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Cost pressures are beginning to hit gold developers and producers as a new generation of projects come into development.
Kyrgyz Republic gold developer
Chief executive Simon Milroy says cost pressures are about to affect gold juniors around the world, and no company is immune.
"The first thing you see is the engineering consultants are struggling to get people to do their work," Mr Milroy says.
"In the previous boom you saw that for about six months and then we saw the cost pressure starting in engineering."
Kentor's main focus is the 70,000 ounce-per-year Andash gold project, which is likely to be among the lowest-cost goldmines in the world, with 7400 tonnes of copper credits per year offsetting production costs.
The company is in the engineering and procurement phase and hopes to avoid the spike in engineering costs having completed much of the engineering phase through the global financial crisis.
"We actually finish our engineering in April so I think we've slipped through," Mr Milroy says.
Key items of capital equipment are expected to become more expensive as more gold projects come into production amid record gold prices.
Kentor again got lucky during the global financial crisis and bought a crushing mill from a gold project which was cancelled due to financial stress.
Others may not be so lucky.
"The cost of making ball mills is going to go up and the lead times are starting to blow out again," Mr Milroy says.
"Lead times for earthmoving equipment are okay at the moment, but manufacturers say lead times are starting to stretch out."
Halfway around the world, Ghana-focused gold producer
Adamus chief executive Mark Connolly says labour and fuel costs are increasing as mining giant Newmont prepares to bring a large West African gold operation into production.
Newmont, the world's largest gold producer, recently approved funding for the $1 billion Akyem gold project in Ghana, which will begin production in 2013.
Perseus Mining is also developing the 3.3 million ounce Central Ashanti Gold Project in Ghana.
Sooner rather than later cost pressures will affect all of the region's producers, according to Mr Connolly.
"There is going to be a massive demand on people," he says.
"Australian expats are also 30 per cent more expensive because of new Australian tax rules, so companies are now employing elsewhere."
While he would like to employ Australian engineers on his projects, Ghana is just 6 hour flight from London and more South Africans are looking for work within Africa.
"We are now looking for Brits, South Africans, Canadians," Mr Connolly said.
"We're trying to get by with the least amount of [Australian] expats as we possibly can."
Mr Connolly believes the high price of gold, which is hovering around record prices of $US1400 an ounce, has contributed to cost pressures.
He says mining and processing employees are incentivised to speed up development and production because of production-linked bonus schemes.
Junior West Australian explorer
The company has commenced exploration drilling on extensive tenements held to the north of the massive Tropicana Gold Project in Western Australia.
Chief executive Ian Murray says geologists are among the hardest employees to find as mining investment booms.
Gold Road has been forced to tailor work rosters to appeal to hard-to-find geologists.
Despite the cost pressures, executives say the industry is fully supported by booming gold prices.
Gold Road's Ian Murray says the outlook for gold is strong while the US dollar struggles.
"What other currency is going to do better than gold?" Mr Murray said.
He says major gold discoveries with a mine life of more than 10 years are becoming scarce.
The lack of large-scale discoveries is likely to put further pressure on the supply side of the gold market.
"The Tropicana Gold Project was a 5 million ounce discovery at two grams per tonne; it is big news but it's not a major discovery," Mr Murray said.
Kentor Gold last ran financial modelling at $US1,000 an ounce in March 2010.
Gold prices are now $US400 an ounce higher after just 12 months.
"If we did the financial modelling again we'd go higher," Mr Milroy said.
Similarly, Adamus completed financial modelling in late 2009 at $US900 an ounce.
Internally, the company is now running financial models at $1250 an ounce, a slightly conservative level compared with current spot prices.
The Australian Financial Review


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Jacqueline's Journal12 Aug, 2009 By: Response Contributor Response This Week
Robert Yallen is promoted to CEO of the Inter/Media Group of Companies. For the past 10 years, he served as its president and COO. Yallen succeeds his father, Sydney Yallen, founder of the company, who passed away in February.
Cesari Direct partners with Utah-based Plus One call center to convert callers into buyers and exclusively for several Cesari Direct clients. Both believe the partnership will give them a competitive edge.
Corus Custom Networks, known for delivering non-traditional media to a wide range TV audience, joins Dream Team Direct Inc. The partnership will allow the Dream Team to help marketers provide television and video advertising alternatives to Canadian audiences nationally regionally and locally.
Media Design Group hires Sean King as its newest account executive. King has experience managing direct response campaigns and will have a key role in growing the company's short-form campaigns.
Sandy Roessler is appointed the director of concierge for Dial 800. The marketing veteran will assume the newly created position and lead the company's client services team.
CDS Global expands its partnership with Youngblood Publishing Ltd. Under the new agreement, CDS will now also provide circulation management for PrintAction magazine and E-commerce for PrintAction.com.
KSL Media makes "hybrid buying" the new focus of its television media buying department. The company also announces several executive promotions including; Susan Gershon to executive vice president/director of operations; Liz Kelly as vice president/director of direct response buying and local hybrid broadcast buying; Marcia Listo to associate director of hybrid broadcast buying operations in the New York office; Robin Piersol as associate director of hybrid broadcast buying operations in the Los Angeles office; and Sandy Dibble as associate director of direct response buying operations in the Los Angeles office.
Nashville-based Rink Entertainment expands its branded entertainment division. The division further connects audiences with sponsors by offering extended entertainment opportunities. Rink produced "Get the Look of Army Wives" sponsored by Mary Kay, along with many other innovative productions.
Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) announces The University of Georgia and Eastern Michigan University as winners of the 2009 DMEF Collegiate ECHO Awards. The winning undergraduate and graduate teams, respectively, created a $300,000 integrated multi-channel campaign targeting parents of children grades 3-6 that included Web and viral marketing.
GSI Commerce announces it will sell a public offering of 1,811,150 shares of common stock while its stockholders will sell 8,188,850 shares. The proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate needs, including possible acquisitions.
The Orange County Ad Federation appoints a new board of directors. Thom Cameron will continue as its president and is joined by Vice President Sandy King, Treasurer Lisa Trachtman and Secretary Jenn Brown.
Toyota Motor Co. announces a plan to bring its advertising in house. The Tokyo-based company will launch two new ventures: one to handle marketing within Japan and another to handle global marketing.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Lionsgate and Haim Saban will produce a new live action film based on Saban's 1993 television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
The new franchise announced today (May 7) is expected to re-imagine the Power Rangers as a group of high school kids with unusual super powers, and harnessing them as a group in order to save the world.
The original US series ran from 1993 to 1995 and spawned the feature-length film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, released in 1995.
"Lionsgate is the perfect home for elevating our Power Rangers brand to the next level," Saban said.
"They have the vision, marketing prowess and incredible track record in launching breakthrough hits from The Hunger Games to Twilight and Divergent."
Remember the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers? Here goes:


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Take one or more of our péniche-hôtels on a custom-made itinerary. With a private charter, cruise to the destinations that match your interests. From golf to antiques, we can create your dream itinerary.
Sumptuous dining is sure to be a highlight. Guests can tailor menus to their choice or even test their culinary skills. Wonderful picnics in the vineyards or at a Chateau, like the prestigious Chateau de Longecourt, can be organised on request.
We set the perfect stage for cooking cruises. Whether learning in the barge kitchens or at a stop en-route, your onboard chef can teach you how to create classic dishes and local specialities.
Our Semaine des Grands Crus tour will delight wine connoisseurs. Taste 33 of Burgundy's magnificent wines on this six-night cruise. Take wine classes and tours of famous cellars, such as Joseph Drouhin. Dine with our resident wine expert and the winemakers themselves.
Onboard wine speakers can be arranged especially for you and visits to illustrious Domain's can be organised depending upon availability. Entertainment can be arranged with onboard musicians for the evening.
Barging in Tandem
If you are travelling with a large group, you can charter two or three vessels together without additional charges. With added space and shared facilities, it offers exceptional flexibility.
Belmond Fleur de Lys and Amaryllis can travel together to accommodate up to 14 guests. Book Belmond Fleur de Lys, Amaryllis and Hirondelle and invite up to 22 people.
Our team will be more than happy to assist you with this important pre-planning and let you experience the best of river cruises with your guests.
Belmond Afloat in France can arrange excursions, menus and schedules to suit everyone. Exclusive service and dining onboard will be provided throughout the all journey.


