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Longevity Meme Newsletter, January 12 2004
January 12 2004
The Longevity Meme Newsletter is a biweekly e-mail containing news, opinions and happenings for people interested in healthy life extension: making use of diet, lifestyle choices, technology and proven medical advances to live healthy, longer lives.
- The 2004 US Presidential Election Impacts Your Health
- Grassroots Organizations Need Your Support
- A Year of Newsletters: What Do You Think?
- Discussion
- Latest Healthy Life Extension News Headlines
This will be a year of politics ad nauseum in the US, as it is in every election year. Those of you who have read this newsletter for a while will recall my frequent attempts to talk less about politics and more about health during 2003 - attempts usually followed directly by the brewing of some new anti-research legislation that would block vital advances in medicine if passed.
The technical side of near term healthy life extension research appears to be well in hand. Amazing discoveries and advances are made on a weekly basis (and are noted at the Longevity Meme as they happen). The greatest near future uncertainties for health and longevity come from politics: from attempts to ban stem cell research, therapeutic cloning, and other important techniques that will - if nurtured - usher forth the first wave of real life-extending medicine. You can read a little about regenerative medicine and healthy life extension based on these techniques at the Longevity Meme:
Christopher Reeve, noted stem cell research advocate, and influential scientists have gone on record as saying that these fields have been set back five years by US and other government policies. Five years of delay in all stem cell based regenerative medicine is five more years of needless death and suffering worldwide. Approximately two thousand people die every day from heart disease in the US alone. This condition can currently be cured by a stem cell based therapy - 730,000 lives lost with every year of delay - and this is but a single application in a very broad field. If anti-research administrations and politicians around the world are not shown the door by voters, then five years of delay could become ten, or twenty. Other fields of science have languished for this long, or even longer, due to government policies and mismanagement in the past. So even if, like myself, you find mainstream politics somewhere between tiresome and repulsive, it is important that you speak out and make your voice heard.
A number of grassroots organizations in the US are doing a good job of making stem cell research and regenerative medicine policies an issue in this presidential election. One of them is the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR). I recommend that you visit their website, and read the materials there:
You can help CAMR make stem cell research an important issue by writing to your local news outlets - let them know that people care about life-saving medical research. CAMR offers a web tool that lets you do this in a matter of moments, complete with a sample letter; I gave it a whirl last week and found it easy and effective. Visit the link below and give it a try:
If we all do our bit, stem cells, therapeutic cloning and research for longer, healthier lives can become a major issue in the public eye. In the long term, this is far more important, in and of itself, than the results of any given election. In the long term, popular, well understood and widely acclaimed research will happen - this is the work funded by philanthropists, that politicians find they must support, that scientists are drawn to. This is the admirable goal we can all help to bring about: a society in which regenerative medicine is understood, desired and supported. A society well on its way to real healthy life extension medicine and open to a longer, healthier future for all its members!
CAMR is far from the only grassroots group supporting stem cell medicine or therapeutic cloning research - supporting longer, healthier lives. Two other organizations worthy of mention are StemCellAction and StemCellHelp. Visit StemCellAction to view the Portraits of Hope and sign the Stem Cell Pledge ("We pledge to vote only for candidates who support stem cell research"):
StemCellHelp provides a professionally done petition and information website. Visit and sign their pro-research petition:
As individuals, we have little say in the workings of an impersonal government. Standing together, we can make things happen. It only takes a few moments to register your opinion in support of medical research and longer, healthier lives. It only takes a few minutes to talk to your friends about regenerative medicine; it takes even less time to forward this newsletter to someone you know will be interested. Enough opinions and raised voices will change the future for the better.
The Longevity Meme Newsletter is now a year old, and how the time has flown. Experience is a good tutor, but so is feedback from my readers - and there are a fair number of you now. If you have ideas or suggestions for ways in which this newsletter or the Longevity Meme can be a better resource, educator or activist, please do let us know.
That would be all for this issue of the newsletter; more health and less politics next time, I promise! The highlights and headlines from the past two weeks follow below.
Remember - if you like this newsletter, the chances are that your friends will find it useful too. Forward the newsletter on by all means, or post it to your favorite online communities. Encourage the people you know to pitch in and make a difference to the future of health and longevity!
Founder, Longevity Meme
MSNBC On Calorie Restriction (January 11 2004)
MSNBC is running a very mixed article on calorie restriction (CR), alternating between describing its practitioners as "kooks" and "followers" and giving a more responsible view of the science. As I can testify, it is perfectly possible to practice CR without being hungry - it just requires careful eating habits. People who practice CR are individually making smart, educated choices for personal health and longevity. Overall, this article was a disappointing effort: it could have been much better if the author had dropped the insults and slurs.
Microheaters For Tissue Engineering (January 11 2004)
Betterhumans looks at a novel new technology for tissue engineering, a branch of regenerative medicine dedicated to growing replacements for damaged or missing tissue in the body. The big problem of the past few years has been how to grow tissue in the right shape. Recently, researchers working on biodegradable scaffolds and engineering blood vessels have made great headway in solving this problem. It looks like this new microheater technology will help things along even more. Some observers are predicting that medical science will be able to grow new organs to order long before the end of the decade.
On Ice Age Genetic Longevity (January 10 2004)
An interesting piece at the New York Times discusses recent research into human genetic diversity. This research suggests that longevity and resistance to degenerative conditions in some human populations evolved in response to Ice Age conditions. These sorts of studies will lead to greater understanding of the way in which different people are affected by aging processes, and what medical science can do in the near term to improve our health and longevity. The work also suggests that overeating, now common in Western societies, is more damaging to long term health in human populations without these evolved resistances.
Stem Cell Research as a Campaign Issue (January 10 2004)
Current restrictive US stem cell policies are rising as an issue of importance in the US presidential campaign: remarks by Howard Dean are reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, and a declaration by Wesley Clark is reported by WQAD. Most of the Democratic candidates claim to support stem cell research and therapeutic cloning (with varying degrees of weasel wording), and you can find their position statements at the CAMR website. Making stem cell research and the potentials of regenerative medicine a campaign issue will help in the fight against anti-research legislation, both in the US and at the UN.
Canadian Politicians Still Dithering Over Stem Cell Research (January 09 2004)
(From Canada East). Politicians don't like to make decisions that will rouse the ire of vocal activist groups over any choice. Stem cell research legislation is stalled in the US, but has been delayed for far longer in Canada. Stem cell research in the country is stalled for lack of certainty - just as research in the US and elsewhere has been greatly damaged over the past few years. Private funding is scared away by the possibility of later government prohibitions on research, and public funding has been banned or just not authorized.
Progress at Elixir Pharmaceuticals (January 09 2004)
Elixir Pharmaceuticals is making progress on the business side of healthy life extension research, as noted at LEF News. They're licensing a patent resulting from recent research into "MTP," an aging gene uncovered in a recent centenarian study. This isn't anything major or new on the research side of things, but it is important to see progress in the corporate organization of real anti-aging research. In the long run, corporate concerns are the source of most research funding in any given field. One successful company will mean many others will soon be funded to compete...we are seeing the start of that now.
Why Lifestyle Studies Are Not All That Useful (January 08 2004)
The latest ChangeSurfer column at Betterhumans examines some of the more common studies linking particular lifestyle choices with longevity, and illustrates that these results are not all that useful. You can't choose a particular lifestyle and expect it to improve your healthy lifespan - the real reasons for study results are often buried, rarely obvious, and sometimes counter-intuitive. You have to stick with the known medical conclusions, i.e. not that getting married is good for longevity, but that eating healthily and lowering stress is good for longevity. In other words, ignore the social studies, and look at the medical reasons for longer, healthier lives.
Cryonics Institute Successfully Negotiates Continued Operation (January 08 2004)
(From ClickOnDetroit). Media interest in cryonics during 2003 sparked some unwelcome intrusions by state and local governments into the continuing operations of established providers like the Cryonics Institute. Happily, Institute staff have negotiated a settlement ("benign regulation," as they put it) that satisfies both sides. The Cryonics Institute will continue in operation more or less as before; more details can be found at the Cryonics Institute website. To find out more about the science, business and potential of cryonics, visit CryonNet.
Alzheimer's Cause Pinpointed? (January 07 2004)
Alzheimer's is one of the bugbear diseases of aging, a frightening condition that is of great concern to people who are interested in healthy life extension. Unless a cure is found, everyone who lives long enough will eventually suffer its effects. Remarkable progress is being made however, and Nature reports on the latest installment: a much better understanding of the likely cause, and a way to prevent Alzheimer's effects in mice. This is only one of a number of research efforts, resulting from new knowledge and new biomedical technologies. Progress is good!
Secrets of Cancer Metastasis (January 07 2004)
The ability of cancer to become metastatic and spread throughout the body is one of the most feared consequences of this disease. Science Daily reports on progress in understanding the biochemical mechanisms underlying metastasis. This understanding has already led to the ability to "turn off" metastatis in colon cancer cells in a laboratory environment - this is a big step forward in the fight against cancer. The flood of progress towards curing cancer is a result of decades of successful funding, activism and public education. Can we repeat these successes for the fight against aging?
Resveratrol and Calorie Restriction (January 06 2004)
This CBN article gives an overview of research on resveratrol, a compound thought to activate genes in a similar way to calorie restriction. You may recall the spate of inaccurate articles on resveratrol in 2003 when the mainstream press learned the compound is found in red wine. This piece is more responsible, but - like most articles on supplements - is uninformed with regard to the potential of near future medicine to extend the healthy human life span. Supplement researchers are generally aiming low, at extending the healthy human lifespan by a few decades. This is an admirable goal in and of itself, but supplements can only take you so far. To beat the conditions of aging (and aging itself), better medical technologies will be needed.
Immortality Institute Book Submission Deadline on the 15th (January 06 2004)
As a reminder, the deadline for the first call of submissions for the Immortality Institute book project is January 15th. There may be a second call, and there will almost certainly be a second book, based on the volume and quality of submissions to date. Well known writers, futurists, journalists and transhumanists are amongst those who have offered texts. Do you have musings on healthy life extension you'd like to see published? Now would be the time to pull them together and make a submission to the book project.
Oxidative Stress and Aging (January 05 2004)
SAGE Crossroads is printing an article that summarizes the current state of oxidative stress and free radical theories of aging. There are currently a number of competing theories of aging, all with some good looking science to back them up. It is seeming increasingly likely that a single unified theory of aging could be found to fit current theories into a seamless whole. A quote: "It's not that oxidative stress causes aging; it's a component of aging. We're moving away from the idea that there's a single cause of aging; there are probably multiple causes."
Presidential Candidate Stem Cell Positions (January 05 2004)
Since we're on the topic of presidential candidates, we should point out that the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research is asking candidates for their positions on stem cell research. You can view the responses received to date at the CAMR website. A lot of shifty political doublespeak makes its way in there, so tread with care. You can also use the CAMR website to write to local media and help make stem cell research an issue in the 2004 presidential election. Go ahead and take a few minutes to do this: it's a worthwhile investment of time.
Lieberman Would Repeal Bush Stem Cell Restrictions (January 04 2004)
Near the end of this Guardian article, US Senator Joe Lieberman promises to repeal the current restrictive Bush stem cell research prohibitions if he is elected. Everything that candidates say at this stage in the process has to be treated with skepticism - politicians, like lawyers, are basically professional liars - but it is encouraging to see that groups like CAMR have succeeded in making this an issue in the 2004 election. Bush's anti-research policies are widely acknowledged to have set back progress in regenerative medicine by five years - five more years of death and suffering while potential cures are blocked by government fiat.
NJ Stem Cell Law Finally Signed (January 04 2004)
As reported by Newsday.com, New Jersey is now the second US state to pass legislation explicitly allowing stem cell research. The state governor signed the law into effect in the company of Christopher Reeve, one of the most effective advocates for stem cell research. Last minute opposition to this law from anti-research groups has been strong and vocal, but fortunately ineffective. Stem cell research is the shortest path to real, effective therapies that will lengthen healthy lifespan and defeat the diseases of aging, and every piece of positive legislation is welcome in the current political climate.
Gene Linked to Growth Hormone Action (January 03 2004)
(From the Life Extension Foundation News). A genetic mechanism for the effects of growth hormone has been discovered, relating it to a gene that is known to regulate many aspects of cellular activity and longevity. This is a very specific result, linked to liver regeneration, but will no doubt soon be referenced by sellers of human growth hormone (HGH). The science and studies supporting HGH are nowhere near as solid as those supporting calorie restriction (to pick an example) and this most recent research does nothing to change that.
Stem Cell Policies and Players (January 03 2004)
As an item of interest, the Genome News Network maintains an infrequently updated overview page on legislation, government policies and notable researchers in the stem cell field. While the most important stem cell news and developments are usually pointed out here as they happen, it's good to see some overviews being put together. Even partial lists of what is going on around the world are better than nothing: this one omits developments in Japan, China and South Korea, for example.
Australian Legislation Blocks Research (January 02 2004)
This article from smh.com.au is a good illustration of the damage done by restrictive stem cell research legislation enacted to try and prevent human cloning. Research on embryonic stem cells in Australia is a mere shadow of what would otherwise be possible. This means that Australia's vast medical research resources are not working towards regenerative medicine and cures for the diseases and conditions of aging. Sadly, this picture is repeated in all too many countries worldwide. The US may enact even more restrictive anti-research legislation in the coming year.
South Korea To Restrict Stem Cell Research (January 01 2004)
The Washington Times reports on South Korean government restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. The full effects of the legislation are unclear, but it looks like only very limited research for curing disease will be permitted. It is disappointing to see the policitians of yet another country with strong medical research resources block the most promising path to curing the degenerative conditions of aging. Unfortunately, even more restrictive legislation is pending in the US and elsewhere. The chance of a healthier, longer future will be taken away from us if we do not act and speak out.
More on New Jersey Stem Cell Politics (January 01 2004)
An editorial at South Brunswick Post covers the last minute political battles over the New Jersey stem cell research legislation, yet to be signed into law by the state governor. Anti-research groups are lobbying hard, employing scare tactics and hyperbole. From the editorial: "Sign the bill, governor. Show the president, the Assembly Republicans and the three congressmen who would have you do otherwise that you will give hope to those victims of preventable illnesses and curable diseases. Do it because they are living, breathing people. And they have a right to life."
Mechanism of Calorie Restriction Revealed? (December 31 2003)
At Betterhumans, an article on recent noteworthy research into the biochemistry of calorie restriction. As we should all know by now, calorie restriction has long been shown to extend healthy lifespan and drastically increase resistance to the common diseases of aging. It looks like MIT scientists have definitively pinned down one simple mechanism whereby calorie restriction activates a known anti-aging gene - it remains to be seen whether this is the only or principle mode by which calorie restriction operates to extend healthy life span.
Stem Cell Architect Knighted (December 31 2003)
The BBC notes that Professor Martin Evans, the chief architect of modern stem cell research, has received a knighthood in honor of his work. It is very gratifying to see this research - now a field promising cures for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, nerve damage, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many more conditions - lauded rather than attacked by a governmental institution. The UK is currently one of the more hospitable locations for stem cell research, and government officials take a much more pro-research and pro-medicine line than their counterparts in the US, Germany or other European nations.
An Age of Medical Miracles (December 30 2003)
The New York Daily News takes a look ahead at the pace of medical science in just a few of many fields. Researchers are making amazing progress in the fight against the most common diseases and conditions of aging: heart disease, Alzheimer's and diabetes are amongst those mentioned in this article. Improved therapies are expected in the next couple of years, followed by impressive leaps in medical science over the next decade. One rather important omitted detail is the dependency of many of these new medical technologies on political battles currently underway. If stem cell medicine is banned in the US - as it may be if we don't speak out - then many of the promised cures will be long delayed.
The Significance of Hair Regeneration (December 30 2003)
As reported in Wired, it turns out that research into regenerating hair is more important to tissue engineering (a branch of regenerative medicine) than you might initially think. In a way, hair regeneration has suffered from the same problem as legitimate anti-aging research - it's a small discipline amid a sea of fraudsters, quacks and fake medicine. Real science is starting to triumph, however, and this holds out hope for the future of healthy life extension and anti-aging medicine. The article is an interesting read, so go and take a look.
Year In Review At Betterhumans (December 29 2003)
Simon Smith of Betterhumans looks back at the year in technology in his latest column. Medicine and healthy life extension developments are near the top of his list - including the entry of the first real anti-aging drugs into the pipeline, and amazing developments in stem cell and genetic medicine. He should have mentioned ongoing work that keeps making computers faster and cheaper, since that trend drives the latest medical research, ever faster and ever better. Now if only the politicians would just stand back and let it all happen...
Looking Back On 2003 (December 29 2003)
It's been a slow news weekend for topics of interest to healthy life extensionists, so take a little time to read the Longevity Meme newsletter today instead. It's a look back at what we think are the most important trends and happenings in 2003: stem cell research, bad legislation, therapeutic cloning, calorie restriction and cryonics are all in there somewhere. Our newsletter is a year old next issue, so what better time to sign up or add the RSS feed to your news aggregator? Come on in; you're all welcome.
Do you have comments for us, or want to discuss the newsletter?


