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Odd Thoughts: 1, 2, 3?Cancun
Written by Peck
The title of tonights odd thoughts comes courtesy of Nick Van Excel when on the last huddle of a game before the season ended without a playoff appearance this was his huddle cadence demonstrating his desire to end the season and be off to his summer vacation.
I give you the 2010-2011 Indiana Pacers.
As they are currently playing they will also soon be able to join Nick for an early spring trip to the Mexican vacation spot and with their performance vs. the Nuggets I believe that Danny Granger pushed OBrien to the side at half time and tried to sell time shares instead of attempting any form of play diagramming. To his credit nothing that was going to come out of OBriens mouth would have been worth listening to so who could blame him.
We just played game 41 of an 82 game season, which means that officially we are now at the half way mark and traditionally this is the time where we all take a moment to reflect on the team and evaluate the first half of the season.
Tradition will go out the window today as I can not bring myself to actually go back and review what has occurred. We all know the story so saying anything else would just be pretty much wasting our time.
The good news is that we are 2 games better at this point in time than we were just one season ago. The bad news is that we are only 2 games better at this point in time than we were just one season ago when we were absolutely horrid.
So instead of making us all hold our noses and dive head first into the manure pile that was the first half of our season I would like to look forward.
On that note I want to talk about a couple of positive things.
1. Paul George looks like a real live basketball player. How good can he be? I dont have the answer to that but I will give you the totally unscientific non-statistical analysis of him. He looks like a ball player. I havent made up my mind yet who he looks like but at this point in time Im willing to say he doesnt have to look like anybody other than Paul George and I think that will be a good thing.
2. Tyler when he is not over thinking and is just going out and playing his game of aggression and hustle is a pretty good player. Is he the answer for our power forward problems? My guess is no not ultimately but Im not saying he cant be. When his mid range game is falling and he is in the middle of everything he is a handful for other teams. He is going to be over matched often in height and straight up jumping ability but so far he manages to overcome that more often than he is not able to.
3. Since Collison has been given more of a free reign in running the offense I believe more and more that he can run a traditionally coached team and be effective at both ball distribution and scoring. Now if we could improve on his ball gawking habits on defense we would be talking about a pretty good point guard. To his credit for the most part he has improved on that end since the beginning of the season, however on the west coast trip he has back slid a little.
4. Dahntay Jones has nice suits.
Ok, thats it. That is all of the happy good times I can talk about.
Now lets get to the heart of the issue and no I dont mean Jim OBrien (well talk about him briefly in a bit).
I mean lets talk about*is this season, only at the mid way point mind you, already over? As it stands now we are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with the Detroit Pistons only a game and a half back from us for 11th. Dont let anybody fool you into believing that we are tied with the Bucks for 9th because we have the same record. Milwaukee has a better record vs. the Conference, the Division and not to mention they have 2-0 record vs. us and the best we could hope for is to tie them at 2. So no we are not tied, they are ahead of us in the playoff race.
So what does all of this mean? Well right now it means that as you read this the team needs to be heavily scouting the upcoming college recruit class because we are lottery bound. Yes I know, once again you all expect the same old same old of a late season surge to drop our lottery chances and of course you would be right to think this.
But overall can this ship be righted? Is it to late to turn this around? Are we guaranteed to have our 5th consecutive year out of the playoffs?
Well if you ask me right now, I will say yes. I think this thing is going down like the Hindenburg and I see no way short of a couple of thing righting it.
Well what are those couple of things you might ask?
Obviously my first statement is going to be we need a coaching change and we need it now. Not at the end of the season, not when the money comes off of the salary cap, not when the moon is full over Parador. In fact we needed this change a long time ago (two seasons but whos counting).
I know this cliché is and overused and people get sick of reading it but dang it I want to overuse it myself. Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
How many times in the past four years have we heard the terms spread the floor, open up driving lanes, play small to get better spacing. If nothing else Jim is persistent in the fact that he knows what he knows and hell be damned if you are anyone else is going to tell him something different.
By the way all of the above are perfectly sound basketball principles, many coachs probably even all coaches use them. However this is Jims answer to all problems.
A show of hands for those of you who thought at the beginning of the season that it was just a matter of time before Jim would abandon the traditional lineup and go to his great white whale?
Before I leave Jim I want to give him another less quoted Albert Einstein quote. A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
But thats it, that is all the time I am going to waste on him. It serves no purpose other than to raise my blood pressure. He is here and my belief is that he will be here the rest of the year; I just pray that he is not here beyond that.
However for all of my Jim OBrien loving friends out there, you know who you are, Im going to throw you a bone.
Its not all on Jim. Oh believe me I could go on for days on end about how its mostly on Jim but there are certain issues that I believe he has little to no control over.
With that in mind the only other way I see us righting the ship is to have a fast injection of talent and by talent I dont mean another Solomon Jones, Earl Watson, Flip Murray type player. Im talking about someone to bring in that will be the starter at their position within a couple of weeks of being on the club (if not on the first night). Who is that player and at what position? I have no idea and frankly as far as positions go I am up for upgrading any position. Sure some of our players are better than others but overall if you can upgrade you should do it.
So what does that mean overall? Well simple it means that while I feel our coaching is sub par and he should be able to get a better record out of the players he has I will be the first to admit that we still lack serious fire power and mostly star power on our club.
So there OBrien backers I have given you your treat for the day, savor it like ambrosia because most likely there wont be much more of that as the season goes on. In particular if I have to see James (curse word that rhymes with trucken) Posey play more min. in the second half of the season at the power forward spot than anyone else on the team. Yes, thats right boys & girls James Posey a career small forward who is now so old, slow and out of shape he can no longer cover the position has played more minutes at the power forward than anyone else on the club.
So while I would love nothing more than to come to you with a proud grandiose prediction of second half season glory followed by bold playoff domination talk I just cant do it.
I think we will struggle the rest of the season but we will have a few games here and there where everyone will want to believe that things have changed when in fact our jump shot is just falling for that game or two. But overall we have already dug ourselves a hole that this current coach and this current set of players will most likely not be able to overcome. We will have a stretch again at the end where we will catch teams who have already packed it in and will once again find ourselves in the hell of being one of the higher level lower ping pong ball non playoff teams.
I want to leave tonight with yet another quote from Mr. Einstein but this time for Larry Bird.
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them".


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To reduce the number of homeless kittens, County Animal Services and six cities are offering $75 coupons to spay cats this month.
"We can't adopt ourselves out of this huge problem," said Dawn Danielson, director of the County Department of Animal Services. "There simply are not enough families looking to adopt a new cat or kitten. In February and March, cats as young as 4 to 5 months old go into heat, and when spring arrives so do the kittens. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. They all have one thing in common. They are homeless."
Danielson encourages residents to use the coupons to help pay for spaying a female cat.
The $75 coupon will be offered throughout February. After that, the coupon will be reduced to $50. Coupons are accepted by many veterinarians or the department will reimburse the cat's owner $75 if the owner mails in the coupon with proof of spaying. The coupons are available to residents of the unincorporated areas of the county and the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, San Diego and Santee.
In addition to the coupons, if residents visit County Animal Services at www.sddac.com, there is a list of veterinarians who will perform the surgery at a reduced cost to the client. If owners combine the coupon with one of the listed veterinarians, the entire cost of the surgery may be met.
The coupons are available, while supplies last, at the county animal shelters in Mission Valley, Bonita and Carlsbad. Eligible residents may also obtain a coupon by calling Pet Assistance at 619-544-1222 or the Spay-Neuter Action Project at 619-525-3047.

subset: commoncrawl


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Achieve super soft, smooth feet with the Dual Replacement Roller Heads from Scholl. Featuring micro-abrasive, tiny diamond crystals, the roller heads attach easily to your Velvet Smooth™ foot file to effortlessly eliminate dry, hard and rough skin on the soles and heels.
Includes: 1 x Soft Touch Roller Head and 1 x Extra Coarse Roller Head.


text: Hello. I've just bitten the bullet and traded in my much loved S3 for a new dolphin grey s-line 2.0 TDI with those 20 spoke 18in wheels you all hate! Got a good deal from Lancaster and very good service from Neil. (Now seems to be a good time to buy cars because of the high targets Audi has set for 06 sales and it's the end of the 1/4 and financial year). Didn't want to lose the s3 but the fuel and insurance was getting too much and I was very impressed with the A3 diesel. I've got lots of good advice from this forum so thanks to everyone /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


