000mAh battery, and Android 4.3 on board.
source: USPTO (1), (2), (3), (4) via SamMobile


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We offer discount to nonprofits, government agencies, and federal contractors
Watch AILA's Featured Issues page for more informationRead Today
AILA Doc. No. 11092838 | Dated December 3, 2007 | File Size: 121 KDownload the Document
A 12/3/07 CBP muster reminding CBP officers of the procedure for the control of property at POEs. The muster offers specifics on how CBP should appropriately handle personal effects. Muster obtained through FOIA 2011F03343 filed by AILA.
[[To print the PDF on this page please use the print function in the PDF reader.]]
Cite as AILA Doc. No. 11092838.Open the Document
American Immigration Lawyers Association
1331 G Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Copyright © 1993-2017
American Immigration Lawyers Association.


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Getting some in a few.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Getting some in a few.
We had a storm during the night that knocked the power out. So at 3 a.m. I'm sitting in the dark with a flashlight trying to reset the clock. (power on just didn't want to wake dh). I have no idea of how long it lasted. Supposed to rain all day today. It sure is dark and dreary. We'll see.
We thought we were going to get some rain last evening,but just as it got close to our county , it split and went north and south of us.arghhhhh. :cry:Originally Posted by janethagy
well here goes for another day with with a temp of 111.
I feel like I need to apologize to my air conditioner
No rain in S Central Oklahoma. There has been rain all around us but I can't remember the last time we have had rain. My Daughter lives in N Moore and has had rain at least 6 times since our last.Originally Posted by tammy cosper
The sun is shining very brightly and we did not get anymore rain. It is really breezy and I got to open the windows. Love the air conditioner when its hot but like the nice summer breeze as well. Supposed to be in the 70's the next couple of days. I'm liking that.
I know the feeling..it goes all around ENid as well..what we do get is no more than if your neighbor sprayed the hose over in your direction...it is really sad...Originally Posted by lvaughan


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- Magazine
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Cell-Based Assays for Screening - Articles and news items
Rapidly develop drugs targeting Interleukins with new PathHunter® cell-based assays from DiscoveRx
Supplier news / 12 January 2016 / DiscoveRx
DiscoveRx Corporation announces the expansion of its PathHunter® cell-based assays portfolio with the release of PathHunter Interleukin cell-based assays…
May 2014: Cell based assays for screening workshop
Past events / 30 September 2014 / European ScreeningPort
Practical workshop covering the development of cell based assays for screening.
June 2013: Cell based assays for screening
Past events / 30 September 2014 / European Screening Port
Practical workshop covering the development of cell based assays for screening.
Cell-based assays for protein-protein interactions
Issue 5 2013, Screening / 22 October 2013 / Mark Wade, Center for Genomic Science of [email protected]
Protein-protein interactions (PPI) form the backbone of all cellular signalling networks, and aberrant PPI contribute to the pathology of several diseases. Thus, strategies to identify PPI modulators are expected to be therapeutically beneficial. However, there are very few examples of clinically approved PPI modulators, reflecting the difficulties of identifying effective compounds for this target class. This perspective reviews the challenges associated with targeting PPI, and summarises the major strategies used to detect and disrupt PPI, with a particular focus on cell-based assays for PPI.
GPCRs: Cell based label-free assays in GPCR drug discovery
Drug Targets, Issue 4 2013 / 20 August 2013 / Niklas Larsson, Linda Sundström, Erik Ryberg and Lovisa Frostne (AstraZeneca)
G protein-coupled receptors are one of the major classes of therapeutic targets for a broad range of diseases. The most commonly used assays in GPCR drug discovery measure production of second messengers such as cAMP or IP3 that are the result of activation of individual signalling pathways. Such specific assays are unable to provide a holistic view of the cell response after GPCR activation. This is now changing as label-free technologies and assays on whole cells have been developed that are unbiased towards the specific downstream pathways and capture the integrated cell response. In this mini-review, we focus on the application of one of these technologies, namely resonant waveguide grating (RWG) for measurements of dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) in intact cells upon GPCR activation. Since the technology is sensitive and non-invasive, it is applicable to most cell types, including primary cells with native receptor expression levels. We discuss how DMR assays have become an important component of GPCR drug discovery screening cascades and may have the potential to improve the ability to predict if compounds will be efficacious in vivo.
Stem Cells: In-depth focus 2013
Genomics, Issue 2 2013, Supplements / 17 April 2013 / Katharina Drews, James Adjaye, Annette Meeson, George E. Plopper
The promise held by induced pluripotent stem cells for research and regenerative medicine.
Workshop preview – Cell based assays for screening.
Cardiac stem cells.
Stem Cells Roundtable.
Collaboration to accelerate drug discovery in cardiac disease announced
Industry news, News / 19 March 2013 / InvivoSciences Inc.
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and InvivoSciences collaborate to accelerate drug discovery in cardiac disease…
Practical Workshop – Biochemical Assays for Screening
Issue 1 2013 / 21 February 2013 / Sheraz Gul, Head of Biology at European ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
Recent years have witnessed an expansion in the disciplines encompassing drug discovery outside the pharmaceutical industry. This is most notable with a significant number of universities worldwide that now host infrastructure such as compound libraries and automated screening centres[1-3]. An archetypal small molecule drug discovery project will aim to identify chemical starting points that modify the functions of genes, cells or biochemical pathways. In some, but not all instances, these functions may be linked to disease processes, and an opportunity will exist to further develop the probes into novel therapeutic agents. In small molecule drug discovery, the ultimate aim is to identify new therapeutics, an activity which for reasons of high risk and cost has historically been conducted within the commercial sectors[4].


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Grace Noon Concert held June 19
The Grace Noon Concert Series will end Thursday, June 19, with a Dixieland Jazz presentation by The Frog Level Philharmonic.
The band has been a favorite of jazz loving locals since 2005. They have been regulars on the Grace Noon Concert Series since the beginning of the event. All concerts in the series are held in Thatcher Hall at Grace Episcopal Church, 394 N. Haywood St., in Waynesville.
The event is free and no collection is taken. The present season has featured The Songspinners, The Signature Winds, Soloists and Ensemblesin addition to the FLP. The series is jointly sponsored by Grace Episcopal Church and The Downtown WaynesvilleAssociation.
"The Noon Concert Series has enabled many people in our area to get to know Grace Episcopal Church better,"said Rev. Arlene Lukas, Rector.
Tables have been set up so attendees may enjoy a lunch during the event.The concert will begin at noon on Thursday, June 19, and conclude at 12:55 p.m.
Parking is available at thechurch entrance and there is a Municipal Parking area across from Grace Church in easy walking distance.Call 926-8721.


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Exurbs, the New Rentals
"These communities have a low tax base made up mostly of property and sales taxes, both of which are in decline. Lawrence Summers, economic adviser to President Barack Obama, has often explained it this way: 'No one in the history of the world ever washed a rented car.'
What is happening on the urban fringe is similar to the urban decay that plagued cities after World War II, says Christopher B. Leinberger, a real-estate developer and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. 'Single-family homes and townhouses in cities were broken into rental units. Now, we're seeing that phenomenon move out to the fringe.'
More than three million homes have either been lost to foreclosure or a foreclosure-related sale between 2006 and 2008, according to Moody's Economy.com. And the decline in home prices and concentration of foreclosures is generally worse in outer-lying communities than in the central city or closer-in suburbs."


