text:
With almost all developed handset markets such as USA, France, Germany, Canada and South Korea suffering annual handset volume drop in Q4 2013, as identified in our recent report under HCST (Handset Country Share Tracker), Japan is almost the only country which grew annually in Q4 2013, mainly boosted by the explosive demand for Apple's iPhone 5S and 5C products, offered through all three local carriers including NTT Docomo. Apple dominated the Japanese handset market with an all-time high iPhone shipments.
Our Japan Handset Vendor Marketshare by Operator in Q4 2013 report, available to our paid clients, will give the readers how strong Apple was in Q4 2013 in Japanese handset market.
According to a recently published handset and smartphone marketshare report for 15 countries in Q4 2013, released to clients through our Country Share Tracker (CST) service, Samsung and Apple are the only two vendors who seized the top spots across 15 major countries worldwide. Samsung captured the number one spot in most countries, including China, India and Brazil, while Apple ranked first in North America and Japan due to solid demand for the new iPhone 5s. In Japan, Apple captured a record share of all smartphones shipped during the quarter, crushing local vendors like Fujitsu and Panasonic and giant Samsung.
Rumors continue to swirl that Sprint and T Mobile will soon merge their mobile operator businesses in the United States. If the merger goes ahead, our Country Share Tracker (CST) service finds "T Sprint Mobile" will instantly become the largest purchaser of smartphones in the huge United States market, leapfrogging longtime leaders Verizon Wireless and AT&T. This will have major implications for key smartphone suppliers such as Apple, Samsung and Kyocera. More data and analysis of the US smartphone market by operator can be downloaded by clients in this published report.
Global smartphone shipments grew +46% annually in Q3 2013. We estimate the top 10 families of models accounted for seven out of ten smartphones shipped worldwide during the quarter. Samsung and Apple top the charts today, but LG's Optimus, Sony's Xperia and Huawei's Ascent series are quietly gaining traction.This published report, available to clients of our Country Share Tracker (CST) service, tracks the world's best-selling smartphone families and models by shipment volumes from Q1 2011 to Q3 2013. The report is a valuable tool for component makers, car manufacturers, content suppliers, mobile operators, device vendors and other stakeholders who want to identify and measure the world's most-popular smartphones by dozens of models.
Based on the diverse product portfolio strategy across multiple price-tiers and strong Galaxy brand image, Samsung captured number one position in handset and smartphone shipments ranking in almost all of 15 major countries globally during Q3 2013, but according to the recently published handset and smartphone market share reports for 15 countries in Q3 2013 under our handset country share tracker (HCST) service, which is available to our existing clients, Apple stopped Samsung from leading the handset and smartphone market in all 15 major countries with the success of its newly-launched iPhone 5S and 5C. The existing clients can look at the handset and smartphone shipments by vendors during Q3 2013 in 15 major countries such as the US, China, India, Japan and UK.
According to our Country Share Tracker (CST) service -- in a newly published report called China Smartphone Vendor and OS Marketshare : Q3 2013 -- China smartphone shipments surged a huge +91% YoY to record levels in Q3 2013.China maintained its position as the largest smartphone market worldwide since Q3 2011. Today, smartphone shipments account for 86% of total handset volumes in China, up from 59% one year ago.
Samsung remained in first place in China, while Lenovo and Coolpad maintained second and third positions.Xiaomi was the star performer in Q3 2013, pushing into the top-5 list in China for the first time since Xiaomi began operations in 2011. Strong performances in e-commerce channels, and the launch of the more-affordable Hongmi phone, were the key drivers behind its surging volumes. More analysis on Xiaomi and China smartphones can be downloaded by clients here.
Our Country Share Tracker (CST) service recently published its Global Smartphone Shipments by Model report.CST clients can click here to access the full report.In the report, Samsung continued to dominate the market, overtaking Apple with numerous popular models like the Galaxy S4.Interestingly, Huawei's Ascend family become the no.5 most popular smartphone sub-brand worldwide this quarter for the first time ever. Solid marketing at home in China is driving shipments. The Chinese vendor is quietly getting the hang of building famous sub-brands.
Motorola has recently been sending out invites to the launch of its new, flagship Moto X smartphone in the US, due in August 2013.
Our Country Share Tracker (CST) service expects Moto X volumes to be tilted mostly toward the United States market in the near-term (e.g. AT&T). We expect the pricing and promotion strategy to be heavily supported by parent Google. Moto X will attempt to differentiate from rivals by hardware materials and software customization. Moto X will compete with Samsung S3 / S4, HTC One, and other models. We expect the point-of-sale marketing for Moto X to have a strong "made at home in America" slant to it. Whether Samsung, HTC, LG and other Android partners will be pleased by this new Googorola LTE smartphone push remains to be seen.
Will Moto X revive Motorola in Q4 2013? It will give Motorola a lift, for sure, but the device is fairly "small beer" for now -- and it has a long way to go before it can compete with the kinds of volumes generated by the world's best-selling smartphone models, such as Apple iPhone 5 or Samsung S3.
With global smartphone shipments increasing the market share in developed and developing markets in Q1 2013, we estimate the top 10 smartphone model families accounted for almost five out of seven smartphones shipped worldwide during the quarter.
Our Handset Country Share Tracker (HCST) service are tracking the quartery global shipments of top 35 well-known and well-received smartphone models from Samsung (Galaxy), Apple (iPhone), LG (Optimus), Nokia(Lumia), Blackberry (BB10), HTC (One), Motorola (Razr) and the rising Chinese vendors including Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo and Xiaomi from Q1 2011 to Q1 2013 in this published report.
The smartphone shipments in Japan grew a massive +24% annually in Q1 2013. NTT Docomo was the key carrier driving this growth with healthy demand for its Xi branded LTE network and smartphones. In overall Japanese market in Q1 2013, two foreign vendors, Apple & Samsung, and two local vendors, Sony and Fujitsu captured the top four OEMs with robust supply of LTE handsets.
Domestic vendors' performance remained weak in all three local operators while Sony became the top supplier to NTT DoCoMo, surpassing Samsung and Fujitsu with strong demand for its new flagship Sony Xperia Z smartphone.
This report published by Handset Country Share Tracker (HCST) service, which is available to our clients, tracks handset vendor marketshare for 17 OEMs by quarter across all major operators in Japan, including NTT Docomo, Softbank and KDDI. The report can be used by handset vendors, component makers, content developers, vehicle manufacturers and others to identify winners and losers by carrier in the high-value Japanese mobile market.
| Feed
| Sign in


text:
Inside The March 2012 Issue
March 2012 Issue Of DRUM! Magazine
28 Chris Adler
Lamb Of God's drummer came late to the instrument, forced himself to notate parts, and made peace with his inner critic. Looks like it all paid off.
By Andrew Nusca
40 Vinnie Amico
Improvising with moe., tinkering with bluegrass beats, and owning the groove are all in a day's work for the consummate jam band drummer.
By Andrew Lentz
51 Secrets Of Effective Soundproofing
Tips for creating the ultimate music lair. (Your neighbors will love you.)
By Gino Robair
57 DRUM! Weirdness Survey
The results from our first-ever poll of drummer behavior, as told by you.
63 Jeff Greene
The TriBeCaStan percussionist reveres music from every corner of the globe, but none of it is too sacred to be meddled with.
By J. Poet
69 Product Test
Cooperman Jamey Haddad Frame Drums
By Neel Kant Agrawal
72 Lessons
Taku Hirano marries the worlds of electronic and acoustic percussion. Glen Caruba shows you how to stop the bleeding in the studio.
75 Build Your Own Drum Triggers
Piezo transducer technology is simpler than you think.
By Gino Robair
78 Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad
By Jake Wood
82 Ddrum Reflex Drum Set
By David Libman
84 Zildjian Ride Cymbal Roundup
By Brad Schlueter
87 James Cassells
Asking Alexandria's master blaster gives British metalcore a good name.
By James Cassells
91 Rich Redmond ladles out a steaming bowl of chunky groove soup. Terence Higgins inverts the triplets for some killer warmups. Matt Byrne gets your limbs in sync.
25 Cristiano Mozzati
A furiously infernal beat
down from the dark heart of Lacuna Coil.
By Andrew Lentz
- 6 Perspective
- 10 Feedback
- 12 Notation Guide
- 14 Single Strokes
- 21 Showcase
- 99 DRUM! Picks
- 105 Meet Your Maker
- 106 Wiretap

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lowering The Cost Of Your Compressed Air System
Join KPPC's environmental sustainability engineers March 29 to explore the true cost of compressed air systems.
Mar 29, 2012
from 09:30 am to 10:30 am
Energy Managers, Facility Engineers, Operators, Plant Managers and Maintenance Staff
|Add event to calendar
March 29, 2012
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. ET
Compressed air systems have a valuable place in industry, but left unchecked can quickly become a liability to your facility. With the ever-increasing prices of energy, lowering any variable cost is essential. This webinar will explain the true cost of compressed air systems to energy managers, facility engineers, operators, plant managers and maintenance staff, and discuss steps to improve the efficiency of existing systems. Attendees will hear about both financial and energy savings.
Presented as part of KPPC's environmental sustainability training series.
View this and other previously recorded KPPC hosted webinars.
Funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the combined efforts of the following organizations: Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence, the U.S. Department of Energy and KPPC.
Please see our complete list of KPPC sponsored events for additional training or networking opportunities.


