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If you would like to interview Mr. Carman please contact email@example.com.
Mr. Carman presents at approximately 75 schools per year. The vast majority of those presentations are tied to national touring events for different book releases. If you would like to request a school visit, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The cost of a school visit varies depending on the event type, the amount of travel, and the time involved. Please contact us for details. Karen's email address is email@example.com.
Regardless of age, Mr. Carman focuses his presentations on the importance of reading and writing and the magic of storytelling. His talks are humorous, memorable, filled with stories from his own childhood, and inspiring for students.
Mr. Carman writes books for children as young as 1st grade all the way up to young adults in high school. The best groups are usually grade clusters of 1st and 2nd graders, 3rd – 6th graders, 7th – 8th graders, and 9th – 10th graders, but other mixes can be just as successful.
Mr. Carman's school presentation usually lasts about 45 minutes, followed by Q and A and small group visits.
The best thing a school can do to prepare for an author visit is to have the students read Mr. Carman's books. Kids who have read even one of Mr. Carman's books get a lot more out of the visit than those that have read none.
The first episode "Buried Treasure" is available for free at www.315stories.com. You can project the image using a projector or smart board to share with a larger group of students, introducing them to this new way to experience reading.
Send an email to email@example.com with the subject line 'FAQ did not answer my question' and then ask your question in the email. We will do everything we can to answer you quickly or update the FAQ and let you know your question has been added to the site. Please be patient! Sometimes Mr. Carman is traveling or on a writing deadline and cannot answer new questions for several weeks.
Elliot's Park is perfect for first time independent readers age 6-8, but can also make a great read aloud for younger children. The Land of Elyon series is great for students age 9-14. Atherton is a little more complex and best for students age 9-15. Skeleton Creek, a little bit scary, is best suited to 10 and up, perfect for middle schoolers. Patrick Carman's YA novel (April 2010), 13 Days to Midnight, is appropriate for ages 12 and up. Trackers has a wide range, for ages 9 and up. Floors, Voyagers, and Fizzopolis are suitable for ages 8 and up. Pulse explores end times through the lens of environmental disaster. Voyagers explores the mysteries of space, independence, and courage.
Elliot's Park is all about cooperation in solving problems and being willing to ask for help. The importance of teamwork and friendship are also key themes. The Land of Elyon is largely about finding your place in the world, overcoming fear, and not reading a book by its cover. Atherton is at once about protecting the world we live in and having the courage to change and grow. Skeleton Creek is a book and a movie at the same time, but it's also a story about friendship, trust, and stepping out into the world even when we're afraid. Trackers has a wide range, for ages 9 and up. Floors deals with the loss of a parent.
Send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject line 'FAQ did not answer my question' and then ask your question in the email. We will do everything we can to answer you quickly or update the FAQ and let you know your question has been added to the site. Please be patient! Sometimes Mr. Carman is traveling or on a writing deadline and cannot answer new questions for several weeks.
Mr. Carman's birthday is February 27th, 1966. You'll have to figure out his age on your own!
The Land of Elyon is comprised of several parts. The core trilogy is made up of The Dark Hills Divide, Beyond the Valley of Thorns, and The Tenth City. Into the Mist is a prequel to the trilogy, but some have said it's actually the fourth book in the series. Both answers are correct in their own light. A reader may find equal footing if they begin the series with Into the Mist or read Into the Mist after finishing he trilogy. There are significant advantages to reading Into the Mist as the fourth book, most notably the knowledge of certain important characters and situations that come into play in the prequel. Stargazer comes after Into the Mist and after the trilogy, so it is by rights the 5th book. As of the writing of this section, there are no plans for a 6th Elyon book, but that could change!
The Atherton series will contain three books: The House of Power (fall 2007), Rivers of Fire (fall 2008), and The Dark Planet (fall 2009).
Elliot's Park is currently scheduled to include the three books now available: Saving Mr. Nibbles, The Haunted Hike, and The Walnut Cup. A school play can be found at www.elliotsparkplay.com.
There are five books in the Skeleton Creek series, ending with The Phantom Room. There is also a six book, Skeleton Creek is Real, that explores the truth and fiction on the series.
Dark Eden which is both a book and an app is 2 books. Dark Eden and Dark Eden 2 Eve of Destruction.
3:15 is a mobile app that allows you to listen, read and watch all on one device. It is available in book form from Scholastic. The second season of 3:15 is only available as an app.
No, Dark Eden can be read like a typical book or experienced through the app. Inside the app you will experience the entire story through audio, text, and video.
You can get support at firstname.lastname@example.com
One of Mr. Carman's passions is getting young people excited about reading. Seeing the trends in technology he realizes that getting kids to sit down and read a book is more difficult now that it ever has been. Transmedia is a way for young people to bridge the gap between technology and reading.
If Mr. Carman is actively touring you can find his schedule by clicking on the events tab at www.patrickcarman.com.
Mr. Carman began writing novels in 2001. His first book, The Dark Hills Divide, was published by Scholastic in 2003.
Visit the Awards page for a current list
Mr. Carman has produced a nine part video series on the writing process to help aspiring young writers. You can find the videos at www.athertonseries.com under the Writing Atherton link.
Mr. Carman is a social butterfly, so the hardest thing about writing is closing the door and staying alone for hours on end.
Mr. Carman's favorite writers are John Steinbeck, David James Duncan, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens, JRR Tolkien, Norman Maclean, Edgar Allen Poe, and Richard Russo.
For the very young: Where the Wild Things Are, anything by Dr. Seuss.
Middle grade readers: The Borrowers, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Holes, Frindle, Mr. Popper's Penguins, the Graveyard Book.
All time favorite reads: East of Eden, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, The Brothers K, Ender's Game, The Outsiders, The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, A Separate Peace, Cannery Row, Tortilla Flats, A River Runs Through It, The Alchemist, Huckleberry Finn, The Once and Future King, All Over But the Shoutin, The Killer Angels, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, The Glass Castle, The Sky Fisherman, Motherless Brooklyn, The Pillars of the Earth, Empire Falls.
Favorite Classics: Le Miserable, The Brothers Karamazov, Frankenstein, The Old Man and the Sea, Oliver Twist, The Turn of the Screw, The short works of Edgar Allen Poe.
Favorite Poets: Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, Edgar Allen Poe, Shel Silverstein
About writing: On Writing (Stephen King)
The great outdoors: The Solace of Open Spaces, Into the Wild, The River Why.
Desert time: Blue Like Jazz, A Generous Orthodoxy, When the Heart Waits.
Keep an eye on the site for everything Patrick Carman will be working on in the future.
Fly fishing, playing guitar, just plain playing (basketball, pickleball, dodgeball), being with his family.
Two dogs, Taffy and Otto. Taffy is a mix-breed from the pound that looks like a small golden lab, Otto is a long hair Chihuahua.
Mr. Carman has a wife and two daughters, plus the two dogs listed above.
Usually in an office in downtown Walla Walla, Washington, but sometimes at home when he does not feel like being 'out and about'. The most important thing for Mr. Carman is to be focused and alone when writing.
This varies wildly depending on the project. A big novel takes up to six months, a short chapter book might only take two weeks. It really depends on the length more than anything. 100,000 words takes longer to write than 5,000.
If you have a book or a story you would like to have published, Mr. Carman's best advice is to read Stephen King's book On Writing. All the answers you need are in there.
He used to, but the number of submissions Mr. Carman receives makes it impossible to continue doing so. He wishes he had time to read everything that comes across his desk, but there's simply not enough time in the day. He hopes readers will understand!
Mr. Carman's books are all inspired by different people for different reasons. Each book has a dedication that can be found in the first few pages. Often, there is also an acknowledgement section at the back of each book that lists other important people that inspired the book.
This is best answered by watching the two Writing Atherton videos called Developing Characters sequence 1 and 2. Those videos can be found at www.patrickcarman.com/author/writing-tips/ in the Writing Atherton section.
Very rarely. It's far more common to find a certain character trait or a physical feature based on someone Mr. Carman knows. He has, on occasion, inserted a character based on someone he knows, but he has not revealed who those characters and people are.
Send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject line 'FAQ did not answer my question' and then ask your question in the email. We will do everything we can to answer you quickly or update the FAQ and let you know your question has been added to the site. Please be patient! Sometimes Mr. Carman is traveling or on a writing deadline and cannot answer new questions for several weeks.
what inspires you to write? where do you get your ideas? thanks!
I love your 39 clues and skeleton creek book!!!!!
HI, I just wanted to ask if you could please update the map in the land of Elyon books it kind of scares me each time when there are still walls around the cities this is only if you wright more books which I hope you do.
I love your books I've only read the 39 clues and skeleton creek but hope to read more
Thanks for finally writing about > FAQ
What was his inspiration to write?
Both the Land of Elyon and Atherton series seem to have Christian messages and allagories, is Mr. Carmen a Christian?
what are the Christian messages I think I see them in land of elyon.
but what do you see?
How many siblings do you have,and if so who is the oldest?
ur my favorite writter
Who exactly inspired you to write and become an author?
my favorite book from your books is the land of elyon and im in 5th grade. i am doing you book for a book report and im hoping i do a good job on it. i am trying to read all the series of the book of elyon so im only at the dark hills divide
How did you get interested in writing books?
Patrick Carman is 46. He turned 46 on February 27, 2012.
i think u r doing a great job my number one is skeleton creek. I am in 7th grade and i would like to meet u i have some questions for u.


