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State tourney run ends for West Side 9/10's
After splitting its first two games at the state tournament, the Warwick West Side 9/10-year-old all-star team saw its run come to an end on Thursday with a 9-8 loss to District 2 champion East Providence.
Playing in the loser's bracket final, West Side was pushed to extra innings before falling just short.
The game was stopped in the middle of the second inning on Wednesday due to loss of power from storms, and West Side was winning 5-4 at that point.
When the game resumed on Thursday, West Side continued its strong play. With spectacular defense on the diamond, Lexi Brown took the mound for West Side, and settled right in, scattering walks and hits, but she got stronger as the game went on.
"Lexi was on fire as the game went on," West Side manager Frank Brown said. "It took her an inning to warm up but she then continued to gear it up. If she could've gone longer than the rules allow, she would have."
Rules only allow for nine and 10-year-olds to pitch seven innings in a game. With Brown on the mound and a solid defensive effort the game went to the eighth inning. West Side got an opportunity in the top half but stranded a runner on third.
That brought the game to the bottom of the eighth, where Kaylyn Cieselski took the mound. She pitched well, but East Providence managed to score on a fielder's choice with aggressive baserunning to walk-off with the win.
"This was a great game," Brown said. "For nine and 10-year-olds to perform like this was something amazing. The girls took the loss tough, but certainly they left everything on the field." West Side finished the year as the No. 3 team in the state. The team members are Marilyn McKay, Danaja Alpaio, Kaylyn Ciesielski, Lexi Brown, Gianna Altieri, Taylor Suffoletto, Dyonna Rodas, Trinity Reilly, Bailey Arruda, Maeve Malloy, Sydni Bigelli, Alyssa Richard and Haley Marchetti. Along with Brown, the team is coached by Kelli-Lynne Palmer-Brown and Jesse Richard.


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ARMONK, N.Y. (AP) — A town judge in New York is deciding whether the drugged-driving case against Kerry Kennedy should go to trial.
The North Castle judge is expected to rule Tuesday on Kennedy's motion to dismiss the charge.
Kennedy is the daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and the ex-wife of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She was arrested in July after her Lexus swerved into a tractor-trailer near her home north of New York City.
Police said she failed sobriety tests.
A small amount of a sleeping drug was found in Kennedy's blood. She said she believes she accidentally took a sleeping pill that morning instead of thyroid medication.
The defense says fairness demands a dismissal. But prosecutors say dropping the charge would feed the perception that famous people are treated differently.

subset: commoncrawl


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As many of you know, I moved out of downtown due to allergies, toxicities, a crazy former landlord, and karma. Yes, I went back to the Westside. At least for now.
But, I left my heart in downtown.
And I still run my popular Downtown Conversation Series with Co-Creators and Visionaries. Read what the Downtown News recently wrote about the series.
In the meantime, I've re-arranged my top 15 favorite blog posts. So below, you will read, my fav's in no particular order. Oh-the-memories. Nancy


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*** (out of four)
If you think stupidity is an automatic movie deal-breaker, don't see an action spectacle about aliens attacking military vessels that's thinly based on a board game.
Entertainment doesn't always require smarts, though, and the foolishness of "Battleship" feels harmless compared to the smug, often-offensive assault of the similar-looking "Transformers" series. No insensitivity goes unchecked in "Battleship," and I didn't mind the dumbness of lines like, "Who do I call to teach you humility?" or aliens who resist attacking people who don't pose an immediate threat even during a full-blown battle.
This movie simply promises great effects and all-hands-on-deck heroism, and the loud, exploding hunk of junk delivers.
Flexing his "Friday Night Lights" charisma that took time off for "John Carter," Taylor Kitsch stars as Alex, a reckless slacker forced into the Navy by his older brother (Alexander Skarsgard) after Alex's attempt to woo Sam (Brooklyn Decker) gets the guy tased. What, you don't think a woman who looks like Decker would fall for someone because he stole a chicken burrito for her?
Of course, Sam is the daughter of a hardass admiral (Liam Neeson) Alex will have to impress if he wants to propose. Lucky for him, impending dismissal from the Navy takes a backseat to the arrival of giant spaceships from Planet G, a recently discovered planet with a climate similar to Earth. Its populace, however, looks like Power Rangers villains with unkempt goatees, which only enhances the movie's fun.
No red and white pegs factor into the fight, but writers Erich and Jon Hoeber (the bad "Red" and worse "Whiteout") find an enjoyable way to work in the board game's strategy of playing defense in the dark. It's laughable on screen, and what's wrong with that?
More goofy rewards come from Kitsch's "FNL" castmate Jesse Plemons delivering the movie's best one-liners. Individual moments, like a determined veteran who has lost most of his legs and a kid facing an alien attacker, ultimately make "Battleship" more memorable than "The Avengers." (An unpopular opinion, but there it is.) In a minor role, Rihanna's performance makes the competent-enough Decker (the horrendous "What to Expect When You're Expecting") look like a seasoned pro.
This completely outrageous effort didn't need to stretch more than 131 minutes, especially with no more story to maintain than a movie based on the game of Tag. Still, director Peter Berg ("Hancock") and veteran music producer Rick Rubin wisely include not one but two AC/DC songs. Like that band, "Battleship" is big, simple and hard-rockin'. It's great when a summer blockbuster offers clever verses, but I'll settle for a killer chorus.
Watch Matt on "You & Me This Morning," Friday at 7:30 a.m. on WCIU, the U
firstname.lastname@example.com. @mattpais


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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
4Q08 Earnings Conf Call Transcript
Bill Kuser
Thank you very much. Welcome everyone to American Vanguard's fourth quarter and full year 2008 earnings review. Our principal speaker today will be Mr. Eric Wintemute, President and CEO of the American Vanguard, Mr. Trevor Thorley our Chief Operating Officer and Mr. David Johnson, the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
Before beginning let's take a moment for our usual cautionary reminder. In today's call the Company may discuss forward looking information. Such information and statements are based on estimates and assumptions by the Company's management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from managements current expectations. Such factors can include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy, competitive pressures and various other risks as detailed in the Company's SEC report and filing. All forward looking statements represent the Company's best judgment as of the date of this call and such information will not necessarily be updated by the Company.
With that said we will turn this call over to Eric.
Eric Wintemute
Thank you Bill and good day, everyone.
Thank you for joining us as we review our recent performance.
We are pleased to report a continuation of the steady improvement that has characterized our business over most of its history - and particularly during the last two years.
I am pleased to have with me today, Trevor Thorley, our new Chief Operating Officer who joined us recently from Valent USA Corporation, a subsidiary of Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Company. Trevor has a distinguished career in the agricultural chemicals sector and we are confident that his talent, energy and experience will contribute to American Vanguard's continued success. Trevor will tell you a bit more about his extensive background during this call and of course will participate in answering your questions after our prepared remarks.
As David Johnson, our CFO, will highlight, quarterly sales, operating profit and earnings per share all increased modestly over the fourth quarter of 2007, and our full year 2008 performance resulted in record revenue, record net income and earnings of 73 cents per share.
This was accomplished despite some significant obstacles in the form of higher raw material costs, increased logistics expenses and weather-related difficulties experienced during the corn planting season.
Our 2008 gross profit margin of 43% is a reflection of our branded product portfolio, our focus on specialized niche markets, and our ability to price our differentiated offerings for the value that they provide in enhancing grower productivity and insuring crop quality.
I will now turn the call over to David and when he is done, Trevor and I will comment on recent projects, our market segments, and some views regarding our industry and our company's prospects as we see them in this first quarter of 2009
David Johnson
Thank you Eric. Good morning and good afternoon to everyone. My comments today will deal with the highlights of the 4th quarter, the full-year 2008, and some topical issues for consideration as you analyze our future prospects.
We will be filing our 2008 10-K report with the SEC by the end of this week. That document will contain considerable additional detail on many of the topics that I will touch on today.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, our sales are up 3%. Eric has already briefed you on the details, but I will add a couple of points:
Sales of our new product lines continue to perform very well. Furthermore, our international sales are also well ahead of last year.
We recorded good sales performances in:
• Impact® – which was ahead of last year
• Our insecticides phorate and Counter® were strongly ahead
• Our fumigant products also sold very strongly in the quarter
The offset was primarily:
• Sales of our corn insecticide Aztec® and our cotton insecticide Bidrin® were both somewhat lower than in Q4 of 2007.
• Raw material price pressure on commodities and basic chemicals eased somewhat in Q4 though this will take some time to move through the supply chain.
• Overhead manufacturing costs have increased compared to the comparison quarter in 2007, mainly as a result of adding Hannibal and Marsing to our portfolio of manufacturing assets.
Gross margin for the quarter is at 44% in 2008, compared to 45% for 2007, demonstrating the robustness of our business model in turbulent times.
Operating expenses were down at 25% of sales compared to 26% of sales in Q4 of 2007.
Costs associated with expanded product portfolio including intangible amortization, product defense and product development increased.
The offset was a better performance on distribution, down from 9% to 8% of sales, and lower selling expenses, as a result of cost reduction actions and some mix effect on programs.
Our overall interest expense is in line with last year – a higher average borrowings level fueling our growing business compensated by a reduced LIBOR rate.
