text:
I wish I could touch the stars. This is what went through my mind as I laid on the long grass, life slowly slipping from me. I stared up at the twinkling lights, seeming like diamonds in the sky. That song was an excellent observation. I felt so weak as I tried to raise my arm into the air, to feebly reach for sparks in the night sky. It took everything I had to move my arm even an inch, but it gently rose up. My breathing sped up, chest rising up and down as I struggled. I managed to raise my arm up, outstretched up to sky. The red on my arm gleamed in the light of fire nearby. I felt the heat touch my skin, warming my cold body. I knew I had not long. As I looked up, desperately reaching towards the stars, tears streamed down the side of my face, leaving clean marks through the blood. I could not understand how it had come to this. Only a few hours ago my life had been perfectly normal. Well, it hadn't been perfect, and it had never been normal, but it had been far from this. I had been walking to my grandmother's house upon her request. I had never been on good terms with her, mainly because of her own faults. She was ridiculously conservative, berating anything she deemed a danger to her way of life. She always found a way to justify her actions. I called bullshit every time. It didn't help she disapproved of my mother's lifestyle. My mother, she was a free-spirit, someone with an open heart and mind. I always wondered how my mom had grown into the person she was while living with the nightmare she had been forced to call her mother. I never even referred to her as grandmother. It was always Mrs. Black to me. We hardly spoke to one another. I knew if we saw more of each other, we would always be butting heads. Whenever she did see me, Mrs. Black would list everything that was wrong with me, from my choice of clothing to my friends, even how I spoke. She always criticized my strange hair color, but that wasn't my fault I had been born with stark white hair. And I don't mean blonde-white like platinum, I am talking about winter-white. But did that stop her? No. It was like she looked for anything she could find "wrong" with me. On one occasion, it had snowed and I had forgotten my hat. She went into this lecture about how dumb I was, forgetting my hat, and that I deserved to have my ears freeze and fall off as punishment. Luckily, my hair was long, it always has been, so it wasn't that bad. But the fact she made such a big deal about it was what annoyed me the most. My mother had told me Mrs. Black had always been that way ever since she could remember. My grandfather had tried to reason with his wife, in order to make his daughter's life a bit easier. After a while, though, it had gotten too much for him. Mrs. Black was overbearing to an insane level. She always accused him of affairs, of being such an imperfect husband. Eventually, he left her. My mom had said he had come to say good-bye to her in the wee hours of the morning. He gave her a present, a music box that had been in his family for generations. It was a beautiful antique, made of soft silver with delicate patterns of flowers embellished on. Mom had kept it hidden from Mrs. Black for fear of the older woman taking it away for good, or destroying it all together; a constant reminder of the man who had let her.Despite how I felt about my grandmother, I still went to visit her that day. I don't know what possessed me to follow through the promise she forced me to make. The last time I had seen her, Mrs. Black made me promise to visit her at the end of the month, the day after my birthday. I had no clue why she would want me to come to her house. I didn't call it a home because it had never felt inviting and warm as a real home does. It was always so cold and sterile. I hated being there. However, Mrs. Black was my grandmother, and somewhere deep in my heart, there was spot that felt the need to oblige her with a visit. She had no one. My grandfather had left her, when she had been old enough, my mother had left her. I suppose I was trying, in my own way, to show her she still had a chance to get to know me before she drove me away too. I had been making my way down the street, the sky ablaze with reds and oranges as the sun was setting. The temperature dropped with the change above. I rubbed my arms to stay warm, berating myself for not remembering to take my sweater. Mrs. Black lived all the way across town, on the very edge of the city. I figured with how her attitude was, my grandmother liked her privacy. I didn't really ask. I didn't really care. And I felt guilty each time I said that, even to myself. I knew I should have been more understanding of her, but then there was another part of me that said it was perfectly fine to act that way as she never changed, never even tried to. I neared her house, the old brown roof tiles already visible. I had been surprised by how quickly I had reached the house, it normally felt like an eternity just to get halfway there. I stood there, looking up at the house. It was two stories, not counting the basement and attic, build in the early 1950's. It had a very antique feel to it, and it could have been more welcoming had my grandmother actually tried to make it homey. It was a beautiful building, with old-fashion glass windows, walls of strong oak. If only I had any good memories of it. I let out a heavy sigh, thinking I might as well get it over with. I took a few steps forward before stopping. I had seen a figure move from the corner of my eye. That was odd. My grandmother had owned the land surrounding her home for quite some time, and she didn't like trespassers."Ophelia! You are late," Mrs. Black yelled from her doorstep. I rolled my eyes at her, "I'm only late by a few minutes. How in the world is that a bad thing? Please explain this to me in excruciating detail as you always do."She merely frowned at me. I just looked back at her with apathetic eyes. This was our standard greeting. "Are you going to stand out there all evening?" she asked annoyed."I was planning on it, but if you are inviting me, then I could change my plans," I replied smugly, not hiding the smirk on my face.Mrs. Black was not amused, but I certainly was. She huffed with irritation, walking back inside and leaving the door wide open. This was her way of telling me to come in. I casually walked in, gently closing the door behind me. I went into the living room, the fireplace dancing with embers, the grandfather clock chiming as it reached 6 P.M. There were two soft-red sofas placed in the middle of the room with a long coffee table between them. The light of the fire brightened the color of the mahogany walls, but it did little to brighten my mood. Mrs. Black was sitting up on one of the couches, straight as an arrow, with a cup of tea in her hand. She sipped her tea rather loudly, slurping the liquid as much as she could. I frowned irate, knowing she was doing so on purpose. I had wondered why she would want me to come over if she so disliked my presence."Let's get this over with," I finally said. "I want to leave just as much as you want me to.""Ophelia, manners," Mrs. Black said sternly. "This is my abode, and you will behave properly while you are here.""As you wish," I mumbled, glad I didn't live with her.I took my seat opposite her. She was kind enough to make me a cup of tea as well, I use that term loosely, as she was well aware the particular tea she had given me was my least favorite. It was too bitter for my liking, but she didn't care. I didn't bother to touch my cup. I just sat there, waiting for my grandmother to finish her drink. One thing I did like about Mrs. Black was that she took the time to appreciate the small comforts of life, like enjoying a cup of tea or taking a moment to watch the sunset. But that was about it. I remember what she wore that day. She had on a gray suit, a white turtleneck underneath, her surprisingly still blonde hair in a long braid. Her one-inch black pumps lightly tapped the exposed wood of the floor where the carpet ended. She hardly wore any other colors, except for the deep-blue scarf she almost always had on. My mom speculated it had been a gift from my grandfather. I never thought to ask, mainly because I knew it was a touchy subject with my grandmother, but also because…of my own father. I knew what it was like to try to keep some connection with someone you lost, no matter how small it could be. Other than that tidbit, there was another thing we shared in common: our eyes. We had the same wild topaz eyes. I pulled at my black skirt, smoothing the dark trimming at the hem. I sunk back into the couch, my hands over my white shirt. I thought it was humorous that Mrs. Black and I were both wearing white. But my shirt was more, contemporary. It had short, puffy sleeves, tightening at the middle of my stomach, with small black buttons down the middle. I looked down at my black boots, which reached only an inch or so from my ankles. My black leggings stretched as I swung my legs in boredom. "I'm done," Mrs. Black announced as she set her cup with a sharp clink. "About time," I sighed. "Now will you tell me why I'm here?""Whatever do you mean?" Mrs. Black asked, actually sounding offended. "You're my granddaughter. Why wouldn't I want you to come for a visit every now and again?""Because you hate me," I blurted out, realizing too late what I had said. I looked at the fire, burning so brightly, not wanting to see her reaction. "Ophelia, I don't hate you. I just wish the best for you," my grandmother said in her usual cold tone. "You could have fooled me," I replied with light bitterness. "You hardly make an effort to reconcile with my mom, and you always put me down. But enough of that, what do you want?" I hated myself for acting so rudely towards my grandmother. She never tried to understand me, but I shouldn't have been so thoughtless. "Very well," Mrs. Black stood up, turning away from me. Yet as she turned, I could have sworn I saw a tear in her eye. Again, I thought it was my imagination. Again, I was wrong. But I wouldn't have known that until later, when it was too late to apologize. "You turned 16 yesterday. In my country, you would be considered a woman now," Mrs. Black strode towards the farthest window. "Where exactly are we from?" I asked, for once curious about my roots. "My mom said something about Europe." "Somewhere close to it," she responded cryptically. "Ophelia, I needed you to come because I believe it's time for you to understand the truth about our family." I shifted in my seat, hands clasped on my lap, "What do you mean?" Mrs. Black didn't answer me right away. I could see the pensive look in her eyes as she gathered her thoughts. This had been something she had not found easy to speak of. I was getting nervous seeing her in such a state. If she was hesitant to talk about it, it must have been extremely serious. "I need you to understand, what I have done, what I have said, it has all been for your mother's welfare, and yours," Mrs. Black spoke with her back to me, the sky now the evening blue before the night. "I never wanted to hurt you, but certain circumstances forced me to act otherwise." My grandmother kept her right arm in front of her, as though she were holding something and wanted to keep it hidden. She turned her head slightly, looking over at the table where my untouched teacup sat. She let out a heavy sigh. "Now, I am forced to do the one thing I swore with every ounce of my power never to do." The grave tone in her voice sent a flashing alarm to my head. Something was amiss. My slowly rising-in-beat heart told me to leave at that very moment, but I did not listen. "Mrs. Black?" I stood up but did not approach her. She turned around, her right hand now behind her back, "Ophelia…" There was a huge crash as glass shattered everywhere. I instinctively backed away, jumping over the couch to try to reach the front door faster. Mrs. Black spun around as the hooded intruder stood right in front of her. She swung her arm at him, the man agilely dodging her jab. He quickly pulled out a long, thin sword from his coat in one fluid motion. I could tell it was dangerously sharp as it shinned. He held it as only a master would. I recognized the sword immediately, it was a samurai sword. Mrs. Black ran at him, trying to jab him again. I had wondered what she was thinking, attacking a man with no weapon of her own. It wasn't until I heard the clink that I saw the large knife she had been holding. The blade was formed like a crescent moon, the hilt appearing to be gold. What the hell was she doing with a dagger? I tried to back out of the room, but as I took one step, the intruder looked at me, making me freeze on the spot. He stared at me for a few minutes, almost like he recognized me. He turned his attention back to my grandmother just as she lunged at him with surprising speed. He blocked the attack with ease. However, my grandmother would not back down. Her reflexes were outstanding for someone her age. She swung at him with such force. She wasn't trying to scare him off; she was trying to kill him! I had no idea what to do. I recalled how in movies or shows, a character will say witnessing such a scene paralyzes one with uncertainty and fear. You cannot budge an inch, your muscles refusing the messages sent by your brain. You can only stand there, frozen, until you snap out of it. That was not what happened to me. I was not frozen with fear. I was not uncertain of what to do. I was not frightened for my life or my grandmother's. I was perfectly fine. I just stood there and watched. I don't know why I didn't scream in terror, or why I didn't faint when the intruder burst in. I wondered why I felt so calm, why it felt natural to me to watch the two of them fighting and not even consider calling the cops. My grandmother remained steady as she attacked, again and again. But I could see she was starting to lose her patience as her face began to scrunch in frustration. And the intruder was stronger. "You can't do this!" my grandmother screamed. She took one step forward as she swung the dagger as hard as she could at him. I gasped as he literally caught the long knife with his wrist, blood dripping onto the hardwood floor. The intruder then sunk his sword deep into her chest. Mrs. Black stared at the wall with wide eyes, her mouth agape as the steel ripped into her. Her hand gripped at his shoulder, clenched in pain. "I think I can, Theodora," the man said in a cold yet smooth voice. He sunk the sword with one strong thrust, right into her heart. She turned her head to the side, looking straight at me. Her eyes were glazed over. Tears gently flowed from her eyes as our eyes met. It took me aback seeing her like that, so weak and frail. She used the last of her strength to say one last thing to me, one that would stay with me forever. "Forgive me."Mrs. Black gasped as he swiftly removed the blade. She released the dagger, falling as though in slow-motion. Her body hit the floor with a heavy, resounding thud. It echoed in my ears. I had never seen a dead body before, let alone someone die right in front of me. I looked at her for what seemed far too long. I should have cried, right? I should have felt like my whole world was crumbling. I didn't. I shed not one tear. As I had said earlier, we were never close; we weren't even what would be considered acquaintances. Now that particular thought was sad. