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Stay current on the latest developments from agencies including the CFPB, Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC to advise clients on real-life regulatory situations.
By Eleanor Tyler
A tsunami of proposed food, beverages and agriculture mergers in recent years has not resulted in increased antitrust scrutiny by federal regulators but the percentage of deals being challenged may increase as industry consolidation spreads.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, the two agencies tasked with reviewing mergers to ensure active market competition, have reviewed fewer than a dozen of these proposed deals in the past five years.
The most basic measure the antitrust agencies use to gauge whether a tie-up will reduce competition in a given market requires a look at the number of competitors remaining in the market and the market share they could collectively wield against the proposed combined firm.
The more companies combine, the greater the likelihood that any two merging companies will overlap in some market that could draw regulatory scrutiny. If market conditions are already "highly concentrated," regulators are likely to be even more concerned about each incremental merger.
What factors are most important in the antitrust analysis of a proposed merger? What can merging firms do to reduce the risk their deal will meet resistance at the FTC or DOJ?
Some hints about regulators' current concerns can be gleaned by looking at deals challenged in the past.
A look at current merger trends may provide some insights into issues that could affect regulators' view of future mergers.
According to the Food Institute, the food industry alone saw 410 deals in 2015—fewer deals than in 2014, but with more emphasis on large deals with direct competitors.
Of course, it is exactly those deals that face mandatory review at DOJ or the FTC under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, 15 U.S.C. §18a. Under the HSR Act, the agencies review deals that meet adjusted thresholds based on size of the deal or size of the parties to the deal.
The HSR is, at its heart, a waiting period: The parties notify the antitrust agencies of the proposed deal and cannot make moves to consummate the deal until the agencies terminate the waiting period early or the waiting period expires. Technically the waiting period is 30 days. If the agencies ask for more information on a merger, however, they can get an extension of time to review it. That "second request" for information on a merger signals a concern about the merger.
In practice, merger review can last months if a company receives a second request: oilfield services companies Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc. announced their proposed merger in November 2014; the Department of Justice sued to block the $28 billion merger after more than a year of negotiation with the companies on April 6, 2016. A judge blocked Sysco Corp.'s planned takeover of US Foods Inc. on June 23, 2015—a year-and-a-half after the parties announced the proposed deal in December 2013.
Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. §18, prohibits mergers if "in any line of commerce or in any activity affecting commerce in any section of the country, the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly." The agencies' bottom line is "that mergers should not be permitted to create, enhance, or entrench market power or to facilitate its exercise."
A number of factors are involved in the agencies' analysis of market power and the types of competitive conditions that facilitate its exercise. The agencies look at market shares for the merging companies, market shares for rivals, how easy it is for new competitors to enter each market where the two merging companies compete and what alternatives exist for customers pushed by rising prices.
This is an inherently fact-intensive inquiry. The agencies decide in each case the specific products that constitute each market, and the geographic scope of distribution for those markets. The agencies' Horizontal Merger Guidelines, published in 2010, provide an exhaustive overview of that process.
In recent challenged food and beverage mergers, several points of contention in how the companies view their mergers and how the agencies view them stood out.
Sysco's proposed merger with US Foods is a poster child for a challenged merger involving two dominant competitors with a nationwide scope of operations. Sysco announced in December 2013 that it would buy US Foods for $3.5 billion in cash and stock and take on $4.7 billion in debt from US Foods, for a total purchase price of $8.2 billion. They expected to close in the third quarter of 2014.
Sysco maintained that the market in which it and US Foods operated was highly competitive, and that the new combined company, with roughly 30 percent of that overall market, would not be able to raise prices. "The foodservice distribution industry is highly competitive and is a mature industry characterized by slowing revenue growth," Sysco said in securities filings. "Increased competition from nontraditional sources, such as club stores and commercial wholesale outlets with lower cost structures, group purchasing organizations or consolidations among competitors have served to further increase pressure on the industry's profit margins. … We expect these trends to continue for the foreseeable future."
After the FTC started analyzing the merger, however, Sysco announced that it was prepared to divest 11 U.S. food distribution centers to the third-largest foodservice company, Performance Foods Group. Performance had 5 percent of the market in the broader foodservice sector in the year preceding the merger, and Sysco considered Performance a viable owner for any assets that the antitrust regulators required Sysco/US Foods to shed. The assets Sysco proposed to divest were worth $4.6 billion in sales, according to Sysco.
By February 2015, the FTC and 11 state attorneys general sued to block the deal. The FTC proposed defining the impacted market as nationwide broadline foodservice distribution, a definition based on what specific customers in that market need in a distributor. The FTC argued that Sysco and US Foods are the only broadline foodservice distributors with nationwide coverage. It estimated that, post-merger, Sysco would have 75 percent of sales of broadline foodservice distribution to national customers, with the next largest competitor weighing in at 11 percent. Such a concentration is generally viewed as prohibitively high by the agencies, and the FTC here saw no possible remedy to the anticompetitive effects of the deal.
The national scope of the definition doomed Sysco's proposed divestitures because they only affected smaller, regional markets. The divestitures were intended to beef up the next competitor in foodservice sales in local or regional markets where Sysco and US Foods were the main competitors. But by focusing on the scale of Sysco's operations nationwide, and the fact that only US Foods had something close to comparable scale, the FTC proposed a market in which only truly massive, systemwide divestitures would create a viable competitor.
Sysco fought that market definition in court, but in June 2015 the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed with the FTC's analysis and enjoined the merger pending the FTC's administrative challenge. See FTC v. Sysco Corp., 113 F. Supp. 3d 1, 2015 BL 205410 (D.D.C. 2015). Sysco abandoned the deal shortly thereafter, paying millions of dollars in break-up fees to both US Foods and Performance Foods Group for the terminated deals.
What went wrong? Sysco came into the deal prepared to shed assets, and had found and locked in a viable purchaser. Under the normal model of getting a merger through antitrust scrutiny, this was very sensible preparation. Sysco and US Foods looked at their business and saw where they had overlapping facilities and no real competitors post-merger. They were prepared to sell assets to someone who could step into the competing role in those discrete locations.
In most mergers this would have been enough: For example, DOJ on March 31 agreed to approve the merger of records management companies Iron Mountain Inc. and Recall Holdings Ltd. after the companies agreed to sell Recall's document storage facilities in 15 cities to some to-be-determined purchaser.
There are at least three important insights in the Sysco saga for competitors looking to merge.
First, the FTC defines markets fundamentally differently than a business might. Just because a company books revenue from different regions or profit centers does not mean that the antitrust agencies will view the market in the same segments.
The FTC will look at substitutability between products: that is, they look at what a customer will buy if the price on its preferred product goes up too much. That inquiry is about how the customer views the market and the shape of customer demand, not about supply. The FTC's normal investigation includes sending detailed questionnaires to merging companies' customers and rivals. If the agency gets information about how customers view the company's products that the company did not foresee, the company can get blindsided by the agencies' take on the market impacts of its merger.
When breaking out market segments, therefore, it helps to consider different price points and order bundles that various customers enjoy. The market segment the FTC focused on in this merger—and then in its current challenge of a proposed merger between Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc.—involves sophisticated customers that aggressively negotiate their supply contracts. Antitrust analysis might not focus on smaller customers seemingly most at risk of a higher price for lack of bargaining power: "Competition" includes a business's most powerful customers and the lowest price they can negotiate.
Second, are the two merging companies the first and second largest in a given market or is the relevant market going from three main competitors to two? Expect a challenge. Because of the basic math behind reviewing a merger for anticompetitive impacts, some mergers will always appear more potentially damaging to competition than others. Some markets are already highly concentrated before the merger, and other mergers create a sudden jump in the concentration of a given market that will draw antitrust scrutiny.
As markets become more concentrated, the agencies challenge more deals. And markets are broadly more concentrated than they have been in the past, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Measured in revenue share for the top 50 firms, the council found that wholesale trade and upstream agricultural supply industries became substantially more concentrated between 1997 and 2012. For example, the Council pointed to economic census data showing that the largest 50 firms in wholesale trade earned $2.183 trillion collectively in 2012, a 27.6 percent share of the overall market and 7.3 percent more than the share they held from 1997 to 2012.
