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The Gel Conductor is intended to be applied on the base of the electro-stimulators. It acts as conductor of the electrical stimulus placed for muscle contraction to work more effectively.
U-Neck is an electronic massager designed to relieve muscle pain in the cervical area, alleviate tension and contractions through advanced, physiotherapy, electro stimulation techniques.
U-Tonic is a body massage device that helps tone the body with its micro-computer system through electrical impulses to relax muscle spasms and provide firmness.
The U-Tonic spare ensures optimum effective of the electro-stimulation device to tone the body.


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Magical chemistry abounds in Lone Scherfig's Their Finest, a british foray intol love, war and the poetry behind early cinema. Taking place in 1940 England, where life and property are simply another odd chance off for German bombers, we find a strong and charasmatic married woman that wills herself onward. Our story follows Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton), a delightful woman with a strong morale compass and an inventive wit. She walks through rubble and hellfire to help provide for her artisticly inclined husband (Jack Huston), a man hurt in war and hurting to provide for the household.
Upon a chance, Catrin lands herself into screenwriting and the creation of an uplifting story surrounding Dunkirk, written emotionally with an underlying use, as fuel for the hearts and minds of the all-engulfing war machine. Working under head screenwriter Tom Buckley (Sam Clafin), she pushes for equality and her own personal needs. Very quickly we see the possible checmistry between this writer and married woman, but how will fate turn the key for them?
Through twists and turns, the things you expect and the things you want from this film constantly change. The chemistry between Catrin and Tom has a legendary status about it, an ease that could happen as effortlessly as gravity. And this is what pulls you into this film. Keeping you in the film is the surrounding cast which includes Bill Nighy as the aging actor Ambrose Hillard, Racheal Stirling as the upright Phyl Moore and special appearances by Jeremy Irons and Richard E. Grant. Lastly, the direction and set design are superb. The world that Lone created and the camera work were subtle, but packed depth at every opportunity. A La La land meets Jane Austen with a world war flavoring the timeline and an underlying angst.
For me personally, I enjoyed this film immensly. Art and cinema met an axis in this film where every part and every person carried their weight with aplomb.This film revived my interest in Gemma Arterton, not only in skill, but her singular beauty as well. And for Sam Clafin, he has surprised and garnered my interest for sure. Most will remember him as Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games, but I will remember him as the subtle scrrenwriting love interest from this film. Not to be forgotten, Bill Nighy gives a stellar performance and creates humor from dry sand, which only serves to spotlight his talents more. While this is more of an arthouse film, I would recommend it to all with a noticable IQ and a need to excape into a story that wasn't written with the words "Insert CG graphics here".
Running time: 1h 57m
MPAA Rating: R
Their Finest is British poetry in motion.

subset: commoncrawl


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Farm-to-table. Three words that are supposed to tell us the story of how the food we eat came to our tables. And for the past seven decades, it has been the same story — be it at our homes or the restaurants we dine at.
Then why has the phrase 'farm-to-table' gained so much attention of late? What has changed in the long-accepted storyline?
If the claims of practicing restaurants and farm-to-table advocates are to be believed, then this movement is an attempt to bring quality produce to the table — the very reason that people started dining out at restaurants in the first place.
India, which still is an eat-at-home nation, warmed to the idea of eating out only when restaurants began giving them dishes they couldn't make with ingredients they couldn't procure and in an ambience they craved. And till the last decade or so, the status quo remained.
So what transpired in the last few years that we felt the need for the farm-to-table concept? Wasn't our food still coming from the farm, or did we go the US way of eating mostly dubious, canned food and chemically-laden produce (which was what triggered the farm-to-table movement in the West)?
The answer to this, fascinatingly, is all of the above — with a few more additives:
'Glocalisation' took place, at both the chefs' and the diners' end. So while chefs began discovering newer ingredients, diners, who had travelled extensively as well, became culinary graduates. Yes, we still relished our butter chicken and dal tadka with naan, but to keep us coming back, restaurants needed a novelty. What added to the pressure were the cooking competitions and food shows that made 'Masterchefs' and foodies of us all.
Thus came into common parlance, phrases like "locally produced", "locavore menus", "fresh pick of the day" and the hybrid "farm-to-table".
Farm-to-table essentially means that a restaurant gets all its produce directly from the farm they have, as a brand, endorsed.
At first glance, this seems like a brilliant, noble concept: who wouldn't want to eat great-tasting food made of the freshest, healthiest, flavourful, nutritious ingredients and support farmers and the economy (while doing so). More so when there is a celebrity chef supporting it! The preference for such dishes and restaurants is obvious. And thanks to a few Samaritans (read: brands, restaurateurs and chefs), the trend — in its infancy — worked well for a time as canned-food-and-heavy-cream jaded palates got a taste of how a straight-from-the-farm carrot tasted, seasoned merely with some butter and pepper.
Unlike in the West, Indian chefs cleverly restricted the concept to those specific dishes for which they could source the ingredients regularly, and in the required quantity.
India has one of the most complex supply chains for procurement. So at the most, you would have one dish with one local ingredient, then in season, made into the hero. The few intelligent ones in the business took the sensible approach of calling it seasonal or locally-available produce. Priced higher, such menus had their takers.
This success egged more restaurants on to dabble with the concept. And every restaurant worth its salt had at least a few dishes that they could claim as farm-to-table, organically farmed and single farm sourced (technically all meaning the same). Interestingly, in most of the cut-copy cases, the farm-to-table ingredient was the garnish, procured from an organic garden outside the city limits. A notch above it was the relish.
Then marketing came into the picture and complicated farm-to-table. Suddenly, it wasn't just farm-to-table, but 'branded farm-to-table' — and the more recent occurrence of" "procured from our very own herb garden", which is essentially four square boxes kept in a corner behind the kitchen or as a landscape in front of the restaurant or within the hotel premises.
There have of course been a few cases where the restaurant/resort has been able to take farm-to-table to the next step, thanks to the farm the brand owns or the vacant acres around the property that have been utilised to grow quick yielding herbs and a few salad greens.
But do they justify the farm-to-table tag? In infinitely small bits, perhaps. At least you know the mint in your mint lemonade is picked fresh — and from zero mile (a miracle considering our culinary hubs have zero real estate for farms), but the lemon was conventionally procured.
Does it garner enough brownie points for the establishment to be called farm-to-table? Doubtful.
Here's why: The thing about farm-to-table is that a good part of your menu is built on local produce. This isn't commercially viable for most food establishments for two reasons: one, we do not have a farmers' co-operative, hence, procurement happens through a middleman or company that can source ingredients from you, which means your produce will still come from far-off areas and be leached of its goodness by the time you cook; and two, the consistency. Unlike premixed, company-packaged food, canned food, processed meat, dressed seafood, the output of a local farmer would vary from season to season and even harvest to harvest. This means maintaining the consistency of the dish would mean extra hours with the produce. But that is less of the worry.
The bigger concern is that the farm-to-table concept needs at least 30-40 percent of your produce to be procured from local farmers on a daily basis. Two crates of bathua ordered twice a month, or a dozen banana flowers in three months, is likely to have the same impact on the farmers' economy as six homemakers purchasing their weekly groceries from the super market once a month — which is zilch.
But it is lack of awareness that is most responsible for effectively fictionalising the concept of farm-to-table. At a time when most restaurant work on the cost-cutting model, and follow the buy-for-less, sell-for-more method, this ignorance about local produce is harmful. That, coupled with the high price charged in the name of the 'organic' stamp rings the death knell on the concept. One may argue that there are chefs who have put aside the money factor and procured ingredients that are local and essential for the menu — but then they are as few as there are dishes.
Incidentally, the fable of farm-to-table isn't just a creation of restaurants and greedy companies, who have used the flawed organic laws here to sell below par produce at a high price and put people off the noble idea of "honouring farmers". Some blame can be ascribed to the diners as well, who find spending more on local Indian produce harder than on international, exotic ingredients that have travelled the seven seas and are likely to be a shade down on nutrients than their Indian varieties. And till we get rid of the 'kiwi is better than mosambi' mentality, and restaurants eagerly participate in sourcing farmers who can be supported to then bring in better produce, there is a good chance that farm-to-table will remain good news — only on paper.
Updated Date: Sep 11, 2016 08:22 AM


