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Movie star Cary Grant once remarked that a luxurious castle on the California coast was a "great place to spend the Depression." In a similar vein, investors may find that the healthy office and hospitality sectors in Los Angeles County are good places to ride out the recession.
While Los Angeles and its suburbs are not immune to the paralyzed debt markets or tenants fretting about rising energy prices, the situation could be a lot worse. In contrast to previous economic slumps, the Los Angeles office market is holding firm on both vacancy rates and asking rents, at least for the time being.
The down cycle in real estate has been "unusual," according to economist Raphael Bostic, a professor at the Lusk Center for Real Estate at the University of Southern California. While the economy has lingered on the borderline of recession, he says, "It's nothing like what we saw in the early 1990s, when thousands of jobs were lost."
Broker Bob Safai, a principal with locally based Madison Partners, says that the relative strength of today's office market will help see it through this downturn. "The difference between current and past down cycles," he says, "is that investors are not forced to sell their buildings, and sell them at a loss." Office landlords in Los Angeles who choose to sell, he adds, are those who want to put them on the market, and discounting is not a factor.
The relatively healthy office market in Los Angeles is not to be taken for granted. To the immediate south in Orange County, vacancy rates are above 13%. When sublease space is added to that figure, the real vacancy approaches 20%. The difference lies in the diversity of Los Angeles tenants, according to economist Robert Bach, chief economist for brokerage company Grubb & Ellis.
"Orange County had a disproportionate number of firms involved in the mortgage industry that have closed their doors and left some empty space on the market," Bach says. The difference between Los Angeles and its neighboring county, he adds, is a study in contrasts.
The office vacancy rate in Los Angeles County was 8.7%, a full percentage point higher than at the end of 2007, reports CoStar, but still relatively low. The vacancy rate is not expected to climb much further with only a modest amount of new office space coming on line. About 5.2 million sq. ft. is under construction, a 1.3% bump in supply in a market with an inventory of 407 million sq. ft.
The slow pace of new office space adding to the office inventory is probably a good thing given the molasses-like pace of leasing activity, according to Safai. "Deal velocity is down maybe 70%," says the office broker.
Even with the slower pace of deals, some big leases have punctuated the still air of the recession like beats on a kettle drum. The largest has been a 420,000 sq. ft. lease that Fox Interactive Media signed for two entire buildings at Horizon at Playa Vista, a development of Lincoln Property Co.
In downtown Los Angeles, the law firm of Latham & Watkins has leased 398,000 sq. ft. in KPMG Tower, a property owned by Maguire Partners. Back on the West Side, Belkin Electronics has leased 120,000 sq. ft. in four build-to-suit buildings at The Campus at Playa Vista, a joint venture of Tishman Speyer and Walston Street Capital.
Despite the credit crisis, institutional investors were able to buy office buildings in the past six months. In March, Transwestern Investment Co. paid $125 million for two buildings, 400 and 600 Corporate Point in Culver City. The seller was Arden Realty, a unit of GE Real Estate.
In June, Arden Realty sold six additional buildings in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley to Douglas Emmett Inc. The Los Angeles-based real estate advisor laid out $610 million for the 1.4 million sq. ft. portfolio. An important factor in both sales was the willingness of GE Real Estate to provide debt financing to the buyers.
Yet another notable sale was that of 5055 Wilshire Blvd. The buyer, Somerset Group of New York, paid $45 million for the 170,000 sq. ft. building; the seller was USAA Real Estate Co. of San Antonio, Texas.
Many office investors are not planning to sell, however, citing the likelihood of discounting prices in a climate of hard-to-get debt financing. One cautious landlord is Robert Held, president and CEO of Held Properties, which owns and manages four office buildings in Century City and West Los Angeles.
Held says he does not plan to sell. Anybody who does so, he says, faces considerable financial risk. Held has little faith that the hard times will lift in 2009 or 2010, as some economists predict. "I hope that happens," he says, sounding unconvinced. Meanwhile, "I have to predict rents and costs for the near future, and commodity costs are so caddywampus right now, I'm just waiting for them to come back into line."
Condo craze goes cold
In contrast to the washboard abs of the office sector, the condo market is looking decidedly soft and unappealing. The runaway condo market has become a poster child for overbuilding. As in the rest of the country, sales are off and prices have fallen. At the end of June, the median price for an existing condo in Los Angeles was $343,500 compared with $448,550 a year ago, a 23.5% drop, according to the California Association of Realtors.
"Nothing is selling," says developer Phil Hart, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Urban Land Institute. Some condo developers, he adds, are converting newly built for-sale units to rentals, in contrast to the trend of converting apartments into condos.
In downtown Los Angeles, probably the largest and most overbuilt condo market in the region, at least three for-sale projects have hung "for rent" signs. Those projects include Lincoln Property Co.'s 272-unit Mozaic; the 118-unit Artisan at Second, a project of Trammell Crow Residential; and the 162-unit Chapman Flats, the refurbishment of a century-old office building by local developer Fred Afari.
Despite the weak condo market, some major projects remain under development, assuming that developers can still find financing. In June, the Los Angeles City Council approved the 76-story, $1.3 billion Park Fifth Building, a project of local developer David Houk. Construction on the tower near Pershing Square, originally slated for the first quarter, has been delayed until the end of the year.
In Century City, the high-rise office enclave just west of Beverly Hills, SunCal Cos. plans a 73-story, glass-covered condominium tower called 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the building that its developers have dubbed "the Green Blade" is slender and wide, looking like a giant laptop computer balancing precariously on its edge. SunCal has not announced construction dates.
The Century, a high-priced residential tower in Century City, is under construction on the site of a demolished hotel. The Related Cos. is the developer of the building designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern.
The project recently made headlines when Candy Spelling, widow of TV producer Aaron Spelling, spent $47 million for the entire penthouse floor. At $2,700 per sq. ft., the developers claim the price sets a record for housing in Los Angeles, although some portions of the same building are listed at $2,880.
Mixed-use awaits train
The growth of commuter rail in Southern California is inspiring a set of transit-oriented projects that combine housing with retail and office space. Forming public-private partnerships with government agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles County (MTA) makes good sense in recessionary times, according to land-use attorney Elizabeth Watson of Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger based in Century City.
One advantage of transit-oriented projects is that Los Angeles and surrounding cities favor these developments as a means to encourage rail ridership, which argues for a smooth government-approval process. Another advantage is that the transit agency already owns much or all of the land, sparing the developer the time and cost of land assembly.
By entering into a public-private partnership with a transit authority, Watson says, developers "can minimize entitlement risks, while public subsidies can help cushion financial risks." Several eastern suburbs of Los Angeles, including El Monte and Monrovia, have set aside dozens of acres for transit-oriented housing, retail and office space.
In Los Angeles, where the city council is willing to waive some parking requirements for projects within walking distance of rail stations, "developers can get more leasable square footage because they are devoting less space to parking," according to Watson. The result, she adds, is a "more economically justifiable project that is easier to finance." A potential downside of these projects, of course, is that many contain multifamily units — a factor that has caused several projects to be delayed.
One notable public-private project is NoHo Commons, a residential and retail complex in North Hollywood, at the northern terminus of the Metro Rail Red Line. The 60,000 sq. ft. retail portion, including a multiplex cinema, opened this spring, while 870 apartments, including 294 loft units, are being built in phases. The owner is Redwood Partners.
On Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, another transit-oriented behemoth is the $400 million Avenue 6200, a 1.1 million sq. ft. project of The Clarett Group of New York. In addition to more than 1,000 apartments on the seven-acre site, the developer plans 175,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 40,000 sq. ft. in "live-work" units intended for small entertainment-related businesses. Although Clarett originally planned to start construction last March, the developer has pushed groundbreaking up to January 2009.
The city's most notable mixed-use undertakings arguably are two gargantuan projects that frame downtown Los Angeles like a pair of bookends. On the north is The Grand, formerly known as Grand Avenue, a set of 16 residential towers and 500,000 sq. ft. of retail space being developed by The Related Cos. on publicly owned land.
The developer had to patch together new financing after a major equity investor pulled out, delaying the start of construction for nearly two years. The contract with the public agencies requires Related to start construction by February 2009, or face steep fines.
Downtown's southern bookend is L.A. Live, an entertainment-hotel and condo extravaganza within a short walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center and Staples Arena, the city's basketball and hockey venue. Developed by billionaire Philip Anschutz through his Anschutz Entertainment Group, L.A. Live is a set of night clubs and retail spaces surrounding a large courtyard.
The centerpiece is a 53-story hotel tower expected to contain the city's long-awaited convention center hotel to be operated by J.W. Marriott, and 200 condominium units known as the Ritz-Carlton Residences scheduled for completion next year. The most recent portion to reach completion is the metal-clad, 7,000-seat Nokia Theater.
Biggest hotel sale in the U.S.
Hospitality is another bright spot amid the gray skies of recession. Although occupancy in May fell nearly a full percentage point from a year earlier to 76.6%, revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 4.9% during the same period, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission. RevPAR in Los Angeles hotels, in fact, has increased every month since 2003.
The strength of the hotel market reflects the popularity of Los Angeles with both European and Asian tourists, primed by the weakness in the U.S. dollar, which makes American vacations a bargain for international travelers, according to Troy Jones, a partner in Ernst & Young's office in downtown Los Angeles.
One recent high-profile deal was the $366.5 million sale of the 726-room Century Plaza Hotel to a partnership of Next Century Associates and D.E. Shaw. The seller was Sunstone, a REIT based in San Clemente, Calif. The deal was "the only hotel sale of any significance in the past half year in Los Angeles, and possibly in the entire country," says Jones. Much of the price reflects the scarcity of hotel rooms in Century City, the largest office enclave in the West Los Angeles area, he adds.
Meanwhile, in the coveted Beverly Hills hotel market, the $200 million, 201-room Beverly Hills Montage hotel is nearing a fall 2008 completion. The project survived a ballot-referendum challenge in 2004 brought by surrounding hotels, which sought to derail the project by popular vote. The developer is Phoenix-based Athens Group. The hotel operator, Montage, is a company whose largest investor is Pierre Omidyar, founder and chairman of eBay.
Where's the bottom?
Despite a smattering of high-ticket property sales, however, investment activity is quiet in Los Angeles. Bostic, the USC professor, says that there is plentiful capital waiting to enter the market for commercial real estate as soon as the investment community is convinced that property values will fall no further. "The interesting question, and I don't have an answer for it, is when investors decide that the market has hit bottom," he says. At that point, he adds, capital is likely to rush back into the Los Angeles market.
One prediction Bostic is willing to make, however, is that the bubble mentality of the early 2000s will be replaced by a more cautious and conservative approach to valuation. "We will see more consideration of the underlying fundamentals of these assets, and whether prices and valuations make sense, given the cash flows."
Nobody, of course, knows how much of a hit Los Angeles real estate will take by the time the recession is over. The strength of fundamentals — limited supply, steady demand, and sustained interest from institutional investors — suggests that the Los Angeles market will start the next business cycle without too much excess space to shed.
Morris Newman is a Los Angeles-based writer.
Kaiser Permanente
32,180 employees
University of Southern California
26,446 employees
Northrop Grumman Corp.
21,000 employees
Sources: Los Angeles Almanac, L.A. Business Journal
REGIONAL Population:
10.36 million
Source: Los Angeles Almanac
Source: The Kyser Center for Economic Research
8.7% vacancy, 2Q 2008
7.4% vacancy, 2Q 2007
$31.31 rent per sq. ft., 2Q 2008
$29.31 rent per sq. ft., 2Q 2007
Source: CoStar
4.2% vacancy, 2Q 2008
3.4% vacancy, 2Q 2007
$1,408 effective rent, 2Q 2008
$1,347 effective rent, 2Q 2007
Source: Marcus & Millichap
3.4% vacancy, 2Q 2008
2.7% vacancy, 2Q 2007
$27.37 rent per sq. ft., 2Q 2008
$26.83 rent per sq. ft., 2Q 2007
Source: Reis
2.16% vacancy, 2Q 2008
1.8% vacancy, 2Q 2007
$0.70 rent per sq. ft., 2Q 2008
$0.66 rent per sq. ft., 2Q 2007
Source: CB Richard Ellis
78.5% occupancy, 2Q 2008
80% occupancy, 2Q 2007
$131.93 average daily rate, 2Q 2008
$123.94 average daily rate, 2Q 2007
Source: Smith Travel Research
L.A. LIVE: A 4 million sq. ft. sports and entertainment development within walking distance of Staples Center and The Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles centering on a 878-room J.W. Marriott hotel. The project features a mix of entertainment venues, restaurants, retail and residences, plus television and radio broadcast studios and concert spaces.
Developer: Anschutz Entertainment Group
Completion: Fall 2008
Cost: $1.5 billion
AMERICANA AT BRAND: A 900,000 sq. ft. shopping center that features imaginative architecture in Glendale, Calif., and combines high-end retail, housing and entertainment. This project is designed to re-energize the downtown with 75 shops and fashion boutiques along with cause and fine dining in an outdoor setting. The residential portion of the development features 238 luxury apartments and 100 luxury condominiums.
Developer: Caruso Affiliated
Completion: May 2008
Cost: $400 million


