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The continuing rise in shares of First Solar (FSLR) makes it worth taking a second look at the solar energy sector. First Solar is up 140% after hitting a bottom in June 2012: By comparison, LDK Solar (LDK), Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL) and JinkoSolar Holding Co. (JKS) all reported weaker quarterly revenues. The industry is being hurt by oversupply, lower demand. This led to flat to negative margins for suppliers. Solar prices are down 21%, and Trina Solar may now want to set a floor price to cap further declines. If rivals do the same thing, this may mark the bottom for more losses. When Trina reported results, the company saw sales decline, to $298 million, nearly 40% compared to the year before. Shipments declined 9.2% to 380 megawatts. Trina is operating at 50% of capacity. By comparison, First Solar was operating at an 83% capacity, during its quarter. First Solar forecasts it will run at 90 to 95% in the next quarter. LDK, Trina, and First Solar Compared: Solar Prices Could Be At a Bottom Panel prices averaged 79 cents a watt on November 5, 2012, up from an all-time low of 67 cents a watt reached on September 24. Supply Glut Could Alleviate If manufacturers stop chasing market share, the excess supply of solar panels could alleviate in the next few quarters. This will also help companies generate a profit instead of a loss for each sale. Other Solar Energy-Related News Canadian Solar (CSIQ) received financing to construct a 49MW solar project. LDK Solar (LDK) beat estimates in its quarterly results, but guided far lower revenue. The company now expects revenue to be between $230 million – $290 million. The previous consensus estimate was $552.4 million. First Solar (FSLR) won a small project in China's Xinjiang province to supply 2 MW of modules. Business Section: Investing Ideas Looking to follow the trend? Keep in mind First Solar has the strongest upside and should be the first solar energy company to look at. The company is concentrating on grid-energy supply instead of rooftop solar. First Solar, Inc. ( FSLR, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Manufactures and sells solar modules using a thin-film semiconductor technology. Market cap at $2.58B, most recent closing price at $29.61.
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Creepy Cool Collectibles From The '88 Cult Classic...
Clowns creep me out. Clowns creep A LOT of people out, so much so that the fear of them is medically diagnosed as "coulrophobia". That fear of clowns has been used to great effect in many horror movies, from Pennywise in Stephen King's IT to Captain Spaulding in Rob Zombie's House Of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects. Arguably the most famous horror clowns, however, come from 1988's campy cult classic, Killer Klowns From Outer Space. While B-Movie silly, the film succeeded by fully embracing clown culture - not only in the appearance of its outlandish alien terrors, but also with its twisted clown-like kills. Cotton candy ray guns and acid cream pies? The Killer Klowns used 'em all.
In 2006, the Killer Klowns (surprisingly) went down in toy history with the first ever Killer Klown action figure. Produced by SOTA Toys as part of their Now Playing series, the figure depicted "Rudy" and was released as two different color variants. As anyone who has seen Killer Klowns From Outer Space knows, the movie was crammed packed full with many different Klown designs (How many clowns fit in a car?). Collectors wanted more, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. SOTA switched hands and Now Playing went the way of the Dodo bird and Spawn action figures, the Killer Klowns' toy future seemingly along with it. Then - in 2008 - a small toy miracle happened. No, Spawn action figures didn't return, but the Killer Klowns did find a new home. Amok Time, a long-standing toy retailer, had announced it would begin to produce their own action figures. Called Monstarz, the series would focus on "niche" horror movie licenses, cult classics if you will, and the Killer Klowns would be one such property to get the Amok Time treatment. It just took awhile to happen...
I'm not precisely sure why it took so long for Amok Time's new Killer Klown action figures to be released. I'm sure having enough money and customer pre-orders were two huge factors - making and selling quality toys is a gamble and far from being cheap. Despite the delay, the fact of the matter is that Amok Time's Killer Klown action figures - "Tiny" and "Shorty" - are here. Like their amazing ROTLD Tarman Zombie (read my review HERE), Amok's Killer Klowns are a labor of love - figures made by die-hard fans FOR the die-hard fans. In stock now at AmokTime.com, each figure priced at $24.99, or order both and save $5 at $44.99 a set.
Bright and colorful, the clam shell packaging for Amok Time's Killer Klowns is sweet eye candy. While Tiny and Shorty are essentially the same figure, they distinctively stand apart with their unique color scemes. Amok took this color approach one step further by wisely applying it to the packaging - vibrant yellow and orange for the blue outfitted Tiny, purple and lime green for the yellow Shorty. The result is a colorful contrast that is sure to please, especially mint on card collectors. The back of each figure's packaging insert is unique as well, with a prominent photo of the figure in hand along with a smaller pic of the other Klown. Some brief text introduces collectors to Amok Time's Monstarz and describes the accessories each figure comes with. "In Space No one Can Eat Ice Cream!" You gotta love that movie tag line.
As mentioned earlier, there were quite a few different Klowns in the film - skinny, fat and everything in between. Shorty is best remembered as the playful Klown with the boxing gloves... that punches a thug's head clean off! As his name implies, Shorty is also the shortest Klown of the bunch. Tiny, on the other hand, is a mystery to me. I don't recall him in the movie and a quick look at the Killer Klowns Wiki doesn't have him listed. That's not to say he doesn't make an appearance - it's been awhile since I've seen the movie. Tiny may very well be an all-new Klown that Amok Time made up as a smart re-use of Shorty. Either way, I don't see how fans can complain - he's a great looking figure. Unless you have a very specific color preference, I don't see how you can buy just one Klown.
The difference between Tiny and Shorty does go beyond their color scheme, however. Take a gander at those psychotic mugs above. You'll note that each figure has it's own distinct face paint design. The patterns on the front of each figure's bozo suit is also unique: pink and green speckled stars for Shorty, yellow spots on Tiny. For having no sculpting differences, the two figures stand apart remarkably.
Articulation, while not extreme, is useful and well constructed. There's a smooth 360 degree swivel at the head for looking side to side and the arms pack some serious motion. While the arms appear to be ball-joints, they are in fact swivels at the shoulders. You'd think this would limit the figure's movement, but it doesn't at all. Combined with swivel/ hinged elbows and swivel wrists, you can get some really cool poses. I had the most fun having the figures practice pugilism; the amount of expressive boxing poses you can achieve is awesome. There are no articulation joints in the legs, but the sculpted stance they are in more than makes up for it. They also stand rather well, though I do wish they included peg holes on their feet so the option to use a display base was there.
Speaking of boxing, each Klown comes with a fair amount of accessories. Included are a set of normal Klown hands and an interchangable set of boxing gloved hands. You'll note that Shorty comes packaged with these already attached, while Tiny comes packed with his standard hands - another subtle difference that sets the two Klowns apart. Switching hands is a pretty straight forward affair of popping off the old hands and popping the new pair on - though the connection is a tad tight. Still, with a little muscle power you'll get them on. Plus the posts are really thick and strong, so there's no fear of breakage.
The normal pair of Klown hands are designed specifically for the remaining accessories: the cool cotton candy ray gun and the acid pie. The right hand grips the colorful blaster firmly, while the left hand is splayed open and can balance a pie when the palm is faced up. It's not a solid connection - something a simple peg and hole system could have fixed - but it gets the job done. Creative types could even insert a magnet for some crazy pie throwing poses. Fun accessories for sure, and if you're like me, you'll have each figure showing them off - boxing gloves for Shorty and ray gun and pie for Tiny.
Fun accessories and even more fun figures. Amok Time has to be commended for getting these two Killer Klowns in the hands of passionate collectors. Where most modern toy companies face the market with safe, big-brand licenses, Amok has accepted the challenge of - let's face it - a pretty obscure property. It may have taken awhile to get these figures made, but unlike so many failed figure projects that have come and gone, Amok Time - and their loyal fan base - never gave up. Send in the Klowns! Get your Killer Klowns at AmokTime.com.
Review and Photos by Jeff Saylor
Review Samples Courtesy of Amok Time
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins has replaced Sarah Murdoch as host of Australia's Next Top Model.
The model and Myer spokesperson will join the show for series eight which will air on Fox 8 next year. The show's judges, fashion designer Alex Perry and former model Charlotte Dawson, will also be returning.
Murdoch announced a year ago that should would be leaving the show as both host and executive producer. At the time Murdoch said: "Leaving the show has been a very difficult decision for me. Being entrusted to work on all aspects as host and co-executive producer has been a huge experience and I have enjoyed it so much."
Today's announcement ends a year-long process of finding a replacement for Murdoch. Hawkins told TodayFM this morning that she has been in negotiations about the show since last year but blamed scheduling conflicts for the delayed appointment.
According to a Foxtel spokesperson the lack of a host contributed to the show taking a hiatus this year. Australia's Next Top Model is scheduled to return in 2013 with auditions kicking off in January.
Hawkins previously hosted Seven's rival modelling reality show, Make Me a Supermodel, which only lasted one season back in 2008. She has also presented for Seven's The Great Outdoors and appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
Murdoch hosted Australia's Next Top Model for three years and unfortunately is most famous for incorrectly naming Kelsey Martinovich as the winner in the 2010 live finale. Amanda Ware was announced as the actual winner an awkward moment later.
Post Top Model, Murdoch fronted Ten's new reality show Everybody Dance Now, featuring US performers Jason Derulo and Kelly Rowland.
Airing in August this year the show was a resounding flop for the network and was cancelled in near-record time.


