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The online posts, one in the wake of the Colorado theater massacre and two after the Connecticut school shooting, were undoubtedly disturbing.
From Valencia: "Looking out a window and see some little kids I wouldn't mind murdering at all. ... I don't know. I would find it funny. It would be like the Aurora shooting in Colorado."
From Pomona: "So I woke up this morning and said to myself ... Dang you know (what) would be really awesome right now ... some dead kindergarteners."
From Porter Ranch just this week: "Newtown is just the beggin(in)g of the attacks ...... more kids must be killed."
Another thing the writers have in common: None of them has been charged with making criminal threats. The first two are no longer in jail.
Though such comments can trigger calls to police, federal investigations, arrests and media publicity, they rarely result in any charges. Prosecutors are limited by state law, which criminalizes only "unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific" threats.
As a result, even comments that endorse or promise horrific crimes usually aren't illegal.
Most of the time, Los Angeles police Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas said, "if you're creepy and disturbing and we look into you, we have nothing."
In the latest case, a Porter Ranch man was arrested Wednesday after federal agents and police investigated a post on his Facebook page.
Police said Mohammad Akbar Baraki, 37, wrote in a misspelling-riddled post Tuesday: "Newtown is just the begging of the attacks ...... more kids must be killed if anyone watched the bin laden movie will be shot at site.... this is a final warring to all Americans."
Federal agents drove to an LAPD station Wednesday to show officers the posting. Police searched Baraki's house in the 12000 block of Darby Avenue and arrested him after finding two air rifles, LAPD Lt. Silvia Atwater said.
She said the rifles aren't illegal, but having them is a violation of Baraki's probation on a drug charge. Because he was on probation, police did not need a warrant to do the search.
Police said they did not expect Baraki would be charged with making threats. He remained jailed without bail late Thursday.
His Facebook page, under the name Akbar Baraki, says he's a Republican who likes Metallica, Shakira and Coldplay. He is also listed as a fan of both "The Holy Bible" and "The Holy Quran."
In a separate post, he wrote in part, "The bin laden story never ended 9 11 was a staged Osman bin laden is alive and living well in Pakistan."
Police and prosecutors take online threats seriously. But Gina Satriano, a supervising prosecutor in downtown L.A., said the law requires "an identifiable victim who has to be placed in fear."
And prosecutors can't file long-shot charges in the hopes they'll stick or at least keep the suspects in jail for a while.
"We are required by law to not file charges unless a crime exists," Satriano said.
Villegas, the deputy chief who oversees the San Fernando Valley for the LAPD, said the department gets a lot of tips about online comments.
"Many of them don't rise to the level of anything beyond someone venting their frustration of whatever their political ideology is," he said.
The lack of charges reflects the sometimes-difficult balance between public safety and free speech. The First Amendment protects offensive speech. So how to sort the relatively small number of dangerous people from those just blowing off steam?
After hearing what Baraki wrote, defense attorney David Wallin said, "What you're telling me, that's not a criminal threat." He said the suggested victims aren't specific enough.
"Who? What kid?" Wallin said. "Does that mean every kid in the United States is a potential victim?"
Wallin represents Eric Ting Yee, a 22-year-old former Yale student who was arrested in September after writing a post on ESPN's website that included this passage: "Looking out a window and see some little kids I wouldn't mind murdering at all. I don't know. I would find it funny. It would be like the Aurora shooting in Colorado."
Yee's parents' home in Valencia, where he lived, overlooks an elementary school and a junior high. Yee was arrested Sept. 17 and held on $1 million bail but released days later and charged only with a weapons violation. Sheriff's detectives said a rifle found in the home is illegal under state law.
Prosecutors did not file a threats charge, and Wallin said Yee's comments were a misguided effort at social commentary.
In a comment on a story about expensive LeBron James-endorsed sneakers, Yee wrote in jest that he would murder the children before they grew up to be yuppies who mindlessly buy the latest trendy clothes. The idea was loosely taken from the violent film "American Psycho."
Yee's father, Roger Yee, is facing the same weapons charge, and father and son are due back in court Wednesday.
On Dec. 16, just two days after 26 people were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the LAPD arrested 24-year-old Kyle Edward Bangayan of Pomona at his parents' home in L.A.'s Little Armenia neighborhood.
The arrest came after police and the FBI looked at his Facebook page. The celebrity news site TMZ obtained and quoted from a search warrant that laid out what Bangayan wrote there:
"No really America, if you post one more Facebook post about the shooting at that elementary school, I swear to whatever (expletive) god you believe in that I will do the same (expletive) thing. I have the guns, I have the incentive, and I won't commit suicide at the end, I'll just go to the next (expletive) school and the next and the next So I woke up this morning and said to myself ... Dang you know (what) would be really awesome right now ... some dead kindergarteners ... and Christmas early."
The day after his arrest, prosecutors said Bangayan would not be charged. He was released that night.
Wallin said the publicity around such cases is unfair to people who aren't guilty of any crime. He said police shouldn't be so quick to announce the arrests before charges are filed.
"The bottom line is should the guy be checked out? Sure," Wallin said. "I have kids. Nobody wants anybody hurt or killed."
But he said the criminal threats law is "overused" by police, given that "99 percent of the time, it's just words never followed up by any action, never intended to be followed up by any type of action."


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Rope, Cord, and Webbing
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Oh Rats! With Orange Dot Pattern Print-to-the-Edge Oval Labels , 8 per sheet
Avery Pre-Designed Templates Microsoft Word
Set the scene for some happy haunting with these oval labels. Great for candy bars, party favor bags and more. Look for matching postcards, labels, tent cards and tags.
Compatible Products:
22820, 22829, 22927, 22931, 22964


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Oriani wrote:Hahah yes. For example, If there is no alcohol left, people start to say " well, I have to go, mom is sick.. and me.. I have to take care of teh children... oh.. I have to work tomorrow, I've got to go.." and then the owner of the party says Hey.. "I am gonna buy another box of beer" and the guest say "Oh.. Ok.. I can stay all night long, my mom is better now..I don't have to work tomorrow anyway, the children are sleeping and etc..."
vince90 wrote:danyet wrote:Americans who have had jobs in S.A. and returned from there have said that they had to brew alcoholic drinks in there homes ie bathtubs. ( and so did many of the locals....but I guess that it is a secret! )
I would not go there for vacation. I can not have a vacation without booze.
loola wrote:by the way, we can do anything but in the secret way.. and meny pepole in saudi arbia to do that..
in the close of party we can drink it, but the general party we can not,,
never i don't drink it and i don't want to try drink it..
thank you for the topic it's nice...
Dixie wrote:Arale wrote:LennyeTran wrote:Fun.
Have you ever been drunk?
I think I was really drunk just once. I don't remember what happened that night, but apparently one of our friends showed us all his balls in the middle of the street. According to my friends, he did it right in front of me, but I don't remember anything
your right!Hardi wrote:Live and let live! That's right. Until they drink and don't bother others, by being drunk, I don't care. But if some more social drunk ~ want be social to me. I don't like. I don't like if his her breath will cut my smelling organs from 2 metes long distance like a 3 meters long sword...
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Ultraman Mebius, Ultimate Zero and Zamsher...
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with our sponsor Collectibles Insurance.
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, ToyDorks.com, MonkeyDepot.com, and Sekaido.com.
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Ultraman, the heroic space crusader that got his start in Japan in the mid 1960's, is still going strong in Japan though briefly holding its own in the States. The always impressive Bandai Japan delivers an assortment of action figures that is sure to excite Ultraman fans everywhere called Ultra-Act. Essentially these are elaborate action figures with a good amount of accessories and swappable parts.
The more basic of the three is Ultraman Mebius, an update of the Ultraman TV series that made its debut in 2006. The samurai looking baddy is indeed Zamsher, foe of Ultraman Mebius. The odd man out this time around is Ultimate Zero from the 2010 film Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial, but all in the Ultraman universe just the same.
The box for each figure is unique and visually striking with a rendering of the character made up of patterns and colors alongside a window that reveals the figure. Solid photography adorn the back of the box showing you exactly what youll find within and the many variations that could come of it. Within, the figures are trapped in plastic trays with their accessories secure in each section. Instructions with images are also included and while the text is all in Japanese, its easy enough to follow the pictures.
The sculpting on each of the three figures couldnt be more different as each one captures a different look or show. Mebius and Zamsher are my favorites of the bunch for various reasons. Mebius reminds me most of the normal Ultraman and it has that classic style that I like. Zamsher is more or less a wicked Samurai and pretty cool looking at that. The helmet and armor are graced with some really nice detail. Ultimate Zero is possibly the goofiest design and since I havent seen the movie, might not be Bandais fault. The proportions are also what make him look more awkward than Mebius but its the massive shoulder armor that doesnt help either.
The paint is all very clean on all three figures but Zamsher here is the real stand out. From the gold trim to his teeth to his metallic finish, theyve really made this figure shine. The sculpted hair could be a darker shade though as it seems halfway fluorescent but not too bad.
While the sculpt and paint are all fine in this series, its the articulation that really knock my socks off. The amount of articulation in these figures is to die for. There are joints here that are truly unique and I hope that more toy companies will adopt them as they do make a difference. The neck joint is an interesting one where the head is on a hinge that goes up and down in a natural way while the bottom of the neck allows for a left to right motion. Then there are the ball hinged shoulders, double elbows, wrists, upper and lower torso, double knees, heels, toes and the double hinged hips. The hips are an amazing feat of engineering as they can be popped out ever so slightly for a more extreme bend or higher kick. It really is genius.
Zamsher has all those joints and a few more of his own with the ponytail and shoulder pads adding to the count as well as his ball-jointed wrists. The individual pieces that build up his skirt are also adjustable one-by-one so theres quite a lot that could be done with these figures.
It wouldnt be a Bandai release without the great accessories included with these action figures. And though theyre only about 5 inches tall, theyre treated to such great detail that these could rival most Sideshow 12 figures today.
Mebius comes with two extra sets of hands, an action punch, hand ray, as well as a sword that swaps out on his removable wrist piece on the left arm.
Zamsher comes with an alternate ponytail, sword and sheathe (that also attaches to his back) and three additional sets of hands.
Ultimate Zero comes with three additional sets of hands, various swappable chest plates, sword and staff.
Getting these toys could be a pain, but BigBadToyStore.com has them all in-stock for U.S. collectors:
- Ultraman Mebius - $37.99
- Ultimate Zero - $54.99
- Zamsher - $42.99
Fans of Ultraman, you need to add these to your collection!
Review and Photography by David Yeh
Review Samples Courtesy of Bluefin