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Orbit determination
|This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Orbit determination is the use of a set of techniques for estimating the orbits of objects such as moons, planets, and spacecraft. Determining the orbits of newly observed asteroids is a common usage of these techniques, both so the asteroid can be followed up with future observations, and also to verify that it has not been previously discovered.
Observations are the raw data fed into orbit determination algorithms. Observations made by a ground-based observer typically consist of time-tagged azimuth, elevation, range, and/or range-rate values. Telescopes or radar apparatus are used, because naked-eye observations are inadequate for precise orbit determination.
After orbits are determined, mathematical propagation techniques can be used to predict the future positions of orbiting objects. As time goes by, the actual path of an orbiting object tends to diverge from the predicted path (especially if the object is subject to difficult-to-predict perturbations such as atmospheric drag), and a new orbit determination using new observations serves to re-calibrate knowledge of the orbit.
For the US and partner countries, to the extent that optical and radar resources allow, the Joint Space Operations Center gathers observations of all objects in Earth orbit. The observations are used in new orbit determination calculations that maintain the overall accuracy of the satellite catalog. Collision avoidance calculations may use this data to calculate the probability that one orbiting object will collide with another. A satellite's operator may decide to adjust the orbit, if the risk of collision in the present orbit is unacceptable. (It is not possible to adjust the orbit every time a very-low-probability situation is encountered; doing so would cause the satellite to quickly run out of propellant.) When the quantity or quality of observations improves, the accuracy of the orbit determination process also improves, and fewer "false alarms" are brought to the attention of satellite operators. Other countries, including Russia and China, have similar tracking assets.
Orbit determination has a long history, beginning with the prehistoric discovery of the planets and subsequent attempts to predict their motions. Johannes Kepler used Tycho Brahe's careful observations of Mars to deduce the elliptical shape of its orbit and its orientation in space, deriving his three laws of planetary motion in the process.
The beginning of modern understanding of orbit determination is considered to be Anders Johan Lexell's work on computing the orbit of the comet discovered in 1770 that later was named Lexell's Comet,[1] in which Lexell computed the interaction of comet with Jupiter that first made the comet fly close to Earth and then would have expelled it from the Solar system.[2]
Another milestone in orbit determination was Carl Friedrich Gauss' assistance in the "recovery" of the dwarf planet Ceres in 1801. He introduced a method which, when given three observations (in the form of pairs of right ascension and declination), would result in the six orbital elements that completely describe an orbit. The theory of orbit determination has subsequently been developed to the point where today it is applied in GPS receivers as well as the tracking and cataloguing of newly observed minor planets.
In 2019, a new US asset is expected to become operational. The Space Fence—currently being built—will utilize S-band radar and will track a larger number of small objects than previous space radars: "about 200,000 objects and make 1.5 million observations per day, about 10 times the number" made by existing or recently retired US assets.[3]
Observational data[edit]
In order to determine the unknown orbit of a body, some observations of its motion with time are required. In early modern astronomy, the only available observational data for celestial objects were the right ascension and declination, obtained by observing the body as it moved in its observation arc, relative to the fixed stars. This corresponds to knowing the object's relative direction in space, measured from the observer, but without knowledge of the distance of the object, i.e. the resultant measurement contains only direction information, like a unit vector.
With radar, relative distance measurements (by timing of the radar echo) and relative velocity measurements (by measuring the doppler effect of the radar echo) are possible. However, the returned signal strength from radar decreases rapidly, as the inverse fourth power of the range to the object. This limits radar observations to objects relatively near the Earth, such as artificial satellites and Near-Earth objects.
Orbit determination must take into account that the apparent celestial motion of the body is influenced by the observer's own motion. For instance, an observer on Earth tracking an asteroid must take into account both the motion of the Earth around the Sun, the rotation of the Earth, and the observer's local latitude and longitude, as these affect the apparent position of the body.
A key observation is that (to a close approximation) all objects move in orbits that are conic sections, with the attracting body (such as the Sun or the Earth) in the prime focus, and that the orbit lies in a fixed plane. Vectors drawn from the attracting body to the body at different points in time will all lie in the orbital plane.
Lambert's method[edit]
If the position and velocity relative to the observer are available (as is the case with radar observations), these observational data can be adjusted by the known position and velocity of the observer relative to the attracting body at the times of observation. This yields the position and velocity with respect to the attracting body. If two such observations are available, along with the time difference between them, the orbit can be determined using Lambert's method. See Lambert's problem for details.
Gauss' method[edit]
Even if no distance information is available, an orbit can still be determined if three or more observations of the body's right ascension and declination have been made. A method, made famous by Gauss in his "recovery" of the dwarf planet Ceres, has been subsequently polished.
One use of this method is in the determination of asteroid masses via the dynamic method. In this procedure Gauss' method is used twice, both before and after a close interaction between two asteroids. After both orbits have been determined the mass of one or both of the asteroids can be worked out.[citation needed]
- ^ Valsecchi, G. '236 Years Ago...' in Near Earth Objects, Our Celestial Neighbors: Opportunity and Risk : Proceedings of the 236th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union, Cambridge University Press, 2006, xvii-xviii
- ^ J. A. Lexell (1779). "Disquisitio De Tempore Periodico Cometae Anno 1770 Observati". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 69: 68–85. Bibcode:1779RSPT...69...68L. doi:10.1098/rstl.1779.0009.
- ^ Gruss, Mike (2014-11-21). "Haney: U.S. Partners To Have Indirect Access to Space Fence Data". Space News. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
Further reading[edit]
- Curtis, H.; Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students, Chapter 5; Elsevier (2005) ISBN 0-7506-6169-0.
- Taff, L.; Celestial Mechanics, Chapters 7, 8; Wiley-Interscience (1985) ISBN 0-471-89316-1.
- Bate, Mueller, White; Fundamentals of Astrodynamics, Chapters 2, 5; Dover (1971) ISBN 0-486-60061-0.
- Madonna, R.; Orbital Mechanics, Chapter 3; Krieger (1997) ISBN 0-89464-010-0.
- Schutz, Tapley, Born; Statistical Orbit Determination, Academic Press. ISBN 978-0126836301
- Orbit Determination and Satellite Navigation
- Satellite Orbit Determination


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SEYMOUR -- New Economic Development Director Fred A. Messore said investing in one's downtown is probably the most important thing any community can do.
"We need to invest in the core of our community; you can't have a strong community without a strong downtown," Messore said.
To that end, Messore has requested a rather substantial increase in his 2012-13 economic development budget; a 744 percent increase, to be exact.
Messore recently presented his $402,713 budget request to the Board of Finance, with the lion's share of that request, $300,000, earmarked for acquisition of a parcel at 17 Bank St. Messore said he has since been advised by the board to move the $300,000 request out of his budget and into the town's capital improvement projects budget.
No matter where the request is placed, Messore just wants the board, and ultimately taxpayers, who get the final say on the town budget, to support what he's trying to accomplish.
"Hopefully by allocating funds to do this project, we will show a commitment by the town that shows we really feel the downtown is worth the investment," Messore said.
Messore said the town was recently denied a $10,000 state grant for planning and development because of a lack of planning and investment in its downtown.
While he fully acknowledges that he's asking for a lot of money, especially given the current state of the economy, Messore said Seymour historically has underfunded economic development, and it's time to play catchup.
"People may look at this budget and see a 744 percent increase, but the town, historically, hasn't requested funds for economic development planning, which is why the increase is so huge," Messore said. "We need to be forward-thinking, and the investment we're asking is small compared to the longevity we will get out these projects."
The EDC's current budget is $47,713, which includes $42,000 for Messore's part-time salary.
Messore said the goal is to purchase the 0.14-acre parcel on Bank Street that previously housed a casket store, and often doubled as Democratic headquarters, demolish the empty structure on it, and create some off-street parking for people to patronize the growing number of downtown businesses. In addition to the parking spaces, Messore said some "green space" could be created there, to serve as a "gathering spot" for residents.
Messore said the Finance Board was "very receptive and supportive" of his plans, and hopes voters feel the same way.
Finance Board Chairman Trish Danka could not be reached for comment.
The budget request also includes $25,000 for demolition costs and $30,000 for professional services for some much-needed economic development studies, which Messore said will help make the town more competitive in seeking grant money.
EDC Chairman Jon Szuch fully backs Messore's proposal.
"Residents in Seymour need to acknowledge that a municipality will not grow its Grand List and be regionally competitive or successful by being placid or waiting for retailers and businesses to simply pop in," Szuch said. "Town residents should be concerned about tax increases, however, those who refuse to fund the necessary re-investment into Economic Development infrastructure in Seymour need not complain when they drive around their town looking at various empty parcels, dilapidated structures since 2004 or burned down factories for 18 months that most other towns would have ameliorated much faster. Seymour has tremendous potential if many could find common ground as the most successful municipalities surrounding Seymour, such as Shelton and Southbury, clearly understand the necessity for funding economic development."
Follow us on Twitter @nhrvalley.


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Board Index
|Page 1 of 1 [ 2 posts ]
Post subject: england could have a poor year
Joined: 09:53 on 13th Nov 2011
Posts: 16
|this could be a be a bad year for england, got sri lanka next could be a 2-0 drubbing with a rank turner pitch expected.
then india at the end of the year, they will be up for revenge and would be tough to beat.
then south africa at home, got a bowling line up that could cause problem and could win the series.
Post subject: Re: england could have a poor year
Joined: 23:46 on 5th Jan 2012
Posts: 37
|Is going to be a tough year thats for sure.
Seems pretty likely we are going to lose this series 3-0 now... the thought of the ODI and the T20 here are fairly alarming as well.
I think this series will hopefully prove very useful ahead of sri lanka and india..
I actually think we might well win in sri lanka or at least scrape a draw as their bowling is not as strong as pakistan..
India will be tough... But hopefully the experience we have gained will put us in a better position to at least have a fighting chance..
As for SA and indeed WI I would back us to beat anyone at home but I agree that SA will be particularly tough..
So prediction
Pakistan - lose
Sri Lanka - draw
WI - win
SA - draw
India - lose (but closer than pakistan)
think we would have to be fairly happy with that - appart from pakistan of course but cant do anything about that now!
|Page 1 of 1 [ 2 posts ]


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Fashion District Hosts Eighth Annual Arts Festival
This event has already taken place. Click here for the latest events.19-10-2012 12:00:00 19-10-2012 12:00:00 America/New_York Fashion District Hosts Eighth Annual Arts Festival | 9am-10pm New York City's finest artistic talent will once again be on display from Oct. 18-20 with the Seventh Annual Fashion District Arts Festival, a three day extravaganza featuring nearly 100 free gallery exhibits, open studios, workshops, concerts, performances, and more. Highlights include Artist Services, an interactive exhibit that allows viewers to become part of the art, and a mural painting using Broadway's pedestrian plazas as a canvas. Visitors will also get to take advantage of special discounts, happy hours, raffles, and prizes. http://www.nymetroparents.com/2015neweventinfo.cfm?id=121168 The Fashion District The Fashion District
If you go: Please tell them you saw this event on


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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A town inspector says a backyard kennel in the New York City suburbs that burned in a fire, killing 16 dogs, was illegal.
The fire destroyed the dogs' shed Wednesday morning. Police believe it may have been caused by a space heater.
Greenburgh Building Inspector John Lucido says the owner, a breeder, violated codes in two ways. He says only three grown dogs are permitted per household and it was illegal to run a business out of that neighborhood.
Lucido says the owner, Ross Taylor, was warned about a similar violation in 2006 and took care of the violation.
A call to Taylor's home was answered by a man who would not comment or give his name.
Police say Taylor was a breeder of Italian mastiffs.