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to see the intruder walked towards me. I looked up as I felt his shadow fall on me."Are you going to kill me too?" I asked boldly.There really was no reason not to know. I should at least know what he was going to do if he was going to kill me anyway. What else could I do? I was just another defenseless girl. What harm could I do? "No, I could never hurt you, even if I wanted to," he replied, removing his hood, revealing jet-black hair and silver-eyes."Wait, I know you!" I said as I recognized him. "You're the new kid from New England, Abel Reinhardt?""Yes, we have quite a few classes together," he said as he pulled out the dagger and throw it across the room.I then recalled the shadow I had seen on my way to my grandmother's."Why are you here?" I demanded. "Why did you follow me? Why did you kill my grandmother?"He looked at me with slight confusion, "Why you ask? I was ordered to follow you, until the time to reveal myself was appropriate. As for Theodora, I was under the impression you were on bad terms with her, or rather, non-existent terms, to be exact."I glared at him, "That didn't answer my question. Why?"I added more force to my voice. He looked over his shoulder, to my grandmother. She was so still, her braid undone in the struggle, hair now splayed over the floor and her face. It was then I noticed her blue scarf was no longer around her neck. I looked down and saw Abel holding lightly onto it."I didn't want it to get stained by the blood," he said softly as he tried to hand it to me.I didn't take it. It was odd, but somewhere in the back of my conscious, a voice told me it was not mine to take yet. My mom had told me the scarf held great significance in our family, but she never revealed what. I always thought that was strange, after all, it was just a scarf. What could be so important about it?"Don't you want it?" Abel had still held the scarf out for me.I shook my head, "It feels wrong."His eyes never left me. I walked around him, to my grandmother's side. I knelt down, closing her eyes with light fingers. "She may not have the best mother, or grandmother, but she was still family.""Was she?" I looked at Abel, who stood like a statue by the wall. "She may have had the same blood running through her veins as you, but that does not mean she was family. A real grandmother, a real mother, does not treat her relatives with such contempt. Proof me wrong."I said nothing. I couldn't because he was right. "For example," he went on, "who do you think that dagger was really for? Because I have a feeling it was not meant for me.""What?" I looked at the dagger, shining with his blood, now laying by the fireplace. "You don't mean…?"He gave me a sympathetic look. That was all I needed."She…she was going to kill me?" I said stunned. "I know she didn't like me, but to kill me?""It goes beyond that, Ophelia," he walked over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I will answer all your questions, but first, we need to leave. Others will be here to finish what Theodora could not."My eyes went wide with horror. So, not only had my grandmother intended to kill me, but there were others in on the conspiracy? Yes, I was calling it a conspiracy because that was what it was seeming like more and more. "Come on," he held out his hand, "we have to go now."I didn't know if I could trust him, this boy who I had only seen walking in the hallways and in my classes but never spoken to. However, after seeing all the evidence, I knew what he had said was true. Mrs. Black had been acting out of character. Her sudden request of my presence, speaking of our family, something she disliked even mentioning, it made sense. I truly swear I have no idea what possessed me to do so, but I took his hand without a second thought. With a simple nod, he led me through the house to the backdoor, pulling a coat hanging from a hook nearby. As we walked out into the night air, I took one quick glance at the place, remembering we had just left Mrs. Black lying on the floor, dead, not even bothering to cover her. It was too late now, but I still felt like I should have at least done something."Don't think about it," Abel said as we walked into the woods behind Mrs. Black's house."Are you reading my mind now?" I said melancholy. "We shouldn't have left her like that.""You may think so, but believe me when I say, she wouldn't have wanted to died anywhere else than in the comfort of her own home."I couldn't help letting out a sarcastic laugh. A home, that place? That part, among all that had happened, was the hardest to believe."Where are we going?" I inquired, noticing how deep into the woods we were heading."We need to get far, they'll be looking for you as soon as they find out Theodora is dead," Abel answered, tightening his hold on my hand. I looked down at our linked hands. He wouldn't let go even if we had to cross a small river or climb an overturned tree. As we walked, my mind when back to Mrs. Black. What would people think happened? What would they say? No one had seen me visit her except for Abel. What would my mom do? My mom…My mom!! How could have I forgotten?! I came to an abrupt stop, Abel stumbled back."What is it?" he asked concerned, seeing the terrified look on my face."My mom! What's going to happen to her? I haven't even called her! Those people who are after me, won't they go after her too?" I sobbed as I held back the tears."Your mom is fine," he simply said.Before I could ask, he answered quickly."You don't think the ones whose orders I follow wouldn't think about that, now did you?"He wore a small sly smile. The confidence in his eyes was enough to quell some of the pressure in me."Okay, now what---," he placed his hand on my mouth.I gave him an indignant glare as he shushed me. Something was up. Abel scanned the area, as if he could see more than I could. His silver irises sharpening as he sensed what was in the night air. Without so much as a warning, Abel pulled me away as fast as he could."We need to get away! They found us sooner than I thought!" he yelled with alarm.I tried to keep up, but I was never much of a runner. I panted heavily as we ran through the brush, my leggings getting torn as branches snatched at them, tugging at my skirt and ripping some of the fabric off. Abel pulled me closer. He could tell I wasn't going to make it if he didn't do something. We reached a vast opening, a meadow filled with various flowers. We reached the middle of it when a group of men appeared in front of us."Abel, give us the girl," the front man said, instantly giving away his status as the leader."NO! You know I can't do that!" Abel declared. "I won't let you!""Fine," the man said. "We will kill her and you then."The other men came right at us. Abel pulled out his sword, easily dispatching the first two. Another came at him from the very air. Their swords clashed, sparks flying everywhere. A few fell on the flowers, causing a small fire to come alive. While Abel was occupied with more foes, I stood as far away as I could."Looks like I have to get the job done," my heart dropped as I turned around to see the leader right behind me. "I am sorry for this, but it has to be done."I could only watch as he swung his sword at me, I closed my eyes and wondered why. At first, I had felt nothing. Then, my nerves registered the cool metal slicing my skin just above my heart. I fell back, crushing the flowers beneath me, petals flying all around me. I faintly heard Abel screaming my name, but the blood loss was too much already. The cut hadn't hurt as badly as I had thought. Soon, my body was cold, motionless. I was dying. Is this how Mrs. Black had felt? But her death had been quick. Abel had been merciful, this man had not. I could barely hear the sound of sword against sword, Abel's yelling, the leader yelling back. The fire had grown now. It spread along the meadow like a river of embers, consuming the trees along the edge of the meadow as well. "I…I…I don't want to die, not like this," I cried. "Please…I still…need to know. Please, help me…someone…"It was then, as I slipped from this world, that I looked up at the starry sky. The stars seemed so close to my hand as I reached up. When I was a little girl, I always thought the stars were like guardian angels, observing everything below. Whenever I saw a shooting star, I would imagine it was an angel leaving the heavens in order to help someone. I just wanted to know why any of this was happening. Couldn't an angel come and save me, even if it was only little help they could offer?"Ophelia!" Abel kept calling out to me as his opponent tried to keep him from helping me. "OPHELIA!!!"I had wished to ask him more about what he knew, and about himself. He seemed to have done so much for me already; me dying was the ultimate insult for all his hard work. And my poor mom…what would become of her after having lost both her mother and daughter in the same day? Closing my eyes, I wished for a miracle. As my breathing became shallow, a sudden warmth burned in my chest. Soon, it spread to every inch of my body, engulfing me in its comfort. A moment ago, I was ice cold; now, it was like the very Sun had touched me. "What?" Abel and the other man stopped fighting as a great light emerged from deep inside me."It can't be!" the leader exclaimed."It is," Abel said, standing at ease. "You failed. Ophelia is awakening to her destiny.""I will not let that happen!" the older man dashed at me in an attempt to stab me yet again.But as his weapon came into contact with my skin, the light grew with intensity, acting as a shield. He was sent flying into the center of the fire, screaming with bloody force. Soon after, the light dissipated. I felt Abel at my side, taking me into his arms. I was barely conscious throughout the whole ordeal, yet retained a clear memory of what had occurred. As the flames grew, Abel made a clean escape through the dense forest, the smell of burnt plants and ash replaced by the refreshing scent of the calm night. "H-how…?" was all I could ask.Abel kept running, but quickly looked at me with a proud smile, "You're special, Ophelia. Very special."The only one who had ever called me that was mom. I let my eyes droop as exhaustion finally caught up to me. I had no idea what was going on, but deep in my heart, I knew that I could trust him."Call me Lia."
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GMOT: Assistant Vice President / Vice President, Futures and Options eTrading Front Office Electronic Trading Java Developer, Global Markets Technology
- Competitive
- Singapore
- Permanent, Full time
- Bank Of America / Merrill Lynch
- 23 Nov 17 2017-11-23
GMOT: Assistant Vice President / Vice President, Futures and Options eTrading Front Office Electronic Trading Java Developer, Global Markets Technology
Job Description:
About Bank of America Merrill Lynch:
Our purpose as a firm is to make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. Across the world, we partner with leading corporate and institutional investors through our offices in more than 40 countries. In the U.S alone, we serve almost all Fortune 500 companies and approximately 59 million consumers and small-business customers. We provide a full suite of financial products and services, from banking and investments to asset and risk management. We cover a broad range of asset classes, making us a global leader in corporate and investment banking, sales and trading.
Connecting Asia Pacific to the World
Our Asia Pacific team is spread across 23 offices in 12 markets. We are focused on connecting Asia to the world and the world to Asia, using our global expertise to ensure success is shared between us, our clients and our communities. Our regional footprint covers 12 currencies, more than a dozen languages and five time zones, placing us firmly among the region's leading financial services companies.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining top diverse talent from across the globe. Our diversity and inclusion mission is to actively promote an inclusive work environment where all employees have the opportunity to achieve personal success and contribute to the growth of our business. Each of our global Employee Networks bring together employees, create dialogue and awareness in support of our Diversity and Inclusion.
Position Description
Background: Successful candidates will report functionally to F&O Asia Pac Technology Manager, based in Tokyo. Working within a small team of developers in Singapore, Tokyo and global counterparts based in London and New York. The candidate will work on state of the art F&O Global trading systems used to support both internal and external users.
BAML's F&O trading platform is recognized on the street as having one of the largest footprint for electronic connectivity to global markets and comprises a mix of internally developed as well as vendor components. The candidate will take responsibility for certain aspects of the system and will be required to perform both new development as well as maintenance on existing applications. The trading platform is based on ULLINK system, with the algorithmic trading engine and exchange line handlers being developed internally by the team in conjunction with other electronic trading development groups.
Business groups supported by the F&O APAC technology team are primarily based in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia with smaller offices in India, Korea and Taiwan. The business groups are both Front Office trading desk as well as Back Office operations group.
The technology team work very closely with the business users, often sitting on the trading desks during peak trading days of the month or when new features have been rolled out to the systems.
The development team also work closely with TradePlant, which is a dedicated production support team who have day-to-day responsibility for the production environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Primary role will be as a developer on F&O trading systems, using Java as main development language
- Build out of features on ULLINK global order management & trading system (Java enrichments)
- Providing 3rd level support function to ensure system stability and prompt follow up on user queries (Working closely with dedicated Production Support team)
- Liaising extensively with internal business users & control functions. Possible communication with exchanges and regulatory authorities across the region.
- Working closely with F&O Business analyst to provide technical input to analyst work and to be able to collaborate effectively with BA to produce desired technical deliverables.
- Working closely with F&O QA Resources to communicate requirements and define testing scope and plans.
- Communicate with software vendors for issue and inquiry escalation.
- Analyzing new small business requirements from Front Office and Back Office and to translate to technical deliverables.
- Being able to provide technical architecture input into technical design decisions.
- Providing lucid, comprehensive and well written documentation to enable training of dedicated support staff.
- Keeping up to date with technical as well as industry sector developments.
- Working within agile development paradigm to ensure unit-testing, coding and scrum methodologies are followed, with a frequent release cycle.
Key Requirements
- Degree level education
- At least 5 years of software development experience
- Strong Java and/or .NET development experience
- Experience in Unix or Linux development
- Real time systems (electronic trading or other)
- Knowledge on F&O
- Comfortable in working within Agile development paradigm
- Experience working in a Global team across multiple time zones
- Experience working on a distributed platform
- Knowledgeable in Sybase/Oracle database
- Shell/Perl/Python scripting
- Familiar with FIX protocol
- Familiar with source code control (SVN/GIT)
Beneficial requirements
- Knowledge on Trade flows, Equity/Fixed Income
- Familiar with C++
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is an equal opportunities employer.
Posting Date: 07/09/2017
Singapore, , 01, 2 HARBOURFRONT PLACE #02,
- Singapore
Full / Part-time: Full time
Hours Per Week: 40

