text:
Always Carry on: Best of Spongetones 1980-2005
- Artist: The Spongetones
- Genre: Rock
- Release Date: 9/11/2007
ALWAYS CARRY ON: THE BEST OF THE SPONGETONES, 1982-2005 It would be an exaggeration to say the Spongetones have mastered every nuance of melodic rock and pop from A to Z. However, I'd contend they've assimilated all the best from B to X. That's B as in Beatles and X as in XTC. Those are the inspirational benchmarks for this beloved North Carolina foursome. More generally, they internalized the musical stylebooks of both British Invasions â€" the Merseybeat one of the mid-to-late Sixties and the New Wave uprising that kicked off in the late Seventies â€" and then refashioned them into their own likeably upbeat and unfailingly resourceful sound. Part of the fun of hearing the Spongetones is detecting faint echoes of favorite bands â€" not just the Fab Four and the weirdly wonderful XTC, but also such revered touchstones as the Dave Clark Five and Rockpile. An even bigger kick is realizing that this foursome moved beyond their influences to craft a catalog of original pop songs that can hold it's own with any other you might care to name. Incidentally, I mean pop in the best sense of the term, connoting energetic, innovative and melodic music capable of lifting the spirits and moving the feet. In my non-American Idolized universe, pop is not a dirty word but a signifier of excellence in a particularly rich stylistic realm with roots in the Sixties. I have just one complaint about this disc, and it is certainly no fault of the Spongetones. Instead of being a "best of,†this should be a "greatest hits.†Catch the difference? These are some of the choicest songs from an idealized Top Forty in which the cream actually does rise to the top. In a review for Rolling Stone, I wrote that the Spongetones' first album, Beat Music (1982), played through "like the soundtrack to a party so good it could never happen in real life.†That observation applies equally well to every other album they've released, too. And it particularly holds true for this absurdly generous 26-track compilation, which culls the best from Beat Music through Number 9. If you've never heard the Spongetones before, let's just say you've stumbled onto a veritable Tutankhamen's tomb of musical treasure. If you're already up to speed, this will serve as a very tasty sampler for a catalog that, as you know, is worth devouring in it's entirety. The Spongetones' pop odyssey began back in 1978 when Jake Berger, a musical "ideas man†from Charlotte, NC, assembled an impromptu combo to play some Beatles covers because…well, just because it sounded like a fun thing to do. The Fab Four were eight years disbanded, the worst of the Seventies had begun to ebb, and punk and New Wave were reinvigorating the musical landscape with hooky, high-energy songs and brash, youthful attitudes reminiscent of the previous decade's tuneful cannonades. Given such a climate, it was both natural and innovative to revisit the work of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Yardbirds and their like. For bassist Steve Stoeckel, guitarist Pat Walters and drummer Rob Thorne â€" the three other Spongetones at that juncture â€" the Sixties covers concept offered a chance to bring an additional decade of musical mastery to songs they'd played when they were teenagers. "We thought, â€-Now that we really know how to play the stuff we were banging away at when we were 16, let's have some fun and play this music to the best of our ability,'†Steve recalls. "The time was ripe for it,†adds Pat. "Everybody was responding to the music of their youth, and we were trying to do it right. We really did run the gamut: â€-For Your Love,' â€-House of the Rising Sun,' â€-You Really Got Me…†And, of course, scads of Beatles songs. "It had a rawness, too,†says Rob, "the way the originals had that rawness way back then.†Those sporadic first Spongetones gigs were great fun and began attracting crowds. One night, guitarist Jamie Hoover was in the house at the Double Door â€" the group's home base of longstanding - thinking to himself how badly he wanted to be onstage with them. As fate would have it, another early member was about to leave and Jamie was asked to join on the spot after the show when he made his interest known. The final piece of this four-way puzzle had fallen into place, and the Spongetones went from being an intermittent lark to a seriously committed endeavor. What really sent the group into a higher orbit was their decision not just to replicate, with chops and feeling, the music of their youth but also to bottle that lightning for themselves by writing original songs that took the styles of their mentors and influences as starting points. "Jamie was one of those guys who had a four-track recorder at home when he was in high school,†notes Pat. "He was already working in a studio and starting to produce records. So when he joined and the crowds began getting even bigger, we said, â€-Man, we need to write some songs and see if we can capture the energy and excitement on some records of our own!†"I'd been playing in cover bands, and it never would have occurred to me to take a step past that, but immediately Jamie and Pat said, â€-We need to write songs. We can do this!'†Steve recalls. "So we took it to the next step of writing and recording our own stuff. The Spongetones debuted in 1980 with a single â€" "Better Take It Easy†b/w "You're the One†â€" released on their own Gear Records label. They also began working original material into the live shows, too. This took no small amount of conviction, because almost any other band would have hesitated to rock a boat that was steaming ahead so successfully. If you never saw the Spongetones covering the work of the Beatles and others around the Carolinas in the early-to-mid Eighties, mere words cannot do justice to the spectacle of crowds crammed into venues and almost literally hanging from the rafters. The energy level was at the boiling point on both sides of the stage, and Jamie recalls they'd even talked about placing oxygen tanks onstage to keep them from passing out from the heat, sweat and intensity. Given the opportunity to open for the Kinks in Charlotte, they played an all-original set. That set the course for the future, because as times changed and the mania for covers inevitably died down, the Spongetones were amassing a growing catalog of originals and a loyal audience that wanted to hear them. They debuted with the legendary Beat Music, a trailblazing American update of the British "beat music†style of the Sixties that was released on Ripete Records. Then came Torn Apart (1984), Where-Ever-Land (1987), Oh Yeah! (1991), Textural Drone Thing (1995), Odd Fellows (2000), Mersey Christmas (2001), Beat! The Spongetones (2001) and Number 9 (2005). Over the years, their consistency on record has been remarkable. Of course there have been stylistic shifts here and experimental wiggles there, but they've always focused on making the best possible pop music. With a prodigious scoop of their finest waxings gathered in one place, Always Carry On: The Best of the Spongetones, 1982-2007 is an embarrassment of riches. Where to begin? For starters, the way-cool DC5 homage "Cool Hearted Girl.†The magical swirl of voices in "Anna.†The anthemic ring and jump-to-it rhythms of "Oh Yeah!†The heartfelt pledge of loyalty and devotion â€" a simultaneous paean to friends, loved ones and bandmates â€" of "Always Carry On.†The lush, lovely melodic contours and clever wordplay of "Infatuation.†The ripping power-pop intensity of "(My Girl) Maryanne.†The heavenly Hollies-meets-Byrds harmonies of "Better Luck Next Time.†Their blistering live energy is on display in "Where Were You Last Night,†a previously unreleased performance from CBGB's. Nearly 30 years after their first gigs, the Spongetones remain devoted to the band and all that it represents. They're still gigging regularly and cutting incredible records, swearing there's no end in sight because there's nothing they'd rather do than make music with one another. They cemented that vow on a New York street several years ago. They'd left a bar after knocking back a few shots of Drambuie ("The official drink of the Spongetones,†cracks Jamie) and were tipsily ambling down the sidewalk with arms locked in all-for-one camaraderie when Rob stopped to issue an edict. "Fellas,†he said, "the only way out of this band is death.†I'll drink to that, because it promises longevity, good health and many more Spongetones albums to come. The Spongetones are often asked to name a favorite album among the nine they've released to date. Steve doesn't hesitate to answer for all of them: "Our favorite record is the one we're working on. I'm proud of everything we've done, but we're always looking ahead to the next thing.†Speaking of which, they are presently finishing up a new disc. From what I've heard it might be their best ever. And that is saying a mighty mouthful. -Parke Puterbaugh.
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your version of Flash Player.
|Always Carry on: Best of Spongetones 1980-2005
|The Spongetones
|CD Baby
|Release Date:
|Product Type:
|Item #:


text:
Log Out
Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy have changed. We think you'll like them better this way.
Model, author Isobella Jade shares why the photos you create represent where you go in modeling and how despite this fast-paced Internet and digital world the word professional has not changed. Isobella shares tips on creating the photos you need and how it starts with having modeling goals. And also the importance of being prepared for your success and opportunities. You can contact Isobella through her Facebook or Twitter. Isobella Jade petite model and the author of her modeling memoir Almost 5'4" (which she first penned at the Apple store, and which is available in stores and also for the Nook, Kindle and iBookstore) is about her early modeling pursuits as a shorter model in NYC. Her graphic novel "Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior," showcases her own modeling adventures in an illustrated format by Jazmin Ruotolo. Isobella's latest book is collection of short stories called "Short Stuff: ... on the job with an x-small model," which features stories from modeling jobs she done with Macy's, Victoria's Secret, Marshalls, Easy Spirit and others. Her podcast show shares tips and advice for models of all sizes and inspiration on the realities of creating a modeling career from scratch, as she shares the outsiders in to the modeling business. Isobella's website: www.isobelladreams.com
Sorry we couldn't complete your registration. Please try again.
Please enter your email to finish creating your account.
Receive a personalized list of podcasts based on your preferences.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|April 12, 2000, 07:41 PM
Join Date: November 29, 1999
Location: Renovo, PA 17764 USA
Posts: 61
Going to my first gun show on Saturday. What are the rules? Can you take handguns to trade? Anyone help me out on this? Thanks
Sorry, please move this to General Discussion form.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves againest tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson
[This message has been edited by eagleye (edited April 12, 2000).]
|April 12, 2000, 10:24 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 19, 2000
Posts: 743
The best rule is to never let the muzzle of any firearm you inspect point at another person. This will be appreciated.
They will probably inspect any arms you bring at the door and do what is appropriate for the particular show, so don't worry about this.
Have fun.
[This message has been edited by Herodotus (edited April 12, 2000).]
|April 12, 2000, 10:42 PM
Staff Lead
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,164
Many shows require that you have ty-wraps to render a handgun unusable. Carry some spares, in case somebody wants to check the gun's operation. (Some shows provide the ty-wraps.)
I suggest just wandering through and looking, before trying any trading. Get a feel for the place; listen to the chatter...
And be doggoned sure you know the value of what you got and what you want! And remember that a dealer won't trade if there's no profit in it for him--he doesn't care WHAT you paid for what you have.
Good luck, Art
|April 13, 2000, 12:19 AM
Join Date: February 26, 2000
Posts: 17
gun shows are a great place to see and handle a lot of guns,but good deals are few and far between. The fellas that show there are in the business,and don't give anything away.
That being said,I attend a lot of shows,and enjoy the camaraderie(sp) and the variety of goodies to view.Everything under one roof is a geat way to see it all.
Enjoy the show.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread


