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Travel and Beaches
Family-friendly ski resorts beckon in North Carolina
"Howdy, how are ya?" It was another day of howdy-doing on the porch for Fred Phofl, owner of Fred's General Mercantile, local historian and mayor four times over here in the tiny village of Beech Mountain, N.C. Nobody's a stranger at Fred's, open seven days a week 365 days a year and ready to sell you anything from shovels to skis, firewood to a fishing license. "When you live in a small town like this, people count on you," says Fred, who appeared downright Santa-like on a December morning with white beard, wire-rim spectacles and red flannel shirt. For 33 years, Fred has been welcoming folks from near and far who stop by his popular country store. Downstairs, a deli serves breakfast and lunch and hot coffee in a hurry. A stop at Fred's is like a visit to Baskin-Robbins — you've got to do it when you're in town.Just up the road lies Beech Mountain Resort, at that point still awaiting its first major blast of winter snow — if you don't count the freak snowstorm dumped by Hurricane Sandy on Halloween. By mid-December, wildly swinging temperatures and a lack of precipitation had put Beech, like the other local ski resorts, on standby, watching the thermometer with an eagle eye in order to flip the switch on multimillion-dollar snowmaking equipment the second it hits freezing. In typical cheerful Appalachian style, the locals here in the High Country of North Carolina, which hugs the border of Tennessee along the Blue Ridge Mountains, seemed confident that snowy days were ahead. All resorts rely heavily on the ability of snowmaking to create a more consistent base and a longer season. But temperatures must be right around freezing (humidity plays a factor in the exact degree) in order to crank up the blowers. "An arctic blast is coming Tuesday," you hear with utter certainty, or "we should be getting 6 to 10 inches by next week." If there were a dance for the Snow Gods, they would be making a ruckus in the streets of Banner Elk. Gil Adams, director of Skier Services at Beech Mountain, has been skiing these hills for 45 years. He's worked on the ski patrol since 1970 and can tell you there's some darn good skiing to be found in these parts. You just have to be patient. "We had no grooming machines back 45 years ago; we used bulldozers," he says. "Now we have state-of-the-art snow guns that cover 100 percent of the slopes, and state-of-the-art grooming. We're the only resort in the state with a high-speed quad." With 95 acres of skiable terrain, it may not be Vail, but Beech is plenty good enough for families, groups and newbies who don't need the Western megaresort ski experience. There are 16 trails with two quads and six double chair lifts, one main lodge with one main cafeteria and a walkable Alpine Village, complete with a bakery and coffee shop, nursery and a few retail shops. The Youth Learning Center offers an all-day program with ski and boarding lessons for kids ages 4 to 12. Not far away at Sugar Mountain Resort, college-age snowboarders were making the most of the one run with snow on it. Resort owner Gunther Jochl, who has been in charge for 36 years, wasn't worried. His high-tech snowmaking technology would kick into high gear the minute temperatures dropped to freezing. His guns are high speed and portable, blasting out more snow in less time than ever before. "We'll have 100 percent coverage overnight," he promises. Sugar Mountain is the largest ski resort in the High Country, with 115 skiable acres, 20 runs, one triple and four double chairs. The Sugar Bear Ski School in the Children's Learning Center offers instruction for kids ages 5 through 10. Children ages 7 through 14 learn to snowboard in the Polar Bear Snowboard School. A tubing park, snowshoeing and ice skating rink offer activities for non-skiers. Appalachian Ski Mnt., the smallest of the area resorts, is a hidden gem for families looking for safe, easy slopes in a secluded setting. The quaint Bavarian-style resort prides itself on its no alcohol policy and one-on-one instruction. It's home to the French-Swiss Ski College and a Burton Learn to Ride Center, both recognized nationally for top-flight beginner ski and snowboard instruction. The Burton Progression Park is an entry level terrain park made just for beginning boarders, and one of only 15 around the world. At the helm of the French-Swiss Ski College since it opened in 1969, Jim Cottrell is something of a High Country ski celebrity. Displayed along a wall near his office in the lodge is a collection of newspaper and magazine articles and photos from decades of events, competitions and award presentations. It's hard to believe Cottrell has been teaching skiing for more than 40 years, as his enthusiasm for the sport is contagious. Learning how to ski can be accomplished at any age, he insists, but there is a secret. "Studies have shown that it takes three times to learn how to ski, to be comfortable and feel in control," Cottrell says. "A lot of people who try skiing once never return. They try it on their own, or with the help of a friend, they aren't successful and they never try again, which is why it's really important to learn how to ski with a qualified instructor who can help you progress." Off-slope activities involve fun and exploration. Try tubing or zip-lining at nearby Hawksnest Resort. Hawksnest has 20 tubing lanes ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet. The adventurous can give winter zip-lining a try. Snap into your harness and glide through a high-elevation canopy of trees on four miles of zip line. Tours of varying lengths are available for ages 5 and up. Take an afternoon to enjoy a scenic drive along winding rural Highway 194 to the area known as Valle Crucis between Boone and Banner Elk. The region of rolling farmland, woods and streams was a significant missionary area for the Episcopal Church in the late 1800s. Your destination on this road trip should be Mast General Store, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as one of the best remaining examples of an old country general store. Look for the old Esso gas sign out front. There are eight Mast stores scattered across the Southeast today, but this is the original, built in 1883. The sprawling two-story store is packed to the rafters with every product and knick-knack imaginable, from backpacks and hiking boots to wind-up toys, books and calendars, musical