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|Contact Us
You can also check us out on Facebook.
Experience offshore sportfishing at its finest aboard what we think you'll agree is Key West's best, most comfortable, and most luxurious "6-pack" charter boat - "High Class Hooker." It's a beautiful, fast, 47' Buddy Davis fishin' machine!
The name Buddy Davis means only the finest in marine craftsmanship and it's one of the best rough water boats ever built. We can give you a nice, dry ride on days when other boats will have to consider staying at the dock, as well as comfort well beyond what you would normally expect to find in a "6-pack" charter boat! And, because of her twin 735 HP Detroit 8V92 diesel engines, we can get you to the fish fast!
Whatever month you prefer, we stand ready to show you a great time. Just want a quick four-hour trip to beautiful blue/green nearshore waters on or just off the reef? A longer and more adventurous full-day trip to the deeper, purple-blue waters around and past our famous "Wood's Wall?" We can do it comfortably and with style!
Just because we have the ultimate fishing machine doesn't mean that you have to be a serious, experienced angler to have a great time. Nothing could be further from the truth. While we'll be happy to let you do as much as you want, we'll do all the "dirty work" for you if you prefer. You can just enjoy bringing in the big ones after we hook 'em up. As a matter of fact, our favorite trips tend to be with beginners, especially females and kids. They just seem to get a much bigger kick out of the whole experience than customers who think they know it all and/or have done it all (and, quite frankly, they just tend to follow our instructions better so that we get better results.) Remember, this is supposed to "recreational fishing." The bottom line is that our goal is for everyone to have FUN, including the crew, and we'll do everything we can to make that happen.
However, if you are really into your fishing, we can be as serious as you want to be. Our boat, our mate and our equipment give you everything you need to catch that trophy fish of your dreams or compete in that tournament that you always wanted to enter. The top 6 photos to the right attest to our success in recent tournaments. We'll stack those tournament results the last few years against any other charter boat in Key West! Speaking of tournaments, we have been selected by Drambuie/Bacardi the last several years to be a "sponsor boat" in the annual Key West Marlin Tournament in mid-July.. We had that honor again this year as well.
Wonder what you might catch? What do you want? Sailfish? Dolphin (mahi-mahi)? Wahoo? Blackfin tuna? Blue or white marlin? Snapper? Grouper? Kingfish? All those fish, and many more, are here year-round. It's just a matter of numbers and likelihood, usually determined by the prevailing weather and current conditions at the time. Check out the pics on our "Photos" page for a great sampling of our Key West target fish.
Think you're not properly prepared? Actually, you need very little to have a great time. Just bring your own food, drink (but we do have free bottled water), and comfortable clothing. We'll supply everything else you'll need. That includes gear, bait, licenses, coolers, ice, etc. We'll even clean any legal, edible fish you catch, which you can then take to any one of many local restaurants to have custom-cooked for you that same day. (All of our "next-door neighbor" restaurants - "Alonzo's," "Boat House Bar," and "Conch Republic Seafood Company" - do a great job at that!) Or, you can take them home with you if you prefer.
If you want to learn more about our trips and lifestyle here in Key West, check out the articles written by Capt. Gene for "Fishmonster Magazine," which is available at many locations throughout the Keys and Southeast Florida or by subscription. Not your typical dry, technical, fishing "how-to's," they're about the great people we meet and also cover a wide range of Keys life-style topics.Some are funny, some are serious, but never dull. Read one and we think that you'll agree and become a regular reader. Some of his best articles are archived and available at http://fishmonster.com/author/gene-chrzanowski/
For more about us, click on the items in the menu bar above.We can be reached at 305-849-0581 and by e-mail at email@example.com.
The blackfin tuna bite has been hot this February, with multiple fish caught on just about every trip, Prior to that, unfortunately, we were down and not running for extensive periods of time, We had electrical issues in January after missing the entire month of October and most of November - over 7 weeks - with engine room cooling system issues. First, it took us about a week to diagnose and engine coolant leak source. Then, we had to wait about about 2 weeks to get a mechanic to our boat, and then another three weeks to have some new "tubes" (pipes) fabricated for our raw water cooling system and install them. In between those problems, however, we managed to end the year with a bang! On December 12, Emily Jensen landed a blue marlin - all by herself. It was great to watch! Great day for a great lady. We're back running again now and the engine room is in great shape!
Winter season here we come!! This time of year, blackfin tunas and wahoos continue to be the staples of our near-shore edible catch, and don't be surprised if you get that thrilling shot at a sailfish. Bonitas also provide a lot of action. Further offshore, the dolphin (a/k/a mahi-mahi or dorado) bite has not been what we've come to expect but we have had some solid dolphin days on the 8 hour trips and there is always that chance of a blue or white marlin! Who knows, you might even achieve our own version of a Keys"trifecta" or "offshore grand slam" - the "KEY WEST STD" - i.e., sailfish, tuna and dolphin. Catch an STD in Key West? You bet!. It can happen - especially when you "hook up" with a "High Class Hooker.".
Thanks to our great friends Tim Williams and Chad Burtch, there is also now an unofficial official High Class Hooker anthem. Tim wrote it. Check it out as at was performed recently at the Hogs Breath Saloon here in Key West athttps://www.facebook.com/fishmonstermagazine/videos/10154348936040419/
More recently, Tim has written another song about Captain Gene, which he has also performed multiple times at Hog's Breath as well. Hear it as it as it was recorded live there at https://www.facebook.com/dawn.neitzey/videos/10211069381710922/
You can follow Tim's musical exploits at http://timwilliams.com/ and Chad's at http://chadburtchmusic.com/
When you have what many believe to be the nicest charter fishing boat in Key West, you have to constantly work to keep that distinction. Our latest addition is brand new flybridge Isinglass, with fully-zippered access panels! So, not only can we have the cooling sea breezes from all sides in the bridge seating area on nice days, we can still keep you dry and cozy on the cool or wet days, too, while also having MUCH better visibility than before to sew those birds and floating objects that can lead us to fish. New flybridge seat cushions just add to the comfort! Our friend at Oceanside Canvas did a great job on both of those projects,
Want to learn more about our mate, Jerry Pope, as well as Captain Gene? Click on the "Captain/Mate" link in the menu bar above.
Speaking of the "Conch Republic Seafood Company" mentioned above, one of our server friends there, Scott Leslie, and a partner own "Love in Bloom" - a flower shop just around the corner. Next time you need flowers for an event or occasion, try them at http://www.loveinbloomflorist.com.
Need a place to stay? Several of our customers have gotten great help in finding the right house or apartment from our friend and customer Chad Burtch, a realtor who is also a singer/songwriter. ( He is one of the best, if not THE best, of our local entertainers.) You can contact him for help finding the right property at (305) 587-0620. You can also get information about his music and gigs at http://www.chadburtchmusic.com.
Think the fish on these pages look great on this site? They could look even better on your wall!
We can arrange to have a quality fish mount reproduction made for you by Gray Taxidermy, one of the best in the biz, of any fish you catch. If you think you might be interested, let the mate know as soon as possible, so we can measure any fish that may be released. He and/or Capt. Gene can provide details such as cost, delivery, etc.
High Class Hooker!You'll have a "reel" great time, but BE WARNED!! YOU'LL PROBABLY CATCH SOMETHING!!!
"High Class Hooker" is owned and operated by Anglerphile, Inc.
Copyright: 1-7-2011, all rights reserved

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/7/2014 (1125 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Kierra Elektra Star Williams, the Peguis toddler who was killed a week ago, was involved in the child-welfare system.
Despite rumours swirling about the 21-month-old killed on the First Nation Thursday, little else is known about the circumstances of her death. RCMP have not yet laid charges, and provincial child welfare staff are barred from commenting due to rigid legislation designed to protect the privacy of families with child-welfare files.
"I think hearing about what happened to a 21-month-old baby is heartbreaking," said Manitoba Child and Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross. "I know that there is a desire and a want to understand what happened."
Irvin-Ross confirmed Williams had a child-welfare file, but would not say what kind of services the little girl was receiving, from what agency, for how long or whether there are any early indications the child protection safeguards failed.
On the afternoon of July 17, Williams, who was in medical distress, was taken to the Percy E. Moore Hospital in Hodgson, Man. She eventually succumbed to her injuries later that day.
Manitoba's chief medical examiner, Thambirajah Balachandra, has completed a preliminary autopsy and forwarded it to RCMP, who would not reveal the cause of Williams's death Thursday.
The safety of children in the child-welfare system has been under scrutiny since the 2005 death of five-year-old Phoenix Sinclair, who dropped off the radar of social workers and was eventually killed by her mother and stepfather. Her death, and a recent inquiry into how the system failed her, sparked significant changes to the child-welfare system, though deaths persist.


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Net Worth: $10 Million
- Source of Wealth Film, Television
- Birth Place Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Height 5' 3" (1.60 m)
- Marital Status Divorced (Ian Alexander, Sr)
- Full Name Regina King
- Nationality United States
- Date of Birth January 15, 1971
- Ethnicity African-American
- Weight N/A
- Occupation Actress
- Education University of Southern California
- Children 1 (Ian Alexander, Jr)
American film and television actress, Regina King has an estimated net worth of $10 million. Regina King first became a household name as one of the stars of the 80s sitcom, "227". She then shifted into film work appearing in such films as "Jerry Maguire", "Enemy of the State", and "Ray". She is currently starring in the series, "Southland", and is the voice of two characters for the animated series, "The Boondocks".King was born on January 15, 1971 in Los Angeles, California, United States.


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Definition of ampullar
a. - Alt. of Ampullary 2
The word "ampullar" uses 8 letters: A A L L M P R U.
No direct anagrams for ampullar found in this word list.
Words formed by adding one letter before or after ampullar (in bold), or to aallmpru in any order:
y - ampullary
List all words starting with ampullar, words containing ampullar or words ending with ampullar
All words formed from ampullar by changing one letter
Other words with the same letter pairs: am mp pu ul ll la ar
Browse words starting with ampullar by next letter
Previous word in list: ampullae
Next word in list: ampullary
Some random words: jiao praam kestrel ex fipple vying re
This is not a dictionary, it's a word game wordfinder.
- Help and FAQ - Examples - Home
Privacy and Cookies Policy - Share - © Copyright 2004-2017 Morewords.com - 11.218mS


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Develop math skills with an activity that focuses on adding and subtracting.
Addition (782)
Mathematics (5,300)
Worksheet (13,446)
View 2 more resources at no cost, and then subscribe for full access.
Join TeacherVision for just $6.99 USD a month and get instant access to all our great resources! Free 7-Day Trial
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You've heard it before, but we'll tell you again: Wear your sunscreen! Consult this handy infographic for the some essential SPF facts—your skin will thank you for practicing sun safety.
Show us how you're being smart in the sun by tagging your photos with #Birchbox, #SunSavvy, and #Giveaway for a chance to win $100 of Supergoop! products each week through July. See how fellow Birchbox subscribers are keeping safe in the sun by scrolling through our Sun Savvy gallery—you can even shop their pics!