text:
That's the secret behind what makes the Anarchy Compound Bow great... Bear Archery built it around the demands of hunters like you! You demand a more forgiving, longer axle-to-axle bow. You demand lightweight design without compromising durability. You demand a bow that feels like no other from draw to release. Bear listened. Here's the result. Read on to learn what makes the Anarchy so comfortable in hand and deadly in the field.
Defying the rules of the archery game:
The Compound Bows specs:
State Finish, Draw Weight and Right or Left Hand, as available in the Shopping Cart below. Order yours ONLINE today!
Please Note: This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add it to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
Bear Archery® Anarchy Compound Bow
You qualify for a free gift. It will be added to your cart automatically.
Shop Similar Items
to find something that we have now or that can be backordered.
If you would like to be notified when we have this item available for sale, click
and enter your email address to receive an email notification.


text:
International Theater Series
Propeller: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Friday, February 22, 2013, 7:30 pm
Power Center
Edward Hall, director
Presented in repertory with Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew
So, what did you think? People are talking on the UMS Lobby. Share your thoughts.
What will you witness?
Propeller returns after its much talked-about 2011 performances of Richard III and The Comedy of Errorswith new productions of Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew, two comedies full of mistaken identities, transformations, and deceptions that ultimately reveal truth.
In The Taming of the Shrew, a man playing a boy dresses up as a girl, which confuses Christopher Sly. InTwelfth Night, a man plays a girl disguised as a boy, which confuses everybody.
Both plays explore beautifully how being in love with the wrong person can reveal true feeling.
Propeller uses an all-male cast as was done in Shakespeare's day. Mixing a rigorous approach to the text with a modern physical aesthetic, the company updates the productions in surprising ways, with actors also performing live music.
"As directed by Edward Hall, Propeller specializes in knuckle-duster Shakespeare that digs for the harshness beneath the lyricism. Funny, antic, bawdy: the productions are all these expected things. But they also make sure that the chuckles stick in your throat. The poetry may still be pretty; the comedy definitely is not." (The New York Times)
Program Book [PDF]
Show notes:
2 hours 45 minutes, with one intermission.
Also see:
Propeller website
Propeller uses an all-male cast – even for the female roles – as was done in Shakespeare's day, updating the productions in surprising ways. They seek to find a more engaging way of expressing Shakespeare and to more completely explore the relationship between text and performance. They include live music performed by the actors (who did a bang-up performance in the lobby during intermission of Comedy of Errors last year). Presenting productions since 1997, Propeller has toured around the globe, visiting Australia, China, Spain, Mexico, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Cyprus, Ireland, Tokyo, Gdansk, Germany, Italy, Malta, Hong Kong and the U.S.A.
Mixing a rigorous approach to the text with a modern physical aesthetic, they have been influenced by mask work, animation and classic and modern film and music from all ages. Productions are directed byEdward Hall, designed by Michael Pavelka with lighting designed by Ben Ormerod. Ed Hall is an associate director at the National Theatre, the Old Vic and the Watermill Theatre, as well as artistic director of Propeller Theatre Company.
This week's performances mark Propeller's second appearance under UMS auspices. The company made their debut in March, 2011.


text:
That fact was recognized with the presentation to Colby of a 2005 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization at the annual meeting of NAFSA/Association of International Educators on June 1 in Seattle.
The association, dedicated to advancing international education and exchange, began presenting the Simon Award just last year. There are five recipients in 2005, and Colby is one of the first 10 colleges or universities in the nation to receive the honor.
The award recognizes Colby's commitment to internationalism throughout the curriculum as well as its strong study abroad program and its international diversity.
On the academic side, half of Colby's 53 majors have an international component and more than 100 courses satisfy requirements in the international studies major. When it comes to study abroad, more than two thirds of students take advantage of extensive opportunities, a rate that is among the highest in the nation. Colby has led its peer institutions in the percentage of international students for many years, and 66 countries currently are represented by 188 students who are non-resident aliens, dual citizens, or resident aliens. Martha Denney, associate dean of faculty and director of off-campus study, accepted the award on Colby's behalf and said it represented a broad effort at the College. "There clearly are a lot of people involved," she said.
As a recipient of the award, Colby will be featured in a report, Internationalizing the Campus 2005: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities, to be published this fall by the association.


text:
Plastic surgeons affiliated with CHKD provide pediatric reconstructive or corrective surgery to improve the appearance and/or formation of body features or parts affected by injury, disease or abnormal development.
With a dedication to the treatment of infants, children and adolescents, our program offers a unique level of experience and expertise in pediatric plastic surgery. We care for children with a variety of conditions, including:
Each physician is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and/or the American Board of Otolaryngology.
This depends on what kind of insurance you have.
If you have an HMO, you must:
If you have fee-for-service insurance or a PPO, you do not need a physician's referral to make an appointment.
We offer in-depth information about insurance in our Billing and Insurance section.
To make an appointment or inquire about insurance requirements, please call (757) 668-7713.
Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Web Privacy Policy
©2014 Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters • 601 Children's Lane • Norfolk, VA 23507 • (757) 668-7000


text:
South Bend Divorce Attorneys and Lawyers
Contact a Qualified Divorce Lawyer
- 866-615-0407
- View Website
Featured Divorce Law Firm
Attorneys Nationwide
- Call Now
- 866-615-0407
- Email Us
Please do not disclose any confidential information.
South Bend
Divorce Information
Are You Considering Getting a Divorce?
If you are considering ending a marriage or registered domestic partnership, arming yourself with information is your best first step. A skilled South Bend divorce lawyer can show you what will occur during a divorce proceeding and legally who is entitled to what.
The Divorce Process
Filing for divorce is the first step, but there are other options throughout the process. Most divorces have many questions as to the division of property and, if you have children, child custody and child support.
Some couples are able to reach an agreement through mediation, others may have to depend on the judge to make the final decision. While the divorce process will vary by state, you will have to file with a family court in your jurisdiction to obtain a final decree of divorce as well as to request child custody and child support payments. Divorce can be messy, so make sure to arm yourself with a divorce attorney.
Searching for a South Bend, IN Divorce Lawyer?
When searching for the right South Bend Divorce Lawyer for your needs, the LawInfo Lawyer Directory is the best tool to have. Our directory lists experienced and ethical professionals to help you through your legal issues.
You do not have to limit your search to just South Bend. Feel free to expand your search to the surrounding areas and adjacent cities, such as Mishawaka, Osceola, Lakeville, Elkhart, or even Bristol. Expanding your search gives you a larger selection of qualified attorneys to choose from.
For instance, in South Bend there are 0 qualified Divorce attorneys for you to consider; however, expanding your search by 50 miles will result in 3 qualified Divorce attorneys to consider. Expand your search to a 100-mile radius from South Bend and you will have 25 qualified Divorce Lawyers to review. This increases your ability to find the right attorney for your case.


text:
Halloween Cupcake Stencils
- Summary
Memorable home-baked treats are enchantingly easy with these haunting stencils. Just set your favorite spooky shape in the frame, lay it atop a cupcake and add a quick sprinkle of cocoa, cinnamon or colored sugar. When you remove the stencil, your professional-looking design will magically appear.
- Set of four spooky shapes includes a bat, skull, spider and owl.
- For a colorful layered effect, use more than one stencil on a cupcake. Try making a black witch against a bright orange sky – or a ghostly white spider in an eerie black web.
- The handled frame has a sloped rim that funnels sprinkles to the center for neat, waste-free decorating.
- Detailed patterns guarantee spine-tingling sharpness.
- Hand wash.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 4 1/2" diam. without handle.
- Made in China.
- Use & Care
- Hand-wash.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item is shipped from our warehouse by UPS to arrive within five business days of our receiving your order.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Rush Delivery
For an additional charge of $15 per address, we can rush delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Return Policy
At Williams-Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. If, within 30 days, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please return the item for an exchange or refund of the merchandise value. View Full Return Policy.


