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Physical exercise has a favorable impact on bones, but optimum training strategies are still under discussion. In this study, we compared the effect of slow and fast resistance exercises on various osteodensitometric parameters. Fifty-three postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to a strength training (ST) or a power training group (PT). Both groups carried out a progressive resistance training, a gymnastics session, and a home training over a period of 12 mo. During the resistance training, the ST group used slow and the PT group fast movements; otherwise there were no training differences. All subjects were supplemented with Ca and vitamin D. At baseline and after 12 mo, bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and distal forearm by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We also measured anthropometric data and maximum static strength. Frequency and grade of pain were assessed by questionnaire. After 12 mo, significant between-group differences were observed for BMD at the lumbar spine (P < 0.05) and the total hip (P < 0.05). Whereas the PT group maintained BMD at the spine (+0.7 ± 2.1%, not significant) and the total hip (0.0 ± 1.7%, not significant), the ST group lost significantly at both sites (spine: −0.9 ± 1.9%; P < 0.05; total hip: −1.2 ± 1.5%; P < 0.01). No significant between-group differences were observed for anthropometric data, maximum strength, BMD of the forearm, or frequency and grade of pain. These findings suggest that power training is more effective than strength training in reducing bone loss in postmenopausal women.
- exercise
- resistance training
- osteoporosis
recent meta-analyses of longitudinal studies confirmed that exercise has a positive influence on the skeleton and increases or, in more elderly subjects, maintains bone mineral density (BMD) (26, 27, 60, 62). Although optimum training strategies are still under discussion, it is generally acknowledged that the training should be population specific. For example, exercises that were highly effective in premenopausal women did not show a major impact on bone after menopause (5, 49). Cross-sectional studies with athletes demonstrated that BMD was strongly associated with high-impact load-bearing activities, such as sports games or gymnastics (12, 34, 37, 40). BMD was also highly associated with activities that required high muscular tension such as weight lifting (17, 18, 37, 39).
To develop an effective exercise program, it is important to understand the interaction between exercise and bone turnover and formation. Data on this subject are still rare, but the dose-response relationship of isolated mechanical loading parameters has been investigated in several in vivo loading studies of animal bones. Various models such as the functionally isolated avian ulna (44), four-point bending of the rat tibia (53), axial loading of the rat ulna (51), and models of ground-based vibrations (42, 43) have been applied successfully. Typical end points are histomorphometric parameters of bone formation. These studies show that strain magnitude, strain rate, cycle number, strain frequency, strain distribution, and rest periods are associated with osteogenic impact.
Many results based on animal studies can be integrated in human exercise regimen (8, 22), but this has rarely been done (41, 58). Furthermore, studies that compared the effects of mechanical parameters on BMD in humans almost exclusively focused on strain magnitude. This parameter was predominantly investigated in studies comparing the effect of low- vs. high-intensity resistance training (4, 6, 32, 33, 35, 59). Only one study specifically investigated the effect of strain rate (4). The study showed that high-impact (jumping) exercises were significantly more efficient than low-impact exercises. The positive effect of a high strain rate on BMD was confirmed indirectly by several other studies (1, 5, 16, 49).
In our study, we also focused on strain rate. Our major hypothesis is based on the assumption that high-velocity resistance training (power training) results in more pronounced stimuli than low-velocity resistance training (strength training) and should be more effective in maintaining bone density in postmenopausal women. In our 2-year program for which we report first-year results, we included pretrained women who had participated in the training arm of the Erlangen fitness osteoporosis prevention study (EFOPS) for 3 years (29, 31).
The present study was approved as an extension of the EFOPS study by the ethics committee of the University of Erlangen (Ethik Antrag 905, S9108-202/97/1, S21-22112-81-00) and the German and Bavarian radiation safety agencies (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz: Z2.1.2-22462/2-2002-016 and Bayerisches Landesamt für Arbeitssicherheit: 13B/3443-4/5/98). All study participants gave written, informed consent.
Fifty-three osteopenic postmenopausal women (4–11 yr postmenopause) were included in the study. These women had participated in the training arm of the EFOPS study for 3 years before start of the study. None of the subjects had a disease or used medication affecting bone metabolism. The subjects were groupwise randomly assigned to a strength (n = 28) or a power training program (n = 25).
Exercise Program
Both groups carried out the following weekly training program: two weight-lifting sessions (60 min each), one gymnastic session (60 min), and one home training session (25 min) with at least 1 day of rest between the joint exercise sessions. Attendance was assessed every 12 wk by using subject-specific training logs as well as attendance lists kept by the trainers.
Weight-lifting session.
The weight-lifting session started with a 20-min warm-up (running, low-/high-impact aerobics at 70–85% maximum heart rate), followed by a jumping sequence with 4 × 15 multidirectional jumps. Machines for multijoint exercises (Technogym, Gambettola, Italy) were used for horizontal leg press, leg curls, bench press, rowing, leg adduction and abduction, abdominal flexion, back extension, lat pulley, hyperextension, leg extension, shoulder raises, and hip flexion.
Twelve-week intervals of periodized high-intensity training [70–90% 1-repetition maximum (1 RM)] were intermitted with 4–5 wk of lower training intensity (50% 1 RM). The only difference between the two groups was the movement velocity. The training protocol specified a 4-s concentric, 4-s eccentric sequence in the strength training group (ST) and a concentric fast/explosive, 4-s eccentric sequence in the power training group (PT).
Gymnastics session.
The objective of the gymnastics program was to improve fall-related abilities. It consisted of coordination, strength, endurance, and flexibility training.
Home training session.
All participants were requested to carry out a 25-min home training session once a week with rope skipping, stretching, isometric exercises, and exercises with rubber bands.
Power vs. strength training.
Six months after study start, when the participants were accustomed to the training scheme, ground reaction forces were measured with a force plate (mtd-Systems, Neuburg v. Wald, Germany) mounted on the leg press machine. In a subset of the participants (PT: n = 16, ST: n = 18), force-time curves were recorded over a period of six repetitions carried out with loads corresponding to ∼75% 1 RM. Relative loading magnitude and amplitude, loading frequency, and maximum loading and unloading rates were extracted from the curves and used to compare power and strength training.
The relative loading magnitude (given in %) was calculated by normalizing the average of the six force maxima (Fig. 1) with the lifted weight. The relative loading amplitude was determined in the same way by using the differences between maxima and minima. Maximum loading and unloading rates (N/ms) were determined from the derivatives (Fig. 2) of the smoothed force-time curves, again by averaging the results from the six repetitions.
The frequency spectrum or loading distribution was determined by a fast Fourier transform of the force-time curve, which decomposes the signal into its sinusoidal components, providing a force-vs.-frequency-graph (Fig. 3). For the statistical analysis, the frequency spectrum was divided into six intervals of 0.5 Hz each, covering 0 to 3 Hz. Finally, a Fourier synthesis was performed to analyze the contribution of each 0.5-Hz interval to the total frequency bandwidth of the original signal.
Figure 1 shows characteristic force-time curves of strength (A) and power training (B). Owing to the fact that during strength training the velocities are small, the force increases and decreases more or less continuously. In contrast, during power training, each repetition shows "double peak" behavior. The large peak can be attributed to the first phase of the explosive leg extension, when pushing the weight forward and pausing in a short unloading phase. Then the force is increased again, resulting in a second peak that is usually lower than the first. The loading rates can directly be obtained from the derivatives of the force-time curves and are shown in Fig. 2.
Quantitative results of group differences are displayed in Table 1. Differences range from 16% for the relative loading magnitude to 611% for the unloading rate. Table 2 and Fig. 4 display the results from the Fourier synthesis. In the ST group, low frequencies up to 1 Hz account for 86% of the total signal strength, whereas the frequency distribution in the PT group extends to higher frequencies. 27.4% of the total strength is associated with frequencies beyond 2 Hz compared with only 6.6% in the ST group.
Compared with the specified training protocols, both groups carried out the leg press exercise at higher speed. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the slow movement took 5.8 instead of 8 s and the fast movement only 3.8 s. Average values were 5.6 ± 0.8 s in the ST and 3.5 ± 0.6 s in the PT group.
Ca and Vitamin D Supplementation
Depending on the individual Ca and vitamin D (Vit-D) intakes, each participant received supplemental Ca and Vit-D to ensure a total daily intake of 1,500 mg Ca and 500 IE Vit-D (28). The individual dietary intake was assessed with a 5-day protocol. The consumed food was weighed precisely. The analysis of the protocols was performed using Prodi-4,5/03 Expert software (Wissenschaftlicher Verlag, Freiburg, Germany).
For each study subject, the measurements described in the following sections were carried out at baseline and repeated after 12 mo. The measurements can be grouped into four blocks: anthropometry, bone densitometry, exercise, and pain.
We measured height, weight, and body composition (percent body fat, lean body mass, total body water). Body composition was assessed with the impedance technique (Tanita BF 305, Tanita, Japan).
Bone densitometry.
Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (QDR 4500A, Hologic, Bedford, MA) at the lumbar spine (L1–L4), the proximal femur, and the distal forearm by use of standard protocols.
Exercise tests.
Maximum isometric strength values of the trunk extensors and flexors, the hip flexors, the leg adductors and abductors, and the arm flexors and extensors were determined isometrically by use of a Schnell-Trainer dynamometer and a Schnell M-3 isometric tester (Schnell, Peutenhausen, Germany) following Tusker's protocol (57). Strength was recorded as the product of force and lever arm in Newton-meters (N·m).
At baseline, endurance was measured by a stepwise treadmill test up to voluntary maximum. Starting with 6 km/h (0° slope), the velocity was increased every 3 min by 1 km/h. Minute ventilation, maximal O2 uptake, and maximal CO2 production were determined by using a Zan 600 open spirometric system (Zan, Oberthulba, Germany). All subjects achieved a minimum maximal heart rate of 155 min−1. This measurement was not repeated after 12 mo.
Pain frequency and intensity at various skeletal sites were assessed by questionnaires according to Jensen (21) and the Osteoporosis Quality of Life Study Group (35a). The reproducibility of the questionnaires had been evaluated in an earlier study (30). A random sample of 10 women had answered the questionnaires twice within 2 wk. The mean difference between the first and the second score was less than 5%.
Statistical Analysis
Unless stated otherwise, all measured values are reported as means and standard deviations. The Kolgomorov-Smirnov test was used to check for normal distributions; Levine's F-test was used to check for homogeneity of variance. In the analysis, we evaluated the training effect on bone, that is, we used all densitometric parameters as dependent variables. Specifically, the following questions were investigated: 1) Were groups comparable at baseline? Here unpaired t-tests for normally distributed variables and Mann-Whitney U-tests for not normally distributed variables were applied. 2) Was the power training more effective than the strength training? Here we used a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The within-group factor was time (baseline vs. 12 mo), and the between-group factor was type of training (PT vs. ST). 3) Were within-group changes between baseline and follow-up significantly different from zero? For this purpose, paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests were used.