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The Olympic Games in Sydney and Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible II" movie certainly put Australia on the map. So much so that down under is now one of the top 10 destinations for tourists from the United States, Europe, and Japan.
And why not? Australia boasts beautiful cities with clean air, a variety of internationally renowned cuisines to choose from, and a magnificent countryside.
So, if you've been considering visiting Australia, you're certainly in for the experience of a lifetime.
What are the sightseeing options apart from Sydney?
Well, Melbourne is the second-largest metropolis after Sydney, Among its other attractions, this capital of the state of Victoria has quaint tramways and the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, and visits to penguin and seal habitats.
But one of the big drawing cardsfor tourists in the region is Victoria's Great Ocean Road, located around the state's southern tip. The road is said to be a conscious emulation of California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway, especially near Monterey.
Historically, access to the farms and settlements in this thickly forested region was available only by boat, on foot, or by horseback along rough tracks.
However, with twin needs to open up the land and employ Australia's World War I returnees and, later, the Great Depression's unemployed, the government commissioned this 250-mile highway. Fifteen years of backbreaking work began in 1918, and the new "travelers' road" opened in 1933.
And what a road it is. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the ocean, rain forests, shipwrecks, penguins, whales, seals, and the nature-sculptured beauty of unusual rock formations.
The Great Ocean Road winds its way around ragged cliffs, wind-swept beaches, and tall bluffs, passing lush rain forest, towering eucalyptus trees, and fishing villages that date to the 1820s. Not to mention some of the best surfing areas in the world.
The road begins at Torquay, approximately 15 miles southwest of Geelong. Each township along the road has a unique identity. For example, kangaroos graze on the Anglesea Golf Club near the Great Ocean Road. Just a bit farther, the little town of Aireys Inlet features an elegant 1891 lighthouse.
Also near Aireys Inlet is the Angahook Lorne State Park, which is crisscrossed by mountain creeks, waterfalls, and walking trails.
Traveling on to the township of Lorne, you'll find a settlement that was carved out of the forest in the mid-19th century, and which became a holiday retreat for wealthy pastoralists.
Today, Lorne has a touch of the French Riviera with a mix of smart boutiques, open-air cafes, colorful beach umbrellas, and children paddling in the sea.
Beyond Lorne, the road clings to the edges of Mount St. George and Mount Defiance as it heads toward Apollo Bay. This picturesque township is surrounded by hills that slope down to the ocean. Look up as you get close to the nearby cliffs, and you'll see dozens of multicolored hang gliders chasing the rising air thermals.
On the pier, you'll encounter fishermen selling live crayfish.
The road then veers inland through the Otways National Park, a magnificent rain forest of towering eucalyptus, blue gums, and mountain ash trees. The park features streams cascading seaward and provides a haven for more than 200 bird species.
Other Otways highlights include unusual stands of Douglas firs and California redwoods. It's also a great place for bird-watching. You may spy rare birds such as the king parrot flying overhead. Or, at ground level, you might be rewarded by the sight of a satin bowerbird or an emu strutting along.
As the Great Ocean Road moves toward the limestone cliffs of the Port Campbell National Park, the natural rock formations know as the Twelve Apostles dominate the coastline. These craggy rock columns out at sea have been carved by eons of wave and wind action.
Farther on, you'll discover the historic township of Port Fairy, a place once denounced as a refuge for smugglers and pirates.
In 1835, a whaling station was established there. Soon, Port Fairy's beaches were littered with great bony frames and rotting carcasses. In fact, so many southern right whales were taken that, by the mid-1840s, the whaling station was forced to close.
Despite the passage of time, the antique character of Port Fairy's original buildings has not changed. However, many now house elegant accommodations and acclaimed restaurants.
This well-regarded holiday resort draws visitors to see its bobbing fishing boats, historic buildings, and mutton-bird colony. But it's also known for music. The Port Fairy Folk Festival is held in early March each year, and the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival takes place annually in October.
Twenty-five minutes' drive east is the 19th-century seaport of Warrnambool, which has evolved into the most sophisticated city in the area. The city is the commerce center for the area and home of the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.
It is also commonly accepted as Victoria's southern right whale "nursery. "Fortunately, almost 200 years after Warrnambool's waters were depleted of whales, these gentle creatures have returned to give birth, breech, and play in the ocean between May and October each year. They can be viewed from a specially constructed platform as they swim to within approximately 110 yards of the shore.
In the late 1800s, the only link between Melbourne and the Victorian coastal settlements was either inland by horse and coach or by sea. The southern waters of the Bass Strait were the main approaches to eastern Australia.
For many British voyagers, the rugged Cape Otway to Port Fairy coastline was their first sight of land. For many it was also their last. More than 160 vessels learned of the treachery of these wind-lashed coasts too late, earning this area the title of the Shipwreck Coast.
Accordingly, a Historic Shipwreck Trail marks the sites of 25 wrecks. One of the most famous sites is the Loch Ard Gorge, where an iron clipper foundered in 1878, leaving only two young survivors, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael. Strong seas swept them into the gorge.
An exhausted Tom had reached shore when he heard Eva's cries. He managed to swim out again and rescue her. He carried the girl to a cave and then struggled up the cliff to find help.
Miraculously, he found two horseback riders who formed a rescue party, which took Eva to safety.
Another survivor of the same shipwreck was a life-size earthenware peacock, which was washed ashore completely intact in its packing case. It now has pride of place at Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum.
Wildlife is prolific all along the Ocean Road. You might paddle in a canoe alongside a platypus in the Otways, or swim with the dolphins in Port Phillip's waters.
The Serendip Sanctuary near Geelong is a bird-watcher's paradise. It has a captive breeding program for threatened species such as brolgas, Australian bustards, and magpie geese. It is also home to emus and hundreds of free-ranging kangaroos.
But maybe you'd like to go beyond viewing Australia's most interesting wildlife to something more active.
Picture this: The sea is clear and azure blue. Out across the ocean, a series of huge ripples make their way across the still water into the shore. As the swell gathers power and momentum, it begins to curl, sucking up the water in its path.
A young man on a surfboard pushes himself toward the wall of water with short, powerful strokes. He turns against the wave, and the energy of thousands of tons of water lifts him up and carries him toward the shore.
This is the scene daily at Bells Beach, Torquay, the mecca of the Australian surfing community. Without a doubt, Bells Beach is one of the finest surfing beaches in the world. Every Easter the International Surf Classic is held here.
However, other nearby beaches can also claim some fame. For instance, at Johanna Beach, the waves are even bigger.
Novices should head to the Go Ride a Wave surf school at Anglesea. It claims it will have most people standing upright on a board in the water by the end of a two-hour session.
Along with their business acumen, the original Scottish immigrants also brought golf to the local area. As a result, great courses abound.
It is not uncommon for visiting golfers to spend a week playing a different course every day. Of special note is Barwon Heads Golf Club near Geelong. Many people feel its treeless dunes make it a spitting image of Scotland's mideast coast, the home of the Old Course at St. Andrews.
The Anglesea Golf Club, situated at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road, may be the only course in the world where the greatest hazards are the hundreds of eastern gray kangaroos that graze the course daily.
If you're of a military bent, why not try the Queenscliff Golf Course located on an armed forces school site at Swan Island? Here, an official guard waves you onto a single-lane causeway, which crosses over from the Bellarine Peninsula. Here you'll also see hundreds of birds in flight, including the endangered orange-bellied parrot.
Don't ignore those hunger pangs. All along the trip, you'll want to indulge in the Great Ocean Road's culinary excellence by dining in a fine coastal vineyard restaurant, taking part in a tasting session at a boutique cheese factory, or sampling locally caught crayfish, king prawns, scallops, abalone, or crab.
Also look for wafer-thin Brezeli crackers and smoky caramel-flavored honey.
For a different and faster return journey to Geelong, the Princes Highway offers an alternative of only 117 miles.
Along the way you'll note compact historic timber and bluestone homesteads, farm buildings, and cottages from the 1870s. This route is also interesting for its geological formations of scoria cones and crater lakes, sculpted by nature about 4 million years ago.
Of culinary interest, the rustic small town of Birregurra offers a mouthwatering choice of local berries, organic vegetables, tender veal, and local farm duck. Also close by are Cobden's traditional German-style smokehouse and the Timboon Farmhouse Cheese Factory.
Regardless of whether you also tour Australia's northeastern seaboard, or its well-known cities, the Great Ocean Road - with its multitude of man-made and natural wonders - will be an experience you'll talk about long after your journey down under ends.
• For more information about the Great Ocean Road, see www.greatoceanroad.org.