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- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- E Fund
|5' 10"
|Minsk, Belarus
|National Olympic Tennis Center
|Sport Management
2006-07: As a junior, Batsula garnered a 15-19 overall record while battling both injury and some of the nation�s top opponents�went 9-1 in conference play�was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week in February�was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference Second Team�was paired with Masha Ilina in doubles and compiled a 15-2 record, the duo earned a No. 15 regional ranking and became the first Lady Bucs to ever earn a regional ranking�was an ITA Scholar Athlete�named to the A-Sun All Academic Team�was named to the Buccaneer Honor Roll�earned a ranking of 7th in career singles wins.
2005-06: During her sophomore campaign, Batsula finished the season with a 26-10 record in singles, which places her tied for seventh on the single season wins list�went 6-0 in conference play�was named to the All-Conference first team�was an ITA scholar athlete�put together a 6-6 singles record in fall tournament action...was paired with Tara Byrne in doubles and together the duo went 28-10 in play, which placed Batsula in second on the single season wins list.
Spring 2005: Joined the team for the spring of 2005 with over eight years of competitive playing experience...was an All SoCon selection... was a member of the spring honor roll... Batsula had one of the most successful freshman seasons in ETSU history amassing a 21-4 record...accumulated an 18-5 record in doubles when paired with Gemma Halim, and a 2-0 record when paired with Elena Volobueva...ranked eleventh on the single season singles record at ETSU and is ranked sixteenth in single season doubles.
Prep: Ranked third in the country of Belarus...won the Belarus under 18 National Championship in 2004...was runner-up in the women�s National Championships of Belarus in 2001 and in 2002...trained at the National Olympic Center of Tennis in Belarus.
Personal: Born on September 13, 1987 ... majoring in sport management... Batsula comes from a very athletic family; her father, Oleg Batsula, was the European Champion in his weight class of Greco Roman wrestling in 1986 and her mother, Irina Borisova, played professional field hockey for the First League of the U.S.S.R. ... full name is Volha Batsula.

subset: commoncrawl


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From land or sea, the Big Sur coastline dazzles. This 90-mile stretch of rugged Central California landscape draws millions of visitors annually, most of whom are content to pull over at Highway 1 viewpoints to catch a quick glimpse of the rocky Pacific shoreline. But I wanted more. I wanted a window on the sea.
The bed
High above the ocean, Ragged Point Inn & Resort offers a spot of green in a landscape of browns and blues. The 17-acre park-like resort (19019 Highway 1, Ragged Point; [805] 927-4502) sits at the south end of Big Sur, about an hour's drive from San Luis Obispo. Founded in the late '50s by Wiley and Mildred Ramey, the inn began as a two-room motel on a lonely stretch of highway. The highway is still lonely, but the resort now includes restaurants, stores, an art gallery, sitting room, gas station and wedding and conference facilities. Best of all, there are 39 rooms, many with floor-to-ceiling windows on the sea. (Rates for a standard room start at $99 weekdays and $139 weekends through March 31.) My room was compact — much more roadside-motel ambience than luxury-resort ambience — but comfortable. And you can't beat the view or the surrounding terrain.
The food
Ragged Point has an outdoor snack bar, an espresso bar and an attractive indoor-outdoor dining room. I tried all three; each was fine in its own right. Many Highway 1 travelers stop at the snack bar, where burgers and sandwiches are priced at less than $10; the dining room's dinner menu starts at $12.95 for entrees and offers seafood, salads and contemporary favorites. My rosemary pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and Parmesan cheese was a comforting winter's-night meal ($16.95).
The find
Whether you spend the night or just take a break from the sometimes harrowing curves of Highway 1, Ragged Point is an excellent place to de-stress. Trails wind along the Pacific under an umbrella of Monterey Cypress trees, benches offer spots to watch whales swim along the coast, and pretty landscaping — full of nasturtiums and other flowers — is a relief to eyes that are road-weary. Best of all, there's no charge to enjoy these amenities (including bathrooms that are open to the public). The first two times I visited Ragged Point, it was to stroll along the sea and shoot pictures from its high vantage point. I didn't become a hotel guest until my third visit.
The lesson learned
Highway 1 is considered one of America's top road trips. I enjoyed it much more when I spent the night locally than I did during other trips when I high-powered it from Los Angeles to Monterey. Watching the fog burn off the ocean in the morning while I ate a leisurely breakfast, then taking the time to visit highlights along the Big Sur coast, offered a far better way to appreciate the area's spectacular scenery.
The tab
With room, dinner and breakfast, the bill for my window on the sea came to a little less than $225, not counting the $60 I spent on gasoline for the trip north or the hand-painted blouse I bought in the Ragged Point art gallery.