All three analysis steps were carried out twice. First, we excluded subjects with insufficient training frequency (<2 joint sessions/wk averaged over the 12-mo period). Then we repeated the analysis independent of training frequency. All tests were two tailed, and a 5% probability level was considered significant (*). We used SPSS 12.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL) for statistical analysis. The fast Fourier transformation and the spectral analysis of the force-time curves were carried out in EXCEL 2003 (Microsoft).
All 53 enrolled study subjects completed the first study year. However, two subjects of the ST group were excluded from all analyses because they took medications (glucocorticoids) or had acquired diseases (hyperparathyroidism) affecting bone metabolism. Another nine subjects (PT: n = 4; ST: n = 5) were in the category "insufficient training frequency." Thus, in the first analysis, 21 women of the ST and 21 women of the PT group were included in the 12-mo analysis. The important parameters describing the two training regimens have been described and analyzed in materials and methods. There were no significant differences in the weekly training attendance rates between the ST (2.48 ± 0.31 sessions) and the PT (2.43 ± 0.32 sessions) groups.
Table 3 lists baseline data for nondensitometric parameters and Table 4 includes the baseline data for densitometric parameters. None of the nondensitometric parameters showed significant between-group differences. Furthermore, at baseline there were no differences in maximum static strength at any skeletal region. Average BMD values at the spine and hip tended to be lower in the PT group, yet those at the forearm tended to be higher. However, levels of significance were only achieved in the forearm and the intertrochanteric regions.
When using the two-way ANOVA, all between-group differences for height, weight, lean body mass, percent body fat, total body water, and for maximum isometric strength and endurance were nonsignificant after 12 mo. This result was independent of whether subjects with insufficient training frequency were excluded.
Training Effects on Osteodensitometric Parameters
Table 4 displays baseline and 12-mo values for the densitometric parameters. Here, subjects with insufficient training frequency were excluded. After one year, power training resulted in larger effects than strength training at the lumbar spine, total hip, and intertrochanter. For the trochanter, differences of the training effects were almost significantly different (Fig. 5). Corresponding F and P values of the time × training group interaction term, resulting from the ANOVA, are shown in Table 4. For the hip, within-group t-tests showed significant BMD losses for all regions in the ST group and stable BMD in the PT group.
Corresponding relative changes (%) in the ST group were as follows: LS, −0.9 ± 1.9; total hip, −1.2 ± 1.5**; femoral neck, −1.6 ± 2.5**; trochanter, −0.9 ± 2.2*; intertrochanter, −1.4 ± 3.0**; total forearm, −0.2 ± 1.3; and ultradistal radius: −0.5 ± 3.1. Relative changes in the PT group were LS, +0.7 ± 2.1; total hip, 0.0 ± 1.7; femoral neck, −0.4 ± 2.8; trochanter, 0.2 ± 2.3; intertrochanter, 0.1 ± 2.9; total forearm, −1.0 ± 1.4**; and ultradistal radius, −0.5 ± 2.9. The levels of significance indicate whether the changes were different from zero.
When inadequate training frequency was not an exclusion criterion, there were no principal changes in the ANOVA results for the time × training group interaction term. However, with the exception of the lumbar spine, significance levels were lower (LS: F = 11.63, P = 0.001; total hip: F = 4.26, P = 0.044; trochanter: F = 3.11, P = 0.084; intertrochanter: F = 5.11, P = 0.028). All insignificant between-group differences remained insignificant.
With exception of the neck, there were no between-group differences with respect to changes in pain frequency or grade for any of the skeletal sites assessed (big joints, small joints, neck, and lower and upper back). In the neck, pain intensity was constant in the ST group but decreased in the PT group. Within-group changes were significant for pain frequency in the big joints in the PT group. Figure 6 shows results for the lower back and the big joints (hip, knee, shoulder), which are of special interest.
Embedded in a high-impact loading and aerobic exercise program, we investigated the effect of different training velocities in the strength training sequence. We specifically modified the velocity of the concentric movements during the machine training. Our analysis of the force-time curves shows that weight-adjusted loading magnitudes and amplitudes, and strain rates and frequencies, were significantly increased in the PT group carrying out the fast movements. Animal studies (19, 24, 25, 38, 45, 54–56) have shown that each of the four parameters has an osteogenic impact, but their combined effect has not been investigated. In our study, we focused on this issue by an increase of training velocity that impacted simultaneously on loading magnitudes and amplitudes, and on strain rates and frequencies.
Which parameter is most important when applied in combination is not clear yet. From experiments in roosters, Judex and Zernicke (24, 25), who had determined strain magnitudes and rates with strain gauges in vivo, concluded that strain rate was more important than strain magnitude. In two studies, they had compared the effects of low-impact (walking and treadmill running) and high-impact (drop jumps) exercises at the tarsometatarsus. Drop jumps increased peak strain magnitudes only moderately by +30% (relative to walking) and +11% (relative to running) but produced much higher strain rates of +740% and +256%, respectively. After 3 wk with 200 jumps daily, bone formation rates significantly increased periostally (+40%) and endocortically (+370%) whereas treadmill running did not increase bone formation. As determined in a rat ulna loading model, reported by Skerry and Peet (47), loading and unloading rates have similar osteogenic impacts. Therefore, in our study, the large difference in the loading rates and, in particular, the unloading rates may be essential for the superiority of the power training approach.
Models that regard fluid flow as the central mechanism for the stimulation of bone adaptation (7, 9, 48, 54, 61) suggest that the loading amplitude, which in our study was 82% higher in the PT compared with the ST group, should also play an important role. Furthermore, Turner et al. (54) showed that in the range between 0.2 and 2.0 Hz a higher loading frequency was associated with a higher osteogenic response. In our study, most loading frequencies ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 Hz in the ST and up to 2.5 Hz in the PT group.
In accordance with the animal studies summarized above, we observed significantly higher antiresorptive effects in the PT compared with the ST group (see Table 4 and Fig. 5), although the follow-up time of our study of 1 year was short and the number of subjects was relatively small. Even when subjects with low training frequency were not excluded, the effect was maintained, although lower in magnitude. Our group was too small to investigate a dose-response relationship; nevertheless we recommend higher (>2 joint sessions/wk) training frequencies.
Similar to the EFOPS training period (29, 31) preceding this study, there were no significant group differences at the distal forearm. Of course, this may also be attributed to the limitations in study design mentioned above. However, because of the EFOPS results, in which a significant BMD decrease of 3.5–4.0% was observed in the training group, we now believe that our specific forearm exercises (lat pulley, rowing, and bench press) are less effective compared with the exercises applied to the other skeletal sites. Actually, only bench press exercises result in a direct compression of the distal forearm, whereas the other two exercises cause tension. In line with this observation, a protocol with substantially higher loading variations generated by bending, tension, torsion, and compression demonstrated significant exercise effects on BMD of the distal radius (33, 46).
One may argue that a direct comparison between loading studies in animals and exercise studies in humans is problematic. In animals, the strains applied to bone can be measured directly, whereas in humans only the surrogate measurement of external forces is possible. However, in favor of the contrary, Bassey and colleagues (3) found that at the proximal femur peak ground reaction forces as well as force rates of different activities (walking, jogging, jumping) significantly correlated with internal forces measured by a specially equipped hip implant. Also within physiological loading ranges, forces are directly proportional to strains exerted on bone (22). Thus it seems likely that the mechanical parameters that we determined are comparable to the strain parameters in animal studies. Therefore, general conclusions drawn from animal models should be transferable to humans, even if direct strains are usually not assessable.
Power training, characterized by explosive muscle contraction, produces higher stresses on tendons and joints than strength training. Therefore, as a measure of precaution, in recreational sports activities, slow movements are recommended for weight lifting exercises to minimize injuries. This particularly applies to elderly subjects, whose adaptability to intensive stimuli might be reduced (11). However, with the exception of pain intensity at the neck, we did not observe significant pain intensity- or pain frequency-related differences between the PT and the ST group at any skeletal site. There was a trend toward pain frequency reduction in the big joints in both groups that was significant at the P < 0.05 level in the PT group. We attribute these results to the 3-year EFOPS training preceding this study. During that period, weight-lifting exercises with moderate (2-s concentric, 1-s static, 2-s eccentric) velocities were carried out. Thus the subjects randomized to power training were well trained and already adapted to heavy loading. At the EFOPS baseline, there were also no significant differences between the ST and the PT groups (data not shown here).
Furthermore, the periodized training design with 12 wk of high-intensity training (70–90% 1 RM), interleaved by 4–5 wk of lower training intensity (50% 1 RM) provided ample time for regeneration. Therefore, with an adequate training regimen, the maintenance of bone density does not necessarily conflict with increased pain. This contradicts earlier arguments (52). Nevertheless, we do not claim that for elderly subjects power training is generally unproblematic. In particular, long-term effects in the elderly are yet unknown because none of the studies investigating this question exceeded 6 mo (10, 13–15, 36). On the other hand, some studies suggest that muscle power is an essential component of functional mobility in elderly people (2, 23, 36, 50) and that power training might be at least as important as strength training (36). It would be interesting to know whether our results could be repeated in sedentary women, and a corresponding study should be carried out.
In summary, this contribution clearly demonstrates the superiority of power vs. strength training on BMD at the lumbar spine and the proximal femur. It also demonstrates that our power training approach with postmenopausal women did not increase pain. These findings highlight the importance and feasibility of power training and encourage its incorporation in training programs for the elderly, although its use and impact on pain in untrained women requires further validation.
Further research should be undertaken to quantify the exercise-induced mechanical milieu that is associated with different physical and sportive activities to identify those mechanical parameters that trigger the modeling and remodeling process. With this knowledge, the optimization of exercise programs would be much easier.
This work was supported by a stipend from Bavaria (Gesetz zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen und künstlerischen Nachwuchs).
We gratefully acknowledge support of Sanofi Synthelabo (Paris, France), who supplied Ca and Vit-D, and mtd-Systems (Neuburg v. Wald, Germany), who supplied the force plates. We thank Thorsten Hothorn for the statistical analysis of the data and Manfred von Stengel for helpful discussions concerning the analysis of the force-time curves.
Preliminary results of this study have been presented at the 16th International Workshop on Bone Densitometry (Annecy, France 2004).
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
- Copyright © 2005 the American Physiological Society