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Food Imperatives 4: The Pines of Rome
The Pines of Rome
The Pines of Rome
+ Video of Matzo Factory
$30,000 raised for Food Bank NYC.
A blog review of Di Fara was full of incorrectness + other thoughts re the critics.
In a country where meat matters a lot, friendship matters more.
And a celebration of empanadas, the true pizza of Argentina.
Surprising influences from Northern Italy.
$20,000 raised for Food Bank NYC.
Euchre, the pan overfloweth, and custard for all.
Thoughts on travel and enjoyment.
Grab that vinaigrette and go go go!!
A sauce of fresh tomatoes all year round.
"... When was the last time a caesar salad made your day?!!..."
"...I broke my back on this and I'm gonna sleep good tonight. I know how to work the oven...."
"...I broke my back on this and I'm gonna sleep good tonight. I know how to work the oven...."
"... don't we deserve better in the USA?"
The first time I had Rocco's impeccable fried calamari it was because I needed to get my car inspected....
Many pizzamen I've met have described dough-making as a nuanced process....


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Air University Review, January-February 1983
Dr. Joe P. Dunn
EARLY in the Vietnam War, the military services determined that this undertaking was a monumental venture that would produce innumerable lessons for future conflicts. The services set out to chronicle a wide variety of activities, and tons of paperwork resulted. With the Army's massive World War II history of more than eighty volumes as the model, all four services began early in the war to plan their Vietnam historical projects. Unit historical detachments in every major command sought to write the history of the conflict as it unfolded. Valuable source material was compiled and a large reservoir of participant interviews secured, but such instant history lacked perspective and was, at best, preliminary.
Moreover, not enough trained historians were available. Individuals with advanced degrees in history were more likely to end up as grunts or functionaries than in historical detachments. In the Army, the historical detachment officer often served the last months of his tour in this position as reward for a good record in the field, or for just the opposite reason. Enlisted assignments were more chance than design. Thus, the quality of the historical records compiled varied considerably. And one theme dominated all retrospects: everybody had done everything right; progress and improvement were the official universal.
While historical detachments generally were viewed as peripheral accessories, historians at times played significant roles during the war. General William C. Westmoreland constantly evoked the French experience in Indochina. During the seige of Khe Sanh in 1968, Bernard Fall's and Jules Roy's depictions of Dien Bien Phu became bibles, and Westmoreland ordered his historical detachment to produce comparative analyses of the two battles.1
When he became Army Chief of Staff in late 1968, General Westmoreland determined that the military professional schools could not wait for another decade or more to assess the lessons of Vietnam. He commissioned a series of Vietnam studies, monographs that addressed various aspects of the war, particularly innovative ventures. Twenty of these volumes, more the memoirs of commanders and staff officers involved in certain activities than actual histories, were published under the imprint of the Army Adjutant General.2 The Air Force added seven monographs as a joint venture between the Office of Air Force History and Air University.
The official history programs began after the war. The Army's proposed twenty-one-volume project is the most extensive, although the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps programs are also ambitious. The Coast Guard outlines a more modest endeavor consistent with their lesser role in the conflict. The Office of Air Force History plans approximately 16 volumes, mostly topical studies of various Air Force missions and activities. An illustrated overview and the first three official volumes are now in print.
The official histories constitute a particular genre of scholarship. The services defend the significant public expenditures necessary to maintain the programs by the didactic values of the studies: to preserve lessons, to assess successful and unsuccessful tactics and strategy, to ensconce military tradition, and to produce early objective accounts suitable for use in military professional schools and for civilian academics. The volumes tend to be highly narrative and quite detailed with little theoretical base or analytical framework. Often the subjects of the books are rather esoteric, and the study is likely to be the definitive, indeed the only, treatise on the topic. The volumes are found in major research libraries, but few make their way into civilian academic classrooms.
Official government historians enjoy enviable research support--ability to devote full time to their projects, adequate funding, abundant staff and library resources, expert colleague support--which most academic scholars would relish. But most important, official historians are privy to material that may not be available to other historians for years. Their government identification and special access privilege subject official historians to the appellation of court historian. In most cases, the charge is not justified. Nevertheless, the official historian should be sensitive to the suspicions about him, and he must pay particular attention to fairness since some of his sources may not be universally accessible.
The three books reviewed here are fine works, which reflect some of the virtues and limitations of official military histories. The similarities among the three are quite apparent. All are primarily narrative, each beginning its account with World War II. One is a general chronological survey to 1965; the other two are chronologically developed topical studies. All abound with names of commanders, participants, units, equipment, acronyms, code names, and aircraft nomenclature. Their glossaries are essential for the novice. All have useful indexes, bibliographic notes, and good visual aids. Although each is candid and critical at times, none is particularly analytical. All are sound, valuable studies which will remain important reference works, but none will attract a very wide audience.
IT is most appropriate that Dr. Robert F. Futrell is the author of the first volume of the Air Force's official history of the Southeast Asia conflict. He was a major contributor to The Army Air Forces in World War II series, and he wrote The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950-1953, the service's single-volume official account of that conflict. His Ideas, Concepts, Doctrine is a classic on the role of air power. Before his retirement from the Office of Air Force History in 1974, Dr. Futrell wrote a detailed, classified history of the Air Force's early involvement in Vietnam. Martin Blumenson, one of America's premier military historians, edited the manuscript and prepared it for unclassified publication.*
*Robert F. Futrell with Martin Blumenson, The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia: The Advisory Years to 1965 (Washington: Office of Air Force History, 1981, $15.00), 398 pages.
The Advisory Years to 1965 is an extremely ambitious and detailed undertaking which epitomizes the best attributes of official history. Futrell weaves the evolution of Air Force involvement into a larger narrative account of the early years of the war. He begins with the origins of the American commitment in the late 1940s and early 1950s, treats Dien Bien Phu and the withdrawal of the French, and details the genesis of the United States advisory command structure. The bulk of the work traces the rise in Air Force activity in Southeast Asia from 112 airmen (68 in Vietnam, 44 in Thailand) in the late 1950s to 9538 personnel (6604 in Vietnam, 2934 in Thailand) on the eve of Americanization in early 1965 and develops the expansion of the mission and the organizational structures.
Futrell surveys the cautious evolution of Air Force activity from the introduction of a tactical air control unit, the first permanent duty status unitin Vietnam, in October 1961, through expansion of several diversified missions. These included the inception of reconnaissance capacity, the Farm Gate training and limited combat role, the Mule Train airlift detachment, the beginning of Ranch Hand herbicide operations, and the advent of air interdiction. He explains how Air Force commanders, especially Chief of Staff Curtis E. LeMay, chafed about the restrictions on activity and the Air Force's subordinate status in the command structure. Futrell is obviously sympathetic with the Air Force's frustration with the Kennedy administration hesitancies and the tribulations of working with the inchoate Vietnamese Air Force.
This frustration continued into the early Johnson years despite the service's increasingly upgraded combat role. General LeMay continued to charge that the impediments which limited Air Force effectiveness were losing the war. As the conflict deepened, the facade that all operations had a primary training mission became more and more farcical. Maintaining this pretext by such actions as having Vietnamese aboard on all missions, even when they were merely available enlisted personnel who were handy to fill the quota, was ridiculous and greatly hindered operations. Meanwhile, the Air Force sought a greater role in the American command structure and in policy formation. By the beginning of 1965, the service had established its vital role in the war, and a nucleus of air power assets was in place. The Air Force's largest function in the conflict, the bombing campaign of North Vietnam, would soon begin.
The Advisory Years to 1965 is a meticulous piece of research that utilizes documents which may not be available to other scholars for some time. Military historians will find it a valuable reference work. The appendix, which outlines the chronological growth of United States and Vietnamese Air Force units by month, year, and location, is a useful addition. However, the volume reads too much like a text, or even a staff report. And despite the author's clear perspective and forthright judgments, the book is not particularly analytical. Even though it offers a good survey of early American political involvement in Vietnam, it will not attract a large general audience. It remains a book for specialists.
THE other two volumes have somewhat narrower parameters. Both are excellent studies that will probably remain the definitive word on their respective subjects for some time. Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia, 1961-1975, by Earl H. Tilford, Jr., is the more engaging since it treats one of the most fascinating aspects of the Vietnam War, the rescue of downed fliers.**
**Earl H. Tilford, Jr., Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia, 1961-1975 (Washington: Office of Air Force History, 1980, $7.50), 212 pages.
From the early days of aerial combat, American fliers have been confident that if they went down every effort would be made to rescue them. During the years in Southeast Asia, the Air Force lost 2254 aircraft; Army, Navy, and Marine aviation losses swelled that number. From these downed aircraft, the Air Force's Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service recovered 3883 men who otherwise might have been killed or captured. Tilford's book is the saga of the rescue operation during the war years.
The account is a chronological narrative covering the development of search and rescue during World War II, its growth during the Korean War, and its increasing sophistication in Southeast Asia. The author explains advances in aircraft capabilities, communication equipment, training, and rescue procedures. The vignettes reflecting the courage of rescue pilots and pararescue men who went down on the ground after injured fliers is both engrossing and inspiring. Probably the most interesting sections concern the unsuccessful attempt to liberate American prisoners of war at the Son Tay prison camp in North Vietnam and the complex events of the mission to regain the captives of the Mayaguez at Koh Tang in 1975. Each story details the planning, training, execution, and results of the operations. Although the Son Tay account is not as detailed as Benjamin F. Schemmer's The Raid, it may well be a more accurate appraisal. Tilford's interviews with participants add dimension. The account of Koh Tang, based on interviews and Major A. J. C. Lavalle's earlier monograph, Fourteen Hours at Koh Tang, is outstanding--far superior to Roy Rowan's popular journalistic survey, Four Days of the Mayaguez.
Although it includes much the same emphasis on commanders, locations, nomenclature, code names, and acronyms common to these volumes, the book is interesting reading. It is well researched, objective, and highly competent. Since the topic is not likely to engender varied interpretations, the book should remain the definitive study of the subject. It is a model treatise.
AN equally good study although more controversial and somewhat less engaging is Ranch Hand by William A. Buckingham.* Few topics have generated more passion than the ecological effects of the American presence in Vietnam. From the first, war critics denounced the irreparable damage done to the country and its people by bombing, artillery free-fire zones, and row plows. But no activity caused furor equivalent to that precipitated by the use of herbicides. If the issues of ecological damage to Vietnam and the specter of chemical and biological warfare were not explosive enough, by the early 1970s the hottest issue was the possible damage done to American servicemen by exposure to some of the herbicides. During the postwar years, Agent Orange has become a household word, and the debate smolders today between veterans claiming irreparable personal injury and official U.S. government denial of responsibility.
Buckingham begins with a brief description of the origins of aerial herbicide application, pursues the story through World War II operations, and carefully describes the hesitant decision process and bureaucratic procedures that characterized defoliation and crop destruction in Vietnam. He also traces the evolution of the Ranch Hand program and unit, including its aircraft, equipment, and the chemicals used. By 1964, the use of herbicide in Vietnam was widespread, and criticism of its use was emerging in the United States. Buckingham treats the peak of Ranch Hand activity between 1965 and 1969, the ever-growing controversies, and the numerous studies of herbicide effectiveness and its dangers. He also explains the tactics employed, the risks incurred, and the losses sustained during Ranch Hand missions.
By 1969, Agent Orange, introduced into Vietnam in 1965, was under widespread scrutiny and criticism. Academic, private, and governmental studies addressed the question of possible birth defects resulting from exposure to the chemical. Although no definitive consensus emerged, international attention and condemnation ensued. This concern, coupled with the beginning of the American deescalation in 1969, led to the decline of Ranch Hand activity. Agent Orange was banned in 1970, and by the end of the year Ranch Hand was out of business. The last herbicide mission of the war was flown on 7 January 1971.
In an epilogue, Buckingham deals with the post Ranch Hand questions during the final years of the war: What should be done with existing stocks of Agent Orange in Vietnam? What herbicide capacity would the United States provide for the South Vietnamese? What would future American herbicide policy be? He also touches briefly on the continuing controversy over veteran claims against Agent Orange. An appendix provides useful statistical information on herbicide use during the war.
Although this is a fine study, the technical nature of topic limits its readership. Doubtless, much more will be written on herbicides in Vietnam and on their possible military role, if any, in the future. It is a topic that must be pursued. Certainly, this is a good pioneering study, one that will contribute to the difficult future decision process.
OFFICIAL histories fill a particular place in historiography. They may be the definitive study of some otherwise neglected topic or may merely reflect one perspective on a heavily treated subject. Since their authors have early access to source materials, such studies will ordinarily be among the earlier ones on a topic. As previously closed material becomes available, the authors of Vietnam official histories have a special obligation to provide objective evaluations of many aspects of this controversial American experience. Early readings, at least from the Office of Air Force History, indicate that we can look forward to a series of significant contributions that will rival the important work done by the official historians of World War II.
Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
1. Robert Pisor, The End of the Line: The Siege of Khe Sanh (New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1982), pp. 48,120, 139-41.
2. Eric C. Ludvigsen, "Vietnam--In 21 Volumes," Army, August 1977, pp. 30-32.
Joe P. Dunn (B.S., Southeast Missouri State University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Missouri) is Associate Professor of History and Politics and Director of Summer Programs, Converse College, Spartanburg; South Carolina. His writing has focused on the Vietnam War and on post-World War II conscription. Dr. Dunn has published articles in Parameters, Military Review, Teaching History, Naval War College Review, Armed Forces and Society, and he is a previous contributor to the Review.
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.
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Bellville Times
Funeral Services for Connie J. Dieringer, 56, of Sealy, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2011 at Knesek Bros.
Highway 36 Chapel in Sealy with the Rev. Lani Rousseau officiating. Interment in the Sealy Cemetery. Pallbearers: Benny Woods, Delton Machac, Darrion
Mahaffey, Larry Mahaffey, Jason Woods, Jeremiah Woods, Kevin Cape and Garrett Woods.
Connie passed away at her home on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011.
Miss Connie J. Machac was born in Weimar to parents, George J. Machac and Mildred Mgenzer Machac on
Aug. 23, 1955.
She was raised in the Columbus area and attended the Catholic School there. She married Charles
Dieringer in Sealy on Feb. 18, 1989. Connie had worked for Sunshine Cleaners in Sealy for 20 years.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Dieringer of Sealy, daughters, Roxanne Mahaffey of Sealy,
Laura Meza and husband Leonardo of Sealy, sons, Larry Mahaffey and wife Carissa of Sealy, Billy Machac and wife Nichole of San Antonio, James Machaffey, Jr.
and wife Jill of Pennsylvania, sister, Shirley Brannon of San Felipe, grandchildren, Darrion and Dahnetta Mahaffey, Kaitlyn and Brylei Mahaffey, Mariha and
Mercedes Meza, Dalton and Ethan Machac, Alyssa and Billy Jo Machac, Alyssa and Bryce Mahaffey. She was preceded in death by her Mother, Mildred Lillie,
Father, George Machac, sister, Georgie Hoffman and step Father, Leroy Lillie.
Knesek Funeral Home in Sealy in Charge of arrangements: www.knesekfuneralhome.com and at www.facebook.com/knesekfuneralhome.
Posted by Joy Neely