Now, I want to provide some perspective on our full year 2008 performance.
As Eric said in his opening remarks, we are pleased to be able to report that sales revenues rose 10% from last year's $217 million to a level of $238 in 2008 which has been achieved despite this extraordinary period for our country's economy. This is a record level of annual revenues for American Vanguard driven by gains in crop and non-crop products including our new product acquisitions and our international sales expansion in Canada and Latin America. Our 10-K will provide you with additional details.
We have reported on our sales dynamics during the various quarter conference calls, but to give the big picture summary for the year:
We have had a great year with our mosquito adulticide product Dibrom®.
Our fumigant product line continues to grow strongly.
Our phorate and Counter product lines acquired in the last couple of years have been very stable.
Our Mexican business continues to grow nicely and we have now added a business in Costa Rica modeled on that Mexican structure.
Our new product line acquisitions have beaten first year expectations.
As we have reported through the year, we have had some challenges:
With regard to our key herbicide Impact, while our field reports suggest that product on the ground in 2008 has been good and we did see stronger sales in Q4 of 2008, this was not sufficient to reach Full Year 2007 levels. We are anticipating improved sales in 2009 as distribution inventories are estimated to be lower that at the same time last year.
Our corn soil insecticides had a pretty tough year, mainly associated with adverse weather conditions during the mid west corn planting season.
Our key raw materials, particularly those based on sulphur, phosphorus, petroleum and other base chemical commodities have been on a roller coaster ride in 2008. We have responded to these movements with inventory purchase decisions, long term purchase agreements and sometimes product line selling price increases.
Despite all these moving parts, our gross profit has remained stable at 43% compared to 44% last year. This is within our normal range of year to year movements over the last several years.
Overall our operating costs for 2008 ended at 27% of sales compared to 28% of sales in 2007. This is the result of a great deal of effort to control costs in this turbulent period while maintaining high standards in product stewardship and at the same time delivering great customer service.
Within operating costs we have:
Increased field support for our patented delivery systems.
Increased advertizing.
Increased our product line stewardship costs including intangible amortization, product defense and product development.
Added to our resources, particularly in finance, supporting the control side of our growing business.
Our interest costs have been significantly lower in 2008 than in 2007. Although we have increased our average borrowing by $8 million, the offset has been a much lower LIBOR rate, which drives all our interest rates. Overall cost savings was about $1.4 million.
During the year we have also spent time looking closely at our tax positions and as a result have been able to reduced our tax rate
As reported in the earnings announcement, net income is up 7% to $20m and EPS is up 7% at 73 cents per share. This strong continued earnings performance during 2008 allowed the Board of Directors to approve dividend payments of 8 cents per share during the year.
The Board has continued that performance with the announcement today of a first dividend in 2009 of 5 cents per share.
At the last conference call I made some comments about our relationship with our banking syndicate. I want to reiterate those comments here again today.
Since our last conference call I can report that the Company and Bank of the West have continued regular face to face meetings. These meetings are a long standing activity for the Company and are focused on maintaining an open dialogue between us. The Company believes that this is a critical relationship, never more so than during these times. We believe that the bank and its syndicate partners remain highly supportive of the company.
Furthermore, in recent periods, the Company has expanded its disclosure in our published financial statements regarding its debt structure and credit facility. We understand how important this is given all the discussion about credit crunch issues affecting the economy today. You will find quite a lot of information in the 10K, however, in summary our debt structure is as follows:
A $52 million term debt with repayments scheduled through December 2013.
We have a working capital revolver debt with a balance at December 31, 2008 of $24.5 million. The capacity on this line is up to $75 million and it runs through to December 2011.
We have additional facilities amounting to $30 million for special product acquisition purposes.
You will see in the 10K that our total borrowings at December 2008 were $84 million. This is compared to $60 million at the end of December 2007. There are several important drivers of this increase:
Our capital spending has been slightly higher than in prior years. This includes:
At Axis we have invested in a new Metam facility, upgraded some complex control equipment, improved our waste stream handling and put in place the capability to manufacture molecules as part of our tolling activities.
At Hannibal we have updated our manufacturing control systems, which was critical to improve quality and safety.
At Los Angeles we have invested in improved safety systems and some other essential items.
We have expanded our product portfolio at the start of the year and later in the year we have solidified our positions in other product lines with key bolt on investments.
We have opened a selling office in Costa Rica and started to build up that business following the tested model used in Mexico.
Having said that it is also important to acknowledge that our inventory levels have increased compared to last year. Some of that increase is associated with new or expanded product lines, some relates to new tolling agreements, but we also accept that inventory management is a key management focus going forward.
Looking forward I think that there are several items that investors need to consider:
We are working hard on our inventory levels, however, as all Ag companies experience; inventories tend to go up at the start of each year ahead of the spring planting season.
Our international sales and activities are growing. We have had a good performance on receivables historically and we are working hard to monitor the quality of our entire exposure to receivables.
We expect that normal capital spending going forward will be somewhat higher than historical levels, which relates to now having four (4) manufacturing plants.
As Eric will describe, we will continue to explore product acquisitions and regional expansion opportunities that are at the core of our successful business model. Cost associated with these activities is now required to be expensed in the period in which they are incurred, so you may see occasional variations in quarterly financial performance as a result of this change.
I will now hand back to Eric.
Thank you, David.
Now, let me comment on a number of topics that give you some flavor for what we have been working on to continue our success.
As previously announced, we recently completed the construction of a Metam Sodium production unit at our Axis, Alabama facility. This project has experienced a smooth start up and we have been shipping product to our customers since November. It gives us an expanded operational platform to service our largest product line, the Vapam® and K-Pam® soil fumigant products, in the Southeast United States, where demand is expected to increase in the coming years.
We also recently introduced a pest control product called Nuvan® ProStrips which allows professional pest control operators to extend the effectiveness of their standard treatment services. By positioning these devices, within the confines of the treated area, pest control is maintained for several additional months, negating the necessity of an expensive full-scale re-treatment. In December of 2008 we received our registration for bed bug control. This is significant in that bed bugs and their control is an immerging opportunity for the hospitality, multi-unit residential, and single family residential market segment. Efficacy data for Nuvan ProStrips clearly demonstrates 100% effectiveness against both susceptible and non-susceptible strains of beg bugs and their eggs. Amvac is well positioned to obtain its share of this market valued at $4 million in 2007 which grew to $6 million in 2008. That may not sound like a large market, but the service level revenue generated from this in 2007 is $180 million which grew to $300 million in 2008. Customer response to this introduction has been excellent and we expect this product to grow into a significant part of our non-crop product portfolio for the next few years.
We have taken full advantage of the market opportunities for the two newest products what we acquired around the beginning of 2008. With the PCNB Terraclor® line, which we procured from Chemtura, we have been able to penetrate new markets, introduce a new formulation, expand internationally and price our entire product line to reflect the value that these three fungicides offer to users. With the Orthene® line acquired from Valent, we have broadened our insecticide offerings in cotton.
As mentioned in previous conversations, our international sales and marketing efforts are continuing to enjoy great success. As our 10-K filing will illustrate, Canada, Mexico and several Central American markets contributed to a 25% growth over last years excellent results in the international market. As we have indicated in prior conference calls, our intention is to continue this expansion with additional resources of our own and / or in conjunction with other companies that are positioned in various international markets and interested in mutually beneficial collaboration.
Now, let me ask Trevor to take a moment to give you a little background on his experience in our industry and make a few comments on the state of the market segments that we participate in.
Thank you, Eric.
First, it is a pleasure to have this opportunity to introduce myself to all of you who are interested in American Vanguard.
I have been involved in agriculture my entire life, having grown up on a family farm in England and having pursued academic studies focused on this industry.
Much of my early career was spent with Bayer where I had increasing management assignments including Midwest Regional Manager, leading Bayer non-crop business and becoming Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing from 1998-2002.
I was able to assume considerable general management responsibility with my move to Valent USA, where from, 2002-2009, I was President & COO of Valent USA responsible for North and Latin America business. We accomplished significantly growth of sales, profit and dividend contribution to our parent company, Sumitomo Chemical. I also had the opportunity to become the first non-Japanese Executive Officer for a Tokyo-based multi-billion dollar corporation, Sumitomo Chemical.
I have gained a great deal of insight as a member of our industry trade associations such as CropLife America. Participation which affords one an understanding of this industry's complex regulatory environment, involved for many years. In the 90's involved with RISE, the non-crop segment, and recently on main executive board as vice chairman. We have a great industry that feeds the world as a result of our products. We need to be involved with our industry associations to reinforce the positive messages with all stakeholders. Visits to the Capitol in DC last week are one recent example.
Finally, I am often asked to describe my reasons for coming to American Vanguard. My main reason for joining Amvac is a belief in the Company's business model, its strategic direction, the leadership on the Board of Directors and in management, and most importantly, on the growth opportunities I see in this industry for Amvac to capitalize on in the future.
Now regarding some of our main areas of interest:
Corn – in 2009, we anticipate 85 or more million of acres of corn will be planted in US, largely using genetically modified seeds. We believe that this market will still require several years of 5+ million acres of resistance management "refuge" practices, which demand use of corn soil insecticides. We also presume that there will be a gradually, multi-year decline in the need for such set-aside acres with the introduction of multi-mode-of-action SmartStax & Optimum GM seeds.