text:
Hotel Nikko Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
Hotel Nikko Saigon is a 5 star luxury hotel with 388 rooms, suites and apartments. With an average room size of 40 sqm, main guestrooms are among the most ...
US $176 Per Night
Blue Diamond Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
The City Hotel Was Built in 2010, With a Total of 84 Fully Furnished and Well Designed Guest Rooms To Make Guests' Stays Truly Comfortable. The Hotel'S ...
US $666 Per Night
Sanouva Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
Enjoying the superb location right in the city center of Ho Chi Minh is the modern and affordable Sanouva Hotel. Perfect for travelers exploring this fantastic ...
US $91 Per Night
May Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
May Hotel is Built As Modern Style With Design Mixed Netween Traditional Europe and Asia. With Advanced Indoor Décor Equipment , May Hotel Will Bring you ...
Lavender Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
This is a Newly Built Mid-Range City Hotel. The Establishment First Opened Its Doors in May 2008 and Comprises 8 Storeys and a Total of 66 Rooms and Suites. ...
US $73 Per Night
Chancery Saigon All Suites
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
Chancery Saigon Hotel is an All Suite International Hotel, Offer Guests Privacy, Space and a Quiet Sanctuary from the City'S Hustle and Bustle. Each Two-Room ...
US $67 Per Night
Sophia Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
The Hotel Style is Very Diverse and Attractive Based On the Best Foundation of Other National and International Hotels. It Also Has an Experienced Board ...
US $50 Per Night
New Pacific Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
Built in 2010, This City Hotel is an International Standard 4-Star Hotel With 12 Floors and 112 Luxury Rooms. The Hotel Has Been Designed With Meticulous ...
US $71 Per Night
Tan Hai Long 3 Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
The Hotel Offers 40 Modern Rooms, a Lobby With 24-Hour Reception and Check-Out Service, a Hotel Safe, Currency Exchange Facilities and Lift Access. Guests ...
US $48 Per Night
Family Inn Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Hotels & Resorts
This Modern, Deluxe City Hotel in the Centre of Ho Chi Minh City Enjoys a Strategic Location On the Border of the Business and Leisure Districts. The Hotel ...
US $66 Per Night
Vietnam Bike Tours
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Bike Tours
Vietnam Bike Tours® Biking has to be the ultimate way to explore all of destinations. There is no better way to get close to people in the countryside or to take in the extraordinary sights, sounds and smell of the Indochina and beyond....
Mekong Delta: Full-Day Floating Market & Bike Tour
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Bike Tours
Discover the unique cultural heritage of Vietnam's Mekong delta as you cycle to My Tho and cruise along the Mekong River. Visit the floating market in Cai Be, enjoy lunch in an ancient house, visit a bee hive, taste natural honey, and more!...
Starting at US $76 Per Person
Good Morning Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Sight-Seeing Tours
Good morning Ho Chi Minh City! Ho Chi Minh City is formerly known as Sai Gon and a place where you have the opportunity to take a glimpse into the local Sai Gon culture....
US $39 Per Night/Pers
Vietnam Set Departure Daily
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Sight-Seeing Tours
Visit Hanoi, Cruise Halong Bay on Oriental Sails, Reunification Express with soft sleeper cabin train to Hue, Cycling Hue Hoi An, Bus to Ho Chi Minh and Mekong delta. Normal Price: 1049usd/person New Price from Realadventure: 889usd/person...
Affordable Rates from US $889 Per Person
Cruise The Magnificent Mekong: Saigon - Phnom Penh
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam Sight-Seeing Tours
Explore the lush waterways and green rice fields of one of the most fertile areas in the world; the Mekong Delta.Cruise floating markets amid a maze of ships selling a dizzying range of produce....
Starting at US $723 Per Person
Discover Cultural Village outside Hanoi by bike
An Duong, Viet Nam Bike Tours
A genuine local experience in the intermingling of traditional and modern life brought to you by the Responsible Travel Club of Vietnam in partnership with local families in Dong Ngac Ancient Village....
Starting at US $49 Per Person
Halong Bay Cruises
An Duong, Viet Nam Scenic Cruises & Boat Tours
Halong Bay cruises and cruise deals in Halong with all the top cruise lines. Find and Book online with Halong Bay Cruises today at an unbeatable price...
Starting at US $100 Per Night/Pers
Phu Quoc Beach Retreat
An Giang, Viet Nam Sight-Seeing Tours
Phu Quoc is an ideal island escape, with charming character, unknown beaches and clear waters. It's one of the least developed islands in Asia, which really adds to its charm....
US $285 Per Night
Vietnam's Last Frontier Hagiang
An Giang, Viet Nam Sight-Seeing Tours
Journey to the most remote part of Vietnam. Travel rugged highland areas with lush valleys and mountain streams, staying with hill tribes and learning their unique culture....
US $1,016 Per Night
The Glorious Mekong An Overnight Cruise
An Giang, Viet Nam Sight-Seeing Tours
Take an overnight journey on the glorious Mekong River. Cruise to unseen floating markets and see everyday riverside life, enjoying a delicious sunset dinner on board....
US $377 Per Night
|Link Code


text: John Vogel Farm Bill Fiasco: Where's The Program Payment Check? The quick answer may be: "Don't expect farm program checks to be the same sized. Some may not continue. Published on: Jan 11, 2013 The good news is: Congress gave itself a reprieve in passing a new Farm Bill. The bad news is: Expect some farm program payments under a 2013 Farm Bill to shrink or be disappear. That's the bottom line of this week's comments from Andrew Novakovic, a Cornell University ag economist. Congress' "fiscal cliff" compromise may have extended the 2008 Farm Bill through 2013. But funding for all programs is not assured. The 2008 Dairy Product Price Support Program is reauthorized through Dec. 31, 2013. So the equivalent of a $10 support price for Class III and IV milk remains in effect, he adds, which is to say no effect at all. The Milk Income Loss Contract program that compensates dairy producers when prices fall below specific levels is extended by simply changing all the 2012 dates for MILC in the 2008 Farm Bill to 2013. This means the more generous formula and larger production cap goes back into effect and extends through Aug. 30, 2013.SO NOW WHAT? Cornell's Andrew Novakovic says "Educated guesses are that the 2013 [funding] will be less favorable for agriculture and food programs." It also raises the possibility of retroactive payments to farmers. Because of ambiguity in the bill's language, it's not entirely clear whether this would include milk produced in September 2012. That's important, because it is the only retroactive month with a significant payment opportunity for farmers. "For all other agricultural support programs, the extension simply changes dates from 2012 to 2013. So programs applying to corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar, peanuts and cotton for the 2012 harvest will apply to the 2013 harvest. ~~~PAGE_BREAK_HERE~~~"It's extremely unlikely that any action of Congress in 2013 would change those programs and conditions in mid-stream. So, crop growers should plan on the familiar programs continuing for another year. Funding not assured for some A number of programs are extended, but provisions for funding all of them aren't assured, according to Novakovic. That includes: *The Conservation Reserve program * The Nutrition Education and Employment and Training Programs associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, basic SNAP benefits are continuing. * Certain research programs are continued, including the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. * Certain bio-based energy and products programs are extended. * Certain horticulture and organic ag programs are extended, including the Farmers Market Promotion Program and the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. * The extension explicitly doesn't extend certain other conservation, trade, rural development and disaster assistance programs. So, now what?. "A 2013 Farm Bill could look quite different from the 2012 Farm Bill that emerged from the Senate and the House Ag Committee discussions, surmises Novakovic. Some are destined to fall off USDA's own fiscal cliff. Keep in mind that drastic fiscal cliff spending cuts were delayed only for two months. So budgetary gamesmanship isn't over. Flood insurance extended| In separate legislation passed last week, farmers having flood insurance were assured of claim coverage. Congress extended the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program. That enables NFIP to pay flood claims stemming from Superstorm Sandy.


text:
The Cabot Institute brings together world-class expertise, developing truly multidisciplinary research programmes to tackle the challenges of uncertain environmental change.
Unravelling the crucial effect of two key factors in the escalation of extreme mega-heatwaves. Image by Alex Proimos.
Director Rich Pancost talks biogeochemistry and why it is important for understanding climate change.
Apply for our popular summer school where you will receive advanced training on risk and uncertainty in natural hazards. The course will run from 7 - 11 July 2014.
Understand the fundamentals of climate change science and its links to policy and policymakers with our masters programme.
Updated 25 April 2014 by the School of Geographical Sciences
| Feedback
University of Bristol, University Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9954


text: At the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, speedy vessels round tracks that line the city streets in 11 races. This year marks the return of the popular NASCAR Canadian Tire showdown and the Firestone Indy Light, which disappeared for the past 13 years to chase its dreams of soap-opera stardom. Fans can watch famous drivers, which have included Jacques Duval, Danica Patrick, and Patrick Carpentier, race through the city streets from general-admission trackside seating for all three days of the Grand Prix, which will summon thrills and horizontal hairdos as the cars whip past. Tickets also grant unlimited enjoyment of access to the event's paddocks, concerts, fireworks, and a full schedule of family-friendly activities. Or, autophiles can log in for three days of access to the live web stream, which will broadcast practices, qualifying rounds, sit-down interviews with famous engines, and races such as the Formula Tour 1600 and the Spec Racer Ford Pro.