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Morocco king, others congratulate Jammeh
Thursday, July 24, 2008
King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco has congratulated President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the July 22nd Revolution.
In a message to the Gambian leader, who led the revolution on 22nd July 1994, the Moroccan monarch conveyed his "warmest congratulations" and wished Dr Jammeh good health and happiness.
King Mohammed also prayed to the Almighty God to assist President Jammeh in his endeavours to achieve further "progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of The Gambia".
"I take this opportunity to reiterate to Your Excellency that I am personally keen to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and cooperation which unite our two countries, and to pursue our joint effort to boost these ties and raise them to the status they deserve," he concluded.
National Assembly
In a similar message, Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, the speaker of the National Assembly, also registered her congratulations on the occasion, on behalf of the two divides of the National Assembly and her own behalf.
"It is an undisputed and open fact that July 22nd revolution has indeed truly emancipated the people of The Gambia and has registered and continues to register unprecedented developments in the history of this country.
This is evident in the number of schools built, hospitals, roads, women and youth empowerment, good governance, rule of law, democracy, freedom of speech, respect for human rights and other developments you have undertaken since taking over the reigns of this country in 1994.
Your Excellency, both sides of the National Assembly salute your tremendous achievements and we will continue to support and rally behind your Excellency for the realisation of your Vision 2020, Silicon Valley and the Green Revolution/Green Industry dreams of transforming The Gambia into a superpower and a beacon of hope for all humanity," the speaker said.
She then added: "Gambians anywhere in the world today, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, sex or tribe are proud of being Gambians. This is so because your exemplary leadership in only 14 years have given them so much opportunity and prosperity that 30 years of independence could not provide."
Speaker Jahumpa Ceesay then prayed to Allah the Almighty to grant the president good health and wisdom to continue steering the affairs of The Gambia.
Gambian Embassy in Madrid
Similarly, the Gambian Ambassador to Madrid, Spain, has also congratulated the president on the anniversary, on behalf of his staff and himself.
Ambassador Kebba Satou Touray, reflected on the remarkable developments in all sectors of the economy, especially in areas that impact directly on the lives of majority of Gambians.
"The investments and developments you have made in health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, peace & security, justice and international relations over the past 14 years, have put our country on a solid and sustainable path for development. It has made us more dignified, confident, self-reliant and proud as a nation and as a people.
Therefore, all Gambians and non-Gambians living in The Gambia owe you a lasting debt of gratitude," the ambassador wrote.
Mr Touray then prayed to the Almighty Allah to give more strength, ability, resources and wisdom, to President Jammeh, in order to lead the country to greater prosperity. "May the Almighty Allah continues to guide, protect and bless you, your family and the entire Gambian people," the ambassador prayed, while assuring the president of his highest considerations.
Unesco message
Mrs Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, the former secretary of state for Education, who now works for Unesco, also felicitated the president on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the 22nd July celebrations, on behalf of the director general of Unesco and herself. Mrs Ndong-Jatta wished the president continued good health and well-being of the entire Gambian population.
"The Unesco office in Dakar and the Regional Bureau for Education in Africa (BREDA) wish you every success in your continued endeavours to provide equal opportunities for every Gambian child, youth and adults, particularly the girls and women to access quality education at all levels from pre-school to university," she stated.
Mrs Ndong-Jatta assured the president of the commitment of Unesco to accompany the government and the people of The Gambia in its fields of competence in order to meet the MDGs and the EFA goals in particular.
In the same vein, Ebrima Cham, the director general of Gamworks, conveyed a warm congratulation on behalf of his Board of Directors, management and staff.
Mr Cham commended the president on the resounding socio-economic progress and development achieved under his "brilliant and visionary leadership. I am confident that with His Excellency's capable guidance, the nation will continue to make rapid progress in many areas of national interest".
"May Allah the Almighty provide His Excellency, the President, with continued vision and good health to lead The Gambia forward for continued peace, progress and prosperity.
And may I once again, re-affirm Gamworks' unflinching determination and dedication to work with the government to fulfil His Excellency the President's ambition and aspiration for The Gambia and the Gambian people," Mr Cham stated, while renewing assurance of his highest consideration and esteem.
Author: DO