More importantly for American Vanguard, we expect to see steadily increasing use of granular soil insecticides alongside GMO seed. Two years of independent university work and field trial validation, show that significant yield enhancement can result. This is particularly true in the 15 to 20 million acres of U.S. planted corn that suffer from moderate-to-high soil infestation. In many of these areas in eastern Iowa, and Illinois, this use of "dual technology" is gradually becoming a proven practice.
Our Impact® post-emergent corn herbicide had a strong 2008 with good field performance and excellent crop safety compared to many competitors. We see this trend continuing in 2009 and beyond.
Cotton – in 2009 will likely experience a modest additional decline from last year's roughly 9 million acres. Never-the-less, we are well positioned with our branded insecticides Bidrin® and Orthene® and Folex® herbicide.
In our other market segments: vegetables, fruits etc. a variety of influences exist.
As usual, commodity prices will dictate some planting allocations and weather may complicate portions of the growing cycle. Some regional issues, such as a potential water shortage in the Central Valley of California, may cause temporary softness is the production of certain crops and thereby the use of some crop protection products. While peanut growers need to recover from recent product quality problems, our market position in insecticides for that segment is very strong. In general, assessing the plusses and minuses, our prospects in these many diverse markets remains quite solid.
I will now return the call to Eric.
Thank you Trevor.
In this time of financial market uncertainty, many people wonder whether changes in farm sector credit policies and government subsidy programs may negatively influence grower economics and psychology over the next few years. It certainly could and we hope that the compelling worldwide need for greater agricultural output will influence / persuade legislators to enact programs that encourage, not discourage, expanded farm production.
Likewise, the regulatory climate in the EU and United States is a constant challenge as chemical re-registration requirements continue and sometimes the crop protection tools that farmers need to fight infestation and enhance productivity are put into jeopardy.
At American Vanguard, we have become accustomed to dealing with these variables and I think that our product platform, our manufacturing control and our marketing expertise are well suited to cope with the requirements of this industry.
Let me leave you with a final point that summarizes 2008 and serve as an investment rationale going forward.
American Vanguard's performance is the result of several important factors.
First, we have a diverse participation in many different segments of the North American Crop Protection business – in corn, cotton, and numerous fruits and vegetables.
Second, we have the ability to transfer our technology and expertise outside North America as we continue to expand internationally, particularly in Latin America.
Third, we have participation in a number of important and growing non-crop applications where our products offer unique solutions for a variety of pest control challenges.
And finally, we have the organizational capability necessary to handle all of the elements required for such a business model to succeed.
The knowledge required to assess and acquire new product lines to complement our existing portfolio.
The veteran sales & marketing expertise to re-position, rejuvenate, promote and capture sales opportunities in numerous sectors.
The operational experience needed to manufacture high quality products, and deliver them to customers in an efficient, cost-efficient, and timely manner.
The reputation earned for successfully handling the complexities inherent in complying with many regulatory registration requirements, in several different jurisdictions, for many different crops.
This is a skill set that is proven, a business model that is proven, and a record of financial success that is proven.
We intend to continue proving ourselves in the marketplace, expanding our footprint in this industry and earning the returns that our investors expect and deserve.
We will be happy now to turn to any of your questions.
Caller Mark Gulley (Soleil Securities)
<Q – Mark>: Good morning guys, good afternoon. I have a few questions if I may. First, Eric can you kind of size the overall participation in corn this year amongst Impact, Counter and other products? Maybe Trevor can comment on how much that can grow in 2009.
<Eric>: You are looking for sales which we typically don't give by product line and part of this is that Counter gets used in sugar beets and sugar cane as well. Let's say we are somewhere in the $20 million range as opposed to the previous year where we were probably in the $27-$28 million.
<Q – Mark>: Is that corn overall or is this for Counter?
<Eric>: This is corn insecticide the Impact would be on top of that.
<Q – Mark>: How much could that be, I am trying to get an idea of the herbicide and insecticides.
<Eric>: Impact again was down some, I think we saw the actual pounds on the grew, but just because of positioning in third and fourth quarter last year verses what we positioned into the market this year. We were down approximately 25%, but that is mainly a positioning issue. Trevor, your thoughts on going forward and our new SmartChoice.
<Trevor>: Regarding the soil insecticide market. We are seeing a change here with the Commodity Classic in Dallas three weeks ago. I spoke with several leading corn growers and we are getting some positioning of these products for yield as opposed to the old positioning to do with corn root worm, the long interest is in nematodes. So there is some change going on and we are introducing a new corn soil insecticide called SmartChoice, which we are pre-launching this year for significant growth in the market next year. We literally just began marketing this in the last few weeks and I have been working with our product management positioning and getting more definition of these products in the marketplace. We are loosing a little in sugar beets due to new technology, but I think we are gaining in scenarios with this use message and use on the nematodes. That is the soil insecticide. With regard to Impact, I believe we lost some sales last year due to weather conditions just at planting time and after planting time. I would like to see normal weather conditions which would mean there should be solid on the ground performance. We are seeing some real ordering at the moment, because the inventories are lower in the channel, so that is a positive sign. We are also seeing a broader off-take into the lead geographies partly due to the changes we made in the sales organization, a new regional manager who really knows the herbicide market and corn which is what the Midwest is heavily working on at the moment.
<Q – Mark>: My second question is, would you expect cotton to be down 1 million acres, from about 9 to 8 million acres from 2008 to 2009?
<Trevor>: The first quarter is definitely going to be down, but that was not a big market for us. I see a little bit of softness there with one of our insecticides. The jury is still out in the mid-south I have spoken with some cotton growers about a few weeks ago, it looks like some of that may come back. There is interest in what happens with the peanut acreage in Georgia, we may see a little bit of a spring back on some cotton there. The commodity prices have many growers preparing to make their final decisions on planting shortly. I still think it will be down 1 million, which is the official number, but it may not be quite as much as that.
<Q – Mark>: Finally, a house keeping item. Can you comment on the impact of acquisitions on your sales growth private for the year or for the quarter?
<Eric>: Orthene® and PCNB combined were responsible for nearly half of our growth in the year.
<Q – Mark>: Thanks, Eric.
Caller Jay Harris (Goldsmith & Harris)
<Q – Jay:> Good morning. How much should we think of cash coming out of inventories during the course of 2009?
<Eric>: That's a Herb Kraft question.
<Q – Jay:> Well, he is my mentor.
<Eric>: I know. This is an area that we have clear directives from the top to work on. I am not comfortable discussing our target in the public forum at this time. However we expect to make strong progress this year. Part of this is a function of traditionally we wanted to make sure we never left an opportunity hanging and so we want to temper that with managing our inventory more prudently. We have started different processes to do that and I think with Trevor's help as well and more financial direction we will get a bit of a handle on moving that down into a position where we turn over inventory more rapidly then we are.
<Q – Jay:> What was the capital spending in 2008 and what do you think it will look like in 2009?
<David>: $14.3 million in 2008 and we are anticipating somewhere in the region of $10-$11 million in 2009?
<Q – Jay:> Ok. I will get back in line. Thank you.
Caller Nick Genova (B. Riley & Company)
<Q – Nick:> I have a couple questions on revenues. First, it looks like the revenue growth was more need in Q4 vs. Q3 in year over year. I was wondering if you could quantify to some degree the effect of Aztec's weakness and Bidrin being lower?
<Eric>: I think what we did see in 4Q was a number of farmers delaying and who will probably respond more in season. We expect over the next couple of weeks for things to get a loft at a pretty good clip. As such I think distribution has some concerns as well, as far as inventory positions. I think a number of people out there, not just distribution but retailers, have some concerns with their fertilizer inventory. Fertilizers have come down dramatically, as have some of the key intermediates that we have talked about in the past. As those move down farmers are taking a "let's see how far things can go" approach. Chemicals seem relatively stable, but on the other hand they did not jump up dramatically in price to the farmers as did fertilizers. I think we feel good about the position we are in, the fourth quarter we basically let the chips fall where they may and as you pointed out it did not result in the significant increase in sales for the quarter. Our feeling is the outlook going forward look cautiously optimistic.
<Q – Nick:> I know you do not give specific guidance, but looking ahead to Q1 can you go over what dynamics may be in play there. To your point you just made of people looking to purchases closer to the actual growing season is that going to cause a delay again in Q1 or would you expect sales to be up in Q1?
<Eric>: I could. Again people are talking about March 15, the bell goes off and everyone is going to be scrambling on how to get materials logistically out of their barn before planting and application time. We will have to see how that plays out. We still have a couple of key weeks in the quarter ahead of us.
<Q – Nick:> Ok, moving on to the revenue growth in the Metam product line, can you break down the drivers between price increases and what the revenue growth from that was versus volume increases?
<Eric>: Yes, we were up in volume by maybe 5% the rest is driven by the cost increases we received and the necessity to pass those cost increases through.
<Q – Nick:> Overall is that product up about 10%? Is that reasonable?
<Eric>: For the year overall we were up about 25%.
