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" Brand: Sainsbury's / Subcategory: Bathroom Care / Type: Tissue / Category: Cleaning Products & Utensils > Wipes, Towels, Tissues "
Everyone needs loo roll. 'Tis a fact of modern life. When I buy toilet roll I want a product that (a) is not going to scour my bottom raw and (b) is a decent price. For this reason, I always go for generic loo roll whenever possible.
Sainsbury's is our regular supermarket and several years ago we started buying their own-brand Super Soft Pure White toilet roll. We always buy white toilet roll, regardless of price, as there has been a lot written about how the dyes used to make paper other colours is polluting our rivers and harming our wildlife. Even so, within white generic loo roll there are a lot of options, but this product has become our default purchase when we go grocery shopping.
Sainsbury's Super Soft toilet roll is available in packs of four, nine and eighteen rolls. The nine and eighteen roll packs come in a thin plastic wrap with a carry handle formed of a plastic strip stuck to the side of the packaging.
The plastic wrapping gives extensive product information, including the fact that this loo roll is made from sustainably-sourced trees (it has the Forest Stewardship Council approval mark). It also states that the loo rolls are 2 ply and that there are 240 sheets on average per roll.
Within the last few months Sainsbury's have redesigned their loo roll cardboard tubes, making them around a third smaller by my reckoning. Much is made of this on the back of the package, with pretty cartoons explaining that less packaging = fewer lorries = less space. In fairness, the packages have shrunk and are certainly easier to carry home now. Even though the cardboard tube is smaller the loo rolls still fit on our dispenser with no trouble.
The toilet paper itself is of the standard perforated sheet variety and tears easily. At the time of writing a four pack costs £1.80, a nine pack is £3.50 and an eighteen pack is £6.65. Due to regular promotions two packs of nine rolls are often cheaper than one pack of eighteen rolls, and so that's what I am buying at the moment.
Firstly, unlike many other toilet roll brands I could mention, the carry handle on the multipacks of this product actually works! I have had far too many toilet roll package malfunctions over the years, when the carry handle snaps at a critical moment, usually when it's raining and the toilet rolls end up falling into a muddy puddle! The Sainsbury's handle is much wider and thicker than that on many similar products and so does not break nearly as easily.
The toilet paper itself is not the softest I have used, but it is soft enough to not cause erm...chafing. The perforations tear easily but, conversely, the product doesn't break apart during use (thank goodness!). It flushes easily and I've never had a blocked up toilet from using this paper.
One roll lasts a little longer than many other brands I have used, probably as I don't have to use a huge wodge of paper to achieve a clean result, a common occurence with many brands, both cheaper and more expensive than this Sainsbury's product.
In conclusion, I am very pleased with this loo roll. It's a good price, lasts a decent amount of time and doesn't give me a sore bottom. Criteria (a) and (b) met, so I am a happy consumer!
Gets the semi-obligatory 'I can't believe I am reviewing toilet paper!' moment over.
If you are looking to save money and not suffer for it, switching to this product is a really good move. Sainsbury's Super Soft is good, long, strong and still soft toilet paper at a significantly lower price than the major brands.
A packet of four rolls can be got for £1.88 or 20p per 100 sheets. This compares to £2.08 for a similar sized packet of Andrex or 22p per 100 sheets. There is a two packets for £3.50 deal on at the moment at Sainsbury's which makes it an even better option. The difference in quality is not enough to justify the extra pennies and makes the Sainsbury option the one to go for.
You get a choice of colours so you still get to match the toilet roll to the bathroom colour scheme.
The packaging is simple plastic wrap which is tough enough to ensure the product gets to your bathroom clean and intact and to take up as little space as possible when it does.
The packets are marked with the Forest Stewardship Council so you do get the reassurance that the materials do come from responsible, well managed and controlled sources.
It it a straightforward product which does what it says on the packet. It does not have any of the moistening agents that some need. If my Crohn's suffering sister-in-law visits I will make sure I have moist options available for her. But for those of us who do not need that extra comfort this is a good choice.
You get 240 sheets of 2 ply toilet paper which is soft, absorbent and comfortable to use but strong enough to do its job without falling to bits and does not cost the Earth. Literally.
With the current financial climate, my household, along with I am sure many others, have been trying to save a few pennies here and there by "dropping down" from premier brands to supermarkets own. On a recent shopping trip to Sainsburys, I decided to give this product a try as it was a fair bit cheaper then the premium brands we had been purchasing (I don't tend to have one particular favourite brand, but usually choose whichever has the best offer on from the best known brands).
As a household of 4 females and 1 male, we get through quite a lot of toilet tissue. Add that to the fact we have a loo downstairs as well as upstairs and I am sure it is obvious why I went for the 9 pack of these toilet rolls! They do come in larger packs but even though I would say we probably get through more loo roll than the average household, so perhaps these bigger packs would be a better buy, I find it awkward to store more than about 9 rolls at a time so don't tend to buy more than this in one go.
If I remember rightly, these toilet rolls offered a saving of around £1 compared to the lowest priced of the "premier" brands at the time I went shopping. Initially I thought this was a great saving, as, although I am not really a fan of "basics" toilet paper (I find you need to use more sheets at once so it doesn't work out as much of a saving as first appears, and also that this means I need to buy more in one go to last till the next shopping trip, so get to the awkward storage situation again!), I assumed that the "super soft" which featured prominently on the pack would mean this paper was a nothc above the bargain brands.
The rolls are a standard size which I prefer to the "thicker but goes further" variety as those ones don't fit on my loo roll holders! They are reasonably soft to touch but in all honesty I could tell straight away that they were inferior to the other brands I had been purchasing. The paper is just that little bit rougher and thinner than the premium brands'. I tend to store loo rolls loose in a cabinet in the loo, and even with the packaging removed it was glaringly obvious to me which rolls were from previous packs of other brands and which were from this one.
Another thing I found with these loo rolls was that the two-ply layers often split apart, or aren't quite rolled "together", so that you get half a sheet with one layer, then a section where two layers overlap, followed by another section with one layer when you rip a piece off the roll. This was irritating as it meant that to get a decent amount of loo paper I had to roll more off, in order to ensure I would get the 2-ply sections every time.
I also found these rolls didn't last quite as long as the ones I usually buy, mainly because the kids in particular would use more at once to try to compensate for the lack of thickness. Whilst an adult can probably make the decision just to use less, I don't think kids particularly think about economising, and so I found they were using up to twice as much of this paper than they do of my usual brands, making it a false economy realkly as the small amount I had saved on the initial purchase was soon lost in having to replace the rolls more quickly.
In all fairness, it probably is about half as thick again as the very basic rolls I have purchased, but I would say it is probably only half as thick as Andrex Quilted or Triple Velvet, for example. I suppose whether this is a problem depends on whether you think it is worth paying £1 (or roughly 11 pence more a roll on a pack of 9) to have thicker toilet tissue. I have to say that after my experience of using this, I probably am prepared to pay that little bit more for comfort and quality, so would probably not purchase this again unless pennies became extremely tight or they improve the product.
Product Description
(Taken from http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp, Item code: 7308628)
Buying this product helps you care for the world's forests
Specially designed to combine luxury softness with strength
9 Rolls 2-ply tissue.
Average 240 sheets per roll.
Sheet size 124mm x 110mm.
Total area: 29.46 sq. metres.
FSC© Mixed Sources
Product group from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.
BAG - PLASTIC recyclable at a larger Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Super Soft Toilet Tissue
What is it?
Bathroom tissues (i.e. loo roll) from Sainsbury's.
Special Features?
Specifically designed to combine luxury softness with strength.
What to I think?
I like this tissue and think it's fabulous. When I first took one of the rolls out of the packet I was amazed at how big and plump the roll was compared to the other brands I had been using. It's very tempting to want to give the roll a big squeeze before you hang it up!
This tissue feels...'quite' soft, to be fair, I think it would be impossible to make it 'super' soft and for it to be strong at the same time - this tissue does take a reasonable amount of light pressure before it tears. The quality of the tissue also feels quite bulky and dense so just a few sheets of this does go a long way and of course, as it's so absorbent I usually end up using this to wipe spills in the kitchen.
The only negative thing about this is that after a while, it does produce a lot of dust - whether from it just rolling around or when it's being torn up, I find it produces more dust than the average role but I guess this is probably inevitable given the other qualities that it already has...
This tissue comes with an average of 240 sheets per roll, is only 2-ply but feels like 3-ply.
At about £1.30 for 4 rolls, I think this is pretty reasonable. Not exactly what I call a luxurious tissue roll, but the quality is definitely decent and much better than the average brand.
Besides all the dust it produces, it's a good bathroom tissue.
© Leighsa 2009
Luxuriously soft bathroom tissue