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Maine Soldiers' Relief Association card, Washington
Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Purchase a reproduction of this item on VintageMaineImages.com.
A small business card advertises the services of the Maine Soldiers' Relief Association and the Maine State Agency Sanitary Commission in Washington, D.C.
The agencies provided assistance to soldiers and their families in getting pay, receiving packages and mail, getting furloughs and leaves, and other issues.
View/Add Comments
Other Information
- Title: Maine Soldiers' Relief Association card, Washington
- Creation Date: circa 1863
- Town: Washington
- State: DC
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions (cm): 5.6 x 9
- Local Code: Coll. 1533, Box 2/2
- Collection: Maine Agency Sanitary Commission
- Object Type: Text
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society
489 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822
Cross Reference Searches
LC Subject Headings
Bounties--Military--19th century
Bounties, Military--United States--Cases
Military assistance
Medical aspects of war
Military leaves and furloughs
War casualties
Maine Agency Sanitary Commission
United States Sanitary Commission
United States--Civil War, 1861-1865
Maine--Civil War, 1861-1865
Other Keywords
Maine Soldier's Relief Association
Soldier's Relief Association
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Somewhere along the way, Nintendo dropped the ball with the Wii U.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Wii U owner. I greatly enjoy a number of the exclusives on the system, most notably Lego City Undercover and Super Mario 3D World, and I am convinced that it is a solid, if not groundbreaking, console. I want this understood up front because this blog is not intended to be a damning editorial on the quality of the system itself or the games that have been released for it. All of this is meant to simply open a dialogue on where Nintendo's mindset seems to be and where it could have been instead.
Now then, to reiterate, Nintendo dropped the ball with the Wii U.
For one year, Nintendo was the only major company with a next generation game system on the market. That's twelve months of exclusive ownership of the title "next gen", and nearly three hundred and sixty-five days of having the most powerful system available at retail. The company had achieved what some had felt impossible: they had beaten the Microsoft and Sony machines in the race to offer the public a new and exciting game console.
Theoretically, this should have given Nintendo a huge advantage. The story almost writes itself: the company that you had grown up with was now ushering you into the future of gaming. Sure, you may have flirted with another company, maybe strayed a bit, but we're here to welcome you back with open arms and give you gaming experiences the likes of which you've never seen.
That's not really how things played out, though, is it? Instead, Nintendo has made a string of curious and oftentimes frustrating decisions that have led to a rather anemic year for the Wii U. As I'm writing this, less than four million units have been sold in the entire year that the system has been on the market. To put that into perspective, the Playstation 4 was recently announced to have sold over 2.1 million units in less than a month, and GameStop representatives have stated that there are still over a million customers on the waiting list for one. By the end of 2013, the Playstation 4 will have surpassed the Wii U's lifetime sales in less than two months. The Xbox One is also enjoying record-breaking success and won't be far behind.
How did this happen? How could a game console produced by one of the most famous brands in the world perform so poorly when it seemingly had all the advantages when it launched?
I submit that there isn't one major factor that has led to the Wii U's struggles. In fact, I believe that Nintendo has made a number of key mistakes that have brought us to this point. What you're about to read is how I would have handled the console, from inception to now, and where it differs from what Nintendo actually did. I realize that I'm dealing in some strange mixture of fact, fiction, and pure speculation that makes a nice hearty fantasy gumbo, but it makes for a fun mental exercise.
Stage One: The Creation of a Console
I begin disagreeing with the path that Nintendo has chosen even before the console is released to the (sometimes unwashed) masses. What may surprise some is that this point of contention involves the most iconic piece of the Wii U: the GamePad.
Nintendo was coming off of a console that became an overnight sensation due to its unorthodox method of controlling. Motion controls had taken both the gaming and the non-gaming world by storm, leading to the system being sold out everywhere for long periods of time. The Wiimote was somehow simultaneously sophisticated and simple (holy unintended alliteration, Batman). Everyone from small children to senior citizens could use it, and it was a hit in both private and more public settings.
The GamePad was a product of this quest for new and innovative control methods. Its second screen creates the feeling of a more versatile and game-centric tablet, and it quickly became the centerpiece of Nintendo's marketing for the system. In fact, many consumers believe that it IS the system rather than simply being the controller.
It may sound a bit odd at first, but I would have eliminated the GamePad entirely and used the Pro Controller as the primary input. Crazy talk from a crazy man? Perhaps. Consider the advantages of a more traditional experience, however.
One of the primary appeals of the Wii U is the price. This may not sound like a big concern to some, but as a parent who has to shop for two children for Christmas, let me assure you that it is to many other people. Back in March, CNN dissected the Wii U Basic Set and determined that each Wii U cost roughly $227.63 to manufacture. That's not bad at all when you consider how much it costs to make a Playstation 4 or Xbox One. Admittedly those are more powerful machines, but you get where I'm coming from.
The GamePad makes up $79.25 of that manufacturing cost. For those keeping track at home, a bit less than 35% of the total cost is the GamePad. That's a huge percentage for a controller. Yes, I realize that it does things that no other controller does, but please, bear with me for a minute. For comparison, the Xbox 360 wireless controller has a manufacturing cost of about $11 as detailed by EETimes (let the raging begin over the $59 retail price).
If you remove the GamePad from the equation and insert a standard controller instead, you come up with a figure of $159.38. This is important due to the long term strategy that I'll get into in a bit. Needless to say, the $68 difference will be crucial.
Taking cost out of the equation, however, the GamePad is still a hindrance to the Wii U in a number of ways. It makes the system harder for third party studios to develop for, as it is no longer as simple as porting a title like can be done with the Sony and Microsoft consoles. As things stand right now, many third party developers aren't seeing game creation for the system to make financial sense, and part of that is due to the increased development costs as compared to other platforms.
There's really no good way to put this, but the GamePad looks somewhat cheap to many casual consumers. Many people outside the hardcore gaming community (and some inside of it) feel that it resembles an oddly designed tablet, one that appears to be made out of plastic rather than more durable material. Whether or not the GamePad actually is flimsy and "cheap" is irrelevant to this issue. The perception is that it is, and the initial impression of a product is a huge contributing factor as to whether or not that consumer purchases the product.
For these reasons, I would eliminate the GamePad and switch to a more traditional controller design, one that appeals to both developers and gamers.
Stage Two: What's in a Name
Nintendo's idea with naming the new console the Wii U was clearly intended to try to capitalize on the success of the original Wii. After all, the Wii was the company's biggest home console success, so it was only natural to try to use that to its advantage. It must have looked like a great idea on paper.
Here's the issue with that, though: it was never going to happen. The Wii put up such huge sales numbers because the motion controls brought in people that normally wouldn't purchase a video game system. The Wii meant different things to different people, from being something to bring out at parties to being a system used to help with exercise.
Those types of people were never going to purchase the Wii U. They are extremely casual players, and the original Wii suits their purposes with no reason to upgrade to a new system. In a lot of ways, the Wii was a fad. That's not putting down the system or the games that were on it. It's simply stating that the level of popularity of such a thing in the mainstream, non-gaming community wasn't sustainable.
Instead, Nintendo should have distanced themselves from the Wii and instead completely focused themselves on bringing the core gamers back into the fold. Those are the consumers that could make the next generation system a success. While the number of systems sold would never have matched the original Wii sales, they wouldn't have to. Core gamers tend to purchase more games for their systems, and that higher attach rate is where the profit would be generated.
The Wii U was originally dubbed the "Revolution" during development, and that's a far better name for this strategy than what it ended up being. However, I would suggest a different approach. I would instead name the console the Nintendo Next. Not only is it a simple name, it also evokes the message that you're trying to relay to the players. It's the next step in gaming technology, and it's the next console that you want to own. It also eliminates all confusion that the system is some add-on peripheral for the Wii as opposed to a new standalone system.
It also leads nicely into the actual console release.
Stage Three: Releasing a New Console into the Wild
Do you remember all of the advertising leading up to the Wii U's launch? All the huge banners in stores, and the fact that you couldn't turn on the television without having to sit through another Nintendo ad? Or how about those online advertising campaigns that flooded all of the major gaming websites?
Yeah, me neither.
The Wii U entered the market not with a bang, but with a whimper. Most consumers weren't aware that Nintendo was working on a new console, let alone just released one. Sure, sites like IGN made announcements and created reviews for the release content, but the people that frequent gaming sites make up a small percentage of the intended target audience of game systems. I can only speak for myself, but when I walked into Best Buy on the day the console was released, I found it sitting on some shelves in the game section without even so much as a display stand to advertise it.
The marketing for the Wii U has been Nintendo's biggest failure, and it's probably the most important reason why the sales have not been higher. To put it bluntly, the marketing has been dreadful. There is very little of it for both the system and the individual games, and even when there has been marketing done, it's only managed to display how out of touch Nintendo is with North American consumers.
Here's where I really get to play fantasy game company product...um...person. Remember where we're at so far. We have the Nintendo Next with the same system specs that exist currently, and we're rocking out with a Pro Controller instead of the GamePad. Incidentally, for those wondering, yes, the Wiimotes will still sync up with the console in this scenario (although it does not come pre-packaged with a sensor bar), meaning that the system is still backwards compatible.
Months before the Next is actually released, I would have run commercials advertising the product. That far out may seem a bit excessive, but keep in mind this advertising campaign is creating an awareness for a new console release and the holiday shopping season. It's an extremely important time.
The first series of commercials show a number of images of families playing video games together. Each generation of Nintendo consoles is depicted, along with the rooms and families becoming more and more modern as the commercial progresses. After the Wii is shown, the screen fades to black, and the words "What's Next? November 18, 2012" are displayed, with the word "Next" written in a vibrant blue and the other words white.
The second series of commercials start between three weeks to a month before release. The commercial is the same before, showing the different generations of both consoles and players, but as the final words are displayed, things get interesting. Just when the person watching thinks that it's the same commercial they've been watching for weeks, Mario's trademark "Here we go!" is heard. Music begins to play as images of new games flash across the screen. Everything from Next Super Mario Bros. (the rechristened New Super Mario Bros. Wii U) to Zombi (remember, no "U" here) to Call of Duty: Black Ops II, as well as upcoming releases like LEGO City Undercover and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate are shown. As the music fades and the screen returns to black, the Nintendo logo is shown, and the words "What's Next" are again displayed, but this time the question mark has been dropped in favor of a definitive statement.
The message of these commercials are clear. You've grown up with Nintendo. It's always been there for you, and it's grown and changed as you have. Now, once again, Nintendo is here to lead you into the future of gaming. It's simple, it's powerful, and it reinforces how iconic of a brand Nintendo is. It also subtly emphasizes that the Next isn't just for children; it's also where you should look for adult-oriented brands like Call of Duty and Darksiders.
Remember how I said that lower manufacturing cost of the console would come into play? It's doing so right now. The Basic Set release cost is now set to $199, and the Deluxe Set (the 32GB model with an included game, the redesigned party-style game Nintendo Land) is $249. When you take into account the necessary retailer markup the system is selling at a small loss (in the Basic Set only, as the Deluxe Bundle is a small profit), but consider that this next generation system is now priced lower than the existing current generation consoles. With one game sale or a second controller purchase there is a profit being made, and you're completely undercutting your competition while pushing the message that your console is beyond them. It puts everything in place for a huge release, potentially the biggest console release in history up to that point.
Nintendo tends not to sell consoles at a loss, even a minor one, but this is a special circumstance. The company has the ability to create a massive consumer base before its competition is able to stake a claim to market share, and that lead has to be exploited to the fullest possible extent. Selling at a small loss now will lead to big profits later.
Stage Four: As the Year Goes On
The Nintendo Next console is aggressively released to much fanfare, and its release window games are enough to get it through the holiday season. Where does the company go with the system from there?
As we all know, new games were hard to come by for quite a while on the Wii U, and to a certain extent that is still true to this day. It doesn't matter how amazing your console is if there's nothing to play on it. Steps have to be taken to create a steady flow of quality games if the initial buzz for our fledgling system is to be maintained.
With the GamePad out of the equation and the Nintendo Next positioned as a more "traditional" console to develop for, we go aggressively after third party developers. We want games like Tomb Raider, BioShock Infinite, DmC: Devil May Cry, Dead Space 3, and Metro: Last Light on the system in addition to the in-house games. These will help strengthen the lineup and prevent the game release lull that plagued the Wii U's early months. Games like these not only sell extremely well, but they also once again reinforce the message that Nintendo is completely committed to a wide variety of gamers.
The absolute most important third party title to acquire is, of course, Grand Theft Auto V. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that this game would sell extremely well, and the Next needs to feature it in the title lineup. Can you imagine the effectiveness of promoting it to potential customers by saying that you can play GTAV on a last generation system, or you can play it in all of its glory on Nintendo's next generation system? It's an easy sell.
Some might feel that a game like this doesn't fit the standard Nintendo image. This is a valid point, but it's not like such titles haven't been featured on Nintendo systems in the past. The Grand Theft Auto series appeared on the Nintendo DS, and a number of games with extreme violence and gore (Mortal Kombat 2, for example) have been released on home Nintendo consoles. Even the Wii with its family friendly image has MadWorld in its game catalog.
If you want to attract as large of an audience as possible, you have to feature the games that people want. Grand Theft Auto V is one of those games. I don't care how large of a money truck has to get thrown at Rockstar, this game has to be on the Nintendo Next. The only other game that I would consider going after harder is Minecraft, but that's debatable.
Speaking of game catalogs, one of the biggest things that Nintendo has going for it is its huge catalog of classic games. We've seen some of this used recently, most notably with Wind Waker HD, but most of the time these game remain a memory. With Nintendo Next's message of remembering the past while moving into the future, this needs to change.
I present for your consider the Next game series. The general idea is a series of titles that collect game series from the past, shine them up, and present classic gaming experiences to the masses. Metroid Next, for example, would collect Metroid, Metroid 2: Return of Samus, and Super Metroid. Each of these games would be remastered to bring the graphics into the modern era, much like Super Mario All-Stars did for the Mario series on the Super Nintendo. Imagine playing Super Metroid with graphics like Shadow Complex. These types of games are faster and cheaper to make than completely new titles, and as such a number of them could be released within the first year of the Nintendo Next's life. I'm not saying to flood the market with them. Instead, release them at regularly intervals, with four collections (Metroid Next, Mario Next, Zelda Next, and Pokemon Next) coming out by the end of 2013. It's a great way to celebrate the company's past while also possibly creating new fans for these franchises. Each of these is released at the reduced price of $39 as opposed to the standard $59.
Most importantly, when a new game is released, it needs to be promoted. Games like Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101, and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate need to be shown in commercials, print advertisements, and online advertisements. The Nintendo Next brand and the games that are a part of that brand need to be constantly in front of people with purchasing power. Make an effort to show everyone why your console is the best one in the world to play on.
Finally, and this is something that will be explained in just a moment, Sonic Lost World is going to be released in November instead of October.
Stage Five: Here Comes the Competition
Fast forward to November 2013. Both the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One are getting set to release, and as we're all seeing now with the constant advertising blitz, they're coming with both guns blazing. The Nintendo Next has built a lead at this point, but steps need to be taken to ensure that sales don't tank when the competition hits the streets.
The advertising pretty much writes itself. The clear message should be something along the lines of, "Why bother with these other guys when we're less expensive and have all of these games for you to play already?" Both the Sony and Microsoft console entries are going to be more powerful and feature more non-gaming options, but that isn't some insurmountable advantage that is going to quickly derail the Nintendo Next's momentum. If it was, the Playstation 2 would have been just a footnote instead of being one of the most beloved gaming consoles of all time.
So what's a poor widdle Nintendo console to do with these big bad scary powerhouse consoles knocking at the door?
The answer to that is to go even more aggressive than we already were. For the holidays only, the MSRP for the Nintendo Next Basic Set is slashed to $159, and the Deluxe Set remains at $249 but now comes packaged with two controllers, Nintendo Land, Next Super Mario Bros., and a $30 credit on the Nintendo eShop to spend however the customer wishes. Are these prices insane for what you're getting? Absolutely. Remember, though, that the focus of these sales is to maintain and generate additional market share, and ultimately the goal is to make a larger profit on game sales by having a larger customer base.
Look at it from the eyes of a typical consumer, not a video game addict like the majority of us here are. You have the Playstation 4's most basic unit at $399, and the Xbox One's is even higher at $499. Then you turn your attention to the Nintendo Next and see a price tag of $159, as well as a rack full of games for the system, both unique and a number of them the same as other systems', as opposed to just a few from the competitors. Those disparities alone are going to move a lot of Nintendo units.
In addition to the reduced cost of the system itself, the other draw for the Nintendo Next during Black Friday and the holidays is new game releases featuring some of the industry's heaviest hitters. Super Mario 3D World is still released, but also releasing the same month are Sonic Lost World and Pokemon Next. These are just the first party games, as we've also got games like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Skylanders: Swap Force from third party studios. The Nintendo Next has high name value attached to its games while the Playstation 4 and Xbox One offerings, for the most part, do not.
At the end of the day, Sony and Microsoft are going to move units and make a lot of sales. Maybe not quite as many, but it's still going to be impressive. However, by using the year head start that the Nintendo Next has to build momentum and topping it all off with absurdly low prices, our console has all the pieces in place to still come out ahead of the curve.
If you've reached this point, I hope that all of this has at least been a bit entertaining. This is, after all, simply my thoughts and opinions on how things could have been different for the Wii U. I feel as if Nintendo has let a huge opportunity slip through its fingers, and who knows if there's still time for the system to pull through or if it's just going to get trampled under the record-breaking numbers that Sony and Microsoft is putting up. Thanks for reading, and for God's sake, go play Super Mario 3D World if you haven't.