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - BA general vs. MA ESL Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in BA general vs. MA ESL Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Japan View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message LyndenJoined: 06 Feb 2003Posts: 24Location: Alberta, Canada Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 7:16 pm Post subject: BA general vs. MA ESL Is there anyone out there who went to Japan (or anywhere else abroad) with a BA in something non-related to TESL, had a horrible experience selling English in a private school, then went back with an MA in ESL and had a completely different experience? I'm curious because of my first experience teaching in Japan. Basically I worked my butt off and still got threatened by head office because of my sales figures. The thing is I love to travel and I think I was a good teacher. Does anyone have any similar first-hand stories? I've applied to the U of Minnesota for their MA ESL degree because I think it's one of the best programs I've seen. Is college/university teaching really that much different from teaching in a private school? Also, that job was my first "real" job and I remember being physically sick every day before class because of my nerves. Perhaps I tried too hard to cater to unrealistic expectations. Did anyone have that happen and did it get better? Back to top LyndenJoined: 06 Feb 2003Posts: 24Location: Alberta, Canada Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 7:21 pm Post subject: I should qualify the last post. If I get the MA ESL I would try to find a position in Germany where I understand the language better than I understood Japanese. Back to top GlenskiJoined: 15 Jan 2003Posts: 12844Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 11:47 pm Post subject: yes, different. Quote: Teaching universities in Japan is certainly different than teaching in a private high school, and different than teaching in a language school! Back to top GlenskiJoined: 15 Jan 2003Posts: 12844Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 11:48 pm Post subject: little oops Sorry if that last post didn't quite use the quote function as planned, but I think you get the idea of my answer. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Japan All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


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Friday, November 11, 2011
"Call of Duty: Black Ops" sells $360 million
"Call of Duty: Black Ops" sells $360 million, Call of Duty: Black Ops Sells $360 Million on Launch Day, Is New 'Biggest Entertainment Launch Ever' Call of Duty: Black Ops sold-through an estimated $360 million in the first 24 hours in North America and the UK alone, Activision has announced, leading the publisher to declare the November 9 launch the new "biggest entertainment launch ever." It had previously bestowed the title upon Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Treyarch's Cold War-era shooter sold through approximately 5.6 million copies in North America and the United Kingdom, according to Activision's internal estimates, while Modern Warfare 2 only managed a paltry 4.7 million copies back in November 2009.
"There has never been another entertainment franchise that has set opening day records for two consecutive years and we are on track to outperform last year's five-day global sales record of $550 million," boasted Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick.
Activision has also pledged to "find 1,000 jobs for veterans" and is donating $1 million from the sales of Cod Blops to the Call of Duty Endowment, a "non-profit, public benefit corporation" which helps service members with job training and placements.
"This Veteran's Day, we should all take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that the brave men and women of our military are making in service of our country," said Kotick. "It is a national tragedy to have these men and women put their lives on the line in Afghanistan and Iraq, only to come home to face another battle of finding a new career... I am honored that we are able to use the popularity of Call of Duty to bring much needed attention to this serious issue and assist veterans when they return home." 'Call of Duty' breaks sales records, call of duty modern warfare 3 breaks records, modern warfare 3 biggest launch ever, call of duty franchise,
Call of Duty: Black Ops was released on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS. It hasn't been the smoothest launch, though, as a number of bugs and exploits have been reported, particularly on PC. Activision social media manager Dan Amrich has urged players to report them through the correct channels and act with civility.
Labels: entertainment


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Is Big Other a failure? Of course, in every way.
See the proof below from our own AD Jameson, who ever-so-mildly breaks the rules of this column (submit!: see this), by stating that he might return to his long-suffering project, detailed below. Even so, we may root for his continued and everlasting failure on this project, can't we? It's the least we can do in the esprit de corps that is this collaborative blog.
Nearly twelve years ago, at the end of the millennium, I started writing a book called "The Music Novel." It was set in Seattle in two different time periods: 1993–4 and 1999, contrasting the heyday of the grunge movement (culminating with Kurt Cobain's suicide) with the fin de siècle WTO protests. It was something of a statement, I suppose, on "The 1990s," though I was much more interested in formalist experimentation: the rift in time afforded a chance to contrast different versions of the same characters. I even toyed with some silly idea of presenting the earlier time at the tops of each page, the latter period at the bottoms, with a page tear separating them. (I was playing a lot in those days with photocopiers, and had a fondness for torn and overlapped pages.)
For the next five years, I made copious notes—hundreds and hundreds of pages of plot details, character descriptions, period research, complex thematic structures. The project swelled to encompass topics as disparate as Chinese dragons, the Book of Revelations, shrinking penis disorder, and the lost kingdom of Lemuria. (It's OK to laugh. I laugh about it now, too.) But despite my feverish note-making, what I didn't do is any actual writing. "The Music Novel" became a book that I instead thought about in cafes, for hours on end (an imaginary novel).


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Just like his friend and coworker Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot is experiencing a rebirth on the new generation of consoles. During a private meeting with Vivendi at E3 we had a chance to see Crash of the Titans, the latest installment in the series, which has noticeably improved since the demo at the Vivendi event that was held in San Francisco in April. The core of the game is still on hijacking the creatures populating the 25 levels, but now we have a better grasp of its mechanics, as well as a look at some other secondary features.
Some of the obstacles and most of the bosses in the game can't be beaten without riding the right creature. Crash is not big enough to move huge rocks or deliver strong attacks, therefore he has to rely on some kind of external help. Hijacking one of the 15 creatures available in the game is a good start. Some of the enemies only perform close-up moves, while others are useful for ranged attacks. That's the case with the Snipes, big purple monkey-like creatures that can hit multiple targets from a decent distance. Every hijacked enemy has three different attacks: a light attack, a heavy charge-up attack, and a special attack that changes according to the creature.
In addition to the hijack moves, Crash has his own regular attacks, unlockable throughout the game. By collecting the Mojo points that are scattered everywhere in the levels, players can gain more moves or upgrade the ones they already have. While skating on a Mojo mask and using it as a shield are possible from the beginning of the game, Crash's trademark spinning dervish move needs to be unlocked later on. It can also be upgraded, so that Crash can spin for a longer time using the same combination of buttons.
The trademark replayability factor, always an important element in the series, is back in Crash of the Titans. The old crystals have been replaced by incredibly cute voodoo dolls that Vivendi should seriously consider turning into merchandise. At the end of each level players can unlock a certain number of dolls by having completed specific tasks in the level. The most common ones include collecting all the Mojo spheres in a level, beating all the enemies or finding the three toilets hidden in the stage... yes, toilets. Each voodoo doll unlocks a different bonus, such as extra lives or additional costumes for Crash. Hijacking a certain number of the same kind of enemies unlocks a matching costume, so that Crash will in turn look like each one of the 15 creatures. By beating the second level in the game we were also able to unlock a Halloween skeleton costume and wear it in our next stage.
Crash of the Titans features a drop-in drop-out cooperative mode for two players. A second player can join the main one at any moment, playing as another Crash with different fur colors. Although we would have appreciated having one of the other many characters from the series instead of two almost identical marsupials, the introduction of a co-op mode is a nice touch. It can be experienced in two different ways: Piggy Back puts the secondary character in Crash' backpack until another player jumps in the game, while Leap Frog alternates the two characters on- screen, making one of them disappear when the second one joins the game. We didn't have a chance to test the multiplayer mode, but we have a feeling that playing as two identical characters bound by the same camera controls might result in a chaotic experience. To find out we'll have to wait until autumn, when Crash of the Titans is released worldwide.


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Oh, boy, I have not had very good luck with heroic feats lately. In one small skirmish my Bull Knight Queen tried to rip off a plasma canister from a laser cannon to hurl at several soldiers nearby, but utterly failed, causing the cannon to tip over and fall on top of her, crushing her beneath its bulk.
Even worse in my last battle (a giant clone-brand extermination skirmish), my namesake hero, Professor Ken, attempted to remount a laser gun that had been knocked off of a hovertank but it exploded and blew him to pieces. It was my first turn, and he didn't even get to kill anybody... oh, well, we resurrected him anyways with the awesomeness of gaming and he went on to wreak havoc with an even bigger gun he cobbled together.


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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Latest on Garrison's Keilor's dismissal following allegations of sexual misconduct (all times local):
12:10 a.m.
Garrison Keilor's attorney says the humorist is aware of only one woman making allegations of inappropriate
Keilor's personal attorney, Eric Nilsson, issued a statement early Thursday responding to a news report that MPR President Jon McTaggart told employees Wednesday the decision to cut ties with Keilor resulted from multiple allegations that covered an extended period of time.
MPR News reported the McTaggart comments. Nilsson says that the former "A Prairie Home Companion" host wants a swift resolution with MPR and "expects a full restoration of his reputation."
Keillor has said he touched a woman's bare back to console her, and that he apologized. MPR has not provided details of the allegations.
8 p.m.
The president of Minnesota Public Radio has told employees the decision to cut business ties with former "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor resulted from "multiple allegations" that covered an extended period of time.
Jon McTaggart held an off-the-record meeting with employees Wednesday, a week after Keillor's dismissal was announced. Reporters from Minnesota Public Radio News did not attend because the meeting was declared off-the-record, but compiled an account from employees who did attend.
MPR News reports McTaggart said he alone made the decision to break with Keillor, who retired as "Prairie Home" host last year. Keillor told the Star Tribune he touched a woman's bare back as he tried to console her, and that he apologized.
The show continues with Keillor's hand-picked successor, mandolinist Chris Thile.
The Associated Press


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I was looking around for smiths videos and info, and came across an interview, it was about Moz being a sex symbol?
Interviewer -- You once said that being a "sex symbol" was the best thing to be
Morrissey -- But that was at a time when I thought it could possibly never happen, and to a small degree it has happened
Interviewer -- Do you consider yourself a "sex symbol"
Morrissey -- well other people do, seem to, so therefore in a way I suppose I must be. I mean, It's not something we decide for ourselves, you don't say yes I'm going to become a "sex symbol", and I would appeal to lots of people in an immensely sexual way, that's not something we decide, other people decide it, and to some degree they have, I mean I get letters saying, "Morrissey your incredibly sexy" and of coarse I throw them away.
Interviewer -- You throw them away?
Morrissey -- No...I frame them
Interviewer -- So do you keep them?
Morrissey -- Oh I keep them all, I reply to them, take their phone numbers etc.
Interviewer -- Your being slightly flippant
Morrissey -- Yes unnecessarily flippant
Interviewer -- So how does it feel to be a "sex symbol" given what you just said?
Morrissey -- Well I get these letters, and I read them, and I sing, and we appear on stage, and girls scream, and you know they want to touch me, and I kind of look at them and I read these letters, and I look at the whole thing and I say well yes its very interesting but, I do feel slightly detached...to associate with this person which would receive these letters, this kind of sexual person, this desirable person...its not really me.