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Leather & Rosewood Armchair by Sven Ellekaer for Coja
Armchair created in the 60s by Sven Ellekaer for the Dutch label Coja. Norell was a true artist who dedicated his life to experiment with new materials, testing their potential by creating innovative combinations. An example is this piece with turned wood structure rosewood and leather elegant black and quilted finish. The height of the armrests, being embraced by the comfortable upholstery, immersed in a pleasant feeling of comfort who sits on it.
In very good condition with minimal signs of use. Upholstery cleaned completely, returning to nourish and moisturize the leather, thereby restoring its natural shine and pleasant texture origin.
L: 77 cm H: 71 cm P: 74 cm

subset: commoncrawl


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S'mores Nachos
A fun dessert to make, these s'mores nachos are super easy and a huge crowd pleaser. Make for an adult get together, involve the kids in "decorating" the nachos, or make a smaller serving to enjoy for just yourself!
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Crisps®
Giant Marshmallows
Marshmallow Cream
Chocolate Pieces
Graham Cracker Crumbs or Crust
Lay out a circle of Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Crisps® on a pizza stone or baking sheet. If placing on a baking sheet, make certain it is nonstick or lined with a silpat/parchment paper.
Slice giant marshmallows in half, then place them on top of Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Crisps®. Drizzle with marshmallow cream. Break down the graham cracker crust and sprinkle it on top. Finish with a sprinkle of chocolate chips or pieces.
Bake it in the oven on low broil, until the marshmallows just begin to brown. Serve immediately.