text:
Friday, April 25, 2014
By Steve Mistler email@example.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA — Democrats took charge of three state agencies Monday after being sworn into office by Gov. Paul LePage.
Incoming Attorney General Janet Mills is applauded by Maine Senate President Justin Alfond, second from right, Speaker of the House Mark Eves and Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Leigh Saufley during Monday ceremonies at the House of Representatives.
Photos by Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal
New Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, right, greets Maine Senate President Justin Alfond, left, after being sworn in to his post Monday in Augusta by Gov. Paul LePage.
Attorney General Janet Mills and Secretary of State Matt Dunlap returned to the posts they left in 2010 when Republicans took control of the Legislature.
Mills became the state's top lawyer, replacing William Schneider.
Dunlap replaced Charlie Summers, and now oversees elections and a state bureaucracy that includes the Division of Motor Vehicles, the business corporations division and the Maine State Archives.
The other constitutional officer sworn in Monday, state Treasurer Neria Douglass, replaced Republican Bruce Poliquin.
The constitutional officers are elected by the Legislature and are in that branch of government.
The three Republican officers who stepped down Monday forged activist reputations and were closely aligned with the Republican agenda advanced by the Legislature and LePage.
Poliquin especially elevated the profile and partisan tenor of an office that typically went unnoticed.
The three new officers aren't regarded as outspoken partisans, although it was clear Monday that they will differ with the LePage administration and Republicans at times.
Dunlap, who was secretary of state for six years before leaving office in early 2011, said some of his work will include furthering initiatives that involved Summers.
For example, Summers created a small-business advocate office. Dunlap said he supported the office when Summers proposed it two years ago, and he still does.
"We may be able to expand this and get people to think in ways that they don't think about themselves," said Dunlap. "Maybe we can get individuals to think about starting their own business and maybe help with that."
On the other hand, Dunlap has different views on voters' access and ballot security.
He oversaw the implementation of the 2002 Help America Vote Act, a federal law designed to create ballot security and voter-access standards in each state.
Dunlap said Monday that while ballot security issues persist, he does not envision a voter identification law -- a measure supported by Summers and Maine Republican leaders.
"We always get questions about the outcomes of an election," he said.
"We're able to answer 99.9 percent of those questions with a phone call. I don't see us moving forward with a photo ID initiative. ... You'd be pushing too many people away from being able to exercise their right to vote."
Dunlap said he doesn't plan to engage in politics even if it means disappointing his party.
"I have a D after my name, so you know where I am politically on any issue you want to talk to me about," he said.
"But the nature of my work cannot be partisan. ... I can't emphasize that enough, especially because the work we do involves elections."
He said, "Sometimes it can be very difficult and painful and risky to say no to your friends, but you have to do it because there's a public trust issue there. Nothing would make me happier than to leave office as a trivia question: Who was that guy?"
Monday's swearing-in ceremony was relatively low key, but political squabbles may loom.
LePage supported Attorney General Schneider's fight against the federal health care law, and Schneider pushed to get federal approval for LePage's proposed cuts in the state's Medicaid program. It's unlikely that Mills will participate in such efforts.
Mills, who became Maine's first female attorney general when she was elected in 2009, joked Monday that she is living proof that Mainers believe in recycling.
(Continued on page 2)


text:
In an undated photo provided by the St. Michael-Albertville School District, Timothy Larson, a special education teacher at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West in Albertville, Minn., poses for a photo. Larson was shot and killed in an apparent homicide in rural Paynesville, Minn. The Kandiyohi County sheriff's office says deputies received a call Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, from a man who said he had shot and killed someone after an argument. (AP Photo/St. Michael-Albertiville School District)
Read the article: Charge: Man, 81, Shot Teacher Over $50, Farm Parts
Read the article: Fund Set Up For Family of Slain MN Teacher


text:
Part Cuban actress Bella Thorne from Disney Channel's Shake It Up, has just inked a book deal. She'll co-write a series of novels about a 14-year-old whose life changes after she encounters magic. The Disney starlet tweeted that although the book has elements that are based on her life, it is not a biography. She added, I am too young and not experienced enough to dish advice. For the teen actress, singer, dancer now turned author, she just wanted to write a book that teens could relate to. The series of books will be called Autumn Falls and will release in 2014.
Download the TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and Android!


text:
Skip to Main Content
Search this site:
OPSC Home
Bond Accountability
Priority Funding Information
Public Records Act Requests
Subscribe to Email Notifications
Unsubscribe to Email Notifications
About Us
OPSC Employee Phone List
OPSC Directory of Services
Project Management District Assignments
State Allocation Board
SAB Implementation Committee
School Facility Program Review Subcommittee
Career Technical Education Facilities Program
Charter School Facilities Program
Critically Overcrowded Schools Program
Community Schools, Expelled Pupils & ROC/P Facilities
Deferred Maintenance Program
Emergency Repair Program
Facility Hardship Program
Financial Hardship Program
High Performance Incentive Grant Program
Joint-Use Program
Modernization Program
New Construction Program
Overcrowding Relief Grant Program
Prevailing Wage Monitoring and Labor Compliance Program Requirements
Seismic Mitigation Program
Surplus Site Sale Proceeds
Unused Site Program
Inactive Programs
Applications Received Beyond Bond Authority
Building Blocks Newsletters
Emergency Information
Handbooks, Guides, and Brochures
Laws and Regulations
Online Applications and Tools
Program Data: PIW Charts
Project Information Worksheet (PIW) Custom Reports
School of the Month
Workload Lists and Reports
Forms by Number
Forms By Program
Inactive Programs' Forms
News & Events
Events Calendar
You are here >
OPSC Home
Enriching the lives of California's school children as stewards of the taxpayer's commitment to education
The Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) is under the authority of the State of California's Department of General Services. As staff to the State Allocation Board, OPSC implements and administers a $35 billion voter-approved school facilities construction program.
Meeting Information
State Allocation Board
Next State Allocation Board Meeting -
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
School Facility Program Review Subcommittee
SAB Implementation Committee
OPSC Events Calendar
Priority Funding Information
Next Priority Funding Rounds
Round 7 – Requests may be submitted May 14, 2014 through June 12, 2014. Requests are eligible for apportionments from July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
Round 8 – Requests may be submitted November 12, 2014 through December 11, 2014. Requests are eligible for apportionments from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015.
Priority Funding information on eligibility, regulations, and request periods
Procedures for School Facility Program Funding
School Facility Program Application Processing charts
Priority Funding Lists
Priority Funding Round 5 Final List (List effective 7/1/13 - 12/31/13)
Priority Funding Round 6 Final List (List effective 1/1/14 - 6/30/14)
Nonparticipation One-Occurrence List
(as of 12/12/13) (PDF)
Nonparticipation Two-Occurrence List
(as of 01/13/14) (PDF)
OPSC Video Uploads
SAB April 7, 2014
SAB March 26, 2014
SAB January 22, 2014
SAB, November 25, 2013
SAB, October 14, 2013
SAB, October 1, 2013
SAB, August 28, 2013
SAB, July 10, 2013
SAB, June 26, 2013
SAB, May 22, 2013
SAB, March 20, 2013
SAB, SFP Review Sub-Committee Hearing, March 6, 2013
SAB, January 23, 2013
$372.2 Million Apportioned
See our
Announcements Web page
(link) for more information on the April 7, 2014 apportionments made by the State Allocation Board.
Charter School Facilities Program Filing Round
The filing period for the current round of Charter School Facilities Program (CSFP) preliminary apportionments is from April 1, 2014 to May 30, 2014. Visit the
CSFP Web page
(link) for application information, as well as instructional information from our recent workshops and recorded webinars.
What's New
April 7, 2014 - State Announces $372.2 Million for ...
April 5, 2014 - DGS and OPSC to Celebrate New Scho ...
October 11, 2013 - OPSC Celebrates New Charter Sch ...
September 17, 2013 - OPSC Welcomes New School Buil ...
View All
Quick Links
Annual Adjustment to SFP Grants, 2014
Applications Received Beyond Bond Authority
Developer Fee Biennial Adjustment 2014
Emergency Information
OPSC Events Calendar
Final Round 6 Priority Funding List
(eff. 1/1/14 - 6/30/14)
Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Requirements
Priority Funding Information
Project Manager District Assignments
Project Tracking Search Tool
SAB Archives
SFP Review Subcommittee
SFP Unfunded List
Sign up for OPSC Electronic Meeting Notification


text:
Positively Beautiful: What leads people to heroism?I was in New York City for a conference the last weekend of October. I took the subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn on Friday, and dined in Manhattan's Seaport district on Saturday evening. I left early the next morning, sad to miss the last day of my meeting but warned of impending flight cancellations. Two days later, the subway tunnels were flooded with water, and I saw the tiny restaurant from Saturday's dinner on "Nightline." I heard it took on 6 feet of water.
By: Dr. Susan Mathison, Areavoices.com, INFORUM