Although Sysco looked at its broader market and saw itself with a 30 percent post-merger market share, it apparently failed to take into account both the broader competitive market in which it operates, which might overall have become less competitive, and discrete markets within its service range in which it is a dominant player. The antitrust agencies, pursuant to the Clayton Act, are looking at the possibility of reduced competition "in any line of commerce or in any activity affecting commerce in any section of the country." They will take multiple markets into account in their analysis and may also consider upstream and downstream effects from a proposed deal.
Also, the agencies are increasingly challenging deals in markets that are already concentrated. According to Northeastern University Professor John Kwoka, proposed mergers in markets going from five players to four were challenged about 64 percent of the time between 1996 and 2011, but the risk went up slightly as the years progressed. From 2008 to 2011, mergers that reduced competition from four players to three were challenged 90 percent of the time, whereas that rate was closer to 70 percent from 2004 to 2007, Kwoka told Bloomberg News in April 2016.
Finally, if Sysco could have predicted a high level of antitrust scrutiny, it could have taken precautions by better defining the parties' risks and obligations in the asset purchase and sale agreements. While explicitly laying out risk shifting raises a concern about giving regulators a "roadmap" to problem business lines or assets that the parties are prepared to divest, parsing the risks prior to a formal challenge can be valuable enough to outweigh any potential costs.
If the antitrust regulators reject the parties' negotiated divestitures, as they did with Sysco, other provisions of the agreement need to reflect that potential risk. Obviously, the termination clause and any "ticking fees" should take into account the risks to both parties of having to wait more than a year to close or not closing at all. There might be benefits to explicitly allocating the risk of various stages of the review process, from the high costs of responding to a second request, to the costs of delaying the merger, to the litigation costs involved in fighting to save the deal in the face of an antitrust challenge. Parties also should be careful to define "best efforts" in complying with any regulatory hurdles.
Parties also increasingly include reverse termination fees, which pay the target if the deal fails on regulatory review, in their agreements. Sysco paid $300 million, or roughly 8.5 percent of the $3.5 billion stock and cash portion of the deal, to US Foods as a reverse termination fee when the deal collapsed. While details of the negotiation process aren't available, that high of a fee may imply that Sysco didn't adequately foresee headwinds to the deal. Indeed, Sysco paid a $12.5 million fee to Performance Food Group when the divestiture deal they negotiated fell through.
Along with increased concentration in many industries, there are a few trends specific to the food and agriculture industry worth watching.
Private equity has been very active in food and agriculture in the few past years, and experts expect the trend to continue. According to Bloomberg analysis, the average premium for sellers in food industry deals over the past five years has been around 43 percent. Worldwide, the premium is 24 percent. While premiums are rich, smaller companies that are innovating in the healthier foods space often have an overall low price tag, and private equity funds are looking at projected growth in those areas and seeing profit.
But PE firms are also snapping up large food companies. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bought H.J. Heinz Co. with 3G Capital in 2013 and then, in the largest food industry merger of 2015, combined it with Kraft Food Group Inc. Bloomberg Gadfly reported in March 2016 that 3G may be looking to purchase Mondelez International Inc., which split from Kraft in 2012, or General Mills Inc. Apollo Global Management LLC announced plans to buy grocer The Fresh Market Inc. for $1.4 billion in March 2016.
On May 3, 2016, the FTC cleared Peak Rock Capital Fund LP's purchase of Diamond Crystal Brands Inc. from Hormel Foods Corp., in Peak Rock's fourth recent food-related investment. It already owns Natural American Foods, a honey producer; Berner Food & Beverage, which makes dairy-based shelf-stable snacks and beverages; and Highline Mushrooms.
While initial purchases in the food and beverages sector clear antitrust hurdles easily, funds may face resistance as they increase their holdings. The antitrust agencies will look at overlap in all markets served by each company, as well as overlaps in control and management, and the added complexity of multiple holdings in the same industry can add time to the analysis even with no potential problems.
The antitrust agencies have done this before. In 2006, the FTC challenged The Carlyle Group and Riverstone Holdings LLC's plan to take energy services company Kinder Morgan Inc. private. The FTC alleged the $22 billion deal would threaten competition between Kinder Morgan and Magellan GP LLC, a competing midstream energy company that Carlyle and Riverstone already controlled. The parties reached a consent order with the FTC in early 2007 allowing the deal, but the PE funds had to become passive investors in Magellan, ceding control of the company to another principal investor and removing their representatives from the Magellan board.
Another trend that bears watching is vertical integration, which presents different challenges at the antitrust clearance stage than horizontal integration.
Vertical mergers, which involve companies in a buyer-seller relationship, are challenged less often than horizontal mergers. Such deals don't usually remove a competitor from the market, and often they yield real efficiencies that can translate to lower prices in the market.
But vertical mergers in the food and agriculture industry have added dimensions. In addition to securing access to potentially scarce resources, vertical integration may also be used to control food safety along supply and distribution chains. In an environment of short supply, antitrust regulators will take a hard look at whether a merger will give the buyer the "ability and incentive to limit its rivals' access to key inputs or outlets." When too many players are scrambling for the same resources, eventually a market power problem can develop.
A recent example is Tyson Foods Inc.'s $8.5 billion purchase of Hillshire Brands Co. in July 2014. Both companies make processed, packaged meat products. But the Department of Justice's antitrust review of the merger focused not on retail competition where the two companies face each other head-to-head, but on supply and distribution of sows.
DOJ filed a complaint by August 24, 2014. It focused on where Tyson and Hillshire compete against each other to buy sows from U.S. farmers. Tyson bought sows and resold them to packers, including Hillshire, through its Heinold Hog Markets division. Hillshire purchased most of its sows directly from farmers and, instead of reselling them, used them to make sausage. Hillshire was, therefore, both a customer and a competitor of Heinold's. It also meant that Heinold and Hillshire technically have a vertical relationship.
But Heinold and Hillshire combined would be buying so many sows they would be able to drive down the price to farmers, who would have fewer outlets for sows post-merger, DOJ said. Sausage makers don't buy from farmers directly because they value the sorting and weighing services marketers like Heinold provide at buying stations. It would be time-consuming and costly for an entrant to establish new buying stations, the DOJ said. As a result, other sausage makers couldn't turn elsewhere if Heinold raised the price it offered.
In short, the DOJ complaint implied that, not only could the combined entity push down the prices it paid to farmers for sows, but Heinold could also charge sausage makers supracompetitive prices that wouldn't similarly affect Hillshire because of its direct supply of sows. Heinold could, therefore, pocket outsized profits by squeezing farmers on one hand and its slaughtering customers on the other. As a solution, DOJ required Tyson to divest the entire Heinold division in order to purchase Hillshire.
As companies look to sew up a dedicated source of supply for critical agricultural inputs, or to own their distributors to control quality, DOJ and the FTC might see the same potential for squeezing competitors in other mergers.
Many U.S. industries are becoming more concentrated, and the food and beverages industry is no different.
As concentration increases, each successive merger in a market draws more scrutiny. Even if past mergers in a given market have sailed through regulatory review, parties to a purchase and sale agreement should carefully consider what they will do if they encounter antitrust resistance and negotiate those risks in the deal.
Understanding potential pitfalls of the process involves knowing both the business and its customers' needs. Of course, that is valuable knowledge without the spectre of a regulatory review when two companies look to merge or buy or sell assets.
To contact the reporter on this story: Eleanor Tyler in Washington at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tiffany Friesen Milone at email@example.com
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Watch Megamind Full Movie [HD] | The supervillain Megamind finally defeats his nemesis, the superhero Metro Man. But without a hero, he loses all purpose and must find new meaning to his life.
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Director: Tom McGrath
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Saturday, May 8, 2010
Before and Afters - 05-08-10
6 comments:
- Rose said...
I like how the checkerboard looks sanded down.
And that basket came out good! I always use spraypaint on wicker, did you have to brush that on?
Certainly doesn't look like you wasted the day!
Happy Mother's day to you too. I know this one will be bittersweet for you being the first one your Mom is not there. Hope you are having many happy memories of her today, and that your kids are cherishing every moment with YOU today!
- May 9, 2010 at 9:47 AM
- Granny J said...
The side table looks great with the checkerboard. Like Rose, I've never used anything but spray paint on wicker.
- May 10, 2010 at 6:19 AM
- DeeDee said...
Well I think the checker board needs to be browned a bit...like it is tea stained...with the black...JMO...but I love it..and the rest of the story is you have been busy girl...I so love your works...happy Belated Mothers day...
- May 10, 2010 at 1:31 PM
- email@example.com said...
Great projects deb! I'm sorry I didn't get by sooner. No excuse, just been busy.
wondering what you did with the spice bottles of the rack you picked up? Thinking about using mine in the coke crate. ??
I hope your mother's day went okay. I know you miss her terribly. I wish I could say it gets easier. It will eventually, but it won't be any time soon.
- May 12, 2010 at 7:33 PM
- rachel said...
thanks for stopping over @ my page...I appreciate your kind words! I LOVE your makeovers - looks like we have a lot in common! Can't wait to get to know you better!
- May 17, 2010 at 12:03 PM
- Carol said...
No wasted time by you lil lady. You are a magician with your old finds.
- May 18, 2010 at 10:34 AM