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As Christmas approaches, local charities are making one last push to reach their holiday fundraising goals.
As of Saturday morning, the Salvation Army in Grand Island said they still needed $50,000 to reach their goal.
"Since the storm this week we've had some of our volunteers that haven't been able to make it out and so we're running a little behind last year now," said Captain Dave Mowers of the Grand Island Salvation Army.
Their Red Kettle campaign goal this year is $205,000, a goal its army of volunteers hopes to help reach.
"I'm doing the good Lord's work, and they were there, they helped me. They were nice about and they helped me quite a bit and I appreciate what they're doing for me," said volunteer Jesse Rivera.
The last day of bell ringing is Christmas Eve, and while $50,000 in two days may seem like an impossible feat, Mowers said he is confident it can happen.
"The community supports what the Salvation Army is doing, and we just have faith that God is going to provide us exactly what we need," Mowers said.
Plus, Mowers noted, people can continue donating in-person and online until the end of the year.
Every dollar truly does count, Mowers said, especially during the home stretch. And it's a message repeated by other charitable organizations as well.
"We're just hoping that people who are celebrating home and family this Christmas will take a moment to think about others who really long to have a home where it's stable and safe and secure for their families," said Dana Jelinek of the Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity.
Jelinek said they've only reached about half of their goal for their Give $20 for 20 campaign.
"It was kind of slow at the beginning and then at the end of the year it does pick up a little bit. But because of the threats of the fiscal cliff, we have seen a drop off in the donations," Jelinek said.
They just hope that people dig a little deeper to help those who can't.


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It's nearly a month and a half until Barack "I OWN Social Media" Obama is sworn in for his second term, so the unofficial food stalkers at Obama Foodorama compiled a list of the White House's most-viewed YouTube videos related to food. (Did you remember that the Obama Administration basically invented presidential YouTube-ing? Man, 2008 was so long ago.)
Topping the list, at 510,231 views (as of this post): the infamous video about the White House Honey Ale, wherein Sam Kass taught us that the President likes to brew his own beer, like a peasant. After it was revealed that Obama carried a case of his home-brewed beer with him on the campaign trail (and an online petition begged him to reveal his recipe), Kass not only released the recipe, but also walked people through its production.
Compared to food videos from the Obama White House, this has roughly 160,000 more views than its runner-up, Barack Obama grilling things with Bobby Flay (and Flay desperately trying not to challenge him to a Throwdown).
Compared to everything else, it only has 8% of the views of the White House's most-viewed video: Obama's announcement that a team of elite Marines had killed Osama bin Laden. Technically, this makes the White House Honey Ale 1/12th as important as Osama bin Laden, which is understandable. But you can do better than that terrorist, Honey Ale. We believe in you.
Have a tip we should know? email@example.com


text: Tall Margot top in airy cotton piqué Item F6656 Size: All sizes are US sizes. Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Body length: 27 1/2". Product Details Our new tuxedo-inspired Margot top is everything you need this season, thanks to our favorite fall flourish: ruffles. Added bonus: It works just as well at work as it does on the weekend. Cotton. Hook-and-eye closure. Dry clean. Import. Online only. Item F6656.


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Auto Stocks Will Keep on Rolling
My clients own more stocks in the auto industry than any other industry. The average car on U.S. roads is now more than 11 years old. That's why I foresee continuing demand for replacement parts, and also pent-up demand for new cars. Here are four auto-related stocks I own that I have also purchased for most of my clients.
Dorman Products (DORM), of Colmar, Pa., makes about 128,000 replacement auto parts. Many of these parts used to be available only through car dealers or junkyards....401 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Contact Us
23 Traci Lane
Edison, NJ 08817
Tel: 1.732.985.5285
All Aces Construction LLC is a leading private contractor company in New Jersey.
Founded in 2009 in Edison, NJ by Dan Carlson. All Aces Construction, LLC aims to deliver reliabilty and experience when it comes to
General Contracting
Operative Building
Non-residential Construction
Non-residential Industrial Construction
Commercial Building Construction
Office Building Construction
At All Aces Construction LLC we pride ourselves in personally taking care of our clients. We are a small business with approximately 14 employees. This allows us to cater out service to each client.
Contact us to day and see how we can help realize your nonresidential and commercial construction needs


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Office Suite of the Year
Which Office suite do you prefer?
Siag and Corel seem to have some proponents, and the Symphony Suite by IBM made a few waves when it was released a few months ago.
When will the voting begin?
This poll is not fair because I use different programs for word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, database manager.
For word processor, I use either Gnome Abiword and OpenOffice Writer. Usually, I use Abiword the most. Though I might try TextMaker from SoftMaker because it actually looks better.
For spreadsheet, I use Gnome Gnumeric because it is actually better than OpenOffice Calc and KOffice KSpread.
For presentations, I use OpenOffice Impress. It is very limited though. I might try MagicPoint.
For database mananger, KOffice Kexi is actually better than OpenOffice Base.
I am not going to vote in this poll if it starts. I think it is better to delete this poll and create separate polls for the best Word Processor, the best Spreadsheet, the best Presenter, the best GUI Database Manager.
openoffice, even though it uses a lot of RAM and CPU.
My office suite is basically VIM, GIMP, and bc(1) and it usually serves all my needs, I also usually use Google Docs when I *must* deal with creating word processor files.
But it is KOffice that I turn to when needing to run an office suite and IMHO one of the best (at least if you have better spelling then most of us and use an office suite a lot it rocks).
I started using KOffice because OpenOffice.org didn't work on a 64-bit system. And since then I like KOffice more and more. It's a fast and lean, productivity machine :) And I like it how word processor KWord is actually frame-based.
kword is nice, abiword is very good, but latex still makes the most beautiful document (text, presentation) ever, but, i'd go for openoffice.
I would say that Abiword is the best word processor for me, but the best office suite is Koffice. It is really the suite which shows the best improvement these days.
Aplixware? I thought that was dead, or is it?
open office its open source and free
I used KOffice yesterday. It has really advanced since I last tried it. I still think OpenOffice.org is better. However I am beginning to think that KPresenter is better then the OpenOffice.org utility. I also like AbiWord though I can not say that I think it is better then OpenOffice.org Writer as OOo is primarily using Open Document Type while AbiWord is more focused on Document files. I was reading an old Linux Journal talking about how Linux needs good Office Suites. Things have changed, now Linux has tons of them and most (in my opinion) are better then Microsoft Office.
What to choose, the fast and small KOffice or the big and better M$-compliant OpenOffice... :confused:
I like and use them both. :scratch:
Gnome Office is usually surprisingly fast and small for having the name "Gnome" in it. :D Abiword and Gnumeric are incredible pieces of software. If I need more power or features, I go to LaTeX for documents and presentations, and Maxima or R for number crunching.
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:29 PM.


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The North Branch High School Alumni Association will hold a general meeting Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at the Chisago County Senior Center in Uptown Maple Commons to try to get more alumni involved in the organization's activities.
Anyone who graduated from North Branch High School over the years is invited to attend. Come visit with others and find out what opportunities there are to promote camaraderie among graduates and to continue to be able to give scholarships to graduates each year.
The latest newsletter was mailed out to graduates but was also the first one published on the Web. Visit www.northbranch.k12.mn.us, then click the Alumni News button.
Questions? Call Sharalyn at 674-4512, Holly at 674-4657, or Phyllis at 674-8242.