text:
Type: Used Year: 2013 Make: AUDI Model: A6 Trim: Diesel 2.0 TDI SE 4dr Multitronic Body: Sedan Trans: Automatic Mileage: 21700 Engine Size: 1968 Ext Color: Quartz Grey Metallic
Audi A6 2.0 TDI (177 PS) SE finished in Quartz Grey metallic with black cloth interior Our CO2 and consumption values are provisional and are currently under review. Revised values will be published if necessary. Specification Includes Diesel particulate filter, Warning triangle and first aid kit, Solid paint, MMI navigation with 6.5in colour display, Audi Sound System with 10 speakers, MMI Radio Plus with CD player and bluetooth interface, DAB digital radio module, Audi music interface, SD card slot, Dynamic suspension, Body colour door mirrors and handles, Space saver spare wheel, Body colour bumpers, 17in 10 spoke alloy wheels, Power assisted steering, Rear headrests, Height adjustable front seats, Audi drive select, Service interval indicator, Aluminium door sill trims, Electromechanical parking brake, Dual zone electronic climate control, Cruise control, Electric front/rear windows, Height/reach adjust steering wheel, 4 spoke leather multi-function steering wheel with paddle sh, Keyless Start, 12V power in rear centre console, Front/rear floor mats, Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors, 12V power s...
Coventry Audi
Coventry, CV49BY, West Midlands
United Kingdom
Apr 24, 2018
Jan 4, 2017


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Critical Miss: God Emperor of Steam #1
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The Republic Serial Villain.
lol seems like a good fit :P
Everyone knows God Emperors are supposed to be half sandworm! What is this?!
The spinning KFC was pretty funny.
Ahh taking the Watchmen route, good choice, good choice.
The God King sees all!
Little do you know, Gabe dresses like that in real life.
They should know better not to disturb a man from eating his KFC meal. Also Erin must be frail or he was super strong to impale her hand with the KFC plastic fork.
Watchman Reference ftw, was not expecting to see that today, kudos I say.
OOO Watchmen.
I'll take that, it's the only comic I've ever read. :D
Hahaha, very satirical this week, very witty....as if Gabe Newell could move that quickly
Uh oh.
Don't tell me Gabe has a Mutated Psychic Squid Of Death(TM) lying around... O_o'
Oh my, that had to hurt.
can see him in first panel go run off somewhere.
who knows...
=D Oh god I am so happy... This comic is magnificent. Gabezimandius ftw.
How many more references per strip do you think you can fit?
Being from Kentucky, I can tell you anyone trained in KFC Fu is that dangerous, if not more so.
Gabe lives partly in another dimension that is based on steam time. It turns out steam time is whatever Gabe wants it to be. Its not that Gabe moves that quickly, it's that we can not comprehend his frame of time.
OT; I love this story.
Now i want some KFC.
Hopefully we will get to see Gabe UNLEASH THE FURY OF THE EMPEROR.
Watchmen is one of my favourite comics and movies. I can't wait for the thrilling, if confusing, conclusion.
Ah yes. A secret blend of 11 holds and suplexes known to only a few trusted masters. It's finger breakin' good!
My nerd reader meter broke. Acting like a king but eating KFC, yeh, lol.
Wow, Ozymandias really let himself go..
Props for the Watchmen refference.
If slowpoke bro comes crashing through the roof and he's suddenly the size of a building...
This is exactly how much I respect and fear Gabe's power,
Let's be honest though, Popeyejitsu instills the ancient cajun arts that can break a man with a mere thought.
Psssh. Everyone knows that.
Less amusing than prior CoS strips, but not bad.
Juxtaposing Bioshock with Watchmen.
I...I...I love you guys
What a waste of KFC.
So, what exactly did Gabe do 35 minutes ago?
LOL another fat Newel joke.
And Gabe Newell.
... I love you guys.
Though the Burger King devours your soul at a glance.
Where's the Dune? The title seems to imply that there would be more Dune.
At first I couldn't see the reference. Then I lol'd.
Skip to 13 seconds.
Now she just needs to constantly pick up her trilby mid fight for no reason and it'll be bang-on!
Pah to your KFC Fu, its nothing to Ecky Thump. Similar but superior to KFC Fu in many respects, it utilizes long, fierce-looking Black Puddings in place of more inferior American weaponry. Practitioners of the martial art are easily distinguished through their ritualistic flat caps and accompanying whippets.
Moves include
The Full English. Simply serve your enemy a large breakfast consisting of pudding, beans, chips, tea, bread, fried bread, lard, fried lard, fried tea, fried beans, bacon, lard, fried lard, beans, pudding, mushrooms, eggs (fried), butter and marzipan. This will incapacitate them, allowing you to whack them over the head with a shovel and steal their whippet.
The Eye of the Hovis. Distract your enemy with a small to medium sized brass band. They will be mesmerised by the music, and their feet will not stop tapping. Not until you stuff a pudding down their shirt front, anyway. If they get annoyed, have a ukelele handy for a cheeky song or two.
However don't try this at home, only those taught by the High Priest Ee Bah Goom can safely achieve Ecky Thump.
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As of 4.30.18, we are retiring the Nike+ FuelBand, Nike+ SportWatch, and additional older technologies. Find out what this means for your NikePlus data and download the NRC and NTC apps to continue to track your progress.
To start a workout with your Nike+ SportBand, place the Nike+ Sensor below the sock liner of your left shoe and follow these instructions to begin your run or walk for the first time:
During your run, press the Toggle button to view your distance (MILE), pace (PACE), elapsed time (CRON), calories burned (CAL), and time of day. You must enter your weight in Nike+ Connect to display calories. You can customize your SportWatch display.


text: 10 October 2017 - Mohair prices have remained very firm in the past months, over rising demand and tighter supply. The jump of cashmere and wool prices over the long term and the drought in South Africa have helped supporting prices. Our quarterly report covers the different market categories in South Africa, including kids, young, adults. Historical data back to 2007 are available for download, including all sales by Cape Mohair in Port Elisabeth, South Africa.