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Kitchen renovations made easy with our appliance auctions
Renovating your home is an exciting task – but it can also be a very daunting one! You have to consider a large number of factors, from paint colour to furniture, all while sticking to your budget.
Read on to find out our top five tips that will help save you time and money when renovating your kitchen!
- Always have a plan
Before you get started on your kitchen renovation, it's important to sit down and map out the objectives of your project and how you're going to achieve them. Address the reason why you want to change each particular detail of your kitchen in order to find out whether a complete renovation is required. Once you've done some planning, you might realise that all you'll need is a new coat of paint and a new kitchen island to transform the room!
- Do your research
Always shop around before making any purchases, as you can find some real bargains at our appliance auctions! Throughout the year, we hold a number of Perth kitchen auctions, which feature high quality appliances such as ovens, dishwashers, fridges and freezers at a fraction of the recommended retail price.
- Choose a theme
It's always a smart idea to choose your desired kitchen layout and design ahead of time. Consider your lifestyle, your preferences and your budget by asking some of the following questions:
– Do you have a big family? If so, you'll need to maximise on space in every way possible.
– Do you often host guests? You might consider a kitchen layout that encourages social interaction.
– Do you like modern or traditional designs? Choose a colour palette and appliances that complement your own tastes.
By asking the big questions up front, you'll be in a good position to make informed decisions throughout the renovation process.
- Ask the experts
If you're struggling to formulate a clear plan or direction for your kitchen renovation, don't be afraid to speak to the experts – after all, it's what they do best! If you have the budget available, you may wish to hire an architect who can help create a custom design for you.
Working to a budget? That's okay too! Speak to some local contractors about your vision to see if they can recommend a few ways to minimise costs while achieving your goals. So long as you've nailed the design and done all the necessary preparation, your contractor should be able to step in and take over from there, which will help to reduce the production costs for you!
Tip: make sure you know the exact size and type of your kitchen appliances before ordering any new cabinets, as you'll need to build around them. Check out our upcoming appliance auctions where you'll find a wide range of models and sizes to suit all kitchens!
- Sign up to become a Gregsons Club Member
Stay up to date with the latest kitchen appliance auctions at Gregsons by signing up to our newsletter and becoming a Club Member. You can select your preferences so you'll hear about all the things you want, and nothing you don't! Start your kitchen renovation journey with Gregsons, and you'll never miss out on a bargain again.Sign Up For Upcoming Auctions


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By Celia Llopis-Jepsen
July 17, 2016
Kansas expanded efforts to combat childhood hunger last summer, but advocacy groups want the state to do better.
Eight percent or less of Kansas children from low-income families received meals last July through federally funded, locally operated summer nutrition programs.
The Food Research and Action Center, a Washington, D.C.-based group that seeks solutions to child hunger and undernutrition, releases annual reports on summer nutrition programs across the country. The group advocates for expanding access to such programs.
Last year's report pegged Kansas at 50th in the U.S. among the states and Washington, D.C, in terms of summer meal outreach. This year's report, released this week, indicates upward of 2,000 more children were served last July than the previous year. This put Kansas at 48th in the U.S.
Kansas Appleseed, a justice center focused on serving vulnerable populations, said the state still has much progress to make.
"It's very positive news," Rebekah Gaston, an attorney at the organization, said in a news release. "But the program is still falling short of the need."
The annual Food Research & Action Center report compares ratios of children who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches during the school year to the average daily number of children served in July.
In Kansas, average daily participation was about 15,600 last July, compared to the 190,200 children in the state who qualify based on their parents' low income for free or reduced-price lunches.
Summer food sites are open to all minors regardless of parents' income levels. The sites are located in areas with higher rates of low-income families.
Leaving the program open to all families is meant to avoid stigma that could undermine the purpose of the program by discouraging parents from bringing their children.
A key obstacle to expanding access to summer meals in Kansas has been the lack of sites in many rural areas. Last summer, 35 of Kansas' 105 counties didn't have summer nutrition programs. This summer, 23 counties lack them.
Parents can find a complete list of summer meal sites on the Kansas State Department of Education website: https://ksweb.ksde.org/SFSPLocationsASP/SFSP/SFSP_Menus/SFSP_Locations.asp
Local organizations — such as churches, schools and community centers — interested in establishing summer meal sites must apply via the Kansas State Department of Education.