text:
Be The First To
Add Photos
14% of the CEO
A. Lorne Weil
1 person found this helpful
I worked at Scientific Games full-time for more than 5 years
Pros – Pretty good pay and benefits. Work is somewhat varied, so it's different from time to time. It is fun working with lottery applications.
Cons – The organization in Atlanta is somewhat disorganized; I'm not sure that upper management really is aware of what goes on at lower levels
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend
I worked at Scientific Games full-time for more than 3 years
Pros – great environment to learn and grow
Cons – low potential to grow need more opportunities to grow in company
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company
I have been working at Scientific Games for more than 10 years
Pros – Flextime is good
Salaries are higher than most
Cons – Lack of direction
Stale technology
Lack of work ethic by most
Raises are very week - The only way to get more money is to change jobs or when entering company
Advice to Senior Management – Bring in new talent from outside. Hiring within has thinned out the talent.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company
I worked at Scientific Games
Pros – Good pay
A few departments have solid leadership
Small company, good if thats your thing
Cons – Poor communication between anyone outside of your team, fair amount of duplicate work.
Poor PTO available to anyone under 5 years of service
Lack of focus, goals are short term and often forgotten
Many departments feel a lack of respect and no appreciaton for their work
Outdated work mentality and culture
Advice to Senior Management – Pick a solid goal and focus on it, dont get side tracked with things that arent relevant to the discussion. Loosen up on the 8-5 in your seat mentality.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend
1 person found this helpful
I have been working at Scientific Games
Pros – With over 4,900 employees, and loads of world-wide contracts, there is a lot of opportunity to move around and grow.
Cons – Current regime has lost touch with what made the company a well-respected leader. Being publically traded, the almighty dollar takes the front seat to anything else - period. Having their employees indicted or caught up in lottery scandals doesn't speak well for the current management style. The old regime never had any scandals, but they weren't publically traded either. Management is hard-edged.
Aquistions and mergers, along with more contracts spreads employees thin.
Employees are expected to do what is needed for the company first, regardless of personal consequences or hardships on family.
This is an example of a company that grew by leaps and bounds at the sacrifice of employees.
There is no return from the slippery slope of pleasing the shareholders.
Advice to Senior Management – Get more personal with your customers and your employees. Don't manage via fear tactics.
Become an advocate, not an enemy.
1 person found this helpful
I have been working at Scientific Games
Pros – Good work / life balance
Cons – Poor communication among EEs. Every changing atmosphere.
Advice to Senior Management – Get a plan and execute it! Communicate better overall instead of just when an upper level employee is introduced or someone in upper management resigns.
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend
1 person found this helpful
I have been working at Scientific Games
Pros – Vacation time and paid holidays are numerous
Variable scheduling
Management is tolerant of a personal life
Good job if you are interested in learning
Cons – The pay is very low for the job
24/7 datacenter means a rotating shift
very few chances to advance in the company
Advice to Senior Management – Take charge of the employees, sometimes an employee just needs a kick in the butt to get the job done. There is a difference between being a leader and being a boss.
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend
1 person found this helpful
I worked at Scientific Games
Pros – it was an okay job nothing too spectacular but had a lot of good benefits that came along with the job.
Cons – It was a headache dealing with the staff and management a few times. They just didnt get the idea of what we where supposed to accomplish.
Advice to Senior Management – get a life. and stop pusing your ideals on other people that make no sense. This is 2009 for peets sake.
1 person found this helpful
I have been working at Scientific Games
Pros – compensation, ability to work with new technology - SG is very open to the use of developing technology. Although training is seldom part of the equation - it's normally "trial by fire".
Cons – benefits, lack of career path, very little internal promotion. Health insurance is not much better than zero health insurance - and just about as expensive. There are no defined career paths - and internal promotion is more a function of who, not what, you know. It's a constant struggle to make sure you are recognized and compensated fairly for what you do.
Advice to Senior Management – realize that employees are not just a commodity - better benefits, better internal communication. Stock price is not the only measure of our success.
1 person found this helpful
I worked at Scientific Games
Pros – One can learn alot through trial and error @ SG. Also you will gain experience with the cutting edge technology. Money is not a problem so you will be compensated for your work and given the tools to do an effective job. The work environment is very close knit and personable. You will develop life long friendships and relationships. The benefits are great and very competitive compared to other manufacturing facilities. Even with all of the drawbacks SG is a great place to work. The location is excellent. There is constant growth and the sky is the limit for future of this company.
Cons – The amount of commitment is excessive due to the lack of capable people to step up to the plate. The management and leadership qualities could use some work. There is alot office politics and fear tactics used to ensure that you get the job done. Alittle more professionalism and tact by the upper management team will attract a more professional and talented market.
Advice to Senior Management – Work on an effective succession plan to develop future leaders. Also think before you do things then you would not have to cover up all of the indiscretions later on.
Would you like us to review something? Please describe the problem with this {0} and we will look into it.
Your feedback has been sent to the team, and we'll look into it.
Sorry, but your feedback didn't make it to the team. Your input is valuable to us – would you mind trying again?
Your response will be removed from the review – this cannot be undone.
Copyright © 2008–2014, Glassdoor. All Rights Reserved. Your use of this service is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy & Cookies Policy. Glassdoor ® is a registered trademark of Glassdoor, Inc.
Simply post an anonymous review for a current/former employer or recent interview experience. Your post is anonymous – and if you're worried that someone will be able to identify your review, you can even post without telling us your job title and location. Learn More.
No thanks – I'll just look around
We do not post on Facebook
We do not post on Facebook


text:
All Shook Up
Baby, Don't Go
Baby, I'm Yours
Be My Baby
Baby, Don't Go
Baby, I'm Yours
Be My Baby
Present Danger is a ôwoman in perilö story. Aunie Franklin, the incredibly lovely daughter of an impoverished branch of prominent Atlanta family, had done what everyone expected of her. She had married very well. Unfortunately, the older man she chose did not want a wife; he wanted an ornament to add to his collection. After several years of an unsatisfactory marriage, Aunie asked for a divorce. Wesley Cunningham had seemed to accept her decision, but it soon became clear that he had developed an unhealthy obsession with his young wife. Then, one evening, he returned to the house they had once shared, and beat Aunie unmercifully.
While Wesley is arrested, he is soon out on bail and Aunie decides that she wants to put as much distance between her ex-husband and herself as possible. So she moves to Seattle and into an apartment house owned by James Ryder, a noted cartoonist. Jamesĺs manager and friend Lola is the one who rents the still bruised Annie the apartment. The last thing James wants is another person in his life who needs to be taken care of.
James had grown up in the projects, with Otis, Lolaĺs husband. He had used his artistic talent to pull himself out of poverty, but his three brothers had been less successful in escaping their past. James is continually having to rescue them. He doesnĺt need someone else who needs rescuing, which Aunie sure does.
Aunie and James are oil and water. What do a southern socialite and a rough and tumble guy like him have in common. Whatĺs more, sheĺs not his type. He likes them tall, blond, busty and experienced, not petite, brunette, and remarkably innocent. So of course, they fall in love.
It is great fun to watch it happen. It is also great fun to watch Aunie discover that she has more than beauty, that she has a brain. Likewise, to see her make friends with Lola, a stately Caribbean beauty and her fireman husband. A whole new world is opening up for Aunie, but, when Wesley is acquitted, suddenly her world threatens to collapse. James
takes steps to protect her, but she knows full well the depth Wesleyĺs obsession.
There is a richness to Present Danger that is becoming increasingly rare in the slighter plots that we find in so many current romances. There is a poignant subplot involving Lolaĺs and Otisĺs failure to conceive a child. There is another involving one of Jamesĺ brothers who is a cocaine addict. Yes, the love story between Aunie and
James is at the center of the book, but there are also other relationships that are described and developed: Aunieĺs friendships with Lola and the woman she meets while attending the local community college; her relationships with Jamesĺ brothers and Otisĺs family.
Moreover, Andersen has plenty of time to provide details about her heroĺs and heroineĺs background, which also enriches the story.
Andersen writes better now than she did in 1993. She has clearly honed her craft. Her more recent books are without a doubt entertaining and well done. Do check Susan Scribnerĺs review of her upcoming release. She is clearly one of the best current authors of contemporary romances. Yet the fact remains that this reader at least prefers her earlier books. Often, reissues of a now successful authorĺs earlier books means
that inferior books are being foisted on the reading public. In the case of Present Danger we are seeing Susan Andersen at her best.
--Jean Mason


text:
Radar detectors like Escorts new passport is a game changer. No more wasting money on speeding tickets or on the spot fines.
You can spend money on tires instead check out seek tire website for some guides on buying tires at http://www.seektires.com for more info
{ Comments on this entry are closed }


text:
Deactivating Facebook
The video is obviously exaggerated but still gets the point across.
Did you know there are more than 800 million Facebook users and 50% log on every day? Who thought this would get so big? Why didn't Myspace get this big? Facebook was desgined by college students for college students, and it is something I once had, but not anymore.
I've been Facebook-less for over two years now and I love it. Why didn't I just limit myself to Facebook? Well, I couldn't! It is so addicting and my only solution to the problem was deactivating my account. There are obvious reasons to why everyone loves it, but there aren't many reasons to why people would just completely deactivate their account. Social networking takes out the fun of meeting people and interacting with people in person. It isn't productive toward studying at all, and I need as much studying as I can get since I am the average guy that cannot just simply digest knowledge after I see it once!
Facebook, Myspace (if that is even used anymore), Google+ are all networking sites that are not meant for me. When I did have one, I easily spent more than three hours a day on it just creeping on people I never knew about and then I would find out about their entire life. It is something I found actually creepy and I didn't like it since I judged people before I even truly knew them.
Let's be serious, people might be friends on Facebook, but they are barely even acquaintances in real life. I had more than 500 friends on Facebook and only talked to about 200 of them (if that). I didn't like barely knowing people and being friends with them on Facebook. It seemed like a fake friendship to me and I want to truly be friends with everyone. I don't want to have to fake it.
So how's life been since I deactivated it? Well, my grades have gone up. I have more time for friends, exercising, talking on the phone and discovering new hobbies, whoa! I try to make every second count, and being on Facebook was just a waste for me. Sure it was nice seeing and talking to people I haven't talked to in years, but that was a very small portion of it to me. I am a social person just like anyone else, and I'd rather be social in person than over the Internet. I like hearing the sound of someone's voice and seeing their face when it isn't smiling in a frozen moment.
So here's my challenge to you readers. How long can you go without your Facebook account? A few days, weeks, months? It truly is hard to remember what life was like before it, but see how long you can go.