instruments, jams, jellies and honey, and hundreds of old-fashioned penny candies. Mast General Store had a reputation for carrying everything "from the cradle to the casket" and it appears to continue the tradition. Look for the old U.S. Post Office in back, which is still in use today, and don't be surprised if you come across a few old-timers picking banjos or playing checkers. This might be the closest you'll ever come to Mayberry RFD. After visiting Mast General Store, head across the road to The 1861 Farmhouse, a restaurant and winery in a beautifully restored homestead where Southern hospitality is alive and well. Owners Steve and Alison Garrett are likely to greet you at the door of this charming country home (open Thursday through Sunday during winter), which serves Southern cuisine in several dining rooms. The Sunday Brunch features Southern favorites such as shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and French toast. Originally a two-room brick home built in 1861 by Henry Taylor, who had a store in the Mast building, the abandoned farmhouse was painstakingly renovated over two years by the Garretts and reopened in 2011. A small barn behind the home was converted into a tiny winery, where Steve and several associates create their own wine blends using primarily North Carolina grapes. These are the only wines served at The 1861 Farmhouse, a source of pride for the Garretts, who already have scored awards at various state wine competitions. If weather permits, finish your meal with a coffee or wine outdoors, where you can set a spell on the rocking chairs on the wrap-around porch. About 30 minutes from Boone, between Sugar and Beech mountains lies the town of Banner Elk, a central location for families who come here to enjoy year-round activities. Along the way, you'll find traditional Appalachian arts and crafts shops, many selling unique hand-hewn wood furniture. Back at the ski resorts, the Snow Gods must have been pleased. A major snowstorm dumped 12 inches of snow, and the season appears to be back on track. It's all part of the High County mountain magic.
Marcia Biggs is a Clearwater-based travel writer and avid skier.
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RIHS PhD retreat 23 and 24 November 2017
The RIHS PhD Retreat is organized specifically for PhD candidates and provides an ideal opportunity to present your study results or research plans to your fellow PhD candidates.read more
RIHS PhD retreat 23 and 24 November 2017
The RIHS PhD Retreat is organized specifically for PhD candidates and provides an ideal opportunity to present your study results or research plans to your fellow PhD candidates. We will also focus on career and personal development. Besides the scientific content there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with your colleagues. Past PhD Retreats have been a great success and were well appraised. This year we are planning to make it even better!
Practical information
23 and 24 November 2017
Program details read more
ProgramProgram RIHS PhD Retreat Golden Tulip Hotel Central Den Bosch
Thursday 23 November 2017
15.15-15.45 Registration
15.45-16.15 Opening PhD Retreat 2017
16.15-17.45 Oral presentations session I
18.00-19.30 Dinner
19.30-20.30 College Tour with Ronald Plasterk
20.30-22.00 Pubquiz
22:00-??? Social night out in Den Bosch
Friday 24 November 2017
7.00-9.00 Breakfast and check-out
9.00-9.45 Oral presentations Session II
9.45-10.00 Coffee/tea
10.00-12.00 Masterclass:
Fiona Godlee – How to get published
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-15.00 Workshop:
Janou Hemsing & Christine Taylor – Storytelling, selling your research
15.15-16.15 2 Parallel 4-Slide Short Talk Sessions
16.15-16.30 Awards & closure
16.30 Closing drinks
Golden Tulip - Hotel Central in 's-Hertogenbosch go to hotel website
The registration fee for the RIHS PhD retreat 2017 is €100. read more
Registration and fee
The deadline for registration was 13 October 2017.
The registration fee for the RIHS PhD retreat 2017 is €100. This includes an overnight stay at Golden Tulip Hotel Central, Den Bosch. Dinner (including 2 drinks), pubquiz, breakfast, lunch and closing drinks.
Costs will be charged to your department after registration. Cancellation of registration without costs for your department has to be done before 13 October 2017. After this date, full costs will be charged to your department.
Confirmation of your registration
After registration via the RIHS website you will receive a confirmation of your registration via e-mail within a week.
If not, please contact the secretariat: firstname.lastname@example.com
We kindly invite you to register and we look forward welcoming you in Den Bosch on 23 and 24 November!
Kind regards,
The RIHS PhD council
This year's highlights are:
Ronald Plasterk is the current Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations and former Minister of Education, Culture and Science for the Labour Party (PvdA). read more
College tour with Ronald PlasterkRonald Plasterk is the current Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations and former Minister of Education, Culture and Science for the Labour Party (PvdA). Before entering politics he was a member of the Health Council, which advises the Ministry of Health, and a very talented scientist specialized in molecular genetics. He was director of the Hubrecht Institute (an institute of the KNAW) and held full professorships at the Free University of Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University.
Fiona Godlee has been Editor in Chief of The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) since 2005. read more
Masterclass: How to get published by Fiona GodleeWe all know the famous expression: "if it hasn't been published, it hasn't been done". If only getting published was easy… Hopefully, after this workshop it will be somewhat easier! Fiona Godlee has been Editor in Chief of The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) since 2005. Recently, she was appointed honorary professor at CaRe research school.
Storytelling (by Radboud in'to Languages). It will be fun, and you will learn a new way of communicating! read more
Workshop Selling your researchNow more than ever, your career as a scientist depends not only on the quality of your research, but also on how well you sell it to funding agencies. This workshop will teach you how to become a successful science seller. It will be fun, and you will learn a new way of communicating!