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Pau Gasol's touch pass was on target near the end of the Lakers' three-hour practice Thursday. Dwight Howard caught it easily, soared toward the rafters and dunked the ball with such force the backboard swayed wildly up and down.
Another day, another giant leap forward for the Lakers' new center.
"It's cool," Howard said of his rapid progress from back surgery five months ago.
"It's still practice," he added. "It's not a game."
Howard was far less at ease when talking about the Lakers' latest melodrama.
After a few minutes of straightforward discussion about his back, his fitness in training camp and his teammates' remarkable skills, Howard faced a string of questions about Shaquille O'Neal's recent critical comments of him.
O'Neal, now serving as a TNT commentator, said he believed former Lakers center Andrew Bynum, now with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets were the best true centers in the game today.
"I don't care what Shaq says," Howard said of the former Lakers center, who also moved from Orlando to Los Angeles amid much teeth gnashing in central Florida. "Shaq played the game. He's done. He's gone. It's time to move on."
It's not the first time O'Neal has made disparaging comments about Howard, and it's not the first time one former Lakers center has attacked another one. Wilt Chamberlain used to jab Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on occasion back in the 1980s.
"He hated the fact when he played that the older guys were talking about him and how he played and now he's doing the exact same thing," Howard said of O'Neal. "Just let it go. There's no sense for him to be talking trash to me.
"He did his thing in the league. He's one of the most dominant players to ever play the game. Just sit back and relax. You did your thing. Your time is up. So, I don't really care. He can say whatever he wants to say."
Meanwhile, Howard hasn't been cleared for five-on-five scrimmages yet, but he can play in a modified version of five-on-five that involved limited pushing and shoving during a half-court drill in which three teams were on the court at one time.
It's called five-on-five-on-five, and it requires less stress on Howard's back than a conventional full-court game. There are no fast breaks, very little hard running and only limited contact around the basket.
The team with the ball keeps possession if it scores, then heads to the other end of the court to face the third team. If the defending team stops the offensive team, it gains possession and goes to the opposite end of the floor.
Last week, Howard was ruled out of the Lakers' exhibition opener Sunday against the Golden State Warriors in Fresno. This week, he said he hoped to play in several exhibitions before their regular-season opener Oct. 30.
Pointed backup battle
Steve Blake and Chris Duhon are locked in a training-camp battle for the backup point guard position behind starter Steve Nash. Blake was cleared to practice for the first time after impaling his left foot on a parking lot spike strip last week.
"The kid is just tough as nails," coach Mike Brown said of Blake. "He only knows one way to play, which is hard. Watching him, you couldn't tell this was his first practice. He was Steve Blake."
Basketball, eh?
A crew from a Canadian sports network has been at Lakers camp for several days, scoring interviews with Steve Nash, of course, but also with Robert Sacre, a rookie center from Gonzaga who was also a British Columbia prep standout.
Nash attended high school in Victoria; Sacre went to school in North Vancouver.


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Dried fruit specialist Sunsweet has rolled out two new products.
Amazin Berry Blend and Amazin Cranberries are the latest offerings from Yuba City, Calif.-based Sunsweet, according to a company news release.
Both products are blends that contain Sunsweet's Plum Amazin diced plums, which help reduce the sugar and calorie contents of the products.
Amazin Berry Blend is a mix of sweet and tart flavors that features diced plums, cranberries, blueberries and cherries.
With Amazin Cranberries, Sunsweet enters the cranberry market. The product offers 23% less sugar and 12% fewer calories than other cranberry products.
"Consumers continue to seek convenient snacks that also offer nutritional value," Dane Lance, Sunsweet's president, said in the release. "Our new Amazin products provide healthy snack options with less sugar and fewer calories for increasingly health-minded consumers."


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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
April 13, 2012
Value Picks
Outfielders for 4/13/12
Back from a writing hiatus, your source for obscure outfielder observations returns with the baseball regular season, and a return to the usual format for Value Picks, as described by Michael Street Tuesday. Before we get started, however, since I received so much mail (thanks, Mom) asking about my draft in the Fantasy Pros 911 Expert League on Wednesday, here's the squad. Wish me luck; first place prize is a cruise:
Team McQuown
I couldn't resist pasting the draft as-is to make sure people were reading... "Curtis Thigpen" is really "Jesus Montero", who is eligible only at UTIL until he catches 10 games. I picked up Kevin Gregg and Brian Fuentes with my first two reserve picks but am still probably toast in the saves category. Batting average is also going to be hard to come by with this crew, but I feel pretty good about the other eight categories despite not having a real top-of-the-rotation starter. Having blown my first two reserve picks on much-needed reliever, I—like you—will be reading the Value Picks columns carefully to find some depth in position players. Comments are welcome, and yes, I know $20 is ridiculous for Delmon Young; it was late in the draft, I had money left over, and I thought the second-best option was a clear downgrade.
Derek Carty thought Jordan Schafer (Yahoo! 20%, ESPN 1%, CBS 27%) was good enough to give him a star on the NL Outfielder Tiers Rating List and yours truly wrote, "it's too early to count him out" in the Baseball Prospectus 2012 annual. Fantasy owners have to be a bit more reactionary to current performance than PECOTA is, but while a recent 3-for-5 game with three steals isn't why Schafer is here, it doesn't hurt. The exciting thing about Schafer is that he finally looks 100 percent healthy after years of injury woes. And while the Grady Sizemore comparisons of 2008 aren't going to prove realistic, he does have the same 40-steal potential, as suggested by his 22 steals in 338 plate appearances in 2011 (with just a .309 on-base percentage).
The Depth Charts currently suggest only 65 percent playing time for Schafer this season, but he's easily the team's best defender in center field, and it's going to take a prolonged slump to get him out of the lineup. While there's little other than renewed help to assume he's going to start hitting, his predecessor in Houston's center field role, Michael Bourn, was only a career .263/.331/.348 hitter entering the 2011 season. Considering Bourn had an ADP of 51 in mock drafts before the season, the chance to get a "lite" version has to be considered tempting for a team in need of speed.
Dayan Viciedo (Yahoo! 12%, ESPN 1%, CBS 43%) is:
Etcetera, etcetera. How Yonder Alonso, as an example, has double the ownership rate (in Yahoo! leagues) is beyond comprehension. He's almost so good that even if your team can't use a power-hitting outfielder, it is worth considering stashing him on the bench to keep him away from other owners.
An aside: I was going to suggest that I must sound like a "broken record" about Viciedo, but I realize that dates me. So anyone who can help me get up to date and can suggest a 21st-century replacement for this saying (something unavoidably repetitive and annoying/broken—like the use of the term "regress" in baseball articles) will get, um, my gratitude and a mention when I first use the phrase in an article. Thanks.
Sometimes, strange maneuvers by teams end up creating playing time for players in unexpected ways. Take David Murphy (Yahoo! 12%, ESPN 1%, CBS 43%), for example. He has been the ideal fourth outfielder for years now, hitting well enough to start in a corner for most teams and almost fielding center field well enough to warrant playing there full-time. But the Rangers have always had a fleet of fleet-footed center fielders who they wanted to have patrolling the middle of the outfield. With the sketchy offensive contributions of such guys as Julio Borbon and Craig Gentry and the frequent shelf time required for the thumpers in the corners—Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton—Murphy was assured of a lot of playing time no matter what. Now that the team wants Hamilton patrolling center (and he's on board with it), left field opens up for Murphy. He'll be a plus both offensively and defensively in left and will get more playing time than ever as a result.
With a career batting line of .282/.340/.451 and an offensive environment which should be among the highest-scoring in baseball this year, there's really not much reason to avoid Murphy. He has never hit lefties very well in his career, and more exposure to them could drop his batting average a bit, but the extra runs and RBI should more than make up for it. As long as he's in line to start (almost) every day, he's worth having in almost any format.
In honor of colleague-in-fantasy Michael Street, this week's deep league picks will have a distinct Japanese flair…
AL-only VP
NL-only VP
As a bonus, don't sleep on Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Yahoo! 1%, ESPN 0%, CBS 3%), who should be more than adequate as the large part of the center field platoon while Andres Torres is out. Additionally, he has the basic skills to win the fourth outfielder job away from Scott Hairston with a good showing. Kevin Goldstein ranked him #11 on the Mets Top-11 List, and while he's no star, he doesn't have to be in order to have value in an NL-only league.
Rob McQuown is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @robmcquown
8 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Rob, sorry to reply here, but no spot in Collateral Damage. A few of the return dates seem to be pretty screwed up - Scott Baker May 15, AJ Burnett Sept 3, Crawford Aug 13? Anyhow, just to let you know.
Apr 13, 2012 01:07 AM
Return dates are estimated based on past experience with that type of injury. The comments should (hopefully) dispel any thoughts of unreasonable returns, such as the ones you mention. We'll have to figure out a way to make that less confusing, because I agree it is.
Apr 13, 2012 01:09 AM
Jim Ferguson
Rob, when it comes to Viciedo, you sound like a lame YTMND.
Apr 13, 2012 08:35 AM
No Michael Saunders? He's a changed man.
Apr 13, 2012 10:34 AM
It would be hard to argue against picking him up in an AL-only format, as he's certainly improved his chances of sticking when Gutierrez returns (whenever that may be). And he's always offered the fantasy allure of power/speed. Obviously, his park and teammates put a bit of a damper on his upside.