text:
Healthy Dose Link Time!!!!!!
That's Fit wants to help you recover quickly from your workout, so you are excited to get out there and do it again.
iFit&Healthy has the skinny on Bravo's Workout Rebecca Cardon's workout. Let me tell you this girl can bench press!
Complete Running Network shares my love of running skirts. It is great to run like a girl, is all I can say.
About: Yoga wants to help you do the splits! The Monkey Pose - Hanumanasana is an extreme hip opener, but not worth pulling a hamstring.
Back in Skinny Jeans knows how to order at Starbucks to cut the calories. If you love your coffee, she has 7 tips for ya!
fitPod has a new music mix for you. Steady State will help you deepen your stretching.
Leslie of The Weighting Game has a sneak peek of of ABC's new reality weight loss show "Fat March." Marching is definitely involved.
YumSugar has a quick dinner recipe for you: Tuna and Cannellini Bean Salad.
Looks like we are not the only folks checking out Heidi from the Hills - The Skinny Website is too.
diet-blog wants to help you beat back pain and gives you 5 ways to conquer the problem.
LIFT shows you the marriage of road kill and bike design. It is truly beautiful in a really odd way.
Mark's Daily Apple has a modest proposal for deconstructing health care in America.


text:
Especially with something as complicated as software, if it isn't tested then I promise it will fail in some horrible way. We have learned from experience to take testing seriously.
10% of our entire organization is devoted to testing! His name is Bill and he loves lists and carefully checking them off. For this position you need to hunt for that rare individual who enjoys being organized, thorough, and never gets bored.
Our programmers are grateful that Bill finds their bugs before the customers do. At some companies the programmers hate the testers. That is insane. It's like hating your doctor. Your drinking gave you cirrhosis of the liver. Your doctor is just giving you the diagnosis and explaining how to fix it.
Bug tracking software is crucial for testing to be efficient and effective. Otherwise the team will waste a lot of time. We used Bugzilla but now we use Fogbugz. Either is infinitely better than e-mail and scribbled post-it notes.
Internal tools such as the customer database should be tested as rigorously as commercial software. It's easy to slack off on your internal tools because there are just a few users and they aren't paying for it. If you do then the whole business starts to slow down as you lose track of customers, can't trust the sales reports, etc.
Test your infrastructure, such as servers. A written plan is not the same as walking over to a server and unplugging it from the network. We learned that recently when a server melted down and we ran around with our pants on fire for a week.
You know who to blame if an organization is slack about testing. Yes, the boss! She or he has to allocate people, money for tools, and time for it to happen. Testing can't be squeezed into people's spare time.


text:
Please enter your login information below:
Voice Your Choice is a place to share your experiences and feedback with CHOICE on a range of different topics. Your opinions help us stay focused on issues that matter to you.
As a member, you'll be asked to take part in short surveys and discussions. In return you'll get a sneak peek at insights, access to survey results and stories - and importantly, have a say on what CHOICE does. It's free to join and only takes 5 minutes. Just click "Join now".


text:
Hi my name is Akiza Misa I am from Mexico. I would like that you visit my page: http://www.facebook.com/AkizaMisaSmallCosplayer Hola soy Akiza Misa soy de Mexico y me gustaria que visites mi pagina: http://www.facebook.com/AkizaMisaSmallCosplayer
I sing act and paint .and I love cosplaying and create too https://www.facebook.com/Annary-79643171108/ https://www.facebook.com/annary https://www.youtube.com/user/flowerAnnary
Hi! I have been cosplaying since 2007 and Im a certified makeup artist that loves to do different clown cosplays. I make every costume myself and my passion is to compete against other cosplayers. I was one of four Finnish representative's at NCC (Nordic Cosplay Championship) on 2013 with my Mad Moxxi cosplay. Find me also at: https://twitter.com/SilentCosplay https://www.facebook.com/SilentCosplay http://silentcosplay.deviantart.com/#
I'm from Brazil and I love Japanese culture. I like to cosplay series that I really love, like Rurouni Kenshin s2!
안녕하세요 한국 코스어 사아라고 합니다 리얼라이즈팀 소속이고 부족하지만 열심히 활동하겠습니다! 하트 눌려주신 모든분들 감사합니다^^ Face book firstname.lastname@example.com Korea cos team cafe http://cafe.naver.com/realize00 Twitter @Realize20120829 fs saa4682
Since 2005 . Brazilian Cosplayer . 24/07 - http://www.facebook.com/akirayanocosplay http://en.curecos.com/profile/?ch=254468
Hello, my name is Paul. I'm a brazilian cosplayer. Welcome to my profile. 1° cos - Momochi Zabuza - Naruto and the last 13° cos Sinon (Male) - Sword Art Online My page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paulocosplay
Nick Name : Kenjimura - KENJI Personal FB : https://www.facebook.com/KenjimuraChowpohken FB Name : kenjimura Chow Like Page FB : https://www.facebook.com/kenjimuramalaysia
I"m TOOYA, Cosplayer from China.^ ^ Publications -《御意见无用》 -《Secret of Cosplay》Published in China and in England and Taiwan ★ 【WB】: http://weibo.com/tooya113 【FB】:https://www.facebook.com/tooya.xiao?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/Cosertooya?fref=ts 【WC】:http://worldcosplay.net/member/TOOYA 【CURE】: http://en.curecos.com/profile/?ch=158415 ★ Email:email@example.com 我最常用的是微博,在那可以找到我
Olá me chamo Toshi, muito prazer! Sou brasileiro e atualmente moro no Japão. Junto com um amigo, fizemos também a conta como Shadow Team. Nesse perfil quero expor também meus trabalhos ao longo de vários anos de aprendizado. Agradeço a atenção^^v 初めまして、トシです! 僕はブラジル人でも日本に住んでいます。 特撮ガ大好きです! よろしくお願いします! Facebook page http://facebook.com/profile.php?id=211279775594774&ref=m_notif¬if_t=mention&__user=1356255911
Hi! I'm Yuki, I'm a brazilian cosplayer and I've been cosplaying for over 10 years. Brazilian representative of the WCS 2007, contestant and judge in several cosplay contests in my country and around the world. :) I love making my own costumes, photoshoots and makeup!
I am a brazilian girl but now Im living n UK ^^ I made myself my costumes and some accessories.I have a store to sell some costumes, I hope to make many friends here ^ ^ ★Facebook★ https://www.facebook.com/jutsukino ★Twitter★ https://twitter.com/jutsukino ★Cure Profile★ http://en.curecos.com/profile/?ch=91969


text:
Bright colors are her favorites,
but she also likes to draw in
'earthy' hues like green and brown.
Happy Homes
Unfortunately, she lacks the means to do so. Saya can't paint without the art materials that she needs
Meanwhile, there is this kind man
on the other side of the world.
His name is Robert.
He likes to travel and at
the same time, do his
social responsibilities…
Its a good thing
there is internet
But at some point, there are areas that
are not accessible with it
With the help of the internet, he is able
to look for organizations
in just one click.
So how are these
sponsors able
to find them?
Through an internet connection, your computer and mobile devices…
will help you out
GlobeDrop is a Non-Profit Organization with a mission to connect people to social & charity organizations around the world.
GlobeDop is for anyone willing to contribute to changing the social ecosystem through ethical travel and spreading social awareness.
Donating even $1 worth of items is a big help. We believe that if each one of us gives to an organization that is dedicated to help others, we can make a difference.
So how does
it work
we will give you the
nearest organizations
nearby your place.
Our search feature can immediately help you find for establishments nearby your travel spot
When the delivery date is near, it's now time to buy the items you pledged to donate
Prepare your list
and collect all
the items
You are now one step closer to making Saya happy when she receives her new
art materials!
and if you're not familiar with the
place where to find all the rest
of the items, then worry no more.
With this buy info feature, we can help you locate to the nearest store as possible where to buy the items
The day has come to deliver!
See the smiles
in their face
The social
responsibility you do
The in-kind
you give
Saya wants to draw this on a canvas because it inspires her and she wants to be an artist someday.
Would mean a chance for kids like Saya to be able to continue their aspirations
Your helping hand can carry out
happiness in the community
Through GlobeDrop, we are now able to travel the world at the same time do our social responsibilities in just one click
Together with GlobeDrop, let us
In some instances, you would discover an organization that wants to take part in Geomuling but is not able to do so.
Through GlobeDrop, you can reach out to thousands of social organizations around the world
As travelers, we do a lot of activities. Why not include doing social responsibilities in our travel itinerary?
Choose any organization you want to visit
Charity Establishment
All the details you will need to know about the establishment will be provided to you.
The items listed are the ones that are currently needed by the establishment
Once you have chosen an establishment to visit and donate to, click Deliver
Select Your Donations
Schedule the delivery date of
when you want to visit the
charity establishment
Drag the slider to the desired quantity of the item you want to donate
Send your delivery request
by clicking Next
The simple donation you just made? For children like Saya, it is priceless.
This is Saya. Ever since she was really young,
she loved to draw and paint.
When you receive an approval
to deliver, you're set to go
Travel & Buy
the Goods
Travel to your
She lives in a children's home
and wakes up to this beautiful
scenery outside her window.
Present Remotely
Send the link below via email or IMCopy
Present to your audienceStart remote presentation
- Invited audience members will follow you as you navigate and present
- People invited to a presentation do not need a Prezi account
- This link expires 10 minutes after you close the presentation
- A maximum of 30 users can follow your presentation
- Learn more about this feature in our knowledge base article
GlobeDrop - Story Telling
No description
Kelvin Jay Olimbaon 1 September 2014
Comments (0)
Please log in to add your comment.


