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What do all of these devices have in common? They all allow you to consume very high end BoomBustBlog content, nearly in its entirety, on the go. Most of them actually allow you to produce said content and compute as well. Many people are unaware that the computer and telecomm world is now changing at the fastest pace in the history of said industries. Exciting things are happening, and investors are well served to stay abreast. I am a tech geek (and actually own and use a lot of this stuff daily), ex-owner of a small tech company, investor, analyst, and distributed media company owner: I feel I am well versed in describing what is happening. Let's get a run down from Reggie's perspective...
First, lets take a look at the state of portable computing and media consumption/production. Below I identify the devices in the pic above, starting from the upper left hand corner, going clockwise:
Amazon Kindle 2
A significant improvement over the first Kindle, both of which have claimed (and rightfully so) the mantle of the premier e-book readers, mostly due to wireless connectivity, practical reading screens and on demand book purchasing, they still suffer from usability issues. Though you do have access to the web and Internet, said access is limited and rudimentary, for this is a focused ebook reader. The gossip is that the Apple IPad will bring about the demise of this hardware, but truth be told the Kindle2 is simply a better (black and white) ebook reader than the IPad. If you are a die hard book reader, the IPad will not replace the Kindle but if you are an occasional reader or enjoy color or graphics, the IPad will probably be your choice. Amazon has hedged against this possibility by creating cross platform Kindle readers (as software) to allow you to access your Kindle content via the IPad (a very nice app, BTW), IPhone, PC, Mac, and Blackberry.
(Global Wireless)
Kindle DX
(Global Wireless)
|6" diagonal E Ink
|9.7" diagonal E Ink
|8" x 5.3" x 0.36"
|10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38"
|1,500 books
|3,500 books
Books in Under 60 Seconds
3G Wireless
Wireless Coverage
Native PDF Support
Rotating Display
|Manual Rotation
|This page
|See details
Read Your Kindle Books on All Your Devices
Asus Eee PC
Although lacking the slick, sexy, cult-like marketing prowess of Apple, this Asian manufacturer is producing bleeding edge products and not only single handedly defined the net book category, but has upped the ante creating a fully capable (runs Windows, office apps, full connectivity and full HD Flash), ultra portable computer with a usable keyboard that can last 11 hours playing full HD video. At a $400 price point, 2.8 lbs, and 250GB of storage, it will make many think twice about the purchase of a an IPad! I can tell you from experience, this device is more of a work horse than the IPad, for you can blog and run spreadsheets directly off of it, and it is not Flash crippled. The IPad's touch interface is more intuitive for web browsing, though. All in all, this little device is the second most capable and practical device in this list.
Apple IPad
This is a difficult product to accurately describe. When it was first announced, I said to myself, "Yeah right, this sounds like a flop in the making, but one should not underestimate Apple". Many people who know that I am a tech geek were shocked that I wasn't willing to look into it. They fail to realize that a) I'm not that enthused by most Apple products (although the IPhone and IPod Touch were quite innovative), and b) I didn't really see a practical use for this product. Apples strengths are, aside from killer marketing and viral cult status, that it controls both the software and hardware platforms - enabling it to create and ease of use, compatibility and integration level that is not capable in much more diverse environments, ex. Wintel. The problem is you give up pricing advantages through the channel (which is directly translated in to Apple margin, may I add) as well as flexibility and extensibility. The average user will opt for simplicity, while the power user will opt for flexibility. This is a very important concept that will both help and hinder the release of the new IPhone 4 (more on that later) and define the user base for both Apple and its competitors as the market develops. Apple's next advantage is that they are damn good at engineering the user experience. Smart, sexy products combined with pretty UIs and a hell of a marketing machine make a deadly combination. This is what has landed Apple at the top of the pile. Of course, there is no free lunch though. Apple apparently subsidizes much of the hardware costs with Itunes revenue and phone carrier contracts. The connectivity and call quality problems and lack of actual profit associated with AT&T's IPhone relationship is well documented, as well as these problems being a deterrent to an even wider adoption of the IPhone. The question remains, how does Apple remedy this? Apple has blocked the killer Internet app of the year from the Apple store (more on this later as well), and has done so to appease the margin challenged carrier AT&T (this is not how it was reported in the media, though). Google Voice is a game changer, and could significantly boost the appeal of the IPhone, yet Apple has to push it away to avoid true beef with AT&T who relies on the beefier margins embedded in its voice business. The same with the ubiquitous Flash video from Adobe (Apple does not want Adobe getting too much control and decries efficiency and security deficiencies in Flash, despite the fact it can stream Flash through Youtube (which is too ubiquitous to diss), debunking the technical reasons given for limiting flash content in the first place), and streaming music, ala Rhapsody (at all you can eat at $10 per month, who will buy songs for 99 cents each from ITunes???? - Apple has very recently allowed this to stream to their products due to market pressure and the impending introduction of their own product which will probably hurt margins some). These are all weaknesses in the Apple business model that stem from the fact that it is now king of the hill and has to overcharge for (or prevent the use of) certain products that should flow freely and relatively inexpensively through the ecosystem. This is the problem that Microsoft had and why it never sold its own computers and cell phones, at least until very recently after having their lunch money taken by Apple (see the Kin).
My feelings toward the IPad changed significantly once I had the opportunity to actually spend some time with one. It is quick, sharp, very portable, easy to use and it lasts all day long. This is quite the endorsement, coming from a PC man. Of course, it's three main weaknesses are its lack of flash compatibility (except Youtube), it is awkard to use with office productivity apps (and impossible to use with the ubiquitious Microsoft Office) and the fact that the browser cannot fully render rich text boxes used in nearly every blogging platform. That's right, you can't even blog from an IPad. This (relatively minor technical) drawback in the lightweight browser leads to a very detriment to mobile content producers such as myself. The office productivity issue is also a major drawback, albeit one that is expected. Without fixing these issues, the IPad is more of content consumption device in lieu of being a true computer that is flexible and powerful enough to be both production and consumption device. It is just not as practical as the Asus above.
Even despite these limitations, I really thought this device was a game changer (and it was, until I experienced the device expounded upon in detail below). It's only real serious competition was the Asus (adn similar products) above. The Asus is much more practical for work, while the IPad is more practical for media consumption, although they both do a pretty good job of the other's core task. The always on Web access of the IPad and the 12 hour battery life (during full use, yes - its true) is a big plus. The raison d' etre for the appeal of this device, notwithstanding sexy design and viral marketing is the ITunes app store. This will be very difficult for the competition to counter, although not impossible (see the cell phone reviews below). It is also ironic that the number one app maker and marketplace for the last 30 years has been so quickly subsumed in the mobile phone space by Apple. This is much more a case of Microsoft dropping the ball and succumbing to big company-itis (the exact same disease that allowed them to eat IBM's lunch, thus becoming one of the most powerful companies in the world from a two person start up). With that being said, the new mobile OS coming from Microsoft looks to probably be superior to nearly all else offered (Google's Android, Apple's iOS, Palm's WebOS, Symbian, etc.) if there implementation of the Zune HD OS is indication of things to come. The problem is that the delay is killing them in both market awareness and market share. What the hell are the guys over at Microsoft doing as these other companies eat their lunch? As we all have experienced, the best product is not necessarily the most widely adopted product (ex. the Zune HD).
Archos 5 Internet Tablet
Archos was always a company that had kick ass hardware and middling software. They have made some of the best best video players around, but to be honest, they are simply outdone by the newest crop of tech to come out. Although the Archos is still the best at video with either the biggest screen or the most open (in terms of codecs) platform, the ZuneHD is a better all around media player and the ITouch and IPad is more expandable and a smoother experience. The advantage of the Archos 5 is that it is open - wide open - and available with Windows 7, Linux or the Android variant. Archos also does not attempt to create an ecosystem to lock you in like Microsoft and Apple does with their media players. The productivity computing and web surfing components are okay, but do not stand up to real ultraportable netbook computers or even some cellphones due to their superior connectivity options (see EVO review below). I have not used the Android version of this device, which probably offers a better experience, but the Linux version is interesting, but not best of breed. The Windows version is reviewed below.
Archos Windows Tablet
This device is slightly underpowered, but offers the full connectivity and openness of a typical windows computer. The caveat is that the touch screen interface is awkward and very unrepsonsive - so much so that it is actually a displeasure and aggravating to use. It pales in usability when compared to the IPad and the Asus, thus despite the fact that you have USB ports, HDMI and VGA out and real Office apps available, it is literally too difficult to use them. The battery life is also quite poor.
HTC Touch Pro2
Up until a few weeks ago this was, bar none, the most capable business phone available. It had decent multimedia capabilities, the best cell phone keyboard available, an office capable full duplex speakerphone with dual noise canceling mikes, speed and flexibility in a practical form factor with a large (3.7 inch) screen. Any business user seen using an IPhone with this gadget around needed to have their business license snatched. As much as I liked this phone and used it (and several iterations of the preceding models) exclusively for years, it has been totally outdone by its large screen big brother below, the Evo. I will leave the description to the HTC marketing people (click the link above) and move on to the newer tech.
Sony Vaio
This is a very stylish device and it is from a manufacturer that knows how to make high end portable computers. As a matter of fact, a 13.3 inch screen Vaio has been my mainstay, workhorse laptop since the inception of this blog. That being said, this particular device is more flash than functional. Although significant changes have been made to the second generation it still suffers from subpar speed, difficult to read screens (high resolution packed into an proprietary ultra wide screen format) and an unjustifiably high price point. Although the Asus EEE is twice weight, it also happens to offer 3x the functionality at half the price. You do the math.
The Apple IPhone, 4th Generation
This will be a very cursory over view of the newest IPhone. I have had very limited time with it, and it has been covered ad nauseum in the blogosphere.
What I will do is provide the specs of the new IPhone with its closest and most capable competitor, the HTC Evo, and walk through real life experience with the Android powered Evo, debunking many a myth along the way. These comparisons are all over the web as well, unfortunately 95% of them that attempt any qualitative (or even an extended technical) comparison are biased as hell - extremely so. I leave it up to you to guess whose favor the biased tilts. I wanna be like Steve Jobs....
From Mashable.com:
Now, for those who didn't pick up the biases, let me point them out. In addition, be aware that this is not just Mashable. Cnet, Wired, endgadget, ZDnet, PC Week, practically every major media tech rag that reported on these comparisons were highly unrealistic in their comparisons if they went beyond a simple table (in the example above even a simple table was significantly distorted), furthering the Apple cult marketing hegemony. Do you want to know what made me counter the noise? I actually spent time with the products.
First, let's throw some facts at the comparison graphic above:
- To begin with, both HTC phones have more physical presence than the IPhone 4 due to their significantly larger screens, yet the graphic shows the IPhone 4 as larger. Whose marketing who? The color coding also causes the IPhone 4 to stand out demonstrably.