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It wasn't long ago that Alphonso Solomon was considered a rising star among black business owners in Dallas, a walking testament to the notion that ambition and business savvy could bring prosperity to the city's minority community.
Solomon had started three independent companies in South Dallas--a consulting business, a janitorial service, and an accounting firm. His business acumen landed him contracts and contacts with large and small clients, lured by his promises of financial prowess. It also landed him volunteer positions on economic development boards and even a Quest for Success award, given by the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce to black entrepreneurs who make a difference. He was, it seemed, a man on the rise.
But Solomon's businesses are now in receivership, some of his contacts have distanced themselves from him, and his reputation has been battered by lawsuits filed by people who were once his business allies.
Solomon spends much of his time in court, locked in a 4-year-old legal battle that began when a former employer accused him of stealing money, and former business partners accused him of usurping their dreams. The battle has spawned a mountain of legal paperwork, actions by a bevy of attorneys, and lingering bitterness. Lawsuits have prompted countersuits that have begotten appeals, eventually forcing Solomon to file for bankruptcy.
The legal labyrinth obscures an easy answer to the most puzzling question about Solomon:Is he the smart, resilient businessman some people believe is beset by hard times and harsh accusations, or an opportunistic hustler who seduces other minority business owners, gains their trust, and then takes their money and their dreams?
The answer depends on whom you ask.
"He's a highly principled individual," says Mike Massad Jr., one of Solomon's former attorneys. "He has the courage of his convictions. He believes in his own abilities. He is determined."
Massad represented Solomon during one of the many phases of Solomon's bankruptcy proceeding. Massad parted amicably with Solomon, he says, because Solomon was uncompromising in his insistence about how the bankruptcy be handled, and Massad could not continue to work for a client who wouldn't take his advice.
Josephine Latson's view of Solomon is less generous. Latson and her husband, Donald, own a garage-door repair company and used to rent space from a corporation Solomon controlled. Solomon evicted the couple's business, they say, when the Latsons protested his high-handed behavior.
"I think Solomon is a shark," Josephine Latson says.
For his own part, Solomon isn't saying anything. Visits, phone calls, and a letter sent to his DeSoto home by the Dallas Observer produced no response.
Documents filed in the myriad legal proceedings that have engulfed Solomon, however, paint a picture of a smart, tenacious businessman who has nonetheless turned many of his former allies against him.
In 1985, Solomon became involved with Graham Barber College. The college, founded in 1968 by Johnny Graham, is a venerable Dallas institution. For almost three decades, it has trained barbers and hair stylists who have fanned out across North Texas. The college now has eight locations.
The college initially brought Solomon in as a management consultant, and in 1987 Solomon was awarded a contract to run the business, court records show.
The contract gave Solomon and his consulting firm--Alphonso Solomon Company Inc.--a free hand running the day-to-day operations, and control of the books. It also gave him 10,000 shares of the company's stock, and provided that Solomon would succeed Johnny Graham as president of the college's board of trustees. Later, as a board member, Solomon bought 20,000 more shares of the company's stock.
In 1988, Johnny Graham stepped down as president of Graham Barber College for health reasons. After Graham's departure from the college, Solomon became president of the board of directors. Graham died in October 1990.
Initially, court documents indicate, the college did well under Solomon's management. Gross revenues steadily increased, and the college turned a profit. But after Graham died, the relationship between Solomon and the college's other principal shareholders--Graham's widow, LaFrance, and his two oldest associates, Emmanuel Phillips and Robert Brown Sr.--deteriorated.
According to an affidavit later filed by LaFrance Graham, a check of the college's books revealed that--after her husband's death--Solomon began paying himself and his companies a lot more money than they were entitled to.
Mrs. Graham also claimed that Solomon issued himself more than 16,000 shares of company stock without authorization. Some of the college's checks began to bounce, she claimed, because Solomon was taking money from college accounts. She, Brown, and Phillips said that Solomon took more than $500,000 from the college between 1989 and 1993.
Ultimately, Mrs. Graham and other shareholders sued Solomon, claiming he was improperly siphoning money from the college. Solomon sued back, and a complex legal wrangle ensued.
Perhaps the most lucid rendition of what happened is contained in an order handed down last year by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Felsenthal, who wound up with the task of sifting through the tangle of litigation resulting from Solomon's stewardship of the college. The Graham Barber College litigation was ultimately swallowed up in Solomon's bankruptcy.
"A suit brought to get Alphonso Solomon's attention has multiplied into an acrimonious dissolution of a business relationship gone sour," Felsenthal's order began. "The court must sort through the wreckage."
Solomon's accusers said Solomon had improperly bled about one-half-million dollars from the college. Solomon, on the other hand, claimed he was entitled to all the money he paid himself and his companies.
After studying the case, the judge saw it differently than Solomon. Felsenthal concluded that Solomon could not justify $224,724 of the money he had taken from the college, and ordered Solomon to pay it back. Many of the payments Solomon made to himself after Johnny Graham died were never properly recorded in the college's books, the judge found.
Solomon appealed Felsenthal's ruling, and lost twice on appeal. A bankruptcy trustee has since struck a deal in which Solomon would give up all his interest and stock in the college in exchange for $80,000. While the barber college has agreed to the deal, and Felsenthal has signed off on it, Solomon is appealing.
Even as he was sinking into controversy at Graham Barber College, Solomon became involved with another business venture that would end in messy litigation.
Solomon was approached in 1991 by a fledgling black business cooperative led by Dr. Willie Harris. A graphic designer, Harris had a dream that would allow black businessmen to own their own building. He envisioned a cooperative arrangement where small companies would buy stock, form a company, and buy property. Extra space could be rented out to other businesses.
"I wanted to get away from the plantation mentality--a feeling that...we as African-Americans have to move into buildings owned by [non-African-Americans]," Harris says in an interview. "My concept was, let's do for ourselves."
Harris rounded up friends to buy an office building at 7010 American Way in South Oak Cliff. Because there were six investors, they dubbed their new group Unique VI Corporation. But the group was unable to raise the full $160,000 needed to buy the building.
Enter Solomon. Harris was introduced to Solomon through Darren Reagan, whose father is the pastor at Solomon's church, Eastgate Baptist. Reagan told Harris that Solomon was a financial consultant and a Quest for Success award winner who could find them the money.
Harris met Solomon and found him to be a very pleasant, affable man. "He was very soft-spoken--a gentleman in the fullest sense of the word," Harris recalls.
So Harris asked Solomon to help raise the last $60,000 Unique VI needed to buy the building. Solomon agreed, Harris says, but in return Solomon wanted to be majority shareholder and wanted his company to get a contract managing the building and doing Unique VI's books. Harris and the others agreed.
"It didn't strike us as odd at the time," Harris says. "We felt this guy came with the highest recommendations and was a Quest for Success awardee. I had no reason to feel that the fellow was questionable."
Solomon helped secure a loan from Bank One, and Unique VI bought the building. Then, Harris says, everything changed.
Harris says that during one of the first meetings of the newly constituted group, he brought out an architectural rendering of improvements for the building. As he explained his idea, Solomon cut him off. "We don't need any of that," Solomon said.
"How can you tell us what we need?" Harris asked.
"Because I'm majority shareholder," Harris recalls Solomon saying.
Harris says that Solomon made it very clear that the one-share majority Solomon held gave him the power to do "anything he wanted." And, Harris says, Solomon did, starting with getting rid of Harris.
"The first meeting we had with him, he told them, 'You don't need Dr. Harris anymore. I can make you all rich,'" Harris recalls. "And they voted me out."
Harris wasn't going to go without a fight, and in 1992, he and two other Unique VI members filed suit against Solomon, trying to get back the stock they issued Solomon, along with the company's financial records. The suit claimed that Solomon removed Harris as the registered agent for Unique VI illegally.
Harris also objected to Solomon's management of the building. Harris claims Solomon forced out tenants he didn't like, and got rid of one tenant so Solomon could install a business of his own in the office space.
As had happened earlier with the barber college, Solomon and his partners in Unique VI soon wound up in court, suing each other over the deterioration of their business relationship. Ultimately, Unique VI received a $30,000 claim against Solomon's assets in his bankruptcy.
Solomon filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in 1994, listing $300,000 in assets and more than $450,000 in liabilities with the court. But even the bankruptcy has taken on a complicated life of its own.
Although Solomon has tried twice to reorganize under Chapter 11, he has been forced into Chapter 7 dissolution after failing to abide by his reorganization plan. A trustee, Robert Milbank, was appointed to dissolve Solomon's assets.
Solomon, according to court documents, was accused of not living up to his reorganization plan. Milbank claimed that Solomon failed to put up $50,000 he had promised to make the reorganization plan work.
It seems as if Milbank couldn't do anything to please Solomon. Court documents show a laundry list of complaints Solomon had against the trustee. Solomon didn't think Milbank got enough money for some assets, and didn't like the fact that Milbank wasn't sitting in on board meetings for Unique VI or Graham Barber College to make sure Solomon's interests were protected. Solomon certainly didn't like Milbank's efforts to force the case into dissolution. So, Solomon sued Milbank. Although Solomon lost the case, he is awaiting word on his appeal.
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In the meantime, Milbank has been busy trying to liquidate Solomon's remaining assets and pay some of the bills. There are only two large assets remaining: the stock in the Unique VI company, and 156 acres on Camp Wisdom Road. Milbank says it could be anywhere from six months to a year before the case is finally resolved.
Solomon continues to challenge the decisions against him in court. Some of those who once did business with Solomon are left with bitter memories. None of the principals from Graham Barber College would talk about Solomon, declining via a certified letter. The Unique VI building is on the sales block. Harris, whose dream of a black-owned office building ran afoul of Solomon's ambition, hasn't been back in the building since he packed up his graphic design things and went home in 1992.
"To this day, it is painful for me to go by that building," Harris says. "The plantation mentality took over."
Blaine Jon Howard contributed to this report.