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2013 AHCA/CCM Division I All-Americans Announced
Hobey Finalists LeBlanc, Gaudreau, Hartzell Headline List
CHN Staff Report
PITTSBURGH The 2013 Men's CCM Hockey Division I All-Americans were announced on Friday from the Frozen Four.
Divided into East and West regions and first and second teams, the list includes players from 20 different Division I programs. Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists Eric Hartzell (Goaltender, Quinnipiac), Drew LeBlanc (Forward, St. Cloud State) and Johnny Gaudreau (Forward, Boston College) were all named first-team All-Americans in their respective regions.
St. Lawrence led the way with three players named: forward Kyle Flanagan (First Team), defenseman George Hughes (Second Team) and forward Greg Carey (Second Team).
East First Team
G Eric Hartzell, Senior, Quinnipiac
D Nick Ballen, Senior, Rennselaer
D Chad Ruhwedel, Junior, Massachusetts-Lowell
D Trevor van Riemsdyk, Sophomore, New Hampshire
F Kyle Flanagan, Senior, St. Lawrence
F Johnny Gaudreau, Sophomore, Boston College
F Steven Whitney, Senior, Boston Colelge
East Second Team
G Jon Gillies, Freshman, Providence
D Shayne Gotsisbehere, Sophomore, Union
D George Hughes, Senior, St. Lawrence
F Greg Carey, Junior, St. Lawrence
F Mike Collins, Junior, Merrimack
F Andrew Miller, Senior, Yale
West First Team
G Brady Hjelle, Senior, Ohio State
D Nick Jensen, Junior, St. Cloud State
D Jacob Trouba, Freshman, Michigan
F Austin Czarnik, Sophomore, Miami
F Danny Kristo, Senior, North Dakota
F Drew LeBlanc, Senior, St. Cloud State
West Second Team
G Juho Olkinuora, Sophomore, Denver
D Dan DeKeyser, Junior, Western Michigan
D Nate Schmidt, Junior, Minnesota
F Corban Knight, Senior, North Dakota
F Anders Lee, Junior, Notre Dame
F Ryan Walters, Junior, Nebraska-Omaha


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CatRangers, "Because Cat Special Forces Just Doesn't Sound Right"
Venus is a golden eyed beauty looking for her special person. Venus needs a family willing to help her become the kittie we know she can become. When she arrived at our center she was very shy, and you couldn't hardly touch her. She's come a long way, but still needs someone willing to give her some extra TLC. With a kind and loving hand we know she will eventually make a great pet. She has tested negative for FIV/Felv, and her adoption fee covers her vaccinations and worming, and her spay. If you would like to meet Venus, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 770-831-5513.
CatRangers rescues kitty's that are facing eminent danger such as euthanization in a shelter or risk of abandonment. Every kitty we find a home for, allows us save another! For more information on CatRanger kitty's you can email us at email@example.com or email@example.com or call 770-831-5513. Our adoption center, La Maison du Chat, is located in Buford, Ga. Our adoption fee's range from $125-$145 and include vaccines, Felv/FIV test, and spay or neuter, first 2 weeks of food. La Maison du Chat is a home built just for our rescued kitty's with no cages. The adoption experience is a very pleasant personal experience like sitting in your own living room with our wonderful loving furkids and a cup of tea or coffee if desired. Our center is open from 12-6 on weekends and 11-5 on Tuesday and Thursday, and we always accept appointments any day of the week. It is always best to call to let us know you would like to visit. La Maison du Chat is located at 289 W Shadburn Ave in Historic Buford, Ga. 30518 and our phone number is 770-831-5513.
Thank You!
Your message has been sent to Cat Rangers.
You'll receive a copy, too, at to help you keep track of which pets you've inquired about, and which shelters and rescues you've emailed.
NOTE: Some shelters have physical locations you can visit; some of these shelters may only have pets for a limited time, so please do not wait for a reply—just go visit the shelter! Other organizations are rescue groups run by busy volunteers who may take a while to reply. You can find information about the shelter or rescue group caring for this pet, and their adoption procedures, on the pet's details page on Adopt-a-Pet.com.