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Looking for a slim, stylish pouch for your iPhone 4? The Keru Pocket Pouch may be exactly what you're looking for. Its super trim form will fit nicely in your pocket and the designer print will make you look good.
The biggest appeal of the Keru Pocket Pouch is how slim it is. Your iPhone will fit perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that without the pull ribbon, it would be too difficult to remove your iPhone from the case. Only a small portion of the iPhone is exposed on the top, and the case hugs it in a way to prevent your iPhone from being bumped or removed by hand. Only about 1 inch of ribbon sticks out of the case for quick and easy removal.
The exterior of the case is made from leather and is designed using a process that allows museum quality prints without sacrificing any of the performance. The interior is lined with a felt material that is mediocrely soft. I'm not worried about scratches, but it's probably the least soft liner I've felt on a case.
The Keru Pocket Pouch is available in five different designs (both girly and manly) from the TiPb Accessory Store.
- Super slim
- Fashionable design
- Leather
- Draw string for easy removal
- Liner isn't very soft
[gallery link="file" columns="2"]


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Rob Owens, an analyst at Pacific Crest Equities, said the 2008 outlook was roughly in line with Wall Street estimates but that strong fiscal fourth quarter results showed Symantec was bouncing back from recent problems that have hurt results.
"The fourth quarter is evidence of stability across Symantec's business," he said. "The guidance is roughly in line with what we were thinking."
Fourth-quarter net profit for the fiscal quarter ended March 30 fell to $60.9 million, or 7 cents a share, from $118.8 million, or 11 cents a share, a year ago due to a $51 million charge related to job cuts and other restructuring actions.
Excluding items, the company said it posted a per-share profit of 24 cents. This was above the average analyst forecast of 20 cents on revenue of $1.27 billion, as compiled by Thomson Financial.
Symantec has sought to restructure its business after a tough few years marked by a number of executive departures and questions over the company's $13.5 billion deal for Veritas in 2005.
Analysts have said the acquisition has proved tough to integrate into the rest of Symantec's operations and was partly to blame for disappointing earnings in past quarters.
Fourth quarter revenue rose to $1.36 billion from $1.24 billion as the Cupertino, California-based company's consumer business grew 11%. That division accounts for about 30% of Symantec's overall revenue.
Symantec Chief Executive John Thompson said the company's flagship Norton Internet Security anti-virus software generated robust demand and that the enterprise side of the business did better than expected.
He also said sales of the newly-released Norton 360 product were strong and that the company has not seen much impact from Microsoft's
"We have seen no appreciable impact of Microsoft," he said in a telephone interview. "From our vantage it has been a non event."
For its current first quarter the company estimated earnings per share before items at 18 cents to 20 cents and revenue before items at $1.295 billion to $1.325 billion.
For fiscal year 2008, the company estimated earnings per share before items of $1.10 to $1.15 and revenue of $5.65 billion and $5.75 billion.
The Wall Street view was for first-quarter earnings per share before items of 24 cents and revenue of $1.29 billion and 2008 earnings per share before items of $1.09 and revenue of $5.40 billion.


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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is releasing a plan to jumpstart economic development and job growth in California, stepping to the forefront of a vital issue as his first major policy move since he was elected to statewide office.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is releasing a plan to jumpstart economic development and job growth in California, stepping to the forefront of a vital issue as his first major policy move since he was elected to statewide office.
Newsom worked with players from the Republican and Democratic parties, business groups, economists and think tanks to develop an agenda for growth and global economic competitiveness as the nation's most populous state struggles to shake off the effects of the Great Recession. He plans to present it to hundreds of business executives Friday in San Jose.
Legislative action on one proposal — combining the state's economic development efforts into a single, cabinet-level office reporting to the governor — could come within weeks. Other initiatives should move forward in the next three to six months, according to a draft of the report provided to The Associated Press.
"For more than 10 years, the state of California has lacked a strategic, statewide economic plan," Newsom, the former San Francisco mayor, wrote in the proposal's introduction. "And in the last decade, we have reaped the bitter consequences."
The report cites the state's double-digit unemployment rate, which is second-highest in the nation, its persistent reputation for high taxes and burdensome business regulations, and the economic drag of the popped housing bubble. The state has seen a loss of more than 1 million jobs, not counting farm workers, in the past five years, according to federal data.
The report also notes strengths that could underpin new growth in California, including a culture of business innovation, access to export markets, an educated workforce, and a solid foundation in the emerging "clean economy" for products with environmental benefits.
"This is a remarkable state, and a big part of our job is highlighting what's right," Newsom said Thursday.
The proposal lays out the broad strokes of a plan to set the state on a course toward job growth. Among its proposals:
— Consolidate and streamline fragmented economic development efforts into a cabinet-level office to assist businesses and coordinate support for regional development efforts. The plan calls for keeping staffing and state spending at their present levels.
— Emphasize innovation and manufacturing, particularly by small and agile companies serving global supply chains. Encourage expanded exports of both goods and services.
— Re-establish a state presence in foreign markets to promote trade, starting with a privately funded office in China within 180 days, then one in Brazil.
— Improve or eliminate state tax incentives that do not produce sufficient, measureable economic benefits.
— Remove thickets of "onerous and inconsistent regulations, slow bureaucracies and misaligned policies" that slow California businesses and impose barriers to global competition, without weakening standards.
— Plan education and job training with economic development in mind, emphasizing the skills workers will need for "new economy" jobs.
With the proposal as a starting point, Newsom said, "the question is how we begin to make it real."
A bill to reorganize state economic development efforts within the governor's cabinet is the likely first step. AB29, by Assembly Speaker John Perez, a Los Angeles Democrat, could be amended and taken up by the Legislature in August.
"Clearly the most urgent challenge facing California is our need to grow the economy out of the recession," Perez said in a prepared statement. A coordinated, comprehensive long-term approach to economic development, he said, can help the state remain a home for innovative and growing industries.
"Every year in California the budget crisis crowds out the jobs agenda," Newsom said, but a new Office of Economic Development would keep it on the radar.
Business leaders have had a role in developing the proposals since just after the November 2008 election, said Carl Guardino, president of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which represents some of the world's largest technology companies.
Gov. Jerry Brown, he said, approached the group and asked how the state could help restart job creation at manufacturing and technology companies.
The group's top recommendation: "Make a plan, perform to it," and put oversight high enough in state government to ensure the goals stay in focus, Guardino said. The group also helped develop Newsom's recommendations and will stay involved as it evolves, he said.
"This plan is incredibly strong, and it will only get stronger," he said.
Guardino praised Newsom's willingness to learn from others about better ways to foster economic development. Some fellow Democrats criticized Newsom for accompanying Republican lawmakers on a job-growth tour of Texas this spring, but "there's a lot of stuff out there we can learn," Guardino said.
State Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Linda, an organizer of that Texas trip, had not seen Newsom's proposal but praised some aspects.
"I commend him for stepping up to the plate on regulations," as long as the streamlining helps all businesses, not just those in the "green" sectors, Logue said.
He also supports the idea of a cabinet-level economic development office, depending on who leads it.
"You can't drag somebody out of Stanford who's never run a business and put them in charge of economic development," Logue said. "You need someone who has run a company."
A group representing the state's manufacturers congratulated Newsom for trying to make California more attractive to high-wage businesses, and expressed hope the effort would change past practices of picking winners, such as renewable energy, for state support at the expense of other industries.
The group is "anxious to start helping," said Gino DiCarlo, spokesman for the California Manufacturing and Technology Association. "The essentials that any company needs for growth are simple: predictable costs, competitive costs, adequate infrastructure, access to skilled workers and regulatory certainty," he said.