subset: commoncrawl


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A dance concert will staged at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Charles E. Maedgen Jr. Theatre on the Texas Tech campus. Choreography is by Sheila Kleiman, Galina Panova and Peggy Willis-Aarnio, as well as senior Tech dance majors.
Reserved-seat tickets, priced at $10 for the general public and $5 for Tech students, can be purchased in advance by calling 742-3603. Tickets also will be sold at the door.
The three-act production features the following dance selections:
"A La Prochaine," choreographed by Rebecca Rowan.
"A Letter," choreographed by Katie Jackson.
"Anemone," choreographed by guest Kleiman, of Concord, Calif.
"Ballet a la Mode," choreographed by Willis-Aarnio.
"Double Helix, RNA/DNA," choreographed by Willis-Aarnio.
"Encouragement," choreographed by Amanda Kinkaid.
"Enigma," choreographed by Kimberly Lemelle.
"Fantastical: A Classical Fantasy (Gentle Spoof on Ballet)," choreographed by Willis-Aarnio.
"Grand Pas de Quatre," directed by Willis-Aarnio and coached by Panova.
"Greek Masks," choreographed by Panova.
"Only Time," choreographed by Ginger Kiser.
"Tango Argentina," choreographed by Panova.
"The Big Easy," choreographed by Mary Jane Hawkins.
Panova, a Russian ballerina who is now a choreographer, accepted a visiting dance lecturer position at Tech in September. In May 2000, she was a visiting teacher at the Rome Opera House and Ballet School. She dance professionally with international ballet companies from 1968-1998.
Dancers this weekend are Kalee Appleton, Wendy Bair, Nicolette Ball, Christina Bauer, Kelsey Bownds, Cathey Brown, Letecia Eulalee Bryan, Brooke Garner, Kimmy Geddie, Candice Gerber, Kelly Erin Hicks, Amberly Hix, D'Lisa Holland, Melissa Hoopman, Sze-Lyn Lim and Kristin Lodal.
Also, Kelly McMillan, Tracey Pineda, Katie Rhode, Gina Ricci, Amanda Ross, Erin Shinn, Lisa Elaine Smith, Karah Spaniel, Carolyn Joan Thompson, Janey Veteto, Justin Williams and Eugenio Zapata.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. -- An increase in advanced ticket sales for both tonight and Sunday, have helped turn Sandra Randa's frown upside down.
Disappointed by early attendance figures at the 2010 Scotties, the chair of the host committee for the Sault Ste. Marie event, is optimistic tonight's Team Canada - Ontario showdown and Sunday's 2:30 p.m. final will boost the numbers.
The 12-team, nine-day event began last Saturday at the Essar Centre.
"I feel the last few days will help us compensate for the first few days of what I consider poor attendance," Randa said. "I was very disappointed last weekend. But every day during this week, we've seen a gradual increase."
While she didn't have complete attendance figures available, the chair said attendance of roughly 1,700, both Sunday nighty and Monday night, didn't please her.
"But we did slightly over 2,000 Tuesday night," Randa said Wednesday afternoon. "And things are looking so much better for Thursday (tonight) as far as ticket sales go. We've sold a tremendous number of tickets for the Ontario - Canada game."
A concern, Randa continued, is that some fans may be under the misconception that tickets for tonight's draw, which matches defending champion Jennifer Jones and Krista McCarville's Thunder Bay rink, sentimental favourites in the Sault, may be difficult to come by.
"Word out there is that we're sold out for Thursday, but we're not," Randa said. "There are still tickets available. And tickets, I can tell you, are selling fast for Sunday's final."
Canadian Curling Association (CCA) event manager Gord McNabb said he shares Randa's optimism for a strong finish.
"So far, it's been slow, but things are picking up as we move on," McNabb said. "As it looks now, we'll meet our objective."
That objective, he added, is 53,000 combined paid attendance and complimentary seats for sponsors
It should be noted that a fan purchasing a full-event package, would be counted 21 times for attendance purposes, once for each of 21 draws on the event schedule.
"We knew it would go this way," McNabb said. "Opening weekend is always a little quieter than closing weekend."
But asked if last weekend was even quieter than anticipated, McNabb answered in the affirmative.
"I think the weather last weekend hurt our walkup business," McNabb said. "Would we love to have the building sold out for every draw? Yes. But momentum is picking up and we think that starting Thursday, it'll be busy."
Randa was asked whether she thought the fact this is an Olympic year, with some curling diehards heading to Vancouver to watch Cheryl Bernard and Kevin Martin compete in the Winter Games, has thinned the number of visitors to the Sault.
"I think some big curling fans from the West may be volunteering at the Olympic curling," Randa said. "But a bigger factor, I think, was the Olympic Trials in Edmonton. In my opinion, a lot of people traveled to the Trials instead of going to the Scotties or the Brier this year."
"It's possible (the Olympics) has had an effect on attendance. But I don't know how much of an effect," McNabb said. "You always depend a lot on the local market for ticket sales."
Asked to assess the job Randa and the Sault committee has done, McNabb gave the group a glowing review.
"Based on the number of Scotties I've done," said McNabb, working on his sixth Canadian women's championship, "as far as on-ground promotion and on-ground activities, this has been the best yet. The host committee here really got the message out. They've been excellent."


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Written on: 07/07/2002 by Lutaaya Arsen. (1 review written)
Good Points
Offers a very wide range of standard features; conference of up to five callers, internet access & WAP, internal aerial, shock-proof, others may be clear sound, sturdy, easily pocketable, dust proof, fairly long battery life(6 days) without illumination, quite stylish & good value for money. Its organiser feature puts it far ahead. Picture images can be recieved from even a non siemens phone that lacks images once proper code of image is sent eg "%love". Included in the phone is a battery rejuvenation feature. Key speed dial feature includes several operations options.
Bad Points
Status reports on delivered messages does not identify destination names as of call list but by number. Status report on messages hangs on screen longer than necessary. My siemens M35 at times may stop suddenly scrolling forward & backwads & does not switch off until I remove the battery & replace it back.
General Comments
I have had my Siemens M35 mobile phone since March 2002. Before I bought it I had had a Nokia 3210 for 2 years which endured a number of falls. I had missed out on the vibrator & organiser, I found these features in such a small, compact, fine & dandy siemens M35 gadget. Being an ardent user of SMS feature I noted that editing of long text was kind of slowed as the phone's T9 does not 'remember' new words used earlier. The rubber at the back keeps the phone from sliding off bevelled surfaces and out of the breast-pocket.
Written on: 17/03/2003
your right this is a great phone. i've had it for about a year now. battery life is good, about 3 days using it a lot. it is also water and shock resistant (it really is water resistant cos i poured a glass of water on the keys(am i mad?!?) and all is still fine). it has some cool features such as the automatic keylock, auto power off. good phone, just love it
As rated by our community of reviewers
" Very Expernsive. " Read More
Written by professor
" Not 2 good nokia 3310 " Read More
" Sony cd5e magic " Read More
" It fall more than 6-7 time from my hand but no scratch still working. " Read More
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" Horrible phone. Horrible service and this stupid phone broke after ... " Read More
Written by allylake2


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POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Write-in candidates want votes counted
ST. PAUL -- Almost everyone knows there are three major candidates for Minnesota governor in Tuesday's election, a few know about four others in the contest and almost no one knows another three are running as write-ins.
Candidates waging write-in campaigns need to register with elections officials to have their votes counted. So if Mickey Mouse does not register, the votes he seemingly always receives will go for naught.
Hoping not to go the route of Mickey, three governor-lieutenant governor write-in teams have registered with the secretary of state's office: Sherif Mansour-Tamer Mansour, Leslie Davis-Gregory K. Soderberg and John J. Uldrich-Robert S. Carney Sr. Davis, Uldrich and Carney all ran for governor in the Aug. 10 primary election, and lost by large margins.
Besides Republican Tom Emmer, Tom Horner of the Independence Party and Democrat Mark Dayton, names on the ballot will be Ken Pentel of the Ecology Democracy Party, Farheen Hakeem of the Green Party, Linda Eno of the Resource Party and Chris Wright on the Grassroots Party.
For state attorney general, perennial candidate Sharon Anderson registered so her write-in votes count.
Others who have registered include Jack Shepard (the guy living in Italy with arrest warrants out for him in Minnesota) and Amber Garlan, 4th Congressional District; Paul Koering, Senate District 12; Jason Stevens, Senate District 29; Nicole Beaulieu and Phillip L. Nelson, House District 4A; Pat Porter, House District 11B; and Josh D. Ondich, 1st Judicial District.
School votes, too
Voters in 78 Minnesota school districts Tuesday will decide whether to tax themselves to bolster school budgets.
If they all pass, they would bring in $82.5 million more annually.
They are called excess operating levies, but Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher pegs them as "school survival levies." He strongly urges voters to pass them.
More than 90 percent of the state's districts rely on such levies for some of their funding.
Dooher said the levies are needed now, but are not the long-term answer to school funding woes. He said the state needs to provide more of the funding. However, he would not say how much more money the state needs to pump into schools.
Tax relief available
Property owners affected by September flooding are eligible for property tax relief.
To be eligible for relief, they need to live in a county declared a disaster area and prove the floods made it impossible to pay their second-half property taxes.
A federal disaster declaration has been extended to eight more counties, and the state made property tax available to those counties, too. Those counties are Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, Winona and Yellow Medicine counties.
More information is available at www.minnesotarecovers.org.
Trackers troubling
Mark Dayton has campaigned off and on for 30 years, but it seems that the one thing that bothers him most about today's political atmosphere is the practice of campaigns and political parties sending "trackers" to follow opposing candidates.
At every public event, at least one Republican tracker records Dayton's remarks. Those videos may be used in television or Web commercials against the Democrat.
"It is very hard to let down your hair," said Dayton, who sometimes jokes about his expanding bald spot. "Everything is taken out of context."
Tom Horner of the Independence Party and Republican Tom Emmer also see followers from opposing camps, but have been less vocal detractors of the practice.
During a recent joint appearance, Dayton and Emmer said they would invite trackers from the opposite party to a party, putting blame on political parties not the individuals carrying video cameras.
Trackers have come to be common in recent elections and now are as common at events as campaign signs.