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- Released: Jun 4, 1984
- Sound: 10
- Lyrics: 9
- Overall Impression: 9
Users' score:
(9 votes)
Sound — 10
Most people would argue that Bruce Springsteen's seventh studio album is his ultimate best. They are affirmative! It was also his best selling album. Rightly so! "Born In The USA" explores Bruce's feelings about the recession America had to put up with at the time Ronald Reagan was titled President and his fights for their civil rights. Personally as a socialist, I support him, but amazingly, he is not entirely negative. He contrasts the themes with upbeat rock and roll, making rock/rock and roll music more fun again and proving that rock and roll is not dead. Using a cool set of synthesizers and a pop-flavored radio oriented sound, this album could easily be used to allow audiences to protest against the recession and enjoy themselves simultaneously, which is something Radiohead easily fail to do.
Lyrics — 9
If the Sex Pistols were to produce a new album, they should take a hint from Bruce's lyrics; a good sense of anarchy, proving a distinctive point about society, with No Swearing whatsoever! "Born In The USA" - perfect choice to open the album. A brief introduction based on Mr. Springsteen's opinions on American society and hopes for the American Dream. Cool poetry contrasting with what he depicts as phony wars including the one in Vietnam. "No Surrender" - depicts how angry Bruce is about the then current events and that he is strong and will not give up fighting for his rights. Robin Hood would have been proud! "Glory Days" - the days may not have been glorious back then, but it goes to show what Bruce hoped for.
Overall Impression — 9
Compared with any Sex Pistols album, "Born In The USA" uses stronger singing voices from Bruce Springsteen, much less whining and very-well written melodies. Between Johnny Rotten and Bruce Springsteen, the expert of rock and roll is Bruce! He makes less mockery of it and makes protesting more fun. The music is much easier to dance to. The most recommended songs from this album are "Born In The USA", "Darlington Country", "Working On The Highway", "No Surrender" and "Glory Days". These songs need to be played more often at clubs i.e. Propaganda, because that is what "Born In The USA" is all about!


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It's been more than a year since I first suggested the idea of a sermon blog. The concept is to take a pastor's sermon messages beyond the Sunday service, beyond mere online sermon notes, and even beyond the conventional podcast, and create a real tool for ongoing spiritual development. I've had the opportunity to help my church do that for the last several weeks, and I'm excited to be able to share that with you.
The Premise
There are a lot of churches now that put audio of their sermon messages on their website and podcast it so people can listen to the messages on their iPods. There are also quite a few churches that place sermon notes or sermon outlines on their website. Those are great resources for people who were not able to hear the message when it was preached. The premise for the sermon blog is to not only help those who missed the message, but also to help the people who do hear it to go deeper and take steps to implement the principles into their lives.
The Structure
The sermon blog/podcast developed for my church consists of:
- A brief introduction. This is to help the reader identify with the message and see how it's relevant to their life.
- Audio of the sermon message. A person can listen to the sermon immediately or download to their iPod and listen to later.
- Sermon notes. This is an outline of the main points of the message with links to the scripture passages cited. When the reader clicks the link, it opens up a new browser window where they can read the chapter in the Bible where the verse is located to gain additional perspective and context. Once there they can also click links to study the passage even more in depth.
- Next Steps. James 2:22 tells us "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." But the fact is that after hearing a sermon, most people do nothing with it. The "next steps" section is a list of practical steps a reader can take to help them move forward in their spiritual development.
- Contact Us. At the bottom of each sermon blog entry is a link to the contact us page along with an encouragement to contact the church if we can be of any help to the reader in this area.
- Comments. Lastly, we provide a comments section where a reader can ask questions or share thoughts about the top. It helps to build community and allows people to participate in the spiritual growth of others.
The purpose and intent of the sermon blog is summed up on the "About" page as a 4-step process: listen… learn… act… share.
The Future
So far the feedback we've received has been very positive, but the number of people using the sermon blog is still relatively small. There are a couple of things I think we should do to help people make better use of this new resource. First, it needs to be featured more prominently on the site. Right now it's too hard to find. Second, it would be helpful if the pastor took 10 seconds at the end of every sermon to mention it.
What do you think of the sermon blog/podcast? Do you have any suggestions that could make it better?
Vote for this article in blogs4God and GospelShout.


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PHOTO GALLERY: 'Fame' Premieres in LA
"Fame! I'm gonna live forever, baby remember my name!"
And it's finally here! The new, updated version of Fame had its Los Angeles premiere on Wednesday night at the Grove, and the movie's young stars lit up the red carpet.
Check out our brand new gallery from the Fame premiere, which includes Ashley… More »


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We got the chance to spend some quality time with 'Kinect Sports Rivals' and walked away rather optimistic about Rare's upcoming offering.
In the new trailer for 'Kinect Sports Rivals', Major Nelson and Louise O'Connor take gamers on a tour of the exotic island that will play host to the game's extreme sports.
A band-new sport is now available for 'Kinect Sports: Season Two.' Is the 'Basketball Challenge Pack' a worthy addition to one of Kinect's best games? Read our review.
The numbers are in for both motion contollers, and it will likely surprise even the Microsoft audience to learn just how badly the Move is being beaten.
'Kinect Sports,' Microsoft's version of the motion controlled sports mini-game collection is now available for testing via an Xbox Live demo.
Microsoft has a free gift for you this holiday season – DLC. Unwrap a new Party Pack for Kinect Sports and an exciting new Chevrolet Car Pack for Kinect Joy Ride!
Game Rant is here with its first Xbox 360 Holiday Gift Guide, chock full of games and hardware any prospective Xbox 360 gamer would want for the holidays.
Microsoft Kinect is a flawed but enjoyable addition to the Xbox 360's offerings. Check out our comprehensive review and software guide.
'Kinect Sports' is yet another motion controlled sport compilation. Does it manage to rise above the rest and become a must buy for Kinect owners? Read our review to find out.
The first screenshots from Kinect's Beta Test have been leaked – showing off Avatars 2.0 as well as a new Xbox 360 Dashboard.


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Home » USA » Rhode Island » Private Charters in Rhode Island
Our yachts are available for sailing charters including:
Racing: Create a multi-boat event (your own America's Cup!) with "hands on" racing. Help crew, grind the winches, hoist the sails, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery. No sailing is experience is required to participate in any of our charters' event.
Cruising: Enjoy beautiful Narragansett Bay aboard a sleek, 70 foot America's Cup yacht. Help our crew sail the boat or just sit back and enjoy the sights. Spend the day or just a few hours on a piece of America's Cup history!
Sunset Cruises: With or without wine and hors d'oeuvres, a sunset cruise is the perfect way to view Narragansett Bay. A two hour sunset sail aboard on of our America's Cup combines the beautiful sights of Newport including the Newport bridge, lighthouses, and lavish estates with the unparalleled experience of sailing on an America's Cup. Help sail the yacht or just sit back and relax.
Legendary America's Cup provide the perfect venue for:
Family Celebrations: What a wonderful way to say "Happy Birthday", "Happy Anniversary", or "Congratulations" to someone special! Let our staff arrange beverages and catered breakfast, lunch, or hors d'oeuvres to customize your event. Whether cruising or racing, an event on an America's Cup twelve meter yacht is a spectacular and unique way to celebrate.
Weddings: Imagine sweeping vistas of Narragansett Bay: lighthouses, the beautiful Newport Bridge, and lavish estates, such as Hammersmith Farm (Jacqueline Kennedy's family home), as the backdrop for your perfect wedding celebration. Whether it is a pre-wedding get together, bachelor or bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, or actual ceremony, a sail aboard an America's Cup yacht will provide a truly unique and memorable experience.
Yacht Club Events: Create your club's most memorable sailing event of the season! Have a full out racing regatta with 2 to 10 America's Cup yachts or plan a leisurely cruise, but let us make all the arrangements! Help crew, grind the winches, hoist the sails, call tactics, or just enjoy beautiful Narragansett Bay. Participation is encouraged but never required. If racing is your pleasure we can even provide a committee boat to officiate your races or spectator yachts for those who just want to watch the action. Bring the "twelves" to your locale or sail in Newport, RI's world famous racing waters. An event with us is sure to be unforgettable and one that you will want to include in your sailing season every year!
Block Island Excursions: For a unique escape from the everyday "hustle and bustle" of life, try a Newport to Block Island sail and overnight excursion. Take one or more of the yachts from Newport for a day cruise or race. End the day at Block Island where you can tour the island, enjoy fresh New England seafood, and stay at one of the island's Bed and Breakfasts. Head back to Newport the next day while enjoying another beautiful sail on an America's Cup yacht. Let us help plan this wonderful sailing getaway!
Regattas: Are you a sailboat racing enthusiast? What more could a racer want than to sail on an America's Cup in one of New England's prestigious sailing regattas...Nantucket's Figawi and Opera House Cup, Newport's Classic Yacht Regatta and New York Yacht Club's Spring Series, and Martha Vineyard's Edgartown Race Week, just to name a few. 12 Meter yachts are available to racing enthusiasts for formal races throughout New England. Please inquire for details.
Photo Shoots: America's Cup yachts make for the perfect backdrop for photo shoots. Elite fashion houses, jewelry companies, ad and modeling agencies have used our yachts for a dynamic venue. An America's Cup contender denotes sleek elegance.
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Johanensburg - A 14-year-old boy died after he was hit by a car on the N2 south in Umgababa, KwaZululu-Natal, on Wednesday, paramedics said.
The teenager and his friend were running across the highway when his hat blew off and he tried to run after it, Netcare spokesman Chris Botha said.
The boy, from Secunda, Mpumalanga, died on the scene.