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Product Summary
The compact Micro USB Drive Plus is a rugged portable solution perfect for storing music, videos, school projects or photos. The built in key ring conveniently clips onto key chains, binders, notebooks and more. The USB connectors are protected by a flexible rubber cover built to withstand rough handling. This sleek and small USB drive is compatible with all USB ports, allowing Verbatim to offer its premier storage solutions to both Mac and PC users.
General Information
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|Flash Drive
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|Verbatim America, LLC
|Product Name
|Store 'n' Go Micro USB Drive Plus - 8GB Orange
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|Store 'n' Go Micro
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|Volcanic Orange
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|Lifetime Limited
This product is shipped only within Canada and Warranty valid for Canada only.
Computer Valley makes every effort to provide accurate specifications, descriptions, images and price on all products that are found on www.computervalley.ca
However for complete and updated descriptions, compatibilities, specifications and actual photo we recommend our clients to consult with manufacturer's websites or simply call us for proper clarifications. Computer Valley is not responsible and will not accept returns for items purchased that are not compatible with your system. Please ensure that you have verified compatibility and actual photo with your system by visiting the manufacturer's web site prior to purchase or give us a call to make sure what you are purchasing.
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Computer Valley wants to provide you with the best and fastest possible service. We try to ship in stock orders placed before 2:00pm EST the same day. For in stock orders placed after 2:00pm EST they are usually shipped the next business day. However there are always exceptions. Please contact us prior to placing your order if you need your purchase by a certain date.
We ship by UPS, FEDEX, USPS, CANADA POST , PUROLATOR and LOOMIS from the nearest locations possible based on stock in hand.
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Fornataro throws perfect frame in debut
NEW YORK -- Right-hander Eric Fornataro, called up from Triple-A Memphis last week, pitched a one-two-three eighth inning on Monday night in his Major League debut, inducing two ground balls and a flyout.
"A little bit," said the 26-year-old Fornataro when asked if he was nervous. "I haven't pitched in about a week.
"I felt a little out of sync, so I just tried to throw strikes, all fastballs and sinkers, didn't want to mess with any offspeed pitches. I just focused on the catcher, didn't look in the stands."
Jay Greenberg is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Axelrod settles in, but White Sox blanked in KC
Righty quiets Royals after first, while Guthrie clamps down on Sox
KANSAS CITY -- White Sox right-hander Dylan Axelrod recorded his fourth consecutive quality start on Saturday, but still came away with a loss because he was matched up against the wrong guy.
Jeremy Guthrie, a longtime White Sox nemesis, was at it again, and his four-hit shutout trumped Axelrod in a 2-0 Kansas City victory.
"Axelrod was good, but Guthrie was better," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said while summing up the evening in succinct fashion.
For the late-arriving fans, it was all about pitching. The only display of offense came in the first inning when the Royals mounted a two-run rally after Axelrod had retired the opening two hitters. Billy Butler was hit by a pitch and Eric Hosmer singled. Lorenzo Cain then hit a liner to right that barely eluded a diving Alex Rios for a two-run triple.
"The ball is a couple of feet away from Rios or we're probably still out there," Ventura said.
Since joining the Royals, Guthrie is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA versus the White Sox in six outings. In 44 2/3 innings, he has allowed two earned runs. The shutout was the first for Guthrie in his 10-year Major League career.
Guthrie was aided by a strong Kansas City defense, with shortstop Alcides Escobar covering the ground and first baseman Hosmer scooping up everything coming his way. After Guthrie fanned nine in his first appearance against the White Sox on April 4, the plan was for the White Sox to show more aggressiveness early in the count.
But Paul Konerko's two hits were all Chicago could muster until the eighth when Tyler Flowers and Alejandro De Aza produced singles. Kansas City manager Ned Yost let Guthrie continue and he got Jeff Keppinger on a forceout before recording a clean ninth. Guthrie's shutout required just 106 pitches.
"It was quick, it was [Greg] Maddux-like," Ventura said. "He was going for the two-hour mark."
The game actually lasted two hours, 18 minutes as Ventura made a pitching change in the eighth after the White Sox committed back-to-back errors with two outs. Matt Thornton came on after Axelrod had thrown 113 pitches.
"I was moving the ball in and out and changing speeds," Axelrod said. "Flowers did a really nice job in calling the game."
By working 7 2/3 innings and getting a fourth consecutive quality start, Axelrod is a confident pitcher these days.
"That's my goal, to get a quality start," Axelrod said. "Every time out, give your team a chance to win. I'm trying to build off that."
If Axelrod could have one pitch back from Saturday's game, it would be the tight delivery that hit Butler and started the two-run rally.
"I was trying to jam him up and in," Axelrod said. "It got away from me a little bit. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't hit him?"
Axelrod continues to send a message that he doesn't want to come out of the White Sox rotation.
"That's what I want, to be a starting pitcher in the Major Leagues," he said. "If I go out there every fifth day and have a quality start, there's nothing more I can do."
The White Sox had an opportunity in the fourth when Konerko doubled to the gap in right-center after Adam Dunn's two-out walk. Dunn rounded third at full speed, but was stopped by third-base coach Joe McEwing. Guthrie then fanned Conor Gillaspie with the tying runs in scoring position.
"We played really good defense early, which made it all possible," said Guthrie, who is 4-0 this season and carries a 17-game unbeaten streak dating back to last year, a new Royals record. "The infield just made tremendous plays. It probably saved us three or four hits, which accumulates to who knows how many pitches."
Yost was just thankful that Cain's first-inning liner to right was barely out of Rios' reach.
"Everything we hit to Alex Rios he was catching except for that ball in the first inning," Yost said. "That was such a tough play, but he almost had that, too."
Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Boosting Your Bottom Line: Your Motor Efficiencies & Your Carbon Footprint
EP Editorial Staff | October 21, 2009
By now, we've all heard about carbon emissions and their role in global climate change.
You probably also know that some states and regions have enacted legislation to put a price on carbon emissions, and that the Federal government is considering doing the same, in order to limit overall U.S. emissions and protect the environment. So today, whether for business or environmental reasons—or both—facilities across North America are beginning to think about reducing their carbon footprints. Efficiency improvements in motors and motor systems provide one of the best opportunities to reduce industrial sector energy consumption and total carbon emissions [1].
Based on estimates by the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), motors account for 85% or more of a typical industrial facility's electrical consumption. In 2007, electricity generation was responsible for 40% of industrial sector emissions in the U.S. [2]. These figures indicate that motors are responsible for 34% of an industrial facility's total emissions. While rising energy costs have already made motor efficiency a priority for most operations, concern over carbon emissions and climate change is more reason to make sound decisions about your motors.
How much can your facility save through motor efficiency? At today's national average electricity price, a constantly running 20 hp standard motor will consume more than $12,000 in electricity—and also lead to emissions of 180,000 lbs. of carbon—annually. Increasing its efficiency can result in hundreds of dollars in savings annually for the life of the motor. NEMA Premium® motors are more efficient than standard or EPAct energy-efficient units. Replacing a pre-EPAct 20 hp motor with a NEMA model can lead to annual savings of $493 in electricity and 9650 lbs. of carbon [3]. Consider for a moment, the size and number of motors in your facility and the amount of money and carbon you could save every year by increasing the efficiency of your motor fleet.
Boosting efficiency means understanding what motors you have, which are the best candidates for immediate replacement and which should be replaced after they fail. Conduct a motor inventory and develop a plan to manage the repair and replacement of every motor in your facility. The Motor Decisions Matter Campaign offers a number of free tools and resources at www.motorsmatter.org that can help you better manage your motor fleet, understand the costs and benefits of upgrades and best-practice repair and how to plan ahead for improvements. Use these tools to begin upgrading your motor fleet and start saving energy, carbon and money. MT
- McKinsey & Co. 2006, Pathway to a Low-Carbon Economy
- Energy Information Administration 2007, Emission of Greenhouse Gases Report
- Calculation based on kWh, cost savings and motor-efficiency values from the USDOE Industrial Technology Program Best Practices resources, and U.S. average carbon emissions per kWh of generation from USDOE 2000, Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electric Power in the U.S.
The Motor Decisions Matter campaign is managed by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, a North American nonprofit organization that promotes energy-saving products, equipment and technologies. For further information about MDM, contact Jess Burgess at firstname.lastname@example.com or (617) 337-9274.


text: Waffle navy striped long-sleeve crewneck T-shirt Item F8374 Size: All sizes are US sizes. Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Slim fit. Hits at hip. Product Details Worn alone or layered, this textured waffle crewneck is a lounge-time must (especially when paired with its matching leggings). Cotton/spandex. Machine wash. Import. Online only. Item F8374.