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The Forge Motorsport Summer Action Day is a special motoring event taking place at the Castle Combe race circuit near the city of Bath on September 8 The event features some of the country's top tuning, performance and accessory suppliers, with many show cars displayed on their show trade stands. There will be track dayRead more
If you are an avid motorsport fan and you are travelling to Bath in early September for a well-earned city break, how about putting a day aside for the King of Clubs Motorcycle Race Day on September 1 at Bath's local race circuit at Castle Combe? This is the biggest club championship race meeting inRead more

subset: commoncrawl


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As part of their new Spring/Summer 2012 Collection Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons MAN once again worked together with Levi's. This season they present the 1966 JWXX denim. While staying true to the Junya style of playing with patchwork patterns and fabrics, cotton canvas, corduroy and leather were used this season. Haven already has them in stock.
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CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) — A federal judge in North Carolina says he'll rule soon on a lawsuit by US Airways claiming its pilots are staging an illegal work slowdown.
The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday that the union representing US Airways pilots says the airline is trying to intimidate the pilots into flying on time no matter the risk.
The sides wrapped up their case in Charlotte on Monday.
Arizona-based US Airways says in the lawsuit filed late last month that its pilots are deliberately delaying flights and that its busiest hub in Charlotte has been disproportionately affected.
Capt. Michael Cleary of the Charlotte-based US Airline Pilots Association testified no slowdown is taking place.
The two sides have had a contract dispute since US Airways merged with America West in 2005.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


text: Blue Felix at The Machine Shop June 20, 2014 | 7:00 pm - 11:55 pm Where The Machine Shop 3539 S. Dort Hwy. , Flint, MI 48507 United States Cost $5 Additional Information Join the Banana Crew for the return of Blue Felix. It's a low dough show so tickets are only $5 if you're 21 and up. Category: Remote Broadcasts, The Machine Shop Share on Facebook Share on Twitter More Leave a comment Send to a friend! Print this page Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr! Discuss This Event


text: Nairobi - Tens of thousands of Kenyans, joined by several African leaders, have assembled in the Kenyan capital's main park to witness the signing into law of a new constitution. A colonial-era constitution is being replaced on Friday with one that curtails the president's powers with an American-style system of checks and balances. An overwhelming majority of Kenyan voters adopted it in a referendum held on August 4. President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga back the new charter, a key component of a reform package. The two pledged to implement the reform package after signing a power sharing deal to end violence that saw more than 1 000 people killed following the disputed December 2007 presidential polls. A surprise guest is Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.


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It could be interesting. I'm still waiting for a contestant to be mauled/poisoned by the wildlife. This could be the year!Originally posted by John
I'm pretty sure next year's location will be a dud, too. I'm not sure how they'll make the Amazon interesting. They can't swim in the water, and there are tons of bugs and other poisonous things all over.


text: I bought a bass from the classifieds here. The day it arrived, I also purchased an old Ibanez Roadstar II that belonged to one of my friends. He had owned the bass several years, and back in 2012, he sent it to me for some repairs. I had to reinstall the pickup, and all the electronics, I swapped in an aftermarket high mass bridge, and Wilkinson high mass tuners. I had seen these basses before I worked on this one, but never gave them much thought. I instantly fell in love with this one. I had a hard time giving it back when I was done working on it. I told my friend if the day ever came that he wanted to sell that bass, to call me first. That phone call came Monday of this week, and I was more than happy to go pick her up. I would've had to spend twice the money to get as nice a Fender p bass, as what this one is. It's made in Japan, and as usual, the quality of the fit and finish is top notch. The upgraded parts were done tastefully, and it makes for a great playing, and sounding bass. I can't take good pics without some natural light, but the bass is in 9/10 condition, with just a couple minor love marks. Oh, and the other bass I got was a Warwick Corvette $$.


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Vintage Covered Wagon Liquor Bottle Decanter Paul Lux
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Featured for your consideration is a decorative figural Liquor Decanter. This is an original vintage item and it is in good condition. I find no chips, cracks, nicks, or restorations made and it is made out of ceramic. It is marked on the bottom Liquor Bottle and is numbered 185. It was created by Paul Lux Covered Wagon Circa 1860. The date that is on the bottom is strictly the date of the style of covered wagon. I do not know when this was made. The back of the wagon shows the hitch which a bit of the cork is missing and it does not attach firmly to the bottle, but it does sit on it nicely and does display perfectly well. The bottle measures 8 inches long and is 5 ½ inches tall. I consider this nice vintage item to be in very good condition and would make a nice addition to your western theme collection or to your bottle collection. Thanks for looking! Don't forget to check out my other auctions and eBay store, as I will be very happy to combine shipping on multiple purchases. So sit back a shop for a bit. Thanks for stopping and have fun shopping.I accept all forms of online US buyer to pay shipping. Payment must be received within 10 days of auction end. Thanks for looking at my auction. As always I will be very happy to combine shipping to save you some cash. Don't forget to check out my eBay store, where you will find ... read more


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Which movies are you going to be talking about this fall? Over the past few years, studios hoping to make their films must-see events among discerning audiences have depended on a rare bit of fairy dust: First, they held a premiere for the elite film industry and taste-making crowd at the Telluride Film Festival in the mountains of Colorado, then they moved on to a red-carpet splash and media frenzy at the more populist-oriented Toronto International Film Festival.
Five of the past seven movies to win the best-picture Oscar – 12 Years a Slave, Argo, The Artist, The King's Speech and Slumdog Millionaire – performed the same smart two-step. "Has it made a difference for films to play both Telluride and Toronto? Absolutely. What more could you ask for?" noted Ted Hope, a veteran independent producer (The Savages, 21 Grams) who has brought films to both festivals.
As those films ascended, Telluride and TIFF took on reputations as twin kingmakers. But this year, TIFF is taking a beating after the festival imposed a controversial new policy excluding Telluride-launched films from playing during its coveted first weekend. Like Sundance, Telluride is a hothouse atmosphere where most films play well, helping to set the tone that audiences and critics later amplify in Toronto. TIFF's move has cast a shadow over the fall festival season, prompting anxiety among distributors who feel they need as much critical attention for their films as they can get, while offering a rare glimpse at the sharp elbows and gritted teeth behind the red carpet smiles.
In his Telluride wrap-up, the veteran film critic Todd McCarthy said TIFF looked "like a bully," a Goliath beating up on David. And if the dire warnings of some in the industry are correct, it could even damage the prospects of promising Canadian films.
The new policy comes as independent filmmakers and producers are scrambling to find new ways to break through to audiences overwhelmed by a glut of movies and ways of watching them. The technological and economic changes, say those in the industry, have prompted many festivals to re-examine their mandates, to ensure they stay relevant within the evolving ecosystem.
Jason Reitman has taken three of his past four films to both Telluride and TIFF: Juno (2007), Up in the Air (2009) and Labor Day (2013). But in the wake of the new policy, Reitman is taking his hotly anticipated new drama Men, Women & Children to Toronto for its world premiere, which will take place this Saturday at 6 p.m.
Reitman's choice was never in much doubt. His professional coming-out, the 2005 satire Thank You for Smoking, debuted at TIFF, and his family has strong ties to the fest, whose 39th edition opens Thursday night. Many filmmakers didn't need to make a choice: 15 out of the 25 films in Telluride's main program last weekend will still play in Toronto.
But other high-profile fall films are sitting out TIFF, including Birdman, the new Michael Keaton drama directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who previously brought Babel and Biutiful to Toronto. After emerging from the Venice Film Festival late last week an Oscar front-runner, it got another bump from Telluride over the weekend. But now it won't be seen in North America again until it closes the New York Film Festival next month, leading directly to its theatrical release. While that festival remains a boutique event, similar in size to Telluride, it has lately had its share of Oscar bait, including world premieres last year of Captain Phillips and Her.
This year, the NYFF will host the world premiere of Inherent Vice, though that film's director Paul Thomas Anderson has previously brought many movies to TIFF, including The Master, Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love.
TIFF maintains its new policy was necessary to bring what it calls "clarity" around the premiere status of the films in its program (as well as the subsequent bragging rights when those films go on to a bountiful awards season). It also hopes that, by stretching out the TIFF premieres of the buzziest films, viewers and the media will pay more attention over the final days of the festival.
"There had been a very nice gentleman's agreement for many, many years, and with increasing attention on all festivals because of awards season, I just think it was a little confusing to our public and to the media and to the industry as a whole, in terms of where the films were playing for the first time," said Piers Handling, TIFF's director and CEO.
While local audiences tend to shrug off whether a film has played earlier in another country, Handling said some journalists complained about TIFF's claims of hosting certain world premieres when some of those films had already played Telluride.
There was a growing fear that stars might decide to skip TIFF after their stop in the Rockies. "Stars are contractually bound to go to their premieres, so of course there's all kinds of byproducts for the public, in terms of seeing those stars here on the red carpet – doing Q&As in Toronto," said Handling. "The stars have to follow their world premieres, and the media follow the stars – and they also follow the world premieres, to be able to review them. I think the status of your event obviously increases as a result."
But with TIFF moving so aggressively against Telluride, there's the chance that small films – including especially fragile Canadian pictures – could suffer collateral damage.
"Buzz does not just happen – it's not like Cinderella, where some film shows up and, bang, it becomes this buzz event," explained Hussain Amarshi, the president and founder of the Canadian independent distributor Mongrel Media, which has 19 films at this year's festival including the Canadian comedy Preggoland as well as the awards hopefuls Foxcatcher and Leviathan, which both premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May.
"There's a life cycle to film, there's a whole process in which films emerge into the world, and you need all these stops that are critical in terms of building that awareness."
He noted that Stories We Tell, Sarah Polley's award-winning 2012 documentary about her family, premiered at Venice, played Telluride, and then came home to TIFF. "It played Toronto on the opening Friday of the festival, and by Saturday or Sunday, they had closed a whole bunch of [foreign sales]. That is the perfect placement of a film." Amarshi said a similar approach had been successful for other Canadian films.
Still, many independent distributors are exploring new ways of getting their films in front of audiences. Over the weekend, the nine-minute short film The Sand Storm, starring the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, premiered simultaneously at Telluride and on the online movie service Fandor, of which Ted Hope is the CEO.
And while festivals are in flux, they remain powerful marketing tools for filmmakers and their movies. "It helps careers enormously," says Handling. "It puts them on the international map for media, in terms of international exposure – media but also the industry, with buyers, sellers, agents, foreign sales agents."
"I think they're all looking for that edge as it gets harder and harder for them to get significant theatrical distribution for their films."
Ted Hope agrees that, for the time being, the new TIFF policy will harm some films. "Distributors have lost a really powerful tool," he said. Still, he was cautiously hopeful. "I think all of the industry's focus on premieres and things along those lines is unfortunate, because I think you want to be able to celebrate the film first and foremost for what it is. I personally don't think the local audiences really care if a film opens elsewhere. It's really the global audience, through the Internet. But that's a real thing, too.
"It may well prove to be an experiment. I think that's something the entire industry has to learn how to do better, is to make some big choices, try some things out, and admit failure as often as we might proclaim success."