text:
Line manager briefing looking at conducting investigations, including practical guidance on dealing with witnesses and documents, and suspending the employee who is being investigated.
A model letter inviting an employee to an investigatory meeting regarding another employee's grievance.
A model letter to an external witness requesting a witness statement regarding an internal grievance.
A quiz for line managers to test their knowledge on the law and practice relating to conducting investigations.
A quiz for line managers to test their knowledge on grievances.
Good practice guidance discussing handling grievances, both formally and informally, including information on the structure of a grievance procedure, who should handle grievances, attitudes towards grievances and conducting grievance hearings.
HR and legal information and guidance relating to witnesses to incidents or events giving rise to employee grievances.


text:
.- Nearly 500,000 faithful from the Archdiocese of Durango gathered recently at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City together with Archbishop Hector Gonzalez Martinez to pray for an end to the violence that is occurring in their region and that is the result of organized crime.
This year pilgrimage, which was the 116th to the Guadalupe shrine by the Archdiocese of Durango, came after Archbishop Gonzalez Martinez denounced the presence of drug traffickers in that part of the country.
The organizer of the pilgrimage, Father Manuel Ramirez, said, "A lot of people like to stop in the different towns along the way, so many got a head start in order to enjoy the journey. And the closer we get to the final destination, the more joy we feel, especially because we are experiencing it in community. We are very happy to be at the Basilica of Guadalupe again," he said.


text:
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- China's official state-recognized Catholic church has fired Bishop Ma Daqin, who was named a co-adjutor bishop in Shanghai in July, officials say.
Joseph Liu Yuanlong, vice chair of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, said the standing committee decided to revoke Daquin's consecration as bishop at a two-day meeting, UCANews reported. The decision became public Monday.
Daquin announced his resignation from the association when he was consecrated in July and has reportedly been in retreat in a monastery since then. The standing committee said he kept a bishop recognized by the Chinese church but not by the Vatican from laying hands on him.
While some priests and bishops in China are recognized by the Vatican, it does not regard the association as part of the Roman Catholic Church. The Chinese government began the association in 1957 to act as the state-sanctioned representative of China's Catholics.
The church says that only Pope Benedict XVI has the power to name and dismiss bishops.


text:
Discussion question.......
Reply must completely answer question and make sense, it only needs to be 1-2 paragraphs
Question- Not knowing who would win, which side would you have preferred to be on during the Trojan War? Explain your choice in detail. You may want to include information on each side's champions, gods, leaders, location, etc. as support.
Your support must come from either the textbook or the Troy Educational Website and must be formatted in MLA Style.
Tutor Answer
Brown University
1271 Tutors
California Institute of Technology
2131 Tutors
Carnegie Mellon University
982 Tutors
Columbia University
1256 Tutors
Dartmouth University
2113 Tutors
Emory University
2279 Tutors
Harvard University
599 Tutors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2319 Tutors
New York University
1645 Tutors
Notre Dam University
1911 Tutors
Oklahoma University
2122 Tutors
Pennsylvania State University
932 Tutors
Princeton University
1211 Tutors
Stanford University
983 Tutors
University of California
1282 Tutors
Oxford University
123 Tutors
Yale University
2325 Tutors


text:
Hen Party
Group deposit
£40 £20
VIP Events Area
- Individual Payments
- Online Itinerary
- See all Features Here
Leicester Mobile Pamper Party Hen Party
- From £29.95 pp
Activity details
- We bring the pamper to you
- 1 x 30 min treatment
- Massage, Facial, Manicure, Pedicure
- Cottages, Apartments, Hotels
- Location Anywhere
- Duration 30 minute treatments
- Times Available 10am-6pm
- Dress Code Casual, relaxed
Love being pampered, then this Leicester mobile pamper hen party is for you! The therapists will come to your venue whether it's at your house, cottage, apartment or city centre hotel. With four pamper treatments to choose, you can feel rest assured that everyone in the group will find a way to be treated like a princess.
If you would like the pamper party to be run in your hotel then just let us know and we'll inform you of the requirements needed.
You can choose one of these treatments each
- Back and Shoulder Massage - Using a therapeutic blend of oil, the back and shoulder Swedish massage helps relieve tension and aching muscles. A quick massage with fantastic tension-busting results.
- The Feel-Good Facial - A relaxing facial for every skin type that includes cleansing, exfoliation and moisturise topped off with a shoulder massage to ease away any tension.
- Manicure - A relaxing and pampering hand and nail treat that includes filing, cuticle tidy, exfoliation, a hand massage and polish. Go on, give your hands the treat they deserve. A French polish is not included in this treatment.
- Pedicure - A perfect treat for your tootsies that includes a file, tidy and polish
The price includes travel costs to most areas. Some remote areas may incur travel costs which you will be informed of when booking.
What's included
- The pamper party will arrive and set up
- Everyone will receive a 30 min treatment
- Choice of 4 treatments
- Back and Shoulder Massage
- The Feel-Good Facial
- Manicure
- Pedicure
Leicester Hen Party bundles
Mobile Pamper Party & Cocktail Making
- Two Fantastic Activities
- Mobile Pamper Party
- Mobile Cocktail Making
- Apartments, Cottages, Homes
- From £63.00 pp
There are no reviews yet.