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are occasions when a toy cleaner is advisable.... (More)
Who says you can't please yourself and the environment?
Thanks, to a worldwide interest in the environment, sex toys are now more green
than ever before.
Green sex toys are toys that are not ecologically harmful.
To understand what that means, you have to first understand the whole concept
of 'being green'. Being green means practicing one or all of three main
concepts: reduce... (More)
So you
think sex toys are all about simple dildos? That is very far from the truth.
Sex toys of the 21st century have been revolutionized and upgraded just like
everything else in our lives. Now, for every simple bullet vibrator, there is a
high end mini clitoral stimulator. Improvements in design, technology, and
quality have changed the sex toy market. The following brands are doctor
appro... (More)
Selecting sex toys takes some planning. It's uncommon for
someone to purchase toys on a whim. There are particular things to look for
when considering a sex toy purchase. Let's outline some of the better ways to
determine which sex toys you may want to buy, and what features are more
essential in a sex toy then others.
Things you may want to Avoid... (More)
At Discreet-romance, we keep a huge selection of sex toys for our customers and sell them at an incredible price.
Why? Because we believe using sex toys shouldn't be a luxury, it should be something every couple should have to increase
their sexual intimacy.
We have a broad choices of sex toys for women, such as rabbit vibrators, g-spot vibrators, clit stimulators, etc... At the same ... (More)
Bondage is sort of a tricky subject for some couples because not everyone's idea of what is sexually arousing is the same and for many, there is a fine line between sexy and downright scary when it comes to the idea of giving up control to another or even taking the control yourself. The term 'bondage' or 'BDSM' itself is a loaded one that c... (More)
It's funny how people see sex toys because you've got loads of straight people thinking that certain sex toys are for gay people and then gay people complaining that sex toys are made with straight people and couples in mind! Well that couldn't be farther from the truth! When it comes to sex toys, they are what you make 'em! You don't ... (More)
So you're thinking of buying a sex toy are you? Well, let us be the first to congratulate you on making a choice that will open up a whole new world of erotic play. We must warn you that it will be hard to stop at just one, because once you've enjoyed the unyielding freedom that a toy can bring to you or to your relationship you will w... (More)
Love dolls have come a long way and are far from the bordering-on-scary dolls of flimsy plastic they once were. Gone are the generic faces and the cartoon-like features as well as much of the stigma that used to be associated with sex dolls. Nowadays the makers of sex dolls are more aware of the need for lifelike creations and each one seems t... (More)
Whats up doc? asked the rabbit? Ill tell you whats up: the libido of women all around the worldnot to mention the orgasms!!
Since that faithful episode of Sex and the City back in 1998 drew attention to the Rabbit Vibrator; women... (More)
Were all so busy talking about vibrators that we forget their non-vibrating brotherthe dildo! Man cannot live on battery operated vibes alone when there is so much to be enjoyed in the wonderfully wicked world of dildos. From anal di... (More)
Finding the cheapest product with the highest quality is in every shopper's mind when it comes to shopping online or offline. Same goes with sex toy shoppers. However, can you really find the cheapest sex toys that will give you great quality and satisfactions? This article hopefully will help you choose the best sex toys for youself that won't c... (More)
Some people say that sex toy is one of the best inventions humans came up with. From that first dildo made around 500 B.C. by the ancient Greeks to today's
computer remote controlled vibrators that can move according to your partner's wishes half way around the world. For many people new to the world of sex toys,
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Sex toys can be enjoyed by just about all adults. Straight men, women, gay men, lesbians, and couples. However, picking out sextoys that are best for your needs is a daunting task. Especially at discreet-romance.com where we have over 10,000 different types of sex toys for you to choose.
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Discreet-Romance.com, the best adult toy store on the internet
check out our huge selection (over 10,000 toys in stock) of adult sex toys that includes vibrators, dildos, bdsm toys, lubricants, cockrings, condoms, sex love dolls, adult dvds, adult toys for women, men, gay, lesbians, and couples.
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Anal sex has been a great mystery to many people. There are many questions about anal sex. The following article will address the details of Anal Sex.
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The G-spot is elusive and for some it is the Holy Grail incarnate. Many ask, if we've found the clit why look for the big-G? The clitoris has been hogging the spotlight and the clitoris has been the media darling for many. For those few who have found the ecstacies of the G-Spot, well you know that the G-Spot holds its own under the spotlight.
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Does Size really matter? Well, I won't try to answer that perennial question here
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text:
Kindle Price: $2.99 USD
Available from Amazon, Smashwords
Website: www.GuyMHarrison.com
Twitter: @GuyMHarrison
Review Quotes:
"Agents of Change is action-packed and exciting. The plot escalates quickly and keeps a good pace to the end of the book. The love story is complicated and emotional, not just lust-driven and superficial." — Julia Peterson
"I love the narrator's voice that comes across, I mean, really love it. Additionally, there were some really great moments where I felt the author did a good job of upping the stakes." — Nikki McCormack
An amiable corporate manager by day and a fledgling matchmaker whenever he can get around to it, Calvin Newsome's new dream job falls into his lap when he's recruited by a secret worldwide organization whose agents use uncanny abilities to empower and influence everyday downtrodden individuals. Disaster strikes, however, when an elaborate scheme leaves Calvin as a prime murder suspect…and his new employer is presumably to blame.
With the authorities on his heels and his life left in ruin, Calvin uses his new powers to blend in until a journey for freedom becomes a quest for peace. As the agency's rival organization threatens the security of all of earth's inhabitants, Calvin teams up with unlikely allies and battles startling enemies hellbent on unleashing their power in a twisted version of justice, innocent lives be damned.
Bio: Guy Harrison is a Phoenix area-based author raised in Philadelphia. Once an aspiring sportscaster, Harrison has worked in media relations in higher education. He currently lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife Lindsay and their two cats.