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Every Friday, we help you navigate the week's most important and interesting travel news stories.
Every Friday, we help you navigate the week's most important and interesting travel news stories.
Amazing things that should happen more often
The US might be far behind Europe when
it comes to the quality of trains, but some US cities are trying to make buses more like trains by introducing free wi-i, bus-only
lanes and off-bus ticketing. [Wall Street Journal]
Google took armchair exploration to a new height this week when it unveiled its new underwater Street View, which allows users to see Australia's Great Barrier Reef and five other amazing underwater locations around the world. [Mashable]
A new gelato museum opened outside Bologna charting the history of the Italian treat. If you're not sold on a visit, you will be after reading this: you get to make your own gelato! [Guardian]
Ready for takeoff
All set to go, but too soon to tell what's ahead
Some US companies have begun offering "buy-sell" programs for vacation days. Under the program, employees can manage their vacation time by selling off unused days from the current year or purchasing them for the following year. [Wall Street Journal]
North Korea's Ryugyong hotel has been under construction for 25 years and tourists are almost never allowed inside, but rare photos have surfaced of the interior of the hotel. Apparently, it will open in a few years, which sounds familiar. [BBC News]
Photos and videos that went viral on the Web this week
That random guy flashing a peace sign in the background can ruin your holiday photos, but when a beautiful sea creature jumps into the picture, it can create an epic memory. When a stingray photobombed unsuspecting tourists this week, a viral sensation ensued. [HuffPost Travel]
Much fuss has been made about the new Apple Maps app, so Reuters made a video pitting it against Google Maps in a footrace. Apple failed to match up, reinforcing the idea that Google always knows best. [Reuters/Gizmodo]
Hold on folks, we're in for a rocky ride
To the delight of some travellers and the frustration of others, Malaysian budget airline AirAsia X unveiled a quiet zone on some routes, which will prohibit passengers under 12 years old. [Telegraph]
After his wife had to make an emergency landing, confused US presidential candidate Mitt Romney pondered why aeroplane windows don't roll down. You would think a man running for president would know a thing or two about pressure. [Washington Post]
It's a no-go
A supermodel took to her blog claiming that United Airlines is responsible for the passing of her pooch. She also is upset with how the airline handled the situation after she learned of her dog's death, which the vet concluded was from heatstroke. [HuffPost]
The skies seem to have gotten a little less friendly. A fight between two flight attendants forced a Chicago-bound United Airlines flight to return to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina a week after a similar incident on an American Eagle plane. [USA Today]
Like "In brief"? Talk with us on Twitter @BBC_Travel or with the hashtag #bbcinbrief.


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In another by-election in the PP-240 constituency, PML-N candidate Mir Badshah Qaisrani defeated independent candidate Khwaja Salahuddin Akbar.
According to the unofficial results received at about 11pm, Mr Gilani got more than 38,000 votes and Ms Lang more than 32,000 votes. Turn out remained at 40 per cent.
Although police and Rangers were deployed heavily at Jalalpur Pirwala to maintain law and order, supporters of Mr Gilani and Ms Lang clashed at several places, leaving at least five injured.
Ms Lang came under fire and her vehicle was completely damaged. In reaction, PML-N activists surrounded Mr Gilani's vehicle and attacked it with clubs and iron rods.
Information Deputy Secretary Khwaja Rizwan Alam said that mob opened fire at Mr Gilani's vehicle. "It was an attempt on Mr Gilani's life in which he suffered minor injuries on his forehead and head," he added.
However, Jalalpur Pirwala DSP Bashir Gujar denied any kind of attack on both candidates and said that only three PML-N workers were injured in clashes.
According to unofficial results, Mr Qaisrani secured 53,188 votes and Mr Akbar 30,509 votes. Akbar was backed by the PPP and PML-Q.
Poor arrangements, slow polling, rigging allegations, aerial firing and scuffles at polling stations were the features of both contests. Polling had to be suspended several times at various polling stations, but election authorities remained unconcerned.
The supporters of a candidate attacked the vehicle of PML-Q leader Khwaja Shiraz Mehmood in the PP-240 constituency and did not let him enter the polling station in Bathi in the Tuman Qaisrani tribal area when he arrived there accompanied by independent candidate Mr Akbar.
Similarly, people belonging to the Kheitran tribe raised slogans against Mr Qaisrani when he reached at a polling station in Ritra.


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Montreal's HMAN announces new Cloudsurfing mixtape [News]
Montreal, QC – While on the final leg of his European tour with hip-hop vets The Beatnuts, Unknown Battalion frontman HMAN releases the official artwork and track listing for his highly anticipated Cloudsurfing mixtape dropping on March 20.
The project features a compilation of 15 solid tracks that includes guest appearances from Stealth Bomb Records' own Jaclyn Gee, original Roc member Freeway, Fiend and more. While DB Koopa handles most of the production on the project, HMAN calls on the likes of Alex Lustig, Skin Deep and King Nazeem for that extra touch.
Be sure to check in for the new tape right here on Thursday, March 20 and tune in for a new video off the project later this week.
Previous Post
HMAN – Never In A Million Years ft. Freeway [Audio]
Twitter: @HTHEMAN
Tags: Alex Lustig, DB Koopa, Fiend, Freeway, HMan, Jaclyn Gee, King Nazeem, Skin Deep, The Beatnuts, Unknown Battalion
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|Comments on Photo
|Add Comment
By lee hansche
From: goffstown, nh
Aug 28, 2012
|this is a great photo showing that move! thanks for posting it...
By twellman
From: Cambridge
Aug 29, 2012
|Nice Spang! Seems like everyone does that sequence a little differently. Is that a cam hanging next to the draw?
By Christine Spang
Oct 22, 2012
|twellman: yeah, I originally tried to put a piece above the move and then clip the pin before stepping over, but I didn't have the reach. I blew the piece when I pumped out and slipped off! I'd had to move it so I could use the hold it was in, and turns out the new placement just wasn't that good. what worked for me was to pull the move without trying to clip the pin first.
By Christine Spang
Oct 22, 2012
|anyway, the point of all that was that I just reused the draw from the piece that blew, and the yellow alien was still clipped to it.
By Sprax Lines
From: Brookline, MA
Sep 15, 2014
|Go Spang! Looks like a pretty light rack, too. Confident.
By Robert Hall
From: North Conway, NH
Jul 29, 2015
When Joe Cote spoke of how nice this climb was his description was simply "Start at the triple corner, and follow the corner systems up; about 5.8 5.9 A1 or A2"...nothing about the P2 step DOWN and ACROSS.
You'll notice the beautiful corner up and left of the climber's left hand...that's where the attempted 2nd ascent went...until the nailing got to A-3 / A-4. I think it now goes as a 5.12 or so.
By john strand
From: southern colo
Jul 30, 2015
|The WEZ i think. Never aid climbed as far a I know,, but sure a tough free climb ( Iguess, i failed)
|Avg Score
|5.0 from 3 votes
|Your Score


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Reverse Culture Shock
Cross Cultures: Reverse Culture Shock
Here's a post from OnSugar blog My DISFunkshion.
Studying abroad in Europe is definitely a life-changing experience, chock-full of nonstop activities and explorations. But what happens when you come home only to settle into your old routine in your old hometown?
We've all heard of culture shock – the sudden realization that, when in a foreign country, everything around you is new and strange. People experience in varying degrees, some with a sense of excitement, others feel helpless in the face of the changes. Similarly, the same can happen upon returning home. You had just settled into your new country, your new city – what's the deal with all this American culture now?
One friend described a particularly specific moment of her "reverse culture shock" when she went food shopping in her hometown's food market. When she was having trouble weighing her produce, she asked a store attendant for help … in Italian. My friend instantly became upset and frustrated in the face of having to balance the old and new cultures she had come to know.
What can one do to remedy this said reverse culture shock? Realize you need to expect it. Things change after a period of time away, but at the same time, they stay eerily the same. When first embarking on our journey abroad, my fellow students and I were warned endlessly of the culture shock we were bound to encounter, but not so much on our return home. Knowing to expect it helps to quell any shock no matter which direction you're traveling.
Want to see more? Start following My DISFunkshion or start your own OnSugar blog. Maybe your stories will be posted here on TrèsSugar!


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gird(redirected from girded)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal.
gird up one's loins
Fig. to get ready, especially for hard work; to prepare oneself (for something). Well, I guess I had better gird up my loins and go to work. Somebody has to do something about the problem. Why don't you gird up your loins and do something?
gird (up) your loins(humorous)
to prepare yourself mentally to do something difficult
Usage notes: This phrase comes from the Bible, where girding up your loins meant to tie up long, loose clothes so that they were more practical when you were working or travelling.Both sides are presently girding their loins for the legal battles that lie ahead.
gird one's loins
Also, gird up one's loins. Prepare oneself for action, as in I'm girding up my loins for that crucial interview. This expression comes from the Bible (Proverbs 31:17) and originally alluded to tucking up the traditional long robe into a girdle (that is, a belt) so it will not hamper physical activity. [c. 1600]
gird (up) (one's) loins
To summon up one's inner resources in preparation for action.