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Power is the most important aspect for building a gaming PC. Why? Every computer needs power running through it; that's why it's essential to find the best power supply that will meet your needs for optimal performance.
Whether you're searching for the best power supply for gaming that you won't have to replace for a long time or you're just wondering which of the power supplies are sufficient for your PC, this guide will assist you in buying the power supply to make your experience as excellent as possible.
400-600W Power Supplies
600-800W Power Supplies
800-1000W Power Supplies
1000W+ Power Supplies
What is a Power Supply?
A power supply unit, or PSU, is the most important part of a computer when it comes to function and usage. Just as the engine of a car gives the vehicle power, the PSU gives your computer power to run at its best.
If you're searching for PSU for gaming, you're going to need even more power than the average PC user. Gaming hardware often has higher specifications and requirements, which is why you want the best power supply that you can afford.
When shopping for the power supply, you're going to need to look for the highest quality products with the best wattage and efficiency so you can avoid paying extra money for replacement parts in the long run.
What to consider when choosing a Power Supply?
Power Supply Form Factors
Power supply units can come in several shapes and sizes and they can only be put in certain areas or positions in your computer case.
All of the larger components of a computer need to have compatible form factors. The three components of a computer that have form factors include the case, power supply and motherboard.
There are a number of form factors; with ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) being the most common for current power supplies. Current ATX variations include micro-ATX, ATX12V v1.x, ATX12V v2.x.
Micro-ATX form factor (SFX power supplies) is only used for smaller PC types such as media center PCs. While getting micro-ATX components is a cost-effective way of building a PC, it is not ideal for a gaming PC as it does not have enough size or power to accommodate the larger components such as modern graphics cards and extra RAM module slots.
ATX, ATX12V and Other Versions
The difference between various versions of ATX form factors are the connectors that attach to the power supply.
Namely, the number of pins that are required to connect the power supply to the motherboard. The number of required pins has grown over time (from 20 to 24 in recent years). The increase in pins is due to the requirement of more power to support higher-powered motherboards, so the latest versions of ATX will be able to accommodate higher performance PCs.
Modular or Not?
Cables play a vital role in connecting the PSU with everything that needs power. There are two types of power supply units when it comes to cabling: Fixed and Modular.
The Benefits of Modular:
A modular PSU means that you only need to use the cables as you see fit based on what cables you need at a given time. While modular PSUs may cost more, there are a lot of advantages to running this setup, such as:
- The PSU isn't running to the cables that aren't plugged in, which is a more efficient use of power.
- There are fewer cables to play around with in terms of cable management. This would help people that want to show off their PC with a window case and don't want to deal with more things that can accumulate dust.
The Benefits of Fixed:
A fixed PSU means that all or some of the cables attached are already linked to the power supply and cannot be taken off. Fixed cabling power supplies do have a few benefits, including:
- All the cables are already there and you cannot lose them in the subsequent time after installing your power supply into your computer.
- Fixed is generally more cost effective.
Which is Better?
Modular power supplies are generally considered more efficient based on their versatility. With modular, there is a risk of misaligned connections that can cause a slight voltage drop and an increase in the electrical current passing through the wires. However, if you are careful and make sure all the cables are secure, this is unlikely to happen.
Modular may not be needed and will cost more but the advantages of cable management and fewer cables blocking your cooling might outweigh the cost for more hardcore gamers; the choice is yours!
PSU Efficiency Explained
The power efficiency of the power supply is how much power it is pulling from the power source and how well the PSU converts it into direct current (DC).
A very simple equation to work out the efficiency of a power supply is as follows:
Efficiency = DC Power / AC Power
When examining the PSU efficiency specifications on a given PSU model, you will commonly see the term 80 PLUS or 80+.
This is a mark from a company that certifies all power supply units on how efficient they are. They do not give the certification to any power supplies that do not achieve at least 80% efficiency, hence 80 PLUS.
There are 6 levels of 80 PLUS efficiency. They are all based off how far above 80% efficiency that they can operate at 10%, 20%, 50% and 100% of their maximum wattage.
- Base Level: Between 80% and 82%.
- Bronze: Between 83% and 85%.
- Silver: Between 85% and 88%.
- Gold: Between 88% and 92%.
- Platinum: Between 92% and 94%.
- Titanium: The highest 80 PLUS rating; any power supply that operates at 95% or above efficiency.
Losing PSU Efficiency
There are two main factors that come into play when considering lost efficiency. The first and most obvious effect you may feel, physically, is heat. Because the power supply is drawing more power than it needs, it is producing an excess amount of heat (on a hot summer's day, this can be very noticeable). You want your computer to run as cool as possible to help prolong its lifespan. For this reason, a higher efficiency rating is the better option when shopping for the best PSU.
The second factor (which may not be very important or noticeable initially) is cost. Specifically, the extra money you are spending on your electricity bill. If you your PC is on most of the time, then a lower efficiency PSU might be quite bad for your wallet.
If you are shopping for the best gaming power supply, then you will need to look for at least an 80 PLUS Gold. Many of the higher wattage power supplies already have this, although some cheaper options don't. For hardcore PC gamers, it's likely not worth having an efficiency under Gold.
How much power do you really need?
You might be thinking that you'd love to get the highest wattage and efficiency rating that you possibly can. While this comes with the benefit of higher power and performance, you may be spending more money than what you really need.
If you buy the best of the best, then it will likely stay quiet and not produce as much heat as a power supply with a lower wattage. The risk of buying a cheap, low-quality power supply is that the fan might be spinning louder, working harder and producing more heat. This, in turn, might shorten the life of your PSU. On the other hand, you may be able to spend less money on a PSU that still does its job for what you need.
There are many power supply calculators on the web, such as Outer Vision. This can help you determine the wattage needed for your gaming PC.
If you are planning to overclock your CPU and/or RAM or make upgrades in the future, you'll want to get a higher wattage than what is recommended. However, if you have no plans to do this, then perhaps getting something much closer to what the calculator says is more acceptable (and cheaper).
If you want to truly futureproof your computer, it's advised that you purchase a power supply unit that is at least 10% wattage over what the recommendation is. For gamers who require the highest performing PSUs, nothing below 600W is a good idea given the power needed for the high-end components.
The Best 400-600W Power Supplies
EVGA Supernova 550 GM
An Affordable SFX PSU Made for Big Deeds
For everyone looking for class and performance in one, there is no better choice than the EVGA Supernova 550 GM PSU. This fully modular 550W power supply comes with an 80 PLUS Gold certification and durable 92mm double ball bearing fans that maybe make a bit more noise than the fluid dynamic-bearings, but surely cope with the increased heat much better, which can prove to be very important, especially in such a cramped space as the SFX cases.
Other good aspects of the EVGA Supernova 550 GM are its 7-years warranty and the use of Japanese capacitors that, alongside the multiple protections included such as the OVP, UVP, OCP, OPP, and SCP, make this piece of hardware a long-lasting PSU solution for any SFX enthusiast.
When talking about the downsides, they are summed up in a high price and the existence of just a single EPS connector that prevents this PSU from being used with the high-end motherboards. Other than that, this PSU is just perfect.
- 7-year warranty
- 80 PLUS Gold certification
- ATX adapter
- Not compatible with the high-end motherboards
- A bit noisier fans
- Expensive
Corsair RM550x
A PSU for Silence Lovers
There are not that many "middle class" PSUs that offer great performance, silent work, a great 7-year warranty and the full modularity at the same time, such as CORSAIR RM550x do. This PSU will deliver quality work for the long run and, which is even better, all that for a reasonable amount of money.
With 80 PLUS Gold certification, excellent voltage stability and plenty of features for enhancing silent work such as Zero RPM fan mode (almost no sound performance during low and medium loads), 140mm rifle bearing fan especially tuned for low noise work during heavy loads, etc., RM550x is a dream come true for any gamer or PC enthusiast looking for a noise-free (or the closest possible to that) power supply experience.
All in all, this PSU with its 550W is a great successor to the older CORSAIR RM550 that it is replacing, offering a great, almost dead silent performance, with just a few minor flaws such as the lack of a few more SATA connectors, but for a "middle class" PSU, this is more than great.
- Silent
- Highly efficient
- Lack of few more connectors
- 1xEPS connector
Seasonic FOCUS Plus 550 Gold
A Middle-Class PSU That Gives You that Extra Edge
"Middle class" market competition is always tough and there are only tiny differences separating the competition. In the case of Seasonic FOCUS Plus 550 Gold, these differences are working on its behalf, such as the 10-year warranty, unique Hybrid Silent Fan Control function (with Fanless, Silent and Cooling Mode), amazing voltage regulation, etc. giving it the much-needed edge over the rest of the bunch.
When you also consider other aspects of this 550W PSU, such as 80 PLUS Gold certification, 120mm Fan Fluid Dynamic Bearing, full modularity, silent work, plenty of safety protections (OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP and SCP) and above everything else, its very competitive price, you realize Seasonic FOCUS Plus 550 Gold has a great value for the money.
If you add in the fact that its performance is above, or in the class with the DEEPCOOL DQ550ST, Thermaltake Toughpower Gold 550W, or Seasonic S12G-550, on top of everything, this PSU positions even better as a great option for any user profile, delivering so much for your money.
- 10-year warranty
- Good performance
- Great build quality
- Not great cable capacitors
- 1xEPS connector
The Best 600-800W Power Supplies
CORSAIR RM750x
A Nice Performing PSU for Quiet Work
CORSAIR RM750x is another PSU in the very successful RMx family that delivers good performance, above the class build quality and silent work, for a sensible amount of money. Similar to its younger brother RM550x, CORSAIR RM750x offers many features for quiet performance such as the 135mm (RM550x has a 140mm fan) rifle bearing fan tuned for silent operations under heavy load and Zero RPM fan mode, but also shares the design and many of the characteristics, such as the 80 PLUS Gold certification, full modularity, tight voltage control, EPS connector, etc.
What makes the difference are the 750W size and a 10-year warranty, other than that, they are very much alike.
When compared to the direct competition, RM750x shows better performance than, for instance, its older version RM750 and Enermax Revolution X't II 750W, while it is tied with Rosewill Capstone 750W and Riotoro Onyx 750W. Overall, RM750x surpasses its predecessor according to the quietness of work and performance, but at the same time, presents a very competitive option for a long-lasting PSU solution.
- 10-years warranty
- Quiet
- Peripheral connectors are too close
- Cable capacitors
- 1xEPS Connector
A Good Concept with a Faulty Execution
NZXT E650 is a solid PSU performer, designed mainly for the gamers who want to control every aspect of their play, including hardware.
Based on the same platform as Seasonic SSR-650FX, this power supply offers more control and better monitoring options than its Seasonic rival, mostly thanks to its digital controller and feature-rich cam software that SSR-650FX lacks. However, these additional features, combined with the usage of the higher-quality electrolytic capacitors, make NZXT model drastically more expensive. To make things worse, its performance is inferior to Seasonic's, which automatically limits the number of potential buyers to a pretty narrow niche, which questions the success of the whole concept.
On the other hand, this fully modular PSU brings the 80 plus Gold certification, offers a solid 10-year warranty and comes with plenty of connectivity options (eight SATA connectors, six Molex connectors, two EPS connectors, six PCIe connectors, etc.). Moreover, it is fitted with an efficient 120mm fluid dynamic bearing fan and plenty of protection features such as over and under Voltage Protection, Over-Power Protection, Short Circuit Protection, Surge Protection and a lot more.
In other words, NZXT E650 is a solid device, but far from being the best gaming power supply. Nevertheless, the features that it offers are pretty specific and are targeting a small number of users that will appreciate everything that this PSU is bringing. However, as mentioned, their number is limited.
- Efficient
- Fully modular
- 10-year warranty
- Noisy at the high loads
- Pricier than the competition
Seasonic Prime Snow Silent 650 Platinum
A Power Supply Built for Perfection
Seasonic Prime Snow Silent 650 Platinum comes as a gift from heavens for everyone looking for excellence in both looks and performance from their PSU. Fully modular, with 650W in size and created for premium performance, this beautifully-designed white/silver themed PSU will leave everyone speechless.
Very silent, with a 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan, Hybrid Fan Control, multiple protection features (OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP and SCP), plenty of connectors, and an amazing 12-year warranty, Seasonic Prime Snow Silent 650 Platinum is the closest to the perfection a PSU can be. No matter if you are a die-hard gamer or just a custom PC builder, this 80 PLUS Platinum certified power supply will perfectly fit into your rig, and more importantly, it will blow you away with its capabilities.
Unfortunately, premium experience usually has a higher price tag and the Seasonic Prime Snow Silent 650 Platinum is no exception. Luckily, in this case, it is worth it.
- 12-year warranty
- Great design
- Excellent performance
- High price
be quiet! Pure Power Gold 11 600W BN629
Solid Performance in a Fully Silent Mode
If you are looking for a PSU that delivers a good performance, with an 80 plus Gold efficiency and very quiet operation, be quiet! Pure Power Gold 11 600W might be the device for you.
Although a bit pricey and with a few flaws, such as not that perfect inside protection or not the best power distribution, this PSU still has a lot to offer.
It has a solid five-year warranty, plenty of safeguarding features that, among others, include OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OTP, and OPP protection, and decent connectivity with four PCIe connectors, six SATA connectors, three Molex connectors, etc. Furthermore, be quiet! Pure Power Gold 11 600W offers a very practical semi-modular construction and, as mentioned, provides almost silent performance thanks to its optimized 120mm be quiet! Fan.
Overall, it isn't perfect, but if you want a decent PSU that will give you a lot of trouble-free gaming moments, be quiet! Pure Power Gold 11 600W is certainly among the best power supplies for gaming you can find in this class.
- Very quiet
- Nice set of protection features
- Solid five-year warranty
- Not the best power distribution
- Pricey
The Best 800-1000W Power Supplies
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G1+
A Good Value for the Money PSU
If you are looking for a PSU with a nice balance of performance, features and a quality build, EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G1+ comes as a very reasonable option. This 850W PSU comes with a 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing that guarantees for quiet work, it is built to last and offers high voltage stability. Although it has an 80 PLUS Gold certification, it is good to know that its efficiency is actually pretty close to a platinum one.
Similar to other PSUs in the class, SuperNOVA 850 G1+ is fully modular, has many protection features (OVP, UVP, OCP, OPP, SCP, and OTP) and offers a fairly respectable 10-year warranty. What is not that good is the lack of a fanless mode, but that is something you can cope with.
The bigger problem is the price. Corsair RM850x, for instance, has pretty similar specifications but costs less, which puts SuperNOVA 850 G1+ in a not-that-great market position. If the price were the same, SuperNOVA 850 G1+ would be a better option. This way, a question mark stays.
- 10-year warranty
- Excellent performance
- Price a bit high
- No fan-less mode
Seasonic Prime 850 Titanium
The Best 850W PSU Money Can Buy
Seasonic Prime 850 Titanium is one hell of a product that delivers the most in the 850W Titanium efficiency class. For a long time, others took the highest spot, but Seasonic simply created something amazing.
Almost no sound (lower than 20 dB(A)), a top-notch performance combined with a quality build and good looks are the key points of this excellent power supply. Seasonic Prime 850 Titanium comes with a very nice 12-year warranty, full modularity, various protection features (OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP and SCP), 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan, but also the Premium Hybrid Fan Control that offers the mode changing with just a press of a button on the device.
This PSU comes in compact dimensions which make it suitable for almost any case, offers superb performance in ripple suppression and a very tight load regulation, which furthermore adds to its overall great impression. Seasonic Prime 850 Titanium is simply a great 850W PSU choice, of course, if you are willing to pay its high price. On the other hand, it really is worth it.
- 12-year warranty
- High efficiency
- Quiet
- Great ripple suppression
- High price
Corsair RM850x
A Great Value for the Money PSU that Will Never Disappoint You
CORSAIR RM850x, alongside the whole RMx series, presents a great mixture of a silent quality performance, good build, long-lasting warranty and an affordable price. This recipe has been very successful and has brought the whole RMx series with the RM850x included as a great option for every user looking for a good value for the money – even the high-end consumers.
Properly built, fully modular, with 80 PLUS Gold certification and 135mm Rifle Bearing Fan that is tuned for quiet work, CORSAIR RM850x delivers everything that the majority of the users would need. There is also a quality 10-year warranty, dimensions 20mm shorter than the previous generation, two EPS connectors, all the needed protection features, excellent electrical performance, even the +12V rail that can deliver the whole PSU capacity by itself.
Designers have obviously been careful in order to create something that would be acceptable for most users. The result is in front of you, and that is a great performing device with which there is just no mistake.
- 2xEPS connectors
- Silent
- Quality performance
- Too close peripheral cable connectors
Rosewill Capstone 850
An Affordable PSU that Offers an Older Design but Great Performance
If you are worried because you haven't heard about the Rosewill Company, don't be. Rosewill Capstone 850 is actually a Super Flower's Golden Green PSU that offers great electrical performance, nice ripple suppression and high efficiency. Although it offers an older design, in order not to be competition to the Super Flower's Leadex series, Rosewill Capstone 850 is a quality and affordable option for any system build.
With a strong +12V rail, 850W in size, two EPS connectors, a decent 5-year warranty, 80 PLUS Gold certification, Auto Fan Speed Control, 135mm Silent fan, and semi modularity, this PSU delivers everything that a mainstream user may need, and much more. Don't expect miracles and fancy features from the Rosewill Capstone 850, because you won't get them. This PSU is built to deliver solid, stable performance in the long run and that is something that it is doing amazingly.
- 2xEPS connectors
- Affordable
- Good value for the money
- Not the newest design
The Best 1000W+ Power Supplies
EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2 80+ PLATINUM
A "Beast" Among the PSUs
Unless you are into mining or want/have the gaming rig with multiple high-end graphics cards, there is no chance you will ever need such a PSU "beast" as EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2 80+ PLATINUM is. In every other situation other than the two previously mentioned, purchasing this PSU is a huge overkill.
When talking about the specifications, EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2 80+ PLATINUM has a 140mm Double Ball Bearing, offers full modularity, has the amazing 1600W in size, but lacks protection features, even the over-temperature protection which should be part of every PSU today.
Other than that, this power supply offers great performance, quiet work thanks to ECO mode, has excellent ripple suppression and comes with a fairly decent 10-year warranty. What isn't good about it, are its huge dimensions and 5VSB rail efficiency that just should be better.
Nevertheless, EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2 80+ PLATINUM has one of the best performances of all the PSUs on the market and is worth any cent of its high price.
- Silent
- 10-year warranty
- Good voltage stability
- Nice ripple suppression
- 5VSB rail isn't that efficient
- Too few protection features
- Size
CORSAIR AX1600i
The Best of the Best is in Front of You
If your rig demands for a ton of power and you are looking for the best there is, get ready to be introduced to its "highness" CORSAIR AX1600i. This PSU is just something amazing, mostly because it is using a PFC circuit and is entirely digitally based. This combination results in its class-leading position and the highest possible efficiency that even surpasses its 80+ Titanium certification.
Silent performance is another field in which this PSU shines. Thanks to its 140mm fluid dynamic bearing, Zero RPM function and full compatibility with the Corsair's Link software that allows for this PSU's fine-tuning, CORSAIR AX1600i has earned a LAMBDA-A badge as a proof of its silent performance.
With noise and performance that have no real match, monstrous capacity of 12V rail, various protection features, excellent ripple suppression and exceptional load regulation and on top of that, a massive 10-year warranty, all that can be said about this PSU is that it is a masterpiece.
- Link software functionality
- Plenty of features
- Amazing power efficiency
- Superb voltage stability
- Silent
- The distance between peripheral connectors
Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 1200W
A PSU with an Attitude
Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 1200W PSU comes as a great option for everyone looking for something different. Thanks to its 140mm hydraulic dynamic bearing fans with RGB lighting that supports five different color modes (RGB, white, red, blue and green), but also can be switched off, this power supply will perfectly fit into any build where users are looking for both unique looks and a great performance.
Fully modular, with 80 PLUS Platinum certification, selectable semi-passive mode, great rails (+12V can deliver PSU's full power and minor rails up to 130W), great ripple suppression and quiet performance during light and medium loads, Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB has everything that the high-end users might need. When you also add its 10-year warranty, two EPS connectors and very affordable price into the calculation, you realize how this PSU is actually a great deal.
Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 1200W delivers a near-the-top performance in most categories, giving a great value for the money for a large base of users.
- Silent
- Fan with RGB lighting
- 2xESP connectors
- Inaccurate power signal
How to Find the Best Power Supply for Gaming: Features to Look For
For those looking to build a gaming PC, there are a number of categories to think about before you rush out and buy the best looking or best-performing power supply on the market. Some of the most important features to look for are:
- Wattage. To find out an estimate of how much wattage is required for your gaming PC, head over to Outer Vision. Keep in mind that a higher wattage can be more costly, but it may also help with heat and noise levels.
- Optimal Form Factors. If you want a higher powered computer, you're going to need the most current form factors, such as ATX 12V v2.4.
- Modular. While modular or fixed is a matter of opinion, choosing modular can mean less clutter in your computer and improved air flow.
- Efficiency. For all your gaming needs, a Gold rating or more is highly recommended.
No matter what type of gamer you are, you're always going to need an SSD, enough RAM, good gaming motherboard and the reliable power supply if you want to have the ultimate gaming experience without shortening the life of your computer. Consider your needs both now and in the future, so you can make the best possible choice for long-term gaming enjoyment.