text:
It's that time of the year! Join us at Cleveland's most beloved flea market: the Cleveland Flea!
From April to December you can find us hosting a booth and enjoying the company of fellow Cleveland small businesses! Stop by, say hi, and shop away!
Visit their website for more information: http://www.theclevelandflea.com/


text:
Issa 一茶1803 age 41 staying in Edo.
toshitori ni tsuru mo oritaru hatake kana
David's English
also a year older
the crane flies down...
a field
The season word in this haiku, toshitori, ("growing old") relates to the year's ending; in the traditional Japanese system for counting age, everyone gains a year on New Year's Day. The crane, a symbol of longevity, has gained another year--as has Issa.
sakuo haiga


text:
Because we care about shadow puppets, we thought we would bring you this little bit of amazing puppetry:
Incredible, isn't it? That was Raymond Crowe, Australia's only "unusualist." I would like him to come to the Matt Mikalatos Birthday Party Extravaganza on 7-17-2009 (location TBA). Musical guests will include Switchfoot and the Autumn Film.
And I stole the link from Neil Gaiman, who won't miss it a bit.


text:
Politicians trying to recruit friends on Facebook and Twitter: It's complicated
Also ...
Power of the Post
Politicians trying to recruit friends on Facebook and Twitter: It's complicated
Every political campaign these days needs a full-blown strategy on how to reach voters through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media outlets.
It's no accident, for instance, that President Obama has more than 39 million likes on Facebook, and this helped him deliver messages and raise money during the campaign against Mitt Romney. Or that political operatives start Twitter fights and hope their hashtags will go viral.
Journalists (including me) have also become heavily reliant on social sharing to promote their work and become part of a vibrant conversation.
But a new study by the Pew Research Center, out today, demonstrates the limitations of these powerhouse sites.
Mark Zuckerberg's creation has the broadest reach, with 64 percent of American adults saying they use Facebook, and nearly half of them — 30 percent — saying they get news from the site.
YouTube reaches 51 percent of adults, but only 10 percent say it's a source of news.
Twitter is used by 16 percent of adults, and 8 percent say they get news from the tweets.
Much further down are Google Plus (4 percent get news there), LinkedIn (3 percent), Reddit (2 percent), Instagram, MySpace and Tumblr (1 percent).
But even on Facebook, Pew finds that most folks aren't looking there for news. In fact, 78 percent of those who find news on the site say they just bump into it while on Facebook for other reasons. They could be posting baby pictures or checking on an ex-girlfriend.
When they do get news, 73 percent are finding stories or links about entertainment, 65 percent about their community, 57 percent about sports, and 55 percent about national government and politics.
But sharing is key to spreading the word. Half say they have reposted news, pictures or video, while 14 percent are doing the citizen journalism thing by putting up pictures they took of a news event (and 12 percent posting original video).
This is revealing, because the media sometimes create the sense that everyone on Facebook is avidly consuming and commenting on the news, while many are simply showing up in the same neighborhood and being accidentally exposed.
Twitter is a place where opinions evolve. Last spring, says Pew, support for same-sex marriage rose from 32 to 43 percent on Twitter in the conversations following Supreme Court hearings on the issue.
In January, when Chris Christie held his marathon news conference to deny involvement in Bridgegate, criticism of the New Jersey governor jumped from 36 to 45 percent in the next few hours. Support for Christie — and attacks on his opponents — also rose, from 11 to 17 percent.
So who are these people? Pew says 58 percent of Facebook users are women, while Twitter is split 50-50.
Some 34 percent of Facebook users are 18 to 29, but that rises to 45 percent on Twitter.
By the way, online video is growing in importance — and is a potential rival to television networks (or another outlet for their content). Sixty-three percent of adults say they watch online video, according to Pew, and about half — or 36 percent — say that includes news videos.
This is a crucial market for politicos and media people alike. Many people trust content created or shared by their friends and followers more than officeholders or journalists. But engaging them is harder than it looks.
(Obligatory plug: You can follow me @HowardKurtz or check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MediaBuzzFNC.)
Footnote: Here's another problem, according to the Wall Street Journal: Online traffic is filled with fakery:
"Billions of dollars are flowing into online advertising. But marketers also are confronting an uncomfortable reality: rampant fraud.
"About 36% of all Web traffic is considered fake, the product of computers hijacked by viruses and programmed to visit sites, according to estimates cited recently by the Interactive Advertising Bureau trade group."
Power of the Post
Newspaper editorial pages don't have the clout they once did — except in local elections.
The Washington Post has a history of boosting those it endorses into the mayor's office, from Marion Barry (before his crack-smoking bust) to Sharon Pratt Kelly (who was widely viewed as a disaster).
On March 16, they endorsed low-profile Councilwoman Muriel Bowser, who had drawn little coverage, in a crowded mayoral field for mayor. The scandal-scarred incumbent, Vincent Gray, was recently accused by federal prosecutors of knowing about a secret fundraising scheme to elect him four years ago.
On Sunday, the news pages suddenly portrayed Bowser as a threat to win, based on a local poll: "A week out, all eyes are on D.C. mayoral candidate Muriel Bowser."
Tuesday, with the Democratic primary approaching, it was "Muriel Bowser surges against wounded incumbent Vincent Gray":
"A once-fractious primary battle for the district mayoralty has narrowed into a two-person race between incumbent Vincent C. Gray and D.C. council member Murial Bowser, who are in a dead heat for the Democratic nomination, according to a new Washington Post poll.
"Bowser (Ward 4) has surged to gain the support of 30 percent of likely voters, more than doubling her support since the last Post survey in early January. Gray's support is unchanged at 27 percent."
That is the influence of a newspaper endorsement, even if it took the news pages awhile to catch up.
Top Twitter Talk
ObamaCare Twitter pitches intensify