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Contributing editor Glenn Rogers is back this week, writing from his base in southern California. He's reaped some good profits from the stock market rally but now he's feeling a little antsy about the future. If you're in a similar position, he has a suggestion: take some profits and play defense for a while. Here is his report.
Glenn Rogers writes:
Everybody I talk to these days is nervous, although for different reasons. Some are nervous because they feel left behind. They sat on the sidelines and missed the incredible rally we've had since March. Now they're afraid they won't have a chance to participate because the market has been refusing to correct.
Others are nervous because they made a pot of money in the rebound and they're afraid they could lose it all in a replay of last year's meltdown. So they don't know whether to take profits, let their winnings run, or curl up in a fetal position and hope they'll be rescued by divine providence.
Personally, I've been fully invested for some time but two weeks ago I bought some Ultrashort ETFs as insurance and have been killed in the trade. I gradually unwound those and have been raising cash, expecting some sort of correction to occur. I'm still waiting although we may have seen the start of it this week.
Meanwhile, prognosticators have been throwing an alphabet soup of letters at us. Will the recovery be a V, a W, or perhaps an L? I'm leaning towards a V - a fast and unexpectedly strong rebound. But I'm not feeling very confident about it so I plan to continue to take some profits and raise my level of cash in case we get what would appear to be an overdue pullback.
The good news is we do have some profits to take and it would be a shame to see them all leach away in the face of some steep correction that could send investors running for the sidelines again.
The bear case is clear: unemployment is still rising, post-foreclosures still dominate the market, U.S. commercial real estate has not recovered from the slump, corporate profits remain anemic, and corporate revenues are flat to down. The bull case, on the other hand, rests on the steepness of last year's decline and the severity of the reaction from corporate America and companies worldwide to the financial crisis. Employees were savagely dumped, capital spending was placed on hold, and costs were cut everywhere. Now that we are seeing some glimmers of hope, any revenue recovery should lead to dramatic profit increases on the much lower cost platforms that global industry has put in place. Certainly the biggest worry from where I sit is U.S. unemployment and until we see those job losses flatten out we are not out of the woods. That said, the latest jobless claim numbers, which showed a drop in new workers applying for unemployment insurance for the third straight week, were encouraging.
Fortunately, we can hedge our bets by taking some profits and building cash reserves and/or reinvesting the money in more defensive securities. Several of my recent recommendations have scored nice gains and given the pricier state of the market I would recommend taking half profits in all of these. See my updates for details.
I should stress that there is nothing wrong with any of these securities. It's just that, given the jittery mental state of many investors, I think it would be prudent to play with the house's money for a while and get a little more defensive. It's likely that you be able to rebuild your positions in the securities we're reducing for 10% or 15% less than their current prices if we get the pullback that everyone's been expecting.
Of course, if you already have a lot of cash on hand than there's no compelling reason to sell any of these names. So your decision will be based on what percentage of your account you have in cash and how fearful you are of a significant market correction.
Dividend ETFs
There some relatively low-risk ETFs where you could park some money while we see how all this plays out. For example, take a look at these three funds, all of which are designed to track baskets of U.S. companies that offer respectable dividends.
The three are the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (NYSE: DVY), the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: VIG), and the Power Shares High Yield Dividend and Equity Achievers (NYSE: PEY). Although all three of these ETFs have the same general goal, it's somewhat surprising to find that their performance has varied greatly. At the time of writing, DVY was down 12% year-to-date, VIG was flat, and PEY was down almost 20%. So, interestingly, these issues have not participated in the market rally so far, which may be good news.
Take a look at the holdings of these three baskets you'll notice some fairly dramatic differences. PEY is made up of the 50 highest yielding companies with at least 10 years of consecutive dividend increases. DVY is composed of companies that have provided relatively high dividend yields on a consistent basis over time while VIG looks a lot like the Dow Jones 30 Industrials to me.
Currently, PEY has a trailing 12-month yield of 5.3%, based on Friday's closing price of $7.45. However, I should note that the monthly payments have dropped off significantly this year and I do not expect the yield to be that high over the next 12 months. This ETF has the most diverse collection of holdings among the three, split between industrials, materials, utilities, telecommunications, and a few healthcare, media, and consumer goods stocks. About 40% of the fund is in the financial services sector. The portfolio emphasis is weighted heavily towards small to mid-cap companies, which explains why this fund fared worse than the other two in the market meltdown. However, it also appears to have more upside potential if the rally continues. The MER is 0.59%.
The iShares ETF (DVY) has 101 positions and is a mix of large, medium, and smaller companies. Some names in the portfolio are immediately recognizable such as Kimberly-Clark, Chevron, and Dow Chemical. Others will only be known to dedicated stock-watchers, Watsco Inc., PPG Industries, and Scana Corp. among them. Distributions are paid quarterly and the last two have been about 39c a share (figures in U.S. currency). The trailing 12-month payout totalled $1.79 which would translate into a yield of 4.4% based on Friday's closing price of $40.78. But based on the payouts for the last two quarters, I suggest it is more realistic to expect distributions in the $1.60 range over the next year for a projected yield of 3.9%. The MER is 0.4%.
The Vanguard ETF (VIG) is the most conservative play. It is designed to track the Dividend Achievers Select Index, which is administered exclusively for Vanguard by Mergent, Inc. There are 186 securities in the portfolio with a focus on large-cap stocks. Top holdings include Wells Fargo, IBM, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Wal-Mart, and Johnson & Johnson. As I said, it looks a lot like the Dow 30 Industrials, only bigger. It pays quarterly distributions which have recently been running at about 23c a unit. The trailing 12-month payout is 99.5c for a yield of 2.26% based on Friday's closing price of $43.99. My yield projection for the next year is around 2%. The MER is a very low 0.24%.
Bank of America preferreds
If you are looking for higher yields and are prepared to take more risk, consider the preferred shares of Bank of America. They were downgraded to junk status last winter amid fears that BoA might not survive, however Moody's announced last month that it is reviewing their B3 rating with a view to a possible upgrade now that the company is profitable again.
I own the Series J issue, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol BAC.PR.J. This is a fixed-rate, non-cumulative preferred that pays a 7.25% dividend based on its issue price of $25. That works out to $1.81 a year so based on Friday's closing price of $21.50 the yield is 8.4%.
These preferreds traded for as little as $4.02 last February at the height of the credit crunch and the U.S. banking crisis. Obviously, they have recovered strongly since then as confidence in the banking system was restored by the massive U.S. government bail-out. The high yield indicates there is still some concern about BoA's future, but at this stage I think the company is recovering well and that the dividend is safe. There is also some capital gains potential here. The preferreds are not callable until Nov. 1, 2012.
I am adding them to our Recommended List for aggressive investors looking for more yield. However, note that they are thinly traded so enter a limit order. The BoA Series X preferreds (NYSE: BAC.PR.X) are an alternative choice with a similar yield. I think these preferreds may be the best overall U.S. bank play right now.
PowerShares Financial Preferred Portfolio
If you prefer more diversification, consider the PowerShares Financial Preferred Portfolio (NYSE: PGF) currently trading at $16. It is based on the Wachovia Hybrid & Preferred Securities Financial Index, which tracks the performance of about 30 U.S. listed preferred shares issued by financial institutions. At least 90% of the assets are normally invested in these securities.
As you are aware, the U.S. financial sector has gone through an extremely rough period and it is not clear that the full extent of the damage is known even yet. As a result, preferreds issued by the banks, insurers, etc. have been beaten down in price and are offering unusually high yields. The situation is not dissimilar to the one we saw in Canada late last year, except it is more extreme in the U.S.
This has resulted in preferred share yields that have never been seen before and may never be seen again. Currently, this ETF is paying monthly distributions of 11c to 12c a unit. Projecting this forward for 12 months, using the 11c figure, we could be looking at a cash yield of 8.25% based on Friday's closing price of $16. But a word of caution: the distributions are not eligible for the Canadian dividend tax credit and will be subject to a 15% withholding tax if paid into a non-registered account in Canada. (The same holds for the BoA preferreds.)
PGF units dropped all the way to $5.16 but have since rallied strongly. However, they are still well below their 2006 issue price of $25 and I believe there is upside potential here in addition to the handsome payout. Top holdings include preferreds from Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Barclays, and JPMorgan Chase. About 69% of the assets are rated BBB or better by Standard & Poor's. The MER is 0.74%. This is my top pick for this month and we are adding it to the IWB Recommended List.
All the above are fairly defensive plays given the uncertain market we are likely to have over the next few weeks. Generally, I think the trend will continue higher after a correction, but it is wise to protect yourself on the downside, play a little defense, and add some more yield your portfolio. So hold your breath for the next few weeks. It's going to be an interesting October.
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I've loved museums my entire life…and after working in one for 10 years, that love only grew stronger. On Mondays, I will share some of my favorite museums located within the 26 counties of eastern Arkansas.
One of my favorite museums in the Arkansas Delta is the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum in Piggott.
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center opened in July 1999. Arkansas State University purchased the historic property in 1997 and the house and the barn were restored and reflect the 1930s era.
Paul and Mary Pfeiffer bought the house in June 1913 and relocated their family from St. Louis. Their first daughter, Pauline, graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1918. She worked for Vanity Fair as a fashion writer before making her way to Paris to work for Vogue. It was in Paris in 1925 that Pauline Pfeiffer met the dapper writer Ernest Hemingway and his wife, Hadley, at a party. They would all become friends. Hemingway divorced Hadley in April 1927. Ernest married Pauline in Paris on May 10 of that same year. The Pfeiffer family welcomed Hemingway into their life and their home. Pauline and Ernest visited the home frequently and the Pfeiffers converted a barn behind the home into a studio for Hemingway's use during his stays. It was here that Hemingway wrote a large portion of one of his most famous novels, A Farewell to Arms, and various short stories. Ernest and Pauline would divorce in 1940. The home stayed in the Pfeiffer family until 1950 when Mary Pfeiffer died. In 1982, the Pfeiffer Home and the barn were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The museum and barn give visitors an insight into how the Pfeiffer and Hemingway families lived during their time in the home. This past July, the museum celebrated its 10th anniversary. Part of that was the unveiling a new exhibit, entitled The Piggott Connection. The exhibit features a timeline of Ernest's time in Piggott along with family photos of their visits and excerpts from letters written by the author. The 16-foot exhibit panel now has a permanent home in the Barn Studio.
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center is located at 1021 W. Cherry St. in Piggott. Visit http://hemingway.astate.edu or call 870-598-3487 for more information.