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There is a super outside deck with a large terrace and swimming pool with a children's section. In addition, Kanapitsa Mare Hotel offers a spacious and elegant lounge next to the Lithos Bar, ideal for relaxing and enjoying a refreshing drink while trying out the specialties that are offered daily for light lunch, overlooking the Aegean sea.
The Kanapitsa Mare Hotel of Skiathos, specializes in conference / seminars / exhibitions / book presentations management in Skiathos, Greece.
We suggest that you treat yourselves with a relaxing massage with the Kanapitsa Spa Center of Skiathos.


text: Discontinued Gifts Shop by productShop by brand Sort by: Choose... Name Alphabetical Brand Alphabetical Price Low to High Price High to Low Refine Sort by Name Alphabetical Brand Alphabetical Price Low to High Price High to Low Wild & Wolf Chattering Teeth £8.00 Ted Baker Multi Tool £35.00 Wild & Wolf Gentlemen's Hardware Survival Kit £18.00 Rader 'Do What Is Right Not Easy' Wooden Peg £13.99 Apples to Pears Fashion a Flower Fairy £12.00 Apples to Pears Eiffel Tower in a Tin £12.00 Apples to Pears Build Your Own Microscope Kit £12.00 Apples to Pears Magnificent Flying Machines in a Tin £12.00 Wild & Wolf Gentlemen's Hardware Multi Axe Tool £20.00 Sophie Allport Hare Teatowel £8.00 Apples to Pears Farm in a Tin £12.00 Rachel Ellen Girls Money Purse £7.50 Rachel Ellen Dreams Money Tin £4.00 Rachel Ellen Sparkly Mini Carry Case £7.50 Wild & Wolf Gentlemans Hardware Cocktail Tool £25.00 Wild & Wolf Gentlemans Hardware Cocktail Shaker £20.00 Legami Juggling Balls £10.00 Legami Magic Spring £6.50 Wild & Wolf Ridley's Voice Changing Megaphone £16.00 Caroline Gardner Rose Tinted Thermal Travel Mug £14.00 Wild & Wolf Credit Card Tool £9.00 Wild & Wolf Gentlemens Hardware Hammer Tool £18.00 NPW Tropical Parrot Glasses £5.00 NPW Wine Guard Bottle Stop £10.00 NPW Tropical Cocktail Glasses £5.00 NPW Come Alive T-Rex RRP £5.00 NOW £2.50 NPW King for the Day Inflatable Crown £4.00 Wild & Wolf Key Chain Mini Tool Set £17.00 Wild & Wolf Gentlemens Hardware Pen Knife £20.00 Wild & Wolf Gentlemens Hardware Axe Multi Tool £20.00 Apples to Pears Town in a Tin £7.00 La De Da! Birthday Spoon RRP £14.00 NOW £7.00 Star Editions Norwich Norfolk Print £9.00 La de da! Silver Plated Teaspoon Sale RRP from £14.00 NOW from £7.00 La de da! Silver Plated Teaspoons RRP from £14.00 NOW from £7.00 La de da! Silver Plated Dessert Spoons RRP £17.00 NOW £8.50 Gone Crabbing Soap £5.00 Gone Crabbing Badge £1.00 La de da! Cake Slice - A Party Without Cake is Just a Meeting RRP £36.00 NOW £18.00 La de da! Spread Happiness and Love Butter Knives RRP £16.00 NOW £8.00 Wild & Wolf Ridleys Time Capsule Moustaches £8.00 Apples to Pears Cuddly Bear in a Tin £12.00 Results: 1 - 42 (of 71)|Show all><Goto page...12 Next page Apples to Pears Caroline Gardner Fallen Fruits Gisela Graham La de da! Legami Luckies NPW Rachel Ellen Rader Sophie Allport Star Editions SUCK Ted Baker Wild and Wolf