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Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
plex wrote:you should try an Ion in place of your challenger, Vector in place of the roc, and river to compare and expand on the teebird.
dgdave wrote:On the CTD- i think they may have too much LSS for what you're looking for, especially on softer tosses. I think the FD is more what you're looking for stability wise. I doesn't have the space of the mamba, but has lots of glide t keep it in the air.
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Communities Throughout America Could Be Forced to Cough Up $29 Billion in MTBE Water Contamination Cleanup Costs
Communities across America would be forced to pay in excess of $29 billion in MTBE water contamination cleanup costs if Congress approves legislation that would offer liability immunity to the petroleum and MTBE industry.
Four of the nations largest water utility associations today sent a letter urging the U.S. Senate to oppose the liability immunity legislation (H.R. 6 and S.791) that is expected to reach the Senate floor the week of June 1, following Congress Memorial Day recess.
The associations also asked Congress to oppose clauses in the same legislation granting liability immunity to the producers of ethanol. The associations believe that more scientific research needs to be completed to determine the environmental impacts of ethanol in water supplies.
The letter to the U.S. Senate (see below) was signed by the American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the National Association of Water Companies and the Association of California Water Agencies.
Ironically, MTBE was first used as an inexpensive fuel additive to help clean the air. But hundreds of cities throughout America soon found the chemical contaminating their water supply. The EPA has identified MTBE as a possible human carcinogen that renders water undrinkable due to its foul taste and odor of paint thinner. MTBE is now banned in 17 states.
Moreover, the MTBE industry knew of the additive's environmental dangers long before it was put in use to meet the oxygenate requirement. While MTBE was the most inexpensive solution at the time of the oxygenate requirement, documents uncovered in a lawsuit by the South Tahoe Public Utility District against eight oil companies demonstrate the MTBE industry's knowledge since the early 1980s that the product spread rapidly in groundwater and was difficult to clean up.
MTBE enters groundwater primarily from leaking underground storage tanks at gas stations and because MTBE is extremely soluble, it moves much farther and faster in water than the other ingredients in gasoline, making it difficult to clean up. Gasoline leaking from underground storage tanks has been responsible for contaminating drinking water wells across the country with MTBE. Recent studies estimate that it would cost $29 billion to clean up more than 500 public drinking-water wells and 45,000 private wells throughout the nation that are contaminated with MTBE.
Several lawsuits brought against the producers of MTBE by local communities, whose water supplies were contaminated have been successful, but without legal protection, water utilities fear that producers will have little incentive to clean up contaminated water supplies. The contamination also leaves local communities with the costs for acquisition of new sources of water, such as new pipelines and wells.
Congress is proposing to let the petroleum industry and the MTBE producers off the hook, leaving communities to pay for the clean up. Recent studies estimate that it would cost $29 billion to clean more than 500 public drinking-water wells and 45,000 private wells throughout the nation that are contaminated with MTBE.
"The ultimate victims of product liability immunity will be the American people, who will lose their aquifers to contamination and lose their money to cleanups and acquisition of new sources of water," the water associations stated in their letter to the Senate.
"Contrary to claims by oil companies and ethanol producers, product defect liability immunity is not narrowly tailored. In a major way, these provisions shift liability for clean up away from producers to water consumers. They also shift liability to retailers and distributors, who are in no way responsible for the decision to produce a product that has as much capacity for environmental harm as MTBE and who are likely to lack the resources necessary to remedy the problems created by MTBE in the first place."
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
American Water Works Association
National Association of Water Companies
Association of California Water Agencies
May 22, 2003
Subject: OPPOSE ETHANOL & MTBE LIABILITY IMMUNITY
Dear Senator:
The organizations above strongly oppose provisions in energy legislation that would provide product liability immunity ("safe harbor") to renewable fuel and MTBE producers. The House already has passed energy legislation (H.R. 6) that gives product defect liability immunity for MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) and renewable fuels, such as ethanol. The Senate will consider immunity for ethanol in S. 791/S. 14. If these provisions are eventually enacted, producers will have little incentive to clean up water supplies contaminated by these products or cover water systems costs for clean up and/or acquisition of new sources of water.
The ultimate victims of product liability immunity will be the American people, who will lose their aquifers to contamination and lose their money to cleanups and acquisition of new sources of water.
Contrary to claims by oil companies and ethanol producers, product defect liability immunity is not narrowly tailored. In a major way, these provisions shift liability for clean up away from producers to water consumers. They also shift liability to retailers and distributors, who are in no way responsible for the decision to produce a product that has as much capacity for environmental harm as MTBE and who are likely to lack the resources necessary to remedy the problems created by MTBE in the first place.
Last year a jury found that MTBE was a defective product in a case brought by the South Tahoe Water District in California, resulting in a settlement in which oil companies agreed to pay to clean up MTBE-contaminated water supplies. Factored into the jurys decision were documents produced at trial proving that gasoline manufacturers have known for many years that MTBE spreads in the environment farther and faster than other constituents of gasoline and is enormously expensive to cleanup. The environmental damage that may be associated with ethanol is completely unknown, but if it is safe, why are its producers so anxious to receive product liability immunity?
Protect the American people from contaminated water supplies and the cost of cleanups. Please say no to liability immunity for ethanol and MTBE producers.
Diane VanDe Hei, Executive Director Tom Curtis, Deputy Executive Director
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies American Water Works Association
Steve Hall, Executive Director Peter Cook, Executive Director
Association of California Water Agencies National Association of Water Companies
Facts About MTBE and Ethanol Product Liability Immunity
1. The liability waivers in H.R. 6 and S. 791 are NOT narrowly tailored. If product liability immunity ("safe harbor") is enacted for ethanol and MTBE, refiners would be let off the hook even when those products have defects that cause environmental harm. Without the deterrent of product liability claims, refiners will have little incentive to clean up contaminated groundwater.
2. Water associations don't oppose the use of ethanol, but ethanol is not innocuous. Before Congress waives producers' liability, more study is needed to determine its environmental effects.
- In ground water plumes, ethanol consumes dissolved common electron acceptors needed for anaerobic biodegradation of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes). Because BTEX compounds are relatively soluble in water and can diffuse rapidly once introduced into an aquifer, anaerobic (in the absence of oxygen) biodegradation of BTEX is often used to reduce or eliminate BTEX contamination levels.
- Ground water plumes containing ethanol and gasoline biodegrade more slowly than a plume containing only gasoline because ethanol is also decomposed by the degrading bacteria, or because ethanol is toxic to certain degrading bacteria.
- Ethanol exerts a higher biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) than other gasoline components. In water, when BOD levels are high, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels decrease. In surface water sources, when less DO is available in the water, other organisms such as fish and other aquatic organisms may not survive.
- Indications from several studies on the effect of ethanol on BTEX ground water plumes show that are likely to increase in size with the presence of ethanol. The magnitude of increase is unknown, although it is dependent on the length of time the ethanol and BTEX plumes are in contact with each other.
3. MTBE was NOT mandated. Neither the Clean Air Act nor EPA regulations require the use of MTBE, or any particular oxygenate.
4. MTBE-contaminated water isn't just unpalatable, it's UNDRINKABLE. MTBE-tainted water is so foul smelling and tasting that it has caused water systems to shut down hundreds of wells and consumers believe their health will be harmed if they drink it. MTBE is classified as a possible human carcinogen by EPA.
5. Estimates to clean up MTBE run as high as $29 billion. Water systems and consumers should never have to pay for this.


text: (W) Jonathan Hickman (A) Nick Pitarra, Cris Peter 'THE BOMB' The Death of FDR leaves the Manhattan Projects in chaos as questions of leadership arise. The world's first Artificial Intelligence is created 40 years ahead of schedule. And whatever happened to the THIRD atomic bomb developed by Oppenheimer and his unparalleled Science Team? One of the most anticipated new series of the year continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #3: THE BOMB! Cover price $3.50.


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Diamond and Blue Sapphire Eternity Band 18K Yellow Gold 4.00 CT TGW
Celebrate your commitment & devotion with this endless circle of gems. Square intense blue sapphires alternate with princess-cut diamonds in a 18K yellow gold prong-setting. This eternity band has a total gem weight (TGW) of 4.00 ct. Being a September birthstone; it is an ideal gift for any September born.
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mzuleger wrote:Gilligan wrote:I am guilty of throwing a boss and can only push 350 when the planets align. BUT, I can throw my boss fairly accurately.
Don't let the snobbery of some DGR folks get you down. You should use the most predictable disc/throw for any given situation... if that's a boss for you then more power to you.
Couldn't agree more. There is too much theory on this board, and not enough practical advice on how to really approach the game and lower your scores. When I listen to pros give advice on equipment, most of them say, "Use what's comfortable and flys well for you."
I don't often hear that advice on this board. Most people want to tell you what the "correct" way to do things is.


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The Development Authority of the North Country is a New York State public authority that serves the common interests of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties by providing technical services and infrastructure, which enhance economic opportunities in the region and promote the health and well being of its communities.
As its mission states, the Development Authority is committed to environmental stewardship, fiscal integrity and partnerships. To achieve these objectives, the Development Authority works with its municipal partners through shared service solutions utilizing advanced technology and fostering municipal cooperation to achieve cost-effective services for the region.
How Can We Help You?
The Development Authority staff provides technical services and financing to businesses, municipalities, and area organizations in order to promote community development. Find out how the Development Authority can help you today.