- Ports: What in the hell is a "standard" proprietary jack? The I/O port for the IPhone 4 is the proprietary Apple port, and it is standard only if you have an IPhone or IPod. There are no standards here. Conversely, the author fails to state that the HTC phones do use standard ports (USB 2.0). The author also fails to note that there is significant additional connectivity in the EVO with the inclusion of a micro HDMI port that outputs 720p video to any "standard" HDMI enabled device. Yeah, that term standard...
- Camera: The author failed to note that the Apple phone's front facing camera is only VGA resolution, giving it about a quarter of the resolution of the EVO's front facing camera. This difference should be noticeable, but we will have to test both phones in person to come to any realistic conclusion.
- Storage: The author gave the maximum possible storage for the Apple product, while simply quoting +microSD slot for the other products. In reality, the Incredible should read "up to 40 GB" and the Evo should read "up to 33 GB" if they are to be realistically compared to what was published for the Apple product. To be even more realistic and forth coming, it should be noted that the memory capacity for both Android phones can be maxed out (making both more capacity than the Iphone at its limit) and the phones will still be at least $5o cheaper than the IPhone 4.
- Connectivity: The author failed to note that the Evo features 4G connectvity in 32 cities (and counting) which is about 3 to 5 times faster than the 3G signal used by the Apple phone and the Incredible.
- The ability to wirelessly tether for business users has been totally ignored, most likely because Apple can't do that without 3rd party apps and/or hacking into the OS.
- At the bottom, the author has "Apple debuts...."
- Video chat: It may be a debut for Apple, but other phones had it a long time ago. The Evo has it know, before the Apple was even launched. Why wasn't this mentioned???
- Multitasking that supposedly doesn't drain the battery: Doesn't the Evo have that. With an adjustment of settings and/or the download of a free app, I have achieved 12 to 15 hours on my Evo without the battery going below 47%. This is at least as impressive as the Apple IPad, which admittedly impressed the hell out of me in terms of battery endurance.
In looking at reviews of the IPhone, it is near impossible to find an objective review. People are either Apple fanboi slave fanatics, or geeky Apple haters, with the vast majority (including both the MSM and the independent channels such as blogs, I'm talking to you Mashable, Wired, Cnet and ZDnet) falling into the fanboi camp. This is a good thing for Apple. Apple product ownership, particularly the mobile computing product ownership, is akin to belonging to a cult and seems to be considered a status symbol. I have everyone from the CEO's of financial companies, to customer service reps in cell phone retail outlets to little bratty kids in the hood saying, "Hey, is that an Ipad, it's so cool!" "Let me see it". They don't even identify it as a tablet computer, they refer to it by the Apple brand name. Kudos to Steve jobs in achieving marketing nirvana. He's going to need it though, because I think Google is about to get in that ass! Below is a pic to illustrate the relative size and screens of the ITouch 3G, the HTC Touch Pro2 (Windows 6.1) and the HTC Evo w/Android showing that cool investment website.
Here are a few things that I have not seen on the web regarding the HTC Evo should be of interest to users and those who have an interest in the space:
- There is an OS refresh coming right around the corner (later this month) and the flash is available for download now. It includes a capable looking 3D interface and many new features, namely the ability to play full Flash video without compromise. Take a look at Froyo for Geeks or if you don't speak Geeklish, in plain English.
- The HTC has tight integration with Google's killer apps, namely;
- Google Docs: It's not Microsoft Office, and it does have its shortcomings, but it does work. You can also open word docs natively right in the Android OS. We use Google Docs here to embed live spreadsheets, like the illustration of the lies coming out of Europe's indebted sovereign nations.
- Google Voice: VOIP done correctly, Google literally frees your from your carrier's overpriced SMS, voicemail and long distance services by routing all through the web, mostly for free. You also get an alternate phone number that you choose, automated message transcription, and recording. Carriers should be shuddering if they haven't invested heavily into their data networks and/or are relying on voice margins to remain where they are.
- Google Tranlsate
- Google Maps and Google Earth with intuitive use of the integrated GPS that makes these apps very, very useful and utilitarian, and allows them to serve as helper apps to 3rd party applications such as Zagats guides, yellow pages, etc..
- Voice activated Google Search throughout the vast majority of the phone features/apps - Now, most of these apps (save the most groundbreaking, voice which is just available on the Blackberry as far as I know) are available on other platforms but they are not as tightly integrated as they are in the Android system. In addition, the voice recognition on this phone is amazingly accurate.
- HDMI out: this actually works, but only on 720p output, and there are some glitches. The video quality of both the IPhone 4 and the Evo are wanting in terms of videophile needs, but they stand head and shoulders above most of their competition (except maybe the 12 megapixel Nokia phone) and their predecessors. The problem is the sensors are still just too small.
- 8 gb camera takes respectable pics, alas still with some noise - still amazing for a camera phone (and significantly better than the IPhone 4 pics that I have seen, although I haven't personally compared side to side). The IPhone does seem to have marginally smoother HD playback, potentially due to the slightly higher frame rate. In any event, the HD video in both of these devices is technically in name only, and pales if compared to any dedicated HD recording device of decent caliber. In other words, don' t get your hopes up, but realize that this is probably the best videography that you will always have in your pocket - at least for the time being. Below is a sample of the 8 megapixel pic taken outdoors with the Evo. This is a pic taking indoors with similar settings, both without the aid of the double LED flash...
- 720p HD video: technically, and in name only - video is very noisy due to tiny sensor. The IPhone 4 is marginally better due to a 5 fps higher frame rate
- The Evo appears to have a higher definition video call due to a much better quality front facing video camera.
- Qik video conferencing, LIVE video broadcasting and sharing to nearly any client. This is a game changer, with widgets to automatically embed real time, live video in any web page and/or sharing to friends and contacts. This is heralding a paradigm shift in media, broadcast and publishing. Now, anyone can literally implement their own eyewitness news program, live and in real time. This technology actually works, and without many geeky tech glitches either.
- The Evo allows streaming music from Rhapsody, et. al., all you can eat music for $10 per month. Apple finally caved on this as well, but there goes those margins in ITunes if this catches on, and how could it not? Apple has a heavy fan base, but this is a very, very big difference in costs here.
- Battery is quickly consumed by all of the myriad features running simultaneously, not the power. The flexibility allows you to turn off the options a la carte to conserve power significantly. This entails going through the settings or reading the directions. As stated earlier, with about a minute or two of tweeks, my phone goes the entire day without breaking the 40% mark, rivaling the IPad in its miserly qualities.
- The Evo is MUCH more of a micro ultraportable/tablet with full communication capability than a mere phone. This is a very powerful, very fast and very capable device with tons of expandability. I expect much of the same out of the Apple, but not all of the same. The Apple has a more refined, albeit significantly smaller screen (the IPad screen will be of a lower resolution than the IPhone 4, but movies will look better on the IPad due to the larger screen), and much less flexibility and expandability. On paper, it appears to be lesser powered as well, but the only way to find out is a real world test with some time spend with each device, something that I did not have opportunity to do.
While everybody is celebrating the Ipad and the IPhone 4, pushing Apple stock through the plasmoshere (I actually like Apple as a company, a literal marketing market - what Microsoft use to be), Google is quietly creating a technological, business model and strategic advantage wherein there will be no way in hell Apple will be able to keep up if things continue to progress at the current pace. In essence, Apple will be relying more and more on marketing prowess and less on capability and competitive technological innovation to maintain margin and revenue growth. That is a dangerous place to be. Simply observe the speed upon which the Google/Android/HTC ecosystem has developed and the power, flexibility and usability of this early product after just two years on the market. I am confident there will be a major Droid update way before Apple can get an IPhone 5 to the finish line and if they do get it, they will alienate their customers with near real time obsolescence. As it stands now, the current iteration of the droid appears to stand materially superior to the IPhone, albeit many of the advantages are in the eye of the beholder. Those who want status symbols and ultimate ease of use may prefer the IPhone. My time with the IPhone is non-existent, but from what I have seen, heard, experienced and according to the specs - it is totally outdone and there is an Android OS refresh coming out at the end of the month that will allow full flash (as compared to flash lite now, think Hulu on our cell phones) and additional power saving features - just in time for the official IPhone launch. Now, the chances of Apple sitting on their hands are close to nil, since they are well aware that handsitting is how THEY ate the previous handset hegemony's lunch. The battle is on, and the end users are the ultimate winners through comptetitive innovation.
The latest technology released in the months of May, June and July show that Apple truly is an engineering, UI design, and marketing genius of a corporation, and more importantly that Google is increasingly well poised to knock Apple off of its perch.
For those of you are not yet aware, the Android is no joke. One reason why retailers such as Best Buy love to sell Apple products is because Apple kicks back some of the largest retail margin in the industry. One of the main reasons why the smaller but more prolific retailers dislike Apple but are forced to sell their products is because Apple's retail store gets preference with products and product placement. Since Apple controls the entire channel, the only way to make money with
Google Nexus One
Verizon's Droid Incredible
Motorola Droid
Apple is to be a supplier or a retailer. Enter Google, who has created an open source OS that runs on a very wide variety of hardware. Yes, open source, as in free. From Wikipedia:
The unveiling of the Android distribution on 5 November 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 71 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices.[12][13] Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free software and open source license.[14]
According to NPD Group, unit sales for Android OS smartphones ranked second among all smartphone OS handsets sold in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2010.[15][16] BlackBerry OS and iOS ranked first and third respectively.[17]
... With the exception of brief update periods, Android has been available as open source since 21 October 2008. Google opened the entire source code (including network and telephony stacks[32]) under an Apache License.[33]
With the Apache License, vendors can add closed-source extensions without submitting those back to the open source community.
This a potentially lethal threat to the Apple hegemony. For those who believe the Apple myth, drink the Kool Aid, or have just never tried a recent Google device such as the Nexus One with Froyo or the Evo, here are some findings from Nielson.com (be aware that Apple had a material head start over Google in the handset space):
Androids are being used more as actual computing devices than Apple, and both are more diversified in use then the rest of the smartphone community. Since Android users are younger, they rely much more on social media than the older audience of the IPhone whose users are heavier email users. This means that sticky social media apps will most likely proliferate.
Android is by far the newest OS out and has already claimed market share and is growing like a weed. Apple and Android are taking share from the others, but if Microsoft drops the ball with the V. 7 release of Windows Mobile, it will be Apple vs. Android! Palm, Symbian and RIM don't stand as much of a chance as I see it, and RIM has a lot to lose!
... and that market share is growing faster than everybody else! Apple's market share is three times that of Android, RIMM's is 3.5x and MSFT's is twice, but remember that Android is brand spanking new and has gained faster than ALL of those phones - all of them. The open source environment leaves fodder to go viral and the cost structure to handset makers and can't be argued with - free is free. Admittedly, it has been my experience that open source is not truly free, it is just that the up front licensing costs have been shifted around to maintenance and customization costs, but it appears that this still may be cheaper than the Apple/MSFT/RIM solution. Look at the success of PHP, MySql, Joomla, etc.
Android also shares that damn near cult status loyalty found in the Apple lover's crowd...
Next up, we attempt to sum this up in terms of business models, margins and most importantly potential valuation scenarios.