Apr 13, 2012 10:49 AM
In thinking of an updated replacement for the "broken record" reference I first thought of my two ex-wives, annoying and repetitive, but thought that would be too specific. I then thought Khardasian, but I realized people may think talentless and superficial instead of annoying and repetitive, so I settled on just calling it "Skip Bayless".
Apr 16, 2012 11:28 AM
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Afternoon: After arrival in Split, transfer to the hotel and take some time to unpack and relax before orientation. In the early evening, we will gather in our private meeting room where the Group Leader will greet you with a warm welcome and introduce everyone. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: Welcome dinner. Enjoy a 3-course meal blending Mediterranean and international flavors plus complimentary coffee, tea, and water. Other drinks including alcoholic beverages are available at additional cost.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Split includes walking approximately 2.5 miles, standing indoors and out, and climbing stairs (including some with no railings).
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. Our breakfast buffet offers a variety of local foods such as meats, eggs, fruit, breads, juice, milk, coffee, tea, and water.
Morning: This morning enjoy a lecture at the hotel given by a professor from Split University. Depart on a walking exploration to discover Split with a local expert. The city, one of the main ports for the country serves as a hub for the nearby islands and beyond. Here lies Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built as a retirement residence for the Roman emperor Diocletian, dating back to the 3rd century. Built as a villa, the palace is more like a city within a city. It features huge watchtowers, gates, private apartments, religious monuments and altars, all crafted in white limestone. At one time it housed as many as 9,000 people. The cobblestone streets and open spaces invite great learning opportunities. Explore the Diocletian Palace, Peristyle Square, Cathedral St. Dominus, Temple of Jupiter, Golden Gate and Statue of Bishop Grgur.
Lunch: Lunch on your own in Split to discover the flavors of Dalmatia; your Group Leader will be on hand to provide suggestions and directions.
Afternoon: Free time to further explore the city.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Sibenik involves walking approximately 1 mile round trip and standing for up to 1 hour. In the Dalmatian village participants walk approximately 500 yards round trip across uneven terrain.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: This morning check out of your hotel and depart for a field trip to Šibenik. Unique because of its fortresses and towers such as Sv. Mihovil [St. Mihovil], Sv. Nikola [St. Nicholas], Sv. Ivan [St. John] and Šubicevac, Šibenik is most famous for the cathedral of Sv. Jakov [St. James] that was built in the 15th century. Constructed by the masterful hands of Juraj Dalmatinac and Nikola Firentinac, and because of its original architecture of large stone slabs, this cathedral was entered on the UNESCO list of world heritage and voted at the same time to be most beautiful sacral building in Croatia. Walk along the sea front to the Cathedral and Town Museum.
Lunch: Lunch in a Dalmatian village featuring home-made local foods such as soup, roasted meat and potatoes, sweets, and wine.
Afternoon: Free Time: Glimpse the culture and traditions of this part of the Mediterranean as we explore a hamlet of small stone houses clustered around a central courtyard. Late in the afternoon, we return to Split and board the majestic MY Futura.
Dinner: On the ship. For this evening and others aboard the Futura, our chef will prepare tasty meals with different set menus. We will endeavor to accommodate special dietary needs to the extent possible given local resources.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to the Split Ethnographic Museum involves walking up to 2 miles round trip on flat ground. The visit to Trogir involves walking approximately 1 mile and 600 yards round trip. There is a lecture on the top floor of the museum which requires climbing several flights of stairs. No elevator is available.
Breakfast: On board the ship. Our breakfast buffet offers eggs, fruit, cereals, yogurt, local bread, hot and cold drinks.
Morning: This morning, we walk from the yacht to the Split Ethnographic Museum that houses excellent examples of Dalmatia's rich traditions and cultural heritage, from jewelry and weapons to traditional costumes and embroidery. The museum presents aspects of life over the past two centuries including trades such as pottery, knitting, woodcarving, basketry, footwear, and the like. The building itself is fascinating, reputed to have been Diocletian's apartment in the imperial palace. At the conclusion of the field trip, you may walk back to the yacht or stay awhile longer for personal independent exploration.
Lunch: On board the ship.
Afternoon: We arrive in Trogir mid-afternoon. Led by a local expert, we will undertake a walking exploration on this small island just off the mainland. The beautiful little town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It developed out of the ancient town of Tragurion (island of goats) founded by Greek colonists in the 3rd century B.C. Trogir today abounds with monuments that testify to its millennia of rich cultural heritage. As we walk along the waterfront to the South Town Gate, step back in time 4,000 years. We will visit St. Lawrence Cathedral and walk to St. Mark Fort to view the city's defenses built by the Venetians. Before dinner tonight, enjoy a lecture by a University of Split assistant professor to deepen your understanding of Dalmatian history and culture.
Dinner: On your own to explore local cuisine. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Stari Grad is no more than 1 mile round trip of walking on mainly flat ground.
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: This morning delve into the history and culture of Croatia during an on-board lecture presented by your Study Leader in the ship's lounge.
Lunch: On board.
Afternoon: The island Hvar is the queen of the Croatian Dalmatian islands. It has been famous since the antiquities because of its strategic and nautical position, the richness of the various historical periods, the culture and natural monuments and the literature. This afternoon discover Stari Grad, formerly known as Pharia and Pharos, one of the oldest settlements on the island and the city after which the island was named (Hvar being a derivative of Pharia and Pharos). With roots reaching back to Greek antiquity, the town is adorned with white stone houses and has an atmosphere so special that throughout the years many of Stari Grad's visitors have become its permanent residents. Walk along to visit the birthplace of poet Petar Hektorovic and the Dominican Monastery and Museum housing "The Mourning of Christ" by Tintoreto. After your field trip today, enjoy a special musical event on board the ship. Within the rich cultural heritage of Dalmatia, music holds a special place and one of the most popular forms of expression is singing. The group Faroski Kantaduri (Faros Cantors) performs a combination of traditional Dalmatian polyphonic song blended with Gregorian chant, or as they put it, "from the tavern to the alter." The Faroski Kantaduri have performed throughout Croatia and 20 countries from Europe to America including leading music festivals.
Dinner: On board.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Hvar is mainly flat and no more than 1 mile and 400 yards round trip, then standing for up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: Field Trip: "Discover Hvar" : Following the decline of the Roman empire, the island of Hvar's harbor town -- a center of Adriatic civilization and trade for thousands of years - was besieged by pirates. Hvar's people sought protection from the Venetians, resulting in a new era of prosperity that enriched its cultural heritage. Today we see ancient walls, Gothic palaces, and stone paved streets. Led by a local expert, we will walk to the Arsenal -- described by the Venetians as "the most beautiful and the most useful building in the whole of Dalmatia" -- that includes the first theater in the western world open to all classes (built in 1612). We continue across the old town square, the largest in Dalmatia, to St. Stephen's Cathedral, completed in the 18th Century on a 6th Century church site, followed by the Franciscan monastery.
Lunch: On board.
Afternoon: Free afternoon. Take this opportunity for personal, independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Or, if you prefer, simply relax aboard the yacht. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: On board the ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Korcula requires walking and climbing some steps through the coastal gate and through the Old Town of Korcula for approximately 1 mile and 200 yards, then back to the ship for approximately 600 yards.
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: This morning, enjoy a presentation by your Study Leader focusing on the Yugoslav Wars. Examine the conflict itself and 20 years of independence.
Lunch: On board.
Afternoon: When the ship arrives in Korcula, we walk from the yacht to explore the Old Town, which, according to legend was founded by the Trojan elder Antenor. Local legend also claims it as the birthplace of the great explorer Marco Polo. The historic town sits on a fortified point jutting out into the sea. Its buildings of stone with red tile roofs create one of the most picturesque images along the coast. As we walk, observe the herringbone pattern of narrow walkways adorned with elegant houses and palaces. Among the most significant sites we will visit are St. Mark's Cathedral and the Town Museum presenting cultural and commercial milestones from prehistory to the present with collections of traditional crafts including stonemasonry and shipbuilding as well as household objects that represent everyday life.
Dinner: On board.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Mljet National Park involves walking over a small hill to a small lake and around it along to the big lake for approximately 1 mile and 400 yards, then retracing one's steps back to the ship.
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: This morning is yours to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Adriatic as the ship sails toward Mljet.
Lunch: On board.
Afternoon: Field Trip: National Park Mljet: Comprising the western part of Mljet Island, Mljet National Park is considered the most important protected area of southern Dalmatia and among the most captivating with its varied and verdant vegetation. The park includes two deep bays that, due to extremely narrow links to the sea, are called the Small Lake (Malo Jezero) and the Great Lake (Veliko Jezero) that has at its center the islet of St. Mary, reached by boat. The main feature is a 12th Century Benedictine monastery that includes the Church of St. Mary. The building has served a variety of purposes over the centuries and is now a cafe-restaurant. We will walk about 10 minutes (approximately a mile) and down a small hill to Malo Jezero and another 10 minutes (approximately half a mile) to the point where we take a boat to the islet and the monastery to hear the story of the monks and visit the church before returning.
Dinner: On board.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Dubrovnik involves walking no more than 2 miles in a circular trip and standing for up to 2 hours inside the Old City.