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Has gift wrapping become a lost art?
Gift bags have largely taken over the party aisles at most stores, where rows and rows of gift bags in all shapes and sizes are not uncommon. If you're trying to find a roll of wrapping paper, good luck. For birthdays, anniversaries and even baby showers, paper designs have essentially become obsolete.
It's true that wrapping paper seems to make a rebound come the holiday season, when stores begin to devote aisles of space to holiday supplies. But even when shiny foils and smiling Santas beckon customers from the tightly packed rolls, many people still choose gift bags.
Gift bags do have many advantages. They are easily portable, generally inexpensive and come in some very clever designs. They're also touted as a "green" product because they can be reused.
But there are plenty of people who feel that the elimination of intricately wrapped presents takes some of the magic out of the holidays. Carefully wrapped gifts show that a person put in time and effort to present a gift in a way that is sentimental and personal. Although it may take mere minutes to pry away the paper and find a treasure inside, there's something to be said for paper-wrapped gifts. It means the gift-giver sat down, pondered the paper design and carefully chose the bow or ribbon with the recipient in mind.
Before you eschew wrapping paper for a gift bag this holiday season, think about all of the advantages to spending some time and reacquainting yourself with the art of gift wrapping. Here are some reasons to save the gift bag for another time.
* Wrapping can be green, too. Wrapping paper can be reused if it is carefully removed from a gift. You also can create your own wrapping paper by decorating brown postal paper with a rubber stamp or having children color their own special murals. Don't overlook newsprint as wrapping as well.
* Paper is more cost-effective. You are bound to get more bang for your wrapping buck by choosing wrapping paper. Although there are scores of discount stores that sell low-priced gift bags, often the quality isn't the same, and the handles could tear after one or two uses. Wrapping paper per inch is definitely more affordable than gift bags, particularly when purchased on sale.
* Wrapping paper lets you be creative. Cover a box with a patchwork of different paper scraps, choose to stagger colors of paper with boxes towered one on top of another or tie on the biggest bow you can find.
* Paper is traditional. Look back to the classic stories of yuletide and you are bound to find images of Santa Claus pulling wrapped boxes out of his enormous gift sack. Also think about how department stores used to (and some still do) offer complimentary gift wrapping.
* Wrapped gifts travel better. When carrying your bounty of gifts to friends and family, carefully wrapped boxes tend to stand up to travel better than gift bags. No one wants to receive a gift bag that has been wrinkled and crushed into some amorphous shape. Plus, wilted tissue paper can be off-putting.
* There's something magical about wrapping paper. The anticipation, the drama, the build-up to peeling aside wrapping paper and revealing the gift has brought smiles to children's (and adults') faces for generations. It is hard to improve on something that has been successful for years and years.
Although the public may be swept up in rushing from here to there, there are traditionalists who appreciate sitting down and spending time creating holiday magic by way of beautifully wrapped gifts.


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On Jan. 10, 2012, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu dedicated Victory Field, a new turf football field supported by founding partners Nike, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Brees Dream Foundation, as part of multi-million dollar improvements to transform Joe Brown Park into a world-class, regional park to enable children and families to be healthy and active. Additional athletic facilities in Joe Brown Park will include a recreational center and eight-lane track, to be funded by Nike and other partners.
Joe Brown Park History, courtesy of Blake Ponchartrain from Gambit Weekly


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gavesako wrote:This is a beautiful Dhamma verse, I was just looking at it today because I remembered it. This is called "synchronicity".
gavesako wrote:All too often, we are following our cultural conditioning without being aware of it, or reacting against it, when we approach the Buddhist teachings. A lot also depends on the words which are chosen to translate Buddhist terms and their cultural connotations.
Ajahn Sumedho often spoke about this, how he was conditioned by his childhood Christian upbringing to see the world in black & white terms only, Good/Bad, Right/Wrong. There was no middle way approach at all.
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We currently have 6 owners signed up.
There were 12 guys from last years league I would like to see return, they all have been sent PM's. 5 have signed up, 7 have not replyed.
There is an additional list of 14 former members that I have checked with to see if they might be interested in returning. 1 has joined (thanks Hicks), 2 others have declinded with another 11 yet to get back to me.
If you're interested please send me a PM.


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Some items in the produce aisle — though strong enough sellers — don't win a lot of respect.
Case in point: iceberg lettuce — derided as the polyester of greens, lacking in flavor and vitamins compared to other lettuce and leaf products.
Another item that frequently finds itself profiled as lacking in tastiness is "store-bought tomatoes."
True confession: I've talked trash about them myself at times.
But considering all the new varieties and improved production methods in the tomato category over the years, it's kind of a bum rap.
Yet established attitudes can be difficult to dispel.
While these days I'm a fan of flavorful tomatoes — whether it's a brandywine from the backyard or a Campari from the grocery store — truth is, were it not for foodservice-grade pink slicer tomatoes, I might never have acquired a taste for tomatoes.
Tasteless pink tomatoes were my gateway drug.
When I was a kid, tomatoes, well, pretty much scared me. The thought of eating one sickened me.
Fast forward a few years and I became a fan of Burger King's Whopper — or Slopper, as my witty circle of friends and I dubbed them.
Among the Whopper's toppings, of course, is a tomato slice, one unlike the juicy, red fruit my mom always seemed to have in her kitchen.
The Whopper's pale and bland (yet firm) slices got me to overcome my aversion to tomatoes.
Pedestrian (some might says passe) items like those tomatoes and iceberg lettuce may seem like relics of mid-20th century America's sometimes less-than-stellar culinary tradition, but I'd wager that millions of us consider them comfort food right up there with meatloaf.
Timeless advice
Much has been written over the years about generational differences in the workplace.
The current Millennial Generation (whatever that means) has found itself following in the footsteps of Generation X (this always struck me as a meaningless label) and the Baby Boomer generation and has found itself the subject of articles generalizing about how they will either revolutionize the way we work or are self-involved, socially awkward and will never cut it.
In the latter vein, a recent Forbes article titled "20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don't Get" takes younger workers to task but offers some workplace and career advice applicable not just to workers of any age but also to managers — not to mention increasingly grizzled editors.
Some key points:
- Social Media is not a Career — The author, 34-year-old Jason Nazar, founder of the business document website Docstoc, writes that social media in a business context is merely a new function of marketing, a way to support branding and build awareness but not an end in itself. He also advises to read more books and fewer tweets or texts to foster creativity, thoughtfulness and thinking.
- Pick up the Phone — Particularly relevant advice in an industry where working the phones is often to the key to sales, or as the author bluntly states: "Don't be a pansy, pick up the phone." It should be your first instinct to talk to an actual person rather than hiding behind e-mail.
- A New Job a Year Isn't a Good Thing — Rather than suggesting you're ambitious, this can be seen as evidence that a potential employee lacks discipline and doesn't stay anywhere long enough to cultivate a deep skill set.
- People Matter More than Perks — Value a job opportunity for the character and leadership lessons you can pick up from managers and owners, not company massages or other such trendy benefits. In a people-oriented industry where tradition and institutional knowledge can be critical, the author's advice rings true.
What's your take? Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.


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Inauguration 2013 Pictures
All the Festive Highlights From the Inauguration Weekend
The nation came together this weekend to witness President Obama's second inauguration, and we were on the ground in DC covering all the festive fun. We kicked things off on Saturday, attending a National Day of Service event at the National Mall. All across the country, Americans were encouraged to chip in some time for community service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and at my event, celebrity volunteers like Eva Longoria, Ben Folds, and Miss America donated their time alongside hundreds of other everyday citizens who wrote letters to sick kids or military service members overseas. There was also a service fair that provided an opportunity to learn about future opportunities to get involved.
Later Saturday night, we headed to the Kids' Inaugural Concert, an event put on by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to honor military families. Seasoned pop star Usher kicked off the show, and he didn't hold back his enthusiasm for Obama, changing the words to "OMG" to "O-ba-ma." Jill took the stage to share her experience as a military mom, since her son serves in Delaware's National Guard, and to introduce Michelle, who said giving back to military families was her favorite part of the inauguration. Katy Perry closed the show singing "Fireworks" and dressed like a patriotic firecracker!
On Sunday night, Michelle and Barack Obama spoke at the inaugural reception, and we were there on Monday when President Obama was sworn in publicly for his second term. But he and Joe Biden got a jump start on things. The Constitution dictates that the swearing-in happens on Jan. 20, so the two had private swearing-in ceremonies on Sunday. The official event was moved to Jan. 21, however, in observance of Sunday's religious significance.
Monday's inaugural celebrations began with the swearing-in ceremony, which included performances by Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé. Then the president and first lady attended a luncheon, where Barack honored Michelle by saying, "There is controversy about the quality of our president; there is no controversy about the quality of our current first lady." Then the Obama family let loose while watching the inaugural parade ahead of the night's two inaugural balls, where Michelle stunned in a red Jason Wu gown. And finally, the first couple attended a prayer service Tuesday morning, an inaugural tradition that dates back to George Washington. See all the inauguration highlights now!