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Reference books, free booklets and handouts
We have a small collection of reference books. These are catalogued in iFind as part of the Quick Reference section in the Library, and are located adjacent to the Careers and Employability Helpdesk on Level 3 of the Library. A list of our books can be found here.
We also offer FREE booklets, brochures and leaflets for students to take away. Topics covered include:
• Different types of jobs and how to get into them
• Applications, CVs, interviews
• Selection tests
• Postgraduate study – finding courses and funding
• Working abroad
• And lots more.
These publications are also available from the Careers and Employability Helpdesk. We receive most of them at the start of the Autumn Term and copies can be picked up on Level 3 of the Library. The content is also available on the Internet through the publishers' websites, notably Graduate Prospects, TARGETjobs and other sites that we signpost; so that nobody misses out if we run out of any booklets.


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Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) president general Ancel Roget yesterday admitted that the University of T&T (UTT) had become a "feeding trough" for political parties, which ultimately led...
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Speaker urged to reprimand Roberts
Concerned citizen Patrick Bynoe has called on House Speaker Wade Mark to discipline embattled Sport Minister Anil Roberts for allegedly making "disparaging remarks" in Parliament on March 28. Bynoe's call was contained in an April 4 letter to Mark, claiming that Roberts made remarks criticising Opposition supporters for abusing him while contributing to a private motion on the billion-dollar National Gas Company/ WASA water-recycling plant at Beetham, Port-of-Spain.
Bynoe presented Mark with newspaper reports to support his claim that Roberts was not abused by PNM protesters. Both the People's National Movement (PNM) and United National Congress (UNC) had supporters outside the Parliament for that debate and were closely observed by police officers. Roberts reportedly told legislators then: "But the adults in PNM jerseys here today, I am stating here, that they were acting like hooligans."
In an interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Bynoe said two months after his letter was sent to the Speaker, he was yet to receive a response. He said he decided to write to Mark because of all the political tension in the country. "It is getting out of hand in the country now," he added. Bynoe said: "Things are escalating in the country now in terms of how supporters are being treated. There are new features coming into the politics and it could escalate," he added.
"There is no telling where we could be at the end of the road, so this thing needs to be nipped in the bud," he said. Bynoe said he made one request of the Speaker in that matter. "The only request I made of the Speaker is that he (Roberts) be reprimanded by asking for his apology," he said. Bynoe said based newspaper reports in all the dailies on March 29, there was no evidence to support Roberts' claim that he was abused by PNM supporters and Roberts should apologise. Mark declined comment on the matter.


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Food Fight Adds Up to Drive Hunger Down! Big Four Accounting Firms of Houston Fill 5,543 Food Sacks at the Houston Food Bank
144 Volunteers Pack the Equivalent of 33,258 Meals for the Backpack Buddy Program
Oct 01, 2013, 09:00 ET from PwC US
HOUSTON, Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston offices of the Big Four accounting firms — Deloitte LLP, EY, KPMG LLP and PwC US — came together on Friday to participate in an inaugural "Food Fight" to support the Houston Food Bank as a joint effort to end hunger in the region. Together, there were a total of 144 volunteers from the four firms that successfully filled 5,543 food sacks – equivalent to 33,258 nutritious meals – as part of the Houston Food Bank's Backpack Buddy program, which provides food to children in need.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100917/NY66894LOGO )
"Many children who rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year go home to meager or no meals on weekends. Our Backpack Buddy program works to fill that gap, and with the help from these four firms, we will be able to remove some of the anxiety from these children's lives," said Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank President/CEO. "On behalf of the Houston Food Bank, I'd like to thank the volunteers from Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC for coming together to make a difference in our community."
The Backpack Buddy program, which launched in August 2006 at three Houston-area elementary schools, now provides close to 30,000 backpacks per month to students at 381 schools. Forty-eight Houston Food Bank member agencies also assist with the distribution of these backpacks, providing healthy food to chronically hungry children who might otherwise go without.
For more information on each of the four firms, please visit Deloitte, EY, KPMG LLP and PwC.
About the Houston Food Bank
Now operating from a new, 308,000 square-foot facility, the Houston Food Bank is the nation's largest size Feeding America food bank and source of food for hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties. They have been named top charity in Texas by Charity Navigator for financial performance and accountability. A network of 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding a total of 137,000 people each week, provides more than 53 million nutritious meals annually. Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from the new warehouse at 535 Portwall, and hot meals are prepared and distributed from Keegan Center, a 15,000 square-foot industrial kitchen. Additional community services range from nutrition education to assistance with food stamp applications and hands-on job training. Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need. The Houston Food Bank, founded in 1982, is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network. The organization plans to grow to provide100 million nutritious meals annually by 2018. Visit HoustonFoodBank.org for more information. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/HoustonFoodBank or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/HoustonFoodBank.
SOURCE PwC US