<Q – Nick:> The volume increase, is just a rough term, when you break that out was it driven more by the United States or was it more driven by international growth?
<Eric>: We did have some increases in Mexico, but largely the United States.
<Q – Nick:> Final question, is there any reason that those price increases wont stick, or are you pretty comfortable with where you are on that?
<Eric>: We have not seen any erosion of that yet, and do not expect erosion. I think pricing in the marketplace today reflect the current raw materials price.
<Q – Nick:> OK, thanks.
Caller Jay Harris (Goldsmith & Harris)
<Q – Jay:> Could we get a distribution of sales, percentage of sales non-crop and percentage international even though they overlap? As well as the revenues from corn and the other principal crops?
<Eric>: I don't think we have all of that broken out, but they will be in the 10k.
<Q – Jay:> Isn't that filed today?
<Eric>: We are talking about filing Friday. So non-crop percentage is about 19% and international is about 17%.
<Q – Jay:> Do you have a number from total revenues of corn activities?
<Eric>: I don't, but on one of the earlier questions from Mark I gave some perimeters on that.
<Q – Jay:> Are you going to make available at some point an end use profile of revenues?
<Eric>: Yes, you are talking about a wheel that shows cotton and corn…
<Q – Jay:> Yes, something like that.
<Eric>: Probably we would like to do something like that in an investor presentation coming shortly.
<Q – Jay:> Does it appear that the planting of corn this year would be more closer to historical seasonal than the delayed experience we had in 2008?
<Trevor>: There is some planting of corn in Louisiana last week with another cold spell going through the mid-west this will be totally related to the weather conditions. Growers want to get back to the normal, but it will be driven by these fronts that keep going through the mid-west and the middle part of the country at the moment.
<Q – Jay:> Let's assume that it goes back to normal. What would that do to your business activity? Will that mean more revenues in the March quarter and/or much more revenues in the June quarter?
<Trevor>: I think it will be the second quarter.
<Q – Jay:> Thank you.
Caller Bruce Winter (Independent Investor)
<Q – Bruce:> I want to drill down into soil fumigants, specifically volume only, not sales dollars, and specifically 4Q 2008 versus 1Q 2009. I know that you can pull volume between either one of the quarters because of weather conditions, promotional activities, etc. etc. I also know the story of the plant in the northeast and you have also increased in Mexico. Can you go through all those factors and try to compare them with the previous first quarter versus fourth quarter comparable?
<Eric>: Historically, the first and second quarters are our weakest quarters. There is really no movement from fourth quarter into first quarter. Fourth quarter really ramped up, largely driven by the potato acreage, getting fumigant down before snows hit. There is really not movement of position per say of fourth quarter for first quarter sales. The only markets, California and the southeast, are active in the first quarter, but as you can imagine in the northern parts of the United States, it is cold and snowy, so there is very limited applications of Metam. With Mexico, we participate in a market and are cautious of credit and the devaluation that has occurred there. I think we have been prudent about what sales we are making, not only in Mexico, but in a number of countries. Again, we have a long record of not having bad debt positions and it is something that we want to maintain.
<Q – Bruce:> What is the Mexico model that you referred to under the Costa Rica expansion?
<Eric>: We started slow in Mexico and built a person at a time, we did not take unnecessary credit risks, and we made sure the companies we were selling to understood that they needed to pay on time. I would say we kind of earned our percentage in the market through quality service and so that is the model we are following in Costa Rica. We have people on the ground there that we are looking at growing through sustainable and strong stewardship leadership that we will provide for our products. This will make sure that the people who use our products do so in a safe manner in which they are intended.
<Q – Bruce:> What portion of the accrued program costs of $16 million and change do you expect to amortize in 2009?
<David>: That is the effect liability for program payments as they relate to sales in 2008 that have not yet been paid. As we go through the year they have a process of accruing programs and paying programs. Different product lines have different seasons so the program payments come at different times of the year.
<Q – Bruce:> How much of that $16 million and change do you expect to amortize in 2009?
<David>: It will all be paid out in 2009 and it will be replaced by accruals that relate to sales in 2009.
<Q – Bruce:> So your approved program costs really decreased quite a bit year over year, 2007 versus 2008?
<David>: There were a couple of main aspects to that. First of all, the particular sales that we have during the year, some are based on net payments and some sales are based on programs, so there was a different mix in sales during that later part of the year. That means that there is an entirely different sort of cross section of product lines represented in the $16 million. Secondly, we decided to make sure that we paid promptly in the later part of 2008 and did not hold over payments into the start of 2009. That was received very well by our major, key customers.
<Q – Bruce:> I thought you guys did a very good job in managing costs given your increased footprint. Thank you very much.
Eric Wintemute
Thank you very much operator and thank you all for joining us here today. We look forward to sharing additional developments as they occur. Again, thank you very much for participating.
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2016 American Vanguard Annual Shareholders' Meeting
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2017 American Vanguard Annual Report


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3 Simple Tricks to Grow Your SMB
There is probably not a single person out there who hasn't dreamt of starting their own business. Unfortunately, rare are those who dare to truly try something like this. Why? Well, from the outside it all seems extremely complicated. Not to say that succeeding is easy, but in most cases, it is lot less complicated than people fear. All you need to do is learn how to conduct the administrative part of your business efficiently and improve your finances. The latter one may, again, seem as something incredibly difficult, but it needn't be so. You just need to learn few simple tricks that will help your SMB or startup grow.
Setting Goals
Now, whether or not your business meets your expectations depends on one thing – your expectations. If what you want is for your business to be self-sustainable from the day one, or for it to become an overnight success, 9 out of 10 times you will be in for nothing but disappointment. On the other hand, setting your expectation bar too low may give you false self-confidence which can be equally bad. For instance, it can persuade you that you are doing just fine and even convince you to settle for less. This way, a lot of potential can be wasted. The best course of action would probably be to keep it real when it comes to your goals. For your first year, establishing and reaching your target market and seeing at least some financial growth should be more than enough.
You Need Money to Do Business
Out of all rules in the business world, there is one that reigns supreme – you need money in order to do business. A lot of people believe that all they need is some initial capital to help them launch. What they don't realize is that sometimes it takes up to two years for a business to become self-sustainable. This means that you should have enough money to keep you going for a while, but also that you need to carefully manage every single dollar you earn. Don't waste money on anything you don't absolutely need and if you have some unconscientious clients, don't restrain from contacting a debt recovery agency.
The Halo Effect
Finally, when hiring, there is nothing more dangerous than the so called halo effect. What this means is that certain people have the ability to portray themselves in a certain light, even though they are nothing like they claim. During the interview, your potential employees may excel at one aspect of the job they applied for, but be inapt for all others. Still, the phenomenon of halo effect may make you think that they are as proficient in them by association. It is a trap that numerous young employers fall for and it is the one that may cost you dearly. Always keep evaluating people who work for you. If you see that you have made a lapse in judgement, don't be ashamed to admit the mistake and try to rectify it. However, if someone turns out to be a valuable asset you should be ready to reward them.
It is surprising just how many people enter the business world unprepared. They get enough money to start and believe that a full pocket and an idea are all that is needed for success. Of course, there is no secret ingredient that can guarantee success, but just knowing these few simple tricks can significantly improve your odds and put you head and shoulders above your competition.
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How to Successfully Migrate a Data IT Center
Migrations of large data centers are enough complicated as they pose significant risk to event integrity. The behind best practices may urge on IT executives to apportion seize resources for migration plans, measures and tests that will guard corporate documentation and confidential data even if also improving all prerequisites of success.
IT decision makers who twist the task to migrate their corporate data centers during the overall infrastructure refurbishment strategy:
Always tally third-party experiences bearing in mind standard knowledge base, especially if they realize not possess in-company experience tolerable to plan, kill and checking account upon huge projects same to migrations of data centers.
Ensure to devise as well as authorize a obedient communication strategy for all phases of migration – this is valuable to diminish the fortuitous of errors. Make sure every affected departments are served like total information.
In order to take on risk lessening they use catastrophe recovery protocols and frequently manage tests.
Meticulously record how the process of migration is implemented during all periods of the project to ensure that valuable record are lessons and reference materials for post-migration follow-up are preserved for the sake of completeness of the entire procedure.
Lets bow to a look at the fine examples that responsible IT manager should judge even though executing the migration of data center .
approachable Expertise
It is extremely important to ensure that you have acceptable knack set in the past you begin this important journey. Third-party completion may be a good option.
Assembling the Right Team
Significant projects require an experienced leader who will build a team comprising experts from every committed departments. This project lead must as well as have the skill to manage resources and to give tasks.
3. Preparation Stage
The talent of any project depends upon thorough preparation and meticulous set sights on setting. Tests are in addition to essential.
4. Create it Simple
The less data requires moving, the easier would the total process be. Attempt to simplify, condense, virtualize, optimize, tidy happening the data days past you actually begin your project.
5. Direct Interdependencies
At this stage you create a positive assessment of all interconnections in the midst of tools, platforms, and various equipment such as cloud, servers, and on-site data storage . During this stage you will new judge the stability and create a list of small details of alternative steps of the project.
6. Mare determined to Communicate
Working communication strategy is necessary during every steps of data migration. Communication is necessary considering it comes to eliminating errors and establishing trusted data quarrel routes. Communication must influence all departments and clarify participants and responsibilities during collective process.