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Christian Bale and his wife Sibi Bale have welcomed their second child together, his rep confirms to JustJared.com.
The 40-year-old actor reportedly welcomed a baby boy, according to Us Weekly. (The birth news was first reported by E!)
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Christian Bale
In March, Christian was all smiles while Sibi showed off her baby bump at the 2014 Oscars.
Christian and Sibi, who tied the knot in March 2000, are also wonderful parents to a nine-year-old daughter, who was born in March 2005.
Congrats to the couple on their new bundle of joy!


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8:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "Birders, Banders & Binoculars" They can be fierce predators and some of the gentlest of creatures. Some are rare, others are quite common; but they all have the power to bewitch and bedazzle. Birds live in a world that for us is the stuff of dreams and wonder. We take to the field to celebrate birds and the people who study, care for, and watch them.G
8:30 pm
This American Land "Snowy Cave, Conservation Dogs, Underwater Oklahoma" The episode opens amid dazzling natural formations below a New Mexico recreation area. Researchers use GPS technology to help endangered bighorn sheep living in rugged terrain. Doggie detectives in Oregon help scientists save rare plants.G
9:00 pm
Midsomer Murders "Worm in the Bud, Part 2" Barnaby and Troy find themselves thrust into a whirlwind of witchcraft, ancient potions, infidelity and land feuds that expose a chilling example of the consequences that can follow when parents believe they always know best. Part 2 of 2G
10:00 pm
Death In Paradise As DI Richard Poole desperately searches for a decent cup of tea, a bride is murdered on her wedding day. His new partner DS Camille Bordey cannot help but feel deeply about the tragedy and her intuition is working overtime. Richard is more interested in housekeeping signs.G
11:00 pm
Charlie Rose NULL


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Welcome Back
For those with long memories, you may remember I have made a case bound book a long time ago. This is my first voyage into real book cloth though and I am very pleased with how it turned out.
The covers are made from off cuts of mount board, the book is A7 in size and has 80 gsm text weight paper. I followed Sage Reynolds instructions for constructing the case and this is my first successful spine gap. I have always struggled to allow sufficient space for the spine. I struggled to hold everything in the right place to measure as Sage showed in his video, but it was well worth the effort.
This book was a triumph of 'What if…' I didn't have mull to line the spine so I used thin cotton bandage 🙂 turned out ok, I learnt to use a thicker end paper or apply less glue. This was my first book that was sewn onto tapes, or in my case organza ribbon 🙂 I even had a go at a wrapped endband. I used the method shown in Peter Baumgartner's video and wrapped book cloth around a cotton cord. This taught me I needed to cut my finished head band closer to the book than I did, but for a first attempt it was worthy 🙂
These A7 sized books are perfect for practicing techniques, they are fast to sew, use minimal resources and you learn a lot in the process. They also will make perfect gifts at Christmas, they are small enough to pop in you pocket, so really useful.
There are a couple of excellent channels on You Tube for book binding that I highly recommend for anyone trying this kind of binding for the first time.
Sage Reynold's. Sage's videos are awesome! He has such an efficient workflow and his passion for the subject shows in the care he takes with his projects. I'm linking to the main channel, but the video's I used for this bind were the 'Making a Case' one's. There are also video's on how to sew signatures.
Peter Baumgartner. Peter's videos show the entire process from start to finish including the sewing, I used the method for the sewing but didn't have spine cloth so finished my book using Sage's method.
Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon
Billie 🙂


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Media Statements & Speeches
Commissioner John R. Norris Statement
July 19, 2012
Docket Nos. AD12-9-000 and AD11-11-000
Item No. E-4
Policy Reforms on Capacity Allocation for Merchant Transmission Projects
"The issues surrounding merchant transmission and participant funded transmission projects have been building for some time. I am pleased we are taking action today to propose a more streamlined policy that should provide greater opportunity for the development of the transmission lines and generation projects that many are seeking to build and that will be needed to meet our future energy needs. In the end, I believe that the new policies we propose here will help provide diversity in our electricity supply and increase competition through competitively-priced generation, while maintaining the extremely important principle of open access.
I view this proposed policy as a supplement to Order No. 1000. I expect that the difficult work of complying with Order No. 1000 will lead to regional planning processes that identify cost-effective and efficient solutions to most transmission needs, and fairly allocate the costs of projects selected in those plans. Regardless, there may be transmission projects that are not selected in those processes that still have a customer or group of customers willing to make a long-term commitment to aid their construction. This proposed policy statement provides a roadmap for those projects to move forward while ensuring just and reasonable rates and non-discriminatory open access.
One concern I have had and continue to have is what former Wyoming Governor Friedenthal best described as the spaghetti lines dilemma. I recognize there is a limit to how many transmission lines can be built, and as a result, it is important that we maximize the utilization of land displaced by the construction of transmission lines.
I believe we have addressed that issue in part in this proposed policy statement through the proposed requirements for greater transparency, especially the proposed provisions addressing oversubscription and the requirement that transmission developers provide a rationale for not increasing capacity when a project is oversubscribed. I will be paying close attention to comments on these issues because, as I mentioned, my concern is that we build these new lines right the first time, because we all know how hard they are to build and how difficult it will be to build additional lines in the same area."


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Neoseeker : Videos : Walkthroughs : 34 - Accidents Will Happen
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- By Rockstar Games for PSP, PS2
34 - Accidents Will Happen
Register as a member to subscribe comments.COMMENTS
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Trailer Info
|From: VincesGames
|Jul 30, 2010
|Category: Walkthroughs


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So, I have the full version because I wanted to support the developers. I don't have much time to play (or read wikis, sadly, though I did try). I'm also not very good at the game, though it is fun for me.
How can I earn gold for my kingdom (besides the puzzle packs, which I am terrible at)? I can't seem to earn anything from random dungeon runs and I'm not good enough to kill the level 10 creatures, so I leave early.
Any advice would be appreciated. (Besides "quit" or "get better" or the like.)
Thanks in advance!


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Company News
LINDSAY, Okla. (July 13, 2010)– U.S. Cellular recently completed activation of an additional cell site in Lindsay to improve call quality for its customers. The new site will improve coverage on Highway 59, connecting Washington and Dibble sites with the Lindsay site to increase U.S. Cellular's coverage for those areas and complement U.S. Cellular's statewide network of more than 600 towers. The tower was built by U.S. Cellular with the support of the federal Universal Service Fund, a critical resource for wireless expansion throughout rural America.
"This part of Oklahoma lacked quality wireless service. As a result, we identified the community as a priority," said Nancy Fratzke, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Oklahoma. "People everywhere depend on their cell phones to meet critical safety and everyday business needs. With a stronger network, Lindsay can also become more competitive in attracting new business."
This new site is part of U.S. Cellular's 3G Mobile Broadband network in Oklahoma, which allows customers to access data on their cell phones 10 times faster than before and at no additional cost. With 3G speeds, browsing the Web on a smartphone is very similar to the experience on a desktop computer. Web pages open faster and customers can send and receive large e-mail attachments. Downloads take less time and picture and video messages are delivered more quickly.
In Oklahoma, as in other parts of rural America, first responders such as firefighters and police officers depend on wireless service to respond quickly to emergency situations. Nationwide, nearly 300,000 emergency 911 calls are placed via cell phones every day.
"We need reliable wireless service to protect the health and security of our citizens and public safety officials," said Garvin County Sheriff Steve Brooks. "It's a big help to us when companies like U.S. Cellular expand their networks."
In 2009, U.S. Cellular received approximately $10 million in USF support in Oklahoma and used this funding to bring wireless service to rural cities and towns across the state, including Maysville, Okay and El Dorado, while continuing to operate and maintain existing rural sites.
U.S. Cellular has led recent efforts to preserve federal support for rural wireless network development through Connecting Rural America, a coalition of public safety officials, economic development organizations and concerned citizens working for equality in wireless telecommunications. Its goal is to provide rural communities with the same access to wireless technology that urban communities already enjoy.
About U.S. Cellular
The 9,000 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people's lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. U.S. Cellular has a wide range of monthly plans, including those with unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited free incoming calls and options to prepay. The company has a growing catalog of phones like the BlackBerry® Tour and the touch-screen LG Tritan and HTC Touch Pro 2, which offer e-mail and Web access. U.S. Cellular believes in the power of the community and has made a commitment to invest more than $4.5 million in teachers and schools during 2009 and 2010. Based in Chicago, the company is the nation's sixth-largest wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. You can also check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.)