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Christian Names in Local and Family History
Surnames have always provided key links in historical research. This groundbreaking new work shows that first names can also be highly significant for those tracing genealogies or studying communities. Standard works on first names have always concentrated on etymology. George Redmonds goes much further: he believes that every name has a precise origin and history of expansion, which can be regional or even local; up to c. 1700 it may even have centred on one family. This text fully explores the implications of this belief for local and family history, and challenges many published assumptions on the historical frequency of first names.
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NaturalSelected's Blog
FIFA 12 Career Mode: Fixing the Transfer WindowPosted on July 5, 2011 at 09:20 AM.
My last post discussed three areas that should be improved in FIFA 12 Career Mode. You can read it here.
With the embargo on Career Mode information lifting next week, we'll know more about what's coming in the next version of FIFA. Ahead of that, I'd like to give my breakdown of how to fix one of the more frustrating parts of FIFA 11, the transfer window.
Problems with transfers start with the lack of offers that come in during a given summer or winter window. For example, if you play as Arsenal (as I usually do) and you put Cesc Fabregas up for sale, you are very unlikely to receive an offer. Of the dozen or so times I've ran through the summer window with Arsenal, he's sold once. This doesn't make sense, because even though he is an expensive player, his youth and potential make him a sound investment for clubs with large transfer chests. The same can be said for many other players in the game; you might only see a single offer for the player in the span of a year or more.
This also leads to a lack of flexibility for clubs that need to sell. If you get relegated from a league and are somehow able to keep your job, you'll struggle to sell off all the high wage players in time to recover your finances. It seems the mode was primarily designed for clubs being promoted and buying new players, as that process at least works some of the time.
So, how then should these issues be addressed? I believe it starts with a player's value.
Addition: Customize a Player's Valuation
FIFA 11 (and previous versions) determine a player's value programmatically and as players progress and regress, the valuation changes regularly. On top of this "base" value, the team management should be able to adjust up or down what they feel that player's value actually is. For example, if the game believes Bendtner is worth 11 million pounds and I don't, I can dial that down to 7.5 million and try to get him sold. Conversely, if I believe Jack Wilshere is the future, I double his valuation and ensure nobody comes poaching his talents. No slimy agents here!
The beauty of this system is that the game already does this on the CPU side, it's just not visible to the user. For example, some players have a listed "valuation" but when offered a transfer close to that value, teams refuse and say the player is actually worth considerably more than the listed price. So now the user can dictate the same to other teams in career mode: this player can be had for less, and this one for more.
Additional Transfer Options: Firesales and Loan Agreements
Once custom valuations are in, the next step is to add more "statuses" for players that are on the transfer block. First, additional options for selling players are needed besides "For Sale" - this is too limiting. What's needed is an expression of how good the offer for a player needs to be in order to sell. My recommendation would be three levels - "Not for Sale", "For Sale", and "Ready to Sell." "Not for Sale" basically means that the offer needs to be so good, that it's impossible not to accept it. My thinking is CPU offers would only come in at greater than 150% of a players valuation. If Wilshere has a value of �20 million, I customize it to �30 million and set him to not for sale, the CPU won't even submit offers under �45 million. "For Sale" is similar to now, except that CPU offers can come in as much as 25% below the player's value, which should mean there are more offers coming in overall than in FIFA 11. Finally, "Ready to Sell" means that it's a firesale, and the CPU offers as low as 50% of the valuation in the hopes of stealing the player. When this is active, you should always see multiple offers for a player, unless you've set your custom valuation too high.
For loan agreements, I'd like to see a couple new additions. Instead of just short term and season long, I'd like to see one month, three month, half-a-season, and full season loans. Also, with half-season and full season loans, I'd like to see the ability to the player purchase afterwards added on as part of negotiating (with the valuation set before the loan deal goes through.) This could make loans a lot more dynamic for both user and CPU teams. With this addition, the user should obviously be able to loan out a player for purchase as well. If I'm not sure Carlos Vela will ever make the first team, I could loan him for a season and give the target team and option to buy at a price I can accept.
Also, and this is essential for EA to fix, players who were on loan the previous season should be loan-able and/or sign-able the next season. Currently the "this club has currently switched teams" message comes up for players returning from loan spells. Totally unacceptable given that often players move on after being loaned out in successive seasons.
Addition: Let the User Negotiate
This one shouldn't be hard to implement and I'd be surprised if it's not already in FIFA 12. In certain situations in FIFA 11, if you offered a CPU team an offer below a team's valuation but they were otherwise willing to sell, they'd tell you to offer something closer to 'X' and they'd consider. The same could happen when negotiating terms with a player. Simply put, the user should be given the same chance in FIFA 12. If I get an offer for Nasri at Clichy at �5 million, and I'm willing to sell but don't want to move him for less than �10 million, I respond to the team with that higher number. Then the CPU team can either continue to negotiate or call off their interest.
Sounds simple, but without it it's often hard to turn an offer for a player, since so few offers come in. It'd be nice to get the most out of a transfer, especially if it was to a rival.
Addition: Player Happiness and Career Events
This is the one area that I think is probably too much to add in just one iteration of the game. I'd like to see both the form and the overall happiness of each player fluctuate throughout their careers. Fabregas would ultimately be unhappy at Arsenal without winning trophies, for example. And unhappy players would see a dip in form after a time as well. Further, if a team puts a player up for sale that was very happy at the club, you could see that action have an impact on the player's on-pitch performance.
Unhappy players, even those "Not for Sale", would generate interest from teams if they thought they had value. You could also add player "affinities" to certain leagues and certain positions. Play that players out of position or transfer him to Turkey, and he becomes very unhappy. Even more important, injuries, altercations, and bouts of depression could all randomly undermine a player's performance. This happens all the time in the real world, but it's underdeveloped in Career Mode.
Given the complexity of that system, I'd be surprised to see it appear in FIFA 12. But even if two of the features above end up in the latest game in the FIFA franchise, the mode's depth will increase substantially.
# 1 druez @ Jul 5
Great post. Lets be honest, what we really want is Football Manager and FIFA combine. Or at the least Fifa Manager and FIFA combined. Both of those games what what you described above. One is an EA product. I would be ok, paying an extra fee to add fifa manager system to FIFA.
# 2 NaturalSelected @ Jul 5
I've never played either, but that may end this year. An integration would be very cool, but seems unlikely.
Given sales, I still think adding options like these to FIFA series makes sense.
Given sales, I still think adding options like these to FIFA series makes sense.
# 3 JMUfootball @ Jul 5
Fifa Manager is entirely text based, correct? If that's the case, it shouldn't be too huge of a game to be housed entirely on your console's hard drive. What could it be, 8 GB tops? If that? I'd gladly set aside 8GB for a permanent install of the FIFA Manager engine on my XBox hard drive if it meant integration with FIFA '12 (13, ...etc)
It's a shame that console games don't design integration options like this - PC games have been allowing mods and add-ons since forever. If Fifa Manager is released on PC I wouldn't be surprised if the community figures out a way to integrate it into PC FIFA '12, via third party modding.
It's a shame that console games don't design integration options like this - PC games have been allowing mods and add-ons since forever. If Fifa Manager is released on PC I wouldn't be surprised if the community figures out a way to integrate it into PC FIFA '12, via third party modding.
# 4 Sanchez_Mareno @ Jul 5
Some well thought out ideas. After a few years off i think i may buy this years edition
# 5 misterbroom12 @ Jul 5
I agree with all of this. I posted ideas similar to these in the FIFA12 improvements thread I believe and personally hate the current system. I too play as Arsenal and never have received interest for Fabregas, which as we all know based on the past two summers, is ludicrous. The options you posted should easily solve the problems we all endure and ideally the "morale and form" integration to a players role on a team would make the transfer market perfect. You would be able to see random events through different save files and from season to season with players becoming unsettled at different clubs.
# 6 druez @ Jul 6
They aren't entirely text based anymore. Both have match engines where you can see the game played in 3d, but you don't control your player.
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We are planning to travel to Switzerland this August for 10 days, we are not very fond of touristy places. So was wondering if there is an offbeat circuit of this beautiful country we can undertake. We have never been there, while we have heard of Matterhorn and Jungfrau and the pics look lovely we are very worried it may be very crowded in August.
So any advice in our trip planning is most appreciated. Please advice.
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Aug 2012- 10 days in Swiss
We are planning to travel to Switzerland this August for 10 days, we are not very fond of touristy places. So was wondering if there is an offbeat circuit of this beautiful country we can undertake. We have never been there, while we have heard of Matterhorn and Jungfrau and the pics look lovely we are very worried it may be very crowded in August.
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My husband and I are planning our first trip to Europe in September, and we are spending 5 days in Switzerland.
From the research and advice I've gotten, we are spending our time in the Jungfrau area. We are staying in Murren up in the mountains and taking the Golden Pass Panoramic train upon our arrival. I hope that helps. And I do tihnk you need to speed up on your reservations, since for us, September was already full in some places, and I think Aug. is a bit more crowded.
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August can be very crowded in tourist meccas like the Jungfrau Region and Zermatt (Matterhorn) but even in these areas you can get away from the crowds - hiking trails for all levels of ability go everywhere so try to at least spend a few days in these spectacularly awesome places where the dreamy picture of Switzerland etched perhaps in your minds' eyes will be fulfilled - soaring glacier-girdled peaks lying above bucolic cow-dotted lush valleys and meadows.
In any case the train IMO is the best way for the average traveler to get around Switzerland - one of the world's denses rail networks - and consider some kind of Swiss Pass, valid on trains, lake boats, special scenic trains like the Golden Pass gracegv mentions as well as buses and trams in cities and also free entry to over 400 Swiss museums - basically everything that moves in Switzerland, just hop on - an 8-consecutive-day pass could cover everything between arriving in Geneva and leaving from Geneva
you say you have 10 days - well spend a day in Geneva to start and a day there on way out and use the 8-consecutive days of the railpass in between.
A Saverpass is one pass with two names on it - cheaper than two solo passes.
Check out these fantastic IMO sites for lots of great info on Swiss trains, specialty scenic trains, lake boats, etc. (boat rides on Lake Geneva and on either of the two lakes that bookend Interlaken are IME really nice treats and again with a pass just flash once aboard - great sites - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.ricksteves.com. And yes there are many neat places well off the beaten tourist path - so so many it would be hard to recommend one over the other.
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An example of beautiful mountain scenery off the beaten path: public bus from Lucerne to Stockalp, ski lift, hike (maybe 4 miles), gondola over to Engelberg then train back to Lucerne (4 to 6 hours).
There are many off the beaten path mountain treks in the BO region and a Swiss Pass with a lift pass here or there will be all you need for most of them.
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since most foreign tourists to Switzerland gravitate to the wondrous Alpine areas like those centered around Engelberg, Interlaken and Zermatt, most of the rest of the country is off the beaten tourist path - especially the French area apart from Lake Geneva.
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A very relaxing "offbeat" thing to do -- especially in August -- is take a break from sightseeing and spend a few hours in one of the outdoor pools found in most communities. Tourists tend to skip them, but on a hot summer day, they're really refreshing. They're inexpensive (5-10 francs for the day on average) and often in very attractive park-like settings. They usually have cafes as well and/or you can bring a picnic. Here's an example in Chateau d'Oex (not far from Gstaad):
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If your wanderings take you from Zurich over toward the Engadine, you could stop overnight in Bad Ragaz, take in the spa (more pools!) and, more importantly, take in this year's outdoor sculpture exhibition, Bad Ragartz. They host it every three years; we went earlier this month and really enjoy walking around and seeing the very interesting works of art, many from artists in the Asia-Pacific region.