Discussing the migration plan later internal IT team and matter units is with important as a exaggeration to avoid disruptions. Allow people know practically milestones, practicable challenges, and focus upon successes.
7. Planning is Key
The number of data migration steps often depends on alternating factors such as data center volume, risk of abet disruptions, as skillfully as budget requirements.
8. Plot for the Future
Problems undoubtedly arise at all stages of actual data exchange. Its taking place to decision maker to predict such problems in order to create commandeer risk avoidance protocols. Again, this takes us encourage to well-planned preparation phase.
9. Tests are Important
Perfection comes later experience. Since you begin migrating the applications, decree a set of tests to ensure a "baseline" of various functional levels, including its feat to feign without affecting its performance.
10. Do not Panic
To steer certain of fortuitous errors, take on board a "freeze" grow old coming on just since the migration process and stopping unexpectedly after you total the migration.
During the migration, be prepared to charge connectivity problems, faulty credentials or negated testing. Sometimes such issues repercussion in a cascading effect upon overall system performance, especially if no flee route has been set.
11. Analyse Again
Even if you have performed repeated tests, hug a risk-based attitude that relies on opinions of experts inside the company.
12. Post-migration Tests
Hurray! You now have completed a flawless migration. Still, you craving to have allocated proficient resources user-friendly for the bordering week or so. Extra attention is still warranted to any failures in network performance. Also, check that corporate networking facilities and firewalls are sufficiently tested for stability as well as speed.
13. Enactment the Audit
An audit of the migration journey is usually warranted. This vital evaluation will manage to pay for priceless details and knowledge nearly various expertise factors.
14. Realize the Closure
Complete the deferment in a due ventilate to make determined that no hidden errors may impact corporate IT in the coming weeks.
15. Remember to Schedule Updates
All the documentation should be maintained in imitation of the data middle migration is complete. Praise the difficult exploit of all people involved! Your did a great job. online data room
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100 Happy New Year 2018 Messages , New Year SMS & Wishes To Sends To Your loved ones
Getting the new year wishes makes everyone feels happy. So are you ready to welcome the new year in a unique style? On the New Year Eve, you will get the mixture of Happy New Year Messages in which some will pray for your health, Breakthrough in Business, some will for your prosperity and others.
As you already know, New Year is one of the biggest events which is celebrated by almost all the people of this world. This is like a festival as everyone goes to clubs, Church, Mosque or a place of prayer and lounge for the party with their friends and they send the New Year 2018 SMS to their friends who are busy in some other city or country.As the time flies and 2017 are about to end so welcome the new year which is knocking at the door. So before it comes send the Happy New Year 2018 Messages to your friends, relatives and special ones. So start the new year day while partying and welcome it with the full blast and send Best Happy New Year 2018 SMS and Happy New Year Cards 2018 to your friends.
Happy New Year 2018, Friends! Greet all your loved ones this special day with our best Happy New Year Quotes, New Year messages & SMS, New Year Poems and eCards.
Let everyone know you remembered them today!
Happy New Year! It is time to forget the past and celebrate a new beginning.
In every thing there must be a season,
a time 2come and a time 2go.
I pray that this New Year brings
2you happiness and joy 4ever and ever."
My wishes for you are not limited to just the next year but to all the years that you experience in your lifetime and in your reincarnations!
Have a fun-filled, smashing, rocking and happening New Years!
New Year is not about changing the Dates but Direction;
It's not about changing the Calendar but Commitment;
It's not about changing the Actions but Attitude;
It's not about changing the Fruit but Faith, Force and Focus!
May you Commit and Create the best New Year ever! ø new year sms for girlfriend ø
As this year is ending, I wish all the negativity and difficulties also end with this year and 2018 bring success and desired results for you.
As the new year renews all the happiness and good tidings, hope the joyful spirit keeps glowing in your heart forever! Happy New Year!
Lighten up your surroundings with your sweet smile and make way for happiness with your good deeds this New Year. Happy 2018.
Wish your Life always remains Bright throughout. Have a rocking New year.
Lets celebrate this blissful, cheerful, colorful New year. with a smile. Wish you Happy new year.
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May each day of the coming year Be vibrant and new bringing along Many reasons for celebrations & rejoices. Happy New Year!
Forever my warm wishes are with you, Have a promising and great new year. '~'~' short new year sms/quotes 2018 '~'~'
Wish you a bright, prosperous, and glorious new Year ahead. Happy new year.
New hopes!
New resolutions!
New Aspiration!
Love N Laughter in your life!
Peace N Prosperity in your life!
Success N Good Times On New Year!
Wishing you a Sparkling N Rocking New Year……..new year wallpaper 2018.
New Year be the best ever
Filled with joy, love, laughter
Fun, Humor, cheer!
My dear happy new year.
I wish you spend a great year ahead that starts with happiness and ends with that too. Happy New year.
My wishes for you, Great start for Jan,
Love for Feb, Peace for March,
No worries for April, Fun for May,
Joy for June to Nov, Happiness for Dec.
Have a lucky and wonderful 2018
!'–.___.–'! got a
i________i CARD.
Open it…
Lets welcome the year which is fresh
Lets welcome the year which is new,
Lets cherish each moment it beholds,
Lets celebrate this blissful new year.
New Year Eve or Old Year Night is observed on December 31 the final day of the Gregorian year the day before New Year's Day. ? Happy New Year 2018.
Let's welcome the year which is fresh and new, Let's cherish each moment it beholds, Let's celebrate this blissful New year. ? Happy New Year 2018.
Wishing you a Happy New Year with the hope that you will have many blessings in the year to come.
May the New Year gives you the strength to face the challenges of life, courage to adjust the sail so as to take every situation to your stride. ? Happy New Year 2018.
As the New Year approaches us with hopes anew, here is to wish you and your family a wonderful year ahead. ? Happy New Year 2018
This new year wishes messages will make for the sweetest expansion to your New Years cards, your vacation photograph book or even a stylistic theme piece for your yearly New Year's Eve party. In case you're sending your welcome out the way it was done in the good 'old days, keep in mind to include a bubbly profit address mark for best of your welcome.
You May interested to Read: Happy New Year 2018 Resolution Quotes ideas
New Year is the time to unfold new horizons & realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength & faith within you, to rejoice in simple pleasures & gear up for new challenges. Wishing you a truly fulfilling 2018
Wishing y?u and your family best wishes f?r Peace Profound-during this New ?ear and may ?ll your expected-dreams come t? reality. ? Happy New Year 2018
Hope this New Year brings, new hopes and aspirations, Along with the zeal and courage to, Keep up with those commitments. Wish you all the best and a Happy New Year 2018
Wishing you a New Year that's
Sparking with Fun N Masti..
Bursting with Joy N Love…
& crackling with cheers N laughter!
Rocking with G00D Times N G00D Fortune – – – short happy new year sms
Remember the laughter,
the joy,
the hard work,
and the tears.
And as you reflect on the past year,
also think of the new one to come.
Because most importantly,
this is a time of new beginnings
and the celebration of life."
Happy New Year .
May The Year 2018 Bring for You….
Happiness,Success and filled with Peace,
Hope & Togetherness of your Family & Friends….
Wishing You a…*'*HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018*'*
Sparkling Crackers Colorful Night Sweetest Bite Smiling Faces Delicious Dishes Only Luv, No Fear Let's Welcome the New Year.
Happy New Year
As the new year blossoms,happy new year sms for friends
may the journey of your life
be fragrant with new opportunities,
Your Days be bright with new hopes
and your heart be happy with love!
Happy new year dear friend……………………………happy new year sms for friend
Its New year's Eve! Jig & Jive, Strum & Drum….
Have a rocking party that's full of fun N masti…
Hey! It's me here…
Wish a big hug to say
May all your dreams…
come true this year
Happy New Year 2018.
You are always with me,
My love and always will be!
You are the one I always dream of
You are the one who completes me,
I love you so much Sweetheart!
And you will be in every part of
my life in this New Year!
Happy New Year sweetheart…………………..happy new year sms for girlfriend
2017 is bowing out…New year 2018 is here
Shake your body, do a turn….
Wishing you 365 days of rocking fun!
24/7 days smiles N success
24/7 days cheers N laughter
Have amazing fantabulous New Year
In this New Year….
Mày Good Health N Good Times
Mày Good Luck N Good Fortune
Alwàys with you
Hàppy New Year
I wish You dear buddy in New Year
24/7 Days Joy
24/7 Days Smiles
24/7 Days Good Times
24/7 Days Good Fortunes
A lovely new year on your way,
Greet new year with your cute smile..
Walk on your path,
Love in your own way,
Talk in your own words….
Do what your heart says….
And then one day world will say
It is your day
Wishing You A
Happy New Year
May the dawning of this New Year
Open up for you New Horizons,
Fill your heart with New Hopes and bring for you!
Promises of Brighter Tomorrows!
Wishing you Happiness and Prosperity in the New year!
Hope the New Year
Sweetens up your life..
With Joys and Surprises..
Happiness and Success..
Brighten up Your Life..