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Кочин Jose Farms Homestay
Удобства Карта Streetview отзывы
38/733, Gandhi Nagar, Kadavanthra Cochin-20.
Примечание: За содержимое отображаемых фотографий несет ответственность сеть отелей и/или гостиничный объект. Travellerspoint не несет ответственности за содержание и достоверность этих фотографий.
We see the face of God in all our guests and treat them with equanimity; irrespective of their nationality, religion, economic or social standing.
Cochin (Kochi), the queen of the Arabian sea, traces its origin to the port of 'Muziris' (Muchiri in Malayalam, for cleft lip) It denotes the three branches of river Periyar that flow through and open into the Arabian Sea through this port town. It is mentioned in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Akananur and Chilaapathikaram,as well as in the travelogues of Pliny and Ptolemy. It is also mentioned in the stone writings of Emperor Asoka. Cochin is strategically located on the major sea routes linking Europe, North Africa and Middle East with India, Far East and Oceania.
Cochin is an ideal place to start with your Kerala tour, since it is centrally located and is well connected with other tourist destinations in Kerala.
Our Homestay is situated amidst a natural environment studded with coconut palms, banana plants and fruit trees. It is a three storied purple colored building. The ground floor is occupied by the host family; The first and second floors have six rooms and a dormitory for group stay. The rooms are of varying sizes and are all en suite.
There are deluxe double/ triple rooms and deluxe 4/5 beds rooms; There is also a common dining hall with attached kitchen, adjacent to the homestay.
Single Accommodation is provided in all rooms subject to availability.
Group Accommodation is provided according to the size of the visiting Group.
Group Accommodation is provided in 4/5/ beds rooms, by adjusting beds according to the number of persons in each room. Hence the cost shall be less on a per head basis.
All rooms, including bathrooms are fully mosquito proofed and are constructed in such a way to provide cross-flow air circulation. All rooms have attached bathrooms with European style closets, showers, hot/cold water, dressing mirrors and wardrobes. The rooms are well equipped with single/double cots, writing tables and chairs and cable TVs. Air conditioning is provided in all rooms and to save energy, low power consuming A/Cs are provided, All rooms are equipped with emergency lamps that switch on automatically when the power goes off. Bottled drinking water is available on request.
Free Internet/ WI-Fi & Luggage keeping facilities are also available.
Check In: 12:00 - 13:00
Check Out: 12:00 Noon.
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Hotel Paradise Costa Rica
- Free continental breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking
Main amenities
- 29 guestrooms
- Outdoor pool
- 24-hour room service
- Business center
- Airport drop-off service
- 24-hour front desk
- Coffee/tea in a common area
- Daily housekeeping
- Garden
- Computer station
- Front desk safe
- Laundry service
- Free continental breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking
For families
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Private bathroom
- Television
- Garden
- Daily housekeeping
- Laundry facilities
What's around
- Gold Museum (5.9 mi / 9.4 km)
- National Theater (5.9 mi / 9.5 km)
- National Museum (6.5 mi / 10.5 km)
- Jade Museum (7 mi / 11.2 km)
- Spirogyra Butterfly Garden (7 mi / 11.2 km)
Clean. Friendly staff almost family. Good breakfast. Restaurant down the road and…
Very friendly staff made us feel really welcome. The front desk person went out of her…
Hotel Paradise Costa Ricafrom €38
- Double Room, 2 Double Beds
- Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed (Balcony)
- Junior Suite
- Superior Double Room
- Deluxe Room (Full Bed - Balcony)
- Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed (Balcony)
- Deluxe Room (Three Double Beds)
- Deluxe Room (Full Bed - Balcony)
- Deluxe Room (Full Bed - Balcony)
- Standard Double Room
More great choices
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 29 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 2 floors
- Check-in time 1 PM-11 PM
- Check-out time is noon
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- Children (12 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
- No cribs (infant beds)
- Pets allowed (dogs and cats only) *
- Specific rooms only, restrictions apply *
- 1 per room (up to 30 kg)
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Airport drop off (available on request) *
- Free self parking
- RV/bus/truck parking
- Area shuttle *
Nearby Two Star Alajuelita hotels
In the hotel
- Free continental breakfast
- Coffee shop/café
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee/tea in a common area
- Outdoor pool
- Rafting on site
- Business center
- One meeting room
- Computer station
- 24-hour front desk
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Multilingual staff
- Year Built 2008
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Garden
- Picnic area
- Television in common areas
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
In the room
- Ceiling fan
- Coffee/tea maker
- Iron/ironing board
- Private bathroom
- Hair dryer
- Cable TV channels
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Free local calls
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
Top Alajuelita hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Alajuelita
- Radisson San Jose-Costa RicaFrom
"Nice hotel. 10 Minutes by foot to the City. Very clean and staff is Kind. Bed and matress are comfortable Unfortunately you can hear your neighbour and we had one Who shouted…"Jun 21, 2017
- Colours Oasis Resort - Lifestyle Inclusive Adults OnlyFrom
"Was great, everything I was expecting it to be."Jul 28, 2016
- El Rodeo Estancia Boutique Hotel & SteakhouseFrom
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Nearby hotels
Recommended hotels
Hotel Paradise Costa Rica's small print
Also known as
- Costa Rica Paradise Hotel
- Hotel Paradise Costa Rica
- Paradise Costa Rica
- Paradise Hotel Costa Rica
- Hotel Paradise Costa Rica Alajuelita
- Paradise Costa Rica Alajuelita
Pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation.
For transfers, guests must contact the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.
Optional extras
Rollaway beds are available for CRC 15.00 per night
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of CRC $15 per pet, per day
Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of CRC 17500 per vehicle
Area shuttle service is offered for an extra charge
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


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PASADENA, Texas - Investigators with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, Pasadena Police Department and Texas Rangers have made an arrest in a 12-year-old murder case.
Lizbeth Castillo Banda, 34, is charged in the murder of 28-year-old Elisa Viera.
The shooting happened in April 2002 at 2304 Wichita Street at the Shady Village Mobile Home Community in Pasadena.
Banda was wanted for questioning in the original investigation, but authorities say they believe that she fled to Mexico.
Investigators say they recently found out that Banda had been working and living in McAllen. She was arrested Thursday.
Copyright 2014 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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I recently attended a reunion of the 1969 Met wives in Dallas, Texas. Turns out 19 out of the 25 of them are now divorced and the reunion only had the second or third wife!!! Nolan Ryan's wife Ruth (the first and only) had the idea to get the original cast together which was great fun with many memories and good times to remember.
However, not long after my arrival and eventual tour of places Ruth planned for us to visit, I was impressed with how many monuments, statues and walls were erected to remember those who served in the military. It struck a real cord for me as I'm always touched when reminded of those who are serving in our armed forces. Dallas truly honors its own.
I would like to propose that Foster City have our own dedicated wall or site that would honor those members of the military who live or lived in Foster City plus those who work or worked for the City of Foster City since I also consider them part of our family.
This summer I was at an event in San Mateo's Central Park put on by their Fire Department and City. It was honoring those serving and it was where I met a couple of moms whose sons and daughters were in the military. They represented the Pacifica Military Moms, website www.pacificamoms.com. They are part of a nationwide group, bluestarmothers.org. The Pacifica group has several ways we can help our military. Mainly with items like hot drinks, Kool-aid, canned meats, crackers, foot powder and so many other items these folks would love to receive. All are listed on their website. Sounds like a perfect way to make those defending our rights to have a merrier Christmas by putting some items together. More on that later when I start asking for donations to send from the residents of Foster City.
Also, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are bringing our attention to those families still struggling here at home as their loved ones are stationed overseas…..see more about them at www. joiningforces.gov.
Of course Foster City has a couple of real military heroes in our midst that immediately come to mind. First one is Marland Townsend, former commander of the Kitty Hawk, among other commissions and one of the most fascinating people to talk to EVER!!! Second one is Matt Cline who graduated San Mateo High School in '86 and by '89 was serving in the Invasion of Panama, by '99 with Screaming Eagles and '03 in the Iraqi Freedom mission. He had a brilliant 21 year career and is the son of proud parents Donna and John Cline who are long time volunteers in Foster City. Actually this will come out after the fact but Matt will be jumping tandem with a firefighter from 9-11 during the Memorial Service taking place in our nation's Capital on September 11th. He will be one of the 20 jumpers taking part of the celebration. What an honor for him, I get the chills just writing about it.
Now this is where I need ALL of your help in finding those who served in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force or Marines that live or lived at one time in Foster City. It is time NOW to recognize these brave men and women and recognize them on an Honor Wall in the vicinity of Leo Ryan Park. Kevin Miller, Parks and Recreation Director, and I met and identified three possible sites. However, I have no idea how many there are of YOU out there and would love if any one reading this would contact me about yourself or someone you know. Hopefully a few of you would like to help pick the perfect location and wall/monument with me. The time line for me would be Memorial Day 2012 to unveil if approved by our City Council.
We have an all day team building meeting in January where I would like to bring this idea to our staff and council. I know our budget is tight but I am confident I can raise funds toward this goal. I would really like to hear from anyone interested in this endeavor.
We all say we know how lucky we are to live in this Country but let us take the time to identify those who have put their lives on the line and on hold to grant us this privilege. The time really is now. I need your help and support to honor those who allow me to live the life I live.
Contact me at email@example.com
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©2017 City of Foster City
City Hall - 610 Foster City Blvd.
Foster City, CA 94404
(650) 286-3200


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text: The Cavaliers have signed guard Lester Hudson to a 10-day contract. Hudson had been playing with Austin of the NBA's Development League. He will be available for Friday's home game against Milwaukee. The Cavs are short in the backcourt following an injury to Daniel Gibson, who has a torn tendon in his foot and will likely miss the rest of the season.