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2016 Ford Fusion for Sale in Carson City, NV
Test Drive the Fusion!
On the road and ready to impress is the 2016 Ford Fusion for sale in Carson City, NV. Whether you are looking to upgrade your commute or treat you family to modern comfort, this is the full-size sedan for you. Here at Capital Ford, we are excited to feature the Fusion in our showroom, so come take a closer look!
If you're bored with the stale design of other sedans, get ready to be thrilled by all the unique details in the 2016 Fusion exterior styling. It starts with a bold front fascia that includes a large hexagonal grille, laser-cut headlights, and sporty fog lights. You'll leave a lasting impression with the sculpted rear end and LED taillamps. For a personal touch, the Fusion offers 11 different wheel designs that vary by trim level. You'll be sure to catch some admiring glances as you park for lunch at The Basil Restaurant.
If you are more concerned about performance, you'll find all the capability you could desire in the 2016 Ford Fusion for sale in Carson City, NV. It comes equipped with a strong 2.5L engine that offers 175-hp, 175 lb.-ft. of torque, and a responsible 34 MPG hwy1. You can also up the ante with the available 1.5L 4-cylinder EcoBoost® powertrain that can boast 181-hp, 185- lb.ft. of torque, and 37 MPG hwy1. Stretch your mileage even further with the Auto Start-Stop technology that will shut off your engine when you are stopped during downtown driving situations. You'll enjoy a spirited ride thanks the race-inspired SelectShift® automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
Surround yourself with amenities in the Fusion cabin. Every ride will be relaxing with the available leather-trimmed heated driver's seat that is 10-way power-adjustable with power lumbar and memory settings. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob add to the sophisticated feel. Function and fun come together with the available ambient lighting, where you can choose from a range of colors to illuminate your interior, including Ice Blue®, purple, and green. Easily find your next destination while enjoying your favorite music when you add the SiriusXM® Satellite Radio and Navigation2. It even allows you to see real-time traffic updates with SiruisXM® Traffic with Travel Link2, perfect for finding the fastest route home after a long day at work.
Now that you've gotten a glimpse of all that the 2016 Ford Fusion for sale in Carson City, NV, can offer, it's time to take the next step! Call us here at Capital Ford to make an appointment with our friendly sales team and take the Fusion for a test drive. We know you won't be disappointed!
1 EPA-estimated city/hwy mpg for the model indicated. See fueleconomy.gov for fuel economy of other engine/transmission combinations. Actual mileage will vary. On plug-in hybrid models and electric models, fuel economy is stated in MPGe. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation.
2 Available Feature. SiriusXM audio and data services each require a subscription sold separately, or as a package, by Sirius XM Radio Inc. If you decide to continue service after your trial, the subscription plan you choose will automatically renew thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. To cancel you must call SiriusXM at 1-866-635-2349. See SiriusXM Customer Agreement for complete terms at www.siriusxm.com. All fees and programming subject to change. Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc.