text:
Compare Reviews for Factoring Companies
Factoring refers to a transaction in which one business sells its invoices (or "accounts receivable") to a third party commercial financial company called a "factor." Using a factor allows businesses to receive cash more quickly than they would by otherwise waiting 30 to 60 days for a customer to pay the invoice.
Each factoring company has different terms and natures, depending on the industry they are serving as well as their particular business model. Factoring is not a loan, and there is no limit to the amount of funds a business can receive through factoring, making it a good option for many businesses.
Top 7 Most Reviewed Factoring Companies
|Read 7 Reviews
Fundbox helps businesses of all sizes gain access to their cash flow without spending a fortune in fees. Their upfront pricing structure and free account access empowers businesses to only use their services when they need them.
|Read Expert Review
|Be the first one to rate this company
Dealstruck offers lending solutions for businesses that have been established for at least one year, have good credit and earn at least $150,000 in annual revenue. Also, they offer customized solutions for a variety of industries.
|Read Expert Review
|Be the first one to rate this company
Founded in 1993, Interstate Capital offers factoring to businesses in a variety of industries across North America. Their quick quote form and online application make it easy to apply and see how much you qualify for.
|Read Expert Review
|Be the first one to rate this company
Based in Palo Alto, CA, Bluevine focuses on factoring and credit lines for small businesses. They offer small businesses in most industries a transparent pricing structure and fast response times.
|Read Expert Review
|Be the first one to rate this company
Founded in 2007, Gateway is a full-service factoring company that works with businesses in a wide variety of industries. Their online resources help business owners decide which factoring company is best for them.
|Read Expert Review
|Be the first one to rate this company
Headquartered in Troy, MI, Crestmark has helped businesses of all sizes reach their financial goals since 1996. They offer recourse and non-recourse factoring along with other lending options.
|Read Expert Review
|Be the first one to rate this company
Headquartered in Austin, TX, 1st Commercial Credit offers factoring internationally to businesses in a wide variety of industries. They are capable of converting accounts receivable financial transactions in 17 currencies.
Research Team
The ConsumerAffairs Research Team believes everyone deserves to make smart decisions. We aim to provide readers with the most up-to-date information available about today's consumer products and services.
What features matter most?
How much you pay for the services provided by a factoring company will vary from company to company. There are a few things to keep in mind as you're comparing fees.
- Overall fee: Some companies charge what is referred to as an overall factoring fee, which is determined based on your monthly volume along with how creditworthy your customers are.
- Added fees: Some additional charges may incur for services performed outside of the direct transaction. Money transfers, shipping, collateral and other costs of doing business are commonly added on as fees. It's important to ask about fees upfront so you aren't surprised by a lot of add ons when you get your bill.
- Repayment fees: The repayment fee structure will vary from company to company, and it's important to understand upfront how much you will be expected to pay.
Payment timeline
How fast you can get money is the single most important factor for many startups and businesses when choosing a factoring company. Not every factoring company operates on the same timeline, which can have a big impact on how well they will suit the needs of your business.
- Immediate: Some factoring companies have near-instant approvals, which means businesses have quick access to the cash they need. This might come with an additional cost, so make sure you understand the full payment structure before you sign up for immediate payment.
- One to three days: Many factoring companies take one to three days to apply the first payment, and then they approve payments within 24 hours after that. Wire transfers generally take one to three business days, but these are done without charging an additional fee.
- One week: Some factoring companies will take up to a week to give you your money. If a company isn't upfront about their timeline, be sure to ask so you aren't left waiting too long for your cash.
Company need
Different businesses have different reasons to use factoring company, which can change as their business evolves.
- Cash flow: The main reason businesses use factoring companies is because they need the cash flow. This is especially true for startups and other new businesses, although established businesses may find they need help with their cash flow from time to time. Some businesses only use factoring for large invoices and let the smaller ones get paid normally.
- Credit and collection services: Some businesses have a hard time getting clients to pay their invoices. New businesses, especially, may have a difficult time managing the process of collecting payments. Working with a factoring company who will do the heavy lifting of calling clients and following up on invoices can simplify the process and take a heavy burden off of a small business's shoulders.
- Lending troubles: Whether you're a large or small business, factoring can help you get cash flow and keep growing if you are unable to qualify for a bank loan due to bad credit, recent bankruptcy or other reasons.
While all businesses can arguably benefit from factoring, there are some industries that are more likely to use factoring than others. Generally, industries that provide some form of good or service and frequently wind up waiting 30 to 90 days for an invoice to be paid are good candidates for factoring.
- Transportation: Freight companies frequently turn to factoring since a large portion of their revenue depends on invoices paid by clients and customers. They might also be interested in taking advantage of fuel discounts, rewards programs and maintenance discounts that can be provided by some factoring companies.
- Staffing: Staffing agencies often use factoring to help them since they do not get paid until after their clients have filled their position openings and the candidate has started working. Factoring can be a way to increase cash flow and keep the staffing business running.
- Manufacturing: Manufacturing companies often find that big companies take a long time to pay them, which can place a heavy financial burden on the business. Factoring can be a good way to ease the burden and maintain cash flow while you're waiting for a major invoice to get paid.
Amount funded
Factoring companies vary in the amount of money they are willing and able to fund a business at one time. The amount funded will depend on the size of the businesses that the factoring company supports and services.
- Small businesses, including startups: Small businesses and startups can generally get as little as $5,000 or less from factoring companies. This can help small and startup businesses that need some extra breathing room and instant access to cash flow.
- Mid-size businesses: Mid-size businesses may need small amounts of funding to larger amounts. They will want to look for a factoring company that can offer them a range from $5,000 to $250,000 so they can get cash for a range of invoices.
- Large businesses: Large businesses may need $500,000 or more from a factoring company. They will want to find a factoring company that has options for high limit factoring to meet their specific business needs.
Privacy and confidentiality
Many businesses are concerned that their reputation will be damaged by using a factoring company. Therefore, many factoring companies have come up with different ways to keep their clients' information confidential while still providing the collection and lending services they need.
- Phone calls: Many factoring companies will use your company's name when making and receiving phone calls so your clients don't realize there is a third party serving as an intermediary. Make sure you trust the factoring company you are working with to be respectful to clients since they are acting on your behalf.
- Mailing payments: It will be pretty obvious to clients if they suddenly need to start sending payments to a new business name. Many factoring companies have clients continue to send payments to your business name but with a new address.
- Reporting: You want to work with a factoring company that allows you to constantly monitor your account so you can easily keep track of all reporting and activity, even when you're out of the office.
What are different types of factoring companies?
Recourse (discount) factoring
Recourse factoring means the client ultimately takes responsibility for paying the invoice. This means you, as the client, end up paying the full amount to the factoring company in the event that your customer doesn't pay the invoice.
Non-recourse (traditional) factoring
Non-recourse factoring enables companies to sell their invoices to the factoring company. The factoring company then assumes all of the credit risks for the collection of the invoice. This protects your business from credit loss.
Who's it for?
Startup businesses
Startups need cash flow to get their business up and running, and factoring can be a great way for them to keep their cash flow up as their business gets going. Instead of waiting around for customers to pay their invoices, startups can get the cash they need almost instantly, which they can use to invest in the business and help it grow.
Small businesses
Small businesses may need help with cash flow, even if they are established. They also might have smaller invoice amounts than larger businesses and will need to work with a factoring company with a low enough minimum to meet their needs.
Large businesses
Large businesses still need help getting cash flow from time to time, even if they are established. They will need a factoring company with high limits to meet their high invoice demands. They also will likely want a factoring company who is flexible in how often they use their services.
Financial advisors can build value with their clients by partnering with some factoring companies. Many factoring companies offer rewards and other incentives to advisors who bring them business.
Company reviews
Fundbox is a factoring company with an online platform that helps businesses of all sizes get payment for their invoices quickly. Their investors include innovators of technology and finance who help Fundbox get businesses the money they need to keep their businesses growing.
Dealstruck combines traditional business loans, accounts receivable lines of credit, inventory lines of credit and other revenue-based loan products to empower businesses to achieve their financial goals. Their team custom-designs packages for each business, so you will only get the services that will benefit your business.
- Dealmaker Application: This application process collects your most recent tax returns, current bank account information and the FICO score of your primary owners to help Dealstruck learn about your unique financial needs. The application helps Dealmaker customize a package for your business based on your financial history and current needs.
- Accounts receivable credit line: Dealstruck doesn't buy your invoices. Instead, they lend against your invoices with a real credit line to give you access to your money before your customers pay you. Your customers pay down the loan for you when they submit their money to you directly.
- Spending limit based on your business: You will be given a spending limit to match the growth of your business, ensuring you never take out more credit than you can reasonably afford.
- Terms up to 48 months: Your terms can be as long as 48 months, which is enough time to ensure you can fully pay back the full loan amount. Your specific terms will vary and be based on your circumstances.
- Client portal: Dealstruck's client portal gives you complete access to your account at all times. It provides transparency, so you always know exactly where you stand. Their technology partnerships integrate your existing accounting, banking and billing systems to streamline the process.
- Best for: Dealstruck offers lending solutions for businesses that have been established for at least one year, have good credit and earn at least $150,000 in annual revenue. Also, they offer customized solutions for a variety of industries.
Since their founding in 1993, Interstate Capital has successfully funded over 8,000 companies and purchased nearly one billion dollars in invoices annually. They have locations in CA, TX and NM and provide service to thousands of companies across North America each year.
- Specialization for industries: Interstate Capital works with a variety of industries and understands the special needs of each one. Industries they work with include manufacturing, staffing, freight, government contractor, printing and more. Visit their website to learn more about the industries they serve and what unique offerings they have for each one.
- Fast application: Fill out a short application online. Interstate Capital will send a short proposal to you via e-mail shortly after receiving the application. From there, all you need to do is click on the application link within the proposal to get funding within as little as three days.
- Referral program: Interstate Capital rewards clients who give them referrals with a generous incentive. Simply fill out a referral form online. If the company you refer becomes a client, you get rewarded.
- Instant quote: You can get an accurate quote in as little as two minutes by filling out a short form on Interstate Capital's website. If you prefer, you can request a call back from a representative to talk more about your needs.
- Low factoring rates: Factoring rates from Interstate Capital can be as low as .49 percent. Your rate will be determined by a number of factors and may vary.
- Best for: Interstate Capital is best for small and large businesses.
Based in Palo Alto, CA, Bluevine serves small businesses by offering them access to capital when they need it with speed, simplicity and transparency. Their services include a business line of credit and invoice factoring for a variety of industries, excluding the medical and healthcare industries.
- Minimal range: Because Bluevine works exclusively with small businesses, they have a low minimum range for factoring invoices. Businesses can get credit lines between $5,000 to $250,000, depending on their circumstances.
- Pay for what you use: You only pay for the invoices you want funded, so you never pay for a service you don't need when you work with Bluevine.
- Fast response: Your first advance will be approved within 24 hours, once your application has been approved. Subsequent requests for funding can be granted in as little as one hour.
- Integrate your current software: Bluevine currently works with the most popular accounting software, making it easy to fully integrate your current financial information.
- Transparent price structure: Pricing is transparent, with most businesses receiving advance flat rates between 85 and 90 percent. The only additional fee you may pay is an optional $15 for an immediate wire transfer. You can also opt for a free ACH transfer, which will be in your bank account within one to three business days if you don't want to pay the extra fee.
- Best for: Bluevine is best for small businesses that are not in the medical or healthcare industry.
Founded in 2007, Gateway is a full-service factoring company that works with businesses in a wide variety of industries. The company's owners are also the managers, so clients will speak directly with a decision maker from the beginning for a quick and efficient factoring experience.
- No minimums or maximums: Gateway doesn't have a set minimum or maximum amount of invoice that a business can submit for factoring payment. You know your business's finances better than anyone, so you can request funding for as little or as much as you want.
- Quick and easy quote: You can choose to submit a form online or call and speak with a decision maker immediately to get an accurate quote for factoring your invoices. You will then receive a proposal, and at that point you can decide whether or not to accept the terms. There's no commitment needed on your part during this process.
- Variety of industries: Gateway works with industries across the board, so they are ready to work with your business, no matter where it falls.
- SoftCall confidential factoring: Gateway developed SoftCall as a way to keep their clients' information private when making collection calls. Gateway makes and receives calls to customers using your name so customers never know there is a factoring company involved.
- Comparison tool: Gateway's online comparison tool and resource helps business owners decide which factoring company is best for them. The resource is free to access, even if you decide not to use Gateway for your factoring needs.
- Best for: Gateway is best for businesses of all sizes in all industries.
Crestmark was approved as a Michigan-chartered bank in 1996 and is headquartered in Troy, MI. Crestmark is a business-to-business lender that specializes in providing diverse financial solutions. They offer recourse and non-recourse factoring for businesses across the country.
- Variety of industries: Crestmark has financial solutions for a wide variety of industries, so you aren't restricted based on the industry your business falls under.
- Referral rewards: Crestmark encourages referrals from their clients and offers clients the chance to earn additional income and other rewards when a business they refer signs up for a financial service.
- National reach: Although they are headquartered in Troy, MI, Crestmark has offices around the country. They currently have offices in six states, with sales representation in more states around the country so you can find help wherever your business is located.
- Wide range of funding amount: Businesses can receive up to seven and a half million dollars in accounts receivable and as little as they need if they are a startup. This makes Crestmark a viable option for businesses of every size and gives them room to grow.
- Customized service: Fill out the online form or give Crestmark a call to start the process of financing with them. A representative will walk you through all of your options so you can make an educated decision about which route to choose.
Established in 2001, 1st Commercial Credit is headquartered in Austin, TX. They have additional international locations in Toronto, Canada and London, England. 1st Commercial Credit offers funding solutions for a wide range of industries along with flexible funding requirements that are feasible for most businesses to qualify for.
- International reach: With international branches, 1st Commercial Credit provides export trade financing to clients who are in every major world market. Additionally, they can convert accounts receivable financial transactions in 17 currencies.
- Transparent rates: Clients can expect rates starting at .69 percent to 1.59 percent. They can also choose a Prime plus two percent administration fee.
- Fast quote: Fill out an online form to get a fast and accurate quote for your factoring needs. You will be called back by a representative who will find out more details about your specific needs and make recommendations based on those needs.
- Decisions are not based on your finances: 1st Commercial Credit makes factoring decisions based on the specific invoicing process and the credit strength of your client. Your credit score, tax returns or equity to debt ratios are not considered when making a final decision.
- Industries across the board: 1st Commercial Credit provides factoring services to industries across the board, not just a few select ones. This makes it more likely that your business will be approved, even if it isn't in what's considered a typically standard industry.
- Best for: 1st Commercial Credit is best for business of all sizes, especially those that work with international clients.
Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.