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Can I enter a Windows Store app in the Windows AppStore?
This competition covers only the Intel AppUp store. If you wish to enter an app in the Windows store that's up to you, but there is no submission prize for getting an app in the Windows Store.
Do I have to provide source code?
No, but please see this note.
What sort of apps are you after?
Innovative, interesting apps that provide a new experience. An Ultrabook is more than a laptop. The more your app shows off this, the better your chances of winning.
More FAQs here
Round 2
submissions to the Intel AppUp store can be made November 1 - November 21, 2012. Register
Please consult this FAQ for important information on the submission process
Congratulations to the following contestants who were the first to get their apps in the AppUp store. Congratulations!
|Yani Ioannou
|David Carr
|Laurie Hedge
|Aaron McGrath
|Doug Mair
|Mike Capobianco
|Scott Trewin
|Abhishek Nandy
|Erik Putrycz
|Muhammad Shareef
|Sean Regan
|Akshay Singh
|Febin John James
|Nilesh Dungarwal
|Sébastien Lachance
|Alexander Bell
|Florian Rappl
|Nirmit Kavaiya
|Simon Stevens
|Amit Gajjar
|George Christopher
|Oliver Grahl
|Stephan Guenther
|Anup Kumar
|Haresh Dave
|Pratik Kothari
|Steve Vink
|Bryan Brown
|Ivan Petrovic
|Ranjan Dailata
|Christoffer Jäll
|James Fitzgerald
|Richard Vanner
|Tianyu Xie
|Claude Garrett
|Roshan D
|Timothy Corey
|Cliff Mellangard
|Kishore Gaddam
|Rupam Das
|Dan Funnell
|Kloverpoint Technologies Inc.
|Zubair Lawrence
|David Auld
|Kurosh F.
To get your Ultrabook enabled Windows 8 application into the Intel AppUp online store by December 1, 2012.
That's a total prize package for the big winner of $31,000, plus additional promotion and visibility for you and your app, plus you are sent an Ultrabook!
Please be aware that it can take over a week from the time you submit your application to the time it appears on the AppUp store, hence the submission deadline of November 21.
Almost anything. This is an Ultrabook competition so you need to ensure your application takes advantage of the new Ultrabook capabilities. If it's a Windows application then it will work, obviously, and if you accept cursor input then the touchscreen input will work out of the box, too. But we want more:
The more you show off what an Ultrabook can do, the more you demonstrate that an Ultrabook isn't your Dad's old, tired PC, the better your chances. Make your existing app engaging on an ultra-light, ultra-portable Ultrabook.
Read the Ultrabook Overview for Software Developers for more info on what an Ultrabook running Windows 8 can do.
Judging will be divided into 7 categories, with each category winner being awarded a $10,000 prize.
First, Register! If you don't register you will not be eligible for the competition.
Second, complete your Windows 8 application, ensuring it showcases the Ultrabook, and submit it to the Intel AppUp store.
Round 2 contestants will need to be completed and tested using the Ultrabook that they received from Round 1 in order to ensure the application works perfectly on the hardware, and then contestants must submit their final application to Intel AppUp for verification and publishing. Contestants must provide proof of acceptance to be eligible to earn a Category Prize, an Application Success Award, and/or the Grand Prize by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
All Round 2 contestants should read the App Innovation Contest FAQ - App Submission & Verification and watch the short video Submitting Your App to the Intel® AppUp℠ App Innovation Contest
If you don't submit your app to the AppUp store in time, and/or it's not approved, you won't be eligible for final judging. Check the submission requirements and give yourself plenty of time to get it in. We're working with Intel to have your apps go through the fast lane, but we can't offer miracles for late entries. The deadline for round 2 entries is November 21, 2012
Contestants who do not receive an Ultrabook in Round 1, or who do not meet the Round 1 deadline, are still encouraged to develop applications, write an article describing their application (make sure it's posted in AppInnovation subsection of the Ultrabooks section) and then, should they be accepted, submit them to Intel AppUp store. Round 2 Contestants will be eligible to receive an Application Success Award on providing proof that (i) they have submitted their application to Intel AppUp and that (ii) it has been accepted to be included in the AppUp store.
As with any competition of this nature there are some restrictions. Employees at Intel, Microsoft, and CodeProject cannot enter, and laws in certain jurisdictions also restrict entrants. Please see the Terms and Conditions for a full list. Specifically, since a major component of this competition revolves around entrants receiving an Ultrabook, we've had to restrict entrants to the following countries: United States, Canada, India, Spain, Ireland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Norway or Sweden. Yes, it sucks we can't open it to everyone because of various laws in different countries, but we had to make a call on whether it's better to offer it to a lot, but not all, of you, or none at all.
No, you don't need to provide a full article because we understand that (a) you may not have your code and article complete, and (b) you may be entering a commercial application that contains proprietary information. However, please note that at the conclusion of the competition those entries that do not fulfill the submission guidelines will be removed.
However, we love code. The more code you post in your article - snipets, tips, classes, or even full code - the better. Your priority in this competition is to get an app in the AppUp store, but if you can post a full article as well, then perfect.
Contestants chosen as Round 1 winners will be provided with a URL that allows them to get a certificate for free, compliments of Intel. You can use the certificates for anything you want.
Please note: There is currently an issue with the redirection from the Intel pages. ArchieCoder writes "When I was redirected from the Intel AppUp website to the Comodo form page, I was getting these 3 errors: Member not found, Unable to get property 'Count' of undefined or null reference, Unable to get property 'ItemByName' of undefined or null reference." ArchieCoder contines that he "put an "s" after http (so https://...) and it worked".
There should be a skip option at the bottom of the screen where it asks for the product key.
Conditions of Entry | Current winners list
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PRIOR to the Hampshire County World War One Centenary service in Winchester Cathedral on Sunday (June 22) the bells pealed specially to mark the sombre anniversary.
The Guild Memorial to 56 ringers from 36 churches across the old (1914) Winchester Diocese who died in World War One, stands in the corner of the cathedral belfry and a team of ringers from across Hampshire and beyond rang a quarter peal of 1,342 changes of Grandsire Cinques conducted by Steven Noyes of Brighstone, Isle of Wight.
A short service was conducted beforehand by the Canon Precentor, the Reverend Susan Wallace, who is pictured here with ringers from the Guildford, Portsmouth and Winchester dioceses representing the towers listed on the memorial.