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Rina Schenfeld in Angels. Photo by Gadi Dagon.
Earlier this summer, I published a guest post by Gdalit Neuman about Rina Schenfeld's Angels. Neuman, a dancer in Schenfeld's company, gave an inside look at the making of this new work, and a few weeks ago, I got to provide a different perspective for the Jerusalem Post. This article was originally published in the newspaper as "In The Arms of an Angel" on August 3, 2009.
* * *
In the Arms of an Angel
"A new dance is like cooking. You have to put in a little bit of salt, a little bit of sugar, a little bit of everything," reflects Rina Schenfeld about her choreographic process.
Schenfeld first made a name for herself as a powerhouse dancer with the Batsheva Dance Company from its inception in 1964 until 1979. But from a young age, she was already fascinated by choreography. Prior to studying at the prestigious Juilliard School, an 18-year-old Schenfeld created a prize-winning solo for herself. She went on to choreograph many dances for Batsheva, eventually retiring from the company in order to further pursue her own work.
Over decades of choreographic exploration, Schenfeld experimented with objects, fabric, video and a range of music. Now, she remarks, these elements are "all combining together in the cooking of a new evening."

subset: commoncrawl


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9-27-09 PNC Park
Today would be my final game of the season at PNC Park.
After missing yesterday's (Saturday's) game due to rain, I decided that I had to make it to the park one last time, even though it was raining when I left my house.
When I arrived at the park, there was basically no one there at all. Many people stayed away early, which turned out to be a good thing.
Around 11:15, pitchers began to meander out of the Pirates dugout and head toward the bullpen to sit and await to rain to ease up.
I stood by the fence above the bullpen and hoped someone would begin to throw.
Eventually, Charlie Morton (hidden by the bullpen roof) started to throw with Luis Dorante, the Pirates bullpen coach. I watched them finish up at 11:29, one minute before the gate would open to allow me to get close enough to ask for a ball.
There were two pairs of Dodgers playing catch.
I noticed that Ramon Tronsoco didn't have a partner. I held up my glove and asked him if he wanted to throw a little bit. He nodded and tossed me a ball. Wow. I was finally going to play catch with a major leaguer. In uniform.
We began to throw, and after about ten tosses, I handed my p
hone off to a random guy behind me to take some photos. He had been asking me questions like, "Do you play for the Pirates? Are you friends with him? How do you know him?"
He got the following photos of me:
When I got home, I checked out Youtube for #1 Joe Beimel fan TroyfromWV, sure enough, he had uploaded a partial video of me and Ramon throwing together. Click here–> VIDEO PROOF!
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tytId_U-9vQ
After we threw for awhile, Troncoso's throwing partner finally emerged from the dugout, and Troncoso tossed me the ball and indicated that he was done. I had ball #5. What a way to get it! I thanked Troncoso, and gave one of my decoy balls to the daughter of the guy that snapped some pictures of me.
When the game began, center field was too crowded to have a great chance at toss up balls.
Plus, the usher told me I had to stay out because I didn't have a ticket. He was nice about it, and told me there was a big issue on Saturday Night where someone was injured in a fight for a toss up ball. He said the man was going to sue the Pirates, and that outfield between inning toss ups would be discontinued after this year. I was hoping he wasn't serious, but he seemed to be.
In the second inning, I went up on the right field wall, and got Garrett Jones to pick me out and throw me ball #6 – oh wait, he grossly underthrew me, and the ball hit some guy that was sitting down. The ball caromed off of him, and rolled behind his wife's backside and sat on her seat. It took them about 10 seconds to find it – and I could've easily grabbed it, but it would've been too awkward. I watched them oodle over the ball they had just snagged by accident, much to my frustration.
I decided to quit ballhawking and went up to sit in my season ticket seats one last time. I hadn't sat there much at all this year, but I felt like I needed to say goodbye.
Even though the seats are cheap, and offer no chance at getting a ball – I always liked to just sit and watch a game there. In my seats you've got a great view, and they are in the front row of the section.
In the 7th inning, I sat behind home plate,
in hopes of snagging some promotional items from Pirates announcer Steve Blass in the "7th inning throw down." Blass threw out a bunch of left over giveaway hats, grocery bags, Pirate dolls, candy, etc.
I got my finger tip on a Pirates Alternate hat, but it was just out of my reach and floated down to a lady two rows below me. I didn't come away empty handed – I caught a piece of Double Bubble bubble gum. Yay.
For the 8th inning, I snuck down and sat behind the Pirates dugout. The Pirates ended up scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to acheive a walk off win.
I was expecting the players to toss their hats and a few baseballs into the crowd as a thank you to the fans – they've done it the past three years on Fan Appreciation Day.
It didn't happen. The players disappeared into the dugout, gave their jerseys to those fans whose seats had been chosen, and
disappeared for good. Nothing was thrown into the crowd. Very disappointing.
I stayed around until almost everyone was gone, and took one last look at PNC Park.
Was this my last game of 2009? Maybe…
Today's baseballs:
Sweet spots:
Game: 5 balls (5 thrown)
Season: 405 balls (211 hit, 124 thrown, 70 device)
Games: 80 games (10 of which didn't have BP)
Average: 5.06 balls per game
Career: 571 balls
Streak: 95 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 26,831