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: A professor from the University of Dubrovnik will provide an overview of this exceptional city Lord Byron described as "the Pearl of the Adriatic" and that George Bernard Shaw called "Paradise on Earth." Recent archaeological research has shown that settlement dates back to at least the 6th Century A.D. if not earlier.Field Trip: Explore Dubrovnik: Boarding our motorcoach, we ride into the city and see at first glance that Dubrovnik is not simply lovely to look at with its towering stone walls, marble streets, and buildings from other ages, but steeped in a rich and fascinating history. We cross a stone bridge, then walk down the stone-paved main street known as the Stradun that is both commercial and residential. In spite of conflicts over the centuries, Dubrovnik retains its character with Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture seen in palaces, churches, and other beautiful buildings where people live and work. Little remains of the devastation from a months long siege and shelling in 1991. Led by a local expert, we will visit sites including the Franciscan monastery and the impressive Rector's Palace.
Lunch: On own to explore local flavors.
Afternoon: This afternoon is at leisure to explore Dubrovnik on your own.
Dinner: Farewell dinner on board with music.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The visit to Herceg Novi involves walking up a slope to the Old Town approximately 900 yards, then approximately 800 yards through the Old Town to the main square and first fortification, and then 900 yards back to the bus.
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: This morning disembark and explore Dubrovnik on your own. The motorcoach will take everyone into the Old City at approximately 9:00 a.m. You might want to walk the city walls -- originally constructed in the 10th Century and fortified in 1453 -- that are 3 meters (almost 10 feet) thick along the sea wall and 6 meters (almost 20 feet) thick inland, with fortresses at the four corners. You can also ride the new Dubrovnik cable car for spectacular views of the Old Town and shoreline from the top of Mount Srd. Rendezvous and board the motorcoach for departure by 11:00 a.m.
Lunch: En route to Herceg Novi in Montenegro, lunch at a local restaurant includes local recipes and local food.
Afternoon: Arrive in Herceg Novi, Montenegro and check in at the hotel. For those who are still feeling energetic upon arrival, the Group Leader will lead an optional walk into the Old Town. Although actually one of the younger towns of the Montenegrin coast, Herceg Novi originated during the Roman Empire. It is special thanks to its exceptional landscape on the slopes of Mount Orjen, the highest mountain in the Dinaric Alps, facing one of the world's most beautiful bays. The once strong, high, city walls have deteriorated over centuries due to earthquakes and the ravages of war, but enough remains to recall an extraordinary history and heritage including vestiges of the Turkish, Venetian, Spanish, and Austro-Hungarian periods.
Dinner: At your hotel in Herceg Novi. Enjoy a buffet with choices of hot and cold international dishes, fresh salads, coffee, tea, and water.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Field Trip: Discover Perast: The Bay of Kotor's towns and islands have become internationally recognized as one of Montenegro's primary attractions and cultural treasures. One of the most interesting of these is ancient Perast. The motorcoach will take us around the bay where we will begin our walk to see palaces from the Renaissance and Baroque eras that attest to its former days of wealth as a favored vacation spot for Venetian and Russian nobles. There are also reminders of the town's seafaring heritage when it was a bustling port. Yet today, Perast has a population of fewer than 400. We then take small boats out into the bay to the tiny island, Our Lady of the Rocks. Legend has it that in 1452, two brother sailors passed by a small crag jutting out of the bay, bearing an icon of the Madonna and Child. To honor this experience, generations of mariners pledged their faith and created an artificial island by scuttling old ships and depositing stones. Eventually, the base was strong enough for a chapel that was named Our Lady of the Rocks. Such was its fame that the chapel was gifted with thousands of silver plates as well as masterful paintings. En route and back, you will be able to see at a distance the small island of St. George, a "natural" site notable for its Benedictine monastery dating back to the 12th Century. At the conclusion of the field trip, we board the motorcoach and transfer to Kotor.
Lunch: On your own in Kotor to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Field Trip: Discover Kotor (UNESCO SITE) A local expert leads our exploration of Kotor's old town, small but one of the best preserved on the Adriatic. This UNESCO World Heritage site is famed for exceptional architecture in a stunning natural setting. Founded by the Romans, Kotor developed into an important center of commerce and the arts. Traded back and forth between empires, its history is tempestuous. It was a bridgehead of Venice for a time, and Venetian influence is apparent everywhere including the impressive city wall. One of the key sites we will visit is the Maritime Museum, housed in a former palace, that documents the importance of seafaring in Kotor's history and culture and its former status as a naval power.
Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be in touch via the Road Scholar Social Network, where you can share memories, pictures, and comments. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Breakfast: At the hotel
Morning: Transfer to Dubrovnik airport for return flights to the U.S.


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Bucharest International Wine Contest 2013 – (click to watch video interview)
Artist's News and Exhibitions
Participating in the "The Exclusive Exhibition" Curated By USIA, Bulgari Hotel & Residences - London on April 4, 2014. My piece Marilyn has been forecasted to rise in price by 72%.
Five works are hanging in a special exhibition at the Home House Bison Bar from January through July 2014. All works are for sale during the exhibition.
"Shaping Beautiful Nudes from Old Corks," Claire Adamson writes, "Engelhardt has also used the crystals formed by tartaric acid on corks... 'it came from the wine. Like everything I do, I try to take advantage of what's given to me and make it work.'" Wine-Searcher.com, October 26, 2013.
2013 Threadneedle Prize FINALIST and WINNER of the Visitors' Choice Award – "The Prize provides experienced and emerging artists with the opportunity to showcase their work... one of the largest art prizes in the UK." October 2013.
"Genius In A Bottle: Amazing Wine Cork Mosaics," John Staughton writes "... this final dash of artistic complexity sealed my judgement of Engelhardt as a gifted and visionary new talent." Art Outside the Lines Blog – InventorSpot.com, May 22, 2013.
Interviewed by Monique Soltani, 2012 Wine Blog Awards Winner – (click just below the 'o' on Show in the Listen Here bar to jump to interview) – Wine Oh TV, May 15, 2013.
"The Other Art Fair 2013 – Our Favourite Works" – Conrad Engelhardt, 'Marilyn', UltraVie, April 30, 2013.
"The Other Art Fair 2013 – Highlights... Last but not least was probably my pick of the fair. Conrad Engelhardt... I was surprised that a gallery like Opera or Rook & Raven hasn't already snapped him up.," London Art Scene, April 27, 2013.
THE OTHER ART FAIR – Chosen as one of the "UK's Best Unrepresented Artists" from over 500 applicants for "the UK's Leading Artist–Led Fair," London, April 25-28, 2013.
"What A Corker: Artist's Innovative Portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi," London24, April 16, 2013.
"New Top Artists: Grab Their Works Before It's Too Late" UK Huffington Post, April 11, 2013
Short Stories Section, Notre Dame Magazine, Spring 2013.
"Wine Cork Art – Fashion Icons" – "The very talented Conrad Engelhardt shows us that fashion can be presented in many forms," GracieOpulanza.com, February 4, 2013.
HOXTON GALLERY AT THE ARCH, January 25-27, 2013.
"Inside Cork By Cork's London Studio," ApartmentTherapy.com, January 25, 2013.
"Unfiltered is a great lover of the visual arts,... At last, we've found in Conrad Engelhardt a wine artist who understands us." Wine Speculator – Unfiltered, November 29, 2012.
"Artists In Shoreditch: Interview With Conrad Engelhardt," Made In Shoreditch Magazine, November 18, 2012.
"Conrad Engelhardt's Wine Cork Collages Portray Nudes Reclining And Wining (PHOTOS)," The Huffington Post – Arts & Culture, November 9, 2012.
"What A Corker! Artist Creates Collages Of Nude Models Using Hundreds Of Wine Bottle Stops," UK Daily Mail Online, November 7, 2012.
"Conrad Engelhardt's Stained Wine Cork Paintings," Oddity Central, November 2, 2012.
First artwork, triptych, Nude Woman Lying On Couch (2012), hung in Terence Conran's Lutyens Restaurant in London, August 2012 (photo left). Also see Lutyens September 2012 Newsletter.
"Artist Creates Masterpiece From Recycled Wine Corks," Packaging News, May 2, 2012.


text:
The Food and Drug Administration is giving fresh answers to frequently asked questions on new food safety rules.
One document released in late March answers questions related to the produce safety rule, and another covers questions related to the proposed rule for food facilities.
The 15-page document on the produce safety rule covers what farms and commodities are covered under the proposed rule, The list of questions also includes discussion of exemptions to the produce safety rule and how they could be withdrawn. The FDA addresses the issue of whether packing of produce is subject to the rule.
For the produce safety rule for food facilities, the FDA provides 43 pages of commentary on frequently asked questions, including how the proposed regulation would define the terms including "critical control point," "cross-contact" and "hazard."
A complete list of FDA documents with frequently asked questions on a variety of food safety and food defense issues can be found online.


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" Brand: Smiths / Type: Crisps "
I really enjoy strong flavours and so this goes with anything I snack on. I generally have packets of several packets of Walkers Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks in my larder because I enjoy the strong flavours that these crisps have, but also my kids really enjoy these and it's something I will regularly put in their packed lunch boxes. I usually buy these in a multi packet from Tesco. A multi packet contains 8 packets of the Walkers Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks and this will cost £1.75 each, which equates to just 22p per individual packet. I think that this is a good price for a branded product from a quality manufacturer like Walkers and it's something I'm willing to pay.
Each individual packet within the multipack contains 22g of the chopsticks and so this means that the packets are actually fairly small, but they are big enough for a small snack (although I have to admit that I will often have two packets back-to-back). The come in traditional cellophane plastic packaging that has ingredients and nutritional information printed on it clearly. Each packet contains only 108 calories which, for a packet of crisps, is not bad at all and I will even treat myself with a packet every now and again when I'm on a diet.