Janou Hemsing, Radboud in'to Languages
Afterwards we will continue the night in the ever-cozy city centre of Den Bosch! read more
PubquizIn line with the tradition, we will close the Thursday evening with a Pubquiz. We will challenge you and your fellow PhD candidates with varied and challenging questions. In teams you will battle for the everlasting honor of winning the Retreat Pubquiz! Excitement and a lot of fun guaranteed! For everyone who is in for even more fun, we will continue the night in the ever-cozy city centre of Den Bosch!
All PhD candidates are invited to submit an abstract of max. 250 words including your research plans or study results. If you want to present your study results, your abstract should be in the following format: background, methods, results, conclusion. Of course you are also welcome to join the RIHS PhD retreat if you don't have any results yet. If you plan on submitting an abstract on your research plan, it should be in the following format: background, methods, expected results. All abstracts should be written in English. Although encouraged, it is not obligatory to submit an abstract to attend the Retreat.
Based on the abstracts, PhD candidates are selected to give either an oral presentation or a 4-slide short talk (to be determined by the organization). The best oral presentation and best 4-slide short talk will be awarded (€100,- each).
Deadline to submit an abstract is 13 October. Abstracts can be uploaded at registration or sent to email@example.com
Instructions 4-slide short talk
- The objective of the 4-slide short talk is to communicate the key aspects of your research to an audience with a diverse scientific background. It is a digital alternative for the more conventional poster presentation.
- The 4-slide short talk includes 3 minutes for presenting and about 4 minutes for discussion and questions. The session chair will keep track of time. 3 Minutes is short, so make sure you get the main message across and leave out unnecessary details.
- Presentations should be in PowerPoint and should consist of 4 slides (excluding title and acknowledgement slides) You are free to structure and present your slides the way you wish. Be creative!
- Please send your 4-slide short talk presentation to
firstname.lastname@example.com before 21 November.

subset: commoncrawl


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TCU has made a name for themselves on the defensive side of the ball. With even more talent coming into the program with the 2009 commitments, the Frogs are sitting pretty for a long run of success...
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Subscribe today to read the full article and get everything Rivals has to offer.
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Kai Ryssdal: The big news out of President Obama's visit to Russia today was about nuclear weapons. He and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to cut nuclear arsenals by a third. And there was a big formal signing ceremony at the Kremlin.
But there's more to this summit than meets the eye. The list of people traveling with the president could have been drawn straight from the pages of the Fortune 500. Executives from Boeing, and John Deere and Pepsi are just some of those along for the ride as Marketplace's Jeremy Hobson reports.
JEREMY HOBSON: It's been almost 18 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. And still, Russia only accounts for about 1 percent of U.S. trade. Angela Stent is director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and Eastern European Studies at Georgetown University.
ANGELA STENT: People always thought after the collapse of communism there would be a major breakthrough, that there would be huge opportunities for U.S. business there, and it hasn't quite worked out like that.
Stent says even today, U.S. investors are wary.
STENT: Because there really is no rule of law in Russia, U.S. companies have questions about how safe their investments are and whether the agreements they make with Russian companies will be honored.
Just look at IKEA. The Swedish retailer said last month that it is canceling all further investment in Russia, citing corruption and demand for bribes. But today, there's news that Boeing will announce a partnership with a Russian titanium maker and Pepsi is boosting investment by a third.
Jeff Barnett is with the U.S.-Russia Business Council. He says trade ties could flourish if political ties actually warm up.
JEFF BARNETT: A lot of companies realize this is a risky market, but it's also a market in which they can realize higher returns.
Barnett sees the U.S. commercial relationship with China as the model. The economic ties are so strong, they've been able to overshadow political squabbles time and again.
I'm Jeremy Hobson for Marketplace


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A performance by Makiko Hirata, solo pianist with the Romanian State Philharmonic Orchestra, will be one feature of the upcoming March 12 concert of Fallbrook Music Society's 2005-06 series. Hirata will present Beethoven's Concerto No. 2, op. 19.
Also on the orchestra's program will be Shostakovich's Symphony for Strings, op. 110, and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major. A quartet of soloists on oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn are featured in the Mozart Sinfonia.
Led by conductor Dorin Frandes, the afternoon performance will open with Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings.
Not only the solo pianist with the Romanian Philharmonic, Hirata is also in her third season as the featured soloist on tour with Pecs Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, and in her second with the Polish Philharmonic Resovia. She made her official New York City debut at Carnegie Hall in 1998 to a standing ovation.
Hirata taught for two years at New York University as an adjunct instructor of piano and music theory, and has given master classes, lecture recitals and young people's concerts throughout the United States and Japan. She has toured, as well, throughout North and South America and Europe.
The Romanian State Orchestra, from Arad, Romania, is currently on its first-ever United States tour. The symphonic orchestra began regular performances in Arad in 1883. Frandes has been the permanent conductor of the orchestra since 1987, and since 1992 has been its General Managing Director. Classical music lovers in Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, England and Taiwan are also familiar with his work. The International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England, nominated him as an International Man of the Year for 1997-98. He has held a doctoral degree since 2002.
"We are privileged to bring such a distinguished orchestra to Fallbrook," said Brenda Montiel, president of Fallbrook Music Society.
The performance will begin at 3 p.m. at the Bob Burton Center for Performing Arts on the Fallbrook High School campus, 2400 S. Stage Coach Lane. A Conductor's Preview will be held at 2:30. Tickets cost $35 for adults, and a $10 ticket is available for students through high school age. To reserve tickets, call (760) 451-8644; for additional information, call (760) 728-4056.