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Dani Meir-Levi
Staff Writer
Everyone has different ways of coping with stress. Since finals week is around the corner, many students are doing their best to try and stay sane during the home stretch of the semester. A good way to de-stress may include going to dinner with your friends, watching your favorite movie, or exercising. It depends on the person. Personally, I find that the best way to de-stress and loosen your mind is by taking a yoga class.
This mind-body practice has become extremely popular within the last 10 years. It has been known for its ability to reduce stress and boost well-being, but it also offers a wide-range of health benefits that rival other forms of exercise. For example, like cardio fitness, yoga has been known to lower the risk of heart disease and help maintain a healthy weight. Even after a few months of yoga, many seem to have improved lung capacity, anxiety relief, improved sense of balance, and surprisingly have improved sexual function. Studies have shown that yoga has been more effective in reducing pain and improving mood than standard medical treatment for certain health problem.
Charm City Yoga on Allegheny Avenue offers a 30-day trial for new yoga students. This includes one class a day. If you choose to purchase a trial online, instead of in the studio, you get an entire month of yoga for only $25! I get it – money is tight for a college student. However, taking a yoga class will surely pay off during finals week.
Categories: Features


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Just wanted to let you all know of a few fantasy games going on here at Steeler Addicts that you may have not seen in the Fantasy Football forum.
First off, if you joined the Fantasy Football League, our draft was today and the rosters are set. For the topic pertaining to all of the league information, click here.
There is also an NFL Pick 'Em league here at SA and it's currently open to any and all members. You pick the winner of each game as well as the score of the Monday Night game as a tiebreaker to earn points. That thread can be found here.
We are also running and NFL Survivor game which can be found here. All of the rules for that game can be found in that thread.
Have fun


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Brian Quinn, a Sockers standout of the past, was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame. He was joined by Padres pitcher Trevor Hoffman, three-time Super Bowl winner and former world wrestler of the year Stephen Neal and former Charger Junior Seau (posthumously).
Sockers MVP Kraig Chiles, who is setting all kinds of scoring records this year, was selected as one of the stars of the year.
Included in that category also were Padres third baseman Chase Headley; Rachel Buehler, a member of the U.S. gold medal women's Olympic soccer team; Chargers defensive back Eric Weddle; Olympic gold medalist and 400-meter hurdler Felix Sanchez; and NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson — all selected by the San Diego Hall of Champions.
Quinn was one of the most popular members of the highly successful Sockers indoor-soccer team as a player from 1983-1991 and as its coach from 2001-04. He scored 188 goals during his tenure with the Sockers, during which time the team captured six Major Indoor Soccer League titles.
A native of Ireland, Quinn became a U.S. citizen and played for the national team from 1991-94, earning 48 caps and scoring his lone international goal in a 3-0 win over Guatemala. He is currently an assistant coach at the University of San Diego and a director of the San Diego Soccer Club.
"It's truly humbling and an honor to be included with these pro and college athletes," said Chiles upon learning of the award. "I could never have imagined receiving an award like this two years ago. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Chiles has been tearing up the PASL record book since joining the Sockers during their franchise reboot in 2008. The back-to-back MVP set a single-season record with 48 goals in 15 games last season as the Sockers rolled to a 24-0 season and three trophies. His 66 points were just two shy of the PASL single-season record.
Seawater-powered jets
Scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory are developing a process to extract carbon dioxide from seawater and use it to produce hydrogen gas, which can then be catalytically converted into jet fuel.
"The potential payoff is the ability to produce JP-5 fuel stock at sea, reducing the logistics tail on fuel delivery with no environmental burden and increasing the Navy's energy security and independence," said Dr. Heather Willauer, a research chemist. "With such a process, the Navy could avoid the uncertainties inherent in procuring fuel from foreign sources and/or maintaining long supply lines."
The technique has been tested using seawater from the Gulf of Mexico to simulate conditions that will be encountered in an actual open ocean.
— Johnny McDonald is a longtime writer and columnist for the San Diego Community Newspaper Group.