text:
Nursing News
News on Nursing continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.
1 hr ago | Denver Post
CU system resets health care with $63M personalized medicine division
Lung-cancer patient Ellen Smith, accompanied by Dr. Dara Aisner, reacts upon seeing a dissected portion of her tumor at the Colorado Molecular Correlates Laboratory at the Anschutz Medical Campus earlier this month.
Trending on the Topix Network
Nurses don wigs to promote better health
Staff at East Tamaki Healthcare general practices have been donning wigs, wings, hula skirts and decorating clinics in a bid to encourage their patients to take more notice of improving their health.
Memories of former hospital flood back
THIRTY former nurses who trained and worked at the Royal Isle of Wight County Hospital, Ryde, in the 1960s met up for a reunion at the Lakeside Hotel, Wootton.
Extra Vaccination Push Underway In Ohio As Mumps Outbreak Spreads
Health officials are making an extra push for vaccination against mumps in Columbus, Ohio, in the wake of an outbreak that started at Ohio State University.
'Seaside Soiree' to benefit visiting nurses
Members of Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County's benefit committee include Ann Sheffer of Westport, who is hosting the fundraiser at her home on Stony Point, Judy Higby of Wilton, Janet Lebovitz of New Canaan, Ellen Lewis of Wilton, Aislinn Gavin of Danbury, and Helen-Rendell-Baker of Wilton.
Airedale Hospital bosses have said premises that are not owned by the hospital need to be "fit for purpose" when they are used for Airedale patient appointments.
Demand increasing for paid caregivers
The 66-year-old Sioux City man never thought he would instead be taking care of Alicia Johnson, 53, who suffers from congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and diabetes.
All Children's Hospital Chief Patient Safety Officer Named to...
The American Academy of Pediatrics has selected Dr. Brigitta Mueller, Chief Patient Safety Officer at All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, to serve as a member of the executive committee of the Council on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety .
Nursing Home Disclosure Bill: Transparency or Intrusion?
At issue is a bill that would require nursing homes to disclose the financial status of any "related party" businesses that contract with the homes - such as associated companies that own the facility properties, or spinoff businesses that provide rehabilitation or management services.
Nurses' Experience Key to Better Patient Care, Study Says
Patients may get the best care when treated in hospital units staffed by highly experienced nurses, a new study shows.
Boulder County's 'bunny guru' nurses injured rabbits back to health
It's best if young rabbits stay in the wild because the mother is bonded to her babies and teaching them how to survive.
Burnley and Pendle Citizen: Hospital staff continue to work under pressure, say the union
UNION chiefs remain concerned about staffing levels at East Lancashire's hospitals, despite a recent recruitment drive for consultants and nurses.
'Minor' issues at the nursing home can cause disastrous care transitions, expert warns
What may appear to be minor administrative problems in a nursing home - a fax machine locked away at night or no one designated to copy paperwork - can cause major headaches in care transitions, a geriatrician warned in a webinar Thursday.
Whittington Hospital nurse accused of fabricating 'groundbreaking' research
Staff at the Whittington Hospital were said to be 'surprised' when they first learned of Mr Di Giacomo's research paper.
Paz de la Huerta's performance in "Nurse 3-D" may have saved career
However, her acting performance in "Nurse 3-D" was so exceptional that she might have made herself similar to Alec Baldwin , an actor whose talent outweighs his off set indiscretions.
NHS whistleblower wins tribunal
Raj Mattu was "vilified and bullied" by the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, according to his lawyers Cardiologist Raj Mattu was "vilified and bullied" by the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust during a years-long "witch hunt", according to Ashfords LLP.
No looking backward [Commentary]
Americans should not be deterred from working to improve our health care system despite difficulties with implementing the websites of the health insurance exchanges as part of the Affordable Care Act .
Put your best foot forward to support hospice's wacky fundraising drive
A hospice which provides 24 hour for people with life-limiting illnesses is encouraging people to step up and join in with their latest fundraising initiative.
A.U. Schar Nursing College Starts Doctor Of Nursing Program
Ashland University's Dwight Schar College of Nursing on Trimble Road in Mansfield is expanding its academic programming.
With Google Glass, the doctor can see you now
As an emergency room physician rushes to a patient, he glances at a QR code by the door to the patient's room and immediately can see the man's medical history and the nurse's notes.


text:
Alico Tahoe
4-star: 0
3-star: 0
2-star: 1
1-star: 0
The Alico Tahoe is a hiking boot made by Alico sport,…
Price Paid: $154
The Alico Tahoe is a hiking boot made by Alico sport, an Italian company. As far as I know, sierratradingpost.com is the sole US distributor of Alico boots, and they only carry a handful of the Alico line.
I bought these boots because I was looking for a durable boot that would offer more protection during bushwhacks with a welt sole that could be replaced, as I have grown weary of the kabuki dance involved each time I needed to replace my trail runners du jour. At the time of this review, these boots have been used for day hikes ranging from 7-12 miles in length in order to break them in for longer treks, plus one overnighter.
I currently have 175 miles on them, with a majority of these miles coming from on-trail use with short bushwhacks. I have had an opportunity to use these boots on ice and snow as well. The terrain I have hiked in has been mostly forest trails, marsh boardwalks, some bushwhacks through thicket, and the occasional hike through mud, snow and/or ice as nature dictates. I live in west Michigan, so steep rocky mountain trails are non-existent unfortunately.
I ordered these boots in a 10D (D being "standard width") from the aforementioned STP.com, which also offers a "2E" width. According to STP, MSRP is $274.95 with a perpetual "sale price" of $199. I got 50 bucks off since STP had a promotion where any first purchase through STP was 25% off.
Straight out of the box, you can't help but notice that these are just a nice looking boot.
Alico's official site, alicosport.it displays a different version of this boot, so I didn't use any of the info provided there. Per STP.com, these boots weigh 3lbs 4 oz per pair, are 5.5 inches high, and feature a nylon and steel half-shank.
These boots are 2.8mm full-grain Anfibio leather with a fully gusseted tongue. The boots are lined with dri-lex, designed for "excellent moisture movement properties as well as outstanding abrasion resistance, hand-feel, and attractive patterns and textures" per dri-lex manufacturer website.
The sole is your standard Vibram Roccia block.
Putting these boots on my feet for the first time, I was struck by how stiff they were (remember, I have used trail runners exclusively until getting these). I felt like I was wearing ski boots as I walked around my living room. During my first day hike, I made it about 4 miles until my feet began giving me serious grief.
I have been able to progressively increase my mileage until I hit around 125 miles, at which point I felt comfortable finally taking these on an overnighter to get a feel for how my feet might tolerate them on a longer trip. Following the overnighter, I treated these boots with Obenauf's leather oil, as they looked like they needed some hydration.
I did stay mostly comfortable on the overnighter, but I think it will take all of 200 miles to fully break these in. Since the overnighter, I logged an additional 50 miles on them.
Things I love about these boots: They are obviously durable and well-made. I have kicked plenty of stumps and branches during hikes accidentally, as well as having to kick through some thick stuff on bushwhacks and the leather has held up well without anything more than scuffs. The Vibram sole is grippy in mud, ice, and snow. The only surface I have slipped at all on would be wooden boardwalks covered in early morning dew, and I don't know of many soles that can keep you from slipping in that situation.
The dri-lex liners manage moisture extremely well, as my early hikes were in late August and heat was not lacking. The laces on these boots do not slip, and double knots are not necessary. The padded ankle support is very comfortable. I haven't done the "bathtub test" with these boots, but I have hiked in rain and through plenty of puddles following treatment with Obenauf's with no leaks.
I also like how these boots are Gore-Tex free, as Gore-Tex liners just wind up as sweatboxes on my feet. These boots run narrow, and are a perfect fit for my lower-volume foot (I believe European boot manufacturers generally make lower-volume boots than their American counterparts, but I am not certain). I also just like how these boots look. After 175 miles, a damp cloth following a hike makes these pups look virtually untouched.
Things I am not as high on: These boots come with a cheap foot bed worth slightly more than paper towel. I replaced them with Sole Softec Response insoles. While I was planning on replacing the soles anyway, it was kind of disappointing to see the insoles as nothing more than a thin slip of fabric on top of cheap foam. Also, I would prefer eyelets to D-rings for laces, but that is a minor nit to me. Most people prefer a leather-lined boot over a synthetic material, so I would be interested in comparing the two. For now I don't have a leather-lined boot for reference.
Based on the few negatives I have mentioned, I suppose it would be fair to give these boots 4 or 4.5 stars. However, I feel that the discernible build quality and durability more than make up for any shortcomings elsewhere.
I plan on returning to this post with a follow-up after a planned 50-mile full-on backpacking trip in Ontario this coming Spring. Until then, I will continue working on breaking these in.
So do you still like them? I have a pair of Scarpa SL M3s, but the toe box is too narrow. Not that my foot is wide, but my toes splay a bit when i walk. How is the toe box in these?
6 months ago
I do still like these. While the toebox feels roomy to me, I do have narrow feet. Compared to my Alico Contours, these feel much "roomier". One complaint with these boots is that they aren't leather-lined. Now that my boots are around 400 miles old, the fabric in the heel is starting to come apart on the inside of the boot and is predisposing my heels to worse blisters.
6 months ago
Thanks for the reply. I was a bit concerned about the fabric interior, but I'm not sure the leather interior of the Summits is worth the weight. Duct tape on the heel perhaps?
6 months ago
If I had to do it all over again, I would spend for the leather interiors. I can't make it more than 12 miles without large blisters on the heels now, but I am hoping more miles in them will "hollow out" a spot in the fabric lining.
6 months ago
After my Garmont Syncro GTX hiking boots bit the dust…
Materials: oiled, nubuck leather; vibram sole
Use: day hikes and everyday wear
Break-in Period: almost non-existent
Weight: approx. 1.58 kg / pair
Price Paid: $119
After my Garmont Syncro GTX hiking boots bit the dust (the BiUurethane midsole started deteriorating--very disappointed), I looked high and low for another Italian designed boot. I have "duck" feet: wider at the toes, narrow at the heel. The boot is almost too roomy but I took out the old cushion insert from the Garmonts and placed in on top of the insert that came with the Alicos--perfect. Or just wear a thicker sock or purchase a nice new insert if you have the same problem.
I love everything about these boots: The Norwegian welt construction (almost impossible to find); the thick, oiled, top-quality leather; the Vibram soles; even the laces are extremely sturdy. And they're not made in China, as almost all footwear is today. Break-in is time is minimal...just wear them around the house for a day or so. They're also quite attractive (they don't look like an SUV). Just a simple, time-tested design with quality materials and craftsmanship.
Grab these boots while you can get them. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to many years of enjoyment from these boots.
These boots are great. I have worn them for four years…
Materials: Leather
Use: On trail medium to heavy loads
Break-in Period: weekend trip
Weight: 175
These boots are great. I have worn them for four years and hiked countless miles in the Sierras and Alaska with them. Almost no breaking required, Never once had a blister and they provided enough ankle support for "On trail heavy loads".
Off trail you'll want a heavier boot perhaps depending on the weight you are carrying, which is why they also make mountaineering boots. I just ordered a new pair, and am SERIOUSLY thinking of getting their mountaineering boot for my late-fall early-winter trips into the Sierras and Washington...
Nice attractive uppers. Not suitable for use off smooth…
Materials: Leather
Use: walking
Break-in Period: 2 weeks
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Price Paid: $125
Nice attractive uppers. Not suitable for use off smooth surfaces due to flimsy sole, retains moisture and too hot for a lightweight boot. Sole doesn't last very long. I would not buy this boot again for any purpose.
I climbed three fourteeners with new boots and never…
Materials: leather
Use: non-technical mountain trekking
Break-in Period: 1 day
Price Paid: $110
I climbed three fourteeners with new boots and never had any problem breaking them in. I found the overall performance of the Alico Tahoe to be everything I desired.
All Tahoe versions
In addition to the 5 men's reviews above, there are 2 reviews for other versions of the Tahoe. Read all reviews »
Where to Buy
Alico Men's Tahoe