Contact staff writer Betty Johnston at (760) 731-6720 or (760)451-5009, or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com .


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Interoperability seems to be a theme for the day. Playing downloaded tracks on myriad portable players. Converting files to Wav, or CD. In the words of Mr Cohen:
"Interoperability is critical," said EMI Music Senior Vice President Ted Cohen. "We need to get to that point, and people need to work together to do it." Cnet
Regardless of Ted's intentions (which are likely more open ended), in general, the entertainment industry truly means 'limited' interoperability: Interoperability according to certain limitations that match IP boundaries, business objectives, or corporate biases.
Case in point: DVD regions. From a technology point of view, I can see no reason why DVDs should be regionally encoded. From a business point of view, we can see the justifications – unique price points across the globe. Interestingly, these regions probably don't match IP boundaries for every film release.
As the downloadable music stores go global, are we about to see a form of regional encoding? Whereby users in France cannot purchase tracks from US versions of the stores, even if the US is offering better prices. Or will the next stage be affixing licenses based upon the region of the Operating System? (Please, no).
While living in OZ, I was prevented from accessing the iTunes music store unless I produced a MAC account associated with a US address (Yes, I found an address to use.) CDs in OZ are quite expensive… so expensive that people like to order music from Amazon and hope for customs leeway (my observations).
With digital stores however, will Aussies, Norweigans and Japanese be treated to different prices from the rest of us? Will they be able to shop globally, as a response? (without producing international addresses). AND, if these customers do produce addresses outside of their home countries, who gets the money?


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Please see http://dottech.org/shareware-reviews/20672 for an updated review on PDFZilla.
By Ashraf - January 13, 2009 - 4 comments Email article | Print article
Please see http://dottech.org/shareware-reviews/20672 for an updated review on PDFZilla.
Happily married to the most beautiful woman ever, Ashraf is the founder of dotTech. Ashraf spends insane hours on dotTech (usually writing articles but sometimes doing absolutely nothing except staring). Yes he is weird, but he is also very friendly.
Actually, PDFZilla does convert images when converting a document to HMTL(at least version 1.2 does). It puts the images in the same folder as the HTML files. The problem is with the links: instead just using the name of each image to link it (example: file.jpg), the program uses the whole file path of the image (example: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop\folder name\file.jpg).
I like the icons :) &
Trying out my HTML!!
Hi ASHRAF!!
Just for a change I utterly agree with your review…LOL!
What can I say? PDFZilla is a great tool that does its job pretty well and very quickly indeed.
The only problem is that with PDFZilla you can't convert any PDF FILE to any other format if the PDF is encrypted or protected with a password unless you know the password to decrypt it.
Now, since most of PDF files downloadable on the web are protected and encrypted with passwords this means that we won't be able to convert any PDF file with this GAOTD unless we can somehow get the password from its owner or better still by using special COMMERCIAL PDF PASSWORD RECOVERY SOFTWARE, capable of unlocking the PDF ENCRYPTED FILE before converting it in other formats, which are quite expensive indeed except one I'm aware of…LOL!!
Do you know what I refer to?
If you know how to unlock PDF FILES for free pls just drop me a line…ok??
FREEWARE ALTERNATIVES to this GAOTD?
Well since most of PC USERS are interested in converting PDF FILES into a DOC WORD FILE format only, another nice application is "FREE PDF TO WORD DOC CONVERTER VERSION 1.1? :
To easily extract images from PDF FILES to TIFF, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TGA, PBM, PPM, PCX a program called "Some PDF Image Extract 1.5" is in my humble view definetely the best FREEWARE APPLICATION available on the web as it can not only make batch conversion with an user friendly drag and drop files feature but also support ENCRYPTED PDF FILES unlike PDFZilla.
If you want to merge multiple PDF files together to create a single polished PDF file and then edit its content this FREE stunning TOOLS can do this job pretty well for FREE (yes, you got it right…LOL!!):
But, if you wish, it's also possible to perform more complex operations on our PDF FILES before converting them into different file formats using PDFZilla, such as:
– extract, split, or reorder pages of them into a new PDF
– encrypt or decrypt PDF documents
– rotate pages by 90, 180, and 270 degree
– crop pages to change the view or print area, reformat multiple pages into one page with added note lines or change the page position
– add headers or footers in your international language
– add stamp using image or a formatted text in a different language.
With a cool FREE tool called "PDFill PDF Tools Free":
If you want to extract some text and not the whole content out of your PDF documents and then covert it into a DOC WORD FORMAT then I suggest you using this little GEM called "PDFTextOnline" which doesn't require a software download on your PC as it works directy in your browser:
Finally another great and easy way to convert any IMAGE, DOC, MUSIC and VIDEO FORMAT (so not just PDF FILES) into whatever else file format without installing any program on your PC is to use FREE ONLINE FILE COVERTER SERVICES such as ZAMZAR and MEDIA CONVERT:
Maximum File Size: 100MB
Download Converted Files link sent via email
Output Format: 53
Maximum File Size: 150MB
Immediate Download Converted Files
Output Format: 179
Hope to read your answer tomorrow.
Good night from Italy!!
Users can download PDFZilla here:


text:
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History lesson
Jim Schutze's comment that "compared with Dallas, the racial time warp here puts Amarillo somewhere in the early '70s" is going off the erroneous assumption that single-member districts have created a progressive utopia out of Dallas ("Black out," January 13). I have to laugh. Do a little more leg work before you publish your next cultural analysis.