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New trial a possibility in Fraga murder case
WORTHINGTON -- The possibility of a new trial for convicted murderer Josue Fraga is being explored after evidence has been introduced that suggests Fraga's eldest son may have sexually abused the victim shortly before the time of her death.
In May 2009, Fraga was convicted of the first-degree murder of his 2-year-old niece, Samantha, who died March 20, 2008. The child lived with Fraga and his wife at the time of her death, which was ruled a homicide. The cause of death was determined by an autopsy to be the result of a traumatic head injury, multiple contusions of the extremities, traumatic injuries of the external sexual organs and rectum, peritonitis and rupture of the stomach.
Jury selection for Fraga's trial took more than four days, the proceedings lasted seven day and deliberation on the jury's part took less than five hours. The prosecution put 38 people on the stand. The defense had less than five.
During the trial, the defense questioned the role of Fraga's oldest son in of Samantha's death. As a juvenile, he is referred to by initials JDF. He was 13 years old when she died.
During an evidentiary hearing Friday morning in Nobles County District Court, Fraga listened to testimony from his son's therapist and his own former attorney.
"There was a disclosure made that JDF has admitted in therapy that he had been sexually abusing the victim," said Cecil Naatz, who served as lead defense during the trial and now found himself on the witness stand.
Naatz said one of their expert witnesses had found evidence during trial preparation that suggested Samantha had been undergoing sexual abuse prior to her death, but didn't want that information to be used against his client. But if the jury had known the 13-year-old had sexually abused the little girl, he said, they may have believed the damage had been caused by JDF, which would have been beneficial to Fraga's case.
Minnesota Assistant Attorney General William Klumpp pointed out that another doctor had testified the damage to Samantha at the time of her death could not have been caused by a 13-year-old's genitals, but Naatz said he could not remember that part of the testimony.
Naatz said JDF had admitted during a psychosexual evaluation and during therapy that he had touched Samantha's genitals.
"But he adamantly denied any penetration, correct?" Klumpp asked, pointing out that the report Naatz was referring to also stated JDF had denied penetration and indicated it was his father who was involved in Samantha's death.
"I don't remember that," Naatz said.
"Would it be fair to say the victim was not fondled to death?" Klumpp asked, receiving an affirmative answer from Naatz.
"And that she also received blunt force trauma to the head?" Klumpp continued.
"I can't remember," Naatz stated, adding that he had worked on several cases since Samantha's death and couldn't recall the details of each one.
Fraga's attorney, Suzanne Senecal-Hill, asked Naatz if the disclosure of JDF's alleged admissions would have changed the course of his defense strategy at trial. Naatz said he would have used the information and possibly had different DNA testing done.
"The state targeted our client from the beginning," Naatz stated.
Frank Weber of Core Professional Services testified that he had completed a psychosexual evaluation of JDF in November 2009 after incidents of abuse involving JDF were reported. According to Weber, JDF admitted he had touched Samantha in a sexual manner, but denied ever penetrating her. He also, Weber said, teared up and became emotional when discussing Samantha, expressing guilt because he did not wake up and save his cousin.
Weber described the teen's demeanor as meek, mild and anxious, generally conforming and typical of an adolescent with touch offenses.
"Did he ever admit to you he was involved in his cousin's death?" Klumpp asked.
"He did not," Weber answered.
"Did he ever give you an idea who was involved?" Klumpp followed up.
"He stated he slept at the time and that his father had been convicted of it," Weber stated.
The teenager was cooperative during the interview, Weber stated. When Klumpp brought up Fraga's wife and her uncooperative nature during the interview process, the defense objected and cut off Weber's response. Throughout the process, Fraga sat quietly, his demeanor seemingly unattached from the proceedings.
A third witness, Clint Sperle, testified as JDF's counselor that the teen also admitted to him six different touching episodes with Samantha and denied ever penetrating her.
Sperle also testified that JDF had commented about wishing he would have woken up so he could have done something about saving Samantha.
"Has he discussed how he feels about being implicated by his father?" Klumpp asked.
"He feels bad about it," Sperle said. "And sad that his dad would blame him for it."
Both the prosecution and the defense have asked for a transcription of Friday's proceedings, which should take several weeks. After they are received, the defense has until mid-March to file a memo addressing the legal issues of whether or not there is sufficient cause for a new trial. The prosecution will then have a month to respond, with rebuttal to be filed a few weeks later. Judge Timothy Connell said he does not plan to be very tough when it comes to scheduling, knowing all of the attorneys involved have busy calendars in the coming months.
When all the filings are complete, Connell will be tasked with the chore of deciding whether the proceedings will continue toward retrial.


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There is a good live case study at csinvesting on the Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) private buyout being led by the founder Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners.
The big question is whether the consortium's bid of $24.4 billion or $13.65 per share for Dell is fair. Using the Value Line information supplied by csinvesting, I will value Dell using the back of the envelope calculations of free cash flow yield. I typically define free cash flow (FCF) as operating cash flow less capital expenditures. However, for this valuation I will use Value Line's "cash flow" per share as a proxy for FCF. Value Line defines cash flow as earnings per share plus depreciation and amortization per share. Using this definition of cash flow is not my preferred method but it will work for a back of the envelope calculation.
About what is Dell worth?
I would require a 10% cash flow yield on my investment. Using single point valuations, this would estimate the intrinsic value of Dell at $16.70 per share in 2008 and $25.10 per share in 2011. This assumes no growth in the cash flow for the company. If 3% annualized growth is assumed, then the 2008 value would be $23.90 per share and the 2011 value would be $35.90. Using the average and median cash flow per share from 2007 to 2011 as normalized cash flow, the intrinsic value comes in at $17.30 to $17.90 per share.
I can get to a higher intrinsic value if I assume 3% cash flow growth into perpetuity but I have a hard time justifying that. Dell's cash flow has been pretty lumpy and stagnant since 2007 and the future of PC sales is looking overly mature for much growth so I would be reluctant to bake growth into my valuation without more investigation on the future of the company's other business segments.
Are the valuations in the Barron's article valid?
The Saturday, February 9, 2013 Barron's article The Dell Deal May Die mentions that Southeastern Asset Management believes Dell is worth $24 a share while Pzena Investment Management believes the shares are worth $25 each. Using the back of the envelope valuation, it appears that both managers are baking some growth into their valuations. If I assume 3% cash flow growth I arrive at an intrinsic value estimate of $24.70 to $25.60 per share. These valuations are valid if you believe the company can grow cash flow and you don't need to apply a larger discount to the valuation due to poor stewardship by management.
Barron's presents a chart for the Dell buyout showing the initial equity and new debt versus five years later. The annualized return on the equity would be 29% assuming all the debt is extinguished in five years. With $5.2 billion in cash on the books, assuming normalized earnings to be the median cash flow per share of $1.73 and there is no growth in the cash flow over the next five years, it looks like Dell will have generated enough cash flow to pretty much pay off all the debt in five years.
Barron's expected annualized return might be pushing it a bit but if we assume only ¾ of the debt is paid off in five years, the annualized return only falls to 24%. The valuations in the Barron's article are much more valid than the consortium's bid.
Does growth have value?
Absolutely, growth can have value. Sustainable and predictable growth has more value than transitory and speculative growth. Growth for growth's sake or growth that doesn't provide a return greater than the cost of capital can decrease the value of a company.
What aspects of Southeastern Asset Management's letter put heat on Michael Dell?
Southeastern Asset Management, the advisor to the well-regarded Longleaf Partners Funds, responded to Dell's proposed go-private transaction in a letter stating they would oppose the transaction. As the largest outside holder of Dell's shares with an 8.5% stake in the company, Southeastern has a lot at stake. They clearly articulate a rational valuation to Dell shares. Through a sum of parts valuation, they arrive at a value of $23.72 a share. Southeastern puts the most heat on Michael Dell when they highlight that Dell has spent $13.7 billion or $7.58 per share on acquisitions since 2007. The well phrased throw down is pretty damning after I think about it.
In addition, since Michael Dell resumed his role as CEO in 2007, the Company has spent $13.7 billion or $7.58 per share on acquisitions intended to transform the Company into a sustainable IT business and lessen its reliance on the PC business. During Dell's June 2012 analyst day, Dell Chief Financial Officer Brian Gladden said that in aggregate the acquisitions to that point had delivered a 15% internal rate of return. The Company has neither taken nor discussed the need to take any write downs of these acquisitions. We therefore conservatively believe the acquisitions are worth a minimum of their cost. Taken together, these items total $12.94 per share before we even look at the other businesses. The current bid therefore places a value of less than $1.00 per share on the remainder of the Company. By any objective measure, that is woefully inadequate.
So not only has Dell made capital allocation decisions since 2007 equal to over half the buyout offer, money that could be returned to shareholders, but the acquisitions are returning a 15% internal rate of return. The acquisitions are doing well and it looks like Dell wants to buy the future profits for a song.
What in Michael Dell's prior history makes you perhaps not surprised by his current actions?
As nicely illustrated in the recent New York Times article Dell's Up and Downs with Options, Dell has a long history of buying back stock in order to prevent dilution from issuing stock options to executives. Amazingly, over the life of Dell, the company has spent $39.7 billion buying back overpriced stock. The current market cap is approximately $22 billion. The amount of money spent buying back stock is nearly twice the current market cap! This is astonishingly bad capital allocation. Michael Dell has profited handsomely by fleecing his shareholders over the years with handsome stock option grants. Now that stock options are more properly accounted for, he is using a different but more visible tactic, lowballing the price of the company to take it private and leave shareholders out in the cold.
Should Dell offer to do a tender offer?
If Dell stock is undervalued at $13.65 as it certainly appears to be based on my back of the envelope calculation and Southeastern and Pzena's valuations, a tender offer that allows for stub stock to trade so remaining holders can participate in the future cash flows of the company would be one of the best courses of action. Company buybacks below the intrinsic value of the stock adds value to the intrinsic value of the remaining outstanding shares. This would be a good capital allocation decision, something Dell has little history with.
Dell looks like a classic value trap. By the numbers, Dell looks cheap. How can you avoid a value trap like this? One way is to use qualitative factors in addition to quantitative factors such as low P/E, P/B ratios and valuation. While cash flow trends look robust enough for the company to comfortably transition its product mix from the PC business to more sustainable IT products and services, management motivations and incentives have to be brought into the equation. An analysis of the capital allocation history of management would provide good insight.
If the price collapsed to $9 or $10 based on the deal being pulled what would you do?
While a $9 or $10 purchase price looks very attractive to my rough $17.30 to $17.90 intrinsic value estimate and extremely attractive to Southeastern's $24, I would be reluctant to buy the stock without identifying a catalyst for closing the price to value gap. If more activist investors got involved, I would be more interested if it meant I'd have to wait for the activists and buy the stock at $11 or $12.
Disclosure: No position in DELL