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Hey........I have 56 messages *was up to 100* and still can't open the message because it want's me to get rid of all on hold messages???
does that mean delete everything??
i tried making a folder to move stuff into for now, just for expediency sake, but that doesn't seem to work for my thick-head either.....
What can I do???


text:
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Malcolm Gladwell, in Grantland, gets the Atlantic Yards big picture: "a man buys a basketball team as insurance on a real estate project"
If Caring Bruce Ratner is still the owner of the Nets in five years, I'll eat my hat.After the March 2010 groundbreaking, Lupica commented, "It was a hustle in broad daylight by Caring Bruce Ratner from the start."
...He doesn't want the team.
He never really did.
He wants the land.
Enter Gladwell
That same sentiment comes from New Yorker writer and Grantland contributing editor Malcolm Gladwell, in a 9/26/11 essay in the latter headlined The Nets and NBA Economics: David Stern would have you believe the Brooklyn-bound franchise embodies everything wrong with the league's finances. It's not true.
His conclusion:
The rich have gone from being grateful for what they have to pushing for everything they can get. They have mastered the arts of whining and predation, without regard to logic or shame. In the end, this is the lesson of the NBA lockout. A man buys a basketball team as insurance on a real estate project, flips the franchise to a Russian billionaire when he wins the deal, and then — as both parties happily count their winnings — what lesson are we asked to draw? The players are greedy.We can't blame Gladwell for coming to the story late, but it is an example of the kind of analysis that--despite some factual flaws--gets the big picture right, the picture that the compliant media ignore as they focus on celebrities like Jay-Z and micro-controversies such as branding.
(And, yes, in Internet time, I'm coming to this analysis late.)
About the site
Gladwell begins:
Ten years ago, a New York real estate developer named Bruce Ratner fell in love with a building site at the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues in Brooklyn. It was 22 acres, big by New York standards, and within walking distance of four of the most charming, recently gentrified neighborhoods in Brooklyn — Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Clinton Hill, and Fort Greene. A third of the site was above a railway yard, where the commuter trains from Long Island empty into Brooklyn, and that corner also happened to be where the 2, 3, 4, 5, D, N, R, B, Q, A, and C subway lines all magically converge. From Atlantic Yards — as it came to be known — almost all of midtown and downtown Manhattan, not to mention a huge swath of Long Island, was no more than a 20-minute train ride away. Ratner had found one of the choicest pieces of undeveloped real estate in the Northeast.The key is that Ratner sought some prime land--and it was not merely "above the rail yard" but around it.
But there was a problem. Only the portion of the site above the rail yard was vacant. The rest was occupied by an assortment of tenements, warehouses, and brownstones.
As Gladwell's last sentence above suggests, it was not so much undeveloped as underdeveloped. Some of the buildings were empty, and there were some vacant lots, too. But a rezoning might have taken care of that quickly.
And the railyard could have been rezoned and bid out. Instead, Ratner got the benefit of a state override of zoning--essentially a private rezoning.
And Ratner didn't spot the land ten years ago. Forest City was looking at the railyard site in the early 1990s, as veteran Brooklyn journalist Dennis Holt once recalled.
When Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, in his January 2003 State of the Borough address, kept pressing for a Coney Island arena, as he had in the previous year, was he feinting? Quite likely. Ratner had been discussing the Atlantic Yards site with the city since 2002, as Chris Smith reported in New York magazine.
Also, as Chuck Ratner, then-CEO of parent Forest City Enterprises on 9/9/05 told investment analysts:
I will confess that it was less than two or three years ago we were sitting around in New York wondering where the next deals were going to come from. We had finished a whole bunch of office and we completed MetroTech and we didn't have the next great site in Brooklyn. That was one of the reasons we got so aggressive and creative, Bruce and his team did in this Atlantic Yards project. We saw that land sitting there for this last 10 years, realizing it would be a great opportunity if somebody could turn it on.Eminent domain
Gladwell writes:
To buy out each of those landlords and evict every one of their tenants would take years and millions of dollars, if it were possible at all. Ratner needed New York State to use its powers of "eminent domain" to condemn the existing buildings for him. But how could he do that? The most generous reading of what is possible under eminent domain came from the Supreme Court's ruling in the Kelo v. New London case. There the court held that it was permissible to seize private property in the name of economic development. But Kelo involved a chronically depressed city clearing out a few houses so that Pfizer could expand a research and development facility. Brooklyn wasn't New London. And Ratner wasn't Pfizer: All he wanted was to build luxury apartment buildings. In any case, the Court's opinion in Kelo was treacherous ground. Think about it: What the Court said was that the government can take your property from you and give it to someone else simply if it believes that someone else will make better use of it. The backlash to Kelo was such that many state legislatures passed laws making their condemnation procedures tougher, not easier. Ratner wanted no part of that controversy. He wanted an airtight condemnation, and for that it was far safer to rely on the traditional definition of eminent domain, which said that the state could only seize private property for a "public use."It's hard to know exactly what Ratner planned to build while sussing out the site, pre-Nets. But it was likely not merely luxury apartments but also office space and retail. After all, in the 1990s the railyard site was seen as a site for office buildings.
And the Atlantic Yards plan eventually included luxury and subsidized apartments, office buildings, and retail, along with the arena.
The eminent domain justification
Galdwell leaves the impression that, because former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, in her Kelo dissent, suggested that a stadium qualified as "public use," justifying the transfer of private property to private parties, that "a light bulb went off inside his head. And he bought the New Jersey Nets."
Actually, Ratner bought the Nets some 18 months before the Kelo decision. So eminent domain was more complex. The main justification on the part of New York State was the elimination of "blight," a bogus issue.
But yes, the provision of an arena--a "public use"--was used by the courts to justify eminent domain.
Stern's deflection
Gladwell points to NBA commissioner David Stern's lame contention that team owners are in peril, claiming that the previous owners of the Nets--before Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov "lost several hundred million dollars on that transaction."
After all, as Gladwell notes, Ratner's plan would, "by some calculations [earn him] as much as $1 billion in profit." (That calculation came from source quoted by New York magazine's Chris Smith, another major journalist to see the big picture, in August 2006, albeit when the economy was rosy.)
Gladwell writes:
Ratner knew this would not be easy. The 14 acres he wanted to raze was a perfectly functional neighborhood, inhabited by taxpaying businesses and homeowners. He needed a political halo, and Ratner's genius was in understanding how beautifully the Nets could serve that purpose. The minute basketball was involved, Brooklyn's favorite son — Jay-Z — signed up as a part-owner and full-time booster. Brooklyn's borough president began publicly fantasizing about what a professional sports team would mean for his community. The Mayor's office, then actively pursuing an Olympic bid, loved the idea of a new arena in Brooklyn.I would call it a mixed-used neighborhood, with some thriving and some empty buildings, but gentrifying and very valuable. The key was that it was "a great piece of real estate," in the words of Chuck Ratner.
The Extell offer
Gladwell writes:
Early on, another New York developer, Gary Barnett, made a competing play for the railway yard. Barnett's offer was, in many ways, superior to Ratner's. He didn't want the extra 14 acres, so no land would have to be expropriated from private owners. He wasn't going to plunk a small city down in the middle of an already crowded neighborhood. And he tripled the value of Ratner's offer. Barnett lost. He never had a chance. He wanted to build apartments. Ratner was restoring the sporting glory lost when the Dodgers fled for Los Angeles. As Michael Rikon, one of the attorneys who sued to stop the project, ruefully concluded when Ratner's victory was complete: "It is an aphorism in criminal law that a good prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. With regards to condemnations in New York, it can fairly be said that in New York a condemnor can condemn a Kasha Knish." Especially if the kasha knish is being eaten to make way for a professional basketball arena.Barnett offered $150 million cash to Ratner's $50 million, after which the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, choosing to negotiate only with Ratner, got the latter to up the cash bid to $100 million. (Of course Ratner later renegotiated that deal to put only $20 million down, with the rest to be paid over 22 years at a gentle interest rate.)
The MTA and Ratner argue that the overall value of the Ratner bid was superior, but Extell was never allowed to develop its bid, or to compete on an even playing field, given that the property was seemingly anointed to Ratner for 18 months before a very hasty RFP was issued. It was never a fair fight.
Rikon didn't sue to stop the project, but, as is his specialty, represented property owners negotiating condemnation deals.
"Eminent domain insurance"
Gladwell writes:
Ratner has been vilified — both fairly and unfairly — by opponents of the Atlantic Yards project. But let's be clear: What he did has nothing whatsoever to do with basketball. Ratner didn't buy the Nets as a stand-alone commercial enterprise in the hopes that ticket sales and television revenue would exceed players' salaries and administration costs. Ratner was buying eminent domain insurance. Basketball also had very little to do with Ratner's sale of the Nets. Ratner got hit by the recession. Fighting the court challenges to his project took longer than he thought. He became dangerously overextended. His shareholders got restless. He realized he had to dump the fancy Frank Gehry design for something more along the lines of a Kleenex box. Prokhorov helped Ratner out by buying a controlling interest in the Nets. But he also paid off some of Ratner's debts, lent him $75 million, picked up some of his debt service, acquired a small stake in the arena, and bought an option on 20 percent of the entire Atlantic Yards project. This wasn't a fire sale of a distressed basketball franchise. It was a general-purpose real estate bailout.Yes, it was a general-purpose bailout. (I'd be curious to see which vilifications Gladwell thinks are fair and unfair.)
I wouldn't call it simply "eminent domain insurance" but also insurance--see the cartel discussion below--that political and civic leaders would back the project.
Gladwell also points to how Ratner's malls would be helped by residential properties and the significant profits on the arena, including "$400 million" for naming rights. Actually, the latter figure is closer to $200 million.
I'd add that increased luxury suites, sponsorship opportunities, and TV rights all make a new arena lucrative.
Profits for Prokhorov
Gladwell writes:
And let's not forget Mikhail Prokhorov. How does he feel about buying into the financial sinkhole that is professional basketball? The blog NetsDaily recently dug up the following quotation from a 2010 interview Prokhorov did with the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti:I'd add that Prokhorov has already gained "explosive" benefits with the publicity attendant on his team purchase, including a fawning profile on 60 Minutes and a cover story in the New York Times Magazine."We have a team, we're building the arena, we've hired professional management, we have the option to buy into another large project, the building of an office center. For me, this is a project with explosive profit potential. The capitalization of the team will be $700 million after we move to Brooklyn. It will earn approximately 30 [million]. And the arena will be worth around $1 billion."Let us recap. At the very moment the commissioner of the NBA is holding up the New Jersey Nets as a case study of basketball's impoverishment, the former owner of the team is crowing about 10 percent returns and the new owner is boasting of "explosive" profits.
The team as a "piece of art" (and part of a cartel)
Gladwell, in a footonote, points to a quote dug up by TrueHoop's Henry Abbott from Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert:
"To me, NBA franchises are like pieces of art. There are only 30 of them. They aren't always on the market, especially a franchise that would have been such a natural fit. … If you just looked at the Cavaliers in terms of revenues, profits and balance sheets — and you paid this amount for it — people would say 'You're insane! You're nuts.' But if you look at all the tentacles, the impact on our other venues, it makes tremendous sense."Indeed, the same goes for Prokhorov, who in news coverage is often first described to as the owner of the Nets rather than as having a questionable past.
It's not simply a "piece of art." The league is a cartel. It doesn't expand, but pieces can be lured across the state lines. Political and civic leaders love a ribbon-cutting.
One justification for city and state subsidies for the Brooklyn arena is that it would poach revenues from New Jersey. True, but that's no justification for a federal subsidy, and those tax-exempt arena bonds are enjoying more than $100 million in federal subsidies.
About NetsDaily and AYR
In a footnote linked to the Prokhorov quote above, Gladwell writes:
NetsDaily is really very good. Even better is the brilliantly obsessive coverage of the Atlantic Yards project at Norman Oder's Atlantic Yards Report, in which every twist and turn in the entire story has been faithfully and astutely chronicled. I could not have written this without Oder's help.For the record, Gladwell contacted me and I spoke to him, then sent him some links. He also drew on some other links on my site. (Had this been a New Yorker piece, it would have been fact-checked, and some of the errors would have been avoided. But no one has a budget for that these days, do they?)
I'd say that NetsDaily is very good at rounding up and analyzing basketball news, including from sources far afield, such as in Russia.
When it comes to analyzing the Brooklyn move, well, the main writer, "Net Income,"a veteran journalist, won't use his name. Why? The New York Times Magazine, accommodating his unwillingness to use his name, stated he was "anxious to keep his old- and new-media identities separate."
What does that mean? Well, he manages to produce slanted pro-Atlantic Yards coverage/interpretation and nasty comments without owning up to them. His basic take is that a new arena makes his team better and the backstory is irrelevant: "Why do I care how it came to be? The Nets have the richest owner in sports."
And that leads to party-line coverage such as this:
What's missing? The fact that the Nets paid 1/8 of the cost of the new playground, as I pointed out, and New York magazine followed up.
I guess recognizing how the Barclays Nets Community Alliance were claiming to "fund" a playground renovation, and how press outlets (the Post and NY1) played along, would be so "old media."
Has the identity of Net Income ever been revealed? That is an interesting wrinkle here.ReplyDelete
Also, have you seen True Hoop's recent, 2019, coverage Prokhorov and his backstory?Replies
yes to both (just search). He's less nasty these days, and he's a smart guy, but he's still a big-time "homer."Delete