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A Clockwork Orange is told retrospectively by a character who is both a victim and a great exponent of violence. Alex inhabits a world that is almost thoroughly dispirited, broken down by a daily grind of meaningless work, stultifying mass culture (a combination of government propaganda and silly pop music), and officially sanctioned "milk bars" that serve a variety of drug tonics to send one off on incoherent fantasies. This gray world may well be Anthony Burgess' vision of a not-too-distant future England suffering under the failure of socialism and liberalism, and Alex's protest, as shocking and violent as it is, is curiously sympathetic.
The bulk of part 1 is taken up with descriptions of Alex's exploits in, to use his own term, "ultraviolence." He and his fellow gang members, Georgie, Pete, and Dim, wander across a bleak landscape each night in a parody of heroic adventures: They spend their time enacting a succession of rapes, robberies, and assaults, usually aimed at almost completely defenseless people. These attacks are surely pathological, yet Burgess is careful not to make them too terrifying. Alex is, ironically, as much a hero as he is a villain, and his violent acts are described in such a stylized, detached, and sometimes almost comical way that the reader tends to focus on his physical and imaginative energy rather than on the pain he causes.
Each of the gang's actions is random, born of a moment's opportunity rather than any planned hostility or purpose, but several of the violent encounters are particularly revealing. One of the first targets, for example, is an old man leaving a library with a few precious books: The joyful destruction of these books and pummeling of the man is only the first of many scenes in the novel that dramatize contempt for the life of the mind, a contempt that proves to be not totally unjustified. More significant, the gang later attacks a house clearly labeled as "HOME," terrorizing the "father" and sexually assaulting the "mother."...
(The entire section is 833 words.)
Burgess's most memorable novel, A Clockwork Orange, cannot be discussed without addressing its language, "nadsat," a combination of Russian, English, and slang, which was invented for the novel and which catapults its narrator, Alex, into the reader's consciousness as few other books can. Alex invites readers along with him and his "droogs" (buddies) as they sit in a bar, eyeing the "devotchkas [girls] . . . dressed in the heighth of fashion" and wearing "make-up to match (rainbows round the glazzies [eyes], that is, and the rot [mouth] painted very wide)." He narrates their adventures as they do a bit of ultraviolence: They "razrez" a teacher's books to bits, then "tolchock" him and treat him to the "old bootcrush"; they come across Billyboy and his five droogs, which leads to a gang fight with "the nozh [knife], the oozy [chain], the britva [razor], not just fisties and boots"; they beat to death an old woman and her "pusscats."
Throughout part 1, the extreme violence of the novel is made palatable by the unusual language, which presents repulsive acts with strange, new words, drawing the reader into the book and into the violence itself. The language of the novel captures the reader and makes him or her one of Alex's "droogs," maintaining sympathy for Alex throughout his violent activities. When he rapes two ten-year-old girls in his room, he tells the reader that "this time they thought nothing fun and stopped creeching with high mirth, and had to submit to the strange and weird desires of Alexander the Large which . . . were choodessny and zammechat and very demanding. . . . But they were both very very drunken and could hardly feel very much." When he hints at his brutality toward his father and mother, he reveals that his father was "like humble mumble chumble." In addition to making the violence more acceptable, Alex's inclusion of biblical language, "Oh, my brothers," makes the narrator more than just an uneducated criminal; at times, in fact, Alex sounds suspiciously like a preacher addressing his congregation on the nature of good and evil. The language of A Clockwork Orange, innovative, powerful, and original, becomes almost like a character in the novel. The language not only distances the violence being described but also forces the reader to reevaluate that violence. Indeed, the language is one of...
(The entire section is 981 words.)