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In defence of Simon Cowell
I was surprised by Matthew Hemley's headline, "Keep Cowell Out", having the previous week been to one of the best musical showcases I've ever been to, albeit unexpectedly: The X Factor musical, written by Harry Hill.
It would be inappropriate to write in detail about what I saw in workshop, but having actually seen the workshop, I can tell you that what I saw was easily as funny as early previews of Avenue Q and Book of Mormon that I've seen previously - and I don't say that lightly. Has Matthew seen the workshop? If not, I'd always encourage any journalist avoid shooting anything down until they have actually seen the material.
He writes that "No producer in their right mind should entertain the idea of getting involved - no matter how financially rewarding it might appear" - but I respectfully offer an alternative view...
My clients are not acting for a hobby, they are acting to work, and earn a living. And if something can be financially rewarding then that means it can mean employment for hundreds of people - and in the current financial climate that should never be discouraged in any way.
[pullquote]Having artistic integrity and commercial interests do not have to be mutually exclusive[/pullquote]
Having artistic integrity and commercial interests do not have to be mutually exclusive. I can just as easily been spotted at the Finborough or Southwark routing out interesting work of artistic excellence as I can be at the O2 or Wembley Arena seeing clients perform - what spurs me on is to help my clients achieve absolute artistic excellence - but without employment for those clients, we all go home.
In response to his wider point that Simon Cowell is a negative on our industry in general - this ignores reality.
Cameron Mackintosh and Boublil and Schonberg have all cited Susan Boyle, love her or loathe her, as the reason Les Miserables was propelled back into the zeitgeist and Universal Pictures were persuaded to back Les Miserables as a feature film.
That feature film propels Samantha Barks to international stardom of course - herself first exposed on Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC talent show, that probably wouldnt have existed were it not for Cowell. I for one am pleased the world now has Niamh Perry, Daniel Boys, Rachel Tucker and Lee Mead.
From Cowell's own shows, Ray Quinn has carved himself a successful career on stage, and is one of the best talents I've seen in musicals in recent years. I hope we're lucky enough to see Alexandra Burke in a West End musical some time soon - of course the US version of Pop Idol that Cowell judged brought the world Jennifer Hudson, which is the single best vindication of the format anyone could ever come up with.
Britain's Got Talent essentially revived Variety as an art form - the previous loss of which had been long lamented in the pages of The Stage (and rightly so). And the show has also helped invigorate dance - Diversity aside, the genius that is Kate Prince augmented Zoo Nation's West End run with a headline performance from George Sampson which I'm sure helped sell some tickets.
Of course it is true that I lament the reduction of original drama and comedy in the schedules in favour of 'non-scripted' reality television - I champion actors first and foremost. But I want theatres and cinemas to be full - and my clients to have jobs. And I also think we should always reserve judgement until we see the work in question.


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Perhaps the most important decisions in a campaign occurs before the first die is rolled, before there even is a campaign when the would-be Dungeon Master/ Game Master/ Storyteller decides the overall thrust of his story. No, not the nitty-gritty adventure hooks, or the villains, or the individual conflicts, but an overall idea of what this campaign will be about. This series of articles will examine these crucial choices. First up, the pre-game.
Primary Conflict: What is the big bad problem that the players are going to have to confront? Most of the time this does not even need to be revealed in the first part of the campaign, in fact it could be purposefully obscured in the beginning, but it should be on a good DM's mind so that he can build on this from the ground up and that when the major story arc becomes apparent the players feel that this is an organic natural direction for the story. The alternative is to NOT have a primary conflict and instead plan on one or more smaller conflicts that scale with the PCs level and experience. The danger of having an overarching plotline is the tendency to be overly rigid and railroad your players in a direction that either they or (even better) their characters have no desire to take. On the other hand, having no overall story can leave PCs feeling rudderless and without direction. Characters and players alike like to feel important to the world. Sometimes going from town to town with progressively more difficult dungeons isn't even enough. Even so, a kind of 'monster of the week' style campaign can easily progress to having a story with a reoccurring villain or some clever retroactive continuity explaining a link between the threats de jure.
Means of Resolution: Conflicts and solving them form the core of role playing challenges. Every game will have many, many conflicts both big and small, but a DM should consider what options the PCs have as viable options. Some games and game systems, like Dungeons and Dragons, have an obvious bend towards combat. Parties are expected to have characters that not only are poor outside of combat, but downright incompetent. This skew obviously makes D&D parties more inclined to fight. On the other hand, certain games emphasize the risks and unpredictability of combat such that PCs try to avoid risking their lives. World of Darkness often has this element as Elder Vampires do their damnedest to AVOID risking their unnaturally long lives at all costs. Original Legend of the Five Rings had plenty of rules on combat, but you still died VERY EASILY. Overly combat intensive games encourage min-maxing and encyclopedic knowledge of the rules. It also makes some skills and concepts pretty much useless and damages the meta feeling of the story: after all, why even talk at all if you're CERTAIN you're just going to kill the goblin/vampire hunter/space pirate. Games with an extreme lack of combat, on the other hand, encourage obnoxious character behaviors and offer few risks. Sure, losing that vote to become CEO would suck, but its not like you're risking your characters very existence.
Source Material: Do you want to create your own game world or use a setting provided? The advantages of creating your own world is uniqueness and freshness, no player has an inside knowledge of the game, unless your world has been used by them before. Even that (drawing on old game knowledge) can help create a sense of history and nostalgia amongst players. Using a campaign setting gives you loads of ideas and pre-made characters, but players in their excitement tend to read to the same things you do and perhaps learn too much. Moreover, sometimes the pre-existing relationships and locations can be a tad constraining if players know about the setting. Do you REALLY want to argue with a die hard Dragonlance fan about whether Sturm Brightblade would stab the goblin disengaging from combat?
Conclusion: Most campaigns come into the world with serious defects some of which are fatal and others that can be worked out as time progresses. Considering these simple choices can help minimize stillbirths of a campaign. Tune in next week for a look at the next big step: figuring out your players!
The Pain of Campaigning I: Story and Pre-Game Decisions
The Pain of Campaigning II: Starting the Game
The Pain of Campaigning III: The Plot Thickens
The Pain of Campaigning IV: Put a Little Politics In It
The Pain of Campaigning V: Suitable Villains


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What's so important about preserving muscle mass? Muscle plays a big role in your resting metabolic rate, write the study authors. The thinking is, the less muscle mass you have, the more likely your metabolism is to slow down...making it a lot easier for you to regain the lost weight once you return to your usual eating habits. The researchers are continuing to study the participants to see how quickly they regain weight, how many pounds they put back on, and how muscle loss plays into all of this. In the meantime, take this as yet another reason to lead an overall healthy lifestyle that promotes weight loss and/or maintenance—rather trying a plan that promises to help you drop major pounds quickly.
The Scary Thing That Happens to Your Muscles on a Crash Diet
Plus, the freaky effect it can have on your metabolism.
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On 26/05/2005, at 8:56 AM, Akkana Peck wrote:
As to how this affects girls growing up, I couldn't say. I was a "tomboy" (more interested in climbing trees than playing with dolls) and if a story featured male characters doing all the fun stuff, I just went ahead and identified with those characters. It never crossed my mind that being female meant that I should only identify with only female characters. I know a lot of girls aren't like that and good female role models are important; but for me it wasn't an issue.
It is very important, and also cultural role models. I remember when my daughter, who is Anglo-Vietnamese and has always identified herself as Vietnamese, first went to kindergarten, she became unhappy. When I asked her about it, she said:
"It's not OK to be Vietnamese at kindy." When I asked her why, she said, in summary:"There's nobody there who looks like me. There are no pictures of people like me, no Asian dolls, no chopsticks or rice bowls, no clothing like our traditional clothes, and when I speak Vietnamese, people look at me as though they don't like me. There is no music of ours, no stories, no adults or kids who look like me, sound like me, behave like me."
The kindy has since got the point and become more multicultural, but multicultural support isn't just about the kids who can't speak the local language. It's about accepting and reinforcing who you are.
I remember at one stage in junior primary school, there was a young Vietnamese boy there who had just arrived in the country, so the school gained some temporary support for him, a Vietnamese man who helped him out. Trinh, whose English has always been excellent, and who has been brought up bicultural, followed that Vietnamese adult around like a lost dog.
from Clytie (vi-VN, team/nhóm Gnome-vi) Clytie Siddall--Renmark, in the Riverland of South Australia Ở thành phố Renmark, tại miền sông của Nam Úc
Description: S/MIME cryptographic signature


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As the saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. But this isn't always so.
You know it isn't so if you've ever bested a Pepsi machine that repeatedly spat back your wilted, unworthy dollar until you wore it down with perseverance and made it cough up the caffeine. You know it if you've ever asked a teenager to empty the dishwasher over and over with zero results, only to turn around one day to see the kid quietly putting the clean plates away.
Over time, water can shape a rock.
And right about now, if you are Linda Lerner, you know it is not insanity to push for small, positive change, even after a decade of not getting it.
Eleven times, the longest serving member of the Pinellas County School Board tried to get her colleagues to see that approving taxpayer dollars for a program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America sends the wrong message. Because for all the organization's attributes, the Scouts exclude gays, and that's not okay.
Eleven times, Lerner tried to convince fellow board members that they should not endorse discrimination and should consider what this says to their gay and lesbian students. Some years she went into great detail in her pitch, consulting pages of notes she had made. She was heartened when even a single board member voted on her side.
But 10 times over, her colleagues went ahead and approved money for the Learning for Life character education program anyway.
This week, bolstered by new members, the board listened to the feisty Lerner, who, by the way, has been on the School Board for longer than the county's high school seniors have been alive. This time, they voted 4-3 against approving $54,838 for Learning for Life.
And look at that: Water can change rock, and persistence in fighting for fairness can win the day. It was both a small step and a big deal in shifting the tide on discrimination.
People I know with kids in Scouting say it's an invaluable experience, all about camaraderie, character and accomplishment. But Scouts are also supposed to be "clean in word and deed" and "morally straight," as Lerner pointed out at the meeting, and so if you are gay, "it says you're not morally straight and clean."
In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Boy Scouts over a Scout leader kicked out because he was gay. The message was clear: Gays are not welcome here.
Lerner, who has a gay son, wanted to send a message back, one that said we do not agree. And messages can turn tides. Small boycotts and singular voices saying no, this is not okay, can grow and make for change.
Think of public figures who dropped memberships to clubs that excluded women, blacks or Jews because they got enlightened, or at least enlightened to the fact that it was no longer politically prudent. Either way, it's change. Could you have imagined, even 10 years ago, a gay person serving openly in our military? And here we are.
And what better place for kids to sees adults taking a stand against bigotry than on their own school board?
Boy Scouts earn merit badges in subjects from astronomy to wood carving. Maybe they should have one for talking about a wrong until enough people listen, even if it takes a decade.