Via e-mail
Something smells fishy
Excellent reporting on an ongoing problem in Galveston Bay ("Bay botch," January 13). I will certainly be investigating where my seafood comes from, especially now. Think any of the seafood restaurant chains are listening?
Via e-mail
Hyde from Stuertz!
I often read restaurant reviews, and can generally rely upon them, but Mark Stuertz's review of the Jekyll & Hyde Club in Grapevine ("Theme puke," January 13) made it sound like he came just this side of vomiting all over the actors and patrons. A friend and I ate there while on break from Christmas shopping and found the food to be decent if slightly overpriced (but not unexpected given the venue), and the entertainment fun, if you got into it.
Chris, our waitress, was fantastic. We sat next to the stage. Both Chris and the actors were there "just enough": She to keep our wine glasses full, and the actors to get us into it. Yes, it's brash, busy, and overdone. But that's the point. Anyone with a little imagination (Stuertz obviously has one, or else he wouldn't have been able to come up with the descriptions of what he felt was regurgitated, putrefied food) should be able to enjoy Jekyll & Hyde. I did, and I will again.
I'm going to test their mettle in a couple of weeks with a birthday bash for 30-plus adults. I'll be more than happy to tell you how they stand up to a large group with separate checks. Maybe Stuertz is just upset that the actors didn't play with him very much. Maybe he should try walking into a restaurant without "Hi! I'm an asshole of a food critic" written all over his face.
Via e-mail
Damn, buddy
I am soooo over Zac Crain!!! I have felt this way for a while, and yet I haven't really felt the need to write until now. I opened the Dallas Observer this morning and the first thing I read was "Worst Crain of the '90s" (Letters, January 13). Ahhh, I'm not alone!!! What is this man's deal? What made this man so miserable?
And yet, people who have met him "say" he is a nice guy. So, is it all an act? Is he just an ass on paper to get a rise out of people? Yes, I know everyone has a right to his or her own opinion, but come on, guy! He critiques people's dreams. These people are out there busting their butts trying to make something happen for themselves, and here is this weekly newspaper guy dumping on them. I wonder how Mr. Crain would feel if someone who had a lot of influence over people critiqued his work poorly every week. Maybe they did, and that is why he is working for the Observer and is so pissed off.
Via e-mail
Zac Crain's "Take these records, please" (January 6) was one of the most hard-hitting and honest articles I've ever read regarding the state of the music industry.
Via e-mail
Zac, you left one out: Carlos Santana's Supernatural. Sounds like someone grabbed a cat by the tail. Even includes the bland Rob Thomas singing on "Smooth," eyeliner and all. Shameless. The thing that is scariest about this horrific album is that it will probably win about a half-dozen Grammys!
Via e-mail
Damn, buddy. You must like a lot of crappy music, because if that was your list of the worst albums of the 1990s, where the hell are the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey? Hold up. You probably like that crap. How can you put Limp Bizkit on your list and also suggest Korn? And then you put matchbox 20 there as well.
Damn, buddy, you need to quit listening to all that crap y'all get up there in Dallas, like all of those little girl bands. When was the last time Dallas actually had a good concert up there?
Via e-mail
Big "D"-lightful!
Thanks to Robert Wilonsky for bringing back some wonderful memories of the Big "D" Jamboree ("Good rockin' last night," January 6). I would like to mention my favorite and my worst memory. My favorite performance was by Roy Clark, making his guitar sound like a train. My worst memory is of gathering the courage to tell Minnie Pearl she had a price tag hanging from her hat. The time line was probably around 1965. By the way, I was unable to find a copy of the Dallas Observer this past weekend. Thank you for having a Web site.
Via e-mail
A Frank account
I swear that sometimes your paper goes out of its way not to call me out to offer true accounts of what really happened. Time after time, you write about the good old days and various events that led to what Deep Ellum has become today. Most recent case in point: the two articles (or should I say, wastes of ink) on the age-old feud between Russell Hobbs and Jeff Swaney ("Art and Commerce Street," December 16; and Street Beat, December 23). While most of your writers were toilet-training, I was there amidst these two knuckleheads with other neighborhood pioneers, Charlie Gilder and Jeff Liles.
Swaney's legendary area-development meeting was no ground-shaking episode in anyone's life; it was just another day. Jeff stated his vision and asked for support in this concept from other area luminaries. As we left that non-epic event, it was clearly understood amongst all of us that this was just Jeff being Jeff. There's nothing wrong with that, no matter what spin you choose to put on it; it's just his way. Had any of you been there, it would have been obvious that the future of the area was destined to change.
In my opinion, Swaney has always been up-front and straightforward about his idealist mission, whether you agree with it or not. Had he not taken charge with his vision then, some other less scrupulous, greedy piece of shit would have and truly sold out the hood. As far as wasting ink is concerned, Hobbs still mouths off from time to time, and you people still print it. He is as responsible for what the area became in its "fun" aspect as the aforementioned others. Then again, he is much more accountable than the rest of us for the way things are now, because he left the area when he still had a voice of influence.
Hobbs gave up his status and say of how things were to be the day he bailed and burned the scene. As he's stated in the past, God forgives him, but that doesn't mean we have to, does it? You would think by now he'd know where the door is.
Frank Campagna
Deep Blue somewhere?
Every time I watch my wedding video from my first marriage -- which the lead members of Deep Blue Something crashed -- I sigh, grab a tissue, and wonder what happened to these favorite whipping boys of the Dallas Observer. Do they ever play locally anymore? Did their glamour-shot layout in Playgirl have anything to do with their disappearance from the Dallas music scene? Will they ever pair up with the ever-resilient boys (and I use that term loosely) of Duran Duran again? Please give us an update.