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Storage Bed Frame Full
The next type is the canopy bed, the origin of which dates back to the medieval era when they were used by the people to protect themselves from poor ceilings and insects. In the mid 16th century, this type of bed was usually used by the wealthy upper classes, before the invention of modern heating systems. They were crafted from wood in the olden days, but now the manufacturers use different materials like wrought iron, along with carvings, and these are not just meant for the girls, but men too.
Now, one of the most spectacular bed designs is the platform bed, which is mostly preferred by the people who are concerned with both space and size of the bed. Since you may also need to keep various other things in your bedroom like cabinets, study tables, etc., this type of bed frame comes in three different sizes so that you can choose according to your needs. The first is the king size bed, which is ideal for the couples requiring much space. The second comes the queen sized bed which is also for the couples but with lesser space. The last is the kid sized bed, obviously for your children.
As you all know, furniture plays a vital role in our daily life and along with the changes in human tastes, the styles and trends of the furniture has evolved gradually. Now among the various articles that you may find in the market in order to increase the beauty of your room, the full bed frames are one of the most popular things that you will find, if you are concerned with the aesthetics. They are available in various colors and trends and selection of the appropriate design and pattern of your frame can increase the appearance of your bedroom greatly.
The third to come is the futon sofa bed, which is actually a Japanese design. This type of bedding is quick enough in folding away during the daytime, so that the whole family may use the space for other purposes. This type of frame is molded, so that when desired you can turn the thing into a sofa during the daytime and enjoy the television or gossip with your friends, and when you need to sleep, you can open it out to form a nice bed. This type of furniture is usually desired by the people who usually change their apartment from time to time.
Twin Over Twin: This is your classic bunk bed style, featuring two twin beds sitting atop one another. For many people, this is the bunk bed that they end up choosing.
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On 2002-04-10 13:19, Dark Prophet wrote:
and with our bio teacher it got us off the hook, he may have been spattered in blood, blood clots and gobbets of flesh, but he checked and saw we did the dissection properly and congratulated us.
Then threw the gobbets back.
Heh, he was cool.
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Morgan McKinley
Be in with a chance to win a celebratory dinner on Morgan McKinley.
We recently hosted an informational and engaging event for UK based contractors on the critical topic of IR35 and the different engagement options available.
In the 4th instalment of our Life After Qualification series, four speakers with differing professional backgrounds informed attendees about what to expect from Newly Qualified interviews.
The job market at Newly Qualified level is busy across all sectors, and Newly Qualifieds often attend multiple interviews. However, for some Newly Qualified Accountants, attending their first post qualification interview can be daunting, especially if interviewing for a role outside their core technical skills. Our next event will provide you with
Morgan McKinley recently held the third instalment of its Life After Qualification series, with speakers advising newly qualified accountants on how to capitalise on their recent qualifications.
There is no silver bullet to increasing diversity in the workplace, but certain programmes can be implemented that are more successful than others.
'Life after Qualification' is an informative event for newly qualified accountants looking to explore their career options. The evening is an opportunity to learn from our guest speakers, as well as recruitment consultants, on how best to capitalise on your qualification. Reaching qualification is a crucial career milestone, so let us help you
Last week, Morgan McKinley hosted the first event in the Life after Qualification series.
'Life after Qualification' is an evening for those who are either approaching qualification, or newly qualified to learn more about their various career options.


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Steve Jobs thought differently. And in only one of Apple's stable of memorable television commercials can you hear his voice and his words. It's an elegant homage to "the crazy ones .. the square pegs in the round holes."
A charitable cause has taken this quote, almost wholly attributed to Jobs, and made an equally elegant poster of it, available framed and unframed. [Click here to view.]
The Acumen Fund -- whose aim is to tackle poverty issues -- will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from this limited-edition sale. The poster was produced by Brightwurks.
So now we can carry his visionary products in our pockets, lean back with them in bed ... and keep this quote on our walls.