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FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- The owner of one of the five best curveballs in the American League did not develop, tinker and improve the pitch on a sun-drenched, pristine field.
Nor was it at an indoor workout facility or on a mound in his back yard.
Erik Bedard's curve was improved inside a barn on his brother Mark's chicken farm in Sarsfield. Sarsfield, as you should know, is down the road from Bedard's hometown of Navan (pop. 1,400), outside of Ottawa.
''My brother has 45,000 chickens in each of his two barns,'' Bedard said yesterday in the Orioles' clubhouse.
PETA should know that not one chicken wing or leg was injured during the creation, improvement and re-formation of this self-taught pitch.
''The chickens aren't really where we throw, we put up a board, too, in case a pitch gets away,'' said Bedard, whose batterymate is Robert Laplante. ''My curve (in 2006) was a lot better than the year before. I changed the grip. Now I feel more comfortable.''
Former Oakland ace Barry Zito, Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox and Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees were voted as having the best curve in the AL, with Bedard close behind. Now Zito has switched leagues.
Likely the Orioles' opening day starter April 2 against the Minnesota Twins, Bedard made his spring debut Friday. He was in mid-season form in his two innings against the Florida Marlins.
The Marlins went quickly. Six up, six down, Bedard needing only 20 pitches -- 16 strikes. He threw first-pitch strikes to five of the six batters he faced.
Growing up on the edge of the Montreal Expos' former fiefdom, he followed the Blue Jays and seldom went to Olympic Stadium.
His favourite player -- and who would have guessed this from a lefty -- was Pat Hentgen, the Jays' former Cy Young award winner. Hentgen used his right arm, but Bedard shares Hentgen's bulldog approach.
''I don't know whether it's this year or next,'' an AL scout said the other day, ''but sometime down the road, with his curve, that Bedard kid has a Cy Young in his future.''
Who knew the best arm with Orioles and their rich pitching tradition would be the best coach from the Montpetit shinny league, which plays hockey each Sunday at the University of Ottawa.
''We choose sides, play a best-of-three series,'' Bedard explained. ''If I miss a week, guys will say they lost because I wasn't there.''
He laughed when asked if he employed the left-wing lock.
''This is the first season I haven't played,'' the southpaw said. ''I was going to, but decided I didn't want to risk injury.''
Wise move. Three days before their scheduled salary arbitration hearing, Baltimore signed its ace to a one-year, $3.4 million US contract Feb. 18.
His baseball story is not typical of an ace. He began pitching in the Orleans Little League, joined coach Dick Dow of the Nepean Red Sox, and went to Norwalk (Conn.) Community Technical College, which won the NCAA Division III World Series in Batavia, N.Y., in 1998 as his team went 45-3 over the regular season.
''The next season we went 50-0 over the regular season, but lost in the playoff,'' Bedard remembered.
Not much has changed at home, he says. He still goes with his buddies to the town restaurant.
''Everyone stops by, says congratulations on the season or wishes me luck,'' Bedard says. ''The name of the restaurant? The Navan Restaurant.''
Bedard has Canadian company in the Birds' camp -- fellow lefty Adam Loewen, of Surrey, B.C., who is also in the rotation; outfielder Adam Stern, of Port Stanley, sidelined for a few days with a right oblique strain; and minor-league reliever Steve Green of Longeuil, Que., who recorded the save against Team USA last March 8 in the World Baseball Classic.
Last night, all four did what many Canadians would do on a warm Florida night -- walk into an ice palace to see the Florida Panthers play host to the Tampa Bay Lightening.
Bedard would be watching -- not coaching -- this one.


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Carving Faces Workbook : Learn to Carve Facial Expressions and Characteristics with the Legendary Harold Enlow. Author, Harold Enlow
Inside Carving Faces Workbook, woodcarvers will learn to carve the female face, a cowboy face, a Native American face, and a Santa face, along with facial features like eyes, lips, nose, hair, and ears.
144 Pages, Paperback
Notice to residents of California: Please read our Proposition 65 warning.


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A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
The Town Hall
New York, NY«archive page
Guest Information
Ellie Dehn
Soprano Ellie Dehn has appeared in many of the world's leading opera houses, from the Metropolitan Opera to Teatro alla Scala and Bayerische Staatsoper. But her love of music started during her childhood in Anoka, Minnesota. She sang in her high school choir and played flute in the band before continuing her studies at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. These days, she calls New York City home. At the piano: Djordje Nesic.
Larry Josephson
Larry Josephson has been a public radio host and producer for nearly 50 years, heard on WBAI and WNYC in New York and KCRW in Los Angeles, and on two national talk shows, Modern Times and Bridges: A Liberal-Conservative Dialogue. Among his radio productions are Classic Bob & Ray and The Bob and Ray Public Radio Show, for which he was honored with a Peabody Award.
Aoife O'Donovan
Songwriter, vocalist Aoife O'Donovan grew up in a musical family in Newton, Massachusetts. In her teens, she took an interest in the American folk tradition, and she spent her summers in Ireland, studying music and dance. After graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music, she formed the progressive bluegrass band Crooked Still. Plans are in the works for a solo album in 2013.
Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor was born in Anoka, graduated from the University of Minnesota ('66), and lives in St. Paul. He is the author of numerous books, including Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance, and Guy Noir and the Straight Skinny (Viking), and the editor of several anthologies of poetry, including Good Poems: American Places (Viking).
The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band
The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band is led by A Prairie Home Companion music director Richard Dworsky. Keyboard player, composer and improviser in any style, he also writes all the script themes and underscores. His latest CD is So Near and Dear to Me.
Chet Atkins called Pat Donohue (guitar) one of the greatest fingerpickers in the world today. And he writes songs too — recorded by Suzy Bogguss, Kenny Rogers, and others. Nobody's Fault and Vicksburg Blues (a collaboration with Butch Thompson) are the most recent of Pat's albums.
Gary Raynor (bass) has performed with the Count Basie band and Sammy Davis Jr., with whom he toured for several years. He was first call for dozens of touring Broadway shows, including the first presentation of The Lion King. Gary teaches at the McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul.
Peter Johnson (percussion) has played klezmer music with Doc Severinsen and jazz with Dave Brubeck. He was a drummer for The Manhattan Transfer and for Gene Pitney. He has toured the world, but he always comes back to home base: Saint Paul.
Andy Stein (violin, saxophone) has far-flung musical leanings: He was a founding member of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen; he collaborated with Garrison Keillor to create the opera Mr. and Mrs. Olson; and he has recorded with dozens of artists, from Itzhak Perlman to Nellie McKay.
Fred Newman
Sound effects man Fred Newman is an actor, writer, musician, and sound designer for film and TV. He is author of the book (and CD/CD-ROM) MouthSounds. Fred admits that, growing up, he was unceremoniously removed from several classrooms, "once by my bottom lip."
Tim Russell
One minute he's mild-mannered Tim Russell; the next he's George Bush or Julia Child or Barack Obama. We've yet to stump this man of many voices. In other roles, Tim played the part of Al, the stage manager, in the Robert Altman film A Prairie Home Companion and a detective in the Coen brothers' A Serious Man.
Erica Rhodes
Massachusetts-born, LA-based Erica Rhodes is known to many for her starring role in the popular Web series "Upstairs Girls," which posted more than 200 webisodes. She has also appeared in motion pictures, including Go West, Javatown, and the 2008 indie horror film Plague Town. These days, Erica performs her stand-up comedy in clubs across the country.
Sue Scott
On APHC, Sue Scott plays everything from ditzy teenagers to Guy Noir stunners to leathery crones who've smoked one pack of Camel straights too many. The Tucson, Arizona, native is well known for her extensive commercial and voice-over work on radio and television, as well as movie and stage roles.
Old Sweet Songs: A Prairie Home Companion 1974-1976
Lovingly selected from the earliest archives of A Prairie Home Companion, this heirloom collection represents the music from earliest years of the now legendary show: 1974–1976. With songs and tunes from jazz pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull and the first house band, The Powdermilk Biscuit Band (Adam Granger, Bob Douglas and Mary DuShane).