The crisps are made in the form of sticks and they are made of maize. The sticks are crunchy but equally will dissolve on the tongue is you such on the sticks, which I am quite partial to doing. What I particularly like about these crisps is the fact that they are such a strong flavour and you do kind of get that wow factor as the flavour explodes in your mouth. I think the flavour is much fresher and crisper compared to other salt and vinegar crisps I have tried - and this is why they are a favourite of mine. I also like the fact that they do not feel or taste very greasy, although there is a slight greasy residue.
Overall, I really like Walkers Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks and I will continue to buy them.
When i was a child I always remember Smiths Crisps; not Walkers but Smiths. However Walkers were around then but there were 3 names all owned by Nabisco; Smiths, Walkers & Tudor. After Pepsico took over from Nabisco; The Tudor name was dropped and the Smiths name gradually got phased out in favour of Walkers.
Some crisps/potato/maize snacks still retain the Smiths name including Frazzles and of course Chipsticks. The type of crisps that I am desperate to eat once more are Savoury vinegar flavour; i love these so much that I am considering writing to Walkers to ask them to bring them back!!
Anyway back to Chipsticks. I have always liked this snack. I actually slightly prefer the ready salted chipsticks, although its rare that i see these. Its even a little rare to see Salt 'n' vinegar flavour! I bought my most recent pack at Asda. They usually come in packs of 8. The odd thing is I can't see anywhere on the packets that informs you how many grams there are in the bag. I'm not sure why this is, but obviously these snacks wouldn't weigh very much as they are a very light snack. I would estimate that there are about 20g in each bag.
Smiths Chipsticks are a maize & potato snack. They come in a packet that actually reminds you of chips, with salt and vinegar. There is something about the packaging that makes me at least think of this. They are in the shape of chips; the packet is light sky blue and white with blue stripes. At the top of the packet is the name Smiths in red with red stripes going across.
These chipsticks are very light and easy to eat; they are quite vinegary in taste and it would be very easy for me to eat 2 bags of these as they are not really filling. They sort of dissolve in your mouth and are very moreish.
Vegetable oil
Potato granules (preservative sodium metabisulphite)
Salt & vinegar flavour (acidity regulator; sodium diacetate)
Citric acid
Flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate from wheat, Disodium 5- ribonucleotide, salt)
Wheat flour
~~~Allergy Information~~~
Smiths Chipsticks are suitable for vegetarians and for coeliacs.
~~~Calorie Content~~~
Each packet only has 107 kcals in it.
These chipsticks are currently available on special offer at Asda for '3 for £3.50'. You can mix and match with other Walkers crisps/snacks.
My daughter and myself love this little snack; it tastes good, is light and quite low in calories.
It's always nice when you come accross a product from your childhood, I remember them being present in every single vending machine accross the country during the late 80's early 90's, when I was but a mere babe in arms ; )
The first thing to attract your attention is the stripy blue packaging, very distinctive and eye catching ensuring they stand out from the rest. But it's not only the packaging that sets them apart from others of its piers, it's not really even the taste which is a fairly standard (but good) representation of Salt & Vinegar, it is in fact the texture that makes Chipsticks leap out from the competition in my eyes.
The crisps have an almost crumbly texture (not a typical adjective where crisps are concerned), in fact they are similar in that respect to frazzles (another product that used to be produced by Smiths until they were taken over by Walkers.)
While texturally they are very pleasing the crumbly nature make them a bit messy to eat, with fingertips fast becoming covered in Salt & Vinegar maize dust, not a very sophisticated look but tasty to lick off, yum yum.
Another slight gripe (and it is only very slight) is that the same crumblyness makes these things a magnet for your teeth, expect to have to brush straight away after a bag of these.
As well as the Salt & Vinegar flavour there is also a ready salted (which I actually prefer), I'm not sure why only these two flavours but there you go, I would love to see maybe a habanero chili flavour but I think this is very unlikely to happen :' (
Thankfully Chipsticks are still being sold today, I reccomend them to anyone with their nostalgic hat on, anyone who likes to snack and anyone who likes Frazzles.
I'm a sucker for all things retro. If I ate it when I was wee, then I'll still buy it today. Chipsticks were one of my favourites when I was younger, and now I'm just after polishing off a bag. It's nice to be able to introduce your children to something that you used to get when you were small.
I got my Chipsticks in a multipack bag from Tescos. They were in a section of 3 for £3 brands so I popped an 8 pack bag into the trolley. When my little boy saw them as I unpacked the shopping he asked what they were (and next question as every mother knows... 'Can I have some?') And I told them that these were Chipsticks, but he might not like them as they were salt and vinegar flavoured, and being only three and a half he finds salt and vinegar is a little sharp for him.
He did the good old 'Please mummy' so I opened a packet and put a few on a plate for him. He sat on the sofa munching away and eventually had eaten the handful that I had given him. 'Those were fizzy crisps mummy' he said. I had to admit it was a good description.
What you get when you open a bag is a large handful of chip-shaped crisps, or Maize and potato snacks as they are referred to on the bag. I lifted the bag to tell you the weight, but the weight is not to be found anywhere. Now, I'm not Nadine Coyle, so I dont carry kitchen scales around with me, but I have read that they are about 25g per bag. They are fairly drenched in a vinegar flavouring which is really apparent from the moment you open the bag. I find this really tasty, but it wouldn't be for everyone.
My gripe with them is that they are just so crumbly. I've just finished a packet for my lunch and there are crumbs everywhere; all over the plate I had here, all over the desk and my knees. Admittedly I am a messy eater, but chipsticks are a little on the excessive side when it comes to crumbs.
Although the bag is just like you would remember when you were small, the crisps say Smith's on the bag, but they are actually produced by Walkers now. At only 107 calories per bag, they are a good option for someone who wants a quick snack but is also minding their weight. They are also suitable for coeliacs and for vegetarians. I didn't realise this before, so now I can buy a pack to have in when my friend comes to visit as she is coeliac and it always stresses me out when I have to find food that I can serve for her.
I love them, my little boy loves them... will you love them?
Smiths Crisps Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks
Description: Manufacturer: Smiths / Type: Crisps.
Recently, I have been trying to lose the few extra pounds that I gained over the festive season and so have given up snacking, replacing it with healthy eating and exercise. I believe that you should give yourself a treat now and again though and crisps are possibly my favourite snack. Deciding on which ones to buy was difficult as I wanted the healthiest ones possible but also, since they were a treat, wanted the tastiest ones too!
I finally narrowed the choice down to Frazzles, Wotsits and Chipsticks and the Chipsticks won. I bought a multi pack containing 8 packets for £1.20 but you can buy individual bags for around £0.40. These crisps can be found in most supermarkets and lots of newsagents and come in a bright sky blue and white pack.
As soon as you open the bag, you will smell the delicious salt and vinegar smell from the crisps. These Chipsticks are mouth wateringly strong and not for people who don't like a strong flavour!
These Chipsticks are a salt and vinegar flavor maize snack shaped like little sticks. They have a deliciously crunchy texture and then melt in your mouth, so are perfect for people who don't like hard crispy snacks.
For me though, the flavour of these makes them special, the salt and vinegar taste is so strong it stings your lips a little and makes your tongue tingle! If you prefer something a little tamer then there are a ready salted version of these snacks available which are also fab.
These crisps are an old favourite of mine and every bag is as good as I remember, if you haven't tried them yet then you certainly should, they are a treat. They also contain less calories and fat than most other crisps do, so you can feel a little virtuous while eating them, result!
I purchased these yesterday in my local store, they were selling them off for 50p for a 8 pack bag, normal price £1.00, which I think is great for 8 bags.
I remember eating these when I was very small, I also remember that the actual stick was larger then, or was I smaller.
In the bag you get 23gs (?) I had to weigh it because it doesnt give you a value anywhere on either of the bags. Walkers are my favourite snacks and I noticed another thing that Walkers have taken over Smiths.
On opening the bag, it seems quite full and immediately you are seduced by the aroma of salt and vinegar. It comes in abundance. I`m ashamed to say I`ve already ate all 8 bags, in less than 24 hours. They`re so morish. If you dont like strong flavour flavours, these are not for you, they are very strong, acidy and crunchy. They actually make my eyes water and my mouth very sore, but saying that if someone gave me another bag of 8 I`d eat them as well.
I like to eat mine either by putting in a handful of sticks at a time or licking off all the salt and vinegar individually.
Nutritional values
per 100g because it doesnt say the weight of individual bags
Energy 475g
Protein 6.0g
Carbs 61g
of which sugars 0.6g
Fat 23g
of which saturates 1.9g
Fibre 3g
Sodium 1.45g
Equivalent as salt 3.68g
This product is suitable for vegetarians and Coeliacs
But its not for the faint hearted, I cant remember they being this spicy
Smiths Chipsticks are one of those packets of crisps that I remember eating when I was little along with Frazzels, and they were always my favourite types of crisps because they're different. Smiths has now actually been taken over by Walkers even though the Smiths name can still be found on the packets. The actual crisps haven't changed though and these are some of my favourite crisps and the ones I eat most often with a sandwich at lunch.