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Well, I am a warm-hearted, head-driven and life-affirming person who loves being outside and being active as well as having nice and cosy evenings at home. Originally from Munich, but recently located in krems, close to Vienna.
Which music I like is strongly dependend on my mood.
And food, I love cooking and good food with a great variety!
My road bike
Laptop (I have to admit that, unfortunately)
Good food and cookbooks


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In a blog at The Huffington Post, PBS omnipresence Bill Moyers displayed the crackling synapses of the liberal mind. He quickly zig-zagged from Queen Elizabeth being greeted at the White House to Prince Harry going to Iraq (the poor, deluded sitting duck) to pampered plutocrats who received tax cuts in a time of war. "War should be the great equalizer...Instead, mostly folks from the working class and professional soldiers are doing the dying in Iraq, while the rich spend their tax cuts."
I do hope multi-millionaire Moyers channeled the tax savings from his government-TV gains back into the federal Treasury. ("Dear IRS: I will show the fortitude our president lacks. Here is my entire tax cut returned to where it belongs, in the government's superbly efficient hands.") Here's how his logic unfolded in greater detail:
I couldn't help but think of Prince Harry, the Queen's grandson, who is headed for Iraq with a cavalry regiment, even though he's a conspicuous target for assassination or kidnapping. There's angst in official circles that other members of his regiment will be put at graver risk because of his celebrity. So guess what his comrades -- his fellow soldiers -- are doing? Rather than petition the Queen to keep the young man home, they have gotten shirts printed up with the words across them: "I'm Harry." Marvelous, no? The commoners and the Prince are in this together: one for all and all for one.
What a notion -- that war should be the great equalizer, that no one's son or daughter is privileged from duty or danger. You have to wonder how the last four years might have been different if only our President had asked sacrifice from everyone. Instead, mostly folks from the working class and professional soldiers are doing the dying in Iraq, while the rich spend their tax cuts. War on the cheap, except for those fighting it.


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Girl group KARA celebrated their 5th anniversary on their respective Twitter pages.
On March 29th, KARA member Nicole wrote, "It's already been five years...I was 17 years old at the time.. Walking down memory lane.. Going to make a lot more memories from here on out."
Han Seungyeon shared a photo of herself when KARA first debuted and wrote, "I remember it like it was yesterday.. Love You^^", and later wrote, "If it were now, we would have been so concerned with six packs and what not, but back then, I looked like that without even really taking care of myself.. Oh, being twenty~"
KARA's maknae Kang Jiyoung was celebrating two very special things on the same day. "Let's all congratulate KARA on our fifth anniversary," she wrote and also shared, "Today is also the birthday of my beloved friend Sulli! Everyone please congratulate us. One, two, three~".
Goo Hara shared the above photo and wrote, "We are the one!^_______^* KARA & Kamilia! o7. o3. 29 ~ ing.. #KARAnniver5a"
And leader Park Gyuri thanked her fans by saying, "KARA's fifth anniversary.. Time is flying by too fast~ Thank you for loving us and trusting us for the past five years ^^ Let's make a lot of memories from here on out as well. My people!"
KARA made their debut back in March 29, 2007 as a 4-member girl group with their first album, 'Blooming', but original member Kim Sunghee left the group in February of 2008. In June of that same year, Kang Jiyoung and Goo Hara were added and the group has been receiving explosive support from their fans ever since.
To celebrate, Kamilia took out an ad in the newspaper to congratulate KARA:
Congratulations to KARA & Kamilia for five wonderful years!
Source & Image: MoneyToday StarNews via Nate
Tip: Maix
Trainee in T.O.P's marijuana case says she didn't offer it to him
22 hours ago 42,753 4,576 216


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RESIDENTS in Belthorn fed up with council cuts to services are to take matters into their own hands.
Volunteers in the village have been given more than £450 by East Ribble Freemasons to fund a petrol mower so they can make cuts of their own - to the 'overgrown' grass in the area.
Belthorn county councillor Peter Britcliffe, said he had mixed feelings about the move.
He said: "It's good, but on the other hand the council seem to be struggling, despite getting £1.2 million extra funding from the Government.
"Having said that, I'm delighted the charity has provided this. Residents in Belthorn are very proud of their village and are happy to keep it tidy.
Paul Thompson ward councillor for St Oswald's, which covers part of Belthorn, said: "It's terrible the way the grass is being cut.
"It's absolutely brilliant what the residents are doing."
The specialist mower will cut grass in difficult to reach places, even where there's no electricity available and will be used by volunteers at the village hall.
It has been funded by the East Lancashire Masonic Charity Community Fund.
Portfolio holder for education, leisure and arts at Hyndburn Council, Ken Moss, said: "Neither I nor the council are aware of any complaints from Belthorn but applaud residents for working to maintain the green areas to an even higher standard.
"Coun Britcliffe is keen to emphasise the grant from the Government but fails to point out the £9m of cuts we have already endured and I believe that our parks department is doing a good job."


text:
*There's a saying, "To whom much is given, much is expected."
OK, so the author may not have had a large derriere in mind when it was written, but that doesn't make it any less true when it comes to women carrying more "junk in da trunk" than can fit into a pair of jeans without a struggle and having to put up with stuff because of it.
There are pros and cons to everything – even having a badonkadonk.
Harvard Medical School researchers say the fat found in women's butts and thighs may actually protect against heart disease and diabetes. And researchers from the University of Oxford find that not only do women with larger butts tend to have reduced levels of cholesterol and are more likely to produce hormones that metabolize sugar, they are actually "smarter."
So there, as young New Zealand pop star Lorde would say.
But then there's the other side of carrying this generous portion of curve. Especially if you're a woman.
The comments it brings out in men for one.
These "hey baby, can I handle that for you" comments rarely make women feel anything but objectified. And then there's the ill-fitting clothes, and oh, that damn song!
Thanks to Huffington Post, here's 10 very real struggles of women with big butts.
You know the song, "Baby Got Back," by Sir-Mix-A-Lot. If you don't, it goes a little something like this (excerpt):
I like big butts and I can not lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your tough
'Cause you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she's wearing
I'm hooked and I can't stop staring
Here's 10 reasons why having a big butt can be a real bitch sometimes.
1. Men on the street have asked if they can use your derriere as a pillow. (They most certainly may not.)
2. Your dresses are three inches longer in the front than they are in the back.
3. Strangers have asked you for your squat routine.
4. You have to leave the bar when "Baby Got Back" comes on. Or "Bootylicious." Or "Miss New Booty."
5. That freakum dress Beyonce's always talking about? Unless you want to look like you're working a street corner, it's just not gonna happen.
6. Shopping for jeans is worse than the Hunger Games.
7. You have definitely knocked something over by turning around too fast.
8. Three words: Lower back pain.
9. Buttcrack. Always.
10. No underwear provides enough coverage. Even granny panties look cheeky.
…and there's 9 more you just have to see. So head on over to Huffington Post to learn what they are.


text:
Silver Velvet Chic Throw Pillow
$ 140.00
Please browse our luxurious down-filled pillows and bedding lines below. The designs are both versatile and glamorous with rich velvets, 100% linens, Czech crystal stones and more! With a touch of luxury along with attention to detail and high quality, these pieces are sure to add everyday delight and beauty to any room!


text:
Transplant Team Expands Living Liver Donor Program
Our Services
Only a handful of liver transplant centers in the U.S. share the success rates that the UW Health Transplant program has maintained for years. Program wait times for liver transplantation are among the shortest in the country. The team is constantly engaged in initiatives to improve the care of liver transplant recipients, create a new CME module on living liver transplant and participate in national and international clinical trials to research immunosuppressive agents to improve quality of life for recipients.
With federal changes to liver allocation, the number of organs available for transplant in Wisconsin is expected to decrease, widening the gap between organs and the number of patients on the transplant waiting list. Live donor liver transplant helps close the gap so patients receive their transplant before is too late.
Recent studies show patients with a MELD score of less than 15 have a survival advantage when they receive a liver from a live donor compared to those listed but who have not received a transplant. Patients with a MELD score greater than 15 who are transplanted with living donor livers also have a survival advantage when compared to those transplanted with deceased donors.
Along with new technology that improves safety for both donors and recipients, the UW Health team has created a consortium with international programs that provides a much larger scale for studying the benefits of live donor liver transplant. Together with Will Burlingham, PhD, they are studying ways to minimize or withdraw immunosuppressive therapy.


text:
|• Model wearing item
|Denim x Paisley ★ reversible hat
Just now [free shipping] another note collaboration with otherwise unobtainable. use front and back! Soft wire in styling.
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Rakuten ranking ranked No. 1! deniregi I'm selling more than 80000 Kore! If you wear once no.1 ☆ ureshii choose from six sizes! Now take [free shipping]
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|Soft atmosphere hearty ♪ cute shades of drab little gray tone! It is a reversible parkerwampi.
Ureshii used front and back! Jacquard pattern Kangaroo pocket and logo front and back a cute name tag, of course, up to the hem and neckline: filled with a cute dress is!
In one layered looks perfect!
He definitely PEAR recommended!
Or-a-and cute are yo ~!
* Table below please refer to your software and compared to find.
(The model is 164 cm)
* This item is after processing (product washing, after dye such as) there may different impressions and some color, so we. Please note that subject by conditions can see slightly different shades.
This product cannot be shipped to United States from the store.
Please contact the store for further information.