text: Promoted Jack Donaghy Multipanes Are The Best I think it's only appropriate we revisit how awesome Jack Donaghy is since 30 Rock isn't returning till midseason. Most everyone I know has cooled on 30 Rock over the years, but I don't know anyone who has cooled on Alec Baldwin's brilliant ability to deliver a one-liner. It's indisputably the best part of the show. If you've ever thought differently you've been incorrect. UPROXX 6 years ago 1 response


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21 posts 0 hypeJoined Feb 2012
- Last login May 26, 14 @ 9:59 pm
Naturally Dyed Cotton
I'm just curious if anyone would be interested if a brand solely used natural dyes for coloration (dyes that come from bark/grass/bugs), and were on Egyptian/Sea Island Cotton? Extremely high quality cotton with only natural coloration. I'm just curious to see if this actually appeals to anyone? Or do most people not care too much about the process? *Edit* I forgot to explain it would be a jersey knit cotton, so t-shirts pretty much.2 Weeks ago in Fashion


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In order to change the Organisation or Owner for your .eu domain name, you will need to submit a request to our support team via the Ask a Question tab on our support site. Please include the existing registrant information and what you would like to be updated.
123-reg will then submit your request to EURid (the Internet Registry for .eu domain names). Requests of this nature usually take around 10 days to complete.
EURid will issue an automatic email to both the new and the old registrant requesting them to confirm the trade via their web interface. EURid must receive the confirmation of the trade within a maximum of 14 days.
If a confirmation is received from both parties within 7 days of the reminder email being sent, the requested changes will be implemented and an email will be sent to the old registrar to inform them that the changes have been made.
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Family appeal on ninth anniversary of doorstep shooting
The brother of a man shot on his doorstep in Liverpool has appealed for "closure" on the ninth anniversary of his death.
Joseph Peloe, 45, was shot at his house on Little Heath Road, Speke, on 28 December 2004.
He managed to stagger to a nearby police station but died in hospital. No-one has been convicted over his death.
His brother, Jimmy Peloe, said: "All we want is closure."
Mr Peloe added: "There is somebody with that bit of information that will lead us one day to Joey's murderer."
Two men were cleared of Joseph Peloe's murder at Liverpool Crown Court in February 2006.


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Domain Whois Results:
Domain Name: philips.com Registry Domain ID: 68402_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.corporatedomains.com Registrar URL: www.cscprotectsbrands.com Updated Date: 2014-07-08 01:39:29 -0400 Creation Date: 1987-04-04 00:00:00 -0500 Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2016-07-11 17:09:28 -0400 Registrar: CSC CORPORATE DOMAINS, INC. Registrar IANA ID: 299 Registrar Abuse Contact Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.8887802723 Domain Status: serverTransferProhibited Domain Status: serverDeleteProhibited Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited Domain Status: serverUpdateProhibited Registry Registrant ID: Registrant Name: Koninklijke Philips N.V. Registrant Organization: Koninklijke Philips N.V. Registrant Street: High Tech Campus 5 Registrant City: Eindhoven Registrant State/Province: NL Registrant Postal Code: 5656 AE Registrant Country: NL Registrant Phone: +31.402740607 Registrant Phone Ext: Registrant Fax: +31.402743489 Registrant Fax Ext: Registrant Email: email@example.com Registry Admin ID: Admin Name: Philips Intellectual Property and Standards Admin Organization: Philips International B.V. Admin Street: High Tech Campus 5 Admin City: Eindhoven Admin State/Province: NL Admin Postal Code: 5656 AE Admin Country: NL Admin Phone: +31.402740607 Admin Phone Ext: Admin Fax: +31.402743489 Admin Fax Ext: Admin Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Registry Tech ID: Tech Name: Philips IT Infrastructure, PL N&T, DDI-Authority Tech Organization: Philips Electronics Nederland B.V. Tech Street: Boschdijk 525 Tech City: Eindhoven Tech State/Province: NL Tech Postal Code: 5621 JG Tech Country: NL Tech Phone: +31.622948135 Tech Phone Ext: Tech Fax: +31.402743489 Tech Fax Ext: Tech Email: email@example.com Name Server: ns3.ext.philips.com Name Server: ns1.ext.philips.com Name Server: ns2.ext.philips.com DNSSEC: URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/ >>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2014-07-08 01:39:29 -0400 <<< Corporation Service Company(c) (CSC) The Trusted Partner of More than 50% of the 100 Best Global Brands. Contact us to learn more about our enterprise solutions for Global Domain Name Registration and Management, Trademark Research and Watching, Brand, Logo and Auction Monitoring, as well SSL Certificate Services and DNS Hosting. NOTICE: You are not authorized to access or query our WHOIS database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic processes or for the purpose or purposes of using the data in any manner that violates these terms of use. The Data in the CSC WHOIS database is provided by CSC for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. CSC does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: you agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via direct mail, e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to CSC (or its computer systems). CSC reserves the right to terminate your access to the WHOIS database in its sole discretion for any violations by you of these terms of use. CSC reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. Register your domain name at http://www.cscglobal.com For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/epp-status-codes-2014-06-16-en This information was cached by DNSTools.com on July 05 2015 20:55:20.
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Reviews & Stories
Exceptional in Every Way! - New York, NY
Had face lift when I was mid-50's as my face was thin and I looked tired. Breast augmentation after that...should have had BA year ago. Life changing experience on both counts in the most positive of ways. READ MORE
Questions from Lolly13
2 weeks post op platysmaplasty revision, I have a fluid on my neck. Is this a fluid pocket/ seroma? (photos)
I has a platysmaplasty revision 2 weeks ago and there remains a pocket of what appears to be fluid on my neck that is asthetically unattractive. I wore an elastic wrap for over... READ MORE
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Please contact Dr Cap Lesesne, MD. He is truly the very best! You can contact him via email and he can answer your questions. Cap has offices in NY and London. His phone number is: 212.570.6318 and his email is email@example.com My... READ COMMENT
Hello. Hope I can help. After 50 plus years of being "flat as a pancake" I did my research and had breast implants. I went from a AA to a B. I wish I would have done this year's ago! I feel so much better about myself and look great... READ COMMENT
Hello Sharon. My downtime was very minimal each time. After my facelift I was walking around NYC two days later. Same with my breast augmentation. I have spoken to many others who could not believe I was not in bed for a week! My... READ COMMENT