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Business Cards Are for the Birds
"Nobody needs business cards anymore." At least that's what I've heard from several printers lately. But there it was…in one of the least expected places! With that instantly recognizable little blue bird, lightly debossed on a rich, thick 100 percent cotton paper, "it" was a Twitter business card.
Old and new media collide
All in all, it's a beautiful, classically designed card, with ample white space and only the necessary contact information. But what made it noteworthy was the choice of letterpress printing.
So why would Twitter produce business cards? And why, of all the printing processes available, did this social media icon opt for one of the oldest forms of printing known to man?
You can credit employee number 80, Elizabeth Bailey Weil, corporate design and culture at Twitter Inc., and her personal goal to make a big company feel small.
Case in point: as of Monday, 35 new people have joined the Twitter team. All 35 found a one-off letterpress printed card on their desks welcoming them to the company.
"I want people to feel like they matter," explains Weil, "and give them the feeling that even if we are a big corporate entity, they are personally known."
Making a big company feel small
From a small startup, Twitter has grown to more than 1,500 employees (make that 1,535 including those new hires ;-)) in 10 offices. It would probably be more economical to send a welcoming email to the newbies, or print out a "welcome to the team" letter on the office inkjet printer, but...
"Paper, especially thick paper, has a particular appeal for those who spend hours at a time in front of a screen," says Weil. "You can pet it."
Weil's favorite is the thick, soft, buttery feel of 600 gsm (220-lb. double thick cover) cotton paper.
Sabine Lenz is the founder of PaperSpecs.com, the first online paper database and community specifically designed for paper specifiers.
Growing up in Germany, Sabine started her design career in Frankfurt, before moving to Australia and then the United States. She has worked on design projects ranging from corporate identities to major road shows and product launches. From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, her list of clients included Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Deutsche Bank, IBM and KPMG.
Seeing designers struggle worldwide to stay current with new papers and paper trends inspired Sabine to create PaperSpecs, an independent and comprehensive Web-based paper database and weekly e-newsletter. She is also a speaker on paper issues and the paper industry. Some refer to her lovingly as the "paper queen" who combines her passion for this wonderful substrate called paper with a hands-on approach to sharing her knowledge.
Mark Henry
There is a world of difference between the $9/250 business card and a custom card done on high quality stock. I have have gotten rave reviews, and significant business from Moo.com 's Luxe series of cards printed on triple thick Mohawk Superfine paper. The response you get from using high-end, personalized communications (high quality business cards, hand written notes with custom envelopes, etc) will more than pay for itself in the quality of business you attract and retain.
Jim Eads
if business cards are dead why do some of the .com printers spend so much for ads during high profile games and shows. It does bother me that these companies put on the air that they are better than a local printer such as myself.
Maggie Young
Many are arguing that with our digital personas we don't even need business cards. Having something tangible is huge, and really does say, "I'm real, I exist!" Here is a great article that I just read on this topic: http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/card-tricks/36098/
Sabine Lenz
@Mark "The response you get from using high-end, personalized communications will more than pay for itself in the quality of business you attract and retain." I could not have said it better myself Mark. A flimsy $9/250 business cards will get you clients to match ;-))
Cheryl B
Business cards are here to stay! And for those who argue that digital personas are the wave of the future, I point out that a QR code on your business card helps make sure potential clients can contact you in whatever way they like best! Thanks, Cheryl at http://www.staffordprinting.com/


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Now and then, a special vehicle comes along that stirs one's emotions and stuns virtually all of their senses -- a car that is capable of upping one's heart rate and of generating an insatiable desire or need to own it, or at least to experience time behind the wheel. Okay, even riding in such a car is capable of delivering a most exhilarating and rewarding experience. That car for this writer is the Audi R8 V-10 Spyder -- it resides at the pinnacle of the entire Audi lineup. The R8 V-10 Plus might hold that title for some, but it's a Coupe and not a convertible.
The R8 V-10 Spyder is but one of Audi's R8 supercars -- there are three engine variants from which to choose: the R8 V-8; the R8 V-10; and the R8 V-10 Plus. All engines are available as power for the Coupe , but the V-10 Plus isn't available in the convertible Spyder. All of the engines are FSI direct fuel injection and mate to either a gated 6-speed manual gearbox, or to a new 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission (DCT) with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters for manual gear selection at the whim of the driver, along with a Sport mode. Power is transmitted to all four wheels through the Audi quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.
The R8 was Audi's first mid-engine production sports car, combining the company's experience acquired from a host of motorsports victories along with innovative design and technological expertise.
The mid-mount position of the engine provides a major plus to the car's driving dynamics, with a weight distribution of 44 percent forward and 56 percent in the rear. The engine, as the heart of the R8, is prominently showcased through the rear glass in Coupe models -- with LED subdued lighting optionally available for nighttime visibility as well. The powerful V-10 is barely visible through the engine bay of the Spyders.
Horsepower and torque ratings are as follows: the R8 4.2-liter V-8 -- delivers 430 horsepower and 316 foot-pounds of torque; the R8 5.2-liter V-10 -- pumps out 525 horsepower and 391 foot-pounds of torque; and the R8 V-10 Plus (also a 5.2-liter) makes 550 horses while generating 398 foot-pounds of torque. The R8 V-8's 0-60 mph times are respectively: manual transmission 4.4 seconds Coupe; 4.6 seconds Spyder; the V-10's times with the S tronic are 3.8 seconds for the Coupe; and 4.0 seconds in the Spyder; the V-10 Plus catapults from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds Coupe (M/T) in 3.3 seconds. S tronic times are reduced by .2 seconds in the V-8, and by .4 seconds in regular V-10 models.
The full aluminum body is constructed utilizing Audi's Space Frame (ASF) design consisting of three major structures, creating a perfect synthesis of minimal weight and maximum rigidity and providing an ideal foundation for optimum driving dynamics, while delivering a power to weight ratio of just 8.16 lbs./hp.
Even when one beholds the R8 for the first time, its purpose and caliber is readily apparent -- it sits wide and low to the ground, the accentuated rear end appearing to flex its athletic prowess, much like a sprinter (not the van) ready to leave the starting block at the sound of the gun. The car rides on a 104.3-inch wheelbase, is just 174.6-inches long, and only 49.0-inches high.
The front end displays the now familiar trapezoidal styling of the Audi single-frame grille, flanked right and left by large air intakes. Audi's four-ring badge is positioned on the hood above the grille. The flat strips of the innovative LED headlights, with their clear-glass covers, join flush to the tops of the air intakes.
The car's profile reveals a dynamic line above the wheel arches while the shoulder line blends the front end, side, rear, and the doors along with the transition to the side air vent with a strong presence, emphatically highlighting the typical Audi rounded wheel housings that accommodate the large wheels and tires. Two pairs of circular twin exhaust pipes are housed inside larger, bright openings integrated into the fascia at the right and left above the rear diffuser.
An automatically extending rear spoiler is deployed at speed providing the R8 V-10 Spyder with additional downforce, automatically retracting at lower speeds. The spoiler, may also be operated manually.
Despite the car's compactness, the cockpit is both spacious and comfortable, situated far forward -- a feature typical of mid-engined sports cars. Behind the cabin, positioned ahead of the rear axle, is the V-10 FSI engine, a gem of automotive performance engineering.
The sporting interior is dominated by a totally driver-oriented cockpit layout, with the driver positioned behind the dashboard, with the high center console, separating him or her from the passenger. The instrument panel above the console angles slightly toward the driver. The seats are highly supportive and the seats in the Spyder have a thermal-resistant leather treatment that lowers the surface temperature by up to 68 degrees for added top-down comfort. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a typical feature of the sportiest Audi models that enhances comfortable entry and exit. There is plenty of room for the two occupants, with comfort levels well beyond the norm of most high-performance sports cars. There are two small locking compartments in the rear bulkhead of the R8 V-10 Spyder, as well as an in dash locking glove box. The luggage compartment at the front has a capacity of approximately 3.5 cu. ft.
My test 2014 Audi R8 V10 Spyder was fitted with the S tronic 7-speed DCT transmission. The exterior wore an elegant Estoril blue crystal pearl effect, with the interior executed in lunar silver and charcoal accented by chrome and piano black trim elements. The base sticker read $173,800 while extras such as: the special exterior paint; Full Fine Nappa Leather Package; Piano Black decorative inlays; 19-inch 10-spoke V-10 "Y" design -- high polish alloy wheel package; contrast stitching; Audi music interface with iPod cable; Gas Guzzler Tax; and destination charge elevated the final Monroney total to $184,350 before tax and license.
SUMMARY: The 2014 Audi R8 V-10 Spyder is an attention magnet -- a gorgeous vehicle that stops observers in their tracks. People follow it, take cell phone photos of it, offer thumbs up, and even shout praise.
The power generated by the 525 horses is turbine-like, up to the peak rev ranges, emitting an evocative sound to rival any Ferrari. In spite of its brute power, the car is equally suited to more docile everyday cruising as well. Romping on the throttle in Sport mode, launches the R8 V-10 Spyder, pinning one to the seatback and setting all four wheels clawing at the pavement. It is capable of attaining a top track speed (electronically limited) of 193 mph. When in automatic, and set in Sport mode (which is where I left it during most of my testing), the throttle mapping and shift points change as well as the exhaust note, and rev matching is automatic in downshifts. Gear changes may also be executed manually through the paddle shifters, but once in manual mode, shifting does not default to automatic, and the rev-matching feature disappears.
The firm ride quality is a necessity for optimum performance and control, but it is not at all uncomfortable. The direct, hydraulically-assisted rack-and-pinion steering serves up a positive and on-center feel to the driver. The 'Audi magnetic ride' adaptive damper system allows for some manual adjustment.
The knurled aluminum automatic shift knob or gear selector is both attractive and intuitively functional. The other matching metal control knobs are also attractive and quite simply functional. The flat-bottom steering wheel provides a nice, substantial feel and aids in entry and exit as do the wide-opening doors. The auxiliary power outlet is set a bit far back, stretching some radar detector power cords to their limits, and an additional outlet would be a plus. A crabbing effect may be encountered at slow speed with the wheel turned lock-to-lock, due to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.
Audi R8s are built on a small-lot production line in a specially constructed block at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm, Germany in limited numbers.
The 2014 Audi R8 V-10 Spyder is a car that, if I had the financial wherewithal, I would buy in a heartbeat, even over a Ferrari, and I would choose the 7-speed DCT automatic over the 6-speed manual gearbox for its superior and intelligent operation. I rate the R8 V-10 Spyder as the perfect high-performance sports convertible with its electronic top operating in 19 seconds at up to 31 mph. It delivers stunningly gorgeous "killer" looks and an outstanding performance capability, with an old-world craftsmanship level fit and finish throughout. On a scale of one to ten, the R8 V-10 Spyder deserves at least an eleven.
2014 Audi R8 V-10 Spyder Quattro S tronic
Base Price: $173,800.
Price as Tested: $184,350.
Engine Type and Size: 5.2-liter DOHC, 40-valve, naturally aspirated FSI Direct Injection V-10.
Horsepower (bhp): 525 @ 8,000 rpm
Torque (ft./lbs.): 391 @ 6,500 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed S tronic® automatic with paddle shifters and Sport mode.
Drivetrain: Longitudinally Mid-mounted engine; quattro all-wheel drive system.
Suspension: Front - Aluminum double wishbone. Rear - Aluminum double wishbone.
Brakes: Power-assisted four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.
Tires: Pirelli P-Zero - 235/35 ZR19 91Y front; 305/30 ZR19 105Y Rear mounted on 5-"Y"-spoke alloy wheels.
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Length Overall: 174.6 inches
Width: 75.0 inches
Height: 49.0 inches
Curb Weight: 3,957 lbs.
Turning Circle: 38.7 ft.
Fuel Capacity: 21.1 gallons
EPA Mileage Estimates: 13 mpg city/22 mpg highway
Drag Coefficient: Not listed.
0 - 60 mph: 3.6 seconds
Top track speed: 193 mph.