I also give my biggest thumbs up for the Maloja Pass postbus ride from St. Moritz to Lugano. Great scenery.
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Here are photos of some of the works in this year's exhibition:
You can wander around them on your own or take a guided walking tour.
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These are some awesome tips, will read up on the places you have all suggested and get back with a tentative itinerary and seek your advice again! Thanks everyone!
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Hi abi_maha,
As PalenQ and gracegv have noted, most first-time visitors to Switzerland tend to go to the Jungfrau region. And that's great -- it's a wonderful place to see and visit.
But if you want to get away from the tourist throngs, you should avoid it.
I would suggest you consider staying in the Engadin Valley, mentioned above my FoFoBT. The Engadin Valley hasn't spent the money on PR as the Jungfrau region has, but it also has magnificent mountain peaks, Alpine lakes, and small, quaint villages. What it does lack is the lines of tour busses in the streets and the souvenir shops on every corner.
Most of the "tourists" in the Engadin Valley are repeat visitors and are serious hikers, mostly German-speaking. So, instead of seeing gaggles of confused folks trying to decide if they want to go left or right, you see happy and relaxed folks heading to a trail head. Well, that was my impression anyway.
If you'd like more information on this area, take a look at these sites:
Have fun as you plan!
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Whatever you decide, in August, don't forget the sunscreen! The Swiss have one of the world's highest incidences of skin cancer -- the sun reflecting off lakes and high altitude snowfields can be intense. (FWIW, we use Vichy's 50+ for children spray which has Mexoryl XL covering UVA and UVB -- the kid versions are best for sensitive skin: http://www.docsimon.de/artikel/vichy-capital-soleil-spray-enfant-ip50-spf-50-spray-fur-kinder-200ml )
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Thanks Swandav2000 and FoFoBT. I am now furiously reading up on your suggestions!
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First-time visitors should IMO go to a place like Zermatt or the Jungfrau Region or Engelberg as this is the picture of Switzerland etched in many of our minds' eyes and which is not as evident in most of the country. The Engadine does however has the Bernina Pass area but still there is no parallel to the other three regions IMO.
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Hi again,
Well, if a first-time visitor wants to avoid crowds of tourists, then the Jungfrau region in high season may not actually be the best destination, PalQ.
The Engadin does have the picture of Switzerland etched in folks' minds; in fact, one year both Fodors and Frommers used the same photo of Guarda on the cover of their Switzerland guidebooks -- pretty iconic if you ask me.
As you note, the Engadin's appeal to you is only an opinion, and in my opinion it is at least the equal to the Jungfrau, and superior in many ways (energy of the other visitors there, far fewer souvenir shops, a feeling of finding a new place, helpfulness and genuine joy the locals have to help the odd American who's stumbled into the region).
The only thing the Jungfrau region has is a better-developed tourist infrastructure. So, if a first-time visitor is a little hesitant and unsure, then the Jungfrau area would be the best bet. But if a visitor can do without the hand-holding and wants to get away from the crowds, then the Engadin is a better choice. imo.
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the Engadine is great - I have been there enough to know that but it is also much more remote from the parts of Switzerland most tourists run around in and there is just not the plethora of varied type activities in a concentrated area such as in the Jungfrau Region.
I am still adamant that the average first-time tourist will enjoy - will thrill in being in the Interlaken or Zermatt areas much more than in the off-the-beaten-track Engadine.
But you have stated the case for the Engadine very well - IMO you cannot go wrong no matter where in Alpine Switzerland you go.
but yes the apple in ones eyes can be very very different.
But again I advise the OP to go like most tourists yes and there is a reason the Jungfrau Region is so popular - yes go to the Jungfrau Region and if time Engadina-ringa-dinga-dong region as well.
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I certainly agree that anywhere in Switzerland will be a wonderful vacation with splendid scenery!
But I'm afriad that your thinking that "there is just not the plethora of varied type activities in a concentrated area . . " shows you don't know the Engadin very well.
Horse-drawn carriage rides, mountains, Alpine lakes, bike rides down the entire valley, hikes, rafting, wind sailing, cable cars .. . . geez, what activity do you think is lacking there?
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We are well seasoned travelers in Europe, so a lack of tourist infrastructure is not something we are worried about. Reading up on Engadin certainly has us fascinated. It seems like we can spend about 3 nights in ST Moritz itself, we'd love to sign up for some hikes in the area. SO we are thinking about splitting up our trip into 3 parts- spend 3 nights in Zurich (we are flying in there), Another couple of nights in Lucerne and then head to ST Moritz and spend 3 nights there. Does that sound do-able? We can then plan what we are doing from each of these 'bases'.
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Hi again,
Well Luzern and Zürich are only 45 minutes apart by train, so you actually lose more time by switching bases/hotels (because of the time it takes to pack up and check out, then check in and unpack/get settled/get oriented again). I would just go to Luzern and use it as a base and make trips back to Zürich.
If you have to return to Zürich to fly out, then I would put that at the end of the trip to make the departure easier.
I think three nights in St. Moritz would be ok, but four would be better. I would do something like 3 nights Luzern, 4 nights St. Moritz, 2 nights Zürich (if you are flying out from Zürich).
If you want lots of information about this area, there is a poster at the Trip Advisor forums who lives in St. Moritz. You could post a message there and connect.
Have fun!
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This is just my opinion, but I don't find St. Moritz to be a particularly attractive choice. There's something "hard" about it. Of all the ski/hiking resorts I've been to in Switzerland (Zermatt, Wengen, Grindelwald, Gstaad, Bad Ragaz/Pizol, St. Moritz, Davos), I found St. Moritz to be the most unfriendly (and Gstaad the friendliest) and most unwelcoming with the lowest charm factor.
Ingo knows the area better than me, but I would suggest Pontresina over St. Moritz.
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I agree with FoFoBT - St Moritz is to me the most blah of all hot spot Alpine resorts - give me any Jungfrau place or Zermatt or Engadine anytime - St Moritz - and I've given it several looks over - just is boring to me - but again beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'll check out more rural Pontresina or other smaller towns than modern glitzy St Moritz.
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Noted, we are now also researching Pontresina. A friend of ours who stays in Basel was actually recommending that we put off our trip until end of September since the tariffs will all come down. SO now we are reworking our travel itinerary to see how best we can leverage our time there. Gosh, truly this is such a beautiful country and 10 days seems like so little time!!!
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Hi again,
Some other towns to consider in the Upper Engadin:
And, yes, Pontresina.
Have fun!
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Try to take the Maloja Pass bus from Lugano up to St Moritz - certainly one of the most gorgeous bus rides in all of Europe - from Lugano the bus heads over to Lake Lugano, follows its shores (stopping for a break in Menaggio (hope I got the name right) before negotiating the sinuous Maloja Pass - via a series of hairpin turns with the bus horn blasting at each turn warning oncoming cars - just a wonderfully scenic trip and utilitarian in a way of getting from central Switzerland to St Moritz - Lugano being on the main rail line between Milan, Italy and Zurich/Lucerne.
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I took the bus last month and the driver didn't use the horn once on the Maloja Pass hairpin turns. He did use it extensively, however, on the narrow road along lakes Como and Lugano.
IMO, the Maloja Pass ride is better going from St. Moritz to Lugano than vice versa because the view as you go down the pass along the hairpin turns is simply stunning. You don't get the same vista or experience going up.
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Also, our break was in Chiavenna not Menaggio. Enough time to use the facilities (there are none on the bus), snap a few photos and get some gelato and/or a drink from the very nice cafe across the street from where the bus parks.
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We did stop in Menaggio for about a half hour - time to amble around that sweet lakeside resort town - but I see Chiavenna being a more strategic stop - being more half way than Menaggio. This bus is also called I believe the Palm Express.
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Thanks FoFOBT and PalenQ!
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I made my bus reservation (with a Swiss Pass, valid the whole way, even the Italian portion) at the train station in Lugano - the bus stops there after starting from somewhere on the lake. reservation may have cost a few francs, cannot remember.
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Getting ready for a holiday party should be fun but, with so many things to worry about, it's not surprising that it can also be stressful. How much ice will you need? How many bottles of wine should you buy and what kinds? There are plenty of details to remember.
But we can help make planning your wine service a little easier. With a few simple steps, you can set up a winning party in no time at all. Use our party planning tips to be prepared with the right wines.
Photo by Mike Miley via Flickr/CC
How many bottles do I need?
Before you plan your wine-buying you might want to think about what sort of menu you'll be planning. Changing up your menu, should influence your wine selection. We can start with how many bottles you may need. For a regular party, you should figure on two drinks per person for the first hour and then one additional drink per person for each additional hour.
For example, if you'll only be serving wine to your guests and there will be 24 guests joining you for four hours you're looking at a total of 24x5 = 120 drinks, which is about 24 bottles of wine. An easy number to use since you can buy a case each of two wines and be done with it.
Keeping it simple for hors d'oeuvres
If you are keeping things simple, think about keeping the wine selection simple. I would focus on having no more than three wines: a white, a red, and a sparkler. In truth, for a casual get-together like this, especially around the holidays, you might even forgo the white and settle in with a nice sparkling wine and a lighter styled red like a moderately priced Pinot Noir or Chianti.
If there's going to be more than a little cheese though, you might want to add that white wine back in. In general, white wines tend to be easier to pair with cheese.
Serving a buffet
If you're planning on a buffet you can go with the standard wine pairing rules. White wines do go with white-fleshed meats like poultry, fish and pork -- though some preparations might make a red more appropriate. Conversely, red wines do go with red meats, so don't be afraid to make pairings by that old rule of thumb. The only other point to keep in mind is that successful wine and food pairings generally match items of similar weight and intensity.
So, if you're serving beef, a red is appropriate, though a simple roasted filet will be better paired with lighter-styled red than beef stew or a blackened steak, for example. One last point here is that if your buffet is casual, it can present some logistical problems, so keeping the wine selections simple can help everyone out.
Will it be a seated dinner?
If you are serving a plated meal, you have a lot more flexibility in wine pairings as you not only know what you're serving but also when you're serving it. A rule of thumb to successful wine dinners is to increase intensity as you go. That means serving a light white and the accompanying food before a heavy white, or a light red for that matter.
That last part might surprise some people, but I find that alternating white and red courses early on in the meal can make it more exciting. I love to have a light white, followed by a light red, which then leads into a richer white. The increased contrast between the wines in this sequence can be surprising and seems to highlight the best qualities of each.
How many glasses will I need?
This is a great question, and one that may change depending on the style of service. You don't want to have exactly the right number of glasses; some might break, some might get misplaced. To be safe, add in an extra 30% to your glassware requirements. So, for 24 guests you should have at least 32 glasses.
This is true if you're having a buffet or a mingling party; people will likely only need a single glass. If you're having a sit-down dinner party you might want to consider having the appropriate glasses for each wine flight. In this case it's good to have a back-up or two for each style of glass, though with everyone seated, the chances of breakage are less than with a mingling group.
Chilling Champagne or wine quickly
Caught out with a warm bottle? Here's what you do to get it chilled quickly: Grab a bucket and plant your bottle in the center, add a layer of ice around the base of the bottle and cover the ice with a few tablespoons of salt; keep repeating, alternating layers of ice and salt until the bucket is full. Now fill the bucket with cold water. The salt will drop the temperature of the water well below freezing, providing you with the rapid cooling you need. Give the bottle a few gentle spins every few minutes to help even out the cooling effects. Your bubbly should be ready to pop in 15 minutes.
Happy holidays to all the great hosts and guests out there!
Vote for your favorite wine + food pairings and win! With each vote, you'll be entered to win a designer set of pots and pans worth up to $1,200. Click here to find out more.
You may also like:
10 Affordable Red Wines for Holiday Parties
14 Well-Priced White Wines for the Holidays
7 Great Ways to Survive Your Holiday Party
More from food