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We're happy to announce that The Great Hunt, volume two in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, is now available as an eBook from the Sony eBook Store and other online retailers. This edition sports a new cover and has been re-typeset especially for ebook production.
Publication schedule and more information on this series in our Wheel of Time ebook index.
Because some of you have asked: Cover artist Kekai Kotaki has graciously allowed us to offer his artwork as a desktop wallpaper. (If you missed it, you can see a behind-the-scenes creation of the cover here.) As always, you need to be a registered user and signed in to download these wallpapers.
2560 x 1600 for 30-inch behemoths?
1680 x 1050 WSXGA?
1600 x 1200 Non-widescreen monitors?
1920 x 1080 1080p?
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1024 x 768 XGA?
1024 x 600 for netbooks like the Asus EeePC?
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Largo's City Commission race for Seat 1 pits a local business leader against a seasoned city leader — each with different approaches to dealing with tough economic times.
Joseph Falanga, a Largo business owner and former Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce chairman, is challenging incumbent Commissioner Mary Gray Black in Tuesday's election.
Black, who was elected in 2005, stresses controlled spending and lower taxes. Falanga, who served on the city's Finance Advisory Board, emphasizes bringing new businesses to the city to ease the burden on city taxpayers.
In September, Black opposed a property tax rate increase supported by the rest of the commission.
Even with the increase, typical Largo homeowners will pay less in city taxes because Amendment 1 provides an additional $25,000 homestead exemption. But Black said the proposed budget was calculated with a lower tax rate and the city could still maintain current services this year with a lower rate.
But Falanga said "it took a lot of spine" for other commissioners to support the raise, aimed at easing job and service cuts in future years.
"We know the wave is coming," Falanga said. "How big of a wall do we need to build to upset that?"
Black, who also served on the commission during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, has opposed tax breaks for businesses that wanted to relocate in Largo. She also opposed the city's purchase of downtown land to prime the area for redevelopment.
In June, Black opposed a tax break for an aircraft parts manufacturer that planned to relocate its headquarters in Largo and create nearly 200 new jobs and generate several million dollars in economic development. She said she opposed the incentives, backed by the rest of the commission, partly because the company couldn't commit to hiring a certain number of Largo residents.
Falanga, who supports such incentives, views his opponent as "anti-growth" and "anti-business."
The candidates also clash on the city's efforts to buy neighboring parcels downtown with the goal of marketing chunks of land to developers in the future.
Black has voted against such efforts. She said public money shouldn't be used for such purchases. Falanga supports them, saying the city will be ready to jumpstart downtown when the economy turns around. "I think she's just out of touch," Falanga said. "Progress is not really where she wants to be."
• • •
Largo voters will also consider one amendment to Largo's city charter in the upcoming election. The amendment deals with canvassing boards, which certify elections and perform other tasks, such as processing absentee and provisional ballots.
Now, members of the City Commission who are not running for office serve on the canvassing board for city elections. Pinellas County's canvassing board can canvass city elections when city elections take place at the same time as countywide elections. A yes vote on this question would let the Pinellas County canvassing board perform canvassing tasks for any city election, with City Commission approval.


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Best Local Poets In Tampa BayTampa Bay is home to some nationally recognized poets that have published books and performed locally to share their gifts with the community. Read on to learn about some of the Bay's best poets.
Best Venues For Spoken Word And Poetry Readings In TampaIn celebration of National Poetry Month, two competitions invite poets, venues rock with youthful spoken word performance art, and groups for professional writers share the joy of this emotive genre of literature.


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Politics: Canadians wished a happy birthday — the big 3-0! — to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ushered into law by the Liberal government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the Charter is likely the most popular legal framework in the country, with an astounding 80 per cent approval rating. The 20 per cent who dislike it include Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the most prominent Canadian to avoid celebrating the important anniversary.
Crime: Another big landmark this week came to most by surprise — namely, the news that the country's oldest prison, Kingston Penitentiary, will be shut down as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures. The news was announced by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on Thursday afternoon, hours after affected Kingston employees were notified. The jail opened in 1835 and can hold up to 421 inmates; its current crop of convicts will be transferred to new facilities.
Culture: While some Pulitzer judges protested the fact that no prize for fiction was awarded this year — the first time in 34 years this has happened — others were breathing a sigh of relief that at least Jonathan Franzen didn't win. The Freedom novelist's recent, unflattering look in The New Yorker at his late novelist friend David Foster Wallace, who died by his own hand, was the target of pithy criticism by writer David Shields this week; in literary terms, Shields basically called Franzen a terrible person. Ouch.
The City: When Mayor Rob Ford announced last year that he would not attend the Toronto Pride parade, the reaction was one of shock, then a flurry of different responses. Was Ford a bigot? Was he simply lazy? Was he right? This week, he said he wouldn't be going this year either. The response this time: measured, yet unanimous condemnation. Wrote Torontoist's Hamutal Dotan, "people openly wonder if our mayor is homophobic, and he is giving them more cause to wonder."
Technology: Music fans got a glimpse of what concerts might look like in the future this week when audiences at California festival Coachella were treated to a holographic version of late rapper Tupac Shakur, which/who joined Snoop Dogg on stage. The CGI illusion immediately went viral, stoking plans for it/him to go on tour and speculation that other dead legends could someday rise from the dead. Kurt Cobain? John Lennon? The opportunities for sacrilege are endless.
Sarah Barmak