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2017 Chevrolet Cruze LT 4.2" Diagonal Color Display Driver Info Center, Analog Miles/Kilometers Speedometer, Bose Premium 9-Speaker System, Convenience Package, Driver 8-Way Power Seat Adjuster, Driver/Front Passenger Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, Heated Driver & Front Passenger Seat, Interior Ambient Lighting, Keyless Open, Keyless Start, Power Sliding Sunroof, Remote Vehicle Starter System, Sun & Sound Package, Sunroof Package, Technology Package. 30/40 City/Highway MPG Awards:
* 2017 KBB.com 10 Most Awarded Brands
Our Chevrolet dealership maintains a huge selection of new and used models not far from Cincinnati. With great prices on all pre-owned vehicles, the Kelsey Family is sure you will find a vehicle to fit your personality and your budget! For more information on the best way to get find our dealership, visit our hours and directions page. We are just minutes away from Lawrenceburg and Aurora. You can also schedule a test drive using our easy-to-use contact form. Kelsey Chevrolet has affordable financing options so get pre-approved today!
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Gems, on the other hand, have more to do with a couples bond. They put some color into a sometimes otherwise boring life. However, few know that gems are actually the barometer of a couples state of mind, family ties and state of affairs.
Read More...
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Naturalists and scientists from all around the world will come to admire the hidden world. Soon tourists will be clicking their cameras scaring these rare animals, and the whole world will be talking about it.
And yet, every year, for the last 25 years, in or around February a new world is re-discovered; an enchanted world, the ultimate Galapagos, and everyone takes it for granted.
Instead of walking through the jungles, picking up rare berries, and observing strange animals, the strange creatures I meet are my fellow human beings; each one of them from a different part of the world - some of them very rare species indeed.
I must warn you, that all of them carry the same type of disease that I suffer from. And friends, it is very contagious! Once you get it, its there for life. This grave illness is gem disease. And this gem heaven is the Tucson gem and mineral show.
Yes, I know you know that Tucson is in Arizona; and there is really nothing special there, save some odd cacti, the old Tucson Film Studios and Lil Abner the Steak house.
What you may not realize is that every year this town is hit by a swarm of gem and mineral locusts, the likes of which the eyes have never seen before.
Every little motel, hotel, bungalow, tent or back of a car, turns into a treasure vault.
In each and every lobby, corridor, and room, tables are covered with layers of gems and minerals. Native Americans sell their beautiful gem set jewelry, Chinese come with amazing beads and carvings. Others display minerals from the tiniest micro-size to the size necessitating a truck to transport them home, from the most common to the most rare.
Others display gems found around their villages, in Africa, Madagascar and South America, while others, including myself, display OPV (gems found near other peoples' villages). Though some think that there certainly must be some diamonds mines near Ramat Gan - no real gems are mined in the Holy Land...
The amazing thing is that goods from a few cents to a few hundred thousand dollars are displayed for all to see in Tuscon. And those people selling the items that cost only a few cents are as enthused as those selling very expensive gems.
You can see the most humble small dealer having a gem discussion with the head of some of the most prominent companies in the world, all talking about gems and colors.
Some people bring dinosaur parts to sell. Under each of them, the estimated age and species is listed. As I wandered around the strange looking bones, one of their owners uttered suddenly, you know, they never really cared about diamonds. When he realized I didnt know what he was talking about, he explained, my dinosaurs were wandering around 100 million years ago, some of your diamonds were not even formed then, or were still soft! I looked at the face of his 120 million year old big creature and knew I could not really argue about that.
And how was the Tucson show business wise? Very good. Walking through the booths handling semiprecious, it was clear that they were doing well. Also apparent was the use of plenty of ornamental material as part of gem jewelry. From amazonite to moss agate, from sugilite to chaorite, from fossilized coral and pieces of amber to wonderful shapes of baroque pearls to mother of pearl, it seems that corporating nature in jewelry was the theme of today.
The people in the booths just opposite us, who handle beads and strings, were always busy, selling thousands of all types of gems strung into colorful chains. It seemed that the whole world wants to surround their necks with beads.
Speaking to my fellow gem dealers, it was obvious that untreated gems seemed to be in high demand. Scarce natural ruby and blue sapphire, fancy sapphires, beautiful pink and fancy spinels. Aquamarine seemed to be plentiful and was selling very well especially in the higher grades. Tanzanite - my love - has shunned her face this year.
And how was Lil Abners Steak house this year? My daughter had three steaks there out of the five she eats per year so it is good.
And as for the gem disease, it can be cured quite easily, by buying gems. The trouble is that after three or four gems you get addicted for life, and nothing will cure you.
opyright IDEX Magazine 2006, all rights reserved.
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CAN A SMALL DEALER AFFECT THE COLOR TRENDS OF THE INDUSTRY IN THE SAME WAY THAT BUTTERFLIES AFFECT THE WORLDS CLIMATE?Nov 01, 2005 - I am a veteran of the trade and Ive heard lots of stories, which were told to me by prominent or less prominent figures in the trade. But this last story I heard, which is unfolding in the jewelry industry right before our very eyes, has astounded me.
Just before breaking my arm very badly in Bangkok and realizing that cracks in bones are really much worse than cracks in gems, I had an opportunity to meet with a dear friend of mine, a connoisseur of gems and yet not one of the biggest dealers of all. What he told me amazed me.
He started by saying you know, everyone in the trade thinks that brown and brownish colors are unattractive to our customers. When you so much as mention brown in conjunction with a certain gem or a certain color, your customer always thinks that it is inferior. Then he hit me with his declaration, Can you believe I have changed this concept in the jewelry trade this year?
Well, it was only lunchtime and he was certainly not drunk. He is a serious person so I began to wonder what on earth he is talking about, to which he unfolded the following story.
About a year and a half ago I visited Africa with my dear better half, to enjoy Safaris together and to show her what her husband does as a gem buyer. In one of the offices a dealer came to me with a bunch of cut, brown stones and asked me if I would be interested in buying them, to which I immediately uttered, really brown, you must be joking! Who would buy such gems? Though being silent most of the trip to Africa, my better half suddenly showed intense interest in those brown gems saying, wow, arent earth colors very popular with everything today? Well, he tells me, I decided there and then to take my wifes word for it to buy almost a kilo of this brown rough.
Time passed, a few months went by and I sent the parcel to be cut, only to receive many more brown stones, which I knew had no chance on the market, unless a miracle would happen.
By chance, I took the stones with me to the U.S. with all the rest of my goods, all very saleable blues, greens and reds. Sales were mediocre. Then at the last minute, I decided to show my customer, a very prominent jeweler, those very peculiar brown colors. I dont think that he was really impressed until his wife suddenly walked into the meeting room where I was showing him those brown stones, looked at them and said, Wow, Earth Tones. I immediately realized that these were no longer brown stones, but from then on, Earth Tones. To cut a long story short, he bought the lot from me and since then, suddenly, one can see plenty of jewelry with Earth tones stones set into them.
I dont want to be too big headed, he tells me, but I believe that I have changed the concept of people to those colors in the same way that butterflies can affect the worlds climate.
What on earth (tone) is he talking about? That I leave for you to decide, but would you believe that only a couple of weeks ago I received a call from one of my customers asking for... Earth Tones!
The GemEwizard
Copyright IDEX Magazine 2005, all rights reserved.
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Chains of jewelry shops were scarce and at most included only a few shops. Thus, the orders to fulfill such jewelry designs never included more than a few dozen stones, or a few hundred stones of the same size, which were fairly easily bought through the existing dealers. With the appearance of jewelry mega chain shops, however, consisting of hundreds or thousands of shops and the appearance of TV selling channels, the jewelry world has gone through a major change, affecting all levels of suppliers deep into the pipeline, mainly the cheaper stone pipeline, hence the Indian pipeline.
The possibility of a single piece of jewelry, consisting of 30 diamonds of 3 points each, being shown on television, and selling 1,000 pieces within one hour has imposed orders in the range of 30,000-100,000 pieces of the same size and quality. No single dealer was capable of supplying such vast quantities of uniform material. Thus, a new position was created in the jewelry pipeline, called the Mega Accumulators. Since no single factory could produce such quantities of uniform size of diamonds, these Mega Accumulators had the right connections with many diamond suppliers and cutters, and were able to fulfill such orders in a relatively short time. The small suppliers found themselves, in many cases, unable to join the party and they had to either expand considerably and cater for such orders or specialize in a special niche in the diamond world or remove themselves from the game.
Such uniform, vast quantities of orders had a strong effect on the diamond pipeline. Producers, in order to keep up their position in the supply, sometimes have intentionally cut diamonds to the size required, although they were losing on the yield. Many suppliers have supplied higher quality goods to accomplish the number they were committed to just so that they could keep their commitments. These have created abnormalities in dealers and manufacturers stock since only certain sizes were in demand, and the excess, odd to this order sizes or qualities, remain unsold in the stock.
The Mega accumulators only purchased the sizes that were suitable for their mega orders. At certain times, it seems as if the whole market was looking for the same size and type of stone. This abnormally uniform demand, although met with an adequate supply, has deformed the stock remaining in the hands of the manufacturers and dealers. In many cases, when an order for, say 5 points of KLM color, was thrown into the market at a certain price point, it affected the price of same size, higher quality goods which were not required.
Certainly, the jewelry design world has undertaken a tremendous change, too. Since these TV Mega sales had to cater for the taste of the very many, the designs had to be to the liking of as many as possible people. Unique pieces became obsolete. The only gauge for beauty and uniqueness was the number of pieces of jewelry sold within a certain period of time.
We call it the Jeansing effect where a simple design is to the liking of the many. Such designs have to be relatively simple, mediocre in beauty. Another point to bear in mind is that very few designers working for a Mega jeweler, can affect a considerable portion of the jewelry sold, creating some kind of homogeneity where the non-unique is the desired uniqueness.
Virtually the same affect was apparent in the Mega jewelry chains, where hundreds of shops carry identical pieces of jewelry and for which the orders usually came in hundreds or thousands of pieces of jewelry.
Since this jewelry was all made in vast quantities, their cost of production was relatively low - leading to a relatively low cost, very attractive to the consumers.
The direct TV sales have ignored the traditional position of the retailer and directed the jewelry to the cheap to very cheap market end. The small, local shops had to fight in order to survive. In many cases their customers have required jewelry similar to those on TV and also similar prices. Hence, many of them were forced to include within their display TV-like pieces of jewelry.
Soon a new position of jewelry suppliers was created. Such a supplier has specialized in TV-like pieces of jewelry which he supplied to the many small shops which didnt belong to the Mega chain but needed such jewelry.
All in all, the effect on the world of jewelry has been not very different from that on the clothing and fashion industry, where the effect of a single designer could determine what would be bought in thousands of shops.
Regards The GemEwizard Copyright © IDEX
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The longer you are in the gem and diamond trade, the less you know you know.
In the early days, when I was an apprentice jeweler in London during the day and studied gemology at night, passing my gemology exams with distinction, I was sure that within a few months, or at most a couple of years when I would handle more gems, I would know practically all there is to know about the gem world.
Five years passed by and I was handling and learning about many more gemstones when I realized that there is undoubtedly much more to learn about them. And now, after 33 years, everybody else seems to think that Im an expert in gems, but I, myself, know that there is so much more to learn about them all and everyday and every new stone may prove that Im right and teach me something new.
Diamonds prices are accurate in the eye of the beholder or diamonds have no value - they are just a percentage off.
Everybody in the trade is familiar with the leading diamond pricelist. This is said to represent certain prices of diamonds and yet, depending on your position in the trade, these prices may be as much as 50% off the actual price. In fact, most diamond dealers do not talk about actual dollar prices but say, for example: minus 28%, meaning that the value of the diamond is 28% off the current pricelist. Others will argue that it is more valuable, only minus 24%.
Somehow nobody seems to mention the actual price - only a percentage off! Can you imagine in your mind walking into a shop and asking the price of a kilo of cucumbers and being answered: 12% off?
The first gem you meet in a parcel is either the best or the lousiest of the lot!
Please dont ask me why, but it doesnt matter what size parcel you are examining, somehow the first gem you pick up is either the best or the lousiest. Never one that actually represents the average price of the parcel.
When I asked a fellow gem dealer if he agreed with this assumption he said yes and continued: Dont you know that the first person that you meet in a new city is either the priest or the prostitute? It took me many years to understand what he meant but since then I have always tried to avoid the priests and the prostitutes of the parcel and concentrate on examining the crowds.
Gems look worse after being purchased by you and much more attractive after you have sold them!
Usually the day after you have purchased an important gem when you know that it is yours, and you examine it carefully devoid of the excitement of the purchase, the stone tends to look slightly less attractive. It is somehow, when not under the influence of the illusions of the gem, that the stone reveals its true self.
However, once you have sold it and it belongs to somebody else, again the stone will acquire all its original charms and illusions.
The GemEwizard
Copyright © IDEX
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See this week's Advertiser. East Lothian News and Musselburgh News to spend five minutes in the company of award-winning film maker Dave Banks.
Find out what three things he would like to do before he dies, his most embarrassing moment, and what makes him see red.
We're always looking for people to take part in our 5 Minutes With feature for the Advertiser, East Lothian News and Musselburgh News.
Simply give one or two sentence answers for each of the following questions and send them here, with a headshot and brief description of yourself.
Or you can use our new tool (right) which makes it even easier to send words and photos to us.
1. Where did you grow up?
2. On a scale of 1-10 rank how happy you are with your lot.
3. What would it take to get this to 10?
4. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
5. If you could give one bit of advice to your 18-year-old self, what would it be?
6. When was the last time you cried and why?
7. What's your greatest achievement?
8. What three things would you still like to do before you die?
9. What's your favourite food?
10. Where was the last place you went on holiday?
11. What was the last book you read?
12. What's the biggest fib you've ever told?
13. If you ruled the world, what single act would you carry out.
14. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
15. Name three guests, dead or alive, that you'd have at your fantasy dinner party.
16. Who or what is your greatest inspiration?
17. What's your most embarrassing moment?
18. Do you have any regrets?
19. What makes you see red?
20. In no more than five words, write your own epitaph.