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Compuware's APM platform has enjoyed a refresh this month with the introduction of a new generation of updates across its dynaTrace and Gomez product brands. Described somewhat dauntingly as nothing less than "industry-first innovations", it appears that Compuware has managed to address Application Performance Management concerns in mobile, cloud, big data, and APM streaming in one fell swoop.
Marketing-centric adjectives aside, these are tools designed to help developers proactively detect and remediate problems before they impact the business. Inside the new mobile and cloud-centric layers of complexity that applications now naturally exist in (or are migrating towards), one could logically argue that there is an increasing need for "visibility and deep-dive analytics" (as it tends to be called) across the entire application delivery chain.
This, in practice, if used effectively, could help find and fix problems that may occur in the data center, cloud, or the end user's device.
"Compuware User Experience Management (UEM) simplifies performance management at the edge of the Internet, enabling customers to optimize end-user experience and decrease abandonment through: comprehensive UEM and performance analytics for mobile applications and browser applications. Deep transaction visibility with embedded PurePath technology for insight into application execution at the edge for all browsers and device types, including code-level details, incidents, and visit histories," said the company.
Compuware is now offering what it describes as actionable synthetic streaming media capabilities, which (if implemented/leveraged effectively) could result in reduced mean-time-to-resolve (MTTR) and lower performance management costs.
Compuware promises:
- Single point of instrumentation to deliver network diagnostics in context of application performance.
- Integrated synthetic monitoring for proactive monitoring of web and non-web applications.
- Auto-correlated code-level analysis to drill-down to application root cause via fully integrated dynaTrace PurePath analysis.
- Visibility into both Cassandra NoSQL and Hadoop Map/Reduce Big Data environments.
"The application landscape is changing rapidly with new native mobile applications, an exploding number of cloud services, elastic cloud infrastructures, and a growing business drive to bring more application functionality to market faster. A new generation application management system that goes well beyond traditional data center monitoring is required," said John Van Siclen, GM of Compuware's APM business unit. "Because of its modular design with SaaS and enterprise options, this new platform fits a very wide market from the largest enterprise to SMB/SME customers who until now may have considered APM systems such as this simply out of their reach."


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Based on research in Colombia, this article argues that violent economic situations in specific spaces can be productively studied through a hybrid style of research that combines techniques of investigative journalism with the conceptual and methodological commitments of ethnographic inquiry.
Through a combination of García Márquez's stories and Marx's general formula for capital as a means of analysis (Magical Marxism!), this article proposes a spatial framework for understanding how agrarian spaces are transformed by the drug trade.
The re-election of Bolivian President Evo Morales to a third term is a stark reminder of Washington's self-inflicted irrelevance south of the border. His life history is itself a story about U.S. policy blunders in Latin America.
Washington stood on the wrong side of history when it overthrew Guatemala's democratically elected president on June 27, 1954. To this day, the U.S. government has failed to learn the lessons of its Cold War interventions in Latin America.
My article "Grassroots Masquerades: Development, Paramilitaries, and Land Laundering" was just published by?Geoforum. The article will be out in hardcopy in Volume 50 (December 2013), but it's already available online. The first version of the article was presented at the … Continue reading
Stuart Elden has announced the publication of his much anticipated book,?The Birth of Territory. At this blog—not least because of its name—we've followed the progress of this work very closely. As I said back then: "We've admired this work—the royal … Continue reading
As mass protests in Colombia entered into their tenth day yesterday, I was interviewed by KPFA about the mobilizations that continue spreading throughout the country. Negotiations between the government and protest leaders continue. What began as a strike by peasants … Continue reading
My interview with Dave Koller of TYT about the Colombian armed conflict, its origins, and current attempts to bring it to an end.
After Colombia's 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast, I spoke with Meleiza Figueroa of KPFA's "The People's Game," a show about politics and society during the 2014 World Cup. We discussed Colombia's history in the World Cup, its current winning streak, and how soccer in the country has crossed paths with the drug trade, the armed conflict, and today's political conjuncture.
I'm an Assistant Professor of Peace & Conflict Studies and Geography at Colgate University in upstate New York. Before completing my PhD in Geography at the University of California, Berkeley, my professional background was in journalism, covering Latin American affairs and U.S. policy toward the region. Although I'm focused full-time on my academic work, I continue doing journalism on the side as a way of sharing my research with broader audiences.
My research is about the political ecology of violence and development in Latin America with a special interest in the role of natural resources and illicit political-economic networks. My book The Frontier Effect, forthcoming from Cornell University Press, is about how outlaw combatant groups funded by the drug trade engage in unexpected forms of state-building in a violent frontier zone of northwest Colombia. I have also begun research on a new project in Colombia about the ways that nature is being used as both a weapon of war and a tool for peace. Read More ?


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Sean Eldridge could have an amazing social media campaign when he runs for Congress next year ---- because his husband was President Barack Obama's social media guru.
Chris Hughes, a Facebook co-founder, was Obama's "online organizing guru" in 2008, according to the New York Times. Hughes is also the founder of social activism network Jumo which essentially folded in 2011 as Hughes was hired at Good Worldwide. Later, Hughes bought the New Republic where he now serves as editor-in-chief.
Eldridge is the president and founder of Hudson River Ventures, an investment fund, an activist for same-sex marriage in New York and a big Democratic donor, according to the New York Daily News. Hughes and Eldridge married in 2012.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
The 26-year-old Eldridge is planning to run against Rep. Chris Gibson (R-New York) for his seat in Congress next year. Gibson's 19th District backed Obama over Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election, which could mean a Democrat might win the seat.
It's not surprising that Hughes, who has an interest in social activism would be involved with a politician. What's a little surprising is that the politician would be his own spouse.


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Crying babies welcome at select AMC Theatres matinee
Going to the movie theater is often a next-to-impossible task for parents with babies at home. Normally it requires a babysitter, and if one isn't available -- parents will forgo seeing a film on the big screen and stay home with their little one.
But not anymore.
On the first Tuesday of every month, The Bump and AMC Theatres present Bring Your Baby Matinees. This new program allows parents to bring their children to the movies in a baby-friendly zone. Breastfeeding is expected and parents won't get dirty looks for crying babies. The lights will be kept on to make seeing the diaper bag much easier, and the sound level will be lower to prevent children from being startled. There will even be designated areas for stroller parking.
You can feel good about having some fun, too. Part of your ticket purchase will go to the Will Rogers Institute, a nonprofit that provides much-needed equipment to neonatal intensive care units and promotes research, treatment and education on cardio-pulmonary diseases.
This month's featured movie is "The Odd Life of Timothy Green". The film is rated PG.
AMC Theatres in Michigan participating in this program include:
Fairlane 21
Tuesday, September 4 12:00PM
18900 Michigan Ave
Dearborn, MI 48126
Forum 30 with IMAX
Tuesday, September 4 12:00PM
44681 Mound Rd
Sterling Heights, MI 48314
Gratiot 21
Tuesday, September 4 12:00PM
35705 S Gratiot Ave
Clinton Township, MI 48035
Great Lakes 25 with IMAX
Tuesday, September 4 12:00PM
4300 Baldwin Rd
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Livonia 20 with IMAX
Tuesday, September 4 12:00PM
19500 Haggerty Rd
Livonia, MI 48152
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Architecture Council/Meetings/March 22 F2F EclipseCon 2009
< Architecture Council | Meetings
Revision as of 07:37, 13 March 2009 by Ohurley.iona.com (Talk | contribs) (→Potential Agenda Items)
Tentative Agenda for the StAC and AC Face-to-face meetings at EclipseCon 2009
- Participants
- Martin Oberhuber, Wind River
- Darin Swanson, IBM
- Gunnar Wagenknecht, AGETO
- Andrew Overholt, Red Hat
- Boris Bokowski, IBM
- Bernd Kolb, SAP
- Oisin Hurley, IONA
- Tentative
- Richard Gronback, Borland
- Markus Knauer, Innoopract/EclipseSource
- Regrets
Date, Time and Location
- Sunday March 22, 5pm - 6pm at a meeting room at the Hyatt (after the StAC all-council meeting from 3pm-5pm)
Potential Agenda Items
Open discussion here. Feel free to add anything, prefix with your name. We also collect AC input for the StAC meeting.
- (Martin) Mentor Experience roundup: Each Mentor to talk 1-5 minutes about how it's been going with their projects
- (Martin) Improvements Brainstorming: 15 minutes uncommented brainstorming of ideas what could be improved if there were no limitations
- Incentives: git, lgpl, simplified IP, pre-canned webpages, more collaboration AC--board, ...
- (Martin, Rich) How can the AC do more Architecture? - Today we're doing Community Escalations mostly, can we do more actual architecture?
- (Gunnar) DVCS: How can we move on in the current DVCS discussion? Ideally, the AC should find an opinion (conclusion?) and discuss possible steps.
- (Martin) Mike on the AC: would be good to have more direct communications
- (Martin) Separation between the Board and the AC. The board has done an Eclipse SWOT analysis, but nobody can see it ?!?
- (Martin) Release Train Improvements
- (Martin) Move forward with Architecture Council/Meetings/API Deprecation 20080119 - See also bug 261544
- (Oisin) Options around static web pages for projects, not wiki, confined to project committers, web component in each project, not in separate source code repository.
- More Architecture Council/Open Issues