text:
Free Demo: Pop Piano Vol. 1
Songwriting Loops
- We bring you the ULTIMATE in SONGWRITING LOOPS with maximum possibilities, flexibility and originality!
- These Loops contain our 3-Songs-in-1 triple progressions giving the ultimate in variations from other users
- PLUS > one bar rhythms and sustained bar (1 hit) chords in all 12 keys!
- You can make these songs do almost anything you want within the rhythm and tempo…change keys, change chords. It's easy & flexible + fast!
PLAY AUDIO: Loop Samples
SAMPLE 1: DEMO Using all 3 progressions alternating every segment
SAMPLE 2: Using substitute chord with 1-bar rhythms and 1-hits, every other bar.
SAMPLE 3: FULL PRODUCT all songs alternating progressions.
Want to see and hear more of what the expanded edition loops can do?
View VIDEO Demonstrations HERE
Get your FREE DEMO NOW!
Pop Piano Song Construction Loops
Sign up below for our newsletter to get your free download link!
This FREE demo contains:
- Loops from one of the "3 songs-in-1" songs in the package, PLUS, the expanded 1 hits and 1 bar chord rhythms in all 12 keys.
- WAV & AIF audio files
- Both standard MIDI + Toontrack EZKeys ready midi.
- 3 separate chord progressions for each song section. Each progression is a song in itself!
- Song sections: Verse 1A, Verse 1B, Chorus 1A, Bridge, Outro (the full version contains 5 additional sections for this song (intro/verse2B/turnaround/chorus1B/Chorus3-Breakdown;10 sections in all))
- 15 song loops of 8 bars or greater (5 additional sections for this song in full version, for 15 additional loops.)
- 1 hit chords in all 12 keys. Demo contains 7 chord types in all 12 keys, 84 total loops. (14 chord types are in full version adding 84 additional loops for this song)
- 1 bar rhythm individual chords in all 12 keys. Demo contains 7 chord types in all 12 keys, 84 total loops. (14 chord types are in full version adding 84 additional loops for this song)
- Demo contains the following 7 chord types: Major, Minor, Suspended 4, 7th, Major 7, Minor 7, add 9.
- Chord progression chart for each section and progression (1 thru 3)
- 183 total loops!
- Complete guides and documentations as included in purchased product.
- Full product standard edition contains 6 songs x 3-songs-in-one progressions for 18 total songs and 174 loops.
- Full purchased product expanded addition contains 2190 loops. You get 6 songs with 3 separate progressions for a total of 18 complete songs! (6 songs x 3 progressions for 18 songs for 174 loops. 168 one hit chords in all 12 keys x 6 songs for 1008 loops. 168 one bar individual chord rhythms in all 12 keys x 6 songs for 1008 loops.)
- Full purchased product contains the following 14 chord types: Major, Minor, Suspended 2, Suspended 4, 6th, 7th, Major 7, Minor 7, 7th suspended 4, add 9, 11th, augmented, 1/3 (1 with 3 bass), 1/7 (1 with 7 bass).
- Full purchased AUDIO version of product matches the piano type used and sound (as closely as possible) to the popular artist's recorded sound.
Compatible with Mac & Windows and with the following software
Acid • Adobe Audition • Akai • Audio CD Player • Battery • Cubase • Digital Performer • EZKeys • EXS24 • FL Studio • GarageBand • GarageBand iOS • Gigastudio • HALion • Kontakt • Korg Oasys • Korg Triton • Kurzweil K2xxx Series • Live • Logic • MachFive • MPC • Nuendo • ProTools • Reaper • Reason • Record • RMX • SampleTank • Sonar • Soundtrack • Structure • Studio One • Toontrack EZKeys • Transfuser • UVI Workstation • Yamaha Motif
• Piano played by Gene Rabbai
Gene has been a busy producer, session & live keyboardist in Nashville for many years. He has recorded, worked or performed with Paul Butterfield of the Butterfield Blues band, Randy Meisner of Eagles, Smokey Robinson, Ratt, Mister Mister, Eric Burden of "The Animals" and "War" , Darlene Love , Tom Petersson of "Cheap Trick" and Doug Feiger of "The Knack", Carmine Appice and Phil Chen of Rod Stewart's Band, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Chely Wright, Kix Brooks, Daryl Singletary, Mark Collie, Joe Diffie, Billy Dean, Mila Mason & Anita Cochran and more. He has also recorded and produced for Band-in-a-Box and Sound Choice.
Try out this songwriting / song construction piano loops set and get a feel for how our products actually work and sound. We'd love to hear your feedback.
**TOONTRACK EZKEYS USERS NOTE** : You must install the loops into EZKeys manually, but it's very EZ. View the EZKeys how-to install video CLICK HERE.
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October 12th, 2012
Click here to read the Full Article
What would you do for a bowl of soup? If it's from The Original Soupman, probably a lot! Today, the Soupman legend lives on, find our 6 packs of small-batch, super fresh soups from The Original Soupman.
Each of the soups are still made with the craft and relentless pursuit of excellence that defines perfectionism and creates legends.
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Copyright © 2016 The Original SoupManTM, a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved.


text: Hello Everyone, I am 26 years old and a friend that I cook with told me I needed to join this site. I have been smoking food for about 5 years now, I have a vertical 55 gallon drum smoker,and my favorite thing to cook would be ither whole chickens or ribs. This is the first and only forum site that im on so I am extremely new to how all this is done. But I really just wanted to see what kind of responses I get from pictures I post and some of my sauce and rub recipes that I have came up with over the years. so if you see anything I post on here please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions on how to make it better let me know by all means because I cook a lot for parties and friends & family and they all love it every time so anything new to try would be welcomed Thank you, Seth Van Pelt P.S. attached is a picture of the last few things I have cooked


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Results 6 to 10 of 10
May 30th, 2013 06:33 PM #6
May 30th, 2013 09:24 PM #8Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Location
- Midwest U.S.
- Posts
- 523
To answer questions.. Yes Allison and Jessica are oldest. Also, yes I did base some of the names for the book off of her names with her permission, however the book characters are called exclusively by their nicknames, and her children often use their full names. In addition to that, the names were originally place holders, and I am now working on rePlacing the rarely used full names of the characters with full names that have the same nicknames. (Jessica will be Jessamine, Allison is Alayna, Eleanor is probably Elizabeth, Anastasia to Anneliese, etc). Thanks for the suggestions so far! Seems like Dominic is the favorite.Current Favorites:
{ Charlotte :: Alice :: Adelyn :: Nora}
{ Jack :: Leo :: Elliot }
May 31st, 2013 02:21 AM #10javad Guest
May 31st, 2013 03:11 AM #12
Toby fits in seamlessly and it is a great favourite of mine. I like the friendly Toby on his own but if you want the longer more formal Tobias that's ok.
Sisters Allison, Jessica, Emmeline, Anastasia, Cecily and Eleanor.
If you don't mind a repeating first letter I also think Everett nn Rhett is a great match.
William Anton
Barnaby Nicholas
Edward Charles nn Ned
Alistair Connor
George Dominic
Vaughan Walter
Oliver Winston
May 31st, 2013 04:14 AM #14
I like all of the names except Mattias and Dominic (too common)... It would completely depend on the surname at this point. If the surname ends or begins with an N, I'd go for Tobias/ Toby. If not, it's between Caspian and Edison for me... and that's a hard choice, as those are really 2 of my favourite names ever... Congrats!Currently exiled from the US
Emiliana Pari 郑煜曈 '14
Caspian Kaveh 郑煜祺 EDD: Oct '17


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30 Days Of Giveaways: Raen Optics
Raen Garwood Rootbeer
If you were to distill everything Raen stands for into a single frame, The Garwood would be it: Strong lines; bold color blocking; refined; repurposed; cultured. Instant classic. The color reveal construction lends this frame a special modern edge.
How To Enter
1. Login to Facebook below
2. Like TransWorld SURF
3. Fill in the required fields and cross your fingers!


text:
Justin Thomas
National Championship Doesn't Provide Much Excitement
The National Title game didn't do much for me. That doesn't mean I'm against a Cinderella being in the finals.
National Championship Takes Front Stage
Butler and UConn will face off tonight for the National Title. Look for an unlikely player to decide tonight's game.
Twins Head to the Big Apple
Getting off to a slow start this season should not cause Twins fans to panic. Though, I know plenty who are already.
America's Pastime Returns to Action Today
It's Opening Day in the MLB. Even though we have snow on the ground it's always exciting.
NCAA Has Another Scandal on Their Hands
A new NCAA scandal is being revealed. When is the NCAA going to stop acting like this is something new?
Peterson Advances in Madden '12 Tournament
Voting for the Madden '12 cover player is taking place over the next few weeks. Adrian Peterson has advanced to the second round. Let's stop his advancement right now.
Final Four Brings Unlikely Match-ups
With no number one seeds in the Final Four, there is no reason to think the games won't be entertaining.
Can Friday's Games bring as Much Action as Thursday's?
Thursday night in the NCAA tournament gave us a taste of everything. Will Friday's games live up to the bill?
Return of the NCAA Tournament Brings Must-See TV
Finally the NCAA Men's tournament is back in action. Tonight's games are must see TV.
With Rotation Set, Twins Need to Make a Deal
Scott Baker was named the Twins fifth starter. Now let's hope they do the right thing with Kevin Slowey.


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Illustration by Bob AulWe're stopped at a red light in our cars at a busy suburban intersection. You're in a gigantic, late-model SUV in front of me, conducting some sort of business. The light changes; you're not looking. I honk timidly; you don't hear. Perhaps you've got some sort of hands-free phone, or perhaps your radio is on. I honk again, less timidly, and you still don't move. I try to maneuver my minivan into the next lane so I might stand a chance of getting to work on time. That's when I notice your license-plate frame. It reads, "Get a Real Job. Be a Mom." Sheesh. I miss the last green light for what seems like ages. This gives me time to reflect on two things: first, now I'm set up for an unsafe lane change (d'oh!), and second, that license-plate frame. What self-righteousness! You see, I'm a working parent. I work full time so my spouse can be home with our young child. It just so happens I'm the child's mother. And I'm in a hurry to get to work because my co-worker, a single, working mom, has to take a lunch break at a specific time to administer medication to her disabled child. I suppose she doesn't have a "real" job either, huh? What kind of insulated, self-satisfied world do you inhabit? Sure, I've spaced out at stoplights myself, and yeah, maybe it looked really mean-spirited for me to speed ahead and change lanes in front of you to make my right-hand turn. But, ma'am, wake up. And I don't only mean pay attention to the road, although you may want to give that a try. Things are infinitely more complex than "Get a Real Job. Be a Mom." These are tough times, and I'm not willing to say someone else's way of scraping out a living and putting food on the table is somehow morally inferior to mine. Apparently, you are. Get over it.
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text: Musical gift ideas for pianists, guitar players, singers, dancers and music lovers. Bobblehead musical gift ideas to all musicians, music lovers and music aspirants. Great Bobbleheads with the music instruments to suit the kind of music you prefer. Just send the photo of the customer and brief us about the instrument to use and we will do the rest.