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As the digital age collides with a DIY mentality, the at-home beauty devices market is pulsing with potential. Opportunities abound for expanding offerings and marketing products in a new way that capitalizes on the trend as consumers bring home everything from acne-treating blue light therapy to sonic cleansing and wrinkle-eliminating microcurrents.
Clarisonic is one of the forerunners in skin cleansing systems, and has seen increased distribution and advertising thanks to its acquisition by L'Oréal in late 2011. The key to the brand's staying power is its ability to fit into the consumer's daily routine without overly complicating that routine, as well as providing benefits the consumer can see.
"We created Clarisonic to improve on facial cleansing—to take something that is a boring mechanical process and make it dynamic and fun to do," explains Robb Akridge, co-founder and vice president of clinical affairs for the brand. The Clarisonic is successful because it provides an immediate improvement on the skin—e.g. softer and smoother. "It is also convenient and powerful, yet gentle so that it can be used every day for optimal results," Akridge continued.
Consumer perspective of the success of beauty devices is subjective. However, in order for a user to be completely satisfied, there needs to be both an immediate visible improvement effect and a longer term cumulative effect. Brands cite deeper hydration and a "glow" from improved circulation as benefits that can be seen immediately, whereas plumping and firming of the skin would occur due to a more gradual increase in collagen and other proteins in the skin over time, as well as the presence of water-binding technology such as hyaluronic acid.
Consumers are always looking for the next best product. As a device manufacturer, the R&D team must listen to the consumer while at the same time giving her more than what she was expecting. "That is one of the reasons the Clarisonic cleansing system is so successful: we under promise and over deliver," said Akridge.
Within the skin care market, there are major skin concerns, and for each of these concerns, Clarisonic is creating a complete package—a device and sonically optimized formulations—to provide synergistic results for customers. An example of this is the company's Deep Pore Detoxifying Solution, which claims to reduce the appearance of pores by 25% after just one use. Overall, Clarisonic develops beauty devices by knowing its customers and the problems they have with their skin. "Once we focus on an issue, we then determine what is the best device and formula to help with this concern in a safe and rapid manner," explained Akridge.
The acquisition of Clarisonic has helped to increase consumer awareness regarding skin cleansing systems overall and indicates that major beauty companies are taking interest in beauty devices. L'Oréal's purchase may inspire other acquisitions.
"Essentially, the global at-home beauty devices market is likely to see a greater tendency of mergers and acquisitions activity as large established marketers acquire smaller marketers to gain market share and intellectual capital in this relatively avant garde segment," states market researcher Kline & Company. Acquisitions would allow for increased consumer awareness and interest, as it generally leads to more advertising support, increased distribution and lower price points.
Another growth opportunity exists for beauty marketers to partner with device manufacturers. This synergistic idea has been observed in Japan by Kline, and is well illustrated by Panasonic recommending Shiseido cosmetic products for use with its devices—as well as packing AquaLabel moisture lotion with Panasonic's Ultrasonic Beauty Device. These ventures allow tech brands to enjoy the cachet and reach of established cosmetic brands while providing brand-enhancing, cutting-edge technology.
"The opportunity is in the combination of devices and consumables where they have a synergistic effect but not where there is a consumable purely for recurring revenue reasons," said Peter Luebcke, senior technology consultant, consumer products, Sagentia Ltd. To be successful, there must be value added for both the brand and the device technology. "Each on their own has efficacy and user experience value, but together they have an effect greater than the sum of their parts," he explained. "It's a bit like saying 1 + 1 = 3."
An example of such a synergy would be a device plus an active formulation where not only is the formulation dispensed onto the skin or hair but is also either activated by the device and/or delivered deeper in to have greater efficacy.
A device can serve in a brand activation role as well, such as with the Unilever Dove hair diagnostic device developed by Sagentia. The device displays before and after levels of hair damage, showing that the user has benefited from using the range of Dove hair care products. "This is a powerful tool in demonstrating that there is efficacy and science behind marketing jargon," explained Luebcke.
A new generation of products that promise to boost the effects of devices by building on the concepts is also on trend, according to market researcher Mintel. From "electromagnetically balanced" liposome technology to sugar and oxygen, brands are looking to stimulate activity in the upper layers of the skin and boost cellular activity while capitalizing on the beauty device trend as well.
"Many ingredients work well with beauty devices," said Clarisonic's Akridge. "There is a synergistic effect when technology is used, making an average product amazing."


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These cookies ($10) are not actually on the menu at Isola. But they're yours if you ask. You'll get three warm chocolate chip cookies baked to order with two tall glasses of cold milk—whole milk, of course.
Those who've stayed overnight at the Mondrian SoHo will immediately recognize these cookies that were once on the room service menu. Crunchy at the edges and soft and softer as you hit the middle, each bite features warm pockets of melting milk chocolate chips. Comforting and easy to love with sugar sprinkles over the surface, they're simple cookies done right. The portions serves two perfectly, though it could easily be devoured by a single person when the craving hits.
Isola (at the Mondrian Hotel)
9 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10013 (map)
About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan blogs at Kathy YL Chan, where she chronicles her eats and travel adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.


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"Curiousity Over Assumptions"
Last Wednesday was our "cuts 'n copy" session for Krista's interview with Malka Haya Fenyvesi and Aziza Hasan. Fenyvesi and Hasan are co-founders of NewGround, a project that reaches out to members of Jewish and Muslim communities and brings them together for dialogue and "doesn't shy away from discussing the tough topics such as, identity, gender, pluralism and Israel/Palestine." One phrase that grabbed me is when Fenyvesi explained that NewGround encourages "curiosity over assumptions" during its dialogue sessions.
(photo: a NewGround session, courtesy of Aziza Hasan)
It's a common-sense idea: when going into a situation of existing conflict, one's assumptions are likely to continue feeding that conflict. But curiosity — about other religious traditions, other ways of living, alternative ways of seeing the world — has the potential to span seemingly unbridgeable gaps.
One thing that seems to drive many of us at Speaking of Faith is a shared curiosity, which has taken the show to many unexpected places. Hearing Malka Haya Fenyvesi's "curiosity over assumptions" was refreshing in its practical value — as a means of bringing people closer together.


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Is Mitt Romney a Conehead?
The Coneheads were a comedy sketch on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1979 that featured Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman as space aliens stranded on earth and trying to pass as a normal suburban American family. The humor was in their strange dialogue, referring to their unusual food selections as "consumables", and behavior, such as smoking a whole pack of cigarettes at once, or drinking from a six-pack of beer cans still tied together. When questioned by neighbors about their unusual practices, the Coneheads always explained that they were "from France". The term "parental units" to refer to parents was introduced into the American vernacular by the Coneheads.
Could Mitt Romney be a space alien trying to pass as an ordinary American? He makes Conehead-like pronouncements, repeatedly saying for example, that in his alleged home state of Michigan, "The trees are the right height."
Mitt Romney has engaged in Conehead-like behavior, like transporting the family dog, an Irish Setter named Seamus, in a crate strapped onto the roof of the family station wagon, for a vacation trip from Boston to Canada. When the poor animal proceeded to experience acute diarrhea from terror over the situation, Romney proceeded to stop at a gas station to hose down dog, crate, and station wagon, and then continue on the long drive to Canada with the family pet still strapped to the roof.
Fox News reporter Chris Wallace said in an interview of Romney that he, Wallace, would no more put his dog in a crate on the roof of his car than he would put his children in such a crate. Then he asked Romney, "What were you thinking?"
Romney gave a Conehead-like laugh, "Heh, heh, heh." Then he added mysteriously, "This is a completely airtight kennel, mounted on the top of our car. He climbed in there regularly, enjoyed himself." Airtight? Enjoyed diarrhea?
When the Wall Street Journal asked Romney just last December about the incident, Romney just smiled and responded as a Conehead might, "Uh..., love my dog."
Romney seems oblivious to the significance of this story despite its recent appearance on the front page of the Washington Post, on the cover of the New Yorker magazine, as a regular topic on David Letterman and other late-night television programs, and as the target for the website "Dogs Against Romney". Both the Santorum and Gingrich campaigns have embraced the story as additional evidence that Romney can't win.
Who else but a Conehead would think it normal to propose a $10,000 bet to resolve a factual dispute in a televised political debate with Texas Governor Rick Perry?
Who else but a Conehead would say that he's not concerned about the very poor, but is concerned about corporations because "Corporations are people, too"?
Who else but a Conehead multimillionaire and son of a corporate CEO, educated exclusively in private schools, whose wife drives two Cadillacs, and who has said he enjoys firing people, would tell an audience of the unemployed that he's currently unemployed, too, and knows what it's like to worry about whether you're going to get fired?
Who else but a Conehead candidate for president would write and publish an article in the New York Times advocating bankruptcy for the U.S. automakers, entitled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"?
You decide. Is Mitt Romney a Conehead space alien? Or does he just play one in front of the cameras?
Support provided by