text:
Us Coptic Christians worried about Egyptian riots
Coptic Christians in US alarmed at deadly riots in Egypt
Islamic authorities provide counseling to Muslims after attending Methodist Church dinner
Malaysia Muslims get counseling after church meet
Christian movie "Courageous" in top 10 at box office
Christian police drama in top 10 for second weekend
Pope urges southern Italian residents to care for eachother
Pope denounces "inhuman" mafia in southern Italy
Category: Religious News
Argentina - Pope's Passport
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Pope Francis may be the head of the Vatican state, but he's not giving up the right to travel as just another Argentine citizen.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church has renewed his Argentine passport and national identity card, and Argentina's Vatican envoy told The Associated Press on Monday that the pope insisted on paying for the documents himself.
Renewing Argentine passports and identity cards usually costs about $55 at the official exchange rate.
Ambassador Juan Pablo Cafiero said he and a deputy went over to the pope's hotel in the Vatican gardens on Friday to personally take Francis' picture and fingerprints and record his signature using a notebook computer. By Monday, the documents were printed and ready for delivery.


text:
Credit Advice
Have a question? Have advice to share? The combined knowledge and experience of everyone in the Credit Karma community can help you. Enter your question or help others below to get started!
QuestionPosted in Credit Cards
Question By
0 People Helped
All Responses
227 People Helped
You did not indicate the credit card or how long the card had been open or if it was secured or unsecured. For an unsecured card: I would suggest you wait a minimum of 6 months before you make the request. If you payments have not been timely, don't bother to ask. You should review your credit report for any negative comments which could affect their decision. If you access your account information online, you would probably see a link for "Credit Increase" that you can select. They'll probably want your current income amount. Then, make the request. It could result in a hard inquiry to your report; although some credit card companies will do a soft pull and use your payment/utilization as the primary factor. You could telephone them to ask for a credit increase; the number should be on the back of your card.
3211 People Helped
Look on the Back of your Credit Card, Call the 800 # for Customer Service and ask for a Credit Line Increase.
Warning, 99.9% of the time requesting a CLI will result in a Hard Inquire and you are may not get the Increase.
Reply to this Question
Write your response:
The Credit Advice pages of the Site may contain messages submitted by users over whom Credit Karma has no control. Credit Karma cannot guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of any such messages. Some users may post messages that are misleading, untrue or offensive. You must bear all risk associated with your use of the Credit Advice pages and should not rely on messages in making (or refraining from making) any specific financial or other decisions.


text:
EUROLOTTERY winners Chris and Colin Weir have given a further £2.5 million to the campaign for independence, the Sunday Herald can reveal.
The latest gift, on top of £1m donated last year, means the SNP-supporting Ayrshire couple have supplied Yes Scotland with almost 80% of its cash since it was founded in May 2012.
The extent to which Yes Scotland is bankrolled by the Weirs, who scooped £161m in 2011, will be confirmed today when the organisation publishes details of its income since making its last voluntary declaration in April 2013.
Loading article content
The new figures show Yes Scotland has so far received around £4.5m in cash, of which the Weirs have given £3.5m, or 77%.
Overall, Yes Scotland has received £3,151,000 since April 2013, giving a grand total to date, including the SNP help-in-kind, of £4,888,797.
In its first year of operations, Yes Scotland declared £1.6m in income, of which £1m was from the Weirs, and £343,000 was "non-cash" start-up help provided by the SNP. Three other donors gave more than £7500, while some 7000 small donors gave a total of £112,000.
The new donation figures are again dominated by the Weirs, who each gave £1.25m.
Five other large donors - two of whom work at Yes Scotland - gave a further £178,000.
Randall Foggie, an unsuccessful SNP council candidate from Kirkcaldy, gave £60.000.
Yes Scotland operations director Mark Shaw, head of the Hazeldene property group, gave £50,000.
And property developer Dan Macdonald, a member of Yes Scotland's advisory board and an established SNP donor, also gave £50,000.
A Norman Easton gave £10,000 and Highlands author Mary McCabe gave £8000.
Smaller donations - classed as those under £7500 - were more numerous and more generous than in the previous year, with more than 11,000 people giving a total of £473,000.
The pro-Union Better Together campaign has declared donations of just £2.8m up to December 2013.
Without the Weirs giving to the Yes campaign, the No camp would have the financial edge.
Better Together has so far declared two lots of donor figures: in April 2013 it revealed it had received £1.1m since launching in June 2012, and in December it declared a further £1.7m.
Nineteen people donated more than £7500 last year and 17,400 people gave less than £7500, for a total of £341,600.
Better Together's largest donor to date is Donald Houston, owner of the Ardnamurchan Estate and the Adelphi distillery, who has given a total of £600,000 personally and via companies.
Yes Scotland says its donors are all registered to vote in the referendum, whereas many of Better Together's live south of the Border.
The Weirs, who have also endowed a charitable foundation with £5m of their fortune, last week made a rare public statement explaining their support for a Yes vote on September 18, and denied they had been duped or exploited.
"As lifelong supporters of independence, it would be strange if we did not support the Yes Scotland campaign. So that is what we have done, nothing more and nothing less," they said.
Calling for an end to "smears" and "personal attacks", they revealed: "Our silence ... has meant that, from time to time, we have been subjected to comment and speculation, the majority of it kind and generous, some of it mischievous or ill-informed and, occasionally, some of it downright nasty."
Better Together campaign director Blair McDougall said: "No-one would criticise the Weirs, who are longstanding SNP supporters. However, it is extraordinary that compared to the tens of thousands of small donations received by Better Together, almost 80% of Yes Scotland's money comes from one source.
"We now know why they have been hiding their donations for so long."
At present, there are no limits to campaign spending in the referendum.
However, on May 30, the final 16-week "regulated period" begins and sees the start of tight limits for political parties, the official campaign groups and smaller participants.
After May 30, spending by Yes Scotland and Better Together will be capped by law at £1.5m.
The SNP will be allowed to spend £1.344m, Labour £834,000, the Tories £396,000, the Scottish LibDems £201,000 and the Greens £150,000.
A Yes Scotland spokesman said: "We will be making an announcement about donations shortly."