subset: commoncrawl


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Photographer's Note
Hello friends in TE.
This sunset was captured at a place called Damai Laut. Damai means peace and Laut carries the meaning of the sea. Literally, it means Peaceful Sea. Thanks for viewing and have a wonderful week ahead.
Critiques | Translate
papagolf21 (118701) 2012-04-09 0:34
Bonjour, cher Jusni,
Quel magnifique spectacle offert à nos yeux ébahis !
Je me vois assez bien sur l'une des chaises longues contempler à loisir la beauté du paysage.
Excellente prise de vue parfaitement maîtrisée.
Bravo !
pajaran (71683) 2012-04-09 1:09
Dobar dan.
Lepo mesto i trenutak ...
Lep pogled na lezaljke, suncobran, more i sunce na zalasku, dobra kompozicija.
Dobar trenutak snimka i prikaz lepim bojama.
Lepo mesto za odmor sa pogledom na more i oblake lepih boja.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Good afternoon.
Nice place and time ...
Nice view of the deck chairs, parasols, sun and sea at sunset, good composition.
Good time recording and display of beautiful colors.
Nice place to rest with a sea of beautiful clouds and colors.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best in the new week began.
Good luck.
bema (26427) 2012-04-09 1:11
Hello Jusni,
the name of the location is captured perfectly in this impressive picture.. looks really like a place in paradise!
thanks for sharing, see you around,
cheers Bernd
diomed (13926) 2012-04-09 2:26
Hi Jusni,
splendid place. Your capture is right not only for the peacefull place, but also for dreamfull. It is a fantastic position: a lovely sunset, a soft beach,a palm tree, an umbrella and: what can you wish more?
NIce new week
williewhistler (16606) 2012-04-09 2:27
Hello Jusni,as it is a Bank Holiday here it is of course raining heavily!So this view of a sunny little beach is just what is needed to lift a dull day.
The light on the waves and on the umbrella is lovely.
Best wishes Les.
Gigidusud (21381) 2012-04-09 2:35
Hello Jusni,
This is a beautiful place where i would love to find!Nice light on sunset.
Thanks for sharing.
wolf38 (30) 2012-04-09 2:46
Hello Jusni. Who wants to relax, this is the beach to the right place. A palm tree, beach umbrella, two chairs, - that's enough. Very nice light. Overall, an atmospheric picture with a lot of peace and tranquility. Rgds wolfgang.
Royaldevon (48544) 2012-04-09 2:46
Good Morning Jusni,
On a cold, wet morning, this is more than inspirational! The angled sunbeds are the perfect invitation to rest and gaze out to sea, towards that beautiful sunset.
The line of the surf gives a strong f/g triangle, whilst the close images help to produce a good sense of depth.
I wonder if your border has clipped the edge of the parasol. My only suggestion would be to have all of the parasol in the photograph.
Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)
serp2000 (46526) 2012-04-09 3:04
Hi, Jusni,
I like this moment, attractive composition with the vivid sunset colors. Good title too.
Best wishes,
Miguel82 (27752) 2012-04-09 5:17
Hello Jusni
A paradisiac place
Good picture showing the sunset
Fine colors and good sharpness
ChrisJ (126767) 2012-04-09 5:34
Hello Jusni,
Is that Pulau Pangkor on the horizon? A place in Malaysia I have not yet been to. A wonderful tropical sunset with the blue deck chairs contrasting well against the yellow orange skies top right. Tfs!
bayno (18344) 2012-04-09 6:16
Hi Jusni,
beautiful sunset with wonderful colors and a lovely light, great framing and quality, a dream beach...
my best regards...
Sergiom (96725) 2012-04-09 6:38
Bonjour Jusni,
Une très belle technique qui nous montre dans le détail le dessous du parasol qui devrait normalement être dans l'ombre. Le coucher de soleil est magnifique.
lakshmip1949 (19081) 2012-04-09 6:48
Hello Jusni,
Looks like a paradise with such a peaceful atmosphere. Love the sunset colors with shimmering light in the water. The beach chairs are places at the right place under the parasol to view the sunset. The colors, sharpness and atmosphere are great.
jjcordier (79297) 2012-04-09 9:52
Un ciel aux couleurs superbes pour cette excellente photo de cet endroit de rêve. On a vraiment envie de réserver sa place près de ce palmier!
bona (13739) 2012-04-09 19:31
Hi Jusni,
I like your composition here, and the beautiful sunset as background. However, I think it has much light in foreground, making the scene a bit artificial. I would suggest not use the flash here or using a -2 as EV.
adramad (52526) 2012-04-10 11:33
Hello Jusni.
Fabulous image in this splendid beach, I like the POV with palm tree and two beach chairs, wonderful ideals background colors of sunset and the beautiful trail in the sea, the distant mountains to provide a striking image DOF. Well done.
Have a nice day.
Best regards.
agulberk (3794) 2012-04-11 19:42
Salam my dear friend Jusni
You captured very nice image with wonderful sunset behind silhouettes of folded mountains reflected on peaceful calm sea and deck chairs under the tent with the rest of the natural in a fantastic beach.
Thanks for sharing
Sincerely kind regards.
Have a good thursday
Cricri (133272) 2012-04-12 11:00
Hi Jusni
Très jolie composition, bon cadrage de ces transats en bois, le parasol et le palmier, un coucher de soleil magnifique que l'on contemple en silence , merveilleux
Belle soirée
adores (46467) 2012-04-12 16:24
Hi Jusni!
Perfect place and perfect time! The sunset is wonderful and seems there are no tourists around:)!Good coomposition!
mumek (20202) 2012-04-13 12:33
Hi Jusni!
Very well taken and composed scenery from Lumut. Great atmosphere of the sunset, fantastic colours and light. My compliments
wonderful capture of this beautiful
and peaceful place during the sunset
I would like to be there,is this
Paradise?yes sure it is
shot welldone and wellseen
Photo Information
- Copyright: Jusni Nasirun (jusninasirun) (17529)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2008-02-26
- Categories: Daily Life, Nature
- Camera: Nikon D50
- Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2012-04-09 0:28
- Favorites: 1 [view]