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Eugene (Gene) Francis O'Rourke, 84, died October 4, 2018, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa, following a long-term illness.
Gene leaves his wife of 61 years, Esther (Pettengill) O'Rourke; his daughter Pamela (O'Rourke) Morton and her husband Dana; his son John O'Rourke and his wife Elisabeth (Pugliano); his son Timothy O'Rourke and his wife Lisa (Harman); his daughter Laurie (O'Rourke) Christesen and her husband Dave; his son Matthew O'Rourke and his wife Shari (Reynoldson); his daughter Megan (O'Rourke) Hill and her husband Adam; his nineteen grandchildren; his twelve great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Michael O'Rourke and his grandson David Christesen.
Born to John and Laura (Eull) O'Rourke on August 20, 1934, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he was raised.
In his early years, Gene helped support his family by selling newspapers and shining shoes. He left St. Patrick Catholic High School in 1951 to join the Navy. After serving over three years in the Korean War as a Seaman-First Class, Gene returned to Cedar Falls to graduate from Columbus High School. Gene then began work at Rath Packing in Waterloo where he met Esther. He went on to earn his associate's degree and became a Federal Meat Inspector. The USDA relocated Gene and his family to Webster City, Iowa, where he lived for over 40 years.
While in Webster City, Gene was an active member of American Legion Post 191 where he once served as First Commander. Also, as a member of Knights of Columbus Council 838 where he served as Grand Knight. Gene was very active with Boy Scouts of America having earned his Eagle Scout as a young man. All of Gene's boys are Eagle Scouts, as well as five of his grandsons.
He received a number of awards, such as the Presidential Thousand Points of Light for his lifetime of outstanding volunteerism; however, he was most proud of being a caring husband, father and grandfather. He was best known for his storytelling and good sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral service will be held at St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Fairfax, Iowa on December 15, 2018, at 10:00am.
In lieu of flowers and/or gifts, please make donations to the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy addressed to the Mercy Foundation at 701 10th St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.


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Product Description
An exquisite "taar kashi" necklace from Orrisa, done in gold plating , mounted in Sterling Silver. The central object is Goddess Laxmi seated on a throne, surrounded on the upper side, by paisley "Kairi" motifs in filigree with tiny round gold panels depicting Ganesha and on the lower side intricate filigree work, fringed with gold beads and seed pearl terminals. The arms of the entire necklace consisting of the paisley motif with round gold panels depicting Ganesha set on a stylized double line with a red stone at the base of the paisley. Mounted with pure 24 Karat Gold Plating on pure 92.5 Sterling Silver.
**Disclaimer: This product has been made by hand and may have slight irregularities that are a natural outcome of the human involvement in the process.


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For a species that prides itself on knowing best when it comes to, well, everything, men are blissfully unaware that they might have been scraping their facial skin with rust.
American grooming outfit Schick, which introduced the all-new Hydro 5 Sense® shaving razor in Singapore last month, recently conducted a survey with 100 men on their shaving habits. The results revealed that 21% correctly answered how razor blades should be changed after every 5 to 10 shaves, but what was troubling was that 54% admitted to changing out their blades only when they can no longer use it to shave.
And they wonder why the bottom half of their mugs look like an eczema outbreak sometimes.
One other major takeaway from the survey results is that nicks and cuts are top shaving bugbears for most men, and we suppose the Schick Hydro 5 Sense® came in the nick of time.
Schick has engineered it to do most of the work for you, by imbuing it with 5 Ultra Glide® Blades, 7 Hydrating Gel Reservoirs and a Shock Absorb Technology; the latter allows the head of the shaver to adjust automatically to your facial contour as you glide, which means you don't have to pinch, drag or contort your jawline to get a closer shave.
The Hydrating Gel Reservoirs strips at the tip of the blade, available in 2 lubricating formula choices of Coconut Oil and Herbal Extracts, has also made it possible for men to do without shaving cream.
It's about time for your face to be a little less red with irritation and a little more rad with validation.
Schick Hydro 5 Sense® is available at all major Guardian Health and Beauty, Fairprice and Watsons outlets. Schick Hydro 5 Sense® Hydrate Kit retails at S$15.90, with both the Hydro 5 Sense® Hydrate Refills and Hydro 5 Sense® Comfort Refills available at S$24.80.


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Field Conversations was a listening initiative funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation. TCG conducted Field Conversations in 2010, 2006 and 1999. TCG gathered listening research through Round Tables, Town Halls and Surveys. Each of the three sets of Field Conversations had its own set of issues, its own tone and its own dynamics. There was no attempt to reach consensus on any particular issue. TCG's goal was to listen to the field, synthesize the findings and report back to its members.
One of TCG's key responsibilities is to listen to the needs of our constituents and to respond in ways that will help strengthen, nurture and promote the American theatre ecology. While we do this in a variety of ways throughout the year, we are periodically able to create a formal listening opportunity, which we call Field Conversations. The Field Conversations' goal was to investigate relationships between individual artists and institutions, and to identify successes, challenges and ways to strengthen relationships. In Spring 2010, an initital exploration began with a series of five teleconferences with freelance actors, directors, designers, playwrights and dramaturgs which created the basis for the project. These initial teleconferences were led by Susan Booth, Alliance Theatre's artistic director and Aya Ogawa, TCG's assistant director of artistic programs. An executive report from the 2010-2011 Field Conversations entitled, Dissolving the Barriers by Celia Wren was published in the 2011 July/August issue of American Theatre magazine. Click here for the executive findings.
Please email Emilya Cachapero with any questions about this program. Field Conversations was generously funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
1) Round TableIn Fall 2010, the three-part Field Conversations project was launched with Round Table Conversations in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Participants included: individual artists, artistic and managing leaders from both TCG Member and non-member theatres, trustees and educators. TCG partnered with local service organizations which included: the Los Angeles Stage Alliance, The League of Chicago Theatres and the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York. These meetings were facilitated by Kathie deNobriga and Caron Atlas and organized by Emilya Cachapero, TCG's director of artistic programs. 2) Town HallThe second phase of this project included Town Hall Meetings which commenced in early 2011. TCG encouraged artistic communities across the country to organize informal, volunteer Town Hall Meetings in which individual artists and theatre staff talked openly about successes and challenges they faced while working together and addressed themes and issues that were raised during the Round Tables. David Denson, TCG's National Conference associate producer managed this portion of the Field Conversations. Click here to view the Town Hall Meeting Talking Points. Click here to view the Town Hall Meeting Guidelines. 3) SurveyIn late January 2011, for the third and last section of Field Conversations, a State of the Artists Survey was sent to individual artists to help TCG gather quantitative information about artists' working conditions and relationships with organizations. The survey portion was designed, implemented and interpreted by Chris Shuff, TCG's director of management programs and Mark Shugoll, CEO of Shugoll Research and TCG board member. Click here for the State of the Artists Survey Summary Report.
Realizing the last set of conversations pre-dated 9/11, in winter 2006, Theatre Communications Group listened to what working professionals were saying about the current state of the American not-for-profit theatre within the new polarized funding and political climate. More than 100 theatre company leaders and independent artists gathered in four cities at a series of meetings. Organizations represented included: large, small, and mid-sized theatres from every region of the country.
Each of the four 2006 conversations had its own set of issues, its own tone, and its own dynamics. Each, however, addressed the intensity of the times, the increased sense of pressure, and the heightened scrutiny organizations were facing. The conversations explored the following questions: How has the post-9/11 political and economic environment altered the landscape for theatres, artists, and audiences? What about the war in Iraq and the emergence of new technologies? What trends noted in 1999 have intensified or abated, and what new ones have arisen?
Participants shared their ideas, opinions, and aspirations through an open dialogue. There was no attempt to reach consensus on any particular issue, and there was a healthy diversity of opinion.
An executive report from the 2006 Field Conversations entitled Where Are We Now? TCG calls together theatre pros to take the pulse of the field, was published in the 2006 July/August issue of American Theatre magazine. Click here for the executive findings. Please email Emilya Cachapero with any questions about this program.
The 2006 Field Conversations was generously funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Gwen Cochran Hadden
March 1, 2006Washington, DCConversations were held at Arena Stage.
February 28, 2006Boston, MAConversations were held at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion.
February 25, 2006Louisville, KYConversations were held at Actors Theatre of Louisville.
February 23, 2006Los Angeles, CAConversations were held at Cornerstone Theater Company.
During the 1999 spring, TCG conducted its first attempt in more than a decade to capture the state of the field (both the challenges as well as what people thought about the future and the feasibility of achieving their different goals) by holding a sequence of meetings to hear what people were thinking and saying about their work within the not-for-profit theatre world. TCG had no intentions regarding what came out of the discussions except a desire to accurately report back to the field what they were saying.
As a precursor to the entire TCG membership's involvement at the June 1999 National Conference in San Francisco, about eighty invited people, from a diverse group of TCG affiliated and non-affiliated theatres, came together in five small groups to grapple with major challenges and possibilities facing the theatre. After the conversations, participants were asked to complete a follow-up survey listing their top three most pressing concerns and what areas they would most like to devote new resources and attention.
As a result of the 1999 Field Conversations, two articles were published in the January 2000 issue of American Theatre magazine. For Mapping a New Landscape by Ben Cameron click here. For The Field and its Challenges by Stephanie Coen, Stephen C. Forman, and Ben Cameron click here.
Please email Emilya Cachapero with any questions about this program. The 1999 Field Conversations was generously funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation.
Stephen C. Forman
Spring of 1999 Conversations were held in Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and New York.