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MELKSHAM Town had to be content with a seventh-placed finish in the Toolstation League Premier Division as they were defeated 3-2 by Devon's Buckland Athletic in their final match of the season at The Conigre on Saturday.
The Wiltshire Senior Cup winners, bottom after seven matches, could have climbed into the top five with a 3-0 victory and took the lead on eight minutes when Ben Thomson crossed and Dan Kovacs headed home.
Two minutes later, the visitors were level when Mike Booth was unmarked to fire home the equaliser.
Just after the half hour mark, Booth rifled home from long-range to give Buckland the lead, but Melksham squared matters ten minutes after half time as Kovacs capitalised on a defensive error.
Booth though was not finished and, 20 minutes from time, was again unmarked to head home the winner.
In the First Division, Devizes Town were beaten 2-0 by Barnstaple Town, Dave Pearse scoring twice for the home side.
Pewsey Vale's hopes of ending their Sydenham League Division One campaign with a victory were dashed by a 2-1 defeat at home to bottom side Hayling Island.
Manager Lewis Taylor and assistant Craig Wall, who will be replaced by U18 assistant coach Nick Maggs next season were unable to bow out with a victory, despite Warren MacDonald's shot being fumbled over the line to give them the lead on 15 minutes.
Hayling equalised from the penalty spot on 37 minutes through Wayne Emery after a foul by Ryan Banks.
Tom Davies gave the visitors victory on 75 minutes with a curling shot.


text:
Recent technological developments have begun to fulfill the promise of the "Internet of things", says Dirk Claessens, IBM's VP of Analytics. He discusses a series of industry specific case studies from iron ore facilities to aluminum smelters which highlight the operational and cost effectiveness of applied data analytics.
Once an organization reaches a certain size, it inevitably becomes a target for data thieves. Cyber security specialist Stephan Jou's job is to catch them. His tools of the trade: data and math. He explains how mining companies can protect themselves from embarrassing and increasingly common data security breaches.
Jou explained to CIM Magazine why mining companies may be particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Fundamental changes to how we mine can't be accomplished with a scattering of ad hoc efforts to innovate, explains Carl Weatherell of Canada Mining Innovation Council. "We need to do something this industry doesn't do very well: We need to collaborate."
Researchers continue to explore the microbial world, and as they do industrial applications are revealing themselves. Chemical Engineering professor Elizabeth Edwards has helped bring such innovations to market, and she argues their potential for site remediation is enormous. "There are microbes out there that can do wonderful things," says Edwards. "We just need clever ways and the right sample sites to find them."
Researchers declared the human genome fully-mapped in 2003, after more than a decade of work. Today, says geochemist Lesley Warren, that same project would take a matter of weeks and be a fraction of the cost, and so the moment has arrived to put these advanced tools to work to solve mining most pressing challenges.
You don't need to keep drilling to define your resource, argues Alan Goodwin of Adrock. He details how miners are beginning to understand the power and cost-efficiency of ADR for mineral exploration.
These presentations are part of McEwen Mining's Innovation Lunch and Learn Series, hosted at the company's Toronto office. The videos are produced by Toronto Corporate Video Productions.
Copyright 2011 - Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. All Rights Reserved


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CBC News reports on proposed changes to Newfoundland and Labrador's information access laws that would reverse a "Court of Appeal decision that gave the province's information and privacy commissioner access to government documents." In November, the court overturned an earlier decision and allowed Information and Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring access to documents "a government body claimed only a lawyer and client should see," the report states. The amendment to Bill 29 would rescind the commissioner's right to review such documents. Ring said he is reluctant to comment "until the appropriate study and analytical work by my office is completed."
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Police are looking for help from the public in identifying their suspects in a retail theft at a Lemoyne thrift store.
Two women stole multiple items from the Dollar General in the 800 block of Market Street before fleeing Thursday in an older style, green Buick, according to West Shore Regional police.
Investigators released surveillance photos from the store so that someone may recognize the women.
Anyone who can identify them is asked to call the police department at 717-238-9676.