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THE RE-BRANDING/MARKETING PANEL: Leimert Design Charrette featuring Armen Ross, president, Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce, Jan Perry, general manager, EDD, and Darrell Brown senior vice president Consumer Banking, US Bank.
Photo by Sahra Sulaiman/LA Streetsblog
It is important that the rest of the city also be convinced of the value of investing in and cultivating the talents of a predominantly African-American community, its artists, and its entrepreneurs.
As I listened to speakers on the "Creative Industry Business Development, Tourism Markets, Branding, Marketing, Event Management, Business Alliances, and Program Partnerships" panel at the Leimert Park Design Charrette this past January, one question kept bothering me:
Why is so much discussion being directed at marketing Leimert Park to the international arena?
It makes perfect sense that they would be thinking big, of course.
As the area undergoes changes courtesy of the new rail line, the Leimert Park station that will (indirectly) connect the Crenshaw and Leimert communities to LAX, and the new development that will likely follow, there is the potential to draw tourists to the area, deepen relationships with sister cities or communities, or even attract innovative investors looking to build new partnerships with local artists and cultural care-takers.
Make no mistake — all of that is incredibly important. It would be wonderful to see Leimert take its rightful place on the map of must-see destinations for being a powerful creative community, the cultural beating heart of the black community, and an important African marketplace.
LOOKING DOWN DEGNAN BLVD: Leimert Park is one of the biggest hubs of African American business, merchandise and entertainment venues around.
Photo by Brian W. Carter
But Leimert Park, at least in my experience, is still not a particularly well-known quantity to many Angelenos.
While it is on people's radar because of the construction of the Crenshaw Line, because it is part of "South Los Angeles," it is vulnerable to being associated with the many stigmas that come with that label. Even for many of those who do know something about the community and its history, Leimert's location within South L.A. still acts as a deterrent — people are afraid they will have to travel through "dangerous" or "sketchy" areas to get there.
Part of the reason that it has been hard to dispel such outdated notions and create a more positive image for the area is that, until recently, Leimert has not been particularly adept at getting the word out about what it has to offer the city.
For residents living in the area or people that regularly frequent places like the independent, black-owned Eso Won bookstore or artistic hubs like the KAOS Network, the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, The World Stage, or the new Papillion Art Gallery, keeping up with cultural events and happenings probably isn't too hard.
Someone like myself, who loves the neighborhood but can't be there all the time, tends to find out about exciting events a week or two after they have happened, when stopping by to see friends or to follow up on a story.
VISION THEATER: Groups like the Leimert Park Village 20/20 Vision Planning Initiative definitely have plans to restore the theater to its full prominence.
Photo by Brian W. Carter
People completely unfamiliar with the area likely never hear about what it has to offer at all. And, despite the fact that so many of the musical, literary, and artistic greats in the African-American community have come through and/or been shaped by the neighborhood, an interested observer would be hard-pressed to find a central source of information detailing that history (although, this documentary and Erin Aubry Kaplan's work at KCET help fill in some gaps).
That all is beginning to change.
Since the design charrette, stakeholders have been meeting regularly to find ways to make the ideas expressed at the January event bear fruit. One of the approaches has been to build on the success of the Leimert Park art walk (held the last Sunday of the month) and designate the last weekend of the month as "Weekends in Leimert." Special performances or events underscoring Leimert's diverse cultural offerings are timed to fall during that period and information about them is now centralized on their webpage.
Another strategy has been to seek ways to enhance the pedestrian environment through street and façade improvements in the Village area. To this end, stakeholders are currently working on a People St. application to turn the section of 43rd Place in front of the Vision Theater into a plaza.
While community leaders like KAOS Network founder and artist Ben Caldwell would prefer to see a community-specific design for the plaza — including an option to paint the street with something other than the polka dots or stripes the city offers— they are very interested in the potential of regenerating some of the street life culture Leimert used to enjoy.
This past weekend saw a marriage of these two objectives, as Leimert put together a series of events, including a Pop-Up Plaza, at the art walk celebrating innovation, art, and the pedestrian environment.
Crenshaw WALKS gathered at the KAOS Network for a meet-and-greet where they discussed potential projects the group could work on to promote mobility in the area and bring attention to community-specific mobility needs and aspirations.
Caldwell, together with Professor François Bar and Karl Baumann of USC, hosted a "Tactical Media" workshop on the "plaza" along 43rd Pl. The workshop invited participants to envision innovative ways to re-purpose and re-integrate obsolete street furniture into the design and life of a public space. The main attractions were objects already re-purposed by USC students and members of the Leimert community, including the "Sankofa RED" pay phone, a "beats" bench, an advertising display-cum-interactive art and poetry canvas, an L.A. Times newspaper box fitted with a window to Leimert's artistic history, and a social gardening planter project.
FESTIVALS & ENTERTAINMENT: Leimert Park serves as a venue for many festivals and events such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival.
Photo by Sabir Majeed
Later, in the afternoon and evening, patrons could aquaint themselves with local vendors on the plaza offering jewelry, lotions, incense, art, and more, meander through the open galleries, honor Women's History Month with "Womun: Art and Power" — a celebration of song, dance, music, poetry, and healing — at the Vision Theater at 3 p.m., see "I Wanna Be Loved: Stories of Dinah Washington" at 4 p.m. at the Barbara Morrison PAC, or join in the Sisters of Jazz jam session at the World Stage, starting at 9 p.m.
Patrons who stuck around KAOS, ran into local fixtures like Wo'se Kofi (a musician and gourmet who always has a basket of vegan treats) and Kyle Verbs (a rapper and host of the eclectic musical experiment known as Bananas) and were treated to spoken word from the young poets that often gather there in the afternoon.
Hopefully, things like the branding and social media efforts the community is making, the new studio/community center and art gallery Mark Bradford is building in the Village, the ongoing partnership between KAOS and USC, and the CicLAvia hub Leimert will host at the end of the year will make Leimert Park more accessible to Angelenos and convince them to give it another look.
The international tourists and investors spoken of at the design charrette will eventually matter for the dollars and eyeballs they will bring into the community. But, for the area to be able to grow and thrive on its own terms now, with its artistic and cultural heritage acting as the foundation for the future and not as a nicely preserved snapshot into the past, it is important that the rest of the city also be convinced of the value of investing in and cultivating the talents of a predominantly African-American community, its artists, and its entrepreneurs.
Learn more about the Leimert Park 20/20 Vision and keep up with their events here. The Leimert Park Art Walk is held on the last Sunday of the month, starting at 2 p.m. at 4395 S. Leimert Blvd.


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The bell ringers of Steeple Ashton and Keevil churches marked a brief moment in history by ringing rounds at precisely 9.10pm on the 11th day of the 12th month in the 13th year of this century.
The ringers were divided into two teams and each rang rounds with a short gap in between for a part of the actual tenth minute at St Mary's, Steeple Ashton.
Then it was on to a busy festive season when they rang twice on Christmas Eve, again on Christmas Day and, of course, at midnight on December 31 to ring out the old year and ring in the new.
The new year will be a special one for the group, which rings in both Steeple Ashton and Keevil churches, as in October it will mark the 70th year of its re-formation in 1944.


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Chestnut Hill, Mass. - To better reflect its transformation into a walkable retail destination that seeks to be the new downtown in the heart of Chestnut Hill, Mass., the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center has been renamed "The Street," owner/manager WS Development announced today.
With nearly ½ mile of frontage along Route 9, The Street was one of New England's first shopping centers when it opened in 1950. The Street's redevelopment continues to place it at the forefront of retail destinations both locally and beyond.
"Chestnut Hill Shopping Center was part of a then-revolutionary wave of retail projects opening around the country just after World War II," said Jeremy Sclar, president, WS Development. "Today, however, the project has a new, powerful, cutting-edge, configuration and mix of specialty shops and restaurants. Rebranding it as "The Street' more accurately reflects the sophisticated offerings and urban experience our customers will experience."
The Street features a mix of national, regional and local retailers that offer fashion, casual and fine dining options, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and the best boutique cinema in Greater Boston. Coming soon are Showcase Super Lux featuring Davio's Cucina, The Sports Club/LA, Polarn O. Pyret, Pottery Barn, lululemon athletica, Shake Shack, Pinkberry, Del Frisco's, Bernard's, Treat Cupcake Bar, Styled, and many others soon to be announced. New tenants will join an already robust lineup including The Container Store, Legal Sea Foods, Aquitaine, The Cottage, Star Market, City Sports, Portobello Road, Urban Grape, EyeSpot, Comella's, Angora Ice, and others.
The phased redevelopment, designed by Cambridge, Mass.-based Prellwitz/Chilinski Associates, is expanding and transforming the project into a town center complete with tree-shaded pedestrian walkways, outdoor dining, and new buildings with glass facades overlooking Hammond Pond. For the first time, storefronts will line both the south side facing Route 9 as well as the north side facing the Pond.


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The Day Ahead: Shush, and Deal With It
Before I get to it today, let's look at an investor word bank:Uncertainty Grand Bargain Santa Claus Rally Fiscal Cliff Debt Debate Oversold Overbought Headwinds Tailwinds Underlying Fundamentals: Weak or Strong?
Breathe deeply. Do all the above words in the bank sound oddly familiar? They should, because we investors and equity handicappers have been tortured by them for a while now. The stone-cold truth is that none of this incessant jargon is new, and time is not on our side....657 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
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