These are crunchy maize and potato snacks with a salt and vinegar flavour. The crisps are shaped like a fat stick and look pretty much the same as chips, hence their name. The actual crisp is quite crumbly and very easy to break up so I often end up with crumbs from the crisps everywhere after eating a pack. The salt and vinegar flavour is very strong on these so if you only like a weak tasting salt and vinegar you probably won't like these. The flavour is so strong that they even sometimes sting my lips if they're cracked or my fingers if I have a small cut on them.
They sell multipacks of 8 of these in Asda and they seem to always be in a 3 for £3 offer so I'm always picking some up to have for my lunch at work. The individual bags of crisps are smaller than most other packets of crisps but this does mean that they are completely full when you open them, not with only half the bag full like Walkers crisps bags are.
Salt and vinegar is my favourite crisp flavour which is probably why I like these so much but they are delicious crunchy crisps that I could never give up!
I recently re-discovered Smiths Chipsticks having been a big fan of them when I was a child. A multi 8 pack bag was on offer in my local supermarket so I decided to take a trip down memory lane and added them to my shopping.
Getting back from the supermarket, I was, as usual, ravenous so decided to tear straight into the monster 8 bag pack. The individual bags, as I recall were always teeny, and that hasn't changed, they are still teeny and the packet design still looks exactly the same.
More importanly though, the taste was the same. That lovely salt and vinegar taste that makes your tongue tingle was still there. The famous maize and potato combination that gives them that really light but distinctive crunch that you can only associate with chipsticks was definately still there.
I was immediately hooked again.
Not to be outdone, my daugther insisted she try her first bag (I had been selfishly trying to stash these away for myself but alas was scuppered). She was instantly hooked also having never tried them before. In one weekend the whole multi-bag of 8 packets has gone which isn't the norm in my house as we're not big crips eaters but with these we just couldn't resist.
I remember there was a ready salted flavour that came in red stripped bags when I was younger but only the salt and vinegar flavour seems to be available now, possibly because it was the most popular flavour, but anyway, I'm digressing now when the point is, I'm really glad I've re-discovered these. I know they're probably really bad for you at 107 calories and 5.2 grams of fat per little bag but it was worth it if only for the childhood memories they conjured up.
Smiths Chipsticks have been around for years, I remember eating these when I was much younger along with 'Bones' (Does anyone else remember them? People look at me in horror when I ask them) probably the strongest flavour of Salt and Vinegar available on any snack that I have ever had yet I rarely buy them in.
As I was in Poundland the other day stocking up on batteries and padded envelopes I spotted a mutli pack of these offering 8 packets instead of the usual 6, so at a pound for 8 bags I couldn't pass them up. Still in the familiar blue and white bags they always have been and still proclaiming the name of 'Smiths' (even though they are now Walkers) they still taste the same as they ever did.
They are a maize snack that are fashioned into long chunky strips (chips in other words) and are extremely crunchy and crumble between your fingers if you hold them too tight. The flavour of vinegar is very intense and if you are not a fan of strongly flavoured snacks then these will be no good to you as they do make your mouth water and can described as being a 'sharp' flavour.
If you have any issues with your gums or have any nicks or cuts in your mouth I wouldn't recommend them as they will sting if you get even the smallest amount into any sore parts of your mouth - you have been warned!
They make a really nice change from regular potato crisps and have a much better flavour than the supermarket own brand maize snacks that you can buy. For me even though I don't buy them in that often they are a real treat that offer a full flavoured snack and aren't all that bad calorie wise when compared with crisps and other snacks.
Being a multipack packet they are smaller than a regular packet of crisps and a single multipack bag will provide only 107 calories and 5.2 grams of fat of which only 0.4 grams are saturates. The low saturated fat content to me is excellent and a reason why I should substitute regular crisps for these on a more regular basis and now that I have actually discovered this I think I will!
Another positive thing to note is that there is not a lot of dead space within a bag of these; normally multipack crisps seem to settle on the bottom of the bag and leave a lot of space between the top of the bag and the bottom. The Chipsticks are stuffed into the bags and there are plenty of individual sticks to satisfy even my savoury tooth.
Overall I do recommend these, especially when they work out at just over 12p a pack if you can find the multipacks containing 8 bags, even a regular bag containing 6 packets still only work out at just over 16p a pack and that has to be a bargain.
For the exceptional taste, value for money and nutrition content these do rate a perfect 5/5 Dooyoo stars from me, cheaply available at Poundland and are also stocked in supermarkets for around £1.20 - £1.40 per multipack.
Thanks for reading my review, and please do let me know if you remember 'Bones' - they came in a black packet with a picture of a skeleton on the front and each piece inside was shaped like a bone. Salt and Vinegar flavoured and I'm sure they were manufactured by Smiths - Thanks!
I have been a fan of Chipsticks since childhood, when they were still produced by Smiths. Although they still bare the Smiths name, they are in fact now manufactured by Walkers. They haven't changed much through those years, although I would say they are stronger now, which for me is a bonus.
Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks are full of flavour, so much flavour in fact that they leave me with a tender tongue by the end of the packet. They are also very crunchy, being made from maize. The only problem I have with maize snacks though, is that they are very oily. They do make your hands feel very greasy and they can mark your clothes if you drop one, or if you make the mistake of wiping your hands on them (which I am embarrassed to say I have done a few times). The best thing to do is just lick your fingers!
Smiths Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks can be bought in a single pack or a multipack. I have never yet seen them in a large size bag, which is likely a good thing for me as I would eat the whole packet.
I always buy the multipack with 8 bags in it. I have bought them in Tesco in the past but at the moment they are not available. In Asda they are available for £1.16, which is very good value compared to many multipacks on the market.
A pack of Smiths Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks contain 107 calories. They are suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs.
I have enjoyed these crisps since childhood and now my children are enjoying them too!
****The packaging****
As soon as you open the bag all you can smell is a very strong acidic vinegar scent. This is very much like chip shop chips soaked in vinegar, you know that way when you smell it kind of burns your nose.
The crisps have a crunchy texture but as soon as you put them in your mouth they very quickly melt away. The first taste that you taste in your mouth is of vinegar that is a very strong vinegar that is a strong taste. This is very acidic and actually stings the inside of my mouth. When it dies down there is quite a pleasant baked taste to the crisp which is actually really nice.
The bag is white with lots of light blue horizontal stripes across it. Smith Chipsticks is written on the front of the bag and on the front of the pack is a clear cut out window so you can see the crisps inside waiting to be eaten.
A 25g bag of Chipsticks costs about 40 pence from your local newsagents but you can buy them individually for a pack of six pack that cost £1.20 from ASDA. These are on offer every now and then which are normally three packs of 6 for £3.
****Nutritional Information****
A 25g of Chipsticks contains
108 calories
5.4g fat
Not bad Calories considering how fattening that they taste and just in case you are wondering they are also suitable for vegetarians
I love salt and vinegar flavour but these are too strong I only enjoy the taste when all the flavour has been sucked off. Ok that sounded a little rude but you know what I mean. I would rate them a 5 out of 10 and would recommend them to people who like strong flavoured salt and vinegar flavouring.
Normally when eating your average crisps such as Walkers I tend to go for the easy fail safe option of ready salted, as they're reliable and I know that I'll always like them! However these were in the house the other day so I thought that I might as well try them! I was pleasantly surprised.
They are in a traditional Smiths packet, (Smiths make other nostalgic crisps such as Frazzles and the original salt and shake), which is blue and it has a see through window at the bottom below the logo and name of the crisps so you can see the crisps before eating them!
They are different to normal crisps in that instead of being potato based like Walkers they are corn based, and you can definitely tell the difference. They look like the French fry crisps you get from walkers as they are long and thin, but they are totally covered in flavouring. Because of being corn based they have an entirely different texture and are actually quite crunchy, but at the same time if you leave them on your tongue then they will dissolve! The flavour is certainly very strong, bland crisps these are not! In fact the vinegar flavour in the crisps is so strong that at times it can make your eyes water! Especially as the amount of vinegar flavour varies between crisps.
They aren't too expensive, just the same price as normal crisps. About 40p for a single bag wherever, but probably a bit more expensive at places such as airports or service stations. Then you will be able to get a multipack for just over a pound, and they are included in the 3 multipacks of crisps for £3 frequently on offer.
You can get them from all major supermarkets, and also other places such as WHSmith and corner shops, however they aren't as widely available as some crisps such as the ever popular Walkers Ready Salted!
Basically if you like salt and vinegar crisps and haven't tried these, then you must!
I love Chipsticks so was well chuffed to find that the pound shop by me has started selling the packs of 8. I brought a pack because I've not had these for ages because everywhere has stopped selling them by me!
Chipsticks are corn snacks not potato crisps and they have got a yummy texture that melt in your mouth if you can stand not chewing them! If you suck them they melt good and the strong salt and vinegar flavour melts with the corn snack and it's just delish.
The main flavour I reckon is the vinegar and it's that strong that it can make my eyes water sometimes and if you come across one that looks more jaggedy than the others and a bit browner then avoid it because it's been overloaded with flavour and it'll deffo burn your tongue!
They're quite salty as well but I'd definately say the vinegar is the flavour that hits you when you're eating them. It's weird though because you can still taste the corn snack under all this vinegar and it's quite a faint taste so I don't know how Smiths do it so that you can actually taste it.