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16. SS Jordany Valdespin
Valdespin was signed by the Mets as an undrafted international free agent in 2006.
He played one year for the DSL Mets, in 2007, hitting .245/.369/.338/.707 in 139 at bats. Someone must have liked what they saw in that .239 batting average because he went stateside in 2008.
In 2008, Valdespin played the entire season for the GCL Mets, though he only had 134 at bats. He hit .284/.319/.440
In 2009, Valdespin started the season for Savannah and was close to leading the league in hitting Then, something happened. He was suspended from the team, banished back to extended camp, and eventually wound up back for the DSL team (.333/..421/.600/1.021 in 15 at bats).
Next stop was the GCL Mets followed by Brooklyn (.279/.338/.397) where he finished the season.
1-1-10 Forecast: - As many of you know, I'm one of the beat reporters for the Savannah Sand Gnats and I'm pretty close with the folks there. That being said, I never could find out what Valdespin did to cause him being taken out of A ball when he was doing so well. All I can say is it was definitely something no one wanted to talk about. The next question would be, if the Mets management doesn't change at the A-level, where does Valdespin play in 2010? Hopefuly, all is forgiven because he has showed to be a pretty good 1 or 2 hitter in a lineup.
I wrote on 2-10-10: - Jordany Valdespin – this is the one you have to watch… highest ceiling of any Mets infielder in the system, and maybe the highest ceiling of any player period… the boy can hit, but also can piss off the coaches, so hopefully, we'll see a new level of maturity this season. Remember his name… he's a future major leaguer.
4-19-10: - Stock Up: Valdespin has been a hitting machine since the day he came stateside in 2008. .284 for the GCL Mets that year… led the Sally League, early, in hitting in 2009… and now hitting his stride at A+, with stats of .310/.310/.524/.833. Other than the fact that he doesn't walk, he quickly is establishing himself as the top second base prospect in the system. I wrote on Feb 10: "Jordany Valdespin – this is the one you have to watch… highest ceiling of any Mets infielder in the system, and maybe the highest ceiling of any player period… the boy can hit, but also can piss off the coaches, so hopefully, we'll see a new level of maturity this season. Remember his name… he's a future major leaguer." I expect the 22-year old to stay put at Lucy this season. Play Binghamton in 2011, and then… who knows…
2-23-11: - Stock Up: - 2B/SS Jordany Valdespin – word from camp is that Valdespin turned heads during his infield workout along with other Mets vying for a Queens job. He simply was faster than the rest of the guys, both in getting to the ball and also getting back into postion for the next ground. He has been known to get lazy on routine balls, but not sof ar this spring.
3-14-11: - Up: - 2B/SS – Jordany Valdespin – what I'm hearing now is the Mets coaches are in love with Valdy's game down in spring training. I have no idea what that means but my guess is he will play 2B in Buffalo with Ruben Tejada on short. This will bump Reese Havens back to Binghamton to team with Wilmer Flores and Jenry Marte. This is a real positive problem.
4-23-11 – Down – SS – Jordany Valdespin – No one had more positive press going into this season than Valdespin. The Mets brass at spring training fell in love with him and it looks like they put the old curse on him. Valdy looks lost right now, leading the team in errors while hitting just .159.
6-3-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/6/3/2203724/new-york-mets-daily-farm-system-report-6-3-11 Jordany Valdespin - Was still nursing his injury for the games I saw in New Britain. Saw him Memorial Day in Binghamton, so I can't really give you much of a report, but I would like to note that the makeup issues are still there. I'm not a big makeup guy, but Valdespin was basically throwing a tantrum after every out he made at bat, throwing his bat and cursing in Spanish (I assume) all the way up the line. You'd like to see him keep a little more cool at this point, though I can imagine it is frustrating playing for Bingo this year.
6-18-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2011/2611960.html - Scouts never questioned Valdespin's raw tools, but they cautioned that the young middle infielder's game required a lot of refinement. Playing shortstop every day at Double-A may have afforded Valdespin that extra incentive he needed to mature. He's swiped 16 bases in 19 tries on the year, and in June he's turned on the power (five homers, .733 slugging) and tuned down the strikeouts (11 percent of at-bats). His performance may prove to be a statistical blip, but the Mets have to be happy with what they've seen lately
6-24-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/aa-thursday-valdespin-continues-torrid-june-in-b-mets-win - Jordany Valdespin was 2-2 with a walk and two stolen bases, one of third. In 18 games in June, he's hitting .362/.413/.667 to push his season line to a strong .288/.340/.473. He has 24 extra-base hits and is 21 of 25 stealing bases. His June surge has to be the most positive development on the position player side in the system.
6-29-11: - team press release: - Jordany Valdespin has been selected to represent the Binghamton Mets at the 2011 Eastern League All-Star Game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire on July 13. Infielder Jordany Valdespin appears in his first professional All-Star Game. The native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic has hit .283 with eight home runs in 68 games this season. A member of the New York Mets' 40-man roster, Valdespin leads the team and is tied for third in the Eastern League with 22 stolen bases.Ranked as the 25th best prospect in the Mets' system by Baseball America, Valdespin is currently playing in his 4th season of pro baseball. The middle infielder hit .432 during a nine-game hitting streak in May, tied for the longest streak for any B-Met this year.
7-4-11: - Valdespin continues to be an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Yes, he went 4-5 last night and had two more stolen bases, but he had to try and stretch a single into a double and was out by a mile for the last out of the game. Your team is down by one in the last inning, with two out and you have to try and make the highlight film once again. Valdespin continues to show the Mets two sides of his game. One, his talent, and two, his lack of regard for team play.
7-14-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/11/2270752/mets-minors-road-report-binghamton-7-9-brooklyn-7-10 - I am pretty high on Valdespin. He's already walked more this year then he did all of last year, and he's turned some doubles into home runs. These are both good signs, as it means the tools are starting to turn into baseball skills. He showed everything that makes him both a intriguing prospect and a maddening one in the doubleheader. He chased a high fastball to strike out, he dropped a perfect drag bunt for a basehit, he laced a 2 RBI double to right, and he got a little fancy with a flip to Satin to try and start the 6-4-3. Part of the reason he had to try the flip to Satin is he is not as rangy as you would expect, and despite his speed and base stealing ability, he hasn't quite figured out shortstop. He's a second baseman in the end, probably, albeit one who has an all-star ceiling.
7-22-11: - Following minor leaguers is all about trying to find someone that will become a start in the majors. No one ever questioned Valdespin's talent since the day he signed on as a Met. It was always his work ethics and attitude; however, it looks like the kid is becoming a man and may be a futre peg in the Mets infield some day. He's batting .304 for Binghamton, with 13-HRs, and 29-SB. Make that .324 in the past 10 games.
7-25-11: - Four more hits tonight for Jordy, or Spin, or whatever his nickname is. Batting average is .308. Hit two doubles for a total of 23 so far this season… hit his 15th home run. That's a .500+ slugging percentage, 23 doubles, and 15 home runs for a 2B/SS known for his defensive skills. Hmm…
7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump - IF Jordany Valdespin - STOCK UP - Talk about a pleasant surprise. I was higher than most on Valdespin this winter and I still only just barely had him in the top 30. All he's done is go out and confirm that he may have the most dynamic all-around package of tools in the entire system and what's more, he's beginning to capitalize on all of them. I don't know what's a bigger surprise, the fact that a guy with a career high of six homers has already reached 15 or the fact that he's already matched his sb total from the last two seasons combined. He's even batting .280 against lefties. And he's always been more about tools than skills but he's even improved his walk rate, from around 1.5% up to 5%, which isn't great but the percentage increase is excellent. He still has a lot of rawness to his game (see: 28 errors) but he's turning a lot of it into production and if this continues expect to hear his name as a serious contender for a future starting MI role.
8-10-11 – Stock Up – Jordany Valdespin – it's obvious that the promotion of Ruben Tejada got this ball rolling, but Valdespin earned this one on his own. He hit .297/.341/.483/.824 in AA, with 15-HR and 51-RBIs. The problem is he also had 29 errors which the Mets aren't used to with their middle infielders. Still, kudos to Jordy.
8-11-11: - Stock Down – Seems it didn't take long for Valdespin to get back to his old tricks once he hit the AAA. Reports are that the diva decided to only jog out, not one, but two, ground balls during Thursday's game. I'm sure manager Tim Teufel was just thrilled to lock horns once again with Spin. It will be interesting to see if he's in today's lineup. Good bat, but leopards can't change spots… or was that tigers?
8-22-11 Observation: - Valdespin was promoted earlier this month to AAA-Buffalo and he is having a little problem with that level of pitching. I have Ruben Tejada remaining in Queens regardless of whether Jose Reyes is signed, so it looks like Valdespin will become the emergency shortstop in waiting. There was a recent sub-only article on him at Baseball America that focused on his attitude problems. The story said that is all in the past. We'll see. ETA: Ready in 2012, but blocked