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ROSEMONT, Ill. – May 29, 2014 – Just hours before the Bandits take the field for Opening Day 2014, the team announced it has finalized contracts with six players, including its three remaining draft picks and three free agents.
All six players will be with the team in Akron tonight for the opening game.
Estela Pinon, who was the team's first round (No. 4 overall) selection in the 2014 NPF Draft presented by BowNet, played her college ball at the University of Arizona. She pitched for the Wildcats for two seasons after transferring from Yavapai College.
"I'm excited to start my new journey with the Chicago Bandits and meeting my new family," stated Pinon. "I'm looking forward to a great season competing with the very best softball players in the world."
Pinon, 22, finished her career with a record of 32-17 for the Wildcats. In her two seasons, she appeared in 70 games and made starts in 50 of them. In 288 1/3 innings for Arizona, Pinon struck out 241 hitters.
"Stela is going to be a nice addition to our pitching staff," said Bandits GM Aaron M. Moore. "She will complement our current staff really well and has the versatility to either start games or come in to the game in a relief role; both of which will be important very important to our success this season."
The Bandits also have signed right-handed pitcher and No. 5 overall draft selection Sara Moulton to the 2014 roster.
Moulton, who is originally from Eagan, Minn., was a four-year letter winner and four-time All-Big Ten selection at the University of Minnesota. Her senior season for the Gophers was arguably the best of her college career as she received several honors, including NFCA Second Team All-American and she was a Top 25 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the year award.
"I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to play with the Chicago Bandits this summer," said Moulton. "I look forward to playing at the highest level and competing everyday wearing black and orange!"
Moulton was the conference leader in wins with 27 and strikeouts with 244. She finished her career at Minnesota with a 112-50 record, holding the program records for wins, appearances (178), innings pitched (1,017), complete games (108), shutouts (47), and strikeouts (1,184).
"Sara is really a great addition to the Bandits roster," said Moore. "She picked up wins against some great college team this season and she has a bulldog type personality when in the circle. Her ability to induce ground ball outs will be huge for the transition to the pro circuit. She reminds us a little of Andi (Williamson) with her ability to throw down in the zone. Our infielders should love it!"
The final draft pick added to the roster was Cheyenne Coyle, who played collegiately at Arizona State and Florida. Coyle was drafted by the Bandits in the 4th round (No. 13 overall) in the 2014 NPF Draft.
In her first season with the Sun Devils, Coyle was named first team All-Pac 12 after leading the conference in home runs with 20. She was also named first team NFCA All Region and second team All American.
"Feeling extremely blessed to be a part of the Bandit family," exclaimed Coyle. "I'm so happy that I can continue playing softball with and against the best softball players in the country. I'm looking forward to the season and learning more about the game from my fellow teammates."
Coyle, 22, burst onto the national scene during her freshman season at Florida where she hit .318 with 17 home runs and 60 RBIs. Through her first three years of college softball, she had racked up 47 home runs and 160 runs batted in.
"This is a big signing for the Bandits," said Moore. "Cheyenne is a gifted infielder and will be asked to contribute in a big way this season for the Bandits. There is a chance she'll see time at second, short and third, as well as DP this season. She is also another solid, right handed bat that we'll need in the lineup when we face the likes of Keilani Ricketts and Cat Osterman."
Also joining the Bandits by way of open tryouts are pitcher Kirsten Verdun and infielder Natalie Hernandez.
Verdun, who played collegiately at DePaul and is from Coal City, Ill., is a pitcher/first baseman and could see time at both for the Bandits this season. She was recently named second team NFCA All-American for the second time in her decorated Blue Demon career.
"I am very fortunate to have gotten this opportunity and to be able to continue my softball career," Verdun said. "This is really the chance of a lifetime and I'm looking forward to contributing to this team as soon as possible."
She was a dual threat for DePaul throughout her career. She became the only pitcher in school history to accumulate 900 innings pitched, 900 strikeouts and 100 wins. Verdun also hit .348 on the season with seven home runs and 23 RBIs; and she only struck out 15 times in 204 plate appearances.
"Kirsten is someone we liked during our draft preparations as well," said Moore. "She is a very talented player and has the ability to help this team out in a lot of different ways. She reminds us of Nikki Nemitz in the sense that she can win games for you in the circle and at the plate!"
Hernandez played her college ball at the University of Illinois-Chicago for head coach Michelle Venturella and former Bandit pitcher Eileen Canney.
Hernandez finished her Flames career on the all-time records list in several categories, including tenth in career batting average at .347 and eighth in home runs with 24.
"Joining the Bandits has been a goal of mind since I was younger," said Hernandez. "Since my college coach was a former Olympian (Venturella) and the other was a former Bandit, they prepared me for this opportunity. Since I have been a part of this team, it's been everything I expected and more!"
Hernandez had her best collegiate season in 2014 when she hit .413 with a .429 on base percentage. She also clubbed 12 home runs and drove in 40, primarily out of the leadoff spot, for the Flames en route to being named first team All-Horizon League.
"Natalie is another player we've been interested in for some time," said Moore. "Coach V and Eileen both spoke very highly of her and ability to play at this level and she has certainly shown she belongs here. She is another player that will be asked to fill multiple roles throughout the season. And she is another right-handed hitter we can look to in certain situations."
In addition to the three draft picks and two tryout selections, the Bandits have also signed free agent pitcher Ellen Renfroe.
Renfroe was a four-year player for the University of Tennessee program where she compiled a record of 102-25. With her 245 strikeouts this season, she was able to pass the 1,000 strikeout milestone for her career.
"I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Chicago Bandits, and to continue to play the sport I love at a new level," said Renfroe. "I can't wait to start the season with my team and to get to know them and the fans of the Bandits."
During her collegiate career at Tennessee, Renfroe had a career batting average against of .190 and a career ERA of 1.65. Renfroe won at least 19 games every season for the Volunteers, including a career-high 30 in 2014.
Renfroe's older sister, Ivy, played in the NPF last season for the Akron Racers.
"We are thrilled to have Ellen join the Bandits," said Moore. "At draft time, we didn't think this would be a possibility and now that it has happened, we are definitely excited. Ellen will fit in great with the Bandits and our fans should really enjoy having her around. With the addition of Ellen, Kirsten, Estela and Sara in the last 48 hours, we have made some really solid additions to our pitching staff."
The Bandits open the season tonight in Akron as they begin a two-game road trip against the Racers. The home opener is set for Saturday, May 31 at 7:35 p.m. when the Bandits host Akron at The Ballpark at Rosemont. Single-game tickets for all 2014 home games, including the home opener and exhibition game are on sale now.


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For the last three years, Kilian O'Sullivan has been following a monthly ritual. Around dawn, he will find himself standing on the Chelsea side of the Thames, looking over the river towards Battersea Power Station. He always shoots from the same place, capturing the minutiae of change on this giant project.
The vantage point from Grosvenor Road is one of eight spots that Kilian visits during his monthly pilgrimage to Battersea. He also takes a long distant shot looking over railway lines from the back of Victoria Station and a bird's eye view from a water tower on a nearby housing estate.
Step by slow step, Kilian is documenting the reconfiguration one of London's most distinctive landmarks. Battersea's cream chimneys have dominated southwest London since the 1930s. After the Grade II* listed structure was decommissioned in 1975, there were local campaigns to preserve this iconic slice of Wandsworth skyline.
Now, as Battersea is transformed into prime commercial, retail and residential real estate, the chimneys are being painstakingly dismantled and rebuilt with reinforced steel. Kilian is enjoying recording every stage of their disappearance and re-emergence for posterity.
He hasn't decided exactly how he will use his growing sequence of images, although stop- motion animations and coffee table books seem likely outcomes. However, as he typically has to work under pressure to create glossy pictures of finished buildings, he is relishing getting under the skin of this project.
"It's unusual to do something so consistently over such a long period of time. Professionally speaking, that's interesting" he says.
Kilian is one of three photographers commissioned by the Battersea Power Station Development Company to go on site regularly, recording what is happening inside the art deco shell and the sleek modern blocks that are rising around it.
"I take for granted that I've been into places that the public just can't get into - and will soon be hidden. I don't believe that there's another site in the UK that has such complexity of work going on simultaneously. On the same day you'll see historic restoration, ground works, concrete work, the list goes on -and it's all happening at such a great scale," he says.
He has even climbed the scaffolding to stand a third of the way up one of the chimneys. It was as high as he was permitted to rise without taking a specialist ropes course.
For large format pictures Kilian uses a big bellows camera – a device that is not for the impatient or faint-hearted. He admits that he has to be at the top of his game when using it.
"It's very heavy and slow. The difference of being out of focus is a fraction of a millimetre. It's really unforgiving." But he has good reasons for carrying such a heavy and precise piece of equipment around.
"The images are really big and really scaleable. Because there is no distortion, you can capture fantastic horizontal and vertical compositions," he says, adding that the camera makes him take his time, considering shots carefully before committing to them.
"There is a tendency in modern digital photography to take as many pictures as possible, from as many places as possible. That's not compatible with this kind of camera. I probably only have time to take about 60 per cent of the pictures that you could take with other cameras. You can't rush it."
He enjoys capturing site workers hard at work, as well as in posed portraits, and loves showing them in all their kit - the more paraphernalia they have the better.
"We live in a world where everything is presented as idealised images. It's refreshing to capture real people doing real work." He adds.
He also carries a smaller camera slung round his neck for more spontaneous shots. But there is no doubting which camera the workers prefer.
"They only really respond to the biggest breed of camera going. The bigger the kit, the more professional you look, the happier they are," he says.
You can see more of Kilian's work at www.kilianosullivan.com


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Isaiah Schultz » Entries tagged with "mummy"
League of Legends: my favourite jungler
In League of Legends junglers are the champions that run around in the forest and farm all the creatures that live in the forest. If you are jungling you should still keep up with the rest of your allies' levels as you will not be effective in ganks if you don't. Ganks are when a jungler comes to a lane and helps kill another champion on the opposing side. My favourite jungling champion in league of legends is a small champion called Amumu, the sad mummy. Amumu is a very small champion with a very big head. He is also a mummy. His classic skin is a mummy outfit that has green bandages. Amumu's abilities are all area of effect except his Q ability. Amumu's Q ability is when he tosses out … Read entire article »
Filed under: Gaming