I love the texture of Chipsticks as well. They are crunchy and crispy but they dissolve quick in my mouth, you can eat them just like French Fries and chomp all the way down the crisp but you have to make sure you don't bite your finger if you do that! lol
These are proper yummy crisps and loads different to any other crisps available. It's the strong flavour of them that makes them so good I reckon but eating them is a brill experience because of the texture of them as well.
I hadn't eaten a bag of Chipsticks for years however after visiting a friends house last night I was offered a bag of these and think I definitely will be purchasing my own stash of Chipsticks.
The packaging of Chipsticks is very retro and exactly how I remember the packaging to be when I was a child. The bag is white with lots of light blue horizontal stripes across it. Smith Chipsticks is written on the front of the bag (these crisps are made by Walkers). On the front of the pack is a clear cut out window so you can see the crisps inside.
A 25g bag of Chipsticks costs around 35p, I happened to come across a newsagent a few months ago. However I have not seen Chipsticks sold in individual bags for years in most newsagents. A six pack multipack of these crisps cost £1.20 in Asda however there is currently a special offer running for 3 multipacks for £3 which is very good value.
Chipsticks are a maize and potato snack. Basically thin crisps which look like thin golden chips hence the name of the crisps!
When you open the bag you are immediately hit with a very strong acidic vinegar scent. This is very much like chip shop chips soaked in vinegar.
The crisps have a crunchy texture but go soft in your mouth very quickly as they are made from maize. The initial taste as you put the crisps in your mouth is of vinegar and this is a very strong vinegar taste. This is very acidic and actually stings the inside of my mouth. As the initial acidic taste dies down there is quite a pleasant baked taste to the crisp and although the crisps initially have a very strong taste this dies down very quickly and the snacks have little taste when you come to swallow especially if you only eat one Chipstick at a time.
The crisps taste very much how they smell; like chip shop chips soaked in vinegar. Therefore if you are not a fan of vinegar on your chips these crisps are probably not for you.
**Nutritional Information**
A 25g of Chipsticks contains
108 calories
5.4g fat
These crisps are also suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs
These are not crisps/ snacks that I would eat on a regular basis but are a nice treat every now and then. The crisps have a lovely strong vinegar scent and taste to them and the taste reminds me very much of eating vinegar soaked chip shop chips. The only problem is that these crisps are messy to eat so you need to wash your hands as your fingers become covered in a greasy maize mess! My recommendation is that if you have a larger appetite .... Opt for two bags of Chipsticks
I spotted these in my local Tesco and was transported back to my 1980s childhood. These were one of the few brands of crisps my tiny local corner store used to stock. The remainder of their selection was comprised of incredibly greasy synthetic onion rings and the hugely impractical pickled onion flavour Monster Munch which was always too big for my mouth.
I can happily report that nothing seems to have changed since then. The distinctive blue barcode striped packaging with the Smiths logo is just as I remember it, although these are now manufactured by Walkers. The front of each pack still sports a clear plastic window through which you can see the contents, albeit through a greasy smear. Yep just as I remember it.
Continuing my journey into my childhood I opened the pack and was greated with the same eyewatering waft of vinegar. Plunging my hand into the pack I grabbed one and stuffed it in my mouth. Result! Grease covered fingers and a cripsy crunch followed by a rapidly disintegrating chipstick and a mouthful of mush. Melt in the mouth crisps.
I demolished the pack in super rapid time followed by another and then a third. At 25g a pack they're not huge but they do manage to pack an awesome 107 calories into each teeny bag which incidently is a heck of a lot less than a bag of ready salted Walkers Lites which wedge an extra 25 calories into each bag despite the Lites pack only being 3 grams bigger.
Since these are maize and potato based they're suitable for coeliacs too.


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AN Evesham teenager could be the next top model after making it through to the final heat of a beauty competition.
Kiera Lewis, of Fairfield Road, Evesham, is hoping to make it into the finals of Miss Teen UK, a beauty pageant which could help the winner enter the world of modelling.
The 13-year-old was chosen to appear on the Teen Queen website where the public will vote for their favourite with the top two girls from each age category going through to the finals in London next year.
The sports-mad Evesham High School pupil loves rugby and plays hockey for the county.
Proud dad Andy said it was the first beauty competition she had entered.
"I'm one happy parent," he said. "So is her mum. She's got this far and is beginning to get noticed by people. I'm a proud dad. She just needs to get as many votes as possible to get her through.
She's doing it for Evesham.
She's representing the town."
The text vote is now open and ends at 11.30pm on Thursday, November 15. For details and to vote, visit missteenqueenuk.com


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Pay no attention to that LSU team that slogged around a 35-21 victory over Auburn.
Look closer at the LSU team that went up 21-0 in a blink, then coasted for the better part of three quarters. There are two significant takeaways from the first 20 minutes of the Auburn game: The Tigers are that good—and they're not mentally strong enough to turn it on and off at will.
MORE: AP Top 25 | Coaches poll | PHOTOS: Best of Week 4 | Cheerleaders
Especially with a trip to Georgia looming this weekend.
LSU could flip a switch the last two seasons on talent alone. This time around, there aren't enough experienced leaders on a talented but young team that—with the right weekly motivation—can beat anyone in the nation.
"I don't think we let up," LSU tailback Jeremy Hill said of the Auburn game. "But I wish we would have finished a lot stronger than we did."
Blame it on the weather or a young defense or a lack of concentration after it became clear following one quarter that Auburn couldn't score (until it did when LSU got bored, but that's part of the problem). Who cares at this point?
LSU will either take a big step this weekend toward making its November Alabama game another mega-showdown or give Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray his third career victory against a top 10 team (he's 2-6).
* Here's Oklahoma, everyone. Began the season with a redshirt freshman (Trevor Knight) at quarterback, got smart and played a fourth-year junior (Blake Bell) who has dealt with pressure situations. And whaddya know, the Sooners are suddenly all boffo again. Now that the offense is figured out, we move to the defense.
We'll see just how far that unit—a significant problem last year and a nice surprise this fall—has come this weekend at Notre Dame. The Irish, as much as anyone, started the OU plunge on defense in last year's 30-13 victory.
After that game, OU gave up 20, 34, 49, 48, 17 and 41 points over the final six games of the season. After games against three nobodies this fall, OU is fifth in the nation in scoring defense (9 points per game).
While ND has had its problems on offense, it has receivers who can press the OU secondary (a weakness) and spread the Sooners out and force them to cover in space (a major problem last season).
* Yep, it's a crazy thought. But the reality is that Stanford, under both Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw, has had one clunker every season in the elite years.
Last year, it was a loss to Washington on the road. Two years ago, the Cardinal nearly blew a home game against a bad Cal team.
In 2010, the Cardinal needed a touchdown with five minutes to play to beat Arizona State. Is it really that much of a stretch to see Stanford stumble this weekend at Washington State?
The Cardinal are coming off a big show-me game against Arizona State, so it's a natural letdown game and they're playing in the Palouse—where nothing is ever as it seems (and I mean that lovingly).
Besides, Kevin Hogan's unbeaten record as a starter has to end at some point, doesn't it?
What worked in Week 4
Baylor. Offense, defense, special teams. Basically everything. The Bears have played nobodies, and don't play a somebody until a Nov. 7 game against Oklahoma. Look at the upcoming schedule: bye week, West Virginia, at Kansas State, Iowa State, at Kansas.
What needs work
Michigan. All aspects. Never has a team looked so ready to play in a big game at the end of the season one week and like a team that doesn't belong on the field with UConn the next week. Much less Akron.


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Research Report: Q4 Member Benchmarking Survey Results
February 29, 2012
This report is based on questions posed by ANA members. Topics covered in this survey include sponsorship/event marketing, shopper marketing, agency relations and marketing financial management/procurement.
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Lafeber's Nutri-Berries are made with savory peanuts, hulled canary seed, cracked corn, and other tempting ingredients. Your bird will thrive on the stimulation and beak exercise they provide. In fact, 96% of the berries gets eaten, which means it's not just smart nutrition, it's a smart buy, too!
Please click on "More Information" for feeding schedule, guaranteed analysis, and ingredients.


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Red Sox nearing decision on left-hander Morales
BOSTON -- The Red Sox expect to make a decision regarding Franklin Morales soon.
The lefty could rejoin the team immediately and be used out of the bullpen, or he could make another Minor League rehab start and come back in the starting rotation.
Morales, who has been on the disabled list all season with a strained lower back, is up to 80 pitches, and the Red Sox want to find an exact role for him.
"We could make one more start, assuming he plugs right into the rotation," said manager John Farrell, who didn't say whose spot Morales would take. "Or he can work on top of someone the next time through and be available out of the bullpen."
Morales pitched five innings on Thursday for Double-A Portland and would likely not be available until Monday or Tuesday.
Should the Red Sox decide to put him back in the bullpen, Farrell said Morales will be stretched out for about two weeks in case Boston wanted to then insert him back into the rotation.
Morales was effective as a starter last season, maintaining the high strikeout rate he's often shown as a reliever.
Jason Mastrodonato is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @jmastrodonato.. Michael Periatt is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on twitter @MichaelPeriatt. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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BWW Interviews: Charles Swan Talks About His Career, Being a Swing, SHOW BOAT, and Teaching
As Houston Grand Opera began rehearsing SHOW BOAT, the Houston theatre community started to focus a lot of attention on the production. Utilizing social media, friends and followers of the artists got inside looks into the impressive amounts of dedicated labor, passion, and sheer hard work that went into getting SHOW BOAT to float and sail on stage. Yet, 140 characters on Twitter, a Facebook status update, and a photo on Instagram can only say so much. Luckily, I was able to converse with Houston area native, Charles Swan, about his career, being a swing for SHOW BOAT, and how he juggles being a professional performer and a teacher.