8-21-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/prospect-pulse-left-handed-hitters.html - Jordany Valdespin – well you can't say it hasn't been exciting to follow the madcap escapades of this 2007 IFA signing out of the Dominican Republic. His stellar hitting talents have never been in doubt, but what's between his ears has. He has been suspended repeatedly over the course of his minor league career, as disciplinary actions, for not listening to his coaches, arguing with his coaches, not hustling, and generally behaving like a child. Now 23 years old, he was just rewarded for a fabulous offensive season at Bingo by being called up to AAA Buffalo. This season, he has already surpassed his best career stats in every single offensive category except 3B's and OBP. In 445 AB's he is hitting .288, with 62 Runs, 128 Hits, 27 2B's, 3 3B's, 15 HR's, 52 RBI's, 206 TB's and a .463 SLG. He has also chipped in 33 SB's, but has also been caught stealing 16 times! His hitting ranks very high for a middle infielder, but until he can cut down on his errors, 32 in 117 games this year, he will remain at AAA. Hopefully the behavioral problems will end with maturity, otherwise a trade will be the final act in "Spin's" Met career.
8-22-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/814874-new-york-mets-who-the-mets-should-add-to-their-40-man-roster-on-september-1st -
Jordany Valdespin SS Buffalo Bisons: 119 games combined between Buffalo and Double-A Binghampton 16 HRs, 56 RBIs, .288 BA, 34 SBs Now if you're looking for a speedy shortstop with loads of power, Valdespin is your kind of player. Since signing with the Mets as a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2007, Valdespin has quickly risen through the ranks of the Mets farm system and has stolen bases and driven in runs at every step of the way. With the uncertainty of current Mets star shortstop Jose Reyes' contract beyond 2011 and the chronic injuries of star prospect shortstop Reese Havens, Valdespin enters the very top tier of potential Reyes replacement shortstops in the Mets minor league system. Valdespin deserves a long, hard look from Terry Collins and the rest of the Mets front office during September baseball for his future prospects at the position with the Mets.
8-29-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/822805-new-york-mets-five-reasons-to-keep-watching-in-september#/articles/822805-new-york-mets-five-reasons-to-keep-watching-in-september/page/2 -
The New York Mets September call-ups will feature a number of players that could play a big role for the team in 2011. This could be your first chance to see pitchers who could be a part of the rotation or a player who could take over a spot in the outfield next year. One of the more exciting players that the Mets will likely call up is Jordany Valdespin. He has been having a great year in the minors and should be in the running for the Mets second base position next year.
9-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/09/prospect-pulse-buffalo-2012-help-on-the-way.html - Jordany Valdespin - Not to beat a dead horse, as I recently described Valdespin in detail, in both the LH hitter post, and the Shortstop post, so all I'm going to say about him is since he is finishing this year at Buffalo, it makes perfect sense for him to man shortstop there next year. As far as him being able to help the Mets next year, the question right now is whether he can improve enough in three areas to warrant a call-up to the bigs. First he needs to cut down on his errors, second he needs to stop getting caught stealing so much, even if it means running less often, and third the coaching staff must decide that he has left his lack of maturity issues behind for good.
10-18-11: - In updating the Keepers, I have to say that, right now, Jordany Valdespin is the top every day player in the system. This might be due to other players underperforming and lack of 5-tool projectable ceilings, but he still has earned it on his own with his ability both in the field and with a bat in his hand.He also is maturing as a human, with a big help by Carlos Beltran.
10-20-11: - http://realdirtymets.com/2011/10/20/minor-league-position-breakdown-shortstop - Behind Tejada on the depth chart is Jordany Valdespin, who had one of the best seasons of any prospect in the Mets system in 2011. Valdespin has incredible athleticism and showed this past year that he can be a dynamic offensive force. In the past he has had problems with discipline and attitude, which was less of an issue this year. He has not walked or stolen enough bases, both of which he improved upon this past year; and he has not always put forth full effort all the time, concerns he has not yet eliminated. Valdespin is not quite ready for the big leagues, just getting a promotion to AAA late in the season, but if he can continue to do what he did in 2011, it shouldn't be too much longer until making his big league debut is a real possibility.
11-9-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-upper-level-shortstop - Jordany Valdespin played 78 games at shortstop for AA Binghamton. Did you realize that prior to 2011, he had played 47 games at short stop in his entire minor league career? Really. Coming into this year, scouts did not think he could handle shortstop everyday, questioning both his hands and arm. They weren't wrong. Valdespin tied for second in the Eastern League shortstops with 26 errors. That's an error every three games. Errors aren't perfect, but they do illustrate a point here. At age 24 by Opening Day 2012, he'll be two years older than Ruben. Of course, Valdespin can hit: his .297/.341/.483 with 15 homers and 33 stolen bases was eye-opening. I certainly don't regard him as a competitor to Tejada at short if Reyes isn't resigned. Rather, he's a second baseman, who like Justin Turner can slide over to short stop in a pinch.
11-4-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/11/4/2538426/jose-reyes-roundtable-4-if-reyes-leaves-who-is-the-mets-shortstop-in - Now should Tejada's development falter, all is not lost. That's because just behind him down in Triple-A Buffalo, Jordany Valdespin will be waiting for a chance to show off his far more versatile skillset at the next level. Valdespin has always flashed game-changing tools, it's just harnessing them that's been the tricky part. That is until this past season when he finally put it all together for a breakout campaign where he batted .294 with 17 homers and 37 stolen bases between Double and Triple-A. People might not like his severe lack of plate discipline or his somewhat out-of-control style of play, but frankly those are numbers you just don't often see from the shortstop position, at any level. But again, he's frustrated scouts for years with his rawness so the fact that Valdespin will actually be two years older than Tejada come April should be an indicator that his development has been anything but routine and consistency is not a part of his game.
11-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-12-jordany-valdespin-inf.html#comment-202645 - A major problem for "Spin" is the mental side of the game. He tends to have concentration lapses in the field, at bat, and on the base-paths. As a fielder, he has terrific range, and a strong throwing arm, but his hands are not soft, and he appears to stab at the ball, his glove-work choppy. As a hitter, he can be dynamic and shows some potential "pop", but he swings at everything, is completely undisciplined, and therefore is not effective at the top of the order. Last year in 511 AB's he struck out 93 times and walked 25 times, for an OBP of only .333. As a base-runner, Spin is not a burner but has pretty good speed. He could someday develop into a stolen base threat, but right now he is impatient as a runner and takes a lot of foolish chances. He was caught trying to steal 18 times, that's one-third of his total attempts last year.
1-10-12 - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-15-prospects-new-york-mets/ 7. Jordany Valdespin, 2B/SS
BORN: Dec. 23, 1987
EXPERIENCE: 5 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2007 international free agent
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: Off
SCOUTING REPORT: Valdespin is yet another member of the Mets' outstanding international free agent haul from '07. He's produced solid pro numbers but a continued lack of maturity has hampered his development. Like many of Mets prospects, Valdespin is overly aggressive, which hinders his overall offensive ceiling. He has above-average power for a second baseman and also stole 37 bases in '11 after be improved his base running.
YEAR IN REVIEW: The Dominican showed a power-speed combination in '11 and he hit a career high 17 home runs between double-A and triple-A. He struck out too much, though, and walked at a rate of about 4%.
YEAR AHEAD: Valdespin hit very well in double-A in '11 but struggled a bit during his 27 game trial at triple-A. He'll likely need another season of development in the minors before he's ready to take over second base at the big league level. Valdespin has an outside shot of sticking at shortstop at the big league level if he continues to show improvements in 2012.
CAREER OUTLOOK: New York has a number of players capable of holding down the second base fort until Valdespin is ready – so he won't be rushed. Given his history of insubordination the organization may be unwilling to commit fully to him as the second baseman of the future – at least until he shows improved maturity for an extended period of time. If everything breaks right, Valdespin could be an above-average player at the MLB level – both on offense and defense.
2-9-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/9/2786300/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-10-6 - IF Jordany Valdespin - Much like Lagares, the 24-yr old Valdespin is a bit of a polarizing figure thanks to his hit-or-miss skill set. Specifically, his awesome raw ability was on display big time in 2011 as he finally put together all of the tools that he'd only flashed in the past. He set career highs in doubles, homers, stolen bases, slugging and OPS and most impressively did so between Double and Triple-A. Using his quick, buggy whip-style stroke from the left side -- think Brett Gardner -- he was able to shoot balls to all fields while creating more than enough bat speed to pull them over the wall. In short, he showcased the kind of all-around offensive skill set that you just don't often see from middle infielders, minors or majors. However, his dynamic style of play can tend to border on out-of-control and nowhere is that more clear than in the field. The highly athletic Valdespin possesses more than enough arm and foot speed to handle short but thus far he's had a very hard time limiting the errors there or even from second, where he's seen a lot more reps. Additionally, as has been his issue in the past his plate discipline was not good. He walked in just 3.5% of his plate appearances with Buffalo while striking out over 22%. However, he did show a very solid improvement in both categories in his time with Binghamton, though he remained susceptible to good breaking stuff. Ultimately, I think of Valdespin like the anti-Tejada: He's old, not disciplined -- in the field or at the plate -- and isn't known for great makeup. However, he features the kind of all-around athleticism, broad skill set and subsequent production in the high minors that Ruben can only dream of. While his flaws can obviously undermine him, his ceiling likely resembles the 2011 4.0 fWAR version of Erick Aybar.