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Job: Entrepreneur. CEO & Co-founder of Busbud, an app to help travellers book intercity bus tickets worldwide. Favourite pastime: Travel, music and photography. Ideally all three together! 🙂 How long have you been a Montrealer? Since birth! Then I spent most of my 20s outside of Montreal studying and working in Boston, San Francisco, New York, Paris, London and Beijing. That said, I'm looking forward to spending all of my 30s based in Montreal! 🙂 What's the coolest thing you've done so far this year? I became an uncle when my brother had his first boy earlier this year! Other than that, I went hiking on Kauai island in Hawaii, which blew my mind, and had an awesome roadtrip week in the canyon lands between Nevada and Arizona. I also had the chance to visit two local gems this summer in Quebec: Bic park near Rimouski and the Saguenay/Lac-St-Jean region. I've travelled around the world and I'm always stunned by Quebec's world-class natural beauty, with so much to explore right in our backyard. What's the next big thing you're planning? Right now I'm planning a series of business trips to San Francisco & Silicon Valley in January, New York in… / Read More →
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Meet a Montrealer: Louis Negin
Canadian theatre legend Louis Negin was the first actor to ever appear nude on a legitimate British stage, in John Herbert's Fortune and Men's Eyes in London's West End back in 1967. "In London at that time if you went to see a play with nudity in it, you had to join a theatre club which couldn't be closed down by the police," Negin recalls. "When Lord Chamberlain dissolved that law, Herbert's Fortune and Men's Eyes – with its explicit scenes of gay rape in prison – was a huge success in the West End." But it was an incident on opening night made sensational headlines worldwide: "There I am in the nude onstage and my mom stands up in the audience and says, 'Louis, put your pants back on!' I thought I would faint on the spot. The story ran in newspapers around the world. My mom did interviews and there were paparazzi camped outside the house!" London-born Negin – who first moved to Montreal during its Sin-City heyday – has also performed on Broadway; met or worked with almost every glamourous star of the 20th century, from Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe to Joan Collins and Isabella Rossellini;… / Read More →
Meet a Montrealer: Raphaël Gaspard, owner of Garçon fleur
September 10, 2015 Editor's note: The Garçon Fleur shop is closed for an indefinite period. Garçon fleur, a.k.a. Raphaël Gaspard, has been delivering happiness on a bike for over a year. With the wind in his hair, he rides the streets of Montréal, distributing beautiful bouquets of wild flowers, which he creates himself with great attention and discernment. This expanding bucolic and environmental project has been hugely successful in reviving the image of florists. Two years ago, Raphaël also co-founded Gaspard & Roy with Félix Roy (singer for the Montréal rock group Human Human and head barman at Bouillon Bilk), a chic bar service that offers custom-made cocktails and showcases fine alcohols with market-fresh products. For Mother's Day, this thriving young man, born in Germany but a Montréaler for 20 years now, shares his favourite go-to spots on where to smell the first blooms of spring and spend a perfect day with mom. What's new with Garçon fleur in 2015? Garçon fleur is expanding with three new delivery bikes that will be bombing around the streets of Montréal selling bouquets to passers-by—a veritable wildflower shop on wheels. We're also preparing lots of exciting partnerships and the release of our second… / Read More →
10 Delicious Montreal Food Experiences
Fresh ingredients, cozy eateries, late nights and good company are all part of Montreal's culinary culture. Try these local favorites to please your taste buds and feed your joie de vivre. Warning, the names might not roll off your tongue…