Via e-mail
Editor's note: For more about Deep Blue Something, please see this week's Street Beat.
Back in the U.S.S.R.
My name is Rob, and I'm a Peace Corps volunteer in Russia. I realize that this is just one article you wrote a few years ago, but I just read it today on your Web site (www.dallasobserver.com). I just read your article slamming bands like Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo as "kids playing Cowboys and Indians during summer break." That's absurd, and here's why: At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who's playing it or how old they are or who they are influenced by; what matters is whether they are playing what is in their hearts and how the listener is affected. I like Gram Parsons, and so do a lot of people, including, as you mentioned, the guys in Whiskeytown.
I have a feeling you are in your late 30s. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you are looking at music from the wrong angle. You hold some band (in this case, Parsons and presumably the Flying Burrito Brothers) as the stick by which to measure any band that might be compared to them. In your mind, you have already decided that no band can come close to them or, God forbid, be better ("Taken as a whole, Sweetheart of the Rodeo and Gilded Palace of Sin are the beginning and the end of country-rock"). This way of thinking is very negative and rooted in some strange holier-than-thou attitude. Do you see what I mean? I've been there before, but I got out of that dead end.
Somewhere in Russia
You can't handle the truth
In reference to attorney Warren L. Clark's letter in the December 9 issue of the Dallas Observer, I'm so sick and tired of hearing that judges and lawyers alike suppress evidence. If it's crucial to the case -- in this instance, the case of Dustin Camp -- let it be heard. I don't think it's fair not to. But, hey, our justice system isn't fair anyway. Murderers get out in eight to 10 years, drug dealers get life, and people who are at the wrong place and time witnessing a killing are sentenced as severely as the actual perpetrator.
But this guy Dustin getting 10 years probation is absolutely ludicrous. Where is his accountability? He gets off scot-free. Self-defense, my ass. How can a stick compete with a 2,000-pound car? He's a murderer, plain and simple. Our laws sure need changing -- and not 100 years from now.
Via e-mail
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Don't forget to flush
Since I am an associate of J.C. Penney ("Penny pinched," November 25), I found the article very interesting. So thank you again for the eye-opener. There are a lot of cutbacks going on now. We don't learn these things through the company, and it sounds like it is going to take a very big roll of bathroom tissue to clean up things at the top.
Richard Nordstrom
Via e-mail


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Hand Doc & Strippers
Brown paid $60K per month, one says
By Craig Malisow
Attention hot 20-year-old strippers: Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to date a famous Houston doctor? Namely, one who pledges to treat you "like family"? Well, according to one gal we spoke with, it's quite the gig.
Our peek into the dating life of former hand surgeon/man-about-town-now-that-his-GPS-ankle-bracelet-is-off Michael Brown came when someone sent us a pic of the doc and ex-gal pal Ashley Brouillette, posted on tabloid site thedirty.com.
Brouillette, better known as Stacy Shey, strips at clubs around the country and, until recently, starred on an eponymous site where subscribers could watch her pleasure herself with various fingers and objects. (The site appears to be defunct, but if you Google her, you can find a bounty of porntastic goodness.)
Brouillette told us she dated Brown from December 2010 to August 2011, and met him through a fellow dancer at Treasures. She says the good doctor paid her a $15,000 monthly stipend in exchange for not stripping during their time together, also forking out $25,000 for some cosmetic dentistry. She says Brown never went to Treasures himself, but instead dispatched a faithful manservant to procure talent. (Brouillette says Brown took care of three other strippers in the same fashion at the same time, thus paying $60,000 a month for female company.)
She says Brown was never abusive and never acted strange, and that the relationship was more than just physical.
"He would tell me he loved me," she says.
As for his past relationships, Brouillette says, Brown claimed that former wife Darlina tried to shoot him, and he characterized estranged wife Rachel as a "crackhead whore that cheated on him....He made it seem like he was innocent in everything."
Additionally, Brouillette says, "He made it out to where he said they [Rachel and Darlina] were crazy." And really, if you can't trust a guy who loses his medical license and drops five figures a month on strippers, who can you trust? (Brown and his attorneys have a long-standing no-comment policy when it comes to the Houston Press — go figure — so they were not contacted for this story.)
The couple spent time at suites at the Four Seasons and Hotel ZaZa, as well as his Normangee ranch, according to Brouillette. She also says Brown took her to Miami and Atlanta. But then, last August, the tryst ended abruptly and without explanation, she says.
To put this in context, this May-December romance would have blossomed four months after he was charged with assaulting Rachel Brown — a charge for which he was acquitted in September 2011.
Oddly, defense attorney Dick DeGuerin accused Rachel Brown during that trial of outlandish expenses. That said, we can't fault Brown, as $60K/month for the company of barely-out-of-teens-T-and-A seems to be the market rate.
In other news, a woman has sued Brown, claiming he knowingly gave her anal and vaginal herpes.
The 5 Most Annoying Sports-Event Tweeters
By Jeff Balke
With the Texans in the NFL playoffs, the streams of twittering Houstonians were likely filled with posts about the games. Like people who tweet during any live event, there were insightful moments, irritating moments and downright stupid moments. Reading Twitter was like going through a gauntlet, like Arian Foster slicing through the Cincinnati defensive line only a lot less pretty.