text:
Twice-Baked Potatoes
Potato skins are stuffed with mashed creamy potatoes and cheese, then baked again and topped with green onions and bacon to make an fantastic and delicious dish.
- 6 medium to large baking potatoes, baked or microwaved
- 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
- 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 1/4 teaspoons seasoned salt
- Cooked and crumbled bacon (optional)
- Sliced green onions (optional)
Directions, Reviews, Nutrition
CUT potatoes in half. Scoop out insides, being careful not to break skins. Place skins on baking sheet(s). Beat potatoes, evaporated milk, 3/4 cup cheese, butter and seasoned salt in large mixer bowl until creamy. Fill potato skins with potato mixture. Top with remaining cheese.
BAKE for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with bacon and green onions.
May substitute Carnation Evaporated Milk with Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk.
What did you think? Share Your Review »
54 Reviews
Thank you for reviewing this recipe.
Delicious Potatoes
I am definitely going to try this recipe. I love stuffed baked potatoes!
I have made these potatoes before with 2% milk. This time I used the Carnation Evaporated milk, and what a difference. They were so creamy. And yummy. Will definitely make them again this way.
Super Easy
I was amazed at how easy this was to make! They tasted great as well. Will make again.
a keeper
absolutely awesome - will make again!
The lighter side
These are delicious. I used Carnation Fat Free Evaporated milk which is a staple is my kitchen. I use the Fat Free Version for everything from coffee to casseroles. It is great. I'm 55 and still wear a size 4.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/8 of Recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 8
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 270
- Calories from Fat: 110
- Total Fat: 13g (20% of DV)
- Saturated Fat: 8g (40% of DV)
- Cholesterol: 40mg (13% of DV)
- Sodium: 580mg (24% of DV)
- Carbohydrates: 29g (10% of DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 3g (11% of DV)
- Sugars: 4g
- Protein: 9g
- Vitamin A: 8% of DV
- Vitamin C: 25% of DV
- Calcium: 20% of DV
- Iron: 6% of DV
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.


text:
AICR Blog
Research news and views on preventing and surviving cancer
Brussels sprouts are always humble champions.
We fund cutting-edge research and givepeople practical tools and information to helpthem prevent–and survive–cancer.
American Institute for Cancer Research
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P: (800) 843-8114 | (202) 328-7744 in D.C.
Fax: (202) 328-7226 | Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
According to a leading daily, "ADF was forced to take legal recourse because of monopolistic practices of YRF. Before the release of Ek Tha Tiger, in August 2012, YRF had reportedly used their dominant position in the market to enter into an arrangement with the exhibitors saying that they will give them Ek Tha Tiger only if the exhibitors agreed to reportedly give their Diwali release prominence over others."
However, in a recent press conference when Ajay was asked whether he was requested by Shahrukh Khan to move the release date ahead, Ajay said, "Did Shahrukh himself call you and say that? In fact, it was very sweet of him to say that Yash Chopra himself would have wanted both the films to release on the same day. No two movies clash. In Diwali always two films release and I want all films to run well; not only mine! There is a lot of space in the industry."


text:
Sydney Shopping
by: 10X MEDIA PTY LTD • 8
All Android applications categories
by: 10X MEDIA PTY LTD • 8
This Sydney Shopping Application was developed by two passionate Sydney Shoppers who felt that the majority of Sydney Shopping Apps were meager at best. Most were difficult to navigate and didn't really present the value and content necessary to find quality and unique shops (not just the usual chain stores) in specific locations, under specific categories, with the latest shop updates, daily deals and specials from the hottest shopping destinations in Sydney; all in one easy to follow mobile interface.
This app solves that need.
We hope you Enjoy!
Our listing criteria:
We only feature quality and unique shops (that aren't just the usual chain stores) from the hottest shopping locations in Sydney.
Shop Categories Include:
✔ Clothing Boutiques & Shops
✔ Local Designer Labels
✔ International Designer Labels
✔ Shoes, Bags & Jewellery
✔ Hair & Beauty
✔ Mens Clothing & Footwear
✔ Kids & Infants Boutiques & Shops
✔ Books, Gifts & Objects
✔ Furniture & Homewares
✔ Specialty Foods
Shop Locations Include (only the hottest shopping destinations):
✔ Sydney CBD, The Rocks, Darling Harbour
✔ Newtown, Erskineville, Glebe, Balmain, Rozelle
✔ Darlinghurst, Paddington, Potts Point, Woollahra, Double Bay
✔ Surry Hills, Redfern, Waterloo
✔ And more to come!
We're always adding and updating new shops and shop locations, so please check back regularly!
PS: Please send us your comments, feedback and requests! We're always looking to improve app features and content.
Tags: sydney shopping , where is the enjoyed shop in sydney
from 8 reviews
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Free - V5.1.6 - 439K
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text:
" Genre: Rock - Pop Rock / Artist: The Strawbs / Box set / Audio CD released 1997-02-10 at Polydor Group "
* Prices may differ from that shown
The Strawbs, originally the Strawberry Hill Boys, formed as a bluegrass group around 1964. Over the years they changed their style, but are best-remembered as a folk-rock group with occasional pop and prog-rock leanings; Rick Wakeman played keyboards with them until leaving in 1971 to join Yes. Led by singer, rhythm guitarist and banjo player Dave Cousins, whose vocals often sound rather Cat Stevens-like, they disbanded in 1980 but have reformed with various line-ups on an ad hoc basis, as both a full rock band and as an acoustic trio, from 1983 to date. This 2-CD compilation, released in 1997, covers their peak years on the A&M label between 1969 and 1975.
'Best of' compilations generally arrange all tracks in chronological order of recording or original release (pretty well the same thing). This doesn't, something I would have preferred. Whether the songs were sequenced by members of the group themselves, the record company, a fan club organisation or a combination of these, the booklet doesn't say. Because of that, I'll give the year of release for each track after the title below.
'Ghosts' (1969), one of five songs lasting between six and ten minutes, is on the prog-rock end of the spectrum. A multi-tracked, slightly classical-flavoured harpsichord intro fades in, before being joined by acoustic guitar, and gathers pace with a funky rhythm underpinned by organ and drums, with a scorching guitar solo five minutes in. Like the majority of tracks, it was written by Cousins, inspired by a nightmare he had while they were on the road in the USA, but in a hotel which overlooked a war memorial square and victory column which looked oddly like an English town. The room he was staying in had a lion's head bedspread and a grinning skull pendant light - all very ghostlike. Try this for a sample of the lyrics:
Damp with sweat, mouth is dry, twisted branches catch the eye
Beside your bed the angel stands, you cannot touch his withered hands
'On Growing Older' (1972), at barely two minutes easily the shortest track here, is a straightforward, acoustic guitar and drums-driven number enlivened by some attractive harmony vocals sung jointly by Cousins and the shortly-to-depart guitarist Tony Hooper.
'The Man who Called Himself Jesus' (1968) is an early single which was the first to attract significant airplay but no chart success. It's a mid-tempo number which was inspired by a story told to Cousins about a Copenhagen shop owner who had had a man on his premises claiming to be Jesus. The spoken intro is by then little-known actor Richard Wilson, later Victor Meldrew in 'One Foot In The Grave', plus John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin on bass and stalwart session musician Nicky Hopkins on piano.
'Stormy Down' (1973), with brisk piano and guitar, is a nod back to the group's early country and bluegrass days. It features a dramatic lyric about their regular journeys when going to and from Wales for gigs before the M4 was built, Stormy Down being an area of moorland over which Cousins saw a remarkable cloud formation one night.
'I Turned My Face Into The Wind' (1970) is a short, simple, doomy song Cousins wrote after a walk on the bleak Yorkshire moors near Barnsley. Slow, moody piano, cello and fiddle make this one of their more sombre, chilling moments.
'Queen Of Dreams' (1972) is one of the longer and more experimental pieces. An intro that sounds like an effects tape played backwards takes us into the song accompanied by dreamy instrumentation, after two verses of which we hear an electric dulcimer played with a steel pick fed through a fuzz box, followed by electronic effects like a helicopter taking off, then reverting to acoustic guitars and organ for a third verse, and finally a drum solo bouncing between both stereo channels. Parts reminded me of the Stones' '2000 Light Years From Home'.
'Witchwood' (1971) features Cousins and bassist John Ford singing together. There's a remarkable combination of instruments here, with Cousins' dulcimer and banjo, the latter sounding more like an ancient Chinese stringed instrument, creating an effect similar to the quasi-medieval tunes Jethro Tull produced in their early days.
For a change, 'Keep the Devil Outside' (1971), written by drummer Dave Hudson with Ford), features Hooper on lead vocals, a more down-to-earth folk/pop number, with an infectious chorus.
Written by Cousins about the troubles in Ulster, 'The Hangman and the Papist' (1971) is one of the most ambitious numbers here. He had been brought up (in England) as a Catholic, his brother and sister as Protestants, so he was qualified to comment. A church organ intro, slightly reminiscent of Jon Lord's work with early Deep Purple, is the prelude to Cousins' vocals, sounding like Alan Hull of Lindisfarne at his most passionate, with unexpected tempo changes and military-style drumming later on.
'Benedictus' (1971) is one of the hymn-like tunes which was a speciality of theirs. Featuring dulcimer from Blue Weaver (ex-Amen Corner, later Mott The Hoople), who had just replaced Wakeman, this was a single but failed to chart.
'Golden Salamander' (1975) is an attractive Eastern-style tune backed by electric dulcimer and guitar, and later on multi-tracked vocals, similar to the sound 10cc would soon make their trademark with 'I'm Not In Love' multi-tracked vocals.
'Tokyo Rosie' (1975), is quite funky - but why shouldn't they record a disco (almost) track if they wanted to. It was built around a riff on electric harpsichord, played by Wakeman who had returned for a guest appearance. Rumour has it that he played it naked - hence Cousins' nearly breaking down in laughter at one stage while singing. There's some pretty feisty lead guitar as well.
'Hero And Heroine' (1974) was a much-played yet unsuccessful single at the time, and surely one of their most commercial numbers. With enigmatic lyrics which could be about a love affair gone sour or about drugs, it goes through a couple of tempo changes, veering between some fierce power chords on guitar and organ, countryish guitar, and snatches of vocals reminiscent of the unaccompanied passages in Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh Well'.
Following that is a song from splinter group Hudson Ford, the drummer (who then switched to guitar) and bassist formed in 1973 after their musical differences with Cousins came to a head. 'Pick Up The Pieces' (1973), thought to be partly about their splitting from the original band, is a snappy, bouncy pop-rock number with excellent harmony vocals and slide guitar.
At last we reach their first-ever hit. The classic 'Lay Down' (1972), based loosely on the 23rd Psalm, is one of those marvellous anthemic numbers that sounds part prog-rocker, part-hymn, yet was still commercial enough to reach No. 12 in the chart. The back cover says this is the single version, but not so; this is the full (and superior) album version with about 30 seconds more lead guitar before the final choruses. Cousins admits to being quite a spiritual person, and this touches a chord in me - I can't hear enough of it, not least that sublime choral effect behind the last verse. Following this is the B-side, 'Ciggy Barlust (Backside)' (1972), originally called 'C B And The Whales From Venus' - obviously a send-up of David Bowie and Ziggy Stardust - amusing, but little more than a novelty.
'Out In The Cold/Round And Round' (1974), two tracks which segue into one another, are mid-tempo numbers strong on keyboards and harmonica, again rather reminiscent of Lindisfarne. Lastly, 'Oh, How She Changed' (1968) is their first single, a slow, dramatic song soaked in vocal harmonies, which gave some indication of what was to follow.
The six-minute epic 'The Battle' (1969) reeks of atmosphere; you can almost see armed cavalry charging across the plain as you hear this. The drama builds up from gentle acoustic guitar at the start, with organ, drums and brass all coming in to lend colour to the impassioned lyrics. Subtle tempo changes and wind effects at the end make this one of the standout numbers. It segues effectively into 'Grace Darling' (1974), a sadly-neglected single which tells the story of the lighthouse keeper's daughter and heroine of the north-east, a true story. I particularly love the church organ and choral backing vocals on this one.
'Blue Angel' (1972), the longest track at nearly ten minutes, is a Cousins song from his solo album 'Two Weeks Last Summer', on which he is joined by Deep Purple's Roger Glover, Wakeman, Jon Hiseman and guitarist Miller Anderson. An ambitious piece in three parts, its arrangement and poetic lyrics will sound beautiful to some, possibly pretentious and very dated to others. I'm in two minds myself.
By contrast, 'Here it Comes' (1972) is a short, infectious and chugging, percussion-heavy track recorded as a single in an unsuccessful attempt to crack the charts, and Hooper's last before he left. The song, or rather chorus, is rather too repetitive, but the organ work is superb.
'The Shepherd's Song' (1971) is another what you might call a folk-cum-experimental song. Opening softly with just acoustic guitar behind the vocals, it gathers pace with what was Wakeman's first use of mellotron creating an atmospheric sound, plus what sounds like a Mexican brass arrangement.
'We'll Meet Again Sometime' (1972) features Hooper on lead vocal, with the rest joining in, is one of the most commercial tracks. With electric guitar, organ and cello backing, it has elements of their folk sound plus the more poppy style favoured by late 1960s groups like the Small Faces and even early Status Quo.
'Martin Luther King's Dream' (1971) written long before it was recorded, was inspired by King's last speech. With soft organ and folksy vocal harmonies, it's effectively simple, with appropriately thoughtful lyrics.
While fury gathers around you, provoking you to hate
Remember what I told you, don't heed the dangled bait
The second Top 20 single from Hudson-Ford, 'Burn Baby Burn' (1974), written after the group had been to the industrial heart of Canada, is a cheery, singalong pop-rock tune that might seem rather at odds with the environmental message of the lyrics, probably some years ahead of its time. Ironically, Hudson-Ford (and their new band) proved more successful chartwise than the rest of The Strawbs. The latter's only single following the split to make the Top 40, Cousins' 'Shine on Silver Sun' (1973), is a gentle, very appealing tune driven by some attractive keyboards and a huge-sounding anthemic chorus.
'Why And Wherefore' (1973) is also uncharacteristically poppy for the group. With a guitar intro reminiscent of The Monkees' 'Last Train to Clarksville', it's an up-tempo, almost funky tune that finishes off with plenty of rousing boogie piano and slide guitar, reminiscent of The Move's rousing 'Brontosaurus'.
The final track here, and last Top 40 hit for Hudson-Ford, 'Floating in the Wind' (1974) is a slowish, dreamy song soaked in very atmospheric synthesiser which builds up towards the end. Hudson-Ford made three brilliant, very underrated (in my view) albums between 1973 and 1975, all begging for a decent reissue on CD, if anyone in high places is reading this.
'Absent Friend' (1975), is one of the lesser songs here for me. With its slow dreamy guitar it's OK, but nothing special. It's eclipsed by what follows - the greatest chart triumph, the controversial 'Part of the Union' (1973), which peaked at No. 2, was a Hudson-Ford composition on which Ford took lead vocal. Based on an old Woody Guthrie number, 'Union Maid', and released during a stormy period of government and management/trade union confrontation, you can analyse the lyrics and still not be sure whether it's taking the mickey out of one side or the other. A jaunty singalong chorus and rousing pub piano instrumental break, it horrified purists who thought the band was selling out. Even today, some fans describe it as 'wretched', though personally I love it.
'Will Ye Go?' (1973) is an old folk song by Francis McPeake, based on the old traditional 'Wild Mountain Thyme', sometimes known as 'Purple Heather'. This is classic folk club stuff, with the group's vocal harmonies and gentle harmonica driving it gently along.
'The River' and 'Down by the Sea' (both 1973) flow (excuse pun) into one another. The former, inspired by a walk along the sea wall at Dover, is a slow burner that rises to a crescendo with help from a 30-piece orchestra and a dramatic end, followed by a similarly ambient epic (if that's not a contradiction), with more thoughtful lyrics and mellotron. Finally 'Tell Me What You See in Me' (1991) is a re-recording of a song from their debut album of 1969. It's a kind of folk ballad but with interesting instrumentation that calls to mind some of the 1980s AOR acts like Asia and Foreigner. The band is nothing if not eclectic.
Topped and tailed by a striking front cover with a photograph of a kingfisher beneath the group's strawberried logo, and a colour profile pic of Cousins on the back, the 12pp booklet contains three photos of different line-ups, a detailed essay on the band by journalist John Tobler, and a source discography. But the track listing and credits, all crammed on to the back cover and printed in yellow on brown, could have been clearer for those of us with less than perfect eyesight.
Some of this is a slightly acquired taste, but it represents the best work of a group who had a very unusual sound, went through many changes, and were staggering in the variety of styles they embraced. With 148 minutes playing time, it's a generous selection. I'd say I love at least 80% of it, and despite the occasional so-so number, anything less than five stars would be pretty mean.
The Amazon page has a 'preview all tracks' facility.
Disc #1 Tracklisting
1 Ghosts
2 On Growing Older
3 The Man Who Called Himself Jesus
4 Stormy Dawn
5 I Turned My face Into The Wind
6 Queen Of Dreams
7 Whitchwood
8 Keep The Devil Outside
9 The Hangman And The Papist
10 Benedictus
11 Golden Salamander
12 Tokyo Rose
13 Hero And Heroine
14 Pick Up The Peices
15 Lay Down
16 Ciggy Barlust
17 Out In The Cold
18 Round And Round
19 How She Changed
Disc #2 Tracklisting
1 The Battle
2 Grace Darling
3 Blue Angel
4 Here It Comes
5 The Shepherds Song
6 We'll Meet Again Sometime
7 Martin Luther King's Dream
8 Burn Baby Burn
9 Shine On Silver Sun
10 Why and Wherefore
11 Floating In The Wind
12 Absent Friend
13 Part Of The Union
14 Will Ye Go
15 The River
16 Down By The Sea
17 Tell You What You See In Me