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by Tom Taulli | May 8, 2012 1:32 pm
[1]While McDonald's (NYSE:MCD[2]) posted same-store sales growth of 3.3% last month — on a global basis — it wasn't good enough for Wall Street. The consensus estimate had been 4.3%.
The stock price is off by 1.28% on the news in today's trading. For the year, MCD is off about 4%.
Is this temporary? Or is there something fundamentally worrisome? To see, let's take a look at the pros and cons:
Huge Scale. McDonald's has one of the most valuable brands and operates more than 33,500 locations across 117 countries. Because of its size, it has tremendous leverage to force lower prices on supplies, which has helped to boost margins over the years. The company can also spend huge sums on advertising.
It also helps that McDonald's has an extensive franchise system. All in all, this reduces the need for capital.
Product Innovation. McDonald's continues to have success with its investments. The company has gotten a lot of traction with the U.S. launch of Chicken McBites, which originated in Australia and then moved into Europe. McDonald's is also working to improve the nutrition of its menu items. Some of the new breakfast meals have no more than 300 calories each.
Leadership. McDonald's has a deep bench. CEO Jim Skinner, who recently retired, joined the company more than 41 years ago. The new CEO, Don Thompson, has been with McDonald's since 1990. This kind of continuity has been a key to the company's strength and growth.
Macroeconomy. Over the past couple months there has been a slowing of employment in the U.S., which has likely been a drag on McDonald's, but there's also weakness in Europe and even Asia.
Competition. The fast-food category is full of tough competitors. Some, such as Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN[3]), are investing more aggressively in their businesses. Wendy's is revamping[4] its menu and upgrading its locations.
Other operators, such as Yum Brands (NYSE:YUM[5]), are ramping up the pressure in key markets such as China.
Costs. Commodity prices continue to be a problem. This is especially so with beef, which has led McDonald's to raise prices. But higher prices could dampen demand.
McDonald's does face some tough challenges, such as a slowing global economy and higher costs. Yet the company is in a good position to deal with these problems.
Besides, with the recent pullback in the stock, MCD's valuation is at a more reasonable 17 times earnings. The dividend is also at nearly 3%.
So in light of all this, the pros outweigh the cons on the stock for now.
Tom Taulli runs the InvestorPlace blog IPO Playbook, a site dedicated to the hottest news and rumors about initial public offerings. He also is the author of "The Complete M&A Handbook"[6], "All About Short Selling"[7] and "All About Commodities."[8] Follow him on Twitter at @ttaulli[9] or reach him via email[10]. As of this writing, he did not own a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/05/should-i-buy-mcdonalds-3-pros-3-cons/
Short URL: http://invstplc.com/1nvUMYz
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Whether or not you need an ultra fashionable kitchen , a French nation style rest room design , a useful yet beautiful laundry set up, basic constructing renovations or even an extension on your property, talk to the workforce at Park & Clarke. In 2012, Ashley Campbell, Inc transformed into Ashley Campbell Inside Design (ACID), in a transfer to accommodate the overwhelming demand for our design imaginative and prescient. The last residence I lived in had a toilet was so small you needed to step outdoors to change your thoughts, lol.
I will not run into it. However, i will record few traits of latest toilet supplies: water resistance, chemical resistance, sturdiness, sensible floor soundness… For materials options investigate cross-check net websites. The essential thing is you need to incorporate wooden into a few of your toilet fixtures.
To prevent such exertions work, you would choose to take care of your fingertip towels as well as washcloths being one shade after which your unique lavatory towels in one other deeper colors. To keep your rest room space fresh and vibrant, change your shower curtains regularly.
They add plenty of curiosity to a bathroom, and plenty of are extra like artistic endeavors than just a utilitarian rest room sink. Additionally, remember to remove all the accessories, towels and toothbrushes out of the bathroom to keep away from paint splatters. Good factor we no more have to worry about drawing/drafting on paper to create great design ideas. From the menus offered, select the bathroom and showering products that best go well with you. Some people select to position a small storage cupboard of their hallway close to the toilet as a place to place all the things that they might usually hold of their bogs. For those who have a big toilet and big price range, a wooden platform with a sunken tub might be a superb selection. Preserve the darker shades of the chosen shade for the toilet flooring and the underside a part of the shower wall.
A crucial final step for any lavatory rework is to decide on the hardware in your vainness drawers and cupboard cabinets. The floors might be rustic or as the final photo showcases, even a basket weave of marble works well with the rustic allure of this luxurious bathroom. Discover the luxurious ideas from designers that will help you create your dream bathroom. Measurement is one other essential consideration especially with a few of the freestanding designs having greater proportions. Do some research on current tendencies in toilet design concepts , and then determine the way you need your bathroom to look and feel. That is why simple shades, blinds, and shutters are the preferred bathroom window treatments. New pictures, together with their design tales, are now recurrently posted on fb.
Along with you, our designers can take your summary ideas and convert them into solid plans that provide you with exactly what you need in your rest room. Personally we removed the tub in our bathroom years ago, and whilst you typically miss it there are many benefits to going down this route.… Read the rest