Good Health and Good Times
Happy New Year
Wishing you a year of
Happiness & Success
Peace & Prosperity
Health & Wealth
Also a Year of
Love & Laughter
Happy New Year
May every day of the New year glow
with good cheer and good times for
You and Your Family
Wish You A Prosperous
Happy New Year……………….short greetings msgs of new year
End of season Sale….
B I G Sale 2017
Only 1 year used
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Discount 70%
Let's hve party because it's *.*.*New Year Eve*.*.*
Celebrate Happy New Year 2018 with me all the night,
so that we can end the year together and start the new year together……new year sms for friend
Goodbye 2017
You Made Me Smile
You made me Happy
You made me crazy
You made me cry,
Made me laugh,
but it is time to move on.
Welocme 2018
You are the best friend that I could ever have.
I wish that we will have more time to share this year!
Happy New Year 2018.
Might This New Year Be An Awesome Voyage Towards Your Fantasy Destination
Where Every One Of Your Kisses Are Come Back With Enthusiasm,
Your Embraces Are Responded With Warmth And You Generally
Have Your Friends And Family To Hold Your Hands In Times Of Need.
We have shared laughter, stories, pains and secrets.
You are more than just a friend to me
because you made me feel like I am your family.
Happy New Year!.
Let us celebrate this aggravating, poetic, magnificent, magical
New Year 2018 with a great smile.
Wishing you a year full of pleasure and prosperity.
We may be far apart but you are always in my heart.
May you have a healthy and abundant New Year!
Actual success comes only to those who are ready for it.
So never step back and always have the courage to accept new challenges.
Wishing you a very happy new year 2018.
My family and friends,
I wish that this new year ahead throws at you much pleasure, health, work and winning in their life plans.
New Year is a time for festivity
of love, of life, of Friendship.
Hereupon, it is the time to thank God
for the wonderful people around.
In this New Year, I wish on our behalf to that One being who made this pretty creation
involving our relationship too, to keep our love alive and
intact in our thick and thin times.
Achievement is not something that falls from the space,
it's something to look after of every day,
I hope that 2018 will be an excellent year in your life.
Send Happy New Year 2018 Messages to Your Well Wishers
Here's your chance to turn over a new leaf.
May you have a successful journey ahead. Happy New Year
New Year is a time to celebrate with friends and family,
to have fun, to catch up and to party.
So may you enjoy your New Year with your loved ones.
Let us dance and dine.
This New Year is more exclusive because it is celebrated with you!
In everything, there must be a weather,
A time to come and a time to go.
I pray that this New Year brings
To you pleasure and joy forever and ever.
12 Months happiness, 52 weeks fun,
365 Days laughter, 8760 hrs good luck,
525600 Minutes joy, 31536000 seconds success,
So wishing u a Happy New Year.
I determine to stop wasting my resolutions on myself
and use them to repay you fo
r the warmth you've shown me.
Happy New Year!
Let go of the past behind you.
Right ahead, lies a new beginning.
Make it a memorable experience.
Happy New Year 2018.
Cheers to New Year 2018, Enjoy Happy New Year Messages
"Let's welcome the year which is fresh, let's welcome the year which is fresh and new,
Let's cherish each moment it beholds, let's celebrate this blissful New Year."
"In this New Year, I wish you achieve all your goals in life,
And get success at every step of life, enjoy a rocking year."
"In everything there must be a season, a time to come and a time to go,
I pray that this New Year brings to you happiness and joy forever and ever."
"May happy times and warm memories brighten your new year,
Have a great year, Happy New Year!"
"This New Year may all your troubles vanish like magic,
May you reach out to great glories and achieve all that you desire,
Happy New Year!"
May This New Year Give You The Courage To Triumph Over Your Vices And Embrace The Virtues.
May You Have A Year That Is Filled With Love, Laughter, Brightness, And Hope. ? Happy New Year 2018
I Wish You A Very Happy And Warm New Year, Full Of Joy, Happiness And Success. Happy New Year.
Wishing You The Joy Of Family, The Gift Of Friends And The Best Of Everything For The New Year. ? Happy New Year 2018.
May This New Year Illuminate Your Life And Bless You With Prosperity And Joy Today And Always. ? Happy New Year 2018.
May This New Year All Your Dreams Turn Into Reality And All Your Efforts Into Great Achievement. ? Happy New Year 2018.
Years Come And Go But We Will Remain Friends And Never Be A Foe. Therefore, Before The Sun Sets Down Low, I'm Wishing You A Happy And Prosperous New Year. ? Happy New Year 2018.
How Fast Time Moves, We Are A Few Hours Away From 2018. As You Look Forward To Witnessing The Glory Of The New Year, May It Bring With It More Fulfilled Promises.? Happy New Year 2018.
How Fast Time Moves, We Are A Few Hours Away From 2017. As You Look Forward To Witnessing The Glory Of The New Year, May It Bring With It More Fulfilled Promises. Happy New Year.
My wishes for you, great start for Jan,
Love for Feb, peace for March,
No worries for April, fun for May,
Joy for June to Nov, happiness for Dec.
Have a lucky and wonderful Happy New Year 2018
Happy, Happy New Year!
We wish you all the best,
Great work to reach your fondest goals,
And when you're done, sweet rest.
Nights are Dark but Days are Light,
Wish your Life will always be Bright.
So my Dear don't get Fear
Cause, God Gift us a "BRAND NEW YEAR".
? Happy New Year 2018.
I met love, health, peace & joy,
They needed a permanent place to stay.
I gave them your address
hope they arrived safely ??
Happy New Year 2018.
- The New Year means nothing if you're still in love with your comfort zone. ? Happy New Year 2018.
- The Future Belongs To The Competent. Get Good, Get Better, Be The Best! ? Happy New Year 2018.
- Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day. ? Happy New Year 2018.
- A New Year a new start and way to go! Wishing you a successful and glories Happy New Year 2018.
- Fake It Until You Make It! Act As If You Had All The Confidence You Require Until It Becomes Your Reality.
- To dress up today in the threadbare garments of yesterday is to create an impoverished tomorrow. ? Happy New Year 2018.
- For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice. ? Happy New Year 2018.
What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That's not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that's the burden of a year."Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Happy New Year to you!
May every great new day
Bring you sweet surprises–
A happiness buffet.
Happy New Year to you,
And when the new year's done,
May the next year be even better,
Full of pleasure, joy and fun. Joanna Fuchs.
Life is a book in volumes three–
The past, the present, and the yet-to-be.
The past is written and laid away,
The present we're writing every day,
And the last and best of volumes three
Is locked from sight — God keeps the key.
At the sound of the tolling midnight bell
a brand new year will begin.
Let's raise our hopes in a confidant toast,
to the promise it ushers in.
May your battles be few, your pleasure many,
your wishes and dreams fulfilled.
May your confidence stand in the face of loss
and give you the strength to rebuild.
May peace of heart fill all your days
may serenity grace your soul.
May tranquil moments bless your life
and keep your spirit whole.
A new year is beginning to peak through
softly beautiful and different like new falling snow,
each day unique and shaped just for you.
Your life adding something as each day does grow.
My wish for your new year is beauty
and softness with surprises thrown in for delight.
Love for each day bringing happiness to you,
making your life a scene of sparkle and shining sunlight.
Let the new year be a year of freedom from sin,
a year of service, a year of trust in God,
and it will be a happy year from first to last.
It may be the hardest year we have known,
but it will be the happiest….By J. M. Buckley ~
To leave the old with a burst of song;
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the things that bind you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that's past;
To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the not worth while of the days grown old;
To dare go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that's new;
To help your brother along the road,
To do his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world's good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.
In the meantime, enjoy the fireworks, the loud and boisterous family dinners, and the quiet intimate meal with your loved one. And don't forget! Greet everyone with Saying Images' specially curated quotations and specially made greeting cards. Enjoy and don't miss this opportunity of sending warm wishes to your near and dear ones. Happy New Year 2018 to everyone out there and cheers!
The Rocky Road towards Successful Food Entrepreneurship
Running a food business can be awesome and fun, especially owing to the fact that these ventures are rarely a result of anything but passion and dedication. That being said, the vast majority of these tend to fail within the first year – the restaurant business market is hard to predict, even with a ton of research, planning and capital. With this in mind, it's the perseverance that pays off here, along with business acumen and, perhaps most importantly, vision and ambition. While vision and ambition are factors beyond your control, if you have those covered, here are some tips that will hopefully help you start your successful food business.
Research, research, research
Research plays a key role, regardless of the business type. So, what's so different about starting a food business? Well, the emphasis on research is even bigger here. People tend to eat their meals at their trusted places, meaning that it's going to take a whole lot to draw their attention to a brand new food joint. As a rule of thumb, the areas that are abundant with various restaurants are far from ideal for your startup – even if you have the recipe for the best food business venture in the world, people are always going to crowd in front of their favorite, trusted places, which means you might as well not bother.
Research is your way out of this – attend business networking events, don't be afraid to bore people to death with your questions (though you probably won't as there's nothing a successful entrepreneur likes more than networking and bragging about their success) and go out twice, even thrice, a week, browsing the local food places – you can learn a whole lot in this way!
Innovation or upgrade?