text:
living intentionally personal finance: agency
by ermine
12 comments
- October 2017 (5)
- September 2017 (1)
- June 2017 (4)
- May 2017 (1)
- April 2017 (2)
- March 2017 (4)
- February 2017 (2)
- January 2017 (3)
- December 2016 (1)
- November 2016 (2)
- October 2016 (2)
- September 2016 (2)
- August 2016 (3)
- July 2016 (3)
- June 2016 (5)
- May 2016 (3)
- April 2016 (1)
- March 2016 (3)
- February 2016 (4)
- January 2016 (3)
- December 2015 (4)
- November 2015 (6)
- October 2015 (3)
- September 2015 (7)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (6)
- June 2015 (3)
- May 2015 (9)
- April 2015 (1)
- March 2015 (8)
- February 2015 (4)
- January 2015 (3)
- December 2014 (1)
- November 2014 (5)
- October 2014 (5)
- September 2014 (2)
- August 2014 (5)
- July 2014 (5)
- June 2014 (3)
- May 2014 (8)
- April 2014 (4)
- March 2014 (6)
- February 2014 (6)
- January 2014 (5)
- December 2013 (3)
- November 2013 (6)
- October 2013 (5)
- September 2013 (5)
- August 2013 (4)
- July 2013 (7)
- June 2013 (5)
- May 2013 (4)
- April 2013 (4)
- March 2013 (4)
- February 2013 (6)
- January 2013 (5)
- December 2012 (3)
- November 2012 (3)
- October 2012 (8)
- September 2012 (10)
- August 2012 (5)
- July 2012 (7)
- June 2012 (5)
- May 2012 (12)
- April 2012 (5)
- March 2012 (5)
- February 2012 (5)
- January 2012 (7)
- December 2011 (6)
- November 2011 (8)
- October 2011 (6)
- September 2011 (3)
- August 2011 (8)
- July 2011 (5)
- June 2011 (8)
- May 2011 (7)
- April 2011 (9)
- March 2011 (9)
- February 2011 (3)
- January 2011 (8)
- December 2010 (10)
- November 2010 (7)
- October 2010 (10)
- September 2010 (8)
- August 2010 (6)
- July 2010 (10)
- June 2010 (13)
- May 2010 (10)
- April 2010 (16)
- November 2007 (1)
Agency – it's what matters
One of the key things about sentient beings is agency – self direction. This struck me particularly when I read this Do Britons feel rich or poor? article in the Guardian. The Surrey PR lady who doesn't feel rich on far more than I have ever earned wants a slap round the chops with a wet fish.
"Considering my husband works 6.30am-10pm, and I'm also working three days a week, you'd expect to have your own home. We've got a car that's nearly 10 years old; we can't afford holidays. […] we've been to university, we've both worked our backsides off, and we're not seeming to get the rewards for it.
Earth to Surrey PR – take a step back, ask yourself what you're doing and why it makes you feel pissed off like that. What the hell is the point of putting up with the stress of earning all that money if you don't get enhancement of quality of life from it 😉
In contrast, the high-rolling piano-playing business woman knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. She is living her values and can express them well.
"To me, money is a form of expression. I need nothing. Do I want? Hell, yes."
I salute the lady. That's a different kind of intentional living. If you're going to earn a shitload of money, then know why you're doing it, and enjoy it FFS. Her story is couched it terms of agency, whereas Stuff Happens to the disaffected PR and the 34 year old MD.
Lest you say it's easy for our piano player who has a household income of 1,000,000 a year, well yes. Her agency speaks in her history – single mum on divorce, prepared to sell her jewellery, take a lifestyle hit and teach yoga to pay her kids' school fees. That's agency – and it speaks in where she is now.
You don't have to be rich to have agency. Look at the 20-year olds. The intern and the call centre worker seem to be much more balanced than the PR lady and the MD with a 120k. The singles seem to have a better handle on things too.
The homeopath has agency, even with the cheesy "Pay the deposit and the universe will supply the balance" mantra, but at least it sounds like it's hers, and she is living her values. That's agency. It shows in many of the other people in that study, the lawyer, the call centre op, the teacher. What's notable is they aren't all rich. Some would be classified as poor in money terms.
Agency. It matters in a sentient being. If Stuff happens to you in the world, then you're on the wrong track and losing the capacity to shift yourself onto the right one. And yes, I know. My job went bad as a result of Digital Taylorism. Stuff happened to me too, doctor heal thyself and all that. It's a fair cop, though in my defence I did do something about it in the end. I'm just sharing a little bit of insight from the other side 😉
The ermine – Renaissance symbol of nobility
The ermine was a mediaeval symbol of nobility, because it was believe it prized the purity of its white fur so highly it would face death rather than defilement. That's agency too – agency is choosing your path. Because it is an archetypal symbol of agency, the whole story is larger than life, and Peachem was then to admonish the nobles to make like the noble Ermine and step up to the plate
Me thinkes even now, I see a number blush,
to heare a beast by nature should have care
to keepe his skinne, themselves not care a rush,
with how much filth their minds bespotted are
Great Lordes and Ladies, turn your cost and art
from bodies' pride, t'enrich your better part
Choice isn't just about what to buy next in the shops. It's also about the things that matter in life. Believing you are a function about where you've ended up in life surrenders agency, because though you can't alter how you got here, you can change where you're going next. From that Guardian article, it seems to also affect how rich/poor you think you are.
One of the things that advertising and consumerism does to people seems to be it denies their agency – to become happier you need to buy this product etc. We have a stupendous quality of life compared to even the Britain I grew up into.
That article showed just how much it was to do with how much agency people felt they had as well as how much money. There were two people there with a lot more coming in than I've ever had who were seriously pissed off, because they felt they had no agency in their lives.
Very true. You may have seen this:
which is somewhat relevant.
There is another side, though, and that is to accept that having agency does not mean full control. To be able to shrug off the shit that lands from time to time is a virtue.
Even with agency, you may choose the path that wanders into the shit pool, and that is what the PR and MD have done. There was also a lot of unnaccounted for income there, so I suspect we don't know the truth.
As always with these articles since about 2005, I think it's very difficult to read it without seeing their fate through the lens of housing.
On the ladder = okay to rich.
Renting = poor.
The gulf is growing ever wider.
(I appreciate this isn't entirely on-topic to your point — but perhaps it is! They don't feel fully able to engage their plans, because they can't 'put down roots' or whatever other homily you might want to choose for buying instead of renting).
@SG that BBC article was interesting. I've seen some of those guys. Indeed two of the +/- 5 year age cohort at work are no longer with us as a result of heart attacks, one a fit and keen walker.
Fair enough on the agency downsides. It was the monetarily well off that felt poor who puzzled me.
@Monevator – the Grauniad article doesn't quite bear that out – as I read it, it seems to be having kids in conjunction with housing that is the problem. And a peculiarly British one – Europeans seem to be able to raise children in rented accommodation without angst.
We make such a mess of housing in the UK. My grandmother never owned a house in Germany though she was well off, and it worked well for her. We've made a fetish of owning a house, where it doesn't help at all early in your career (possible moving around) or late in life (maintenance, tying up capital, etc). It's only really in midlife that it works well IMO, and we seem to have set up a situation where the alternative to ownership isn't attractive, where people compare interest only mortgages to rent, which isn't ownership in any real sense of the word, and generally a lose-lose situation all round. We don't seem to have been at ease with housing since the 1980s. I'm not sure whether it was the council housing sales or the shorthold tenancy that started the rot.
by Guy
Thanks for the link, that was an interesting read. I had to laugh at the MD in the "forgotten middle" – 100-150k a year? Behave!
A healthy dose of perspective is needed for some of those folks; I won't claim to be any better, there are loads of things I'd like to have or do, but I hope I have learnt to recognise the difference between 'want' and 'need'.
On a bit of a tangent, I read an opinion piece a while back that we should ask ourselves "am I content?" rather than "am I happy?" – it works for me whenever I'm a bit discontented (for example, about other people's salaries!).
Best regards,
by Romany
Wasn't Dave wanting to measure how happy the Country was at some point? Does anyone know what happened to that? What criteria was he using I wonder? Did it didn't include agency or self determination at all?
by ermine
[…] much got it coming to you, and while I'm not a dedicated follower of Ayn Rand I do think personal responsibility and agency are important. And it's inescapable that in on this website Adsense doesn't square with […]
by Local council leaders frame the Ermine as a victim! « Simple Living in Suffolk
[…] loud, why have we been treating some the good citzens of Ipswich as if they were children without agency or responsibility for their […]
by The wheel of the year turns, and a pause for reflection « Simple Living in Suffolk
[…] of what was wrong. It looked good, and for some time I did not miss the hole – the absence of agency and direction that should have been there but wasn't. I followed the originally designed […]
by The cost of playing the Lottery has gone up – it's still a guaranteed shafting so why the fuss? « Simple Living in Suffolk
[…] particularly because it's a rip-off, although it is. It is because it robs punters of agency by giving a lightning conductor for the abandonment of hope – either by looking for the good […]
by Money can't buy you love, but it can buy you happiness « Simple Living in Suffolk
[…] bollocks. It is agency that matters – and agency goes with wealth, not with income. You don't need a high income to have […]
by that Interest Only Mortgage timebomb again – FCA edition « Simple Living in Suffolk
[…] to Robert. He is being a complainypants and has surrendered agency. He has 18 years to go. Inflation kills your money, roughly halving its real value every decade. […]


text:
Introverts and the Internet
(Page 2 of 2)
the global mind in a way that changes the meaning of "alone" and makes true solitude impossible unless we turn off our smartphones—and who has the courage to do that?
Turkle is worried about the effects of ubiquitous networking on the developing personalities of young people. But as I soon discerned, her book doesn't really dwell on personality types like extroversion and introversion, or how the Internet may abet or soften them.
There are, to be sure, telling passages that made me wince with self-recognition. "Being alone can start to seem like a precondition for being together because it is easier to communicate if you can focus, without interruption, on your screen," Turkle writes. That's certainly how I feel much of the time. And it echoes something in Quiet: Cain spoke with Jerome Kagan, the renowned developmental psychologist at Harvard, who theorizes that introverts are "high-reactives" who feel stimuli more acutely. "He notes," Cain writes, "that many high-reactives become writers or pick other intellectual vocations where 'you're in charge: you close the door, pull down the shades, and do your work. You're protected from encountering unexpected things.'" Again, that's me.
But I was back at square one. I saw that if I wanted to know whether I'm using my Internet devices as a way to minimize face-to-face interactions, or whether, in fact, they provide some needed balance in my life, keeping me more connected than I would be otherwise, I was going to have to figure it out on my own. (As usual.)
Here's what I think so far. While extroversion and introversion have been defined in many ways, the key thing, to me, is this: extroverts find social situations energizing, while introverts find them draining. If I spend n hours hanging out with people, even people I love, I generally need to spend n+1 hours recharging alone before I feel balanced again.
It's not that I dislike being with other people—on the contrary, I find that going out and doing an interview or meeting someone for coffee can be the perfect way to spice up an otherwise blah day. It's just that these situations are so stimulating to my "high-reactive" brain, to use Kagan's term, that I only need them in small doses.
And being on the Internet, in my experience, is not like real socializing. I've read accounts by people who feel that the Net is one big Extroverts' Ball—"social media drains me like a large party might," journalist and blogger Joanne McNeil wrote in 2010—but it has never affected me that way. The time I spend connected to my devices is not time that I must make up later by disconnecting. If it were, I think I really would have left my iPhone and iPad behind last weekend. (Well, not my iPad, since I was using it to read the Kindle edition of Quiet.)
Rather, I think my devices let me share my alone time, in a controlled, metered way. It's fashionable to disparage Facebook as a privacy-devouring swamp of superficiality. But I actually like it—and its quieter cousin, Path—because they let me broadcast what I'm up to, and find out what my friends are up to, in short bursts that don't necessitate a complete shift in focus. I can keep doing my work, and be part of the larger world.
Of course, this pattern, taken to its extreme, is part of what alarms Turkle. "When we Tweet or write to hundreds or thousands of Facebook friends as a group, we treat individuals as a unit," she writes. "Friends become fans."
True enough. But I make a point of connecting with my real friends in a genuine way as often as I can (though perhaps not often enough). And when I do that, I notice something interesting: because we've been following each other on social media, we don't need to spend a lot of time "catching up." We're already aware of one another's day-to-day activities and gripes and worries, and we can dive right into the real stuff of friendship.
"You know, I think you are very social," one of my friends commented on Facebook after I announced my retreat to Yountville. And he's right. But he only sees me in person when I'm making a point of being social. The rest of the time, I'm "alone together," and I think that's the way I like it. I'm no hermit, but the Internet lets me regulate my encounters with other people, who can continue to be as extroverted as they like without costing me any psychic energy. Which seems like a good compromise to me.
Trending on Xconomy
By posting a comment, you agree to our terms and conditions.


text:
I promised you last time that this column was going to be about stuff that actually mattered since I wasted your reading moments blathering for nearly a thousand words on the relative merits of two Bravo reality shows featuring people who do absolutely nothing but hang out and behave like tools. I don't forget my solemn vows. Anyway, this week I learned …
1. That Paula Abdul might be forced off of American Idol and have to simply live on her remaining millions and millions and millions of dollars. It's unfair. Look, all I said was that I wouldn't talk about the Preps and the Socs. Paula is IMPORTANT.
2. That some "Christians" who aren't even part of that Westboro loony bin (I'm just going to put that word in quotes from now on unless I'm discussing Desmond Tutu, Walker Percy, Dorothy Day, or some other religious person who spends their free time volunteering in soup kitchens or taking care of crack babies) are planning to go to the gay pride festivities in Charlotte, N.C., and start some shit. Why, for this sort of thing, don't we have a standing drag queen and bear militia (the queens for height, the bears for width) to go put on their biggest heels and stompin' boots and just form a human wall, blocking the inbred morons from getting even a glimpse of their target victims?
3. That young Latino and African-American males are raised with the warning that when pulled over by cops for any reason they have to keep their hands up on the dash or the wheel and in very plain sight. Sherri Shepherd explained this on The View when they talked about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. inside his own home. She said that white people never have to think about that. I know I've never thought about it. I don't have some big punch line for this or anything. Sorry.