text:
Hi everybody,
Stuck in a rut here. I am trying to do local testing on an inactive system right now. To do this in the shop, I am using the above monitor. I have successfully completed testing on the Harris P7200, and am now working on the APX 4/8000. I have the trunking system and and configurations set, and modified the CAI settings based on moto recommendations. While the simulator allows the APX to 'affiliate', I cannot get the audio out of the monitor and I get a COMM DROP after 2 seconds. Is anyone using the Aeroflex with any motorola subscribers that can assist me?
Anyone advice me
I didn't find the right solution from the Internet
https://forums.radioreference.com/syste ... lator.html
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P25 Testing with Aeroflex 3920B trunking simulator
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text:
HSLDA Defends Civil Rights of Homeschoolers
- 2004 13 Aug
On the evening of July 9 the H family from Tulsa County was minding their own business at home when there was a knock at the door. The mother answered. It was a social worker who insisted on entering the home and interviewing the children. The mother immediately called HSLDA's emergency number which was answered by Senior Counsel Christopher Klicka.
Klicka asked to talk to the social worker but the social worker refused. Due to the refusal of the social worker to communicate he began instructing the mother on her rights and also giving her statements to relay to the social worker. The social worker, however, kept trying to walk away in an effort to avoid hearing the statements.
Meanwhile, the social worker kept stating that he wanted to take the children and that if she did not let him in the door, he would take the children. Klicka continued to refuse entry. The social worker would not even obey the law, passed at the Federal level with the help of HSLDA, which requires that the family must be told the allegations upon the first contact with the social worker. Klicka would not relent to the social worker's threats and demands so the social worker called the police. Three police officers responded.
The police officers were very reasonable and we allowed them to enter the home to verify the allegations.
The allegations were that the family had "bare wires" throughout the house, that there was "dust covering the interior of the house," and "laundry piled up." As the police officer left the family's home he stated, "your house is cleaner than mine!" The police concluded that the allegations were bogus.
It was later discovered that a hostile neighbor had turned the family in because they didn't like Christian homeschoolers.
Klicka sent a letter to the social worker the following Monday indicating that he had clearly exceeded his authority and violated the civil rights of the family, thereby opening himself to personal liability. The letter also stated that social workers communicate with attorney Klicka rather than the family.
The next day the social worker called the family directly insisting that they bring their ten children down to his office to be interviewed separately from the parents. Klicka called the social worker and told him that the family would not be coming. He followed up with a supervisor explaining that the family had certain Fourth Amendment rights that prohibited the social worker from coming into the home. Also, the family had no obligation nor did they want to have their children interviewed by this extremely hostile social worker who had repeatedly threatened the family with the removal of their children.
The supervisor indicated that their policy prevented them from talking to lawyers, that they have to do this interview and they need to enter the home. When Klicka explained that these allegations were completely bogus and the tip was made by a malicious tipster, the supervisor indicated that it didn't matter. "It is our policy that we must interview the children and come into the home," he said. When Klicka explained that the social worker's statement from the police officer showed that these allegations were bogus and that there was no need to go any further in the allegation, the supervisor once again stated, "it is our policy, we have to do this." After thirty minutes of getting nowhere, Klicka explained that they were going to stand their ground and not let the social worker interview the children because it was unnecessary and too dramatic a violation of their civil rights. He also explained that they would not let the social worker into the house.
The supervisor ended the conversation by saying he would turn the matter over to the prosecutor in order to obtain a court order. Klicka asked him "what would be the charge?" The supervisor indicated it would be "not cooperating." Klicka said "not cooperating is not a crime, the family is not required to do so by law."
After the conversation with the supervisor Klicka contacted Tulsa County Prosecutor, Tim Harris, who amazingly had attended the same law school as Klicka. Harris said that he agreed with HSLDA's position and that the investigation would not result in a court hearing. Thankfully the H family has been protected.
Many social services agencies overstep their bounds and attempt to harass innocent homeschool families. A significant portion of HSLDA's legal work concerns similar situations. Regrettably, the threat from social services is significant and "neighbors" hostile to homeschooling remain. HSLDA is the only organization standing between them and your family.
For more home school news be sure to visit http://www.hslda.org


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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Queen Elizabeth helped launch Heathrow's $8.6 billion new Terminal 5 on Friday as part of the British airport's rejuvenation plan to maintain its status as one of the world's most important transport hubs.
A general view of the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport prior to its official opening on Friday.
The British monarch, who also opened Heathrow's first passenger terminal in 1955, was present under strict security a day after a man carrying a backpack was arrested for running onto a runway at the airport.
The first flights from the new terminal are scheduled for March 27.
Its opening has come after 15 years of planning and construction by its owners BAA -- and protests by local residents and environmental groups.
It is part of a strategy which could lead to passenger numbers almost doubling to 122 million a year, with a sixth terminal and a third runway in the pipeline despite some vociferous opposition.
Spanish-owned BAA, which also runs Gatwick and Stansted in Britain, also plans to eventually demolish Terminals 1 and 2 and replace them in a project called Heathrow East. Watch Queen Elizabeth meet airport staff. »
Residents were once told by BAA that there would be no fifth terminal, but the company is planning to forge further ahead despite the concerns of environmental groups.
"Terminal 5 stands as a monument to the binge-flying culture this Government has done so much to encourage," Greenpeace transport campaigner Anita Goldsmith told the UK Press Association.
"It's part of an obsession with expansion which can only mean more flights, more emissions and more climate change."
Richard Dyer of Friends of the Earth added: "If the Government is serious about tackling climate change, the opening of Terminal 5 must mark the end of airport expansion in Britain.
"Further expansion of Heathrow would be environmentally irresponsible and isn't necessary for the economy of London."
However, business groups welcomed the expansion at Heathrow.
"Thriving, growing airports are vital to help maintain Britain's economic competitiveness," Neil Pakey, chairman of the Airport Operators' Association, told PA.
"Domestic air links to Heathrow are particularly valuable for the regional economies, and this new terminal will undoubtedly provide them with a much-needed boost. The passage of the current Planning Bill must ensure that this is the last airport which has to endure such an absurdly protracted planning process." See British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh's views on the terminal. »
Visit London chief executive James Bidwell said: "T5 will provide visitors to London and the UK with a spectacular first impression and alleviate the pressure experienced at Heathrow, the world's busiest airport.
"The terminal's smoother check-in process and state-of-the-art baggage management system will certainly better the tourist experience and should help improve the airport's international reputation." E-mail to a friend
All About Queen Elizabeth II • London Heathrow Airport • United Kingdom


text: New keygens. Download keygen for Paragon HFS+ For Windows v10.2. Experience total communication between Mac Windows with the industrys highest performing file system technology. Paragon HFS for Windows is the only solution that provides full read-write access to HFS /HFSX partitions on any type of disks (GPT, MBR) under most of Windows versions! Access Mac-formatted partitions in Windows systems with the fastest and most stable HFS driver on the market. High performance sets us apart - Transfers files at a rate higher to native HFS file-system performance - Highly stable even when transferring big media files between systems - Works flawlessly with any type of hard disk (USB, FireWire, ESATA, SATA or IDE) Complete compatibility - The only solution with full access to HFS+ partitions on disks of any type (GPT, MBR) - Complete support of any current version of Windows (7, Vista, XP, 2003 or 2008 Server) - Full compatibility with Bootcamp drivers High-grade expertise convenience - HFS+ for Windows delivers maximum convenience with no more worries about cross-platform computing - No need to buy anything extra - the solution even mounts HFS+ volumes from GPT disks under Windows XP - Paragon Software is the first software developer to implement a full set of drivers with complete read/write access to partitions of most of the file systems New features new Full Windows 8 support new Improved Product Performance Key features Full access to HFS+/HFSX partitions (read and write) Unprecedented high HFS performance and stability Automounting and management via Disk Management console Full compatibility with Boot Camp drivers Support for journaling Unified Installer for 32 and 64 Bit systems Files and folder with. as the first symbol of file name are shown as hidden USB 3.0 ready Language: English SecureUpload: BitShare. Copyright 2006-2010 KeyFound Crew. All rights reserved.PREVIOUS NEXT


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text:
Mo. House Democrats File Medicaid Expansion Bill
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — The CEO of a rural hospital is warning that its financial security could hinge on the expansion of Missouri's Medicaid health care program.
Pemiscot Memorial Hospital CEO Kerry Noble joined lawmakers at a Capitol news conference Monday as House Democrats announced legislation to expand Medicaid eligibility for low-income adults.
The federal health care law cuts payments to hospitals for treating uninsured patients on the assumption they will get more money from an expanded Medicaid program.
If Medicaid is not expanded, Nobel says his hospital system would lose around $1 million annually because of the reduced federal payments for the uninsured. He says that would eventually put the hospital at risk.
Gov. Jay Nixon also wants to expand Medicaid.
But Republican legislative leaders have expressed concerns about its potential long-term costs.