text:
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|177 reviews in total
It is very rare to encounter a film so devoted to character and this is the
greatest strength of Beautiful Girls. Each character has their own personal
turmoil and lightness which shines through in a film which from start to
finish very little movement of plot is actually achieved, but then again it
doesn't need to.
Small-town sensibilities and community spirit are intertwined with the notions of enigmatic strangers posing in an almost prophetic manner delivering advice upon the populous. Events such as brutal fighting, unashamed drunkenness and references to sex are handled as items which are not derogatory but necessary in a rites of passage kind of way. Each character develops through the film into better individuals of what they once were but not to such an extent as to impose sickly sweet values on the audience.
Every character is natural and rounded despite some major personality flaws. Timothy Hutton's excellent Willy is at odds with himself over the next stage of growing up, Rappaport plays the goofy yet loveable fool for love, Dillon the lost soul and Emmerich the doting yet somewhat incapable father. But it is in the Beautiful Women themselves where the real essence of the film lies. Uma Thurman is every blonde inch the mysterious and elegant Andera crossing paths with everyone and influencing their lives for the better. Rosie O'Donnell as the brash 'matron' of the group is the perfect foil for Sorvino's insecure personality. The ace of the bunch however is a mesmerising Natalie Portman who even despite being the cast's youngest member is compelling to the point that you can understand Willy's fascination with her character Marty.
For anyone wishing for comfort on a cold winter afternoon there are very few films with such a strong heart, Demme excels himself by never laying on the sentimentality rather poking gingerly at our own innermost feelings, and coming out with a winner.
Easily one of the most overlooked movies considering how good it is.
There are several ensemble movies out there, but this movie is
definitely one of the best ones.
The key word in ensemble cast is obviously "cast". And this movie has a stellar cast. Timothy Hutton, as Willy, is perfectly cast. Yes, this is an ensemble movie, but it sort of hovers around his character and he carries the movie so well. And to play off him, Natalie Portman is tremendous in this movie. Despite being the youngest cast member, she outacts most of the adults in this movie. Her chemistry with Timothy Hutton is amazing.
The other cast members, including Rosie O'Donnell, Michael Rappaport, Uma Thurman, and Matt Dillon are also really good in their respective roles. Rosie O'Donnell delivers a hilarious monologue about the differences between men and women and it should not be missed.
The story is relatively simple... a man going back home to attend his 10 year reunion. But because of the complex characters and their various storys, it becomes much more than just a high school reunion. Its a story about a man finding himself. Its a story about a young girl getting a taste of what love might be, despite it being in an unlikely person. Its a story of a man who has to grow up and let go of the long gone high school glory years. Its a story about relationships, between friends, family and couples. All these tales are interwoven into a heartwarming story.
This movie ranks as one of my all time favorite movies.
Update 7/1/11 I still love this movie!! I have to watch it at least
once a year and I can't say that about too many movies (I've now seen
this more than Star Wars IV). Please allow yourself time to kick back
and enjoy a very believable story of Anywhere USA Americana. Below is
my original review from many years ago. Thanks
Prior Review--
I love this movie. Too bad Demme is Donne because this is great work. Every single role is believable and not over-acted. Maybe it's my 30 something (now 40 something) mind working but this is a great movie to sit down and enjoy. Nothing blows up and I can't recall a single car chase but if you can allow yourself to get involved with a storyline, this is for you.
You can fall in love with Natalie Portman and I don't know that I've ever seen Rapaport in a better role. There isn't anyone more anti Rosie Odonell than me, but even her role is great. The bad news for friends and family is that I've stolen many lines from this flick because I'm not original enough to come up with my own stuff.
"What's he all creased about"
I would be first in line to purchase a (another) DVD that is Dolby Digital and has some extras. Lastly, don't miss the soundtrack, there is a great blend of feel good music along with some new, cool licks.
My friends accuse me (rather accurately) for being a sap - for liking this 90's chic flick. But they are wrong about this movie. This movie is entertaining and sometimes fluffy, but more importantly it is real and timely. Amongst all the hype of the X-Gen, this movie boiled down our mood (all us kids who are still growing up) in a small town setting where the people were real (except for Rosie, she should have ended up on the editing room floor). The slight plot is less important than the setting and the circumstances. Winter in small town Massachusetts, on the frozen lakes, and the plowed roads and small taverns - on the edge of early mid-life adulthood for yet another lost generation...the movie leaves you with a cold warm snow feeling of hope and sorrow for people in transition, that usually only a classic novel (like those by F. Scott or Hemingway)can give you.
A terrific ensemble cast brings this film to life, which focuses on the
difficulties some face in making that final, `mental' leap from adolescence
to adulthood, and spend way too many years trying to sort it all out. As
one of the characters so tellingly puts it at one point, `I'm not anywhere
close to being the man I thought I'd be--' and the denial, that failure to
accept the fact that time stands still for no man, and the inability to
choose which path to take when you hit that inevitable fork in the road,
forms the basis for director Ted Demme's examination of how human nature
affects the process of maturating, in `Beautiful Girls,' a drama featuring
Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon and a young Natalie Portman.
Willie Conway (Hutton) is back home in the Midwest for his high school reunion, but more than that, to try and make some decisions about his future. He finds that nothing much has changed-- the town, or his old friends, most of whom seem to be exerting more time and energy attempting to cling to what was, rather than moving on with their lives. Tommy Rowland (Dillon), for instance, the high school `hero,' as it were, now drives a snowplow; for all intents and purposes, his life `peaked' in high school, and he can't seem to get past it. Then there's Paul (Michael Rapaport), who just doesn't seem to want to grow up; after a seven year relationship with Jan (Martha Plimpton), he refuses to make that final commitment-- after all, `What's the rush?'
All of which does nothing to help Willie with his own dilemma; the only words of wisdom he gets from anyone, in fact, come from the precocious thirteen-year-old, Marty (Natalie Portman), who lives next door. But in a couple of days, Tracy (Annabeth Gish), the girl Willie `thinks' he wants to marry, is due to arrive from Chicago, so it's time to move beyond the crossroads; for Willie, it's decision time.
Demme delivers a story that just about everyone in the audience is going to connect with on some level, because everyone's gone through (or will go through) these kinds of things at one time or another. Who hasn't experienced, if only for a moment, that sense of either wanting to stay as they are or going back to what they were, when life was better, or at least simpler. Or more fun. Working from a screenplay by Scott Rosenberg, Demme examines the relationships between this eclectic group of individuals in a way that offers some insights into human nature that will no doubt elicit some reflection on the part of the viewer. It all points up that, no matter what it may look like on the surface, underneath it all we're not so different from one another; we all share that common bond of learning life's lessons one day at a time, albeit in our own particular way, which corresponds to who we are as individuals. And Demme succeeds in telling his story with warmth and humor; by tapping into the humanity at the heart of it all.
The story may focus on Willie, but the film is a true ensemble piece, realized as it is through the sum of it's many and varied parts. It's a talented cast of actors bringing a unique bunch of characters to life that makes this film what it is, beginning with Hutton, who anchors it with his solid portrayal of Willie, a challenging role in that Willie has to be an average guy who is unique in his own right. The same can be said of Dillon's Tommy, in whom traces of Dallas Winston from `The Outsiders' can be found; Tommy is, perhaps, just Dallas a few years later.
Mira Sorvino gives a memorable performance by creating the most sympathetic character in the film, Tommy's girlfriend, Sharon. This is the girl who was never going to be prom queen, and who up until now has lacked the self-confidence necessary to create a positive environment for herself. Lauren Holly, meanwhile, succeeds with her portrayal of Darian Smalls, the absolute opposite of Sharon, a young woman who is probably too positive for her own good and who lives the life of a perpetual prom queen, an individual who-- as another character succinctly puts it-- was `Mean as a snake,' back in the day. Good performances that add a balanced perspective to the film.
There are two performances here that really steal the show, however. The first being that of Michael Rapaport, who as Paul so completely and convincingly captures the very essence of an average Joe with not too much on the ball, no prospects for the future to speak of, but who is, at heart, a good guy. There's humor and pathos in his portrayal, which personifies that particular state of being the film is seeking to depict. Excellent work by Rapaport, and decidedly one of the strengths of the film.
The most memorable performance of all, however, is turned in by Natalie Portman, who at fifteen is playing the thirteen-year-old Marty, the girl mature and wise beyond her years (`I'm an old soul,' as she puts it), with whom Willie forms a kind of bond as she, in her own way, helps him to sort out his feelings and find his focus. Portman's performance here-- some three years before she would forever become Padme Amidala-- exhibits that spark and charismatic screen presence that has served her so well since, in films like `Anywhere But Here,' and `Where the Heart Is.' She has for some time been, and continues to be, one of the finest and most promising young actors in the business.
The cast also includes Noah Emmerich (Mo), Rosie O'Donnell (Gina), Max Perlich (Kev), Uma Thurman (Andrea), Anne Bobby (Sarah) and Pruitt Taylor Vince (Stanley), all of whom help to make `Beautiful Girls' a memorable and satisfying cinematic experience. And that's the magic of the movies. 8/10.
Having gone to my local video shop, wanting to rent either Gladiator or a
big-budget blockbuster type film for my 'Girls Night In', I came across
in the Bargain Bin for only £2.99(about $5). I figured either the tape
run down (with it being ex-rental) or the film was crap and nobody ever
rented it. However, the prospect of Matt Dillion and Timothy Hutton in
same film made me buy it (although my girlfriends were
So after a marathon evening of Gladiator followed by Being John Malkovich, I popped this in the Video and was enthralled! The acting was great and the story relevant to real-life. Everybody goes through these problems, after all. The chemistry between Willie (Timothy Hutton) and Marty (the wonderful Natalie Portman) was brilliant - even though the subject is considered taboo.
Matt Dillion's little triangle with Mira Sorvino and Lauren Holly is an entertaining sideline and Michael Rapaport provides the comic relief as we watch his crumbling relationship with Martha Plimpton. Rosie O'Donnell is also hilarious as the down-to-earth ready-to-break-your-balls-if-you-step-out-of-line type who is happy to rip the rose coloured glasses from your face whenever she feels its necessary.
There is a real sense of friendship between this all-star cast and that really the defining factor in this film. However, the real stars are Hutton and Portman who are simply brilliant. She has perfected the little vixen role in Leon (aka The Professional) and although the characters of Mathilda and Marty are completely different, there is that little inkling of a girl wanting to be loved by a man in her performance. Hutton handles his role with care - and his Winnie-The-Pooh speech is simply heartbreaking!
This movie, made up of a dozen or so rising young stars (at the time anyway) is truly a classic. Lots of witty comedy, little bit of love, some twisted moments, everything you'd want out of a movie. It's neither a guy or a chick flick...kind of a mixture of both. Timothy Hutton was absolutely brilliant. Rosie O'Donell, though I despise her at times, has a brilliant feminist scene in which she puts Hutton and Dillon in their place. Uma Thurman, though a fairly limited role in the movie, is a stunning character, and her role ties the movie completely together, bridging the gap between the feminists and the vulgar men in the movie. A young Natalie Portman gets her career off to a great start as a very cute, very sophisticated 13 year old, who's witty charm is the icing on the cake. This movie is clearly in my top 10 all time...and is a must see!
(Maybe you should read this after watching the movie. I don't know if
reading it before will spoil it for you--I doubt it, in fact, but you never
Being the typical unmarried man, I rented "Beautiful Girls" because of its attractive title. I had no idea it could be so moving or endearing. I may be just getting soft, but it was one of the few films I have thought about for more than 72 hours after I saw it.
Aside from all the sexual content, swearing, etc., the dialogue between Marty (the now beautiful Natalie Portman) and Willie (my favorite actor, Timothy Hutton) is nothing short of astounding. Willie is enchanted and attracted to this little 13-year old girl next door. As they exchange more and more conversation, he realizes her great potential and even dreams about how he might just be able to wait ten years and maybe marry her.
The scene in which Willie discusses his feelings with Mo, his married friend was the turning point of the story. Willie realizes that, even if she had a love-at-first-sight crush on him, she would drift away as she matures; she would find someone closer to her own age, and Willie would become just some silly old man she met when she was young and had a ridiculous, immature attraction to. He realizes that by just being her friend, he will be able to keep her in a much more real way than if he tries to wait for her to be his lover.
But the one scene I will remember forever, the most perfect scene in the entire movie, in which the dialogue seemed neither forced nor over-elongated, was the scene in the ice-skating rink with Marty and Willie. Marty tells Willie all the things he would have liked to hear before his talk with Mo. She would marry him after they waited five years, etc. The association Willie makes with Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robins is so beautiful it almost made me cry. (Not really, but you get the point). He gives her a good taste of reality, and she seems mature enough to understand.
In a later scene, Willie tells Marty that he would like to continue being a friend, even a mentor to her, and he has total confidence that whatever she does will be amazing.
There are about three other stories intertwined into the movie, but the Portman-Hutton line stands out as the superior.
Overall, a wonderful movie to which they should have given a title that would attract people with the ability to be moved.
P.S. The funniest part of the entire movie is the confused look Willie and Paul exchange after Mo gives unusually-phrased threats to Steven, who beat up their friend. You have to have seen the movie to understand
Channel surfing on a snowy day last winter, stumbled on this movie with
an intriguing name: 'Beautiful Girls.' Found a terrific movie I had
somehow missed when it came out. An incredible cast, great characters,
sweet, funny, engaging, and good music to boot. I recently saved it on
Tivo, and one of its many charms is that like a book you love, you can
pick it up at any spot in the story and be engaged for 5-10-30 minutes
or an hour, put it down, and pick it up again.
I keep telling my friends to rent it, but I think they are put off by the title they expect some movie with Mira Sorvino, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman, Lauren Holly, and Annabeth Gish to be something this movie isn't an exploitative movie about 'beautiful girls' when it is in fact a charming movie about how people move through life yet retain a sense of who they are if they can remember where they came from.
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The emphasis of this movie can be placed in Kev's last words to Willy in
film, 'Stay Cool Man, Stay Cool Forever.' All of the male characters in
film with the possible exception of Moe, are trying to stay cool by
to grow up. Willy is wrestling with the idea of becoming a salesman and
giving up on his lifelong passion of music. Only if he sticks with his
will he stay cool and according to Tracy stay sexy. He is also trying to
avoid growing up by not getting too commited to Tracy. In the film he is
willing to stray not once but twice. Moe tells him his infectuation with
13 year old Marty is purely his way of refusing to grow up (not grow old
here Moe makes the definition between the two) but there is a definite
chemistry between the two. Meanwhile his grown-up infactuation with the
sublimely sexy Endera is his last attempt at a fling before he grows up
decides he wants to spend the rest of his life with Tracey. Endera talks
out of it and tells him how lucky he is to have Tracy in the same way
Endera's boyfriend is lucky to have her.
Tommy's way of staying cool is to relive his high-school days and this means his affair with his high-school girlfriend Darian has to go on in order for him to stay cool. But by the end after having it beaten out of him by Darien's husband he realises his bird-man days are at an end and it's time to settle down with Sharon.
Meanwhile Paul has to grow up he realises he has to do something with his life or he'll end up like the three old guys at the bar as he says he doesn't want to end up like them. This is why he proposes to Jan and when she refuses he knows he has to do something else. His last words to Willy nothing changes here but the seasons leads us to believe that Paul believes the only way he can truly change is to get out as Willy has done.
Meanwhile Kev is quite happy with his life and thinks that he is cool beacuse when Paul has his rant about the three old guys working and then drinking Kev thinks this will be a cool way to grow old.
So therefore Beautiful Girls is a film about men refusing to grow up and wanting to stay cool for as long as possible. While the strong female characters in this film try to get them to grow up. This is an inspirational film about the different types of middle-aged men and there on-going rriendship with each other. 9 out of 10
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National League Standings, August 28, 1992
January 11, 2016
Just watched this game on my old tape... Weird game, considering that Shea held a concert that week and the outfield still had the clear outlines for the stage and setup of that concert. So anytime a ball went into the outfield, you could clearly still see the strange outfield configuration on the tv broadcast. Good game too, as Darryl Boston hit the go-ahead homer in the 8th to win it for New York.
Shickhaus Franks
March 19, 2016
That concert (Elton John/Eric Clapton) would be the last at Shea until 2003 when a guy from my home state of New Jersey named Springsteen played there. The reason why Shea officials nixed rock concerts at the time was due to the toll they took on the field!
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The Mets suck! Smith made three errors in this game, and hit into a
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and get somebody like Jones.
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text:
(An interview with Peter Brookes)
The Inquirer: The media have reported that
American deaths in Iraq have exceeded 1,000. How would you assess
this death toll, in light of the degree of difficulty, the
objectives, and the length of the mission in Iraq so far?
Peter Brookes: The loss of a single soldier, airman, sailor or marine is a terrible tragedy. Whether it's one service member or 1,000, our loss as a nation is deep. There is little anyone can say that will assuage the heartbreak of their loved ones here at home. But considering that American forces have been in Iraq for 18 months, engaged in combat with a surprisingly stubborn enemy using guerrilla tactics, the loss of 1,000 American servicemen and women - out of the more than 350,000 Americans total who have served in Iraq - is not completely unexpected. Iraq is a country the size of California with temperatures that blaze to 120 degrees in the summertime. It's home to 22 million Iraqis and several ethnic and religious groups, including the Kurds, the Sunni and the Shia Muslims, who are not necessarily fond of one another. Iraq is also the operating base of an insurgency of up to 20,000 fighters, comprised of Saddam loyalists and other foreign Islamic fighters, including al-Qaeda terrorists. These groups are receiving support from Iran, Syria and others who don't want to see freedom and democracy flourish in Iraq. Frankly, considering the challenges our troops face in Iraq, it's surprising the death toll isn't higher. That fact is a testament to the professionalism of our soldiers and the officers who lead them.
Inquirer: How does this toll compare with those in other conflicts? Is it what one would expect from historical hindsight?
Brookes: Compared with other major conflicts in which American forces were involved, the casualty rate in Iraq is quite low. To put it in perspective, during just the nine days of the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam, more than 1,000 Americans died. In the Second World War, 405,000 American servicemen and women perished. In World War I, 116,000 didn't come home from "over there." In Asian conflicts with communism, 58,000 died in Vietnam, and 36,000 lost their lives in the Korea War. In America's smaller conflicts, such as the Mexican War, 13,000 Americans perished. In the American Revolution, 4,000 patriots died. And the Spanish-American War took about 2,000 lives, as did the War of 1812 with the British. The war in Iraq isn't over, but gradually the transfer of responsibility for security to Iraqi forces will help decrease the casualty burden of American troops.
Inquirer: As in the war on terror, it is difficult to tell whether the war in Iraq is going well. Is the death toll a significant indicator or should we be looking elsewhere?
Brookes: Clearly, the fact that we've prevented a terrorist attack here in the United States over the past three years - despite continuing efforts by al-Qaeda to strike us again - shows we're making significant progress in the war on terror. But because it's hard to get a feel for the situation in Iraq from stateside, it's easy to focus only on the American death toll in Iraq and ignore the progress that has been made. Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat to his own people or his neighbors. We've planted the seeds of democracy in a region long bereft of liberty and freedom. And we've ended Iraq's association once and for all with weapons of mass destruction and international terrorism.
As a nation, we should be deeply grateful for the courage and bravery of the men and women of our all-volunteer armed forces. Without question, the world is a safer place because of the American troops who have sacrificed their lives overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere so that we don't have to fight the war on terror here at home. Their deaths weren't in vain, and we should honor their memory by emerging victorious in Iraq and in the war on terror.
Peter Brookes is a senior fellow for national security affairs at the Heritage Foundation and a Navy veteran.
First appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer


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The Labour leader has moved Liam Byrne from work and pensions and he is now responsible for higher education, with no seat at the top table.
Mr Byrne, who famously left a note for the coalition saying "there is no money left" in 2010, is replaced by Rachel Reeves, who was shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.
That post is now taken by Chris Leslie, who was shadow financial secretary.
Stephen Twigg has been axed as shadow education secretary in favour of TV historian Tristram Hunt.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy has apparently been demoted with a move to international development, while shadow Northern Ireland secretary Vernon Coaker will take over his old patch.
Sky's Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said the Opposition's reshuffle was being dubbed a "cull of the Blairites".
Mr Murphy is the most prominent of the remaining Blairites in Mr Miliband's top team and was campaign manager for David Miliband in the 2010 leadership election.
Mr Byrne and Mr Twigg are also seen as coming from the Blairite wing of the party - and both have had their difficulties in office.
Mr Twigg is widely regarded as having struggled against Michael Gove in the education brief, while Mr Byrne has had difficulty shaking off the infamous "no money" letter.
Mary Creagh, leaves the environment, food and rural affairs brief to become shadow transport secretary, exchanging jobs with Maria Eagle.
Ms Eagle is a strong supporter of the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project and her move raises the prospect that the party's attitude to the scheme could be about to change.
Michael Dugher, a former spokesman for Gordon Brown, has been promoted to shadow Cabinet Office minister.
And Mr Brown's former adviser Spencer Livermore is being drafted in to manage the general election campaign.
Gloria De Piero becomes shadow minister for women and equalities and Emma Reynolds is now shadow housing minister.
They will both attend shadow cabinet meetings - as will Liz Kendall in her role as shadow minister for care and older people.
In a rare advance for the Blairite wing of the party, ex-Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has been brought in to advise on "transition into government".
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, who had been thought to be fighting for his job, will stay put.
Mr Miliband has also kept Ed Balls as shadow chancellor.
The Labour leader overhauled his top team as David Cameron and Nick Clegg also announced changes to the coalition line-up.