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Jill Clayburgh
Jump to
Twice nominated for an Oscar, actress Jill Clayburgh personified the joys and pitfalls of the newly liberated woman of the 1970s in films like "An Unmarried Woman" (1978), "Starting Over" (1979) and "I'm Dancing As Fast as I Can" (1982). Stage-trained and equally adept at high comedy, as seen by her turns in "Silver Streak" (1976) and "Semi-Tough" (1977), Clayburgh's forte was intense, personal drama, to which she brought uncommon grace and grit. She took a hiatus from features in the 1980s but returned to television and stage in the 1990s and 2000s, most notably as the brittle matriarch of the wealthy Darling family on "Dirty Sexy Money" (ABC, 2007-09). Her death in 2010 robbed the acting world of one of its most versatile performers.


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The J. Behring Jr Custom Double Edged Dagger is a substantial piece and sure conversation starter with a character all it's own. Measuring in at over 14 inches overall, the Dagger has been remarkably built with premier fit and finish. Stag handle and hammermark finish blade give an old world charm to this handsome piece. This item was pre-owned and is in mint, like new condition. Includes original black leather floral sheath as well.
The Blade: Symmetrical dagger style blade has been hand forged of Carbon 01 Tool steel with a hammermark finished middle. Sharpened along both edges, the blade comes to a dauntingly pointy point. Blade has original edge.
The Handle: Rugged and ridged genuine stag handle has been attached to the tang via a single pin. The wild nature of the stag meets with clean maroon themed spacers before greeting the double nickel silver guard.
The Sheath: Stunning Mosher black leather sheath has been handmade with attention to the finest details. Floral pattern adornment on front side with belt carry loop and snap closure. A slight bit of wear can be seen on the front side of the loop where the knife has been taken in/out - but is in otherwise perfect condition.
|Overall Length
|Blade Length
|Sharpened Length
|Blade Material
|01 Tool Steel
|Steel Type
|Handle Thickness
|Handle Material
|Genuine Stag
|Nickel Silver
|25.05 oz.
|Sheath Weight
|10.50 oz.
|Country of Manufacture
|United States


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Online Programs
The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies offers one 30-credit hour master's degree programs and one 15-credit hour superintendent certification program through our accelerated online programs. Coursework in each degree includes the study of core curriculum issues, current research and research methods, and a focus in the chosen curriculum area. These programs can be completed totally online in 18 months (master's degree) and 14 months (certificate) through a sequence of accelerated five-week courses.
For more information, visit our Online Programs
All students, including those enrolled in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies master's program, must meet qualifications specified in Texas Administrative Code §227.10 in order to participate in educator preparation programs. Per §227.10, the minimum overall grade point average is 2.5 or at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework. Students who do not meet the grade point average requirement should consult with the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies graduate advisor to determine their eligibility.


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Accused of a horrific murder she didn't commit, former heiress Callie Ward has been a fugitive since she was sixteen--until she found the perfect hideout, Club Dominion. The only problem is she's fallen for the club's master, Mitchell Thorpe, who keeps her at arm's length. Read more...
- $16.00
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- [-] Other Available FormatsOur PriceNew & Used MarketplaceTheirs to Cherish (Audio Compact Disc - Unabridged)
Published: 2014-03-01
Publisher: Tantor Audio$42.99
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Accused of a horrific murder she didn't commit, former heiress Callie Ward has been a fugitive since she was sixteen--until she found the perfect hideout, Club Dominion. The only problem is she's fallen for the club's master, Mitchell Thorpe, who keeps her at arm's length. Little does she know that his reasons for not getting involved have everything to do with his wounded heart...and his consuming desire for her. To live out her wildest fantasies...
Enter Sean Kirkpatrick, a Dom who's recently come to Dominion and taken a pointed interest in Callie. Hoping to make Thorpe jealous, she submits to Sean one shuddering sigh at a time. It isn't long before she realizes she's falling for him too. But the tender lover who's seducing her body and slowly earning her trust isn't who he claims... And to fall in love.
When emotions collide and truths are exposed, Sean is willing to risk all to keep Callie from slipping through his fingers. But he's not the only man looking to stake a claim. Now Callie is torn between Sean and Thorpe, and though she's unsure whom she can trust, she'll have to surrender her body and soul to both--if she wants to elude a killer...
- Publisher: Berkley Books
- Publish Date: March 2014
- Page Count: 386
- Reading Level: Ages 18-UP
- Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.7 pounds
Series: Wicked Lovers Novels #4
Related Categories
Books > Fiction > Romance - Suspense
Books > Fiction > Romance - Contemporary
Publishers Weekly® Reviews
- Reviewed in: Publishers Weekly, page .
- Review Date: 2014-01-13
- Reviewer: Staff
Black's eighth Wicked Lovers kinky erotic romance (after Ours to Love) suffers from a thin plot and a blurring of the line between BDSM and abuse. Heiress Callie Ward, accused of murder, has been hiding out at BDSM club Dominion for four years in an effort to avoid authorities. She has no idea that her current master, Sean Kirkpatrick, is an undercover FBI agent trying to piece together her story. Sean is being closely watched by Callie's boss, Mitchell Thorpe, who suspects Sean's motives and is also driven by intense jealousy over Sean's relationship with Callie. Eventually the two rivals work together to gain Callie's submission in the bedroom and then clear her name. Fans of the series will appreciate the hot ménage scenes, but the romantic element is almost nonexistent, and those who feel strongly about consent will take issue with the men imprisoning Callie in misguided attempts to protect her. (Mar.)


text: ok guys here they are. 1,transponders are different. 2,need to wire dbw or not. 3,need to rewire dials. ok the plan was to put a 1.9 tdi 110 from a 1999 a4 avant into my 1.8 adr 1997 a4 avant. engine,fuel tank,lines,plumbing and everything is done other than whats above. now starting at no 1 the transponder(if thats what its called) on the back of the ignition barrel is different, 1997 has a long tapered bit that slots into the back of the barrel,1999 has a thin tapered part that does not reach the innards of the 1997 barrel. do i need to change the actual barrel cylinder too. no2 1997 had a cable throttle,1999 has dbw throttle.is my 1997 pre wired for dbw whereass they have hidden the plug.or do i have too wire this in. no3 the two plugs on the back of each dials are different to each other is this a matter of popping the pins and relocating to facelift plugs or is there more too it. any help atall guys and girls is much appreciated. also another downer to my day was that i found a hidden 1.9 tdi quattro sport 1997 that has been laying for a year and a half and the guy would not sell it.i was so so sad.lol.