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EADS revenues and net income grows in 2012EADS revenues and net income grow in 2012
EADS says it achieved strong revenue and underlying profit growth for the full year 2012. Despite a difficult macro-economic environment, EADS saw continued momentum in its commercial activities while defence revenues were broadly stable.
The order intake totalled € 102.5 billion in 2012 while EADS' order book increased in value to € 566.5 billion at the end of the year. Revenues amounted to € 56.5 billion. The EBIT before one-off of around € 3.0 billion reflected the strong operational performance at Airbus Commercial with positive contributions from Eurocopter and Astrium.
"EADS achieved double-digit revenue and profit growth during 2012 while the order backlog increased further," said EADS CEO Tom Enders. "A strong focus on deliveries helped to significantly improve cash generation during the fourth quarter. Going-forward, the focus on bottom line growth remains our priority number one as a management team. And there's still some way to go to meet our profitability targets. If anything, the new governance, the new shareholder structure and the new Board as of end March will further energize the company and its employees on their successful international growth path."
For the full year 2012, EADS' revenues increased by 15 percent to € 56.5 billion (FY 2011: € 49.1 billion). This was driven mainly by higher volume and more favourable U.S. dollar rates at Airbus Commercial as well as solid increases at Eurocopter and Astrium.
Revenues at Eurocopter and Astrium were boosted by the services businesses, including Vector Aerospace and Vizada. The companies acquired in 2011 contributed around € 1.5 billion to the 2012 revenues. Despite the overall defence environment, defence revenues were flat compared to 2011.
Physical deliveries remained strong with a record 588 aircraft for Airbus Commercial, 29 aircraft for Airbus Military, 475 helicopters at Eurocopter and the 53rd consecutive successful Ariane 5 launch.
EADS' reported EBIT* increased to € 2,186 million (FY 2011: € 1,696 million) with one-off charges totalling € 820 million booked during the year.
Of these total one-off charges, € 522 million were booked at Airbus during 2012, including the anticipated € 251 million on the A380 related to the wing rib feet repair. The A350 XWB charge of € 124 million to reflect the latest programme update is unchanged since H1 2012. Good progress is being made on the A350 XWB programme but it remains challenging and there is no room left in the schedule.
Also included are the € 76 million charges related to the Hawker Beechcraft Programme closure booked in the third quarter and a € 71 million charge for the foreign exchange impact on pre-delivery payments mismatch and balance sheet revaluation. At Eurocopter, the on-going renegotiation of certain contracts for governmental customers resulted in a € 100 million charge in the fourth quarter.
At Cassidian, a total of € 198 million of charges were booked in the final quarter to reflect restructuring costs in line with the business transformation (€ 98 million) and a charge related to portfolio de-risking (€ 100 million), in particular for the secure systems and solutions business.
Net Income increased by 19 percent to € 1,228 million (FY 2011: € 1,033 million), or earnings per share of € 1.50 (earnings per share FY 2011: € 1.27). The Net Income before one-off(4) increased to € 1,838 million (FY 2011: € 1,132 million). These increases reflect the improvement in the underlying operating performance.
Self-financed Research & Development (R&D) expenses remained broadly stable at € 3,142 million (FY 2011: € 3,152 million), due to IAS38 capitalisation of € 366 million on the A350 XWB. The focus continues on major development programmes across the portfolio, in particular the A350 XWB and at Eurocopter.
EADS' Net Cash position increased to a solid € 12.3 billion (year-end 2011: € 11.7 billion) after a cash contribution of € 856 million to pension assets and the dividend payment of about € 370 million.
As the basis for its 2013 guidance, EADS expects the world economy and air traffic to grow in line with prevailing independent forecasts and assumes no major disruption due to the current sovereign debt crisis.
In 2013, gross commercial aircraft orders should be above the number of deliveries, in the range of 700 aircraft. Airbus deliveries should continue to grow to between 600 and 610 commercial aircraft. Due to lower A380 deliveries and assuming an exchange rate of € 1 = $ 1.35, EADS revenues should see moderate growth in 2013.
Airbus' consolidated revenues increased by 17 percent to € 38,592 million (FY 2011: € 33,103 million), reflecting strong commercial aircraft deliveries. The Airbus consolidated EBIT more than doubled to € 1,230 million (FY 2011: € 584 million).
During 2012, Airbus Commercial registered 914 gross orders (FY 2011: 1,608 gross orders). Net orders totalled 833 (FY 2011: 1,419). These net orders comprised 739 A320 Family aircraft (ceo and neo), 85 A330/A350XWBs and nine A380s.
The A350 XWB development remains on track, based on the revised schedule, with the final assembly line fully operational. The structural assembly of the first flyable plane, 'MSN1', was completed and 'electrical power on' accomplished. Another milestone was achieved in February 2013 with the award of the European Aviation Safety Agency's Engine Type Certification for the Trent XWB turbofan.
Airbus Military achieved 32 aircraft orders (FY 2011: 5 orders) and delivered 29 aircraft (FY 2011: 29 deliveries), comprising 20 light and medium military transporters, five A330 MRTTs and four P-3 conversions. With 300 hours of Function and Reliability testing completed, civil and military certification for the A400M is expected in Q1 2013 with the first delivery due in Q2 2013 and four deliveries expected this year.
Revenues at Eurocopter increased 16 percent to a record € 6,264 million (FY 2011: € 5,415 million), driven mainly by higher repair and overhaul support activities and the full year inclusion of the Vector Aerospace business consolidation. Higher NH90 and Super Puma revenues also contributed to the overall increase. Total deliveries declined to 475 helicopters (FY 2011: 503 helicopters), in particular for the EC135 and Ecureuil models.
Eurocopter's order intake for 2012 rose 15 percent to € 5,392 million (FY 2011: € 4,679 million) with the number of net bookings rising for the third consecutive year to 469 (FY 2011: 457). Orders of the Ecureuil/Fennec/EC130 and EC135/ EC145 families were particularly strong.
Astrium revenues in 2012 increased to € 5,817 million (FY 2011: € 4,964 million) driven mainly by growth in services including the Vizada integration and strong programme execution. EBIT increased by 17 percent to € 312 million (FY 2011: € 267 million).
Astrium is seeing efficiency and productivity gains coming through the operational performance as a result of the AGILE transformation programme. However, higher investment in R&D and globalisation efforts as well as some Vizada integration costs weighed on the operating margin in 2012.
In November, the European Space Agency's Ministerial Council broadly confirmed European space budgets related to key programmes of Astrium. This resulted in initial contracts worth € 108 million received in January 2013 to secure the development of Ariane 6 and Ariane 5 ME.
Cassidian revenues in 2012 were broadly stable as expected at € 5,740 million (FY 2011: € 5,803 million). EBIT in 2012 fell to € 142 million (FY 2011: € 331 million) reflecting the € 198 million of one-off charges booked in the fourth quarter. On an underlying basis, the EBIT before one-off was lower as expected due to investments in globalisation and transformation despite lower R&D expenses.
Cassidian's order intake rose significantly to € 5.0 billion in 2012 (FY 2011: € 4.2 billion) despite the challenging market environment. This was driven mainly by the Eurofighter and missile export business. In December, Oman signed a contract for the purchase of 12 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft which is yet to be included in the order book.