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posted by Thom Holwerda on Thu 25th Jan 2007 12:34 UTC, submitted by editingwhiz
"Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony says his company is opening up its CNR software download and management service to other Linux distributions because "Linux really needs an easier way to find and install software, regardless of which flavor of Linux you're using." According to Carmony, Linspire has been working on this project more more than a year. To find out more about how this bold new program is going to work - and how it benefits everyone involved - Desktoplinux.com conducted the following short Q&A with Carmony via email."


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Imperfect, but Joyful
Here's the thing: I love food. I love creating with food and making something out of scattered ingredients. I love taking inventory of what I have on hand and creating a delicious dinner. I love harvesting new onions and the smell of the soil mixed with their onion scent, mud dripping onto my shirt as I carry them out of the field. Picking basil while its heady scent fills the air, crunching into a cucumber seconds after it has been picked, and transforming milk into tart yogurt.
I love making and sharing food here. This creative process for me is very imperfect, but joyful. Challenging but nourishing in so many ways. Honestly, though I'm not sure what shape it will take, I've realized more and more that growing and creating food is what I hope to make my life's work.
You'll notice that my offering today is a little lopsided. The cardamom ginger ice cream was soft and spreadable when I sandwiched it between two ginger molasses cookies (also it was at least 90 outside and probably 80 in the kitchen, not to mention the humidity). They didn't freeze into the dreamy perfect ice cream sandwiches that I imagined when I thought of making them. They did make for just the right treat on another very hot evening, complete with sticky fingers and dripping ice cream here and there.
Sometimes, I wish I was a perfectionist. When it comes to creating I am never as focused on the perfect result as on the process, messy though it can be. I could hand you an ice cream sandwich and, most likely, you would appreciate the cool sweet gingery cream tucked between the chewy cookie layers. We would enjoy the summer evening and not even notice if it was lopsided or dripping a bit. When it comes to creating something edible, how it tastes is crucial but to taste it on this screen looks matter even more. I can always throw myself into creating without thinking twice, but my skills at executing (and photographing) the best of what I have made often fall short.
I have a strong desire to learn more about cooking and writing and photography (and sewing and farming) which I will work to fulfill. Still, for me, it is always about the process. This seems to take a meandering path, a winding road that doesn't go directly from one point to another and I can't always see what is around the next bend.
For now, we have cardamom ginger ice cream sandwich cookies. I had some frozen ginger molasses cookie dough that needed to be baked and decided that they should be paired with ice cream. I love ginger and a hint of cardamom, so I thought that would be the right match for the cookies. The recipe takes a bit of time, but a few of these in the freezer will make a heatwave a little more bearable.
Ginger Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies
This ginger molasses cookie is perfect for making these ice cream sandwiches (but you can use your favorite recipe, too). The ice cream does not need the cookies, it is great on its own (the cookies are too) but they both go well together. Although I love the simple smooth cardamom ginger ice cream, it would also be really good with some chopped crystallized ginger stirred in (maybe 1/4 cup?).
There are several steps in the process of making the ice cream and the cookies, but you can make and freeze the cookies one day and make the ice cream another day. I like to refrigerate my ice cream bases overnight so they freeze well in my ice cream mixer. Once you have mixed the ice cream, freeze it for a couple of hours but take it out and spread it on the cookies before it gets too hard. Freeze the ice cream sandwiches until the ice cream is solid and then enjoy!
Cardamom Ginger Ice Cream
I adapted this recipe from David Lebovitz's vanilla ice cream recipe.
1 cup whole milk
1 pinch salt
3/4 cup sugar
3 cardamom pods
1-2 inch piece of ginger root
2 cups heavy cream
5 egg yolks
Heat the milk, sugar, and salt in a sauce pan. Grate the ginger root and add it and the cardamom pods to the milk. When the mixture is hot but not close to boiling, remove from heat, cover, and let infuse for one hour (if you are leaving it for longer than an hour, keep cold in the fridge). After the cardamom and ginger have infused the milk, strain out the cardamom pods and grated ginger.
Place a 2 quart bowl into a larger bowl that is filled with water and ice. Place a strainer on top of the bowl and pour in the cream. Whisk the egg yolks together. Rewarm the milk and pour a small amount into the egg yolks, whisking the yolks constantly. Add a little bit more of the milk and continue whisking the yolks. Pour the egg yolks into the saucepan of infused milk and cook over low heat, stirring constantly and making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to keep the eggs from over cooking. When the mixture thickens, remove it from the heat and pour it through the strainer into the bowl of cream. Stir to combine and refrigerate it until you are ready to mix the ice cream according to the instructions on your ice cream maker.
2 Comments
ApseedJuly 21, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Thank you fo sharing! I was looking for a good recipe of homemade ice cream. Now I have it with your help!;)
By the way, your cookies look very delicious!
{ T G L }July 21, 2011 at 10:09 pm
I think the lopsidedness of the cookies actually gives them that natural, homemade charm. Nothing wrong with that!
And cardamon + milk = winning combination. Add ginger to that and I think I'd be in heaven!
This Good Life


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Tuesday, April 30: Keep Your Eyes on Pfizer
Chris Dieterich takes a look at three key stocks to watch on Tuesday, including Pfizer and Avon, which missed earnings estimates. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... we stopped ... what three stocks Pfizer's to be the one that looks like it's can it be leading the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower its was off about foreigner half percent ... um and that's right after earnings they they they reported a ... solid profit that missed analyst estimates ... answer a revised downward earnings guidance for twenty thirteen party that was due to the had an IPO early are they spun off its animal health unit than a ... dog and cat drugs as well as has been the drugs but to ... absolutely a investors not looking to favor with the missing analysts' ... estimates ten AM Avon Products is a moment ... for that one that's right there about three nap percent ... of the markets for that could've been worse scenario there where they ... the report a loss for the quarter but that again topped estimates they're gone through predict restructuring ... head count ... going down as most were reviewed revising or so the strategy overseas ... and the company posts ... right bidding goes well we'll know we're mailing things lol but less these days so he goes you can think of a will but as a proxy for the for the for the United postal service in some way they're down sharply in premarket something like eight percent ... the revenues continue to slide the Dodd they handle mail and documents ... and shuttling back and forth between ... companies and and and governments' else ... is intensifying the triple whammy for them


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Color Spotlight: Kelly Green
Another color I just can't get enough of is kelly green. Every time I see it - on a coat, on a chair, on a wall - my heart skips a beat.
The name "kelly green" for a color originated in Ireland - this is not hard to imagine, since both the color green and the surname "Kelly" are quite common there. The first recorded use of "kelly green" as a color name in English was in 1917. This particular shade of green is highly saturated, but leans a bit more towards yellow than an emerald green. What I love about this particular shade is its versatility - it manages to be both cool and warm at the same time.
When using kelly green in your house, try to keep the rest of the color palette relatively simple, so the green can really shine. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, pair your kelly green with a little bit of aqua, or even hints of cobalt blue.
1. The Lennoxx
2. Global Atelier
3. Home of Courtney and Robert Novogratz via The Well-Appointed Catwalk.
4. Design*Sponge
5. Domino via Curbly
6. Rosenbaum
7. Lonny Mag
8. Hollywood Bed from Room Service Store.
9. Kelley Moore
10. Mimou via Decor8.
• Cobalt Blue
Images: As credited above.


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Sardinia??? Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Sardinia??? Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Italy View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message henrymorganJoined: 23 Jun 2004Posts: 7 Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject: Sardinia??? Anyone have experience teaching in Sardinia? Advice/recommendations? Thank you in advance, HM. Back to top HarriJoined: 05 Jun 2004Posts: 5 Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:24 am Post subject: I hope it's not too late to warn you....if you do get offered a job by Anglo American in Cagliari...be careful. Seriously. Apart from the video cameras in the corridor and microphones in the staff rooms (apparantly, this is not unusual for Italy), the guy who owns the school is not a very nice man. He'll work you into the ground and then reserve the right to either sack you at a moment's notice or, as the classes wind down at the end of the year, take you off your contract and put you on piece work. Then, once he's done this, you'll loose all your classes!! Nice, eh? If you do go, try and spend as little time as possible thinking/doing any work and make the most of the island - it's stunning and the people are amazing. Hope this helps! Back to top henrymorganJoined: 23 Jun 2004Posts: 7 Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject: Thanks very much for the warning!! My apologies on taking so long to see it. I'd given up, and haven't checked this section in quite a while. I won't be heading to Sardinia for a year at the least. Some doors have opened here that will lead to a way out of wage slavery (I hope). Once I get things in motion I plan to head to Europe. I just secured EU citizenship so the ground is prepared. My goal with Sardinia wasn't to teach ESL as such, but I have experience and thought I might need that as an income. May still need to do it part time. My main goal is to base myself there to better pursue my travel lit writing, while also working on this other new area of Sports Performance Enhancement in Europe in general. I'm intrigued by Sardinia, just want to soak it up, live there for a couple years at least, write about it... Any other advice you could offer about living/working in Sardinia would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, and thanks again! Henry. Back to top riacheliniJoined: 25 Nov 2004Posts: 5 Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:51 pm Post subject: sardinia Hey, Im so glad I checked this ssite - there currently is a vacancy advertised on the tefl site by anglo america in Sardinia and was seriously thinking of applying - thanks for the honest advice! Ros Back to top stephaniecaputoJoined: 16 Dec 2004Posts: 1 Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 7:01 pm Post subject: sardinia recommended What? Could you be talking about the same Anglo-American Centre where I teach? How could you have had a negative experience at the school? Cameras in a corridor shouldn't bother you. And if they do, I can see why you would think that the old, staticky, 1970's intercom in the staff room is a spy microphone. The owner of the school IS a very nice man. He's not only the boss at the school, he's kind of like everyone's uncle. He looks out for his teachers and has been known to get teachers rides, lend out his car, give advances on paychecks, help find housing, give advice on how to deal with the culture. If there are ever cancellations or if courses pop up or drop and you are scheduled this "piece work" as you call it, it's to ensure that you get the same amount of hours and pay. Judging by your advice to "spend as little time as possible thinking/doing any work and make the most of the island" I can see why you didn't have a great time there. Anglo is the most important English school on the island because of their high standards, if you don't take pride in your work it's not the place for you. If you do, then it could be one of the most enriching experiences of your life. It has been for me. stephanie Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Italy All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