Going around the existing (and successful) food joints in your target area can give you a ton useful information. You can learn a lot about doing business in this way, but let's focus on the product here. First of all, people have to like it, and your friends and family are your best bet here – without being able to serve your future customers a tasty meal, well, what are you doing in the food business to begin with? Unfortunately, a tasty meal and quality customer service won't necessarily get you very far on the food market – something needs to be special.
Of course, trying to reinvent the wheel is rarely a fruitful process – you either have an awesome idea, or you don't. The sad truth of things is that you probably won't have a completely original product to pitch to the market, but relax – most successful businesspersons rarely do either.
The key, of course, is upgrading an existing product – offer something other restaurants lack in. This part of food entrepreneurship is entirely on you and your time spent on research.
Food laws and regulations
This is yet another aspect the food business differ from other entrepreneurial efforts. Depending on the state, food laws and regulations differ – from food safety to labor laws, and you have to deal with them professionally and meticulously. Think about things such as cleanliness – even stuff like finding quality heat exchangers or industrial agitator should be on your list. They provide maintenance-free and hygienic operation, removing the need for the chemical-laden coatings or spray paints, typically found in traditional mild steel frames.
You don't want to know how many restaurants have ended up closed and barred from performing business on account of a minor regulatory fluke.
Do not aim big…
…unless you want to risk instantaneous failure. Sure, every once in a while, a food business idea pops up that goes all-in and starts bringing in a ton of cash to their owner(s) from the get-go, but in truth, for every food business that enjoys instant success, there are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of instant failures. Start slowly by testing your idea – think of creative food truck ideas, or try the local market to get the feel of things. Not only is this a safe way to see how your product pans out, but it will give you a ton of room for upgrades and improvement.
As results of passion and perseverance, successful food businesses will always be a competitive market. The only thing you can do is make sure that you cover everything properly; from research, to laws and regulations. Either innovate or upgrade, and always remember not to aim big from the start.
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In November...
...there were numerous lovely items in the member show and share. The Honey Cowl (Tracey K's. KAL-of-the-month pattern pick) had already been completed by a member or two. Harriet A. also shared a Daybreak made with Miss Babs and Happy Fuzzy yarn and Vangie had a great sweater with a 'scrunched' cable pattern that was really eye-catching.
Raffle prizes were donated by Marie W., Linda M. and Kim W. Books, yarn (can knitters ever have too much yarn?!), a needle case and bags were among the prizes...as well as a Lamb Shoppe Yarn and Coffee Bar travel coffee mug with stitch markers tucked inside. Kate P. won the special raffle of a spot in the upcoming Anne Hanson classes in March. (Anne Hanson in March?! yee-haw)
Voting for the new vice president took place...with the results to be announced in December.
Jillian talked about short rows to modify a sweater to fit, about mixing sizes in one pattern and so many more helpful tips!
A Jillian tip: start a pinterest bulletin board (make it a private board) and pin fashions that you like to it, without looking at the board, for one month. Then review the board, and you will see a clear picture of your style and color trends.
A few of Jillian's suggestions of online resources:
Color inspiration: design-seeds.com
Style boards: polyvore.com and pinterest.com
Fit charts and useful information: threadsmagazine.com, craftyarncouncil.com and ysolda.com
The weekend following our November guild meeting, a group of members participated in a Knitting to Fit class with Jillian...they learned enough about what type of sweater would be good for their body shape that numerous members are casting on for a new sweaters!
And then, in a blink, it was already December!
In December......we found out that our next vice president is...Harriet A! We look forward to the next two years...Harriet has a wealth of experience and will bring wonderful ideas the guild as vice president and then president. Her vice presidency begins in January 2013. (if we make it past the end of the world)
Raffle items for December were donated by Kelley A., Chris H. and Kim W. Books, yarn (yes! more yarn!) and some lovely handmade notions and project bags (really nice!). Thank you all for donating, and thank you guild members for buying tickets! Raffle proceeds helps support our guild activities...
Vangie presented a member trunk show. An impressive assortment of sweaters and shells...with great stitch details and shaping. Many of the patterns were Vogue and Vangie explained her modifications on some of them to improve the fit.
Then we ate cake. :)
Social knitting and visiting, the ordering of swag (microfleece vests!) and more about the Anne Hanson classes in March. If you missed the meeting, be sure to get sign up info for both—don't miss out!
And then we ate more cake. :)


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One of nine South African police officers charged with murdering a taxi driver who was dragged from a police vehicle testified Friday that the man insulted him and grabbed a fellow officer's gun.
The killing of Mido Macia, a Mozambican who died in police custody on Feb. 26, shocked South Africans and viewers around the world after graphic video footage of him being tied to a vehicle by uniformed officers and dragged down a street was broadcast and posted online.
Protesters gathered outside the Benoni Magistrate's Court, east of Johannesburg, to demand that the officers not be granted bail. Eight officers were initially arrested, and South Africa media reported Friday that a ninth was also detained.
The bail hearing was adjourned to Monday after affidavits were read.
The lawyer for officer Thamsanqa Ncema, read his client's testimony, which maintained that 27-year-old Macia was blocking the road with his car, the South African Press Association reported.
"I asked him to move and he insulted me and told me I am a `useless cop,'" Ncema said in the affidavit.
He said Macia grabbed an officer's gun and pointed it at them before handing it back. Then an altercation started and Macia was arrested when police backup arrived, and taken to the police station in Daveyton, a township east of Johannesburg.
"I was caught by surprise to be told that the person had died, as he has never complained about any injuries," Ncema said in his affidavit, according to SAPA.
Another officer, Bongumusa Mdluli, said onlookers were throwing things at police on the scene, and that he told a police driver that there was "someone," an apparent reference to Macia, behind his vehicle.
The driver, Lungisa Ewababa, testified that he had begun to drive after a vehicle window was broken in the commotion on the street, and only realized Macia was being dragged after Mdluli told him. At that point, Ewababa testified that officers put Macia inside the vehicle and he then drove to the police station, SAPA reported.
The police who were charged did not provide any detail on how Macia was tied to the vehicle, or what happened to him at the station, where he was found dead in a cell hours later.
South Africa's police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, says Macia suffered head injuries and internal bleeding.


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Eliseo BatistaNew York Yankees
Pitcher | Ht: | Wt:
|Yankees | Eliseo Batista suspended
Sat, 19 Mar 2011 11:13:31 -0700
New York Yankees minor league P Eliseo Batista has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. The suspension will begin at the start of the Dominican Summer League season.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch


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The Palisades Museum of Prehistory is a private museum in Washington DC promoting the awareness and preservation of prehistoric artifacts in the Palisades of Washington DC.
It is little known by most residents that humans have occupied what is now the DC metro area for at least 13,000 years. In particular, the Palisades of Washington DC has an especially rich prehistory because of its proximity to the Fall Line and its strategic location atop an ancient river terrace overlooking the Potomac River.
As Director of the museum, I give tours of the collection, as well as provide lectures and traveling exhibitions. Over the summer, I lead an archeo summer camp for kids 15 and younger.
-Doug Dupin, Director


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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Brad Lidge said he's optimistic this new shoulder soreness will keep him out until mid-April. But the Phillies have yet to perform an MRI (which could show further damage), he will be shut down indefinitely and the problem may have arose from him rushing back from a previous injury.
So we will say mid-April is very optimistic.
His absence leaves many questions and points for debate.
1. Who will close? This is the most obvious jumping-off point. Ruben Amaro Jr. listed Jose Contreras and Ryan Madson as the two candidates.
Last April, when Lidge also began the season on the disabled list, Madson had first crack at it. That stint ended in a broken right toe in San Francisco. In nine innings, Madson had a 7.00 ERA and he converted four of his six save chances.
About two weeks ago I did a story on Madson, who is a free agent after this season and craving another shot at the ninth inning. He says he has a new mentality when it comes to closing games.
Then there is Contreras, who filled in for Madson who was filling in for Lidge. In a span of 15 May games, Contreras pitched the ninth five times. He converted all three save opportunities and did not allow a run in 7 2/3 innings.
Contreras was the surprise of the season in the bullpen. The Phillies signed the 39-year-old with no expectations. He became a reliable setup man.
There will be two schools of thought here: A) Madson has pitched the eighth, he has great stuff, and deserves a shot at closer. B) Madson is the best setup man in the game, so why move him from that role?
2. Does this bump Michael Martinez off the roster? For the last few days, I've been floating this crazy theory the Phillies take 11 pitchers north. OK, it's not that crazy but most of my colleagues say it is. The simple reasoning for carrying 11 was to keep both Luis Castillo and Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez.
That is probably out the window now. Amaro said the Phillies will take 12 pitchers and that is necessary now. It means one of the bench players on the fringe is out.
The Phillies like Martinez, but they need to keep him on the 25-man roster or they will have to offer him back to Washington. Of course, the Nationals could decide they don't want Martinez back and the two teams can work out a deal so the Phillies hold his full rights and can send him down. But they are division rivals.
I still think Delwyn Young is on because of his versatility, switch hitting and pop off the bench. So it means spot 25 is down to Castillo and Martinez, most likely. Josh Barfield and Pete Orr can go to the minors.