text:
satjot necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 27 diseños de 4 diseñadores freelance.
I'm a Product manager at a software company, looking to build this service because it solves a problem that I have. I'm looking for something that is clean, fresh and easy to grasp.
Young adults and young professionals
The Attached PDF shows some brief wireframes. Please don't stick to the wireframes if you have better ideas. Those are just some thoughts I had and I put on paper.
Home page: describe the service, nice image, call to action, feedback from users/press
Sign up page: three entries, non-scam highlights, payment processing button (will go to paypal)
Call page: where the user makes the call - hits RING!


text:
Welcome to the online home of WLJA 101.1 FM
This is where you will find up-to-date information regarding news, upcoming events, concerts and much, much more! WLJA 101.1 FM is a link to your favorite music, your favorite performers and upcoming concerts, your local news and weather and your favorite sports teams.
Every member of the family can find something to enjoy on WLJA 101.1 FM, and we're extremely proud of that. Our ever growing list of media outlets is constantly increasing our footprint, allowing the dedicated team at WLJA to better serve our listeners with even more information in even more exact detail. Allow Byron, Charles and Asa to do the work for you. You don't have to worry about a thing!
So, again, welcome! Sit back, relax and enjoy WLJA 101.1 FM's classic brand of Southern Gospel, Bluegrass and Classic Country music. You'll be glad you did!
Check out our Upcoming Events!


text:
The Top 9 Safest Crossovers on the Market Today
With the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently upgrading its crash testing and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration thinking of doing the same, crash test results are on people's minds. With more than 60 crossovers already on sale - and at least another half dozen coming in the next twelve months - the not-an-SUV, not-a-car, not-a-wagon segment is being closely watched by customers and manufacturers alike.
Despite there being roughly five dozen different crossover models available, just nine of them have scored a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and been named to the IIHS' Top Safety Picks list. Find them all below, listed in alphabetical order.
All three of General Motors' full-size crossovers make our list thanks to their shared Lambda platform and identical safety equipment. The Enclave, Traverse, and Acadia all come standard with seven airbags - including side curtains that cover passengers in all three rows and a front center console airbag - and stability control, as well as OnStar automatic crash response notification and assistance. Keep in mind that the top ratings for these three crossovers do not apply to the revised 2013 models yet; that said we don't expect the updated versions to lose the top ratings of the 2012 models. For 2013, GM has actually added more safety goodies to the Lambda triplets with available equipment such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring.
2012 Cadillac SRX
Cadillac has gone after the Lexus RX in the luxury crossover segment, guns blazing. Not only is the SRX second only to the Lexus in the sales numbers, both vehicles find themselves on this list. Standard on the 2012 SRX are six airbags, traction control, StabiliTrak advanced traction control, and OnStar automatic crash notification. Cadillac is stepping up the SRX's safety credentials next year - the 2013 model has a very slight aesthetic update outside and a revised interior with the brand's Cadillac User Experience infotainment system, aka CUE, and four new safety technology options: optional automatic front and rear braking, blind spot monitoring, automatic cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to notify on a potential collision.
Ford has loaded up the Explorer with virtually every piece of safety equipment it has in its arsenal. Not only does it come standard with a plethora of airbags - including a standard passenger-side knee airbag - it also comes with a full complement of tech nannies. Standard on the Explorer are roll stability control, traction control, and curve control (which slows the vehicle down if it's going too fast in a turn). Optional safety extras include inflatable rear seatbelts, adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, and SOS post-crash alert.
It doesn't take fancy gizmos to be a safe crossover, and the Honda CR-V is a case in point. Equipped with six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, and motion-adaptive electronic power steering, the CR-V is a top-rated crossover by both agencies. Optional all-wheel drive helps make the compact Honda even more sure-footed in inclement weather. There's nothing fancy or special about the CR-V's equipment, it's just safe and effective.
Like the Honda, the Kia Sportage doesn't need all that much techno-wizardry to make it one of the safest crossovers on the market. Standard are six airbags, traction control, rollover sensors, hill assist control, electronic brake-force distribution, and anti-lock brakes all around. The Sportage is also one of the most nimble crossovers on the market thanks to its quick steering and sporty chassis tuning, meaning that you can more easily avoid getting in an accident in the first place. That said, only the all-wheel drive models (a $1500 option) earn NHTSA's five-star rating; front-drive Sportages get four stars.
2013 Lexus RX350/RX450h AWD
Despite facelifting the RX for the 2013 model year, Lexus will have to play catch up to Cadillac when it comes to safety technology, but that doesn't keep the RX from achieving a spot on this list. In fact, it has the most standard airbags than any other crossover (10) and an available millimeter-wave radar sensor for its available Pre-Collision System that will detect and prepare for an impending collision. A blind spot monitor is also optional, while rain-sensing windshield wipers, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and Lexus' Safety Connect system (like OnStar) are all standard. But like the Kia, only all-wheel drive RX models make it onto the list, as front-wheel drive versions are rated at just four stars by NHTSA.
It's not surprising to see a Volvo on this list. The Swedish car company has exploited its leadership in safety technology to help it carve out a niche and craft its brand image in the marketplace. The XC60 combines the company's latest suite of technology - pedestrian detection, City Safety automatic braking, traction control, rollover stability control, six airbags, and built-in child booster seats - along with confident driving dynamics to create a very safe vehicle. High-tech goodies like adaptive cruise control, swiveling xenon headlights, a rearview camera, and a blind spot monitoring system are all optional.


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Nick Rage (Feat. Krizz Kaliko) - Show Me The Way [Unsigned Hype]
"Nick Rage "Show Me The Way" Ft Krizz Kaliko of Strange Music, from the album "GEMINI" Ft Royce da 5'9'', King Gordy and Krizz Kaliko. FOR BOOKING email@example.com www.NickRageMusic.com"
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text:
A man's gotta to do what a man's gotta do. Why is that? Because only men can do certain things, just as only women can do other things (in their case, birthing babies comes immediately to mind).
A man's gotta to do what a man's gotta do. Why is that? Because only men can do certain things, just as only women can do other things (in their case, birthing babies comes immediately to mind).
What a man can do is grow a beard. Every man should grow a beard once in his life, if only to prove he can. It is something to put on a man's bucket list, because that bucket isn't just for shaving water. Sadly, this column is a requiem to my latest beard, cut short in its prime.
My dear departed beard started out as a theatrical prop. As some may recall, I played the part of a buccaneer, Jamaica Jim, in a local production titled "A Pirate's Life for Me." My role was a bit smaller than a bit part but it did allow me to say "arrgh" a lot, always a source of joy.
A week or two before opening night, our director asked all her pirates to grow beards because she wanted us to look scruffy. Not everybody could comply. In their day jobs, some of the pirates were in well-groomed professions such as accountancy and the law, where the partners do not appreciate the scruffy look. But looking unkempt is no problem in journalism, where business casual is just another way of saying wrinkled.
Hoping to please and glad of a beard-growing excuse, I began growing the beard immediately. While my talents do not extend to electrifying audiences in speech or song, I can do scruffy. By the time the play opened, the beard was more than stubble but less than a bushlike flowering.
Not surprisingly, it came in gray, like my eyebrows and hair (such as it is) and all of it had to be colored black to go with the long dark wig on my head. These changes rendered me anonymous to some in the audience, who whispered to each other: "Who is that scruffy-looking pirate over there?" "Which one? They are all scruffy!" "The one who says arrgh with an Australian accent."
When beards are in the scruffy stage, they are very irritating to the wearer — and also to the wearer's wife (more on that later). The emerging beard itches and generally makes itself uncomfortable. It is the facial hair equivalent of a teenager.
Soon enough, the beard becomes longer, fuller and more mature. Bits of alphabet soup and passing crackers get caught in its net, allowing the wearer to enjoy an extra snack later. Sometimes a migratory bird will roost in its thickets at night. For all these reasons, the wife of the beard raises an objection, perhaps because the sound of its growing at night keeps her up and makes her grumpy.
In my case, such an objection is most unfair. When we first met on an island in Greece 38 years ago, I sported a particularly fine beard that was almost biblical in its epic proportions. People in taverns didn't yell, "Hey, Moses, you forgot your sandals!" but it would have been no surprise had they done so. Sandals are easily misplaced at the beach.
This beard-averse wife of mine has forgotten that she fell in love with me when a beard was the most hirsute part of my charm (such as it is). I was young, carefree and debonair and I had what appeared to be a large possum nestled permanently under my chin. I say it is bait-and-switch to lure a happily bearded man into matrimony and then turn around later and ban beards.
But that is what happened. The latest beard was condemned by the Supreme Spousal Court on the grounds that it made me look old (hey, I am old!), although it was reprieved through Thanksgiving while appeals were heard.
The drumstick caught in the beard may have sealed its fate. Inevitably, the fateful hour arrived, and the beard faced its punishment like a man.
So here I am in the season of beards, with jolly fat men in red suits shaking their whiskers on every corner, and me doomed to face the winter winds with a nude face. It is obvious that a pirate's life is not for me, because a pirate can't shave on a rocking ship unless he doesn't mind cutting off his nose. Blackbeard wasn't known for his aftershave.
A man's gotta to do what a man's gotta do — but only if a woman will let him.