text:
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This vintage Elizabeth II sterling silver condiment set consists of a salt pot, a pepper pot and a mustard pot with mustard spoon.
The pepper and salt pots have a circular cylindrical form; the mustard pot has a very slightly tapering cylindrical form.
The upper portion of each piece is plain and unembellished sterling silver, the lower portion is embellished with textured parcel gilt decoration.
The mustard pot is fitted with removable blue glass liners.
Both the salt pot and pepper pot have screw fitment locking access to the underside of the base.
This fine, vintage sterling silver condiment set retains the original hallmarked mustard spoon.
This condiment set was crafted by the very collectable and renowned London silversmith Stuart Devlin.
The pieces of this vintage condiment set are a very good gauge of silver, fine quality and in excellent presentation condition.
The decoration to each piece is very sharp.
Full hallmarks to the surface of the salt and pepper, the underside of the mustard pot and the reverse of the mustard spoon are all clear.
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of these pieces of vintage silverware.
Height 7.2cm/2.8"
Diameter 2.7cm/1.1"
Pepper Pot
Mustard Pot
Height 3.7cm/1.4"
Diameter of top 4cm/1.6"
Total Weight
6.5 troy ounces/201g (excluding liner)
View our full range of condiments at AC Silver


text:
Most teenagers find computers useful only for homework and checking Facebook. But a new nonprofit, started by a few people associated with the University of Chicago, aims to teach teens in the Woodlawn neighborhood everything about technology, from building a website to building a computer itself.
Throw in a few lessons about business and the group hopes that some of those students will eventually run their own small, tech businesses.
TC Morris can't resist a challenge.
"I saw this and it seemed complicated, and when I see something complicated, it kind of interests me," said Morris.
The ninth grader has discovered that what he's working on right now is actually pretty simple.
"The solder will transmit the electricity to the other parts of the motherboard, so basically it just repairs the connection," he said.
Morris is learning to repair a computer's motherboard at Artifice, a new program in the Woodlawn neighborhood, designed to teach high school students technology skills.
Morris hopes to get more hands-on experience in the areas that interest him.
"I like robotics. Building a robot has always been cool to me, hacking a computer. Who wouldn't want to know that?" said Morris.
The computer hacking lesson may not happen but students from Hyde Park Academy, just a couple blocks away, are going through a two-week boot camp to learn how to build their own website.
"So far, about me page and background, you can see, I made a collage of myself. I thought it'd be hard, but it's not hard," said ninth grader Morgan Sanders.
Sanders says she's learned a lot and pushed herself to learn more, even taking home a book about web development.
"Some stuff I didn't know; if you want text to blink, I found that interesting and wrote some notes down, little things, so I can be ahead of the group," said Sanders. "It's nice to know because society uses more and more technology, and becomes more advanced, so it's nice to be with the times."
And while it's early for some of these students to know whether technology will become a career path, Artifice founders say they're happy to see other students share Morgan's enthusiasm.
"We've apparently got permission slips being tucked under the door from kids we haven't met yet. We've got kids bringing their friends," said Ashley Lane, CEO of the brand new nonprofit.
She says some of the students are starting with just the basics.
"We're learning that a lot of these kids haven't used computers since they were 6, so the tangible benefits include being able to look at File, Edit, View and other toolbar menu options, and knowing what to expect to be in the dropdown menu and knowing how to do very basic things like cut and paste," said Lane.
Down the line, Artifice could be a place for students to grow their own small businesses.
"We are hoping, in addition to being an incubator for kids who want to do some consulting work or web design or mobile apps, that we'll be a place where kids can connect with mentors," said Lane.
But Lane sees an even more fundamental role for the new organization.
"We want it to be a place where they're safe, where they can be warm, hang out after school, because a lot of them don't have that," said Lane. "We want it to be a place where their creativity is encouraged, creative problem solving skills are encouraged. Maybe tech isn't your thing, but you're into art and we need someone to do the graphics for our video game."
In addition to building a website, students can branch off into other skills, like electrical engineering and robotics, systems information technology, or IT and computer programming.
When students leave Artifice, founders want them to have something to show for their time and effort.
"We want them to have a portfolio of things they do and learn here, we want them to be able to show that off. We thought if we had them build personal websites, they'll always have that to refer to when talking to employers, college applications," said James Crooks, a PhD candidate in biophysics at the University of Chicago and Artifice's chief technology officer.
He hopes the skills the kids learn will give them other options, in addition to college.
"What I'm interested in though is the kids getting skills they can use and having the option of not going to college if they don't want to, because they can work, they can be successful without having to load themselves up on debt," said Crooks. "For those who are really interested in learning more and doing more, and want to push themselves, we want to push them towards scholarships and not college with debt, and get as much for cheap or free as they can."
For now, Artifice is in its infancy, starting out in space donated through the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation, and rapidly growing.
"And thankfully, U of C donated 26 working computers last week, but we're growing at a rate where we need tables for all 26 of them way sooner than expected," said Lane.
From processing units to monitors, to cables and mice, Artifice exists entirely on donations and volunteers. Founders say they're working on grants and fundraising opportunities to eventually be self-sustainable.
For now, Artifice is only recruiting students from Hyde Park Academy, until the organization can afford to offer transportation assistance to students from other schools. Their vision is to eventually have several locations around the city.


text:
There is one main reason why the latest Apple operating update, iOS7, is great. It has nothing to do with any of its new features, nothing to do with additional security updates or greater ability to share content between users and accounts. It is because, quite simply, it makes me feel like I have a brand new iPad.
We live in a world where technology has a very short lifespan. We have such a throwaway culture that the amount of stuff we waste is staggering. Everything from unopened foodstuffs that are past a random 'best before' date to technologies that cost us hundreds of pounds maybe only 12 months ago (but are now viewed as 'old hat' since about 5 newer versions have been launched to the market).
In the UK we buy 18million new mobile handsets a year, and what do we do with the old ones? Well we simply bin them. Apparently we throw away over 2000 mobile phones EACH HOUR in the UK. Was there anything wrong with these devices? For some yes, but for the main, no. They were just 'replaced' by a faster, cooler looking model. This idea of obsolescence is explored further in this short video, which looks at how the very idea of throwing away technology is actually built in to the design from the very start.
And this is why the iOS7 update is so great. I am using my iPad and it feels like I've just received a brand new device. But I've not had to go through the trauma of selling, recycling or throwing away my old one. So for anyone out there complaining that it's mostly a cosmetic update, don't be too quick to disregard the importance that simple cosmetics can have on our world, and the way we perceive it.