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One of the subjects of a remarkable new Maori TV series on the descendants of those painted by Gottfried Lindauer is businessman, Treaty negotiator and new chief of Auckland Council's Southern Initiative John McEnteer.
1. Do you come to the Auckland Art Gallery often to visit Pare Watene, your great-great aunt?
Yes quite often - it's such an iconic painting and when I stand in front of it I see the taonga of our family. I am the kaitiaki (guardian) of her korowai (the cloak she wears) which was one of the first to combine traditional harakeke (flax) with the wool from the English. We have the patu pounamu in the family and her heitiki, although that is not with us anymore.
2. Where is the tiki?
It was stolen from a handbag my cousin put down in a bathroom in San Francisco some years ago. Someone took it from her bag. She was devastated - it took her many years to tell me what had happened as she carried it with her always.
But I believe it will be returned to us one day.
3.There is a powerful moment in the series Behind the Brush, where you cry talking about the tiki. You also seem very emotional discussing your iwi's loss of land during Pare's time.
It's very hard to put it into words the sense of sadness and loss, not just for what we had but for the loss of opportunity that went when our land was taken.
We went from having 100 per cent of the Hauraki district in 1860s to just 2.5 per cent by the late 1990s and even that is mostly just little bits and pieces of land here and there.
That has had huge economic repercussions for us.
Pare was painted just at the time that the land loss was happening and our people were dying from European diseases. It's a very romanticised painting of what her life was really like.
4. Did you grow up knowing about your history?
I remember going as a young child to my grandmother's house in Thames and seeing all the greenstone and other taonga and wondering how come if we had so much land our grandmother was now living in a tiny little falling-down house?
5. Is that how you became politicised?
We always talked about the land in my family but not really. I was a long-haired hippie at university in the 1970s and for me it was an awakening around a lot of issues - protesting the Vietnam War, French nuclear testing. I was arrested on the Springbok tour at the same time as my father was on the other side watching the game. And I lived with a feminist for a while. We were billeted all over the US by radical feminists.
6. So land issues came later?
It was really the kaumatua who asked me to come back to work on our Treaty claim, because they wanted to use my corporate experience.
7. You don't look like a radical Maori activist?
The kaumatua say "John, you were born under the moonlight". I've always been fair - Pare was fair for her time too - and I sometimes walk into protests or places where people expect someone with a big moko and it's just me. But I've walked in two worlds all my life and my heart rests with the whenua (land). What I say isn't radically different from the radicals.
8. Lindauer has been criticised for painting what he thought was a dying race, and for changing moko and other elements. What's your view of this Czech who painted Maori?
I think the paintings are such a treasure for the people of Auckland but it's very hard to find them in the redeveloped gallery. I came when it reopened and I had to search for my ancestors. They were shoved right down the back and seem a bit marginalised where they are.
9. Your generation has had the responsibility of righting the wrongs through the Treaty process. Is it a burden?
It's a big responsibility. I've had to be involved in land occupations (in Whenuakite in 2007) and issues where you've really had to stand up for what you believe in. I do get angry and I get impatient.
10. You were a founding director of Mighty River Power - will you buy shares?
I think that in the long term it's a good investment but that's really for the iwi to decide. I don't think it should be sold - these infrastructure resources should be kept for New Zealanders.
11. Your new job is developing a 30-year plan to lift housing, employment, transport and social conditions for kids and families in South Auckland. Bit of a big ask?
My wife's a Samoan paediatrician at Middlemore Hospital. I know there are a lot of desperate circumstances in South Auckland but there are also a lot of really good things happening and I'm there to help build on the positive things. There's no pathway to doing that but I want to work where it's about changing society for the better.
12. Is there a spiritual element to what you do?
I dream on the issues sometimes and things come to you. You get an idea and it's the key that unlocks everything or the answer to a vexing problem. Yes I believe there are spirits and they speak to you. I've had dreams and visions, too many for it not to be something real.
Behind the Brush begins on Maori TV, Tuesday, March 19, at 8pm.


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Conference "Higher Education Spaces and Places: For learning, innovation and knowledge exchange"
UL Press Centre
OECD International Conference "Higher Education Spaces and Places: For learning, innovation and knowledge exchange" will be held December 6-8 at the University of Latvia.
OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments and Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) in collaboration with the University of Latvia are bringing together policy makers, higher education leaders and managers, academics, designers and developers, to analyse these issues and exchange ideas on developing better and more responsive physical environments.
Set in the context of the increasing demands on higher education and the pressures of the economic crisis, this international conference will examine the issues that affect the creation and management of learning and knowledge exchange environments for the future. It will explore sustainable higher education places, innovative approaches to designing learning and knowledge exchange environments and policies for managing the facilities over the long term.
Themes for conference:
- Creating sustainable learning and knowledge transfer enviromements
- Innovative approaches to the design of learning environments
- Developing new places for higher education
- Mangaging higher education places to meet current and future needs
For further details, please visit the conference website www.oecd.lu.lv
Contact email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Walmart plans for new store in Rexburg
REXBURG, Idaho - Walmart confirmed Thursday night, it plans to build a new store in Rexburg.
Rachel Wall, senior manager of communications at Walmart, issued the following statement regarding the new store.
"We are pleased to announce that yesterday we submitted an application to the City of Rexburg to rezone and utilize the plot at North Second East and East Moody Road to relocate our existing store and provide our customers and associates with a modern one-stop-shopping location to better serve the growing community.
"Over the coming year our goal is to work with the city to move forward with plans for the upgraded and relocated store.
"The planned store, anticipated to open in 2016, will offer full-service grocery, vision center, tire and lube express center, drive-thru pharmacy, bakery, traditional general merchandise including apparel and electronics within 185,000 square feet.
"Our approximately 200 Rexburg associates will be offered a transfer and we will hire for about 100 additional positions closer to opening.
"We look forward to working with the city, serving our Rexburg customers and providing new opportunities for our local associates.
We expect to market and sell the current space at 530 N. Second East to make way for another business or retail use."


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Dick Bove of Rochdale Securities has raised his rating on Goldman Sachs to neutral from sell.
Mr. Bove notes that the stock is now selling below its book value, the threat of Congressional investigations has fizzled out, and the investment bank's poor second-quarter results are in the past.
A lack of meaningful improvement in Goldman Sachs's core businesses persists, but "one might argue that the adjustment in the value of the stock has taken into account the new outlook," says Mr. Bove.
Rochdale cut Goldman to sell in May when stock traded at $148.
The shares are down nearly 4% at the open to $118.


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Your baby doesn't have to be old enough to understand a book's plot or storyline to develop a love of reading. Sharing a favorite story before bedtime is a routine that you can adopt from week one, as your lil one will love the soothing sound of Mom's or Dad's voice. We've rounded up 10 of our absolute favorite first board books for babies, all of which we think deserve a spot on your nursery's bookshelf.
Best Books For Infants
First Library Essentials: The 10 Best Board Books For Babies
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Martin Simpson
Born in the Humberside town of Scunthorpe in northern England, Simpson began playing guitar at the age of 12, and just two years later was playing local pubs. Well-known on the regional circuit by the early '70s, he recorded his debut album, Golden Vanity, in 1976, for Bill Leader's Trailer Records. Instead of aligning itself with the new contemporary folk songs or their traditional precursors, Golden Vanity borrowed elements of both, with Dylan covers alongside ancient ballads. He toured with Steeleye Span and the Albion Band during the late '70s, and began a long relationship with June Tabor, working on her solo albums and earning a co-billing for 1981's A Cut Above. His next three albums, released from 1981 to 1986, were quite good, and though they generated little fanfare, Shanachie Records signed him just after his move to the U.S. in 1987. That same year, he released a duet album with his wife Jessica entitled True Dare or Promise. His first Shanachie release, 1989's Leaves of Life, signaled another period of artistic excellence, exemplified by its follow-ups When I Was on Horseback, A Closer Walk with Thee, and Red Roses, again recorded with Jessica. During the mid-'90s, the Simpsons played with a group called the Band of Angels and recorded for such labels as Rhiannon, Red House, and Water Lily Acoustic. A new collection of British traditional folk songs called Bramble Briar arrived in 2001, followed by Righteousness and Humidity, a bluesy set inspired by the deep south featuring Steeleye Span's Rick Kemp. 2005 saw a return to English folk with Kind Letters, followed by the award-winning Prodigal Son (2007), the genre-hopping True Stories (2009), and the star-studded Purpose & Grace (2011). After the embellishments of Purpose & Grace, Simpson stripped everything back to just banjo, guitar, and vocals on 2013's Vagrant Stanzas. ~ John Bush
Selected Discography
Track List: The Long Dance Of Summer
Track List: Vagrant Stanzas
Track List: Music For The Motherless Child
Track List: Purpose + Grace
Track List: True Stories
Track List: Prodigal Son
Track List: Kind Letters
Track List: Music Of Ireland: Airs, Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes And Marches
Track List: The Collection
Track List: The Definitive Collection
Track List: Righteousness & Humidity
Track List: The Bramble Briar
Track List: Bootleg USA
Track List: Sad Or High Kicking
Track List: Cool And Unusual
Track List: Live
Track List: Smoke & Mirrors
Track List: A Closer Walk With Thee
Track List: When I Was On Horseback
Track List: Leaves Of Life
Track List: Grinning In Your Face
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