text: Radisys ® Corporation (NASDAQ: RSYS), a leading provider of embedded wireless infrastructure solutions for telecom, aerospace, defense and public safety applications, announced that, based upon preliminary results which are subject to final review and audit, it expects fourth quarter revenue near the high end of the guidance range provided on October 30, 2012 and positive non-GAAP earnings per share compared to a previous guidance range of ($0.06) to breakeven. Strong Software-Solutions revenues enabled better than expected profitability. "A strong finish to the year in our software and solutions business along with continued operational focus enabled us to return to profitability more quickly than originally expected," commented Brian Bronson, Radisys President and Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, we generated positive cash flow in the fourth quarter and have adequate liquidity to retire the $16.9 million of convertible debt coming due in February 2013. We will set a specific earnings release and conference call date over the next month. I look forward to sharing the full results for the quarter, go forward guidance, and an update on the strategic objectives we outlined in October at that time." Non-GAAP Financial Measure This press release contains a non-GAAP financial measure – non-GAAP earnings per share – the calculation of which excludes certain expenses, gains and losses, such as the effects of (a) purchase accounting adjustments, (b) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (c) stock-based compensation expense, (d) restructuring and acquisition-related charges (reversals), net, (e) impairment of goodwill, (f) gain on the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary, and (g) non-cash income tax expense. The Company believes that the use of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors to gain an overall understanding of its current financial performance and its prospects for the future. Specifically, the Company believes the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses, gains and losses that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures are used by management for budgeting and forecasting as well as subsequently measuring the Company's performance, and the Company believes it is providing investors with financial measures that most closely align to its internal measurement processes. These non-GAAP measures are considered to be reflective of the Company's core operating results as they more closely reflect the essential revenue-generating activities of the Company and direct operating expenses (resulting in cash expenditures) needed to perform these revenue-generating activities. The Company also believes, based on feedback provided to the Company during its earnings calls' Q&A sessions and discussions with the investment community, that the non-GAAP financial measures it provides are necessary to allow the investment community to construct their valuation models to better align its results and projections with its competitors and market sector, as there is significant variability and unpredictability across companies with respect to certain expenses, gains and losses.


text:
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was named the NFL's rookie of the week for last weekend's games, the league announced.
Griffin threw for two touchdowns in the Redskins' victory at Philadelphia. It was his first game back after missing one game because of a mild sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.
It is the seventh time this season that Griffin has won the weekly rookie honor. He was named to the NFC Pro Bowl team Wednesday.


text:
We present two new techniques exploiting a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor to characterize the optical self-focusing effect of nonlinear materials. We demonstrate that the defocus Zernike coefficient (C 5) can be used to quantify nonlinear optical properties of materials. In the first technique proposed, the wavefront of a collimated laser beam transmitted through a nonlinear sample is analyzed with different irradiance values. In the second technique,instead of conventional detectors, a Hartmann-Shack sensor is used in a Z-scan setup. The methods are demonstrated by measuring the nonlinear refractive indices of CS 2 and Quartz, using femtosecond Ti:sapphire lasers at 76MHz and 1KHz repetition rate.
© 2009 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
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