text:
Grow TBE Club Memberships
Budget £20-250 GBP
The Budding Entrepreneur Club is an entrepreneurs community for exceptional entrepreneurs. We charge £25 per month per founder for the membership and we want you to help us grow that.
The project involved you getting us new members for for every new member you get for us, you will receive £25. Please contact for more details.


text:
On this page we share the original Official Stock firmware ROM and the installation process for Micromax A50 Android device. Here we have uploaded the official stock firmware ROM for Micromax A50. You can also update your Micromax A50 Android device to latest official stock firmware ROM. This Stock Firmware ROM are unmodified and Unroot, its original official Stock Firmware ROM. It's very useful for restoring your Micromax A50 Android Device to its original Factory Default setting. Here we provide a simple and safe tutorial for installing the original Official Stock Firmware ROM on Micromax A50 Android device. This firmware comes in a zip or rar package, which includes a firmware file, flash tool, USB driver, and flash manual.
Download Official Stock Firmware ROM:-
How to Flash:-
Step-1:- First of all, Download the Android USB Driver to your computer or laptop and then install it to your computer. If you have already installed this Android USB driver in your computer, then skip this step.
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Step-3:- Download the Official Stock Firmware ROM for your model and extract it to the computer.
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Step-5:- After extracting the SP Flash tool, right-click on the Flash_Tool.exe file and click Run as Administrator option.
Step-6:- After opening the SP Flash tool, click on the Download button.
Step-7:- Now in the Download section, click on the Scatter loading button in the SP Flash tool.
Step-8:- The SP Flash tool asks you for the location of the scatter file. Now click on the Choose button in the SP Flash Tool and select the file named "Android_scatter_emmc.txt" from the Stock Firmware ROM folder.
Step-9:- Now select all the files.
Step-10:- Now Click on Download Button in SP Flash Tool to start Flashing Process.
Step-11:- Now connect your Android device to your computer or laptop with the original USB cable. (in switched off condition)
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Dear friends, you've successfully updated your Android device to the latest Android version. If you have any issues regarding this update or flashing process on your Android devices. then please you can share your problem and difficulty with me in the comment box.
"Disclaimer":- Please read my every step carefully. We are not responsible for any kind of damage or any other problem on your Android devices during this updating / flashing process. You are doing this updating or flashing process at your own risk.
Follow the Detail Guideline to installation


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AMES, IA -- Promising to deliver "real change" to meet the nation's "big problems," Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney summarized his closing pitch to voters in a major speech Friday in Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall / AP
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivers his speech on the economy during a campaign stop at Kinzler Construction Services, Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, in Ames, Iowa.
The former Massachusetts governor, just 11 days out from Election Day, cast the choice facing voters as between "big change" (represented by Romney) and the status quo, as represented by President Barack Obama.
Romney's twenty minute speech was a crisper, cleaner version of the "big change" argument he began laying out on the stump Thursday in Ohio. In it, the Republican nominee accused Obama of shrinking from the many challenges faced by the American people and economy, and tried to offer a hopeful vision for what a Romney-Ryan presidency might look like.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about the heavy campaigning in the Buckeye State and why it's important to the 2012 election.
"This is an election of consequence. Our campaign is about big things, because we happen to believe that America faces big challenges. We recognize this is a year with a big choice, and the American people want to see big changes. And together we can bring that kind of change, real change to our country," Romney said.
"Four years ago, candidate Obama spoke to the scale of the times," Romney continued. "Today, he shrinks from it, trying instead to distract our attention from the biggest issues to the smallest -- from characters on Sesame Street and silly word games to misdirected personal attacks he knows are false."
NBC's Chuck Todd and David Gregory weigh in on the candidates' closing arguments as the presidential race comes down to the wire. Their messages: Mitt Romney promises change while President Obama argues for trust.
Romney told a crowd of more than 2,000 supporters here that he and Ryan would take on the "big problems that everyone agrees can't wait any longer" -- including reforming entitlements, curbing health care costs and breaking partisan gridlock in Washington, an issue on which he also battered the president for failing to live up to his promises.
Governor Mitt Romney addressed a crowd of supporters in Ames, Iowa, touting himself as a candidate of change and promising to "bring that kind of change, real change to our country."
"The president's campaign falls far short of the magnitude of these times. And the presidency of the last four years has fallen far short of the promises of his last campaign," Romney said. "Four years ago, America voted for a post-partisan president, but they have seen the most partisan of political of presidents, and a Washington in gridlock because of it."
While the speech was billed as a major policy address by the Republican's campaign, it, in fact, largely restated many of the policies about which Romney has talked throughout the campaign. But it offered the GOP nominee a chance to frame the election on his own terms, and argue that his track record suggests he would be more successful in breaking partisan gridlock in Washington.
"We're going to will meet with Democrat and Republican leaders in Washington regularly, we're going to look for common ground and shared principles, we'll put the interests of the American people above the interests of the politicians," Romney said.
The return to first principles for the Romney campaign -- focusing tightly on kitchen table economic issues and attacking Obama on a litany of issues -- comes as the campaign has looked to project confidence and momentum as the race hurtles towards its conclusion on Nov. 6.
"All the trendlines are positive, both in the national polls and the battleground states," senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom told reporters before the event.
The Obama campaign characteristically disputed Romney's speech.
"Romney has started promising 'big change,' but the only change Romney's offering is to take us back to the same failed policies that crashed our economy in the first place," Obama campaign spokesperson Lis Smith said in a statement responding to Friday's speech. "That's not the change we need, and with every 'major speech,' Mitt Romney just reminds voters that's all he's got to offer."


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by Collin Binkley at The Columbus Dispatch
A poster warning against sexual harassment at Ohio State University led a national group to conclude that the school "substantially restricts freedom of speech."
In an annual ratings publication by the group Fire, which works to protect freedom of speech on campuses, Ohio State was one of 10 schools in the state that earned a "red light" for having at least one policy that limits freedom of speech. Only one Ohio school, Cleveland State University, earned a "green light."
The group dinged Ohio State for a poster by the human-resources office at the school. In big, bold typeface, it warns that " sexual harassment is illegal" and lists eight examples of taboo behavior. The examples include " sexual jokes, innuendos, gestures" and "leering." In its report, the group doesn't explain whether any particular examples led to the "red light" label for the school.
Other Ohio schools that earned the red light are: Case Western Reserve University, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio University, Shawnee State University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Toledo, Wright State University and Youngstown State University.
OSU has earned a "red light" in past years, too.
The Fire organization, an acronym for Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, was founded in 1999 by a University of Pennsylvania professor and a civil-liberties attorney.
Schools: The Ohio State University


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OT: Would you EVER marry a buckeye?
The question can't get any simpler: would you or would you not ever, under any circumstances, marry a bucknut?
The following comes from a very inebriated, very close-minded Wolverine.
Personally, no, I could not. Being as objective as possible, I could never see myself marrying a Buckeye. If I found out that the love of my life was a Buckeye, then maybe I could. But I do not see myself ever engaging in an intimate relationship with a Buckeye, knowing that she was one beforehand.
I don't normally promote prejudice, racism, or hatred toward any group of people, but I, honestly, feel nothing other than sheer hatred towards anything or anyone associated with the OSU community.
Again, I am shitfaced, but I am who I am. My parents met at the U (of M, we are over 100 years older than Miami so we are IMO the rightful owners of "The U") so without it, I wouldn't be alive.


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to the dark side we go...
so? any suggestions for a bike buggy rig to use on dry lake beds in mild to moderate winds? up like 25 or so?
I imagine there's more stable rides and the nimbler models..got spiked tires for the blood races , and such
handles or a bar?...foil best kite? yeah, etc.
a little help please...I want a good start
sort of can't wait , jonesn for some speed..