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text:
Fashion For Women: Getting In Style Is Easy With YouStyle.co
According to a recently conducted fashion survey, YouStyle has emerged as one of the most popular online communities for the fashion enthusiasts.
July 9, 2014 (Newswire.com) - With a thriving community of members discussing all fashion topics under the sun, it has become a wonderful platform connecting people from around the world. Not surprisingly, therefore, the number of new members continues to grow rapidly.
What connects community members is essentially their passion for all things fashion. Using the platform, they share their opinions and browse for inspiration. From bloggers to fashion lovers, community members come from diverse backgrounds.
Real Women Fashion Trends
Being a fully crowd-sourced and interactive platform, it provides users the freedom to choose looks they like the most. As a result, latest fashion trends get reflected on the site. In other words, members decide what's hot and what's not.
For designers looking for inspiration to create cutting edge women's fashion, it is a great medium to understand what people are looking for. As for fashion bloggers, it gives them an opportunity to drive traffic to their sites and promote it.
Points for Participation
To encourage more members to become active on the platform, the site rewards them with style points. Members can earn these points by posting looks, voting for other looks, receiving votes, posting comments, being favorited and favoriting another member. So the more active members are, the more points they get to earn.
Members are encouraged to post high quality pictures that get more views and are marked favorited more. By connecting fashion conscious people, YouStyle has therefore become a well-known name today.
Categories: Lifestyles
Tags: fashion for women, fashion trends, women fashion


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The Miami NIKE camp provided plenty of exciting moments. But perhaps the most intense action came during the one-on-one drills between the wide receivers and defensive backs. Top prospects such as Tamarcus Porter and Kevin Holloway proved to be top prospects during the drills.
Check out highlights from this exciting drill featuring matchups between the future stars of college football.
Article Continues Below


text:
Equate-TKOC Q1 profit up 84pc
Kuwait, June 9, 2010
Equate Petrochemical Company, a Kuwait-based leading producer of polyethylene and ethylene glycol, said its combined profits with the Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC) for the first quarter surged over 84 per cent to hit $222 million.
Equate is a joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Equate is the single operator of TKOC.
Addressing the company's bi-annual management forum, Hamad Al-Terkait, Equate president and CEO, said the company's performance this year had exceeded production and business plans.
"Despite the adverse global financial situation, Equate's sales volume and net profit were better than original forecast," he noted.
'Equate has achieved over 22 million safe work hours (SWH) without any day away from work case (DAWC), that's a truly unique industrial record,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service