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Google Translate API: Shutting Down, is there an alternative?
Being sick for a few days, I was late in hearing the news.
Google is shutting down the Google Translate API. Right now it's just deprecated, with a full shutdown not occurring until the end of the year, but still … it's happening.
They say it's because of abuse. Abuse? On the internet? I don't believe it.
Fortunately, there are still options for those of us who wish to use a service to translate text. › Continue reading
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Greg "Craola" Simkins is in the midst of final preparations for his upcoming show titled "The Pearl Thief". The exhibition set to take place at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles will come across as much more than an art show as it features interactive puzzles. Those who solve the puzzle will win a free 5×5 original Craola painting. The show's theme tells the "story of a greedy monster who travels the globe stealing people's imaginations, all in the shape of a pearl dangling inside each person's head." In addition to the videos provided by G1988, Arrested Motion also stopped by Craola's studio for a look into some of the works set to be displayed starting November 3rd's opening night which begins at 7 pm.
Greg "Craola" Simkins "The Pearl Thief" Exhibition
Gallery 1988
7020 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA
p: 323.937.7088


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This property has been removed by the agent. It may be sold or temporarily removed from the market
Land for saleBucknell Hill, Bucknell, Shropshire
Property Description
Full description
Tenure: Freehold
| McCartneys are pleased to be favoured with instructions to offer for sale this attractive area of amenity land and woodland.
| The land and woodland is located on the outskirts of the village of Bucknell at Bucknell Hill in South Shropshire. It is located with the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as being close to the border with both Mid Wales and Herefordshire.
| There are two rights of access to the land. The land can be accessed either through the village of Bucknell towards Chapel Law. Turn right down Bridgend Lane continue along here until you reach the woodland. Alternatively travelling from Bucknell towards Chapel Lawn, after 3/4 mile turn right before travelling a further 25 metres along a private roadway to reach the land.
| Is freehold with vacant possession available upon completion.
| The property is sold free of any ingoing. No claim for dilapidations and deterioration (if any) or other offset will be allowed.
|RIGHTS. All sporting rights, timber and mineral rights, as may be owned, are included in the sale.
| There are no Single Payment Scheme Entitlements included with the sale of the land.
| Shropshire County Council, Shirehall, Abbeyforegate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND (Tel: 0345 6789000)
| Ludlow Area Office, Whitcliffe, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 2HD
| These are based on the Ordnance Survey and are for reference only. They have been checked and computed by the agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to have satisfied himself as to the description of the property, and any error or mis-statement shall not annul the sale nor entitle either party to compensation. The plan is for the purposes of identification only, and is based on the Ordnance Survey Sheets.
| Any purchaser(s) SHALL be deemed to have full knowledge of all boundaries and neither the Vendors nor the Vendors Agents will be responsible for defining the boundaries or ownership thereof.
|RIGHTS OF WAY. The land will be sold subject to and with the benefit of all existing rights, whether public or private including rights of way, supply, drainage, electricity supplies and other rights, covenants, restrictions and obligations, quasi-easements and all wayleaves whether referred to in these particulars or not.
| (a) The property is sold with all faults and defects (if any) whether in good condition or otherwise and neither the vendors nor McCartneys, the agents for the vendors, shall be in any way responsible for such faults and defects, or for any statements contained in the particulars of the property prepared by the said agents.
| (b) The purchaser shall be deemed to acknowledge that he has not entered into this contract in reliance on any of the said statements, that he has satisfied himself as to the contents of each of the said statements by inspection or otherwise, and that no warranty or representation has been made by the vendors or the said agents in relation to, or in connection with the property.
| (c) Any error, omission or mis-statement in any of the said statements shall not entitle the purchaser to rescind or to be discharged from this contract, nor give either party any cause for action.
| The Auctioneers advise all prospective purchasers when viewing the property to take due care.
| The land will be offered for sale by Private Treaty.
| The property will be sold subject to the special conditions of sale incorporated in the Contract which has been prepared by the vendors solicitors. The Contract and Special Conditions of Sale will be available for inspection at the offices of the agents and the vendors solicitors for seven days prior to the date of the auction. The purchaser will be deemed to have notice of such conditions and all the terms thereof and will be deemed to bid on these terms whether or not the purchaser has inspected them. The Special Conditions of Sale having been available to the purchaser, will not be read out at the auction.
| Strictly by prior appointment with the agents - McCartneys Tel: 01547 528621 or John Amos & Co Tel: 01588 610007.
|ACRES OF AMENITY LAND AND WOODLAND AT BUCKNELL HILL. A most attractive parcel of deciduous woodland and amenity land. The woodland is located on the western side of Bucknell Hill comrpsing chiefly species. The woodland slopes down to the River Redlake and benefits from well maintained glades allowing easy access. To the south of the woodland there are areas of pasture that would be suitable for livestock grazing. However overall this area really does lend itself to amenity and recreational pursuits and aesthetically has much to commend itself to prospective purchasers. There is also the potential for commercial use with the fundamentals in place to produce good quality timber.
| NG No Hectares Acres SO3474 2 80 0.60 1.48 SO3474 3165 0.23 0.57 SO3474 3353 1.22 3.01 SO3473 2986 2.24 5.54 SO3474 3960 2.01 4.97 SO3474 4388 8.44 20.86 SO3474 4666 1.94 4.79 SO3474 5469 1.25 3.09 SO3474 5890 0.88 2.17 18.81 46.48
More information from this agent
To view this media, please visit the on-line version of this page at www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-38634761.html
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Market Info
Disclaimer - Property reference KNI120040. The information displayed about this property comprises a property advertisement. Rightmove.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove has no control over the content. This property advertisement does not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by McCartneys LLP, Knighton. Please contact the selling agent or developer directly to obtain any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 or the Home Report if in relation to a residential property in Scotland.
Map data ©OpenStreetMap contributors.


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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
North Quincy, MA, United States, 2007/06/19 - Psychsoftpc announces the availability of their new Psyberlert Emergency Cell Phone Text Messaging System which will allow school administrators to enter alert messages & broadcast them to every member of that institution in the event of an emergency.
By now everyone is familiar with what happened on the Virginia Tech Campus. Many people thought: "If only they had warned somebody;" "If only they were able to get the word out faster." In response to this, Psychsoftpc announces the availability of their new Psyberlert Emergency Cell Phone Text Messaging System, a pre-configured computer, database and software solution which will be owned and controlled by the purchasing institution.
When the unthinkable happens, school administrators need a quick, user-friendly way of getting information out to students, faculty and staff. E-mail is a possibility, but students, faculty and staff might not be in front of a computer or they might not check their e-mail regularly. But most of them have cell phones with them all the time. Text messaging to these cell phones offers another medium of contact in emergency situations if there was a means of utilizing it.
Now there is a way to use cell phones to get the word out. The Psyberlert Emergency Cell Phone Text Messaging System from Psychsoftpc will allow school administrators to store all cell phone contact data in a SQL database, enter messages quickly and broadcast them to every member of that list easily. All that is needed is this system, an Internet connection and a contract with one of the many Cellular Gateway Providers and they're good to go. The Psyberlert Emergency Cell Phone Text Messaging System is designed for ease of use. It comes with two 500 gig SATA hard drives in RAID configuration for increased reliability. Since it is a system that is owned by the school, administrators do not need to worry about a service provider losing data, going out of business, being unreachable or refusing to respond due to contract disputes. And since they control the data, privacy issues for students, faculty and staff are addressed. No possibility of an outsider accidentally sharing cell numbers with someone else.
Now school administrators can have the ability to reach folks in an emergency when they need to and under their control. Of course, this is something everyone at Psychsoftpc hopes never has to be used, but they are making it available just in case. And, unlike a service, all this is under the school's control.
The Psyberlert Emergency Cell Phone Text Messaging System is available from Psychsoftpc.
Written by / Agency / Source: Psychsoftpc
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick Newswire Today Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+]


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Designed to give your hair a malleable hold whilst protecting against damaging effects of the environment, this Styling Short Mania by Kerastase is perfect fot short hair styles. The strong yet flexible formula is fortified with micronized polymers for shape memory and Vitamin E to help absorb damaging oxidative molecules, meaning that this semi-matte shaping paste will leave your hair feeling just as good as it looks. K.D.
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Research data
Research data is the foundation on which scientific, technical and medical knowledge is built, but there are challenges in making it accessible and shareable. In line with the STM Brussels Declaration, Elsevier envisions a future in which data can be easily and effectively stored, shared, discovered and used, in support of researchers and for the advancement of science and health. However, there are challenges in making research data accessible and shareable. We have developed our research data policy to address these challenges and will continue to actively support further industry development of technical solutions, best practices and guidelines. Read more about our research data activities and see our FAQ on the policy.
The following principles underpin Elsevier's data policy:
- Research data should be made available free of charge to all researchers wherever possible and with minimal reuse restrictions.
- Researchers invest substantially to create and interpret data and others such as data archives, publishers, funders and institutions further add value and/or incur significant cost. In all such cases these contributions need to be recognized and valued.
- Expectations and practices around research data vary between disciplines and need to be taken into account.
- Platforms, publications, tools and services can enhance data by improving their discoverability, use, reuse, and citation.
- Standard identifiers, vocabularies, taxonomies, ontologies and entity resources enhance the discovery, management and use of data.
Research data policy
The precise notion of what constitutes research data will differ from field to field but broadly speaking it refers to any data that are the direct result of observations or experimentation without analysis or other intellectual input. This includes, for example, facts and statistics gathered for further reference or analysis, the output of a measurement device, data from social surveys, digital scans, etc. Research data do not include preliminary analyses, nor do they include text in manuscript or final published article form. For further information on this, and on our policy more generally, please see our research data policy FAQs here.
Expectations and resources for data curation and use vary across the broad range of academic disciplines. Mindful of and sensitive to these differences, we will:
- Encourage and support researchers and research institutions to share data where appropriate and at the earliest opportunity.
- Provide guidance to authors regarding the deposit and sharing of data.
- Encourage and enable two-way linking of relevant datasets and publications using permanent standard identifiers.
- Encourage and support proper data citation practices so that researchers can be cited and credited for their work.
- Work closely with the scientific community to establish data review practices to ensure that published research data is valid, properly documented and can be re-used.
- Develop tools and services to support researchers to discover, use and reuse data to further their research.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already spayed, up to date with shots, and good with dogs.
A great pack dog, Ada loves the company of other dogs, and gets along well with cats, too. Her quiet and gentle nature make her a pleasure to be around.
Ada is spayed, current on all vaccinations, and up-to-date on heartworm preventative. If you have room in your home and heart for this very special lady, please contact Gail Ross at (870) 431-8229
Ada, a Oakland Corgi dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Corgi for sale in Oakland, or seeking a Corgi dog from a breeder in Oakland.