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Thanks for the review Pixel Dan!
I like tytus but I would have preferred him to have more articulations... even if it would have meant to see a higher cost.
I really like posing my figures and each time the number of articulations is reduced, I'm a little bit sad...
... also not using a soft plastic and harder joins (to handle the weapon) are big mistakes IMO.
Anyway, it seems to be a really cool figure I want to own but it could have been better IMO.
The Official 200X Sorceress vs 200X Evil-Lyn 2 Pack Support Thread
The Blonde Teela Thread
Sagitar (Jetlag) Azdar Belzar Chazdar 200X Evil-Lyn 200X Teenage Prince Adam 200X Teenage Teela 200X Sorceress General Rattlor (MYP) 200X King Randor and Queen Marlena 200X Battle Armor King Randor and Battle Armor Queen Marlena Ice Armor He-Man WMD Roboto
Tytus looks cool with the "Conan look."
I wish he had a different weapon as well as his grabber.
Lack of articulation won't bother me.
Now, let's see if I can get him!
Good review Dan!
I want my other half.
If I am lucky enough to get him I will be giving him the sword and axe I got with an old conan figure years ago. They were pretty big so I think they will look to scale with him.
Well, I must say that, as much as I like Tytus and his sculpt, ... I'm disappointed.
Why ? Because once again, Mattel had an AWESOME looking figure (sculpt), and just went and botched it with a total lack of articulation ! No ball joint, legs that can barely move, hard plastic for the loin cloth, limited movement of the head, etc. etc.
What's even worse is that Tytus's weapon is too big and heavy for his size (I had a feeling when I saw the pics), and it drags the arm downward.
So, few articulations, and an unusable weapon !
All in all, the figures still looks excellent and impressive, but unfortunately, Mattel's LIMITATIONS caused this otherwise wonderful figure to look like an INFERIOR QUALITY figure !
We always come back to this fact : the quality of these figures seems to be lacking, from design (Tytus's articulation limitations are a good example) to production (sloppy paint apps, brittle plastic for the Goddess, bobbleheads, weak joints, warped limbs or weapons...), and there is NOTHING that was made to remedy or to avoid such problems. It is really a crying shame !
I'll still be buying Tytus, and probably Megator, but if the guys Mattel don't start producing DECENT figures with EXCELLENT quality, I think I might begin to skip some figures. This will begin with Mo-Larr, an exclusive that I personally don't like (it will be the first MOTUC figure I'll pass). But I might begin to pass even figures that I like and that are not produced properly... Now, this got me to wonder what are Gygor's articulations, and if the next large scale figures will be so poorly designed.
A great review as always, PD. Thanks!
I still want a Tytus, but I have to admit that I am not as psyched for him as I thought i'd be. Maybe the inevitable release of Megator to stand opposite will make me like him more?
I struggle with one main point. but before I get to that, I have to clarify some things.
1. articulation is a downer. It basically looks like we are getting a 200x figure, with elbow articulation. at that is sort of depressing. I understand why they used cheeper method to make, but if we are paying more, shouldn't we get the quality? BUTT, i do have some marvel legends 12 inches that are made with the heavier plastics, and it doesn't make them better. it actually makes them harder to move, and easier to tip over.. so again, i see the reasons.
this doesnt justify: head joint, and the arm strength. they MUST have tested figures before finalizing, and they would have seen this. basically i think that they said "we are cutting corners, so we might as well cut them all..
2.I have no connection to him. I have no idea who he is, or why he is so special. and i mean that in the sense, i dont care. if the figure is "worth" buying to me, i always will. i have random DC toys i have no idea ANYTHING about the "character" but if i like that figure, i like that figure.... this one, doesnt "get me like that"
3. for some collectors, it seems to be lumped in the "12 inch always are crappy and cheaper" group. this almost is ALWAYS true. joint strenght, plastic weight, and detail is why 7 inches has been most of what figures have been made for the past 20 years. (maybe more) there is a reason for that madness.
my final point would be this. I look at the comparison. as far as price point goes, obviously i am comparing this to battle cat, and to gygor.
this one, at a higher price than battlecat, fails on every level that BC set for us. on the other hand, (i was at c2e2) and i finally saw Gygor. I am not a "fan" of the character, but i think he is TOTALLY worth his price point. he TOWERS over figures also, and looks GREATly sculpted. Its sad to say but the fan in me, which would rather have a tytus more than gygor is not going to beat out the toyfan in me, which thinks that tytus (unless i was to keep him IN THE BOX and displayed) is not worth it, and Gygor would be a better addition.
again, GREAT REVIEW THOUGH. thank you for being honest with everything about the figures!!
Great review like always. I'm surprised how Tytus really towers over the classics figures. I understand how some articulation has to be sacrificed by the size of the figure. I do get that, but I feel a little gypped at what I'm getting.
I would have preferred a little more for my $$. An extra weapon or something would have satisfied me. Still, I'm going to end buying him anyway.
I hope there's more to Megator.
You just read a post from the head Honcho of Nerds On A Couch!
To me, the size of this figure and look are impressive. But that's it. It's unacceptible to me that a figure that's upscaled is downscaled on the overall value of the figure itself. Aside from cheaping out, i can't see a reason to replace the current level of articulation, even in large scaled figures, with what Tytus has. The head, ok i can understand that. Maybe even the ankles...i'm not sure of the overall weight of this guy. But not even being able to raise the arms outward to me is just dumb.
I'm glad i'm not reviewing these guys anymore...i'd get bashed for how harsh my review of him would be LOL...
Although this is one figure which I can't call an improvement over the original (simply because the vintage one was so cool and massive), he's still a nice figure with an awesome sculpt imo. Sure the articulation could be better, but there is also a postive side to that: a better scupt. The body looks way better without the ab crunch for instance. Overall he is not one of the figures that have impressed me the most (like Teela...she's so beautiful...) but still a figure I am keeping my fingers crossed that I won't miss on the 17th.
Hmm...man, I'm really putting down a lot of money just because I want Megator to have someone to fight. I won't be able to do anything fun with this guy! I'll barely be able to set him up in any poses for jokes...he'll just stand there. I still think I could rig him to do something, but he sure is majorly boring. He looks like a normal guy, his armor isn't interesting, his weapons is completely useless. Gah! I still don't know if I want to skip him or not, though he sure has a lot working against him.
Back in the day that articulation would have been normal! I guess I've been spoiled. On top of that, I don't play with figures the way I used to. Back then all this articulation would have just gotten in the way, but now it's part of playing with the figure; ya know, putting him in poses and whatnot. I was really hoping he's be able to kneel down and punch folks on the ground. How awesome would that be to have him totally punching someone in the face? That'd pound 'em into the ground! Now, though, Tytus just looses all his potential. He's got more articulation than a staction but is pretty much just as useable as one.
"Since you got here by not thinking, it seems reasonable to expect that, in order to get out, you must start thinking." ~ Tock, the Watchdog
Alexx has a blog?! Come on in and check out Toys and Tomfoolery! You won't regret it...until the next morning.
Great review. Can Tytus's armor be swapped out with the other Masters figures?
Bikini Teela: Hottest version ever!!
someone else said he did have a ball jointed head like the others. does he =just have limited motion or is it really just a cut joint head swivel?
ankles, head motion and a better range of motion in his arms would have been great.
I want NA Skeletor and Rio Blast and I want them now!
"A Race 2 What And Where We Going?
We In The Same Boat
But Eye'M The Only One Rowin
Last Time Eye Checked U Were Sleepin'
but U Can Call Me A Dreamer 2"
This is PD's Stage here, Great Review By the Way...but I want to chime in for a moment. I don't think that the video does a great deal to show off how great he looks. I am not speaking about Dan's video, I am talking about a Camcorder vs a Digital Camera. Here are a few high res shots. The articulation for me was not an issue once I got to see how sweet he is in person. I think Mattel and the 4H have done a EXCELLENT Job!
I Didn't Slap You! I High-Fived You In The Face!
Great video review as always Dan! I am definitely looking forward to buying him, as I am probably the biggest Tytus fan as you know.
Fantastic review Dan! I definitely still like the figure as I already had an idea how the articulation was going to be once they said he was going to be roto-cast.
Nice review as always! My only fear with Tytus is that he is going to take up a ton of storage space!!! It's worth it though!!!
What, no ball jointed shoulders?!?
Otherwise a great review.. again!
MOTUC needs:Tung Lashor, Rio-Blast and rest of the Hordes!
WANTED: Minicomics !!! Swords NEEDED !!! MY FEEDBACK
Wow, Tytus has Ultimate Warrior-like muscles and veins lookin all roided up!
As always, great job, Dan. The new intro is fantastic.
Tytus looks amazing and I can't wait to get him later this month. Thanks.
MOTUC Most Wanted: Skeleteen, Prince Keldor, Captain Randor, The Great Black Wizard, Lady Slither, Spirit, Tuvar, Baddra, Cursed Marzo, Tug-O-War, Scrollos, Songster, Mini-Comics Spirit of Castle Grayskull, and for the love of the Sorceress and Julie Winston, ODIPHUS!!!
Instagram: Just_Thommy
Dan is it me, or do u have the shadows of the 3 towers / Eternia playset in the background to the left of grayskull? Great review. SO indecisive now... I like the sculpt, except for the feet... look odd to me. The shoulders bum me out... needs an ax or a sword... cuz the vacuum sucks.... haha snort, snort!!!
I will NEVER believe that Mermista beheaded Mer-Man! You sit on a throne of lies.... and smell of beef and cheese, bio writer!!!!
Dan the Man, killed it as always! Thanks for always addressing what we want to know!
Man, ball jointed shoulders and heads are EASY to do with Roto. I wasn't surprised we lost the bicep articulation, nor did I care. But man losing the shoulder movement makes him really 80's. Very disappointed but his size first, and now the movement.
I feel like Mattel could have gotten away with taking away some articulation, and making him a little smaller. But if you are going to take away that much articulation he ought to be huge! The flipside of course being if he was smaller give us articulation.
It just feels like almost every corner got cut with him other than his sculpt and paint app, and yet he costs a premium.
Oh well, I will still be a happy He fan when he arrives (if I am able to actually get something before it sells out this month) but would have liked to see a bit better value.
Excellent review Dan. The new intro is amazing!!
I understand the lack of articulation. Vintage figures didn't have much articulation either. But, how can a giant fight against smaller enemies if he can't look down?!?! That does not make sense.
I guess I can live with that, but the fact that the weapon is too heavy for his arm, that is my major disappointment. Dan, is there a way to position the weapon so he grabs it with both hands?
"I must possess all, or I possess nothing" - Skeletor in Masters of the Universe (1987)
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Yeah love the new intro and another great review Pixel Dan!
It does suck he doesn't have any ball joints and a softer plastic on the inside of the weapon would've made sense. Maybe on a re-relaese? (Half-joking there...)
No comment.