text: SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 17 -- The US Display Consortium (USDC) has been joined by two new members, DuPont Co. and Eastman Kodak Co. These additions raise USDC membership to 16 companies, which is the highest participation level to date for the Consortium -- an increase of more than 56 percent since the group's 1993 inception.According to the USDC, the emergence of plastic electronic display technology is leading designers and OEMs to seek out companies such as DuPont and Kodak to aid in the development of thinner and more durable displays that will consume less power. The USDC expects these displays to be used in a variety of applications, such as transportation, signage and personal communication products. The Consortium also predicted that future displays will be manufactured in a roll-to-roll process, and said its two new member companies have extensive experience with this manufacturing procedure.


text:
Using Passwordless Authentication on iOS with SMS in Swift
With the SMS connection, the user is requested to enter a phone number. Auth0 then uses Twilio to send a one time code to that number.
Once the user enters this code into your application, a new user will be created in the
sms connection. The user is then authenticated by Auth0.
If the phone number matches an existing user, Auth0 just authenticates the user:
On mobile platforms, your application will receive an ID Token, the user profile and, optionally, a Refresh Token.
Open an account with Twilio
You will need a Twilio Account SID and a Twilio Auth Token. These are the Twilio API credentials that Auth0 will use to send an SMS to the user.
Configure the connection
In the Dashboard under Connections > Passwordless, set the SMS slider to the right to enable the SMS Passwordless feature.
Enter your Twilio Account SID and Twilio Auth Token in the appropriate fields.
Select the SMS Source that users will see as the sender of the SMS.
Enter either your Twilio Messaging Service SID or a From phone number, depending on the SMS Source selected above.
Lastly, enter the Message that will appear in the body of the SMS.
Click SAVE.
Multi-Language Support
The Message area supports usage of multiple languages.
By making a call to the /passwordless/start authentication endpoint, you can set the value of an 'x-request-language' header to the language of your choice. If the value of this header is not set, the language will be extracted from the value in the 'accept-language' header that is automatically set by the browser.
The Message area accepts Liquid syntax. You can use this syntax, combined with exposed parameter values, to programmatically construct elements of the message. For example, you can reference the
request_language parameter to change the language of the message:
{% if request_language contains 'dutch' %}
Hier is uw verificatie code: {{ password }}
{% endif %}
{% if request_language contains 'fr-FR' %}
Ceci est votre code: {{ password }}
{% endif %}
The following parameters are available when defining the template:
|Exposed Parameter
password or
|the password to use
|the user's phone number
|the name of the application name where the user is signing up
|the requested language for the message content
Enable your apps
Go to the Apps tab of the SMS settings and enable the apps for which you would like to use Passwordless SMS.
Using Auth0 Lock
The Lock is a widget that allows you to easily integrate Auth0's Passwordless Authentication into your iOS applications.
After installing and configuring Lock.iOS-OSX you will be able to use Lock as follows.
let lock = ... //Fetch Lock instance from where you stored it
let controller = lock.newSMSViewController()
controller.onAuthenticationBlock = { (profile, token) in
// Your user is now authenticated with Auth0
// You'd probably want to store somewhere safe the tokens stored in "token" parameter
self.dismissViewControllerAnimated(true, completion: nil)
lock.presentSMSController(controller, fromController: self)
When this code runs, it will ask the user for their phone number:
Then Auth0 will use Twilio to send to the user an SMS containing the one-time code:
Lastly, the user enters the one-time password into Lock. Then, if the password is correct, the user is authenticated.
This code will call
onAuthenticationBlock, where the ID Token, Refresh Token, and user profile are typically stored. Then the user will be allowed to continue to the authenticated part of the application.
Using your own UI
If you choose to build your own UI, your code will need to ask the user for their phone number first. Then call the following method:
let lock = ... //Fetch Lock instance from where you stored it
let client = lock.apiClient()
success: {
// SMS with code sent
failure: { error in
// Handle error
After the passwordless login process begins, ask the user for the one-time code. Then authenticate using that code:
let failure = { error in
// Handle error
let success = { (profile, token) in
// Your user is now authenticated with Auth0
// You'd probably want to store somewhere safe the tokens stored in "token" parameter
let lock = ... //Fetch Lock instance from where you stored it
let client = lock.apiClient()
passcode: passcode,
success: success,
failure: failure)
Lastly, once the user is authenticated, your app will be able to access the user profile and tokens returned by Auth0.


text:
Recognized as an industry leader in engineering fluid transfer products, Pacific Hoseflex is a third generation Australian owned and operated business.
Originating on the South East side of Queensland, our modern manufacturing facilities are successfully producing products which are distributed throughout Australia and globally.
Our main business focus is to deliver superior quality products and excellent service to meet customer needs across a diverse range of industries.
Supported with extensive research and development, highly qualified technician's knowledge and expertise has given the company a competitive advantage when tendering within the industry.
Pacific Hoseflex holds the quality-assured stamp of approval across manufacturing (ISO 9001:2008), workplace health and safety (AS/NZS 4801:2001), and environmental (ISO 14001:2004) work practices.
The capacity to meet the requirements of major projects, including engineering design and specification, complements our reputation as a market leader.
Pacific Hoseflex's supply is strengthened via agreements with selected OEMs and the distribution of their products.
Committed and dedicated to providing superior quality which incorporates continuous improvement to procedures and manufacturing practices to achieve our certified quality management system with includes:
– ISO 9001:2008: Quality management System
– ISO 14001:2004: Environmental management systems
– AS/NZS 4801:2001: Occupational health and safety management systems
– AS/NZS 3992:2015: ASME Section IX Welding and brazing qualifications
– AS 4041-2006: Pressure piping, ASME B31.3 Process piping code
– AS 4631—2005: Limited flexibility connectors for gas (AGA approval)
– WMTS 520:2016: Watermark Approved
– FMV SS106: Department of Transportation (DOT) – Brake lines approved
– Recognized Supplier of Department of Defence
– Achilles Certified
– Sabic Approved
– National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Approved: 1586
To ensure the client receives the highest quality, each product is 100% tested and meticulously inspected by a dedicated quality control position. We pride ourselves in providing excellent customer service to all clients.Pacific Hoseflex provides a fast and reliable turnaround time and will assist in emergency breakdown situations.
With a wealth of knowledge and expertise, Pacific Hoseflex can assist you with any technical information required as well as offering a company representation service for onsite support.Pacific Hoseflex has the capacity to meet the requirements of major projects, including engineering design and specification.
Pacific Hoseflex offers a hose management system to trace and maintain all products supplied by Pacific Hoseflex which can be customized to suit individual client needs.
For further information about us please contact our sales team on:
|Head Office
Manufacturing Plant
10 Alex Fisher Drive, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Phone: +617 5593 4292
Fax: +617 5593 4298
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
| Perth Office
Manufacturing Plant
49b Sustainable Ave, Bibra Lake WA 6163
Phone: +618 9468 2840
Fax: +617 5593 4298
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
|Asia Office
Manufacturing Plant
Town Dongguan City,
Guangdong Province, China
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
|Saudi Arabia (GCC) Office
Manufacturing Plant
JV Khalid S. Al-Shahrani Est
PB 34, Rahima 31941Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 13 6672889
Fax: +966 13 6681439
Email: email@example.com
|Iran Office
Manufacturing Plant
JV F.T.K Farakaran Tajhiz Kala
# 7, Third Dead-End, West Roudbar St.
Mirdamad St., Shariati St.,Tehran, Iran
Phone: (+98) (21) 26420190-2
Fax: (+98) (21) 26420476
Email: email@example.com