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Mad Marketing #22: The Future of Content Marketing, Content Strategy, and More
Well it's podcast time again my friends and as always, in this episode you'll be guaranteed to get a fast-paced helping of marketing advice, smiles, and a dash of motivation to get your day going. In this episode, I discuss everything from my "Gluten Free" eating (and results), hosting my own event and what I learned, as well as the future of Content Marketing.
In the future, if you'd like a question of yours answered in another Mad Marketing podcast, please let me know!
Your Questions/Emails addressed in this episode
On 3.12.13 I discovered you on EOF podcast.
Since, I read the ebook, listened to 20 Mad Marketing podcasts.
Had an amazing chat with you on Skype on Wednesday.
On friday, I had a 3 hours meeting with a prospect that came to one of my conference.
At the end, he agreed to do a 3 hour workshop (time suggested by you) for $5k.
He accepted also a 6 months retainer for $2k per month.
Total: $17'000
You are directly responsible for this….
What can I say?
Man, you rock, you are doing good things for people.
ps: this happens to C students and action takers!
I read your recent blog….
The Tragedy of Third Party and Review Sites and How Content Marketing Can Fix It
My question is are you saying that by publishing enough content you could rank ahead of these huge review sites?
If yes…what are the steps to executing this?
From a search standpoint, you might rank for these critical keyword phrases (including those of your competition). This can ultimately lead to a mountain of qualified traffic, leads, and sales you never would have interacted with in the first place had you not thrown your hat in the content ring.
I'm already seeing MAJOR improvement in traffic to my site in the 2 weeks since I watched your Hubspot video and read your free ebook. I know I'm writing a crazed testimonial right now and I don't care.
Avg visitors per week Dec 2013 = 414 (same old strategy)
Avg visitors per week Jan 2014 = 967 (new strategy)
Traffic MORE THAN DOUBLED in two weeks.
That's after implementing the following:
- Writing a list of top 100 questions
- Requesting questions (as you do) from recent newsletter subscribers
- Posting twice a week with those articles (FOUR so far)
- Using my existing social media channels to promote the posts
Marcus. Seriously.
I have heard some of your ideas before, but our secret sauce is HOW you convey it. I am more motivated than I have EVER been to write about what I know, do it regularly, and be seen as THE educational resource for soulful organizing techniques.
I'm in a competitive market (Hello, Martha Stewart?!), and I am SO excited to see results so quickly. I have a promotion that launches mid-February and will see in the weeks leading up how this new strategy will impact sales.
All of this is a long, long way of saying thank you.
Latest posts by Marcus Sheridan (see all)
- Using Video to Improve SEO and Inbound Marketing in 2017 - August 23, 2017


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For my day job I tend to work as a freelance creative, director and commercial editor for national and international clients like Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, the WRC, Heineken, Coca Cola and others. To see some examples of my commercial work, just click on the above picture and you'll be taken to an external page. Most of that stuff is not meant for external use, so you'll need a password for the full portfolio. Just send me an email if you are interested!
If you just want to have a quick look, try this one for now:


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A classic candy, Wonka's SweeTarts are a tangy fruit tablet originated in 1963. Somewhere between sweet and sour, these rainbow candies come in the color-coordinated flavors of orange, blue punch, lemon, green apple, cherry and grape. Mmmm. This is the type of candy you might see being thrown out of parade floats, or the kind you'd run across in goody bags or pick up while trick-or-treating. The reason? It's affordable, comes in mini packs of three, and it has candy durability (read: it doesn't melt like chocolate or get crunched up like cheap o lollipops). But the three-pack singles are just one member of the family. You can also buy SweeTarts in larger packages of the regular, giant, gummy or chewy varieties. Color-changing SweeTarts and the giant chewy rope are the newest innovations from the makers of this delightful sweet and sour treat. But the original tarts, large or small, are the bestsellers by far. Holidays like Easter and Christmas have brought SweeTarts in candy cane or jellybean form for increased sales and exposure in a competitive candy market.
I've found that there's nothing better than opening up one of these little three-packs and seeing two of my favorite flavors duplicated in the pack (cherry and/or grape tingle my taste buds). But then again, the opposite feelings arise when I find I'm doubled-up on a lemon or green apple, a flavor ratio that leaves something to be desired. I'm obviously not the only fan of these candies, because they've been a bestseller for decades. Parents prefer giving these treats to their little ones as opposed to the messier Pixy Stix or Lik-M-Aid powders based off a similar recipe. Whether or not you are inclined to buy these candies, one thing is for certain: the candy market would have a huge whole in it without them…a SweeTart-shaped hole. If you haven't tried SweeTarts in awhile, your taste buds haven't partied. So return to your days of yesteryear and pop in a few of these classic tangy candies.


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Please tell me why I can't grow good cauliflower. The plants start to head out before they're large enough and we only get nubs.
Cauliflower grows best in cool, moist weather. Unlike cabbage, it will not withstand severe freezing nor extreme heat such as you often get in Illinois.
During very hot weather the plants are likely to send out heads when only 2 or 3 inches tall regardless of soil moisture.
Try setting the plants out in July so the crop will head in September or early October when the temperatures are cooler. Sow seeds outdoors in mid-to-late June and transplant into the garden in late July.
Some varieties have more resistance to hot weather. Snow King and Snow Crown are well worth trying.
I planted tomatoes and peppers in my garden. A few days later most of them were laying in the row just as though someone had cut them close to the soil with shears. I was able to get some more plants and set these out. The very same thing happened. What pest is responsible and how can I stop it?
When plants are cut off at ground level that's a sign of cutworm damage.
Rabbits and woodchucks cut the stems on a slant and an inch or so above the ground. Birds nip out the tops.
To prevent cutworm damage, make a collar of aluminum foil or use part of a cardboard tube found inside toilet paper, paper towels, or wax paper. Three inches high is plenty. Slip the plant through the roll when planting and mound a little soil around the collar.
Cutworms don't crawl up the barrier. If plants are already planted, slice the tube and slip it around the plants and push it down into the soil a bit. Close with some sticky tape.
We would like to know if it is possible to put too much compost on the garden plot where we grow our tomatoes?
We doubt it. Compost materials are constantly being broken down by soil organisms.
A friend of ours has his municipality use his garden for a ''leaf dump'' each fall. Some 40 truckloads are brought in. Part of it he spreads on the garden and works into the soil in the spring. The rest he saves and uses for a mulch around the plants.
Our friend has a fantastic garden.
The only exception to this question might be if wood chips or sawdust are used in the compost pile. These take longer to break down and often the nitrogen-using bacteria create a shortage of nitrogen in the soil while they are vigorously working on the woody materials.
Extra nitrogen would need to be added to offset this situation.
I have tried unsuccessfully to grow fuchsias from seeds. Should they be soaked in water before sowing? How long does it take for the seeds to sprout?
Fuchsia seeds may take up to 5 weeks to germinate. Soaking seeds is not necessary. Use one of the peat-lite mixes (sphagnum peatmoss, perlite, or vermiculite), cover the seeds lightly, and keep them moist by sub-irrigating the seed box. Maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees.
You can also start plants easily from tip cuttings, using the same medium for rooting (must be kept moist). Save some cuttings when you prune the plant back in the fall. From seeds you'll have some blooming plants in about 10 months; from cuttings in about 6 or 7 months.
Plants like to be outdoors in summer - in a cool, shady spot - and want to be kept watered regularly. If they dry out, or if the weather gets very hot, they will stop blooming. Also, if you let the blooms form seed pods, they will stop producing flowers.
If you have a question about your garden, inside or out, send it to the Gardening page, The Christian Science Monitor, One Norway Street, Boston, Mass. 02115.
Doc and Katy Abraham are nationally known horticulturists, authors of several books on gardening, and greenhouse operators for 25 years.