Unfortunately, following Twitter during a sporting event is a lot like listening to sports-talk radio. One second, I'm nodding my head in agreement and the next, I'm ripping out my car stereo and heaving it into the bayou. It's expensive but effective. I've identified the five most annoying types of tweeters who post during sporting events and here we go.
5. The Over-Analyzer
I'm not talking about guys who really know their stuff. I mean people who think they really know their stuff. Whenever I see a guy tweet multiple times about the complexities of pass protection against blitzing defenses when the defense hasn't run a blitz in the entire quarter, my finger edges dangerously close to the un-follow button.
4. The Over-Reactor
I'll admit that there have been one or two times in my life I've been guilty of this one and if I had seen myself, I'd have un-followed me instantly, though that might cause a rip in the space-time continuum. Relax, Sparky, and let the game play out. You can scream "FIRE KUBIAK" all night long once the outcome of the game has been decided.
3. The Reporter
Look, I don't need you, Average Joe, to give me stats and highlights on every damn play. I follow, you know, actual sports guys for that kind of information. But thanks for letting me know that the free throw by LeBron James gives him 27 points when you just tweeted he had 26 ten seconds ago.
2. The Bad Sport
Your team lost. It sucks, I know. We've all been there. But, don't take to Twitter and cry about the team that just beat you. Have some grace, man, some dignity! And while we're at it, try being magnanimous when you win. There's nothing worse than a fan prancing around the Internet telling the losing team's fans to suck it...unless the losing team was the Cowboys.
1. The Sports Hater
I think we all get that there are more important things in this world than football — well, most of us, anyway. But, you don't see me bitching when you tweet all night about every step in the preparation of your perfect dinner or Dancing with the Stars or the 76th televised Republican debate. Twitter is the purest form of democracy. Everyone gets a say and if you don't like it, you don't have to look. But when you know that a game is on and you still decide to tell us all that the game we love is stupid and you just don't get it, you don't sound elevated or cool. You just sound bitter. It's why God invented un-follow.
She's 57, Sexing Teen in Van
By John Nova Lomax
Port Arthur police say they caught Emma Jean Hardy, a 57-year-old employee of the town's Memorial High School, having sex with a 17-year-old student in a van on a Sunday night.
According to published reports, a Port Arthur cop investigated a suspicious vehicle parked on the city's très romantique seawall near downtown. On looking inside, he claims to have seen Hardy engaging in sexual activities with the student.
Police say that Hardy was not a teacher at the school, and the school's Web site lists a Jean Hardy as its registrar.
Since the student is of legal age, Hardy is not charged with any form of statutory rape. Instead, she is charged with improper relationship between an educator and a student, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. If convicted, she would not have to register as a sex offender.
The student himself was charged with public lewdness and was released after posting $250 bail.
Now that she's been charged with a crime, Hardy's Facebook page seems a little bit creepy.
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It displays a woman obsessed with the sports teams at her high school, as well as the continuing careers of Port Arthur's college and pro athletes, and while there's nothing wrong with that, a young woman laughingly chided on the content of her folders thusly: "You and these Butt shots Mrs. Hardy!! I ♥ THEM! =)"
"Lol," came the registrar's response.
Elsewhere, Hardy can be seen celebrating with Memorial's players on the field after what looked like big wins. In those pics, the jolly-faced redhead looks like nothing so much as the world's oldest cheerleader ready for a post-game date with the star player.
Hardy also has more than 1,200 friends, many of whom seem to be either current students or recent graduates at her school. In short, she seems like a woman who wanted a do-over for her high school years, and if police are correct, that includes the lover's lane make-out sessions.


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by Will Ashworth | September 14, 2011 4:00 am
A recent article in Investors Business Daily discussed some of the reasons why dollar stores continue to take market share from Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT[1]). Dollar Tree's (NASDAQ:DLTR[2]) tagline: "Everything you need for every day, every holiday, every occasion and every single item is only $1 … or less." It sounds like a utopian world indeed. Dollar Tree trades within 5% of its all-time high of $74.72. At some point in the not-too-distant future, Americans are going to come to their senses and abandon the need for ultra-cheap. When they do, its stock will drop like a stone.
Dollar Tree has 4,150 stores. Rivals Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO[3]) and Dollar General (NYSE:DG[4]) have another 17,000 combined. The three chains occupy the equivalent of 172 million square feet of retail space, and there appears to be no end in sight. In the second quarter, Dollar Tree opened 76 stores and expanded or relocated another 23, increasing its retail square footage by 8.6%, to 36.6 million. This expansion, combined with a 4.7% increase in same-store sales, bodes well for the discount chain.
Or does it? Dollar Tree expects to spend $144 million in 2011 to open 352 stores and expand 75 others. That's $337,000 per store just to get the doors open. Assuming each store's four-wall contribution is 40% of sales, we're talking about a bottom line of $600,000 at the store level. Given its current financial situation, a new store pays for itself in less than a year. That's the good news. What happens when (and not if) the economy grows stronger and the unemployed and underemployed go back to work? The same-store sales increases disappear, the four-wall contribution drops and Dollar Tree is left paying the leases on unproductive stores. Don't think it can happen? Maybe not tomorrow, but holding this much real estate is always a risk.
Where have all the five-and-dimes gone? Inflation has taken a piece of history and gobbled it up. While Dollar Tree sells everything for a buck, it's a dying breed. Family Dollar and Dollar General sell just 25% of their stuff that cheap. In Canada, the leading dollar store is Dollarama. It introduced $2 pricing at its 667 stores in 2009 and now 44% of its products sell for more than a dollar. At some point, consumers are going to come to the realization they are being played. I'm all for providing cheaper goods for the poor, but somehow I don't think that's how Dollar Tree and its rivals are making a go of it.