text:
These On Writing And Words Anniversary poems are examples of On Writing And Words poems about Anniversary. These are the best examples of On Writing And Words Anniversary poems written by international PoetrySoup poets
If you don't find the poem you want here, try our incredible, super duper, all-knowing, advanced poem search engine.
This pledge that l,Ntando, make today serves
as my guideline that I shall follow
happily, ungrudgingly and tirelessly
for the sake of our love life.
Indeed l am well aware of the fact that
the beauty of this pledge does not only lie
in word alone but in action as well.
For that reason in every season
I shall show steadfast commitment
to the implementation of this pledge
with a great deal of astuteness.
I therefore commit myself to be your
devoted and delivering husband for
all the years l shall live with you
on this earth.
I shall treat you with the love and care
you deserve as my wife.
Indeed l shall treat you with
the distinction and dignity
that is befitting of the queen of my heart.
That body, that bone, that breath
shall be my mine to treasure,
for sure;
a dearness to promote and protect
for dear life…and love!
I shall stand by and with you in all the
situations of our life.
If the situation demands that we sail,
sail we shall together.
If the situation demands that we
climb we shall together.
I know very well what l am getting into:
I am getting into a marriage that is
overflowing with blessings.
This marriage- with our mutual
will stand the test of time.
I know very well what I am getting into:
I am getting into a relationship that
brims over with a transforming power
of love.
This marriage-with our
mutual commitment –
will transform naivety into maturity
troubles into challenges
pretence into practice
pride into progress
bachelorship into companionship.
I pledge to be your steward and partner
for all times.
I shall value the consultations
and decisions that we make as
husband and wife.
As head of the family I shall do nothing
to derail our love train for anything else
least of all for personal and selfish reasons.
Now and forever
I am your lawful and loving husband…
This pledge that l, Nothando, make today serves
as my guideline that I shall follow
happily, ungrudgingly and tirelessly
for the sake of our love life.
Indeed I am well aware of the fact that
the beauty of this pledge does not only
lie in pronouncements but in practice
as well.
For this reason every season
I shall demonstrate untiring love
and loyalty to you;
a love and a loyalty that is a living
embodiment of our marriage vows.
I therefore commit myself to be your
honouring, supportive and loving wife
for all the years l shall live with you.
I shall treat you with the love and care
that you deserve as my husband.
Indeed I shall treat you with
the dignity and nobility that is befitting
of the king of my heart.
On my mind it is always fresh
that I am the flesh of your flesh.
Green or grown
I am the bone of your bone.
I know very well what I am getting into:
I am getting into a relationship that
elevates me into a kingdom of wifehood.
I shall endevour to put my family first
with all the rights, obligations
and privileges that come with wifehood.
I shall endevour to wipe off and ward off
loneliness and lostness from our relationship,
seeking nothing but your companionship;
banking on your stewardship,
sinking together any hardship.
Since you are mine
I shall not do anything else to undermine
our relationship for personal
or egotistical
Now and forever
I am your lawful and loving wife…
Copyright © Ndaba Sibanda | Year Posted 2012
Good poets like precision, real art is
an economy of words that define.
That is why the subject of love will mess
up even the wisest of poets that line
up to talk much of unrequited love,
that sounds more like lust most of the time.
True love may not be eternal or above
ordinary humans but found to be divine
nevertheless because it endures in the coffee
made each morning, resides in the same bed
every night, lasts through mistakes and daffy
misunderstandings, diapers, children fed,
sickness, health and death, life's distracting lures.
When loved ones work at it, love endures.
Copyright © ahellas Alixopulos | Year Posted 2007
HAD FUN WITH ENTERING THE DICTIONARY FUN CONTEST sponsored by Delliah Ventura!
Abomination scorn Affection Passion Yearning
Struggle Attempt Cherish Relationship Flame
Taste Tender Inner soul Bloom Bamboozle
HERE IS MY ON THE SPOT CREATION!..enjoy :)
I was a woman scorn
Unknowingly cherished a relationship
where the flame was no longer existent;
where time flew by in the distance and I missed
everything in my life I intended
because I was accepting a me that depended
on him
I made an attempt to bamboozle the truth
and convince myself that he wasn't screwing Kim
Ultimately I faked passion and lustfully feigned for affection
since I'd been betrayed
So, I got down on my knees and I prayed
I began yearning for knowledge of my Inner soul
I began to taste freedom and feel whole
The healing began and my consciousness rose - fresh bloom
It was no longer a struggle to end an abomination that would
prove to be a path of doom
Copyright © humble b | Year Posted 2012
For nine months
With love and pain
With joy and suffering
In her womb she carried me
A mother she is
And a woman of virtue.
When there was no one, she was the only one
Even left alone, she never leaves me alone
Indeed, she's a mother
And a woman of virtue.
When toddling, she cared
And still directs when I could run
She is a mother of the child and the adult
In her thoughts are all, even the descendants to come
Many names will I call her; "A mother of all"
And a Woman of Virtue.
Copyright © Francis Twumasi | Year Posted 2012
Copyright © Courtney Courtney | Year Posted 2012
The family was seeking my acceptance.
Dad told me, his family is very nice,
And he is reserved kind of person,
I was also delighted, he was quite smart.
The day came, he booked a carriage,
To pick me as a bride from the Church,
We had a round in the town and went off,
To attend a celebration, where it was arranged.
My dad presented me a brand new car as a gift,
After finishing the party, we had a honeymoon booked,
We were very happy for this arranged marriage,
My dreams came to touch my sleepy beauty.
I have seen a strange and burning body,
Flames were exciting me and my feelings,
Realised a peace song that was delivering,
A cool and I were nearly nearly exhausted.
When he came, he was a little drunk,
When he touched my body I melted as ice,
I thought, he will enjoy me whole night a sip,
I was strange as I was lying in a pool.
Copyright © Daljit Khankhana | Year Posted 2005
a great piece of art
of the unknown is featured,
on his special day
Copyright © Ernesto P. Santiago | Year Posted 2007
It's sad to reminisce the memory of those
who have long left our world without a chance for goodbyes....
I was left behind for an unexplainable reason
to fulfill a task with a true purpose;
and still walking and breathing I go on,
gathering tiny fragments of stories never told by writers.
Sometimes I tell myself," Why was I continuously spared?"
" Why do I have to be the last one to leave?"
Those answers will be given to me when I'll grieve,
and close to death : I will hear them through the voice of the Lord.
And instead of receiving comfort, I will generously give it...
even to the enemy who once despised my honesty;
and coexisting with everyone, I will uphold my ethical code and go forth,
not cogitating the mystery of my unblemished identity.
Many before me have achieved this by resisting change,
not adapting to the new moralities dictated by society,
but the result was too tragic and gruesome for all to accept reality;
and as lepers with open wounds, they still indulged in pleasure,
hiding their disease with canning lies and eloquent flair....
I would cut off my own hands, rather than share the unclean thing!
And still walking and breathing, my arduous mission must be complete:
neither ridicule nor contemptible looks will make me put my rod away!
I'll stick to my convictions and move on to delight in another blessed day,
and as bewildered as they may be, I refuse to be compassionate...
they must understand the purpose of my birth,
identify those works and deeds that give me worth,
then the outcome wouldn't be short of a miracle;
and ebullient as they appear, I suspect they will tremble!
Copyright © Andrew Crisci | Year Posted 2011
H aiku,maybe a monoku
A n acrostic or two
P astoral poems,perhaps
P erceived ,just for
Y ou
N arrative vignette
E kphrasis,you bet
W ith honour & a prize to net
Y our words in verse or
E pulaeryu
A contest to celebrate and
R ing in the new
Happy 2010 to everyone who supported my 2009 contests.Thank you
Copyright © Brian Strand | Year Posted 2009
Banned Books Week Thirtieth Anniversary
By Elton Camp
That some books are contemptible I must agree
But that's not some fanatic's call, but up to me
When books the government undertakes to ban
That type censorship can quickly get out of hand
Judith Krug of the American Library Association
Was, in 1982, responsible for the week's creation
A "challenge" is a request some book be banned
Surprising ones have been subjects of this demand
Golding's Lord of the Flies has seen banning tries
And To Kill a Mockingbird has been called unwise
Orwell's Animal Farm has been said to bring harm
Since self-appointed censors satire does alarm
Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl is called unfit
By those who, in righteous judgment, try to sit
Even though Mark Twain was liberal for his day
Huckleberry Finn some have tried to put away
The American Heritage Dictionary was not fine
Because "objectionable words" it chose to define
Catch 22 and Salinger's classic, Catcher in the Rye
To bring about censorship quite a few will still try
Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 about censorship is one
That the "righteous" have put under the critic's gun
Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was once even burned
Because vulgar words the censor's anger it earned
What gives others the right for them to try to decide
What books are unfit to read and then them hide?
Sex and violence the Bible often candidly tells about
For it to be banned will we someday hear that shout?
When bad about some writing a critic has said
It is likely that by a young person it will be read
Copyright © Elton Camp | Year Posted 2011
Cupid, be my messenger...
take this letter to Emma;
and while your wings ride the wind,
she'll smile down below.
It's Ian Fleming's birthday
The guy who wrote James Bond
Who always teeters on the edge
Then took a step beyond
Let's raise a glass to toast him
Wherever he's interred
And make it a Vodka Martini
Shaken but not stirred
And while we're talking birthdays
I'm sure the C C R
Without the great John Fogerty
Would not have gotten far
So if I'm "looking out my backdoor"
And see a "bad moon rising"
Or think I hear Ms. "Suzie Q"
It should not be surprising
This talented song writer
Has written quite a few
And it was on this day in May
He was "born on the Bayou"
Mdailey 5/28/11
I have always enjoyed the writings of each of these men
Copyright © mike dailey | Year Posted 2011
Tonight the stars are in my eyes
Tomorrow comes as no surprise
In the morning when I rise
Another years has slipped me by...
It marks the day of my first breath
Don't know how many I have left
But each heartbeat in my chest
Has given me a chance at best...
So I thank the lord upon my knees
He speaks to me within a breeze
And before I start my day
It's him I want to hear me say...
I'm grateful for so many dawns
And any seed I may have spawned
Cuz after I am dead and gone
It's thru my children I live on...
Copyright © Terry Ledwell | Year Posted 2010


text: Sarah Palin is enjoying a bit of down-time, relaxing with a friend, poolside at a swanky hotel in Florida on Friday afternoon. Palin was in Miami to attend the Republican Governor's Conference but later, was lucky enough to sit back, sip a few drinks and catch some sun. She might be a mom of five, but she's got legs and knows how to use them!


text:
K N Interstate Gas Transmission Co.
Third Revised Volume No. 1-B
Contents / Previous / Next / Main Tariff Index
Effective Date: 08/01/1996, Docket: RP96-296-000, Status: Effective
Original Sheet No. 73 Original Sheet No. 73 : Superseded
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SERVICES- continued
Transporter has the right to issue an OFO and
require minimum storage inventory levels of 30%
any day except for the months of March, April and
May. If inventory levels are less than 30%, MDWQ
will be reduced to 50% and anything in excess will
be charged OFO penalties.
All quantities tendered on an individual contract
basis to Transporter and/or taken by Shipper on a
daily basis in violation of Transporter's
operational flow orders shall constitute
unauthorized receipts or deliveries for which a
charge of $25 per MMBtu plus the gas index price
pursuant to Section 5,2,d(3) of Rate Schedule FT,
Volume 1-A the days the Operational Flow Order is
in place shall be assessed and the resulting
imbalance will be reduced to zero. Shippers will
be exempt from penalties on imbalances that result
from complying with an OFO. Upon an operational
flow order becoming effective, as specified in the
operational flow order or as provided in this
Section 29 of General Terms and Conditions,
Shipper, OFO party, or operator of the facilities
connecting with Transporter's facilities shall be
permitted the time stated in the OFO, or such
lesser time as is required to protect the
integrity of Transporter's system, to make
adjustments in compliance with the operational
flow orders. If Shipper, or operator of such
interconnect, adjusts its tenders or takes within
such notice period, then no charge, as provided
for herein, shall be assessed.