text:
As much as it was a little annoying, Scott is right. DRC can be turned on if needed or people feel it's necessary. However, I don't listen to my movies at reference level at all (I'm usually at -12). But even at that level some of the LFE in some parts is scary. I can't imagine what reference would be like. I don't think my subs could handle it.
post #91 of 97
1/21/13 at 10:26am


text:
Contractor Inductions
The University of Newcastle has an induction process in place for all contractors and consultants
who perform work at the University. It is compulsory for all contractors and consultants to complete
the University Contractor Induction prior to performing any work. A visitor does not require an
induction if fully escorted by an appropriate officer and the activity is a once-only event of short
In order to perform work at the University the following applies:
- No construction work will be performed by contractors unless the employee has a valid Construction Certificate ID (White Card)
- The Contractor will complete the University Contractor Induction; this induction is valid for a 12 month period
- Further inductions will need to be completed for activities where there is a potential for an elevated risk. To complete these Site Specific Inductions you will need to contact your University of Newcastle Project or Maintenance officer.
How to get Inducted
The induction can be accessed at the following link: http://www.elearn.com.au/newcastle/contractor/
The Username is: newcastle
The Password is: contractor
Once the induction is completed the induction certificate can be printed off. There is a section on
the bottom of the certificate to be cut out and laminated in a business card format. This section
must be kept on the contractor/consultant at all times when performing work on the grounds of the
University of Newcastle.
If the contractor/consultant does not have access to a printer or laminator, they can bring the
certificate into the Maintenance Office and they will prepare the induction card for them.
Contact Details
Facilities Management Maintenance Office
7.00 am to 2.30 pm Monday to Friday
Ph: (02) 4921 5812
Email: email@example.com
Cleaning Contractor Inductions
Cleaning Contractors working in laboratory areas will need to complete additional specific inductions prior to commencing work at the University:
Please contact the University of Newcastle Cleaning Supervisors to book into either of the above specific cleaning inductions.
Callaghan Campus
David Atkins
Ph: (02) 4921 5490
Ourimbah Campus
Ivy Ellis
Ph: (02) 4348 4270


text:
- Home
- News
- People
- Events
- Jobs
- Resources
- Store
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Regions Financial repays U.S. Treasury under bailout program
Regions Financial has repaid the U.S. Treasury under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
- Link to photo
Send this story to a friend
Photo galleries See all photo galleries
Top 5 Easter items consumers will purchase this year, slideshow
11 Photos
Top 10 High Schools in Bexar County, slideshow
11 Photos
Port S.A. looks to diversify its workload, slideshow
10 Photos
Travel: 10 hotels that feel like Home Suite Home
10 Photos
Most Popular
- Most popular
- Slideshows
- Emailed
- Mobile
- What are the Top 10 High Schools in San Antonio area
- More downtown stadium chatter needed
- The top 10 retailers to watch — if you're looking for vacant space
- San Antonians among the most powerful women in oil biz
- NGKF to shutter S.A. office
- Finding an afterlife for King William's Church Property
- Microsoft to announce partnership with UTSA
- Austrian firm to invest $740 million in Corpus Christi
- Are property taxes in Bexar County too high? Think again
- The Take: Perry lawyers up and Boeing moves jobs south


text:
Looking for Lodging While Visiting Us?
Embassy Suites Napa Valley
Embassy Suites Napa Valley is located 20 miles south of the winery, conveniently located on Hwy 29 (St. Helena Hwy) and minutes from historic downtown Napa. The Mediterranean resort-style hotel has been recently renovated and features spacious, contemporary guest suites and stylish public spaces. Treat yourself to an Executive Suite complete with complimentary welcome bottle of Napa Valley wine, bathrobes, fresh coffee beans, free WiFi and more. Beautiful gardens, millpond, resident swans, indoor and outdoor pools, Grille 29 Restaurant & Lounge, summer bike rentals, new fitness room and other amenities await registered guests. Complimentary full cooked-to-order breakfast and evening beverage reception are served daily in the garden atrium and included in the suite rate.
Silverado Resort & Spa
The Silverado Resort is located approximately 19 miles south of Markham Vineyards off of the Silverado Trail. Set among the rolling hills of Napa Valley's wine country, Silverado Resort offers everything you would expect, along with all the amenities, from a first class resort. Combining exceptional service and modern facilities, Silverado offers championship golf, a unique and tranquil spa experience, fine dining and a comprehensive meeting and conference center at this world-class, romantic destination resort. After a day of activities, step back in time and be pampered with the luxury accommodations in our exquisite guestrooms, private and one or two bedroom suites. Whether your plans include a romantic weekend, a spa getaway, or a business retreat, the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley is the perfect choice.
Harvest Inn
Less than three miles from Markham Vineyards, the newly renovated Harvest Inn is a hidden gem in Napa Valley. This world-renowned AAA Four Diamond country-style estate is TripAdvisor's highest ranked hotel in St. Helena. Surrounded by vineyards and premium wineries, the Inn is close to Napa Valley's extraordinary dining, shopping, wine tasting, hot air ballooning and other wine country treats. Charming brick and wood cottages, guest rooms and suites are spread over eight acres of gorgeously landscaped gardens, making the Inn an ideal setting for a well-deserved, relaxing vacation getaway or intimate honeymoon. The pet-friendly Inn also features two heated swimming pools, well-equipped Fitness Room and massage treatment rooms tucked into the gardens and Redwoods.
Cedar Gables Inn
Cedar Gables Inn is located in Old Town Napa approximately 20 miles south of the winery. The Inn is a luxurious 10,000 square foot Bed and Breakfast mansion, where enchantment, romance and history await you. Treat yourself to an unforgettable B&B experience as you indulge in delicious three course gourmet breakfasts, evening hors d'oeuvres, fine wines and the ultimate in hospitality. Be whisked away to Renaissance England at one of the grandest and most treasured bed and breakfast mansions in Northern California! Also, ask about the ultimate Napa Culinary Experience: Hands on cooking classes with top notch chefs from the area. For reservations call 1-707-224-7969 or 1-800-309-7969.
Heritage Club Members receive a 10% discount on room rates.
A good time was had by all at the November 16th Cooking Class featuring food from Chef Brian Whitmer paired with Markham wines!
Check their calendar for the next class.