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CES Gaming Preview: Xbox 2 and PSP Mysteries, and Portable Gaming
- CES Gaming Preview: Xbox 2 and PSP Mysteries, and Portable Gaming
- Sony—It's all about the PSP
Sony—It's all about the PSP
If we can't expect Microsoft to be ready with substantial Xbox 2 info, we certainly can't expect Sony to say anything at all about the PlayStation 3. It's possible that they'll say a few words in general about the Cell chip that will form the basis of the new console, but the unit won't hit the market until 2006, so there's no real hardware yet, and developers don't have real development kits to start cranking out PS3 games.
Sony does have one extremely hot gaming machine to crow about in the meantime. The PSP is set to hit U.S. shores in March, and judging by its reception in Japan and the gushing praise of the gaming press, it's going to be huge. Sony will have the PSP on display and is holding an event to get the U.S. press' hands on it.
Expect a flood of articles on the PSP from major press outlets following CES. Everyone who puts their hands on one seems to want one, and want it now. We hope to see a few new games, and get more details on the North American launch, including official dates, prices, and launch games.
Mobile games are hot, again
Gaming on cell phones and PDAs is a steadily growing but often overlooked area of the games business. Everyone expects the market for these games to absolutely explode any day now, it just hasn't happened yet. We see demonstrations and hear talk about advances in PDA and cell phone graphics and CPUs every year, and hear about how it will make much better games possible. The breakthrough game that really makes playing on these mobile devices take off is just around the corner. Will we see it at this CES?
It's hard to say, be we know that mobile gaming will be an emphasis of the PDA and cell phone makers showing off their powerful new units. The hardware vendors were willing to sort of ignore this in the past, but it's clear there's big business in mobile gaming, and everyone wants a piece of it. We might see some significant new technology announcements from nVidia and ATI, both of which are aggressively pursuing the mobile graphics chip market.


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Nate True
About Me
- Latest Blog Posts
- Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 High-Speed Digital Camera Review Posted on: September 25, 2008 at 5:37 pm on Gear Live - 0 comments total
- Bleeding Edge TV 283: Nintendo's Reggie spotted at Microsoft's E3 Booth Posted on: July 18, 2008 at 7:50 pm on Bleeding Edge TV - 1 comments total
- Bleeding Edge TV 282: E3 2008: Nintendo Announces Wii Sports Resort, Wii MotionPlus, WiiSpeak Posted on: July 17, 2008 at 1:22 pm on Bleeding Edge TV - 0 comments total
- Page 1 of 6 pages 1 2 3 > Last »
- Latest Comments
I've been doing it like this for years... Also, get a wide-angle rear view attachment, it expands the field of view for your rear view to further eliminate blind spots.
Also, be aware that while this mirror arrangement eliminates blind spots that cars can hide in, motorcycles may still be able to hide in the small gaps left behind.
How to adjust your car mirrors to eliminate blind spots
Posted on: December 14, 2011 at 2:25 pm on Gear Live - 1 comments total
I'm not so dissatisfied with AT&T's decisions regarding charging for 3G use, for two reasons.
Number one is that AT&T pays a lot of money to rent this part of the spectrum for 3G data and the microcell is making use of the limited radio space to do the data transfers. It's not a public piece of spectrum and as such AT&T has a right to charge for it.
Number two is that if you have a home broadband connection, you are very likely to also have a Wi-fi network that your modern smartphone should be able to connect to and utilize data at much higher speeds than over 3G to the microcell, dramatically reducing if not eliminating the 3G usage at all, and mitigating if not eliminating the impact of this particular AT&T policy.
ATT wants to charge you for letting them use your broadband connection that you already pay for
Posted on: June 17, 2010 at 9:59 pm on Gear Live - 1 comments total
I wonder whether AT&T's preponderance of data-hungry iPhones on its network skews the results any.
3G speed test: Verizon wins, AT&T dead last
Posted on: July 14, 2009 at 1:16 am on Gear Live - 1 comments total
I love how many classic titles are being remade and put on the iPhone. Go nostalgia!
Flashback is on the iPhone!
Posted on: May 18, 2009 at 9:24 pm on AppTapper - 1 comments total
This looks pretty shady. One photo, no data such as battery life, or even filled-out information tabs along the bottom. Sounds like a scam to me.
Following the "via" links back four levels deep shows us an Inquirer post:
It's far more skeptical about the whole thing. If the iPhone supported a Bluetooth keyboard, why wouldn't it support the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard?
BTKeyMini Bluetooth Keyboard Works With iPhone
Posted on: November 11, 2008 at 3:29 am on Gear Live - 1 comments total
- Page 1 of 6 pages 1 2 3 > Last »
- Latest Forum Posts
- [gearlive]http://blip.tv/file/get/Bleedingedge-BEReggieNintendoupmov948.flv[/gearlive] We were checking out the new Xbox Dashboard when who should walk in but Reggie Fils-Amé, CEO of Nintendo? Gear Live caught him earlier at the Nintendo Keynote, and we managed to capture a few quick shots of Reggie checking …
Bleeding Edge TV 284: Nintendo�s Reggie spotted at Microsoft�s E3 Booth
Posted on: July 18, 2008 at 7:52 pm - 1 post total
- [gearlive]http://blip.tv/file/get/Bleedingedge-BleedingEdgeTV282NintendoPressConferenceHighlights276.flv[/gearlive] BleedingEdgeTV.com - At E3 2008, Nintendo put on quite a show at their keynote. Among the announcements were Wii Sports Resort and Wii Music, as well as new accessories called Wii MotionPlus and Wii Speak. Check out the video for …
Bleeding Edge TV 282 - Nintendo Press Conference Highlights
Posted on: July 17, 2008 at 1:33 pm - 1 post total
- [gearlive]http://blip.tv/file/get/Bleedingedge-BE2117EAKeynoteHighlightsupmov116.flv[/gearlive] We attended the EA press conference at E3 2008 and took a look at their exciting new announcements. Check out the video, and you can also check out the full write-up over at PlayFeed.
Bleeding Edge TV 281: E3 2008 Electronic Arts Press Conference Highlights
Posted on: July 16, 2008 at 1:18 pm - 1 post total
- [gearlive]http://blip.tv/file/get/Bleedingedge-BE1104XboxKeynoteupmov529.flv[/gearlive] BleedingEdgeTV.com - In this episode, coming to you straight from E3 2008, we chat with Xbox's Heather Snavely about all the news that Microsoft announced during their Xbox Media Briefing. We have keynote clips here as well, in case you …
Bleeding Edge TV 280: E3 2008 Xbox Media Briefing
Posted on: July 15, 2008 at 7:41 pm - 1 post total
- [gearlive]http://blip.tv/file/get/Bleedingedge-BE0939iPhoneWaitupmov867.flv[/gearlive] BleedingEdgeTV.com - We were quite nearly first in line at the Alderwood Apple Store in Lynnwood, WA for the launch of iPhone 3G. Sure the purchasing experience was a fiasco, but overall the night was great fun. We had an …
Bleeding Edge TV 279: The Wait for iPhone 3G
Posted on: July 14, 2008 at 10:32 pm - 1 post total
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Installed New Theme, cannot read selected menu items
Today, I decided to be brash and install a new theme onto my lovely GNOME-run Edgy Eft installation of Ubuntu.
I decided that to get away from the windows deal, to install the MacOSX theme, and see how that ran, and to be quite honest, it looks lovely.
I have one slight problem, but it bugs me greatly. Whenever I have a menu open, and roll my mouse over the top of a menu item, normally, the text would be highlighted, in a slightly different colour to that of the menu itself, but the highlight color that I now get seems to change to the colour of the menu, and also changes the text colour to that of the menu so it makes it impossible to read the text that I have rolled my mouse over. I can, however, still see the icon of the option.
I have tried finding an option to change this in the themes selection window (system, preferences, themes) but alas, there is no option, it seems. Menus and Toolbars offers no helps, nor does fonts.
Is there any way I can change the highlight colour and if so, where do I find it?
You might want to check out this tutorial.
Thank you.
I shall start reading!:study: :study:
Do System-> Preferences-> Theme. Click the theme you're using and then click the Customize button. In the Colors tab you can adjust background and text colors to your preferences. I always save the customized theme I've created so that if I experiment with other themes and icons I can easily restore the theme to my favorite.
I think that feature is only available in Gnome 2.18, and I would assume that he is using 2.16.
Thanks for the tip, fragos, but I am afriad, cgjones is right. I haven't (to my knowledge, anyway!) updated the GNOME install on the machine from the original installation, so I would assume that GNOME 2.16 is (still) installed.
I think in my next venture, I shall update said window manager to 2.18.
Ubuntu 7.04 is scheduled for final release on the 19th and it includes Gnome 2.18.1 as well as a lot of other good things. I've been using it since the beta. IMHO, that is the path I'd recommend to get Gnome 2.18.
Ubuntu recommends using the Update Manager for updates. That's what I've done in the past and the upgrades were trouble free. There are a lot of new features relating to installations so this time around I did a fresh install from a beta ISO I downloaded. It's working very well for me.
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