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Your company has grown, you have good loss control and favorable claims experience so you are considering a group captive to significantly reduce long-term insurance expenses. You've done some research on group captives and feel like it might be an option to seriously consider. So at this point, you have consulted with some of your industry peers, spoke with your current broker and maybe a few others about the idea. But how do you know who to place your trust in for such a significant business decision?
Joining a group captive is not like other insurance decisions you might have made in the past. Your current agent or broker may have done an outstanding job for your company as you grew to this point. But having a broker with the ability to sell you a group captive is one thing and having a broker with the expertise, experience, understanding, control and management of that group captive is quite another.
What should you be asking when choosing a broker for your captive?
- Does the broker have the expertise to perform a quality feasibility study? While some brokers may have marketing contracts with one or more group captives, it does not mean they have expertise in evaluating the feasibility of joining that group captive. At a minimum, a 5-year historical performance analysis should be performed comparing your total insurance costs to what they would have been in the group captive. What kind of expertise does the broker have with captives? Most brokers will never place a client with a group captive in their entire career. Or, they may place one or two of their larger clients into a group captive, but have no real understanding of or control over that group captive going forward.
- What kind of understanding does the broker have about the details of how the group captive actually operates? There are a variety of key components to a group captive that must work together to make it operate efficiently. Your broker should be able to provide you with a clear understanding and explanation of how these components work together. They should know who the key service providers are for these various components. In addition, they should be able to explain how the members interact with those service providers, including the: fronting company, reinsurance company, claims administrator, loss control consultants, bank, investment advisor, captive manager and the captive consultant.
- Can the broker provide ongoing financial performance exhibits and have the ability to audit your captive financial statement so that you are assured the numbers are accurate? In a group captive, you are both retaining and sharing risk with the other members. Does your broker/agent have the expertise and resources to track and audit all of the financial statements and invoices to ensure they are correct? You will also want expert consultation on how your company and the group captive are performing on a continuous basis.
- Can the broker demonstrate exactly how the exit strategy works for the captive? Should you decide to sell your business or simply leave the group captive - can you get out? The exit options (and terms and conditions) can vary greatly and you should understand your exit options before you make the decision to join a particular captive. Your broker should be able to explain this in great detail.
The decision to join a group captive is not something for a broker to just "place" for you. It will be a long-term financial commitment and one not easily broken in most cases. Careful consideration and time should be spent as you explore your options and find out if a group captive might be the best fit for your company. It is recommended that you allow at least six to eight months for you, the broker and the captive to perform all the due diligence necessary. A great time to start the process of selecting a broker can actually be immediately after your last renewal. You will have fresh full policy year information as well as the latest guaranteed cost rates to work with and plenty of time to make the best decision for you business.
The final question you might ask yourself is: Does the broker or agent have the strategic captive resources to truly partner with my company for many years to come?
For more information about captive programs visit https://www.marshmma.com/offerings/business-insurance/captive-solutions


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Dreaming (copy pasted from dream thread)
by, 05-12-2013 at 07:32 PM (1365 Views)
I dreamt that Del and I were sitting at a bench eating lunch, and strangers kept coming up to us and asking for him to sign their copies of his bestselling memoir, and asking where his wife was. Then they would turn to me and ask me why I didn't have a real job or an education, and then Del kept telling them that it was because I kept asking people for handouts.
Calliope: Most Neurotic Member 2013


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The Jack Ryan series continues with a new author taking over the reigns this time. Marc Cameron is a bestselling NY Times author and has 29 years in law enforcement under his belt. This novel was all over the place with three different major stories going on.
Jack Ryan Jr. and the Campus are in Dallas on the hunt of a Mexican cartel. It leads them to a child sex trafficking ring and a link to a Chines spy ring. It also points them to South America and then to Japan. John Clarke and Dom end up staying in Dallas and help to bust the ring and rescue underage girls.
President Ryan in the White House is having to deal with China and their new President. He's also getting ready for the G20 in Japan and getting us to a new head of the Secret Service. When an attack in Africa on an oil refinery, a bomb on a freighter and an American ship caught in a storm near China that has lost power, things are not dull.
After escaping trouble in Buenos Aires, Jack and the Campus make their way to Japan right in time for the G20. When they notice a couple of men as part of the Chinese security team from Argentina, it's a race for Jack to warn his dad a deadly plot is in the works.
As with every Jack Ryan novel all the major players are here and part of the action. Especially John Clarke gets major action and gets to show what a bad ass he is. And as with any Jack Ryan novel it's way too long. The stories could have been shortened and tightened up for at least 50 pages. All in all though another exciting novel to add the Tom Clancy collection. Marc Cameron picks right up where previous authors have left off and having knowledge of the series and the characters.
And if you haven't heard a Jack Ryan series will be airing on Amazon next year starring John Krasinski. You can watch previews here.
You can pick up Tom Clancy Power And Empire: A Jack Ryan Novel in stores on Tuesday, November 28th from G.P. Putnmam's Sons.