text:
Check Availability &
Book Online Today
Overlooking the magnificent Atlantic Ocean, this hotel boasts a prime location on the Corniche, one of the most lively and famous areas of the city. To make your stay enjoyable, the hotel also offers an onsite restaurant and bar, concierge, 24-hour room service, an outdoor pool and meeting facilities.
Guests at the hotel are not far from many of the city major attractions such as Hassan II Grand Mosque, Old Medina, Place Mohamed V and Ville Nouvelle.
The Hotel Bellerive features 37 tastefully appointed guestrooms. Each guestroom is equipped with modern amenities for the comfort and convenience of business and leisure traveler alike. The Hotel Bellerive is convenient to dining, shopping and entertainment venues.
Jm Suites Hotel
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Built in 2007, this new design hotel features a wooden reception lobby, multi-coloured carpeting along the corridors and a stylish restaurant. There is ...
US $139 Per Night
Atlas Airport
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Thanks to its modern and bright architecture, its stylised frame inspired by traditional ambiences, and its facilities, the hotel is the ideal place for ...
US $111 Per Night
Ibis Casablanca Sidi Maarouf
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Located in the business district of Casablanca, the Ibis Moussafir Casablanca Sidi Maarouf offers 85 rooms, of which 15 are suites, featuring direct dial ...
US $700 Per Night
Golden Tulip Farah Casablanca
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Overlooking the harbor and the citys main square, Golden Tulip Farah Casablanca is about a 10-minute drive from the Hassan II Mosque and approximately ...
US $1,384 Per Night
Hotel Guynemer
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
This hotel has a glorious history which reaches back to 1909. Today, the hotel is modern and offers all the comforts required for a pleasant stay. Renovated ...
US $77 Per Night
Le Doge
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
The hotel is a unique establishment, completely dedicated to the Art Deco period. The building dates back to 1930 but the hotel was fully refurbished in ...
Amoud Hotel
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
The air-conditioned city hotel was built in 2010 and has a total of 52 guest rooms. It offers all the necessary amenities for an enjoyable holiday or business ...
Moroccan House Casablanca
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
81765 ...
Les Saisons Hotel
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Les Saisons is located in Casablanca's city center, 800 metres (half a mile) away from the train station. The old Medina is close by, and the Mohamed V ...
US $1,023 Per Night
Le Littoral
Casablanca, Morocco Hotels & Resorts
Hotel facilities include restaurant, conference room, bar, swimming pool, shop, garage and sun terrace. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, bathroom...
US $94 Per Night
Morocco tailor made tour
Casablanca, Morocco Sight-Seeing Tours
Morocco is a fascinating country and it is reasonably well developed for tourism. It would be a perfectly reasonable choice to plan one's own trip, accomodations, etc. Undermoroccansun is a local tour company specilize in tailor made tours....
US $200 Per Night
Indigo Safari Tours In Morocco
Casablanca, Morocco Sight-Seeing Tours
IndiGo Safari is an accredited tour operator specialized in overland tours across the different cities and towns in Morocco. Discover Morocco's rich culture, interesting terrains, friendly people, delightful shopping options and delectable cuisine....
Starting at US $35 Per Night
walking and Trekking in morocco
Afra, Morocco Hiking & Trekking
Hi. I am a guide for trekking in morocco.I do trekking and hiking....
Starting at 60 Euro Per Person
Nice Holidays With Red Carpet
Afra, Morocco Sight-Seeing Tours
trips from agadir to Marrakech...
Starting at 70 Euro Per Person
Sunset Surfhouse
Agadir, Morocco Bed & Breakfasts
Our house is situated 500 m from the sea and 15 km from Agadir on the road to Essaouira. SunsetSurfHouse is a place of relaxation and hospitality just a few steps from the golden sandy beaches and the Atlantic Ocean....
25 Euro Per Night
Surf Star Morocco - Surf Camps
Agadir, Morocco Surfing
Experience surfing in morocco! Surf Star's surf camps offer fantastic accommodation, surf lessons for beginner and intermediate surfers and surf guiding for advanced surfers. We offer surf transport, equipment hire, super tasty meals and more!...
Starting at £ 20 Per Night
Surf Souss Morocco
Agadir, Morocco Surfing
Surf souss Morocco offer the best surfing holidays by the best qualified guides and instructors feel the Moroccan surf experience with surf souss Morocco...
Starting at 330 Euro Per Week
Imouran Surfing Morocco
Agadir, Morocco Surfing
Imouran Surfing are suitable for all whether you are a total beginner, intemediate, advanced or a pro, wanting to get best waves of the area, we look forward to seeing you all real soon....
Starting at 60 Euro Per Night
Circuit Imperial cities from Agadir
Agadir, Morocco Tourism Center
Circuit Imperial Cities from Agadir city 1Day:Agadir 2Day:Agadir-Marrakech 3Day:Marrakech 4Day:Marrakech-Fez 5Day:Fez 6Day:Fez-Rabat 7Day:Rabat-Casablanca-Essaouira 8Day:Essaouira-Agadir...
Starting at 250 Euro Per Night
Cycling In Morocco & 4x4 Adventures Morocco
Central, Morocco Bike Tours
TRAVEL TO MOROCCO AND TOURISM Azulaventuras is a travel agency with an alternative tourism experience around Morocco. Azulaventuras was made to offer a service for people who want to travel to the authentic Morocco. We offer different pos...
Starting at 124 Euro Per Trip
|Link Code


text:
Stop Government Spying! Fight Back Against the NSA
The NSA is looking through billions of our emails and phone records every day. Fight back to protect our privacy!
The NSA is looking through billions of our emails and phone records every day. Fight back to protect our privacy!
"President Obama is right to recommit to closing Guantanamo. But it's time to do more than talk..."
Working to end the use of tear gas and related chemical weapons
People detained by the NYPD do not deserve to die!
My autistic son didnt cause this sore cyst, the negligence and incompetence of Grant Medical Center trauma staff did!
Facebook is a household name for millions of people around the world who use it to make friends, share pictures, and
Get EQUAL's mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to
As a major Olympic sponsor, Visa has a responsibility to ensure the safety of athletes and fans alike. Tell Visa to
On it's face, it may seem that H.R. 347 doesn't change a whole lot. The law purports to update an old law - Section 1752
Street children need help with basic needs while coming to know Jesus.


text:
About Us
Grim Dawn
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
NES Remix 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
The Wolf Among Us – Episode 3: A Crooked Mile
Warlock II
Super League Football
Vizio 54" Soundbar 3.0
GN Unplugged
Hooked Up
Indie Spotlight
Now Loading
Pixels & Bits
Defunct Games
Russell Archey
Tom Bitterman
Sean Cahill
Nathan Carter
Nathaniel Cohen
Sean Colleli
Jeremy Duff
Dave Gamble
Travis Huinker - updated
Charles Husemann
Randy Kalista
Dan Keener
Jeff Kintner
Cyril Lachel
Cary Lange
Matt Mirkovich
Sam Stewart
John Yan
My Settings
posted 7/30/2007 by
Matt Mirkovich
other articles
by Matt Mirkovich
One Page
I like the times in between Disgaea titles. It gives NIS a chance to flex and bend their otherwise solid strategy RPG formula. Their newest offspring is about to bear fruit in the form of Soul Nomad & the World Eaters. It's got everything you are used to in an NIS Strategy RPG, cutesy looking characters, an overly powerful bad-ass who is gimped in some way shape or form, a wacky never ending random dungeon generator, a solid story, and last and almost least at this point, some good old fashioned 2D sprites. And I hate to say it, but after Odin Sphere and Grim Grimoire, I'm kind of expecting NIS to step it up a tad.
Slated for release this September, Soul Nomad is a strategy RPG that toys with the conventional and really looks to improve upon it. Rather than sending out people to do one on one battle you send out squads with a designated leader. Take out the leader, and the whole squad falls. What is interesting is that in your layout of your squad, you determine their attacks. For instance, placing a mage in the front row will cause them to do physical damage. But where is the fun in that? Instead place said mage in the back row and watch her light up the battlefield with powerful fire spells that can target multiple enemies. Also specific pairings can lead to special abilities unlocking, including character buffs or team attacks that occur after regular battle. It is a fairly deep system that you come to expect in an NIS title and it really is out in full force here.
The title is looking like a typical NIS fare with 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, with some rather large monsters taking up space on the battlefield, bigger than Baal surprisingly. But again it's all in line with the colorful worlds and interesting character designs. The music is a bit of a step up from the previous almost Swing type music that you would expect to hear in Disgaea which is a nice change of pace. And the voice acting can be switched to the user's preference which is always nice.
From the preview we were given we were introduced to the main character who is possessed by an all powerful being named Gig, who once held control over the World Eaters, titans that literally ravaged the world. Now that Gig has a host body, he's out to take over the body of the main character and will at times tempt the player into selling their soul in exchange for power. This leads to a ton of endings most of which I would assume are bad in nature, but the intrepid gamer will want to seek them all out. The dialogue is one that doesn't look to take itself too seriously with lots of comedic relief but again we are in the early going so it could take a more serious turn.
Soul Nomad & the World Eaters is shaping up to be a good strategy RPG diversion when it ships this September. If you're not on board the next-gen bandwagon yet (and really why should you be with games like this?), then make sure you give this game a look. It's got everything that NIS is known for and looks to have it all in spades. Check back with us here in a few weeks for a full review.
Page 1 of 2
Previous Page
Go to page
of 2
Next Page
Gaming News
Copyright © 1997 - 2014 Gaming Nexus.
All rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.