Me: How did you get started in acting?
Charles Swan: When I was 8 my parents took me to MISS SAIGON at Jones Hall. We sat on the very last row of the balcony. I was on the edge of my seat, while my parents sat horrified because they unknowingly had taken their young kids to a musical about strippers and prostitution. I had no idea what was happening in terms of the story. I knew I was watching something completely magical, and I wanted to be a part of it.
At almost the same time, my father was a government teacher. The school he worked for was doing OLIVER!, and they asked the faculty if they had small children who would be interested in playing orphans and pickpockets. He knew I wanted to be a part of it all and surprised me with the rehearsal calendar one night. It was a done deal after that.
Me: How did you come to be involved in Houston Grand Opera's production of SHOW BOAT?
Charles Swan: I auditioned for SHOW BOAT way back in April of last year. I honestly went on a fluke and didn't think too much of it. In addition to performing, I'm a high school teacher. April is a notoriously busy month with standardized testing, so I kind of went on a whim. I remember the choreographer told us to stretch because there were high kicks. I didn't walk for three weeks after! It was one high kick after another!
Me: You are cast as a swing in Houston Grand Opera's lavish and large production of SHOW BOAT. What exactly does a swing do?
Charles Swan: A swing is a person who understudies multiple roles in a musical. S/he literally is able to "swing" into any given role if/when someone is injured, sick, etc. In SHOW BOAT, I swing all of the male dancers and cover the role of Frank.
Me: It has got to be incredibly challenging to learn everyone's roles and be able to go on for them at the drop of a hot. How do you prepare for that?
Charles Swan: Carefully! I have a very large 3" binder that has maps, diagrams and notes of all of the various roles. Everything is written down and notated so that, if I were to go on, I would just open to whatever person I'm covering and have all of that person's blocking, costumes changes, spacing, etc. Now that the show is open and running, I make a point to watch individual people's tracks nightly. For instance, tonight I'm going to focus heavily on one of the specific dancers and make sure I have his steps and patterns down. Tomorrow night, I'll focus on the dancer who is completely opposite of him as to not get the two confused.
Me: What are the primary differences between being a swing and an understudy?
Charles Swan: That's a great question! An understudy is responsible for one role. A swing is responsible for multiple people's roles/tracks. Many understudies are "on call" and only report to the theatre if s/he needs to go on. Swings are generally on standby in the wings. We are present for all performances in case we need to dress out and go on in a moments notice.
Me: Are there any responsibilities that a swing has that people may be unfamiliar with?
Charles Swan: I don't know that there are any responsibilities that are unfamiliar, but I think the responsibilities are heightened. Audiences pay a lot to see a show, and they have paid for a polished production regardless of who is in it. So the pressure is on. No one wants to hear in a curtain speech that "So-and-so is out tonight and will be played by X" and then have that person deliver a sloppy performance. Instead, they want to see the show they paid for in its best form. So the demands of being a swing are high in that regard. I may not perform the dances nightly on stage like the rest of the performers do, but I better be spot on if/when I do go on.
Me: What are the best elements of being a swing?
Charles Swan: The best part of any show is always the people. The company of SHOW BOAT is made up of some of the most wonderful people with whom I've ever had the privilege of working. Many times there's "that guy" or the one token bad apple. Not on the Cotton Blossom. The entire company is delightful, and it's a true delight to go to work with them each night. And that starts from the top. Francesca Zambello has put together a flawless creative team and assembled a stellar company. It's hard to not smile when walking through the stage door. So that's a huge plus.
Once the production went into tech rehearsal, though, I was able to sit with the dance captain [Tobin Del Cuore] and the choreographer [Michele Lynch]. They shared a lot with me about how each dance flowed, why the spacing was created as it was and what each number was supposed to accomplish in moving the plot along. That type of insight was fascinating and invaluable. I think that getting to listen in on some of those creative conversations was also one of the best parts.
Me: Many assume the job of being a swing is a particularly thankless job. Is there truth to this assessment?
Charles Swan: Anyone who has worked in the business is aware that a swing can literally save the day. I've known of instances where someone has gotten injured in a dance sequence and the swing was called to the stage mid-production. The swing dressed out and was in the next number seamlessly. If the goal in musical theatre is storytelling-and it is-then a swing can be the most important person in keeping the story moving along without pause.
When we were in final dress rehearsals, I was going on for a dancer who was ill. That definitely wasn't thankless.
Me: In addition to being cast in SHOW BOAT as a swing, you teach at Houston's High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. How do you balance both of these time consuming responsibilities?
Charles Swan: I also teach for Theatre Under the Stars-so managing all three jobs has been challenging. My colleagues at PVA have been exceptionally generous and kind in helping me race from one rehearsal to another. My days are exceptionally long with most starting around 5am and ending some time after midnight. I'm really grateful to Theatre Under the Stars, HPSVA and HGO for working in tandem to make this all work.
Me: After SHOW BOAT, where can Houston audiences see you next?
Charles Swan: Audiences can check out RENT at HSPVA, which is my next project. I'm the co-director of the project [with Cynthia Ogden]. We recently went into rehearsals, and I'm already blown away by how our students have really "shown up" for this piece. They are so brave and willing to dive in to the material. Houston audiences won't want to miss it.
Me: As an artist what inspires you?
Charles Swan: People who work hard always inspire me. On SHOW BOAT our choreographer really inspired me. Michele Lynch choreographed this show previously in Chicago. All the steps had already been designed, the formations thought out and the transitions worked through. She could have easily demanded the exact same production in Houston. Many times directors/choreographers will "set" the same show on different people. Michele took the time to learn the dancers in Houston and worked meticulously to create movement that worked on them-that fit their bodies.
That type of intelligence and "with-it-ness" are rare. It's a testament to Michele's artistry, integrity and her compassion.
Me: As a teacher, I'm sure you get asked this often, but what advice do you have for others hoping to develop a career as a performer?
Charles Swan: I think the biggest thing I can offer is to control the aspects of the business that you can. Theatre is such a subjective art-audiences are subjective, reviews are subjective, even contracts can be subjective. There are things that are just out of your control. Accept that. However, really smart artists take control over the aspects of the profession that they can. These are things like being prepared, taking care of your body, having your music ready, showing up to rehearsal with thoughts and ideas, doing your research, etc., etc. The only thing you can really control is your preparation. So control it.
Houston Grand Opera's gorgeous and grand production of SHOW BOAT closes Saturday, February 9, 2013. For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.houstongrandopera.org or call (713) 228 - 6737. For more information about the upcoming production of RENT that Charles Swan is co-directing, please visit http://www.onstagehspva.org.
All photos courtesy of Charles Swan.
Members of the SHOW BOAT cast in rehearsal.
Members of the SHOW BOAT cast in rehearsal.
Charles Swan backstage.
A view of the Cotton Blossom set from the wings.
The view of The Wortham Center's Brown Theatre from the stage.


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Superplush Blanket
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Layer up on cool nights with this supersoft blanket in a range of classic colors.
- 100% polyester.
- Personalization is available for an additional $9.50.
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- Throw: 50 x 60"
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- Machine wash in warm water.
- Use only nonchlorine bleach, if needed.
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NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Plenty of fund managers like to own top dogs, stocks that have the biggest market values in their sectors.Familiar names in the elite group include Apple ( AAPL), Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ) and Coca-Cola ( KO). Investors figure that the biggest stocks are stable choices with strong growth potential. But some portfolio managers are wary of buying the No. 1 stocks. Instead, they tend to prefer stocks that rank second or lower. "In general, the No. 2 stocks tend to be cheaper, and they can be more dynamic," says Tom Forester, portfolio manager of Forester Value ( FVILX). "The No. 2 managements can be a little more aggressive because they are trying to get the lead. The No. 1 companies may be more cautious because they are trying to protect their leads." No. 1 companies usually deliver poor returns, according to a study by Rob Arnott, chairman of Research Affiliates and portfolio manager of PIMCO All Asset ( PASAX). During the first year after they became top dogs, 59% of the companies underperformed their sectors, Arnott found. Over the next decade, two-thirds lagged their sectors. On average, top dogs trailed by more than 3 percentage points over 10 years. Arnott says that companies move to the top of the heap by having superior products and shrewd managements. Investors bid up the stocks, figuring that the strong performance will continue. But all too often, the shares become overpriced, which hurts future returns. Once they gain the top positions, companies have trouble remaining dominant because smaller competitors develop innovative products and steal market share. In addition, regulators often take aim at the top dogs. As a result, No. 1 companies regularly lose their leading positions. In the 1980s, the government dismantled top dog AT&T ( T), arguing that it was too powerful. A decade ago, Washington attacked Microsoft ( MSFT), claiming it was a monopoly. That slowed the company's growth at a time when small competitors were nipping away at market share. Microsoft soon lost its No. 1 position in technology. Arnott says that top dogs tend to begin slipping within a few years of gaining their No. 1 position. During the past 60 years, the average industry sector had six different top dogs. One exception has been energy. For the entire six decades, Exxon Mobil ( XOM) and its predecessors have held the top position. Arnott speculates that the company has maintained an edge by focusing on its core business and avoiding expensive combat with regulators and competitors.
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