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My little family (mom, dad, me, and the recent addition of husband) have traveled to Severna Park, MD, every year since I was maybe 9 or 10 for Christmas. We go up Christmas Eve and stay with my Aunt Carol and Uncle Larry, mom's only sister. There's always a great crowd with lots of food, wine, and laughs. In September, Aunt Carol had triple bypass surgery, and luckily is recovering very well. But with this, she said she was taking this Christmas off. My cousin Kristin would be the next logical hostess, but she and husband Steve took their kids on a cruise for Christmas. So, I offered! More on that later...
Because this would be the first time ever hosting my extended family for anything, and I had very large shoes to fill, I wanted it to be perfect. And that started with the decorations
I saw an add in the Crate and Barrel catalog and off I went to the store to track down that exact look. As did every one else in VA - I almost had to fight one woman for the last reindeer stocking holders! And they were out of some of the elements, so I had to make do - and I think it really turned out lovely!
I cleaned off everything that's usually on our mantle, so I had a clean slate to work with. I used some fake garland which I doubled up to run along the top, and then an extra piece of red beaded garland that we didn't use on our tree this year.
I had this mirror that was just sitting around, so I thought I'd give it a shot - and it really worked out perfectly. The usual mantle art was way too busy for the Christmas decorations. It was about time for us to get some new stockings, so I ordered these from PotteryBarn.com - they were pretty inexpensive and came in about a week. We even got Cady her own!
Just a few other decorations around the house, besides the tree:
My mother in law has given us pieces of this nativity set for the last few years, and since she was joining us for Christmas, I wanted to make sure I set it out in a prominent location. It's fairly large, and since we don't have a lot of extra tables in our townhouse, this space right at our built-ins seemed perfect.
I wanted to bring in some fresh pine, but when I looked at purchasing bunches of it, it was very expensive! So, Cady and I went on a little walk around our neighborhood with our clippers! I just snipped a few branches from some of the huge pine trees around the community, and Voila!
I put some on top of the china cabinet in the dinning room, and then paired some with beautiful red roses in both the powder room and on the drink table. I got lots of compliments on both, and they were super easy.
I got the idea for the roses, pine, and silver vase from a recent Southern Living article.
I love my Target trees! I saw them at the beginning of December but just thought they were too expensive to buy a group of them. I went back the week of Christmas, somewhat frantic for a centerpiece, and there they were...on clearance! So instead of $20 and $10 for the different sizes, I paid $20 total for the 3! They were a perfect touch to our table - and didn't take up too much room!
Well that's all for now - more later about the Christmas dinner, menu, table settings, and a fun kid activity!


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The story of Geppetto is about a man who crafted a little person – a wooden boy who became a real little boy because he was created through love and precision.
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Our Maker
In 2003 Colin Levin started Play by Geppetto's World. His background and qualification as an engineer have been fundamental in the creation of urban design solution of overcome limitation of space and functionality. His technical skills combined with an ability to tap into the uninhibited and imaginative world of children are the essence of Play By Geppetto's World.


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Social network spies - no I will never be using Google+ just like I never use facedross,
I have been a part of Google Plus for five months now, and I must say that it offers some great networking opportunities for business owners. It was released last June and it is now becoming more popular than Facebook. Many business owners are finding that they can set up a business page and hold video conference meetings on their exciting new interface. Has anyone tried Google Plus, what do you like about it?
" http://www.laughatlifetoons.comCelebrate the smiles in life, each and every day!"
Social network spies - no I will never be using Google+ just like I never use facedross,
Well I am a member but I haven't used it for marketing or business. It doesn't seem very active to me at the moment or it could be due to limited number of friends that I have over there. Is there a guide available somewhere that shows how to use Google+ for marketing and business?
Yes, Google+ is apparently growing really rapidly. Actually, I opened an account but the truth of the matter is I just cannot use them. I really despise Facebook and immediately deactivated my account. I do use Twitter occasionally. I reckon I will close Google Plus too. There must be other ways of connecting with people, like IN PERSON or forums etc...
I simply do not want to look back at my life one day and measure it by how many tweets I sent, or Facebook pages I liked etc. Just not for me...enough is enough.
They all have their place but I am sick of it, for real.
I opened up a google plus account the moment I heard about it, then I let mine die out. I never even log onto it, I like alot of the features it has I just dont have much need for it.
Sharing work at home tips since 2007- Dawn's Work at Home Blog
I've been using Google+ since it was Beta and per-invite service and I don't see any activity at all. It looks to me like a ghost town that is trying to mimic Facebook, but nothing else.
However this is not the first time Google is trying to implement already implemented ideas. They tried unsuccessfully to have their own "Yahoo Answers" first, and the its failed "Twitter" with Google Buzz.
Google Plus sounds like a failed "Facebook" project as well.
The social aspect isn't very social as yet, it seems very marketing and spam orientated, Google should practice what they panda Preach.
google + seems good for marketing, but not for spamming.
I do have an account on Google Plus, and I love the features it has, especially the easy-to-use arcade system with enjoyable browser games, unlike Facebook's crappy apps. I've not logged in to Google Plus for a few months now although I believe I will start using it again soon.
I wonder if Google+ added Farmville if more people would be there everyday! I noticed that is one of the most popular things for FB, I know I am addicted to it too.
Shadow, I see what you mean. There are more links on Google+ that are from offsite. Then again my home page for my personal profile on FB is all links to pictures, sites, jokes or game apps my friends play. Seems that is most of what my friends and business associates post on FB.
Yeah I liked this is because one of the best medium to improve the connection between the professionals and also helpful to explore the business very useful social medium.