The Canadian government has produced an excellent report about the U.S. dollar store market. Although the document is a little dated, I'm sure the demographics haven't changed a great deal since 2008. According to the report, 25% of dollar store shoppers have incomes over $75,000. Further, 42% of consumers with incomes between $100,000 and $149,000 shop in dollar stores at least once a month. As prices continue to creep upward, two things will happen. First, the poor will have a harder time paying for their goods and will end up getting their groceries from food banks, and second, the affluent and high-net-worth crowds will figure out they're not getting a deal of any description. At that point, you'll be able to fire a cannon down the store aisles.
I'm no technical analyst, but if you look at Dollar Tree's stock chart since it went public in 1995, you'll notice a few things. First, it went through a straight six-year climb, to about $30 in 2000. Then it went on an eight-year run where it went sideways, until 2008, and now it's in the middle of an ongoing, four-year run. The question is: Where does it go next? Analysts seem split on this question, giving Dollar Tree a "moderate buy" recommendation with a median price target of $73.50. This tells me much of the good news is already factored into its price.
What speaks volumes about the future direction of its stock is its share repurchase program. In the first six months of the year, it bought back 2 million shares for $105 million, with $249.2 million left on its June 2010 repurchase authorization. Some investors feel this is a great tax-free reward for shareholders. I'm not one of them. Share repurchases, in my opinion, indicate management can't find any higher-return growth prospects and so it throws free cash at buybacks. It's a signal that Dollar Tree's best days are behind it.
With an economy teetering on a second recession in three years, it seems silly for me to recommend selling Dollar Tree stock. However, that's exactly what I'm doing.
As of this writing, Will Ashworth did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2011/09/dollar-tree-dltr-stocks-to-sell/
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text: Electronic dance music act to play at WET Deck for holiday pool partyScottsdale, Ariz. – W Scottsdale, Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations and Disco Donnie Presents bring another electronic dance music (EDM) holiday celebration for Labor Day weekend with internationally acclaimed DJ Max Vangeli on Sunday, September 2, to W Scottsdale, 7227 E. Camelback Road in Old Town Scottsdale. The event begins at 12 p.m. Born and raised in Eastern Europe, Max Vangeli moved to San Francisco in his early teens. Vangeli gained his first recognition for his music in 2008 when BBC Radio 1's Pete Tong played his first single, "Crazed", a smash-hit which was immediately signed to Chris Lake's Rising Music label. Vangeli's popularity continued to grow as he partnered with best friend AN21 for their remix of Ellie Goulding's 'Lights'. The track scored a spot on a special edition of the 2010 BRIT Critic's Choice Award winner's debut album "Listen", which reached the No. 1 spot on the UK Billboard Top 100 Albums chart. That same year MTV named Vangeli "One of the most promising artists for 2011" and DJ Mag labeled him as one of the "Top 5 DJ's to watch." Vangeli's work has continued to exceed all expectations. With a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix alongside AN21, bookings at internationally-acclaimed clubs from Ibiza to Miami and mega-festival's like Sensation White and Electric Daisy Carnival, a production roster featuring artists like Steve Angello, Gorillaz, Erick Morillo and Switchfoot and the support of some of the world's biggest DJ's, Vangeli's career continues to rise. Earlier this month his show in Central Park with Steve Angello and AN21 sold out in one day. Vangeli's debut album with AN21 titled 'People of the Night' is set to release early September. The album will include collaborations with Tiesto for the title track, and promises others collaborations from a host of friends with various musical backgrounds. Their first single released from the album, a collaboration with Steve Angello called 'H8RS', has already been given the title of 'Hottest Track in the World' by BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe. Check out Max's August 2o12 mix on SoundCloud: [soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/55116759" params="auto_play=false&show_artwork=true&color=ff7700" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /] For tickets visit www.wscottsdaletickets.com. For VIP table reservations, please call 602.405.0099 or contact email@example.com. For room packages visit www.wscottsdalehotel.com. ABOUT W SCOTTSDALE W Scottsdale marks the debut of W Hotels in Arizona. This sultry Southwest oasis, where innovative design mixes with urban sophistication, features 224 guest rooms including 27 lavish suites. A true insider escape, W Scottsdale boasts Arizona's only Bliss® Spa, Sushi Roku restaurant, and W Hotels The Store and offers three chic destination bars – the W Living Room, Shade Lounge and sunset.beach. Located in downtown Scottsdale, W Scottsdale provides guests access to discover the city's high profile shopping, innovative restaurants, eclectic arts district and vibrant nightlife. Signature services and amenities include the Whatever/Whenever® concierge service, Wheels®, SWEAT Fitness®, WET®, WIRED Business Center and P.A.W. – Pets Are Welcome™. For more information, visit www.wscottsdalehotel.com or call to schedule a reservation 877 W HOTELS. ABOUT DISCO DONNIE PRESENTS Disco Donnie Presents (DDP) is an award-winning and recognized leader in electronic dance music event production, generating over 1,000 club events, arena shows and outdoor festivals annually. DDP, both on its own and through partnership, develops innovative, creative and strategic business opportunities in live entertainment. For more information, please visit www.discodonniepresents.com. ABOUT SLE Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations (SLE) is a full service entertainment, events and public relations agency. SLE specializes in event planning, coordination, and production, talent booking and management, marketing and promotions, new media and design.