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Anchorage's code enforcement commissars have ordered the removal of an unofficial long time seasonal landmark in a residential neighborhood, and a firestorm of community opposition to the action is slowly simmering. Full story published December 22nd, 2008 in the Anchorage Daily News. This story has gone national, with reports filed by the Associated Press and United Press International. And here's a January 2007 MSNBC report which illustrates the public nuisance aspect.
View a series of 10 ADN photos HERE.
The unofficial seasonal landmark is called "Snowzilla", a 16-foot tall snowman built in an Anchorage residential neighborhood at 1556 Columbine Street each winter during the past three winters, beginning in 2005. However, Anchorage code enforcers found it to be both a public nuisance and a safety hazard, and ordered the property owner, Billy Powers, to remove it, issuing a cease-and-desist order.
The safety aspect is anecdotal. Although Snowzilla was 16 feet high, the only people endangered should the behemoth topple are those who actually set foot on the property. But the public nuisance aspect is very real. Not only did camera crews from Russia and Japan visit, but the two-story snowman caused increased traffic in the neighborhood to the point of endangerment. In addition, city officials have an issue with an excessive amount of "junk" on his property, and they may be using "Snowzilla" as an excuse to slap him down. Although the city claims they've fined Powers $100,000 over a period of time for his "junk", Powers called in to KFQD conservative shock jock Dan Fagan's program on December 22nd and claimed the cumulative fines have only amounted to $16,000. In addition, Powers further claims his own junk abatement measures have been hindered by conflicting guidance given by different code enforcers.
However, even though some neighbors have actually helped Powers build his behemoth snowman every winter, some neighbors have had enough of the traffic funnelling through the neighborhood, according to the Alaska Dispatch, a professional left-of-center team blog. And they have a point - when you move into a residential neighborhood, it is reasonable to expect that there will be no more than the typical amount of traffic commensurate with a normal residential neighborhood. When you suddenly get inundated with an upsurge in traffic, with motorists driving by, tossing their trash on the streets, it becomes a full scale public nuisance. And the extra traffic, some of which drove through the neighborhood during nighttime quiet hours, can be a danger to kids living in the neighborhood.
Rich Fern, Anchorage's lead code enforcement officer, states that the city has broad authority under its public-nuisance law to order the removal of Snowzilla if it is interfering with the peace. "The law covers pretty much anything that would irritate the public, anything that would create a nuisance," Fern says. "Snowzilla has generated a lot of traffic through the neighborhood in past years. The people who were coming to see it were going on other people's properties to get a look. When the bars were letting out, it was a popular attraction to go by and see Billy Ray's snowman. And these aren't the quietest people."
Fern also cited the safety issue. "The other issue," Fern says, "is that it looked like where he was going with it that (Snowzilla) was going to get real big this year. He's not an engineer. If a hunk of snow rolled off and hit a kid, that wouldn't be good for anybody." Ironically, the Daily Paul reveals that the chief code enforcement officer who signed the order is named Jack Frost, but KFQD's Dan Fagan says it's not the same Jack Frost who ran for mayor of Anchorage in 2006.
But Billy Powers says the city already has shown itself to be the Grinch who stole Christmas. "This is the worst thing that has happened to me in a long, long time," Billy Ray says. "To tell us to stop two weeks before Christmas, the kids just don't understand why (the city) is doing this to us. This is Anchorage Alaska. You tell me, do we have a law against snowmen?"
And The Alaska Standard, a professional right-of-center team blog, leans towards Powers' point of view, downplaying the public nuisance angle. They play the "nanny-state" card, and don't consider this an efficient use of enforcement resources. Here's an excerpt from their post:
Some cranky, scrooge-like neighbors have complained about the extra traffic brought into their neighborhood after families all over Southcentral traveled to show their kids Snowzilla during the holidays. Our city bureaucrats with the full force of government behind them got behind the cranky neighbors and made sure no more Snowzilla for the kids--a trip that has become a family tradition for some. City code enforcement officials declared Snowzilla a public nuisance and safety hazard.
Cranky? Scrooge-like? Perhaps I might be a bit "cranky" and "scrooge-like" if I lived on Columbine Street and was frequently awakened at 3 A.M. by headlights, car stereos thumping rap crap, and rubberneckers tromping through my yard. Neither Dan Fagan nor most of the 850+ people who've posted comments to the ADN story in support of Powers specify whether or not they would tolerate such a nuisance in their own neighborhoods. This is neither expected nor is considered acceptable behavior in a residential neighborhood; this is why we have differential zoning laws.
And what will Powers do next? He plans no litigation; his finances preclude it. So Snowzilla is just a big pile of snow rubble. Powers said he doesn't plan to rebuild, because under the city's nuisance abatement order, he could be arrested if he rebuilds it. However, community support for Powers continues to build; I've now learned there is a website, Snowzilla.org, which has just been formed.
There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for municipal code enforcers giving conflicting guidance. Government should never be allowed to put anyone in a box; it is government's responsibility to solve problems, not create problems. We have a right to expect correct and consistent answers from bureaucrats.
But the city did solve a legitimate problem when they "melted" Snowzilla. The evidence showed that the giant snowman clearly created a continuing public nuisance in the neighborhood. Zoning restrictions are crafted to minimize public nuisances in residential neighborhoods. Perhaps Billy Powers should rebuild his "Snowzilla" in a nearby city park.


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Saks Unveils 2011 Windows and Holiday Light Show
Since 1949, Saks Fifth Avenue's world famous holiday displays have delighted children and adults alike. This year, the entire Fifth Avenue flagship comes alive with a dramatic light show projected onto the building; The Snowflake & Bubble Spectacular. Launching on the evening of November 21st, with a performance by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. Saks Fifth Avenue's holiday experience will be a revolutionary celebration of technology and fashion.
The show will be an updated twist on last year's bubbles theme, joining the traditional Saks snowflakes as festive new symbols of joy and hope. The bubbles seemingly interact with snowflakes on the façade of the New York flagship store through state-of-the-art projection technology. The show will comprise of a full 3D model, which will be projected back onto the building to create a brighter, more impactful effect. It will utilize a custom-built 6-projector system and a new soundtrack, composed exclusively for the show, designed to bring the story of the Snowflake & the Bubble to life. The technology is made possible through accurately mapping the landmark building's details into a computer and creating a vivid 3D projection that can appear to change the features of the building itself. The visual effects include snow gathering up on ledges, bubbles emerging from the windows, and the entire façade appearing to freeze over.
The Fifth Avenue windows will tie into the book, "Who Makes the Snow", in which a little girl looks for the source of the bubbles and snowflakes that everyone sees on the façade of Saks. Extending over twelve along Fifth Avenue this year, the holiday windows will truly be the largest display in recent history. Incorporating fashion into the fantasy, Saks Fifth Avenue has commissioned the following designers, Alexander McQueen, Nina Ricci, Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney, Haider Ackermann, Naeem Khan, Rag & Bone, Olivier Theyskens, Marchesa, and Erdem to create stunning, one-of-a-kind dresses to be included in each of the holiday vignettes.
This year, the holiday windows are brought to you by FIAT and MasterCard Worldwide, and their Priceless NYC campaign. The Fiat 500 by Gucci will be featured in one of the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday windows. The new Fiat 500 by Gucci limited-edition model represent the perfect combination of craftsmanship and style, and bring together two of Italy's most respected brands. In the year that sees the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and Gucci's 90th anniversary, these special editions of the iconic Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio have been customized by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in partnership with Fiat's Centro Stile.


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アブカムでは最適な動作のために Google Chrome など最新ブラウザでの閲覧を推奨します。
Synthetic peptide (the amino acid sequence is considered to be commercially sensitive) within Human alpha Actinin aa 750-850 (C terminal). The exact sequence is proprietary.
This product is a recombinant rabbit monoclonal antibody.
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