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Brand New Cars in Stock. Dealership Vehicles Lot. New Cars Market.
Eric Lai answers readers' auto questions every week for Wheels.
Q: Do I have to factor in wind chill when determining the correct antifreeze mix ratio for my car?
A: ?Wind chill? is a theoretical estimate of how cold the outdoor air temperature "feels" on exposed skin depending on factors such as humidity and air velocity.
Inanimate objects like automobile engines will not chill to below the actual outside temperature. For example, if the ambient outdoor temperature is -10 Celsius, with a wind chill of -30 C, your engine will not get colder than -10 C, irrespective of the wind chill.
Once an engine is started and begins to warm, the amount of airflow around it affects its rate of cooling. That is, an engine will cool faster with a higher wind chill factor (i.e. stronger winds) than if there was no wind but will not drop below the actual outdoor temperature.
More: Here's how to safely jump-start a dead battery
More: Why you should always be wary of a dead bulb
Likewise, your outdoor home thermometer will only indicate the actual temperature, never the ?wind chill? temperature. But note that if the thermostat is in direct sunlight, it may read around 4-7 degrees higher than the ambient air temperature due to the thermometer itself being warmed by the sun.
As for antifreeze, a 50/50 mix providing freeze-up protection down to -37 C is generally optimal for southern Ontario. In far Northern regions, the mixture ratio can be increased up to a maximum of 70/30 (antifreeze/water) to provide protection down to -58 C. However, this decreases the ability of the fluid mixture to absorb heat and the system could overheat in less severe temperatures.
Now, if you think filling your vehicle entirely with pure coolant would provide the highest freeze-up protection, think again. With no water mixed in, pure antifreeze will freeze at only -12 C (+10 F).
Automotive coolant is toxic. Old fluid should be disposed of at a toxic waste facility (check with your local municipality for information). Flush away any driveway puddles with a garden hose to prevent accidental poisoning of children, pets, or wild animals.


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The fluctuating price of gasoline continues to be a serious concern for many new and used car buyers. This results in more buyers researching the gas mileage of the makes and models that make their short list before looking at cars in person.
When I was an Internet Manager for a major car dealer, I used a straight-forward, user-friendly government website as my main resource to discover the gas mileage of virtually any vehicle I came across. This was particularly useful with many older cars that we offered for resale.
The easy-to-use website is www.FuelEconomy.gov. Keep in mind that beginning with 2008 models, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed how they calculate MPG for all vehicles. They now calculate the rating using:
- higher speeds and acceleration
- air conditioning use
- colder outdoor temperatures
The result of changing how the MPG is calculated has reduced the rating for virtually every car, truck, and SUV. The idea was to make the MPG closer to what drivers actually get. Buyers, however, continue to tell me that most EPA gas ratings are still lower than the actual mileage achieved.
Buying Tip
If you are trying to compare one make or model to another, be sure that you compare "old" ratings to "old" or "new" to "new." Otherwise you won't be comparing them in an equitable manner. This is particularly important if you are looking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle and comparing the gas mileage of one vehicle to another. This is easily done using this site.
How To…
When you get to FuelEconomy.gov, click on "FIND AND COMPARE CARS…" in the upper-right corner. The process is simple from there. And remember that other resources are also available, including an explanation of alternative fuel vehicles, how hybrid vehicles work, new tax incentives for diesel vehicles, and more.
L. James Johnson's new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com. You can also download his FREE report, The 8 Biggest Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make & How to Avoid Them!


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Accra, July 09, GNA – ECOWAS Heads of State have begun arriving ahead of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit which kicks-off on Thursday in Accra.
Presidents Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of Mali and José Mário Vaz of Guinea Bissau arrived in Accra on Wednesday.
Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Alassane Ouatarra of La Cote D'Ivoire have also arrived.
The presidents began arriving about 1100 hours on Wednesday and a few more are expected to arrive on Thursday.
They were met on arrival by Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and officials of their respective embassies at the Jubilee Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport.
Each president received the presidential salute and inspected a parade mounted by the Ghana Navy.
The presidents also had the opportunity to interact briefly with sections of their citizens in Ghana who were at the airport to welcome them.
The Mid-Year Summit of ECOWAS will consider a report on the Community's main activities and projects over the first half of this year to be presented by the ECOWAS Commission President, Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo.
The summit is also expected to discuss a recommendation for the introduction of biometric ID cards for all ECOWAS citizens and the abolition of residence permit requirements for all citizens within member states, the current Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea as well as other pertinent issues.
In addition to the leaders of the 15 member states, the presidents of three nations bordering the ECOWAS sub-region – Mauritania, Cameroon and Chad – as well as the President of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations have also been invited.
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A Loudoun County man doesn't even know the many families he's helped this Christmas, quietly paying off their layaway debts, but this "Secret Santa" hopes his actions inspire others.
News4's Northern Virginia Bureau interviewed the man in his home. He asked that is face be silhouetted and his name concealed. Often, people being interviews ask for anonymity out of fear, but this man -- who says call him "Nick" -- isn't afraid. He's humble.
"Any investment you make in the happiness of a stranger really pays in return a hundred fold," he said.
Last week, Nick walked into the Toys "R" Us in Sterling, Va. He bought just a few presents for his own children, and dozens more for at least seven other families.
It was his second time this month paying down layaway for strangers. Why?
"I would say the bigger question is, why not?" Nick said. "I'd heard of people doing that, so I went to the manager and I asked if I could do that and they said yes and they printed out a list of people's layaway items, all the ones that were due within a week."
Nick said this was the first year he had enough money to pay off several layaway orders.
"I was surprised that a lot of those layaway items were for very small amounts; some of them were as little as $20," he said.
The message Nick wants out there: You don't have to spend a lot of money to give back.
"The dollar amount doesn't matter; it's just the act of trying to make a difference when you see somebody in need," he said.
Other shoppers said they appreciated his message. "I think I should do more things like that and thinking about giving more instead of wanting more," shopper Elizabeth Rosario said.
"This year I've carried this torch of charity and hope and love, for the greater family, all these people," Nick said. "And I would say if this story touches you then you should take up my torch, and its light will lead you off the path of cynicism and indifference, and its fire would warm your heart, and it's warmed mine."
For more on helping pay away layaway, click here.


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Aleona Isakova –artist, fashion designer.Home page aleonart.com
From 1991 to 2004, she led Favore Fashion House as art director, designing haute couture collections, which were shown internationally with great acclaim in locations such as: Citadel, Jerusalem (1998); Welsh Parliament (2000); Tretyakovsky Gallery, Moscow (2001); Fashion Week, Sydney (2003); Yusuposky Palace, Saint Petersburg (2005).
Illustrating an allegorical version of Song of Songs, in which the bridegroom represents Jesus and the bride the human soul was her most recent project. Shandal Publishers released the book in 2007, and the illustrations were exhibited in Moscow.
all images copyright Aleona Isakov.
images can not be used & or altered without written permission
March 2010 Juried Invitational Exhibition
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"'I am my lover's and my lover is mine' ":http://www.redbubble.com/people/aleonart/art/34...


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Chemistry is the study of the composition, properties, and behavior of matter. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms. Chemistry is sometimes called "the central science" because it bridges other natural sciences such as physics, geology, and biology with each other.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina is one of the best in the Southeast, with world-class research programs in Biochemistry and in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. The department was recently ranked in the Top 40 in the country by "Chemical and Engineering News". We are housed in a 158,000-square foot, $36 million cutting-edge facility on campus.
A Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry is offered via two pathways:
- General Major
- Intensive Major
Chemists are in great demand today in industry, government, and university laboratories. In addition, a degree in chemistry can lead to many different types of careers, including medical doctor, dentist, registered nurse, science writer, environmental engineer, forensic chemist, food chemist, teacher, professor, veterinarian, air quality analyst, hospital administrator, and genetic counselor. Salaries are substantial.
For additional information, contact:
Renee McGinnis, 803-777-5264, email@example.com
Visit our department's page.


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Oh look at those ol' birds just cluckin around! So are those your pets Tex? They sure are real nice! I once had a bird, but one sad day I found her layin on her beak next to an empty bag of flamin hot cheetos. That was one sad day! Her name was clucker!
Thanks, tex!
Morris, you're hot tonight! Love CRAFT!
CRS is much better than CRAFT. Now what was deelorris going tu say? Oh yeah, what's wrong with butch?
Mimi, you're so funny! You sound like me, CRS. Glad you liked the jig, if you think of it, write it down! Thanks.
I liked this cute puzzle and right after I finished I thought of a witty comment. But then I stopped to read all the other comments and I forgot mine. Too bad really, it was delightful. Anyway, the picture is great!
Well let 'er rip! If someone's offended, there's always a back button!
I had tu stop deelorris from her comment. It could have been offensive tu some!
Oh, Borris, you wouldn't understand if I drew you a map!
What's wrong with belch, belch, belch?
Nice one, tex.
Thanks, everyone! Glad we all had a good laugh.
Quit fighting kids or you're going into time out!
Humor dit. Erg leuke foto! Dank je Tex
Ha ha ha....
Gracie, you're so funny! Probably not.
Would they ever shut up?
Thank you, Sis. Gives meaning to "angry birds", yes?
LOL! Good shot, Tex!
I know. I thought of a better title, but was afraid to use it...b**ch, b**ch, b**ch! Better not, family oriented and all that!
They do look angry!


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Riyadh, Aug 6 (IANS) At least 17 policemen were killed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday when a suicide bomber targeted a mosque, Al Arabiya reported.
The horrific incident took place in Abha, capital of Asir province.
It was not the first time a mosque has been targeted in Saudi Arabia.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a May explosion at a Shia mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayers that killed 20 people.