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13 motorists arrested for drunken driving
During the week of July 8-14, Hawaii Island police arrested 13 motorists for drunken driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.
The numbers of arrests by district were: Kona, 5; South Hilo, South Kohala and Puna, 2 each; Ka'u and North Hilo, 1 each.
So far this year, there have been 659 DUI arrests compared to 742 during the same period last year, a decrease of 11.2 percent.
There have been 728 major accidents so far this year compared to 793 during the same period last year, a decrease of 8.2 percent.
So far this year, there have been 19 official traffic fatalities on Hawaii Island compared to 18 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.6 percent.
To date, four of the fatalities have been linked to impaired driving: one to drugs; one to alcohol; and two, a combination of both.
DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.
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Need some Jeep buying tips
I am very new to the forum and am looking for a wrangler. I hope you guys can help me out, I am looking at some late 90s or early 2000s model TJs. Id like a 5 speed and id probably want to throw some 31 or 32 on it. Do you think its possible to get around 19-20 mpg highway and 16-18 in town with this combination. If this is possible would i need to look for a 2.5 or a 4.0? Im just wanting to get some of this figured out before I buy because I need something with somewhat decent mileage. I drive an 1982 Chevrolet 350 right now and 10.8 mpg is killing me!!
It is possible on either of those. Go 31" and no bigger without a lift. Those MPG's won't be that far off.
Sent from my iPhone using JeepForum
31at's maybe. 31" MT/Rs got me 17mpg on the jeep you describe. 33s dropped to 15.
That's highway.
Sent from my iPhone using JeepForum
Every jeep is different. Don't buy a jeep with intentions of getting good MPG. It should be better than the 10.8 you are currently getting though.
get a jeep with some 30 or 29 stock tire and the damn 2.72 gear ratio, he might get some gas mileage
Bought a '97 TJ Sport 4.0 last spring and have been tracking my gas mileage pretty regularly. Its all stock with 3.07 gears and P235/75R15 A/T tires (almost 29 inches) and I'm consistently getting just under 16 city and my best highway road trip mileage this summer was around 20.5. This is my first Wrangler and the thing that caught me off guard a little is that 5th gear is a true overdrive. So it helps the mileage but I'm constantly needing to downshift on the highway for even the slightest hills. I'm getting used to it now but it took a while.
So do yall think I need to try finding a jeep with a 4.0 to find that kind of mileage with 31s? or go with the 2.5?
Mileage just isn't a strong point for these.
Sent from my iPhone using JeepForum
Mileage between the 4.0 and 2.5 are minimal. 1-2 MPG at most. You will be more happy with the 4.0.
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Advocates Hail Lutherans For Action on Gay Ministers
By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: August 17, 2007
The country's largest Lutheran denomination officially bars openly gay people from the ministry. But in a move that advocates for gay men and lesbians are hailing as a step toward changing that policy, the denomination is urging its bishops to refrain from disciplining gay members of the clergy who are in committed same-sex relationships.
A resolution to that effect was passed last weekend in Chicago by delegates to the biennial meeting of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
Church officials said it did not signal a change in policy. But they said that a denomination task force was completing ''a social statement,'' or theological document, on human sexuality, to be discussed in 2009, and that the resolution allowed bishops to hold off, in the interim, on taking action against gay and lesbian ministers in their jurisdictions.
Robert Tuttle, counsel to the bishop of the synod of metropolitan Washington, D.C., said, ''What it changes is that it gives bishops some cover who want to exercise discretion to not bring charges.''
Supporters of the ordination of openly gay men and lesbians hailed the vote.
''Full inclusion and acceptance is still down the road, but the dam of discrimination has been broken,'' said Emily Eastwood, executive director of Lutherans Concerned/North America. ''The church is on the road to acceptance.''
Lutherans who consider open homosexuality incompatible with biblical teachings played down the vote, however, saying it still left the decision to press for discipline at the discretion of bishops.
''I've talked to a lot of bishops about this,'' said Paull Spring, former bishop of the synod of western Pennsylvania and a member of a traditionalist group, Lutheran CORE. ''Many have said they have no intention of exercising restraint.''
Indeed, the resolution cannot stay the hand of a bishop intent on disciplining an openly gay or lesbian pastor. It also does not prevent disciplinary proceedings from being initiated by other sources like a group of priests that turns to the denomination's disciplinary committee, Mr. Tuttle said.
But initiating disciplinary procedures is an enormous drain of time and energy at a synod, and that already acts as restraint on many bishops, Mr. Tuttle said.
In addition, because the resolution ''prays, urges and encourages'' bishops to refrain from discipline, those who do pursue such steps risk being seen as divisive, said Phil Soucy, a spokesman for Goodsoil, a coalition of groups within the church that backs greater rights for gay men and lesbians.
The vote was too late to prevent the defrocking of Bradley Schmeling as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta, who had told his congregation and his bishop that he was in a long-term same-sex relationship.
But Mr. Schmeling's congregation intends to keep him as its pastor. The resolution permits his bishop, the Rev. Ronald Warren, to forgo disciplining the congregation for retaining him.
''I'm disappointed that they couldn't fully change the policy,'' Mr. Schmeling said. ''But I think it's a big step forward for us. For the first time, the church is saying that there are partnered gay and lesbian pastors who are serving faithfully and well in our church, and they should stay in place for sake of the mission of the church.''
PHOTO: Bradley Schmeling, a gay pastor defrocked in February, was kept by his congregation.


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Usually when you see a symphonic cover of a band or a song that you know and love, it sounds cool and it's neat….but there's a bit of novelty to it right? Most of the time the covers just make you want to hear the original version again.
Being a massive TOOL fan, those were the initial thoughts I had when I came across this 40 piece ensemble doing their interpretation of 'Shism' from 2001's Lateralus. Forget about those silly ideas, this is phenomenal.
It conveys the perfect amount of emotion, the dynamics are sprawling, and they managed to somehow add their own flavour to it, while staying true to the original vision of the song. What an impressive piece of music!! If you skipped through different sections of it, I suggest you at least go back and listen from the 6:50 mark of the video through to the end. I've heard it about 5 times today alone, and the hair stands on the back of my neck every single time.


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43 Magazine just posted photos of its shows in LA and NYC.
If you haven't picked up issue 003 yet, grab one at a local shop before it sells out. If you're overseas, don't forget to check your country on the international shops list.
If you missed the shows and are in NYC, 43 is showing some of the same prints this Thursday night in Brooklyn:
Skate Night
A New York photo show
featuring 43 Magazine & Sundays zine
Thurs may 9, 2013
9pm – midnight
50 N 3rd St.
Brooklyn, New York
Check facebook.com/43magazine for more recent happenings


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be as unique as you. Every beautiful Gemvara white gold solitaire round tanzanite jewelry design will be made just for you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from a wedding or anniversary to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Celebrate the birth of a child with a push present that will capture the emotions of this moment in precious gems. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your white gold solitaire round tanzanite jewelry with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Tanzanite is rare, found only near Mt Kilimanjaro. The round brilliant cut is the most brilliant gemstone shape, with 58 facets that create an explosion of brilliance. The most popular white gold alloy, 14-karat white gold is 58.5% pure gold mixed with other metals for durability. Our white gold is rhodium plated for extra brightness. Our wide selection of white gold solitaire round tanzanite jewelry by Tony Rodrigues, Ruzanna Davtian, Ji Hwang, and other talented designers means you can find rings, earrings, and necklaces that are exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Braided, Simply Stated, or New Arrivals Collections. Classic and timeless, solitaire designs are the little black dress of jewelry: simply dramatic. When our work is done and you open that box, you'll see your design is even more beautiful when brought to life in the finest precious materials.
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