3. Who pitches the seventh inning? The answer the Phillies are probably hoping for is Danys Baez. He is, after all, making $2.75 million in 2011 and has a decent track record. But 2010 was an unmitigated disaster and while he has looked better at times this spring, he has still gotten hit hard too.
This is always the most interesting thing: the trickle-down factor. Everyone moves up a spot now. Other than Baez, who else pitches the seventh? Kyle Kendrick? Antonio Bastardo? David Herndon?
4. So now that they're taking 12 pitchers, who gets on? Well, we'll give Bastardo a spot as the second lefty. He's been good this spring has proved all he needs to in the minors.
The 12th spot probably comes down to David Herndon, Scott Mathieson and... how about Mike Stutes? He was sent back to minor-league camp a week ago but the Phillies were impressed. Or maybe they scour the waiver wire for some last-minute cuts.
Hey, only a week until opening day.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.


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Griner leads No. 1 Baylor past No. 17 Kansas
- Article by: DAVE SKRETTA
- Associated Press
- January 13, 2013 - 3:42 PM
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Brittney Griner had 33 points and seven rebounds, and top-ranked Baylor had little trouble beating No. 17 Kansas 82-60 on Sunday for the Lady Bears' 12th consecutive win.
Griner had 22 points in the first half, when Baylor (14-1, 4-0 Big 12) seized control of the game. Odyssey Sims added 14 points and Brooklyn Pope finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Lady Bears won their 26th consecutive conference game.
Their only loss this season was against then-No. 4 Stanford.
CeCe Harper came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points for the Jayhawks (11-4, 2-2), who had been unbeaten in nine home games. Angel Goodrich added 16 points and seven assists, and Carolyn Davis finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Griner started her 128th game for Baylor, breaking Sophia Young's school record set from 2002-06. She also surpassed Oklahoma's Courtney Paris for second in Big 12 history with 2,741 points, though none of that spared her from coach Kim Mulkey's wrath in the second half. She only trails Oklahoma State great Andrea Riley now who had 2,835 points in her career.
The two of them exchanged some heated words while Baylor was heading to the bench during a timeout, thought it wasn't exactly clear what they were arguing about.
Couldn't have been the way the game was going.
The Lady Bears dominated the first 10 minutes, working the ball around the perimeter and then finding Griner in the post. The 6-foot-8 forward, with at least 5 inches on anybody guarding her, had little trouble turning around and using a soft touch to repeatedly score.
She had 14 points as the Lady Bears raced to a 29-13 lead, the team at one point hitting seven consecutive shots. They wound up shooting 55.6 percent from the field in the first half.
Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson eventually called a timeout, and the Jayhawks started to do a better job of denying Griner the ball. Davis spent most of the day guarding her, but Kansas would usually collapse a second — and sometimes a third — player to defend the entry pass.
The Jayhawks responded by slowly trimming into the lead.
Harper hit a pair of 3-pointers, Davis scored a couple baskets around the rim and Goodrich hit her second 3 of the half as Kansas whittled the lead to 38-28 with 4:06 left in the half.
Sims answered with two quick baskets, and Griner added two more to end the half.
Griner picked up where she left off after the break, getting an entry pass on the block and turning around for an easy basket. Kimetria Hayden added a layup and Sims hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Baylor a 53-30 lead and force another Kansas timeout.
Later in the half, tempers flared during an inbound play under the Baylor basket.
The Lady Bears were putting a player directly in front of Griner, trying to give her extra room to catch the inbound pass. But every time they lined up, the Jayhawks tried to wedge Davis between them, creating enough separation to keep Baylor's star from putting up an easy shot.
Mulkey yelled at the officials that the Lady Bears didn't need to give up the real estate on the floor, while Henrickson insisted that Kansas had the right to line up on defense.
Davis eventually was granted the space, one of the Jayhawks' few victories in the game.
© 2018 Star Tribune


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Difference between revisions of "498: Secretary: Part 5"
m (minor fixes)
(→Transcript: - editing a small mistake)
|Line 104:
|Line 104:
:Black Hat: Well, I never did give them my name...
:Black Hat: Well, I never did give them my name...
:[the rotunda]
:[Senators play in the playpen balls.]
:[Senators play in the playpen balls.]
:Senators: Let's jump down here from the balcony!
:Senators: Let's jump down here from the balcony!
Revision as of 22:05, 16 October 2014
|Secretary: Part 5
Title text: And they choose Al Gore as Internet Secretary.
This is the 5th and final comic in the Secretary story-arc. Black Hat is up to his usual shenanigans. Most of the comic happens in the US Senate chamber room.
Of course, playpen balls have been the topic of many comics before. Notably 150: Grownups.
The other reference of note is of the Tron universe. Tron was an arcade game, based on the movie of the same name, and both released in 1982. The characters would play on a grid in lightcycles which left behind walls of light. The objective of the game was to force the opponent to run into the wall of light, similar to the Snake game. Obviously, there is no such grid by the Capitol.
There are also two obvious procedural irregularities in the comic. First, a candidate cannot be nominated (a prerequisite for a nomination hearing) without the President sending the candidate's name to the Senate. Second, the Senate or a Senate committee cannot sentence a person to death, as that is a role for the courts.
Al Gore was the Vice President under President Bill Clinton and ran as the Democratic nominee for President in 2000.
Al Gore has had quite a history with the Internet, including one oft-misquoted (rather, quoted out of context) interview with CNN in which he told Wolf Blitzer, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." Many spun this to mean he claimed to have actually invented the Internet himself, although its pioneers agreed with Gore's assessment.
All comics in the Secretary series:
- 494: Secretary: Part 1
- 495: Secretary: Part 2
- 496: Secretary: Part 3
- 497: Secretary: Part 4
- 498: Secretary: Part 5 (this one)
This series was released on 5 consecutive days (Monday-Friday) and not over the usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.
- [The Senate. Black Hat sits before the committee at his hearing to become Internet Secretary.]
- Chairman: We were convened here to review your nomination for the position of internet secretary.
- Chairman: However, on review of your qualifications, we've decided to sentence you to death.
- Chairman: An unorthodox move, sure. But the vote was unanimous.
- [Black Hat is leaning back in his chair.]
- [Meanwhile...]
- Tron Paul: There's no grid! How do I steeeeer!!!!!
- [Back at the Senate. Black Hat is standing.]
- Black Hat: Well, it's been fun. But I was never actually interested in taking the position. Good lord; listening to internet arguments all day? No thank you.
- Chairman: Then why did you sit through all those hearings?
- Black Hat: It was taking us a while to move the pumps into the maintenance tunnels.
- [The committee members murmur among themselves.]
- [There is a panel in the floor between Black Hat and the committee.]
- plink plink
- [A red playpen ball bursts out of the panel and rolls towards the committee chairman.]
- plink
- [The room is still. Black Hat's arms are folded.]
- [A geyser of red, white, and blue playpen balls bursts through the panel in the floor. Black Hat is already gone.]
- [The committee members chase Black Hat out the door as the Senate floor floods with playpen balls.]
- [The chase continues into the rotunda, as does the flood of playpen balls.]
- [Black Hat stands in the middle of the rotunda as it fills with playpen balls, surrounded by members of the committee.]
- Committee Members: Security! Someone!
- Committee Members: Get Him!
- [Tron Paul bursts through the wall.]
- Tron Paul: Aaaaa!
- [Black Hat grabs the bottom of the lightcycle as Tron Paul goes by.]
- snag
- Tron Paul: Hey!
- [Black Hat swings onto the top of the light cycle.]
- [Black Hat crouches on top of the light cycle.]
- Tron Paul: Get Off!
- [Tron Paul and Black Hat crash through the far wall of the rotunda.]
- [Tron Paul hits the ground.]
- Tron Paul: Ow!
- [Black Hat runs away.]
- Tron Paul: Ughhh.
- [The lightcycle disappears.]
- Tron Paul: I feel queasy...
- Cory Doctorow, above: Hey!
- Black Hat: Hi, Cory.
- Cory Doctorow: Need a lift?
- Black Hat: Sure.
- {Black Hat and Cory Doctorow depart in Doctorow's balloon.}
- Cory Doctorow: So are you, like, a fugitive now?
- Black Hat: Well, I never did give them my name...
- [But in the rotunda]
- [Senators play in the playpen balls.]
- Senators: Let's jump down here from the balcony!
- Senators: Senior senators first!
- Senators: Wheeee!
- Senators: I'm a submarine!
- [All is forgiven.]
add a comment! ⋅ add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ refresh comments!
The Tron video game was based on the movie Ton, not the other way around. Tron the movie was inspired by the video game Pong, but only in a general, Oooh -- computers! sense. (From Wikipedia: "Development of Tron began in 1976 when Lisberger became fascinated with the early video game Pong.") -- 18.104.22.168 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
- You're quite correct: the game was, indeed, based on the movie. Made the necessary changes. Thokling (talk) 08:17, 25 September 2013 (UTC)
The Light Cycles though were most likely based in part on the game Blockade which was released in October 1976 [1] 6 years before the movie was released so I would doubt they never ran across some copy of it. 18.104.22.168 11:40, 20 July 2017 (UTC)
I hav not laughed like this i a ile.
184.108.40.206 05:24, 28 October 2017 (UTC)qwertybob
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