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By the authors of the bestselling 13th Gen, the first in-depth examination of the Millennialsthe generation born after 1982.
"Over the next decade, the Millennial Generation will entirely recast the image of youth from downbeat and alientated to upbeat and engagedwith potentially seismic consequences for America." from Millennials Rising
In this remarkable account, certain to stir the interest of educators, counselors, parents, and people in all types of business as well as young people themselves, Neil Howe and William Strauss introduce the nation to a powerful new generation: the Millennials. They will also explain:
Why today's teens are smart, well-behaved, and optimisitc, and why you won't hear older people say that.
Why they get along so well with their Boomer and Xer parents.
Why Millennial collegians will bring a new youth revolution to America's campuses.
Why names like "Generation Y" and "Echo Boom" just don't work for today's kids.
Having looked at oceans of data, taken their own polls, and talked to hundreds of kids, parents, and teachers, Howe and Strauss explain how Millennials are turning out to be so dramatically different from Xers and boomers and how, in time, they will become the next great generation.
The phrase "kids these days" is infused with new meaning in this look at the generation born between 1982 and 2000. Arguing against the conventional wisdom that junior high and high school kids are disrespectful, violent and alienated, Howe and Strauss (Generations; 13th Gen) demonstrate that the children of boomers and of older members of Generation X are actually harder workers and better community builders than any generation since the G.I.s'. "Millennials," the authors argue, are different from Gen-Xers: they have grown up in a multicultural country and have never known a recession; they are wanted children (as the increase in both birth control and fertility drugs demonstrate); and protected by an unprecedented number of child-centered laws. Since birth, they have been spurred to achievement in the home, by yuppie parents, and at school, by standardized tests and "zero tolerance" disciplinary measures. The authors show how easily Millennials have swallowed all the efforts on their behalf. School uniforms, as well as uniform-like Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch clothing, are popular. Teen sex is less frequent, and virginity seems to be a cool new trend. Howe and Strauss run into a bit of trouble when they insist that each generation corrects the mistakes of the previous one. They also attempt to link Millennials to the G.I. generation, suggesting that "hero generations" come in cycles. Despite these stabs at pop sociology, this well-substantiated demographic and cultural overview of the teen landscape is intriguing and highly amusing. Charts, graphs, cartoons. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|


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Global Ocean Legacy Visits Pitcairn
Heather Bradner and Elisabeth Whitebread, both with the Pew Environment Group, write about their recent visit to Pitcairn.
Five years ago, U.S. President George W. Bush delivered a welcome surprise – at least for those of us who work on helping the marine environment. With little warning, he designated the uninhabited northwest Hawaiian Islands as the world's largest, notake marine reserve. And with that act, he kicked off a new era in ocean conservation.
In late 2006, the Global Ocean Legacy project was established by the Pew Environment Group and its partners to capitalize on what we viewed as a new opportunity to promote the designation of a handful of similar, highly protected reserves in the world's oceans. It was the process of identifying and assessing the world's most unspoiled and spectacular seascapes that led Pew staff to Pitcairn.
Since its inception, Global Ocean Legacy has worked with local citizens, governments and scientists around the world to protect and conserve some of the Earth's largest, most unspoiled and spectacular seascapes. One of those projects helped lead to the designation of the UK's Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean in 2010 as the largest no-take marine reserve in the world.
The Pitcairn Island Group, including Oeno, Ducie and Henderson, is a vast area and a highly compelling region in which to explore a similar groundbreaking initiative. Pitcairn's Exclusive Economic Zone is over 800,000 sq km in area, far larger than any other potential marine reserve in the world, and is unspoiled in comparison to other parts of the ocean. Pitcairn's unique place in the world's maritime history has made it internationally famous, and its relative geographic isolation gives it a unique biology that should be studied and protected. By designating a large sanctuary, in an appropriate area supported by the community, Pitcairn could once again make a mark as home to one of the world's largest, globally significant marine reserves.
Having just returned from the island, we now sit in our offices in Alaska and London staring out at the cool rainy weather of the northern hemisphere's spring, and reflect on how very lucky we were for the opportunity to visit beautiful Pitcairn for ten days in March. We met many wonderful people and made numerous friends as we talked with everyone about the need for greater marine conservation and the general concept of establishing a world class sanctuary in Pitcairn's waters.
We were very appreciative that the Mayor invited us to give a presentation to the Island Council which led to the Council's endorsement of exploring – with us – the concept of establishing a large reserve. That decision only began the process, and we will now start researching the issues that the community relayed to us that were of greatest importance. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the community and the Island Council for their support of the marine reserve concept and look forward to collaborating with the community to explore this ambitious and globally-significant project.
We would also like to thank everyone for their wonderful hospitality and the warm welcome extended to us while we were on Pitcairn. Being able to experience, even for a brief time, that generous spirit and a little of island life will remain a treasured experience.
For more information about Global Ocean Legacy, and to learn more about large marine reserves and their benefits, please visit our website at www.globaloceanlegacy.org.


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Dave Ramsey says: Don't touch that 529 plan
sammyg Springville, UTJuly 30, 2014 3:47 p.m.
Once again you're complicating things. Go back and reread everything.
I simply stated my AVERAGE for four years in the example was 25% but my yield was ZERO. It's an extreme example. It's misleading but it is as true as stating the stock market averaged 12% over whatever span of years when in fact my actual return was 8.21% or whatever is calculated.
Simply pointing these things out.
When Dave Ramsey says the stock market averages such and such, what is he talking about? He's simply stating an average that he finds on a piece of paper and that average is calculated exactly as it was described in that Investopedia definition I found for you. It is deceiving until you get a financial calculator and add a dollar in the market... then you get your yield. Then you can calculate your real ROR and average that over whatever time you want.
Dave's simply throwing a number out. It's disingenuous and deceiving to the average investor.
Aggie253 Logan, UTJuly 30, 2014 9:34 a.m.
Your assertion makes no mathematical sense. In any scenario, financial or otherwise, an average rate is *always* calculated by subtracting the initial quantity from the final quantity (or, displacement) and dividing by the some interval such as a time interval over which the data was taken. We do the same thing in calculus except we use the differential of those quantities to calculate the instantaneous rate of change. This basic concept of averages holds true whether you're calculating the average velocity of a car (rate of change in position), the average rate of population growth of frogs, or the average return on an investment. To get it as a percentage you simply divide the average rate that you got by the initial quantity and multiply by 100.
This is supported by the Farlex Financial Dictionary under Average Rate of Return.
The reason for calculating average rates of change in this way is because we can calculate for an infinite or uncountable set of values. This would be particularly true for an investment which changes almost by the minute. It also eliminates the problem you pointed out of drawing incorrect conclusions from the data set.
sammyg Springville, UTJuly 29, 2014 10:40 p.m.
ewatts, Floyd Johnson, Aggie238...
I thought this Investopedia definition of 'Average Return' was just simpler to paste for you guys since you're having so much difficulty with this concept...
"Definition of 'Average Return'
The simple mathematical average of a series of returns generated over a period of time. An average return is calculated the same way a simple average is calculated for any set of numbers; the numbers are added together into a single sum, and then the sum is divided by the count of the numbers in the set.
Investopedia explains 'Average Return'
For example, suppose an investment had returned the following annual returns over a period of five full years: 10%, 15%, 10%, 0% and 5%. To calculate the average return for the investment over this five-year period, the five annual returns would be added together and then divided by five. This produces an annual average return of 8%."
100 - 50 + 100 - 50 = 100 divided by 4 = 25
My math is correct. 25% Avg. ROR with ZERO yield.
I'll expect an apology from everyone of you for the above.
My point in all of this was to show how misleading percentages are. I did that, you missed it.
Percentages are mostly hype without more data.
Aggie238 Logan, UTJuly 29, 2014 4:16 p.m.
So, sammyg,
Are you then suggesting that we all hide our savings under our mattresses and let inflation eat it away?
Also, as others have noted, your math is incorrect.
NewAdventures Cottonwood Heights, UTJuly 29, 2014 4:01 p.m.
I feel bad that you've missed out on great opportunites to make money in the market. For example, I've owned one mutual fund over the past 22 years (since I was 8 years old), and have had a 565% return (as of today). Boy do I love that compounding income return! Those who understand interest make it, those who don't lose it. You holding onto your cash is losing money everyday because of inflation! Now that's a risky bet!
Floyd Johnson Broken Arrow, OKJuly 29, 2014 8:18 a.m.
ewatts math is correct.
Dollar cost averaging in index funds. My goal is to match overall economic growth while incurring as few fees as possible.
ewatts Provo, UTJuly 29, 2014 8:04 a.m.
sammyg: Your calculation is wrong.
In the scenario you have given, the average rate of return is 0%, not 25%. When calculating average rate of return over a given period, take the ending dollar amount minus the starting amount, all divided by the beginning amount. In your example, that's 100 - 100 / 100, or 0 / 100 = 0%.
To get 25% over four years, the final amount would have to be something closer to $200k.
Dave is correct that over the long term, the stock market has returned about 12% average. That means that if you had invested $100 30 years ago, the value today would be about $2675. The years that it has gone up has more than offset the years that it has dropped.
sammyg Springville, UTJuly 28, 2014 8:14 p.m.
Dave is such a genius. Here's what he's really selling you at 12% when he says AVERAGE.
Imagine I say I have an investment that will average you 25% a year for four years. How much would you want to invest? Let's say 100K.
So the first year we have a stock market that gives you a 100% return the first year. Great!
Second year its like 2008 all over again and you lose 50%
Third year we get that 100% return again. Awesome.
Fourth year we lose 50%.
At the end of the year I knock on your door and give you a check for 100k and you say, "What's this? I thought you said I'd get 25% on my money?"
I say, "I did exactly what I promised!"
100% first year
-50% second year
100% third year
-50% fourth year
100% / 4 yrs = 25% avg. per year and you didn't make a penny!
AVERAGE rates of returns mean nothing.
One of the keys to making money is never to lose it in the first place. Avoid risk and avoid debt.
Dave Ramsey says to never gamble with your money yet out of the other corner of his mouth he's pushing people into the stock market.


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Springfield, Va. — When the $1 billion Andrews Federal Credit Union started designing its newest location, President/CEO Jim Hayes said the cooperative wanted a building that went beyond the traditional branch.
Hurricane season is in full swing and winter storms are right around the corner.
Leagues in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island move forward to form the Cooperative Credit Union Association.
SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Members have access to free Wi-Fi as well as iPads, Kindles and Galaxies.
One network traffic firm says financial institutions are hit weekly.
National Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Gigi Hyland publishes an impressive "foodie" blog.
Awareness is the best tool credit unions can use to address increasingly sophisticated breaches.
Credit unions underestimate the likelihood they will - or have already - been infiltrated by politically-motivated hackers.
Credit unions fare the worst compared to other lenders in 30-day and 60-day delinquency increases.
Credit unions greatly underestimate their potential to be targeted by a politically motivated hack attack, experts say.


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