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Friend's Email:
Subject: I have found a CD that I think you would enjoy
|David Bowie
Scary Monsters
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Japanese limited edition issue of the album classic in a deluxe, miniaturized LP sleeve replica of the original vinyl album artwork.
Larger Image
Listen to Samples
CD Details
Album Description
Japanese limited edition issue of the album classic in a deluxe, miniaturized LP sleeve replica of the original vinyl album artwork.
Similarly Requested CDs
CD Reviews
Perhaps his best ever!
(5 out of 5 stars)
"'Scary Monsters' is perhaps the pinnacle of Bowie's long career in music. Firstly, it features perhaps Bowie's best ever backing band with Robert Fripp providing some stunning guitar work. Also, because this album was created without the assistance of Eno, it survives as one of Bowie's most personal. The persona adopted was the world-weary traveller of 'Lodger', only this time tackling more personal issues. The lyrics are probably Bowie's best ever, especially on 'It's No Game' and 'Teenage Wildlife' and another standout is his consistently strong, often exaggerated vocal performance. There are also a number of important guest performances from the likes of Roy Bittan and Pete Townsend as well as Tony Visconti providing some inspired and eccentric touches to the production. Although every song is a highlight, the best are the two versions of 'It's No Game' that bookend the album, the excellent number one hit single 'Ashes To Ashes', 'Scream Like a Baby' and the best of the lot, the aforementioned 'Teenage Wildlife'. The bonus tracks on the CD make this even more essential."
Borderline greatness
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Side One of Scary Monsters is, in my view, the single best side of music to be found on any Bowie album - not least because of the astonishing musicianship of King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp ('I've been spraying burning guitar all over David Bowie's new album', as he said at the time) and the supple bass playing of Bernard Edwards. And the songs themselves - from the throat-tearing opener 'It's No Game' (with a frantic Japanese commentary in the background), to the searing title track (check out the guitars on this one!) to the Space Oddity follow-up 'Ashes to Ashes' and the metallic dance track 'Fashion' - rank among his best. It would be surprising if the high standard could be maintained on Side Two - and it isn't. 'Teenage Wildlife' is a highlight - a mini rock-opera that has wonderfully expressive singing and inspired playing - but the tracks that follow it - 'Scream Like a Baby', 'Because You're Young' - are weak in comparison. Still, if I had to choose one album by Bowie to take to a desert island, it would be this one - the perfect antidote to sunshine and blue skies. (It's remarkable to think that the album that followed this, three years later, was the appalling 'Let's Dance'.) If you want to sample the music of David Bowie when he was at or near his creative peak, then order this CD. Highly recommended."
Scary Monsters
Morton | Colorado | 05/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"David Bowie-Scary Monsters ****
Released in 1980, David Bowies Scary Monsters became one of his biggest and most popular albums to date. Expanding even further on his new wave sound which he and Iggy Pop helped to invent some four years before this album. The album helped to usher Bowie into the 1980's a decade that would serve Bowie highs higher then he had seen before and lows lower then he had seen before.
Scary Monsters is an album of ideas and creativity. Some of Bowies most inspired and original work appears on this album showcasing early influences for many of the alternative bands to imerge during the decade. The lyrics on the album are more then just simple lyrics, they are really the vocal point of the album which is a first for a Bowie album. He has always been known as an amaznig lyricist but Scary Monsters secured him as among the best.
The line up of musicians is amazing with guest apperances from the great Pete Townshend, King Crimson leader and guitar virtuoso Robert Fripp, as well as piano great Roy Bittan, and legend Tony Visconti, but the phenomonal Tom Verlaine of Television lent his hands at some of the albums lyrics.
'Its No Game (Part 1)' is a strange song, but actually a great way to open the album being as it is a little strange as a whole. With no chorus or really a hook for the matter the song is sung in strange octives and features lots of Janpanese spoken word inbetween verses. No other song would have started the album better. Also contains great socialy concious lyrics. 'Up The Hill Backwards' is very child hood sing-along. While once again the lyrics are great they loose their effect being performed over such nursery ryhme music and in a sing-along way. The track is take it or leave it. The title track 'Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)' is one of the best songs on the album. With a very different sound and though the song sounds very 80's it still has a great appeal. 'Ashes To Ashes' is easily the best song on the album and one of Bowies all time best songs. Fantastic keyboard and minimal drumming make the mood of the song soom very errie. The lyrics are some of the best ever written in history. Part two of the contiueing sega of 'Major Tom.' In this sequal to the original we find out that 'Major Tom' is not in space at all but mearly strung out on Heroin. A great song, truly a classic. 'Fashion' is one of the most inventive songs of Bowies career. Combining some incredible guitar playing from Fripp and a new wave feel and sound that would revolutionize the comming decade. 'Teenage Wildlife' may contain the very best lyrics Bowie has ever written. The vocal delivery is so heart felt and emotional that you truly understand and feel what he is trying to convey. The guitar work from Fripp is inspired and complaments the lyrics perfectly. One of the most honest and truly geniune songs ever written. 'Scream Like A Baby' is almost a hard rocker. Slightly intence with some restraint as too not get way out of controle. 'Kingdom Come' is a song that was written by Tom Verlaine of Television and it is so clear when you hear it beacuse it totaly sounds as if it would fit in on the bands debut. A great perfomance from Bowie here. 'Because Your Young' features lead guitar from Pete Townshend which adds to the song and makes it better. Other then the guitar this is not one of the better songs on the album, in fact the album may have been stronger had it been left off. Closing the album is 'Its Not Game (Part 2)' which is nothing like part one which opens the albums. This is much more laid back. A calm after the store or more like a cigerette after a night cap is more in line. A great tune to end the album nicly and ease the listener away.
Scary Monsters is not the best album that David Bowie ever recorded but from the 1980's this is the best he has to offer. The music is phenomonal, this is an album you will never get bored with or grow old of. The artwork in the case of the album is worth the price of the album alone, usualy I dont comment on the artwork but it is truly breath taking. So for those how are looking at this you are sligtly interested and that is a good enough reason to buy the album if this review wasnt reason enough."


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Price: 52.000€ (agency fee included)
He he!! I love places with character and this one certainly has some!!
Situated right in the heart of Souillac, two steps to the town centre in fact. A very old cottage with a courtyard garden. Ok, so it needs a little love and attention but at this price it's such a do-able project.
As you walk in the front door there is a dining room to your right. (Perhaps this could become a kitchen or a bedroom). Behind that there is a bidet and washbasin - well lets just say plumbing is there! could be an en-suite shower??? Continuing on, there are three little rooms, ideal for storage. One at present contains several old, dirty, dusty bottle of wine ... perhaps vintage - who knows? !!
Next, duck down as you are likely to knock yourself out on the huge stone beam that leads you out to the courtyard. And what a great little space this could be. At the moment its all overgrown and has terrible lean-to contraptions on two of the walls. However, a good tidy up could make this a superb little area.
Onwards and upwards we go into the present kitchen. Large room! Looks very dark and dank as decor is very brown but a quick make over will transform not only this room but the whole house.
Then we go through into another room that was a bedroom. I think this would be better as a lounge because off of the lounge there is an old terrace that has been covered in to make a conservatory type of room. But is it a conservatory???????????? Noooooooooo!!!!!!! It's a bathroom!!!!!!!!!!! The loo is positioned to look out over the garden!!!!!! No curtains or blinds even...... Right to the far end there is a shower room so I'm sure you could move the loo in there or even re-position it somewhere else. This space will be much better as a real conservatory!
Upstairs again and we come into roof... This has already been converted into a good sized bedroom and what could be an office or small bedroom.
Just opposite the house is a large garage with parking.
My view: Overall, the exterior is in good condition and yes the interior needs perhaps a little re-thinking and certainly a make-over but I really like this little place. Could be a super little bolt hole to France!
Please contact me if you would like further specific information by e-mail, email@example.com
Don't forget to add me to your favourites or click on the link to 'follow' the blog. I will be updating as and when new properties come onto the market, news about the area, oh, and a little about my French life!!