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- monthly subscription or
- cancelable any time
"Tell the chef, the beer is on me."
A brand guru. That's what they called Baba Shetty when he was hired away from advertising agency Hill Holliday by The Daily Beast to be the new CEO of The Newsweek Daily Beast Company.
Less than a month later, the company announced that Newsweek was putting an end to its print edition and going all-digital. Last week, Shetty released the beta version of the relaunched website, a simple, colorful, responsive, and easily navigable new home for the decades-old news brand.
Shetty began working with the magazine on a "Mad Men"-themed issue on retro advertising back in March 2012. So maybe it's not surprising that the new site's first feature article is an exploration of what makes contemporary television so addictive. Shetty has big plans for capitalizing on on the historically respected Newsweek name, blending a New York Times-like metered paywall approach with an ambitious sponsorship model that will see a lot of creative ad work coming off the Newsweek desk.
On Monday, Shetty and I spoke about how he sees that plan unfolding, as well as some of his favorite new design features, bringing classic Newsweek covers into the digital space, and why ad agencies should act more like newsrooms. Here's our conversation:
The real story of the Newsweek relaunch is that it allowed us to think about innovation in a way that really hasn't happened much for professional journalism. Actually, there's been a ton of innovation in microblogging and other formats — look at the Tumblr news from the last couple days. Enormous value from thinking about beautiful user experience for content consumption.
But really, a lot of the professional editorial products kind of slavishly follow a set of conventions that are all about maximizing pageviews. You look at a long article that might require seven clicks and page reloads to get through — and then there's a lot of display advertising that is competing for attention with the actual content. We thought there was an opportunity to do for professional journalism what Tumblr and Pinterest and Flipboard, so many of the other innovative new startups, have done for other kinds of content.
So what we see with Newsweek is the user first. I've been talking about it as user-first publishing. The idea is, let's deconstruct the sense of magazineness — not as a physical thing, but as a concept. The sense of magazineness is about a beautiful user experience. You think about your favorite magazine and sitting in your favorite chair at home and reading it — there's a sense of editorial coherence. You know — the cover communicates a sense of editorial priority, there's a table of contents that lends a sense of coherence to the issue. It's a beautiful package that results.
But when magazines go digital, so much of that's lost because of the conventions I talked about before — you slice and dice content into the slivers that we call pageviews, and it's not a very satisfying experience to read professional journalism on the web.
So we really wanted to take a leap forward with Newsweek. In addition to the idea of the editorial stature and credibility of Newsweek, also creating a radically creative user experience around that content. I can talk about a few of the features if you think that would be useful.
The cover — there actually is a cover, and it was static in the first issue, and in future issues it will be interactive, video-based multimedia. It's this idea of drawing a reader in to something that has great editorial to prominence and priority, and we're going to explore what the cover could be in the digital age. There is a persistent table of contents which is available to you at any part of the experience, and that lends a sense of completeness and coherence to this experience.
Of course, we took account of all the devices that people read on now, so the site is fully responsive and looks beautiful on a handset or tablet screen or — you should really try it on a 23-inch monitor. It's gorgeous in large format screens. It gracefully apportions itself to whatever the screen happens to be.
And while we're talking about a long article page, you can kind of see the ability to use multimedia photography, video, infographics to help the journalistic storytelling of a longform piece. That's another, I think, terrific step forward. It's not the tyranny of the pageview, it's not the conventions that are going to deliver more advertising properties — it's thinking about he user first. What's going to make for a great reading experience? in that way, I think it differs from a lot of the conventions that are in play across the web.
The metered access is going to be rolled out fairly soon, and that's just the simple idea that, look, anybody can read any article on Newsweek, and initially that's completely open and completely free. But only subscribers will be able to consume content over a certain number of articles. So it's very similar to what The New York Times and others have done. Open access — we want a lot of social sharing, we want a lot of visibility of the content across the open web. But what we're asking is, if people consume over a certain amount of content, that they subscribe. And that's going to take place fairly soon.
The second question is how brands can participate. We have the same principles we've been talking about — thinking about the user first — applied to brand participation. What we're going to do is limit the clutter — relatively few units, but really high impact — but stay with the design aesthetic of the site overall. They're going to be beautiful, unignorable, but the value exchange with the reader is going to be very appropriate.
When you listen to a program on NPR, and there's a sponsorship message before the program starts, you can kind of say, okay, well, I get that. I get how that works. It's a reasonable exchange between the audience and the brand that sponsors the content. That's really the model. It's not as much about the standards of display advertising that have dominated the discussion on the web. It's a sponsorship model — a different direction.
But what's changed is all the tools that are available for content creation, distribution, measurement and all the channels that are available to brands. I think it's a very powerful idea. I don't think it's one of these trend-of-the-season ideas. I think it's a dramatic industry shift that we're going to be tracking for years to come, through various iterations.
That was something I did with Jerry Wind, head of the Future of Advertising Program at Wharton. It was really based on the Wharton 2020 Project, which was asking a lot of advertisers about what they think about the future of advertising, and it was such a consistent theme — that it's going to be less and less about what we think of advertising today, and more content that is voluntarily consumed by people because they view it as in some way useful or interesting.
It's a long way from the days of just building it and they will come. It's really paying such close attention to what people actually respond to.
We've reached the point in journalism where we barely bat an eye when two news organizations say they're joining forces. Anything less than a merger is just not an earth mover these days, when egos, brands, unique audiences — all of the guarded, proprietary stuff that kept news companies at opposite ends of the sword — seem to matter less in the face of an uncertain journalism marketplace.
In that way the new partnership between NBC News and Newsweek/The Daily Beast to cover the 2012 election shouldn't be too surprising. It's a classic partnership of two organizations looking for a Doublemint effect: Double the resources, double the coverage, double the audience. The plan calls for campaign trail reporting from NBC (and a healthy dose of video) to appear in the pages of Newsweek and online at The Daily Beast. [UPDATE: See correction below.] Call it NBCWeekBeast. (NBeastCWeek?)
But there's something about politics in particular that seems to bring out the hugging and sharing in news organizations. A presidential election brings out the heavy news artillery, and that means a flurry of scooplets coming from all directions — from the networks, from newspapers national and local, from blogs, from campaigns, and everywhere else. All that firepower pointed in the same direction makes the urge to team up more tempting than ever. (Take for example The New York Times' Election 2012 iPhone app, which is built more on linking and aggregation than any Times product before it — this, despite the fact that the Times devotes enormous resources to its own coverage.)
History backs this instinct. After all, for years outlets — like the Times and CBS News or ABC News and The Washington Post — have linked up for the purposes of polling. At the same time debates, from the local legislative races up to the president level, have long been collaborations across media, whether it's the local newspaper and public media, or CNN, Politico, and The Los Angeles Times.
What's interesting is how many of these partnerships derive from cross-media competitors. Pre-web, The New York Times and CBS News had reporters chasing the same stories — but a broadcast nightly news show and a morning newspaper could comfortably share an audience without excluding either. With everyone competing on the same platforms these days — the web, your smartphone — the calculus is different. And it's unclear how far these partnerships will extend beyond election season — a beat that is both extended (the presidential election will last a lot longer than mega-events like the Oscars or the Super Bowl) and predictable (that once-every-four-years scheduling means there's time to align up multiple outlets' interests).
As indicated by the number of media outlets launching (or relaunching) their politics offerings, we also know it's an area that can spike pageviews and draw a reliable audience. (The New Yorker's the latest, just today.) Readers are on the hunt for their election coverage earlier than ever, be it tracking polls, candidate gaffes, new endorsements, or daily overviews, and news organizations are jockeying for position. And it doesn't hurt that once you have a politics vertical it's that much easier to take advantage of the spending on political ads. But that underlying tension between the journalist's desire for exclusivity and the brand's desire to aggregate content will be something to keep watching from here to election day.
Correction: This piece originally said the sharing would go both ways, from Newsbeast to NBC and from NBC to Newsbeast. In fact, it's only the latter — NBC content flowing to Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Sorry.
Image by Jiheffe used under a Creative Commons license.
4MR is sponsored by Carnegie-Knight News21, an alliance of 12 journalism schools in which top students tell complex stories in inventive ways. See tips for spurring innovation and digital learning at Learn.News21.com.
In this week's 4MR podcast, I discuss the recent merger announcement between Newsweek magazine and online publication The Daily Beast. The deal becoming finalized was first reported by Nick Summers, a former Newsweek reporter now at the New York Observer. I talked with Summers about the challenges Newsweek has faced, and his back-and-forth online with Slate's Jacob Weisberg about the current state of Slate.
Check it out:
>>> Subscribe to 4MR <<<
>>> Subscribe to 4MR via iTunes <<<
Listen to my entire interview with Nick Summers:
Background music is "What the World Needs" by the The Ukelele Hipster Kings via PodSafe Music Network.
Here are some links to related sites and stories mentioned in the podcast:
Observer Exclusive - Newsweek and Daily Beast to Merge at NY Observer
New Details Emerge on Newsweek-Beast Merger at NY Observer
Daily Beast, Newsweek to Wed! at Daily Beast
Newsweek, The Daily Beast Combine at Newsweek
Jacob Weisberg Was a Web Pioneer. But He Doesn't Much Care for What Works on the Web Now. Can Slate Recover? at NY Observer
Press Clips - The New York Observer's New Disclosure Problems at the Village Voice
Weisberg - NYO wrong; Slate's going gangbusters in memo at Romenesko
Slate's Traffic Is Gangbusters, Except When It's Not at NY Observer
Also, be sure to vote in our poll about who you think is the winner in the Daily Beast-Newsweek merger:
Who will come out the winner in the Daily Beast-Newsweek merger?customer surveys
Mark Glaser is executive editor of MediaShift and Idea Lab. He also writes the bi-weekly OPA Intelligence Report email newsletter for the Online Publishers Association. He lives in San Francisco with his son Julian. You can follow him on Twitter @mediatwit.
4MR is sponsored by Carnegie-Knight News21, an alliance of 12 journalism schools in which top students tell complex stories in inventive ways. See tips for spurring innovation and digital learning at Learn.News21.com.
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"Tell the chef, the beer is on me."
"Basically the price of a night on the town!"
"I'd love to help kickstart continued development! And 0 EUR/month really does make fiscal sense too...


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This is part two in a four-part series. Read the first one here, and check back tomorrow for part three.
As part of our quad-fecta of Claridge listings celebrating the anniversary of our Staff Meeting events on March 22nd, we have unit 5D, another listing from Allie Beth Allman's Sue Krider. This unit moves down the hall from last column's 7E offering similar straight-on Turtle Creek and downtown Dallas views (albeit two floors lower).
Unit 5D offers an expansive 3,049 square feet encompassing two bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and a study. Priced at $1,474 million, there's a lot to like about this home.
Like all units in the Claridge, buyers get grand double-door entryways that help to accommodate larger furniture, art and construction materials. In this entry, a classic marble pattern greets you. (I like the painting over the settee)
Even with the beautiful wide plank wood floors the neutral palate sets up the living room as the backdrop to the views – as it should be in a high-rise! The wrap around corner is actually an enclosed balcony which you know I usually hate. The Claridge is the only building in Dallas where I think balcony enclosures work and make sense. The sweep of the wall is just perfect.
I call this home a remodel because this room is a blank slate, ready for whatever taste a new buyer would want; be that traditional, transitional or modern.
The dining room is well-proportioned and tucked off the living room. Its dramatic windows look straight up Lemmon Avenue to mesmerize diners should conversation fail. At sunset, the room is enrobed in the yellow, orange and red palate of the gasping daylight sky.
Like all the living spaces, the window coverings are minimal to seize the view.
The kitchen is dated with some new appliances. Because the dining room doesn't share a wall with the kitchen, I could go either way on opening the wall to the living room. As always, open concept depends on how you live and entertain. If pushed, I might open part of the wall to give a more free flow for entertaining while maintaining some of the "mystery" of the kitchen. Either way, there's lots of space to create the (overused) "dream kitchen."
Like 7E, this unit maintains one of its balconies off the master bedroom to provide some outdoor space for morning coffee or for me, an herb garden.
I like the master bedroom so much, I'd write the furniture into the contract! It has all the peace, tranquility and other calming words I'd ever need. Very swanky hotel feeling.
Like other units, the bathrooms may not need a complete gut. Simply pruning the mirrors and removing the acre of brass hardware and trim would go a long way to bringing them back to life. After all, there's a lot of Carrera marble which is quite in vogue these days.
The "his" side of the master bath has a great oversized walk-in shower with a bench. And again, all Carrera marble. The brass is what dates this room. Maaaaybe if I were feeling sledgehammer-y, I'd knock down the stub wall to vanity-height to make the room feel even larger.
I'm all over having an office with a view. With great built-ins and flooring, I wouldn't touch a thing – except to open the shades (but only after work was done or I'd be quite distracted!).
I've classed unit 5D as a remodel because there's potentially a lot less work than a complete gut. The kitchen is probably the biggest expense unless a buyer would want to gut the bathrooms as well. But I think just ditching the bathroom brass would suffice to renew their look. Like every unit in the Claridge, 5D will make someone a very nice home.
Remember: Do you have an HOA story to tell? A little high-rise history? Realtors, want to feature a listing in need of renovation or one that's complete with flying colors? How about hosting a Candy's Dirt Staff Meeting? Shoot Jon an email. Marriage proposals accepted (they're legal)! firstname.lastname@example.com