text:
Kim Kardashian is gearing up to make her post-baby debut on her mom Kris Jenner's talk show later this summer. The reality mama is reportedly in a big rush to shed the 50 pounds she gained while pregnant with her daughter North West.
"Kim can't lose the weight fast enough. And she's frustrated she can't exercise yet," a source told Us Weekly. According to the magazine, Kardashian has already lost 20 pounds, which is pretty impressive since she just gave birth a month ago.
But apparently the star mom has not yet been given clearance from her doctors to exercise, something she is eager to get back to. In the meantime, Kardashian is looking to her friend and fellow mom Beyonce for inspiration.
It seems Beyonce is the reality diva's role model when it comes to rocking an amazing post-baby body. It's true that the singer has never looked better following the birth of her daughter Blue Ivy a year ago.
In fact, the megastar snapped back into shape very quickly after giving birth. Reportedly, she worked out at least once per day and may have even had a personal trainer move into her home to help her regain her figure.
Undoubtedly, Kardashian has access to the same kind of expensive help us average moms can only dream about. If the new star mama desired, she could hire a full-time nanny and the best personal trainer in Hollywood, not to mention a personal chef. Meanwhile, I just had my third baby last week and I'm lucky if my husband gets home in time to help me for an hour before my kids go to bed!
Oh well, at least I'm not planning any television appearances anytime soon.
Who is your baby weight loss role model?
Photo credit: Lia Toby/WENN
3 More Things to Read:
Kim Kardashian Decides on Baby Name
Kim Kardashian Loves Breastfeeding


text:
"Forgive me father, for I have sinned" [Comic]
Good going dude, you hit the jackpot. NICE!
Good going dude, you hit the jackpot. NICE!
Too bad she's no longer here, but she left behind something for us all to laugh at. Oh man, I'm a jerk.
That's what you get for being an asshole on Xbox Live.
If Americans were doing this on a regular basis... ahem!
You ma'am, have been busted. Prepare for a divorce.
Poor Alfred, having to deal with Bruce Wayne's madness.
If this "IT admin" can't fix his own laptop, how will he fix yours?
Bitcoin fans will probably cry when they realize how true this comic is.
Free doughnuts, free doughnuts everywhere.
Remember Amazon Prime Air, Amazon's ambitious but very cool drone delivery service? It'd be understandable to forget either way, since we don't really know when or if the project will even happen. In the mean ti...
Unbelievable how this person thought this was a virus.
Wait, what? Is this even possible? Yes my friend, very possible.
My problem is fixed, what should we do next? Probably, we can have coffee together!
Now this is one mother who cares about humanity.
After Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake's hilarious "#Hashtag" video exploded on the internet last year, it's no surprise is following it up with another one. The skit's called #hashtag2 and has Jon...


text:
Although summer is officially right around the corner, there's no vacation from tax planning. If you're dedicated, you'll be able to bask in tax savings as the weather heats up. Here are seven prime examples:
1. Cut back quarterly small biz payments. Self-employed taxpayers must pay income tax in quarterly installments to avoid an "estimated tax" interest rate penalty. The next installment is due June 15.
Normally, no penalty will be assessed if your annual payments equal at least 90% of your current year tax liability or 100% of last year's liability (110% if your AGI for the prior year exceeded $150,000). But the new economic stimulus law (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) cuts you more slack.
If your AGI is less than $500,000 and more than 50% of last year's income came from small business activities, you can base this year's payments on 90% of your 2008 tax liability instead of the usual 100%...(register to read more)
To read the rest of this article you must first register with your email address.


text:
One of the most typical scenario that brings about a call to locksmith is obtaining shut out of a car, yet there are a host of various other solutions that they can provide. Understanding exactly what options you have can save you a great deal of money and time. Listed below you will certainly find a detailed description of the various solutions that your regional firm normally will supply.
Among the greatest advantages of using a locksmith professional solution is that they want to find to your aid whenever of the day. They could bill an additional cost to service you beyond regular business hrs, however it is well worth not being stranded or shut out of your residence. If locksmith austin texas you are concerned regarding the cost when the time comes that you need these services, simply make certain to ask dispatch exactly what you need to anticipate to ensure that you could make the selection that is right for your demands.
In the past these suppliers were just able to break into a lorry so that you might get the collection of keys that you had actually secured inside. Now, thanks to breakthroughs in technology as well as higher cooperation with vehicle produces as well as devices distributors, you can contact them for keys as well as remotes that are set to open and begin your automobile. This can conserve you hundreds of dollars as compared to exactly what a supplier could bill for the exact same solution.
In addition to assisting customers in emergency circumstances, they are also your finest option for developing safety and security in your house or workplace. One location in which they excel is mounting locks that permit opener use in addition to private keys. This enables certain people to enter every door on the facilities, but likewise allows delegation of accessibility depending on that has the authority to go into.
One more application that some may not recognize that they can perform is opening as well as fixing safes. After reading the statement it appears rational, but it prevails belief that if a safe code is lost there is no hope beyond damaging the secure, even if that is possible. These specialists have the skills to open your safe, help you to reset it and repair any type of damage that could have occurred in the process. Safes can be very expensive and obviously, contain really beneficial things. Having this solution at hand is plainly worth the rate involved if you experience this regrettable scenario.
Ultimately, locksmiths have the capacity to open up various secured machines that are used in service atmospheres. A few of these include vending makers, coin machines, washing as well as drying devices locksmith in austin and a lot more. Typically people simply call the company the produced the item, however it is best to call around initial to ensure that you are getting the fairest price.
There is so much more that a locksmith can do to either save the day or produce the security that you desire. If you are ever not sure if it is feasible for them in order to help you must give them a telephone call initially. Chances are you will certainly conserve money and also time by selecting them over others.
Leave a Reply.
Software Tester Ned from Sainte-Foy, enjoys football, Internet Marketing and ballet. Feels travel an enlightening experience after paying a visit to City of Safranbolu.


text:
William Maney, 50, of 1 High Meadow Road, is one of two men arrested and charged with illegally growing and selling pot.
Maney, who was a licensed medical marijuana grower, was selling to people without a medical marijuana license, police allege.
William Maney, 50, of 1 High Meadow Road, is one of two men arrested and charged with illegally growing and selling pot.
Maney, who was a licensed medical marijuana grower, was selling to people without a medical marijuana license, police allege.
The state police and Little Compton detectives began the investigation two months ago after receiving complaints about Maney's operation, according to state police Detective Lt. Patrick T. Reilly, the officer in charge of the troopers' intelligence unit.
"We take note when growers go outside what they are allowed to do," Reilly said.
Maney was arrested on Sept. 5 after he allegedly made a hand-to-hand sale to an undercover police officer in Tiverton. It was the fourth sale he made to an undercover trooper, police allege.
The investigation continued after Maney's arrest and resulted in a search warrant executed Tuesday at 56 Long Highway. Matthew Cornacchia, 51, of Leominster, was arrested when police allege they found the entire house was set up to grow marijuana. There were 32 flourishing marijuana plants, 22 stems from harvested plants and a total of 100 pounds of marijuana leaves, stalks and stems, police said.
Police also searched Maney's home and allege they found 35 marijuana plants, 25 ounces of marijuana that had been harvested and prepared for sale and $10,600 in cash.
State law allows licensed marijuana growers to cultivate no more than 24 plants at any time and hold no more than five ounces of marijuana, according to Little Compton police Chief Sidney Wordell.
"Even if they hold licenses, the number of plants they had and the marijuana they were holding were outside the limits," Wordell said.
Little Compton's Lt. Antone Marion and Officer Patrick Martin were involved in the investigation, Wordell said.
Maney and Cornacchia have both been arraigned on the charges of cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver. Maney was also charged with four counts of delivery to an undercover officer.
Maney was released on $10,000 surety bail. Cornacchia is being held on $30,000 surety bail.
The charges are felonies that will be referred to the attorney general for prosecution in superior court.
The investigation is ongoing, Wordell said.
"There are more arrests pending," he said.
Email Kevin P. O'Connor at email@example.com.


text:
It seems you're using a browser that is a little past its time and our website might not be able to perform as it should.
If you'd like to have the best experience on WellingtonNZ.com, you can easily update your browser to get the most out of our website and many more for that matter.dismiss this message
Hannah's provides quality footwear within a number of retail outlets across New Zealand.
At Hannahs we're very proud of our heritage. For almost 150 years Hannahs has provided New Zealand families with quality footwear through our growing number of retail outlets across the country.
As a New Zealand company, Hannahs offers a wide range of both high quality local and international brands such as Pulp, Clarks, Keds, Lipstik, Hush Puppies, Windsor Smith, Steve Madden, New Balance and many more for men, women and kids of all ages.
ID: {{ userItinerary.ID }} | Days: {{ userItinerary.TotalDays }} | Activities: {{ userItinerary.TotalActivities }}


text:
Guillaume Latendresse scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period after getting a career-high three assists, giving the Minnesota Wild enough to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, last night in St. Paul.
For only the fifth time in 22 games this season, the Penguins lost after scoring first, this time on Sidney Crosby's early goal. He scored later, tying the game at 3 in the first minute of the third period to move past Marian Gaborik for second place in the NHL with 29 goals.
Pascal Dupuis set up Crosby's first score and added a goal of his own for Pittsburgh, which again struggled on the power play and had another quiet game from struggling star Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins went 0 for 6 in extra-skater situations.
Sharks 2, Kings 1 - Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves, Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist, and San Jose beat host Los Angeles. Dany Heatley scored his 26th goal for the Sharks.
Avalanche 3, Flames 2 - Chris Stewart tied the game late in the second period and then added the winner in the shootout for visiting Colorado.
Predators 3, Canucks 2 - Shea Weber's power-play goal at 15:57 of the third period lifted Nashville over host Vancouver.


text:
What's the best free gift of money off(2 Posts)
Andthecount Sat 13-Apr-13 00:44:53
philden Sat 13-Apr-13 10:25:37
Join the discussion
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join in the discussion, get discounts, win prizes and lots more.Register now
Already registered with Mumsnet? Log in to leave your comment or alternatively, sign in with Facebook or Google.
Please login first.


text:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The similarities between Luke Joeckel and Tony Boselli are striking.
Close in size, weight and playing style, Joeckel and Boselli have so much in common that even their baby-faced, draft-day photos are being compared side by side.
The Jaguars hope their NFL resumes look the same in five years.
Joeckel, the Texas A&M offensive tackle selected second overall in the draft, was formally introduced in Jacksonville Friday. He sat down with owner Shad Khan, general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley before meeting new teammates.
He'll have to wait a little longer to meet Boselli, the second overall pick by Jacksonville in 1995 who made five consecutive Pro Bowls.
Joeckel says, ``It's great to have those comparisons, but I've just got to go live up to them now.''


text:
After the Flight Stakes and Epsom Handicap run at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, punters get one final Group 1 to see out the major Sydney Spring Racing Carnival meet with the 2013 The Metropolitan Handicap bringing the day's racing to an end.
Running as Race 9 at 5:25pm (AEST) this year's $400,000 Group 1 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) is shaping up as a top staying showdown to enjoy a punt on this weekend.
The field is down to 14 runners after Gwenda Markwell withdrew their known wet tracker Peal Of Bells due to injury.
There are plenty of stars left in the mix however including the favourite Prince Cheri ($3.80).
Drawn in gate two, and getting in with just 52.5kg, the David Vandyke-trained Lando stallion shoots for their fifth career win from seven starts here.
They have won their last two on the trot, most recently beating the likes of Honorius and Julienas in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on September 14.
Prince Cheri is now tipped to improve on that again when they go up to the mile and a half, a distance they won their opening two career starts over in France last year.
Other gallopers high up The Metropolitan betting markets are then Chris Waller's last start Hill Stakes winner Moriarty ($4.60), market mover Julienas ($6) prepared by last year's winning trainer Waterhouse and the Lloyd Williams-owned Seville ($9).
That's the story told by The Metropolitan odds.
But before you rush out and place your bets make sure you know all The Metropolitan facts below based on the form guide, race history and betting stats on this important spring classic.
2013 The Metropolitan Form Facts & Betting Stats
- Last year's The Metropolitan winner was the Gai Waterhouse-trained Glencadam Gold who won by four lengths after jumping from barrier four (of 12) with Tommy Berry aboard for their fourth win on the trot
- This year Gai Waterhouse will shoot for her incredible ninth The Metropolitan trophy, and second straight, saddling up #4 Julienas ($6) and #14 Danas Best ($31)
- Tommy Berry will vie for back-to-back The Metropolitan trophies riding #4 Julieans from barrier 12
- The Metropolitan barrier last year's winner Glencadam Gold jumped from (4) belongs this year to one of the race's major roughies #12 Saint Encosta ($201)
- Barrier four is the most successful gate in the past three decades producing six winners
- The next best barrier since 1983 producing four winners is then gate nine which was originally drawn by #3 Seville but with the early scratching will have #10 I'm Imposing ($17) start from it
- Glencadam Gold was one of only two last start winners in the past 10 years to win along with Railings (2005)
- There are three last start winners in the race this year with #2 Moriarty (Group 2 Hill Stakes, 2000m, Randwick, 21/09/2013), #4 Julienas (Group 3 Colin Stephen Handicap, 2400m, Rosehill, 28/09/2013) and #7 Prince Cheri (Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes, 2000m, Rosehill, 14/09/2013)
- These could be the ones to steer clear of however with six of the past 10 The Metropolitan winners having been unplaced in their final lead-up
- One credible The Metropolitan lead-up though has been the Colin Stephen producing three winners in the past 10 years including Railings who did the double in 2005
- This year aside from the winner #4 Julienas horses coming via the Colin Stephen are #10 I'm Imposing (2nd) and #15 Planet Purple (3rd)
- Big weights are a notable disadvantage in The Metropolitan with eight of the past 10 winners carrying 54kg or less; horses weighted above that this year looking to buck the trend are #1 Mourayan (58kg), #2 Moriarty (56.5kg), #3 Seveille (55.5kg), #4 Julienas (55kg) and #5 Sneak A Peek (54.5kg)
- Favourites have a poor recent record in The Metropolitan winning only two of the past 10 making the task a historically hard one for #7 Prince Cheri ($3.80) on Saturday
- The punters' picks have also only finished in the money at a 50% strike rate over the past decade with 5 from 10 running a place
- Horses with a good record at Randwick include #1 Mourayan (5-2-2-0), #2 Moriarty (4-2-0-0) and #11 Lucripetous (3-1-1-0)
- Those with the best 2400m form include #4 Julienas (3-2-1-0), #7 Prince Cheri (2-1-1-0) and #15 Planet Purple (6-1-1-1),
- #15 Planet Purple ($201) is also the only previous winner at the Track & Distance
- Five of the past 10 The Metropolitan winners have been at juicy prices including Newport ($40 in 2008) so the double figure roughies shouldn't be discounted here
- While Waterhouse is the top trainer in this, Jim Cassidy is the most successful jockey since 1983 with four wins from 16 rides; he shoots for another this year with #11 Lucripetous ($19)
You're now ready to place a well-informed wager on The Metropolitan 2013 so jump over to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the weekend's best markets including Double The Odds on the Turnbull Stakes in Melbourne on Saturday!


text:
He wants to be here. Really.
Having taken 10 seasons and, most recently, 24 hours to get here, Petr Sykora says he'd like to put down roots in the City of Champions with the Edmonton Oilers.
Sykora, who inked a one-year contract with the Oilers worth $2.9 million Aug. 11, skated with several of his new teammates for the first time yesterday at the Kinsmen Arenas.
Rubbery-legged was Sykora, who endured a 24-hour travel day that took him from Prague to Frankfurt to Calgary to Edmonton - a trek in which the airlines lost his luggage. Still, the seven-time 20-goal man from the Czech Republic is happy to be here.
Happy enough that with the ego of hockey fans in this city still bruised by being spurned by family guy Chris Pronger, Sykora was yesterday thinking out loud about wearing Oilers silks beyond this season. I like this guy already.
"I would like to do that. I'd like to stay," said Sykora, who hasn't played a single shift for the Oilers yet.
"I really see myself doing well here. It's a good team. It's an offensive team. It's a team on the way up. It's a good situation here."
Five weeks shy of his 30th birthday, Sykora has already made NHL stops with the New Jersey Devils, who selected him 18th overall in the 1995 Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks and New York Rangers.
That's a fair amount of moving around for a player as talented as Sykora, who has amassed 512 points in 682 NHL games since breaking in with the Devils during the 1995-96 season.
Having spent three summers here as a teenager, Sykora knows the city well. Likewise, the silky smooth forward knows this is a hockey town. That appeals to him. He sees a match here for himself and wife Renata.
Time will tell, but with a one-year contract signed, Sykora and the Oilers will get a season to see if a longer pact is mutually agreeable.
"I would love to stay in one place," he said. "I was trying to get a longer-term deal because I wanted to play here for a longer period of time.
"I got the one year and I've got a year to prove that I want to be here. I would like to stay. It's so much easier when you're with one team for a longer period of time."
Sykora, represented by agent Ritch Winter, split last season between Anaheim and New York, scoring 7-13-20 in 34 games with the Ducks and adding 16-15-31 in 40 games with the Rangers.
A Stanley Cup winner with the Devils in 2000, Sykora not only can play centre and both wings - versatility that'll help Craig MacTavish sort out a deep group of forwards - he's a proven power play producer who'll mitigate the loss of Pronger.
"I'm ready to go," Sykora said. "I had the same feeling when I signed.
"I've got to get used to the players here and the coaching style. I'll do whatever they ask me to do and I'll do my best."
AROUND THE RINK ... Petr Sykora played left wing on a line with Shawn Horcoff and Joffrey Lupul yesterday ... Raffi Torres skated with Jarret Stoll and Fernando Pisani, a threesome Craig MacTavish might put together this season ... Jussi Markkanen and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers were the other goaltenders on the ice yesterday.


text:
Danger DANJ
I want to change the opacity so it's darker. I'm able to change the color in the css file, but I don't see the setting for overlay opacity anywhere. Research tells me it should be under the document ready function in my scripts.js file, but it's not there. http://www.danjdesign.com/portfolio/ is the page. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.


text:
Not wasting any time getting to the core description of his music through actual demonstration, Rabih Abou-Khalil, steps out front and center with his heralded vocalist, Ricardo Ribeiro, and a new project, Em Portugues, as he explores the interesting musical culture of Portugal. Having very little to do with jazz as we know it, this still qualifies as a pretty competent work perhaps better framed in a new age library. It has all the markings of bravery, as the rhythms and melodies can get quite complex and challenging.
Without having heard Em Portugues, and having never visited Portugal, it would have been hard for me to imagine just how the mood of this music would apply itself to the lifestyle and ambience of Portugal. This album allows one to "visit" the country and explore, along with Abou-Khalil, the richness of it all.
The vocals, while not extraordinary, are a necessary element here, brightly painting the pictures of the uniqueness of this undertaking. Having said all that, as the melodies are shaped in ways that are, by and large, a bit too complex and somewhat unappealing. To someone experienced with this style, it may have broad appeal, as it is very esoteric, as is evidenced on cuts like "Beijos Ateus" and "Adolescencia Perdida."


text:
Low-graphic news index |
Mobile site
Thursday, July 25, 2013 - Page updated at 04:30 a.m.
NTSB: 737 nose gear 'collapsed rearward'
The Associated Press
The National Transportation Safety Board says the nose gear of a Southwest Airlines jet collapsed backward and into the body of the aircraft following a hard landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The NTSB found the landing gear "collapsed rearward and upward into the fuselage, damaging the electronics bay that houses avionics."
The agency said on its Twitter feed the plane skidded 2,175 feet before stopping at the edge of the runway Monday.
It posted a photo showing the jet's electronics bay penetrated by the landing gear with only the right axle still attached.
Investigators recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders on Tuesday. They'll be analyzed by the NTSB.
Sixteen passengers suffered minor injuries during Flight 345's landing. The plane was coming from Nashville, Tenn.
Online: http://www.ntsb.gov/
NTSB recovers recorders after NYC gear collapse
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
E-mail this article | Print this article
Low-graphic news index
E-mail us
Search archive
RSS feeds
Graphic-enabled home page
Mobile site