text:
Golden Skin Clinic
Rejuvenating Spa Package including 50-Minute Massage, Microdermabrasion, LED Treatment and More
- Highlights
- Fine Print
- Company
The Offer
Recharge your batteries at the Golden Skin Clinic
Ultimate rejuvenating spa package for $75 (normally $228)
Package lasts for about 100 minutes
Located along Mermaid Beach
Spa Package includes:
50-minute massage - lymphatic or relaxation
Hydration mask
Full-face oxygen therapy
LED treatment
What We Like
Want to know the golden rule to achieving a refreshed complexion and glowing skin? The answer lies in today's totally transforming offer from the Golden Skin Clinic.
Your non-invasive and utterly relaxing treatment extravaganza includes a relaxation massage to soothe the mind and body, or lymphatic drainage to slim the body down from accumulated fluid. Then therapists will turn their focus north with a range of advanced facial treatments including microdermabrasion for superior facial exfoliation and cell renewal, plus ultra-hydrating oxygen therapy, rejuvenating LED therapy and a nourishing hydration mask. Stress who?
The Fine Print
Enjoy by 22 November 2015
Max 1 voucher per person
Purchase up to 10 vouchers as gifts
Booking required and subject to availability
Cancellation/re-scheduling policy of 24 hours applies; no-show voids voucher
Valid Monday to Saturday
The Company
Office 1, Upper Level, Southwick Place, 2434 Gold Coast High Way Mermaid Beach QLD 4218


text:
International Tax Treaties in Hong Kong SAR
Double Taxation Treaties
- Countries With Whom a Double Taxation Treaty Have Been Signed
IRD, See the list of Tax conventions on non-double taxation
- Withholding Taxes
- Dividends: 0, Interest: 0, Royalties:4,5% / 15% (for nonresident individuals ) 4,95% / 16,5% (for nonresident companies).
Sources of Fiscal Information
- Tax Authorities
Tax Authority
Financial Services and the Treasury
- Other Domestic Resources
Tax information
Invest HK
- Country Guides
Deloitte's 2010 International Tax and Business Guide on Hong Kong
International Tax Review
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text: On Tuesday 09 September 2003 23:34, Tony Godshall wrote: > > > (another option is to have your script touch /fastboot when on battery, > > as that will completely bypass the running of fsck - just make sure it > > runs before checkroot.sh!... you'd need a static copy of on_ac_power > > (well, awk/grep..), and /etc/rcS.d/S09powercheck.sh or so) > > Thanks for bringing this up. I wasn't aware of /fastboot. > Looks like a good solution. Well, except that / has to be > mounted first. > ummm, / is gonna be mounted, otherwise how is the OS reading /etc or attempting to run fsck?


text:
The Macedonian U21 national team defeated its Dutch counterparts 0:1 in Innsbruck, Austria thanks to a late goal by attacker Aleksandar Trajkovski in the 82nd minute.
The friendly took place in the Austrian city of Innsbruck and Macedonia U21, despite missing several regulars who were with the senior national team, defeated Netherlands U21 0:1 with the lone goal scored by Aleksandar Trajkovski. The match was not televised and there were no links showing the game, so the fans did not get a chance to see the impressive win, which ensured that the Macedonian U21 national team has now gone 14 consecutive matches without a loss.
Based on the players who played, as listed by FFM, manager Boban Babunski likely fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation with Filip Gachevski in goal, Vladica Brdarovski, Goran Bogdanovikj, Kire Ristevski and Goran Siljanovski in defense from right to left, Zeni Husmani and Filip Najdoski as the two defensive midfielders, and Filip Timov, David Babunski and Aleksandar Trajkovski behind the lone striker Marjan Altiparmakovski. In addition, Simeon Hristov, Bojan Gjorgievski and Darko Micevski were the three substitutes made by Babunski, one of them coming on for the injured Filip Najdoski.
After the game, Boban Babunski gave the following statement to FFM's official website, "We played a great match which was needed for our national team and these young players. What makes me particularly happy is that all players who were given a chance showed character, and played our game with excellent tactical fortitude. We played motivated and without respect against an extremely strong and quality opponent, although our team was missing many regular players. I expect, in the same style, to also play against Albania as well which will only serve as positive momentum before the important qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Denmark."
The Macedonian U21 team, as Babunski stated, will now focus on the upcoming friendly against Albania on 25 May, also to be played in Innsbruck. After that, two qualifiers follow suit against Faroe Islands on 1 June and Denmark on 5 June, both on the road.
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text:
Hello SQL Server team, When I tried to create a SQL LOGIN of windows account and it always failed with any local users and local groups. Meanwhile I cound create SQL LOGIN of windows domain users. I fonud the machine name contained both of capital letter and small letter. (eg. 'TestMachine') and SQL Server collation was binary (JAPANESE_BIN). Afterwards I changed the machine name contained only capital letter and number (eg. 'TESTMACHINE7'), then I could create a SQL LOGIN of windows.
Please wait...


text:
Turbosound Dublin TCX102 10'' 2-Way PA Speaker, Black
Turbosound Dublin TCX102 10'' 2-Way PA Speaker, BlackDetails
The Turbosound Dublin TCX102 Loudspeaker is a 10'' passive two-way loudspeaker that's perfectly designed for a wide range of both portable or installed, speech and music applications. The TCX102 features a trapezoidal enclosure with a 10'' reflex-loaded low frequency driver and low mass voice coil for improved transient responses, and a 1'' dome compression driver mounted on a rotatable converging elliptical waveguide which provides a 90 degree horizontal by 60 degree vertical dispersion pattern. Even in the most demanding situations, the TCX102 is sure to deliver crystal clear, distortion-free sound reproduction.
Product Ref: 61276View Full Description
Buy on finance from £8.30 per month Finance from £8.30 per month
Please note: This is only available where all items in the order are dispatched in a single delivery.
To make it as easy as possible for you to get the gear you want, we offer a range of instant finance options. If you spend £250 or more online, you can choose to pay over 48, 36 or 24 months. The majority of decisions are given instantly, so you could get your new gear sooner than you thought!
Representative Example
To help you understand how our finance options work, the examples below are based on a total order value of £250:
|Deposit to Pay
|Total Payable
|Classic Credit 48 Months 14.9%
|No Deposit
|48 months: £6.83
Final payment: £6.83
No settlement fee
|Classic Credit 36 Months 15.9%
|No Deposit
|36 months: £8.65
Final payment: £8.65
No settlement fee
|Classic Credit 24 Months 18.9%
|No Deposit
|24 months: £12.41
Final payment: £12.41
No settlement fee
How to Apply
Applying for finance couldn't be easier - if your order totals £250 or more, simply proceed through the checkout as normal, then select Pay by Finance on the payment page, then click the orange APPLY FOR INSTANT FINANCE button. This will start your application with V12 Retail Finance, our finance partner, and completing this form should take approximately 10 minutes.
You should get an instant answer on whether your application has been successful, though in some rare cases V12 may need to look at the application in more detail.
Please note: This is only available on orders placed via the website consisting of a single delivery, and is not available in store or via phone currently.
Full DescriptionView Full Description
Rotatable Waveguide
The TCX102's compression driver is combined with a converging elliptical waveguide that can be rotated through 90°. This provides you with the ability to swap the horizontal and vertical dispersion patterns, delivering a smooth wavefront and exceptional pattern control. This feature is especially useful for retaining wide horizontal dispersion when the enclosure is mounted horizontally due to ceiling height restrictions.
Construction and Connectivity
Constructed from 15mm Birch plywood, this cabinet is finish in a hard wearing matt black textured paint and includes internal M10, M8 and M6 threaded rigging points for use with Turbosound and industry standard wall or ceiling brackets. The driver units are protected by a perforated steel mesh grille that's backed with reticulated foam.
The rear panel houses two Neutrik speakON NL4 connectors for both input and link connectivity, which are wired in parallel to a 4-way barrier strip connector.
Discreet Installation
When permanently installed, the Turbosound TCX102 presents a discreet appearance with no visible side handles for visually unobtrusive loudspeaker arrays. When used in portable applications, the pole mount blanking plug can be removed and allows this loudspeaker to be used with speaker stands or poles. A single carrying handle is included for ease of both installation and transportation.
- 2-way loudspeaker for portable PA and installation applications
- 250 watts power output RMS or 1000 watts peak power output
- High excursion 10'' low frequency driver with a low mass voice coil for improved transient response
- 1'' high temperature dome compression driver with extended high frequency reproduction
- Rotatable converging elliptical waveguide provides 90° H x 60° V dispersion
- M10, M8 and M6 rigging points compatible with Turbosound and OmniMount brackets
- Trapezoidal cabinet shape enables visually unobtrusive loudspeaker arrays
- Concealed pole mount socket enables mobile applications
- Integral handle for lifting and carrying
- 15mm birch plywood enclosure with hard wearing semi matt black paint finish
- Powder coated perforated steel mesh grille with foam backing
- Neutrik speakOn NL4 and barrier strip connectors
- Designed and engineered in England
- Low Frequency Driver Size: 10''
- High Frequency Driver Size: 1''
- Frequency Response: 100Hz - 20kHz (±3dB), 68Hz - 20kHz (-10dB)
- Maximum SPL: 125dB
- Dispersion: 90° H x 60° V, Rotatable
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Power Output: 250 Watts RMS, 1000 Watts Peak
- Sensitivity: 95dB (1W @ 1m)
- Dimensions: 488m x 366mm x 332mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 15.1kg / 33.2lb
The product price includes 4 years' warranty and 60 day money back guarantee.
However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.
The highlights of this enhanced warranty service are:
- Warranty is extended to 4 years from the date of delivery.
- Our Money Back guarantee is extended from 30 days to 60 days (terms apply after 30 days)
- Collection and delivery costs are included for the first 2 years
- Claim 50% cash back on the cost of the policy after 4 years if it has not been used!
- Warranty is transferable if the item is re-sold
- Loan or replacement equipment will be provided if the product isn't repaired within 30 days
- If an item can not be repaired, a similar alternative product or cash discount (as defined in this policy) will be offered
- The policy can be cancelled within 30 days, and at any time after that for a pro-rata discount
Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided.
For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs.
This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
Once the product is delivered, you have 60 days to decide that you definitely want to keep it. If you decide it is not suitable for any reason, you can return it back to us for replacement or full refund, including standard delivery charges.
All Products are new unless stated, and include a minimum of 2 years warranty.
Some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging, and in the case of software, unregistered. These items include:
- Software
- CDs & DVDs
- In-ear Monitors
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Mouthpieces, Reeds etc… for Woodwind and Brass instruments
- Mouth / Lip Care Products
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package, such as computer system built to a customer's personal specifications. Exceptions may only be possible with prior agreement of the vendor, and may be subject to a cancellation fee.
If you also purchase items that do not qualify for free delivery, some delivery charges may be applied to your order which will be shown in your shopping basket.


text:
Had to go to the dentist today to have a tooth removed, and while waiting in reception started reading some of the old mags left for perusal.
Wow... Jenn Sterger Playboy edition. Not sure it's appropriate for a dentist reception, but it floats my boat. And not for the first time.